By Nrsimhananda das
Given recent events I’m reminded of Srila Prabhupada’s prophetic words written shortly before he took sannyas. They are as instructive today as they were then. I start with verse 24 in order to tantalize the reader to peruse it in context as it appears later.
Verse 24.
I see all these things going on in Vrindavan
Therefore I can understand that there is some work to be done here.
The prākrita-sahajiyās all commit adultery.
Taking someone else’s wife they go to “relish transcendental līlā.”
This is not Vrindavan as always think like this my dear mind.
Remember the lotus feet of the Six Goswamis.
The Six Goswamis came and preached religious life
They saved the process of devotional service on the order of Lord Chaitanya.
Verse 18.
The Lord himself sets the example in order to teach the jīvas, So one who performs nirjana bhajana simply cheats himself. The world has now become full of Jagāis and Mādhāis, The Nityānanda Vaṁśa has increased its following of disciples. But eating, sleeping, wearing the dress, and remaining so unconcerned — It is not proper for the Vaishnavas to remain so uncompassionate. Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur sang the Mādhurya Kādambinī: Look at his conclusion and see what is his judgement.
Verse 19.
Devotional service is causeless and self-manifesting; It is an eternally perfect substance but has become covered over. The madhyama-adhikārī Vaishnava, being compassionate, Gives mercy to the innocent souls by awakening devotion in them. The Supreme Lord acts according to the will of the Vaishnavas, Therefore by the mercy of the Vaishnavas the bewildered can be awakened. The Vaishnavas can awaken the sleeping world By their mercy the sinful can all become devotees.
Verse 20.
Therefore they do not perform nirjana bhajana, That is the world-deceiving process of the kaniṣṭha-adhikārī All the great and famous Vaishnavas were in and assembly When a foreign priest came in to meet them. He asked some questions about Krishna’s līlā in Vrindavan, But even that company of Vaishnavas was not able to explain the truth to him. The kaniṣṭha-adhikārīs do not really understand the scriptures, But in the guise of doing solitary bhajan, they are only thinking of their next meal.
Verse 21.
Our spiritual master said these are all kaniṣṭhas Now I can understand the truth of what he said. One well versed in the scripture and who has strong faith Is an uttama-adhikārī and can deliver the whole world. He is the deliverer of the most fallen and is famous through the world. Now, save this fallen one and thus become really famed. In the Kali-yuga the jīvas are all fallen and the lowest of mankind. Seeing they do not see the different activities
Verse 22.
The Supreme Lord Gaurasundara is the most magnanimous And His instructions are all full of nectar. One who has taken his birth in the land of Bharata Should engage in welfare activities according to his instructions. The Supreme Lord’s līlā was to relish mellows in solitude, But it is not the play of Vaishnavas to imitate these activities. This transcendental service cannot be tasted by the non-Vaishnava. In the material body one cannot relish this transcendental nectar.
Verse 23.
One who has the material concept that the body is his self Cannot relish spiritual mellows. But those who have conceptions of the Vaishnavas in terms of birth etc. Are very bold when it comes to relishing the līlās of the Lord. Like the clerk in the post office, one caste goswami. The bābājīs all pay their obeisances to him a lot. The Gosai Thakur has false pride in his birth Which Nityānanda Prabhu cut into pieces.
Verse 24.
I see all these things going on in Vrindavan Therefore I can understand that there is some work to be done here. The prākrita-sahajiyās all commit adultery. Taking someone else’s wife they go to “relish transcendental līlā.” This is not Vrindavan as always think like this my dear mind Remember the lotus feet of the Six Goswamis. The Six Goswamis came and preached religious life They saved the process of devotional service on the order of Lord Chaitanya.
Verse 25.
They are all the Lord’s eternally associates and always remember Rādhā and Krishna; Remembering them all the conditioned souls sins are cleared away But if he tries to imitate them taking on their dress and characteristics He becomes the plaything of māyā and does not cross over the material ocean Always preach! From jīva’s door to door Your life will be successful as a result of your preaching. Shri Dayita Das prabhu gave this instruction “Chant Hare Krishna loudly, this is my initiation:
Verse 26.
Kirtan is not just drums and karatālas The sound of kirtan is not this modern system Anything favorable for devotional service is all Madhava And the only enjoyer of the three worlds is Yadava Māyā’s pride and joy, the radio sound Destroy them all by forceful kirtan. Māyā’s is all these newspapers Preach that throughout the whole world.
Verse 27.
Sitting alone in your room shouting, you may increase your bile’s secretion But in ten million births Shri Hari won’t be pleased. Shri Hari is no one’s father’s property Come out of your cage, stop making objection Everything belongs to Shri Hari and Shri Hari belongs to everyone. Chant the Hare Krishna mantra loudly By the performance of such sankirtan there will come remembrance automatically Then nirjana bhajana will be spontaneously manifested in the heart.
Nrisimhananda das has taken the effort to remind us, one and all, that we are maximally benefited by helping others to surrender to Krishna. After teaching the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, Krishna declares that there is no one more dear to Him in this world than one who is teaching this science of surrender to the bhaktas. This is Krishna’s declaration. I recall once while walking with Srila Prabhupad, he quoted that verse to himself and he said: “we are simply living on Krishna’s promise.”
We want to become dear to Krishna, we want to please Sri Krishna. This is the way. When we are always alone, there is more tendency to think about ourselves. Whether we think about pleasing our senses, or we think about our own liberation, we remain self-centric enjoyers and Krishna consciousness becomes suppressed. When we think of Krishna’s service, and help others to place Krishna before themselves always, we simultaneously and automatically become rightly situated. No secondary adjustments are needed.
You will see so many useless ideas of those desiring enjoyment and those desiring liberation. They are all self-centric. They have no Krishna consciousness, no relationship of loving service with the Supreme Person. These understandings are only possible because we have a connection with Srila Prabhupad. Otherwise, there is misconception…all fall short, and can at best hope to lick the outside of the honey jar. Vaishnavas want to open that jar and taste the honey so that they can offer pure love to Krishna, not for their own independent pleasure. Thus, we must recognize that discrimination with spiritual understanding is necessary especially in Vrindaban, so that one does not accept counterfeit spirituality as the real thing. All success to the spiritual journey’s of those followers of Srila Prabhupad and the Six Goswamis.
Hare Krishna. Pusta Krishna das