SB 2.8.5

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna, my dear devotees. I will begin by singing maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers and leading a short kirtan and then I will speak on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

[Prayers and kirtan]

Reading from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto Two, Chapter Eight, “Questions by King Pariksit,” Text Five.

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya,

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya,

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

TEXT 5

praviṣṭaḥ karṇa-randhreṇa
svānāṁ bhāva-saroruham
dhunoti śamalaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ
salilasya yathā śarat

TRANSLATION

The sound incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul [i.e., Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam], enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger, and hankering. Thus it acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

It is said that a single pure devotee of the Lord can deliver all the fallen souls of the world. Thus one who is actually in the confidence of a pure devotee like Nārada or Śukadeva Gosvāmī and thus is empowered by one’s spiritual master, as Nārada was by Brahmājī, can not only deliver himself from the clutches of māyā, or illusion, but can deliver the whole world by his pure and empowered devotional strength.

COMMENT

Of course, here we think of our Srila Prabhupada, who was certainly empowered to deliver the whole world.

PURPORT (continued)

The comparison to the autumnal rain that falls on muddy reservoirs of water is very appropriate. During the rainy season, all the waters of the rivers become muddy, but in the month of July-August, the autumn season, when there is a slight rainfall, the muddy waters of the rivers all over the world become at once clear. By addition of some chemical, a small reservoir of water like that of a metropolitan waterworks tank can be cleared, but by such a tiny effort it is not possible to clear up all the reservoirs of water like the rivers. A powerful pure devotee of the Lord, however, can deliver not only his personal self but also many others in his association.

COMMENT

So we can understand the value of the association of pure devotees, the benefit we get from the association of pure devotees.

PURPORT (continued)

In other words, the cleansing of the polluted heart by other methods (like the culture of empiric knowledge or mystic gymnastics) can simply cleanse one’s own heart, but devotional service to the Lord is so powerful that it can cleanse the hearts of the people in general, by the devotional service of the pure, empowered devotee.

COMMENT

So again, we think of Srila Prabhupada how he was able to, by bhakti-yoga, cleanse not only his own heart, but devotional service to the Lord is so powerful that it can cleanse the heart of the people in general by the devotional service of the pure, empowered devotee.

PURPORT (continued)

A true representative of the Lord like Nārada, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Lord Caitanya, the Six Gosvāmīs, and later Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, etc., can deliver all people by their empowered devotional service.

COMMENT

So of course Srila Prabhupada didn’t mention his own name in this list, but he definitely follows in the same line.

PURPORT (continued)

By sincere efforts to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one realizes his constitutional relationship with the Lord in the transcendental humor of servitude, friendship, parental affection, or conjugal love, and by such self-realization one becomes situated at once in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

COMMENT

So it is so important to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami enumerates sixty-four items of devotional service and he says that of the sixty-four, five are most potent and even a slight association with one of the five can awaken dormant love. for Krishna. And the five are sādhu-saṅga, nāma-kīrtana, bhāgavata-śravaṇa, mathurā-vāsa, and mūrtira śraddhāya sevana.

So sādhu-saṅga in a general sense means association with devotees, but Srila Rupa Gosvami gives a very specific definition of sādhu-saṅga. Sajātīyāśaye snigdhe sādhau saṅga svato vare. So Sajātīyā, in a literal sense means belonging to the same caste or community. And in our context, it would mean a follower of Srila Prabhupada. And snigdhe means that the sadhu should be affectionate to you. Sajātīyāśaye snigdhe sādhau saṅga svato vare. And svato vare means that the sadhu should be more advanced than you are. So sādhu-saṅga, nāma-kīrtana, chanting the holy names of the Lord; bhāgavata-śravaṇa, hearing Bhagavad-gītā, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; mathurā-vāsa—residing in Mathura, or Vrindavan, or Navadvipa, or Mayapur.

Once I did a program with His Holiness Gaura Govinda Svami Maharaja at the ISKCON-Vedic farm in Bona Kai. And after the program, somehow, I mentioned these five most potent items of devotional service. And when I mentioned mathurā-vāsa. His Holiness His Holiness Gaura Govinda Svami Maharaja looked me in the eye and said, “Kamsa also resided in Mathura.” But of course, it is very potent if you are in the right devotional attitude. So yes, sādhu-saṅga, nāma-kīrtana, bhāgavata-śravaṇa, mathurā-vāsa, and mūrtira śraddhāya sevana, to serve the deity with faith and veneration. These are the five most potent items of devotional service and according to Srila Rupa Gosvami, even a slight association with any one of them is sufficient to awaken dormant love for Krishna.

PURPORT (continued)

Not only were all the pure devotees like Nārada self-realized souls, but they were engaged in preaching work automatically by spiritual impetus, and thus they delivered many poor souls entangled in the material modes.

COMMENT

So yes, there are two words in Sanskrit, bhajanānandī and goṣṭhyānandī; bhajanānandī means one who takes pleasure in. one’s own bhajana. And goṣṭhyānandī means one who takes pleasure in preaching, sharing Krishna consciousness with others. And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that the best goṣṭhyānandī is a bhajanānandī who preaches. In other words, if we ourselves relish our spiritual practices, we will get more impetus to preach and share the benefit that we have gotten with others.

PURPORT (continued)

They became so powerful because they sincerely followed the Bhāgavatam principles by regular hearing and worshiping. By such actions the accumulated material lusts, etc., become cleansed by the personal endeavor of the Lord within the heart.

COMMENT

So it is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Canto, Second Chapter, śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ, that hearing about Krishna itself is a pious activity and the Lord who is situated within the heart of the truthful devotee, as his well-wishing friend, suhṛt satām, cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from within the heart of the devotee. So by our own efforts, we cannot clean our hearts, but by the mercy of the Lord, combined with our own efforts, we can become purified.

Purport (continued)

The Lord is always within the heart of the living being, but He becomes manifested by one’s devotional service.

Purification of the heart by culture of knowledge or mystic yoga may be all right for the time being for an individual person, but it is like the cleansing of a small quantity of stagnant water by chemical processes. Such clarification of water may stand for the time being and the sediments settle down, but by a slight agitation everything becomes muddy. The idea is that devotional service to the Lord is the only method of cleansing the heart for good. Whereas other methods may be superficially good for the time being, there is a risk of becoming muddy again due to agitation of the mind. Devotional service to the Lord, with specific attention for hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and always, is the best recommended method for liberation from the clutches of illusion.

COMMENT

So, devotional service to the Lord, with specific attention for hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and always, is the best recommended method for liberation from the clutches of illusion. So yes, nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. Once I was with Srila Prabhupada in Calcutta, and Srila Prabhupada was keeping us so busy with service that I didn’t have time to read, and I felt guilty about it. And sitting in front of Srila Prabhupada, I didn’t say anything, but perhaps he could read my mind. And he himself quoted a verse just after the one we quoted from the First Canto, Second Chapter.

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

And the translation is, by regular attendance in the class of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, or by serving the pure devotee. Both are Bhāgavatas; Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a Bhāgavata, and a pure devotee is another bhāgavata. So, Srila Prabhupada was saying that, he actually said directly that by serving the pure devotee, the person bhāgavata all the truths of the book Bhāgavata will be revealed even if you don’t read the book Bhāgavata.

Of course, we should, but as I mentioned, at the time, Srila Prabhupada was keeping us so busy in his service that we didn’t have time to read. But he encouraged me. that by serving the person bhāgavata, all the truths of the book Bhāgavata will be revealed, even if you don’t read the book. So these two Bhāgavatas, the book Bhāgavata and the person bhāgavata, are very powerful and very merciful. And we should dedicate our lives to both, serving the book Bhāgavata by reading it and distributing it, sharing its knowledge with others, and serving the person bhāgavata, following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and serving his mission. And that will cleanse our hearts, naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu. All that is inauspicious in the heart is destroyed almost nill, by serving the person bhāgavata and the book Bhāgavata. And then become free from lust, anger, and all of those things, you become enlivened and happy in Krishna consciousness. So, yes, whenever we have time, we should chant. As Srila Prabhupada said at one talk in Los Angeles, “If you have time, chant Hare Krishna. Don’t speak nonsense. Don’t waste time. Chant Hare Krishna.” So let us all chant.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

So, my dear devotees, thank you for listening so patiently and attentively. And now, if any of you have any questions or any comments, any reflections to share, you can raise your hand.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Thank you for the nice, vivacious, and high-defended messages. In the verse, it mentions that a pure devotee can empower a disciple, a follower. The question is what is the quality of the purification that the disciple should have to get empowered?

Giriraj Swami: Well, one should be surrendered to the guru, and one should sincerely desire to serve him and further his mission. And the guru wants to empower the disciple, but he just wants to see that the disciple is sincere and serious and will not misuse his position in any way. After Srila Prabhupada formed the GBC, I was under the impression that they were in a different category of devotee and when the first GBC fell down, I Thought well, maybe it is a fluke. But then when the second fell down. a question came to my mind. And so I asked Srila Prabhupada that, “You know all about us, you know us better than we know ourselves, but still we see that sometimes you put someone in a very exalted position and then he falls down. So how is that?” And Srila Prabhupada replied that, “The living entity is always marginal. So whatever position he is in, he can use it either for Krishna’s service or for sense gratification. So the spiritual master will put the disciple in the best position for service, but the disciple can always misuse the position for sense gratification.” So, you have to be very careful; always have to be very careful and pray. In one talk at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Srila Prabhupada addressed the devotees in the audience and he said, “The difference between you and me is that you can fall down, but I can never fall down.” So then after the class, Srila Prabhupada came in front of the deities and was praying to the deities. And one disciple asked him, “What were you praying?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “I was praying that I may never fall down.” And the disciple said, “But you just said that you could never fall down.” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, because I am always praying that I may never fall down. Therefore, I can never fall down.”

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. The question is, we are outside of Hare Krishna or outside of Krishna consciousness. We are in a family unit and we are enjoying material life. And then, one of the members is different from each other, think that, okay, let me try something like Hare Krishna or Krishna consciousness. And slowly that relationship, it was there in the family, they disturbed but we have been so many years together and all of a sudden you become an outcast. How do you deal with that?

Giriraj Swami: So, you are saying that you are part of a family and everyone is enjoying together in material life, but then one of the family members becomes a devotee and the other family members get disturbed.

Well, the best thing, it may not always be possible, but the best thing would be to bring the other family members to Krishna consciousness. Bring them to the temple, let them enjoy the kirtan and hear the philosophy and have prasāda because we want to bring them along with us. And especially as stated in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, no one should become a mother, no one should become a father, no one should become a husband, no one should become a guru unless one can deliver one’s dependence from the repetition of birth and death. So, if you are a husband, you have the responsibility to deliver your wife and children from the repetition of birth and death. And that can be done only by your becoming a pure devotee. That is what Srila Prabhupada says in the purport. Pure devotee means not necessarily that you are fully self-realized, but you are not engaging in devotional service for any material gain. So yes, that is your responsibility to deliver your dependents from the repetition of birth and death. So we have to somehow or other try to bring the rest of the family to Krishna consciousness. They may not agree, ultimately, because every living entity has minute independence, and Krishna doesn’t interfere with the living entity’s minute independence. As they say, ‘You can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ But still, we can try our best. And my advice to people who are devotees, but whose family members are not devotees, is twofold. One, they should be happy, and they should deal very nicely with their family members. And if their family members see that they are happy and that they are dealing with them nicely, then they will become inclined to Krishna consciousness. They will think, ‘Oh, Krishna consciousness is good.’ Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Thank you for the class. So, devotees have been in the movement for some many years and they become complacent. So Maharaja, how do we avoid this complacency because this will prevent us from advancing in our spiritual life, as we become older and older?

Giriraj Swami: We should never become complacent. We should always think that we can do more, and we can do better. And we should always strive to improve. Yes, if we become complacent, it means we haven’t really appreciated what devotional service is, because there is no scope for complacency. We should always be striving to do more and to be better. And Srila Prabhupada said, 90 percent of Krishna consciousness is association. So if we associate with more advanced devotees, then that will protect us from becoming complacent. We will see how much more we can do or how much better we can do. So yes, that is an important question. Hare Krishna.

Brihad-Bhagavata Swami Maharaja: I do have a question for you. When you quoted the verse, naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu. it says that the internal state is reduced almost to nil. It is not destroyed; it is still there?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, that is prāyeṣv, almost to nil. Srila Prabhupada said 75 percent; 75 percent is destroyed, but by continuing with the process, as described in the subsequent verses, the other 25 percent will also go. The 75 percent is not bad. It is very good.

Brihad-Bhagavata Swami Maharaja: Any more questions? Matajis, Vaishanvis?

[Brihad-Bhagavata Swami Maharaja speaks about the book]