Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
This is in continuation of the transcription of one of the nectarean classes given by our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.6.7 in Rajkot on February 1st 2009. In the previous offering we heard from Maharaj about how we must always be with Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam.
Now we shall hear further.
11. Devotional Service must go on:
Maharaj: And this viśuddhaya bhakti or budhi again if you want to understand, Bhagavad Gita is clear. See, viśuddhayā what is it? Viśuddhayā buddhyā dhṛtyātmānaṁ niyamya ca, śabdādīn viṣayāṁs. Read, read…….(Maharaj recites the verses and devotees repeat after him) (Bhagavad Gita verse 18.51-52)
buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto, dhṛtyātmānaṁ niyamya ca
śabdādīn viṣayāṁs tyaktvā, rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca
vivikta-sevī laghv-āśī, yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ
dhyāna-yoga-paro nityaṁ, vairāgyaṁ samupāśritaḥ
In all this symptoms are given. See viśuddhayā buddhyā yukto - you have to arm yourself with viśuddh bhakti from un-contaminated intelligence. And, and what is to be done? dhṛtyātmānaṁ read, read dhṛtyātmānaṁ
Devotee: dhṛtyātmānaṁ niyamya ca.
Maharaj: niyamya ca, niyamya is the word. Regulate your life. In any difficult times, you can regulate. Otherwise in difficult times, our life is irregulated. Always remember devotional service doesn’t depend upon any circumstances. That is why devotional service is non different from Krishna and being non different, it is transcendental. So, whichever is your circumstances, don’t worry at all. Devotional service must be there. And that is niyamya regulation. Who stops you from getting up at 4 ‘o clock? Whichever circumstances you are in? Why should you force yourself to sleep like a hog? No, there is no need of it. No need. Any circumstance, devotional service must go on. And suppose circumstances are completely opposite vipareet, even then we require devotional service, more during that time. We may end up in prison as I told you. Prison sentence also may be there, because we are daily breaking the laws. And somebody is going to catch us. And somebody is going to put us in the prison. Even then who stops us getting up at 4 o’ clock in prison? I mean to say that our circumstances, don’t change the devotional service.
Devotional service must be there. And Prabhupada has given very nice definition to the devotional service that, "you please read my books, chant your rounds and whatever seva you can do, do it." That’s it. Nothing more is needed. Nothing more. Very simple. Very simple it is. But he insists, he was simple and he has insisted that we should also be simple. How long does it take to wash your own half a sleeve kurta? I was putting on full sleeve kurta in the beginning, but because I was washing, so they were dirty, here and there dirty. Then I thought that it is better to cut off. So, since years together, I am only putting on half sleeve kurta. And in England also I put the half. And there cold is there, we will wear chadar or whatever. But it was saved, I was saved from washing the whole thing. And since then it is very convenient. Now I don’t want full sleeve kurta. Please, somehow or the other we have to adjust this. But because I don’t have to wash, then I will put on full sleeves. Then maybe long sleeves. (laughter) Please, the more you try to test yourself, you’ll have to be simple. Without kurta also we can survive. In Rajkot particularly, in summer season. How much here? It is very hot here. You can never put on kurta here. Without kurta we can do.
Please try to decrease your material fever and increase your this. I don’t know how to insist. But this is the way. That’s the meaning of niyamya ca yes, and then second line.
Devotee: śabdādīn viṣayāṁs tyaktvā
Maharaj: śabdādīn viṣayāṁs tyaktvā . viṣayā there is sense objects. Which are the sense objects? Yes, sense objects? How many? Sense, sense object. Sense objects. How many? (Devotees trying to figure out.) Yes shabda, I want shabda. That is sense object, sound, touch, form? Arey man you’re fool? I want vishayan sound, touch, form, taste and smell. These are the sense objects. In Sanskrit it is very easy to remember. shabda sparsha roop rasa gandha. shabda sparsha roop rasa gandha these are sense objects. tyaktvā leave it. We have, see we have purified these sense objects. Our shabda is mahamantra - so it’s purified. There is no harm in it, that is shabda. sparsha - our sparsha is purified. We only touch Krishna’s lotus feet. We don’t touch anywhere else. Apart from lotus feet, anywhere you touch and Bhagavad Gita warns you…
ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā, duḥkha-yonaya eva te
ādy-antavantaḥ kaunteya, na teṣu ramate budhaḥ
Always other touch, it is ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā we wanted to touch the woman and the children were born and whole of life span… (great laughter) duḥkha-yonaya (Maharaj is referring to some devotee) This is your touch? (laughter) Go, go after touch and for anybody, me also. Here is a touch and here is yoni, duḥkha-yoni. The source of whole misery is there. Please, as you go advance with age, you will know what the children are. This is touch.
Krishna willing we shall continue to hear more nectar from Maharaj in the subsequent offering.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Vaikunthanath Krishna das
Sharjah
Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.