20011015 Bhagavad-gītā 12.20

The following is a class given by His Holiness Jayapatāka Swāmi Mahārāja, on October 15th,  2001  in Sydney, Australia. The class begins with a reading from the Bhagavad-gītā Twelfth Chapter, Verse 20.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram
Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Translation: Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.

Purport: In this chapter, from verse two through the end – from mayy āveśya mano ye mām (“fixing the mind on Me”) through ye tu dharmāmṛtam idam (“this religion of eternal engagement”) – the Supreme Lord has explained the processes of transcendental service for approaching Him. Such processes are very dear to the Lord, and He accepts a person engaged in them. The question of who is better – one who is engaged in the path of impersonal Brahman or one who is engaged in the personal service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead – was raised by Arjuna, and the Lord replied to him so explicitly that there is no doubt that devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the best of all processes of spiritual realization. In other words, in this chapter it is decided that through good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service and thereby accepts a bona fide spiritual master and from him begins to hear and chant and observe the regulative principles of devotional service with faith, attachment and devotion and thus becomes engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord. This path is recommended in this chapter; therefore there is no doubt that devotional service is the only absolute path for self-realization, for the attainment of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The impersonal conception of the Supreme Absolute Truth, as described in this chapter, is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization. In other words, as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee, the impersonal conception may be beneficial. In the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth one works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand spirit and matter. This is necessary as long as one is not directly in the association of a pure devotee.

Fortunately, if one develops directly a desire to engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in pure devotional service, he does not need to undergo step-by-step improvements in spiritual realization. Devotional service, as described in the middle six chapters of Bhagavad-gīta, is more congenial. One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together, because by the grace of the Lord everything is carried out automatically.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Twelfth Chapter of the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gīta in the matter of Devotional Service.

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Jayapatākā Swami: So this verse, this rather chapter on devotional service is very important, because here Kṛṣṇa has very clearly given out the purpose - the process of devotional service, clarified which service is better - that the impersonal or the personal. So this particular verse explaining that anyone who follows the devotional service, engages themselves with faith making Kṛṣṇa the supreme goal is very very dear to Him. In the previous verses things were said to be - dear to Kṛṣṇa - very dear - one who is equal to friends and enemies, equipoised in honor, dishonor, heat, cold, happiness distress, fame and infamy,  who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, fixed in knowledge, who is engaged in devotional service, such a person is very dear.

In this verse twenty, it says very very dear. atīva priyāḥ - exceptionally dear. What we have to do to be exceptionally dear to Kṛṣṇa? You heard the verse? Another one to engage in devotional service. Something more? Devotional service means personal. What kind of devotional service? Kṛṣṇa says very faithful. Two things He has said here. One is faith and the other is making Kṛṣṇa the supreme goal. Some people do devotional service but their supreme goal is to merge into the impersonal brahma-jyoti, or for liberation, or some material benediction or something. Still they are dear to Kṛṣṇa because they are doing devotional service. When somebody makes Kṛṣṇa the supreme goal and engages in devotional service with faith they achieve Kṛṣṇa. That is super special. How many here have made - decided to make Kṛṣṇa the supreme goal in their life? Ok. So that makes you all very very dear to Kṛṣṇa. You are very exceptional devotees.

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

Ātmarāma prabhu, here you have very exceptional devotees. Very very dear to Kṛṣṇa. devotee says something, indistinct] [Guru Mahārāja laughs] because they have made Kṛṣṇa as their supreme goal. Kṛṣṇa is your supreme goal? [10:07 not clear] It is okay. So this twelfth chapter is described in the Padma Purāṇa as a very very powerful chapter by Lord Śiva to Pārvati. You know the glories of the twelfth chapter?

There was once a prince and his father died before he could complete the aśvamedha yajña. The horse was stolen, then the father died. So he wanted to complete the yajña but he couldn’t find the horse. So he decided to go to a famous Lakśmi temple which is still existing. So  old it is. We go to see that temple now. It is mentioned in Padma Purāna. It is called Mahālakśmi of Kolhāpur in Maharashtra. You’ve heard of it? So he went to that temple. And he offered all kinds of prayers and songs to Mahālakśmi. She is the internal potency. She is merciful. She is beloved of Lord Viśṇu, everything. So then, after may be a few hours, may be two hours or more of offering prayers the – Mahālakṣmī was very pleased with him and informed him that if he goes to the front of the temple there is a sādhu living across the street, a devotee who can satisfy all of his  needs. So he went across the street and there he found his āśrama. Inside there was a guru, brāhmana. He paid his obeisances. And the brāhmaṇa said,” So Mahālakśmi has sent you to me? What is it that you want? What you need?”

So he explained that, “My father took a vow to do the aśvamedha yajña. But he couldn't complete it because the horse was stolen and then he died.” So the son has kept the body of the dead father in essential oil and came looking for a solution. He said that you know, to pick up his duty to finish the yajña that his father had not completed. He said, “First I need to get the horse back to complete the yajña.” It is important for us because we are all trying to complete Prabhupāda’s yajña. Lord Caitanya has predicted the whole world would be Kṛṣṇa conscious - every town and village and Prabhupāda set off to do that. It is probably a few people still not Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the world. So the yajña is not fully finished yet. Is that correct? So we also have to finish the uncompleted work of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Many uncompleted work, pushed to the time factor. I am more elaborate. So he told the sādhu, “I want to get the horse back, complete the yajña for my father.”

“That’s all? Come here behind my āśrama.  And the sādhu started chanting mantras. He started chanting mantras and then he clapped his hands. All of a sudden from the sky started descending all kinds of devas - Indra, Varuna, Vāyudeva, Agnideva and they are standing in front of the sādhu and just shaking with folded hands. They said, "Yes Sir. What can we do for you?”

He said, “Give this prince back his horse.”

“Yes sir.”

They came and gave him back the horse. “Anything else Sir?"

“No, you can go back.”

“Thank you sir.”

The prince is amazed that the devas are shaking before this devotee. He never saw, you know, you can’t even see the devas. He just snapped his finger; they are all coming and shaking. Wow, this is really a powerful devotee.

“So is there anything else you want?"

He said, “Well, my father died before he could finish the yajña that he started. I kept his body preserved in essential oils. If you can bring his body to life, then I would really appreciate that."

“Oh, that is a little bit more difficult. I would have to go and see the condition of the body and the whole situation.  But I will go with you.” Let’s see. So the guru went with this prince to his kingdom. There he saw the body had been immediately put in essential oils and it was not at all decomposed. It was as it was. He said, “Ok, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll bring him back to life. Then he began chanting some mantras, over water. Then he brings out the body. Then he took the water and sprinkled it all over the dead body of the king. The king came back to life. And the prince, you know, was amazed. The king was very intelligent than his son.

"How did I come back? What happened?”

And the prince explained the whole thing that this devotee has got all these powers. ”He brought back the horse and he brought you back to life.” The king was thinking that he would like to know how this person got so much power. He never heard of anybody having so much power. So he asked that sādhu - guru

“Would you be kind to tell us how is it you have so much power? “

“So normally I don't reveal this to anybody. It is very confidential. Since Mahālakṣmī told to give you what you wanted. This is your third request  - final.  So I will tell you. Everyday I chant the twelfth chapter Bhagavad-gītā. And by chanting the twelfth chapter Bhagavad-gītā, there is nothing that I cannot achieve.”

So this is revealed by Lord Śiva that the twelfth chapter of Bhagavad-gītā is so powerful. Someone is very very dear to Kṛṣṇa , Kṛṣṇa has unlimited potencies, He will give what is needed. Of course this is especially for a devotee. So we want to please Kṛṣṇa. Devotional service process is how to please Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is pleased by devotional service. That's why we do it - .pleased when we do kīrtana, japa, ācamana, preaching, bṛhad-mṛdanga. So by doing that things which are pleasing to Kṛṣṇa, then one becomes dear to Kṛṣṇa. Devotional service is the imperishable path, non-different from Kṛṣṇa. It makes one naturally attached to Kṛṣṇa, it makes one dear to Kṛṣṇa. Especially when one takes Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate goal in their lives, then they become very very dear to Him.

Can you think of any devotees who have in the Purāṇas in the Bhāgavatam who have made Kṛṣṇa as their ultimate goal in their lives?

Devotee: Prahlāda.

Jayapatākā Swami: Prahlāda Mahārāja ki...

Devotees: Jai!

Jayapatākā Swami: What else? Arjuna? Arjuna ki...

Devotees: Jai!

Jayapatākā Swami: Bhīṣmadeva. Raise your hand. We are just not going to run. Leave a few names for others. So Bhīṣma, Kuntidevi. [20:17 not clear] just say the Pāṇḍavas with the names - Yudhiśṭira, Bhīma, Nakula, Sahadeva. When Kṛṣṇa left, they all went looking for Kṛṣṇa. Anybody else? Yeah?

Devotee: Bali Mahārāja.

GuruMahārāja: Bali Mahārāja. Any other ladies now? It is not in the Bhāgavatam but in Mahābhārata. We said from Bhāgavatam. Yeah...took sannyāsa and devotees. So if we also make ourselves the ultimate goal as serving Kṛṣṇa, this is the great opportunity we have. Caitanya Mahāprabhu was encouraging everyone:

ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya

Kṛṣṇa is the sole Supreme Lord and everyone else is His servant. He is the original Personality of Godhead - bhagavān svayaṁ. Lord Caitanya also was preaching this everyone should surrender to Kṛṣṇa. There was one devotee in His associates who couldn’t surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Who is that? Murāri Gupta. Murāri Gupta tried to surrender to Kṛṣṇa but he was so much devoted to Lord Rāma that no matter however he tried, Rāma kept coming up to his mind. So then he thought, “I have to commit suicide. I am not surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. So then Lord Caitanya saw him and asked, “You are looking very frustrated. What happened?”

He said, "My Lord! I am trying to carry out Your instruction to be completely focused on Kṛṣṇa. But everytime I think of Kṛṣṇa, always my Lord Raghupati Rāma is always coming in my mind. Since I am not able to carry out Your instruction, I should commit - I should take my life. “

So Lord Caitanya embraced him and said you are a real devotee of Lord Rāma. So it is alright you can worship Rāma. Bhagavad-gītā As it is ki….

Devotee: Jai!

Jayapatākā Swami: Twelfth chapter Bhagavad-gītā ki ...

Devotee: Jai!

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda ki...

Devotee: Jai

Jayapatākā Swami: Nitāi-Gaura Premānande !!!

Devotee: Hari haribol!!

Transcribed by Sudhamayī Citrā Devī Dāsī
Completed on 10/Jan/2021