Hare Krsna’s Glories – Be cleansed

Bhagavata: “By regularly hearing the Bhagavatam and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.”

Prabhupada:

nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya…
[SB 1.2.18]

(sound of small children)

Bhagavata: Go! Celo.

Prabhupada: Hm.

 …nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
[SB 1.2.18]

Naisthiki. Nistha. From nistha… Nistha means “firmly fixed up.” Firmly fixed up. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ‘tha bhajana-kriya tato ‘nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha. Srila Rupa Gosvami has explained how one can be fixed up, nistha. This nistha stage comes when one is freed from anartha. Adau sraddha. Just like you all have come here out of sraddha, some faith, that “Let us go to the Hare Krsna temple, see the arati, or hear from the swamis.” This is the beginning, sraddha. To create sraddha, little faith, these centers are established. And one takes to faith, then he gradually advances. Adau sraddha. And that sraddha has been explained by Kaviraja Gosvami, what is sraddha.

That sraddha, he has said, sraddha-sabde visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya. Sraddha means firm faith, visvasa, sudrdha niscaya, unflinching. What is that sudrdha niscaya? Krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya. This is the beginning of sraddha. Sraddha means… As in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. If one is agreeable to this condition, that krsne bhakti kaile, if one agrees, “Yes, if I surrender to Krsna, my all perfection of life is achieved,” this is sraddha. Not that “Krsna is also good, and this demigod is also good, you are also good, I am also good. You are also God, I am also God.” There is no sraddha. Just like a chaste woman cannot say that every man is good. She’ll say, “Only my husband is good.” That is chastity. If some woman says that “Any man is good…” Similarly, sraddha means to become chaste, pure krsna-bhakta. That is sraddha.

sraddha-sabde visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya
krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya

Now practically you can see. These American and European boys, they began with sraddha. I told them that “Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.” They accepted it. They did not present so many rascals, that “Here is another God, here is another God, here is another God.” No. Krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma… They fixed up their faith. That is their fortune. They had no hodge-podge idea. Therefore they are making progress. Adau sraddha. Then sadhu-sanga. That sraddha, that firm faith in Krsna, can be more and more firm by sadhu-sanga. Sadhu-sanga means… Who is sadhu? A sadhu means a devotee. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. Who is sadhu? Sadhu means…, does not mean that having a long beard and saffron-color dress. Sadhu means, mahatma means, who is pure devotee.

That is the explanation in the Bhagavad-gita:

api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah
[Bg. 9.30]

He is sadhu, even he is su-duracarah. Just like sometimes we find these American, European boys, from our angle of vision, they are deviating little. But Krsna confirms, “Even if he’s deviating, still, he’s sadhu.” Why? Bhajate mam ananya-bhak. “Because he does not know except Me, Krsna.” This is the certificate given by Krsna. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. Samyak… “Oh, he may be sadhu, but not complete.” No. Samyag vyavasito hi sah. He’s complete sadhu. So what is the qualification? Now, bhajate mam ananya-bhak. The example you can see, how they are making bhajana by the Deity worship. You’ll never find in Calcutta such nice Deity worship. Bhajate mam ananya-bhak. They do not know. All these boys and girls, they do not know anything but Krsna. So this is the qualification, sadhu.

So we have to associate with such sadhus, who has got unflinching faith in Krsna and fully engaged in Krsna’s service. He is sadhu. Bhajate mam ananya-bhak. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manasah [Bg. 9.13]. That is mahatma. We are after mahatma. Who is mahatma? Sa mahatma sudurlabhah. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. One who’s accepted Krsna as everything, such mahatma is very rarely to be seen. Otherwise, so-called mahatmas, they are loitering in the street: “You are God, I am God, everyone is God.” Not that kind of mahatma. Mahatma means bhajanti, “He worships Me, Krsna.” Krsna is bhajaniya, and we are servant. One who is convinced on this platform, he is mahatma, he is sadhu. So we have to associate with such sadhus.

Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah. Pure devotee of Krsna. They have no other desire. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [BRS 1.1.11]. They have no other desire. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam, uncovered by the mental speculation or fruitive activities, karma-kanda. Jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Madhya 19.167]. Not covered. If you mix up karma with bhakti, if you mix up jnana with bhakti, or if you mix up yoga, it is contaminated. It is not pure. Pure devotional service is given by Rupa Gosvami: anyabhilasita-sunyam [Madhya 19.167]. No desire for fruitive activities or philosophical speculation or yogic, mystic yogic magic. No. Simply how to satisfy Krsna. That is bhakti. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anukulyena. Anukulyena means what is favorable, what Krsna desires. Just like Arjuna. He did not like to fight. He wanted to be a very nice, nonviolent gentleman. But Krsna was inducing him, “You fight.” Then later on, he agreed: “Yes, karisye vacanam tava [Bg. 18.73].” This is anukulyena. “Krsna wants it. Doesn’t matter whether it is violent or nonviolent, Krsna wants it. I must do it.” This is called anukulyena, not against the desire of Krsna, but in favor of Krsna. This is called anukula, anukula-seva. So anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama. That is first-class bhakti. Not that “If I like it, then I shall do it.” That is not anukula. That is pratikula. You like or not like, that doesn’t matter. Krsna likes it,; you must do it. That is anukulyena krsnanusilanam.

So if we associate with sadhu… Sadhu means, mahatma means, who are fully engaged in Krsna’s service. That is sadhu. That is mahatma. Therefore it is recommended, adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah. And if you associate with sadhu, then bhajana-kriya. If we… Just like so many thousands of Europeans, Americans, they have joined us on account of sadhu-sanga. First of all they come in the temple and hear for some days. Then all of a sudden he becomes shaven-headed. We haven’t to request. He takes a bead and bead bag, although he’s not initiated. Then, after some days, he approaches, “Please get me initiated.” The bhajana-kriya. This is called bhajana-kriya. So we initiate. “Yes, now you are interested, we initiate.” We give him hari-nama: “Chant Hare Krsna mantra.” This is the first initiation. “And chant sixteen rounds and observe these rules and regulations.” Then, when I see, six months or one year, he’s doing very nicely, then we accept him as my disciple, the second initiation. So this is bhajana-kriya. Then he’s admitted to worship the Deity or cook for the Deity, so many things. Bhajana-kriya.

Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ‘tha bhajana-kriya tato ‘nartha-nivrttih syat. If there is bhajana, then he’ll be freed from all anarthas. Anartha means unwanted things. Just like one man is smoking. Smoking is not essential for living. If you don’t smoke… Just like we don’t smoke. That does not mean we are dying. It is an anartha. But anyone who has learned this smoking, he cannot stop it. Anartha. The result of bhajana will be substantiated when anartha-nivrttih syat, he’s no more interested with some unwanted things. We have practiced so many unwanted things. The first of all — illicit sex, making so-called lusty affairs without any married bondage, illicit sex. This is anartha. Why? If you want sex, get yourself married according to sastra. Then there is no hindrance. According to Vedic civilization, the, a girl must be married. But in every country I see the female population is more than the male population. Then how every girl should be married? Therefore in India more than one wife was allowed. Now it is not allowed. That is the Vedic injunction, kanya-dana. The father must get, find out a husband for his daughter. There are many histories, the Kulina brahmana.

So anartha. We should not create in the society anarthas, unwanted disturbances. The unwanted disturbance is illicit sex. And meat-eating. Meat-eating… Why one should eat meat? No animal foodstuff. Krsna has given so many nice things. Produce. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, annad bhavanti bhutani. Krsna never says, mamsad bhavanti bhutani, matsyad bhavanti bhutani. Never says. Annad. Anna, anna. Anna means food grain. Produce sufficient food grain. So the… In the village side you go, hundreds and thousands of acres of land is lying vacant. Nobody is interested. Now they are interested (in) opening slaughterhouse. Kill the poor animals and eat, but don’t produce food grain. The whole world, this rascaldom is going on. I have traveled over many countries, all over the world. In Africa there are so much vacant land. In Australia there are so much vacant land. But nobody is producing food grains. They, they have kept some cattles, these cows. They are automatically maintained. There is grass. And when they are fatty, take them and send to the slaughterhouse and eat. But the land is lying vacant. The land is lying vacant.

So therefore people are not following the rules and regulations given by God or by nature’s own way. They have invented their own way of living condition. Therefore they are suffering. Now we see in Calcutta or any other… Now it is a problem. Everywhere the problem will be food shortage and fuel shortage, power shortage. This is the prediction of many, many great scientists. Because people are committing so many sinful life, they must starve. That is the punishment. That is the punishment. These sinful rascals must be punished. Tan aham dvisatah kruran ksipamy ajasram andha-yonisu. These godless persons, dvisatah, envious of God: “Why there should be God? Why Krsna shall be God?”, envious…

So these are dirty things. We began in this chapter that,

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]

Abhadrani, all dirty things, they are accumulating. So by hearing about Krsna… Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. You have to hear… Not that Bhagavata-saptaha. I don’t find this Bhagavata-saptaha in anywhere in the Bhagavad, Bhagavata. But they have invented some means for professional reading. Nei. In the Bhagavata it is said…, not said, saptaha bhagavata-sevaya. Why it is said, nityam bhagavata-sevaya? You have to hear Bhagavatam daily, regularly. That is the injunction of Bhagavatam. You have to hear from, not from the professional men, professional reciters. Bhagavata-saptaha, and then, after one saptaha, you do your all nonsense things and he takes some money for livelihood, for maintaining his wife and children. And so many umbrellas, so many suits, so many utensils, and sell in the market, get some money, and maintain them. This kind of bhagavata-seva will not help. Nityam bhagavata-seva. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s order is bhagavata pada giya bhagavata-sthane(?). If you want to realize what is Bhagavata, then you must go and learn Srimad-Bhagavatam from a person whose life is Bhagavatam, not the professional Bhagavata reciters.

So here it is said… And who will recite Bhagavatam daily unless he has dedicated his life for Bhagavan? He’s bhagavata. Grantha-bhagavata, and the person bhagavata. Bhagavata. Maha-bhagavata. A person, a devotee is called bhagavata. And the grantha-bhagavata. So we have to serve both. We have to hear daily Srimad-Bhagavatam from the realized person. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. The guru, the devotee, they are bhagavata. So we have to serve, we have to please them. That is also said in the Bhagavad-gita. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. If you want to learn the transcendental subject matter, then you must adopt three things. Tad viddhi… First of all surrender. Find out that kind of person where you can surrender. If there is no surrender, it is not possible.

So the, the Vaisnava philosophy begins from surrender. Therefore Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. That is the order of Krsna. And what is the difference between Krsna and His representative? The representative says that “You surrender to Krsna.” He never says that “You surrender to me. I have become Krsna.” That is a nonsense, rascal. He will say the same thing. Therefore he’s Krsna’s representative. Krsna is personally asking that “You surrender to Me,” and it is the duty of the bona fide spiritual master, guru, to say to his disciple that “You surrender to Krsna.” He’ll never say that “You surrender to Me. I have become Krsna. Now I have realized soul. I have become Bhagavan.” He’s a rascal.

So these are the process. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. Here it is also, the same thing. The same thing is said in a different way. That is sastra. Actually, as Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita… What is Veda? There are four Vedas and 108 Upanisads, then Vedanta-sutra, then so, so many books. All of them are Vedas. And what is the purpose? Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. You read all the Vedas, all the Puranas, Brahma-sutra, Ramayana, Mahabharata. What is the purpose? To understand Krsna. If you don’t understand Krsna, then it is useless. Your so-called study of Vedas are useless. Srama eva hi kevalam. That is the confirmation of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

dharmah svanusthitah pumsam
visvaksena-kathasu yah
notpadayed yadi ratim
srama eva hi kevalam
[SB 1.2.8]

You are spoiling your energy. You are… Dharma… A brahmana is executing his brahminical culture very nicely. It is very good. A ksatriya is doing his duty very nicely. That’s all right. A vaisya, he’s dutying… But the test, whether he’s perfect or not, or simply working for nothing, wasting his time, what is that test? That is also stated by Suta Gosvami:

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha
varnasrama-vibhagasah
svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam
[SB 1.2.13]

He must understand whether by executing his… It doesn’t matter whether Hindu or Muslim or this or that. Your duty is, by executing your religious principles, whether you are satisfying Krsna. That is wanted. Tasmin tuste jagat tustam.

So the Krsna personally says that “You surrender unto Me.” That is the only business. There is no other business. Simply to see that “Whether I am satisfying Krsna?” So that will be possible… Here it is said that nasta-prayesu abhadresu. Not completely. There are so many dirty things within our heart. If at once it becomes all cleared, then immediately we are liberated person. And that is not possible. Gradually. Gradually, you go on hearing, hearing, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17]. Gradually, all the dirty things will be cleansed. So nasta-prayesu, almost clean. Not purely, not completely clean. Even it is almost clean… Nasta-prayesu abhadresu. How it is cleansed? Nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. You serve your spiritual master, the representative of Bhagavan, bhagavata, and you hear Srimad-Bhagavatam — these are the two kind of Bhagavatam — and you do it. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Nasta-praye… Almost, almost cle… Then what is that? Bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki. The result will be that you’ll be fixed up in the devotional service.

Uttama-sloka. Bhagavan’s another name is Uttama-sloka. Uttama-sloka means selected prayers. Just like Brahmaji is offering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead:

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.29]

There are so many prayers in the sastras. So therefore His name is Uttama-sloka. These prayers are composed by not ordinary rascal poet. They are composed by very, very stalwart, great personalities like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and others, Suta Gosvami, Sukadeva Gosvami, Vyasadeva. Therefore they are called uttama-sloka, selected poetry. Therefore Bhagavan’s another name is Uttama-sloka. He is offered prayers by the great personalities with selected composition of poetry and prayers. So bhagavaty uttama-sloke.

If actually we follow these regulative principles, nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18], then gradually our heart will be cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. The process is to cleanse the dirty heart. Actually, we are clean. Asango ‘yam purusah. We have no business to be contaminated with the material qualities. We do not contaminate. Just like we know… In Bengali we say, tele jale mesera(?). You put oil in the water, it will never mix. Similarly, we are spirit souls, aham brahmasmi. We have nothing to do with this material world. But somehow or other, I am in contact. So simply I have to be contactless. That Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. As soon as your heart is cleansed with all dirty things, then bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam, immediately you become out of this contamination, bhava-maha-davagni.

This contamination means we are in the blazing fire of this material world. Blazing fire. It is, has been… Blazing fire… Bhava-maha-davagni. Maha-davagni. Davagni means the fire in the forest. In the forest nobody goes to set fire, but it takes place. Just like we, in India we thought that “By driving away the Britishers, we shall be happy.” No. The davagni is so that… That is not the medicine. Medicine is bhavausadhi. Medicine is Krsna consciousness. Not that simply changing from this ism to that ism, this political party to this… That is not. Because everyone is imperfect. How they can give you perfect happiness? It is not possible. They are themselves andha. Andha means blind. So if you follow the blind man, how you’ll cross? That is not possible. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. Why they are andha? Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know the ultimate goal of life is to surrender to Krsna. That they do not know. They are manufacturing their own ways of advancing. That will never be successful. They do not know. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They are thinking, “By adjustment of this material world, we shall be happy.” That is not possible. The maya, the material energy, will not allow you to become perfect unless and until you surrender to Krsna. That is her business. Therefore it is said in the Bhagavad-gita,

daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]

This is the way.

So in this verse it is confirmed… The same thing. In the Vedic literature the same thing is spoken in a different way, in different circumstances. But the ultimate goal is how to know Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. So if we follow this principle, hear Bhagavatam… Bhagavatam means the words or the activities of Bhagavan. But the impersonalists, they think the ultimate goal, ultimate truth, Absolute Truth, is not a person. So there is no activity. If one is person, he has got activities. But if one is not person, void, just like a sky… In the sky, there is no activity. The only activity is the sky is covered with cloud, and you cannot see the sun. That is the only activity.

So that kind of activity is not required. Regular, varieties of activities. Therefore we have to hear about Krsna. You’ll hear about Krsna in so many varieties of activities. Bhagavad-gita, you hear. It’s so many activities of Krsna. So we have to hear about these. And unless there are activities, what you will hear? Simply “Brahman, Brahman, Brahman… nirakara.” How long you will hear? And how long you will enjoy? That is… There is no enjoyment. Therefore they, these Brahmavadis, these Nirakaravadi, although by austerities and penances they may rise up to the Brahman effulgence, still, they will fall down. Because we are living entities, we want varieties of enjoyment. We are not satisfied in void, in zero. That is not possible. Therefore srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17]. One has to hear about Krsna, varieties of activities. Varieties of activities. Not nirakara, without any activities. No. That activity is different from material activity. Janma karma me divyam. Therefore it is called divyam. They are not ordinary activities. They are all transcendental, spiritual activities. The Mayavadi philosophers, they cannot understand.

So we have got enough matter for hearing about Krsna. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana… If we simply sit down and hear, we become pious. And as soon as we become pious, then we can understand what is Krsna, what is God. If we are involved or implicated in sinful activities, there is no chance. Therefore anartha-nivrttih syat. By sadhu-sanga, by association with the sadhus, bhaktas, and by bhajana-kriya, we’ll be seen, a person will be seen that he’s no more involved in unwanted things. He’s simply interested in executing devotional service. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya, bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki [SB 1.2.18]. When we are almost free from all this contamination, then we become fixed up in the devotional service. That is…

Bhagavan said in the Bhaga… Bahavo jnana-tapasa putah. Putah. Puta means purified. So this bhakti process means to become purified, purified. That is… The Narada-pancaratra-sutra also says that,

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]

Bhakti can be performed when you are purified. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuk… Upadhi. These are the upadhis: “I am American,” “I am Indian,” “I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am black,” “I am white.” These are upadhis. This is the description of the skin, not for me. Aham brahmasmi. I do not belong to the skin. I do not… Because I do not belong to the skin, then so many skin descriptions… Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that “I am not a brahmana. I am not a sudra. I am not a sannyasi. I am not a brahmacari. I am not a ksatriya.” In this way, “not, not, not…” Then what You are? “I am gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah.” When you understand that “I am eternal servant of Krsna,” that is purification. That is purification. You accept it blindly, or by the process of reading sastra and Vedas, you have to come to the conclusion: vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. Then you become mahatma and your life is perfect.

Thank you very much. (end)

All troublesome is destroyed

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
[SB 1.2.18]

Translation: “By regularly hearing the Bhagavata and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is described as an irrevocable fact.”

Prabhupada: Nasta-prayesu abhadresu. Abhadra. We have discussed yesterday, abhadrani: all dirty things. This material life means dirty life. People do not understand it. They think by nice dress and nice apartment and nicely washed body, that is civilization. They do not know what is the dirty things which has attacked him. What is the contamination, that he does not know. Lokasya ajanatah. It is said that the fools, rascals, they do not know it.

anarthopasamam saksad
bhakti-yogam adhoksaje
lokasyajanato vidvams
cakre satvata-samhitam

The anartha… In the name of civilization, we have increased so many unwanted things, unnecessarily. This is called anartha. Artha means which is substance. So just like we can give so many examples. When there was no so-called advancement of civilization, people used to eat on utensils made of silver, gold, at least metal. Now they’re using plastic. And still, they are proud of advancement of civilization. Actually it is anartha, anartha, unwanted things. At least, in, two hundred years ago in India, there was no industry. I think I am correct. Yes. But people were so happy. They did not have to go two hundred miles or five hundred miles away from home and for earning livelihood. In Europe and America, I see people are going for earning their livelihood by aeroplane, daily passengers. I’ve seen. From Vancouver, they were coming to Montreal and other places. Five hundred miles. At least fifty miles, one must go. In New York, many people are coming from distant place, Long Islands, crossing the sea, and then again bus, again… Anartha, simply unnecessary. People…

Canakya Pandita says that “Who is happy?” He says, “The man who does not go out of home, and who is not a debtor he is happy.” Very simple thing. Who does not go out of home, and he’s not a debtor, he’s happy. So now we see everyone is out of home, and everyone is a great debtor. So how you can be happy? In America the bank canvasses that “You take money, you purchase motorcar, you purchase your house, and, as soon as you get your salary, you give me.” That’s all. Finished. You take the card… American… What is it called? Am-card? Yes.

Syamasundara: Bankamericard.

Prabhupada: “Bank-card” or something. “Bank-rupt.” (laughter) You see? So you take the card and you purchase whatever you like. And deposit your money in the bank. Then again, you are without any money. Simply that card. That’s all.

So actually we are creating anarthas. Anarthas means unwanted things. So just like practical example: anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje. If one is engaged in bhakti-yoga practice, devotional service, immediately the anarthas will be diminished. Just like our students. Since they have joined this Krsna consciousness movement… They were all Americans, Europeans. They knew how to increase anarthas, unwanted things. It is confirmed. Immediately they have given up the cinema bill, the gambling bill, and so many bills. And medical bill also. We don’t pay very much medical bill. That’s a fact. So actually Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that if one takes to it, immediately he reduces so many rascal anarthas which is not required. Does a man die without smoking? It is anartha, un…, unnecessary. They are habituated by bad association. Sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodho ‘bhijayate. By bad association, they learn how to smoke, how to gamble, how to eat… Just like, in India, so-called gentlemen, they go to hotel to taste meat, cow’s flesh, how it is tasting. I know, personally, some friends.

So these are anarthas. So Suta Gosvami said that if you want to reduce your anarthas, which are not wanted… Anartha upasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje. If you engage yourself in devotional service of the Lord, then immediately, directly, the anarthas will be diminished. Which is not required, unnecessary. Anartha upasamam saksad bhakti-yoga… Just like in America, the government is spending lots of money, millions of dollars, to stop this intoxication habit of the young men, LSD. But they do not know. How they can be stopped? The government is so rascal that they do not know. Government means full of rogues and rascals. I tell you, frankly. They do not know. Here it is the medicine given, and it is practically happening. Anyone who is coming to us, although he was habituated to so many bad habits, immediately gives up. No intoxication, immediately. But they will not come to patronize this movement. They’ll pay their officers and spend lavishly for some nonsense program and plan. Is it not? Yes. Here is the medicine: anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje. Teach people bhakti-yogam. All anarthas will be vanquished immediately. Anartha. Anarthas means things which are not required. Anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje, lokasya ajanatah.

But these foolish people, they do not know. Here is the remedy. They don’t consult the perfect knowledge, Vedic knowledge. They won’t consult. They will manufacture their own ways. That, this is the… Lokasya ajanatah. Because these fools, they do not know, how to get out of the clutches of unwanted things. Therefore vidvan, one who knows, vidvan… Vit means knowledge, and van means one who possesses. Vidvan. So Vyasadeva, vidvan, the perfect vidvan, lokasya ajanato vidvams cakre satvata-samhitam. Vidvan, Vyasadeva, has made this Srimad-Bhagavatam. Take shelter of Srimad-Bhagavatam and you know perfectly how you can diminish your unwanted things. And the simple process is, as we have already discussed yesterday, that

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]

If you simply hear about Krsna,… Krsna is speaking Himself in the Bhagavad-gita. Don’t malinterpret. Simply hear as Arjuna heard it. Sometimes some rascals say that “Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna heard directly, but we do not find now Krsna. So how we can hear?” His words are there. Krsna is not different from His words. He’s absolute. If you read Bhagavad-gita as it is through disciplic succession, then you are as good as Arjuna, hearing directly from Krsna. There is no difference. But if you ras…, play rascaldom, “This word means this, this word means that, this word means…” This is rascaldom. If you play rascaldom, then you’ll remain a rascal. You’ll not improve. But if you hear exactly like Arjuna…

As Arjuna said, sarvam etad rtam manye [Bg. 10.14], “My dear Krsna, whatever You are saying, that is all right, in toto. I don’t misinterpret.” Param, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. This understanding of… You understand Bhagavad-gita as it is in devotion, bhakto ‘si. Krsna instructed Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna. He said that this Bhagavad-gita, this yoga system is now lost. Yoga-nastah parantapa. “Now I shall again begin that yoga through you. Because you are My devotee.” Bhakto ‘si. Krsna did not go to find out a Vedantist to teach, a so-called Vedantist. “A Vedantist” means he’s devotee. Veda. Veda means knowledge, and anta means ultimate. So what is the ultimate knowledge? Ultimate knowledge is described: bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. That is ultimate knowledge. After speculating life after life, when one comes to the point to surrender unto Krsna, that is real knowledge. That is real knowledge. Unless you come to the point of surrendering unto Krsna, your knowledge is defective. You may advertise yourself as very learned scholar, but we have got simple formula. Our position is strong and simple. We… We take the words of Krsna and corroborate with Krsna’s words.

Now, when I see, when we see that one man is not a devotee or Krsna, or he does not surrender to Krsna, immediately we take him belonging to the four classes: duskrtinah, mudhah, naradhamah, mayaya apahrta-jnanah. Immediately we take. It doesn’t require much time to test him, what he is, because he has no surrender to Krsna and talks all nonsense. There are so many Gita explainers in our country — simply talking nonsense, minus Krsna. That’s all. Bhagavad-gita means minus Krsna. That’s all. Such rascals have spoiled the whole country, you see. Everyone is so… Politicians, and this, that, all, they are… “Oh, we are student of Bhagavad-gita.” And what do you know about Krsna? “Krsna is zero.” That’s all. This is going on. So therefore Krsna says, na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. So we have to hear. If we actually want to diminish our anarthas, then we must hear Krsna as He’s speaking, without any interpretation.

So this is the process of diminishing all dirty things within the heart. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah, hrdy antah-sthah [SB 1.2.17]. Krsna is hrdy antah-sthah, within your heart. Vidhunoti. He washes all dirty things. Krsna is taking charge of washing your dirty things. Simply by hearing about, you… Why don’t you take this opportunity? What is this nonsense? Krsna simply says that “You hear about, from Me.” Satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. “Always chanting about Me, and hearing about Me.” Simple process. But the rascals will not take. They will make humbugs, jugglery of words: “This is meaning, this is meaning, this is meaning.” Therefore they do not advance. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. The story of anchor. The anchor was not taken, and the whole night they rowed on the boat, and it was where it was there.

Now, the next verse is that if you hear about Krsna from Krsna or Krsna’s representative, not from bogus men… According to this Vedic philosophy, if somebody speaks about Bhagavad-gita, but he’s not a Vaisnava… Sanatana Gosvami has forbidden that “Don’t hear from him.” Because he will create rascal. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. If you hear about Krsna from an impersonalist, so-called Mayavadi, then your future is doomed, finished. And Sanatana Gosvami has said,

avaisnava-mukhodgirnam
putam hari-kathamrtam
sravanam naiva kartavyam
sarpocchistam yatha payah

Avaisnava. Those who are not following the principles of Vaisnava behavior, professional. There are some professional reciters. That is forbidden. Don’t hear from them. Now here it is said, nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. It is not said saptaham bhagavata-sevaya. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Where this saptaha comes, I do not know. Is Bhagavata such a thing that by hearing one saptaha he’ll understand everything? He cannot understand one word by reading Bhagavata-saptaha, what to speak of eighteen thousand verses. The whole Vedic knowledge is there. Nigma-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam. What you’ll understand? This is profession.

The real prescription is given here: nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Every day or every moment, you should remember Bhagavatam. Then nasta-prayesu abhadresu, the dirty things which are within our heart, that is the… The process is going on to wash the dirty things. And the process is hearing about Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness movement, is that, that you hear about Krsna patiently and the dirty things within your heart will go away. What is the dirty things? The dirty things is the rajas-tamo-bhavah. That will be explained. So by hearing about Krsna from Krsna or from His devotee, nasta-prayesu, not completely finished… The contamination is there.

Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,

api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah
[Bg. 9.30]

Nasta-prayesu, one who has taken to devotional service, hearing about Krsna, he has not become completely perfect even. Because, due to his past habit, he may do something wrong. Just like one was habituated in smoking. And he has taken initiation, and he has taken to Krsna consciousness, but due to the influence of some friend, he sometimes, suppose he smokes. So if unconsciously induced by others he commits some sinful activity, that is excused. But if he consciously does something sinful activity, that is not excused. Krsna says therefore that api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak. If he sticks to the devotional service sincerely, but due to his past habit, if he’s seen that he has committed something wrong, so Krsna said, “Still, he’s sadhu.” Sadhur eva sa mantavyah, samyag vyavasito hi… [Bg. 9.30]. Because his faith in Krsna is there. Therefore he is sadhu.

Now one may say that “He’s not following strictly the rules.” But intentionally, if he’s doing so, then it is very risky. He’ll fall down. But by chance, if he does so, the next line says, ksipram bhavati dharmatma. Because he’s sticking to Krsna consciousness, he will be again reformed. Ksipram. Very soon, he’ll be reformed. These are, the things are there. Therefore it is said, nasta-prayesu. Not that completely one becomes perfect. Even prayesu, almost perfect, still, almost, not that completely, abhadresu, he has, he’s trying to give up all bad habits, unwanted things. Nasta-prayesu abhadresu. How it is possible? Nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Not saptaham bhagavata-sevaya, officially. This is karma-kandiya. “I sit down for one saptaha in a year, and then 357 days I do all nonsense.” No. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya. One has to serve bhagavata.

Bhagavata means this, one who is related with Bhagavan. Bhagavata. From bhagavat-sabda, from the word bhagavata, bhagavata. So bhagavata means the grantha-bhagavata, the book Bhagavata, and the devotee bhagavata. So either you read Srimad-Bhagavatam… But Srimad-Bhagavatam should be relished, understood through person bhagavatam. It is recommendation. Svarupa Damodara, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s secretary, personal secretary, he chastised one brahmana. He wrote something wrong, and after all, he gave him advice that “If you want to study Bhagavata, then bhagavata paro giya bhagavata sthane(?), try to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam from a devotee, not from a professional man who is earning his livelihood by reading Bhagavata.” He must be practical bhagavata. Then you will gain. Sanatana Gosvami has also said that avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam. Hari-katha, amrta, nectar, but still, although it is amrta, it is not to be received from the mouth of a non-devotee. One must be practical devotee, pure devotee. When he speaks, you should receive Bhagavata, the message of Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita from him. Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam, sravanam naiva kartavyam. Do not hear. Reject. Professional readers. Reject immediately. Those who are earning their livelihood by the Bhagavata reading profession, you should immediately reject. This is the injunction. Not that “Oh, here is Bhagavata. Here is Bhagavata. I must sit down.” No. Sanatana Gosvami says no. Sravanam naiva kartavyam.

Why? Hari-katha. “He may be whatever he may be, but he’s speaking Bhagavata. What is the harm to hear from him?” One can argue like that. No, Sanatana Gosvami says, “Yes, sarpocchistam yatha payah. Milk is amrta, nice, but as soon as it is touched by the tongue of a serpent, it is, it is poison.” Sarpocchistam yatha payah. He has given this very example. Milk is very nice, undoubtedly. Everyone will agree. But as soon as it is touched by the lip of a serpent, you cannot drink it. Then you’ll die. Now Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also warned like that, that mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. If you hear from a Mayavadi who misinterprets things according to their whims, so then you’ll be spoiled. You’ll not get any benefit. And Svarupa Damodara, secretary of Lord Caitanya, he has also the same thing, that bhagavata paro giya bhagavata sthane. Those who are practical bhagavata, life bhagavata, from them, from him try to understand Bhagavata.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction, His secretary’s instruction, and Sanatana Gosvamis… These are mahajana. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. We have to follow the path of great personalities. Not of the fools and rascals. Then you’ll get the result.

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

This is the process. So nityam bhagavata-sevaya, nasta-prayesu abhadresu [SB 1.2.18]. Not even completely. Because you cannot approach Krsna in sinful life. Those who are thinking that “We are living in Vrndavana, and I can do all sinful activities because I am living in Vrndavana. Vrndavana-raja will cure me, will purify me.” That’s a fact. Yes. But if you go on indulging in such sinful activities, then you’ll have to live in Vrndavana in like the hogs and monkeys. At least one life you have to spend like that. Then you’ll be purified. So why should you waste you’re time in that way? Dhamaparadha. If one is committing sinful activities in the dhama, Vrndavana-dhama, that is a great offense. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. These are the injunction of the sastras.

So we should be very careful. We should finish our business very quickly. Turnam yateta. Why should we take another risk of become hog and live in Vrndavana? Don’t take that risk. Nasta-prayesu abhadresu. Finish all contamination, dirty things, and become completely pure. Because Krsna is param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. He’s complete pure. Apapa-viddham. In the Isopanisad: Krsna is uncontaminated, complete. Any contaminated thing goes to Krsna, He makes purified. Just like the gopis. Actually they approached Krsna in a lusty attitude, but because He was Krsna, He, they become purified. So it is not that we shall purposefully remain impure and approach Krsna, but the process is that if you regularly hear about Krsna and serve Srimad-Bhagavatam, or a devotee, then gradually your contaminated things being washed off, bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki. The result will be bhagavati, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by uttama-sloka, by transcendental prayers…

Just like Brahma-samhita. This is not ordinary words. All Vedic words, they are not ordinary, mundane words. Just like Hare Krsna mantra. This is not mundane sound. This is transcendental sound. Golokera prema-dhana hari-nama-sankirtana. Hari-nama-sankirtana is not a, a, mean, a material sound. Therefore it is effective. But if you contaminate it, it will not be effective. If you take it, Bhaga…, Hari-nama, purely, without any offense — there are ten kinds of offenses — then it will act immediately. Immediately it will act.

golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,
rati na janmilo kene tay
samsara-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jvale
juraite na koinu upay

So this is the upaya. If we actually serious to get out of these material clutches, then we should hear regularly about Krsna from a pure devotee of Krsna. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Then bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki, then your firm steady, steadiness in devotional service will be fixed up. Bhakti… Naisthiki. Naisthiki means nobody can, I mean, push out of it. That is naisthiki, nistha, firm faith, drdha-vrata. In ordinary case, in neophyte state, if somebody says that “Why you are…?” You’ll be surprised. This girl, Sri Sarasv…, Sarasvati… Some boy said, “Oh, why you are chanting? This is not very good.” He, she gave her (him) a slap. Just see. Naisthiki. How firmly she is fixed up, although she is a small child. Bhaktir bhavati naisthiki. Nobody can deviate him (her). A pure devotee of Krsna cannot be deviated. You cannot cheat him. No. He’ll give you a slap. Naisthik…, bhavati, bhavati naisthiki.

So that is required. Tato nistha rucis tatah, athasaktis tato bhavah, sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah. Anartha, when the… The same thing is described by Rupa Gosvami. As it is said here, nasta-prayesu abhadresu. These abhadra, these anartha… Anartha-nivrttih syat. Bhakti, when, if one takes seriously to bhakti path, then the test is that he has given up all nonsense unwanted things. Not that he’s a bhakta, and still smoking. He’s not a bhakta. He’s not a bhakta. That is the test. So these things are to be noted very carefully, and to try to associate with devotee. Tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas. Try to serve the superior acaryas, Gosvamis. Ei chay gosai janr mui tanr das. Make a conviction, firm determination, that “We shall follow only the, the path chalked out by the Six Gosvamis. We shall not deviate.” With this determination, if you can go on, everything is clear, and there is no difficulty to become liberated or become a devotee of Krsna.

Thank you very much. (end)

Krishna Wants His Children

Pradyumna:

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]

Translation: “Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is also the Paramatma in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, does cleanse the desire for material enjoyment in the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His (Krsna’s) messages, which are themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.”

Prabhupada: So Krsna is very selfish. He says… Here it is said: sva-kathah krsnah. Anyone who is engaged in hearing Krsna’s katha. Katha means words, messages. So, in the Bhagavad-gita also, Krsna says, mam ekam: “Only unto Me.” Ekam. This is required. Although everything is Krsna, but according to the pantheist theory we cannot worship everything. Everything is Krsna, that’s a fact, but that does not mean we have to worship everything; we have to worship Krsna. The Mayavadi philosophers, they say, “If everything is Krsna, so whatever I worship, I am worshiping Krsna.” No. That is wrong.

Just like the same example can be given that in the body, I am this body, everything “I,” or “mine,” but when foodstuff is to be taken, it is not to be pushed through the rectum, but through the mouth. That is the only one. You cannot say, “The body has got nine holes: two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth, one rectum, one genital — nine holes. So why not push the food in any hole?” That is Mayavadi theory. “After all,” they say, “the foodstuff has to be given to the body, inside the body. So I can push the foodstuff through any hole. There are so many holes.” Sometimes in medical science, when it is impossible to push food through the mouth, they push through the rectum. That is artificial. But emergency, they do sometimes. But that is not the way. The real way is that food is required to be given to the body, but it must be given through the mouth, not through any other hole.

Similarly, if we actually want our contact with the Absolute Truth, then we have to go through Krsna. Krsna has many forms. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs 5.33]. Ananta-rupam. So… Because nothing is but Krsna, everything is Krsna’s energy, the process is… To contact the Absolute Truth means Krsna. Therefore Krsna here says… Not Krsna. Vyasadeva says, through Suta Gosvami, that “Krsna is very kind, very friendly to the suhrt satam.” Satam. Satam means devotees. He is very intimately in friendship with devotees. Krsna’s another qualification is bhakta-vatsala. Here it is also said, suhrt-satam. Satam means devotees. He is friend of everyone. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. Without Krsna being friend of everyone, nobody can live for a moment. You are… Krsna is protecting everyone, supplying food to everyone.

nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam
eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman

Eka, that one person, supreme personality… There are… We are all personalities. All living entities, we are all personalities. We are not a homogeneous lump. Everyone has got individual, individuality. So every one of is a individual personality. Everyone. So Krsna is the supreme personality. That is the difference. He is also an individual. The only difference is that He is supreme; we are all subordinate. We are dependent on Krsna. If Krsna does not manage things nicely, then we are doomed. Just like we were walking on the sea beach. Such a vast ocean. We are confident that “The sea waves cannot come beyond this line.” We are confident. Therefore we are walking. But actually, the vast ocean, within a second, it can succumbic(?), so many cities. But by whose order it is keeping the honor, “No, not beyond this. You may be very great, that’s all right, but not beyond this line, demarcated”? This is Krsna’s order.

The sun is so big, fourteen hundred thousand times bigger than this earth, and so powerful, blazing fire. You know, those who are scientific men, they know, the sun has got his orbit, and little deviation from the orbit can turn the whole world into snow, and turn the whole world into blazing fire. Where is our scientist friend? Is it not a fact? (Svarupa Damodara makes reply) Yes. It is running under certain orbit exactly, because a little deviation from the orbit will create havoc, catastrophe. Immediately. Either fire or snow. So under whose order the sun is so strictly following the demarcation? Such a big body. Our, in our practical experience, if he has got heavy body, he moves like this. He’s not steady. But such a huge body is exactly… According to astronomical calculation, they calculate, some one ten-thousandth part of a second, in this way.

So we have to study this, under whose order… They say there is no God, but how these things, the natural functions, are being performed strictly, without any deviation? That is replied in the Brahma-samhita:

yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam
raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah
yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

The sun is the eye for all planets. We are very much proud of our eyes. “Can you show me?” What, nonsense, what can you see? Eh? You cannot see anything without sun. You are so much proud of your eyes? You cannot see. Why do you say, “Can you show me?” First of all be qualified to see. Then you can see. But the rascals say, “Can you show me God?” They cannot see even ordinary things if there is no sunshine, and they want to see God. Just see. How much lunatic, crazy. You can see God, but you have to qualify the eyes. Then you can see.

So the sun is our eyes, actually. Not only this planet, all the planets within this universe. Therefore it is said in the Brahma…, yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam. The gayatri-mantra, gayatri-mantra, om bhur bhuvah svah, that is worshiping the sun, sun-god, savita, savitr. So, yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam. Raja samasta-grahanam. Just like there is king, president, similarly, the sun planet is the king of all planets. (aside:) Those who are standing, they can stand near the wall; don’t block. Yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam raja samasta-sura-murtih. All the demigods, they are worshiping. This gayatri-mantra… Yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah. Unlimited temperature, unlimited temperature. For millions and millions of years it is diffusing temperature, and if it is little more, we become, ninety millions away, ninety millions of miles away, still, little rising of temperature, we become suffocated. Asesa-tejah, unlimited temperature. And moving, yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah, yasyajnaya, “by whose order,” bhramati, “is moving,” sambhrta-kala-cakrah, “the orbit.” Sun has got orbit. Sixteen thousand miles per second moving. But moving how? Not a little deviation. Exactly in the line. Because little deviation will cause havoc. Just the same way: a little pouncing over, the whole sea, finished Los Angeles. You see?

So this is the order of Krsna. That is admitted, all Vedas. Yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakrah, yasyajnaya…, govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. So Krsna is such powerful. We should know what is Krsna. And these rascals, they are becoming incarnation of Krsna, Krsna personally present. Where is your power like this? If somebody kicks on your face with boot, you cannot do anything, and you are becoming God. You see? So Krsna is so powerful, at the same time so kind. Just see His kindness. Simply you hear His words, sva-katha, krsna-katha. He is speaking in the Bhagavad-gita. You hear. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] “You just become My devotee,” Krsna says. Man-manah, “Always think of Me.” Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, “Just become My devotee.” Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji, “You worship Me.” Mam namaskuru, “Just offer your obeisances unto Me.”

We cannot do that? Is that very difficult thing? If we hear patiently, with a little attention, and hear Krsna’s words, what Krsna is saying in the Bhagavad-gita or what is spoken about Krsna in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, simply if we hear. We don’t require any qualification, any education, any Ph.D., M.S.T, this, that. No. Simply Krsna has given you the ears. So you can hear. What is the difficulty? Krsna is so kind, If you simply become a little inclined to hear about Him… If you hear and do not understand what Krsna is speaking and what is spoken about Krsna, you do not understand… Suppose you have no education, you do not understand Sanskrit or even English translation. Still, simply by hearing, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17], by simply hearing, punya-sravana-kirtanah. Punya means pious. We are all sinful. Life after life, we have committed sins, and this body is the evidence that we are sinful, this material body. It may be degrees different, but anyone who has got a material body, he is sinful. So every one of us is sinful, but simply by hearing…

Hearing, this hearing is possible in this human form of life. But even cats and dogs, if they hear, even the trees and ants and insects, they hear, they will also gain the benefit. This transcendental vibration. We human beings, we hear about Krsna, we can understand about something that “Krsna is saying like this,” but the small child, or an animal, or even trees, insects, if they hear this Hare Krsna mantra, they’ll be benefited. They will be benefited. This is the fact. Because the vibration… Just like when there is thunderbolt vibration, that vibration has got effect on everything… That is scientific. Everything. Similarly, this vibration of Hare Krsna mantra is so strong that it will benefit anyone who hears. Therefore we are sending sankirtana party. They may understand or not understand, they may appreciate or not appreciate, we are forcing them to become pious simply by hearing this Hare Krsna mantra. It is so nice.

Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. The whole world is full of sinful life. So we are creating the atmosphere, punya-sravana. Chanting and hearing. Simply by these two processes. Punya-sravana-kirtanah. Punya, pious. So anyone who is coming here, even he does not understand a single word which we are speaking, if he simply hears, he becomes pious. Simply by hearing. Even a our child, he becomes pious. And unless we are free from our sinful life, we cannot understand about God.

yesam tv anta-gatam papam
jananam punya-karmanam
te dvandva-moha-nirmukta
bhajante mam drdha-vratah
[Bg. 7.28]

This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. So those who are sinful, they cannot understand what is God. Therefore the whole world is godless. They are so sinful, their life, their civilization, has been made so much sinful, the four principles of sinful: illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling. The whole world is full of these four business. Therefore they are all sinful. He may dress like a very nice gentleman, but he’s a sinful man. So he cannot understand. Therefore it is very difficult to convince these rascals about God. They say, “I am, everyone is God, I am God, you are God, God is dead.” They are so dull. You see? Therefore our business is to cleanse their heart.

So we vibrate, and Krsna helps from within. Krsna said, Suta Gosvami said, srnvatam… Those who are giving, who are taking the chance of hearing Hare Krsna mantra… srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17]. Krsnah is nominative case. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. Anything hearing about Krsna, that is also pious. Krsna is supposed to be doing something according to our material calculation, killing somebody. Or Krsna is dancing with other’s wife. According to material calculation, this is not allowed. You cannot dance with the other’s wife, not in your country, but that is the Vedic civilization. But Krsna did it. Although the gopis came to dance with Him, captivated by His beauty, but they became purified, punya-sravana-kirtanah. If simply by hearing about Krsna one becomes pious, how they become pious simply by dancing with Krsna? This is the theory. Not that Krsna wanted some young girls to dance with Him. He can create millions of young girls, immediately. But were they devotees. They wanted to dance with Krsna, might be captivated by His beauty. But they wanted Krsna. Krsna gave them chance, “All right, come on. Dance with Me. And be purified.” Just try to understand. Just simply by hearing about Krsna, one becomes purified, and what to speak of persons who are dancing with Krsna. This opportunity is there. You can dance with Krsna, you can play with Krsna, you can talk with Krsna.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is giving this chance to everyone. Everyone, without any discrimination. So how it is purified? One may say that “Simply by hearing how one becomes purified?” No. Krsna helps. Here it is said: hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt satam. Krsnah vidhunoti. Krsna helps you. Those who are hearing with attention… Krsna is within you, everyone, Paramatma. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Krsna is with you. Krsna is so kind, Krsna is so sympathetic, as soon as He sees, “Oh, this soul…” Because every soul is Krsna’s son… So He’s very much anxious. Just like a father. If a son is in difficulty, the father is more anxious; “How this boy will be rescued from this difficulty?” Similarly, we are suffering in this material world. Krsna is more anxious to get us back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore, as soon as He sees, “Oh, he is hearing about Me. Oh, thank you. I shall help you.” Immediately He vidhunoti, He washes all the dirty things.

The dirty thing is that “I shall be happy by material enjoyment.” This is the basis of dirty things. The rascal does not know that he cannot be happy in any condition, any material condition. Brahma is unhappy, Indra is unhappy, what to speak of you, you are teeny creature. Nobody can be happy in this material world. They must be always in anxiety because they have accepted something which will never make him happy. Therefore we have to counteract it, these dirty things, that we are trying to be happy in this material world. These dirty things are accumulated within our heart. Life after life, we have selected so many bodies. “Now I shall become tiger. I am eating flesh, but I cannot attack the animal and eat fresh blood.” Krsna is so kind: “All right I am giving you the chance to become a tiger. You become a tiger. I’ll give you all nails and teeth so that you can pounce over immediately. There is no need of opening slaughterhouse; you can directly eat.” You see.

So I wanted to enjoy as a tiger, I wanted to enjoy as a cat, as a dog, as a Brahma. In so many lives, so many planets. But everywhere I have become frustrated. That is the fact. Now, in this human form of life, is the chance to take to Krsna consciousness and make your life perfect.

Thank you very much. (end)