Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
This is in continuation of the previous offering - "The Open Secret for Spiritual Success" wherein we were meditating on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.1.12. We saw in how Khatvanga Maharaj practised bhakti right from childhood and how He considered Krishna as the only substance of his life. Now we shall see further
In Srimad Bhagavatam 9.9.45 Khatvanga Maharaj says
devaiḥ kāma-varo datto mahyaṁ tri-bhuvaneśvaraiḥ
na vṛṇe tam ahaṁ kāmaṁ bhūtabhāvana-bhāvanaḥ
The demigods, the directors of the three worlds, wanted to give me whatever benediction I desired. I did not want their benedictions, however, because I am interested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who created everything in this material world. I am more interested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead than in all material benedictions.
As we were discussing in the previous offering, conditioned souls like us would hanker for material benediction and would want to grab it even when we are noy qualified for the same. But we see great souls like Khatvanga Maharaj who do not hanker for any material benedictions, even when demigods voluntarily wanted to give him. The words 'bhūtabhāvana-bhāvanaḥ' in the above verse is very beautiful and worth meditating and Srila Prabhupada has nicely translated it as - "being fully absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Krishna is glorified as 'bhūtabhāvana' - one who is always thinking about the living entities (bhuta). And pure devotees are always conscious of Him. Krishna thinks about the living entities as He is anxious to take them back to His abode. And pure devotees are anxious to spread Krishna's glories everywhere.
In his wonderful purport to the above verse, His Divine Grace very nicely speaks about what is real success or benediction for devotees. This is the mentality of a pure devotee, who does not want anything, material or spiritual, from the Personality of Godhead. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is therefore called kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta-saṅgha, the association of persons who are simply satisfied in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa. Being absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa is neither expensive nor troublesome. Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: “Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me.” (Bhagavad-Gita 9.34) Anyone can always think of Kṛṣṇa, without difficulties or obstacles. This is called kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta. One who is absorbed in kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta has no material benefits to ask from Kṛṣṇa. Instead, such a person prays to the Lord for the benediction of being able to spread His glories all over the world. Mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person does not even want to stop his cycle of birth and death. He simply prays, “I may take birth as You like, but my only prayer is that I may be engaged in Your service.”
The purport reflects the pure mood of Srila Prabhupada himself. Indeed pleased by his Krishna-bhavana only, Lord empowered Him to preach His glories and do so many wonderful things in the world. Since his full focus was only on how to give Krishna bhavana to everyone, he never minded about material comforts or discomforts.
Mahaprabhu when He descended to show us how a devotee behaves, also insists
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi
O Almighty Lord! I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor have I any desire to enjoy beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service in my life, birth after birth.
The best benediction is to always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna and to be always engaged in His service. This is the ultimate success of one's life.
Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.
Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
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