19900714 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.8.5

The following is a lecture given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami on July 14^th 1990 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The class begins with a reading from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2^nd canto, 8^th chapter, 5^th verse.

Translation: [Devotees repeats] The sound incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul [i.e., Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam], entering into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankerings etc. And acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water.

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda Śrīla Prabhupāda ki

Devotees: Jai!

Purport: It is said that a single pure devotee of the Lord can deliver all the fallen souls of the world. Thus, one who is actually in the confidence of a pure devotee like Nārada or Śukadeva Gosvāmī and thus is empowered by one’s spiritual master, as Nārada was by Brahmājī, can not only deliver himself from the clutches of māyā, or illusion, but can deliver the whole world by his pure and empowered devotional service. The comparison to the autumnal rain that falls on muddy reservoirs of water is very appropriate. During the rainy season, all the waters of the rivers become muddy, but in the month of July-August, the autumn season, when there is a slight rainfall, the muddy waters of the rivers all over the world become at once clear. By addition of some chemical, a small reservoir of water like that of a metropolitan waterworks tank can be cleared, but by such a tiny effort it is not possible to clear up all the reservoirs of water like the rivers. A powerful pure devotee of the Lord, however, can deliver not only his personal self but also many others in his association. In other words, the cleansing of the polluted heart by other methods (like the culture of empiric knowledge or mystic gymnastics) can simply cleanse one’s own heart, but devotional service to the Lord is so powerful that it can cleanse the hearts of the people in general, by the devotional service of the pure, empowered devotee. A true representative of the Lord like Nārada, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Lord Caitanya, the Six Gosvāmīs and later Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, etc., can deliver all people by their empowered devotional service. By sincere efforts to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one realizes his constitutional relationship with the Lord in the transcendental humor of servitude, friendship, parental affection or conjugal love, and by such self-realization one becomes situated, at once in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Not only were all the pure devotees like Nārada self-realized souls, but they were engaged in preaching work automatically by spiritual impetus, and thus they delivered many poor souls entangled in the material modes. They became so powerful because they sincerely followed the Bhāgavatam principles by regular hearing and worshiping. By such actions the accumulated material lusts, etc., become cleansed by the personal endeavor of the Lord within the heart. The Lord is always within the heart of the living being, but He becomes manifested by one’s devotional service. Purification of the heart by culture of knowledge or mystic yoga may be all right for the time being for an individual person, but it is like the cleansing of a small quantity of stagnant water by chemical processes. Such clarification of water may stand for the time being and the sediments settle down, but by a slight agitation everything becomes muddy. The idea is that devotional service to the Lord is the only method of cleansing the heart for good. Whereas other methods may be superficially good for the time being, there is a risk of becoming muddy again due to agitation of the mind. Devotional service to the Lord, with specific attention to hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and always, is the best recommended method for liberation from the clutches of illusion.

Thus, ends the Bhakivedanta Swami purport and translation of canto 2, chapter 8 text number 5 in the matter of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, “Questions by King Parīkṣit”

Jayapatākā Swami: This is a very beautiful verse used in many allegories.

praviṣṭaḥ karṇa-randhreṇa
svānāṁ bhāva-saroruham

When the sound vibration of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam enters within the holes of the ears, then the relationship with one’s loving devotional service to the lord, the lord takes a seat on the lotus flower situated in the heart. By hearing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in other words, we are able to bring the lord into our heart. How much one can realize Kṛṣṇa’s presence in the heart from reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is depended upon how one has developed their loving relationship with the lord.

Someone has developed a loving relationship with the lord and when they hear the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam immediately their mind gets fixed on Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa thus becomes situated in the hearts. What the great mystics yogi’s do by performing for many many many years. Even lifetimes the difficult process of aṣṭāṅga-yoga they are gradually able to come up to the level of samādhi, meditation on the lord in the heart. However, if one is able to simply give their undivided attention to the reading of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam being situated in the pure devotional service then the lord immediately becomes fixed up in the heart through the transcendental vibration of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This is something which is unforgettable; this is actually the goal of life, to have the lord situated in our heart. It is glorified, the process of devotional service, and glorifies the process of reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

When we develop our loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa through the practical of devotional service, when we hear the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Kṛṣṇa will come and be situated in our heart. Someone maybe doing varying types of devotional service whether buying stones, or cooking, or cleaning or whatever it is. Preaching, selling books to varying degrees one will be able to develop depending on the individual desire, blessings of the lord and his devotees one will be able to develop pure devotional attitude. When attitude is developed and then when one hears the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam then the lord becomes fixed in our Heart. When the lord comes into the heart the last part of the verse explains dhunoti, it cleanses all the material qualities, lust, anger, averse, hankering.

There is the six ripūs kāma, krodha, lobha, mada, and mātsarya and moha. In addition, there are other qualities hankering, lethargy, sleep. So, all these kinds of materialistic qualities are eliminated by the hearing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. By bringing the lord into one, have him take his place on the lotus of the heart. You bring the lord by hearing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So, some special chemical is there in the autumnal rain which when it falls on the muddy rivers in the rainy season it causes all the rivers to clear up. It’s like when you put some alum little alum or phitkari [Fitkari]

Devotee: Phitkari

A little bit of phitkari or alum if you put in some muddy water nearly all the thing goes, it becomes clear water.  Just like that someone may say there was so much mud in the water, how did it clear? Cannot be cleared water is muddy. When they say, like that this devotee that devotee their consciousness is muddy, it is not clear. It’s having so many defects.

But if even a little bit they can give their attention to hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and engaging in devotional service then automatically just like that the mud is cleared just by touching the phitkari everything will be cleansed, all the mud is settled.

Prabhupāda here is also stating that there may be some cleaning by other processes of yoga as well such as mystic yoga poses. But that is not so complete not so effective or not so lasting, as the process of devotional service which can cleanse unlimited people.

How many glasses of water you can cleanse with this alum? But if Kṛṣṇa by his autumnal rain is able to clear all the water then there is almost unlimited water that can be cleansed.   In this same way so many conditioned souls, if their heart is cleansed by devotional service. Just in a matter of years even after spending unlimited births here in the material world, one can get cleansed.

Of course, if one is very sincere then he can be cleansed even in a second. As long as you develop the loving devotional attitude then hearing about Kṛṣṇa immediately all these things are cleansed. We should see how these material contaminations are affecting our Heart, our consciousness. When we say the heart, it is understood that soul is in the heart and the consciousness is coming from the soul. Therefore, it cleanses the consciousness.

Someone is having lust. This lust is causing them to desire so many things, so many things of material sense gratification. How to get rid of this? Someone may say I can get rid of if I gratify myself. This is the normal material thing. I want something I have to satisfy my desire.  So, by satisfying the desire then I will become satisfied.

But the Vedas explain this is like putting oil on the fire. Fire is hungry for burning so you put some oil on the fire. So, when there is a yajna we put ghee on the fire so for a second the fire goes down, but then the ghee ignites and (phu) it comes up more.

So, this is what is happening in modern society. Everyone is putting more and more ghee on the fire. They are desiring more and more sense gratification and therefore, they have to have big casino, they have to have tavern, they have to have discotheque. They have to have so many facilities for sense gratification. But what they are doing is putting oil on the fire. This creates higher temperature fire is burning up more and more. So that is why then people in the west they complain that they are getting no peace.

I met some Americans in other countries. They say they do not want to go back to America, they like it in England. They like it in India, they like it in some another place. Because in America the fire has become so hot that it is too passionate. It is too difficult. So, this is one of the lusts.

So actually, how Śrīla Prabhupāda simply by bringing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to the western world where people are burning in the fire. He could bring down this lust. He could bring it down. Reading it cleanses.

Of course, if we go on hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly then that mud will stay in the bottom of the river. But, if again, we stop hearing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and we start to stir up the water. Example like in a pool of water it becomes muddy due to the stirring of the water but if some autumn rain comes or if someone puts some chemical in that it settles all the mud and it becomes clear again. But then if you stir it up it again becomes muddy.

Some devotee due to bad association he again if enters into the material association and he again starts to act in material affairs of sense gratification not properly using everything for Kṛṣṇa’s service. Then again, the consciousness becomes muddy and stirs up so many desires, so many material hankerings, lustings, anger, greed etc creating disturbance.

Therefore, it is essential to hear the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly on a daily basis. Bhāgavata nitya sevayā. We need to hear the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and hear the glories of Kṛṣṇa daily then this cleanses the heart from all these things.

So, lust, anger, anger is very strong. In fact, it says in the Bhagavad-gītā, that we first meditate on the object of the senses, then we develop attachment, then from attachment comes lust, hankerings. From that lust when it is unfilled develops anger. From anger comes illusion and from illusion we fall down.

That means anger is so powerful. The anger can cause us to be in illusion more than all the other things especially from before the illusion, anger. Anger is the prime impetus. You know that when you are talking to an angry person it is very hard to make reason with that person.

Even if someone is very lusty sometime you can convince him that you have to think of your self-interest. Then he can control his lust even for at least out his self-interest [Not Clear 18:28]. But if someone is very angry it is very hard to control that situation.

It’s like in government when all the people are angry and naive what they can do. It is out of control. It’s a riot. With anger like that it’s like you can do anything. You are angry you can go into illusion. So, this anger is a very big enemy. But anger of course is coming from lust. It is the uncontrolled lust becomes anger. It’s a kind of a transformation.

Just like on the one side we have from milk you can have cream and from cream you can have ghee. This is like good transformation. But here the negative transformation is there from attachment, lust to anger. From anger illusion. So, this anger is something very difficult. When someone develops an angry attitude then they sometimes people are just angry for the moment. One time they feel angry and then it goes. But then there are some people who have like, chronic anger. They remain angry, always about something. This anger is always burning in them. Why this happens to me? Why that happens? Why it’s like this? Why not like that? Why?

So, everything is the impetus for anger, the lust, the greed, the envy all these things become fuel for anger. And anger keeps them always burning. So, this way there is no peace. So, how to have peace? So here the solution is given we need to actually simply hear the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam very carefully.

Now, attending Bhāgavatam class and hearing the Bhāgavatam the way it is mentioned here are not necessarily the same. Someone maybe in the Bhāgavatam class but thinking I have to cut the sabzi, I have to go out today, what appointments I have? Things I have to do. Their mind may be off.

One is describing here that praviṣṭaḥ karṇa-randhreṇa, that the lord is entering into the holes of the ear. svānāṁ bhāva-saroruham and He is taking His seat on the lotus of the heart according to one’s loving relationship. This is not the ordinary simply sitting in the class. This means one is really drinking the lord through the ear. He is entering into the ear like one is in the class not simply physically, but mentally, spiritually, all fully in the class. He is actually there listening carefully to the Bhāgavatam. And with the devotional attitude, with the service attitude, Bhāgavata nitya sevayā, to serve the lord. That kind of service attitude hearing the Bhāgavatam, the lord in his incarnation as sound, He becomes established in the heart. This is a very significant, a very beautiful verse. If we can appreciate this verse, then we can take shelter of the Bhāgavatam and solve all our impieties and all of our problems. What problem is there that Kṛṣṇa cannot solve? Kṛṣṇa is the all-powerful. And Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are not different. Grantharāja Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the Mahāpurāṇaṁ is the sound incarnation of God.

It’s the sound incarnation which is a wonderful thing that in being in the Kali-yuga we are not able to see Kṛṣṇa like most people in Dvāpara-yuga. In the Dvāpara-yuga, they could see Kṛṣṇa. Kurukṣetra, Mathurā, Dvārakā all over India He was travelling. Then we hear the Pāṇḍavas came here to Kathmandu and worshiped Pasupatinath.   I don’t know how far this is recorded but my grand legend is that they came here at some time. Then we are also seeing devotees like Pāṇḍavas, they do not depend on seeing Kṛṣṇa. They are such pure devotees that they are always connected with Kṛṣṇa. Even hearing about the Pāṇḍavas is like hearing about Kṛṣṇa. Because whatever the Pāṇḍavas they do is Kṛṣṇa conscious. It’s connected with Kṛṣṇa. It brings on; it has to ultimately lead you to Kṛṣṇa. It’s eventually their fostering always ends up with Kṛṣṇa underlying.

Even when Arjuna was apparently in māyā on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and asked Kṛṣṇa to give him the instruction to be his Guru. So Kṛṣṇa, He spoke Bhagavad-gītā, to dispel the illusion the confusion of his devotee Arjuna. We are still reading the Bhagavad-gītā after 5000 years, giving us unlimited spiritual instruction.

Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, these two literatures form the basis of the Kṛṣṇa conscious philosophy. They are kṛṣṇa-sikṣā. We need to thoroughly absorb these teachings. If we can absorb these teachings then all the dirt’s and dust in the heart get cleansed. Just settled. What a beautiful example! Muddy water you just add this chemical like alum or same type of alkaline chemical maybe there. Some chemical is there in autumn rain it falls, immediately the waters become clear. If we are Kṛṣṇa Conscious everything becomes clear.

Citraketu, he was visiting Kailāsa. There he thought he saw that Śiva was sitting with Pārvatī on his lap. So many great saints and sages were there and he thought that it’s quite right that Pārvatī sitting on the lap of Lord Śiva but in a dharma-sabhā, this may create some confusion on someone to see sitting like that in an intimate pose in a public way.  So, he offered some kind of advice, or offered some suggestions that in this public assembly it’s not good, if Pārvatī sits on the lap. So Pārvatī became very angry that who are you to advise Lord Śiva? You think Lord Śiva is an ordinary person. That he is affected by ordinary desires and ordinary association. You have become very insolent, very offensive.

So, I curse you to become a demon. Something like that, maybe I have left out a few of her points. She became angry and cursed him to become an asura. Here he was personal associate of Anantadeva. He was travelling around in a special vimāna which could also travel upto Kailāsa no small thing. He just came to the assembly and said a few words. But those words were not appreciated by Pārvatī Devi and she cursed him to become an asura.

Just like that, from the flying vimāna of Anatadeva to become a demon. Put to a hellish condition overnight in one second. What a test for Citraketu. He was basking in the nectar in one second, he is cursed because of a little mistake. Anyway, he came and offered his obeisance to Pārvatī and Lord Śiva and said of course, I apologize that I didn’t explain myself, type of apology you can say.

I accept whatever curse you gave me as your blessing. I just want to say that I have all respect for Lord Śiva. No way did I mean it to be offensive to Lord Śiva. I know he is in the transcendental position. I just whether it was right or wrong my intention was not bad. In any case when curse is given, when something is done it cannot be undone. Someone if they say something out of anger or love or any, once you have spoken, word comes out you cannot bring it back. It is out. You may later explain it, you may try to do anything but when it is already spoken you cannot bring it back.

And once someone gives a curse or blessing of the stature of Pārvatī Devi that has to take its effect. But he requested their blessing and Citraketu left. So that time Lord Śiva explained to Pārvatī just see you gave such a curse to that devotee for some small thing he just said a few words and you cursed him to become a demon. Just for a few words he got such a heavy punishment. He had to take birth and for a whole lifetime he has to be a demon. Meat eating rākṣasa. Just for a few, one second of words he said.

Just see what a heavy curse was given to Citraketu. He was a very exalted person. Otherwise, how could he come to Kailāsa in the first place. This also shows one has to be very careful while dealing with devotees and with very exalted personalities like Śiva, Pārvatī. You have to be very carefully because even a little mistake may create a big reaction.

With dealing with Kṛṣṇa especially, small mistake can be very dangerous. Therefore, we are advised to avoid very careful, the ten offences to the Holy Name. Citraketu, he had to become a demon. Of course, his only desire was to become Kṛṣṇa Conscious. So even as a demon, he remained a devotee of Viṣṇu and that actually became his last life.

Sometimes a devotee is put into difficulty like Parīkṣit. He was cursed by the brāhmaṇa boy Śṛngī to die just for a small prank he played. He put a snake on the side of the sage’s shoulder which was not proper. But because he felt offended, he thought the sage was just shaming, he was faking; he was not really in samādhi.

You might imagine how hungry he must, how thirsty he must have been, to go there and he wasn’t received properly so he put the snake on. The dead snake was lying there not alive, dead snake he put on the shoulder. When the son of the brāhmaṇa heard, then he touched water and cursed Parīkṣit in seven days he has to die by that deadly blind serpent is it called Takṣaka, What you call?

Takṣaka depending if you pronounce in bengali or sanskrit. Takṣaka.

So, say that you have to put a dead snake some or some bug is lying there and you put it on someone’s lap if he goes to the police and makes a case. That, that person when I was sleeping, he put one bug or one dead frog or one dead snake on me. So, what punishment will happen?

Certainly, you can have a criminal case. You can have a case. What punishment you will give? Maybe you fined 100 dollars or 1000 rupees or maybe officially you have to be, you have to do something. It is not very serious matter actually. You may have to, I don’t think you have to go to jail also for such a thing, you may have to pay a fine. Maybe next time you go to jail you have to go for one day or something, few hours. I doubt even the police will arrest you for such an act.

But here the son of the brāhmaṇa is cursing Parīkṣit, you have to die, dead serpent. That also seven days. This is fantastic. Some of the devotees they get fantastic kind of things happen. So, when this happened what did Parīkṣit think? He thought that this world is not a place to remain. Actually, Kṛṣṇa wants to bring me back to him.

Sometimes people think that this material world is a very nice place. Let me stay here forever. So sometime Kṛṣṇa gives some mercy just to cut all the attachment. He gives some special mercy. We can see that this material world is padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ danger at every step. If the devotee is intelligent, he realizes that there is no shelter but Kṛṣṇa. This material world is no shelter, who we think is our friend he can in one second can become our enemy. Who we think is our worship-able lord in the material world. Even someone exalted as Mother Pārvatī, she is our mother a little mistake and she curse you to become a demon.

Remember, if mother can do that then where is the protection? A little mistake if we make, we could get cursed like that. This is a very dangerous position. You see. Even Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu is so merciful even when Bhṛgu actually kicked Viṣṇu in the chest, Kṛṣṇa did not take any offense rather he asked Bhṛgu that my chest is very hard and your feet are very soft maybe I hurt your foot.

Is there any harm come to your foot?

Kṛṣṇa is in the complete mode of goodness. To his personal self he does not take any offense easily. Rather his devotees may take offense. Kṛṣṇa easily forgives. Kṛṣṇa is the proper person to take shelter. Later, of course Bhṛgu he realizes the supreme position of Viṣṇu.

Of course [Guru Mahārāja laughing] Lakṣmī also became very angry with him. They say the brāhmaṇas are very poor. She cursed the brāhmaṇas to remain poor always. Even the brāhmaṇa gets one million dollars or one crores of rupees and then again the next day they will spend it. They always remained poor. Spiritually this is very good, to remain poor, to remain without too many material attachments. Whatever we get we spend it for Kṛṣṇa, this means we are free to. For brāhmaṇas, those who are acting like a brāhmaṇa as Vaiṣṇava, someone is acting like brāhmaṇa someone is acting like vaiśya. Those who are vaiśya they have to deal with money, but they get purified when they use the money for yajña, when they use the money in Kṛṣṇa’s service. The brāhmaṇas they are always remain poor. They are rich spiritually. Poor means they do not think anything is mine. Nothing is mine.

So, whatever comes they use it for Kṛṣṇa. Those who are kings, those who are vaiśyas, those who are śūdras acting in those type of work it is more difficult. But the great king even though they acting as kṣatriya, it’s my kingdom.

Like Pratāparudra he said I may be king but the ultimate proprietor is Jagannātha. Yudhiṣṭhira, he may have been king. So, he has kingly he has to have some filling out position. This is my prajā I have to protect them. I have duty to royal kind of enjoyment. But great rājarṣīs like Yudhiṣṭhira, in spite of so much material facility, so much faithful citizen. You may have prajā but they may not be favorable they may be rioting and holding a revolution, or they may be submissive and loving. All types of prajās are there.  So, Yudhiṣṭhira was such a proper king that all his prajās were very happy, very peaceful. They were very faithful. But in spite of that Yudhiṣṭhira was not attached to his kingdom in a negative sense. He did his duties perfectly but he did it always in loving devotion for Kṛṣṇa. His love and affection, his attachment was for Kṛṣṇa.

Like this whatever function we are in, if we hear these glories of the great devotees which are spoken in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, naturally this clears away all this type of mud in the water of the consciousness. Makes the consciousness clear and fixes us devotion to Kṛṣṇa. If Kṛṣṇa remains in the heart and whatever happens we can remain fixed and that we have no other objective in life. No other purpose in life, no other attachment in life but to please Kṛṣṇa, to serve Kṛṣṇa. Whatever happens in this material world, so many things are happening but these things are not actual connected to us. They are not our eternal relation. They are simply the changing situations, but actually, our real goal in life is to please Kṛṣṇa. So according to whatever situation we are in these are simply different tests, different opportunities for us to serve Kṛṣṇa in a changing dramatic scene.

So, this way the devotees remain, always fixed in Kṛṣṇa and therefore they are not disturbed by blessings or by curses by anybody or by criticism or praise of anyone. In material life if somebody is praised, he never forgets for a long time, remembers.

If somebody is criticized that word goes very deep in the heart, they remember those criticism for a long time. But in the spiritual life the devotee, Kṛṣṇa explains in the Gītā, he is the same in honor or dishonor. He because his objective is to please Kṛṣṇa. What others are saying is not important. If Kṛṣṇa is pleased or not that is what is important.

So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said we should clear the heart ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ, here the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says, by hearing the Bhāgavatam, by having the Lord come in the heart through sound vibration. The sound incarnation is the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also the sound incarnation is the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

By hearing and chanting properly than all this mud will be cleared from the heart. If we have any kind of mental suffering or mental imbalance or any anxiety this is the solution to cleanse away all that impurity.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa

Any Questions?

Devotee: While chanting we are making namaparādha. That is real aparādha, will Kṛṣṇa forgive us?

Jayapatākā : If you study systematically and scientifically what are the ten offences. The ten offences are, the first offence is to offend a Vaiṣṇava. Those loved ones in relation to Kṛṣṇa. The Vaishnava has dedicated his life to serving Kṛṣṇa, you are offending him. This is very displeasing to Kṛṣṇa. If you are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa but you think that the Deva’s name is equal or greater to Kṛṣṇa’s name then what faith you are having in Kṛṣṇa’s name? That means sometimes you are saying Kṛṣṇa, sometimes you are saying bumbum, sometimes you are saying ma, sometimes this, sometimes that. So there is no seriousness in Kṛṣṇa. So, you are not going to get the shelter of Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes you are calling this demigod, that deva, this Devi and this way. It’s not a singular devotion. So that type of chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s name is also not going to be fully useful because you are chanting so many things. 

Then you have disobeyed the order of Guru who is representing Kṛṣṇa’s name. You see the ten offences are dealing with how we are surrendering to Kṛṣṇa? How we are actually dealing with those things related to the name or How we are understanding of the name or misunderstanding the name? How we like the seventh offence to sin on the strength of chanting. If we are trying to cheat the holy name. If we are inattentive, we are not putting our full faith in Kṛṣṇa. We are keeping other attachment even where after hearing so many instructions about it. All these things are not exactly the same that they even want to get angry with Kṛṣṇa.

That is not directly mentioned in one of the ten offences of the holy name. It doesn’t say if you get angry with Kṛṣṇa, of course. Why we should be angry with Kṛṣṇa if we know that I have committed so many offences, [Laughing]

I have committed so many sins that whatever happens actually maybe I should have spent. Śrīla Prabhupāda one time cut his finger, one drop of blood came he said actually my head should have been cut. But instead Kṛṣṇa gave me one drop of blood he took. But I should have suffered so much for some previous Karma but Kṛṣṇa just took out one drop. So, like that Kṛṣṇa is very merciful so why should a devotee get angry with Kṛṣṇa.

Even the ten offences are not directly offending Kṛṣṇa. Of course, if we offend Kṛṣṇa, we become envious of Kṛṣṇa this directly affects, it’s also a problem. But even if you are offensive to Kṛṣṇa it says that if you chant the name of Kṛṣṇa that also will forgive us from the offense. Even if we offend the deity of Kṛṣṇa, if we chant Kṛṣṇa’s name that also gives us cleanse. Even if we offend the holy name the only way to get cured from that is to go on chant the holy name constantly. There is no other way. So even though Kṛṣṇa, we offend Kṛṣṇa if we go to Kṛṣṇa as a devotee still he will eventually forgive us. Then why should we offend someone who is so loving, who is so kind to his devotees. Even if we are offensive to him and later, we go and we are chanting his name and he will forgive us so easily. When someone is so merciful. Even Pūtanā, came to kill Kṛṣṇa putting poison on her breasts. Kṛṣṇa accepted her like a mother because; anyway, she gave her breast milk to Kṛṣṇa even though it was poisoned on the surface. But Kṛṣṇa elevated her to Vaikunta to the spiritual world as a mother. So little service Kṛṣṇa gives blessing.

Even Kaṁsa he was so envious of Kṛṣṇa but at least he got liberation when Kṛṣṇa freed his parents from the prison house and liberated Kaṁsa. So Kṛṣṇa is so kind that if you are directly related with Kṛṣṇa whether a demon or devotee if you are fully concentrated hundred percent absorbed, it’s all good for you. But offenses of the holy name, if we are inattentive, we are partially chanting, partially offending, then of course we may have to simply take some reaction for that. Point is to be equally connected with Kṛṣṇa, and it is recommended, we should be connected in a favorable way, not in an offensive way. But even if we commit some offense to Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa will also forgive us for the offense. There are ways he tells how we can be forgiven. It’s not recommended that we should go on offending Kṛṣṇa. We should not offend Kṛṣṇa.

But even if we offend, we may get forgiven also by Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, so kind, why should we offend Kṛṣṇa? We should be very careful to serve him nicely without any offense.

Any Question?

Devotees: No.

Many times, I wanted to come up to Kathmandu. In September when I was attacked the devotees here in Kathmandu were chanting for my health recovery. By the causeless mercy of Guru & Gaurāṅga, the prayers of the Vaiṣṇavas, my time in this body has been extended.

All the doctors said that only by some grace of God that I could be alive. Even they said that it was a miraculous recovery. But that time, I was thinking how important time was. How we have to use time very carefully for Kṛṣṇa’s service.

*translation in nepali*

Jayapatākā Swami: But time goes very quickly in devotional service. Always devotees ask me to come to do different preaching programs in their area. Now the preaching is going very nicely around the world.

Before there were so many obstacles in communist countries but now in Russia and all the Eastern European communist country, they are all having many temples and no more obstacles.

Book distribution, Ratha-yātrās are going nicely all over the world. Here I hear in Kathmandu ,how Ratha-yātrā was very well organized this year. This was very pleasing to Prabhupāda, this Ratha-yātrā festival. This gives devotees opportunity to serve the Lord in a very intimate way. This strengthens us to be able to face any test which comes.

Some devotees are very strong under pressure in heavy test they do very nicely. They take more shelter of Kṛṣṇa. But then when normal times come sometimes they neglect to follow all the spiritual routines very carefully the day to day sādhanā.

Then other kind of devotee they are very good in the all-regular program. They follow very carefully the day-to-day sādhanā. But when under very great pressure they say “oh no!” is too much and they start to act or do things which are not proper. Best is that we should be fixed in Kṛṣṇa in the intense period as well as in the day to day period always.

sampade vipade, jīvane-maraṇe
arpilū tuwā pade, nanda-kiśor!

Always keeping our devotion offered to Lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in all circumstances. I know that in household life there are many different tests come sent by māyā. But if one is able to keep on chanting and faithful to Kṛṣṇa, this is very glorious.

Even in ashram, life is also difficult, unexpected difficulty sometime come. So long as we are living in this material world there is going to be difficulties and dangers. To remain faithful and in the shelter of Kṛṣṇa this is the real success. Because if during our life if we always remain dependent on Kṛṣṇa then naturally at the end of life we will remain dependent on Kṛṣṇa and we can return to Kṛṣṇa’s eternal service. We never know when the end of life is going to come.

One of my disciples he was a nice brahmacārī serving in the gurkula in temple. But his mother said no now you should work for the family. Because you do chanting when you are old. Unfortunately, the mother was not encouraging the boy to chant in the house. So, he gradually reduced in his spiritual activity. He had a job outside. But then he was riding his bicycle during the night, during the riots in Nepal and he got shot in the head by a police bullet. So “gṛhe thāko, vane thāko, sadā ‘hari’ bole’ ḍāko” Whatever āśrama we are in we should go on chanting without stopping, never stop. And I am very glad to hear you are all chanting and even Karṇa Kṛṣṇa dāsa says he is very enthused by your chanting.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotee: Incident in which someone tried to cut  your throat, what happened to the culprit was he punished, given due punishment?

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, I don’t remember right now.

Devotee: No. At that time we didn’t share what not very much indicated. No, Why don’t you say Mahārāja that it could have been some of your past lives, karmas to devotees of this life?

Jayapatākā Swami: Maybe who can say, both can be there. Although maybe already the previous lives karma is worked off through devotional service, but maybe also there in this lifetime.

Devotee: Our devotee Jyothirupa is looking after the downtown center doing ārati morning and evening. He is also very much involved in publishing the saṅkīrtana samācāra and he has been quite active in this ratha-yātrā. We were involved in this place and he was out, getting out, getting funds from different businessmen, different people. And he has been very successful. He has written a poem which he wants to present to you.

He is a poet and plays flute.

Śrīla Ācāryapāda Jayapatākā Swami Guru Mahārāja Ki

Devotees: Jaya!!!

Devotee: On behalf of Namahatta devotees he wishes a long happy, healthy life to you.

All glories to Śrīla Ācāryapāda Jayapatākā Swami Guru Mahārāja

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda

All glories to Prabhaviṣṇu Mahārāja

All glories to Guru & Gaurāṅga

All glories to Māyāpur Candrodaya Mandira

All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu

All glories to Lord Jagganātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā

All glories to Nepal’s Rādhā Kṛṣṇa temple

All glories to Ācāryadeva

All glories all glories to all Vaiṣṇavas

nāma oṁ Viṣṇu -padaya kṛṣṇa-preshthaya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatākā swamin iti nāmine

nāma oṁ Viṣṇu -padaya kṛṣṇa-preshthaya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedantaswamin iti nāmine 

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja 

sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam 

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kutopi
dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam 

 

(Devotees poem in Nepali)

Translation: So we are travelling in different lives in different bodies in this eighty four

lakh species. (Nepali poem continues)

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Bol!

Devotee: Hari Bol!

Second Level Proofer: Karuṇāpati Keśava das

Second Level Proofed on: 26 Nov 2020