# January 25 ## Spoken on January 25 *Lectures from this day: 6 recordings* --- **[1971: Room Conversation](spoken/1971/710125r1.all)** > What is the value of this material benefit, it is known to the devotees. Therefore it is said that they are not interested. They are simply interested in serving the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. That is their only offer. They are no more interested in anything else. And that is *mukti*, when one is situated in that position that he has no more anything to do with anything else except Kṛṣṇa. That is... he is immediately liberated. > Those who are devotees of Viṣṇu, they are *devatās*. And those who are opposite number, maybe devotees of anyone else. Very good man but he was a demon. *Viṣṇu-bhakto bhaved daiva āsuras tad-viparayāt*, anyone who is not a Viṣṇu bhakta, he is a demon. What is that? --- **[1973: The Nectar of Devotion](spoken/1973/730125nd.cal)** > That is confirmed in the *Bhagavad-gītā: māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ*. Pāpa-yonayaḥ* means the lowest part of ignorance. So Kṛṣṇa recommends that anyone, even in *pāpa-yoni—striya, vaiśyās tathā śūdrās... Stri,* women, and *vaiśya* and *śūdra,* they're also considered not very in higher position. But Kṛṣṇa says all of them, if they take to real path of devotional service under the direction of spiritual master, then that is *sādhana-bhakti.* To act under the direction of spiritual master... Spiritual master directs means he knows *śāstra.* According to the direction of *śāstra* or *ācāryas,* he gives direction. And if we follow, that is called *sādhana-bhakti.* That is called practice. > Therefore there is a great necessity for pushing on this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. That is the best welfare activity to the human society. All of them, they are rascals. *Abodha-jāta.* In the *śāstra* it is said, *parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāta.* They are being defeated by the onslaught of material nature. These rascals, they do not know. They are thinking they have become great leaders, philanthropist, nationalist, politician, scientist, philosopher—but they're killing themselves and others. *Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇu*.* They do not know how to make progress. --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 7.1](spoken/1975/750125bg.hk)** > That is said in the *Bhagavad-gītā: mayādhyakṣeṇa*. Kṛṣṇa says, "Under My superintendence the nature is working." That is the fact. Nature, the matter... Matter cannot combine together automatically. These skyscraper building, they are created with matter, but the matter has not come to become skyscraper building automatically. That is not possible. There is a small, teeny spirit soul, the engineer or the architect, who takes the matter and decorate it and creates a skyscraper building. That is our experience. So how we can say that the matter is working automatically? Matter does not work automatically. It requires higher brain, higher manipulation, therefore higher order. Just like in this material world we have got the highest order, the sun, movement of the sun, the heat energy, light energy of the sun. So how it is being utilized? That is stated in the *śāstra: yasyājñayā bhramati sambhṛta-kāla-cakro govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.* This sun planet is also a planet like this planet. As in this planet there may be many presidents, but formerly there was one president only, so similarly, in each planet there is a president. In the sun planet we receive this knowledge from *Bhagavad-gītā.* Kṛṣṇa says, *imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam* : "I first of all spoke this science of *Bhagavad-gītā* to Vivasvān." Vivasvān means the president of the sun globe, and his son is Manu. This is the time. This time is going on. It is called Vaivasvata Manu period. Vaivasvata means from Vivasvān, the son of Vivasvān. He is called Vaivasvata Manu. > So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is the greatest benefactory movement to the human society because it is giving information to the human society that "You make your life... You have got this nice human form of body. Make this life perfect by understanding Kṛṣṇa." This is the opportunity. You may think of independent of Kṛṣṇa. You are not independent of Kṛṣṇa. You are under the rules and regulation of Kṛṣṇa, because we are under the rules and regulation of material nature. But what is this material nature? Material nature is agent of Kṛṣṇa. *Mama māyā.* Kṛṣṇa says, *mama māyā duratyayā.* You cannot surmount the stringent laws of material ways. And this *māyā* is Kṛṣṇa's *māyā.* Therefore the conclusion is given by Kṛṣṇa, *mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te*. If you want to get out of the *māyā's* activities, *prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi*, then you have to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is no way out. This is a scientific movement. Anyone, intelligent person, any thoughtful person, he must take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Otherwise he is doomed. --- **[1977: Morning Walk](spoken/1977/770125mw.pur)** > Because they are not *dhīra. Dhīra* means sober. They're all rascals. They cannot understand. But *dhīra tatra na muhyati,* those who are sober, they can understand immediately. So there is no education to make people sober and intelligent. All rascals, fools, rogues, thieves, that's all. Animals. What they will understand about spiritual life? Therefore Kṛṣṇa... After all, Kṛṣṇa is speaking. That this very word is used: *dhīras tatra na muhyati. Adhīra.* There are two classes of men, *dhīra* and *adhīra. Dhīra* means sober, and *adhīra* means restless. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He gave us something *dhīrādhīra. Kṛṣṇotkīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau premāmṛtāmbho-nidhī dhīrādhīra* [Śrī Sad-gosvami-astaka 1, *Śrīnivāsa Ācārya].* > 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.* --- **[1977: Conversation](spoken/1977/770125r2.pur)** > So bodily, mental, by enemies—so many impediments will come. What can be done? We have to tolerate. That is material world. We cannot expect smooth, very happy. That is not possible. Kṛṣṇa advising Arjuna, what to speak of us. What we are in comparison to Arjuna? He's His personal friend, talking with Him. He said, *tāṁs titikṣasva.* Kṛṣṇa never said, "I have made some magic. You'll have no failure," like that. *Tāṁs titikṣasva:* "You just try to tolerate. That's all." He never gave him any tablet. [chuckling] He taught that... So we have to do that. As the modern *gurus *says that "I'll give you some ash. There will be no trouble," Kṛṣṇa did it so? He said, "No, tolerate." That's all. He could have said, "I'll give you some ash." "You are ass; I'll give you some ash." [laughter] Neither Arjuna asked also, that "Why You are asking me to fight? Give me some ash. I'll throw." He was not such a fool that he asked some magic from Kṛṣṇa and kill his enemies. Actually he fought. This is *Bhagavad-gītā.* So face things as they are and depend on Kṛṣṇa. That is our duty. We must go on with our duty. Don't expect any ash, miracle, magic. > "Janamejaya:* One of the *rājarṣi* kings and the famous son of Mahārāja Parīkṣit. His mother's name is Irāvatī, or according to some, Mādravatī. Mahārāja Janamejaya begot two sons of the names Jñātānīka and Śaṅkukarṇa. He celebrated several sacrifices in the Kurukṣetra pilgrimage, and he had three younger brothers, named Śrutasena, Ugrasena and Bhīmasena II. He invaded Takṣaśilā* [Ajanta], and he decided to avenge the unlawful curse upon his great father, Mahārāja Parīkṣit. He performed a great sacrifice called Sarpa-yajña, to kill the race of serpents, including the *takṣaka* which had bitten his father to death. On request from many influential demigods and sages, he had to change his decision to kill the race of snakes, but despite stopping the sacrifice, he satisfied everyone concerned in the sacrifice by rewarding them properly and stopping further procedure of the sacrifice. In the ceremony, Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva also was present, and he personally narrated the history of the Battle of Kurukṣetra before the king. Later on, by the order of Vyāsadeva, his disciple Vaiśampāyana narrated before the king the subject matter of *Mahābhārata.* He was much affected by his great father's untimely death and was very anxious to see him again, and he expressed his desire before the great sage Vyāsadeva. Vyāsadeva also fulfilled his desire. His father was present before him, and he worshiped both his father and Vyāsadeva with great respect and pomp. Being fully satisfied, he made charities most munificently to the *brāhmaṇas* present in the sacrifice." --- ## Letters on January 25 *Letters from this day: 14* --- **[1967: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1967/670125_brahmananda)** > So long am here I shall send you two tapes duly recorded every day and similarly you also send me two tapes daily so that there will be no difficulty. --- **[1968: Letter to Balai](letters/1968/680125_balai)** > Any initiated girl can take part in preparation of prasadam, and even a boy who is not initiated cannot take part. Maya and living entities are different energies of Krishna and all of them are eternal. --- **[1969: Letter to Jagannathan Prabhu](letters/1969/690125_jagannathan_prabhu)** > My sister from Calcutta has addressed me one letter that she has heard by some source that I am coming to Mayapur during the great festival. This means that some of our godbrothers and sisters may be expecting me during the ensuing festival there. --- **[1969: Letter to Kedar Mataji](letters/1969/690125_kedar_mataji)** > What you have to do is to purchase the deities, pack Them in nice wooden boxes securely, and dispatch to Calcutta to our shipping agents. We have arrangements with Scindia Steam Navigation Co. to carry our temple goods free of charge. --- **[1969: Letter to Kirtanananda](letters/1969/690125_kirtanananda)** > I am encouraged to know that you are very enthusiastic about our projects for developing New Vrindaban. --- **[1969: Letter to Mahapurusa](letters/1969/690125_mahapurusa)** > I am very pleased to note that the newspaper article which you had helped arrange has resulted in much interest in our movement in Hawaii. --- **[1969: Letter to Mr. Levine](letters/1969/690125_mr._levine)** > I am so pleased to read your letter of January 21, 1969 and to learn of your sincere eagerness to serve Krishna in the best capacity of your talents. --- **[1969: Letter to Mukunda](letters/1969/690125_mukunda)** > You have written to say that Londoners there are all so very anxious to meet me, so I am also very much anxious to meet you and the Londoners. --- **[1970: Letter to Satsvarupa](letters/1970/700125_satsvarupa)** > I have not heard from you since a few weeks. I hope you are well and everything is going nicely there. --- **[1971: Letter to Manager Of Central Bank Of India](letters/1971/710125_manager_of_central_bank_of_india)** > Please find enclosed herewith two checks, one check No. T458303 from Central Bank of India, Bombay, for Rs 2250.00 and another check No. C676070 from the Bank of India, Ltd. for Rs. 100 only. --- **[1972: Letter to Karandhara](letters/1972/720125_karandhara)** > I am answering your letter from an air ship going to Nairobi, Kenya. Where I will speak from Jan. 26 - Jan 30 to the Africans and Asians alike. --- **[1972: Letter to Ravindra Svarupa](letters/1972/720125_ravindra_svarupa)** > Krishna book distribution is our greatest propaganda for spreading Krishna Consciousness. You must secure one letter from Temple University stating that our *Nectar of Devotion* is being used as a text. This will be very helpful in introducing our literature in all the big Universities all over the country. --- **[1972: Letter to Sivananda](letters/1972/720125_sivananda)** > For the time being you may suspend the program for taking sannyasa. You may remain with your wife until she recovers and then you may travel together and open branches. --- **[1974: Letter to Bharadraja](letters/1974/740125_bharadraja)** > Regarding a photographic exhibit in Mayapur. This is an important part of our Caitanya Festival in Mayapur. Bali Mardan is here and he has agreed that the photographers at ISKCON Press can blow up photographs of our propaganda work and men can take them who are going to Mayapur. ---