Bhagavad-gītā 9.3 in Hindi [translated]

Pradyumna:

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā
dharmasyāsya paran-tapa
aprāpya māṁ nivartante
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani
[Bg. 9.3]

Translation: “Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world.”

Prabhupāda:

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā
dharmasyāsya paran-tapa
aprāpya māṁ nivartante
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani
[Bg. 9.3]

Yesterday I explained to you that one should increase one’s attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Āsakti means attachment. Attachment between male and female, there are varieties of attachment. Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has given this example that the Supreme Lord… Just like a young man is naturally attracted to a young woman, and a young woman is naturally attracted to a young man, similarly when will I become attracted to You like that? There is no need to teach anything about this. This is called spontenious. Natural.

yuvatīnāṁ yathā yūni
yūnāṁ ca yuvatau yathā
[Viṣṇu Purāṇa 1.20.19]

The Supreme Lord has described that same thing in many different ways in the Bhagavad-gītā. How to increase the foolish persons’ attachment for the Supreme Lord? Simply by developing attachment for the Lord one will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani [Bg. 9.3] There are two things. One is development of attachment to the Supreme Lord and the other is this cycle of birth and death. These two things are in front of you. In this human form of life you have the opportunity to choose which path you would like to pursue. Therefore the Supreme Lord personally comes and instructs us in every way possible. All Vedic scriptures simply explain this topic and nothing else. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]

All the Vedas, Vedānta, the four Vedas, one hundred and eight Upaniṣads, eighteen Purāṇas, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and so on so on. Vedānta-sūtra is there. What is the purpose? The purpose is that the conditioned souls who have come to this material world and suffering varieties of miseries, anādi karma-phale bhavārṇava jvale. [Gītāvalī, Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka, 5] The material world is compared to an ocean and they have fallen into it. No matter how expert swimmer one may be it is extremely troublesome and hardship. And still there is no guarantee. It is full of dangers. Our condition is just like the condition of a person whose hands and legs are tied and thrown in the ocean. We have fallen into this ocean of material existence. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught us,

ayi nanda-tanūja kiṅkaraṁ
patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-
sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya
[Cc. Antya 20.32]

We should always pray like this. This Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra is actually a prayer. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

This mantra contains three words, “Kṛṣṇa,’ “Rāma” and “Harā.’ The word “Harā” when addressed it becomes Hare. And Kṛṣṇa and Rāma are the form addressing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word Rāma means Parabrahma, the enjoyer, and Kṛṣṇa is also Parabrahma who attracts everyone. Especially Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. There is no difference between Rāma and Balarāma. There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Rāma.

rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan
nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu
kṛṣṇaḥ svayaṁ samabhavat paramaḥ pumān yo
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
[Brahma-saṁhitā5.39]

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has many forms. advaita acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam. [Brahma-saṁhitā 5.33] He has so many forms. It is said in the śāstra that just as no one can count the waves of the ocean, similarly the Supreme Lord has so many incarnations that nobody can count. It is impossible. This is written in the śāstra. The Lord’s kingdom is so vast, and to maintain His kingdom He has to take many incarnations. These things are described in the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and Vedic literatures. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]

The main purpose of all the scriptures is that these conditioned souls who have fallen down to this world, [aside:] What is that verse that explains that there are two kinds of living entities? Anyway, there are two kinds of living entities. One class is conditioned souls and the other class is liberated souls. The liberated souls they live in the Vaikuṇṭha planets. They are much more in numbers. This material world that we see is, ekāṁśena sthito jagat. [Bg. 10.42] This is only one part. This is only one Brahmāṇḍa which you are seeing. Like this there are thousands of millions of Brahmāṇḍas. This information is available in the śāstra.

yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya
jīvanti loma-vilajā jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ
viṣṇur mahān sa iha yasya kalā-viśeṣo
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
[Bs. 5.48]

From one single breath out of Lord Mahāviṣṇu thousands of millions of universes emanate and when He breathes in thousands of millions of universes enter within His body. yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya [Bs. 5.48] Not one universe but so many universes. Millions and trillions. This universe is only one universe. There are millions of universes like this. You combine all the universes together that makes one part of the Supreme Lord’s creation. Ekāṁśena sthito jagat. [Bg. 10.42] When the Supreme Lord described about His opulence to Arjuna,

atha vā bahunaitena
kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam
ekāṁśena sthito jagat
[Bg. 10.42]

This is only one portion of the Lord’s creation. Similarly there is Vaikuṇṭha-loka. We don’t know about it. But we get information from the śāstra, Bhagavad-gītā. paras tasmāt tu bhāvo ’nyo ’vyakto ’vyaktāt sanātanaḥ [Bg. 8.20]

[aside:] Do not sit like this. Sit properly.

’Vyakto ’vyaktāt sanātanaḥ [Bg. 8.20] That abode is eternal. This abode, the material world is, bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate. [Bg. 8.19] This world is created, it remains for some time and then it is annihilated. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate. Just like your body, my body, it was created some time ago, now it is working and a day will come when it will be destroyed. This body will be lost and we will get a new body. This will be finished. In the same way, this material world, this universal form of the Supreme Lord, it is, bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate. It is created, it stays for some time and then it is annihilated. This process goes on.

Apart from this world, paras tasmāt, there is another world. That is called Vaikuṇṭha. One should try to go there. If one lives here then, bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate. You will have to accept a body. What kind of body? That will depend on your karma. Again that body will be destroyed. Therefor the Supreme Lord personally comes and instructs. This is not speculation. Not mental speculation. This is fact. The Lord doesn’t appear to tell you lies. The Supreme Lord says, aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa [Bg. 9.3] “Arjuna, this religious principle which I am explaining to you if one does not have faith in it then what will be his gain?”

His gain will be, aprāpya māṁ, he will not achieve the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mam, the Lord Himself is speaking, Such a person won’t attain Me. Aprāpya māṁ nivartante. What will he achieve? Again this cycle of birth and death. mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani nivartante. Now you have got this human form of life and Bhagavad-gītā is in front you and the Supreme Lord Himself is explaining. If somebody says that the Lord is not personally present now. The Supreme Personality of Godhead and His words are one and the same. When Bhagavad-gītā is present before you, you should understand that the Supreme Lord Himself is present before you. Absolute. Advaya jñāna.

ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi
na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
[Cc. Madhya 17.136]

nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
’bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ
[Cc. Madhya 17.133]

Absolute means advaya jñāna. The Supreme Lord and His spoken words are the same thing. Do not think that Bhagavad-gītā is in front of me but the Lord is not present. No. Bhagavān Himself. One should understand Bhagavad-gītā with that kind of faith. The Supreme Lord and His words, the Supreme Lord and His name, abhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ. This Hare Kṛṣṇa kirtan, this Hare Kṛṣṇa means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa is personally present. He is dancing on your tongue. A pure devotee who has no offense against the holy name, when he chants at that time the Supreme Lord dances on his tongue. You should understand this. Whether you understand or not, had this word “Kṛṣṇa” been a mundane sound vibration one would have been tired of chanting “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours.

If you chant a mundane sound for ten or twenty times you will become tired. And Hari kirtan is such a thing that the more you chant the more you become enthusiastic to chant. Rūpa Gosvāmī says that “O Lord, You have given me only one tongue and two ears. Had you given me millions of ears and millions of tongues then I would have relished chanting Your holy name.” This is the thing to be realised. The Supreme Lord, His holy name, His qualities, His associates, His characteristics, all are Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called advaya-jñāna. Do not think that the Supreme Lord was present before Arjuna and spoke Bhagavad-gītā to him, but He is not present now. Some people challenge “Show me God.” Only one who has love for the Supreme Lord can see Him.

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
[Bs. 5.38]

One who has developed love for the Supreme Lord, he sees Him all the time. He doesn’t see anything other than the Supreme Lord. Whatever he looks at. This is mentioned in the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

sthāvara-jaṅgama dekhe, nā dekhe tāra mūrti
prakāśa haya tāra iṣṭa-deva- murti.
[Cc. Madhya 8.274]

The devotee, when he sees this microphone, loud speaker, he doesn’t see the loud speaker. He sees the Lord. Why? Because he knows what this loud speaker is. He has love for the Lord, he is well acquinted with the Lord. Therefore he knows that is is a transformation of one of Lord’s energies.

bhūmir āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ
khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca
[Bg. 7.4]

What it is? It is made from earth, bhūmi. Tejo-vāri-mṛdāṁ yathā vinimayo. [SB. 1.1.1] Iron. What is iron? It’s another form of earth. It was processed by fire and it turned into another form. In this way this microphone was manufactured. So it is the Lord’s energy. Therefore all the objects of the Lord should be utilised in the Lord’s service. This is the vision of the devotee. He doesn’t the microphone he sees the transformation of the Supreme Lord’s energy, therefor how it should be used in the service of the Supreme Lord. That is why the devotee has no material vision or conception. He has spiritual vision. The impersonalists say that everything is one, because they have mundane vision. They see things in two ways. Brahma satya jagan mithyā and Brahman is reality. If you believe in oneness then why do you have dual vision? But the vaiṣṇavas are śuddhādvaitavādi. His vision is pure. Whatever is created by the Lord’s energy is not different from the Supreme Lord. That is also brahma. Sarvaṁ khalu idaṁ brahma. [Chāndogya Upaniṣad 3.14.1]

prāpañcikatayā buddhyā
hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ
mumukṣubhiḥ parityāgo
phalgu vairāgya kathyate.
[Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.256]

A renunciate, a renouncer, rejects things which related to the Supreme Lord considering them as mundane. He is addressed as pseudo renunciation by Rūpa Gosvāmī. That kind of renunciation is not complete. Renunciation will be complete only when a person will understand that everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1]

Nothing belongs to us. That is called renunciation. To think “This is material, this is mine, I will use this for my sense gratification,” is material vision. Material means where there is no connection and remembrance of God. Absense of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. Actually there is nothing as material, because, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1], janmādy asya yato [SB. 1.1.1] everything has emanated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If is produced by the Supreme Lord then how can it be mithyā? This is to be considered. This is philosophical consideration. We should approach a qualified guru and try to understand things in right perspective. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]

The word “Abhigacchet” has been used. According to Sanskrit grammer it is called ‘vidhiliṅg’. This is the vidhi. Just like the law, you cannot say ‘no’ to the law. Just like in the road it says “Keep to the left.” This is law.” You cannot disobey it. Similarly vidhiling means you must do it. Not your whims. Gurum eva abhigacchet. One must approach. This is scriptural injunction. In the human form of one understand God and to understand God one should approach a guru. Who is a guru? That person who simply repeats what the Supreme Personality of Godhead said. evaṁ paramparā-prāptam [Bg. 4.2]

Just like Justice Sharma has just said now that first the Supreme Lord imparted the knowledge to Brahmā. Tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye [SB. 1.1.1] Ādi kavi is the name of Brahmājī. So the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva instructed knowledge to Brahmā. How did He instruct? He was not present at that time. He was somewhere else. Brahmāji was thinking alone “Where did I come from? What is my duty?” He was thinking like this. So, tene brahma hṛdā, the Supreme Lord revealed transcendental knowledge from within Brahmā’s heart. He can similarly give knowledge to you also. It is not that He gave to Brahmā only and won’t give to you. He will give you too. When will He give?

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te
[Bg. 10.10]

This is in the śāstra. The Supreme Lord Himself has said. You just earn the qualification. What is that qualification? Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ, satata, twenty four hours think of the Supreme Lord only.

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
[Bg. 9.14]

That is mahātmā. Therefore we should always do kirtan. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, you walk on the street, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, you sit in the bus, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. You travel in the train, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane, sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor. [SB. 9.4.18] Fix your mind always at the lotus feet of the Lord. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto. [Bg. 18.65]

If you engage your mind in the lotus feet of the Lord you become a devotee. To become a devotee is not very difficult. Everyone can become devotee. It is natural. Love between father and son is natural. No need to teach it. One forgets it. So he needs to be reminded. That is śāstra. Therefore śāstra is there. Because we have forgotten, to remind us the śāstras are existing. Therefore we should pay our attention to the śāstra. If we don’t pay attention, aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā, one who has no faith in the śāstra, dharmasyāsya paran-tapa, asya dharma, this Vedic religion, bhagavata-dharma, ātma-dharma—this is real dharma. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ. [SB. 6.3.19]

Whatever the Supreme Personality of Godhead said that is dharma. You cannot manufacture dharma. Just like the honourable Judge is present and if a fool goes and says “My lord, the law by which you decide a case is not worthwhile. I have manufactured a law and brought here. You give judgment with this.” Will the Judge agree? No. He will follow the government laws. Similarly the meaning of dharma is, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ. [SB. 6.3.19] What the Supreme Lord orders that is dharma. Everything else is simply cheating. That is why the Supreme Lord says, sarva-dharmān parityajya. [Bg. 18.66]

Give up all these cheating religions. If you are actually serious about dharma then here is dharma. sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. [Bg. 18.66] “Follow what I say. Then you will be happy.” Here also the same thing is spoken. At the end the same thing, and in the middle same thing is stressed in the ninth chapter. aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa [Bg. 9.3] One who has no faith in what I am saying, what will be his profit? aprāpya māṁ, he won’t achieve Me. Moreover, nivartante, he will fall into that cycle. What cycle? mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. This cycle of birth and death. You accept one body and then die. And in between birth and death, you suffer from diseases and old age. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam [Bg. 13.9]

We are trying to solve many problems, but the real problems are birth, death, old age and disease. What solution have you made for that? Answer? There are big scientists, big plan makers, but what have you done for this? They say “This is bound to happen.” No, not bound to happen. Why should it happen? The Supreme Lord declares, na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre. [Bg. 2.20] Why do we have to receive a body that will perish? This question should be asked. Otherwise if one becomes involved in petty things then what will he gain? Find out solution to this, mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. This bhutvā bhutvā pralīyate, that you accept a body and then give it up, why are you entangled in this hassle? This doesn’t come to your brain. Therefore they are called mūdhā. In another place the Supreme Lord has said, na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ [Bg. 7.15]

The Supreme Lord is teaching this dharma that, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. [Bg. 18.66] “You will be happy by following this dharma. Otherwise, mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani, you will continue to rot here and go on with this business birth after birth. This is the solution of your life. Take it.” But who are the people who don’t accept it? Aśraddadhānāḥ. Those who have no faith in the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they don’t accept it. Therefore the Lord says that who are those persons who do not accept what I instruct? Mūdhā, narādhamā, māyayāpahṛta-jñānā and āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ. [Bg. 7.15]

Such persons. Duṣkṛtina means garvely sinful. Extremely sinful. The Supreme Lord Himself is coming and explaining, showing us the right path, but they won’t take it. Why? Because they are very sinful. Why they are very sinful? Because they are mudhā, asses. All those people who commit sinful activities, who break the laws, they are foolish. They are fools. Just like if a small boy takes someone else’s thing, he may be excused. But If a person of twelve or sixteen years age takes anything it is called stealing. If he goes to the court and confess that “O my lord, in my childhood I used to pick up someone else’s things but I didn’t know it was stealing.” So that is no excuse. Ignorance is no excuse. Only those who are mūḍhās, they commit sin. They don’t know the Supreme Lord. They don’t know the Lord’s laws. They don’t know the religious principles. They are animals.

So for animals there is no sin. But when you have the human form of life, you have to know it. Otherwise you will be responsible for sin and piety. These Vedic scriptures are not for the animals. Just like the government laws are not for dogs and asses, they are for human beings. If a human being breaks any law then he is punished. Similarly we have got the human life but did not understand the Lord’s instructions, aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa, [Bg. 9.3] then what benefit can we expect? Tell me. Again condemned. Nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. This should be understood. There are two things, two ways. One is to go back to Godhead. Yad gatvā na nivartante, [Bg. 15.6]

Take that path. Otherwise go on with this path of repeated birth and death. Accept one body and then give it up. There is no guarantee that you will get a human body again in your next life. Suppose you get a tree body, you stand in one place for ten thousand years. In San Francisco I saw a tree called Red tree. They say it is seven thousand years old. There are many trees like that. Just imagine what a severe punishment! If you are asked to stand here for one hour you will have so much trouble. And that tree has been standing in one place for ten thousand years and it has no capacity to move even an inch. That is also one of the species among 8,400,000 of lives. Tathā dehāntara-prāptir. [Bg. 2.13] These things are to be understood. Why have you been entangled in the cycle of mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani ? Why are you being swept away by the waves of māyā? Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung a song that, māyāra vaśe, yāccha bhese’, khāccha hābuḍubu, bhai [Gītāvalī]

Just like a river, in the river there are waves and current. If you are thrown in that current sometimes you will drown in the water and sometimes you will float in the waves. It is very troublesome. Therefore so long we will remain under the control of māyā we will have to be carried away by the waves of māyā. Mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. Sometimes you receive a human body, sometimes you get a tree body, sometimes you get a demigod body, sometimes you get a Governor’s body, sometimes you get a dog’s body, this is not in your hands. That is in the hands of the material nature. As you will work you will receive a body accordingly.

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
[Bg. 3.27]

You are not independent. You are under the control of prakṛti. daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā [Bg. 7.14] So long you will remain under the control of prakṛti you will forcibly be carried away by the waves of the material nature. Mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani This should be understood. Therefore it is your duty to understand the religious principles instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Have faith in it. “Oh, who cares? Let Him say.” No. that’s not right. Then you are committing suicide. Cutting your own throat. Don’t do like that. Do not waste the human life. Bahu-sambhavānte. [SB. 11.9.29] After many births you have got this body. After going through 8,400,000 species of life.

jalajā nava-lakṣāṇi
sthāvarā lakṣa-viṁśati
kṛmayo rudra-saṅkhyakāḥ
[Padma Purāṇa]

Gradually. Jalajā. Pralaya-payodhi-jale. [Dāsavatāra-stotra] In the beginning everything was water. When devastation takes place then everything is submerged in the water. Then in the water the aquatics begin to evolve. Pralaya-payodhi-jale. Jalajā nava- lakṣāṇi. In the water there is not just one kind of aquatics. Nava lakṣa, 9,00,000 types of aquatics. They gradually evolve. Jalajā nava-lakṣāṇi sthāvarā lakṣa-viṁśati. Then when the water dries up, the trees and grass and plants grow. They are 20,00,000 kinds. In this way, after evolving through insects, flies, birds and so on one becomes a human being. That too of different types. Who knows how many varieties of human bodies one has to accept?

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
[SB. 2.4.18]

Then by great fortune one receives a human body in the land of Bharat-varsa. Please do not waste it.

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
[Bg. 3.27]

Nowadays everyone is so proud. I am a big scholar, I am very intelligent, I am a big officer, this is due to false ego. Pride is all right but vimūdhātmā. One who does not understand his interest then what is the use of his pride? You sit at home and think “I am the governor,” you may be the governor but the laws of material nature will kill you whether you are governor or anything else. Suppose you have infected some disease, whether you are the governor or a poor man you must suffer from it. This is described in the Bhagavad-gītā.

puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi
bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu
[Bg. 13.22]

So long we will remain under the clutch of prakṛti, in this material nature, prakṛti-jān guṇān, we will have to suffer or enjoy. And because of this reason, kāraṇaṁ, because of remaining in the contact of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa, as we interact and associate with these material qualities, we will receive our bodies accordingly.

ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā
madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ
[Bg. 14.18]

These are considerations. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Personally appears and instructs. The Gītā which we are discussing is not manufactured by us. This was spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself. That is why the Lord is saying, aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa. I am explaining to you. One who has no faith, what will be his profit? Nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. This is suicidal. Don’t do that. Hear the words of the Supreme Lord and make your life successful. To allow youself to be swept away by the waves of māyā is not at all proper. The human life is meant for this only. Do not act whimsically. ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā. “I am the doer. I don’t accept anyone. What is God?” this is asurik. Give up all that. Nā vidur āsurajanaḥ. [Bg. 16.7] We have to choose which path to pursue. Pravṛtti-mārg and nivṛtti-mārg.

pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca
janā na vidur āsurāḥ
[Bg. 16.7]

The demoniac people do not know which path to adopt. māyayāpahṛta-jñānā [Bg. 7.15] What is the value of university degrees? His actual knowledge has been snatched away by māyā. māyayāpahṛta-jñānā This knowledge will not help you. Therefore śāstra says, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet. [Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12] For real knowledge you approach a bonafide guru. Try to understand everything.

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

This is the duty of the human beings. Therefore in our Vedic civilisation the young boys were sent to Gurukula in the very beginning of life. Go and learn what is the purpose of life. Now such things are not taught. But if someone wants to he can learn. Everything is available still. The Vedas, Vedanta, the scriptures are there. The spiritual master is also there. But we do not care. “Forget it. What will happen? What will I gain? I will work with hammer. That way I will earn more money, drink wine and enjoy life.” This is śūdra civilisation. There will be no benefit. Kalau śūdra sambhava.

In Kali-yuga, this śūdra civilisation is very prominent. Especially in the western countries. Set up factories, act like śūdra, drink wine and enjoy life. And we are copying them. No. But now they are fed up. They don’t want that kind of life any more. Therefore these young boys, they say to me that “Mahārāja, had we not met you we would have committed suicide.” They became so hopeless. This Kṛṣṇa Consciousness is giving them a new life. Life, yes there is life. There is worth living life. Not like cats and dogs. That is Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement. This culture belongs to India.

Why you all are giving it up? What kind of mentality is that? That is not proper. Take it up again. Study Bhagavad-gītā very carefully and do not misinterpret it. That Kurukṣetra is this body, and the five Pāṇḍavas are the senses. Not all these. As it is, try to understand Bhagavad-gītā. Why are you interpreting Kurukṣetra as this body? From which dictionary you found it? But they do like that. They are crazy. Kurukṣetra is still present now. Kurukṣetra is very near to Chandigarh. Kurukṣetra is Dharmakṣetra.

It is stated in the śāstra, Kurukṣetre dharmam ācaret: “One should go to Kurukṣetra and perform religious rituals.” Not from today but it is existing from the Vedic age. All the Pāṇḍavas assembled in the dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre. Yuyutsavaḥ. They had to decide who will rule the kingdom. Therefore in order to fight, yuyutsavaḥ. So where is the need to misinterpret and take out some other meaning? It is clearly understood what Bhagavad-gītā is meant for. What is written there. Do not try to show your expertise. Take Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Read it.

Follow what the Supreme Personality of Godhead has instructed. Then you will be benefitted. If you don’t take it then, aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa mām aprāpya. [Bg. 9.3] They don’t even know what one will gain by attaining the Supreme Lord. They do not know. But the fact is that we have to achieve the shelter of the Supreme Lord. vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo [Bg. 15.15] Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ. To achieve the Supreme Lord and to go back to Godhead is the goal of life. They don’t know this even.

na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ
durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
[SB. 7.5.31]

Bahir-artha. They are entangled in the Supreme Lord’s external energy. They think they will become happy by making some adjustments in the material world. Because, the fools don’t know that they cannot become happy until they go back to Godhead. And the leaders are leading them in that way. “Look we have made this plan. You just follow it. You will become happy.” What kind of leaders they are? Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās [SB. 7.5.31] One blind man is saying to another blind man “Come, I will guide you to the other side.” This is going on. Te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ. These plans are not going to work. The māyā is so powerful. daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā [Bg. 7.14] Until you surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead you will be tortured in every way. Know this for sure. Daivi hy esa,

mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]

Until you take shelter of the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet you will have go on suffering. Tri-tāpa-yantraṇā. mṛtyu-saṁsāra, we forget how troublesome is this repeatation of birth and death. Once you die you again enter into another mother’s womb and remain there for ten months with your hands and legs tied. It is a suffocating condition. Packed up in a tight bag. Please try to understand how difficult it is to take birth. On top of it nowadays the mother goes to the doctor and kills the baby. These things should be understood. Nowadays, as per the modern civilisation, the baby who is in the womb with great difficulty is killed by the doctor within the womb by an injection. It is legal now in Europe and America. There is no crime in it. This is the situation. This is mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. One who is very sinful he does not even see the light of the day. You don’t follow that’s your choice. But you have to suffer grave consequences. And there will be no gain.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Caitya- guru: [reading out questions from the audience.] If the material world is full of miseries then how one can get freedom from it?

Prabhupāda:
Why remain in the material world at all? This is obstinacy. I have to stay in the material world. That’s a material disease. When the Russions first sent Sputnik to the outer space it flew high in the sky and the astronauts would look down to the earth where is Moscow. This is called attachment. Why do you think that you have got to live in the material world? You retire from the material world for ever.

tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti kaunteya.
[Bg. 4.9]

What is the need to remain in the material world? What is the benefit? No benefit only trouble. Why you are stubborn that you have to stay in the material world? Rather act in such a way that you don’t have to come back to the material world again. That should be the aim of life. The Supreme Lord has informed us the way?

janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti kaunteya
[Bg. 4.9]

Simply understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa. Why does He descend? Why does He take so much trouble to enlighten us? What is His birth? What His activities are? Janma karma ca me divyam. He said divyam. The Supreme Lord’s birth, His taking part in the battle of Kurukṣetra, these are all divya. It is not mundane. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not material, His body is not material, and His activities are not material. They are all spiritual. If you realize this much only your life will be successful. Hence there is śāstra. The Supreme Lord is not a product of matter.

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā
mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam
[Bg. 9.11]

Out of His causeless mercy the Supreme Lord appears in a form like that of a human being and explains Himself to you. Do not think that He is an ordinary person like us. Only fools think like this. Therefore it is said that if you simply understand the transcendental topics of the Supreme Lord then, tyaktvā dehaṁ, you have to give up your body. One who does not understand the Supreme Lord, he has to accept another body after giving up this body. Whether a demigod body or a dog body, he has to take another body.

And one who has understood the Supreme Lord, janma karma ca me divyamevaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ, if he has understood then tyaktvā deham, after giving up this body punar janma naiti, means he will not accept a material body again. He receives his spiritual body and with his spiritual body he goes back to Godhead. That is wanted. While remaining in the material world how you can go back to Godhead in your next life that is explained by the Supreme Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā. Remain in whichever position you are in and simply hear. sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir. [SB. 10.14.3]

You stay in your own place. There is no need to change anything. Not that now you are a grhastha you have to become a sannyāsī, or you are a Judge you have to give up your profession. No. Simply hear about the Supreme Lord. There are many things available to hear. Hear Bhagavad-gītā what the Supreme Lord has said. Just by hearing you will achieve everything. śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam [SB. 7.5.23]

There is no difficulty. sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir. [SB. 10.14.3] You stay where you are. No need of changing. But you hear. The Lord has given you ears, so utilise it properly. Hear all the Vedic literatures very carefully. Therefore another name of this is śruti. Hear. Hear extensively. That’s why we have arranged this meeting so that you all can kindly hear. So this is the only way. Remaining in the material world, remaining in your own position, simply go on hearing. Hear twenty-four hours. śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ [SB. 7.5.23]. Satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ [Bg. 9.14] Just hear and your life will be successful. No need to change anything. You have to hear. That is important. From whom you have to hear? Hear from a qualified guru. If you hear from a person who speaks all nonsense then there is no benefit. You hear from a bonafide person you will be successful.

Caitya guru:
Hare Kṛṣṇa. You asked three questions and Mahārājajī has answered them all. When you ask questions you should hear with attention when Guru Mahārāja answers them. This I had already explained to before. The next question is, While in the world how a man can live peacefully? How one can renounce the world?

Prabhupāda:
What is that?

Caitya-guru:
How one can renounce the world?

Prabhupāda:
Renounce the World?

Caitya-guru:
World.

Devotee:
How can one renounce the world?

Prabhupāda:
There is no need to renounce. Neither can you renounce. What will you renounce? What do you have as yours to renounce? Everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. If it is yours then the question of renouncing arises. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1] There is no question of renouncing. Just understand that everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you understand this much your life is successful. What you will renounce? You don’t have anything. Even your body is not yours. Then what are you going to renounce? Therefore two things are going on in this world, one is renouncement and the other is enjoyment. Bhoga and tyāga. One who is foolish he wants to enjoy other’s property. And another kind of foolish he hasn’t got anything but he wants to renounce.

What do you have that you can renounce? Both are foolish. He who wants to enjoy is a fool and he who wants to renounce is a fool. The intelligent knows that I have nothing to renounce, nor do I have any right to enjoy others property. Therefore let me use everything to Whom it belongs. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam. He is intelligent. Who is he? He is a devotee. The devotee of the Supreme Lord neither renounces nor enjoys anything. He utilises everything in the Lord’s service. He is wise. Sarva-dharmān parityajya. [Bg. 18.66]

In this world there are two dharmas. One is karmi who simply makes plan for sense gratification. This is karmīs business. And those who call themselves jñānī their slogan is, brahma satya jagan mithyā. Give up this false world. So two kinds. Therefore the Supreme Lord says “Abandon both the karmī-dharma and jñānī-dharma.” Then what to accept? “Accept bhakti-dharma.” anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167] When you give up all types of desires and become freed from the influence of jñāna and karma then you will attain bhakti. ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā [Cc. Madhya 19.167] Take shelter of that devotional service. Everything will be successful.

Caitya-guru:
There is one more question. He wrote that the day before yesterday Gurujī had said that I only know about Kṛṣṇa. I don’t know anyone else for everyone is a thief. Are all others thieves?

Prabhupāda:
Hmm?

Caitya-guru:
You had said that I only know about Kṛṣṇa and not anyone else because all others are thieves! This is his question.

Prabhupāda:
So what is the question? The Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself declares,

na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ
prapadyante narādhamāḥ
[Bg. 7.15]

What worse names remain to be called than this? One who is an ass, who is most sinful, who is lowest among mankind, the Supreme Lord Lord has used such strong words. I have only said thieves. So what was my fault? The Supreme Lord used such abusive language like narādhamā, mahāpāpī, gādhā, jñānahīna and asura. Everything. I called them thieves only. They are thieves. They take the Lord’s things and think it belongs to them. This is going on all over the world. This is our country. Some say “This is our India.” Some say “This is our America.” Some say “This is our Pakistan.” All are thieves. Why? Because, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says,

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
[Bg. 5.29]

“I am the proprietor of everything.” Sarva-loka-maheśvaram. How is it yours? Then you are a thief. What did I say wrong? All are thieves. Those who usurp the property of the Supreme Lord and enjoy and who do not accept the Supreme Lord they are all thieves. I haven’t said anything wrong. You think it over. Let the honourable Justice judge it. That’s all? Any more questions?

Caitya-guru:
Despite being a part and parcel of the Supreme Lord why does a human being commit sin?

Prabhupāda: Hmm.
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu
[Bg. 13.22]

Just like my finger is a part and if it is infected then it suffers. And that infection is due to kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. The living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and they have come to the material world, it is all right that they are part and parcels but because they have come to the material world they have to associate with the modes of material nature, sāttvikā, rājasika, and tāmasika. So according to their association with the material qualities they receive different kinds of bodies. kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya. Just like… [end]