SB 10.1.4 – Sri Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations—Part 03

[Devotee gives comment]

[00:13:00]

Giriraj Swami: Yes, the two don’t go together- trying for material advancement and at the same time trying for spiritual development. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives the example of going in opposite direction. It is like going west and trying to reach the east. And Queen Kunti also speaks about being materially exhausted that those who are on the path of material advancement trying to improve their positions with aristocratic birth, and education, beauty and so on, they cannot feelingly chant the holy name of the Lord. But only one who is materially exhausted can do so. So yes, it is important to be materially exhausted, and the same point is coming here that when one is material exhausted he can relish kṛṣṇa-kathā. And there is also that verse that Krishna speaks in the Tenth Canto,

yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi 

hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ

That, “When I am especially mercifully inclined to a devotee the first installment of My special mercy is that I take everything away from him.”

I think the other day I heard you quote a story I told.

Devotee: I quote it all the time. It is one of my favorite stories ever. And it never ceases to get a rise from the audience.

Giriraj Swami: So yes, Srila Prabhupada had a disciple in Delhi, a follower, devotee in Delhi who was translating his books into Hindi. And the boy’s father had a problem with smoking. So once they came to meet Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada asked the father whether he had given up smoking. And the father said, “No, but can’t I get some special mercy?” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, a special mercy is there.” And then he quoted this verse- yasyāham

anugṛhṇāmi—that Krishna will take everything away from you. “So do you want special mercy?” And the father said, “No, no Srila Prabhupada, I will do it myself.”

Devotee: Which takes us back to. . .

Please go ahead.

Giriraj Swami: No, I was just thinking about the pastimes in the Eighth Canto about Bali Maharaja and how Krishna blessed him by taking everything away from him. And as the discussion continues Srila Prabhupada says that yes, it is Krishna’s special mercy to take everything away but it is an even greater mercy when the devotee can have everything, keep everything and engage it exclusively in Krishna’s service, so Krishna doesn’t have to take it away.

And Srila Prabhupada said of himself that first Krishna tested me by taking everything away and then Krishna tested me by giving me everything. And Srila Prabhupada of course passed both tests. The test is - if Krishna takes something away from you, are you more attached to what He took away, are you going to try to get back what He took away, or are you going to stay with Krishna? And the same thing with Krishna giving you everything - Are you going to try to enjoy what Krishna gave you and forget about Krishna or are you going to stay with Krishna and just use whatever He gave you in His service?