The unseen merciful hand of Lord Krsna helps a determined young student become one of Srila Prabhupada’s first Indian disciples.

I was born in Aravade, a small village in the Indian state of Maharashtra that differs little from more than seven hundred thousand others in India. After I graduated from high school, my family sent me to Bombay to study chemistry in college. But my college career was not to be.

In the year 1971, in late March, something happened to prevent me from following the program my family had so carefully laid out for me. For the first time, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was touring India with his foreign disciples. They had arrived in Bombay just before I had, and now they were going to have a pandal (a spiritual festival) at Cross Maidan.

The devotees publicized the pandal very widely, in newspapers and on billboards. In the advertisements, Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were described as American, Canadian, European, African, and Japanese sadhus (saintly devotees). This was unprecedented. Previously, whenever the word sadhu had been applied to someone, it was understood that the person was Indian. There could be no other consideration. But these advertisements were talking about sadhus from all over the world. This was indeed a novelty for every Bombayite, and it especially fascinated me.

Intrigued, I went to the Hare Krishna Festival, which was quite well organized. The Hare Krsna sadhus were the biggest attraction for me. I appreciated their singing, dancing, walking, and talking. In fact, I liked everything about them, and I attended the function practically every evening. I would simply watch and listen. Though I knew English, I wasn’t fluent, and speaking with foreigners was too difficult for me. I purchased a few magazines and a few booklets with the little money I had.

Srila Prabhupada spoke every evening. He discussed many issues relating to Krsna consciousness and made many points. But the point that had the greatest impact on me, and which attracted me to him and his society more than anything else, was the simple point that if you serve Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you simultaneously serve everyone and everything else. Srila Prabhupada gave the analogy of what happens when one waters a tree. Just by pouring water on the root of a tree, one automatically waters all the leaves, branches, fruits, and flowers on the tree.

Srila Prabhupada had simplified my job. “Here is my chance,” I thought. I had always wanted to serve others, and thus at different stages in my life I had contemplated becoming an engineer or a doctor or a lawyer. Whenever I thought of my future, I would think of how I could serve others. Yet although throughout all these years I had mainly thought of service, I didn’t know where to begin, and I had practically no resources in my possession. But now Srila Prabhupada had cleared my path by showing the easy way of serving the whole creation through the simple medium of serving the Lord, the source of all that be. This idea greatly appealed to me.

As scheduled, the Hare Krishna Festival ended after eleven days, and everything went back to normal.

I continued going to college in Bombay. I shared a room with some people from my village, whom my family had asked to keep an eye on me. Once, several years before, I had left my studies and gone to join an asrama in a town nearby my village. I had almost made it to the asrama, but the unseen merciful hand of the Lord brought me back so that later I could join Srila Prabhupada instead.

After this incident, my family had anticipated my going away somewhere, sometime, and that is why they asked the villagers to watch over me. But how much could they watch me? I had gone to the Hare Krsna function practically every evening, and no one had noticed that. I would keep Hare Krsna magazines and booklets inside my big fat chemistry books and read them for hours. My roommates would marvel at how seriously I was studying chemistry. They couldn’t detect that instead of absorbing myself in analyzing chemical solutions, I was probing into the ultimate solution to the problems of life.

Whenever my roommates went out, I would bolt the door and, with my arms raised, chant Hare Krsna and dance to my full satisfaction. Having seen the devotees chanting and dancing onstage at the festival, I was trying to imitate them. Thus, in hiding, I was following the process of Krsna consciousness: chanting, dancing, and reading over and over again the few pieces of literature I had.

I knew that the Hare Krsna devotees were living somewhere in Bombay, but after the function their small group had merged into the big city, and I was deprived of their association.

One year passed.

Then, in March 1972, ISKCON organized another festival, this time at Juhu Beach. During the course of the year, the devotees had purchased some land at Juhu, and the function was going to be held right on their premises. Once again, advertisements appeared in the newspapers and in other media, and news of the festival reached me by the causeless mercy of the Lord. I had been waiting for this news, and I was extremely happy to receive it.

Naturally, I attended the programs. I would go long before they began, borrow books, and read them. During the chanting I would join in wholeheartedly. The foreign devotees, in Indian dhotis and kurtas, and the Indian student, in imported trousers and shirt, would dance together.

Occasionally, during prasadam time, when I happened to be near the gate, the devotees would invite me to come and take prasadam with them. I was eager to observe their life closely, so I would take advantage of the opportunity and join them. They were all nice devotees. On top of that, they were all foreigners, and I was duly impressed.

A few days after the festival at Juhu ended, I sat down and composed an application for membership in ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness). I had decided to join the devotees, and to join any organization, I thought, one needed to fill out an application. I addressed my application to the president of ISKCON, Bombay. I wrote that I agreed to follow the four regulative principles no meat-eating, no intoxication, no illicit sex, and no gambling. I also stated that I liked their dazzling aratis, ecstatic kirtanas, and sumptuous prasadam. (I had picked up all these terms from their publicity handouts.) I went to a typing institute and had the application typed out. ISKCON was an international society, so I thought everything had to be formalized and just right.

Then I went to the Hare Krsna asrama at Juhu and asked who the president was. It wasn’t difficult to get to see him. His name was Giriraja dasa. He went through my letter-application, and on the spot he accepted me and embraced me. Not only that: he welcomed me in and immediately introduced me to all the asramites as a new devotee.

I quickly adjusted to my new lifestyle. I had a new home, a new uniform, new associates, a new program almost everything was new to me. Nonetheless, I immediately embraced all of it and liked it. Although the devotees were mostly foreigners, I felt completely at home. I was determined to make this my life’s commitment.

One week passed quickly. Then my elder brother arrived at the temple with one of my old roommates. Among the things I had left in my room was a handbill with the Hare Krsna address at Juhu on it. That’s how they’d found me. It was no big surprise to them that I’d joined the devotees. They had been expecting something like this for some time, and now all they had feared had come to pass.

My brother wanted me to visit my family, especially for the sake of my mother. If I wouldn’t go she might die, he said. But he assured me my family had no objection to my returning after the visit. I had always respected my brother, and here he was practically begging me to return home, saying that it was a matter of life and death for my affectionate mother and that I could return soon. Finally, I asked permission from Giriraja and left, wearing my new uniform of dhoti and kurta.

After I arrived in my village, people began saying that though I used to be such a nice boy, now something had gone wrong with me. The difference was that I was wearing a dhoti and kurta, chanting Hare Krsna, and avoiding the association of nondevotees. The townspeople considered all these things strange and abnormal.

My father requested me not to wear my new clothes and not to put on tilaka, even though he wore clothes similar to mine and occasionally wore tilaka himself. He was a devotee of Lord Vittala, a form of Lord Visnu, or Krsna, and devotees of Lord Vittala apply tilaka in a way similar to that of the Hare Krsna devotees. On special occasions my father would put on his tilaka, but he didn’t want me to imitate him, because he was worried about what people would think. (If such is the reaction of Indian parents, I can hardly imagine the reaction of parents of devotees in other lands).

Thus my parents tried everything in their power to dissuade me from returning to the Hare Krsna devotees. They even went to astrologers to learn some way to “cure” me or to find out how long I would continue living this “strange type of life.” They were really concerned.

More than a week passed, yet no plans were made for my return to the devotees, as per the original agreement between my brother and me. My parents kept telling me that some relative or other still had to come see me and that it wouldn’t be proper for me to leave without meeting him. My family planned to enlist the relatives as agents to somehow or other talk me out of this sadhu business. My parents tried everything on me, but my mind was fixed on going back to the Hare Krsna devotees.

One day I saw my sister shedding tears. When someone asked her what was wrong, she replied, “Just see how in our house all the other boys are nicely engaged in playing cards, but my brother Raghunatha isn’t sitting with them.” Such was the cause of her tears. She was feeling sorry that I wasn’t playing cards with the other boys but was instead busy chanting the holy names of God on my beads.

When my family all realized I wouldn’t give up the life I had embraced, they came up with the proposal that I could continue the life of a sadhu but that I should do it in our village. They promised to build a small temple so I could do my devotional practices there. I rejected this idea, too, however, because I wanted to associate with the devotees. There is no question of leading a spiritual life without proper association, without the association of devotees who are practicing Krsna consciousness full-time. I didn’t want to be just another bogus sadhu. India was already overcrowded and overburdened with them. I wanted to engage in the service of Krsna in the Hare Krsna movement. Srila Prabhupada had already cleared my path. He had given me my life’s mission, and I was fully satisfied once and for all with that.

I had sold my heart to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krsna. So, finally, my family accepted the inevitable. I returned to Bombay after about a month and moved back into the asrama. Since I had stayed in my village quite a long time, I wasn’t sure how Giriraja and the other devotees would react to my return. When they saw me, however, I was surprised to find myself most welcome, just as before and they were surprised to see me back in their midst. Their experience had been that many Indian devotees had come and gone, promising to return soon, but hardly any had actually returned. Thus they were surprised and pleased to see me. By the causeless mercy of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, my return to the devotees became possible.

Although it may appear that my joining ISKCON disrupted my family’s life and caused a disturbance in my small village, these negative effects were only temporary. In the years since I joined ISKCON, I and many other devotees have often visited Aravade and taught the principles of Krsna consciousness, and now my family and my whole village embrace ISKCON as a genuine religious movement. There are seven full-time devotees from there, my sister has enrolled her son into the ISKCON gurukula school in Vrndavana, and whenever I see my father he asks me for tilaka and proudly decorates his forehead with it. Also, my family and many other families in Aravade regularly chant Hare Krsna on beads. All in all, my whole village loves the Hare Krsna movement, and there is no disruption of any kind.

Venue: Guayana , Guayana katha, dated: 2006, June 30

Hare Krishna……………… Jai Shri Krishna…………….Jai Shri Radhe………………..Jai Shri Vrindavan.  By causeless mercy of the Lord, we have this good fortune great fortune of coming together every evening, some of us were also getting together during the day time around noon time and then again evening this is Krishna’s kindness to all of us. We would not know, but punya karma what pious deeds we have performed to have this rare gift, rare opportunity to associate with Shri Krishna in the form of His name Krishna appears in form of His name and in Bhagvat He appears also in the form of katha , in the form of His past times. We are able to associate with the Lord through these manifestations of his name, His qualities, and His past times.

“brahmanda bhramete kaun bhagyavan jiva”. The Shastras say that, we had been wondering all over the universe “brahmanda bhramete kaun bhagyavan jiva”. Then Krishna makes some of those jivas, some of those souls very fortunate by bringing them in contact with the devotees and as they come in contact with the devotees naturally those devotees tries to attract those jivas to Krishna.

“guru Krishna prasade pai bhaktilata beja” Krishna prasade pai, then finally we get that beja that seed within us of Krishna of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna enters our heart, our consciousness and if we keep watering that seed then that will sprout, that will grow into seedlings and a plant, and a tree and eventually there will be fruits of Love of Godhead, Krishna prema that we could relish. So these are our beginning days but good beginning its kind of work done. We just have to stay on this path; we have been put on right path by Lord Shri Krishna by giving this opportunity of hearing his katha, directly from Bhagvatam. We would like you to carry this katha with you read this katha which is Krishna himself look after this katha, these pastimes; this is Krishna read and preserve this Katha.

“Krishna se tomara krsna dite paro, tomara sakati ache” The devotees of gaudiya sampradhya, gaudiya parampara, gaudiya line starting from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we have this mood. O! Devotee O! Vaishnava, you have Krishna and I know you are competent to give that Krishna to me “Krishna se tomara krsna dite paro, tomara sakati ache” that is why I am running after you.

“ami to kangala krsna krsna boli dhai tava pache pache” That is why I am chanting Krishna Krishna running after you begging you to this poor soul you please deliver Krishna, please give Krishna you enrich me also with Krishna.

“ohe! Vaishnaba thakura doyare sagara edase koruna kori” O! Vaisnava, O! Devotee, please have mercy upon this fallen soul, please give Krishna to me have mercy upon me. So This is the mood of devotee, one devotee gives Krishna to other devotee as he talks about Krishna he is giving Krishna as he sings about Krishna, he is giving Krishna, as he is gives prasadam to others, he is giving Krishna, as he brings him to Vrindavan he is giving Krishna, as he is giving Bhagvat –gita, Bhagvatam to read he is giving them Krishna. Krishna in all these forms giving Krishna, giving Ram, giving Parshuram, giving Narsimha , Krishna Tatvas. So Bhagvatam is merciful incarnation of the Lord and we had been serving this Avatar, Vangamai Murti in the form of Bhagvatam by reciting this Bhagvatam, by hearing this Bhagvatam, and by contemplating reflecting upon this Bhagvatam. And this is not an ordinary thing, a rare gift, there is lot more, we are just giving introduction, there is a whole ocean, full of knowledge and nectar, past times, Krishna is Ananta.

“yasantam navidhu sura suraganaha devaya tasmai namah” yasantam navidhu His anta, His end no one knows, He is just unending, Krishna is unending , unlimited ocean, all that doesn’t mean He has no form, He has form. He has ocean full of talks, topics related with Him. So we are just sharing few topics, just sampling, wishing that you develop attraction to hear about Krishna, develop attachment to Krishna read about Krishna our eternal friend. So yesterday we were in middle of that pastime of Brahma Vimohan Lila towards end of yesterday’s session.

So Krishna was in Vrindavan of course He is always in Vrindavan and He was there on the bank of river Yamuna and He was sitting there for lunch surrounded by His cowherd boyfriends and soon some of the boys noticed, where are the cows they were just now here eating green grass. But they are not in the sight anymore.  So different cowherd boys where getting up and trying to locate the cows where are the cows? Where are they?  And they are trying to locate them find them, where are they? They were getting into anxiety and Krishna could see that and some of them were getting ready to stop the lunch and go to find out the cows. But Lord Krishna He said no no my friends please you all sit down, I will go and get them why disturb your lunch you enjoy lunch prasad I will find them and He goes looking for those cows.

He goes looking everywhere in the all different forest and top of mountain, Govardhan hill and the   valley here there, everywhere and they were no where to be found, disappointed as He was Lord Shri Krishna was failure in His mission. He was only returning to the same spot, where his friends were sitting and eating Krishna prasad. But as He returned to that same spot, further surprised. Aye! I didn’t find the cows and now where are my friends. And now He was looking for His friends, He was searching for them everywhere. No clues, no trace He was looking for their footprint this that, any indication He did not find them and after He was thinking what could have possibly happened to my friends? and also to those cows? And He came to conclusion, yes yes that this must be the job of Brahma.

Brahma had stolen my friends the cows also so by this time it was late in afternoon it was time to go back home, every day, every day in the evening, He would return to Vrindavan to Nandagram with hundreds and thousands of cows and His friends, Krishna playing flute good fun all the way on the back home back, back to different villages, His village Krishna’s village His friends accompanying.  But today He was thinking, oh! Today I am just by myself what to do? How could go alone? And what could I say to the thousands of parents of my friends? And what about those cows in cows sheds? May be something could be explained to the families, but what about the cows? If they did not see their calf, what could they think? How could they survive? So what to do? And off course it is not you or me, He is the Supreme Personality He came to conclusion and yes I know I know what to do and immediately He expanded and in matter no time there were as many cow herd boys as many He had that day coming with Him herding the cows. And not only friends He also had the cows same number, exact number and not just the numbers but they were just exact same replica, their forms each calf the way did their mooing each calf does it differently right. Not that each calf was sounding the same no, He became the cows hundreds and thousands, He became friends 100’s and 1000’s of friends each one as they were before.

Their looks everything their clothing, their stick the same length of sticks, same kinds of habits, same kind of likes and dislikes. Ok now everything was set no problem now they leave for homes on the way Krishna is playing His flute as usual and everyone else is playing different, different roles. But who are they today? Who is the each cowherd boy today? Who is He? Any idea, who were those boys? Krishna ya you could close your eyes and say, so all Krishna each cowherd boy was Krishna but playing role of different different cowherd boys and same thing with calf each calf was Krishna. They were all returning to their respective homes and they were, upon arriving in the village the cows are going to the different goshalas, going to their respective mothers and all the cowherd boys they also returned to their respective homes.

Cows are meeting the calves, mothers’ cows are greeting the baby calf and parents are doing greeting their children at their respective homes. But today all those cows in all those goshalas in the Vrindavan they have different feelings they are licking the bodies of their calf as the calf is drinking the milk from udders of the cows. And the mothers in their respective homes were also greeting children, bathing them, dressing new dress, feeding them food, breast milk and all those cows, and all those mothers have a great time today everyone is so blissful they never had experience anything like this before and they do not know why what is happening today.

What is a special event, occasion, what was special was they did not know they were not their own children “that was Krishna” those cows were Krishna. Well what did Brahma do was, He did in fact a favor to all the resident of Vrindavan and to the cows also may be Krishna was disappointed for a while thinking O! This is the job of Brahma that fool, I will teach him a lesson. But all this years all those cows were thinking, O! You know when Krishna is hungry He always drinks His cows, His mother’s milk directly, but you know, could He ever drink our milk like our calf drinks, could Krishna ever do that to us. O! I wish cows think I wish Krishna was my calf O! That would be wonderful could I have Krishna as my calf could He drink the milk directly from my udder from me, you know that day what happened that’s another story.

When mother Yashoda that on diwali day Radha Damodhar past time, Krishna was tied to the mortar as Yashoda was feeding Krishna her breast milk, there is a milk on the stove in the kitchen, he thought well that its end of me, Krishna is just feeling up His belly with His mother’s milk, what about me? He is not going to drink me. The milk in the pot on the stove in the kitchen, thinking O! He is not going to drink me, O! what good is my life I better finish my existence thinking so the milk overflows and jumps in the fire of that stove and because mother Yashoda heard. OH! I forgot I had put milk on the stove and its overflowing. So she dropped Krishna on the floor and she ran to the kitchen to protect that milk to save that milk but the milk was ready to give up its life (laughs). So in Vrindavan even milk is a person and wants to serve Krishna and than what to speak of those cows and their milk which they possess.

So sometimes cows thinking He is drinking His mother’s milk or our milk is first so milk man comes that  is boiled , and sometimes He drinks or sometimes He don’t drink but it is possible sometimes could He directly drink our milk, would we have this opportunity. So cows had been thinking like this, so their desire was fulfilled, today although the cows were not realizing, What was going on there?The same thing was their mothers all the elderly Gopi’s of the Vrindavan. They were thinking oh! Such beautiful, wonderful, sweet, darling this Krishna is! Nanda Nandan Yashodha nandan O! Could I ever have a child like Krishna? But there is no one else is like Krishna, so Krishna had to become their child and today He was the child of all those mothers all over of Vrindavan and He was in their lap and drinking their milk and well the next day. All the cowherd boys they come in the morning to Krishna’s doors knocking at the door. Aye! Let’s go lets go, blowing their buffalos horns, they play buffalo horns the cows had come and then Krishna Balarama they got ready and they went into the forest and they had fun all the day and they returned and again next evening cows have great time, greater time than day before and mothers have greater time with their children and the next day they go into the forest and they return and the third day and the fourth day and the first month and six months past and almost one year has passed. And everyday all this time all the children cowherd boys and their Krishna and all the cows of Krishna and everyday those mothers and those cows are experiencing greater and greater bliss, happiness, joy they are becoming more and more Krishna conscious .

And they had a Bhagvatam, Sukhdev Goswami describe that you know before this particular period these mothers, ladies and their children they always had this thought that oh! This is my son and that one is my neighbor’s son, this is their son, his son, my son, oh! This is Krishna so three identity they were thinking, this is my son this one is somebody else son and this is Krishna but as during this almost 1 year period and as lot of time with passing of every day there was no more distinction, they were not able to make any distinction oh! Here is my son, here is Krishna and here is someone else’s son.

They had a thought that it’s the same person, their son and someone else son and mother Yashoda’s son there is no difference. So they were evolving with this realization its just same person although there were not talking, sharing this but they all were wondering, this thought was diminishing my child, someone’s else child, this is Krishna there was no more distinction. So like this, one year went by and Brahma who had gone taken away Krishna’s friends and cows and hide them in a cave at long distance away in his abode then he return and for him it was just matter of one moment, Brahma quickly went and returned and that was one year on this planet.

So Brahma wanted to come back and see the fun Oh! Let me see He must be by himself may be whole advertisement is going, we lost the boys, we lost cows in the newspaper, in television everywhere. In America if cat is lost they write something and they hang somewhere cat lost and they have photograph of the cat and whole thing goes on, in the newspaper that cat is lost, dog is lost. So Brahma was thinking probably lost and found the whole thing must be going on and they all must be in great stress, Krishnas all job finished He must have closed his shop by now.

This was Brahma was thinking as he was returning towards Vrindavan and as finally he was in Vrindavan, What did he see? Everything was intact as it was before, no change, zero change, nothing had altered as he had stolen all the friends and all the calves and he was surprised to see looking everybody’s there, Krishna is there, look all those boys, friends are there they are playing having great time, look at the cows and they are there grazing and they are heal and hearty no one is in anxiety, no one is bewildered , no one is lost nothing. And then Krishna knew ok! Brahmaji I know you are, I know you are looking and looking at my show here. You have taken a close look at our Lila here and as I have have your attention now please carefully. And the next scene was that each of those cowherd boys and each of the calf; they all become forehanded, forehanded Vishnu’s form, Krishna’s form. Hundreds and thousands each person is forehanded, crowns, Pitambhar, “ Kanti kaustubha mani virajita” and all beautiful features whole thing was just effulgent like a brilliant as billions of suns dazling and Brahma also noticed that whole creation is worshipping, each one of those forms is being worshipped, that was second scene. And as Brahma was further amazed and bewildered, the third scene was there was only Krishna, everyone else disappeared, Krishna withdrew all those forms, there was just only one person Krishna and in his hand there was a Yogurt and rice still wet fresh and He was holding some pickle and other things in his left hands, as per description of Sukhdev Goswami . And He was looking hey! What happened to my cows? Where are the friends? And He is searching, looking for them and Brahma is watching that one also. So at this point, bewildered and surprised and amazed and now realizing the blunter the offence that he committed by interrupting Lord’s past times in a way he interrupted and at the same time nothing was interrupted and he could see each cowherd boy was Lord himself.

That was a second scene each calf was Krishna himself and by now He was by himself there was no-one else just one person looking at this point Brahma descends, he rides on a swan he came down. He fell flat at the feet of the Lord touching his crowns, all the hairs with the crown, touching the feet of the Lord, he was in tears, as if he was washing the lotus feet of the Lord with his own tears and trembling, and shaking begging to the Lord for the great offence that he had committed at the feet of the Lord.  Then he managed to stand before the Lord with folded hands and he offered prayers to glorify the Lord pacify the Lord, wonderful prayers as we have heard the prayers of Kunti, there is another set of prayers in Bhagavatam of Lord Brahma 14^th chapter of the 10th canto of the Bhagavatam, please study this prayers. Then towards the end of prayers Brahma circumambulated the Lord offered obeisance to the Lord and he departed and he quickly managed to this time he did not get another year to go and come back.

So Krishna was now He was in the mood of looking for his friends. So now the cows were found and He was returning to were his friends were taking lunch Prasad and all the boys how were seating in the same place after one year they were now sitting back at the same spot, where they had sat one year ago and as they saw Krishna coming all the boys say oh! You are so fast we haven’t even finished our lunch, you came back quickly, how fast you are how smart you are Krishna? They did not realize all they had transpired. They were not there from one year; they were backed into those position after one year .But they were thinking hey! He has come back we haven’t finished our lunch. So whatever Krishna returned and He joined them, in their lunch Program and it was late afternoon towards evening time so they all returned and when they returned that evening there were all the cowherd boys, they were getting their parents hey…. Daddy sit down, come here, come here, no no I am busy no no come here you know what today what happened? Oh! What happened ok I will sit down and each cowherd boy in each home they were talking, they use to do this all the time it is everyday affair. Whatever experiences they used to have with Krishna all day in the evening that will become talk of the town just like a radio station,  good evening news, communication would reach far and wide, all Krishna’s daily pastimes communicated.

By those correspondents by their 1st hand experience, they would share these wonderful activities and that day they said you know today that serpent that Aghasura we thought he was just a statue or some kind of cave so we entered, and they explained the whole thing. But you know finally Krishna killed that demon and that’s why we were able to come back home alive. You know Krishna is such a powerful, wonderful person friend, they are glorifying, appreciating Krishna like this.

So, Sukhdev Goswami was not going to talk about this pastime this Brahma Vimohan lila, what he had mentioned to King Parikshit was in the past time that took place, when the cowherd boys were of age of 5 years old, that past time was related to all the residents of Vrindavan when the cowherd boys were six years old. He made this mention to king Parikshit and he was kind of was going to go on with the next pastime and the king Parikshit he become very curious O! what did you say for 1 year no one knew about this killing of Aghasura how is it, so what happened? Why did those cowherd boys, normally they would tell that same evening. But why did they wait for 1 year to relate this pastime with their parents and then Sukhdev Goswami deeply thought of this pastime, this confidential past time and then related, narrated that to king Parikshit. So these are some of the highlight of that pastime, please read this, hear this, discuss this further amongst yourselves this past time of Krishna. Isn’t that sweet past time? No, so so, think and then respond, it’s sweet or not sweet? very sweet, someone says very sweet, the sweeter it gets as you here next time it becomes sweeter and sweeter and it’s not only Krishna’s pastimes are sweet there is a song that says lot of things are sweet about the Lord, there are hundreds of things unlimited things or everything infact is sweet. The things in relationship with Krishna are very very sweet so we will sing this it is called madhurashtakam “madhuradhi pater akhilam madhuram”(bhajan)

“madhuradhi pater akhilam madhuram” Everything is sweet madhuradhi pater first of all Shri Krishna is pati , the master, the boss of madhurta, sweetness, everything about Him is sweet, adharam madhuram His lips are sweet, His heart is sweet, His talk is sweet, His walk sweet, His stick is sweet, His flute is sweet , dust of His lotus feet is sweet, His feet are sweet, His friendship is sweet,as He sings that is sweets, as He talks that is sweet, His form is sweet, His tilak is sweet like that goes on and on and on……..  And think this is the complete list but this is just to give an idea of sweetness of Krishna. The part which you should try to sing is, this chorus “madhuradhi pater akhilam madhuram” (by Shri Vallabhacharya) says everybody “madhuradhi pater akhilam madhuram”

HARE KRISHNA…………………………….

Venue: Mayapur, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.59 at

na yasya cittam bahir-artha-vibhramam

tamo-guhayam ca vishuddham avishat

yad-bhakti-yoga anugrihitam anjasa

munir vichaste nanu tatra te gatim

TRANSLATION

The devotee whose heart has been completely cleansed by the process of devotional service and who is favored by Bhaktidevi does not become bewildered by the external energy, which is just like a dark well. Being completely cleansed of all material contamination in this way, a devotee is able to understand very happily Your name, fame, form, activities, etc.

Maharaja: This chapter is called the chanting the song sung by Lord Shiva or Rudra-geeta

Maharaja reads purport by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada:

As stated in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.25):

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrit-karna-rasayanam katham

taj-joshanad ashv apavarga-vartmani

shraddha ratir bhaktir anukramishyati

Simply by the association of pure devotees one can understand the transcendental name, fame, quality and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has repeatedly said:

‘sadhu-sanga’, ‘sadhu-sanga’—sarva-shastre kaya

lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya (CC Madhya 22.54)

Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully advanced in Krishna consciousness. Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and by acting for Krishna.

SADHU SANGA CAN BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE:

Maharaja comments: Sadhu sanga doesn’t end. Being in the close proximity of sadhu or physically with the sadhu is only the beginning as it sounds here. Association continues beyond getting together. That association continues even if they depart and go away. While in physical association, the sadhu says, “chant Hare Krishna”.  So even though the sadhu departs, one who continues to chant “Hare Krishna” according to the sadhu’s instruction continues the association. The sadhu’s association is extended beyond the physical presence in such a case.

Krishna proudly declares says in Bhagavad Gita (10.11) – “Mat chittah mad-gata pranah, bodhayantam parasparam”. What do My devotees do, when they get together? They remind each other about Me, their conversation or ‘samvad’ is about Me. Thus when they get together, they converse about Me and when they depart, their association continues if they keep chanting the name and follow the instructions about the dos and don’ts. Beyond the class, or the get together or the ‘ista gostis’ or physical association, the devotees’ association continues if they continue to reflect and contemplate upon the discussions.

Maharaja continues to the purport by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, “Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: [Cc. Antya 20.12] by chanting the names of Krishna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external.”

SANSKRIT WORD FOR MIRROR IS “DARPA-NA”

Maharaja continues to speak: Have you heard the words, “dambha” and “darpa”?  They indicate false ego. Darpana means mirror. As you look into the mirror, what does it do? It increases your false ego. Darpana is meant for extending, enhancing, solidifying your darpa or false ego. Darpa-‘na’ is the word for mirror in Sanskrit. Darpana in Sanskrit means one that increase your false ego, solidifies your bodily concept.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Siksastakam says, ‘Cheto darpana marjanam’.  This ‘darpana’ that He is talking about in Siksastakam is kind of different from the word ‘mirror’.  He speaks of Chetana’s darpana.  By “Cheto darpana”, He refers to mirror of the consciousness.

Of course, devotees stop looking at the other mirror. Their mirror is so tiny, they do not want to look at their bodies, but look at only the tilak. So they move their mirror up and down over the tilak. If they use the mirror to look at their own bodies, there will soon be competition. While comparing with others’ beauty, they will assure themselves – I am not less beautiful! And of course, as conditioned souls, they will become envious of the Lord, and also envious of the beauty of the Lord.

Lord has blooming lotus eyes, reaching up to ears “karna paryantam”. Gauranga’s eyes reach His ears. Krishna’s eyes, Radha’s eyes are blooming, wide open, because Krishna wants to look at Radha rani and Radha rani at Krishna. So just a little opening is not enough. So He keeps opening His eyes, so He can drink the beauty of Radha rani. They compete with each other in wide opening of Their eyes. Thus Their eyes get opened up to the ears. When we look in the mirrors, especially ladies look at the mirror; they want to extend their eyes also to reach their ears by using the brush and makeup etc.

Thus, “Yasyatma buddhih,  kunape tri-dhatuke” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.84.13). One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air is strengthening his concept of “I am the body”. So a devotee in fact stops looking into the other (regular) mirror or stops looking at his own image in the other (regular) mirror. When that mirror is out, then the remainder of the  mirror is that of the chetana or the  mirror of consciousness –then  he is able  to look at his real ‘self’, the Supreme Self, and his relationship with the Supreme Lord – everything can be seen into that mirror of consciousness.

But that has to be planned so that one is able to throw the regular mirror, or stop looking into the mirror, and appreciate one’s own beauty – then only it is possible to look into the mirror of consciousness from deep within. Cleansing of the mirror of consciousness takes place, as one minimizes his bodily concept of false ego. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has specifically recommended this “cheto darpana marjanam”.

Maharaja continues to read the purport by His Divine Grace: Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: [Cc. Antya 20.12] by chanting the names of Krishna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external.

REALLY CLEANSED MIRROR OF CONSICOUSNESS- SRILA RUPA GOSWAMI:

Maharaja continues to speak: in this way, he becomes free from false ego. In Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.31 Prahlada maharaja said, “Bahir artha manina (considering external objects as valuable)”. Bahir means external. Artha means something meaningful. For example economic development is meaningful. So bahir artha manina – everything that is external is meaningful to the people. This is Prahalad maharaja talking to his father. They just only think that everything else (external or bahir artha) – all that is out there is so very important, meaningful and useful.

Here in this verse, it says Bahir artha vibramam – consciousness is disturbed by this bahir artha resulting into bewilderment. The purport says that by chanting the names of Krishna, the mirror of the heart is cleansed, and the devotee loses interest in everything external. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu met with Rupa Goswami and Anupama in Prayag, He saw in them zero ego, absolutely no ego. These two personalities were holding straw in their teeth – dante trina dhari. They were literally holding the straw in their teeth which is a symbol of extreme humility.  At that time, Mahaprabhu was surrounded by large crowds of people at the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Even though it was not time for flooding of the rivers, Mahaprabhu was flooding that region with the love of Godhead and all the people were drowning in that flood of love of Godhead. So these two personalities, Rupa Goswami and Anupana were standing away from Mahaprabhu at a distance. Finally when they found Caitanya Mahaprabhu by Himself, they went near and offered the praise to the Lord, “Namo maha vadanyaya Krishna prema pradayate, Krishnaya Krishna Caitanya namne Gaura tvishe namah”. (C.C. Madhya 19.53) – “O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisance’s unto You.” They stood up with folded hands with their bodies trembling, tears gliding the cheeks and then they fell down into the dust of His feet and again stand up with trembling bodies and tears and repeatedly fall down. This went on for many times. Vallabhacharya had come to meet Caitanya Mahaprabhu to invite Him to his home.  So Mahaprabhu introduced Rupa and Anupana to him, saying that these two Rupa and Anupama – they all always chanting the names of Krishna. The holy name is always dancing on their tongues. Immediately they again started offering obeisance’s. Hearing this Vallabhacharya got up and wanted to go near where Rupa and Anupana were sitting. But these two got up and started running away saying, no don’t touch us, we are not worthy, untouchable etc.

I was amazed when I was reading this part and laughed to myself while comparing my humility with Rupa goswami and Anupana.  Their consciousness is purified – cheto darpana marjanam! In fact, we are lowly, untouchable – asprishya. Association of such devotees is useful for purifying our consciousness.

Maharaja continues to read the purport by His Divine Grace: When one is influenced by the external energy of the Lord, his heart is impure. When one’s heart is not pure, he cannot see how things are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. “Idam hi vishvam Bhagavan ivetaro” (SB 1.5.20). He whose heart is purified can see that the whole cosmic manifestation is but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently. Therefore by sat-sanga, or association with devotees, one becomes perfectly pure in heart.

IN ‘SAT’ SANGA, THE SAINTLY PERSON GIVES ASSOCIATION OF KRISHNA:

Maharaja continues to speak: In one of the lectures of Srila Prabhupada, a devotee was reading a part from Lord Kapila’s instructions and Prabhupada said, why people complain that they have not seen God? Do they not see the sun shining? If they see the sunshine, do they not see God. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, Prabha asmi shashi suryayo.. (BG 7.8 – I am the light of the sun and the moon);  raso aham apsu Kaunteya – I am the taste in water. Once in Juhu temple when Prabhupada was giving a lecture, he picked up his glass of water, took a little sip and said aha! That taste in water should remind you about Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness. Just drinking water can remind you about God. So a devotee makes a connection in everything.

There are only three things in the world – chit, achit and jiva – the Lord, His external energy and the living entity. Chit includes all spiritual kingdom, the Lord, His forms, pastimes, names. Achit is His external energy called material external manifestation. The third entity is the living entity. Only three things in this world exist – not many.

So this bahir artha vibramam chittam (as said in the current verse) means the external energy, the achit has entered his consciousness, heart, mind and intelligence. The idea is to get rid of this achit which causes bewilderment (vibramam) and just be with the chit – internal potency and the Supreme Lord. Srila Prabhupada concludes in his purport – Therefore by sat sanga or association of devotees one becomes perfectly pure in the heart. He mentions in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.25 – “satam prasangat mama virya samvidau” (In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.) Lord Kapila in this verse says, that among the special association of devotees, ‘I’ become the topic of their discussion. They discuss about My power, My beauty and thus the nectar from that discussion purifies their hearts.

So when we associate with a saintly person, in fact the saintly person gives us the association of Krishna. He just presents Krishna, talks about Krishna saying here is Krishna. This is called “sat sanga” or association with “Sat”. Krishna is called “Sat-chit-ananda or Om Tat Sat. Krishna is that “sat” or satyam. Satyam Param Dhimahi (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1 – I meditate upon the absolute truth, who is Krishna).

When Lord Krishna was in the womb of Devaki, the demigods started offering prayers to the Lord called garbha stuti. (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.26)

satya-vratam satya-param tri-satyam

satyasya yonim nihitam ca satye

satyasya satyam rita-satya-netram

satyatmakam tvam sharanam prapannam

(The demigods prayed: O Lord, You never deviate from Your vow, which is always perfect because whatever You decide is perfectly correct and cannot be stopped by anyone. Being present in the three phases of cosmic manifestation-creation, maintenance and annihilation—You are the Supreme Truth. Indeed, unless one is completely truthful, one cannot achieve Your favor, which therefore cannot be achieved by hypocrites. You are the active principle, the real truth, in all the ingredients of creation, and therefore you are known as antaryami, the inner force. You are equal to everyone, and Your instructions apply for everyone, for all time. You are the beginning of all truth. Therefore, offering our obeisance’s, we surrender unto You. Kindly give us protection.)

So many times in this verse, they used the ‘satyam’ indicating the Lord.  Hence in the ‘sat-sanga’, the association of devotees, the truth or the Lord is presented or the Lord is made available.

Maharaja continues to read the purport by His Divine Grace: One who is pure in heart is never attracted by the external energy which urges the individual soul to try to dominate material nature. The pure heart of a devotee is never disturbed when he executes devotional service in the form of hearing, chanting, remembering, etc. In all, there are nine processes one can follow in the execution of devotional service. In any case, a pure-hearted devotee is never disturbed. The bhakti-yoga process must be carried out by avoiding the ten offenses one can commit while chanting the mahä-mantra and the sixty-four offenses one can commit while worshiping the Deity.

CHANTING HARE KRISHNA IS COMPLETE  WITH  VIDHI AND NISHEDHA OF SCRIPTURES:

Maharaja continues to speak: one part of the instructions is to chant Hare Krishna. The other part is avoiding offences. Chanting Hare Krishna is not enough; with that goes a supplement of avoiding offences. Rather the second part is equally or even more important than chanting Hare Krishna. Instruction is to chant Hare Krishna, but how do chant Hare Krishna? So vidhi and nisheda (dos and don’ts) of the scriptures make the instructions complete. Instruction is not complete unless you hear what not to do as well. Bhakti Vinod Thakur in his song says, “Aparadha shunya hoiya loha Krishna nam” – Being careful to remain free of offenses, just take the holy name of Krishna.  Thus chanting is not complete unless the other instruction of avoiding 10 offences is strictly followed.

Maharaja continues to read the purport: When a devotee strictly follows the rules and regulations, Bhaktidevi becomes very much satisfied with him, and at that time he is never disturbed by anything external. A devotee is also called a muni. The word muni means “thoughtful.” A devotee is as thoughtful as a nondevotee is speculative. The nondevotee’s speculation is impure, but a devotee’s thoughts are pure. Lord Kapila and Shukadeva Gosvami are also called muni, and Vyasadeva is addressed as Mahämuni. A devotee is addressed as muni, or thoughtful, when he purely understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The conclusion is that when one’s heart is purified by the association of devotees and by the avoidance of the offenses committed when chanting and worshiping the Lord, the transcendental name, form and activities of the Lord are revealed by the Lord.

AMAZING ARRANGEMENT FOR APPEARANCE OF SITA DEVI & RADHA RANI:  Today is Sita navami. There is Ram navami and there is Sita navami. Similarly there is Krishna Janmastami and Radha ashtami. What a coincidence – or what an arrangement!  What a connection!

Radharani’s and Sitadevi’s appearances are also amazing. Radha rani was found in a blooming lotus floating in Yamuna river. Vrishabhanu was attracted to the lotus and went near and found a child within the lotus. That was Radha rani. Something similar happened with Sitadevi’s appearance. King Janak was ploughing a field, his plough got stuck. He stopped and digged a little and found a container. Within that was Sita devi.

Hari bol.

Soon after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, soon after I said Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa at the age of 24, He was just 24 years old. Of course could Lord be just 24 years Lord? I was also 24 years old at some time. So that is age of my body, Lord’s body is eternal. This is how; we end up saying, yes! He was 24 years old! He took sannyasa for the benefit of the whole world. That sannyasa initiation arouse additional devotion within heart of the Lord while He is playing role a devotee.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna himself, not only just Krishna, but He is also Radharani. “Sri Krishna Chaitanya – radha krishna nahi anya” – He is non different from Radha and Krishna. But as He is playing the role of devotee “bhaktavatar”, He is experiencing intense love for the Lord which was resulted, additional love which was resulted by His sannyasa diksha. Then the first thought that Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu had was I would like to go to Vrindavan, where is Vrindavan?? Where is Vrindavan??I want to go to Vrindavan. Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu He kept wondering, in fact going round and round in Raaddesh.

Srila Prabhupada explains this as Raaddesh as that part of Bengal where Ganga does not flow. And He was going round and round because He had no sense of direction. He was just totally absorbed in Krishna – OH! Where is Krishna? Where is Vrindavan? And He kept just going round and round. There were few devotees Nityananda Prabhu and two more devotees were accompanying the Lord.  Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he comes across some cowherd men of that area, He inspires them to chant, He says bolo Krishna, bolo Krishna Hare Krishna (audience – Hare Krishna……..) and they chant. It may be difficult for me to get you chant Hare Krishna but for Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is the Lord, He is Lord of their hearts. So yes they were all chanting and Mahaprabhu was going closer to them and  blessing them,  touching their heads and Mahaprabhu asked them, which way is to Vrindavan could you please tell me?  Which way is to Vrindavan? Nityananda Prabhu he had already kind of prompted this cowherd men, if this sannyasi inquires from you which way is to Vrindavan, just tell him just go along the banks of Ganga.

That was not the way but this is Nityananda  Prabhu’s trick. So cowherd men, boys they are just, you want to go to Vrindavan that’s the way just go on the “banks of this river” and as Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going that way, chanting and dancing.  Caitanya Mahaprabhu as you know He never walked, did He fly by air Mauritius (laughter) He only danced or He walked ok He walked but His walking is so artistic, like a actor. When He walks we could watch his steps it’s pleasing. So Mahaprabhu would walk, only dance and sing He was doing that and Nityanand prabhu was following Him.  As Caitanya Mahaprabhu was totally absorbed in his mood of Krishna and at one point he notices Nityananda prabhu is also following He says aye! “Where are you going”?  I am also going to Vrindavan. So they are walking after some distance, Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is inquiring oh! How far is Vrindavan from here? To this inquire Nityananda prabhu said “oh, we have reached Vrindavan” Here is Jamuna and as Mahaprabhu heard that He was in Vrindavan and there was Jamuna. Immediately His ecstasies where now thousand folds and He jumped into river. Jai Yamuna maiya ki…………… Jai Yamuna maiya ki…………… Vrindavan dham ki………………….

At some point, when He was in kind of finish with his Holy dip of Jamuna, but He had no additional garments, He had wet cloths. There He sees Advaita acarya, oh! here are some clothes for you my dear Lord. Seeing Advaitacharya Caitanya Mahaprabhu said “oh! How come how did you know that I was in Vrindavan”? Soon Shri Mahaprabhu realized and He was thinking “Advaita acarya! he has come to Vrindavan or am I in Shantipur in his hometown?”. And there is what had happened this was trick of Nityananda prabhu and this was all planned between Nityanand prabhu and  Advaita acarya to bring the Lord to Shantipur so that resident of Navdweep, Mayapur and specially Sacimata would have another opportunity of having audience with the Lord. And thus Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ends up Caitanya Mahaprabhu he was in Shantipur and devotees in great number turned up for darshan and Sacimata was invited to come. She comes running, takes her Nimai in her lap and profusely shedding tears as if she was doing abhishek with her tears of her Nimai.

Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent several days in Shantipur specially doing kirtans big kirtans, long many hours of kirtan that was life of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, chanting and dancing. “Kirtaniya sada hari” always chanting “satatam kirtayanto mam”.  Always chanting the glories of the Lord, always chanting the holy names. Sacimata knew Nimai has taken sannyasa. Of course you cannot come back home, I know that, but could you stay in nearby Holy place. Of course you could go anywhere the whole world is open for you. You could go to Durban also, Durban that ban which is at long long distance, doordarshan, Durban this is one of the bans, one of the ban like Vrindavan, Durban so another ban another forest. So He could have stayed in Vrindavan or Haridwar or Banaras, Pandharpur or so many places. No no you please stay in Jagannath puri which is not far from Navadvip Mayapur and we will get news from time to time. Devotees from Navadvip and Mayapur could visit you conveniently. So, no problem Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu gladly accepted the proposal of Sacimata and then He proceeded for Jagannath puri chanting and dancing again accompanied by a small group of devotees. And now as they are very close to Jagannath puri, Jagannath puri dhama ki jai…………………………………………….

They could see Jagannath puri and at this place Nityananda prabhu had broken danda, Caitanya Mahaprabhu had taken sannyasa but Nityananda prabhu took away danda of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu broke into pieces, throw it away. You have nothing to do with varnasram, you do not have to accept sannyasa, have all these symbols. Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a bit annoyed with avadhut, Nityananda prabhu is avadhut above rules and regulations and he did not want Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu  also to follow such rules. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu as He was bit disturbed with this act of Nityanand prabhu, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said “I will go by myself to Puri”  and from that point onwards, Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu kind of ran towards Puri leaving the main party behind, as if he was getting pulled by Jagannath the powerful magnet. And as Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered Jagannath puri temple and he saw Lord in front of him, he could not even utter the full name, Jagannath. We could say nothing happens much to us, but for him he could only say Jag…. Jag….. and his voice was choked up and he fell unconscious, losing all external consciousness he fell on the temple floor. In the temple hall there was great personality Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and he has seen others in the past coming and exhibiting these ecstasies but just a show they were show bottles the fake ones.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was very curious to understand ecstasies, the symptoms of this personality, Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He lifted Mahaprabhu and brought Mahaprabhu to his own residence and examined all the symptoms and he realized this was not even ordinary bhava, but this was mahabhava genuine symptoms of ecstasy. Soon the main party arrived they had darshan they were expecting Mahaprabhu to be there in the temple waiting for them. But that wasn’t the case there was no Mahaprabhu in the temple. As they inquired after which they were informed, “yes you go to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya home probably you will find him there”. Then all the devotes ran to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya home they found Lord totally unconscious they all started chanting Hare Krishna (Bhajan).

And the result was so it’s a good reason for us to sing also or by singing this way we try to become part of that party Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s party. Try to experience we are also there or we are witnessing this pastime, we are hearing that party singing and then we also sing along. So Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to external consciousness Haribol…… Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki jai………….. So this is how Mahaprabhu entered Jagannath puri. He was thinking of Lord Jagannath all the time, on the way to Jagannath Puri as Akrura was thinking of Krishna when he went from Mathura to Vrindavan. And Srila Prabhupad reminds this is the way when you go to Vrindavan go to Vrindavan way Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Jagannath puri or way the Akrura went to Vrindavan. You cannot  purchase a ticket, train does not take you to, plane does not take you Vrindavan and Puri. The mood will on the way to Vrindavan or Puri will bring us there, otherwise our body there and mind back in Durban and always in touch with mobile phones. Keeping in touch with family as a result disconnected from the Lord. If family is Jagannath conscious, they may be talking to you on phone about Jagannath and that will help you to go closer to Puri.

So Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was there in Jagannath puri for total 18 years of which 6 years He was travelling all over, South India, another time He goes to Bengal and Bangladesh and back to Jagannath puri. So this is second time He comes back to Jagganath puri. Third time he goes to Vrindavan through Jharkhand forest. You heard Jharkhand forest pastime there also one state now in India  newly formed state like Maharashtra, Gujarat like that Jharkhand is one new state. Caitanya Mahaprabhu travelled through there, danced and made the animals also to dance in ecstasy. Mahaprabhu goes to Vrindavan He does his Brajmandal parikrama and comes back. Like that three times he went on travels, “Hare krishna naam gaur karila prachar”. He was singing that “Hare krishna naam gaur karila prachar”.

Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had appeared to establish the yuga dharma. “dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge” (B.G 4.8) — I appear in every age to establish the principles of dharma, the prime principle of dharma in this age of kali chanting the holy names of the Lord. So Lord travelled all over establishing, chanting dharma, sankirtan dharma. So finally He was also back from Vrindavan. Now He would be spending 12 more years in Jagannath Puri dham which has very similar mood like that of Vrindavan soon after He took sannyasa as we mentioned  He wanted to go to Vrindavan but He ended up in Jagannath puri which abode of Lord Jagannath who is Krishna himself.

“Sri gaur sri Krishna sri jaganath” Well Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself is also Krishna, Jagannath swami is also Krishna. So in Puri, Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu experiences of being in Vrindavan. In Jagannath Puri He would go for darshan of Jagannath everyday and the two Lords would be taking darshan of each other. Caitanya Mahaprabhu very anxious  to see Jagannath. One time Mahaprabhu He was inquiring could someone show me the Lord? Could someone show me the Lord? He was stopping people could someone show me the Lord?  could you bring me to the Lord. That person he did not know what to do how to response. Then he turned to another one what about you please bring me to my Lord that also did not work then another one and then another one and another one.  He was going shop to shop stopping people. He was so anxious so curious to meet his Lord, to have darshan of his Lord.

Finally He came across one smart Jagannath Puri wasi, resident of Puri. Oh! You want to see the lord, yes yes then please come along and he took Caitanya Mahaprabhu, where did he take Caitanya Mahaprabhu? To the temple, please come along and brought inside Jaganath’s temple. Oh! You wanted to see the Lord there you see. And as Mahaprabhu saw there was no Jagannath there at that time, he saw Muralidhar, Shaymsundar playing flute in the place of Jagannath swami. “Jayati jayati devo devakinandano”

So Jayati jayati devo Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also at the time of rathyatra, He would offer this player. Oh! Lord all glories unto you, all glories unto you “Jayati jayati devo devakinandano”

So you are Devaki Nandan, son of Devaki, you are Krishna, you are Vrisni vanshi, Krishna you are. In Jagannath puri, Jagannath swami is very special Krishna. What is the specialty? What is the special feature of Jagannath? Jagannath is that Krishna who is feeling very very intense separation from his devotes. Specially Vrindavan wasi specially Gopis and Radharani. That is the mood, where are they? Where are they? That’s why Lord’s eyes are that’s why they are bigger. So that is Jaganath swami Krishna feeling separation from his devotees. And here is Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu he has mood of devotee, he has mood of Radharani and he is feeling separation from Krishna, the Lord. So this is the match Jagannath swami is feeling separation from his devotees he is looking for his devotees where are my devotees?  Where are my devotees?  How are my devotees? And here is Caitanya Mahaprabhu where is my Lord? Where is my Krishna?

So this is perfect, Jagannath swami and Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In Jagannath puri temple, there is a Garuda stambha, Garuda is on a pillar, Garuda is the carrier of Jagannath, Vishnu he is like a vehicle, like your vehicle is parked in front as soon as you are out of  your home your vehicle is there ever ready. So Garuda also parks himself whenever Lord wants to go he is ready to go. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would be allowed only to go up to that pillar and not forward; if he would go forward then he would be finished. Like He would be  in a stronger magnetic field. So better to keep him at safer distance so devotes would not allow him to step forward. He had to stand next to Garuda stambha and take darshan, watch see Jagannath swami and as Mahaprabhu would hold Garuda stambh by the touch of the fingers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there are finger prints of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in that Garuda stambha, I was just there, again in the past also I have seen this time also I not only see, but I also placed my fingers in the same place and I was trying to feel something trying to go into the past and imagine Mahaprabhu standing there and holding that pillar. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu goongatha, his qualities, his pastimes are the birds would go in Trans “pasan vidare” the rock would melt by his touch or by hearing his pastimes.

Such is the power of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his pastimes, his qualities. “gaurangera madhura-lila jar karne pravesila, hrdoya nirmala bhelo tar”.  “gaurangera madhura-lila jar karne pravesila, hrdoya nirmala bhelo tar” . As the pastimes of Gaurang Mahaprabhu enter the ears and it’s not sufficient to enter the ears, his pastimes should finally reach the heart. Because our soul is not in the ears, our soul is not in the ears. What is the sitting place of soul?  Heart. I think that is the purpose of what we are doing here “ekdun tikdun jai vare” it’s a saying in Marathi. So it has to go all the way to heart. Not again entering one ear and coming out from another. So we take this pastime in and arrange the meeting, meeting of Lord’s pastime with the soul. Thats the goal, soul has to be brought in contact with the pastimes of the Lord. That is also one feature of the Lord, Lord is non different from His pastimes, Lila, as He is not different from His holy dhama, His holy name, His holy form. Some of this are Lord’s personal features. Narottam das thakur sings as pastimes of Gauranga Mahaprabhu are heard, hrdoya nirmala, that person’s heart will become nirmal. Free from dirt, free from contamination, free from modes of material nature. This is the purpose of what we are doing here.

By hearing this pastimes of Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Puri we would like to purify ourselves, yes is that the purpose? The pastimes of Gaurang in puri are unlimited. It’s the ocean of pastimes, we just need a drop. Because we are very tiny, tiny souls. The drop is like a ocean for us. If we get few drops, we would be drowned in that drop of the pastimes of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.  Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Jaganath Puri as he was returning from his travells,Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya he approached King Prataprudra, where could Lord stay? Please make some arrangement. King Prataprudra was  devotee of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although king of Orissa, king of puri, but very very humble, pure soul, pure devotee, he was always very anxious to serve Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said oh! That Kashi misra’s home would be very appropriate place for Mahaprabhu to stay. There is where Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed when he returned. Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Kasi Mishra’s place; I don’t know whether you have heard the name called Gambhira. There is a place called Gambhira, Gambhira also means serious.

Gambhira serious place that place is very very serious place. That place was chosen because it is not very far from Jagannath puri temple and it is secluded and is very quiet, for this reason, Kashi Misra home was chosen as residence for Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And the place where is stayed is very tiny, very tiny place, I was just there very small place. Sanyasi, as He was, renounced, he was happily residing in that small place. Although Kashi Misra had big palace, many quarters. But Mahaprabhu chose a small corner, small quarter where next 12 years, he would be spending there. Jaganath puri is going to be his base, no travels. From there He would go everyday for darshan of Jagannath and after having darshan of Jagannath, next place Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would visit everyday this was daily practice visiting Siddha bakula , where Namacharya Haridas Thakur was residing.

Namacharya Haridas thakur was born in Muslim family as a result; he was banned from darshan of Jagannath. Do not think that it is a new policy of modern time, even 500 years ago, Haridas thakur because he was from non-Hindu family, he was not allowed. I was also not allowed darshan of Jagannath one time that was my first time in Jagannath puri must be, 1977, I as we were going group of ISKCON devotees. The Pandas stopped pandit is called panda and as we went no no you are Christians and these ISKCON people they have converted you. I do not know where they got this secret (laughs). I tried to convince but did not work pandas were strongly built and I was small. They literally picked me up and put me outside. But while as we were battling with the panda, one of my American god brothers, born in Christian family but he had Indian kind of complexion and he took advantage of that when pandas were busy with me. So he was there in front of Jagannath swami, praying for me (laughter). He soon returned outside the gate, Maharaj tulsi for you tulsi for you. By his mercy I had tulsi at least of Lord Jaganath.

So Haridas thakur, at least I was fighting to go in there Haridas Thakur did not fight.  He considered himself not qualified for darshan of Jagannath, he would only take darshan of chakra at the top of temple and that was good enough. That is considered good enough and even offerings of the food could be made to chakra. Lot of people to this day also offer the food to chakra. Haridas Thakur just took darshan of chakra at the temple door. But then Mahaprabhu would come to meet Haridas thakur. So he was not allowed to go in for darshan of Jagannath but Jagannath would be walking he could walk who is Caitanya Mahaprabhu? “sei gaur sei Krishna sei jagannath” . So Jagannath swami is Gauranga Mahaprabhu He would come to Haridas thakur and give him darshan and embrace him and this was every day. Haridas thakur he would just chant and chant and chant and that’s all what he did. Haridas thakur would chant and chant and chant and that’s all what he did.

And if we are asked, can’t chant, can’t, can’t, chant chant chant, no can’t can’t can’t Prabhupad said this also. So he would always chant, very little rest, very little food. Always chanting Thats why Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave him title Namacharya Haridas thakur. Namacarya he has another name, he is also known as Brahma Haridas, non different from Brahma. Brahma appeared to take break from his management affairs. He decided to do little mantra meditation and Srila Prabhupad comes in that parampara. First acarya in Srila Prabhupad parampara is Brahma and so he is setting examples, teaching in this age of kali, chanting is the way, he did not deliver discourses on this topic, but simple chanted and set the glorious examples.

So at this place where Haridas thakur there was not much shelter lot of times he would be chanting in hard sun and so one day Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to see Haridas thakur, he brought a toothbrush, it was not made up of plastic, it was a babool tree, So everyday Jagannath swami woken up, they offer him the brush. That days brush mahaprabhu carried with him, planted that. Soon that grew into shady tree and became known as siddhabakul tree. Tree that was planted 500 years ago, that tree is still there, then Haridas thakur was sitting in the shadow of that tree and chanting ‘Hare Krishna…….”. Siddhabakul another is very important spot in Jagannath puri. In puri, you feel strong presence of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu whereever you go, whole atmosphere of Puri is surcharged with memories of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and pastimes and so many places. You could go visit Puri places reminding of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Haridas thakur samadhi is there.

Gundhicha temple is there, before day of rathyatra Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go there and personally clean the temple, not order others aye! Or call up some coolie’s aye! 10 rupees ok, bring some more sweepers with you, no he did not he would personally go take his devotees take brooms and take many pots  it’s a wonderful pastime.

There are series of festivals which took  place 500 years ago and for thousands of years in fact this festivals one after the other, one leading to others, leading to Jagannath  rathyatra, and  Gundicha marjan prior to rathayatra so series of festivities. We could briefly talk about snanyatra of the Lord and then netroustav, feast for the eyes. Then rathyatra utsav and Jagannath swami staying in Gundicha temple then ultta rath.  And Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visit of Alalnath while no darshan available. For two weeks puri temple is closed, we should know this from the snanyatra time to rathyatra time for two weeks. If you want to have darshan, you have to go to another temple. That is where you take darshan of Jagannath. Taking darshan of that deities is as good as taking darshan of Jagannath. Caitanya Mahaprabhu would do this so Caitanya Mahaprabhu made these festivals memorable, unforgettable experience.

Rathyatra that we are celebrating here is all because of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he made these rathyatras, he was there for 12 years attending rathyatras, rathyatra after rathyatra. Not just witnessing or  taking photographs, or standing on roof top and making some observations, but he was integral part of rathyatra festival. Jagannath up there Krishna and Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the mood of Radharani in front of him on the streets of puri, in front of rathyatra.

Venue: Los Angeles. So everything ready to go, everything is getting loaded into, into what?  Big trucks?  carts, bullock carts. Every family had at-least one cart or more.  So many cows, so many bulls and that’s the mode of transportation. Krishna had never gone His travels were more kind of limited to this brahad van,  He was more in Gokul, into the town, just  around on the bank of Jamuna just near. It’s the first time He is going for a very long travel, very  very long,  its like going to another country for him. “Oh! Mummy mummy, where are we going? Where are we going? (laughs) “beta we are going to Vrndavan.” “Vrndavan, why Vrndavan?”  “You know there are big big playgrounds. You could play there”. So Krishna was delighted, He was jumping in the cart.

So there are so many many carts big line, cart after cart, after cart, after cart. Carts were mainly for the elderly folks, old people and children, ladies were in the carts. Everyone else they were down to the earth, they were on the ground, walking. And the cows, Sukhdev Goswami describes, cows were all the way in front and Purohit the priests are there they are chanting prayers and cows, where is the cow? Coming (video being played in the background).

And they also have weapons for the protection of cows. Cows have been described repeatedly; they describe cows as the Go-dhan, wealth of the residents of Vrindavan, so they wish to protect this.  When comes to cows, so many cows, so many cows, this pastime is coming up. So they are going, they left Gokul, Gokul has been deserted, there’s no one in the Gokul, no one in Gokul. They all left, ghost town and they are going in north, northerly direction and because it had taken some time everyone to load their belongings and everyone getting into the carts. It is mentioned there’s a special cart wherein there is Krishna and Balarama and Yasoda and Rohini, four of them are in one cart. It’s a talk that we also hear that everyone would like to have his cart next to Krishna’s cart and Krishna lets them experience there were times, during those travels everyone was thinking “hey! My cart is next to Krishna’s cart, hey! My cart is….”   Everyone else is far; you know behind, ahead, my cart is just next to Krishna’s cart, Balarama’s cart.

This is Krishna expanding, His cart has been expanded, He has expanded, He is with all those carts.  So because it was getting late it was sunset time, they camped on the bank of Jamuna, they camped out. In the same side as Gokul just some distance in the north. This whole camping has been described how they had everything was there. The next morning as they got up they wanted to cross, so what they do for crossing. There are different things they do, how they cross Jamuna. They tied carts, cart one cart another cart, another cart, another cart….   What is this going on? What is this? Bridge. they are walking and crossing there are many bridges like that and people are going in their carts.  Tying carts you understand match box one another one cart.  Where the others the cowherd men they are carrying cows little baby calf on their shoulders and  swimming Jamuna going across and if they are swimming across with the calf on the back, who is swimming right behind you think?  Mother cow. So many men are carrying the baby calf on their shoulders and they are swimming and the cows are swimming right behind. Thousands of them are trying to swim across like that. Go-mata ki jai………………………………

And now they all have reached Vrindavan, Vrindavan dhama ki jai………Vrindavan they all are in Vrindavan now. Vrindavan is again, there are twelve forests. All of them put together is we call Vrindavan but one of those twelve forests is also Vrindavan forest, between Jamuna and Govardhan it is all Vrindavan forest. Vrindavan is not just forest (video is being played in the background).  We are getting feeling we are in Vrindavan. We are there it’s the real thing, now where they go and park is, they park all the carts in semi circular format. “sakatair ardha-candravat vrndavanam sampravisya” (S.B 10.11.35)

After entering Vrindavan they park their carts in the semi circular format and made that as a compound and they were they started staying there, residing there. This makes shift temporary housing and facilities and they stay there for long time several years. According to Vishvanath Chakraborty Thakur, Krishna stayed 3 years and 4months in Gokul and He stays 3 years and 4 months where they have just now come this place is called sakatavarta you have heard name of Chatikara Chatikara you know Chatikara, you go from Delhi highway, Delhi- Agra highway and then you turn to go to Krishna Balarama temple that Bhaktivedant marg so that at that junction highway there then turning left to go to Vrindavan Krishna Balarama temple. So at that junction is a village even now called Chatikara, Chati, sakata. So that’s where they had parked all the carts, big area. So three years and four months there and finally from there they go to Nandagram and Krishna spends three years and four months in Nandagram. And then comes Akrura from Mathura to invite Krishna and Balarama to Mathura. So just to give an idea where is Krishna now and where is the family. So here at this place Krishna’s is going to be, “vatsa-palau babhuvatuh” (S.B 10.11.37) Sukadev Goswami describes here Krishna becomes a calf herd boy.

He was given the task of herding just a calf. He is a little boy and He can only manage herding little cows, cows “Choti Choti Gaiyan, Chote Chote Gwaal Choto so Choto so madana gopal”. Everything is chota chota, Krishna chota, gaaya choti, cows choti choti gaiyan, everything is small small. Now He was very anxious Krishna is very anxious to do this take this assignment.  Now with this His sakha bhava,  in Gokul basically “vatsalya bhava”  He is spending time with Yashoda and Rohini and the parents and like that and little bit sakhya few friends.  But having come to Vrindavan now the friends becomes more dominant Sakha bhava. So He has to be away from home playing with the friends so this calf herding pastime activity would give more opportunity to be with the friends and more play, so it is also excuse to be away from the family so that they could play with the friends. So there was a time when Krishna first time proposed   Yashoda flat “no no no you aren’t going to forest, forget it”. She was not ready she was not ready “no no stay home, stay home. You are still little tiny baby, don’t have to go to work at this age” but He was insisting and then Nanda Maharaj took Krishna’s side. Father mother they were debating and Krishna and Nanda Maharaj won the debate and Krishna was able to now go out as a calf herd boy.  First day Nanda Maharaj they gathered a small group of calf’s and few other friends they had their small group of cows also and Nanda and Yashoda personally were accompanying  Krishna Balarama and cowherd boys and training them how to control cows how to turn them this way, “stop stop” they gave little ropes little ropes in the hands of Krishna and Balaram, little sticks and “but don’t go deep into the forest okay and come back before lunch”.  “yes yes daddy yes  yes mommy” Nanda Yashoda “yes we’ll be back” and they are proceeding towards the forest and then lots of play and come back and this is going on for some days and one day kadacid once upon a time Yamuna-tire on the banks of Jamuna other side now on the eastern bank now they are staying on the western bank everyone is staying on the western bank.  Now Krishna and Balarama the cowherd boy have gone across Jamuna and eastern bank of Jamuna they are herding their cows and “ Krsna balayor jighamsur daitya agamat” (S.B 10.11.41)

One demon, one demon arrived in the scene Rukhmini Dwarkadhish ki jai……….. With the aim of killing Krishna and Balarama he has come “tam vatsa-rupinam viksya” (S.B 10.11.42) Krishna noticed and this demon has come in the shape of a calf easy right, so many cows there one more calf. So many cows were there one more calf. So this demon thought it’s easy no one would notice me but there was Krishna he noticed not only he noticed he brought to the ….. aye! Balarama Balarama, you see you see. Not the other one, no no just near next to him you know. Ha! ha! Yes yes what about him you know that’s not regular calf strange kind of “yes yes something we have never seen such a calf, this is extra one extra one”

“darsayan baladevaya” He showed, Krishna showed it to Balarama “sanair sanair” and Krishna is moving forward He showed to Balarama. Krishna is making advances He is getting closer and closer and closer and closer to that particular calf as He got there Grhitva caught hold of that calf’s apara-padabhyam his hind legs apara-padabhyam two and the hind legs saha-langulam with the tail,  two hind legs and tail together “saha-langulam acyutah” (S.B 10.11.43.) Krishna has done this and the next thing He did started whirling and (shuuuuuuuu……) and it fell on a top of a big tree. And it’s because Krishna moving so fast he lost his life, the demon lost his life in this process shook his life out it could through a dead body.  “bhramayitva kapitthagre prahinod gata-jivitam” (S.B 10.11.43) and he was so and as he was been thrown whirled around and thrown, this calf was no more a little calf assumed a gigantic form his original demon form calf was not a original form he had a so heavy that the tree fell down so many other trees fell.

“devas ca parisantusta babhuvuh puspa-varsinah” (S.B 10.11.44) Devatas Demigod were highly pleased santusta and they started showering flowers many flowers the flowers are being showered “tam viksya vismita balah” (S.B 10.11.44) And all the cow boys friends they were kind of hiding (laughs) when Krishna was handling (laughs) the demon they were not sure what is going to be outcome of this, so they were maintaining safer distance and watching from behind the trees.

And once the demon was killed they stepped forward saying Sadhu sadhu sadhu sadhu sadhu well done well done.  And next thing they are doing ,some special kind of fruit tree so trees fell so there are so many fruits (laughing) all the cowherd boys they are running after the fruits it was the breakfast time they are kind of hungry. Someone lost the life (laughs) and no big deal they just want to enjoy fruit.  So like that they ran for the fruit so like that they would have good time herding cows calves and playing with the friends.

And another day they were all thirsty, these two pastimes one demon killing which is Vatsasura and there’s more to talk about there was a news that Vatsa the calf. So some residents of Vrindavan  hey! Krishna He is a sinner, He has killed cow killed cow, He has to take bath He has to take holy dip now for his self purification.  He should go take bath in Ganga now Krishna was willing but He doesn’t leave Vrindavan to go take bath in Ganga so how does He manage,He creates Ganga from His mind and that is Manasi Ganga. When you do Govardhan parikrama on the way take darshan of this Govardhan Town is Manasi Ganga. So that comes from mind is born in minutes from mind of Krishna Krishna takes bath and everyone one is taking bath in that Manasi Ganga. So that is related some other pastimes are also mentioned in connection with this Manasi Ganga and this is one of them. So another day the boys are thirsty (Maharaj telling the audience – we have some dramas coming up for your pleasure Rukhmini Dwarkadhish theater is gonna be performing drama).

So that was another demon coming, he is Bakasura he is brother of Putna.  Putna has been killed now second member of the family is about to and he has come as a big buck big duck. So they drank water and then suddenly they saw this big big huge size duck and (quacking sound) everything is here [laughing] you name it cow is here birds ducks.  So “bako nama mahan asuro” (S.B 10.11.48) “baka-rupa-dhrk”. So he comes Sahasa suddenly comes and big nose pointed beak beaks and he catch holds Krishna and swallows.

Where is Krishna now? He was playing, He was playing with friends and the demon came and just swallowed and cowherd boys were right there and where is Krishna? Where is Krishna? His friends disturbed and Krishna inside the throat He is becoming very very hot and very bitter also. Then would you swallow something that is so hot and so bitter? what do you do next you vomit? So this demon vomited what did come out?  Krishna came out and next thing Krishna He did He held, what did He held?  The two beaks of this demon and broke them, he went up also.

Bakasura was also killed we are rushing because idea was to kill another demon today (laughs) which is Aghasura.  So putna his sister Bakasura and Aghasura, Bakasura and Aghasura are two brothers and sister Putna. So this Aghasuras time for killing. So “ghor darshana”    “aho brahma vidham vaco nasatyah santi karhicit” (S.B 10.11.57). The cowherd boys as the news spread of Krishna killing this another demon residents of Vrindavan Nanda Maharaj they are reminded of Garga Muni’s predictions and this would happen that would happen killing of demons but Krishna will come always victorious always depend upon Him He will protect you and exactly. “gargo yad aha” the way he said, had predicted is exactly happening  all talk about this “iti nandadayo gopah krsna-ram-katham muda” (S.B 10.11.58). So these topics are giving great pleasure to the residents nandayah gopah gopa gops   protectors of the cows Nanda Maharaj and the others and kurvanto ramamanshchya this Ram Krishna katha they are absorbed this is their life

“mac citta mad-gata prana bodhayantah parasparam kathayantas ca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca” (B.G 10.9) Krishna said in Bhagvat gita  same thing here  residents’ of Vrindavan are ramamanashcya   they are busy absorbed in talking about Krishna we also wish while hearing before you talk what you have to do?,what you have to do? you have to hear you have to read otherwise what will you talk about, you will talk about Iraq affairs,  whatever you hear about you talk about, simple thing what goes in   input that is output.  If katha goes in, katha will come out you will relish and then it will come out.  So we also wish to how Krishna katha is our topic we are devotees   Krishna is expecting that we always talk  about Krishna so, we have to hear about Krishna, so  wish to hear more and more and then do manthanam mananam. You hear and hear and come back tomorrow to hear more but in mean time what happen mananam contemplation contemplate  bring those past time back to the mind and contemplate  relish and take them in again. Just like a cow or animal they eat twice atleast twice  first time gobble up  grazing and then  they sit down and what do they do just like chewing,  they bring whole thing back into the mouth and then they chew it make it finer and they assimilate and that goes into the system they get nourished.  Not necessary by just first time they eat so here we have rush we kind of feed, we gobble up in couple of hours then we have 22 hours more to do what chewing this katha or bringing this pastimes back into the mouth and take a look at them,  relish them  then they become our property  then we will not forget it.

Venue: Los Angeles  So, Krishna is in front, they looked at Krishna. One more time, they gained confidence. They remembered how Bakasura, this asura was killed right in front of them, He will handle this is His homework and with that thing, they all entered. “Kara-tadanair” they started clapping and singing and calves, calves and cows also entered with their tails upraised there. So many of them running right inside the mouth of Aghasura. There are thousands of them, you know thousands of them. And Krishna was listening to all this conversation.

OH! Is this real one or is this diorama or this is what? Krishna was listening to all this conversation and He knew, He knew that although he is motionless, he is doing real good act, making his friends think that this is just the statue or this is the part of Vrindavan scene. Krishna knew he is real, real demon, came to disturb my friends and our pastimes. And “niroddhum bhagvan mano dadhe” (S.B 10.12.25) Krishna wanted to forbid his friends. “Aye! Boys, friends, friends, stop, stop, stop”, and He was trying to stop them, but they were so many of them and it was too late. Most of the boys, friends have already inside the mouth and the body of Aghasura. OH! My God! Now who is the God? My God! My God! God says, My God! What is now going to happen! You know He is taking that role. So Krishna, now He is thinking; now He has two things to do. He has to kill the demon keeping in the mind that his friends and all the cows are protected. But they are inside the body of the demon.  He could chop them; chop the body of the Aghasura. But then that would be the end of his friends also. So He has this dilemma now, I want to protect my friends, same time I have to kill this demon. Now, there are two other parties now. One party is behind the cloud, the Demigods had assembled and they are all exclaiming, Alas! Because they were thinking, ok Krishna also entered, Krishna also entered.

So far Krishna was out there. They thought He could do something, but He also, Krishna also entered the mouth of the Aghasura. And the Demigods were thinking, Oh! He also did not realize this was real demon, not having seen Krishna also entered the body, mouth of the Aghasura. Then the demigods were in total anxiety and they are screaming and they are crying and now what was going to happen? So that’s one party but another party, the demon party. They had good time. The news also reached them. How it works we don’t know. I don’t know, the way to, how they come to know Kamsa and others they come to know. They are having celebrations, fire crackers and they are distributing laddus and they have great time! Singing, dancing and ‘finally! Finally! Finally! We got him, caught him. It’s going to be end of him. So while this whole scene is there in Vrindavan, on the land in Vrajamandal, Aghasura, cowherd boys, Krishna also is there, demigods are there and demons, so there are different reactions.

So, of course Krishna had a plan, with the purpose He entered the body of Aghasura. He had his strategy all worked out, doesn’t take much time. He doesn’t have to telephone anyone, No consultation. He knows what to do, He is a boss and the boss is always right, the boss is always right. He knows what to do. He has entered and “tarasa vavrdhe gale” (S.B 10.12.30). So as everyone is inside now the demon is trying to, one thing that has happened immediately Aghasura closes the mouth. Everyone has been trapped now. And he has the mountains range like teeth. He is trying to get them, crush them, eat them, gobble them up. Different things are happening inside and by this time, you could imagine that cowherd boys, they all have lost their lives. Each one of them, not only cowherd boys, of course the cows, same thing, Very very serious, very emergency, worst time ever. Then Krishna, He begins growing in size. Grows and grows and grows and grows and the demon, he had his lips all tight as soon as everyone was in. That upper lip which was touching the skies had closed. Krishna is trying to open that again and He grows in size, compelling, forcing that demon to open the mouth. And with that the demon has lost his, Sukadev Goswami is describing this. His eyes bulges, the bulging eyes and murdhan lost his life. Haribol!! Are you happy? Depends which party you belong to.

So then Krishna’s task was done the demon was killed but his friends were unconscious, gone. Pranesu then Krishna drstya with his glance only, merciful glance, He is looking at everyone there. All his friends, all the cows, calves and they all get up, wake up and they didn’t even know what had happened. They have brought back to life by the Lord. When they got up as if nothing had happened. They all ran out [laughs], they all ran out of the Aghasura’s body. “mukundo bhagvan viniryayau” (S.B 10.12.32) Mukunda, the great Mukunda, Krishna liberated them , tatotihrstah Everyone was happy now. What are the different parties, now happy parties are the Suras. Asuras and suras, suras are mentioned here, Surdas Prabhu here? So,  Suras. What are they doing? They are showering flowers on Krishna and company. Flowers are being showered flowers. The apsaras, what are they doing?  nartanaih, apsaras begin dancing. Some apsaras they begin dancing. So they are jubilant now. Now Kamsa and party, they all shut up (laughs). They all become morose they had finally good time, but did not last very long (laughs). Now all those were in the sky. They have now good times, celebration, showering of flowers, apsaras are dancing and gandharvas are singing. Many gandharva, (bhajan)

“Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya Govind jaya jaya Gopal jaya”

“Radha raman hari Govinda jaya Radha raman hari Govinda jaya Radha raman hari Govinda jaya Radha raman hari Govinda jaya Radha raman hari Govinda jaya Radha raman hari Govinda jaya Radha raman hari Govinda jaya”

And we are having described this Aghasura demon killing pastime by Sukadev Goswami. And he was concluding one of the final statements in that chapter, this is very important what Sukadev Goswami has to say is very important. He said that Krishna killed this demon when He was 5 years old. He was kumar. And of course cowherd boys were there. They had witnessed this pastime. But only paugandake when He entered his pauganda age. That is after He was 6 years old, about 1 year later. After 1 year the cowherd boys talked about this pastime to their parents. The practice is, whatever they see, something wonderful, something extraordinary, the highlights of that day, the cowherd boys, they return, they make their parents sit down, ”daddy, daddy come here, come here, I say come here, sit down, mummy where are you?” Evening news time, evening news. In each home the cowherd boys, they are making their parents, relatives, friends and those who did not go out there so many things happened; now they have to be shared. The cowherd boys they shared this with their parents. It becomes talk of the town. So, whatever pastimes of that day taken place by the evening time, whole Vrindavan comes to know, everyone comes to know. They don’t have to wait till next morning daily newspaper. So already found. So this is a daily practice. But this particular pastime of Aghasura killing, Sukadev Goswami mentioned, after 1 year the cowherd boys shared this pastime with the parents and others.

And King Pariksit, Raja Pariksit was thinking that, he had this feeling and he was going to change the topic and go on to say something more and King Pariksit wanted to know, OH! What what what what did you say? We’ll get back to that something very wonderful is going to come up before we get to that I just wanted to mention, introduce that idea briefly. And so this is just one final philosophical statement here. Sukadev Goswami has said that, so what happened to this Aghasura is; of course Krishna kills demons that’s Krishna’s mercy upon this demon he is liberated. Because Krishna, Krishna entered the body of the Aghasura demon, Krishna entered. The yogis are struggling so that Krishna would enter their heart and sit there. Here Krishna entered, Sukadev Goswami says if one remembers the Lord, brings Him into his heart and remembers Him even once “manomayi bhagvatm dadau gatim” (S.B 10.12.39), he will attain the salvation just bring Him into the heart once, manomayi thinking by force. Srila Prabhupad translates that word bringing Lord into the heart; you may even do it forcefully, little struggles you are bringing him in, that’s enough for attaining salvation.

So this is how by bringing Krishna in, Krishna personally enters his body and he was seeing and thinking of the Lord, this Aghasura was and he attained perfection. And of course if that is the case then what to speak of someone who is “nityatma-sukhanubhuty-abhi” one who is always in great pleasure is thinking of Krishna, meditating upon Krishna, is “savai manah krsnapadarvindayo” mind is fixed on the lotus feet of Krishna. Then what to speak of that person’s great fortune. So we want to make sure, if we had not thought of Krishna, brought him in before, brought him in our hearts before, we want to do that now, right now. Next 30 seconds, then try to, its done just once, then it is guaranteed all those who are here, it is easy because Lord is standing right in front of you, Bhagavatam is here. So you are getting 30 seconds now, you have to be alert, if you are sleepy then, your istadeva, bring him in and think of him. Think of His lotus feet; pray to Him so that He stays in. Like Caitanya Mahaprabhu did, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Those who pull the chariot of Jagannatha Rathayatra, in Los Angeles is coming up, you will be pulling the chariot and trying to bring Krishna to Vrindavan, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,’ my mind is Vrindavan  “more mana Vrindavan” so I want Krishna to reach Vrindavan and he could do that because my mind is Vrindavan. He enters my mind, heart that is Vrindavan. So keep Krishna in “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”.

Another form, Naam Prabhu, Another form of the Lord, the Name form, Lila form, Ok. So thank you for your endeavor, successful endeavor, trying to bring Krishna in. Raja uvaca, so the end of this chapter. Now we would lead to the next chapter, this is still end of 12th chapter. So Raja, the King, I already said earlier his question now is how come this pastime took place when Krsna, cowherd boys were about 5 years old, before 1 year no one knew nothing about this and then suddenly after 1 year everyone found out. “tad bruhime maha-yogin param kautuhalam guro” (S.B 10.12.42) I am becoming very very anxious to know more about this. This sounds very serious to me.

“nunam etad dharer eva maya bhavti nanyatha” Certainly I see some Krishna’s hand here, some  Krishna’s maya, Hari’s maya. Otherwise how come for 1 year no one heard this pastime.

“vayam dhanyatama loke guropi ksatra-bandhavah vayam pibamo muhus tvattah punyam krsna-kathamrtam” (S.B 10.12.43) Oh! We are very fortunate and we are also very fortunate this is what he is talking about that, we are fortunate because we are able to hear, vayam pibamo we are all drinking. What are we drinking? punyam krsna-kathamrtam, amrit, amrit is normally liquid, right? “srimad bhagvatam rasmalayam pibat bhagvat rasmalayam” Of eating and drinking, which is easier? Drinking is easier. In the beginning it doesn’t say eat Bhagavatam, it says drink Bhagavatam pibat bhagvat rasmalayam. It is juicy, drink. “muhuraho rasika bhuvibhavukah” Oh rasika we are all rasik. We all like rasa. One who likes rasa is called rasika, rasa, kathamrtam, rasa, juice, nectar.

So, he says, we are very fortunate that you are sharing this kathamrtam. Although and he says he is using one word here, says ksatrabandhavah, although unqualified Ksatriya, I am just so called ksatriya. You know, you know why he is thinking like this? Because, the way he treated that Samika rishi, remember? When he was thirsty, he asked, “Aye! Water, could someone get water? I am very thirsty.” And he saw, he had seen that Samika rishi sitting in trans. For the first time King Pariksit,” Look! Look the hospitality of this sage. I am asking for water and immediately he is posing and sitting. Because he is trying to avoid receiving guest and giving him water. He is just making a show of being in Trans. He is not in trans. So this was his thought and he picks up a snake, dead snake with his arrow and puts that around the neck of that, genuinely he was in trans, in his Samadhi. He had not even notice, King Pariksit arrived and snake around his neck and went away. Only when his son had come, Sringi had come and he had cursed, “Aye, person who had done this he will have to die only 7 days”. And then he sits down to listen to Bhagavatam because he has only 7 days. We also listen Bhagavatam for 7 days. Sometimes, sometimes we do this because we also have to die within 7 days. Each one of us will be dying within 7 days sorry [laughs]. Someone will die on Monday, Someone will die on Thursday, Someone on Friday, Someone on Tuesday.

Like that within 7 days, one of those days within 7 days (laughs). That’s another good reasoning, why 7 days? Some connection is there. So, King Pariksit was thinking you know,’ trust me. This is how I treated, I offended that great sage. I am just ksatra-bandhavah but it is guropi, you are great spiritual master and you are sharing this krsna-kathamrtam. You had been doing this for past 4-5 days now. This is the 10^th canto. Of, course 4-5 days. The Krsna janma is usually on the 4^th day. This was the beginning of the 10^th canto.

Sukadev Goswami describing on the 4^th day, Krishna appearance so this is 4^th afternoon, or 5^th day beginning. This is actually beginning, so 4^th day. We have been talking continuously for 4 days and vayam dhanyatama, we are very very fortunate. Dhanya also meaning wealthy, we are wealthy, we are getting enriched, we are dhanyatama we are very rich. How are we becoming rich? We are getting this wealth of holy name and of holy pastimes. This is all wealth dhanam. It is wealth. This is how one become wealthy and these riches will satisfy one, satisfy the soul. That’s what we are. Other riches, worldly riches may entertain the body and the senses but deep within will be always disatisfaction. Real self will only be satisfied by feeding this krsna-kathamrtam, punyam krsna-kathamrtam vayam pibamo muhus tvattah.

Again and again and again and again you are feeding us with tvattah from your lotus mouth. This is emanating, so he is expressing the gratitude towards the King and it’s very amazing, now Suta Goswami has to, only Suta Goswami could say this. Not Pariksit, not Sukadev Goswami. What is he saying? He says listen to this, as Sukadev Goswami heard about this enquiry, ’oh, could you please tell me that why, how come, how come immediately but only after 1 year, only after when children grow up 6 years old’. So when Badarayani, “itham sma prstah sa tu badarayanis” (S.B 10.12.44) when badarayani Sukadev Goswami heard this, something changed for Sukadev Goswami. For a while there is complete silence. The speaker is in trans. He looses his all external consciousness because he is reminded of the exciting pastimes which took place during that 1 year.

He was thinking that this is very very confidential thing; he is trying to skip over. But because of this enquiry immediately he was turned inward and he starts looking within and observing those pastimes, loosing total external consciousness. And because Suta Goswami was there when this happened. Sukadev Goswami was talking to King Pariksit, Sut Goswami was in the audience so he is sharing “krcchrat punar labdha-bahir-drsih” (S.B 10.12.44) He says, it took lot of efforts to bring Sukadev Goswami, to bring his external consciousness so that he could continue to talk again and respond to the enquiry that has been made by King Pariksit. Sanaih only gradually and after great efforts, pratyaha some questions was raised. Prati means counter statement. In other words reply was given by King Pariksit. Now additional information or inside story to call it will provided by our acaryas. They say that this is not the first time he went in trans. This use to happen from time to time to get him out. Specially Janamejaya was mentioned who was the son of King Pariksit. He had all the instruments ready. Drums, counch shell all the sankirtan samagri. If this happened, they would be beating drums, singing out loud blowing up counch shells, trumpets, kettledrums. Then after lot of that effort then he would be again with them. Oh! What happened? Ok! By the way he would continue. So this is one time this is happened, especially because of the nature of very wonderful confidential pastime, that enquiry was made about. And then as soon as enquiry was there, he started thinking and he was not with them. Ok, he is back with King Pariksit and others and he says “sanaih pratyaha tama bhagavatottamottama” (S.B 10.12.44). You are bhagavatottamottama you are “uttama” amongst all the Bhagavatas. Bhagvata means Grantha Bhagvata, book Bhagvata and also person Bhagvata. You are person Bhagvata but you are the top most. Sukadev Goswami is addressing King Pariksit like that and he says “yan nutanayasisasya srnvann api katham muhuh” (S.B 10.13.1). You know, you make the katha very lively. You make it a kind of, you renovate, you make it a fresh. The way you enquire, the way you take interest. You never says I have heard this many times, so many times, I know, I know. And that person never asks questions because he knows if questions has been raised the katha will begin longer since he wants to make sure katha will finish on time or before time. But King Pariksit, Sukadev Goswami says, ` you, you are, you know enlivening me and making this topic is ever fresh but you are even making it fresher. He is complimenting sadhu, “sadhu prstam” nice question, nice question.

And he says, it is like “striya vitam iva” like the debauches, the sex mongers the way  they take keen interest in the sex related, woman related, man woman relationship related topic. They relish, they contemplate, enquire, keep it lively. The Hollywood that’s how they stay in business. So just like that, comparing. But as, ‘so you are also keeping this topic alive and of course one your topic is about prema, love and the other topics are about the lust, that’s the difference. “srnusvavahito rajann” (S.B 10.13.3) please, listen with attention, “guhyam vadami te” I am going to share something confidential’. Not that, King was not listening from time to time, Sukadev Goswami does say, ` please, listen’. That does not mean he is sleepy. No, King Pariksit is not sleeping, just to get his attention even more. If you want to say something ok , “are you with me?’ not you, he is asking King Pariksit, so please listen “ bruyauh snigdhasya sisyasya guravo guhyam apy uta” (S.B 10.13.3).When submissive enquiry is made by the disciple then the Guru is compelled to share even  something that is very confidential. From submissive disciple nothing is hidden. Spiritual master conceals nothing. He reveals unto such disciple. So again complementing, ’Oh! Nice question! I am going to tell you’. And he begins now the narration, after killing of Aghasura was done in next 2 chapters. He talks of the pastime that last for 1 year.

Venue: Cross Maidan Festival : Reading from Bhagvad-gita -As it is chapter 7, I was not mentioned any particular verse, then there are so many choices of course by now you must be knowing why chapter 7 has been selected for this festival here at Cross Maidan. Yes exactly Srila Prabhupada had been giving his discourses on this chapter 7. In 1971 during morning hours, Srila Prabhupada ki …………………….jai. Of course I missed the morning talks, morning talks are for more serious students. Anyone could come in the evening but to come in the morning it takes, you to be somebody seriously interested in the subject matter. So maybe I did not have so much interested in 71, I was coming in the evening attending Srila Prabhupad’s Hare Krishna festival right here at Cross Maidan. Unfortunately I did missed morning Bhagavat gita lectures. The 7th chapter onwards of Bhagavat gita 7th  through 12th  chapters is considered as ‘Bhakti Yoga’ discussion.

“yoginam api sarvesam, mad-gatenantar-atmana, sraddhavan bhajte yo mam, sa me yuktatamo matah” (B.G 6.47). This is how Krishna has concluded the 6th chapter of Bhagvat-gita saying that of all the yogis – The Bhakti yogi is the topmost “sraddhavan bhajte yo mam sa me yuktatamo”  yuktatamo means the topmost. This way one who is engaged or this way one who links with me, yoga is linking and the best and complete linkage is there when there is a Bhakti yoga with devotion and of course it is  Srila Prabhupad the Vaishnav acharya who describes or translates Bhakti as not just devotion but Devotional service. While lot others are, whenever there is word Bhakti devotion they say, devotion. But Prabhupad translates this devotional service not just sitting around, so that is over that meditation is over and Dhyana yoga is getting completed here and now is a time for, meditation as well as action that is devotional service.

“mam anusmara yudhacha” cha means and, You have to do 2 things Krishna says “mam anusmara” that is one thing while remembering me “yudha” you have to fight “cha” means and this and that. Not only mam anusmara only remembrance or not fighting but fight while remembering me that is Devotional service for ksatriya. So that Bhakti yoga is being described here in 7th chapter and some more chapters. The knowledge of the absolute is the title of the chapter. Shri Bhagavan uvaca, so we will just take look at different verses of this chapter. I was just running through the chapter I could see practically every verse in this chapter is the most quoted verse. Srila Prabhupada used it very frequently; many of the verses were used. “mayy asakta-manah partha, yogam yunjan mad-asrayah, asamsayam samagram mam, yatha jnasyasi tac chrum” (B.G 7.1)

‘Please hear’ who says this? Shri Bhagavan uvaca, “Shrunu”, attention or says try to hear, in fact early morning also it is little difficult we are fresh not fresh also at the same time, sleepy morning sometimes.  So the advice here is try to hear the Supreme Personality of Godhead said. Now hear Oh! Son of Prutha how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of me with mind attached to me you can know me in full free from doubt. How fortunate is Arjuna we are hearing these words of Sri Krishna here at Cross Maidan, some 5000 years later, but there was Arjuna hearing it directly from the lotus mouth of Lord “ya svayam padmanabhascha mukha padmat vinisritaha”.  Bhagavat gita is very very special scripture because it has been spoken by Lord himself “Padmanabh” the Lord with lotus navel speaking these words from his lotus mouth “mukha padmat” and “padmanabh vinisritaha” these words are coming right out of mouth of the Lord. The 1st person to hear this right in front of Sri Krishna is Arjuna. He was recipient of this mercy and to these words he has said this is prasad my dear Lord.

“nasto mohah smrtir labdha, tvat-prasadan mayacyuta” (B.G 18.73) Hye! Acyutam OH! Infallible one, I am thankful to you for this prasad. What he has heard, he has heard 18 chapters almost, few more sentences to go and then Arjuna says yes ‘nasto mohah’ my illusion finished “nasto mohah smrtir labdha” I have regained the consciousness and this has become possible “tvat-prasadat” by your prasad only, the prasad that Arjuna is referring to are these words of Shri Krishna in the form of Bhagavat gita. So He was the 1st one to receive prasad and what we get here in Cross Maidan is what? maha maha prasad.

Acharya have heard this in disciplic succession and we finally heard it from Srila Prabhupada. Bhagavad gita – As it is, let Krishna speak for himself Srila Prabhupad would emphasize let Krishna speak ‘you shut up’ OH! You have spoken enough could you shut up now kindly stop! Let Krishna speak. Of course those who sit with Bhagavad gita even they do not let Krishna speak that’s the point what to speak of others those who are busy just doing prajalpa or gram katha but who do so called Bhagavad katha, Bhagvat gita talks even they do not allow Krishna to speak. Hence Prabhupada had to insist let Krishna speak for himself. He can speak let him speak, so that is Bhagavad gita-As it is, so we are hearing it from Srila Prabhupada so it is maha maha maha maha prasad.

“asamsayam samagram mam, yatha jnasyasi tac chrum” (B.G 7.1) So if we allow or as acharya’s allow Krishna to speak then “jnasyasi” to know Krishna becomes possible. Samagram Krishna as He is could be known if we hear Bhagavad gita-As it is. And asamsayam there is no doubt about this, there was no even need of such a statement Krishna is speaking so there is no doubt but He is still using that yes don’t be doubtful why should one doubt. Krishna had no doubt infact Krishna was not doubting but it is for us “sarvam etad rtam manye, yan mam vadasi kesava” (B.G 10.14) this was Arjuna’s stand. “sarvam etad rtam manye, according to me ‘manye” I consider this is Arjuna speaking “am manye” ‘I consider what do you consider Arjuna? “sarvam etad rtam” all that you, Krishna is speaking this is nothing but the truth “sarvam etad rtam manye, yan mam vadasi kesava”. You are talking to me oh! Kesava and this is all truth nothing but the truth you are speaking this is Arjuna’s stand. Still Krishna says “asamsayam samagram mam, yatha jnasyasi” – you will know by doing what? Shrunu – just hear, give me ear, hear right here.

“jnanam te ham sa-vijnanam, idam vaksyamy asesatah” (B.G 7.2) Again samagram Krishna already said that again He says “asesatah” as I speak this would be complete,  nothing no balance I will talk complete “asesatah” sesa – asesa, sesa means balance something is remaining. Anantsesa Krishna is unending of course He is “asesatah” and I will talk of jnanam also  savigyanam “jnanam vigyanam sahitam” in other words. My talk will be dealing with jnana and savigyan  “ajgyatva na eha” In this material world there is nothing more to be known I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge both phenomenon and numinous this being known nothing shall further remain you to be know and then Krishna talks. Everyone is not interested, everyone doesn’t come for this knowledge, everyone doesn’t come to the pandal, everyone doesn’t, is not interested in these topics these Hare Krishna or the religion or God Krishna

“manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye, yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah” (B.G 7.3) out of many thousands among men one may endeavor for perfection & those who have achieved perfection hardly one knows me in truth how rare is knowing Krishna. Krishna clarifies here “manusyanam sahasresu” out of thousands & thousands – “manusyanam sahasresu kascid” someone “kascid yatati” endeavor “siddhaye” for perfection and “yatatam api siddhanam” and out of those endeavoring “kascin mam vetti tattvatah” those who know me as I am tattvatah that is even more rare. This knowing Krishna tattvatah is of great importance, Tattvatah – tattva, tattva one who knows this tatt, tatt means that, what is that, that is Lord, tatt means Lord. Om tatt sat, tatt means Lord tattva the siddhant the whole science about that “tatt” is called as tattva & then “tattvatah” to known Lord “tattvatah” full tattva siddhant.

“janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah” (B.G 4.9) so that kind of understanding would help “tattvatah” and “tyaktva deham punar janma, naiti mam eti so arjuna” naiti mam eti for that person there is no birth but he comes yeti he comes to me he doesn’t go for another birth but he comes to me so how important is this tattvatah, tattva buisness has been stated here. “ bhumir apo nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca, ahankara itiyam me bhinna prakrtir astadha” (B.G 7.4) Again very often quoted verse by Srila Prabhupada talking about 5 great elements and 3 subtle elements & the grand total is asta – astadha 8 all this 8 elements are “me bhinna prakrtir” this is my external energy “bhina” separated energy Prabhupad translates, separated energy earth, water, fire, ether, air, mind, intelligence & false ego all together these 8 constitute my separated material energies.

Although the scientists have further broken down these great elements into other more elements and they have reached number 108, about 108 they are not able to kind of go beyond that just discussing with some scientists few days ago how number is about 108? I said yes that’s something special number Gopis are 108, Upanishads are 108 and what else is 108? Our beads, 108 beads so how many elements they have 108, those many elements some gases are also there some elements are there physical we could touch & some like that. So all those are also in the body all that is in Bhramhand is also that in this body in Pinda this is called as pinda, body all that is outside of course because we eat part of Bhramhand and then  this is little 50 kg or may be some are 150. So all that is outside around is in there but of course mind, intelligence & false ego is even beyond the list of 108 elements. So that makes the body different from the dead matter and there is yet another element which is very special that Krishna is going to be talking about in a minute’s time.

“apareyam” immediately He says  “apareyam itas tv anyam, prakrtim viddhi me param, jiva-bhutam maha-baho, yayedam dharyate jagat” (B.G 7.5) He is talking here besides these, these means these 8 elements that He had just talked about. Oh! Mighty armed Arjuna there is another Superior energy of mine which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material inferior nature. The body is there He has mentioned comprising of 8 elements but “jiva bhutam” yet there is another energy of mine ‘param’ is superior. He is describing that energy as superior jiva bhutam that is the living entity. 8 elements is the matter & Prabhupad, the scientists are kind of coming to some right conclusion finally Srila Prabhupad writes that in “easy journey to other planets” he talks about the Russian scientists. They are wondering oh! If there is matter then there must be antimatter also then it is complete. Only matter oh! There must be antimatter, anti material. So what is that anti material what is that, that is the spirit? That’s the soul. So in one verse Krishna talked about the matter & that energy is inferior energy and here is talking of “param prakrtim” My superior energy is anti material it is jiva bhutam that is the living entity in this body & then He himself then Krishna is establishing himself also there is a body, there is a soul and there is Me then.

“etad-yonini bhutani, sarvanity upadharaya, aham krtsnasya jagatah prabhavah pralayas tatha” (B.G 7.6). Then that is “aham” and this aham is referring to Krishna and then that is Me aham , aham but there is no pride in the Lord aham. He is just speaking the truth what else could He have said He is speaking as He is aham yes. “krtsnasya jagatah prabhavah pralayas tatha” I am what am I? I am both origin and dissolution of this world. And I have created all created beings have their source in these two natures Krishna says what are these 2 natures? One is the matter and another one is spirit these two natures are created, all created beings have their source in these 2 natures of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world know for certain that I am both origin & dissolution so He is all in all. “Mataha” such a famous verse “mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya, mayi sarvam idam protam, sutre mani-gana iva” (B.G 7.7) Prabhupad’s favorite verse, Prabhupad wanted emphasizing Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead how many times he has said this, how many times has he written this wherever he mentions Krishna, right Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Never tired this is contribution of Srila Prabhupad, this is Srila Prabhupad emphasizing again this is Bhagavad gita As it is. “mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti” There is no one else with full realization & conviction Srila Prabhupad repeats the  message of Krishna Oh! Saraswati tell me, Srila Prabhupad would ask Saraswati tell me OH! You know Krishna? Who is Krishna? Who is Krishna? You know Saraswati in 71 she used to be on the dais just few years old,  Malati & Shyamsundar their daughter. Sometimes Prabhupad would ask do you know Krishna? She would say ‘Yes, yes’ I know Krishna, tell us tell us & she would say Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead & Prabhupad fully satisfied he would say she knows more than other so called  learned scholars. They don’t know but she knows. Who is Krishna? Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead.

“mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti” nanyat there is no one else “kincid asti” not even little bit mattah superior – no, no not even little bit kinchit- just tiny bit “nanyat kincid asti” Oh! Arjuna there is no one superior to me Krishna is described as “asamourdhvam” asama-aurdhvam

No one is equal to Him urdhvam no one is above Him avurdhvam, aswarudhavam & He is one “oh! Conquer of wealth there is no truth superior to Me everything rest upon Me as pearls are strung on a thread” there is a common thread. Thread is common amongst all those pearls in a necklace. Every pearl has a thread and same thread, same thread through each pearl. So likewise same Krishna through each & every atom, not just Bhramhanda. This is the realization of Brahma also “andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham-govindam adi purusham tam aham bhajami” (Sri Brahma-samhita 5.35) Oh! I am right in there in Bhramanda in universe I am there as Garbhodaksaya Vishnu “andantara-stha” what about “paramanu-cayantara-stham” paramanu the smallest unit you break down, break down break down Brahmanda the smallest unit is molecule, atom that  is paramanu-cayantara-stham in there also I am  there. So there is mani “mani-gana iva” “mani gana iva”(B.G 7.7)

So Lord is in that sense also He is all pervading, He is everywhere, atoms are everywhere, He is in each & every atom. So we hope one of these days they looking at the atom, nucleus, proton, neutron as they make progress take close look if they ever could produce microscope of course that microscope infact is Bhagavad gita and that microscope is Bhagavatam its available here right and now see through the eyes of the scriptures and you will see within that tiny atom Lord residing in there, that provision has already been made.

“raso aham” and now Lord is taking few examples ok He takes this mani, that mani this pearl that pearl different things He picks up from this universe and He says I am in this, I am in that, I am in here there starting with “raso aham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh pranavah sarva-vedesu  saddah khe paurusam nrsu”  (B.G 7.8) Few samples to begin with rasa. I am rasa, I am taste, did I say it right? Taste, taste two ways to say, 3 ways English teacher is correcting, juice has taste “raso aham” I am taste of what? “Apsu” in water. Taste in water that is Me “raso aham apsu kaunteya” – Srila Prabhupada would aleast once or may be more times Prabhupad  picked up while talking on this verse once he picked up his water cup & he drank water. Every time he drank water & he spoke every time he drank – he could remember taste of this water oh! That’s Krishna. He would become Krishna conscious he said, is it difficult? All day you are drinking water oh! This taste is Krishna. “raso aham apsu kaunteya”

“Prabhasmi sashi suryayoh” – prabha means light I am also light Krishna says and He mentions two objects “sashi suryayoh” sashi is moon & surya is sun, the light of sun & the moon that is Me so every time you see the sun or sun rays or every time you see and without help of sun you cannot see, Prabhupad would explain such a simple thing but stupid as we are, we never think sorry! Stupid as I am. I don’t think that I need help of sun to see this is again Prabhupad training us ok if there is no light, you have your eyes there is no light could you see? no. I can’t see what is your power of seeing if there is no light? and light is Krishna. Only with the help of Krishna you could see. If He doesn’t wants to show you, you can’t see. Can’t we see how controlled we are? “Prabhasmi sashi suryayoh” and  the light and then it was Prabhupad who explained it further that light of sun and moon is not its  own light it is in fact the light of Krishna, Bhramajyoti coming from spiritual sky and the sun is only acting as the mirror and just reflecting that light of Krishna when we were just children. When I was a child in the village I remember that we take a mirror & go out of house during the day & then (laughs) reflection of it we would throw right into the house, right into the eyes of the mother. Hey rascal!  And she cannot see and then she is screaming or we will tease her somebody& we would go outside and put the bright sunrays right into the eyes with the help of the mirror.

Yes you know you have done this ever? You have some experience like, at least few, yes anyone else? Oh! So many what happened, I thought I was only one. This kind of tricks are kind all of pervading, must be same God who is keeping these tricks around and alive & so this like a child throwing with the help of the mirror light into the dark house so this universe is otherwise dark & this Bhramhanda, the sun & moon are acting like mirrors & original Krishna Kanti the Bhramajyoti is reflected upon this, inside this world. So “Prabhasmi sashi suryayoh pranavah sarva-vedesu” (B.G 7.8)

Omm……………this is “pranavah sarva-vedesu” (B.G 7.8). “ommm” “climmm” “shremmm” These are different “pranavah” but of all this “ommm” this is Me. Of all the different syllables “om” in vedic mantra that’s Me and the sound there is “sabdah khe”  shabda is sound and “khe”  “bhumir, apo, nalo, vayuh, kham. What is kham? – Ether the 5th element. Earth, Water, fire, air, ether kham. The sound in ether is Me Krishna says. Sound in ether is that’s Me, its Krishna.

“paurusam nrsu” and  the ability in man or woman, ability anyone who is able capable that ability capable, that capability that ability is due to Krishna. “paurusam nrsu”. So like that Krishna is pointing out here how He is that common thread that goes through the whole creation. “punyo gandhah prthivyam” (B.G 7.9) Sometime ago (laughs) there was some kind of obnoxious  smell. Did you smell it? I was smelling it was not pleasing at all, some smell but bad smell that’s not Krishna. “punyo gandhah prthivyam” prithvi  this is prithvi earthly planet prthivyam in prithvi, in earth there is gandhah smell and punyo gandha. Original Prabhupad translating that original smell, fragrance in the earth that is Me, that’s Krishna. And that fragrance is in the flower. One time Prabhupad also said he was looking at the beautiful bloomed fragrant flower and he said this is like the face of Lord Krishna. That beauty that smell every time you smell you are not supposed to be smelling first offer it to Krishna what a beautiful flower! Let me offer this to whom? Krishna. Other person would think oh! What a beautiful flower let me offer this to my girlfriend or Boyfriend so the consciousness is different. So they are trying to exploit, abuse Lord’s energy, Lord is in there and like that “jivanam sarva-bhutesu tapas casmi tapsvisu” (B.G 7.9)

“bijam mam sarva-bhutanam viddhi partha sanatanam”  (B.G 7.10) like that He goes on “buddhir buddhimatam asmi tejas tejasvinam aham” In this I am, if someone is intelligent that intelligence is me Krishna says & I give  intelligence mataha from me intelligence. “balam balavatam caham” (B.G 7.11). Strength of the strong that is me, it should be used in my service this is Krishna’s proposal says. “dharmaviruddho bhutesu kamo smi bharatarsabha”

Prabhuapad  pointing this it is right there, throughing some light on this “kamo smi” even the lust that is Me, if it is dharma-aviruddho, aviruddho means it is not contrary to dharma. If lust is not contrary to dharma within the parameter of dharma than that kamo smi aham, that kama that’s is Me.

And then He continues and then we have reached the 14th verse after different mentions how Lord is in everything, He is the common factor, the thread in all whole existence and He says “daivi esa guna-mayi mam maya duratyaya mam eve ye prapaddyante mayam etam taranti te” (B.G 7.14). So this is guna-mayi  maya this is my maya I have mentioned this this this all these different things “esa” all this is guna-mayi, guna-mayi means full of guna, three modes of material, its full of 3 modes of material nature  things “mam maya” and this is my maya and because it’s my maya of course it’s my maya so  it has to be  “duratyaya” very difficult to overcome, very powerful because whose maya is it? Its Krishna’s maya so it has to be powerful otherwise what kind of maya is it? It is your maya my maya not so strong but its Krishna’s maya and “duratyaya” very difficult to overcome but its not only scary He is just letting us know yes yes its difficult to overcome, on your own, ok go ahead try it,  it will not work, You would not succeed in overcoming this maya on your own and this is where I come into the picture. I am just around here, here, here look here, I am here come near OH!  Dear! Here here, He is calling.

“mam eve ye prapaddyante mayam etam taranti te” Lord says “mam eve ye prapaddyante” if they surrender unto me “mayam etam taranti te”– yes for sure very easily they could overcome my maya which is I have described as strong maya. Doesn’t matter it is my maya, my maya is not strong than I am, it is my maya I can just order my maya, Hye maya! Oh! Maya get out, out I say, maya out like the owner of the dog orders different names. Oh! Dog, my friend wants to come in get out of here. So that kind of command Lord has over his energies, his own energies. But there are, Krishna continues there are some what kinds of people – 4 kinds of people they do not surrender unto Me. Lord just gave a clue that if you surrender unto me you will cross this maya, overcome this maya. But then the next verse He says there are 4 kinds of people they never surrender unto me you know, they never surrender unto me who are they? You want to know? Anyone interested? Not so much interested, interest is growing gradually ok.

“na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrta-jnana asuram bhavam asritah” (B.G 7.15) Prabhupad  always fools and rascals and demons, cats and dogs. When I joined, around the time I joined, I was like couldn’t he use some better terms people used to come all the way down town coming to Juhu. I had just joined and people coming big big people with their, ties and coats their  wives  sitting next to them  with pearls and Prabhupad- rascals and fools and demons, cats and dogs on and on and on . I was just a new bhakta and I was thinking what! Such a nice people they are with their wives and family members they came all the way from the town just to hear that they are cats and they are dogs, you fools, you rascals, you demons (laughs). I had hard time digesting for some time I had difficulty how could but soon I was, well gradually I realized that Prabhupad was presenting Bhagvad gita – As it is. So these terms are right there in Bhagvad gita which other speakers, the commentators they do the sugaring of the pill but Prabhupad was presenting it how? As it is, straight forward. So who are they? “Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind whose knowledge is stolen by illusion and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto me”. So these are the 4 fellows, 4 kinds of people this is not talking of Indians or Hindus only but people on this planet all over the world, they don’t surrender unto Me, these 4 kind. And then Krishna goes on to now that there are also 4 kinds of people they surrender unto Me. These 2 verses are next to each other for your information now you will not forget. First list of those who do not surrender now those who surrender unto Me.

“catur-vidha bhajante mam janah sukrtino arjuna arto jijnasur artharthi jnani ca bharatarsabha” (B.G 7.16) these are 4 kinds they surrender unto Me and they have been described as “sukrtino”. Krta means activity, krti, krti krta “sukrta and duskrta” good activity and bad activity. So sukrtino surrenders and duskrtino do not surrender and they are “arto” – in great distress those who are in great distress they surrender unto Me. “jijnasu” those who are curious, “artharthi” need of money and “jnani” some knowledge they have. These 4 kinds of people they come to Me, they surrender unto me. We have few more verses

“bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate” (B.G 7.19) talking of surrender there are some people do take little extra time but they have been described here as “jnanavan” and finally they surrender unto Me. who surrender to me? “jnanavan”. Earlier previous verse said “sukrtino” the pious people, soul’s surrenders unto Me. Here He says “jnanavan” those who are in knowledge “jnanavan” they surrender unto Me. “bahunam janmanam ante” after many many births  “bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan” those who have knowledge they surrender unto Me. And what is knowledge – “vasudevah  sarvam” this is called knowledge. If someone asks what is knowledge? Krishna is describing what is knowledge? – “vasudevah  sarvam iti” “iti” means this much. One who knows, how much? “vasudevah  sarvam” Vasudev is all in all, that  person is described here as “jnanavan”. That person is in full knowledge and in full knowledge as he is, what does he do?  “mam prapadyate” surrender unto Me. How many such people surrender unto Me?  “sa mahatama su-durlabhah” very very rare persons surrendering  unto Me with full knowledge after acquiring full knowledge surrendering  unto Me. Such thing is rare “sa mahatama su-durlabhah”.  After having talked of persons surrendering unto Him Krishna now states – there are some others yes yes they do surrender but not to me who are they? who are they? Find this out.

“kamais tai stair hrta-jnanah prapadyante nya-devatah tam tam niyamam asthaya prakrtya niyatah svaya” (B.G 7.20) “kamais tai stair hrta-jnanah” Those who are afflicted, influenced by by what? “Kama” – lust “kamais tai stair” and what does that “kama” do “hrta-jnanah” hrta means stolen “hrta-jnanah”. They are stolen, they are deprived the knowledge is confiscated from them. They have no knowledge who has stolen? “kamais tai stair hrta-jnanah” the lust is stealing lust is the thief, stealing the knowledge “kamais tai stair hrta-jnanah” and they have intense desires and desires have to be fulfilled. So yes they do surrender prapadyante but nya-devatah, oh! They have found some other devatah. They have found some other personality Anyadevatah meaning Krishna says other than Myself. Those who are “jnanavan” those who are full of knowledge, they come to me. But there are others whose knowledge has been stolen by the lust so they go to others. And who are they? anyadevatah, they are the demigods and demigoddess are the one that they go to.

“antavat tu phalam tesam”  (B.G 7.23) Ok fine we can’t stop them from going to anyadevatah other demigods but they should know Krishna says   “antavat tu phalam tesam” . the fruit that they are going to be deriving, the benefits  fruit that they are would be deriving from going to other demigods is going to be “antavat” is going to be “anta” its going to be  ending very soon not lasting very long. And they are  “alpa-medhasam”   this is how  Lord is describing them as less intelligent as they are. The demigod worshippers are less intelligent “devan deva-yajo yanti mad-bhakta yanti mam api” and they go to the demigods. Those who worship demigods go to demigod,  mad-bhakta but those who my devotees “yanti mam api” they only come to me Lord is making the distinction here. And now the case of the mayavadis,  Krishna talked of the materialist those who do not surrender , then He talked about those who surrender but not unto Me but they go to Demigods, and now He is talking of the impersonalists.

“avyatam vyaktim apannam manyante mam abuddhayah param bhavam ajananto mamavyayam anuttamam” (B.G 7.24) “avyatam” so these are the impersonalists also described as unintelligent man as “mam abuddhayah” they have no buddhi no intelligence. So what do they think what is their philosophy “avyatam vyaktim apannam manyante” oh! They think the Lord is ultimately “avyatam”. He is impersonal, He is just a light, He is all pervading then occasionally He becomes “vyakta” He takes a form. He is normally avyata, He is  not manifested  He has no form but then He assumes the form “avyatam vyaktim apannam manyante” They consider “manyante mam” muze about Me they think like this and of course they are “abuddhayah” they are less intelligent “param bhavam”  they do not know My superior nature which is inexhaustible and the finest.

“naham prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtah” (B.G 7.25) oh! I do not like this Lord is making a comment.  “naham prakasah sarvasya” I do not everyone doesn’t get light, doesn’t see the light of the day or doesn’t become knowledgeable “yoga-maya-samavrtah” and yes

They are all governed by My maya “yoga-maya-samavrtah”. They are all covered, I am never manisfest to the foolish and unintelligent for them I am covered by my internal potency.Therefore they do not know that I am inborn and infallible. And this is Lord we are getting closer to this chapter of course we did not cover every verse,  we skipped few. There are 30 verses in this chapter.

“vedaham samatitani vartamanani carjuna bhavisyani ca bhutani mam tu veda na kascana”  (B.G 7.26) Lord says “vedaham” – I know veda aham – I know Vedas or I know Vedas I know I know not only Vedas but I know Vedas also but  everything else that is to be known is known to Me. “Samatitani” all the things from the  past everything from past I know. “Vartamanani”. Everything that is happening right now right here I know “ Vartamanani”. bhavisyani. I know the future of everything of everyone but the trouble is “tu” means but saying something different, contrast while I am like this I know past, present, future of anybody, everybody, everything. “mam tu veda na kascana”   but also I know all living entities but Me no one knows, but Me no one knows . And in the very beginning of this chapter  Krishna had said , “Srnu”, you better hear me  Arjuna jnasyasi and by hearing me you would towards the end He says no one knows  me but knowing because possible by “srnu” by hearing that’s why Krishna is speaking so that we would know.

“yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam drdha –vratah” (B.G 7.28) text 28 “Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with determination” .Devotional service is getting established here You hear Me you would know me, You know me then you would serve me, that’s the sequence. Bhajante – They will go for worshiping me bhajante mam. How will they worship? “drdha –vratah” established in knowledge, equipped with the knowledge they will worship me, haven’t  become free from “te dvandva-moha-nirmukta” they would become free from dvandva, dualities of this existence free from illusion. “yesam tv anta-gatam papam” papam  finished by hearing me. jananam punya-karmanam  All those pious persons those who listen to me they will worship me “bhajante mam drdha –vratah”. Those in full consciousness the last verse of the chapter.

“sadhibhutadhidaivam mam sadhiyajnam ca ye viduh prayana- kale pi ca mam te vidur yukta-cetasah”  (B.G 7.30) “Those in full consciousness of  Me, who know Me, the Supreme Lord, to be governing  principle of material manifestation of the demigods, and of all methods of sacrifice can understand and know Me the Supreme personality of Godhead, even at the time of death”. They would know prayana- kale pi they would keep knowing and remembering Me  even at the time of ‘prayan-kale pi” even at time of death. So that’s the perfection if we remember the Lord at the time of death. So The next chapter would be “Attaining the Supreme” – knowing the Supreme, knowledge of the Supreme this was the chapter “Knowledge of the Absolute” – 7th chapter and 8th chapter is  “Attaining the Supreme” you know you achieve.

Any questions, any comments (maharaj asking the audience)

Question1. Maharaj ji you quoted one verse where Krishna says He knows the future, many people want to know the future so they go to astrologer so is that equivalent to trying to find Krishna?

Answer: Everyone is curious Krishna is knowledgeable He also knows the future,  persons curious to know the future they go to the astrologer to know their future but Krishna also knows so is there difference. Yes the astrologer – if you chant Hare Krishna those who are chanting Hare Krishna they need not go to astrologer. Those who chant Hare Krishna and also “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare! Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare”

Hye! Lives are changing means your future is changing and it is ever changing. What your astrologer is going to tell you is like a action – reaction if you perform this action this could be cumulative effect. So the astrologer has way to calculate or know your past and then your activities. He also asks you some questions and he has way to find out your past and based on that – and at that time your life is governed by so many different planets, there are governing factor. Then nothing changing so far you remain mundane and that’s your future, because this action that action this rahu, this ketu that graham so this is your future. But as soon as you chant Hare Krishna, surrender unto Krishna that is surrendering unto Krishna everything changes.

“aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah” (B.G 18.66) I am going to make you free from all the reactions of your previous lives and do not fear you will come to Me. So astrologer could  talk about your next birth based on your  previous birth but if you hear Krishna, surrender unto Krishna then there is no more birth and astrologer has no way to talk beyond this creation or Bhramhanda. They can’t talk of that future but scriptures could tell yes you could go not only back to Godhead but you would take this flight and you will land there and you would be received by this party and this is your rasa – mellow, dasya, sakya and you will be entering this nitya lila and engaging so like that, this is what you are. They see inside you within this 8 elements gross and subtle there is a soul they see the soul and talk of the soul. So astrologer could talk of the bodies’ future and the mind, intelligence, false ego part. But as soon as you are surrendered it’s another jurisdiction and another knowledge, another future.

Question2. In the verse “raso aham apsu kaunteya” what does apsu refers to? How could we taste Krishna?

Answer:  Apsu refers to water; Prabhupad in the purport is also talking about drinks and vine. Well Wherever there is water infact, in  water there is water, in juice there is water, in vine there is water, the grapes you  take fresh grapes and do so many things with the grapes and rotten them and  this and that and  essence of this you want to drink that’s vine. But originally it is coming from water. So the taste is essentially a characteristic of water, fragrance comes from the earth like that Krishna describes. If there is sound that comes from ether, in the air there is a sound and touch, in the fire there is sound, touch and the form,   in the water there is sound, touch, form and taste. In the earth there is sound, touch, form, taste & smell. So water is known for its taste. Wherever there is taste that is from water. So I think I have heard you could correct me, they would remember that taste in that vine there is a Krishna connection they would become Krishna conscious. Because that taste is originally the taste of the water.

Venue: Guayana, Guayana Katha 2006 June 29

“om namo bhagvate vasudevaya”

Yesterday we heard of Vasudev, the words of Vasudev, Sri Krishna is Vasudev “om namo bhagvate vasudevaya”. Our obeisance’s to that Vasudev Sri Krishna. So Krishna was in Gokul

“gokul jinka dhama hai, Krishna jinka naam hai, aise sri bhagavan ko mera barambar pranam hai” Krishna’s name is? What is Krishna’s name? What is god’s name? What is god’s name? God’s name is Krishna, he has a name, “Krishna jinka nam hai, gokul jinka dham hai” he has village also called Gokul “yashoda jinki maiya hai, yashoda, nanda ji bapaiya hai”. Nanada Maharaj is his father and Yashoda is his mother “radha jinki jaya hai, adbhut jinki maya hai”. And Radharani is his pleasure potency, personality that gives pleasure to Krishna, Radha. “loot loot dadhi makhan khayo, gwala bal sanga dhenu charayo”.

“loot loot dadhi makhan khayo” and He is lootera, does the looting, stealing of the butter, He is the butter thief and He is also “gwala bal sanga dhenu charayo” and with His cowherd boyfriends He herds the cows in the forest of Vrindavan. That is but brief introduction to Lord Sri Krishna, His name, His parents, His Radharani and His occupation; He is the thief very amazing (laughs) thing to hear. God He is a thief; if there are thieves in this country they could take inspiration from the Lord. Is Lord really a thief? Or we are the thieves, everything belongs to Him including that butter wherever it is, whether it is churned by his own mother Yashoda or it is churned by some lady nearby another home and another home and another home. Everywhere, wherever it is, it’s all His property it can’t be called stealing, can’t be called, out of affection He is addressed as a Makhan Chor, “loot loot dadhi makhan khayo, gwala bal sanga dhenu charayo”

And His cowherd boys in Vrindavan very amazingly pleasing pastimes of Sri Krishna in Vrindavan, and may be some of them were not so pleasing. Killing of the demons, He killed so many demons “vinasaya ca duskrtam” (B.G 4.8). He was only 6 days old and he had to kill she demon Putna, another wonderful pastime how Krishna killed Putna demoness. He drank the milk from her breast, He drank the poison, she had smeared the poison on her breast. She was one of the agents of Kamsa and she was expert in killing children, she was specialized, so she was dispatched and when she entered Gokul, she looked just like Laxmi, she even had a lotus in her hand, so everyone oh! Hey look look who is here, Laxmi is in town for sure, she is here to see her Narayana. They all cleared the path, they should have arrested her, beaten her up, but they did not do so. She was so expert the way she was dressed, she looked just like Laxmi and they lead her to Nanada Bhavan and she goes all the way to Yashoda where she was feeding Sri Krishna her breast milk. So by seeing this new lady, curious to see her son, Yashoda handed her child please you have him. And now he was on the lap of Putna, the she demon and she tries to feed her breast milk to Sri Krishna but she had applied poison on her breast, just see how tricky the demons are, look at the strategy of this she demon, she wanted to feed poison to Sri Krishna and she thought, as soon as he drinks poison he would be dead. She did not know he is the creator the poison, poison doesn’t influence Sri Krishna. Yesterday we saw that fire did not burn Krishna, He is the creator of the fire, fire can’t burn Him and the poison can’t kill Him. So Lord Sri Krishna, well whatever, He drank the poison and drank, sucked the life out of that she demon’s body. Haribol Haribol…….

Are you happy that she demon is killed? No you have some connection with that demon, family connection, hat you are not happy that she has been killed, yes jai ho…………..jai ho…………….(devotees saying jai ho…….). The Demigods were very pleased and they were showering flowers upon Krishna and chanting his glories and Apasaras were dancing and Gandharvas were singing. When Krishna killed that she was a very popular, in the negative sense she was well known powerful and even demigods were scared of her. So when she was no more, they delighted, the rejoyed, there was celebration. Then more demons He kills when he was 100 days old but 3 months old He kills a demon, 1 year old He kills a demon Trinavrata, Saktasura. So it’s not just stealing butter and eating butter but He has to kill demons from time to time “paritranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duskrtam” (B.G 4.8)

So Krishna was gradually He was growing in age He is growing faster than normal child, growth rate and Balarama is also there Balarama is one year older than Sri Krishna, Sri Krishna Balarama.

Venue: Los Angeles

Thank you everybody for coming to our Sunday festival. This
festival was started by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupad ki……………………Jai, he is even founder
acharya of Sunday festival. This festival is held worldwide over 500 centers of
International Society for Krishna
Consciousness. The sole purpose, infact of the foundation of this Hare
Krishna movement is to give association to everybody, association of devotees of Krishna and that leads to pure association
with Krishna. There are two kinds of associations called “Sangas”. One is technically known, I
am sure you must have heard of this Satsanga, you heard of Satsanga? (Maharaj
asking question to devotees) what is satsanga? The other is asatsanga. Asat and
sat, sat means real, eternal association that brings us in contact with the
eternal Personality, not only eternal full of knowledge, full of bliss, sac-cid-ananda -vigraha, Sri Krishna.
Association that brings us in contact with sac –cid –ananda Sri Krishna that is
“satsanga”. The other one is
asatsanga “asatsanga tyagat ei vaishnav
achar” Vaishnav is known for he makes sure he doesn’t indulge in asatsanga
he stays away from asatsanga. One who stays away from asatsanga or false, temporary
sanga, association that person is a saintly person, the person is sadhu. “asatsanga tyagat ei vaishnav achar” that
person is Vaishnav. So we have, Prabhupad has given us many many programmes, so
many aspects of Krishna Consciousness to bring us in contact with that “sat” as
this festival of Jagganath Rath Yatra
Mohotsav ki……………….. Jai.

This is a grand
opportunity, big opportunity for Satsanga and like that this Sunday festival is
big satsanga opportunity. Morning program and evening that Prabhupad had
instituted so that we get to hear about Krishna. We are so busy in varieties of
activities and of all those activities this sitting down and hearing, thats not
a serious business right, but we want to talk what we say, let’s sit down and talk,
let’s not take it casually, let’s sit down and talk. We get up and fight we
have to sit down and talk. It was time for fighting and Arjun sat down in the
beginning (laughs) of course Krishna wanted to talk to him so he sat down and
listened. So we are running around and still lot of times not happy, we propose
that you sit down, for a change sit down, chant Hare Krishna, sit down hear
Krishna katha and we  guarantee you that
you will be simply happy. If you don’t I will come next year you could take me
to the court (devotees laughing) but we also guarantee you and the whole world
that devoid of Krishna consciousness all running around is just useless, waste
of time “srama eva hi kevalam”.

Which is described as
a rat race, big rat race everybody is running, even rats are running making their
holes, they run from one hole to another hole, they run so fast and so
seriously as if they have some serious business. All that they are doing is
they are digging some hole (laughs) and then soon what happens, snake comes,
rat has to get out, the snake makes  his
home there. In our case the death comes specially Prabhupad used to say that “the talk which is not  about Krishna is just compared to the (Maharaj
asking to the devotees froking or croaking) croaking of the frog (laugh)
drau……drau…..drau……………..we used to hear in India after rainy season. So when
the frog does the croaking, Prabhupad used to say and this is a fact, he made a
observation that the frog is inviting, inviting
whom? the snake, if he would be quite then he will be safe out of sight,
out of mind of the snake. But he keeps croaking it says I am here, I am here,
please come it’s time for breakfast for you please come. So, and that becomes
the end of that frog, so we also keep talking, not one day in our life goes
without talking, not one hour in our life goes without talking and hearing
whole world is engaged in hearing and talking and enquiries and dialogues, what
if it is not about Krishna, God related then it is just invitation for death to
come, death to come “mrtyuh sarva-haras
caham” (B.G 10.34). Then I come in form of death I come, I was there in
from of Rukmini Dwarakadish but you
didn’t come there was Bhagvat Katha you didn’t come.

So now I have come “mrtyuh sarva-haras caham” I will snatch
everything, live you empty pocket, empty handed and out. So our goal is “ante narayana smrti” remembering the Lord
always that’s the goal. Especially at the time of death so many proposals were
there, when King Pariksit had only 7 more days to go, the conclusion was let
him hear Srimad Bhagvatam from Sukhdev Goswami and that would be most
beneficial leading to “ante narayana smrti” remembering the Lord at the time of
death, at the important moment of our life.

So Krishna consciousness is like, there is art of living
there is also art how to die? Of course in the west I was told they are
learning art of committing suicide. There is a book published in Sweden in some
countries its very popular, art of committing suicide. There are 100 versions
there are so many versions and you can pick up one and go for it. So human form
life is a meaningful “adhruvam apy
arthadam” (S.B 7.6.1) Prahlad Maharaj says “adhruvam” yes yes its temporary, it’s not going to last forever or
for long but it’s meaningful. So we get a meaning to our life like Krishna
climbed up the hoods of Kaliya and left the impressions of His feet there ,
then Kaliya’s life was meaningful you may go now anywhere Krishna said you are
safe . So we want that assurance otherwise no one in this world is capable of
protecting us “abhaya caranaravaibda re” “
bhaja hu re mana, bhaja hu re mana sri nanda nandana  abhaya caranaravinda re” OH! My dear mind
please worship “abhayacaran” they
offer fearlessness to otherwise very fearful entities, human beings but there
is no protection, no security, we are in anxiety , we are fearful. Only
reliable security is protection from the Lord, once we are Krishna connected
then we are safe not otherwise.

So Srila Prabhupad has given us philosophy of Bhagvat this
Bhagvat dharma has given us this beautiful scriptures. So many volumes full of
glories of Sri Krishna, “punya sravan
kirtan” our life becomes auspicious “hridayantastha
hi  abhadrani vidhunoti suhrutsatam” (S.B
1.2.17). So it’s the declaration of Bhagvatam deep within the heart there
is so much dirt, but Srimad Bhagvatam Katha which is not different from the Lord,
enters our heart hridayantastha hi abhadrani,
hridi- in the heart , antastha-inside or even at the core of the heart
or bottom of the heart is abhadra,
there is do many auspicious things. So where ever inauspiciousness is there
within us, in our mind, in our consciousness, our heart vidhunoti-cleansing is done, and once we are clean we are happy, we
are pure and we get connected with the most pure Personality “param brahma param dhama pavitram param
bhavam” (B. G 10.12) Arjuna made that statement “my dear  you are pavitra, param
pavitra”. So as we become pavitra, purified then we will have a link,
communication with Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is certainly ours and we
are His, if we could even say this “once
in our life if we could say once my dear Lord I am yours and you are mine
that’s the end of material existence”. If someone could say that with some
understanding, some sincerity Lord would immediately take charge of that
person, do everything within His power and there is a nothing that is not in His
power. He will go out of his way to protect us and infact it’s only Him who is
capable, competent and always concerned about our protection. If someone is
doing that we should understand that person is doing on behalf of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead our Supreme Father, Supreme mother, friend. “tvameva mata pita bandhu sakha mam
dev-devaha dravinam” everything.

So we had been talking and trying to remember that Lord for
past few days of course in Hare Krishna temple everyday this process and programme
of remembering the Lord. This 7 days recitation of Srimad Bhagvatam we had been
doing this is 4^th day and few more days to go. Unfortunately it
would be over, why unfortunately you could continue on the 8th day also you
could study, do homework read Bhagvatam get into the habit of “nityam bhagvat sevaya” serve Bhagvat
it will do good to you, to everybody. As
we study Bhagavatm we learn to depend on the Lord and that is the real
independence. Depend on the Lord in the God you trust, in God we trust
depend upon him, you will become independent in true sense; you will be
liberated once and for all.

So today we will be having a Govardhan poja festival here
that’s one of the few topics of the day this evening. Govardahan festival we
will read couple of chapters from Bhagavatam dealing with that pastime. It is
one of the most favorite pastime of devotees of Krishna, residents of Vrindavan
and soon you will see Govardhan hill is going to be  right here manifesting  in the midst of us with Govardhan Shila on
the top,  there would be beautiful
darshan of Govardhan hill and we would be offering, we will attempt to worship
Giriraj Govardahan the way the residents of Vrindavan did 5000 yrs ago and also
circumambulation, parikrama of Govardhan, one of the important items as you go
to Vrindavan you do parikrama, circumambulation of Giriraj. So if you stay on
little longer, there will be worship of Giriraj Govardhan and parikrama also of
Govardhana hill.

So if you could stay, stay not because  I am the speaker you should stay, stay its
Krishna, its Bhagvatam it’s our life
otherwise we are lifeless, useless and then few more days we will be
dealing with very confidential subject matter Krishna’s  Rasa dance, dealing with that there are 5
chapters, so that is our tomorrow’s subject matter. We may have some drama,
some dance and so on 6th day we will have Akrura going to Vrindavan, Kamsa  sent him and the way he goes, the way  he is thinking of the Lord on the way to Nandagram
that’s  the way to go to Vrindavan, he
has set wonderful examples . Then he returns to mathur with Krishna and Balarama.
So that is the 6th day’s topic and finally we will conclude with the Krishna
killing Kamsa. So these are all Krishna’s pastime in Vrindavan in final day he
enters Mathura, it’s quite interesting details how he enters Mathura, residents
of Mathura reciprocates with Krishna and Balarama, many things happen then
finally the wrestling killing very exciting.

Venue: Guayana, Guayana Katha 2006 june 29 Srimad Bhagvatam  part-1

HARE KRISHNA (devotees replied slowly Hare Krishna, so
Maharaja saying) what happened? Louder Hare Krishna……… (Devotees saying Hare
Krishna loudly) “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare” (all devootees
repeated it) they didn’t have Prasad looks like (laughs) shortage today not eaten
Prasad “Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare” (all repeated with maharaja).  You remember that Dhundakari?  Who remembers Dundkari? Who was Dhundakari?
Did you here Dhundakaris name during this few last few sessions? Yes… someone
on stage someone from triny there Still remembers Dhundakari anyone else in the
audience?  Yes Gokarna’s brother, he Is
brother of Gokarna .

Every day as you heard this Katha of his  brother of Gokarna,  Dhundakari was, he was going higher and
higher  evolving in his consciousness, he
was cutting the bonds which everyone binds everyone of us is bound by the bonds
of  material existence he was cutting
them  & he was becoming liberated, so
what about us? What about are we moving forward, are we going higher? Yes, the
smoke is also going higher.  Thank you because
are numbers are increasing day by day a good sign, we want quantity and also
quality. Quantity is increasing we want quality of consciousness, purity of consciousness
“cheto darpana marjanam” (Siksastakam 1^st
verse)   this is the desired results of hearing this Bhagvatam
‘cheto darpanam marjanam’ – cleansing of the mirrors of consciousness “bhagvati
uttama sloke bhaktir bhavati naishtiki” and
developing Bhakti of Uttama slok Sri Krishna.

Bhakti is all that we care for, we are Bhaktas and if we did
Bhakti then we will achieve Bhagwan. This devotional service Bhakti in the form
of  sravanam, kirtanam that we are doing
here. Hearing Srimad Bhagvatam  is Bhakti,
“ sravanam, kirtanam, vishno smaranam, pada sevanam, archanam, vandanam,dasyam,
sakhyam, atmanivedanam”  there are  nine kinds of Bhakti described, mentioned by
Prahlad Maharaj in seventh canto of Srimad Bhagvatam. Nine kinds of Bhakti Navavidha
(nava – nine, vidha – kinds)  nine kinds
of Bhakti and in this list of nine kinds the first kind of Bhakti is sravan Bhakti
that you are sitting down  hear and you
are hearing, “sravanam” this is the first Bhakti, the beginning of Bhakti,
first thing first, you do not go anywhere,  you don’t make any progress in God
consciousness unless you sit down and you hear about Krishna or hear from
Krishna, from devotees of Sri Krishna this is where everything begins lessons
in Krishna consciousness. This is the great science very indepth, very intricate,
most ancient, most relevant science, also science of god, science of soul, so
why do you think without studying you would understand this science. To study
physics and chemistry or  medicine they
are spending  5 years 10, 20, 30 years
then they have some knowledge of some faculty and this science is even greater
science ‘adyatma vidya vidyanam’ the topmost science-“ raja-vidya raja-guhyam pavitram idam uttamam” (B.G  9.2 )

Uttamam- the best science is the science of Bhakti yoga, science
of soul and science of Supreme Soul certainly we have to take lessons “nityam
bhagvata sevaya”  daily lessons Srimad
Bhagavatam is recommending daily every day we should study Bhagvatam, hear Bhagvatam
from devotees of Krishna. At home also you could study, you see this Bhagvatam
so many volumes are there, written by Srila Vyasadev for our benefits please
make sure you have complete set of Bhagvatam at your home. In America I visited
so many homes and practically every homes I went to Hare Krishna devotees home,
Hare Krishna devotee, Hare Krishna congregational devotees homes they have set
of Bhagvatam Srila Prabhupad’s complete set of Bhagvatam they also have Tulasi
at home and they are worshipping Tulasi they have Altars at home, small temples
at home. So many families they do not eat first , first they serve Krishna,
feed Krishna and then it is their turn to honour Prasad, 100s & 100s of families
in America if not thousands of families local American residents born and
brought up in America this is their life, this is their culture now, this is
their future now. Srimad Bhagvatam, Bhagavad Gita is the guiding principle now,
they are all strictly vegetarian now and do not take intoxication they even
consider tea as mild one mild  intoxication, but yes it is but they don’t
compromise. No illicit connections outside marriage, no illegal connections
with men or women outside marriage, within marriage yes that is authorized
& no gambling,  no mental speculation,
these principles they are following very strictly.

Even in China could you imagine, even China devotees, they
are Chinese devotees, of course devotees  are devotees, devotee’s soul is a devotee, so  some souls are in Chinese bodies, some souls
are in Guianas bodies, Indian bodies, American bodies, black Negro bodies
although souls in different bodies, in different countries, different
continents they are becoming devotees of Sri Krishna, Sri Rama, Sri Krishna
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jai !! And their life’s are transforming they are
becoming civilized, finally becoming civilized. They mention that the highest
thought is Srimad Bhagvatam thought.  If
you want to be a thinker, highest thinker, think in terms of Bhagvatam or
Bhagvad gita, have input from Gita and Bhagvatam you will be, you will be the
best thinker, the topmost thinker of this world.

So by the grace of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the
Krishna consciousness movement is also active here in Guayana. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Srila Prabhupada, the Founder – Srila Prabhupada ki jai!! I am kind of
confident or hopeful that you all know or have heard about Srila Prabhupad.  He travelled all the way from India to New
York in 65, 1965. He founded the Hare Krishna movement 40 years ago, this year
is the 40th anniversary in fact in july ISKCON will be 40 years old, 40th
anniversary we will be celebrating and in only  40 years Hare Krishna movement has reached far
& wide in 160 countries.

Hare Krishna movement
is active, Hare Krishna is the fastest growing religion in Former Soviet Union,
so that  Krishna consciousness movement
is also here,  it’s the purest form of
religion & consciousness. Krishna is in the centre we practice so that our
devotion unto the Lord would be revived,  this is what we teach also, this is what Krishna
teaches and He is the teacher “krishnam vande jagat gurum” He is the original
teacher, original Spiritual Master , Spiritual Master of the whole world.  His teachings as one learns and practices, he
develops love for the Lord so that that’s the idea behind this Bhagvat Katha
also, this is not a ritual for us this is devotional service unto Sri Krishna
for us that we perform here in the form of seven days Bhagvat Katha recitation
it is not a ritual, dry.  Its very lively
because we do not do it for “na dhanam
na janam na sundarim kavitamva jagad-ish kamaye, mama janmani janmanishware bhavatad
bhaktir ahaitukitvayi”   (Siksastakam 4^th
verse)

We do this not for  acquiring dhanam- acquiring some wealth or
janam- increasing are number of our followers or name, fame, glory, old story,
old old story, name-fame-glory that’s not the goal. Goal is to serve Krishna
“krsna prem pradayate” that is what Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught
this world & this is, this is all about this Hare Krishna movement is all
about ‘love for Krishna’ Krishna prem.
If you are feeling this Bhagvat yagna Bhagvat Katha in some different,
we are hearing some comments, OH!  nothing like this we had heard before, a new
kind of presentation or well we were hearing some comments, some appreciations
and I tell you that the difference is not that we are, the difference is Krishna
we are adding Krishna to this Bhagvat yagna or Krishna is in the centre of this
Bhagvat Yagna , we want to see everyone coming to this Bhagvat Yagna here
develop love for Krishna or know who they are, who Krishna is, what is their
relationship with Krishna.

5000 years ago also there were some karma kandas, karma
kandi  yagna was going on in one forest
and  Krishna & Balarama  were also not far from there & Krishna’s  friend
you know what happened?  That day
they did not bring their lunch packets from home they were in big hurry to go
to the forest with Sri Krishna but while they were hungry when it was lunch
time they were hungry they all approached Krishna, oh!  We are hungry! We are hungry oh! Krishna! You
are killer of big big demons could you please kill our hunger,  could you do something to have something to
eat and Lord Sri Krishna is the knower of everything, He knows everything  ‘abhigya swarat’ is the knower of everything
& is independent Supreme above everything all else He is above.

“Prakriti param ishwaram prakriti param” He is above, He said
friends some of you go, not far from here they are performing Yagna please go I
am sure and you tell that Krishna & Balarama are in the forest & they are
hungry please give something to eat.  So
the friends of Krishna and Balarama went, the cowherd boys went to Yagna shala
they offered their pranams, “pranam hey bhumi devaha” oh! Brahmanas, please
accept our namaskars , obeisances like that they were very humbly approaching Yagnashala
& these Yagnic Brahmanas but in fact these Brahmanis did not pay much
attention to these kids, these boys they thought they  were busy with big big affair here,  swaha! Oh!  Krishna is not far from here, swaha ! .
Because the whole goal of Yagna is to satisfy Krishna but this Yagnic Brahmins
performing Yagna they had forgotten what the goal is.

As soon as they had
heard from cowherd boys that Krishna is in nearby forest immediately they could
say, hey where is Krishna?  We want to
see him, we want to meet him, could you bring us to Krishna but they did not
care. Krishna is here not only Krishna is here, next thing they said oh! Krishna
is here & He is very hungry, swaha!  Oh!
He wants, could you give some fruit for
him swaha! Oh!  Something something to
eat, hey hey get out swaha! Go away swahaa! They were busy with swaha swaha!  they forgot what this Yagna is all about, what
is this for, Krishna is here He is, the fire is in tongue of the Lord He is
eating but now His invitation, or information that Krishna wants to personally
eat your offerings not indirectly through the fire but He would like put that
food on His tongue & would like to chew the food and He will be so
satisfied if you make offerings, give something Krishna to eat He has sent some
messengers, His friends . so this is the trouble this is the kind of trouble we
miss the point we do not remember what for some ceremony is being conducted
what for sacrifice is being performed for what is the goal of the pooja ? Why
should we go to place of pilgrimage? What should we do? What should be mood of
consciousness? So you are feeling happy with what we are doing here talking
here about Krishna. It’s the contribution of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu He
has taught this pure love of Godhead and that Krishna has a form not formless Krishna.
Oh! He exits but He’s formless no that is not Krishna that is just incomplete Krishna,
partial Krishna but full Krishna has a form, beautiful form & He has
qualities, He has activities, He has relationships, He has place his own abode
also where He stays all this is subject matter of Bhagvatam, so you recite
Bhagvatam recite Bhagvatam  & and
then make God formless then the purpose is defeated

‘Gopala nanda lala, Gopal,
is also subject matter of today’s presentation Krishna Gopal,  Krishna  the care takers of the cows. Krishna who
serves the cows,  he becomes the servant
of the cows, Krishna Govinda Govinda also means He pleases cows, one who
pleases cows,  one who endeavors to please
his cows that person is Govinda.  So
that’s why in our Vedic culture love cows, we  serve cows , we worship cows it’s the Brahmical
culture. So we study Bhagvatam we should be serving cows, loving cows, not
eating cows (sound of cow in the background)  just hear sweet sounding music best music
(sound of cow in the background)   Gomata ki jai! Cows around here.