710317 - Lecture SB 07.07.14-18 - Bombay

Lectures by Date, 1971

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

710317SB-BOMBAY - March 17, 1971 - 24:43 Minutes

Prabhupāda: Ah, ready?

Devotee: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda Give some prasādam. prasād . . . (indistinct Hindi)

. . . bhaktyā paramayāsate

antarvatnī sva-garbhasya

kṣemāyecchā-prasūtaye

(SB 7.7.14)

antarvatnī garbhiṇī

icchayā bhartur āgamanānantaraṁ prasūtaye

evam api sva-garbhasya kṣemāya

(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā, 7.7.14)

Natural affection of mother to the child. So Prahlāda's mother, after being brought in the āśrama of Nārada. She was, as a chaste lady, was serving the āśrama. Now she is queen, even a queen comes in the āśrama she has to work just like menial. Either king or queen or ordinary man, anyone who comes to the āśrama or in a temple, he or she must render service just like menial servant. That is the system.

So Prahlāda Mahārāja's mother was giving very good service even though she was a queen. But ṛṣiṁ paryacarat tatra bhaktyā—with great devotion, paramayā—ultimate devotion, satī—and she was a chaste lady. Not ordinary woman. Antarvatnī sva-garbhasya—but the purpose was material. As woman the purpose was material, she was thinking of giving protection to the child.

Therefore later on it will be stated by Prahlāda Mahārāja that all the instructions she received from Nārada Mahārāja, Nārada Muni she forgot. If service to the Lord is offered with some material purpose then all the instruction that is received through authorized channels will be also lost. This is the instance.

ṛṣiḥ kāruṇikas tasyāḥ

prādād ubhayam īśvaraḥ

dharmasya tattvaṁ jñānaṁ ca

mām apy uddiśya nirmalam

(SB 7.7.15)

Nārada Muni the great sage was instructing both the mother and the son within the womb of the mother. Dharmasya, what he was instructing? Dharmasya tattvaṁ—the basic principle of religious life, dharmasya tattvaṁ. Jñānaṁ ca—and knowledge. Without knowledge or jñānasya-tattva, without the basic principle of knowledge, without the basic principles of religious life, nobody can advance in spiritual life, self-realization. Mām apy uddiśya nirmalam.

So whatever instruction Nārada Muni, the great sage, delivered, that was especially meant for Prahlāda Mahārāja. He says mām uddiśya, aiming at to me. Nārada Muni knew it that, "Whatever instruction I am giving, although it is meant for both the mother and the child." But he knew it very well that, "The child will be benefited more than the mother." Because women are considered less intelligent. Śūdras, vaiśyas, they're considered less intelligent but still if one sticks to the principles, follows the rules and regulations, te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim (BG 9.32).

There is no bar for women, śūdra or vaiśya, but because they are less intelligent sometimes they fail to receive the essence of the knowledge. That is explained in the next verse:

tat tu kālasya dīrghatvāt

strītvān mātus tirodadhe

(SB 7.7.16)

Because that instruction was given since a very long time ago. Prahlāda Mahārāja speaking to his class friends at the age of five years and he heard the instruction when he was in the womb of his mother. Of course five years is not very long time, she was woman, she forgot. It is clearly stated here that, tat tu kālasya dīrghatvāt. Of course forgetfulness is our nature, even if we do not remember what was spoken yesterday, what to speak of five years ago. So Prahlāda Mahārāja says: tat tu kālasya dīrghatvāt, on account of long duration of time and strītvān, and because my mother was a woman.

Strītvān mātus tirodadhe, she forgot. Mātus tirodadhe ṛṣiṇānugṛhītaṁ māṁ nādhunāpy ajahāt smṛtiḥ, but because it may be said that to me it was a special favor by the great sage and as such my remembrance has not yet gone, I remember everything. A child of five years old, this is the psychology, he could remember everything, all the instructions, although he heard within. Within the womb of his mother, he remembered. Of course Prahlāda Mahārāja's case was different. But a woman, although she was fairly old, could not remember. This is the natural but there, there is exceptional case everything, in everything exception also. There is no cause of disappointment that because one is woman she'll not make progress, everyone can make progress. But that is the general nature of woman and a man.

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya

ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ

striyo śūdrās tathāvaiśyās

te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim

(BG 9.32)

If one actually captures the opportunity of Kṛṣṇa consciousness it doesn't matter whether one is woman or a vaiśya or a śūdra or lower than them. They can make progress still, they are actually reposed in the spiritual platform, parāṁ gatim. Parāṁ gatim means—advancement in the spiritual world.

ṛṣiṇānugṛhītaṁ māṁ

nādhunāpy ajahāt smṛtiḥ

bhavatām api bhūyān me

yadi śraddadhate vacaḥ

(SB 7.7.16-17)

Now another part of instruction is that if you, because you are also demons. A mother, my mother might be because woman less intelligent, but demons, you are demons, you have no faith at all. The demons are generally atheists, they do not have any faith but you stick to the scheme you can also learn, that is another point. Anyone, it does not matter, if he takes Kṛṣṇa consciousness in faith, then he will also be remembering like me.

The difference between the people in India and in Europe at the present moment in connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In Europe and America, the boys and girls, they are taking it under some faith whereas in this country (India) when there is kṛṣṇa-kathā, Bhagavad-gītā preaching or Hare Kṛṣṇa, they know this is what, "Oh this is old thing." So they have no faith, they have lost the faith. They are so much enamored by politics and technology they have lost faith. Therefore it is not acting. This is want.

Śrī Prahlāda Mahārāja says, bhavatām api bhūyān, "This utility of instruction of Nārada Mahārāja can be arisen in you also." Bhavatām api bhūyān me yadi śraddadhate vacaḥ, "If you kindly take the instructions of Nārada Mahārāja as I am delivering it, if you take them in faith. So there are two faiths. One thing is that the message must be carried through the disciplic succession, just like Prahlāda Mahārāja has received the knowledge directly from Nārada, and he is delivering. But if the party who is receiving the knowledge, if he has no faith, then it will not act. It will not act.

Therefore out of the ten kinds of offenses, one offense is that one who has no faith—this knowledge should not be delivered. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā also. But because we are preaching, faith or no faith, we are chanting, so that by hearing, hearing one may awake his faith also. That is recommended. Nitya siddha kṛṣṇa—this is a fact, that everyone has got Kṛṣṇa consciousness dormant within himself but it has to be awakened by the process of chanting and hearing. Śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya (CC Madhya 22.107).

So faith or no faith if you go on chanting or hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra the time will come when faith will come and then things will be happening very nice. Ādau śraddhā, without faith nobody can make progress. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu (CC Madhya 22.107).

So faith or no faith if you go on chanting and hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra the time will come when faith will come and then things will be happening very nice. Ādau śraddhā, without faith nobody can make progress. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu (CC Madhya 23.14-15).

This faith, suppose by chance one comes to the association with little faith, not fixed-up faith, "Let me see." But if he remains with this association of faithful devotees then he increases his faith, that's a fact. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu, that faith, first-class faith means. As it is stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta: kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya (CC Madhya 22.62). Kṛṣṇa says that:

sarva-dharmān parityajya

mām ekaṁśaraṇaṁ vraja

(BG 18.66)

And one who takes the statement very seriously, "Yes, if I surrender to Kṛṣṇa, if I render service to Kṛṣṇa, then all other things will be automatically done. All other things means there are many other methods, religious methods, philosophical methods, yogic methods. Or any other methods, kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya. If one simply develops, develops Kṛṣṇa consciousness then he is first-class yogī, he is first-class karmī, he is first-class jñānī, he is first-class devotee, everything first-class. So to become a first-class devotee—faith is the basic principle.

bhavatām api bhūyān me

yadi śraddadhate vacaḥ

vaiśāradī dhīḥśraddhātaḥ

strī-bālānāṁ ca me yathā

(SB 7.7.17)

It doesn't matter whether one is a boy, whether one is woman or a śūdra or a demon or atheist, if with faith one receives. That faith, just like Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is canvassing Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead that, "I am the Supreme." But we can not understand Kṛṣṇa because we have no faith. It is a fact, the śastra says: "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." The great sages say that, "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." The ācārya says, "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Arjuna who heard directly from Kṛṣṇa, he says: "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." And our Guru Mahārāja says that, "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." But still we do not accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why? Because there is no faith. Everyone says: "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead," but we do not believe.

We have to understand through so many ways or we may not understand because we have no faith. Therefore faith is the, required. It is not blind faith. Why blind faith? So many authorities speaking about Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why I should not accept? It is not blind. It is faithlessness, simply faithless. Nothing more. Why they should say that blindly following? We are not blindly following. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is not a blind faith, it is based on reason, it is based on argument, it is based on philosophy, it is based on authority. So the faith required. If I purposely draw my faith without any reason, without any philosophy, then I am unfortunate.

etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi

durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

(Antya 20.16, Śikṣāṣṭaka 2)

Caitanya Mahāprabhu regrets, "My dear Lord You are so kind upon Me." Just see how Kṛṣṇa is kind, He's coming Himself, appears Himself, He showed His activities as the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the very childhood till disappearance, will not accept. What Kṛṣṇa will do? That faith can be created only in good association of devotees.

vaiśāradī dhīḥśraddhātaḥ

strī-bālānāṁ ca me yathā

janmādyāḥṣaḍ ime bhāvā

dṛṣṭā dehasya nātmanaḥ

phalānām iva vṛkṣasya

kāleneśvara-mūrtinā

(SB 7.7.17-18)

Now Prahlāda Mahārāja is touching on the philosophy of life. Janmādyāḥṣaḍ ime bhāvā. There are six different positions of everyone's life. Janma, sthite, janma, sthite, vṛddhi, pariṇāma, apakṣaya, māra. They heard it.

idānīm ātma-dharmair eva bhedaṁ sphuṭayaṁs tad ahaṅkārādikaṁ tyājayati, ātmeti.

(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā, 7.7.19)

kāsau vaiśāradī dhīr ity apekṣāyāṁ nāradoktam eva dehātma-viveka-prakāram āha, janmeti daśābhiḥ.

(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā, 7.7.18)

First of all he spoke that, "Whatever I am speaking to you, it is directly received from authority, Nārada. I remember them by the mercy of Nārada." He says. That is the duty of a disciple to say mercy of the . . . of course mercy . . . but it doesn't matter, it doesn't mean that Nārada was less merciful to his mother. He is merciful to everyone. But why she forgot? Why she could not catch. Because as a woman she could not do it. So a spiritual master or a saintly person, he is kāruṇika, he is merciful to everyone, but the receiver must be competent. Not that an authority or spiritual master is less merciful to somebody and more merciful to somebody. He is merciful to everyone. Just like the sunshine. Sunshine is distributed equally to everyone, every country but it is the misfortune of some countries that there is no sunshine. Not that sunshine is less. Sunshine is equally distributed but it is the misfortune of some countries that.

Therefore in the śāstras said: "Where sunshine is less these such countries are condemned." Śastra states. That they can not receive, similarly those who are condemned, less fortunate, they can not receive the knowledge, they can not receive the knowledge of spiritual master or Kṛṣṇa very nicely on account of their misfortune. So one should not be disturbed in this connection, even misfortune can be fortunate, provided he fix his faith and he, he struggles a little that, "Why shall I remain misfortunate?" Just like in the material world we struggle. A person misfortunate poor man, he struggles, "Why shall I remain poor man? Why shall I remain unfortunate? I shall struggle and make myself fortunate." Similarly, in the spiritual world also, although by nature one is less intelligent one can advance in spiritual knowledge with endeavor—utsāha. Utsāha, utsāha means enthusiasm.

Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī says: utsāhān dhairyāt tat-tat-karma-pravarta, niścayād tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt sato vṛtteḥ sādhu-saṅga ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati (NoI verse 3).

One should be enthusiastic and struggle against odds and then he will come out successful.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: (Śrīla Prabhupāda praṇati) (end)