Bhagavad-gītā 7.1 in [Hindi]
Prabhupāda:
śrī bhagavān uvāca
mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha
yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ
yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu
[Bg 7.1]
Śrī-bhagavān uvāca, it has not been said that Kṛṣṇa uvāca because Kṛṣṇa Himself is the Supreme Persoanlity of Godhead, Bhagavān, Bhagavān means Kṛṣṇa—kṛṣṇastu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28], in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam after mentioning all the main incarnations Suta Gosvāmi is finally saying this, even though we know various names of God rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan [Bs. 5.39], there are different incarnations of God, Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, etc. ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ [SB 1.3.28] either they are the expansions or expansions of the expansions, aṁśa or kalāḥ respectively.
But the main Supreme Personality of Godhead kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28] Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is describing Himself. In the *Bhagavad gītā *Kṛṣṇa is explaining Himself in the Bhagavad gītā. No one can understand the *Bhagavad gītā on his own by speculation, manodharma. No one can understand Kṛṣṇa by mental exercise, manodharma because Kṛṣṇa is limited and our intelligence and knowledge are limited. That is why the knowledge acquired by our senses is sensual knowledge akṣaja jñāna *with this sensory knowledge we will not be able to understand Kṛṣṇa. This is not possible. That is why those who are engaged in mental speculation thinking that God should be like this or like that He has form or is formless. Some will think that there is no God or that God is dead. So, all our attempts to understand God by speculation, all of them will prove to be futile. because we are all conditional living entities, this means that we have four kinds of faults. Firstly, we have a tendency to become commit mistakes, then pramāda, we tend to become illusioned—we start to think of something as something else. Just like we start thinking of the soul to be the body, particularly those who are atheists they think that they are their bodies. For example, think that they are Indians and that this is their only identity. Some may think that they are American but the scriptures say that you are not this body, Kṛṣṇa Himself has said in the Bhagavad gītā dehino ’smin yathā dehe [Bg. 2.13], asmin dehe, within this body the spirit soul is the real thing. The body is just an outer covering. So, this is called pramada, to consider one thing to be something else. So, bhrama pramāda followed by vipralipsa, we have a tendency to cheat, this is one of our propensities.
We may not have any knowledge but we try to become the leaders but actually we are misleading—andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānā [SB 7.5.31] those who don’t have knowledge, which means they are blind and being so how can they possibly guide others? This is impossible. So, bhrama, pramāda, vipra lipsa and then karṇā paṭava—our senses are all imperfect. Just like our eyes, they have become weak because of which we have to wear glasses in this old age. So, that is also not fixed that we will surely get to see upon putting glasses on.
In this way all the sensory knowledge we receive is not perfect. Always there are some defects. That is why to get the knowledge the scriptures recommend—tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: [Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12] one should approach a spiritual master. To get the real knowledge about the Absolute. So, who is the guru, spiritual master. God or Kṛṣṇa Himself is the spiritual master. Or the person who has taken knowledge from Kṛṣṇa is the spiritual master. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa [Cc. Madhya 7.128], regardless of wherever you are located, you don’t even go outside, in whichever house you live, of your own family you become guru, guru means the one who gives knowledge to others. This ignorance within which all of us are lying, that is why guru is defined as ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ this is the business of a guru. Those who brings souls from the darkness to ignorance to the light of knowledge. So, these are the responsibilities. Otherwise, is someone cannot do so much then he can at least become the spiritual master of his own wife, children and other dependents. Anyone willing to expand may guide his entire society. Then he can expand to guide the community, further going on to guide the nation and so on. So, how can one become a guru? In this respect Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said:
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
[Cc. Madhya7.128]
Whatever Kṛṣṇa has said, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is saying, there is no guru above God Himself. So, Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself, even then He is preaching as a devotee. Which is why He is not saying, “do what I am saying…” He says, whomever you meet, His order is, the order of the spiritual master is—yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa. Speak to everyone Kṛṣṇa upadesa and you shall become a guru upon doing so. You should not speak nonsense because it is completely useless. The real message is being revealed by Kṛṣṇa, you should take this and speak of it to the world. This is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu:
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
[CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126]
This was the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu who is Kṛṣṇa Himself kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ [SB 11.5.32]. Kṛṣṇa appeared and explained about Him, Himself. In the Bhagavad gītā He had said sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66] but not everyone took it up. Everyone again became misled. And misled many other people. Therefore, Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu even though is Kṛṣṇa Himself, appeared in the form of Kṛṣṇa’s devotee and explained the same thing what Kṛṣṇa had said—sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66], and Caitanya Mahāprabhu has asked everyone to listen to Kṛṣṇa, which are both one and the same instructions. Now, all of us by the order of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu are saying the same thing, nothing different. Not that Kṛṣṇa was once here and now is dead, now we are the incarnation and we are God, no, we don’t speak like that. We are speak the same old truth, that still Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and everyone should surrender unto Him. Think about Him constantly, meditate upon Him, render devotional service unto Him and become His devotee, offer your obeisances unto Him, worship Him, the same thing which has been said by Kṛṣṇa Himself we are presenting it to all of you once again, śrī-bhagavān uvāca.
Bhagavān means the root bhaga means opulence, strength is one opulence, jñāna is an opulence, beauty is one opulence, renunciation is an opulence, all of these including fame are various opulence. the person who fully possess all these six opulences is to be known as Bhagavān. So, that Bhagavān is explaining about Himself, about what is Bhagavān. Many people all over the world say that there is Bhagavān some say that there is no Bhagavān. They discuss about God but none of them has proper knowledge about Him. That is why Kṛṣṇa is Himself explaining:
mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha
yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ
yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu
[Bg. 7.2]
Hear from me to become free from all doubts. Which means to gain knowledge about the Supreme Lord which is complete and free from all doubts. So, hear what is God. In Chapter seven of the Bhagavad gītā God is saying, just like all of you have read.
So, what is the first thing He says? Mayy āsakta develop your attachment to me, and what is that attachment, we all know about it. We are attached to our women at home, attached to the family, society and nation everyone has attachments. But Kṛṣṇa says mayy āsakta become attached to Me and develop this attachment towards Me. Take up this yoga system and practice it. Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught about increasing one’s attachment for Kṛṣṇa, what is this attachment, govinda-viraheṇa me yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda viraheṇa me [Śikṣāṣṭaka 7]. This is attachment āsakti. That one cannot live without seeing God, without seeing Kṛṣṇa.
Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu is preaching in the mood of Śrīmati Rādhārāni, so this is her mood govinda-viraheṇa me. What is going on? Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa, one nimiṣa one moment appears to be as long as 12 years. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam, and tears are flowing like torrents of rain. Śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ, my whole world has become vacant. Why? Govinda-viraheṇa me, because I cannot see Govinda. This is called asakti, attachment. This kind of attachment exhibited by Radharani is not possible for everyone. This is called mahābhāva, but we should have some attachment for Kṛṣṇa. Only then shall our lives become successful.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s subject of preaching is just this: premā pumartho mahān, dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation these four are the goal of human life, but this is not the real goal. What is the goal of life beyond these? love, love for Godhead is the real goal of life. Without having love for God, we have distributed it all over this material world. When we collect all our love and give it to the feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is called mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yoga [Bg. 7.1], Kṛṣṇa is teaching how to practice, this kind of yoga.
And how will that yoga practice be executed? Mad-āśrayaḥ one will have to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or those who are sincere devotees of Kṛṣṇa, pure devotees. One should take shelter of pure devotees of Kṛṣṇa. Mad-āśrayaḥ can mean both the things. Either take My shelter directly or rlese take shelter of the one who has taken shelter of Me, mad-āśrayaḥ. Then this yoga will be considered complete. mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ asaṁśayaṁ, if you follow the yoga process in this way you wil become free from all doubts regarding God, Kṛṣṇa. If you ask anyone what do you understand by the world ‘God.’ No one will be able to answer satisfactorily. Everyone is in doubt. First of all they wonder even if there is a God, then if He is has a form or is formless. So, there are many types of opinions but if you practice this yoga with mad-āśrayaḥ, taking shelter of Me, Kṛṣṇa or the shelter of my devotee, then you have no further devotee. You will become sure that this is God, and samagram, samagram means that God is present everywhere,* īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati* [Bg. 18.61], God is present in His Brahman form, in His Paramātma form and in His personal form as Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead kṛṣṇastu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28], all the doubts regarding God which have been described in the Bhagavat, the teaching is:
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]
If you understand Kṛṣṇa then asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ if you understand Kṛṣṇa fully in this way then you will automatically understand the brahman and Paramātma feature. There will be no problem for understanding any of the features.
That is why it is required, just the way Kṛṣṇa recommends, *mayy āsakta *we should endeavor to increase our attachment towards Kṛṣṇa. So, the method of increase one’s attachment has been given by the Gosvāmis of Vṛndāvana who were the disciples of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, rūpa, sanātana, bhaṭṭa-raghunātha śrī-jīva, gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātha [Cc. Adi 1.36].
These six Gosvāmi’s among them Rūpa Gosvāmi who is the chief, He says that this is the way to increase our attachment towards Kṛṣṇa. He is saying in his Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu, what is that? Adau śraddhā, adau śraddhā, just like all of you have gathered here. Why? because you have faith that let us here what these Hare Kṛṣṇa movement people have to day. This is śraddhā, śraddhā or faith in the basic principle and upon the faith becoming firm one comes to the platform of niṣṭhā. So, the Gaudiya Vaisnava ācāryas have elaborated on the word śraddhā as:
śraddhā’-śabde-viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya
[Cc. Madhya 22.62]
This is called śraddhā, when Kṛṣṇa says sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66], those who have complete faith that if I surrender unto Kṛṣṇa then my life will become successful, this is called śraddhā, until this stage is reached one cannot be said to have any faith.
Those who have complete faith sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66], then Kṛṣṇa says that who will be able to do this? Those who have faith, that whatever Kṛṣṇa is saying that is right, that is the only thing we have to do. This is called śraddhā, that is why Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, is explaining śraddhā’-śabde-viśvāsa [Cc. Madhya 22.62], Kṛṣṇa says that I will protect you in every way—ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi [Bg. 18.66], having firm faith that whatever Kṛṣṇa is saying that is tru, we simply have to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, this is called faith, śraddhā.
Adau śraddhā then one should protect their faith. If one has sentimental faith then it can break if one is not properly protected, that is why to keep the faith in tact adau śraddhā tato sādhu sanga. Those who are saintly person, sādhus, and who are sādhus? Sādhu means those who are devotees of God ananya bhak, not ordinary devotees. Those who don’t know anything except Kṛṣṇa, such people are known as sādhus, kṛṣṇastu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28], surrendering unto Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, service to Kṛṣṇa, worship of Kṛṣṇa, those who are engaged in such activities such people are known as sādhus. Sādhus have been described in many places. It actually means that those are unalloyed devotees of God, they are sādhusm just like Arjuna.
Arjuna is one such unalloyed devotees of Kṛṣṇa and therefore a sādhu. Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg. 9.30], so one should associate with the sādhus. Sādhu sanga is not a difficult thing. If you cannot find any sādhu then Arjuna is a sādhu, you should listen to him, what he says and how he understood Kṛṣṇa.
Arjuna says in the tenth chapter param brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ adyam: [Bg. 10.12], so if you accept Arjuna then you should accept things as Arjuna says. Then Arjuna quotes authorities, that it is not because Kṛṣṇa is my friend that is why I am saying that He is Supreme Brahman. These are the words of Vyasa, Brahma, Narada who attest that Kṛṣṇa is* param brahma *and this is attested further by big-big rsis and ācāryas. Just like in this Bharata varsa we advance by following previous ācāryas such as Rāmanujācārya, Madhvācārya, Nimbārakācārya and Viṣṇusvāmi etc. all of these ācāryas agree kṛṣṇastu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Sa bhagavān svayaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ, this has also been accepted Sankarācārya. So, ācāryopāsanaṁ [Bg. 13.8] we need that we live our life according to the way the sādhus have recommended. Sādhu-mārgānu-gamanam, mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. So, this is śraddhā and to improve it we should associate with saintly person, sādhu sanga.
We are opening centers all over the world, what is the reason behind it? That we are making sādhus and we are giving a chance to everyone to associate with saintly persons sādhus sanga. Please associate with sādhus this is our subject matter of our preaching. On one had making people into sādhus and on the other hand giving everyone an opportunity to associate with the sādhus, “please come and associate with devotees”. So,* adau śraddhā tato sādhu sanga*, if one’s sādhu sanga is proper then there will be bhajana kriyā, devotional service, by associating with devotees one will naturally have the desire to perform devotional service, one will decide he should also engage in devotional service. These American and European boys engage so nicely in devotional service and are so joyufully chanting and dancing, I should also do this. In India people have forgotten all of these practices. Apparently, they have sacrificed their culture. That is why we have brought these foreigners, so for a few days please associate with them, sādhu sanga—adau śraddhā tato sādhu sanga, when sādhu sanga is done nicely, comes devotional service develops. The scriptures says adau gurvasrayam sādhu-mārgānu-gamanam, *sad-dharma-pṛcchā—*these are the regulations one of them is bhajana kriyā or devotional service and what will happen upon performing devotional service? All anarthas the usless attachments we have accumulated within our hearts… material civilization itself means useless attachments, simply anarthas, things which are not required at all we have created a false demand for it. Just like smoking, what is the need of smoking bidis and cigarettes? Does someone die if he or she doesn’t smoke? But still the cigarettes and bīḍī factories are making their business in millions, these are simply anarthas.
In this way by observing one thing after another you will realize that you don’t have any need for them, but you are stuck with them. That is why in Bhāgavatam it has been said about anarthas anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje anarthopaśamaṁ [SB 1.7.6], this whole world has become filled with anarthas. Human life is meant for plain living, to live life in a simple way so that one can save time for developing his relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is this relationship with God? What is it? All the distress we are facing within this world, there is no other solution to it. Athāto brahma jijñāsā, this is very important for us. However, we have forgotten it all and have been stuck in the pile of anarthas. Anartha means that which is without artha or any meaning. But we have been entangled in anarthas. So, if bhajana kriyā or devotional service is nicely executed then one will able to develop his attachment for Kṛṣṇa and the anarthas will gradually subside. You can see all these American and European devotees; from the beginning they were accustomed to illicit sex and meat eating. Their parents used to feed them meat powder in their childhood.
So, what they could do? And intoxication, the parents used to drink in front of the children and because they are children and cannot drink. The parents give them soda water, in this way the children learn how to drink. This is the practice in those countries. Now, you can see that all of them have become devotees. Given it all up, completely, and even in this age of youth. One should be able to control his mind. If that is done regardless of external allurement, we will not be disturbed. These devotees never ask me for money so that they can go see cinema. This is called anarta nivṛtti, why become entangled in the demands for useless things. No, by performing devotional service one will attain anarta nivṛtti, freedom from useless attachments. So, adau śraddhā tato sādhu sanga.
By associating with saintly persons sādhu sanga, sangat sanjayāte kāmaḥ [Bg. 2.62], the desires are similar to the type of association. If you associate with drunkards you will feel like drinking alcohol, and learn how to drink alcohol nicely. If you associate with devotees then you will quickly also become a devotee. This is why sādhu sanga, or association of devotees is required. Adau śraddhā tato sādhu sanga tato bhajan kriya atha anarta nivṛtti syāt. Upon completion of anarta nivṛtti one attains nistha, which means he become fixed up, tato nisṭha tato ruci, one attains ruci or taste for devotional service. These devotees cannot give up Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they have attained the taste ruci and not just the taste but also attachment. This is called attachment, tato nisṭha tato ruci atha āsakti. This is the stage of asakti. Tato bhava, sādhakānām ayaṁ premṇaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ, this is the sequence, sequence of devotional advancement. In this way when one attains devotional service, one will have love for Godhead and make his life successful. Because just like I spoke earlier that upon attaining love for God śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ, the world appears to be vacant, just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said, this simply means that love for God, will take you to God, there is no other way.
That is why Kṛṣṇa appears, to tell us, “why are you rotting here?” Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam [Bg. 13.9], birth after birth simply suffering? You end one life then get another body* tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*: [Bg. 2.13], again the suffering begins. Moreover, there is no guarantee that we will get a body or an Indian or an America, we simply consider ourselves as a big leader. When this body is is given up, one has to take up another body. Regardless, if one is an atheist, one has to take another birth. This is such a great botheration. What is the difference when one disagrees with these facts? Will the stringent material nature spare anyone? No. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu [Bg. 13.22]. The way you keep association the similar kind of body you will receive in the next life. This is the law of nature.
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate
[Bg. 3.27]
He says that we are the doers but we are not independent. We are completely under the grip of material nature.
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]
So, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, it is not any religious movement. Religion is always there, religion means, according to the dictionary, a kind of faith, this is not a question of faith. It is compulsory duty, that is religion. Characteristic, that is religion. Just like you can see that the characteristic of chilli is to be hot, that is chilli’s religion. Sugar is sweet, sweetness is its religion. In this way everything has its characteristics and these characteristics are called religion. So, we the living entities, what are our characteristics,* jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya-kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’* [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. The characteristic is that we are eternally the servants of God, Kṛṣṇa. This is our characteristic but when we forget this, then we don’t stop being servants only we change our master from Kṛṣṇa to māyā.
Servitorship is can never be given up. We may become a servant of the society, of our sons, servants of our daughters, servants of our wives, of our communities but, servants we always remain. That is the difference. We can never become masters. You see America is such a big nation but President Nixon made a little mistake and he was removed from his position of power. He used to think of himself as a master but no, he is a servant and so is everyone else. Same as defined by Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu—jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya-kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’ [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. Actually, they are all servants of Kṛṣṇa but being bewildered by māyā, they think that they are the masters, they are God. This is called māyā. We will have to give this up. giving up this conception will make us happy. Regarding this Kṛṣṇa says:
Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha [Bg. 7.1] one should increase his attachment towards Kṛṣṇa. This is our subject matter for preaching. So, bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42], this is mukti or liberation muktir hitvānyathā-rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ [SB 2.10.6], this is called liberation mukti. This hitva anyatha, giving up this false position of servitorship or this person or that person, we have become servant of so many things. Giving all of this up hitvānyathā-rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ, which is becoming Kṛṣṇa’s servant. So, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a stalwart vaisnava ācārya sings a song: māyāra vaśe, yāccha bhese’, khāccha hābuḍubu, bhāi: you are being carried away by the ways of māyā and you are under so much suffering. Simply, if you accept just once and you are servant of Kṛṣṇa, you have become free from all your suffering.
Kṛṣṇa appears for this very purpose. We all forget that we are servants of Kṛṣṇa. This is called dharmasya glāṇi [Bg. 4.7]. This decline or glāṇi is… yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata [Bg. 4.7]… tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham, when we forget that we are servants of God, that is decline of religion. To reestablish dharma Kṛṣṇa appears, and what is that dharma? Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66], you have become servant of so many things, servant of this dharma and that dharma. Give up all of these for you are only my servant, surrender unto me. When does one attain this knowledge?
So, our subject matter of preaching, you all are Gujrati ladies and gentlemen and you are naturally have devotion for Kṛṣṇa, so please accept this nicely. So that it can be preached very nicely. People are ready to accept it, it is not like that, people all over the world are waiting to receive it, so please cooperate in our preaching in an organized way. This is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, this is our only request.
Thank you very much!
Hare Krishna!
Devotees: Hari Bol! Jaya!