Lecture

[Gaura-Govinda translates into Oriya throughout]

Prabhupāda:
Just like a student is admitted in the school for learning A-B-C-D, and if he follows the rules and regulations and continues his studies regularly, then one day he would be able to pass M.A. examination, so from the very beginning we have to execute these processes. Because our life is impure at the present moment, and we have to purify this life.

tapasā brahmacaryeṇa
śamena damena vā
tyāgena satya-śaucābhyāṁ
yamena niyamena vā
[SB. 6.1.13]

These things are there in the śāstra. We have to execute tapasya, austerity, to purify. Tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena śuddhyed sattvam [SB. 5.5.1]. So it is not a formality. It is a process to become free from this material bondage and go back home, back to Godhead. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti [Bg. 4.9]. We should be very serious, not that to take initiation as a matter of fashion, but it should be very carefully and seriously done.

[break] Human life is meant for this purpose: athāto brahma-jijñāsā. [Vedānta Sūtra 1.1.1] If we do not inquire about Brahman, if we simply inquire, “Where is food? Where is sense gratification…?” The whole world is going like that. Anywhere you go, the inquiry is, “Where is sense gratification?” “Where is sex?” “Where is safety?” and “Where is eating?” This is the inquiry generally. The cats, dogs, birds, beast—everyone is inquiring like that. In the morning you’ll find the birds are chirping: “Now it is morning. Where we have to go to have our necessities of life?” This is the inquiry of this material body. But when you get this human form of body, the inquiry should be different.

[aside:] Explain this. [Gaura-Govinda translates] [break]

So Narottama das Ṭhākura sings,

hari hari biphale janama goṅāinu
manuṣya-janama pāiyā, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nā bhajiyā
jāniyā śuniyā biṣa khāinu
[Prārthanā, song 4, stanza 1]

So we should always remember this song of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. He is ācārya. He’s guru.Ācāryopāsanam. [Bg. 13.8] Ācārya upāsanā is one of the process of making progress. So this song is very important.

hari hari biphale janama goṅāinu
manuṣya-janama pāiyā, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nā bhajiyā
jāniyā śuniyā biṣa khāinu

[aside:] Explain.

[break] In the material world everyone is suffering. There is no exception, either rich man or poor man, learned or fool—everyone. This is the place for suffering. And if we take this place of suffering as comfortable, that is our ignorance. Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings,

biṣaya biṣānale dibā-niśi hiyā jvale taribāre nā kainu upāya
golokera prema-dhana hari-nāma saṅkīrtana rati nā janmila kene tāya

[aside:] Explain.

[break] So Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says that we should take advantage of Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s and Nityānanda Prabhu’s presence. Pāpī tāpī yata chila harināme uddhārila tāra śākṣī jagāi and mādhāi, brajendra-nandana yei śacī-suta haila sei balarāma haila nitāi, that “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa. Formerly He was Brajendra-nandana.” Brajendra-nandana. Brajendra is Mahārāja…, Nanda Mahārāja. And He accepted father-Nanda Mahārāja. Nanda-nandana. “Same Nanda-nandana has now become Śacī-nandana.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mother’s name is Śacīdevī. So brajendra-nandana yei śacī-suta haila sei: “Who was formerly Brajendra-nandana, He has now become Śacī-nandana. And formerly who was Balarāma, He has become Nitāi.” Brajendra-nandana yei śacī-suta haila sei balarāma haila nitāi. So why They have come again? That is, pāpī tāpī yata chila harināme uddhārila: “They have come to deliver all kinds of sinful men, suffering humanity, just allowing to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.” Pāpī tāpī yata chila, harināme uddhārila. So what is the evidence how pāpī tāpī were delivered? Tāra śākṣī jagāi āra mādhāi.

So there is no hopelessness. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu is there. If we take shelter of Their lotus feet, there is no hopelessness. But we should not commit any more sinful activities. Then They will deliver us from these clutches of… [end]