701214 - Lecture Hindi - Indore

Lectures by Date, 1971

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

701214LE-INDORE - December 14, 1970 - 32:49 Minutes

Prabhupāda: (Hindi)

Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. Today, I have received a letter from Los Angeles that in Hawaii, Honolulu, a big group, different from our group, chants the Holy Names Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare. So we have got the news that that party has reached Los Angeles and just like we live a very pure and simple life, they also gave up everything, shaved up their heads, joined our group, and gave all their money to us, not a small amount, but 400,000 rupees. Therefore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. Do lot of saṅkīrtana. Hear the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa . . . (indistinct)

In Bhagavad-gītā it is said, vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ (BG 15.15). What is the purpose of the Vedic scriptures? To understand Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. If by following the principles of dharma, deeply studying the Vedas, or by performing and practicing knowledge, sacrifice, austerity, yoga; one does not develop devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, then what is the use of your hard endeavor? Only useless laour.

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ notpādayed yadi ratiṁ śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8)

One must follow one’s own religious principles, but at the end if one does not develop Bhagavad-bhakti, or devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, then it is only hard useless labour. ārādhito yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim nārādhito yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim antarbahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim nanta-bahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim

It is said that if one is worshipping the Supreme Lord, if one has developed love for the Supreme Lord, if one has surrendered oneself at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, then that person doesn’t have to perform any other austerity. All the austerity is over there. Ārādhito yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim. Nārādhito yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim. And after doing everything, if one has not worshipped the Supreme Lord, then that kind of austerity has no value. Antarbahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim. For one who is seeing the Supreme Lord inside and outside, everywhere, such kind of person doesn’t have to perform any other austerity. Nanta-bahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim. And if after doing everything, one has not able to see the Supreme Lord, then such austerity has no value. This consciousness that one is seeing the Supreme Lord all the time is also personally explained by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā, Chapter 7:

mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu (BG 7.1)

Lord Kṛṣṇa is saying to Arjuna that one should always think of the Supreme Lord. In this way, yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ, taking shelter of my devotee, one who practices devotional service, for him to understand the Supreme Lord, there is no doubt. Asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ. Through devotional service you can completely understand the Supreme Lord, and there will be no doubt. If you perform some other religious practice, there will remain some doubt. Asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ. Yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. One must take shelter of the devotee of the Lord and perform devotional service.

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ (BG 4.34)

If you want to understand tat-vastu, tat-vastu means Bhagavad-vastu, or the Supreme Lord, tat sat, oṁ tat sat, tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. To obtain tat-jñāna, or knowledge about the Supreme Lord, one must approach the Spiritual master. Who is the Supreme Master? Śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham. One who after studying the Vedic scriptures have developed complete faith, niṣṭhā, in the Supreme Lord. So this means of self realization, Bhakti-yoga, it is the conclusion of all the Vedic scriptures, that in Kali-yuga, only by chanting the Holy Names of Kṛṣṇa, and performing kīrtana, one can attain the supreme success. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. All glories to the chanting of the names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. You can see the evidence of it. All the success that we are getting in the western countries, people are taking shelter of the Supreme Lord, all the victory is due to this saṅkīrtana only. The words of Caitanya Mahāprabhu are never going to become false. The victory is taking place. Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. Many sannyāsīs prior to me went to America to preach, but they didn’t emerge victorious. But this saṅkīrtana movement has emerged victorious. Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, prithivite achhe yata nagarādi grām sarvatra prachār haibe more nāma. This is His prophecy. In the entire world, in all the villages and towns, everywhere, my preaching, this saṅkīrtana will spread. You will please practice it. This is very simple and easy. Sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir (SB 10.14.3). Stay situated in your place. Whatever work you are doing, there is no need to give it up. But engage in the chanting of the Names of Kṛṣṇa, and from the mouth of the pure devotee hear the glories of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam (SB 7.5.23). So you all kindly hear from the lips of the pure devotee. Don’t hear from those who are professionally engaged in reciting the glories of Kṛṣṇa for maintaining their livelihood. Hear from the lips of those who have renounced everything for the Supreme Lord. Satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ (SB 3.25.25). By hearing from the lips of such devotees, one very quickly develops devotional service provided one practices good conduct of life.

Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo . . . (indistinct) To practice devotional service, one must accept the following principles: utsāhān, one must be very enthusiastic that in this very life one will attain the Supreme Lord; dhairyāt, with patience, one must not become disturbed, one must execute the principles as given in the revealed scriptures; utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād and one must be confident that since I have taken shelter of the Supreme Lord and the Supreme Lord guarantees that anyone who takes shelter of Him gets relieved from all the sinful reactions. It must be confident about it. Utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt. And whatever injunctions are mentioned in the scriptures, one must follow those rules and regulations, and sato vṛtteḥ. Don’t spoil your vṛtti, inclinations. sato vṛtteḥ saṅga-tyāgāt and remain in the association of sādhus. So, utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt, executing the regulative principles and sato vṛtteḥ, be in the association of sādhus, then it is certain, ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati, that you will make progress in bhakti.

So, this is the preaching strategy of the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement. We want to prepare the people of this world as per the directions of the scriptures. These Americans and Europeans, right from their birth, engaged in many sinful activities which are prohibited in Vedic Scriptures, but they have now given up everything. Illicit sex, meat eating, gambling and intoxication, everything they have given up and become pure Vaiṣṇavas. They only partake Kṛṣṇa prasādam and all the time they are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa. Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (CC Ādi 17.31). We must live our life in such a way that when we are walking on the road, we are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare… This is how one should lead one’s life. In this way, there will be no loss in one’s work, but our human form of existence will become successful and we will attain the abode of the Supreme Lord.

So, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam, all glories to the chanting of the Holy Names of Kṛṣṇa. Why? Ceto darpanaṁ mārjanam, as much as kīrtana we do, that much the mirror of our mind will become cleansed and all the dirt that is deposited there will get removed. Ceto darpanaṁ mārjanam, and all the ignorance will be dispelled. What is our ignorance? Dehātma-buddhi, our ignorance is to think that this material body is me. So this ignorance will be destroyed and thus, you will become liberated. Ceto darpanaṁ mārjanam bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpanam… bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpanam, means you will become liberated. This material world is compared to a forest fire. No one goes to put fire in the forest, but by itself there is a fire in the forest. Similarly, everyone in this material world wants to live peacefully but there is no means of living peacefully here. Fire will certainly take place. Due to some reason or other, whatever precautionary measures one might take, fire will certainly take place. This is called bhava-mahādāvāgni. But there is only one solution to extinguish this forest fire - paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ, when the forest fire is extinguished, at that very moment your śreya-vastu, the most beneficial object, will be obtained. Just like the moon is gradually become full from amāvasyā, the dark night, to pūrṇimā, the bright night, similarly one gradually attains one’s śreya-vastu.

There are two things in this world: śreyas-vastu and preyas-vastu. Just like these small boys here, they don’t understand the serious subject that we are discussing now, they don’t understand this śreya-vastu, but they only know preyas-vastu, to discuss serious subject matters, they don’t understand. So there are two things in this world. Preyas means that which is temporarily pleasing to our material senses and that which brings us auspiciousness in long run is called śreya-vastu. So after bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpanam i.e. after being liberated, one gradually attains one’s śreya-vastu, meaning real happiness. Ramante yogino 'nante satyānande cid-ātmani: (CC Madhya 9.29), everyone, including the yogīs, are looking for happiness. But the happiness of the yogīs is the real happiness. That is not the happiness obtained from the material senses. Sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad atīndriyam grāhyam (BG 6.21), the real happiness is not experienced with these blunt material senses. Atīndriyam, when does one become atīndriyam, transcendental? When the senses become purified through the practice of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, then the happiness acquired from those purified senses is the real happiness. Sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad atīndriyam grāhyam (BG 6.21), so there are so many rules and regulations given in the scriptures and if you follow all that, then in this very life you will attain the Supreme Lord. Otherwise, if we waste this human form of life and simply eat, sleep, produce children and die like animals, then after this life what kind of body will you get? The body of an ass or a dog, or some other animal. As per my different activities in this life, karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa, I will get the next body. So, as long as we have this human form of life, and our intelligence is properly functioning, as per the instructions of these Vedic scriptures, let us do hari-kīrtana. In Kali-yuga, this is a very simple process and by following this process, one will realized the Supreme Lord very quickly. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ, just like the moon grows everyday little by little and on the day of pūrṇimā, becomes full, similarly, by doing kīrtana gradually the moon of our śreya-vastu, the thing which we desire the most i.e. pure happiness, will grow and one day become full moon. Śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam. And what is that happiness? Complete knowledge. Sat-cit-ānanda-vigraha. Sat-cit. Happiness is only possible when there is complete knowledge. Therefore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, Śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam. When there is complete knowledge, then you have the experience of Sat-cit-ānanda. Śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. This all will take place, if you with enthusiasm and determination perform hari-kīrtana, then slowly and slowly, you will experience all this, and those who are doing they are experiencing. This is a very simple process in this Kali-yuga. Kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ (SB 12.3.51). This is a great quality of Kali-yuga.

So, we have planned to go to Surat tomorrow. (indistinct) So, Kṛṣṇa willing, tomorrow we will go to Surat. This is our request to you that this hari-kīrtana, which we are preaching, is not a new thing for India, but still this must be performed with a pure mood, that is our endeavor. For a pure mood, these four things, which are said in the scriptures as yatra pāpaś catur-vidhāḥ (SB 1.17.38), four kinds of sinful activities, have to be given up - Illicit sex, meat eating, gambling and intoxication. If we stay away from these four things and perform the austerity of observing Ekādaśī, which comes twice in a month, and always perform hari-kīrtana, see how our lives will transform for good. This is a very simple process. It is not required to study the Vedas or Vedānta, as that is not possible in Kali-yuga. The people of Kali-yuga are called as mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā, their bhāgyā, or fortune is manda, or bad. So there is no good quality in Kali-yuga but harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā (CC Ādi 17.21). It is not difficult. As per the direction of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, do this and in the Names of Kṛṣṇa, all the energies of Kṛṣṇa are invested. There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s name. Just like Kṛṣṇa is supremely powerful, similarly Kṛṣṇa’s name is also supremely powerful. Nāma-cintāmaṇi kṛṣṇa-caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-muktaḥ abhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ. This is the verdict of all the scriptures. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said this. This is a very heavy science. But you will easily understand all this by kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hari, always chanting the names of Hari. Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror iva sahiṣṇunā. Just see all these Europeans and Americans are chanting on beads, everywhere they are chanting, but you all fear that if you go to the market and chant what people will say. But it is not difficult. It is very easy.

Why we are not able to do it? Because there is hesitation. This is called tṛṇād api sunīcena. If you are chanting in the market and some people come, your friend or relative comes; you must tolerate and continue to chant. You see so many people moving around in the market with radio in hand. They don’t feel shy. But if you take chanting beads around in your hand, you feel extremely shy. Why? Why no shyness in carrying around radio and so much hesitation in carrying around chanting beads? Because we think that this is a very humiliating situation. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu is saying that if there is any humiliation, then tolerate it. Tṛṇād api sunīcena. How to tolerate? Just like there are some straw pieces lying in the street and people trample over it, but it doesn’t say anything. Tṛṇa means straw. So be humble like straw in the street. Taror api sahiṣṇunā. Just like a tree is so very tolerant. Someone takes away flowers from it, someone takes away fruits, someone even cuts it down, but it doesn’t complain. Being completely tolerant at all times, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hari, at all times chant Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. (indistinct)

Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hari (Śikśāṣṭaka 3). While doing kīrtana, while chanting the Holy Names, what prayer should we do to the Supreme Lord? O Lord, I am very poor, please give me wealth; or I am in lot of distress, please remove my distress. No. Don’t pray like this. What prayer should we do? Na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi (CC Antya 20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka 4). Those who are devotees of the Supreme Lord, they don’t ask anything from the Lord. They say, “I don’t want wealth, and I also don’t followers. Neither do I want sundarīṁ, or beautiful women.” What all the people of the world want, a devotee doesn’t want all such things. So what do they want? Mama janmani janmanīśvare. They don’t even desire for liberation. What they only want is, “Wherever I might take birth, I desire causeless devotion at Your lotus feet. That’s all.” Not doing bhakti for some cause. Not that we want something from Kṛṣṇa, and therefore we do His bhakti. In this way, your life will be successful. (indistinct)

What is the need to ask something from Kṛṣṇa? Does Kṛṣṇa not know what you need? Kṛṣṇa knows everything. Just ask for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and you will get everything. Akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā: (SB 2.3.10), if you desire to enjoy this material world, Kṛṣṇa will fulfill that desire also if you do kīrtana. If you want to earn money also, still do kīrtana. Mokṣa-kāma. And if you desire liberation like the jñānīs, or the impersonalists, then you will get that also. Akāmaḥ, who are devotees, who only want devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, they also get their desires fulfilled. It is such a simple process. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. Na dhanaṁ na janaṁ. And which other prayer should one do? Ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya [CC Antya 20.32, Śikṣāṣṭaka 5]. "O son of Nanda Mahārāja, O Hari, Kṛṣṇa, beloved of Nanda, I am Your eternal servant. But somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of this material world. Kindly pick me up and fix me as a speck of dust at Your lotus feet." Ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau. I have fallen into the ocean of this material world. [Inaudible]

Therefore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya. And like this, by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, when love for Kṛṣṇa will arise, which is the actual goal of life, premā pumartho mahān, to achieve the love of Godhead is the highest perfection of life. Then at that time what happens? Nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati (CC Antya 20.36). By chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, just like there is downpour of rain, there will incessant flow of tears from the eyes. So this is the process. Only this paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. So slowly and gradually, after practicing you will experience all this. We are trying to preach this message and we request you for your kind cooperation. (indistinct) (end).