# January 25 *Lectures from this day: 5 recordings* --- **[[spoken/730125nd.cal|The Nectar of Devotion — January 25, 1973, Calcutta]]** **Mādhavānanda:** [reading] "...by certain convictions derived by his own arguments and decisions. Then another person, who may be a greater logician, will nullify these conclusions and establish another thesis. In this way the path of argument will never be safe or conclusive. The *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* recommends, therefore, that one follow in the footsteps of the authorities." **Prabhupāda:** So, to make progress in devotional service, one cannot manufacture anything. The authoritative statements of *ācāryas,* that we'll have to follow. *Mahājana yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ* [[cc/madhya/17/186|[Cc. Madhya 17.186] ]]. We should not manufacture, invent anything. As they are stated in the *śāstras,* confirmed by spiritual master and *ācāryas,* that will be accepted. Nobody can say, "I think devotional service should be like this." No. Therefore spiritual master is the guidance. He is the representative of the *ācāryas.* In this way we should make progress, not by concoction. **Mādhavānanda:** "Here is a general description of devotional service given by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī in his *Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu.* Previously, it has been stated that devotional service can be divided into three categories—namely devotional service in practice, devotional service in ecstasy and devotional service in pure love of God. Now Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī proposes to describe devotional service in practice. --- **[[spoken/750125bg.hk|Bg 7.1 — January 25, 1975, Hong Kong]]** **Nitāi:** "Now hear, O son of Pṛthā* [Arjuna], how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt." **Prabhupāda:** > śrī bhagavān uvāca > mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha > yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ > asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ > yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu > [[bg/7/1|[Bg. 7.1] ]] Arjuna is hearing from Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is speaking to Arjuna directly. How fortunate is Arjuna, that he is directly hearing from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here, therefore, it is said, *bhagavān uvāca.* Bhagavān. Not ordinary teacher, a human being, or a living being, but Bhagavān. --- **[[spoken/770125mw.pur|Morning Walk — January 25, 1977, Jagannātha Purī]]** [break] But this *sarpaḥ,* snake, can be charmed by herbs and *mantra,* but the man envious cannot be. Therefore he's more dangerous than the snake. *Khalaḥ kena nivāryate.* **Prabhupāda:** ...I was jumping here. [laughter] 1920 or '21, I came. After my appearing in examination, B.A. test, I came here. By that time I was married. I was married in 1918. [break] Because jubilant, I was jumping. When the waves come, I was jumping; the waves passed. There was one guide, he taught me, *Bābuji, aisā karo "Sir, do like this"*. --- **[[spoken/770125r1.pur|Evening Conversation — January 25, 1977, Jagannātha Purī]]** **Prabhupāda:** Otherwise I could not understand. So I passed through third heart attacks. One, two, three. They say that anyone who gets heart attack, the third attack, he must expire. Heart attack. **Prabhupāda:** And one girl, that captain's wife, she studied astrology. She was... She said, "Swāmījī, if you can survive your seventieth year, then you'll live for one hundred years."* [Hari-śauri laughs] So, somehow or other, I survived my seventieth year. I do not know whether I shall live for hundred years, but seventieth year was severe—three heart attacks and paralysis. **Prabhupāda:** Then without any family. At that time none of you were with me. I was alone. I was completely dependent on anyone. --- **[[spoken/770125r2.pur|Conversation — January 25, 1977, Jagannātha Purī]]** **Prabhupāda:** Just imagine what kind of astrologer. The modern astrologers, they cannot foretell like that, neither they can believe that it is possible. **Satsvarūpa:** [reading] "The real qualification is to become a devotee of the Lord, and gradually all the good qualities worthy of possession developed. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a *mahā-bhāgavata,* or a first-class devotee, who was not only well versed in the science of devotion but also able to convert others to become devotees by his transcendental instructions. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was, therefore, a devotee of the first order, and thus he used to consult great sages and learned *brāhmaṇas* who could advise him by the *śāstras* how to execute the state administration." **Prabhupāda:** So who is going to do that? All these... All rogues and thieves, drunkards and fourth-class character, meat-eaters, they are the government. How you can expect good government for the benefit of the people? This is Kali-yuga. Unfortunately, we have on the heads of government all men of the low-grade character. You... Your President? --- ## Letters - [[../../letters/1967/670125_brahmananda.md|Letter to Brahmananda, 1967]] - [[../../letters/1968/680125_balai.md|Letter to Balai, 1968]] - [[../../letters/1969/690125_jagannathan_prabhu.md|Letter to Jagannathan Prabhu, 1969]] - [[../../letters/1969/690125_kedar_mataji.md|Letter to Kedar Mataji, 1969]] - [[../../letters/1969/690125_kirtanananda.md|Letter to Kirtanananda, 1969]] - [[../../letters/1969/690125_mahapurusa.md|Letter to Mahapurusa, 1969]] - [[../../letters/1969/690125_mr._levine.md|Letter to Mr. Levine, 1969]] - [[../../letters/1969/690125_mukunda.md|Letter to Mukunda, 1969]] - [[../../letters/1970/700125_satsvarupa.md|Letter to Satsvarupa, 1970]] - [[../../letters/1971/710125_manager_of_central_bank_of_india.md|Letter to Manager Of Central Bank Of India, 1971]] - [[../../letters/1972/720125_karandhara.md|Letter to Karandhara, 1972]] - [[../../letters/1972/720125_ravindra_svarupa.md|Letter to Ravindra Svarupa, 1972]] - [[../../letters/1972/720125_sivananda.md|Letter to Sivananda, 1972]] - [[../../letters/1974/740125_bharadraja.md|Letter to Bharadraja, 1974]]