Dated: 19th June 2016
Venue: Nagpur
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.

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 program (a spiritual festival) at Cross Maidan. The devotees publicized the pandal program 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 everyone and it especially fascinated me.

With the inquisitiveness in mind, I went to the Hare Krsna 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 Krsna 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 ashram in a town nearby my village. I had almost made it to the ashram, 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 on stage 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 Krishna 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 kurtis, 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 Krsna Consciousness). I had decided to join the devotees, and to join any organization. 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 dratis, 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 ashram 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 ashram inmates 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 non devotees. The village people 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 Vitthala, 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 take 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.” This is 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 over crowded and overburdened with them. I wanted to engage in the service of Krsna in the Hare Krsna movement. Srlia 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. 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 has embraced ISKCON as a genuine religious movement. There are seven fulltime devotees from there. 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.

Haribol.

Dated: 9 May 2016
Venue: Ujjain (Kumbha mela)

Occasion: Gurudev at diksha ceremony

I welcome you all to this initiation ceremony and special welcome to those who are getting initiated and rest of you can say Haribol and express your happiness. I had got message of the kumbha coordinators that more and more devotes should get initiated, so we both me and HH Bhakti Caru Maharaj thought of giving diksha here. The venue is also very special we are at bank of Sipra. This is siksha and diksha bhumi of Krsna and Balaram. But what they will achieve by taking diksha, but….

“yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah” (BG 3.21)

All the rishis of the world are present here today, there is also possibility that Demigod must also have come for nectar here today. On such special day diksha ceremony is taking place. You all are taking a great step today that means you want to be free from this world, you want to go back home. If you want then for you diksha will be there. So this special mercy of Lord on you.

“Bramanada bramite koni bhagyavan jiva, guru Krishna prasad pai bhaktilata bija”

By Lords mercy such fortunate souls get Guru, in gita Arjuna takes shelter of Krishna and says Lord please protect me. With this bhava if a jiva goes to Guru,

“krsna se tomara krsna dite para tomara sakati achhe
ami ta’ kangala ‘krsna krsna’ bali dhai tava pachhe pachhe”

‘ami ta’ kangala’ – I am kangala- I am poor and you have Krishna so I am running after you. You give us Krishna the real wealth Krsna is yours. You can give Krishna. You have that power. Don’t just say we need to realize it.
When the jiva goes with this bhava to Guru, Guru takes us to Lord. Lord says,

“Sarva-dharman parityajya”

Guru also says the same, surrender unto Lord whatever rules and regulations are given by Lord should be followed. Prabhupada presented to the whole world the message of Lord, so it’s called *as it is*
Let the Lord say you don’t say.

“sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah”

We can get Krsna only by getting connecting to bonafide sampradaya, so that’s how the thoughts of Lord will reach us. Today some are getting harinam diksha and some Brahman diksha. We are from Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, so we get initiated with Hare Krsna mantra. So today officially you all are getting Harinam. You have to avoid 10 offences against holy name and follow 4 regulative principles.

After diksha you will become dharmik and you will also contribute in establishment of dharma.
The foundation of dharma are: mercy, truthfulness, austerity and cleanliness.

“daya dharma ka mula hai”

The foundation of dharma should be strong; we need to make these foundations very strong. Prabhupada also told us to follow four regulative principles. ISKCON is now 50 years old, haribol and when ISKCON was just half a year old since that time Prabhupada is telling the disciples to follow four regulative principles.
He told this in America, where people used to eat flesh in breakfast lunch dinner Prabhupad was telling them
“patram puspam phalam toyam” from today now no muttanam chikanam biryanim.

You know Jagai Madhai incident, Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu told them to take Harinam and but they were not ready. To such Jagai Madhai like people Prabhupada was training and they agreed to follow the four regulative principles.

During Nashik kumbha nectar was flowing in Godavari and there was a tea stall named chai-amrita pijiye, people were busy drinking tea. In Badrinath also there a tea stall and a board “chai ka akhari Dukan”. In Mumbai airport yesterday they offered us tea; I said no, they said atleast take coffee. They thought tea is for poor persons. So tea is also addiction.

So you all will take sankalpa to follow 4 regulative principles and chant 16 rounds. When Lord came He brought harinam for all of us and today you will get this mantra which Lord brought from His dhama.
Haribol

Dated: 29th Sept 2015
Venue: Rajapur (Mayapur)

Occasion: World Holy Name Week

Mayapur dham ki jai!

So this is where all the gang of this sankirtan,

“sankirtanaika-pitarau kamalaya-thaksau visvambharo dvija varau
yuga-dharma phalau vande jagat priya karo karuna avatarau”

Karuna avataro-Guar Nityananda, the founding Supreme fathers of this Hare Krishna movement, Hare Krishna sankirtan movement are Gaur Nityananda and not far from here is Srivan angan and not angam. Many of devotees say angam, angam means body. Angan means courtyard angan not anganam so Srivas angan. SriKrishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would chant

“Hare krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”

All night long kirtan and Caitanya Mahaprabhu He would go mad, roar like a mad man also and chant and dance doing His uddanda kirtan, uddanda nrutya.

“dhule dhule gaurachanda hari guna gai
asiya vrindavane nache gaura rai”

He was dancing like that in Vrindavan 500 hundred year ago, Caitanya Mahaprabhu travelled to Vrindavan and he danced there also so that is ‘dhule dhule’ one kind of dance and he would do uddand nritya, He would jump high in sky and floating, trying to reach out his Lord where are you O! Lord? And he would be seeking for his Lord, he would jump. When Sachi mata had observed that kind of uddanda nritya of her Nimai dancing in Shantipur, he would jump high and fall flat on the ground so that was heart breaking experience for Sachi mata, considering that her Nimai getting hurt as he lands on the ground. She was praying to mother bhumi, mother earth that whenever my darling when he falls down in your lap. Please make sure that he was not hurt, let him experience like he is falling on bed of roses or something soft ground. So this was going on every night, all night long chanting and dancing on and on and on for weeks and for months. Advaitacharya was not very happy that Lord was dancing with “pure” devotees, what about the others? So he was the one, Advaitacharya was the one who had prayed for the merciful descend of the Lord.

“dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata”

“There is so much decline of the religious principles my Lord this is the time you did promise or made that statement whenever there is decline in religious or of the religious principles
“sambhavami yuge yuge” – you would appear”. So advaitacharya had come some 50 years prior to advent of Gauranga as if he had come as a advance party to do all evaluation of the situation and he had come to the conclusion now only Lord can rectify the situation so he prayed and Lord had responded and Gauranga appeared. But then he was chanting and dancing with some selected few and what about the rest of world then Advaitacharya, he falls at the feet of Gauranga and says oh! Lord be merciful

“Patitpavan hetu tav avatar”

The purpose of your avatar is patit pavan, to uplift the fallen souls so please do so these are pure devotees, its fine that you chant and dance with them but what about rest? So then Gauranga Mahaprabhu continued his kirtans all over Mayapur, Navadwip. Bhaktivinod Thakur explains in his famous kirtan.

“udilo aruna puraba bhage dwija mani gora amani jage
Bhakta samuha loiya sathe gela nagara braje”

So early morning the sun rose in the east. (Bell rings in the temple of Rajapur Jaggnath) O! Something is appearing Jagannath is rising appearing here Jai Jagannath Swami ki jai! Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath ! Jagganath Baladev Subhadra Ki ..Jai

So gathering all his followers, devotees, Mahaprabhu was dancing all over, throughout Navadwip Mandal.

“tathai tathai bajalo khol”

“dhik tam dhik tam dhig etan kathayati satatam kirtana-stho mrdangah”

Mrdanga uvacha, mrdanga says all the time what does mrdanga says? Dhik- I condemn those folks, kirtan is going on here where I am being played, mridanga is being played and what you are doing over there? You are condemned dhik dhik, I condemn you, I condemn you, ‘etan dhigetan’- all these people are condemned because you are not present in the kirtan, mrdanga speaks like this during Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s kirtan.

“mukunda madhava yadava hari bolena bolo re vadan bhori”

So they are chanting,
“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”

And they are also chanting Mukunda say Mukunda Mukunda Mukunda. “bolena bolo re vadan bhori” using all their strength, love their Lord with all thy strength, with all thy heart, the bible also says “love thy Lord with all thy heart, with all thy strength”. So this song of Bhaktivinod also says “bolena bolo re vadan bhori” So some devotees along with their kirtan they are also doing preaching to those who were witnessing the kirtan running out of their homes to observe the kirtan. So devotees were preaching to them you also chant full hearted, full throated, heart full, throat full.. “balena bolo re vadan bhori”. And what is the next part ?

“preme dhala dhala sonara anga carane nupura baje”– again dhule dhule

That golden complexion Lord, “Preme dhala dhala”- full of prem, ecstatic feeling, emotions. He is dancing with ankle bells tinkling jingling around His ankles. Devotees must be playing mridanga very expertly, they also loving the sound of tinkling and jingling the bells also do come across. Mridanga playing was not drowning the sound of the nupur. The tinkling and jingling of the bells also were audible. Mridanga being played and those kartal and bits of all that there was also sound of jingling bells from ankles of Gauranga!

“kiba mantra dila gosai kiba tara bala japite japite mantra karila pagal”

This is another time as Sri Krishna Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu, he was maddened as he chanted rolling on the ground and this was very common thing shading tears. He would do kirtna in Jagannath Puri Jagannath puri dham ki jai !!! In front of Jagannath’s cart and when He would go round and round all people all devotees are all around Him and making three circles. Nityananda Prabhu was in the first circle around Gauranga and then Srivas and then Kashishwar and others would make the second circle. King Prataparudra and others would make the third circle and he would be in the middle protected from the public or He could have His own space. Gauranga would have His own space for chanting and dancing and not getting distracted, so they would form circles. He is everywhere simultaneously he is everywhere. Not that he is here and then after some time going round and round and that time shading tears. From the Lotus eyes of Gauranga tears would flow drowning not just making people little bit wet. They would drowning in those tears, becoming all soaked in tears of Gauranga.

“Nayanam galad ashru dharya” -dhara- flow. It was coming out, the flow coming out forcefully, so it was not just dropping down but going, spreading all around and it was coming out so forcefully reaching out going for long distance so all around the tears of Gauranga!! So one time He had again approached his Guru Maharaj Ishvarpuri and he was wondering Oh! What kind of mantra “Kiba mantra dila gosai”- what kind of mantra you have given to me? “japite japite mantra karil pagal”- by chanting or while chanting I just go mad, my body begins trembling, rolling on the ground, I become stunt ,this happens that happens, sometimes my complexion changes, Gauranga’s body changes complexion. The Golden body would turn pinkish while He was in Vrindavan golden body turned bluish black!

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”

He was doing His japa, japa yoga underneath of Imali tala, Tamarind tree all from Krishna’s time, there was a tamarind tree 500 years ago and still there is tamarind tree. And after while at bank of Yamuna underneath the tree chanting His japa and while chanting He became so much Krishna conscious that He was no more Gauranga, He was not Gaursundar! But he became Shyamsundar! Body was shyamavarna.

So that also was result of His madness, ecstatic feelings. So He had inquired what kind of mantra? So much power, so much strength has invested in this mantra. This mantra just taken charge of me and makes me dance, make me mad. What kind of mantra have you given oh! Spiritual master?

“hari hari viphale janama gonainu”

And kirtan parties Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s kirtan party, Chaitanya mahaprabhu already in Jagannath Puri and parties would go from different towns and villages to Jagannath Puri to participate in Rathyatra festival. During one such time, as devotees were arriving in Jagannath Puri and they were performing kirtan or while performing kirtan they are entering Jagannath Puri and King Prataprudra, was enquiring “who is that devotee?” Oh! That is Advaitacharya ,“ who is that one in bluish?” Oh! That is Nityananda and who is that he was enquiring and he said I have heard kirtans before, same mantra same mridanga, kartala also, but this is something different. I have never experienced this kind of kirtan, these prabhu’s are chanting, singing, dancing what is this Kirtan? Then he was told, this is “Prem Kirtan”. So Mahaprabhu and His associates, followers they would perform Prem Kirtan, shuddha Naam.

Every day we chant keep doing this. This Hare Krishna Mahamantra is the Prem, the Love of God or in this name, the form of the Holy name. Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu delivered Krishna Prem to this world. “Krishna Prem Pradayte” He appeared to deliver Krishna prem and what is that prem?

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Keep chanting!!!

So let’s chant, utter not just by the tongue, but by the soul. Let the soul sing this supreme song. We always hear encouragement chant from the heart. Because within the heart there is soul, Let the soul chant, so that kirtan was brought by Gauranga from His own abode and chanted here in Navadwip.

Venue: Vrindavana
Dated: 2008

We welcome all of you, Srila Pabhupada ki jai!!!

So English we’ll be speaking in English, Srila Prabhupada also did most of his talking in English. Occasionally he gave some Hindi classes. They are available, there are some CDs in which you will get Srila Prabhupada Hindi lectures; few dozens of them. English lectures, there are thousands of them, English classes. But there are may be 20- 30 Hindi classes. He gave some Bhagavat Gita classes, Rama katha, Mayapur but we spoke in English also with Prabhupada.

I really don’t know where to start, keeping in mind that we have only, not whole seven days. We’ll focus more and talk about Vrndavana. Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana and it would be also more appropriate to talk about his pastimes towards end of his staying with us in his manifest lila, you could call it. And again first we’ll talk where I come in the picture. There was not I the only one in the picture. There were so many hundreds of them. It’s my memories time so in those memories are more fresh. They are my property. They are with me all the time, so I would like to share.

When Prabhupada came to Vrndavana in ’77. Last time he came to Vrndavana and then he stayed in Vrndavana, entered Krsna’s pastimes. I mean that coming to Vrndavana was in beginning of October and Prabhupada was not well. This was going on, in fact, the whole year 1977 Srila Prabhupada was not being well. Just quickly, briefly he came back from around the world tour. He landed in Bombay but immediately he was making plans to go to Kumbha Mela in January 1977. He travelled by train to Allahabad. We were there; hundreds of Prabhupda’s followers were there in Kumbha Mela. Prabhupada made his visit of Kumbha Mela a brief one. And then, he went to Kolkata and then on over to Bhubanesvar. He made a side trip to Jagannatha Puri, came back to Bhubanesvar and to Mayapur for Mayapur Festival. This was the first time he just gave few classes, no morning walks. This was different from previous years. Then Srila Prabhupada, he skipped Vrndavana, part of the festivals. He used to do Mayapur festivals, then Vrndavana festivals. These were two festivals he had been attending. This year he just did Mayapur festival and he went to Mumbai, then it was known as Bombay. He wanted to move into his new apartments as Hare Krsna Land was not ready.

Prabhupada insisted, “I will stay in my own quarters”. But they were not ready and Prabhupada stayed downtown and held public lectures series in Mumbai. This was the last public lectures series. Seven days in the evening was Krsna festivals. He spoke very strongly. Physically he was so unwell and we had to lift him and put him on the vyasasana. But once he had a microphone, he was roaring like a lion. His topic was, “The modern civilization is total failure only alternative is Krsna consciousness” every night on this theme. A disciple would read a verse that was selected from the 2nd canto of Bhagavatam, verse after verse. One verse and then Srila Prabhupada would give the purport and more talk on the verse or theme. ‘Modern civilization is total failure’. And then after the festival downtown, he moved back to Juhu Hare Krsna Land.

This time his quarters were ready and he was moved into his new quarters. It was very gorgeous, very opulent. He was very pleased. I was there watching Srila Prabhupada and hearing him talk. He was very grateful for offering such special facilities. He was not well. He would spend lot of time lying on bed. We would be doing some kirtan, very soft kirtans in his quarters. He had been still meeting VIPs and members of the Parliament. They would have appointments. He was there for some time and it was decided that he will go to Hrishikesh for recuperation; getting better on the banks of Ganga and Himalayan mountains. Better climate it was suggested during May, June like that. Through Delhi he went to Hrishikesh. There is a place, that house is still there where Srila Prabhupada stayed. We visited there few years ago on the banks of Ganga. Then he was not well again, then he rushed back to Tamal Krsna Maharaj, Yadubara prabhu, Bhakti Caru Maharaj, were also few devotees were waiting.

He was in Vrndavana during June- July, he was getting a little better and then plans were made that he would go to America, Gita Nagari. So he made the trip, on the way to America, he went to London. He was there for Janmasthami of ’77 in London at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Again not well, so he dropped his one way journey to America and rushed back. He wanted to come to India, so he landed in Mumbai. We were there at the airport receiving Srila Prabhupada. We had gone dozens and dozens of times earlier also to receive Prabhupada at Bombay airport. Bombay was Srila Prabhupada’s office, so he was spending lot of time in the office. There were some legal matters, legal battles over Hare Krsna Land in Mumbai Juhu. Srila Prabhupada was battling and ultimately he was victorious. We won the case. Prabhupada was genius; he was giving all the mantras which that advocate should present in the court. He was advocate of the advocates (Laughter). So it was last time he was received at the airport by British Airways he came to Mumbai. His briefcase is still on display in Mumbai in Prabhupada’s quarters. And the bag tag is still there, its British Airways first class. He spent some time in Mumbai then finally to Vrndavana. He remembered his doctor friend from Prayag or Allahabad called Dr. Ghosh. And Prabhupada wanted him to come and treat him.

So someone had to go, I was asked to go to Allahabad and it was a big rush and it was emergency. So I went. Well, he was not in Allahabad; he was in Darjeeling where his granddaughter was studying. So I had to go to Darjeeling, it is in Assam top of the mountain. In Allahabad I remember, I first went to Dr. Ghosh’s home and found out he was not there. And then I had to go back to the airport. On the way to the airport there was one Hanuman mandir. I was praying to Hanuman, I still remember, I saw the Hanuman mandir and started praying. I thought my mission is somewhat similar to that of Hanuman (Laughter). Because when Lakshman who is Adiguru was not well, that time during the battle at Sri Lanka, some medicine was required. So Hanuman was sent to Himalayan Mountains. So I thought I also have to, not to get the medicine but the doctor who will provide medicine to Prabhupada (Laughter). And I had to go to Himalaya Mountain. So I was praying and by the grace of Hanuman, I did find the doctor.

We drove to Kolkata and then to Delhi. Then the doctor was looking after Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada’s friend. Prabhupada was not there for long time as we know. As he was grihasta and his Prayag Pharmacy in Allahabad.
Well, talking about myself, we continued our travelling. We had a travelling party called “Narada Muni Travelling Sankirtan Party”. So we went north and travelling and distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books, we went all the way to Badrikashram. For some time we had no news from Srila prabhupada. There were no mobile phones. Even regular phones wouldn’t work there. So we were in anxiety, so we rushed back we came to Vrndavana. This was like a one week before 14 th of November. So Srila Prabhupada was very kind to let us in, whole party. All the devotees of our party went in Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. Srila Prabhupada was on the bed lying down. But if you read more Lilamrita, then here other devotees, they will tell you so many other activities of Prabhupada. How he managed even, translating and giving dictations of his purports during those times.

Srila Prabhupada 10th canto, chapter 13th, it was compiled during that last visit of Srila Prabhupada. Jayadvaita Maharaj holding a microphone very close to his mouth. And Pradyumna prabhu would read different commentaries, Sanskrit commentaries. After hearing those commentaries, Srila Prabhupada would give his comments in English. They were getting transcribed and that’s how he continued his activities. So as we arrived, we sat down around Srila Prabhupada, very close to his bed. His voice was very low. To hear him, you had to put your ear very close to his mouth. So we were giving reports of our traveling and book distribution.

You know the book distribution score reports were Prabhupada would always look forward to wherever the reports came from. He said that made him young, “I would never die” so far his books are being distributed. He would take lots of interest in hearing book distribution, especially book distribution scores and reports and some other reports. He was questioning, “Which book is being distributed the most?” He was lying on the bed and he was keen interested in book distribution. What are the prices of this book, that book? So we were responding. We talked of the Badrikashram visit. I was representing one party, so I reported to Prabhupada that we visited Srila Vyasadeva’s cave which we had done. And I said, “We showed your Bhagavad Gita to Srila Vyasadeva, Prabhupada”. That was in a humorous way of presenting it by thought. We were telling Srila Prabhupada the cave of Srila Vyasadeva. He is very much present there; for sure he had seen Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita. Prabhupada was pleased to hear that.

Part of the reporting also was of our visit of the spot called ‘Bhima Ka Pul’. There is a bridge over Saraswati, a stone bridge; this is where Bhima left his body. One brother left and they walked down the road, another brother and another like that and they were going towards north. So that was the place where Bhima left his body. That was part of the reporting. Later on, as I was mentioning now, it was not appreciated by one of my God brothers. For that reporting, I was rebuked, I was mildly chastised for such a report; why should I be talking of someone dying and death and giving some ideas to Prabhupada, I didn’t think in those terms. So it was too late, already reporting was done.

So then we were leaving Prabhupada’s quarters. All the members of my party, they were out of the room, I was the last one. Then I was just taking one last look at Prabhupada. And Prabhupada signaled me, “Come here, come back”. So I went back to Prabhupada, close to him. And he questioned me, “I would like to see you. What time suits you?” He could order me, come at such and such time! But different approach, amazing. “What time suits you?” And then my response of course, “Anytime Prabhupada, anytime”. Then he said, “Is four o’clock okay?”

So it was settled that we would meet at four o’clock in the afternoon. I didn’t know, the way he was so grave when he was talking to me or asking is four o’clock is okay, I want to see you. All day I was trying to figure it out. What was Prabhupada is going to talk to me about at four o’clock in the afternoon. I could not come to any conclusion. So I was looking at the watch and counting hours and minutes. So finally it was four o’clock and I went. I was not allowed inside Prabhupada’s quarters. I was directed to the Krsna Balaram guest house reception. As I arrived there, just around the corner from Srila Prabhupada’s front entrance of his quarter, I found all the senior members sitting there. They were kind of waiting for me also. So what I found out was what Prabhupada wanted to talk to me about at four o’clock. He had already spoken to Tamal Krsna Maharaj and Bhavananda prabhu, Bhakti Caru Maharaj, like that. I met everyone else. They said, “Prabhupada would like you to go and organize the bullock cart for him”.

He wants to go to Govardhan on Govardhan puja day. Next day was Govardhan puja. So you could imagine, a day before, whole thing was being planned. So just myself and Trivikrama Maharaj, two of us went to Mathura. It was very difficult because on Govardhan puja, the farmers, they do puja of their cows and bulls. They don’t employ them. So we had a hard time hiring bullock cart. But we managed and two bullock carts were arranged to come over to Krsna Balaram temple. So they did come and they were parked in front of Krsna Balaram temple. And plan was next morning Prabhupada would travel to Govardhan.

And then there were more talks that evening after I came back from Mathura. I was also born in a farmer’s family, we also had bullock cart and bullock cart sankirtan That was Prabhupada project. So I was chosen for this task. Then during the night, there were lots of discussions on this proposed travel of Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada travelling on a bullock cart, oxen cart on the Vrndavana roads. These days roads are little better. You could imagine, this is 31 years ago, they were far worst. So the whole debate going on, Prabhupada had the desire to go. He always talked about when battling with maya, fighting with maya. Preaching is fighting, that spirit he had. He was lying on bed for long long time, months and months. He was feeling uneasy in that way, we say this. So he wanted to be out there. That was just a trial going to Govardhan. If that works then travel more all over. That was during the night. It was very difficult for lots of devotees to accommodate this idea, Prabhupada going on bullock cart, travelling to Govardhan. So he was appealed by several devotees. Krsnadasa Babaji from Gaudiya Matha, a senior Prabhupada’s godbrother was invited. Devotees, disciples made Krsnadasa Babaji to speak to Prabbhupada on their behalf, trying to convince him not to go, not to go.

So finally, there are many details and dialogues. You could read them on folio also word for word. Tamala Krsna Maharaj wrote a whole play called ‘Final pastimes of Prabhupada’. Tamal Krsna Goswami Maharaj was involved, so he had written a book and he is drawing lots of his dialogues from the folio, the conversation. So that idea of going to Govardhan on bullock cart was dropped.

Then another day passed and Prabhupada’s room was filled with his only disciples. There were no other Jayapataka Maharajas disciples, there were only Prabhupada’s disciples that time, right? You could imagine. And Prabhupada again brought up the topic of travelling. But this time he proposed travelling with the buses. Idea was kind of welcomed, but condition was that when he gets better, he will take this journey travelling all over. One thing, Prabhupada wanted to go to holy places, during his very extensive, busy travelling schedule he had no opportunity going to holy places. This was his final wish. He wanted to travel to the holy places and other places, town and cities. So this time, devotees also, it was welcomed for another reason, because devotees were thinking, Prabhupada is wanting to travel, that means he wants to be with us longer. If he is dropping or postponing his plans of going back to Krsna , joining Krsna, he is going to be with us longer. So this was kind of cause for a joy, happiness, Prabhupada is going to stay on long.

The delegates would go to Prabhupada from time to time headed by those days, Kirtananda Maharaj was the senior sannyasi, he would go and appeal on behalf of the disciples. “Prabhupada, please stay on, Prabhupada we want you, we are just babies, just children, newly born. How will we survive without you, please”. We would always take it up to Prabhupada whether to live or die. It was up to Prabhupada. We were always thinking like that, so we would appeal to Prabhupada, “Prabhupada please stay on please”. So when he was planning his travelling, especially the buses, devotees were kind of relieved that he is going to stay on longer with us. So those who were in the room, Prabhupada in the middle sleeping, lying down position and whole room is filled. Then different devotees were proposing to Prabhupada. I remember Giriraj, I know him being disciple from Bombay temple president. He said to Prabhupada, “Whenever you go to the big cities, there will be some big rich people, industrialist; if I go I could make some life members. Could I go Prabhupada with you?” And Prabhupada said, “Hmm, you could go”.

Then there was Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaj. He took his turn, “Whenever you’ll go, there will always be some scientists. I could organize some conference, scientific, you could address. Could I go Srila Prabhupada?” Prabhupada said “Hmm” (Laughter).

So like that, different disciples were proposing to be with Prabhupada, travel with Prabhupada. There was Bhakti Caitanya from Chandigarh. He was a good driver. “I could drive your car Prabhupada, (Laughter). Could I go?” Prabhupada said, “Hmm, you could go.”

So many devotees were making proposals how could they fit into this travelling program, whether they could go and Prabhupada, “Hmm, Hmm” meaning “Yes”, they could go. Then I also took my turn (Laughter). Why not? There were lots of discussions about this travelling. Prabhupada’s advance party, and main party and Prabhupada would be part of the main party. The advance party making all the arrangements, bookings and facilities. And main party arrives there. Advance party goes in advance further. These being a whole, everything was planning. So when I said whether I could go, Prabhupada, he also said I could go. He said, “You will be our leader of the Travelling Party.” Haribol!!! With the experience I had with the Narada Muni Sankirtan Travelling Party and other Travelling parties. So that must be on 11th or 12th of November this dialogue took place. So we all got kind of busy making preparations for Prabhupada’s travels on buses. We got a huge big map of India. We wanted to make a schedule for Prabhupada’s travelling. Where to get buses and drivers this and that. Tamal Krsna Maharaj, Bhavananda and other disciples also around involved. The Kaviraj, Prabhupada’s doctor was keeping track of Srila Prabhupada was taking more milk or whatever. So we were hopeful that Prabhupada would get better and would have this travel all over India which Srila Prabhupada was all looking forward to and preparing all the arrangements. Srila Prabhupada, those days would lie down, eyes closed but not fully awake, he was thinking of Krsna. And he would get his disciples, devotees to read from Caitanya Caritamrita, Krsna book or doing kirtan. Kirtan with small tiny kartals, very small kartal, no mridanga nothing just small kartal. Only one devotee would be sitting and doing kirtan. And this would go on 24 hours. Either there was some reading or doing kirtan. His attraction and attachment to the Holy name and the pastimes of the Lord, he insisted that goes on.

This was also going on in Mumbai before he came to Vrndavana after London. So there I also had been taking turns singing for Srila Prabhupada. One day I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Is there anything more we could do, so that you could get better?” Just before another devotee taking over kirtan. There was just a little break and I said, “Is there anything that we are not doing, we should do Prabhupada so that you get cured, you get better?” And Prabhupada said, “Chant Hare Krsna”. That was the cure, medicine. Of course he had standing instructions to all of us that, “Don’t take me to the hospital and keep on chanting that was the medicine” he said that few times. I remembered Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaj, he had his night shift. On the 13th night, he was with Prabhupada chanting. And then on that day, 14th while we were still kind of busy making plans for Prabhupada’s travel. Kaviraj was keeping an eye on Prabhupada’s health. He started going on all over property, gets alert here and there, asking all of us to rush into Prabhupada’s quarters. So we were all there, room full inside and more from outside. Hundreds of devotees were kind of stationed in Vrndavana. It was also Kartik, like tomorrow 14th November, we were in Prabhupada’s quarters. I was there when Prabhupada went. So many others all around him. Last time we could hear, he was only opening mouth and ‘Hare Krsna’, ‘Hm, Hm’. That was it. Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!

He considered Vrndavan as his home, Mayapur his place of pilgrimage where he worshiped the Personality of Godhead. Bombay was his office. He stayed here in Vrndavana. We took Prabhupada in a kirtan procession to all the six goswamis temples, a huge procession. Srila Prabhupada was placed in Samadhi. And then kind of brass murti of Srila Prabhupada. Not same day, but after some days we all knew, going to Govardhan this was his last wish. So everybody, we all went first to Radha kunda, bathe Srila Prabhupada murti form in Radha kunda’s water. We had palanquin; we took Prabhupada all around Govardhan. Hundreds must be close to thousands followers, devotees of Srila Prabhupada going all around Govardhan. And finally came to Kusum Sarovar and we stopped there. And his other desire, he wanted to go by bus all over India visiting the places of pilgrimage. That was another wish. So when we had to celebrate 500 anniversary of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance, it was in ’86. So the Governing Body Commission, they resolved that we organize procession, walk, padayatra and take Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada on pilgrimage. So we started in Dwarka on Radhasthami of ’84. Then the remaining months of ’84 and twelve months of ’85 and then we had to arrive in ’86 in Mayapur for Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s 500 anniversary. 7000 miles walk, so this planned as part of celebrating Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s 500 years anniversary. At the same time fulfilling Prabhupada’s desire of travelling or going to places of pilgrimage.

So that was organized on very big scale, international participation for the pleasure of Prabhupada, for glorification of Srila Prabhupada.
Jai Srila Prabhupada

Date: 24th Sept 2015

Occasion: Temple opening Mira Road Mumbai

Guar Nitai has there form; Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Guarsundar not Shyamsundar. Nityananda Prabhu is there with him. Lord appears in this world in His deity form to take us back so that we can stay with Him in His abode.
Lord is going to appear at Mira road by Prabhupad’s desire and arrangement. “Sambhavami yuge yuge” happen but that’s not enough in Kali yuga so Lord appears in His deity form. Tukaram maharaja said “papachi vasana nako dau doda” Lord don’t show me papa of this world its better then I be blind I just want to take your darshan.
There is no difference between Lord and His deity. Lord has come to give His darshan but Lord has to give then only we can take. Like example of devotee leaving class and going to darshan from class of Bhaktisiddhanta saraswati Thakur. And Bhaktisiddhanta saraswati Thakur asked him, so then how was your eye exercise.

Lords darshan is possible by Vedanta darshan presented by Srila Vyasadev, Srimad Bhagvatam, Bhagvat Gita “vedo narayano sakshat” ..Veda pranahito dharma…

By following dharma and doing sravan kirtan we can have darshan of Lord. Lord’s Srinagar then mandir marjana, bhagvat vidhi and pancharatrika vidhi. ‘kirtan nrutya geeta’ our gurujana teach us all this. With vigra aradhana, we need to hear glories of Lord at every step “nityam bhagvat sevaya”.

“Caturvidha Sri bhagvat prasado” here also we have prasad and in golok also we have prasad. We have mangal Arti early why so that Lord can start with His cow herding pastime. Yasoda maiya wakes Him up “utthi utthi gopala”.
Our sadhana should be done 24 hours keeping Lord on center. Krishna consciousness has put life in us. Serving Lord is our preparation to go back home, in His vigra form Lord gives us opportunity to serve Him. Lord has promised us as you are dear to me you will come me, Lord loves you “apa Krsna ko Priya ho”.

We put all are love in dog in car and we don’t have love for Lord. We should reserve our Love for Lord and His devotees. Prove Lord that you love us? So Lord appears in His deity form that’s His love. Let us all welcome Lord today.

Radha Giridhari ki ..jai

Venue: Pune
Dated: 21/02/2011
So this is Canto 1, chapter 1, text number 20th.

“krtavan kila karmani saha ramena kesavah
atimartyani bhagavan gudhah kapata-manusah” (SB 1.1.20)

Translation and purport by Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!!
Translation:
Lord Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarama, played like a human being and so masked He performed many superhuman acts. Sri Krsna Balaram ki….…jai

Purport:
The doctrines of anthropomorphism and zoomorphism are never applicable to Sri Krsna or the Personality of Godhead. The theory that a man becomes God by dint of penance and austerities is very much rampant nowadays, especially in India. Since Lord Rama, Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu were detected by the sages and saints to be the Personality of Godhead as indicated in revealed scriptures, many unscrupulous men have created their own incarnations. This process of concocting an incarnation of God has become an ordinary business, especially in Bengal. Any popular personality with a few traits of mystic powers will display some feat of jugglery and easily become an incarnation of godhead by popular vote. Lord Sri Krsna was not that type of incarnation. He was actually the Personality of Godhead from the very beginning of His appearance. He appeared before His so-called mother as four-armed Visnu. Then, at the request of the mother, He became like a human child and at once left her for another devotee at Gokula, where He was accepted as the son of Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda Mata. Similarly, Sri Baladeva, the counterpart of Lord Sri Krsna, was also considered a human child born of another wife of Sri Vasudev.

In Bhagavad-Gita, the Lord says that His birth and deeds are transcendental and that anyone who is so fortunate as to know the transcendental nature of His birth and deeds will at once become liberated and eligible to return to the kingdom of God. So knowledge of the transcendental nature of the birth and deeds of Lord Sri Krsna is sufficient for liberation. In the Bhagavatam, the transcendental nature of the Lord is described in nine cantos, and in the Tenth Canto His specific pastimes are taken up. All this becomes known as one’s reading of this literature progresses. It is important to note here, however, that the Lord exhibited His divinity even from the lap of His mother, that His deeds are all superhuman (He lifted Govardhana Hill at the age of seven), and that all these acts definitely prove Him to be actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yet, due to His mystic covering, He was always accepted as an ordinary human child by His so-called father and mother and other relatives. Whenever some herculean task was performed by Him, the father and mother took it otherwise. And they remained satisfied with unflinching filial love for their son. As such, the sages of Naimisaranya described Him as apparently resembling a human being, but actually He is the supreme almighty Personality of Godhead.

“krtavan kila karmani saha ramena kesavah
atimartyani bhagavan gudhah kapata-manusah” (SB 1.1.20)

Lord Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarama, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts.
Jaya Sri Krsna Balaram ki jaya!!

Radheyshyam prabhu said that we have just now returned from Vrndavana or Vraja Mandal. So this would be an appropriate topic. So this is his wish that becomes our command. Vrndavana is a playground of God. Bhakti Caitanya Maharaj published a book; ‘Vrndavana-the playground of God’. Like a song of God, Vrndavana is the playground of God. But because we know the name of God, so we do not just call Him God. We call Him Sri Krsna and we know more about God. What more is mentioned here in this verse by the sages of Naimisaranya,’ saha ramena, saha ramena kesavah’, it appears that they knew, they knew also. It was not just Lord Sri Krsna who performed ‘krtavan kila karmani’ activities of the Lord. What are those activities? ‘krtavan’ He performed, ‘kila’ what are those ‘karmani’ activities. Not alone but ‘saha ramena kesavah’ that Keshav performed ‘karmani’ activities along with Balaram and ‘atimartyani bhagavan’. Both Krsna and Balaram are ‘atimartyani.’ They are superhuman; they are not ‘martya’, among those who die. Lord has nothing to do with death. So They are beyond mrtyu, ‘atimartyani’, ‘jatasya hi dhruvo mrtyur dhruvam janma mrtasya ca’ (BG 2.27). This is the law not applicable to these Personalities of Godhead, ‘atimartyani’ and They are also Bhagavan. That Keshav, He has a brother. Well, relationship has not been mentioned, but we know from other sources Balaram is the brother. He is and Krsna is Bhagavan ‘atimartyani bhagavan’.
The Personality of Godhead, ‘gudhah’ but they cover themselves up hidingly. The translation of ‘gudhah’ here is masked. They put some other mask above them, around them. ‘kapata-manusah’ and present themselves to be some kind of ‘manusah’. They act like, they try to act like ordinary human beings but they are not. They are Bhagavan, why would sages be interested in, why would sages be interested in activities of some ordinary human beings? Their keen interest is in Keshav, Sri Krsna, His activities along with activities of Balaram. The brother Balaram, the bigger brother Balaram. Jaya Krsna Balaram!!

Krsna become, He became the eighth son of Devaki and Balaram is seventh son of Devaki. Even with Their birth, Balaram was in the womb of Devaki and He is transferred from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s womb. They talk of heart transplantation but they have not talk about womb transplantation. Not necessary transplantation of womb but transferring child from one womb to another womb. So right there is ‘atimartyani’ this is the superhuman activity. They are in one womb and they take birth in another womb. Both are wives of Vasudev, Devaki as well as Rohini and they are wondering, what happen, how come? Rohini’s husband is in the prison and she gets pregnant and she delivers child. There was a big surprise and there was lot of rumors spreading around. Then Srila Vyasdeva and Narada Muni had to appear. They were very much curious to take darshan of Balaram. When they saw Balaram, immediately they bowed down to Balaram and they began offering prayers to Balaram. Later on it was revealed by them that, in fact, this is, He was in the womb of Devaki. And then God transferred for sake of protection, for safety reasons. And there they declared in Mathura, the word spread around as it was a miscarriage, a miscarriage. What happen? What happen to the seventh child? She was pregnant, now we don’t find the child, where is the child? So right there is the human activity, I mean superhuman, ‘atimartyani’ superhuman activity of Balaram. All these arrangements also were made by Lord Sri Krsna in His own abode. Lord had dispatched Yogamaya, ‘you go to Vraja and your task is this, this, this, that, you have to transfer’. And as He gets transferred, He would become known as Sankarsana.

Lord Sri Krsna had already named Balaram as Sankarsana. Yogamaya comes and she has a job description as per job description, she is performing all her activities. Later on, Krsna appears as son of Devaki. Yogamaya was asked to also take birth at the same time at midnight, take birth as the daughter of Yashoda. She is described as Krsna anuja, means another child had taken birth as son of Yashoda and then Yogamaya is taking birth. In fact, two Krishna’s are appearing at the same time, this is also another superhuman. Krsna is appearing as Devika’s son, Devakinandan and He is also appearing as Nandanandan. And Vasudev in prison house of Kamsa, Lord appeared as four-handed form as we read it here in the purport.

Later on, on the request of Devaki, ‘It’s very difficult to hide your Godhood Supreme Personality of Godhead, Godhood. If you have four hands, so could you hide the two hands please?’ Immediately Lord dropped His two hands and He becomes two-handed, ‘dvibhuja’ that is superhuman. Vasudev is very much tied with the shackles and chains. He is hardly able to move and then this little baby Krsna says, ‘could you bring Me to Gokula?’ And Vasudev probably said, ‘what? I cannot even get up, I cannot even move and You want me to bring You to Gokula?’ This must be first thought, ‘but okay if You wish I will do so.’ With that desire as Krsna, the baby Krsna, Bala Krsna was lifted by Vasudev. Immediately the shackles were broken into pieces. Haribol!! That’s another superhuman. The baby Krsna doesn’t have the cutters, the saw or welding, nothing. He is just baby, helpless child and all the shackles are broken into pieces. And this is what happens also as one accepts Krsna. Well or realizes Krsna as He is, Krsna as Supreme Personality of Godhead.

‘janma karma ca me divyam’ (BG 4.9), these sages are taking keen interest in knowing ‘krtavan kila karmani’. And Lord Sri Krsna says in Bhagavad-Gita, this is also season of Bhagavad-Gita jayanti mahotsava ki jaya!! So that Sri Krsna says, ‘janma karma ca me divyam’, My karma, My janma is divya, ‘atimartyani’ and ‘evam yo vetti tattvatah’. Anyone who knows My birth, My activities ‘karmani tattvatah’, what is outcome? ‘tyaktva deham punar janma, naiti mam eti so arjuna’ (BG 4.9). These sages are very much interested in knowing the Lord as He is. They know the science of God. They want to be realized, God realized, self realized. Well, they want to be Krsna realized, Balaram realized. One who realizes Krsna, Balaram and Their activities, Their appearances, ‘tyaktva deham punar janma, naiti’ no more births, no more death, what happens? ‘mam eti, mam eti’ they go. ‘tyaktva deham punar janma na eti, mam eti’ two ‘etis’ are there. ‘punar janma na eti’ they do not attain punar janma, ‘mam eti’, they attain Me. They come where I reside, where does the Lord reside? Goloka Dham, He resides in Goloka. He resides, well in another form resides in Vaikuntha. So they go, who knows whether they go or they don’t go. What is the proof? What is the proof that they go back to Vaikuntha or back to Goloka.

Life of Tukaram is the proof, Haribol!! Which you will see tonight, baap dakhava nahitar sraddha kar (Laughter). We say this in marathi. Show your father otherwise perform sraddha. So many people say, ‘could you show me God? And if you cannot show me, then He doesn’t exist!!’ So like that who has seen people going to God, going to Vaikuntha, show me. So Lord also shows sometimes. Lot of times it happens, aprataksyaha, aparoksyaha, para aksyah, beyond our aksha, beyond our eyes. But in case of Tukaram, there are other examples also, of Ajamila and Dhruva Maharaj and some other examples are there. Right in front of thousands of witnesses, they went back to Godhead as Tukaram did some 400 years ago.

When this ‘Loha gaon’ International Airport, is that the name? That did not even exist and there was no Air India or Air Canada or Air China. Air Vaikuntha (Laughter) appeared right next door from here. And they saw Tukaram boarding the plane and they saw Tukaram went as the whole witnesses, they heard what Tukaram had to say “ ami jato, ami jato amuca gava” Is that the name of the production? jau deva achiya gava, jau devachiya gava. Ami jato amuca gava, jao deva achiya gava, there he says jao deva achiya gava. Let’s all go…. I am going, let’s all go to gaon to the kingdom of Lord, so he went.

So as Vasudev lifted Vasudeva, Sri Krsna, he became freed from all the shackles, all the bonds. So as we accept Krsna within our hearts, He is there within our hearts. Well, we just don’t know Him, we don’t know Him that He is within our heart. So to become Krsna conscious meaning to realize that He may be everywhere, it doesn’t matter. What really matters is for me that He is within me. He is with me, that is more important for me than to know that He is everywhere. Gopis were not interested knowing that Krsna is everywhere. They wanted their Krsna to be with them. When Uddhava was trying to pacify, ‘Krsna is everywhere, Krsna is everywhere’, kan kan mein bhagavan. Gopis were not happy. ‘Oh, we did not know kan kan mein bhagavan, (Laughter), oh, now we know.’ They wanted their Krsna next to them. They wanted to be with the Lord. So when we realized that the Lord is in my heart, Lord is with me and that’s the end of everything. That’s the end of material existence and one goes back to Godhead, back to Krsna.

So then Vasudev took Vasudeva and he, well he doesn’t know what next. He does know that there are so many doors of the prison or gates and they are all closed with big locks. And there are lots of chaukidars with big guns and sticks. How is he going to manage? Does not matter, ‘my son wants me to bring Him to Gokula and that is what I know and I will do it.’ So he has picked up Krsna and he is proceeding. As he comes to the first door, first of all he is noticing that all the extraordinary, the security arrangements; because Kamsa knew that ‘one of these days, one of these days, the eighth child is going to be appearing. He is my killer and before He kills me, I want to kill Him!’. So this is his strategy so he had an extra chaukidars. But what did Vasudev noticed was, they were all fast asleep, uhrrr…..( gurumaharaj making the sound of snoring), all sleeping, okay that’s out of the way. All the security force are out of the way. What about the doors and the locks? As he comes to the door, all the locks are, they are dropped down and door opens automatically.

I had experience of this automatic business. First time I ever went to airport, anyway I don’t tell you all details. In 77 I had to, I was on a special assignment of bringing doctor. Srila Prabhupada’s friend doctor, he used to stay in Allahabad. So Srila Prabhupada sent me to fetch his friend doctor. So thus, that was in November maybe October of ‘77. So I went to Delhi airport with little bag and little card. As I came to the door, so I was approaching the door. I thought I have to open the door, so I parked my trolley and as I moved forward, door opened automatically (Laughter). I was scared, ‘hey! Some ghost here or…'(Laughter). I didn’t even touch the door, it opened automatically. So we are very proud of this automatic business. But we have to admit that we are only imitating 5000 years old system that existed. Automatic, the doors opened, door after door after door and through so many doors. Same thing, doors are opening automatically and there comes Vasudev out of the prison carrying his son Vasudeva.
And there, ‘saha ramena’ who was waiting for Krsna. Who was waiting for Keshava was Balaram. Balaram was waiting for Sri Krsna. In another form, Sankarsana form, Sheshnaga, Ananta Sheshnaga form to serve, to protect His younger brother. So that was the first meeting between these two brothers ‘saha ramena’. And from now on, for next 125 years, They are going to be always together. Most of the time, They are together and whenever They are not together, there are also instances when Balaram is not with Sri Krsna, Krsna gets into trouble. Some sort of troubles He gets into, when that ha “baandha ukhaddhala yala baandha ukhaddhala” (Marathi) ukhala bandhan lila took place, Yashoda tying Krsna to the mortar, Balaram was out of station (Laughter). As He returned, He saw His brother tied to the mortar, He cannot even move and Balaram became very furious. ‘Who has done this? Who is it, who is it?’
Kalia- Krsna, when Krsna was caught in the coils of Kalia and the news spread all over Nandagram. ‘Oh, but Balaram is here’, and they are noticing, ‘Oh! For sure because Balaram is not there, Krsna must be in some big trouble’. They were seeing some bad omens, so many symptoms, some trouble is awaiting us. What does this mean? What does this mean? And Balaram is not with Krsna for sure. He must be in some trouble and then they come looking for, where is Krsna, where is Krsna and they found Krsna caught up in the coils, tight coils of Kalia. The day Krsna’s friends and Krsna friends’ calves, calves- plural of calf were stolen. That day also Balaram was not there, again trouble. There was a trouble for He lost all His friends. Brahma stole all the friends of Krsna. Brahma stole all the calves of Krsna and His friends’ calves also. Much later, 360 days had passed, only 5, 6 days to go for completion of one year period. Then Balaram realized, He could not even realize, there was some ‘atimartyani’ some extraordinary activities were going on. Even Balaram could not understand what was going on there. Krsna had to, ‘hey come here come here, that day you were not there and this happened. You know Brahma….’ ‘And all this friends, who are these friends?’ This is Me. (Laughter) What could I have done? Was not possible for Me to return by Myself. There could have been so many inquiries. ‘Where is my, where is your this friend and where is my son and where is….and I also had to become the calves and…

The show went on for almost one year ‘atimartyani’. Every child, every child, son of Vraja was Sri Krsna. Every calf in every goshala, calves were Sri Krsna. The Lord is acting like an ordinary son or ordinary child.
Well, this is extraordinary that every boy, young boy in Vraja is Sri Krsna. Because all the mothers, elderly gopis want Krsna as their son. They want Krsna like son but there is no one else like Krsna and knowing their desires, Krsna becomes their son. The cows also are not interested that their milk, the milking happens and then into the pot and the boiling the milk and this spoon feeding. He is fed with that milk, He drinks the milk. Those cows were wondering, ‘could He not drink our milk the way our calves drink? Why can’t He come to goshala and drink directly from our udders? Will this ever happen?’ This was the desire of the cows and that was the desire of the mothers. Knowing this, what kind of pastime is being performed here. Indra is made instrument, ‘nimitra matram’, he has this idea of stealing. And he has reason for that stealing of friends and the calves. Then Krsna will be able to display this very ‘atimartyani’, very extraordinary pastime that every boy, every calf in Vraja is Sri Krsna.
Then what happens, you know what happens? You don’t know? Every day they are realizing more and more that this son of theirs, they were thinking this is our son. And this is son of that neighboring gopi and that son is another gopi’s son and that is Yashoda’s son. Gradually gradually gradually, this thought of ‘this is my son and this is someone else’s son and this is Yashoda’s son’, this thought started disappearing. With the every passing of the day and night, they were realizing more and more and more and more and the day was there. They saw my son, this lady’s son, that lady’s son. Yashoda’s son, they are one and the same! And they were one and the same! This is ‘atimartyani’. Each one of that boy was sacitananda vigraha. Although they were looking like boys, same boys, same complexions, same likes and dislikes, same heights, same 50kgs, not that too much may be for the boys (Laughter). But these days boys are 50 kgs or…. so all those differences were taken into account. And Krsna not only becomes looking like them but the mind and intelligence and their whole attitude and all their behavioral changes or differences, Krsna managed exhibiting all that for entire one year. Balaram ‘saha ramena kesavah’, then Lord Krsna Keshava disclosed this to Rama. ‘This is the matter brother, now you understand?’ ‘Yes yes, now I understand…’
So that Balaram was there to greet Sri Krsna and He was the first one to greet just outside the prison of Kamsa. Then he is going through Mathura town. What time was the night Vasudev going through the town? After midnight after sometime, prayers took some fifteen minutes (Laughter). The door after door, another twenty minutes and so they may be around 1 o’clock. 1 A.M He is going through Mathura town. Well this is Krsna Janmasthami talk, the moon that night asthami’s moon is supposed to be half moon. You could imagine right? That night, asthami night, Krsna paksha, asthami, moon rising is at midnight and moon rises half moon. But that night, the moon was delighted. ‘Oh! Lord has taken birth in my dynasty! He is becoming Chandravamsi Sri Krsna ki jaya!! Chandravamsi. He is Chandra, My Lord is Chandravamsi.’ He became so happy. He became so delighted, his face lit up

So that night at midnight, this never happened before, will never happen again. The full moon, moon rising was full moon. This is also not ordinary happening and then…. So some moon shine is there not much. So hidingly, Vasudev is hidingly going through Mathura town. He is very much scared of someone, someone reporting to Kamsa. Someone giving news of him carrying the baby Krsna across or to Yamuna and then towards to Gokula. So another arrangement we hear that all the dogs are fast asleep. So how does that help? Imagine if the dogs were not sleeping, what would they do? Their business is to bark and if they would bark, for sure so many and sometimes pack of dogs, so many gather together and they bark. They could have woken up people and someone noticing through the door. Hey look! Who is it? Who is it? Vasudev and immediately they would do mobileing (Laughter). Mobile, mobile Kamsa and Kamsa would run after…. So in order to avoid that, all the dogs made to sleep.

I mean, just see Lord is in the hands of Vasudev. He is acting ‘gudhah kapata-manusah.’ He is putting that show. He is wearing that mask and acting like ‘manusah’, some ordinary child, ordinary being, human being. So He is there in the hands. He is not able to even walk by Himself but He is able to put all the dogs to sleep and He gives impression, ‘I have nothing…no it’s not Me. It’s the dogs are sleeping. It is their choice’ (Laughter). As if He is neutral, as if He has nothing to do with it. But this is how the Lord acts.

‘yoga-maya samavritah, naham prakasah sarvasya, yoga-maya samavritah’ (BG 7.25)

I cover Myself with yoga maya or He acts through His so many energies and then declares, ‘mayadhyaksena prakrtih, suyate sa-caracaram’ (B.G 9.10). “I am ‘adhyaksh’, I am superintendent. Not even blade of grass moves without My sanction.” If there is anyone who could make such claim? That is Lord, thats Lord. But He is just in the hands of Vasudev and He makes a show that He has nothing to do whatever is happening around. So then he comes to…Vasudev comes to the banks of Yamuna. And it’s a rainy season in the month of Shravan Bhadrapada. This is varsha ritu, so rains and floods and the river is flooded. Yamuna is flooded and Vasudev is on the bank of that kind of Yamuna. ‘Now what happen, I am not a mystic yogi to walk on the water. I wish I was but I don’t have such feat.’ But he carries on; his mind is fixed on the mission. What is his mission? The child said. What did the child say? ‘Bring Me to Gokula.’ That all he knows that, ‘ I have to bring my child to Gokula for the safety reasons.’ So he is doing that.
So as he is on the banks of Yamuna and Yamuna has immediately taken note. Oh ! Yamuna knows that Vasudev is carrying the child and that child is not ordinary child. That child could not hide Himself from the vision of Yamuna like personality. Yamuna is not just Yamuna jal, just Yamuna water. Yamuna is a person. Yamuna is a personality and so is Sarasvati and so is Ganga and other rivers also. Just last night we were talking about bhagavat katha. Bhagavat katha was taking place once on the banks of Ganga. And four Kumaras were reciting Bhagavatam and in the assembly all the rivers were sitting. All the rivers had taken seat, not that there was a pond. Where is, which is this pond? (Laughter). No, she was Yamuna, she had an asana. She was sitting on an asana and Sarasvati was sitting on another asana and another river. Not only the rivers, all the dhamas, all the tirthas, they are also persons. They had taken their seats.

All the seventeen Puranas had come and taken their seats. 17 Puranas were hearing Bhagavat purana, this is beyond us, this is acintya. This is something that we do not see. Lots of things we do not see, limitations. So Yamuna has taken note, He is not ordinary child. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and she immediately remembered that Supreme Personality of Godhead. Once He was at Rameshwaram on the banks of Indian Ocean. And He wanted to cross Indian Ocean to reach Lanka. That ocean was taking a little extra time, was not cooperative. Not prompt in coming forward and giving all his extends all the cooperation. Then Sri Rama, He got up with His bow and arrow. He was furious and with that there was the whole ocean was shaking up like a tsunami and all the creatures in that ocean were struggling, suffocating. ‘ Sri Rama has now come as Sri Krsna and His goal is also to cross, go across as Rama wanted to go across Indian ocean. This Krsna wants to go across my water Yamuna. And if I delay, He could do something very similar (Laughter) what He did to Indian ocean. I better help Him out! not protest or ignore or delay.’ So that was one thought, Yamuna was thinking like this. Yamuna knew this Rama’s pastime, she remembered that. She also remembered that, ‘when He grows up, ends up in Dwarka and as He would be looking for right match, marriageable age, I am supposed to be one of His wives. So if I do not cooperate, help Him out, when there will be time of the match, He would be remembering me. And that would not be in my favor, so this was another reason. Some acharyas are giving these commentaries. So thinking thus, Yamuna extended all the helping hand, all the cooperation.
So Vasudev was carrying Vaasudeva and entered water of Yamuna. Water was knee deep and waist deep and chest deep and He was trying to make sure that Krsna does not drown. At some point he noticed, the water was rising, Yamuna water was rising. And Yamuna’s goal was just to touch, just to touch the lotus feet of baby Krsna and then she would cleared the path. So this is what happened. Yamuna touched the lotus feet of Sri Krsna ki jaya!! Then she became ecstatic, happy. Then Vasudev was able to cross Yamuna. Well, this is ‘atimartyani’ also. Going across Yamuna, the way he managed doing and now he was on eastern bank of Yamuna on the way to Gokula. What time is it now? How much time crossing Mathura? Half an hour crossing Yamuna, another 15 minutes. It was like a two o’clock in the morning around that. Vasudev is now going towards Gokula, Gokula is some distance.

Here Vasudev’s Vaasudeva consciousness, Vasudev’s Krsna consciousness is visible, noticeable, his emotions, his feelings. So as he is carrying baby Krsna, sometimes he is going faster. Sometimes he is going faster thinking, ‘I better rush and bring the child to Gokula and leave Him there before Kamsa. If he somehow, he finds out, he may rush. He may try to catch up with me.’ So to avoid that, Vasudev is rushing, going faster. But the next moment he thinks, ‘but if I go with this speed, I’ll be in Gokula very soon. Then what will happen? I’ll have to leave the child there. I will be bereft of the child’s association and the transcendental touch that I have with the child. So I better take some extra time so that He will be longer with me.’ With this thought, then Vasudev would slow down. Sometimes he is in slow slow….. motion picture, that is slow motion. ‘But if I go slow like this, Kamsa may come and he begins running. But if I run like this, I’ll be in Gokula very soon. I will lose the child’s association.’ Then slowing down, going faster, slow fast, slow fast. He is going through different gears between eastern bank of Yamuna and Gokula.

Then finally, he has reached Gokula, big palace of Nanda Maharaj. And he has finally entered that chamber, that quarter where Yashoda had given birth to baby daughter. That was, Yogamaya was ordered to do so. So Yogamaya has taken birth as daughter of Yashoda. But there is a confidentially something that also had happened. Yashoda had also given birth to son. She gave birth to two children, one son followed by a daughter. So Vasudev took the daughter away leaving his son there and then what happen? The two Krsnas here, don’t tell anybody okay (Laughter). This is very confidential, it’s not common knowledge. Probably we have heard it before. There was a time also I have not heard. This is the fact of having two Krsnas. Then Krsna from Mathura- Vasudeva Krsna enters Vrndavana Krsna, Nandananda Krsna and two Krsnas become? Two Krsnas become one Krsna. Isn’t that ‘atimartyani’ also, isn’t that also very superhuman?

Could Radheyshyam merge with another boy and then….(Laughter). Krsna was one when Brahma stole all the friends. Immediately or very soon, as many friends were there, He expanded. For one year He was like that. When Brahma returned His original friends and they were sitting in the same place for lunch. In the same spot, each boy had a spot. The spot they had year ago, when they returned they were sitting in the same place. Krishna is returning after one year and meeting His friends. And His friends, ‘oh! You are so fast. We have not finished even our lunch.’ Although one year had passed, one year they were not there. In the middle of their lunch, on the bank of Yamuna Krsna said, ‘No, I’ll go and find the calves. You enjoy your lunch.

So He has returned after one year. So that time, they were as many friends, those many Krsnas were there and He had again wound up. From one He had become many and from many He had become again one Krsna. Krsna returned and when He returned, the dadhi bhatt. Because He had left in the middle of His lunch, He had not even washed His hands. After one year as He returns, His hand is wet. All the kheer and all the pickles he was holding between the fingers, they are still there as they were before one year ago. Then their lunch is over, some more pastimes and then they are returning to their respective homes.

Each home there is this talk of killing of Aghasura. Every home, the pastime of Krsna is being narrated. Every boy, he had seen all day, what he had seen, he shared. ‘Hey daddy, come here come here. Mummy! stop, come.’ And he is making the daddy and mummy sitting. Children are giving narration, Bhagavat katha (Laughter).’ Listen to this!’ So this is how the Krishna’s pastimes, their song they recited, remembered. This is how they spread all over Vraja. When of course, Pariksit heard this, ‘how come something that happen when Krsna was aged five, that became known when He became pauganda. He became six years old. How come this?’ So the pastimes that took place before lunch, year ago was narrated, shared by the friends year later.

So Balaram, we did not say much about Balaram. Balaram is always with Sri Krsna and Their activities. Whether stealing butter or Balaram is also part of that pastime. Calves herding pastimes, cows herding pastimes, Krsna and Balaram together. So after Gokula, They go to Vrndavana. When They are both ten eleven years old, They both together go to Mathura. They both together are wrestling with those giant wrestlers. Chanur was killed by Krsna and Mustik was killed by Balaram. There are five of them, two were killed by Balaram. Three were killed by Sri Krsna. Kamsa was killed by Krsna and Kamsa had eight brothers, Kanka and others. As they came forward, Balaram ..dishoom…. and He gave a boxing and….So They were sharing. ‘vinasaya ca duskrtam'(BG 4.8). Two brothers, so together They were sharing the task. And then They both had met Vasudev and Devaki. Then They both had gone to Sandipani muni’s ashram. They are both disciples of Sandipani muni. And They both had gone to find the son of Sandipani muni, Prabhasksetra. Then They both had to go to Samyamani, the abode of Yamaraj. They both returned to Avantipur where They were doing studies. They both returned there to Mathura.

By that time Jarasandha had come and They were both battling with Jarasandha together seventeen times. Eighteenth time, They both fled. They left Mathura and went to Dwarka. Then it was only Krsna, He came to Kaundinyapur alone. Next morning when Balaram woke up and realized, ‘oh! where is Krsna?’ And then, ‘ oh, He must have gone there to Kaundinyapur, Rukmini’s birthplace.’ Then Balaram rushed and caught up with Sri Krsna. So They were together in Kaundinyapur battling with Rukmi and others. And They both had returned to Dwarka and They are together of course. Balaram was married. His elder brother, His marriage has taken place first. And then Sri Krsna was married and They both are staying together.

Only Balaram goes to Vrndavana, Krsna stays behind, He was kept behind. Thinking if we send both of Them, then what is the guarantee of Them coming back. Let’s keep one of Them here. So they kept Krsna in Dwarka and let Balaram go. Then Balaram returned again. And like that in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, only Krsna was there. Balaram refused to take part in battle. He went on a tour of Bharat varsa for They were not together that time. Like that there are many pastimes They are together. The time of the marriage of Subhadra, there are differences of opinion between the brothers. They always do not agree, They agree to disagree with each other. So at time of marriage of Subhadra, one brother is in favor, one brother is not in favor of marriage and like that. Finally They are at Prabhasksetra and I think Balaram is the first one to wind up His pastimes. Some 125 years have passed and time to put a curtain on the pastimes, close the pastimes Nitya lila pastimes. So Balaram leaves and then soon Sri Krsna follows back to Goloka- ‘goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma bhutah’ (Bs 5.37). And then They continue their pastimes. So like that..

“krtavan kila karmani saha ramena kesavah
atimartyani bhagavan gudhah kapata-manusah” (SB 1.1.20)

Lord Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarama, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts.
‘nato natya-dharo yatha’ (SB 1.8.19) as Kunti Maharani prays ‘nato natya-dharo yatha’. Just like a nata, the actor he performs so many different acts. One person but he is in this film role and same person plays another role. You don’t even recognize him. Good actors are not recognized. You take some time you are half way and the you realize ‘oh! he is that actor, I didn’t know he is the same actor’. Or sometimes they play double roles also, they play two roles. Kunti Maharani as He is, nata, ‘nato natya-dharo yatha‘, making You, knowing You becomes more tough, more difficult. ‘Oh My Lord, so please reveal.’

So the sages were very much interested in this topic of Sri Krsna along with Balaram. Only ‘saha ramena’ is said but they could have said ‘saha radhaya saha’, ‘mitrena saha’, with the cows, with the friends, with the parents, with so many. Its Krsna, when it comes to performing pastimes, He needs others for dealings. So there are so many dealings and in those dealings, there are so many devotees. So there is so much variety also in those dealings, flavors in those dealings, different rasas in those dealings. So its a big subject matter. Thus, the sages are asking only six questions in this first chapter of the first canto of Bhagavatam. So based on those six or answers to these six questions is entire Bhagavatam. So the question is also in code language. Question is brief while answer is long answer. The speaker knows that this person wants to know this also, that also, that also. Or if I stop, saying something briefly, he is going to ask me another question. So before even he asks another question, I better give a longer answer. Lesser questions, more answers. Otherwise, more he is going to ask, what about this? what about that?…Okay so we could stop there. So any questions, comments anyone has?

Devotee (1): Hare Krsna Maharaj I wanted to ask, why Balaramji sided with Duryodhana?
Gurumaharaj: You are not happy? (laughter). That’s special relationship and They are brothers, that’s one thing. They are both, They are family members. They are both Kurus. ‘pasyaitan samavetan kurun’ (BG 1.25). Lord krsna says, “oh you wanted to see who has come, assemble here for battling? Please take note. You are kuru, they are also kurus” so same family”. But Duryodhana also had a special soft corner for Balaram. He was like a disciple or student of Balaram. Balaram is very expert in the club, this whole kala, whole art that comes with; how to use the club. One time Balaram was in Mithila. Both Krsna and Balaram had gone to Mithila in search of this Syamantaka mani. So they did not find Satadhanva, They were chasing after and he was killed. So Krsna returned to Dwarka. Balaram stayed on and Duryodhana was taking lessons, taking association of Balaram and taking lessons from Balaram. I Am sure there are many other instances how they were associating together and they had a very sweet relationship. That’s why Balaram choose not to be part of that Kurukshetra battle. That meant battling against Duryodhana. So He chooses pilgrimage, so They are two brothers, slightly different. Not exactly just copy or duplicate of two persons. They exhibit different mellows, different relationships.

Devotee(2): I request, can you please sing ‘sundar te dyana ubhe vitevari’?
Gurumaharaj: I think tonight this will come up. Sure this song is part of ‘jao deva achiya gava’, is it okay? You hear that tonight if you get the pass, one who is asking this question. It’s not a free, probably you have to pay some entrance fee. So it’s not a free song (Laughter). You have to pay some..
Devotee(3): In the song ‘ei baro karuna koro vaisnava gosai’, there is a line ‘darsane pavitra koro-ei tomara gun’. So can you please explain whether it means seen by pure devotee or even conditioned soul sees the pure devotee and he gets purified. Because in the first case if only by pure devotee’s glance conditioned soul will be purified. Then the chances of purification of the conditioned souls are less.
Gurumaharaj: In the beginning of the Bhagavatam, it says. The reciters of the Bhagavatam, the listener of the Bhagavatam and one who asks questions, one who inquires, one who gives answer, one who hears; they are all purified.

Like Ganga purifies residence of three lokas- svarga, mrityu loka, patala. There is a patala Ganga. So svarga Ganga, Ganga is here. So seeing a sadhu, ‘darsane pavitra koro ei tomara gun’. I would just say that, well we have to understand what this darshan is. A lot of time saying, ‘oh I am going for darshan of this maharaj or that maharaj or that sadhu or that saint. I am going for darshan. So darshan, what is darshan? Seeing is darshan but is that seeing just the seeing the sadhu or how is he looking like? When someone came to see sadhu and he was giving a talk. And the sadhu had a big beard and he was shaking. One person in the audience was very jubilant to see whenever the shaking of the beard took place. When he was inquired, ‘why are you so happy?’ And he said, ‘as your beard shakes, I am reminded of my goat! (laughter) when my goat walks. Sometimes goat has little beard like hair hanging. They shake also, I am happy, I am reminded of my goat. So it could be just physical seeing. Darshan, you will give me Krsna.

‘dhai tava pache pache, ami to kangala krsna krsna boli dhai tava pache pache’.
‘krsna se tomara, krsna dite paro tomara sakati ache’.

I am running after you or I have come to you for your darshan. Because I know, you are competent to give me Krsna. You have Krsna and you could give that Krsna to me. So how does sadhu give Krsna? He talks about Krsna. He shares his realizations of Krsna. That is how Krsna is transferred from person to person. Someone has Krsna and he talks about Krsna. He describes Krsna and sings glories of Krsna. Then that Krsna is transplanted from heart to heart. Then other person gets Krsna, to know Krsna, follow Krsna or follow the process that will help one realize Krsna. So more important than just seeing is hearing sadhu and this is darshan. Darshan is what he is showing you. With this torchlight of knowledge, he shows you. He gives eyes to see. ‘caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-guruve namah’. ‘caksur unmilitam’, he opens your eyes and he gives you right kind of vision eyes so that you could see. So that is real darshan. That is darshan.

One time Bhaktisiddhanta he was giving a talk to some group of disciples. And one of the disciples, follower went away and returned after some time. So Bhaktisiddhanta, ‘where did you go?’ ‘Guru maharaj, I went for darshan of the deities’. Bhaktisiddhanta was not pleased with this response. He said,’ I was here to give you eyes to see so that you could see the Lord. And you preferred to see Lord on your own and you went to see the deity?’ Then he inquired, ‘so how was your, dear disciple, how was your eyes exercise? You went?’ Yes I went. ‘What did you do, you opened your eyes?’ Yes I opened. Closed, yes close. ‘Open close, open close, so how was your eyes exercise?’ So that seeing without knowledge, without direction, without whole process which we learn from sadhu or saint. Or when we take darshan from without hearing and guidance, you won’t see much. So, anyways there is a big pile of questions here.
Devotee(4): Will you tell, although Krsna performs really so many superhuman activities, still attraction is not there. Whereas other many common man does something, I get attracted to him.

Gurumaharaj: Yes, this is conditioning. We are conditioned to hear about mundane people, mundane activities, ordinary activities of ordinary people. So we have to get rid of this and by hearing and hearing and hearing. One time someone asked. ‘How do I become addicted to the chanting of the holy name?’ You understand addiction? Addiction to chanting. Then Prabhupada said,’ how does one become drug addict?’ How does become addicted to the drugs or drinking addiction? Initially you may not even interested. Then, reluctantly you drink. And another time and another time and another time and then time comes you cannot leave without it. You have become now drug addict or this addict that addict. So he said, chanting is also like that. Or hearing about Krsna and then eventually get attracted to Krsna is also like that. You hear once, you hear twice, you hear and you hear and you hear hear hear hear. For sure, if you are a soul (laughter). If you are a soul and this whole process of…There is also difference between hearing and hearing. If you adore shradha, beginning with the faith. ‘shraddha van labhate jnanam’ (BG 4.39). Krsna says in Bhagavad-Gita, ‘shraddha van labhate jnanam’. If you hear with shraddha, you will acquire knowledge, realize Krsna. You will get attracted to Krsna. ‘samsayatma vinasyati'(BG 4.40), but if you have doubt and questions, then ‘vinasyati’. You will not get attracted. You will remain what you are. Keep hearing the jaundice, Prabhupada gave that example. Chanting and chanting but no attraction. There is nothing else, there is no other solution. The jaundice, I have jaundice, so what is the cure? The sugar candy is the cure. And I tried to taste the sugar candy. How does it taste like? Very bitter.

So one may go to the doctor, ‘oh, that sugar candy is so bitter. Is there any other medicine?’ No other medicine. You want to be cured, then go on eating, go on eating. So as one follows that prescription, he eats. He is cured, he eats more, he is cured more. He eats, he cured more. Each time he eats, he also begins tasting the sweetness of the sugar candy. Then time comes when he is completely cured.. Then he demand, ‘is there more sugar candy? No no, do get it.’ Someone say, ‘it’s out of stock, finished’. No, go buy more. So he was saying, ‘no sugar candy is so bitter, how could….’. Likewise Krsna – His superhuman activity – no attraction ..Well, go on hearing, go on chanting, go on. Of course association of devotees, go on honoring prasadam. That’s the whole process, whole package.
Devotee 5 : Why we don’t discuss the disappearance pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna in detail. What is the specific reason?
Gurumaharaj: We do, that is also part of the Bhagavatam. 11th canto, there is a description how Lord…Well first all His associates, He made them disappeared by killing each other. When they were sent away or sent back, then there is a description. How He was sitting on the bank of Sarasvati. The way He was sitting, where, His thigh, right thigh on like that one of those. His four-handed is leaning against young banyan tree. Then the hunter, he thought that must be deer and shooting. Then he comes forward then the hunter begs for forgiveness. Finally Lord departs. Well yes, so both are there. The janma is always…of course there is no death. When we went in ’78 to Prabhasksetra, the exact spot where Krsna sat on the bank of Sarasvati. That place is there even now.
It was there in ’78 and is there for past 5000 years ago. So we read the sign that said ‘God died here’. I was travelling with another of my godbrother. He was from England, Ravi and he couldn’t stand. When he read the sign, he said, ‘Who is it? Who made this sign?’ He was trying to get into some ashram around there to find out who has committed this offence, calling that ‘Lord died here.’ Because Lord never dies. That was out of ignorance. So there is nothing like janma and mrityu. Lord’s appearance is transcendental. Lord’s disappearance is also transcendental. So we may not always dwell so much on the disappearance part because then one may feel separation. Oh, Lord left the abode, Lord left, Lord left. Then one may miss Him. So I mean not to become emotional and feeling vacant without him. Knowing that He departed, He left the world, He disappeared. So we talk little less and more of janma but not that we don’t know. Sukadeva Goswami has described appearance of the Lord and he has also described disappearance of the Lord.

Devotee(6): If the pastime of the Lord and the concept of the duality of soul and super soul is so dear. Then why there are so serious followers of advaita, who study same scripture but totally different philosophy.
Gurumaharaj: Well advaita is, you know dvaita and advaita. We are, this is dvaita, advaita, dvaita, vaishistadvaita are technically different names. Basically the vaisnavas and mayavadis or nirakarvadis and sakarvadis. They have existed simultaneously from the beginning or always. Lord appears in three features.
‘brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabyate’ (SB 1.2.11).

He appears as Brahman, all pervading Brahman. He appears as localized super soul and He appears as Supreme Personality of Godhead. So some realize that impersonal Brahman and think this is it. I have realized everything. But this is blunder on their part. If they, ‘could I have realized this much Lord. Maybe there is more to know.’ So if they keep making progress, they know the super soul, they know the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That’s the way to do it. But some get stuck with the Brahman and then they are convinced like that. That is their misfortune but we know many examples also. Four Kumaras were impersonalist initially and then they come to Visnu temple. At the entrance they stood, they smell the nice fragrance incense and the flower and tulasi. Just by smelling that fragrance coming from the Personality of God. Or lotus feet of God, their all impersonalism was finished. Well our Sukadeva Goswami, he was kind of satisfied being advaita vadi, being impersonalist. As the result, he stayed in the womb for, how many years? 16 years as you chant 16 rounds. 16 years and then, “I am happy here. I don’t want to be troubled by the ‘brahma satya jagat mitya’. Or as impersonalist of Benaras, they say that.

“kaupinvantah khalu bhagyavanta
Vedanta vakyesu sada ramantah” (Sripada Sankaracarya).

We study Vedanta and they find their impersonal Brahman there. Oh! We are so fortunate, we are so fortunate, we are renounced. They are great renunciates, they are vairagis. So they like ‘kalau bhagyavanta, kaupin’. All that we need is ‘kaupinvantah, kaupin..’ ‘kaupinvanta khalu bhagyavanta, Vedanta vakyesu sada ramantah’. We are just happy with this Vedanta and impersonal – ‘aham brahmasmi, aham brahmasmi’. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in Benaras and everywhere Caitanya brahma. All these mantra were being chanted, surcharged all that atmosphere with that. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu starts there….

“Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”

So one mantra is Hare Krsna, talks of Personality of Godhead. He has name also and qualities. ‘aham brahmasmi’, Brahman that is effulgence coming from this Maha mantra, coming from person. So Hare Krsna or Krsna is complete. Krsna means super soul also. Krsna also meaning Brahman, inclusive. But some goes for just one aspect and stuck and the like the jnana yoga and karma yoga, astanga yoga, bhakti yoga.
Some think the jnana yoga is complete in itself. Some remain karma yogis, some astanga yogis. But in fact they should, if they keep making progress, karma yogi, jnana yogi, astanga and come to the platform of bhakti yogis. Then they could become bhakti yogis from beginning to end. Some stops somewhere, some ladders, some level and jump to conclusion. Yes, this is it, we got it, we got it. It’s here, we realized it, but if they have patience, if they come in contact with vaisnavas, then they will make further progress. And we have seen that. We have seen impersonalist becoming personalist. But we don’t find any example in Bhagavatam of personalist becoming impersonalist. It is only one way tract.

[Devotee (7) asking question in Marathi and Gurumaharaj giving answer in Marathi]- Maharaj please tell any incident or pastime between you and Srila Prabhuapada.
Maharaj: There are many I have written a book you can read the book. I met Prabhupada in the year 1972, I had first seen in him on stage giving lectures but had never met him personally. In 1972 when we went all brahamacaris of Mumbai to Vrindavan in Kartik. Prabhupada was residing at Radha Damodhar temple, so we went to Radha Damodhar temple took darshan and we were searching Prabhupada . There was a small room where Prabhupada was staying, when we 10-15 devotees entered the room it was houseful. So Prabhupada was staying in such a small room like Goswamis. While going from Matura to Vrindavan we had seen the sunrise. Our leader Panchadravida prabhu started glorifying Prabhupada.
He said –“Prabhupada you are brilliant as the sun” when we meet our spiritual master we should glorify our spiritual master. Then after that Prabhupada was looking at us and listening to our report s of -book distribution, construction… when Prabhupada was looking at us it was like a camera – he was scanning us. When my turn Prabhupada’s glance would stop at me then again he would look at all of us. Next time again his glance stooped at me. That time I was thinking what is so special in me that Prabhupada is stoping at me (Laughter) either I have not put tilak or my button is broken (Laughter). I was thinking like that but I could not come to the conclusion why Prabhupada is stopping at me. Then Prabhupada said “Stop it” then I understood what I needed to stop. In those days I had a habit of shaking my thigh while listening, I was listening but was not aware that I was continuously shaking my thigh (Laughter). Then Prabhuapada said “Stop it”. Prabhupada said “stop it” since then its stopped (L aughter). Only when I have to demonstrate how I did it, I shake my thigh not otherwise. This is Prabhupada’s first order to me.
There are Vidhi- Do’s and Nished – Don’t, do this –don’t do this, so by this instruction Prabhupada told me to stop many things and then in 1972 in Radha Damodhar temple in kartik I got initiated and Prabhupada told me to chant Hare Krishna and what to stop he had already told.
So we stop.
His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj ki jaya!!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!!

Second session
Jai Sri ….Ram bhakta Hanuman
Welcome everybody to the second session of Rama katha….Ramayan
“Sri ramah sharanam samasta jagatam, ramam vina ka gatih
ramena pratihanyate kalimalam ramaya karyam namah
ramatrasyati kal bhima bhujago ramasya sarvam vase
rame bhakir akhandita bhavatume Rama tvameva ashrayah”
That’s the prayer at the lotus feet of Sri Rama, at the very beginning of Ramayan mahatmya. “Sri ramah sharanam samasta jagatam” Sri Rama is shelter for the whole world. ‘Ramam vina ka gatih’ The Question has been raised is there any other destination for human beings other then Sri Ram? Ram is all in all and the goal of humanity at large. Ramena pratihanyate kalimalam- Rama is a destroyer of kali-mal anything that is inauspicious, mal – that is dirty is destroyed by Sri Rama. Ramaya karyam namah- until such Rama and His pastimes and His personality I offer my obsceneness. Ramatrasyati kal bhima bhujago- Even the kal personified, he is scared, he is afraid of Sri Rama. Bhujaga- yes when kal becomes serpent then he is ready to; not anyone here but ready to gobble up that kal sarpa, kal taking the form of a serpent and kal is scared afraid of Sri Rama “Ramasya sarvam vase”- Everything is under the control of Sri Rama.
“Rame bhakir akhandita bhavatume” – and I pray for uninterrupted devotion and devotional service unto Sri Rama. “Rama tvameva ashrayah”- Rama O’Lord Sri Rama You are the only shelter for me, the beauty is all the vibhakties have been used here prathama to saptami to sambodhan made that into prayer. Sri Ramah, Ramam, Ramena, Ramaya, Ramat, Ramashya, Rame, hey Rama. Different cases they call cases- vibhakti each one gets the prayer and the glory of Sri Rama….Jai Sri Rama.
We have only three days we have only two days we have only one and a half day as I am looking at the watch here the clock here. We don’t even have whole day one or one and a half day, I wish we had all the time just to do this and what about the duty? What about the duty? Is that the beauty? We have no other duty? We have no other duty this is the best one final and constitutional duty. Go get a job when we chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna on the streets of New York, New jersey, or wherever Atlanta or Toronto or Tokyo sometimes people say – go get a job and then Hare Krishna’s says we are on a job, this our job, this is the job, we are the bodies and with body comes other things and so there is no end and we stay busy 24 hours a day. Seven days a week and four weeks in a month and twelve months in a year and all the years of our life, I have duty, I have duty to perform. If we are souls, yes are we all soul? We have souls or you also have souls? It’s nice; can we live just as a soul? Or do we need body? Do we need body? Is it possible to survive, exist without the body? Just imagine for a moment, not possible. That mataji is thinking, she is convinced, you won’t survive (laughs) it is required to be on this earth, do we have to be on this earth? Yeah do, does it need a body? I didn’t say to be on the earth or because you all thinking of the earth, yes we could, we could adjust without the body. Some devotees have already demonstrated that, almost 24 hours Haridas Thakura is chanting “Hare Kishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare” and it was almost like body doesn’t exist for them. They are very close to that existence without the body that there would be not need of the body. But we have the body but some time we just become the bodies also and we do not take in to consideration that we are the soul and we simply keep taking care of the body or bodies of others ignoring forgetting the soul all together. So more we could take care of ourselves, take care of yourself, how many time you have heard this mantra, take Care, take Care of yourself, either take care or take care of yourself but what ids that self? Soul, soul is that self, so to take care of that soul or self we have assembled here to feed that self to nourish that self, to make that self healthy, make our atmas mahatmas or parmatma also, could we make our atma into parmatma? Now you know that mahatma, mahatma is what? Only when you wear saffron cloth like Ekalavya prabhu then your mahatma or could child be also mahatma? Mahatma Child, mahatma lady. There is nothing to do with what colour of cloth you wearing.

“mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prak?tim asritha
bhajanty ananya-manaso jnatva bhutadim avyayam” (B.G 9.13)

Meaning- Anyone who has taken shelter of davi prakriti- of the Lord, that person is mahatma, so anyone who chants “Hare Kishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare” that’s mahatma. Anyone who listens to Krishna, to Sri Rama, that person is mahatma or he is becoming, becoming one as he is chanting and hearing, feeding the soul, he is growing. His health is getting better all the time. You won’t be the same what you were at the beginning, what you were at 6:30 and by 9 o’clock you already have become bigger size mahatma you do not sleep. So when we are connected with parmatma we become mahatma even that flow, Rama flows in our direction in the form of His holy name in the form of His pastimes, His form, His abode, He is a current, He is a flow of spiritual energy and the nourishment, the tonic and we become healthy normal size.
So the Lord Rama along with Sita and Laxman they are already in the forest on exile and ready to be there in the forest for 14 years as vanvasis literally like one of the resident of forest. Depending on natural resources and no pillow, arms are the pillows, no dunlop mattresses just soft grass if it is available soft if not then whatever kind of dry grass or no grass, whatever kinds of fruits or leaves or dry leaves, the barks are clothing and plenty of water, crystal clear water as pure as the purified mind of the sages. This is the description we find in sashtra. It says water is as clear as the clear mind of the saintly person, you don’t need water purifying plant just purify the mind. If we all purify the mind we could shut or close those water purifying plant, right, did u get that? Is everything we are asking Rama Chandra prabhu. There something was making noise in the kitchen I asked what is this sound, said pot washing or dish washing or there is some cloth washing machine, dish washing machine I said where is mind washing, is there something mind washing machine also? And if there was something to wash the mind then job is done, life could be so simple, and natural close to nature close to God. So Sri Rama was leading that kind of simple living and high thinking. And what are we doing? Living is very high and thinking is low or no? There is also difference. When you say just do it, means no thinking, just do it, don’t even think. If you feel good, do it, just do it. So that’s why we are studying Ramayan here.
The best example of simple living high thinking, we need Ramayan and Rama now than ever before and Rama is available His examples, His ideal is here for us to follow. Then we become better human beings, better character and what not all the good qualities generous we become, friendly we become and what not we become, clean we become, good neighbours we become, good parents, good friends, goodness would prevail in all our dealings and activities by having that connection with Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So it was time to cross the river and the boatman was there. Nishadha nishadha – kevat was his another name, Ramayan says nishadha, Kevat. He said oh! He was talking to laxman my job is same as Sri Rama’s job and when Laxman heard this and he was furious what? You are comparing your activities with my Sri Rama and then he explained, I take people across to the other shore in my boat and Sri Rama takes people across these material oceans of material existence. Some similarity is there, so once he was another side Sri Rama, Laxman, Sita. They visit ashrama of Bharadwaj muni this is in Prayag raj, already on the banks of triveni sangam confluence of Ganga Jamuna Saraswati.
Sri Rama is very very respectful to the sages, He was trained like that, being kshatriya He also thought that the Brahmins are superior we are just kshatriyas, we are just arms, the Brahmins are uttam anga, as the top most part of the body is head so likewise the Brahmins, that is the Brahmins position that top in the society, they are the direction providers, they are the guides even for the arms when to act and not to act that direction comes from the head Brahmans. So He was trained like that so the full dandvats at the feet of Bharadwaj muni and sitting at his feet he listens to all that good advice etc that Bharadwaj muni had for Sri Rama. Sri Rama is also looking for some place He could some part of the forest where He could stay and Bharadwaj muni was the one. Oh! you can see that? That mountain, that is in Chitrakut that mountain is still there but not that tall to be seen from Prayag raj seen that in those days they could point out to that mountain. So they started their journey in the direction of Chitra kutt, as they were departing Bhradwaj muni was chanting all the auspicious mantras svastivachan mantras he chanted you can chant, we have a muni here also.
(A devotee does svastivacan) You heard in the back? So svastivachan all the auspiciousness he was praying for, they entering the forest and let there be no obstacles, no difficulties, let there be all auspiciousness. So Bharadwaj muni chanted prayers. Sri Rama was departing for chitrakutt. On the way they also meet Valmiki rishi. Valmiki muni’s ashrama is we went up there, this is different from that I mentioned yesterday other one was on the banks on Ganga near Varanasi where he compiled his Ramayan Sita and Luv Kush also stayed. This one is another ashrama I visited both not this time I visited one this time and one in the past. I have also visited chitrakutt, we are going there. Anyone here has gone to chtrakutt? One mataji. Half dozen hands are up, flute is up, your flute went or you went? (Laughter) both.
So Valmiki muni also had to Rama was making further inquiries for where to stay and then Valmiki muni in turn inquires from Sri Rama Please tell me first of all where you do not stay? Is there any place where you do not stay? You tell me, then there you stay. Where you don’t stay. Pretty smart reply (laughs) but you have ask me and then he made another appeal to Sri Rama, my dear Lord you please stay and make your residence in the heart of your devotees. You like that? Yeah, sounds good? Any one for this Rama staying in your heart? Some room there? Or is it already packed? Get reed of some desirable elements or entities. Once you have Rama in your heart and heart becomes and you become big hearted. You could accommodate the whole world in the heart. When Rama is not there then it just you and very few fellows, your selfish little narrow world there. So Rama Sita Laxman they proceed to chitrakutt. Is one of the most scenic places I have visited and what to speak about 900 thousand years ago how much beauty and tranquillity and purity of that place. There is a river Mandakini river flows, water is so clear, also so many fish communities doing there swachand vihar and they are swimming. They proceed deep into the water and water is very very clear. and then we went kind of some distance towards the town and the water was getting muddy and way in to the country side into the forest into the mountains all clear water as soon as the human touch everything is nasty, dirty.

So this thing has nothing to do with these dirty businesses at Ramas time. So there is a Rama ghat and there is a Sita ghat. Where Rama used to take bath and quite distance where Sita used to take her bath. They made parna kutir there residence, some bamboos and some leaves thatched roof, locals also helped to make that residence and Rama stays there. Longest period of Ramas 14 years exile He spent in chitra kutt some 11 and half out of 14 years He spends in chitrakutt. This is the time this is the place Bharat comes. Bharat!! Rama bharat Milan Milap took place in chitrakutt. Bharat was, when he returned to Ayodhya, he was out of station, he was not in station when all these thing transpired this Kai kai asking for a boon and Rama into the forest and all these proposal of Bharat becoming the prince, the king. He did not know so when he returned and by the time when he returned to ayodhya his father also was no more and due to the pangs of separation from Sri Rama he went back home, he departed. In the middle of the night he left the body just prior to that he was talking to kaushlya. He shared that episode when he was in the forest, hunting and the shravan kumar was carrying his parents taking them on pilgrimage they were blind old and blind, he had placed them to some distance and he had gone looking for water and parents were thirsty and as he was filling the pot made some sound and Dashrath the king he was hiding looking for some prey some animal to come to drink water and he thought it is some animal and without thinking further he just shot an arrow and when he rush to the spot thinking its lion or tiger or what it is deer? What did he find? But it was shravan kumar. As he was about to take last breathe, he said please my parents must be thirsty can you please bring some water to them? So Dashrath was talking to kaushlya i like this he was sharing what had happen once. So as Dashrath had gone to shravan kumar’s parents with water and he was trying to feed them water was not talking hey! shravan kumar why didn’t you talk today? And he was just feeding them water because this was dashrath. So finally as he had to respond then he tells all that had happened and those parents of shravan kumar had cursed well.

Jai ho………Gaur Nitai ki..jai …Jai Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman ji ki. ……….Jai

So as they were dying in the separation of their son and son was no more so no reason to survive so there was curse “you also die just like we are dying now” so Dashrath knew one day this probably is going to happen to me. He did not under what circum and how could and this is happening to him so that night he shared all this with Kaushlya and the same night he departed. So when Bharat returned to ayodhya to find, Rama was in the forest with Laxman and Sita and father was no more and his mother was the cause and he was curious, very angry totally disappointed he gets on the case of the kaikai and he is not interested becoming the king, “No Rama is the king, he has to be the king, not me” That sounds like tretayuga like, someone from tretayuga. If it was just our time you would have it, I would have gone for it. There was a different quality of consciousness, different values in those ages. That’s why the age of gold and what bronze like that? Then silver. Gold, silver, bronze and this is iron, scrap, can’t compare. So then Bharat he wants to go meet Rama wherever he is find him out and bring him back and he thinks he could bring him back that’s kind of taking, “yes, I am going to do it, I am going to bring Rama back” And so many family members were ready to go with him, the mothers were ready to go with him, his brother was ready to go with him. He takes small army with him and now he is going to the forest some army he is not going as a vanvasi he is going as a son of the king. So he comes to the spot where Rama had spent the night and where the king had offered him “hey you could come to my palace” we heard yesterday “palace no, me no palace, nothing to do with the palace” He had just slept at the bank of the river and from there he had crossed the river as we just heard few minutes ago, so Bharat comes to that spot and he meets the same kevat, Nishadha raj mentined in Ramayan. “Have you heard of our Rama, has he gone from here? Oh!sure he was here, he had spent night here, what do you mean he spent night here? As nothing is here to reside in? Oh! He is right there do you see that some grass? He just lied down on that dry grass other night and this is where he spent the night and what about his dinner? Oh! He ate some fruits and berries and some and when bharat heard this was too much for him to hear and handle. He wants to do the same thing when Rama is living like this I will also follow the same standard and soon he gets into this mood. He takes that swear for next fourteen years. So they crossed the river, they go to Bharadwaj muni same ashrama, he is like following the same path and Bharadwaj muni says were abouts yes do you see that mountain? Chitra kutt there so Rama should be around there in there so he goes in that direction. When they were coming closer where Rama and Laxman were staying, Laxman saw he was at the top of the tree. Laxman is always guarding, he is a anga rakshak, the body guard, he is shankarshan, he is the protector, like Balarama, he is always protecting that’s his position constitutional of position of Laxman, Laxman is Balarama, Shankarshan.

So he was on guard it is forest where he guarding Rama and Sita and sees army coming and he notices Bharat is there he runs to Sri Rama “hey get ready, let’s get ready, what for? We have to fight.” He thought Bharat had come to fight with Sri Rama and Rama had to cool him down “calm down, calm down, Bharat and is he going to fight with us? No no way…” so that great meeting of that two brothers took place at “chitra kutt”. You get to visit the very spot where they met, where two brothers stood as they were meeting and embracing each other. Where they stood those rocks melted just by the touch and kind of an atmosphere you know feelings of brotherly affection and friendship and the rocks melted if our heart could melt that would be something….and there is whole appeal of course that was a purpose of Bharat visiting Sri Rama “you have to come, you are the king, no please return, please come, let’s go” that’s all the appeals from this angle that angle. Oh! Then before that Rama also gets the news of Dashrath being no more and we could only imagine Sri Rama’s feelings, He felt all vacant world without father being no more so when father is no more elder brother is like father. “You have to come, don’t take my mother’s word seriously and forget her boons and you come you rule us but the promise is promise. Rama is known for the He is ekvachani, He is ekvachani, ek patni and ek vani. It’s like that way, once He has given promise He keeps and He is keeping his father’s promise infect father had promised to kaikai but He was involved with that promise connected with that promise so He took that upon himself so fourteen years no question of me returning. Bharat is falling at His feet and all that and finally Rama says you could take my sandal, wood shoes; I won’t come take my sandal, take my shoes, so that’s all he could bring back to Ayodhya. Not Rama but His shoes he took them on his head and he was place them that shoes on the thrown considering Rama is there he is the ruler and him sitting at the feet those feet, before he goes but you have to make sure fourteen years and as soon as fourteen years period is completed, you have to be back if you are one second, one moment longer delayed well, then do not come back or if you come not come it won’t make any difference to me I won’t be there, I won’t survive one minute one moment longer, so Rama had to promise “yes, yes brother I will come, as soon as fourteen years, the day, the moment they are completed, I will be back. So with that hope, that anticipation that brother would be back, Rama would be back Bharat returns but he doesn’t enter Ayodhya. We were there last month, there is a place called Nandigram, besides the outskirts of Ayodhya. He stays there for fourteen years he doesn’t enter the capital city of ayodhya and shoes of Sri Rama were in Nandigram and he was leading life just like Rama’s life in vanvas in van.

Same food, no stitched cloths, he had matted here, long hair, no hair cutting, no cooked food, that was bharat following that fourteen years waiting and watching, he was counting, seems not moving. When we have fun time flies otherwise you think for Bharat one day was like a one year without Rama for him. So after many years they were in chitra kutt Rama proceeds down south to Dandkaranya. On this aranya kanda of Rama this is dandak aranya, so that is dand-karanya. The central India, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra or like that parts of Andhra Pradesh that was whole central region danda-karanya. Very thick forest so He moves on to the place which now has known as Ramatek, not far from Nagpur the present day Nagpur, there which was abode one time abode of so many sages rishi’s, muni’s performing there tapasya, in their beautiful setting natural setting but as Rama was there he noticed that there were the human skulls and the skeletons everywhere as he was walking and going from one ashrama to other ashrama, big piles some time what is this? And he was informed the rakshsa’s this what left over of the rishi’s and muni’s and this all rakshsa’s ate them up, this left, this is just bones behind and when Rama heard of this, he took his bow and arrow and he takes vow that he will wipe out all the demons all the rakshsa’s form the planet. Ramtake, this is Rama’s vow, Rama sankalp, this is also the place where augastya rishi’s ashrama. We could go visit augastya rishi’s ashrama there we could read the instruction writing on the wall that says Rama visited this place 8,80,000 years ago. 8,80,000 years close to 9,00,000 years ago so someone was asking whether Rama was in this last tretayug or previous one so it couldn’t be previous one. It is 8,00,000 according to that description also and other understanding is also there and then augastya rishi suggested Sri Rama to proceed in direction of Godavari and reside there so Rama, Sita, Laxman they are kind of coming down southerly direction from there they go east ward, in the south east towards Godavari which is presently known as panchvati, also known as Nasik, panchvati, there are five banyan trees, vatta vriksha’s.
Rama’s times, there even they are now, even if you go tomorrow if you take flight and if you don’t have faith or you can telephone somebody in Nasik, they had been witnessing Lord’s pastimes, there are those trees, now that Godavari, the sages always choose to be on the bank of lake or river they need lots of water for being suchi – being clean, water has lots of big role to play also for those who, when water flows it is good for meditation so when you stay on the bank of a river or bank of ocean, bank of a lake it makes broad minded big minded . So it’s just something that helps to become more god conscious, Rama itself, He was a god himself and He doesn’t have to become Rama conscious or Krishna conscious. So they also made there parna kutir there, they were staying there, they had good time, wonderful time and then comes surpanakha comes the sister of Ravan, with the proposal for Rama, Rama was the target, Rama said I have and I am with my wife but Laxman is himself (laughter) so she was kind of being pushed back and forth then she was trying to harass and she was thinking she was a master piece of beauty or miss universe (laughter) “get rid of sita, get rid of this creature, go for me, surpanakha means her nails were like a soop, not drinking soup, supp that you used, have you ever used? Your supp, suppado gujrathi ma (laughter) Marathi madhye supp, “ saar-saar ko gahi rakhe, thutha dehi udai”, that one keeps all the saar or the grain and everything else thutha dehi udaay, that big one, long one she had her nakhun, nails were one supp here, one there, five so surppanakha do you find some surpanakha’s around? Coming in the tradition pretty dangerous, surpanakha’s still she thought she was…so as she was now attacking, harassing Sita because her proposal was not going anywhere and Laxman, he became furious and he chopped off her nose and ear also so the place where it fell that place is known as Nasik, Nasik named after nasika of surppanakha, not very auspicious name and then some more things were tried kharan, dhushyan, she goes back there and come with a big army of fourteen thousand strong and wanted to battle with Rama or defeat him but Rama just crushed and brush them aside they were finished and then surppanakha goes all the way to Shri Lanka and whole reporting was done and trying to take revenge and of course she went with her nose was still bleeding and “that Rama has wife and she should be good for you, he is just mare mortal this Rama” and taking revenge and this desire of me having sita as his concert or queen yes, he was ready but he wanted a help form marichi. Marichi was very tricky and he had different powers of changing bodies and imitating voices, mimicry they call, so when Ravan proposed that you please come along we are two, then he mention what mission was, we have to get sita and we have to fight Sri Rama and when marichi heard the name of Sri Rama they two will be battling he said,” no, no, no…let’s not mess up” because this is Sri Rama and marichi had first experience of Sri Rama, when Vishwamitra muni had come to Ayodhya asking for I like to have your two son, Rama and Laxman so that when we perform our yagya swahaaa… swahaaa…we don’t want any disturbances so they could be good guards.
So of course Dashrath was not ready and then Vashishta muni also to intervene and let them go and as they were there the first demon Rama had killed was tadka, also lady, in Krishna’s pastime the first demon he killed was putana and here it was tadka. And then he had made this marichi also target and when Rama shot His arrow this marichi was lifted in the air and thrown some few thousand miles all the way in Lanka. He survived but that was a power of Sri Rama’s arrow as He shot arrow it left and person landed in Lanka, so when he remembered and when he heard marichi that ravan was proposing…oh! To encounter with Rama, nooo…..nooo…he started trembling, I know it won’t work when I say you have to come, no,no..no I can’t and he was also convincing to forget this proposal not that I should not go but you also should not go if you really care for your life forget making Rama’s Sita as your wife just think of your life (laughter) you want to survive, you better stay behind but then again he ravan changed his mind and he wanted to go and marichi was not willing to go I will kill you and ravan was pretty serious about killing marichi and then marichi ok..let’s go because he was thinking if I go I die if I don’t go I die better let Rama kill me you know, better than this demon killing me I would get nothing I would have this kind of killing and if Rama kills me that will perfection of my life let me go, ok..Let’s go. So they both went and this marichi becomes the deer and he begins dancing around the fence the garden around the humble abode residence of Sita, Rama, Laxman and he was quite charming creature, the deer and deer catching attention of sita and sita wanted and fell in love and I must have, Rama…Rama..Rama…and well if something gets into the women head, right? I don’t know but I hear (laughter) can’t get out (laughs).
So as sita was insisting then Rama was ready to go to chase after that deer bring him back alive or dead and then he had to make arrangement yes, Laxman, you stay with Sita so as Rama was behind this deer, deer started running away from the ashrama, Rama was chasing after and at quite some distance away that made a sound Laxman help Laxman it sounded just like Rama’s voice it was voice of this deer, he played this trick sending signal, a message that Rama is in distress Rama is in difficulty, Rama needs help and then Sita couldn’t help but sent Laxman but Laxman was not willing and sita starts making all kinds of accusing him oh! I understand your ill intensions; you were waiting for this moment oh! I know you so poor Laxman he had to do as sita said had to leave and he was a junior brother and Rama was elder brother, he was a junior and he had to and he knew this is not right thing to do, leaving sita around unprotected no, but he just had to obey the command. We hear I don’t know what reference but we hear that laxman had made up his mind the next time I appear, I incarnate, I am not going to be a junior brother I want to become the elder brother and that is Balrama Rama becomes no this Laxman becomes Balrama and Rama is Krishna like that he is in a superior position so well, that clear the path of Ravan, he was just waiting, hiding around the corner where as Rama and laxman were away, he comes in the scene disguised dress as a Brahmin BHIKSHAM DE HEE!!! BHIKSHAM DE HEE!!! He knew mantras and he was quite learned but just being learned doesn’t mean a devotee. Hiranyakashyapu was also very austere and tapasvi that doesn’t mean devotee of the Lord and who was Jarasandha? Very charitable dani but not devotee.
So “naham vedair na tapasa na danena na cejyaya sakya evam-vidho drastum” (B.G 11.53) Lord says that in Bhagwat Gita , just because someone is jnani and tapasvi — by bhakti only I achieved or you could perform tapasya but it should be for the Lord. “yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juho?i dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam “(B.G 9.27 )so if it is arpanam for the Lord you do tapsya and you do daan for the Lord and whatever you eat you eat for lord and you eat Krishna prasadam “tad kurusva mad arpanam” that’s perfection otherwise tons of tapasya goes on and charity all shows are going on but that does not mean, people have learned also, there is very little to do with devotion and not necessarily this all thing means devotion unto the Lord so Ravan was a pandit so he knew the mantras and tantras he was a big tantric also.

So then he was glorifying sita and making all the proposal be my queen, why you are in the forest, come to the palace. Chanting his own glories that I am lankesh and all demigods are scared of me and all this. So Sita the chaste lady, pativrata, sati, Rama had valve, His vow was ekpatni, He was ekpatni, He has ekpatni vrat, one wife as sita and for sita it was pativrat, pativrata, so he has taken ekpatni vrat and she has, she was ekpati vrata. Different vrats were out there, brhamcharya vrat is also there and ekdasi vrat so different vratas valve and sankalpas and with a great determination those things are followed so this is another vrat of sita and Rama, pativrata and ek patni vrat. If this is followed by present day, humanity could make a big difference big difference, could change the face of the earth just by doing this, just like Rama following his footsteps, do this or that will make changes and could make a big difference and now in Delhi, every month 700 families are there with their divorce papers, every month 700 and number are growing. So not far behind America and when we were little children we used hear oh! we are 200 years behind and we are 150 years behind the west and 100 years, 50 years, now we have caught up or we right there or we are ahead of them in some respect very unfortunate.

Prabhupada was the one who knew the value of Indian or ancient Indian and the culture, the dharma, the principals, the real wealth, everyone kept saying oh! we are poor country so everyone is going to west only to beg but Prabhupada did not come to beg but he came to deliver give the gift, the best gift of India. That’s this sashtras, this culture this dharma, this bhagwat gita and chanting of “Hare Kishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare” This is our wealth prabhupada was convinced this is a wealth of bharat varsh. Why have you come to our country? Question raised by a correspondent reporter in London, swamiji why have you come to our country? And then swamiji said that oh! You, you were also there in India for almost 200 years but my purpose is different not here to take revenge or you came so I have also come barabari ho gai. So you had, whatever you thought was valuable from India, you all had been looting that, stealing that bringing that over to England including the Kohinoor ka hira and many other things and they were cleaning up taking boat loads of this and that whatever thing was valuable. So Prabhupada said you had been doing this but you know your viceroys, I think they were called viceroys, their representative of Brittan in India and they left behind real wealth, the most valuable thing they left behind so I have come to deliver those (a big round of applause) free delivery, home delivery so whatever is gift, the ancient culture of our nation, this is the gift of our nation to the rest of the world.
The knowledge contained in Gita and Bhagvatam, this is the gift of my country and the names of God. This is “goloker prema dhana harinaam sankirtan”
So that, Srila Prabhupada, infect he had come to New York first and we may say “oh! Practically empty pocket, five dollars in the pocket, he had five dollars when he reached New York which he didn’t even spend those five dollars, those five dollars stayed intact. And when Prabhupada went back to India, then he took taxi from Delhi airport to Chippiwada, which was near the red fort. He had to pay the taxi fare and you know how much was the taxi fare? Forty Rupees. Five dollars were forty rupees. So he paid that taxi bill forty rupees to that taxi wala, he did not use. So he started with five dollars infact he had not even used so he was with zero balance and he had nothing but his wealth was holy name, so he was the wealthiest person. And that is how he was able to make, at least some of the dropouts, misguided, frustrated American boys into happy beings, happy human beings. Although they were hippies they became happies. Prabhupada in India would proudly say I went to the west even hippies have become happies. He was proud, so if hippy could become happy then if you are already happy then more happy so all the wealth that could not make Americans happy, Prabhupad’s formula, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s holy name made them happy and they are sticking to that holy name from last 20, 30, 40 years they are happily they are happy. So we say he had no money no friends and one said this is true when Prabhupada came off that Jaldutta boat he didn’t know whether to turn left or right he went by himself but the best friend was also accompanying him his best friend is Lord Sri Krishna. So he was with the best friend and he was the wealthiest person because holy name was his wealth, his property.
So Ravan was making all this proposals but because Sita being cultured pativrata there was no question of her budging an inch or considering proposal, no way… as she was not submitting to his proposals. Ravan even to scare her assumes in his gigantic form of regular Ravan size and he had 10 heads and still she was fixed and then Ravan over powers her, snatches her, grabs her takes her off into the sky flying towards his capital Lanka and Sita is screaming and crying for help….Raaam…..Raaaam…Raaam…Raaam…Help help somebody help, please somebody pass on the words to my Rama and no no responses and she noticed that on the top of and nearby tree, the Jatayu was in a kind of sleepy state, old, Jatayu was old, 60000 years old, not much, 60000 years old. Of course Rama had come across jatayu as he was entering this dandakaranya getting closer to this panchavati, Godavari and He thought He is some kind of demon here so He was ready to kill him but then jatayu gave whole introduction of himself including the part of peace information that “I knew your father, you know, we were close” There is some kind of relationship between jatayu and dashrath, they were close so Rama spared him and he had also agreed I will be guard, protecting you, so when sita was being snatched and when sita cried for help then Jatayu, he really woke up and he gave a big fight, real fight, he fought with all his might, although very old in age and ravan was kind of young fellow but jatayu fought, fighting lasted in the sky like two mountains were battling pushing. Jatayu also managed with the claws jatayu had claws bird he killed those mules, yolked to his chariot that’s the description with the claws and he with use of the beak he killed the chariot driver of Ravan, he smashed the chariot into pieces and then ravan had to land and both were on the ground and battled further but after a long battle this elderly old jataayu was exhausted and ravan took advantage and he chopped off the wings of jatayu and then again took sita and flying the sky ways, direction of lanka and as they were flying over that rishmukh parvat, there Sughriv and his 4to 5 ministers including hanuman they were there. She threw some of her clothing some ornament, pearls and a necklace, leaving some indication behind and as Rama was returning he thought he had accomplish the mission of killing this deer and he noticed “oh! laxman, hey…why are you here? And he had to explain the reasons and Rama was very disappointed, very angry, “why did you disobey my command? And as they both were returning towards their kutir, all the jackals were hauling and all the bad omen’s were all around Rama was thinking for sure this is, this meant either sita has by now killed by some rakshsa or taken away, Rama was kind of sure of this.
And as they finally return to the kutir, only two find sita is not here, well he was not surprised, Rama was not surprised, but he was certainly displeased and then they started the whole search for sita….sita….screaming all over, top of the mountains, into the valleys, in the planes, they go everywhere being searching, looking, crying, praying, even Rama in his kind of madness He is asking the trees, bushes, the animal. ”oh!…have you seen my sita, have you seen, anybody here seen my sita going this way? It was very similar to those gopis searching for Krishna , as it was never reversed, here Rama was looking for sita or gopi, she was gopi for him, only one deer as Rama was inquiring, from deer he was inquiring, the deer raised his head and Rama thought this is some indication, sita into the air and gone in this direction, he was watching that deer and that deer as if he is pointing out that way…that way, so by this time they were just searching around where there was resident but now they took this clue from the deer and started going south and only after some distance they begin seeing this the battle ground this two jatayu and ravan had battled, they saw the mules and broken cart and well Rama was expecting the worst, threat signs were there, some rakshsas have battled, over my sita and also some of the broken bangles and some ornaments also and further they go some blood, they thought there is no need to search any further sita is no more, thought that blood was sita’s blood and they followed that blood trails and their they see bird, one…rakshas in disguise of the bird and Rama, this is the job of this demon and Rama was ready to kill him and as he was more closer, he could see “oh! jatayu? It was jatayu, what happen? Then the whole tale was told, I did my best but finally saying the last words as Rama the bird fell in the lap of Sri Rama looking at his face and chanting his name and bird left departed. So another tragedy already they were looking for sita and had not found and they had just heard and transpired and now jatayu is no more they cried and lamented over the lost of jatayu, two brothers they performed all the final rites for jatayu where everyone looking for fire wood they collected the wood, prepared the funeral, fired put the body of jatayu on the top, to the flames chanted all the mantras all the ritual they followed finally taking bath in Godavari they thought when their father dashrath died they were not able to attend that funeral at least his friend, dashrath’s friend jatayu. When he departed and he render great service to us so both brother did fulfil their obligation and they were proceeding searching looking to get any more clues, then this Kabandha, he was a special person cursed body deformed and Rama had also battled with them, Rama chopping his right hand and laxman also chopping his left hand and “could you provide us some clues, where abouts of ravan? No, no, I don’t know, I have no information, we are birds, but then kabandha says you proceed, you go in the direction of pumpa-sarovar, there sughriv is there with his ministers, residing on there rishmukh mountain and he is in the similar difficulty as yours. He is also separated from his wife and kind of in exile and so may you could become allies and he has big army of monkey and they could go anywhere on the earth looking for sita they could help find sita for you.
So Rama and Laxman they precede and they were also going to meet shabri on the banks of the pumpa-sarovar and they were also going to meet for the first time, they were going to meet Hanuman and so far hanuman is not in the picture so far. So now as they go to pumpa-sarovar , sughriv is “hey go find out, are this some spies of Bali coming? go…go…go.. and hanuman is going meet this guys as some old Brahmin, going down and approaching and inquiring and prior to that of course, meeting with shabri and then finally meeting with Sugriv and killing of bali and then more search for sita……….
So we will talk on those later those pastimes in 3rd and final Ramayan session tomorrow.
Jai Sri Ram

Venue: Germany
Bhagvat saptha (Ajamil Katha series – second session)

Never tired, “ Vayam tuna vitratyam” not tired, ya we don’t have enough nectar as we are not full with nectar, please share more talk more, this is the language of the sages of Naimisharanya. So this Ajamil story, stories we like to hear, yes? They are entertaining, there’s some excitement here, but then there are lessons, lessons to be learned from the story. Thus, we hear the story, story also meaning history. So history is also important, to teach us lessons and we hear about the history as something that repeats, history repeats all the time. So, civilizations, they become wiser, longer the history, some traditions or society or country has; they are expected to learn so many lessons and make the decisions based on the experience based on the past. This was done and the outcome was this, but they did this way and this was the result. This works the same laws, laws of the Lord, laws governing us, our minds etc.
So, this is important history, Ajamil’s story, itihas. Sukadeva Gosvami uses the adjective as itihasam. “itihasam puratanam”- this is very ancient history. So, just to summarize the 3 chapters just a overview is the end of the 5th canto of Bhagvatam the description of Hellish Planets at the end of the 5th canto and then beginning of the 6th canto 1st chapter king Pariksit is curious, he would like to know how people could not go somehow they are saved from this Hellish condition. What is the process? What should people do? and Sukadeva Gosvami has recommendation this is Prayaschit, oh! they should do atonement and king Parikshit he flatly refused no no no no atonement won’t work and then more things were proposed this that, this is karma kand. The atonement, the prayaschit is karma-kanda. What about some jyana-kanda? Ok this is also not the best thing. What about some tapasya, daan, dharma, yam, niyam and finally he recommends oh, Bhakti would be the best thing. Krishna also goes for karma-yoga, jyana-yoga, ashtang yoga and then bhakti-yoga. Krishna in Bhagvad Gita is taking his student Arjun through those chapters. So, like that when He comes to conclusion – the bhakti would be the best.
And then Sukadeva Gosvami wants to give example and then he gives example of Ajamil, how he was also sinful. So he describes, Sukadeva Gosvami briefly describes his sinful lifestyle and that resulted in Yamdutas coming but he had chanted the name Narayan, Vishnudutas come and Vishnudutas challenged yamdutas, you prove that you are representatives of Yamraj. It doesn’t look like; the way you are acting you don’t know A B C and you are supposed to be dharmarajas people. So they challenged and asked some questions and yamdutas speak, they say lot of intelligent things but they fall short and they are exposed. They know something but lot of it they don’t know and then Vishnudutas speak and they speak the glories of the Holy name and why? Because this person had chanted the name of Narayan. No no, you can’t take him to the Hellish Planets, to yamloka. So, this way Vishnudutas defeat Yamadutas. Yamadutas go so Ajamil had opportunity to hear the dialogue between these two parties, Yamadutas and Vishnudutas, especially Vishnudutas. He was taking their darshan. They were very beautiful persons to look at effulgent and nice dressed and crowns, beautiful features and the language they spoke. So, then Vishnudutas also disappeared leaving Ajamil behind.
Yamadutas had kind of, they were dragging his soul engaged or embodied in subtle body mind, intelligence, false ego. He was like half in half out. In that state, scary state, he had been hearing this long dialogue going on. He was in that position, very intense time. He did not know which way he is going to go, is he going to stay or ends ups in yamloka but he was liberated, he was relieved he was able to stay in same body but then he regrets and he remembers his past, sinful past and he is talking to himself, reflecting and coming to conclusion, yes I will give this up this kind of lifestyle, this home these children, this wife this dirty wealth. Then he goes to Haridwar to practice Krishna Consciousness and attain perfection. He was liberated by Vishnudutas and by this chanting of Narayan which was done in Namabhas stage. He was liberated but not qualified to go back to Vaikuntha or Godhead.
So he had to do some more of purification by practicing sadhna bhakti and do it everything right this time. So he does that and then when he was qualified same Vishnudutas come and they bring him back to Godhead. Then in meantime course, Yamadutas had returned to Yamraj, that’s the 3rd chapter and they shared their experience. You know, this never happened to us before, look, we have come empty handed, empty pocket we thought you are the supreme ruler but your rule is no more effective, it’s defeated, it’s just nullified. What is the matter? Whats going on? Who were those 4 folks or persons? that we have seen and they seemed very authoritative and are you not the supreme? Who is it? Than later in 3rd chapter, it is Yamaraj speaking he is one of the 12 authorities. If anybody knows Yamaraj. Yamaraj knows full of knowledge and also devotion for the Lord. That kind of personality of Yamaraj is not known to the people; he only knows how to punish and everybody was scared he is such a nice Vaishnav. He speaks more glories of the devotional service and specially chanting the Holy Name of the Lord and then, Sukadeva Gosvami who is narrator, he concludes the story the history saying, I heard this story, Sukadeva Gosvami had heard this story, he is telling Parikshit, I had heard it from Agastya muni or rishi. Once upon a time I was visiting the malaya mountains, malaye, and while Agastya who is addressed here as kumbha sambhavah, i.e. another name for Agastya and he is described as Bhagwan, he is kowledgeable. You know that Agastya muni, Bhagwan Agastya he is knowledgeable. He told me this story while he was worshipping his deity. “asina harim arcayan” he was doing archana, he was worshipping his deity, while worshipping his deity, he narrated this past time, this story unto me. So he couldn’t be telling any lies. How is it possible? He was worshipping his deity. He was touching the feet of his deity and saying yes, this is….whatever he heard it from…so that’s the very last statement of these 3 chapters where Sukadeva Gosvami says, I heard this from Agastya muni.
“itihasam imam guhyam”- this itihas, history, is very confidential.
“bhagavan kumbha-sambhavah”- I heard it from Agastya muni.
“malaya asina harim arcayan”- while Agastya rishi was worshipping his deity. (S.B. 6.3.35)
So, that’s quick overview of these 3 chapters. And with that our idea as I mentioned earlier to do 15 – 20 verses in each session, we have 45 minutes or so. Now, I thought we have more time this morning but this part of singing and introduction and Bhagvat Mahatmya and different different things we invested our time and then we have but again we want to finish complete our quota of we have 19 verses; 2 less, I will also drop some verses. I have to sometimes run, sometimes touch and go and depends what kind of speed we have, time factor and so and some parts of the purports which I have kind of marked or highlighted, we’ll read and try to understand. So it is little different from our traditional Bhagvatam classes in some ways so don’t be surprised.
So, Parikshit uvach, if you can come with Bhagvatam with you or verses in front of you, that could also help you have access to the copies or if you have some personal Bhagvatam, not right now, if from this afternoon onwards if you could be able to have because we’ll dealing with the verses and to help you too. Relate to what I am talking while looking at the verses. Parikshit uvach- king Parikshit said,
“ nivritti-margah kathita adau bhagavata yatha
krama-yogopalabdhena brahmana yad asamsritih” (S.B. 6.1.1)
He has remembered nivritti-margah, there’s a nivritti-margah, there’s a pravritti-margah. Sukadeva Gosvami had described nivritti-margah in the 2nd canto, he says,
“adau nivritti-margah kathita adau” – O you have described this earlier, nivritti-margah – activities which liberate us, liberate the conditioned souls and those souls they go to Brahmalok, they reside there till the end of the creation and then ultimately along with Brahma they all go back to Godhead. krama-yogopalabdhena yad asamsritih, samsritih means coming back again and again, birth and death is called samsritih and ‘a’ always meaning ‘no’ just the opposite. asamsritih means liberation, becoming free from birth and death. So finally they become free and go along with Brahma back to Godhead. So, Sukadeva Gosvami just now finished the description of the Hellish Planets in stating where the Hellish Planets are stationed in the cosmos down on south side, down there, he describes at the end of 5th chapter, 5th canto and so many 28 have been listed and this sin – that hell, this sin corresponding hell and he is hearing about all this, he had heard and Prabhupada is describing in the purport that King is
“Vancha-kalpa-tarubhyash ca kripa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanabhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namaha”
All the vaishnavas are like that, a Vaishnava is an ocean of mercy. Para-dukha-duhkhi he is unhappy because of the unhappiness of others. Therefore Parikshit Maharaja, being compassionate toward the conditioned souls suffering in hellish life, suggested that Sukadeva Gosvami continue describing the path of liberation, which he had explained in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Got the point? In the beginning he was describing this nivritti-margah, the way of liberation. So when King had heard about this Hellish Planets and conditioned souls entering going there. He was, Oh, you mentioned about nivritti-marga?, may be you could tell us more so that these people entering the hell could be checked and this is how nivritti-margah thought has come up. Bhakti-yoga itself is so powerful that even an impious man with no assets in karma-yoga or an illiterate with no assets in jnana-yoga can undoubtedly be elevated to the spiritual world if he simply adheres to bhakti-yoga. At the time of dissolution, Lord Brahma, along with all the inhabitants of Brahmaloka, goes directly to the spiritual world. So liberation and then Prabhupad is further, he specifies the real, ultimate liberations attained by bhakti-yoga.
So king Parikshit would like to know some bhakti-yoga, some process of devotion that could be employed, applied by the conditioned souls so that they don’t have to go to hell. pravritti-lakshanash caiva, this is the 2nd verse. This is how much we could say about the 1st verse. When we give class for 1 hour, we could talk. There are ways; you can talk one verse for ages, hours or you can talk some more verses and get more ground covered but we are a long way to go.
“pravritti-lakshanash caiva traigunya-vishayo mune
yo asav alina-prakriter guna-sargah punah punah” (S.B. 6.1.2)
So he mentions that nivritti-margah, king Parikshit, for liberation. The pravritti-margah which is traigunya-vishayo. pravritti-marga? is people sense gratification, people are inclined as per their gunas, to perform activities in mode of ignorance or passion or some goodness. traigunya vishayo, tri, guna and vishaya – sense objects vishayo, traigunya vishayo. and then sargah punah punah, and as a result they come into being, they take birth again and again, they perform activities and in 3 modes of material nature and this is all pravritti-margah, pravritti-lakshanash – symptoms of person in pravritti – life of sense gratification and result is that they are born again and again in which there is a creation of material bodies guna-sargah. punah punah – again and again. So, king Parikshit would like to know the way out of this pravritti-margah and then nivritti-margah.
“adharma-lakshana nana narakash canuvarnitah
manvantarash ca vyakhyata adyah svayambhuvo yatah (S.B. 6.1.3)
You have also described at the end of the Fifth Canto king parikshit says the varieties of hellish life that result from impious activities. Adhuna, therefore now, mahabhag, you are great soul, Sukadeva Gosvami
“adhuneha maha-bhaga yathaiva narakan narah
nanogra-yatanan neyat tan me vyakhyatum arhasi” (S.B. 6.1.6)
This is already the 6th verse. HARI BOL… So, giving that background, connection with the hellish is concerned. We’ll go to the Hellish Planets, please tell us the nivritti-margah that you have mentioned. So, he says nanogra-yatanan – living entities suffer yatana, means miseries, ugra means very horrible terrible sufferings. If you read the 5th canto you begin your head trembling, the hair would stand on end and you won’t be able to lead a normal life, of eating and sleeping. ugra-yatana – terrible suffering. So, vyakhyatum arhasi, King Parikshit,”I know, you are very much competent to vyakhyatum – to describe, neyat – so that the way out, the process, the solution, the mantra, do you know mantra? Or do you have some mantra for this? Mantra means not a whole big thing, mantra means compact thing. Don’t tell me the whole Ramayan, just tell me some mantra, I don’t want to hear a lengthy description. Come up with some mantra….is there some mantra here? So this is what he would like to know. There’s some mantra. neyat – so that they could be free from this nanogra-yatanan, the terrible suffering that is awaiting this conditioned soul, is there some thing? neyat – so that they don’t have to undergo suffering and I know vyakhyatum arhasi – you are competant, you are qualified O Sukadeva Gosvami, he is glorified this way. Glorified this way. Parikshit Maharaj therefore anxiously wanted to know from Sukadeva Gosvami how humanity can be same from gliding down to hell. He is a King, he’s a emperor, he’s like a father, King is like a father of human beings, he is the 1st citizen. Of course he would be no more, in few days this is 6th canto right? So, just, we have been hearing from last 2- 3 days so few more days to go and he would be no more, still he is concerned.
He is not only concerned about his welfare but he is also concerned about all the citizens. How humanity can be same from gliding down to hell? And this way we also get a hint that all great souls, the Vaishnavas, they always think of ways and means so that they humanities at large or may be alteast smaller chunk we could think of our country, our society or family. Ask me. So that no gliding down to the Hellish Planets. Vaishnava janato te ne kahiye jo para-pidhaye jahanire. This is one Vaishnav says. Vaishnava janato te ne kahiye – O that person is a Vaishnava jo para-pidhaye jahanire one who knows how people are suffering. He is always concerned about everybody’s suffering and he wants’ to do something that is a Vaishnava. To convince them of their next life is very difficult because they have become almost mad in the pursuit of the material enjoyment, right? In Germany, that’s the case. When Prabhupad reached Boston for first time and the mad rush people moving so fast back and forth and Prabhupad was, Oh! my God, to these people I have to preach? They are not even stopping; they are not even looking at me. This you notice when we from India come to the west, people something something, they don’t want to even look at. We Indians will look at everything (Maharaj laughs….) take real look at especially Hare Krishna’s; they don’t want to even look at them or may be looking at the side long glances but want to make sure, you know, some kind of pride, not welcome, get lost or I am just busy you know, I don’t want to even look at you. Prabhupada was in Boston, he was shocked that people are not even looking at me. Then he wrote that poem when back to his jaladuta boat and he had remaining journey from Boston to New Yorkn and he wrote that O Lord, now make me puppet in your hand – “na chaho chaho prabhu na chaho saimate” – you make me dance, O Lord you make me dance.
“amhi to kashther putli’ – I am just a puppet in your hand O! Lord, now you make me dance, you make me speak. I have big name, my name is Bhaktivedanta. So, now you do something so that my face, my name I am said big name Bhaktivedanta but I am not successful here then what kind of Bhakti and Vedant I am. So now it’s all upto you. Prabhupad wrote that poem with all humility approaching his Lord so that he could get his message across to the humanity at large Americans that he had gone to preach that was ordered from his Guru Maharaj and of course Prabhupad’s concern was similar to that of King Parikshit. Prabhupad was nicely stationed in Vrindavan, there’s no shortage of anything but he is para-duhkha-duhkhi as King Parikshit is described here, his mood, he’s only concerned of others’ suffering, wants to do something so the duty of all sane men is to save them, Maharaj Parikshit is representative of one who can save them and so he is approaching his spiritual master King Parikshit out of humiliation that you please explain me how these people could be saved. sri-shuka uvaca, now Sukadeva Gosvami 7th verse is going to respond.
“na ced ihaivapacitim yathamhasah kritasya kuryan mana-ukta-panibhih
dhruvam sa vai pretya narakan upaiti ye kirtita me bhavatas tigma-yatanah (S.B. 6.1.7)
He says Oh! immediately, he immediately came up with solution, unless ‘na ced’, unless they go for apacitim- atonement, apacit is atonement so that they could become free from the sin that they have committed by mana- mind, ukta- the words and panibhih means body. In other words, the sin committed mentally, physically, vocally, this is how sin is committed at 3 different levels; at mind’s level, then it is spoken at level of the voice, sound. He said mind first ‘mana’, ‘ukta’ then you talk sinful, ‘panibhih’ then you use your hands or feet also to commit sin. So sin that is committed by mind, words and body, if someone wishes to become free from this, they will have to perform some kind of some sort of atonement “ dhruva? sa vai pretya narakan upaiti”- and if they don’t do so, then dhruva? – for sure after death they will end up in hell. You want people to not go to hell, right? Yes? You don’t want them to go to hell. So I say they should perform some atonement and, so ok something from Prabhupad’s purport, therefore in response to enquiries of Parikshit Maharaj, Sukadeva Gosvami, his Guru could have immediately explained principle of Bhakti but to test Parikshit Maharaja’s intelligence, he first prescribed atonement according to karma-kanda, the path of furtive activities. He’s testing, what he has proposed is karma-kanda, atonement is part of karma-kanda, so let me see how intelligent is my disciple, King Parikshit. Now this is not said anywhere right? You go through the whole chapter or all the 3 chapters, doesn’t say anywhere that King Parikshit is being tested but here is a statement. So this is the acharyas and their commentaries, they are reading between the lines they read in between the shlokas they kind of try to put things into context, their spiritual imaginations and then they make these fill in the gaps. Oh! He’s being tested. King Parikshit is being tested. So instead of recommending bhakti-yoga devotional service or he could have immediately said Harer Naam………..
“harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 7.76)
He could have said it in the very beginning immediately Oh! You want to know how people could be saved from going to hell, chant Hare Krishna. Is it difficult to understand? But he is not doing so. So, why is he not doing? Reason has been stated that King Parikshit is being tested. In karma-kanda there are 80 authorized scriptures for your information, karma-kanda, jnana-kanda. karma-kanda, jnana-kanda keval vishayeir bhand, karma kanda, jnana kanda is a pot of poison and how many such pots are there? 80 scriptures just describing different varieties of karma-kanda such as Manu-samhita which are known as dharma-shastras performing pious acts to counteract his pious acts.
So atonement Prabhupad is describing here, this is known as atonement. Try to understand. Performing pious act to counteract impious act. You commit some sinful activity and you want to become free from reaction of that sinful activity. So shastras recommend ok ok you could do this punya-karma, you could perform this pious activity to counteract that impious activity this is so that pious activity that you perform to counteract impious activity that is called prayaschit or the atonement.
“tasmat puraivashv iha papa-niskritau yateta mrityor avipadyatatmana
doshasya drishtva guru-laghavam yatha bhishak cikitseta rujam nidanavit” (SB 6.1.8)
Like a nidanavit – like a physician recommends different medicines according to guru-laghavam, if the disease is of some real bad chronic then there is also corresponding very powerful medicine but if you just have a headache what you take? Aspirin but if it is migraine headache, then aspirin won’t work so this is guru-laghavam. doshasya drishtva, the physician, he will see guru or laghu again. Guru means heavy, serious or light- laghu. What kind of sickness is there, accordingly you will prescribe the medicine. So likewise in case of prayaschit, atonement, there are various kinds of atonements. In Christianity also there is a process of confession, atonement, therefore atonement is required and atonement must be undergone according to the gravity of one’s sinful acts, Prabhupad says but that in itself ofcourse is not ultimate solution but it does do some job for becoming free from that particular action, sinful act. But how many sins we have committed? How many? Countless, ocean, in this birth then previous birth. So, what you are dealing with is Oh! I just performed this sin so I want to become free from reaction of this sin. So you do this atonement but how many atonements? There’s so much stock of sins. So this atonement is the patch work, it does some job but is temporary and the rest of the stock of the karma, prarabdha, aprarabdha that is all waiting sitting there. Ok now King Parikshit, we’ll do faster, says prayashcittam atho katham, Oh! prayashcit would not work, this atonement will not work, no no no no,
sri-rajovaca – “drishta-shrutabhyam yat papam janann apy tamano ahitam
karoti bhuyo vivashah prayashcittam atho katham” (S.B 6.1.9)
That person’s desire for committing sin will not go away by atonement, he has become free from the reaction of particular sinful activity but the desire to commit sin, the desire to go on enjoying, exploiting this material world that has not been eradicated, well done, Spiritual master is very happy. Good good, now you understood, I am very pleased with you King Parikshit. Again he has not said that, we are saying because we know he was being tested. Bhuyo – again and again that person will keep committing sinful activity, so what good is the prayashcit, atonement that he had been recommended, no no no no, I don’t agree. Therefore Maharaja Parikshit saw that the process of repeatedly sinning and atoning is pointless. Regardless of how many times he is punished, one who is attached to sense enjoyment will commit sinful acts again and again until he is trained to refrain from enjoying his senses. You got that point? So this is the Vaishnav acharya Prabhupad and they will come up with statements like that and that’s the Bhagvatam. In the 3rd chapter of Bhagvad Gita when Arjun asked, “Oh how come we don’t like to commit sin but we end up committing sin? What is that is pushing? Oh that is kamaesha krodhesha, there’s kama, there’s lust, there’s anger number one enemy” and starting to reply like that then Krishna explains indriyani niyamyado, in the beginning indriyas the senses have to be niyamya – controlled by regulating the senses you start there and then you will be saved from kama, krodha and these enemies and that’s the point that only when the follower or person is trained to refrain from enjoying his senses then he is on the safer side but with the process of atonement that is not achieved.
“kvacin nivartate abhadrat kvacic carati tat punah
prayashcittam atho apartham manye kunjara-shaucavat” (SB 6.1.10)
King Parikshit, this is the second statement, Sukadeva Gosvami will again talk further, sometimes person becomes, he stops the sinful activity – abhadrat but kvacic – sometimes again carati tat punah – again he commits the sin. prayashcittam atho apartham – this atonement is apartham – useless, waste of time and energy and I consider manye –aham manye King Parikshit says this whole thing is kunjara-shaucavat – this is just like the bathing of an elephant, kunjara “narova kunjarova” Krishna said. Kunjara means elephant and kunjara shaucavat so, elephant goes into the lake on padayatra we had elephant for several years so we know the tendency of the elephant taking nice bath and then coming to the bank immediately throwing the dirt. So I think manye I am strongly convinced so by this atonement you clean yourself but then you commit sin again, this is exactly like the bathing of an elephant. Sometimes one who is very alert so as not to commit sinful acts he is victimized by sinful life again and this sinning and atoning, sinning and atoning is useless, Prabhupad is translating like that. There’s a purport but I am also looking at the watch. So we will just go to the next verse.
sri-badarayanir uvaca- “karmana karma-nirharo na hy atyantika ishyate
avidvad-adhikaritvat prayashcittam vimarshanam” (S.B 6.1.11)
Badarayani, who is badarayani? Sukadeva Gosvami, son of Vyasadev is Badarayani. Okay okay, you say karma-kanda is useless, ok I also agree. So he says prayashcittam vimarshanam – the cultivation of the knowledge of Vedant the full knowledge of Vedant, Oh that is prayashcit and cultivation of this knowledge will certainly make person free from sinful desires. Guru Sukadeva Gosvami has examined Parikshit Maharaj and it appears that King has passed one phase of examination by rejecting the process of atonement because it involves sinful activity. Now Sukadeva Gosvami suggesting platform of speculative knowledge, progressing from karma-kanda to jnana-kanda. He is proposing prayashcittam vimarshanam – real atonement is full knowledge, this is now the proposal, alternative proposal of Sukadeva Gosvami to become free from learned and material contamination, therefore one should try to understand Krishna for thus one is immediately liberated from all pious and impious activities and their reactions. Srila Prabhupada is very fast, so that point will come but Prabhupada tries to make each purport complete; what if someone reads only one purport? Prabhupada wants to makes sure that Bhakti is there; if someone reads only that much and Oh! karma-kanda and so, there also Prabhupada will conclude, there also he will say Krishna, Krishna’s Bhakti, devotional service. That is the specialty of Prabhupada, he immediately brings Krishna into the picture, into the verse. So Sukadeva Gosvami is going gradually, Prabhupada is putting conclusions right in there.
“nashnatah pathyam evannam vyadhayo abhibhavanti hi
evam niyamakrid rajan shanaih kshemaya kalpate” (S.B 6.1.12)
Translation: Following regulating principles, My dear King, if a diseased person eats the pure, uncontaminated food prescribed by a physician, he is gradually cured, and the infection of disease can no longer touch him. Similarly, if one follows the regulative principles of knowledge, he gradually progresses toward liberation from material contamination.
So this is still a gradual thing and not a final thing, the diet; if sick person is there 2 things, what are 2 good things for him? Diet and medicine and then gradually he comes. So he is talking vyadhayo – person suffering from vy?dhi – disease, he is recommended pathyam – eat this, you don’t eat this. Then gradually one become free from contamination, so from jnana-kanda, with jnana one becomes gradually from contamination but how long does it take?
“bahunam janmanam ante jnyanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti”
sa mahatma su-durlabhah (Bg 7.19) The jnyani following karma-kanda, Krishna says he will take bahunam janmanam ante – after many many births then he will come to the conclusion Oh! Vasudev is all in all, they’ll surrender unto him. It’s quite gradual right? Prabhupada wanted us to gradually come another 100 births? what was Prabhupad’s program? One lifetime. So we cannot go through this, it’s too long, too gradual for us. Then some more things are being prescribed here.
“tapasa brahmacaryena shamena ca damena ca tyagena satya-shaucabhyam
yamena niyamena va deha-vag-buddhijam dhira dharmajnyah shraddhayanvitah
kshipanty agham mahad api venu-gulmam ivanalah” (S.B 6.1.13-14)
So, then more regulated life of tapasa – the performance of austerities, brahmacaryena. Anyway you could now always have a whole class just on tapasa or you could speak for 7 days on tapasa, tapasa could be your topic you could talk for 7 days or you could take brahmacaryena and you could talk. There are 8 kinds of brahmacaryas, so there are names darshana, sparsha, this that, there are 8 names ending with sambhog its called the physical sex indulgence is called sambhog, bhog we can say enjoyment and sambhog is doing it in a complete way. So the 8 different ways of going against brahmacarya. So like that when you have that luxury of time each one could be described what are those different ways of going against brahmacarya or illicit connections with men and women.
shamena ca damena ca, what is shama? what is dama? shama – subduing your mind and then attain 3E43E45tranquility. They are 2 different things, shama dama they are similar but one is trying to control the mind at the subtle level try to control, regulate your wanderings, that’s called shama and dama – at the physical sense level you try to subdue your activities, sinful activities or bad behavior. Then you say shama, dama, tyaga- renouncing, satya – cultivation of truth, shauca – cleanliness, yamena niyamena – one is yam another one is niyam. What is yam? What is niyam? Do’s and don’ts. So, what is ya is don’t or yam is do? yam means yamraj also. So this you remember, because you don’t do this but if you did it then you are going to yam. So there is yam. And so following 4 regulating principle this is yam and chant Hare Krishna this is a niyam. Yam, niyam; do, don’t do. So don’t do is no meat, fish, egg, no intoxication, no illicit sex, no gambling this is yam. Don’t do this otherwise you’ll go to yam or Yamraj will come and get you. Then what should we do? Chant Hare Krishna so that is niyam. Yam, niyam this is also how the ashtanga yoga begins with, and let’s not think that we are free from yam niyam. We may know that it is as far as for ashtanga yogis yam niyam, no no, that is also for us because bhakti yoga is complete, not that we are above the rules and he says kshipanty – one will become free from sin, mahad api – it doesn’t matter how big it is venu-gulmam ivanalah – like venu means bamboo right? And then the leaves of the bamboo tree are on the ground and also it has leaves, bamboo leaves. So, all this is this will work like analah – the fire burning the bamboo, including the leaves. The next one is mentioned now bhakti which on karma-kanda, jnana-kanda then this regulated life of yam niyam satya-shaucam and brahmacarya, shamena damena and result of that shamena damena compared with the burning of the venu-gulmam the bamboo tree or leaves but now comes the bhakti part.
“kecit kevalaya bhaktya vasudeva-parayanah
agham dhunvanti kartsnyena niharam iva bhaskarah” (SB 6.1.15)
Hari Bol…. this is kecit kevalaya bhaktya vasudeva-parayanah – only bhakti will agham dhunvanti – all the sins would be cleansed away like niharam iva bhaskarah – like a sun on the foggy day, when there is a fog, the sun rises and then sun drives away all the fog and the sky is fogless, the atmosphere is fogless. So is there any traces left? Fog is something bad or causing badness, ignorance, means sun rises then fog is gone and everything is gone there’s not a trace left yes? But now going back to the other example, the bamboo is burnt, the leaves are burnt but roots are still in there, see the 2 examples one after the other, the same speaker is giving, you do this tapasa and all that shamena damena and all that. It does a great job but it will not tapa-trayounmulanam the beginning of Bhagvatam says. Srimad Bhagvatam says tapa-trayo unmulanam, ‘mula’ means roots, uprooting, everything is uprooted, all bad things bad desires, uprooted. So nothing could be compared with bhakti. So sun has risen and completely no trace is left of the fog anymore.
“na tatha hy aghavan rajan puyeta tapa-adibhih
yatha krishnarpita-pranas tat-purusha-nishevaya” (SB 6.1.16)
Now he takes one step forward. He said bhakti, bhaktya kevalaya, but now he says; this is a long purport you should read Prabhupada says, when the point of bhakti came up then Prabhupada has spent pages take that advantage of this bhakti point and these are quotes from different Acaryas and very valuable, prarabdha and aprarabdha and so many nice points abhasa-rupa bhakti. Even in the stage of abhasa-rupa bhakti, namabas you have heard but this is bhakti abhasa, namabas and bhakti abhasa beginning stages of bhakti all the reactions of sinful life are uprooted and vanquished.
Srila Jiva Gosvami expresses the opinion that the word kartsnyena in this verse means that even if one has a desire to commit sinful actions, the roots of that desire are vanquished merely by abhasa-rupa bhakti. Just the rays before sun rises to the dawn, before sun rise you see the, kind of, twilight is there means sun has not fully manifested so that time is called abhasa. Abhasa – as if sun has appeared but he hasn’t appeared but he could give some hint oh! sun must be now appearing, sun is about to appear, not appeared fully. So that is called twilight, abhasa. And bhakti abhasa, the sun need do no more than merely manifest its first rays, and the fog immediately disappears. Similarly, if one has even a slight relationship with devotional service, all the fog of his sinful life is immediately vanquished. And so the next verse that “na tatha hy aghavan rajan puyeta tapa-adibhih” he says tapa-adibhih means what? Just mentioned the word ‘tapa’ and ‘adi’ is attached to it, adi means etc. So that is going back you have to say the whole list tapa then tapasa, damena shamena, brahmacaryena all this.
So he is not repeating but just says tapa-adibhih, by tapa by this by that the whole list etc. Puyeta – cannot do the cleansing, na tatha yatha is another thing to understand the verses you always come across yatha tatha not as much as this that can accomplish. Yatha – as much, tatha – that much, you will see yatha, you will find tatha there. In this verse, tatha – as much as this tapa, austerity etc can do the cleansing which does less cleansing, “yatha krishnarpita-pranas tat-purusha-nishevaya’ by serving the pure devotee or of the Lord you do more cleansing than done by tapa etc. so, first Sukadeva Gosvami had proposed bhakti of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, here he mentions Oh! krishnarpita-pranas tat-purusha-nishevaya – that person, you serve that person, which person? krishnarpita-pranas – one who has offered his pran, his life in service of the Lord. “Mac-citta mad gata prana bodhayantah parasparam kathayanta ca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca” (B.G 10.9). My devotee offers whole life to me makes offering of his life unto me. So Sukadeva Gosvami says one who has offered his pran unto the Lord that purusha-nishevaya by that person’s service one does the best cleansing and there’s a nice purport to that.
“sadhricino hy ayam loke panthah kshemo akuto-bhayah
sushilah sadhavo yatra narayana-parayanah” (SB 6.1.17)
Translation: The path followed by pure devotees, who are well-behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the shastras, narayana-parayanah and then you become abhayah – fearless and like that.
Now, Sukadeva Gosvami himself is saying that just like a wine bottle, there are so many of them in this country or other countries, so many varieties of bottles, sura-kumbham (SB 6.1.18) wine bottles na nishpunanti – you can’t really clean the bottles, wine bottles. Devotees will never use the wine bottles for anything. So likewise prayashcittani -the atonements performed by narayana-paranmukham it is understood, devotees of Narayan but those who are non-devotees and they are performing atonement so they will not cleanse their consciousness they will not be successful like the wine bottle cannot be really cleansed. There’s only one thing you could do, the wine bottle cannot be cleansed but your hearts could be cleansed not by prayashcitta that’s the point he made, not by atonement, but kecit kevalaya bhaktya – devotional service or krishnarpita-pranas tat-purusha-nishevaya the person who has dedicated his life in service of Lord, you serve him and the cleansing is done and here’s the final statement, final verse of this session,
“sakrin manah krishna-padaravindayor niveshitam tad-guna-ragi yair iha
na te yamam pasha-bhritash ca tad-bhatan svapne api pashyanti hi cirna-nishkrita?” (SB 6.1.19)
Our mind enters the lotus feet of Lord even once and becomes attached to Lord’s guna lila rupa. So, once someone has achieved that status that stage, such person the Yamadutas they will not even glance, not even look, they may be scared of such person, such devotee, they will not go near him what to speak of arrest him and bring him to abode of Yamaraj. Not even in the dream, such a devotee not even in the dream he will meet Yamadutas what to speak of in reality and cirna-nishkritah this is the right type of atonement, performance of devotional service and serving the devotees of the Lord is the best type of atonement although not having, translation- fully realized Krishna, persons who have even once surrendered completely unto the lotus feet, who have become attracted to his name, form, quality and past times are completely free from all sinful reactions for they have thus accepted the true method of atonement even in dreams, such surrendered souls do not see Yamaraj or his order carriers who are equipped with the ropes to bind sinful.
The word sakrit is significant because it indicates that if one sincerely surrenders to Krishna once, even if he falls down by committing sinful activitie. The sinful reactions of one who has surrendered unto Krishna are compared to snake with his poison fanks removed. Such a snake is no longer to be feared. Ofcourse one should not commit sinful activities on the strength of having surrendered to Krishna. However, even if one has surrendered to Krishna happens to do something sinful because of his former habits, such sinful actions no longer have a destructive effect. Therefore one should adhere to lotus feet of Krishna very tightly and serve him under the direction of the spiritual master. Thus in all conditions one will be free from fear. And then the text no. 20, we’ll start from this afternoon and that is where, so this was like a introduction to these 3 chapters or the history of story of Ajamila and the historical background why this topic has come out, King Parikshit’s concern and solutions offered by Sukhdev Goswami and in the beginning some of the things proposed by Sukhdev Goswami have been rejected by King Parikshit and Sukhdev Goswami thus give other proposals then bhakti and serving Vaishnavs and then now he wants to illustrate these things by historical account, itihas and past time. So, next verse he begins the narration of the past time of Ajamila. HARI BOL.

Venue: Vrindavan,Dated- 2/8/2012, Om namo bhagvate……………what? (Maharaj says ) Vasudevaya. Who is Vasudev here? There is always fighting here some says Krishna, some says Balarama but today He has to be Balarama. We offer our ( I don’t know how humble) very very humble, not just once but again and again our obeisance unto lotus feet of Vasudev . He has to be Vasudev and He has to be also Bhagvan “om namo bhagvaate vasudevaya” Bhagvan and Vasudev at the same time, so Bhagvan is Vasudev.
In Vrindavan they don’t know this, when He went to Mathura they started “jai jagadisha hare” and He is Vaasudev meaning son of Vasudev, He is not son of Vaasudev, why is He Vaasudev because He is son of Vasudev did you get that. One is Vasudev other one is Vaasudev, Vasudev is father and Vaasudev is son, Balarama so not only Krishna is his son 8th one but prior to him the 7th son of Vasudev and Devaki is Balarama.
Jai Balarama…Jai Balarama ……………jai Balarama….. jai Balarama. Are you happy? Haribol… its happy birthday Balarama He is always happy, He is always happy that is why His name is Ram, He is Ram, Nityananda Ram, He is Balaram “ramati ramaiti ca” that is why he is Balaram He is always happy and He makes others also happy that is why He is called Balarama, He is Ram, Ramati and we are sitting here in Raman reti, where Balarama and Krishna used to do their raman, raman is happily wandering, travelling, walking through dancing that is raman.
So Krishna Balarama they have done their raman here. Ram, Balarama has done His raman. Knowing this Srila Prabhupad gave us Krishna Balarama, what is Krishna Balarama’s address? Raman Reti all over the world Krishna Balarama’s address is Raman reti ( maharaj laughs) we did not know Srila Prabhupad told us, this is His address and Lord Balarama and Sri Krishna they are always together, they are always together off course Balarama came little ahead of Krishna, how many days ahead? 8 days only has to be 1 year and 8 days not the same year. I was going by the calculation each year one son, so 7th son one more year 8th son. Before completion of 1 year it was declared as miscarriage, so Balarama wasn’t in the womb for 1 year. Ya for the general public it is good, for you you are more than general public you are from Balarama’s home town you should be knowing all this I am just a visitor, I am trying to figure it out. So Srila Prabhupad gave the whole world Krishna Balarama he was always here in his nitya lila or aprakat lila and then prakat lila for our Krishna Balarama or Srila Prabhupad’s Krishna Balarama. Well our Krishna Balarama’s birthday is not today He appeared on Ramnavmi and appearance day of Ramcandra.
Balarama appeared, Krishna Balarama appeared and there was a big grand festival as Krishna Balarama appeared we had that opportunity to witness, be there as Krishna Balarama appeared anyone else was here? 1975 Ram navmi may be some of you were not even born when Krishna Balarama appeared or took birth here (Maharaj laughs). Srila Prabhupad greeted Krishna Balarama you know that photograph Srila Prabhupad offering aarti to Krishna Balaramaa and on next day on the morning walk Srila Prabhupad was talking about Krishna Balarama making reference about what Krishna had to say about Balarama.
Krishna Balarama were wandering here right here in Raman reti and Krishna said look look all these trees they were sages before but now they are offering obeisance’s unto you Krishna said this. And look at these birds they are all glorifying you as if Srila Prabhupad was seeing and hearing Krishna Balarama wandering and talking then Srila Prabhupad said that same Balarama has appeared now and when ever you feel weak you go in front Balarama pray to him Prabhupad said you say “sir such and such is difficulty please” Prabhupad said they will take care of you. In the morning walk Bhaktivedanta Swami marga Prabhupad was walking next morning he said you could approach Krishna Balarama and “sir such and such is the difficulty please” and He will do the needful, He will do the needful. Krishna Balarama ki ………….. jai.
So when ever we say or talk about Krishna Balarama (maharaj says) I always think of Krishna Balarama or Krishna Balarama mandir, Krishna Balarama it becomes easier they are of course non different from Krishna Balarama of Raman reti of Vrindavan. There are calves and cows their and every morning they get ready to go to the forest around 8.30 is their departure time. Sometimes Krishna and Balarama they have ropes in their hands to tie to the cows and the calves. Sometimes they are holding additional rope in the hands and when you see that kind of darshan you are reminded they are getting ready to go and you wonder weather you could also join them to day. They invoke such thoughts and memories remind us that we are also part of their past times and their abode and here we go, would you like to come? They are inviting us, join us.
In good old days they use to give, Balarama use to hold big club just like Hanuman’s (Maharaj laughs) then they realized no….. no ….no… not this . He does not hold club of this kind. He holds Mussal which does not have a big round. So now they have changed and there are different kind whatever this kind or that kind of club you stand before Krishna Balarama and you feel protected. Here is someone first of all He is Balarama and He has club in his hands. And He is your protector then how do you feel? You feel protected in presence of Krishna Balarama, Balarama sometimes holding his weapon. Then another time Srila Prabhupad asked he said amongst Krishna and Balarama who is stronger? Who is more powerful? ….. Balarama , there is always two opinion that time also devotees Krishna –Balarama , Krishna – Balarama, who is powerful? Krishna-Balarama, Krishna- Balarama. And Prabhupad said look at Krishna and Balarama as they were looking isn’t Balarama taking, He is holding on two clutches and He is taking some help of Krishna, even to stand up. So who must be powerful? Jay shree Krishna
“dauji ke bhaiyya ……….. krishna kanhaiyya,
dauji ke bhaiyya……… ..krishna kanhaiyya,
Krishna kanhaiyya…… dauji ke bhaiyya,
krishna kanhaiyya…….. dauji ke bhaiyya,
So this Krishna and Balarama the team is, the team of two Lords two topmost Lords. Although “advaitam acyutam anadir anantarupam” is there “ramadi murti sukla niyamen tistan nanavatar” so many forms, countless forms. But there is no form like Balarama, just right after Krishna the another personality of Godhead, Krishna is 100% God or Godhood is 100%, Balarama is 2% less, Prabhupad makes mention 98% Krishna , He is 98% Personality of Godhead, little less, little less. So no one comes closer off course “mattah parantaram nanayat kincid asati dhananjayah”, Krishna has already declared that about Himself and then talking about Balarama and after Krishna comes Balarama, He is number two Personality of Godhead.
Devotees of Vrindavan they don’t get into this technical matters who is who they know Krishna, they don’t get into this Godhood and Godhead. He may be in Vaikuntha, He may be in Dwaraka, He may be in Mathura but not here not in Vrindavan. Balarama’s appaearance day today full moon day for some reason there is rakhi, the devotees say this is for Balarama for my brother Balarama, protector Balarama. “yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham” (B.G 4.7) this principle is also there “paritranaya sadhunam”( B.G 4.8) Balarama is appearing “vinasaya ca duskrtam” lots of dustas, lots of miscreants headed by Kamsa, lots of them where around, he had gone all over the universe infact battling, fighting, defeating this demon that person, He had gathered big stock of demons at his disposal.
Vasudev (anyway don’t know where to start Maharaj says) Vasudev and Devaki’s marriage takes place, the procession is still going on, “the 8th son will be killing you” no…no… I can bring my son to you then what ever you wish to do with him ok…ok. Some treaty was signed then Devaki gives birth to 1st son, here is my son, promise is promise. Kamsa thought, no…no I don’t have any fear from this take him back home “Narayana Narayana” who come? Narada Muni comes – any one of the son’s could be the 8th son, you think of this Kamsa OH! That makes sense! Hye! Bring that child back he cursed him to death. Urgasena was the ruler that time and he could not stand this he could not tolerate this, he send some soldiers fighting took place between Kamsa and Ugrasena his father’s soldiers to teach him lesson, oh! You kill one but don’t kill another and he killed all the 1st six of them were killed one after the other “hatesu satsu balesu devakya augrasenina” (S.B 10. 2.4) this is Sri Suka uvaca 10th Canto. When the six children where already killed and lot of battling, fighting then of course we did not mention, Kamsa defeated the armies the soldiers of his father and arrested his father, he imprisoned his father, he became the ruler and lots of harassment to lots of people they all fled, started leaving Vrindavan and more details are there, they went to different places. “salvan vidarbhan nisadhan kusalan” (S.B 10.2.3) all these different countries they were leaving for theses different destinations for safety reasons. And what was going on here the news reached spiritual sky news reached Golok.
“bhagvan api visvatma viditva kamsajam bhayam” ( S.B 10.2.6) so Bhagavan api – Lord Sri Krishna also. Viditva – knowing, kamsajam bhayam- because of fear of Kamsa lots of residents were leaving Braj Mandal, Matura Mandal Lord is preparing strategy something has to be done now enough is enough, I cant stand this now “gaccha devi vrajam bhadra gopa gobhir alankrtam rohini vasudevasya bharyaste nand gokule” (S.B 10.2.7) He called Yogamaya….Yogamaya…………Yes sir ….go, where should I go? Go to Vrindavan “gobhir alankrtam” that Vrindavan decorared with the cows and gopas and gopisto tha Vrindavan you go. “yogamayam samadisat” (S.B 10.2.6) yogamaya was instructed and what is my mission ok I will go and what do there “devakya jathare garbham mamakam” (S.B 10.2.8) already there is “Balarama sesakhyam” known as Sesa Anantsesa popularly known as Anantsesa He has already appeared in the womb of Devki you go and “sannikrsya rohinya udare sannivesaya” (S.B 10.2.8) and your job is to transfer that Sesa transfer that Balarama from Devki’s womb to Rohini’s womb Rohini Nandan ki……………Jai
So at some point Rohini had left Mathura mandal crossed Jamuna she was riding on the horse crosses Jamuna then secretly at the time of dusk when there is less light she enters Gokul and finally ends up at Nandbhavan where she was greeted by none other than Yashoda they did embraced and welcome, you please stay here, you please stay here and other 16 total 16 queens Vasudev had one was with him in the prison she is a principal queen and others have. Lord Krishna have already “ vivaresu vasantihi anyasca” and other queens wives of Vasudev are residing, hiding in different parts, in the caves here and there hidingly but Rohini is in Gokul you go, Yogamaya was told. So there Krishna’s birth place where was He born? Mathura Balarama‘s birth place? You could not say quickly you take some time I know that, we don’t think, doesn’t come our mind that Balarama appeared in Gokul He has to appear there.
Rohini was residing in Gokul so on this day, this day has been reserved for Balarama’s appearance day, Balarama Pornima Lord Balarama appeared jay Balarama ………….jay Balarama. Did He cry as soon as he, certainly not that makes his birth different from yours and mine and everybody “janma karma ca me divyam” ( B.G 4.9) not only Krishna’s Balarama’s also and appearance is transcendental Balarama had already his clothes on, I am sure He had his weapons tiny weapons on, club ready to go.
But there was this talk going on in Gokul how come, Rohini’s husband is in prison she is here and giving birth some rumors were spreading. Whose child is this so this doubt was removed none other than Vyasdeva as news spread instantly, Vyasadeva and others come to know that Balarama has appeared and they have all already arrived in Gokul Vasistha has arrived, Brahaspati is there, Narad Muni is off course first one to be there, Vyasdeva and they are very anxious to take darshan of Balarama but before that as they have arrived and anxiously awaiting darshan of Balarama. Nanda Maharaj is enquiring how come husband is there and she is pregnant giving birth to a boy and not 10 months period completed, its too early and we are not expecting her to give birth now solve this please, explain and Vyasa uvaca and Vyasdev is explaining that .Dehval is there “sundaro balakoyam na drso samaha kvacit” this balak this boy is so beautiful, Nanda Maharaj is making them more eager so that they were wanting to take darshan I had not seen child beautiful like this, yes yes but please show us where is he? we want to go see him, no..no but I would like to know katha how did this happen? bruhi Mahamuni please explain he had already enquired. Sri vyasa uvacha “aho bhagyatum te nanda sisu sesa sanantanah devakyam vasudevasya jatoyam Mathurapure” and he explains this child appeared born first in the womb of Devaki and Yogamaya transferred him “krishneshya” and all this has taken place by desire and will and planning of Shri Krishna.
“nandaraj tvaya drso durlabho yoginam api” and Nanda Maharaj that boy you have seen is so duralabh to have His darshan is such rare “yoginam” yogis also do not manage to take darshan of Him but you had darshan. Please now give us darshan, then please come along and Nanda Maharaj brings Vyasdev, Narada Muni, Vasistha and others to that quarter, Rohini has given birth and the child is already in the cradle and as Vyasadev and others arrive there. “drustva prankvasthitam praha” as they take darshan of the child in the palana in the cradle what else you say? swing. Vyasdev immediately throws himself on the ground with all his most humble obeisance’s “natva satyavati suta’ that is Vyasdev “deva adhi deva bhagvat kamapalna namostute” Vysadev – please accept my obeisances oh! devadhi dev who are you ? you are “devadhi dev” the dev of dev, you are the original dev.
“bhagvat kama pal” you fulfill the desires of your devotees “namo santaya sesaya saksad ramaya te namah” I offer my obeisances unto you oh! Sri Rama oh! Sri Balarama oh! Sesa oh! Ananta and he goes on. “ dharadara purnaya svadhamne” oh! How effulgent you are you are holder of the planets, universes on your hood “sahastra sirse’ and you have thousands of hoods, of course you hold the planets and you also glorify the Lord Sri Krishna with those thousand hoods “sankarsanaya namha revati ramanam tvam” you are Revati raman ok. “ baladevo” you are Baladev you are powerful or giver of bala also, you need bala any one here looking for some strength? Any one wants some strength? you are already strong ok I think you are doing ok if you wish if you pray Balarama could you lots of strength today specially He is giving gift today, showering His mercy giving us strength.
“Baldevaya acyuta agraj” you are acyuta agraj elder brother of acyuta, you take birth first and then Balarama next to follow “halauda” you are holder of plow Balarama that also as weapon, He has plow and He has club. So Balarama’s strategy when he wants to kill demons, He drags the demon with his plow gets him closer and closer when he is very close then comes the club. “halauda pralambagnha’ You are killer of pralambasura in which forest? Bhandirvan. Pralambha – long long demon he was short in the beginning but soon he became long pralambha. And Balarama with lots of strength He did little boxing and demon fell unconscious. “pahimam purusottam” please protect me “balaya balbhadraya talankaya namo namaha” Srila Vyasdev offering his prayers where is he offering his prayers? Which town? in Gokul which day? today this day he is offering his prayers. “talankaya” Balarama in the chariot there is flag and the sign on the flag is that of a tala tree “talankaya” . This pastime another demon killed in Talavan by Balarama, Dhenukasura was killed in Talavan. Balarama started shaking those trees and all the friend were picking up the fruits and they were enjoying the fruits and then comes a donkey demon (maharaj laughs) when he was walking he was shaking the earth. There is a big battle Balarama pushed him behind he went so many miles then he came charging and this time as the donkeys do with their hind legs then Balarama caught hold of those legs and the whirling he ended on the top of the Tala tree and finished ……….Haribol. so the tala tree becomes sign on Balarama’s flag.
“ nilambaraya” you are nilambar, Krishna is pitambar, Balarama is nilambar – bluish garment He is always wearing “ guaraya” Krishna’s colour is like a fresh monsoon clouds and Balaramas complexion is autumn cloud in month of sharad season, during kartik there are some clouds they are white like swan Balarama’s complexion is like that “guaraya”
“Rohinaya te namha” Rohini maiya ki ……jai, my obeisances unto you you are dhenukari – You are killer of this dhenuka and mustikari you are killer of Mustik in Mathura there are five wrestlers it appears that two were were killed by Balarama and three were killed by Krishna. So you are Kustikari and kutari also Toshal and Kutshal and so so many five names. So kut was killed in wrestling, mustik was killed also. “rukhmyari” you killed rukmi also and there are some more names, you have killed lots of demon, you are killer of demons. “ kalindi bhednosi” remember that pastime Ramghat Balarama He is only another god other than Sri Krishna who could who could do the rasa dancing no one else Krishna and only other god, Personality of Godhead who could do rasa dance and that’s Balarama. Ram has only one queen and He has even taken vow just one and others are there basically one queen but Krishna has many and Balarama also. So at Ram ghat He wanted to dance He had come from Dwaraka for two months and He wanted to dance He wanted to spend time with His gopis and dance, right on the bank of Jamuna but jamuna was not that close.
Aye! Come here I say come here, Jamuna was not in mood and Balarama took his plow, He was dragging Jamuna ok ok I come and then Jamuna comes forward and Balarama. Krishna’s favorite item to eat or drink is was? butter mukkhan and Balarama’s – varuni. So there are some differences between these two brothers, lots of similarities so lots of differences.
“brajmandala mandanaha” your presence is like decoration of Brajmandala and hence beauty of Vrindavan. “kamsa bhratu pra hantasi” Kamsa was killed by Krishna, his brothers they were 8 of them they came running and Balarama killed all of them, all the brothers of Kamsa were killed by Balarama. You are “tirtha yatra karaha” you are the one who goes on pilgrimage, Balarama went this is another difference. Krishna was in favor of battle and Balarama wasn’t so He chose to go around all over India He travelled went on pilgrimage, so He is “tirtha karah duryodhan guru” you are guru of Duryodhan He taught Duryodhan use of the club and he has some soft corner for Duryodhan also.
While Krishna was …………….that Duryodhan I have to kill him but Balarama that’s why Balarama did not want to take part “saksad pahi pahi prabhu jagat” Duryodhana says – please protect …please protect “musaline baline haline namah” wonderful prayers “musaline baline haline namaha” you are haldhar, you are musaldhar and you are baladhar or balavan, you are powerful you hold this symbols. “balamparikramya satam pranamya tai” so offering all these prayers Srila Vyasadev did parikrama. Balarama is in the cradle and Srila Vyasadev and others they did circumambulation of the cradle “satam pranamya” offered obeisance’s hundreds of time again and again and again.
“sarasvatim sarasvati suto” and then finally with great reluctance he did not want to go and finally he did leave. So that is appearance day Balarama how old is He? He is till one day, first day and then Shri Krishna joined him in 8 days you say, well Jiva Goswami says so. So when Shri Krishna appeared and vasudev brought Vaasudev outside the prison house and the very first person who was ready to greet was…. Balarama no one else, it was rainy season Balarama had come, Sesa its rainy season so umbrella is required. So His service begins although he is God himself but He serves another God his god he takes that position of serving Shri Krishna. He is adiguru that way, He is adi guru Balarama He teaches by His example how to serve the Lord. So they stayed together crossing Jamuna and they stayed in Gokul for many years lots of pastimes together they are always together they are in Gokul then together coming over to Vrindavan they were together they started herding the cows. Krishna and Balarama became vatsapal, the protectors, the care takers of calves “choti choti gaiya chote chote guaval” they were little boys then Nandamaharaj picked up some small calves. Ok you take care and they were trained, quickly they were trained how to control the cows or how to make them turn around, ok sit down, come there this way.
So here they grew up when it was time for both of them to go, take care of the calves it was considered ok for Balarama to go everyday he was considered elder and competent enough but Yasoda would not let Krishna go everyday no..no you cant go everyday sometimes you could go, you have to grow you are still baby Balarama is your dada your bigger brother Krishna. So sometimes He was allowed Balarama would go everyday, sometimes Krishna is allowed sometimes He is not allowed. So one day it was day to stay and Yasoda said Krishna is staying behind today, so He had seen Balarama and other cowherd boys, calves leaving and Krishna was not with them He had stayed behind. So she got busy with her household duties but sometime after she saw that Krishna was running, He was trying to catch up with because He wanted to go some how He was kept behind and then Yasoda then started to catch Krishna not let him go. So at some distance away there was Balarama and some friends, cows and Krishna in the middle running towards Balarama and Yasoda is some distance behind trying to catch up, Krishna is looking behind Balarama says hey! come come stop stop don’t go don’t go tug of war going on, cowherd boys and Balarama come run run run, Yasoda no… no… stop stop and finally phone rang (laughter) its not my fault its time for me to stop probably, another speaker.
So when Krishna He got up with Balarama then He caught hold of Balarama and Yasoda also soon arrived and she was dragging Him Balarama was dragging Him helping Him to stay on finally ok ok today you go. So Krishna and Balarama they like to be together and also when Balarama is not with Krishna, then Krishna gets into trouble many times this happened. The day the Kaliya the pastime took place not far from here Kaliya dha, that day Balarama was some birthday some ceremony Balarama had to stay there were seen some bad omens all over and there must be some trouble. Where is Krishna? Oh! He has gone to forest but Balarama He is not with Him. Oh! For sure there is some, if Balarama was with Him then nothing to worry but today Balarama has stayed behind and we have seeing all these very bad signs omens.
And Krishna got into trouble that day they all came Balarama also came the day Bramha stole Krishna’s cows and friends that day also Balarama was not with Krishna that is also Balarama did not know almost for one year He did not know who are these boys? who are these cows? One day He had to enquire what is going on here. There is something extra ordinary situation the way Balarama was seeing the kind of affection the cowherd men had towards their children the boys. And the cows and the calves how they were getting attracted so much affection this was. So Balarama was come here come here what is all this?
You know that day you were not there and He started this happened that happened you know I was left by myself you know, it was time to go return. How could I come myself so that’s me all these boys that’s me and all these calves that’s me also. So Krishna has to disclose because Balarama was not there when the stealing this Bramha Vimohan Lila took place. The day well Yasoda tied Krishna to the mortar that day also Balarama was not at home and when He did return He saw His poor little brother (laughter) had been tied he cannot even move and then Balarama Hye! Who is it? Who has tied my brother come forward He is such a innocent boy he never ever looks at the gopis, (laughter) is that why everyone is thinking because He is teasing gopis is that the reason he has been tied and then Krishna says yes “at least someone understands me” (laughter) thank you no one understands me how innocent I am. So that day Balarama was furious when he saw this Krishna tied to the mortar.
So they were together in Gokul, they were together in Vrindavan together they went to Mathura in the chariot driven by Akrur together they did the killing, tighter the met Vasudev and Devaki, together they went to Ujjayan to Avantipur they were brahmacahris together in the ashram of Sandipani Muni was also spiritual master of Balarama. Together they had gone to find the lost son, killed son of Sandipani Muni and his good wife and then together they had battled with Jarasandha for 18years just two of them with small army, they where battling and 18th time together they went to Dwaraka. But then Krishna had gone alone to kidnap Rukmini, the next day when Balarama found out He also rushed then together they battled, together they returned and together they stayed. And of course Balarama’s marriage His elder brother, so His marriage takes place 1st before series of marriages (Maharaj laughs). Its just one marriage so get this out of the way He goes to have lots of affairs and lot of marriages so Balarama’s marriage with Revati that’s another story, at the time of marriage she was very tall as they stood facing each other at the time of marriage, Balaram had to look up to his wife, look up. And Balarama used his plow (Maharaj makes sound and action how Balarama pulled Revati down so tah she becomes similar to his height) ok she ok now.
So that Revati and Dauji they are in Dauji to take darshan Revati and Balarama, near Bramhanda Ghat Dauji. So then like that Krishna and Balarama stayed in Dwaraka then there and the other different outings or going to Hastinapur, going here there and most of the time they are together. Marriage of Subhadra with Arjuna one brother is in favor one is against, which one is? Balarama against Krishna was in favor. During Caturmasa, now Caturmasa is going on Arjuna had gone like sadhu and so it’s a great team and team effort, they are our Lords Krishna and Balarama ki………………………………………….jai.
So Srila Prabhupad gave us Krishna Balarama he said we could approach them saying “sir this is the difficulty please” our access to Krishna Balarama was made easy by Srila Prabhupad and of course instead of making this temple as Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar temple he made this temple as Sri Krishna Balaram temple he put Krishna and Balarama in the centre. So on this occasion of Balarama’s appearance day we are fortunate we pray like Vyasdeva. Ok I stop here
Balarama jayanti Mahotsav ki……….jai
His Holiness Lokanath Maharaj ki…………..jai.

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…………………………….