19810611 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.17

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The following is a lecture given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June 11, 1981 – in Denver, USA. The lecture begins with a reading from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.17.

Sa Sam Oṁ Nama Hagavade Canto 2 Chapter 3 Text 17 Simon Bhāgavatam Pure devotional Service Ayurati Udamashlo Kavashaya Duration of Life Certainly certainly of the people moving One who glorifies the Lord by whom the all good personality of Godhead and the topics of translation By His Divine grace, both by rising and by setting the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all good personality of God.

Translation repetition Both by rising and by setting the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone except one who utilizes Step one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all good personality of Godhead A report by Śrīla Prabhupāda this verse indirectly confirms the greater importance of utilizing the human form of life to realize our lost relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of devotional service. Time and tide wait for no man, so the time indicated by the sunrise and the sunset will be uselessly wasted if the such time is not properly utilized for realizing identification and spiritual value. Even a fraction of the duration of life wasted cannot be compensated by any amount of gold. Human life is simply awarded to a living entity, Jīva, so that he can realize his spiritual identity and his permanent source of happiness.

A living being, especially the human being, is seeking happiness because happiness is the natural situation of a living entity, but he is vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere. A living being is constitutionally a spark of the complete whole, and his happiness can be perfectly perceived in spiritual activities. The Lord is complete spirit, whole, and his name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage and personality are all identical with Him. Once a person comes into contact with any of the above mentioned energies of the Lord through the proper channel of devotional service, the door to perfection is immediately opened. In the Bhagavad Gītā 240 the Lord has explained such context in the following Endeavors in devotional service are never baffled, nor is there failure.

A slight beginning of such activities is sufficient even to deliver a person from the great ocean of material fearsome as a highly potent drug injected extravenously, intravenously acts at once on the whole body. The transcendental topics of the Lord injected through the ear of the pure devotee of the Lord can apply can act very efficiently. Oral realization of the transcendent message implies total realization, just as fructification of one Part of the tree implies fructification of all other parts. This realization for a moment in the association of pure devotees like Sukhadev Goswami prepares one’s complete life for eternity. And thus the Son fails to rob the pure devotee of his duration of life inasmuch as he is constantly busy in the emotional service of the Lord purifying his existence.

Death is only a symptom of the material infection of the internal living being only due to material infection is the eternal living, the entity subjected to the law of birth, death, old age and disease. The materialistic way of pious activities like charity is recommended in the Smriti Shastras as quoted by Śrīla Vishwanatha Chakravarti Thakur. Money given in charity to a suitable person is guaranteed bank balance in the next life. Such charity is recommended to be given to a Brahmin. If the money is given in charity to a non Brahmin without Brahmanic qualification, the money is returned in the next life in the same proportion. If it is given in charity to a half educated Brahman, even then the money is returned double.

If the money is given in charity to a learned and fully qualified Brāhmaṇa, the money is returned a hundred and a thousand times. And if the money is given to a Veda Bharada, one who has actually realized the path of the Vedas, it is returned by unlimited multiplication. The ultimate end of Vedic knowledge is realization of the personality of God. Here Lord Kṛṣṇa has stated in the Bhagavad Gītā there is a guarantee of money being returned if given in charity regardless of the proportion. Similarly, a moment passed in the association of a pure devotee by hearing and chanting the transcendental messages of the Lord is a perfect guarantee for eternal life for returning home back to Gandhi. In other words, the devotee of the Lord is guaranteed eternal life.

A devotee’s old age and disease in the present life is but an impetus to such guaranteed eternal life. Thus end the purport by Śrīla Govab of seema Vibhāgavatam Canto 2, chapter 3, text 17 Veda paragraph or one who has actually realized the path of the Vedas is also the suitable definition of a devotee of the Lord, because the ultimate end of Vedic knowledge is realizing the personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa and realizing Śrī Kṛṣṇa means to serve Him. So that means that when someone gives charity to a pure devotee, a devotee who has rendered himself fully in serving the Lord, that he’s getting unlimited return by unlimited multiplication. Anyone who Gives something in charity, he’s going to get back at least the same amount. Of course, if one gives to someone in material charity, then one will get the same amount back.

But that is an entanglement which is very dangerous. Just like if someone gives him charity to a very poor man, one may have to take birth as the son of that poor man to get paid back. Then one will get the same value in return. Giving charity to materialistic people simply entangles one in the stringent laws of Karma. But by giving to the devotees, to the Lord’s direct representatives who are using that fund for the service of the Lord, then one gets unlimitedly. That means that one gets eternal life, eternal knowledge and eternal bliss. Just as there are three types of devotees, some devotee who is not following the regulatory principles very carefully, but still is a devotee chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, we also respect him as a devotee.

When the devotees and Jagannath Purī ask Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu who is a devotee, he said, anyone who chants Hare Kṛṣṇa is a devotee. Anyone who chants Hare Kṛṣṇa. But within the chanters of Hare Kṛṣṇa there are three categories. Some are not very proper in their behavior. Some are initiated and following regulatory principles, and some are situated in pure devotional service. So those who are not really meticulous about how they act, they are to be respected in the heart, but they are not to be intimately associated with as one’s friend or equal. But from a distance one can offer respects in the heart. Oh, there is a devotee. He’s chanting how fortunate, how wonderful. But when one sees an associated devotee, then one offers his respects by bowing down with his head and calling that person Prabhu or master.

In other words, intimate friendship and respect is created given. When one needs a pure devotee or someone who is completely dedicated to spreading on the mission of his spiritual master, the pure devotee and other qualities are there. Then one should, upon seeing him, immediately surrender at that person lotus feet if one has not already taken shelter. This is the system that Lord Caitanya recommended to respect different types of Vaishnavas. So if one gives in charity to a preacher who is taking on behalf of the Lord, one can see that one gets immediate management. So were discussing yesterday how anything in connection with the Lord becomes transcendent. And here today the same thing has been very nicely said by Shiva Kova. The Lord is the complete spirit whole. And his name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage and personality are all identical with Him.

Once a Person comes into contact with any of the above mentioned energies of the Lord through the proper channel of devotional service, the door to perfection is immediately opened. So this is of course pretty wonderful. Sukha Dev Goswami was so much afraid of coming out into the material world that he would be captured by Māyā and again thrown into illusion. That he stayed in the womb of his mother for 16 years. When heard the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That simply by always remaining in contact with the Lord’s energies, his quality, his names, his pastime, his devotees, his entourage, I will remain in the transcendental atmosphere. I will remain in the transcendental position. Then he had no fear, immediately came out. Because he can always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa wherever he goes. He can always meditate on Kṛṣṇa wherever he goes.

He can always glorify Kṛṣṇa’s name, quality pastime, wherever he goes. Therefore how Māyā can catch him. So immediately he came up. So basically this is the system in our Kṛṣṇa conscious movement. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said chain Hare Kṛṣṇa always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. One always chants Hare Kṛṣṇa always remembers Kṛṣṇa Spiritual master. Master always engages in service following the instructions. Where is the difficulty? Where is the difficulty? Anyone can be Kṛṣṇa practice. People are always remembering something. People are remembering the football games or the movie star and their wife, or the husband or the children, somebody, mother, father. Remembering is a natural habit. Somehow or another, if we can become attracted by the message of Kṛṣṇa, remember Him and his qualities, his name, then we remain on the transcendental platform. Chaitanya Mahāprabhu he told therefore his Vihasta devotees.

And they asked him what is the recommended behavior of a Vaishnava? He said activity of a devotee. The behavior of a devotee is to give up the association of non devotees to associate with devotees. To associate with devotees means that devotees are always going to discuss about Kṛṣṇa pastimes Balari name. This is a nomenclature of the devotee. And what a non devotee is going to discuss everything except Kṛṣṇa. Generally they will discuss everything. And as soon as you bring up religion, you bring up Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then immediately people get angry. No, we don’t want to discuss this. That would be an agenda. Of course, people are not swim pies. But that tendency is there even that people avoid religion. We avoid spiritual topics, which is the very source of liberation. Because everyone is confused.

They don’t know what is the improvisation thing to do, what is the proper path to take. So rather than get involved in a controversy, they want to avoid this subject altogether. This is hardly intelligent. That’s why? Chaitanya Mahaprabhagur and Jagannath Purī he was telling Haridas Thakur how to deliver all these Javanas. How to deliver? These students were always arguing how to deliver these meat eaters and these different type of people. And what did Haridaz Thakur say? Don’t worry my Lord, don’t worry. Do not be in anxiety. This is Chaitanya Maharanu’s mood. He wants to deliver the fallen souls. And what is his devotee’s mood? I want to alleviate the Lord’s anxiety. The devotee wants to do what will please the Lord. The Lord wants to see the fallen souls get the mercy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

The devotee wants to give that mercy on behalf of the Lord to alleviate his anxiety to give him transcendental pleasure. This is the selfless and pure loving mood of the pure devotee for the Lord. Of course Haridas Thakur went on to explain that the devotees of course are always chanting your holy name but even these non devotees they’re also chanting unknowingly Nama bha. Somehow or another they are chanting Koino Rāma is this one that when Sona and the Muslim they chant Haram somehow they are chanting Ram Kṛṣṇa one of your names. Even by accident and even accidentally chanting means that eventually they will see success is guaranteed. So many people they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa is this Hare Kṛṣṇa is that. And eventually by that chanting they can be delivered.

Of course Nama Bhats means one is chanting without offense unknowingly Devotee likes that people should unwindly chant more than they should chant offensively. Offensive chanting is not as effective as simply inattentive annoying chanting so because of that chanting Anidas Thakur said that they’re guaranteed to be delivered. Guaranteed. The Lord’s mercy is such that even they chant his name Once they’re getting hooked up to his holy spirit they’re getting some mercy from them. When the four Kumaras were at the gate of Vaikuṇṭha, Jai Bijay stopped them. Stop. Who are you? You cannot enter. They became very angry because why not? They had every right to enter. They were pure. That was their mood. They were a Nigra man. So you know that Lord Narayan himself is Lakshmi Devī King and apologize. My servitor has offended you.

Therefore I personally take responsibility as if I have offended you. That means that the devotee of the Lord is representing Kṛṣṇa that Kṛṣṇa is taking responsibility whatever the devotee does Just like when someone does something irresponsible they always Say that Kṛṣṇas did it. They hardly ever say that the individual did it. They say that Kṛṣṇas, meaning those devotees, are Kṛṣṇa, right? Because Kṛṣṇa also is taking responsibility. And everyone is giving in that way. Oh, he belongs to Kṛṣṇa. He’s Kṛṣṇa’s servant. He has done this wrong. There may be millions of Kṛṣṇa servants. Somebody does something wrong, oh, the Kṛṣṇa has done it. So therefore we can understand that anyone who becomes a servant of Kṛṣṇa, especially who is representing, just like the gatekeepers, of course, are representing Nārāyaṇa, the preachers, distributors of mercy, the devotees in general, they all are representing Kṛṣṇa.

Therefore the responsibility to give Kṛṣṇa in such a way that people even unknowingly chant but do not commit offense, that better by offensive chanting, the benefit is very much delayed. But even if one inoffensively chants without very complete knowledge, still that’s good for him. His life is made perfect. Śrīla Prabhupāda was asked india that why india? Why rather in America, the movement has caught on so quick. And here india we are dragging our feet now, many years ago, of course, now people are taking it up more and more. But at that time, maybe 1972, 71, then Śrīla Prabhupāda replied that in America they don’t have any. You see, india, I said, all the people that come in offense to Vaishnavas, to the deity, to the sadhus. So when we preach, people are already offensive, and they have so many.

Therefore their faith is difficult due to offenses. And when our movement came to the west, there was no Vaishnavas, no devotees, no deities, no blood, there’s nothing, no one ever heard of Kṛṣṇa. So there was no offense. People were simply sinful, simply materialistic. So when they heard Kṛṣṇa, immediately purification came. And immediately they could easily accept because they had no offense, no impediment in their heart. Of course, Na Ruhman has been here some time. And so now people have already begun to commit offenses to devotees, to the books, to the deities. And these offenses are the only real impediment that someone has to be very afraid of devotional service. So the more people commit offense, then when they hear Kṛṣṇa’s name, the faith doesn’t come. When they hear about Ka’s worries, the faith doesn’t come. They don’t want to hear.

The desire to hear is impeded. So of course, Chaitanya Mahāprabhu is a destroyer offenses. That is his particular mercy that he destroys offenses. So the solution of course is distributing one more, the mercy of Jesus. And devotees, being very careful not to act in a way which is offensive or which creates people to act, commit offenses. Of course, there will always be some type offensive people that one cannot avoid. One himself should do whatever he can not to enhance that offensive behavior of innocent people because that will be the greatest impediment. The fallen souls, the sinful souls of all various kinds, whoever was available they all got delivered by Chaitanya Mahabhara’s mercy through chanting the Holy Name. The witness, the proof evidence is Jagay and Madhya of course Lord Chaitanya appeared in Māyāpur Navuddhi Nithyananda.

He is known as Akachakrapati because ear to earth in the holy land of Akachakra as the son of Harayoja. So Lord Nithyananda is Balaram and Chaitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa. Nithyananda came a little before Kṛṣṇa, Chaitanya Mahāprabhu and there with his coward boys he used to play Dravas, transcendental pastimes. Sometimes they would play such ecstatic pastimes. He would take the part of Lakshman. Someone would also take the part of Kṛṣṇa or Excuse me, Rāma. And they would play. Some would take Ravana and they would play. So in this pastime, Nithyananda, he would be shocked. He’d be Lakshma. And then after Nithyananda in the drama, he would become completely unconscious. Then everyone wanted to go, but they couldn’t wake him up. They couldn’t get him to come up. So then they sinned. How we can get him to weep? Remember? Oh, in the play.

In the original in the rabbi, Hanuman had to go and get the mountain. So Hanuman went and the boy was playing. Hanuman went and he brought the mountain in the drama and then administered the medicine according to the sequence. And this way. Then Nityānanda he woke up. And they said why you were so completely unconscious like that? Just like Lakshman was in the Ramayam he said I am Lakshman because here’s Lakshman. In this way they’re having daily their pastimes playing all the different Leelas. Sometimes Narasingha, sometimes Braha, sometimes Matsya Kurma, Rāma Kṛṣṇa different types of pests. Times under this beautiful tree called the Ananta Stacia Bhopul. This Bhopul tree, a highly scented flower. Highly scented, Beautiful small flower. When it flowers, the aroma goes for hundreds of yards. One little garlic that will make a whole room scented. Very powerful flower.

So this particular tree is still standing today. It’s very Unusual because when this tree ordinarily grows, it grows like any other tree. Just, you know, one trunk and then bushy top. Just like any standard tree, medium sized tree. But this particular tree is only growing one side and its branches are coming out just like the heads of Ananta Sesh, the serpent avatar of Kṛṣṇa. Serpent incarnations, which is the expansion of Lord Nithyananda. So under this sacred tree, Nithyananda would perform his dramas in the nice shade of that tree. The owners of that tree want to give us the tree and the temple for worshipping. So we’re doing a program for developing under the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust, a center there for the devotees to visit the birthplace of Lord Nithyananda. Of course, Lord Nithyananda.

He was the life and soul of his mother Padmapati and Rai Pandit. Whenever he would go out to play, they would simply be absorbed. And what is Nityānanda Prabhu doing? His food will be ready. Is he safe? Rai Oja practically couldn’t live without even having him in. He was so attached. Didn’t know how this attachment came. He was so attached to Nithana. In this way, Nithyananda would spend his first. He spent the first 12 years of his life in the loving association of his mother and all her boyfriends. All his friends were the cowherders from Kṛṣṇa Leela, The Dwadas Gopalas, 12 Gopalas who came down to associate with him. So of course one day one Sannyāsī came to the house and was discussing with Harayat Muhammad about Kṛṣṇa Patha. And they requested he please stay and take Prashada here. So he agreed.

And they prepared some nice Prashada with Brahmin family, the Ojas and gave them their Sannyāsī, the Prashada. And they discussed late into the night. Oriko thought glorifying the Lord. So in the morning they requested that he take something before going like this. In traveling Sannyasis, they don’t spend very much time in any one place. They go from place to place discussing the topics of Kṛṣṇa. So he agreed just to take something, breakfast like before going. But he requested that we can. Actually, he was requested. Is there anything that you’d like? I said, well, there’s one thing that I like, if you don’t mind. No, no, I don’t mind. Whatever you like, you can have. But there is just one thing. But I don’t like to ask. I think you might not want to give. No, no. Whatever you want you can.

Are you sure that you don’t mind if I ask? No. Whatever. Whatever you want, just take it. Tell me. Tell me. What is it? You won’t. You sure? You don’t mind? No. Are you sure? Positive. Sure you’re sure? Yes. Hold on. All right. Just give me this boy Nityānanda. I will take him with me. How could he give Nitin? Allah Giving Nallam and giving his life. Harai found it. He was shattered. He fell down. His whole world was spinning. He couldn’t think up or down. You know, Everything was completely bewildering. What to do? He had given his word. The word of Brāhmaṇa and the one that he asked for. He asked for what was dear in his own life. He completely fell unconscious. And then after coming conscious, he realized what had happened. Again he fell unconscious. He couldn’t believe what was happening.

So the Sannyāsī was saying that well, are you going to get him? You have given your word. So Harayogi was thinking that well, if I don’t give Nithyananda, if I keep him, which is of course his desire, how he can give Nithyananda? It’s impossible for him to give. But if he gives, doesn’t give then what type of example he will show to Nithinanda. He was thinking that I will be showing my own son the Brahminyakal. We call it going over the breaking the regular principles of the Brahman. I will teach him to be a liar. I will teach him to be a bad moral character. This way my son may be ruined. Then again he fell unconsciously. Couldn’t thinking of the whole situation. What to do? No, not repeated. Not Nityānanda. How to give Nityānanda in this way? He was completely shattered. He was completely shocked.

He felt just like the time when Dasurat had to give his son. When Dasarat had to give his son in charity. Had to banish Ramchandra into the Torah with Lakshmi. So of course finally he agreed. All right. I have given my word to take Niktin. Then the Sannyāsī walked off and Nityānanda walked off with him. Without looking back he walked him. Raiyodja just stood watching Nityānanda go off in the distance. When he was out of sight, he collapsed. And within a very short time he died. Left his body in separation. Just as Dasra. Dasra left his body in separation. Absor. Of course Rāma Lakshman had recalled Avino Kolevar. Non different bodies, their form. Their bodies are non different because they are both Vishnu Sat personality of God Nithyananda Ram actually then Lord Nithyananda so we can see that how deep is the devotee.

What mother and father if their son goes and joins a movement or something. Sometimes they cry or they get little upset who has died in separation. Of course, sometimes they practically kill their child with deprogramming. But the parents themselves, they do not show this type of because this is eternal affliction. This is eternal devotion to the Lord. Haray found it was rigging to serve Nithyananda. Nithyananda had to go. He knew that Chaitanyan Mahabhar was coming. Other works were calling. He had to go. Once he left, there was no reason for him to live. He went back to the spiritual sky. So this way Nithyananda went with his Sannyāsī and traveled all around India. One day in the dream Lakshmi Patti, the great servant of the servant of Muddhacharya he saw Balaram in his dream.

Balaram said that someone is going to come and take initiation from him. You should give him this mantra. And he gave him Pacific Mantra and described who is going to become. And then Nityranda Trabu came and he approached Lakshmi Bhakti, please give me initiation. Lakshm Khatti could understand. This was the same person as her communist