Bhagvatam: ONE MAY BE A BRÄHMANA IN TERMS OF HIS CULTURE AND FAMILY AND MAY BE EXPERT IN VEDIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT IF HE IS NOT A VAISHNAVA (PURE DEVOTEE OF LORD), HE CANNOT BE A GURU

Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi said: O King Parikshit, who are so charitably disposed, when Vrträsura (demon) was killed, all the presiding deities and everyone else in the three planetary systems was immediately pleased and free from trouble—everyone, that is, except Indra.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, the demigods, the great saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitrloka and Bhütaloka, the demons, the followers of the demigods, and also Lord Brahmä, Lord Shiva and the demigods subordinate to Indra all returned to their respective homes. While departing, however, no one spoke to Indra.

PURPORT

In this connection Srila Vishvanätha Chakravarti Thäkura comments:

Lord Brahmä, Lord Shiva and the other demigods returned to their respective abodes, but Indra did not, for he was disturbed at having killed Vrträsura, who was actually a brähmana. 

After killing Vrträsura, Indra went to the Mänasa-sarovara Lake to become free from sinful reactions. When he left the lake, he performed an ashvamedha-yajna and then returned to his own abode.

TRANSLATION

Mahäräja Parikshit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvämi: O great sage, what was the reason for Indra's unhappiness? I wish to hear about this. When he killed Vrträsura, all the demigods were extremely happy. Why, then, was Indra himself unhappy?

PURPORT

This, of course, is a very intelligent question. 

When a demon is killed, certainly all the demigods are happy. In this case, however, when all the demigods were happy because of Vrträsura's having been killed, Indra was unhappy. Why? 

IT MAY BE SUGGESTED THAT INDRA WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HE HAD KILLED A GREAT DEVOTEE AND BRÄHMANA. VRTRÄSURA OUTWARDLY APPEARED TO BE A DEMON, BUT INWARDLY HE WAS A GREAT DEVOTEE AND THEREFORE A GREAT BRÄHMANA.

HEREIN IT IS CLEARLY INDICATED THAT A PERSON WHO IS NOT AT ALL DEMONIAC, SUCH AS PRAHLÄDA MAHÄRÄJA AND BALI MAHÄRÄJA, MAY OUTWARDLY BE A DEMON OR BE BORN IN A FAMILY OF DEMONS. 

Therefore in terms of real culture one should not be considered a demigod or demon simply according to birth. In his dealings while fighting with Indra, Vrträsura proved himself a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Furthermore, as soon as he finished fighting with Indra and was apparently killed, Vrträsura was transferred to Vaikunthaloka to become an associate of Sankarshana. Indra knew this, and therefore he was morose at having killed such a demon, who was actually a Vaishnava or brähmana.

A Vaishnava is already a brähmana, although a brähmana may not be a Vaishnava. The Padma Puräna says:

ONE MAY BE A BRÄHMANA IN TERMS OF HIS CULTURE AND FAMILY AND MAY BE EXPERT IN VEDIC KNOWLEDGE (MANTRA-TANTRA-VISHÄRADAM), BUT IF HE IS NOT A VAISHNAVA, HE CANNOT BE A GURU. 

This means that an expert brähmana may not be a Vaishnava, but a Vaishnava is already a brähmana. A millionaire may very easily possess hundreds and thousands of dollars, but a person with hundreds and thousands of dollars is not necessarily a millionaire. Vrträsura was a perfect Vaishnava, and therefore he was also a brähmana.

Bhagvat: BY ONCE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE CAN BE FREED FROM THE REACTIONS OF MORE SINS THAT HE CAN EVEN IMAGINE PERFORMING, 18th Aug

Bhagvat: BY ONCE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE CAN BE FREED FROM THE REACTIONS OF MORE SINS THAT HE CAN EVEN IMAGINE PERFORMING.     WHAT, THEN, IS TO BE SAID OF THOSE WHO CHANT THE HOLY NAME REGULARLY OR WORSHIP THE DEITY REGULARLY? FOR SUCH PURIFIED DEVOTEES, FREEDOM FROM SINFUL REACTION IS CERTAINLY ASSURED.

Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi answered: When all the great sages and demigods were disturbed by the extraordinary power of Vrträsura, they had assembled to ask Indra to kill him. Indra, however, being afraid of killing a brähmana, declined their request.

King Indra replied: When I killed Vishvarüpa, I received extensive sinful reactions, but I was favored by the women, land, trees and water, and therefore I was able to divide the sin among them. But now if I kill Vrträsura, another brähmana, how shall I free myself from the sinful reactions?

Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi said: Hearing this, the great sages replied to King Indra, "O King of heaven, all good fortune unto you. Do not fear. We shall perform an ashvamedha sacrifice to release you from any sin you may accrue by killing the brähmana."

The rshis continued: O King Indra, by performing an ashvamedha sacrifice and thereby pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, Lord Näräyana, the supreme controller, one can be relieved even of the sinful reactions for killing the entire world, not to speak of killing a demon like Vrträsura.

TRANSLATION

One who has killed a brähmana, one who has killed a cow or one who has killed his father, mother or spiritual master can be immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Näräyana. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and chandälas, who are less than shüdras, can also be freed in this way. But you are a devotee, and we shall help you by performing the great horse sacrifice. If you please Lord Näräyana in that way, why should you be afraid? You will be freed even if you kill the entire universe, including the brähmanas, not to speak of killing a disturbing demon like Vrträsura.

PURPORT

It is said in the Brhad-vishnu Puräna:

Also, in the Prema-vivarta by Jagadänanda Pandita it is said:

THIS MEANS THAT BY ONCE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE CAN BE FREED FROM THE REACTIONS OF MORE SINS THAT HE CAN EVEN IMAGINE PERFORMING.

The holy name is so spiritually potent that simply by chanting the holy name one can be freed from the reactions to all sinful activities.

WHAT, THEN, IS TO BE SAID OF THOSE WHO CHANT THE HOLY NAME REGULARLY OR WORSHIP THE DEITY REGULARLY? FOR SUCH PURIFIED DEVOTEES, FREEDOM FROM SINFUL REACTION IS CERTAINLY ASSURED.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN, HOWEVER, THAT ONE SHOULD INTENTIONALLY COMMIT SINFUL ACTS AND THINK HIMSELF FREE FROM THE REACTIONS BECAUSE HE IS CHANTING THE HOLY NAME.

Such a mentality is a most abominable offense at the lotus feet of the holy name.

Nämno baläd yasya hi päpa-buddhim: the Lord's holy name certainly has the potency to neutralize all sinful activities, but if one repeatedly and intentionally commits sins while chanting the holy name, he is most condemned.

These verses name the performers of various sinful deeds.

In the Manu-samhitä the following names are given.

A son begotten by a brähmana and born from the womb of a shüdra mother is called a pärashava or nishäda, a hunter accustomed to stealing.

A son begotten by a nishäda in the womb of a shüdra woman is called a pukkasa.

A child begotten by a kshatriya in the womb of the daughter of a shüdra is called an ugra.

A child begotten by a shüdra in the womb of the daughter of a kshatriya is called a kshattä.

A child begotten by a kshatriya in the womb of a lower-class woman is called a shväda, or dog-eater.

ALL SUCH OFFSPRING ARE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY SINFUL, BUT THE HOLY NAME OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS SO STRONG THAT ALL OF THEM CAN BE PURIFIED SIMPLY BY CHANTING THE HARE KRSHNA MANTRA.

The Hare Krshna movement offers everyone a chance to be purified, regardless of birth or family.

As confirmed in Srimad-Bhägavatam (2.4.18):

"Kirätas, Hünas, Ändhras, Pulindas, Pulkashas, Äbhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas, members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.”

Even such sinful persons can certainly all be purified if they chant the holy name of the Lord under the direction of a pure devotee.

Herein the sages encourage King Indra to kill Vrträsura even at the risk of brahma-hatyä, the killing of a brähmana, and they guarantee to release him from sinful reactions by performing an ashvamedha-yajna.

Such purposefully devised atonement, however, cannot relieve the performer of sinful acts.

This will be seen from the following verse.

If you are lovingly devoted to Lord, then irrespective of whether you are doing it for selfless purpose or initially for selfish reasons for worldly gains or for liberation etc., you are on right path having “purified intelligence” (‘सुबुद्धि’) #Blog0078

If you are lovingly devoted to Lord, then irrespective of whether you are doing it for selfless purpose or initially for selfish reasons for worldly gains or for liberation etc., you are on right path having “purified intelligence” (‘सुबुद्धि’). Such devotees attain Godhead even after enjoying worldly pleasures.

"अकामः सर्वकामो वा मोक्षकाम उदारधीः।     

तीव्रेण भक्तियोगेन यजेत पुरुषं परम्।।"

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/2/3/10/                 

इस श्लोक की सारार्थदर्शिनी टीका में ‘उदारधी’ शब्द की इस प्रकार व्याख्या की गई है-‘उदारधी’ का तात्पर्य है-‘सुबुद्धि’ कामसहित अथवा कामरहित हो

यदि वह भगवान् का भजन करता है, तो यही उसके सुबुद्धित्व का चिह्न है तथा ऐसी बुद्धि का अभाव ही दुर्बुद्धित्व का लक्षण है। 

कामरहित भक्तों की तो बात ही क्या, सकाम भक्त भी अपने अभिलषित भोगों को भोगकर भगवान् या भक्तों की कृपा से भगवत-धाम में भगवत्-सेवा प्राप्त करते हैं, इसलिए इनको उदार बुद्धिसम्पन्न कहा गया है

Though ULTIMATELY YOU WOULD TURN TO SELFLESS LOVING DEVOTION TO LORD BY THE POWER OF BHAKTI AS BEING SELFLESS IS THE FINAL STAGE BEFORE PERFECTION.

Guruji of Shivaji, in order to remove the pride of Shivaji, who felt that it was Shivaji who was responsible for all the charity in his kingdom, demonstrated an example that it is Lord who does everything & we are only His puppets #Blog0077

Guruji of Shivaji, in order to remove the pride of Shivaji, who felt that it was Shivaji who was responsible for all the charity in his kingdom, demonstrated an example that it is Lord who does everything & we are only His puppets.

शिवाजी के गुरु गुरु रामदास जी में उनकी बहुत निष्ठा थी                      

एक बार छत्रपति जी के राज्य में अकाल पड़ा   

उनहोने अपना पूरा राज कोश खोल दिया और कर्मचारियों को आज्ञा दे दी कि कोई भी भूखा ना रहे उनके राज्य में

जिसे जिस चीज की आवश्यकता हो ले जाए

एक दिन बैठे विचार कर रहे थे अपने कक्ष में, कि मैं अगर ये कोश नहीं खोलता तो प्रजा भूखी मर जाती

कौन देता इन्हे खाने के लिए

यदि मैं यह निर्णय नहीं लेता तो

अभी ये विचार कर ही रहे थे कि सैनिक ने खबर दी कि गुरु राम दास जी आएं हैं

दौड़ कर गए शशटांग दंडवत प्रणाम किया

भीतर ले कर आए सुंदर आसन दिया

कुछ देर बैठे थे तो रामदास जी ने अपने झोले से एक पत्थर निकाला और पत्थर शिवाजी को देते तो इतने में पत्थर नीचे गिर गया और दो टुकड़े हो गए

पत्थर के बीच में देखते हैं एक छोटा सा गड्ढा (cavity), उसमें एक नन्हा सा कीट (ant) जल पी रहा है

छत्रपति जी अचंभे में पड़ के पूछा कि पत्थर के बीच में कीट को जल देने वाला कौन है

किसने इसकी जल की व्यवस्था की होगी

रामदास जी ने कहा कि आज तो धरती पर दाता एक ही है और वो तुम हो

तुम ना होते तो प्रजा भूखी मर जाती

और तुम ना होते तो ये कीट भी ना होता

चोट लगी है छत्रपति को, समझ में आ गया

कि मेरा विचार अनुशासन हीन हो रहा था

चलते चलते मन कहां पहुंच जाता मगर गुरु का आशीर्वाद और संकल्प था गुरु का शिवाजी की रक्षा करने का

अपने संकल्प की रक्षा करने के लिए चल के आना पड़ा गुरुदेव को

कहीं छत्रपति का मन अस्वस्थ ना हो जाए

ये बात गुरु की महिमा दर्शाती है

GITA SHLOKA 4.35: Perfect knowledge is that the Supreme Soul, Krsna, is the supreme shelter for all living entities, and giving up such shelter, the living entities are deluded by the material energy, imagining themselves to have a separate identity,15th Aug

GITA SHLOKA 4.35: Perfect knowledge is that the Supreme Soul, Krsna, is the supreme shelter for all living entities, and giving up such shelter, the living entities are deluded by the material energy, imagining themselves to have a separate identity. When, however, such deluded living entities become situated in Krsna consciousness, it is to be understood that they are on the path of liberation Liberation means to be situated in one's constitutional position as the eternal servitor of Krsna (Krsna consciousness).

GITA SHLOKA 4.35

TRANSLATION

And when you have thus learned the truth, you will know that all living beings are but part of Me—and that they are in Me, and are Mine.

PURPORT

The result of receiving knowledge from a self-realized soul, or one who knows things as they are, is learning that all living beings are parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna.

The sense of a separated existence from Krsna is called maya (ma—not, ya—this).

Some think that we have nothing to do with Krsna, that Krsna is only a great historical personality and that the Absolute is the impersonal Brahman.

Factually, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, this impersonal Brahman is the personal effulgence of Krsna.

Krsna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of everything.

In the Brahma-samhita it is clearly stated that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes.

Even the millions of incarnations are only His different expansions.

Similarly, the living entities are also expansions of Krsna.

The Mayavadi philosophers wrongly think that Krsna loses His own separate existence in His many expansions.

This thought is material in nature.

We have experience in the material world that a thing, when fragmentally distributed, loses its own original identity.

But the Mayavadi philosophers fail to understand that Absolute means that one plus one is equal to one, and that one minus one is also equal to one.

This is the case in the absolute world.

For want of sufficient knowledge in the absolute science, we are now covered with illusion, and therefore we think that we are separate from Krsna.

Although we are separated parts of Krsna, we are nevertheless not different from Him.

The bodily difference of the living entities is maya, or not actual fact.

We are all meant to satisfy Krsna.

By maya alone Arjuna thought that the temporary bodily relationship with his kinsmen was more important than his eternal spiritual relationship with Krsna.

The whole teaching of the Gita is targetted toward this end: that a living being, as His eternal servitor, cannot be separated from Krsna, and his sense of being an identity apart from Krsna is called maya.

The living entities, as separate parts and parcels of the Supreme, have a purpose to fulfill.

Having forgotten that purpose, since time immemorial they are situated in different bodies, as men, animals, demigods, etc.

Such bodily differences arise from forgetfulness of the transcendental service of the Lord.

But when one is engaged in transcendental service through Krsna consciousness, one becomes at once liberated from this illusion.

One can acquire such pure knowledge only from the bona fide spiritual master and thereby avoid the delusion that the living entity is equal to Krsna.

Perfect knowledge is that the Supreme Soul, Krsna, is the supreme shelter for all living entities, and giving up such shelter, the living entities are deluded by the material energy, imagining themselves to have a separate identity.

Thus, under different standards of material identity, they become forgetful of Krsna.

When, however, such deluded living entities become situated in Krsna consciousness, it is to be understood that they are on the path of liberation, as confirmed in the Bhagavatam: muktir hitvanyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih.

Liberation means to be situated in one's constitutional position as the eternal servitor of Krsna (Krsna consciousness).