Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.50

Anantarām Śāstrījī:

kṛṣṇaika-citta mada-moha-vināśa-kārin
kartavya darṣaka prabhu prabhupāda-svāmin
kāmādi doṣā paradūṣita-manda-buddheḥ
sañcintayāmi caraṇau tava bhakti-hetoḥ
[Prabhupāda-stotram]

Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [devotees repeat] Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.50. [chants word-for-word, then verse; devotees and Prabhupāda respond] [break]

tat te ’rhattama namaḥ stuti-karma-pūjāḥ
karma smṛtiś caraṇayoḥśravaṇaṁ kathāyām
saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ
bhaktiṁ janaḥ paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta
[SB. 7.9.50]

[02:58]

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa:
Translation: “Therefore, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all persons to whom prayers are offered, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because without rendering six kinds of devotional service unto You—namely without offering prayers, dedicating the results of activities to You, worshiping You, always remembering Your lotus feet and hearing and speaking about Your glories—who can achieve that which is meant for the paramahaṁsas?”

Prabhupāda:
[taped from a distance, indistinct from this point]

tat te ’rhattama namaḥ stuti-karma-pūjāḥ
karma smṛtiś caraṇayoḥśravaṇaṁ kathāyām
saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ
bhaktiṁ janaḥ paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta
[SB. 7.9.50]

So bhakti is under the control of paramahaṁsas. Bhakti is not available in the market. It is not possible. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has said that if at all possible you can purchase. Eh? Kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa, rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ, krīyatāṁ yadi kuto ’pi labhyate, labh…, labhyate. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ [Cc Madhya 8.70 / Padyāvalī 14].

This is the exact translation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We have given this name Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The exact Sanskrit is written by Rūpa Gosvāmī. Kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ. Matiḥ means consciousness. We have taken this verse. So we are distributing this. Anyone can purchase. Hmm? Rūpa Gosvāmi has advised, “Purchase and indulge. That’s all” Therefore, as paupers, here we are asking everybody, “Please purchase Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” This is our business. We are also businessmen. These books, this is business. What is this business? “Please purchase Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” They are seeing that we can act in business. [child crying loudly in the background; Prabhupāda says something aside] It is Rūpa Gosvāmi’s advise that kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ. Krīyatāṁ. Again he advises everyone, “Please purchase kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ.” The reference is [indistinct], that those who are actually eager to purchase, we are giving knowledge that “Here is Kṛṣṇa bhakti: kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ, here.” There is no other way, only Kṛṣṇa bhakti. This is required.

So, krīyatāṁ, he has advised to purchase, but one can enquire what is the price? What is the price? I want to purchase one kilo, but what is the price? Yes, price is there, ah, laulyam ekalaṁ mūlyam. First of all, to purchase Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it does not require any pound, ceilling, penny. It cannot be purchased by any material money. Then, what price? Laulyam ekalaṁ mūlyam [Cc. Madhya 8.70]: I must have Kṛṣṇa in this life. This is the price. If one is very, very eager, just like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught us, śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me [Cc. Antya 20.39]: “I do not find Govinda, therefore the whole world is vacant.” [Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka 7] This is the reaction. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitaṁ. This is the price for purchasing Kṛṣṇa. We have got everything given by our ācāryas. Rūpa Gosvāmi says that you purchase, then you at least try. [indistinct] twice. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who rigidly purchased, this is the price [indistinct]. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa, when you live one moment as twelve years. One yuga means twelve years. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitaṁ: and the eyes should be filled with tears. Just like in the rainy season, torrents and torrents of rain. Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitaṁ. And, Śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ, that Caitanya Mahāprabhu practically shown that without Kṛṣṇa He is jumping on the sea. He has fallen in amongst the cows and [indistinct]. You have read Caitanya-caritāmṛta where Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja has explained.

**So He is showing us by practical example what is the price for this. That is the price. So therefore it is the knowledge, as it is said, paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta, gata—it is the property of the paramahaṁsa. You have to find, you have to purchase from the paramahaṁsas, not from the professional man. Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā, you have to serve the paramahaṁsa. Paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ. Paramahaṁsa means paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ [SB. 1.1.2] Vaiṣṇava means, he is paramahaṁsa. Those who are envious, they are not even gosvāmis, what to speak of paramahaṁsas. Vaiṣṇava is adoṣadarśī: he will never find out any fault with anyone, anywhere. Paramahaṁsa, why they should find fault? This material world means they are under the influence of the material nature. Here everyone has got some difference of opinion, diseased condition. Diseased condition. Just like there are varieties of diseases, similarly, everyone is being influenced by the modes of material nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ [Bg. 3.27]. So we are in diseased condition under the influence of material nature. You can say, “But that is not for me.”

piśācī pāile yena mati-cchanna haya
māyā-grasta jīvera sei daśā upajaya
[Prema-vivarta 1]

Just like a person ghostly-haunted, he speaks all nonsense. Similarly, anyone who is under the influence of the three qualities of material nature, he is as good as the person ghostly-haunted. He speaks only nonsense. We cannot see on our own account, because every one of us ghostly-haunted, under the influence of the material nature. It is these varieties of philosophies, varieties of sciences, biology and chemistry, varieties of material nature. So we cannot expect a sane man, so why you should be angry upon a man, or why should you blame an insane man? This is proper Vaiṣṇava behavior. The Vaiṣṇava’s only desire is that “These people are suffering under the influence of material nature, and they are talking all nonsense. What shall I blame them? Why shall I condemn them? Let them pray to Kṛṣṇa, let them become sane constantly.” This is Vaiṣṇava. It is just like the physician is treating patients, and one patient is [indistinct]. But if the physician becomes angry upon the patient, then he cannot treat. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised to the preacher,

tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

[Cc Ādi 17.31]

You have to become tolerant. People will be rude, illusioned under the influence of the material nature, and they will talk only nonsense. But we don’t care, neither we complain. We never complain. Very tolerant. Saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ, You have to follow the paramahaṁsas. Kṛṣṇa is the property of the paramahaṁsa. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung, vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukura baliyā jānaha more. [Śaraṇāgati. Ātma-nivedana, Song 19, Stanza 1] Just like the dog follows the master to get something. The dog does not go to any master, but he follows his master, and the master out of affection gives him food and drink. So Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has taught us that vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukura baliyā jānaha more. You have to become a dog of a Vaiṣṇava. And Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says that chādiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā: without serving the Vaiṣṇava, nobody can get out of the clutches of māyā. That is not possible.

Therefore we daily sing, guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, āra nā kariha mane. [Śrī Prema-bhakti-candrikā, 1.2] Because if you want to have Kṛṣṇa, then guru. Guru means who is coming through the paramparā system. Not self-made guru, but that guru, guru-mukha-padma. What he says, that we have to follow. That’s all. Because we are under the influence of māyā. You cannot become paramahaṁsa by advertising. No, that is not possible. Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, that is the paramahaṁsa who follows the instruction of guru. He is not paramahaṁsa, but because he is following the words of the paramahaṁsa, he is perfect. This is guru. We sing also, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi. [Śrī Gurvaṣṭaka 8] This is paramahaṁsa. Paramahaṁsa-gatau, you have to become. You have to approach a Vaiṣṇava, a paramahaṁsa and follow his words and instructions; then you get the result. This is the price. Otherwise it is not possible, it can be purchased very easily, provided you have got the price as it is described in the śāstras:

tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet
samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham
[Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12]

*Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥśreya uttamam [SB. 11.3.21]. Jijñāsuḥśreya. One should not approach guru for any material purpose. That is… He is not eligible to select the guru, and he is not fit for becoming disciple. *Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥśreya uttamam. [from the darkness.]

So, śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Guru means he is expert, well versed in the transcendental science, literatures. Then how it can be done, transcendental literature? It is very easy. That is the instruction of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then what is that transcendental literature? Caitanya Mahāprabhu explains, yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa [Cc. Madhya 7.128].

Very easy. Simply you take Bhagavad-gītā, kṛṣṇa-upadeśa. That is transcendental. This is Śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ [SB. 4.29.55]. One who has taken seriously, fully, śābde pare ca… Śabda means sound. Bhagavad-gītā is also sound, but it is not ordinary sound. If you take Bhagavad-gītā as ordinary sound and try to understand by your ordinary, blunt [indistinct] it will never be possible. It is transcendental literature. It cannot be understood by mundane education. Therefore all these rascals who are advertising that they have great scholars, great politicians, great students in this and that, they cannot understand. Because they want to understand Bhagavad-gītā by the mundane knowledge, mundane education. It is not possible. Therefore he cannot. Śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ, brahmaṇy. Then brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam, the whole life is how to become completely fixed up in Brahman, the Supreme. That is brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā, we are trying to be happy, peaceful. Everyone of us. Everyone wants equanimity. How you’ll get? The process you do not follow, brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. So if you’re fixed up in Brahma, then,

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
[Bg. 18.54]

So if you get to the brahma-bhūtaḥ stage, even if you approach a person who is in brahma-bhūtaḥ then, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum, [Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12] śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ [SB. 11.3.21] In Bhagavad-gītā everything is explained.

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
[Bg. 4.34]

Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti. Tattva-darśinaḥ means one who knows what is actually the truth.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate
[SB. 1.2.11]

That means one who is brahma-bhūtaḥ, one who understands the distinction between material knowledge and spiritual knowledge, you have to approach that person. Then you can understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And what is the means? Rūpa Gosvāmī has said, tatra laulyam ekalaṁ mūlam, na labhyate janma-koṭi-sukṛtair. “Yes, I say the price is eagerness.” So anyone can say, “Oh, that is very easy. [indistinct] Yes, I shall do it.” So Rūpa Gosvāmi immediately warns us, na janma-koṭi-sukṛtair: even after millions of births and millions of past pious activities, this eagerness cannot be. It is not easy. Don’t take it, I mean, “I am very eager, I have eagerness.” No, how you can be? Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmi immediately warns, “No, don’t do that.” Just like you are eager to buy something [indistinct] in the market, janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate, but it can be, immediately. This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s favor, mercy. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Kṛṣṇa is merciful. Immediately within a second. How?

sarva-dharmān parityajya

mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ* [Bg. 18.66]

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended Jagāi and Mādhāi that “You give up your sinful activities [indistinct] immediately.” So we, if we are serious that to approach Kṛṣṇa and get Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and if we follow the instructions of Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we can become paramahaṁsa. [indistinct] Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then life is successful. We can make Kṛṣṇa consciousness very easily; otherwise stuti-karma-pūjāḥ karma smṛtiś caraṇayoḥśravaṇaṁ kathāyām saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ…… ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ.

Otherwise, if you make a show [indistinct] nice pillow. No, these things are required, but external, but internally how to get the favor of the paramahaṁsas, then you will be successful. This is the secret.

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi
[Śrī Gurvaṣṭakam 8]

In Bhagavad-gītā, [indistinct] vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41], ekeha, if you simply have one: ekah. [indistinct] There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and guru. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair [Śrī Gurvaṣṭaka 7] This is the way you have to find out the paramahaṁsas. If you can find out sincerely, follow his instructions, then Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be very easy. Otherwise, na ananta koṭi sukṛtair labhyate, after many, many births, pious lives, not cats’ and dogs’ lives [indistinct]. Therefore initiation means to train the candidate to become a perfect brāhmaṇa, Vaiṣṇava. Then you can become established in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and if you remain in your original position then your life is successful.

Thank you very much.

Devotees:
Jaya! Haribol! [end]