Bhagavad-gītā Lecture – [Hindi]
*Prabhupada: [Transl. If we want, there is no power in this world that can check our devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati
[SB 1.2.6]
So in this way, if someone is engages in pure devotional service then the soul becomes very blissful. That is why the Lord says, jñānaṁ te ’haṁ sa-vijñānam, [Bg 7.2] “the knowledge that I am imparting to you, it is not impersonal Brahman realization. This is Bhagavān realization.” Impersonal Brahman realization, that is for liberation. And this knowledge that the Lord is imparting is for the liberated, for those who are already liberated. That is why He says, jñānaṁ te ’haṁ sa-vijñānam, along with scientific knowledge. sa-vijñānam means [I forget the word in Hindi] practical application or practical knowledge, not just theoretical. Having just theoretical knowledge, Ahaṁ brahmāsmi, this is knowledge that, I am not a material substance, I am not this material body, I am Brahman. Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā, [Bg 18.54] if we have this self-realization, the soul definitely becomes blissful because all the miseries are due to our material knowledge. So long we go on accepting a material body we will always be full of anxiety. Prahlada Mahārāja has said,
tat sādhu manye ’sura-varya dehināṁ
sadā samudvigna-dhiyām
[SB 7.5.5]
So long we have this material body we will always be, samudvigna, full of anxiety. Once we come into the realm of actual knowledge this anxiety udvignatā will be destroyed. If this anxiety is destroyed but we do not make further advancement… Just like if a man is suffering from fever and the fever subsides, but though the fever has subsided that does not mean he has become healthy. Only if he gets out of the bed, walks around, eats properly and feels good only then can we say that he is healthy. Just to get rid of fever is not the goal. Similarly if we just acquire knowledge, Ahaṁ brahmāsmi, I am spirit, I am not this material body, this is not sufficient knowledge. That is why the Lord says,
bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
[Bg 7.19]
One who is in possession of knowledge, this kind of devotional service is obtained after many many births, *bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate, *to surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord- that is real knowledge. With just theoretical knowledge we may be blissful, but until we surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord, the knowledge is not complete, this is the conclusion of the scriptures. That is why it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā,
brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
[Bg 18.54]
Those who have acquired knowledge and are joyful, that I am not material, Ahaṁ brahmāsmi, So’ham, [Śrī Īśopaniṣad 16] this is all right but if you do not advance, then you will fall down. You will fall down from the platform of knowledge. This is the conclusion of the scriptures.
ye ’nye ’ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas
tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ
[SB 10.2.32]
O lotus-eyed one, those who falsely think themselves liberated, they are not actually liberated, it will take time to be so, but they falsely assume themselves to be liberated “ I am now liberated”. Mukta-māninas. Their intelligence is still not purified. Why? tvayy asta-bhāvād, because they have not yet searched out Your lotus feet. That is why the Lord says, jñānaṁ te ’haṁ sa-vijñānam, sa-vijñānam, practical application,
jñānaṁ te ’haṁ sa-vijñānam
idaṁ vakṣyāmy aśeṣataḥ
“Now, I shall now speak to you. Arjuna, I shall now tell you about the real knowledge along with the practical knowledge.”yaj jñātvā, if you have this real knowledge, knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is said in the Vedas also,
yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati
[Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.3]
If you understand God-the Supreme Personality of Godhead then you will automatically have knowledge of everything. We are preaching in the West, where big scientists, psychologists come to meet. But we prove it to them that the knowledge they have is insignificant, incomplete. Although we are not scientists or psychologists, by the mercy of God, it is possible and we are doing this. I have a disciple Dr. Svarūpa Dāmodara. He is a great scientist in chemistry. He has written a book, “Scientific Basis of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” What I mean is although he is a recognized scientist but still by acquiring this knowledge about the absolute truth, he is feeling himself more competent and he is writing many more books. This is vijñāna - practical knowledge. Knowledge of the absolute truth means practical knowledge.
jñānaṁ te ’haṁ sa-vijñānam
idaṁ vakṣyāmy aśeṣataḥ
[Bg 7.2]
yaj jñātvā neha bhūyo ’nyaj
jñātavyam avaśiṣyate
“I am giving you complete knowledge.” yaj jñātva, if you are able to understand this then, na iha bhūya anyat jñātavyam avaśiṣyate. There is no need for you to acquire any other knowledge after this. So this practical knowledge, sa-vijñānam, that is devotional service. The Lord will explain further on, these are all topics related to devotional service only, as to how to use this practical knowledge, sa-vijñānam to increase our attachment for the Lord. This is there in the beginning of this chapter.
mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha
yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
[Bg 7.1]
So this yoga that is devotional service is the one that includes practical knowledge. Devotional service is not a sentiment. Devotional service is with practical application. Devotional service is approved by the Vedas, therefore with practical application.
Just like Rūpa Gosvāmī has said,
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-
pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātāyaiva kalpate
[Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.101]
Śruti, the Vedas and smṛti, the Purāṇas and pāñcarātrikī-viddhi if all these are given up and one is engaged in devotional service, that devotional service is according to Rūpa Gosvāmī a disturbance, utpāta. You understand, disturbance? It is not pure devotional service, it merely creates a disturbance in the society. So vijñānam: those authorised by the Vedas etc.
brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva
hetumadbhir viniścitaiḥ
[Bg 13.5]
So when the Lord Himself is talking about devotional service He gives the example of Brahma-sūtra.
brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva
hetumadbhir viniścitaiḥ
So the path of devotional service, śruti-smṛti, according to the scriptural injunctions we should engage in devotional service. That is why to guide us Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has written the book, Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. This we have translated into English, Nectar of Devotion. This Nectar of Devotion is a textbook in many of the western universities. So sa-vijñānam, vijñānam [scientific] you understand. So this devotional service is not a sentiment, it is scientific. It is accepted by saintly persons, by the* ācāryas. Ācārya-upāsanā,* [Bg 13.9] without worshipping the ācāryas, it is difficult to understand the process of devotional service. That is why Narottama Dās Ṭhākura says, ei chaya gosāñi yāṅra mui tāṅra dāsa, tāṅ-sabāra pada-reṇu mora pañca-grāsa [Śrī Nāma saṅkīrtana Text 6] We are Rūpānugas. When we follow in the footsteps of the six Gosvāmīs Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jiva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa, Dāsa Raghunātha, [Śrī Nāma-saṅkīrtana Text 4] tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta-sane vāsa, [Śrī Nāma-Saṅkīrtana Text 7] to follow in the footsteps of the those who discovered Vṛndāvana, the six Gosvāmīs [coughs], we should serve them [coughs] and bhakta-sane vāsa, we should live in the association of the devotees, only then can we understand this science. Just like there is a society for the business, similarly for engaging in devotional service we should definitely associate with the saintly persons. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.4.15] Who is a sādhu? Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk [Bg 9.30] one who knows nothing other than to be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, he is a sādhu. So this is called sa-vijñānam.
Then the Lord says,
manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ
[Bg 7.3]
We have to understand the Supreme Lord as He is. Bhagavān means the Supreme Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The original. Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28]. There are other Bhagavāns, but the original is govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ, [Bs 5.39] Govinda, the original personality of Godhead. And all the incarnations of the Lord, rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan [Bs 5.39] Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Varaha etc. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has many incarnations, They are also Bhagavān. It is not that because Kṛṣṇa is the original personality therefore He is the greatest. All the Supreme Lords are great. The Lord is not big or small. Just like the tulasī leaf, it may look big or small but the value of all of them is the same. You can offer the small tulasī leaf at the lotus feet of the Lord and a big leaf also you can offer, the purpose will be served. Similarly the Supreme Personality of Godhead has many incarnations, Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam. [Bs 5.33]
So the Lord’s potencies are all one. Even the holy name of the Lord is Lord Himself. This Hare Kṛṣṇa is the “Sound incarnation” of the Lord. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has confirmed this, Nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis. The holy name of the Lord has all the potencies of the Lord in it. This has been told by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is not that… The Hare Kṛṣṇa names that we chant, is Kṛṣṇa Himself. Kṛṣṇa in the form of His name. That is why Caitanya Mahāprabhu says,
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
[Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka 2]
This arcā-vigraha: worshipable deity of the Lord needs to be worshipped at certain times, certain rules are to be followed, but to chant the names of the Lord there is no restriction. Niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ. Everyone can do it, whenever and wherever you want to do it. That is the mercy of the Lord in this Kali-yuga.
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet
Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that this Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults,
kaler doṣa-nidhe rājan
asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ
[SB 12.3.51]
Despite being an ocean of faults there is one great benediction. What is that? kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya. By chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa the ill effects of this age of Kali-yuga are destroyed and one goes back to Vaikuṇṭha dhāma, mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet. So in this Kali-yuga the chanting of the holy name is foremost.
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
So the Lord says that this acquiring of knowledge is not for everyone. *manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu. Jñāna,vijñāna, *what is that? That is knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Knowledge means, just like Vedas, Vedas mean knowledge. So the Lord says,
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
[Bg 15.15]
After studying the Vedas and other scriptures if one does not acquire knowledge about the Supreme Lord then it is śrama eva hi kevalam, simply a waste of time. This is a scriptural conclusion. The scriptures say,
dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ
viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ
notpādayed yadi ratiṁ
śrama eva hi kevalam
[SB 1.2.8]
We have thoroughly studied all the Vedas and read all the scriptures but if we have not acquired knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead then it is only a wasted labour, hard work and nothing. This is a scriptural conclusion. Dharma, dharma means brāhmaṇa-dharma, kṣatriya-dharma, vaiśya-dharma, there are different duties, but the goal is one, to engage in devotional service unto the Supreme Lord.
svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya
saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam
[SB 1.2.13]
This is perfection. What is that perfection? Perform your respective occupational duties but the purpose of it is hari-toṣaṇam, how to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam. So these are scriptural conclusions. So how to please the Lord, is disclosed by the Lord Himself.
manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
What is that perfection? Not the mystic perfection. Devotees of the Supreme Lord do not endeavour mystic perfection because the Lord Himself is, Yogeśvara. He is the master of all mystic powers. So those who are surrendered at the lotus feet of the Lord, all these mystic yogic perfections are automatically attained by them. There is no need for any separate endeavors. Those who are under the protection of the Lord and the Lord Himself is Yogeśvara, so all the power attained by the mystic perfections is automatically gained.
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ
yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham
[Bg 9.22]
This is what the scriptures declare. The mystic perfection is achieved by the mercy of the Lord. This is practical, we have seen it practically. This hari kirtan, kirtan movement which is spreading all over the world is astonishing because every year all over the world about ten Deities of the Lord have been installed. This is also a yoga-siddhi. So yoga-siddhi, we do not know any yoga perfection but the Lord is Yogeśvara, and so by His mercy this is all possible. So the devotees of the Lord do not want yogic perfection but because they are surrendered to Yogeśvara, they naturally attain yogic perfection. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo [Bg 18.78] where there is Yogeśvara, Hari and where there is Yogeśvara Hari, Kṛṣṇa, and where there is a devotee like Arjuna , there all perfection exists. There is no need for any separate endeavor.
manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ
[Bg 7.3]
Even if one acquires yogic perfection and all such kinds of other perfections, one will not be able to understand the Absolute Truth. The Supreme Absolute Truth can be understood only by a devotee of the Lord and by one who is favoured by Lord.
So this Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement that I am preaching all over the world, this is knowledge of the Absolute Truth. That is why it is named “Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: Kṛṣṇa Bhāvanāmrta.” And this Kṛṣṇa bhāvanāmṛta is possible if you develop attachment for this Deity form of Lord Kṛṣṇa. That is why these temples are established that you all come, see the Lord, hear the topics of the Lord, then slowly by ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo, and by these processes you will become attached to the Lord and that is the perfection of life.]
Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa
Jaya Srila Prabhupada! [end]