From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
Date: February 22, 2017
Speaker: HH Devamrita Swami Subject: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.12
Verse:
kathā madīyā juṣamāṇaḥ priyās tvam
sarveṣu bhūteṣv adhiyajñam īśaṁ
yajasva yogena ca karma hinvan
TRANSLATION
It does not matter that you are in the material world. You should always, continuously, hear the instructions and messages given by Me and always be absorbed in thought of Me, for I am the Supersoul existing in the core of everyone’s heart. Therefore, give up fruitive activities and worship Me.
PURPORT
When a devotee becomes materially very opulent, one should not think that he is enjoying the results of his fruitive activities. A devotee in this material world uses all material opulences for the service of the Lord because he is planning how to serve the Lord with these opulence, as advised by the Lord Himself. Whatever material opulence is within his possession he engages to expand the glories and service of the Lord. A devotee never performs any fruitive or ritualistic ceremony to enjoy the results of such karma. Rather, a devotee knows that karma–kāṇḍa is meant for the less intelligent man. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says in his prema–bhakti–candrikā, karma–kāṇḍa, jñāna–kāṇḍa, kevalaviṣerabhāṇḍa: both karma–kāṇḍa and jñāna–kāṇḍa—fruitive activities and speculation about the Supreme Lord—are like pots of poison. One who is attracted to karma–kāṇḍa and jñāna–kāṇḍa spoils his existence as a human being. Therefore a devotee is never interested in karma–kāṇḍa or jñāna–kāṇḍa, but is simply interested in favorable service to the Lord (ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam), or cultivation of spiritual activities in devotional service.
LECTURE:
Sriman Narsimha, the Lord Nrsimhadev has requested Prahlad to stay in the material world and rule the demons. For the remainder period of one Manu that’s approximately if you take the reign of Manu that’s about 300,000 years. You might think well Prahlad gets to enjoy the opulence of the demons for 300,000 years, this is a good deal. It doesn’t get any better than that. And then by the way, after that of course he goes back to Godhead. So, this is the kind of Supreme Personality of Godhead that we can related to.
But let’s look at things at Prahlad’s point of view. You have Prahlad, both at the situation of extraordinary anger and extraordinary affection. Lord Nrsimhadev’s anger defines all impersonalistic conception of Supreme Absolute Truth. Indeed, for the non-devotees, especially one who is demonic Lord Nrsimhadev is the ultimate horror movie. But the same ultimate horror movie for Prahlad is the most affectionate personality. You can recall Lord Nrsimhadev’s anger. Brahma himself was afraid that Lord Narasimha dev would destroy the whole universe. Brahma himself, made a plea to Lord Nrsimhadev, kindly subdue your angry, it did no good. All the greatest personalities of universe were present, trying to pacify Lord Nrsimhadev. Even Lakshmi Devi there. Finally, Lord Brahma said Prahlad this is on you, it is because of you Lord Nrsimhadev has appeared therefore you please kindly set forward and solve this situation.
From the most infinitely intense angry the scene switches to most wonderful loving affection. Prahlad offers obeisance to Lord Nrsimhadev, Lord Nrsimhadev picks him up and puts him on His lap, and begins like a mother rocking a child, rocking Prahlad back and forth, patting Prahlad on his head, embracing Prahlad again and again, it is described in Hari bhakti sudhodaya as revealed in Sanatana Goswami’s Brahad Bhagavatamrita. Not only embracing Prahlad repeatedly while rocking back and forth and patting on his head, and he also just like a lioness grooms the cub, Lord Nrsimhadev is licking the entire body of Prahlad. Out of affection Lord Nrsimhadev tells Prahlad, Prahlad “badra badram se”. All auspiciousness to you Prahlad, all good to you, “Pritaham te.” Prahlad, you have pleased me, you are the best in the family of asuras. It’s my pastimes it is the way I personally do things and I fulfil everyone’s desires. You know in Bhagavad Gita, “samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu
na me dvesyo ‘sti na priyah (BG:9.29), Krishna says, I’m equal to everyone.
The whole 7th canto began with the doubt expressed by Parikshit maharaj. How can, we have just heard about Supreme Personality of Godhead evidently taken the side of demigod headed by Indra in terminating Vritasura. This is the favoritism. Isn’t the Supreme Personality of Godhead supposed to be sama, equal to all, priya everyone is dear to him? its not the way it is? What’s going on here? In the course of answering Parikshit maharaj’s question which is Sukadeva Goswami congratulates “sahi prastam” maharaja. Oh! king your question is excellent. “Haresh carita adbutam”, You have asked about Hari and His glorious pastimes.
So, Sukadev Goswami explained to Parikshit maharaj and anyone who thinks that Supreme Personality of Godhead has some kind of material partiality, is actually putting forth the doctrine that the Lord has a material body. Because partiality, favoritism, they are all parts of material existence. Material existence means material body. When the body is composed of material nature, then some persons are your friends and some persons are your enemies. Those who help in our sense gratification they are friends and those who increase our anger or kindle our ego, they are enemies. But how can that apply to Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has no material body he doesn’t need to rely on friends for any purposes. He has no enemies no one can frighten the Supreme Personality of Godhead if you think that Supreme Personality of Godhead is unjust and impartial you must be subject to material vision. You are imposing your material vision upon Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Indeed, this is what we mainly do, in presenting a prime argument against, this is the God, the time borne argument, how can there be evil, how can God be so cruel. Innocent persons obviously who has not done anything wrong are suffering, this shows there is no God. So again, there is an evaluation of Supreme Personality of Godhead as having the material body. Of course, most persons don’t get that, if there is a God and he is so unjust, therefore there can’t God and as you can see. By our understanding Krishna is sacidananda vigraha, we also understand anyway you come in contact with Krishna you benefit.
So, in the first chapter 7th canto we first hear, indeed how even demons killed by Supreme Personality of Godhead benefit. In the death of Hiranyakasipu, you find the affection of Supreme Personality of Godhead for his devotee, and as part of that affection there is offering of benediction this can be little perplexing. Because, it can be seen that Lord Nrsimhadev is tempting Prahlad. Prahlad is smiling, the nature to fulfil everyone’s desire, that is the way I do things, what do you want Prahlad?
In the legal field in some countries it is called entrapment. Let’s say that, you have some leanings towards dealing with illegal substances. So, the police undercover agent comes to you and says, I have some best stuffs for you, this is really good and you are the one to take it, it’s a great deal. And he pushes you and if some countries if the case goes to court it can be thrown out. The defense will argue that the undercover law enforcement person pushed you so much and made the situation so attractive, made the crime so attractive, he actually swayed your judgment, he actually got into your psychic and motivated you to purchase that. Then he busted you and then he arrested you.
So you could see that Lord Nrsimhadev is entrapping Prahlad and Prahlad responds to that. My lord please remember my family background. Understand my family line, you call me asura uttama, best among the demoniac dynasty. That means from my birth I have tendencies, I have material tendencies please don’t push those buttons. This is Prahlad’s humility. But what is Lord Nrsimhadev saying, in Brahad bhagavatamrita, it is described that Lord Nrsimhadev out of affection wants to give something. Prahlad I know you don’t want anything but please accept something.
Remember, once Sudhama Vipra visited Rukmini and Dwarakadish in Dwaraka. His wife was really pushing him, get some money. They were actually very poverty stricken. Finally Sudhama Vipra agreed to go Dwarka and see if some situation could be brought about that remedy which is part of grahasta life. He was thinking that my wife has given me the opportunity to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I’ll take it in that way. She can take her way. Actually, they both were right. She was solely dedicated and she was concerned that he didn’t have anything to eat. And he was right also. Who am I to ask for any material benediction from the Supreme Personality of Godhead? But I will go to see Him. So you know how Sudhama Vipra spent the day and night in the house and then the next morning he departed, Lord Krishna even accompanied part of the way, as he left Dwarka as the sign of respect, when the guest leaves the house you walk to the front gate that confers hospitality, prestige and warmth upon the guest. So, that’s what Lord Krishna did for Sudhama Vipar.
Once alone, walking back home, Sudhama Vipra was thinking to himself. I didn’t get anything, He didn’t give anything to me, How wonderful is this. Well think what will be of our attitude. How glorious is my Lord he didnt give me one paisa or one cent, he knows where I am at. He knows if I just get little bit of wealth I will fall down. How glorious is my Lord by not giving me anything?
But what was Krishan thinking? The acharyas point out, Krishna is thinking my old friend Sudhama gave me such wonderful reciprocation, he gave me that rice how can I reciprocate him from my side, how can I give him something, in exchange of his bhakti? There is nothing I can give him in terms of wealth and opulence. What can be done? I’m ashamed, I don’t have anything to give my friend Sudhama. Therefore, just like the farmer offers yajnas to get rain and the rain feels like I can’t reciprocate enough for this farmer’s yajna so I will rain at night while he is sleeping. I can’t show my face, I can’t show my face during the day because my reciprocation is so inadequate so I will rain at night.
Similarly, Krishna is thinking I don’t have anything in my possession that equals his bhakti, therefore I can’t give something face to face when he gets home gets all the wealth. Let’s not look so much about the net gain in terms of the wealth. Let’s look at the bhakti in terms of Lord’s reciprocation and in that way we can better understand Lord Nrsimhadev’s pushing on Prahlad. Take the kingdom Prahlad, take the kingdom. Simply the Lord wants to give something. Again, in Brahad bhagavatamrita in Hari bhakti sudodaya is quoted, the Lord Nrsimhadev is telling Prahlad, Prahlad please enough of this awe and reverence. Please freely exchange love with me, it’s true that I’m unlimited, but I tell you Prahlad, I become limited by the ropes of love from my devotees. Prahlad, I’m the master of everyone but I love to become subordinate to my devotee. Please Prahlad, reduce the awe and reverence and let us love freely. Please accept something I want to give you something.
Now actually, Lord Nrsimhadev is not simply offering a material kingdom. He is actually offering “padam padam” he is actually offering Vaikunta. What is Prahlad thinking? Prahlad is thinking, I don’t mind staying in the material world, birth after birth to perfect my devotional service. Prahlad’s concentration was on being a servant and perfecting that service no matter how long it will take, such a different vision. Because he is so focused on his service that he can even turn down the material kingdom, he can even turn down the going to Vaikunta. He is looking at opportunities for service. And that attitude in and itself is back to Godhead.
You might say, why did Prahlad turn down even places like Vaikunta? Yes, he accepts the material kingdom. It’s not just that Lord Nrsimhadev ordered him to do that. I order you to enjoy the opulences of the demon in this material world acting as a king for the duration of time occupied by Manu. It is not only that. Prahlad so adored in for the opportunity of service. If I take the kingdom of my dead father, Hiranyakasipu I can engage in service, I can preach, I can use that kingdom to bring everyone to Krishna Consciousness.
Remember Yudhistir Maharaj, in presenting his reasons to Krishna for the Rajasuya yajna, that I wanted to invite all the demigods and I want to show in their presence what is their actual position in relation to you Krishna. And I want the common person to be able to see the difference between you the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the demigods I want them to see you are not the ordinary person and I want them to see the difference in engaging in bhakti to you and engaging in other kinds of activities. I want to make this all crystal clear, this is Yudhistir maharaj’s ecstasy. Seeing an opportunity how to increase the glorification of Krishna, and Krishna approves. Krishna told everyone in your dynasty everyone all your predecessors, all your glorious ancestors, they all approve of what you are going to do and I also approve.
In the same way, Prahlad maharaj accepts the kingdom in the same way he turns down the vaikunta, he accept the kingdom as a chance for increasing the loving devotional service of the conditioned souls how attached everyone in this room to Krishna’s lotus feet. Prahlad is not worried about political entanglement, having his consciousness impeded by governmental activity. Because he knows his meditation is always on Lord Nrsimhadev. While he is sitting on his royal thrown, he is simply meditating on Lord Nrsimhadev, and how to please Him. Nevertheless, when Narada muni sent by Lord Shiva comes to glorify Prahlad as a greatest devotee. Prahlad gives another version, genuine version, out of a genuine Vaishnava humility. Lord Shiva warned Narada Muni, if you go running to Prahlad glorifying him as a greatest devotee, he is going to be very embarrassed, you won’t get the desired response. This is in Brahad Bhagavatamrita of course.
Now I may add that this whole standard of translation and commentary since the departure of Prabhupads is now available and you may find it in economical version, Gopiparadana prabhu and of course Jai Advaita swami, Keshava Bharati maharaj, due to years of intense endeavor that great work was produced and now it is reprinted and available in India the whole set as of few days ago in your shops its available vol1, 2, and 3. And it’s also available in different parts of the world.
So, Narada muni is looking for the greatest devotee. He goes through a sequence starting with brahmana in Prayag, then the king in south India , then the demigods headed by Indra, each person sent him to another person. No, no I’m not rhe greatest devotee go see this one. Indra sent him to Brahma, Brahma sent him to Shiva, Shiva starts talking about the residence of Vaikunta especially Mahalakshmi, now Narada decides, let me go to Vaikunta and see those residence. But Shiva says actually you don’t have to go all the way to vaikunta. Rukmini Dwarkadish, they are present in this earth now, You can go to Dwarka and there you will see the Supreme Goddess of Fortune.
Before Narada can take off to Dwarka on this earth Lord Shiva speaks something very quietly. I can’t say this too loudly that can’t say someone is more superior Mahalakshmi, because you know my wife Parvathi is friends with Mahalakshmi. I have to be careful, if I get too ecstatic talking about a devotee greater than Mahalakshmi, I say it out loud and my wife hears and she tells Mahalakshmi and then I’ll be disrespected and this devotee who I’m going say is better than Mahalakshmi that devotee is also suffer disrespect that means speak elegantly. And Lord Shiva tells Narada muni its “Prahlad”.
So Narada muni, doesn’t matter Prahlad is his own disciple, remember? Narada muni was lost in ecstasy of finding the greatest devotee. So, he goes running to find Prahlad. Prahlad is in deep medication, internal consciousness he can tell Narada muni is coming, not by external cognition, but by his internal perception. Narada muni was there instantly by the speed of the mind. He begins to glorify Prahlad trying to embrace Prahlad and for Prahlad as a disciple trying to offer puja for the guru, and his guru is trying to embrace him, what a scene.
Then Narada muni makes his presentation, I heard this about you, I know this about you but Prahlad in genuine Vaishnava behavior deflects everything almost everything Narada Muni said. Look at me, I’m so attached political power and political rule . if I am in the favor of the Lord, just look I got the kingdom, that shows where I am. Lord Nrsimhadev understood my position. I am attached to power and opulence. Don’t you know in sastra, if the Lord materially favors someone, he takes away their opulence, all their riches, all their family. “yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih”(SB:10.88.8) Don’t you know that verse? Look at me, I got all the power and all the opulence? That means I am not favored by the Supreme Lord.
So, you or Narada muni may say, Prahlad you got the opulence because you are 100% Krishna Conscious and you can use it all 100% in Krishna’s service that’s why you have, what you have. Prahlad said no the fact is I become influenced materially, this is the fact. It is true that it is possible to use opulence 100% in Krishna’s service and not be affected. But this has no right to be. Why do you glorify me, I just remember Krishna sporadically here and there I had a golden moment so to speak I had my day in the sun, Lord Nrsimhadev appeared to me but now I got nothing, I don’t see him.
Why don’t you go and search for Hanuman he is always with the Supreme Lord. He is not only always with Supreme Lord but he active in devotional service. I just idly contemplate. Even I missed my contaminated mind, I do get glimpses of the Supreme Personality of Godhead here and there. But look at Hanuman he is actively engaged in service, that’s the real standard.
It is question of opulence and wealth in Krishna’s service. Sometimes can be perplexing. Indeed, Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur mentions in one of his purport in the 11th canto of Bhagavatam that the principle of Yukta vairagya is actually a very confidential principle. We may say principle very casually. Yukta Vairagya prabhus, use everything in Krishna’s service.
First of all, we need to understand although we say casually, it is a confidential sublime gift of the parampara, how to look at Krishna’s energy as meant 100% for Krishna’s pleasure and not artificially detach ourselves. No, we fully and whole heartedly detach ourselves from being the enjoyer, while energetically seeking everything to engage in Krishna’s service that’s one way the principle is confidential yukta vairagya principle. The another way, this is brought up HH Niranjana Maharaj, in one of our readings. You see one of the pleasurable activities is to sit down with fellow Vaishnava’s and read Srila Prabhupada’s books, from time to time in Mayapur. I get the good fortune of having the association of my God brothers, HH Sivaram maharaj HH Niranjana Maharaj we just get together and read Srila Prabhupada’s books and discuss
So Nirajana Maharaj, When I mentioned that Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvathi Thakur’s commentary about the confidential nature on Yukta Vairagya, another reason why it is confidential is that so many devotees think they are acting on the principle but actually they miss the point due to impurities They say oh we are using all these in Krishna’s service, but actually something else is going on.
Remember Prabhupada’s letter to Tamal Krishna Maharaj, Krishna is not a poor man, He can give you the whole USA, if he wants. But he is waiting to see when you will become pure. In Prahlad Maharaj case, he had the full certification from Nrsimhadev Dev. Take something Prahlad take something even though Prahlad is protesting. I have demoniac tendency, please don’t tempt me. But then Prahlad says, you are doing this not to tempt me, you doing this so that the quality of pure devotee are displayed in this material world. That is also a deflection that Prahlad gave to Narada muni, you are glorifying me Narada muni as the greatest devotee, but everything Lord Narasimha dev did with me and for me was just to get into the principle of pure bhakti actually nothing to do with me. He is just pointing out how glorious pure bhakti is. So, internal potency of the Lord making these arrangements this didn’t have anything to do with me.
Anyway, let’s look at the facts. Lord Nrsimhadev hads lots of promises to fulfil. Narada muni has told demigods, when Prahlad was in the womb, the demigods said he is the son of Hiranyakasipu, his father is such a terrorist, how can the son be?, and we can get rid of him. Narada muni told him you can’t kill him even if you wanted to. So, those were tried to be fulfilled.
Even Hiranyakasipu in receiving benediction from Brahma, the words of Brahma had to be backed up. Besides the words of Brahma being backed up, the words of Hiranyakasipu himself had to backed up. Where is your God Prahlad, is he in this pillar? Hiranyakasipu himself said, he may kill me or maybe not. So many words had to be backed up. So Prahlad said this is the real reason why Nrsimhadev appeared to fulfill all these different promises, contractual obligations perhaps nothing to do with my purity.
Even in this degraded age of Kali, so much opulence exists in the world. Last year we spoke about how much money is being spent by one country on nuclear armaments, modernizing the nuclear forces their former president, He is the nice guy, he embraces Vaishnava we give him more credit for that. But after winning the noble peace price, he gets caught up in a program for modernizing the American nuclear arsenal to around one trillion dollars over 30 years. One trillion dollars how do we say that you can grasp and you can conceive of one trillion dollars. It is, let’s consider TOVP, Temple Of Vedic Planetarium, give it a cost of 60 billion. I hear the number is tossed around. Ok one trillion dollars is 33,000 TOVPs. Excuse me, 16,600 TOVPs.
I’ll give you another reason why 33 thousand came to my mind just to show you there is opulence even in this most degraded age. So why did i say 33,000 TOVPs . Because economist in the USA, say there is a great mystery and puzzle right now that American Cooperation, have in term of cash, cold cash reserves 1.9 trillion dollars. This is nothing ever like it ever like nothing will occur in economic history so economics doesn’t know how to make it. But usually corporations like to borrow but instead just in terms of USA alone American cooperation’s they have cash reserves totaling 1.9 trillion dollars. So that is 33,000 and more TOVPs, Temple of Vedic Planetariums. This is the kind of wealth that is available in this world. Of course, Prahlad maharaj is getting much more, yet he is saying I’ve been affected if I was really spiritual Lord Nrsimhadev would have never offered me a kingdom.
We can learn from Prahlad even with the little bit of opulence, how to live in this world managing our life successfully. In several verses, Lord Nrsimhadev is telling Prahlad, Yes, you are in the material world but you mange in this way so you are not affected by pious or impious activity. In fact he tells him it doesn’t matter you are in the material world you should always hear the instructions and messages given by me and always be absorbed in thought of Me for I am the super soul existing in core of everyone’s heart. Therefore, give up fruitive activities and worship me. Doesn’t matter that we are in the material world, continuously always hear the instructions and messages given by me.
Remember, right before Prabhupada’s departure he said something very extraordinary, because devotees were concerned, they have the big concern, how they would know what to do after Prabhupada’s disappearance in this world. I’ll speak in the context of what previous speakers have informed you that during our sanyasi GBC guru Sanga, so many senior Vaishnavas brought up the point that reading Srila Prabhupada’s book. How we get tremendous renaissance when reading Prabhupada’s books. So, if you recall right before Prabhupada’s departure, the devotees asked, they went in anxiety totally justified how do we know what to do, how do we know how to make the right decisions after your departure. Srila Prabhupada. And he responded very interesting, very interestingly he said come together read my books and discuss them everything will become clear and how to proceed in the future?
So we should remember that. Try it because at first our material intelligence will tell us, Look I have got many practical consideration, logistical considerations strategic consideration to make. Just get in together with Vaishnavas, opening Prabhupada’s books, reading them and discussing them, the way forward is with all my practicalities in the material world, they all will become clear, we should try it. We need a renaissance in this approach, then we can evaluate the results. Let’s take this instruction of Srila Prabhupada deeply into our hearts.
Because, yes there are are perplexities, should we do this for spreading Krishna conscious, should we do that should we engage this in Krishna’s service, should we not engage that in Krishna’s service. There are this complexity. But if we increase coming together based on Prabhupada’s books and discussing them, things will become clear. Our Krishna conscious lifestyle becomes clear, our Krishna conscious decisions become clear.
And then we will be more able to handle the resources necessary for increasing the Krishna conscious presence in this world. Even as I said, in this degraded stage of Kali, there are opulence available. Krishan is waiting for us to come to a higher level. Higher level requires purity, purity brings about clarity of vision. The best is, what we are longing for. We see in Prahlad maharaj, the potential, the exemplar. We humbly seek to follow in Prahlad maharaj’s footsteps, according to our measure and by the mercy of the parampara our little measure can certainly increase. Thank you Very much! Hare Krishna! Comments from our senior vaishnavas or questions?
Keshava Bharati Maharaj is going to expand.
Devotee: You left out one condition from one person has to be fulfilled. Krishna is all “na me bhaktah pranasyati “nam me bhakta prasyati” (BG:9.31)
Maharaj: Yes “teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā mṛtyu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt”(BG:12.7) yes Krishna has his own vow his devotee will not be vanquished, he will become the swift deliverer of the ocean of birth and death for one who is always taking shelter of Him. Anything else?
Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaj, Thank you. What happen to Sudhama after getting this opulence we don’t have much information, how did he deal with his opulence in spiritual life.
Maharja: He wants to know about Sudhama Vipra after he got home and saw the surprise? He had to live with it. The acharyas point out, a very subtle point. Krishna tricked him. You are being attached to being austere brahmana, you are bit too attached to be renounced, Now, take this. (Laughter), Wow that’s our kind of Supreme personality of Godhead, right? So, remember the real acquisition is the pure love whether Krishna gives you the whole universe, gives you the kingdom, or give you nothing materially, the real achievement is pure love. If we lose track of that then we get confused by all these lilas. Remember Kolaveca Sridhar Lord Caitanya whenever he come to Kolaveca Sridhar to take hits banana cups or banana leaves for less price than Kolaveca Sridhar was honestly charging, the Lord say you are rich, you can’t fool me, I know you are wealthy. Kolaveca Sridhar is wearing rags his house is shackle. No, you are rich man, I know you can’t fool me! What is that wealth of Kolaveca Sridhar? It’s the pure love of Krishna. Thank you very much.
Jai ! Haribol!