750323 - Lecture SB 01.02.08 Hindi and Bengali - Calcutta

Lectures by Date, 1975

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

750323SB-CALCUTTA - March 23, 1975 - 45:42 Minutes

(Hindi and Bengali translated into English) (Bengali starts 36:57)

Nitāi: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. (devotees repeat) (leads chanting of verse)

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ

viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ

notpādayed yadi ratiṁ

śrama eva hi kevalam

(SB 1.2.8)

(pause)

"Duties, dharma, executed by men are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord."

Prabhupāda:

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ

viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ

notpādayed yadi ratiṁ

śrama eva hi kevalam

(SB 1.2.8)

Dharma means to carry out one’s duty. Earlier also I have told that dharma does not mean, that we concoct on one thing and that is our religion, just like Hindu religion, Muslim religion, "I accepted it and that's it." No, religion means, as it is explained in English—duty. You will have to do it, one cannot leave it. Just like a servant he has to take the orders from his master, that is his duty, or else the service will not last for long. Similarly, duty of a living entity, as explained by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is, "mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ" (BG 15.7)—"The living entity is My fragmental part and parcel."

And how is it a fragmental part? Like the tiny parts and fragments. Like my body, your body, and there are different parts of the body—(English) links, parts of the body—(Hindi) like the hands, legs, eyes, ears, different parts. So, what is the function of these parts? The duty of eyes is to see, ears duty is to listen. If eyes don’t see then one is called blind—(English) not is normal condition—(Hindi) that is not natural. It is the duty of eyes to see. If the eyes are unable to see then that is not normal, that is unnatural, it's a disease. The duty of the eyes is to see and serve the body. If body wants to walk, then eyes see and informs that walk from here, legs walk. Different body parts have different duties. This is called religion. The is religion of the eyes is to see, duty of legs is to walk.

Similarly for living entity, the Supreme Person says, "mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ'—all the living entities, all of us. The Supreme Person says that we are His parts. So, just like different parts of the body—hands, legs, eyes—are engaged in service of the body, similarly, it is the duty of a living entity to be constantly engaged in service of the Supreme Person, this is the duty.

These are parts of His body, so as the Supreme Person wants, He takes different kinds of service from different demigods, similarly He takes different services from each and every living entity. So, that is called devotional servicev—"ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā" (CC Madhya 19.167). Devotional service means each and every living entity has a specific duty towards the Supreme Person. The Supreme Person wants everyone to do a particular duty for Him, that is service.

Just like the Supreme Person instructed Arjuna, "You fight," so to fight was Arjuna's duty. That is devotional service, "ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanaṁ"—in a friendly manner, not in animosity. Whatever Kṛṣṇa has said, you do that. That is what the Supreme Person wants, "sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁśaraṇaṁ vraja" (BG 18.66). "Listen to what I am saying. Surrender on to My feet." This is called religion. That is why the Supreme Person says, "sarva-dharmān parityajya".

All the other things that are going on as religion, they are all cheating. The real religion is this—"ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu- śīlanaṁ", this is the real religion. As the Supreme Person says, do that. The Supreme Person says, "man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru" (BG 18.65). This is your religion, my religion. The Supreme Person Himself is saying, "Always think about Me." "man-manā bhava mad-bhakto"—"Become My devotee, pay obeisances to Me and worship Me."—this is what the Supreme Person says. Doing this is our only religion. Whatever else we are doing that is all irreligion. That is why in the Bhāgavatam it is said, "dharmaḥ projjhita kaitava atra" (SB 1.1.2). All the cheating type of religions, except devotional service, whatever else is going on in the name of religion, all this is cheating. Real religion is this.

We have all made our individual religion. So it is stated . . . the occupational duties of humankind . . . we have speculated all our duties, "This is my duty". No problem, do your duty, but at the end by performing your duty you reach the stage of devotional service then your duty is perfect. If not then it is simply a waste of time, it is just hard labour, that's all. The only profit you got is labour, "lābha nā hoila ithe ghatila jaṇgjāla"—Narottama Dāsa Ṭhakura says, "That we have concocted our duty for the body, there is no profit in this, only entanglement." This is the thing, we are trapped in immediate duty and have forgotten the Supreme Person. The only profit we will get out of this is to remain in this entanglement. Nothing else, nothing else.

After taking one birth, we will have to take birth again and again, because of being trapped with desires of the body. That is why it is said, one should ask, "What is religion?" Religion means, as God is saying clearly, this is the only religion, "mām ekaṁ" (BG 18.66), ekaṁ—just like Mayavadi philosophers say that, "You can imagine any form of the Supreme Person, and the result will be the same." No, the Supreme Person does not say this, that everyone is the Supreme Person's form, you are also Supreme Person's form and I am also the Supreme Person's form but the Supreme Person has a special form. That form has to be worshiped. That is why the Supreme Person says, "mām"—means "Me", "ekaṁ"—this Kṛṣṇa form. Kṛṣṇa means Viṣnu-tattva.

rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan

nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu

kṛṣṇaḥ svayaṁ samabhavat paramaḥ pumān yo

(Bs 5.39)

Kṛṣṇa Himself is the Supreme Person, this is there in Brahma Saṁhita, and it is described further "govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ" . . .

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ

sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ

anādir ādir govindaḥ

sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam

(Bs 5.1)

Cause of all causes. The original cause is Kṛṣṇa. "Aham ādir hi devānām" (BG 10.2). The Supreme Person has explained in Bhagavad-gītā, "mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat, kiñcid asti dhanañjaya" (BG 7.7). "There is no one Absolute truth beyond Me." So, the Supreme Person Himself is saying. We should accept this, understand this, and once we understand Lord Krsna . . . it is not so easy to understand Lord Krsna, it is very difficult, but by mercy of the devotee's association . . .

If we understand some topics of the Supreme Person, then our life is successful, otherwise, "śrama eva hi kevalam", it is only hard labor. Bathing in Ganga, applying tilaka, going on pilgrimage to holy places and worship, sacrifice, chanting the holy name, everything, but could not understand the Supreme Person, then all this is just hard labor. There is no profit. The profit will be there if one can understand Lord Kṛṣṇa, "ārādhito yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim" (Nārada-pañcarātra). If one has understood Lord Kṛṣṇa, then what is the need for austerities? Life is successful. "Nārādhito yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim" (Nārada-pañcarātra). And if one is performing lot of austerities and sacrifice etc, but does not understand Lord Kṛṣṇa, then what is the profit in such an austerity? "Antarbahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim".

If you understand that always inside and outside you can see Kṛṣṇa, then where is the need to perform any more austerity? This is the result of austerity, and "antarbahir yadi haris tapasā tataḥ kim" . . . and despite performing all the austerities, if one could not see the Supreme Lord within and without, then what is the use of such austerity? These are the principles of the scriptures.

In Bhagavad-gītā also same thing is said. For one who has understood God, then there is nothing left for him to understand. "Yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavanti (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.3).". This is the instruction of Vedas, that by understanding this one Person, one can understand everything. That is why it is said, that we follow religion, but by following our respective religions—"viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ"—Viṣvaksena" is the Supreme Person's another name—if there is no interest in topics about the Supreme Person, then it is just a waste of time.

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ

viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ

notpādayed yadi ratiṁ

(SB 1.2.8)

By following religion one will become interested in topics about the Supreme Person. That is the result of following religion. All these will be explained later on, what is the meaning of religion.

dharmasya hy āpavargyasya

nārtho 'rthāyopakalpate

nārthasya dharmaikāntasya

kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ

(SB 1.2.9)

kāmasya nendriya-prītir

lābho jīveta yāvatā

jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā

nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ

(SB 1.2.10)

All this is explained. So, generally religion is for humans, for animals there is no religion. These scriptures are for humans, not for animals. Animals will only bark, nothing else. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has made all these scriptures for human beings. It is explained in Caitanya-caritamṛta, "kṛṣṇa bhuli' sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha" (CC Madhya 20.117). The living entity has forgotten the Supreme Person from time immemorial". "The living entity has been attracted by the external feature from time immemorial."

The living entity is only attracted to the external things, and does not know the Supreme Person. From what time it has started? Because the relationship between God and the living entity is very deep. It is not proper to forget. We forget, sometimes we also forget things. Similarly, when one forgets and from what time he has forgotten, he does not know. That is why it is called "from time immemorial". "Anādi bahir-mukha jīva kṛṣṇa bhuli gela ataeva kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa karila" (CC Madhya 20.117).

All Vedas and other scriptures are composed by Vyāsadeva. Vyāsadeva is an incarnation of the Supreme Person, incarnation of Nārāyana. The living entity in this kali-yuga has forgotten the Supreme Person, and they are accepting so much difficulty. Formerly, there was no need to write any Vedas etc. People had very good memories, that they would listen Vedas from their spiritual masters once and they could remember it. There was no necessity to write. Because of the advent of "Kali-yuga, Vyāsadeva had to compile these Vedas, therefore his name is Vedavyāsa. Formerly, students used to learn only by listening, therefore it is called śruti. So Vyāsadeva, 'ataeva kṛṣṇa', Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa—another name of Vyāsadeva is Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana—"ataeva kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa karila." Kṛṣṇa means . . . call Him an incarnation, or His name is Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, who composed all the Vedas and other scriptures. One should utilize this.

What is human life? Specifically who has taken birth in India, for them it is very proper. One who has taken birth in India and who has not studied the Vedas and scriptures and not understood it, such a person has wasted his birth, there is nothing to say, it's useless. There is a very special objective in taking birth in India, that by learning Vedas and other scriptures one should understand who he is, who is the Supreme Person, what is his relation with the Supreme Person, how we should act in that relation, all these things are stated in Vedic literatures. That should be done. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu mentions "bhārata bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra" (CC Adi 9.41). One who has taken birth in India as a human being, not as an ass or a hog, but a human being, he should make his life successful. "Bhārata bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra janma sārthaka kari".

Make one's life successful, because he has got the chance. Only in India in every home there is Gītā and Bhāgavatam, otherwise nobody reads it or knows it, so much foolish we have become. That is why Caitanya Mahāprabhu specifically says that "bhārata bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra janma sārthaka kari" (CC Adi 9.41). "Janma sārthaka kari" means make your life complete. So, what is the process to make it complete? Read all the Vedic literature nicely and try to understand, then only your life will be successful. What is the benefit in reading detective books? No, but we are attached to that only. "Tad vāyasa-tīrtham"—it is mentioned in Bhāgavatam, "na tad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo pragṛṇīta karhicit, tad vāyasaṁ tīrtham "(SB 1.5.10).

In any scriptures if it is not instructed to sing the glories of the Supreme Person, that scripture is vāyasaṁ tīrtham, it a place of enjoyment for crows. Crows, all the stale things that are thrown on the road, crows are interested in that, tad vāyasaṁ tīrtham. And the scripture which glorifies the Supreme Person is for swans—the the supreme swan. The supreme swan lives in clear water where there is a lotus flower, and the environment is very pleasing. That is where swans stay, and crows live where all the bad things are thrown. This is the discrimination even in birds. Some are swans and some are crows.

Similarly, those who are not interested in Veda and other scriptures and are always engaged in other literature, like newspaper, detective books etc. are all crows. Only the supreme swan will study the scriptures—the topmost transcendentalist—this is proper. In India this is immediately possible. In India till today there are saints, devotees who can read the scriptures and make them understandable, so one should go to them and understand the essence of scriptures and make one's life successful. Not that study and just sit down.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu says "janma sārthaka kari". First of all make your life successful and then broadcast it to the world. I observe all over the world they are all engaged only in eating, sleeping, mating and defending. We should tell them, this is India's duty. Go to every corner of earth, big big scholars, saintly and devoted people, go and tell them, they listen. They want to listen very eagerly, that is why they have come. They have not come here to see your sewing machine, when industries made, sewing machines, cycle. That they have already made two hundred years ago. By following that road you will not gain respect, that we have progressed in industries. What can you do in industry? They are hundred years ahead of us. But if you give them devotional service, then they will respect you. That is not there. By making machine we cannot become big. We can make it here bon gaya siyal raja (Bengali proverb). In the jungle, the jackal also becomes king, that is a different thing. If you want India to be respected, then this mission of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. "Bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra, janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra" (CC Adi 9.41)

This should be India's mission. Copying the west and making skyscraper buildings will not make you any bigger than them. They are very much advanced in that. That is why this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is there. The real cultural wealth which India has, devotional service, and Bhagavad-gītā is present, there is no difficulty. Everything is mentioned very clearly in Bhagavad-gītā, explain these things very nicely to them, and you also understand and make your life successful and do "paro upakara". Simple thing, there is no difficulty.

Caitanya Mahāprahu says: "All of you become guru." Gurus are needed since everyone is a fool and an ass. To teach everyone, lots of gurus are needed, but not that guru which talks all nonsense and goes to the west and learns how to eat meat and here he is called a saṇyasi—not that kind of a guru. Guru means as mentioned in the scriptures. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that, "amāra ājñāya guru hañā", "Become a Guru by following My instructions". Not this cheating guru. Order following guru, who follow the order of the superior authority, that is a guru. Not the one who manufactures his own thing. "Samit-pāṇiḥśrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham" (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12), "sābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam" (SB 11.3.21). These are the characteristics of a bonafide spiritual master.

tad viddhi praṇipātena

paripraśnena sevayā

upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ

jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

(BG 4.34)

One who is "tattva-darṣi", that is a Guru—who has seen the Truth, not this cheating guru. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Supreme Personality of Godhead and Kṛṣṇa also says the same thing: "ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati" (BG 18.68) "na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu, kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ" (BG 18.69).

So, If one preaches words spoken by previous acāryas and God, then he is a bonafide spiritual master, otherwise one cannot just become guru. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu says "āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra ei deśa" (CC Madhya 7.128). "By My order. What I am saying". What is Caitanya Mahāprabhu saying? Same thing what the Supreme Person is saying. Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa said: "mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja" (BG 18.66), and Caitanya Mahāprabhu is saying that worship Kṛṣṇa, chant the holy names of the Supreme Person, "Hare Kṛṣṇa"—this is Kṛṣṇa's worship, there is no difference. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu specifically says: "āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa, yāre dekha, tāre kaha "kṛṣṇa"-upadeśa".

This is the disciplic succession. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not instructing something new. He says whatever Kṛṣṇa has instructed, tell that to all. Whoever you meet, tell them. Wherever and to whomever you meet. Is this difficult or what? If every person starts doing this, that Supreme Personality of Godhead wants in Bhagavad-gītā that all should surrender at His feet, that is why I am telling you that you also surrender to God, that's it and one becomes a guru. Is there any difficulty? 'Kṛṣṇa's instruction. Whatever Kṛṣṇa is saying just say that, you don’t have to manufacture something. "Yāre dekha, tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa".

So, it is proper for everyone. As Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, Kṛṣṇa says, similarly Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should be preached all over the world, otherwise whatever we are doing is simply hard labour without any profit. So, "dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ" (SB 1.2.8). Increase your interest, and try to create interest in others. This is the instruction in the scriptures.

Everyone should get together, and explain to others that "kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam." (SB 1.3.28)—Krsna is the real Supreme, "kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam", and He wants that everyone to surrender at His feet, and I am also assimilating His message and like peon, I am reciting to you. "Dante nidhāya tṛṇakam"—all these big saintly persons do the same thing. "Dante nidhāya tṛṇakaṁ padayor nipatya". I am holding a straw in my mouth and very humbly, and in a flattering way I am praying at your feet, this is the preaching topic. One who is humble will listen that, "You are so humbly requesting to speak, then tell what you want to say." Then one should say that, "O saintly person. You are very saintly, and you know everything. This is my request to you that, "sakalam eva vihāya dūrād" (Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛta—Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī)—"whatever you have learned, throw all that away, throw all the far away, "sakalam eva vihāya dūrād".

Then what should I do? "Caitanya-candra-caraṇe kurutānurāgam". Just follow what Caitanya Mahāprabhu is instructing, this is preaching. This is the duty of a preacher. Kali-yuga is an age of quarrel so by forcing too much everything will be spoiled. So, one has to flatter them, that I am falling at your feet and flattering you by holding a straw in my mouth. I am requesting that you are very saintly and learned, kindly forget everything. Only listen to what Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said. So what has Caitanya Mahāprabhu said? "Yāre dekha, tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa". Whomever you meet, in market, at home, in train, aeroplane, this is the message of Bhagavad-gītā, "sarva-dharmān parityajya". Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That's all—you become a spiritual master. So "dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ" (SB 1.2.8).

And one more topic about religion, religion means duty. So, every individual has their own duty, just like I explained earlier. In a real human society there should be four divisions "cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ" (BG 4.13). This must be there—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra. Who is a brāhmaṇa? Who has good intelligence, and has practiced austerities—"Satyam śaucam śama dama titikṣā ārjavam jñānaṁ, vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam" (BG 18.42). This should be taught. One class (English) of men there must be brāhmaṇa, otherwise who will guide the society? Everyone has become śūdra, so who will guide?

In Kali yuga this is the difficulty, "kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ". There is no brāhmaṇa, who will teach? There is no brain. Śūdra means legs, brāhmaṇa means head, and kṣatriya means arms, and vaiśya means stomach. Just like in a body there are four division, similarly society should be divided into four divisions and there should be cooperation between these divisions. Then it is a perfect society. Just like you and I have brain, hands, legs, stomach—if they work in cooperation then body is healthy and every work will be done properly.

That is why God says "cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ". These learaned, ', all these, modern thinking is remove all this and all become śūdras. There is no profit in that. All the workers have taken the position in Government, what can they do? What government can they run? Administrators are needed. That is why the situation is miserable. All the four divisions of religion, this is called varnaṣrama religion. We have given a name Hindu, it is not Hindu. Hindu is the name given by Muslim people. The name in the scripture is varnaṣrama religion. It is not Hindu religion. The divisions of society—four varnas and four ashram—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra. and brahmachari, and grhastha, vanaprastha and saṇyasa. All these eight things have to go in a very organized way.

In Kali yuga this is also impossible and there are no proper brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya. That is why the Supreme has given one instruction in the scriptures that never mind if you are a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or whatever you are, your work is to satisfy God. This is the real duty. Varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ. This has been concluded in Naimiṣaranya forest—big big, brahmins and sages, "atha pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā", this is explained by Suta Gosvāmi, you are all dvija-śreṣṭha—big, big brāhmanas are present here. As per the scriptures this is the instruction "ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ" (SB 1.2.13).

Same varṇāśrama has been spoken here, four varnas and four ashram. "Varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam" (SB 1.2.13). The same thing is here, you be a brāhmaṇa or be a brahmacari or śūdra or gṛhastha or whatever you are, your real duty is saṁsiddhir. If you want to attain perfection "saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam", then you have to satisfy God. In kali-yuga having these divisions brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmachari, grhastha, vanaprastha is very difficult. That is why one work is suitable for all that is hari-toṣaṇam, satisfy the Supreme Person. Then you will attain perfection—"saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam. In kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will be satisfied by simple process, why and how?

harer nāma harer nāma

harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva

nāsty eva gatir anyathā

(CC Adi 17.21)

That is why as per the direction of the scriptures, we are in an extremely fallen condition. That is why "harer nāma"—chanting the name of Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not any name—"harer nāma". That is why it is specifically mentioned "harer nāma". The Supreme Personality of Godhead has many names- Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha etc., many many names, take any name. Recently I was in Tehran, that is a Muslim country. So somebody argued, that why should we take your Kṛṣṇa's name. We said, "Don’t take Kṛṣṇa's name, but the Supreme Person has many names, what name do you understand?" He said: "We call him Allah." So take Allāh's name, but take the Supreme Person's name only and nothing else. "Nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis" (CC Antya 20.16, Śikṣāṣṭaka 2).

So, accept the Supreme Person's name as mentioned in the scriptures, and make your life perfect, there is no difficulty, and if you do not take Supreme Person's name and do not understand Him, "dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ viṣvaksena-kathāsu". If you did not accept the Supreme Person, then this life is wasted- "śrama eva hi kevalam". This is the direction of the scriptures. So in kali-yuga, this is very easy, chant . . .

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare

Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

This is, "kīrtanīya sadā hari" (CC Antya 20.21, Śikṣāṣṭaka 3) "satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ, yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ (BG 9.14) This is mentioned in Bhagavad-gita—that, "Chant My name every moment"—always. Satataṁ means twenty-four hours a day—while walking, sitting, sleeping, eating, drinking. All the time Hare Kṛṣṇa.

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ

yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ

namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā

nitya-yuktā upāsate

(BG 9.14)

All these are the directions in scriptures. By accepting the scriptures, one will attain to perfection, otherwise it is not possible. Otherwise it is only a waste of time. If we leave the direction of the scriptures aside then "na sa siddhim avāpnoti"—"yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya, vartate kāma-kārataḥ, na sa siddhim avāpnoti" (BG 16.23)

He can never attain perfection, "na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim". He is not purified and there is no question of reaching ultimate position. So in scriptures instructions are there. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has preached, "harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam" (CC Madhya 20.117). It is a very easy method. This is our request that please accept this and chant, and your life will be successful.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

(Translated from Bengali)

Prabhupada: Devotee of Kālī means . . . only for eating flesh of goat, nothing else. They are not devotees. "Janam dehi, rūpam dehī, rūpavatī bhāsyani dehī, yaso dehī" (Argala Stotram), dehī . . . "Give me everything and I will enjoy." Ritualistic worship of Kālī is organised for the sole purpose of providing facility to those who want to eat the goat-flesh. This is because, by eating mutton from the butcher's shop will lead to them to hell, hence, this ritualistic worship of Kālī is organised once a month on a new moon night. By organising this worship of Kālī on a new moon night, and they are able to partake the remnants of this offering to the Mother only once a month, not everyday. They keep Kālī in the butcher-shop but this is against scriptural injunction.

Scriptural injunction gives permission to perform ritualistic worship, and eat the animal that is offered in sacrifice. The idea is to restrict. Nowadays they have created an easy way and this violation is going on everywhere. The Muslims are also sanctioned to offer a goat in sacrifice during Bakri-Eid at the mosque. This is mentioned in scriptures in all religions. Even the Christians' Ten Commandments state, "Thou shall not kill'. No one is following and no one is listening . . . they are committing all kinds of abominable sins. Hence it is stated in scriptures:

yaḥśāstra-vidhim utsṛjya

vartate kāma-kārataḥ

na sa siddhim avāpnoti

na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim

(Bhagavad-gītā 16.23)

Those who have forsaken scriptural injunctions, cannot gain happiness, spiritual perfection, and liberation is out of question. In the scriptures it is stated, "loke vyavāya āmiṣa mada-sevā nityasya jantuḥ". Jantuḥ, or animal propensity means that they are attracted to three things—vyavāya or association with women, āmiṣa or meat-eating, and mada or intoxication by drinking liquor which are ordinary attractions.The scriptures stating these things because gradually these attractions need to be reduced to nil, therefore it is mentioned in the scriptures. There is natural attraction between the man and women, so the scriptures advise marriage in order to restrict the propensity for sex by marriage of one man with one woman. Otherwise due to overindulgence, everything will be spoiled. It is to restrain.

A goat is easily available in the market, so where is the need to worshiping Kālī to eat it? It is to restrict. Hence, worship of Kālī takes place once a month, so it is restricted. Buying flesh from the slaughter-house is extremely sinful. The idea is, that by systematic restriction, it will eventually be reduced to nil. The real objective is to give it up because they are unable to give it up immediately, śāstra recommends these restrictions.

Any other question?

Devotee: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: No more questions? All right, thank you.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Devotee: Prabhu, I would like to say something, if you would kindly listen.

Prabhupāda: Yes, please say.

Devotee: I sometimes visit Gauḍīya Maṭha. Puri Mahārāja . . .

Prabhupāda: Why bring topics about Gauḍīya Maṭha over here?

Devotee: (indistinct) . . . Puri Mahārāja was saying that Kṛṣṇa is avatārī Nārāyaṇa, and Rāma is avatāra. Is this the truth?

Prabhupāda: Yes, it is the truth.

Devotee: (in a challenging tone) But, how can my father, grand-father and I be the same person? Nārāyaṇa has not taken birth from a father. Rāma has taken birth, and Kṛṣṇa has taken birth . . .

Prabhupāda: The Supreme Person cannot be understood by this kind of intelligence . . .

Devotee: Does being avatāra mean He is God?

Prabhupāda: Listen. That is why the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa says: "Janma karma ca me divyam" :(BG 4.9). The way you understand birth . . . birth from father and mother, it is not that kind of birth. Hence, He is saying: "janma karma ca me divyam, evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ" (BG 4.9)

Devotee: Kṛṣṇa, Rāma . . .

Prabhupāda: Listen! Listen! The Supreme Person's birth is not the way you have understood it . . . from mother and father, as you are saying . . . it is not like that. Hence, it is stated, "janma karma ca me divyam". What is the reason for stating the word divyam? It is not a material activity. What you are saying pertains to ordinary human beings.

Devotee: Ordinary material activity . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes, as you are saying . . . father's birth, mother's birth, aunt's birth . . . these are all material activities.

Devotee: I am asking about the knowledge that I was given . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes, and that has to be understood properly. "Janma karma ca me divyam, evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ" (BG 4.9) The knowledge that I have understood with material intelligence, is not going to help. We need to understand the real meaning of "divyam" and "tattvataḥ". This cannot me understood by material intelligence. What needs to be understood is the nature of transcendental matters. The Supreme Person is Himself saying:

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu

kaścid yatati siddhaye

yatatām api siddhānāṁ

kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

(Bhagavad-gītā 7.3)

That transcendental quality needs to be understood. He says that amongst lakhs of people, few have achieved the ability to understand, and even amongst those who have the ability to understand, hardly one is able to actually understand this truth. What you are saying that, "Kṛṣṇa and Rāma have taken ordinary birth from the mother's womb". It is not like that, and that needs to be understood. What is transcendental, needs to be understood. The Supreme Person has also shown the way to understand transcendental matters, "bhaktyā mām abhijānāti, yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ" (BG 18.55) That "transcendental" to be understood. Understanding it from a material point of view, will not do. To understand the transcendental, one who has to approach one who has seen the transcendental truth. The Supreme Person, Himself states:

tad viddhi praṇipātena

paripraśnena sevayā

upadekṣyanti tad jñānam

jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

(Bhagavad-gītā 4.34)

This word "tattva" has to be understood, not simply by ones own mental speculation..that will not do. So, first try to understand by approaching a spiritual master. One's limited intelligence has to be kept aside, and (audio disturbance) . . . this is the actual condition. Not by thinking that I know everything . . . no . . . by submissive enquiry and by rendering devotional service. So, by approaching a spiritual master, making submissive enquiry, and rendering devotional service. Thereafter, the one who has seen the truth, will be able to explain and impart knowledge and understanding. Not by ones own mental speculation, rather the way scriptures have instructed, by following those instructions.

Devotee: Rāmananda Rāya . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: That is why I am saying that you need to approach a spiritual master to understand. Otherwise it is not possible to understand.

Devotee: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: This not a matter of speculation. "Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi jānāti tattvam" (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.29). "Prasāda-leśānugṛhīta"—those who has received even the slightest mercy of Kṛṣṇa, they are able to understand transcendental matters. "Janma karma ca me divyam, evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ" (BG 4.9), by understanding Supreme Person's transcendental matters, one is liberated. "Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma, naiti mām eti . . ." (end)