SB 1.3.43 – Tamal Krishna Goswami Vyasa-Puja Talk

Giriraj Swami: . . . how to deal with the physical absence of the spiritual master or in other words how to always feel the presence of the spiritual master. The same question exercised the minds of the devotees of Lord Krishna when He wound up His pastimes on earth. I would like to read the answer to that question. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto One, Chapter Three: “Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations.”

TEXT 43

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate

dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha

kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa

purāṇārko ‘dhunoditaḥ

TRANSLATION

This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.

COMMENT

So we also feel the same way about the representative of Krishna that he has departed, accompanied by religion, knowledge. Of course he has also left those things, but he has also left with those things. But we can get light in this dark time from the Bhāgavatam which is as brilliant as the sun.

After one talk, I think it was probably 1968 in Seattle somewhat early in the history of ISKCON, one lady in the audience asked Srila Prabhupada, “Is there anyone comparable to Joan of Ark in the Bhāgavata?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Why someone comparable to Joan of Ark in the Bhāgavata? Why not Joan of Ark of the Bhāgavata. Any book that describes the devotee of the Lord who is completely dedicated to the service of the Lord, that is Bhāgavata.” So I feel it is not unfair to say that the Gurudeva meditation book is also Bhāgavata. It describes the Lord and devotees who are fully dedicated to the service of the Lord and therefore it is as brilliant as the sun. People who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from it.

The book focuses on Srila Gurudeva, but Srila Gurudeva cannot be separated from Srila Prabhupada, cannot be separated from the previous acharyas, cannot be separated from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, cannot be separated from Radha and Krishna and Sri Vrindavan. They are all in the book. And by reading the book, looking at the pictures, meditating on the words, meditating on the images, one is associating with Tamal Krishna Goswami, with Srila Prabhupada, with the previous acharyas, with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the whole spiritual world. So it is worthy of being read again and again, of being scanned with one’s eyes again and again. It is completely worthy and I believe what Radhacaran Prabhu said that Srila Gurudeva and higher authorities put the book together using him and others as instruments.

Just add a little humorous note at the end, but even the sales pitch at the end reminded me of Srila Gurudeva because we began with a book that goes for a hundred and eight dollars. So someone could think, A hundred and eight dollars. That’s quite a bit, but it didn’t end there—the pitch—it ended up with giving one’s life the mission of Srila Gurudeva in China. So it is like they say “in like a needle and out like a plough,” or as Srila Gurudeva sometimes referred to transcendental bargaining, if he asked for a hundred and eight dollars, “Oh, that’s quite a bit.” You ask for your whole life to go to China, “A hundred and eight dollars, let me . . . that’s not so bad. Let’s begin there and we’ll see about the other things.” [laughter]

It’s a wonderful book. I myself haven’t fathomed the depths of it. I have just gotten some glimpses of what’s there. I myself am looking forward to this meditation, going deeper and deeper into it. One of the exciting parts is I think I’ll find many of you in there by name and face, and even if you’re not there by name or face, you’ll be there in that transcendental ocean of eternity, knowledge, and bliss.

So we thank Radhacaran Prabhu, Bhakta Carl put in a lot of effort, and everyone who contributed, and to all you who will be participating in the reading of it. You will also be part of the wonderful experience. We look forward relishing with you. Hare Krishna.