Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.30

–

Los Angeles, April 22, 1973

[00:05]janma karma ca visvatmann ajasyakartur atmanah tiryan-nrsisu yadahsu tad atyanta-vidambanam

[01:00]“Of course it is bewildering, O Soul of the Universe, that You work, though You are inactive,

[01:08]and that You take birth, though You are the vital force and the unborn.

[01:12]You Yourself descend amongst animals, men, sages, and aquatics. Verily this is bewildering.”

[01:19]

[01:25]So Krsna is addressed here as Visvatman, the vital force of the universe.

[01:36]Just like in my body, in your body, that there is a vital force. The vital force is the atma, the living being,

[01:55]living entity or soul. So because the vital force, the soul is there, the whole body is working.

[02:06]

[02:08]So similarly there is the supreme vital force. Supreme vital force is Krsna

[02:18]or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore where is the question of His taking birth,

[02:31]appearance and disappearance? In the Bhagavad-gita it is said: janma karma ca me divyam.

[02:41]Divyam means it is spiritual. Ajo ‘pi sann avyayatma. Aja means unborn. Avyayatma, without any destruction.

[03:00]So Krsna is existing as in the beginning of this stotra, Kuntidevi addressed Krsna that:

[03:13]“You are within, You are without, still invisible.” Krsna is within, without. That we have explained.

[03:24]Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah.

[03:34]Krsna is situated in everyone’s heart. Therefore He is within everything.

[03:43]Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham. He, He is within the atom even. And without also.

[03:54]Visvarupa, as Krsna showed, the Visvarupa, external feature. This gigantic cosmic manifestation.

[04:06]That is Krsna’s external body. These are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

[04:12]The, the hills, the mountains, they are described as the bones.

[04:21]Just like we have got in our body some part raised by the bones, similarly these big, big

[04:32]mountains and hills, they have been described as the bones.

[04:37]And the big, big oceans they have been described as different holes in the body, down and up.

[04:51]Similarly the Brahmaloka is the skull, upper skull.

[05:00]So one who cannot see God, they have been advised to see God in so many ways.

[05:10]These are the instruction in the Vedic literature. Because you can simply conceive of God,

[05:21]the great… The greatness… You also do not know how great He is.

[05:29]So in your conception of greatness… Just like the very high mountains, the sky, the big, big planet.

[05:41]So the description is there. You can think of. That is also Krsna consciousness.

[05:47]If you think that: “This mountain is the bone of Krsna,” that is also Krsna consciousness.

[05:54]Actually that is so. If you think that big Pacific Ocean is the navel of Krsna.

[06:05]These big, big trees, plants, they are hairs in the body of Krsna.

[06:14]Then the head, the skull of Krsna, is the Brahmaloka. The sole is the Patalaloka. Similarly…

[06:30]This is mahato mahiyan. When you think of Krsna as the greater than the greatest,

[06:39]you can think like this. And if you think Krsna is both, smaller than the smallest.

[06:48]That is also greatness. That is also greatness. Krsna can manufacture this gigantic

[06:58]cosmic manifestation and He can manufacture also a small insect, smaller than the point.

[07:10]You have seen sometimes in the book you’ll find one insect is running.

[07:16]The shape is smaller than the full stop. This is Krsna’s craftsmanship.

[07:25]Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan. He can create bigger than the biggest and the smaller than the smallest.

[07:36]Now human being, according to their conception, they have manufactured the 747 airplane,

[07:46]supposed to be very big. All right. According to your consciousness,

[07:55]you have produced something big. But can you produce a small airplane like insect flying?

[08:05]That is not possible. Therefore greatness means that who can become greater than the greatest

[08:19]and smaller than the smallest. That is greatness. If you can act one-sided… That is also not perfectly.

[08:29]Supposing you can manufacture still more bigger.

[08:35]I don’t think that the modern age they have manufactured the biggest.

[08:40]We get information from Bhagavatam. Kardama Muni, the father of Kapiladeva,

[08:49]he manufactured a plane, a big city. A big city, with lakes, with gardens, with big, big houses, street.

[09:03]And the whole city was flying all over the universe.

[09:09]And Kardama Muni showed to his wife all the planets, all the planets.

[09:14]He was a big yogi, and his wife, Devahuti, was Vaivasvata Manu’s daughter,

[09:24]very big king’s daughter. So Kardama Muni wanted to marry, desired.

[09:36]So immediately Vaivasvata Manu… His daughter, Devahuti, she also said:

[09:46]“My dear father, I want to marry that sage.” So he brought the daughter:

[09:54]“Sir, here is my daughter. You accept her as your wife.”

[10:00]So she was king’s daughter, very opulent, but coming to her husband, she had to serve so much

[10:11]that she became lean and thin, not sufficient food and working day and night.

[10:17]So Kardama Muni became little compassionate that: “This woman has come to me.

[10:26]She is king’s daughter, and in my protection she is not getting any comfort.

[10:32]So I shall give her some comfort.” He asked wife: “How you’ll be comfortable?”

[10:43]So woman’s nature is a good house, good food, good dress and good children and good husband.

[10:54]This is woman’s ambition. So he proved himself that the best husband she has got.

[11:06]So he first of all gave her all opulences, big, big house, maidservants, opulence.

[11:16]And then this airplane was manufactured by him, yogic process. Kardama Muni,

[11:28]he was a human being. If he could perform such wonderful thing by yogic process…

[11:35]And Krsna is the yogesvara, the master of the all yogic mystic power. Krsna.

[11:45]Krsna is addressed in the Bhagavad-gita as Yogesvara. A little mystic power, when we get,

[11:56]we become so big, important man. And now He’s the master of all yogic mystic power.

[12:06]Yatra yogesvaro harih. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that wherever Yogesvara-Hari, Krsna,

[12:17]the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all mystic power, is there,

[12:23]and where there is Dhanurdhara Arjuna, Partha, so everything is there. Everything is there.

[12:34]So we should remember this. That if you can keep yourself always in company with Krsna,

[12:47]then all perfection is there. Yatra yogesvaro harih. All perfection is there.

[12:58]And Krsna has agreed especially in this age. Nama-rupe kali-kale krsna-avatara,

[13:08]Krsna has incarnated in this age as the holy name. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that:

[13:22]“My dear Lord, You are so kind that You are giving Me Your association by, in the form of Your holy name.”

[13:36]Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah.

[13:44]“And this holy name can be chanted in any situation. There is no hard and fast rule.”

[13:55]You can chant Hare Krsna anywhere.

[14:00]Just like these children. They also chant, they also dance. It is not at all difficult.

[14:05]While walking, just like our students, they take the beads. They’re walking on the sea beach, still chanting.

[14:16]Where is the loss? But the gain is so great, that we are associating with Krsna personally.

[14:27]The gain is so much. If you feel very much proud…

[14:34]If you are associating personally with President Nixon, how much proud you feel?

[14:41]“Oh, I am with President Nixon.”

[14:43]So will you not feel very much proud if you are associating the supreme Nixon?

[14:50]Who can create millions of Nixons?

[14:55]So this is your opportunity. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says:

[15:04]etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi.

[15:09]“My dear Lord, You are so kind upon Me that You are giving Your association always, constantly.

[15:21]You are prepared. You are giving Durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah. But I am so unfortunate.

[15:29]I am not taking advantage of it.” Durdaiva. Misfortune.

[15:38]Our, this Krsna consciousness movement is simply requesting people: “Chant Hare Krsna.”

[15:46]There was a caricature-picture in some paper. Perhaps you remember. From Montreal or here,

[15:56]I don’t remember. One old lady and her husband, sitting, face to face.

[16:04]The lady is requesting the husband: “Chant, chant, chant.” And the husband is answering:

[16:12]“Can’t, can’t, can’t.” So this is going on. We are requesting everyone:

[16:24]“Please chant, chant, chant.” And they are replying: “Can’t, can’t.” This is their misfortune.

[16:34]This is their misfortune.

[16:38]So still it is our duty to make all these misfortunate, unfortunate creatures fortunate.

[16:47]That is our mission. We therefore go in the street and chant.

[16:55]Although they say: “Can’t,” we go on chanting. That is our business.

[17:01]And, somehow or other, we push on some literature in his hand.

[17:06]He is becoming fortunate. He would have squandered his hard-earned money in so many nasty,

[17:15]sinful ways, and if he purchases one book, never mind what is the price,

[17:21]his money is properly utilized. The beginning of Krsna consciousness is there.

[17:29]Because he is giving some money, hard-earned money, for this Krsna consciousness movement,

[17:38]he is getting some spiritual profit. He’s not losing. He’s getting some spiritual profit.

[17:46]Therefore our business is, somehow or other, bring everyone in this Krsna consciousness movement.

[17:57]He will be profited.

[18:00]So this business is going on not only in the human society. Krsna’s plan is so great that,

[18:11]that Krsna appeared as human being or as Lord Krsna,

[18:20]not everyone knew that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

[18:25]He was dealing just like ordinary human being. Not ordinary. When there was need,

[18:32]He proved Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

[18:35]But generally He was known as ordinary human being.

[18:41]Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami is describing Krsna in a description when He was playing with the cowherd boys.

[18:56]Krsna. So Sukadeva Gosvami is pointing out who is this cowherd boy?

[19:04]He said: ittham brahma-sukhanubhutya, satam.

[19:16]The impersonalists, they are meditating upon the impersonal Brahman

[19:22]and feeling some transcendental bliss.

[19:27]And Sukadeva Gosvami says the source of that transcendental bliss is here, Krsna.

[19:36]Aham sarvasya prabhavah. Krsna is the source of everything.

[19:42]Therefore the transcendental bliss which the impersonalists try to experience

[19:48]by meditating upon impersonal Brahman, Sukadeva Gosvami says:

[19:55]ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutya.

[19:59]Brahma-sukham, the transcendental bliss of realization of Brahman.

[20:07]Dasyam gatanam para-daivatena.

[20:11]Here is the person who is the source of brahma-sukha and dasyam gatanam para-daivatena.

[20:21]Dasyam gatanam means devotees. A devotee is always prepared to render service to the Lord.

[20:31]Dasyam gatanam para-daivatena. Supreme Personality of Godhead.

[20:37]Here is the source of brahma-suk, here is the original Personality of Godhead

[20:44]And mayasritanam nara-darakena. And those who are under the spell of illusory energy,

[20:55]for them He is ordinary boy.

[20:59]So He is, according to the conception, ye yatha mam prapadyante.

[21:08]If Krsna is taken as ordinary boy, human being, Krsna will deal with him as ordinary human being.

[21:17]If Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the devotee will enjoy

[21:25]the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

[21:29]And if the impersonalists are very much fond of Brahmajyoti, He’s the source.

[21:38]So therefore He’s everything. Brahmeti, paramatmeti, bhagavan iti sabdyate.

[21:45]So with such exalted Personality of Godhead, these boys are playing. How, why,

[21:58]how they have been so much fortunate, to play with the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

[22:03]ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutya dasyam gatanam para-daivatena mayasritanam nara-darakena

[22:15]sakam vijahruh krta-punya-punjah

[22:19]These boys, cowherd boys, now who are playing with Krsna, they’re also not ordinary.

[22:26]They have got now the highest perfection, that they have been able to play with

[22:36]the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How they have achieved this position?

[22:40]Krta-punya-punjah. Many, many lives pious activities.

[22:46]Because these boys for many, many lives underwent austerities, penances

[22:56]to achieve the highest perfection of life. Now they have got the opportunity–

[23:03]playing with Krsna personally on equal level.

[23:09]They do not know that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is vrndavana-lila.

[23:16]The cowherd boys, they simply love Krsna. Their love is unending.

[23:26]Everyone in Vrndavana. Just like Yasoda-mata or Nanda Maharaja.

[23:32]They are in paternal affection with Krsna. So the father and mother love Krsna,

[23:40]the friends love Krsna, the girl friends, they love Krsna, the trees love Krsna,

[23:47]the water love Krsna, the flower, the cows, the calves, everyone loves Krsna. That is Vrndavana.

[23:56]So if we simply learn how to love Krsna, then we can create immediately this world as Vrndavana.

[24:08]This is the only central point. How to love Krsna. Prema pum-artho mahan.

[24:17]Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that the dharma-artha-kama-moksa.

[24:26]People are after these four things. Dharma-artha-kama-moksa.

[24:33]Caitanya Mahaprabhu disregarded this. “This is not achievement of life.”

[24:38]Of course, a human being… Human life does not begin unless there is conception of religion, dharma.

[24:50]But at the present moment, in the Kali-yuga, dharma is practically nil.

[24:58]So according to Vedic calculation, the present human civilization, they are not even human being.

[25:10]Because there is no dharma. There is no religion. No morality. No pious activities.

[25:19]Do not care. Everyone can do anything without caring.

[25:25]Formerly there was morality, immorality, irreligious, religious.

[25:32]But with the progress of Kali-yuga, everything is being vanquished.

[25:39]It is stated in the Kali-yuga about eighty per cent people, they are sinful, all sinful.

[25:52]And we can practically see. The sinful list we have given, the four principles,

[26:00]illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. These are the four pillars of sinful life.

[26:13]Therefore we request our students first of all break these four pillars.

[26:19]So the roof of sinful life will collapse.

[26:24]Then chant Hare Krsna, you remain fixed up in transcendental position. Simple method.

[26:32]Because one cannot realize God if his life is sinful. That is not possible.

[26:42]Therefore Krsna says: yesam anta-gatam papam. Anta-gatam means finished.

[26:52]One who has finished sinful life. Yesam anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam.

[27:03]Who can finish sinful life? Who are engaged in pious activities.

[27:10]Because one must have activities, engagement.

[27:14]So if one is engaged in pious activities, naturally his sinful activities will vanish.

[27:23]One side, voluntarily he should try to break the pillars of sinful life.

[27:33]Another side, he must engage himself in pious life.

[27:38]Simply theoretically one cannot, because everyone must have some engagement.

[27:46]If he has no pious engagement, then simply theoretically he will not be able.

[27:53]For example, practical, your government is spending millions of dollars for stopping this intoxication.

[28:05]Everyone knows. But the government has failed.

[28:11]How simply by law or by lecturing you can make them without LSD or intoxication?

[28:24]That is not possible. You must give them good engagement. Then it will be automatically…

[28:32]And practically you see that our students who come here we instruct: “No intoxication.”

[28:40]Immediately given up. And the government has failed. This is practical. Param drstva nivartate.

[28:49]If you don’t give somebody good engagement, you cannot stop his bad engagements.

[28:55]That is not possible. Therefore we are giving two sides good engagements,

[29:07]at the same time prohibition. We simply don’t say that: “No illicit sex, no intoxication, no, no…”

[29:14]Simply negative is no meaning. There must be something positive.

[29:19]Because everyone wants engagement. That is because we are living entities.

[29:25]We are not dead stone.

[29:27]The other philosophers, they are trying to become dead stones by meditation.

[29:34]“Let me think of void, impersonalism.” The, artificially how you can make it void?

[29:42]Your heart, your mind is full of activities. So these are artificial things.

[29:49]This will not help the human society. The so-called yoga, so-called meditation,

[29:55]they are all rascaldom. Because there is no engagement. Here there is engagement.

[30:02]Here everyone is engaged to rise early in the morning for offering aratrika to the Deities.

[30:13]They are preparing nice food. They are decorating, making garlands, so many engagements.

[30:21]They are going for sankirtana party, they are canvassing for selling books.

[30:26]Twenty-four hours engagement. Therefore they’re able to give up this sinful life.

[30:32]Param drstva nivartate.

[30:37]Just like… The, everything is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Just like in hospital.

[30:46]In hospital there are many patients, they are not eating anything on the Ekadasi day.

[30:53]Does it mean that is observing Ekadasi? He is simply hankering after,

[31:04]“When I shall eat, when I shall eat, when I shall eat?.”

[31:08]But these students, they voluntarily don’t eat anything.

[31:13]We, we don’t say that you don’t eat anything. Some fruits, some flowers. That’s all.

[31:21]So param drstva nivartate. Just like a child. He has got in his hand something he’s eating,

[31:32]and if you give him better thing, he will throw away the inferior thing and will take that better thing.

[31:40]So here is Krsna consciousness, this better engagement, better life, better philosophy,

[31:50]better consciousness, everything better.

[31:53]Therefore they can give up the sinful activities of life and that will promote to Krsna consciousness.

[32:03]So these activities are going on not only in the human society. The animal society also.

[32:12]Animal society, aquatic, because everyone is Krsna’s part and parcel, sons.

[32:20]So they are rotting in this material world. So Krsna has a plan, a big plan to deliver them.

[32:28]Personally He comes. Sometimes He sends His very confidential devotee.

[32:34]Sometimes He comes Himself. Sometimes He leaves instructions like Bhagavad-gita.