SB 1.5.12 – 1.5.22

TEXT 1.5.12

naiñkarmyam apy acyuta-bhäva-varjitaàna çobhate jïänam alaà niraïjanam

kutaù punaù çaçvad abhadram éçvarena cärpitaà karma yad apy akäraëam

Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God].

What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the

devotional service of the Lord?

Text 1.5.13

atho mahä-bhäga bhavän amogha-dåkçuci-çraväù satya-rato dhåta-vrataùurukramasyäkhila-bandha-muktayesamädhinänusmara tad-viceñöitam

O Vyäsadeva, your vision is completely perfect. Your good fame is spotless. You are firm in vow and situated in truthfulness. And

thus you can think of the pastimes of the Lord in trance for the liberation of the

people in general from all material bondage.

Text 1.5.13

- mundane Literatures – for satisfaction of material senses

Thousands of literary all over the world – but no peace & tranquility

Compassion of Sri Narada Rsi Srila Vyasadeva & his representatives

are pure Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Srimad

Bhagavatham

Srila Prabhupada’s lecture

"You don't read. In the first volume of Bhagavata these things are explained. But I don't think you read all these things. Do you read? So if you don't read, then you will feel restless: "Oh, let me go from Japan to India, from India to Japan." You are restless because you don't read. I am laboring so hard for you, but you don't take advantage. Don't take advantage of eating and sleeping. Take advantage of these books. Then your life will be successful. My duty -- I have given you so valuable things, day and night trying to convince you, each word to word. And if you don't take advantage of this, then what can I do for you?"

Srila Vyasadeva

For Welfare activity – you need clear vision Narada Muni Certifies

amogha-dåk Çuci-çraväù satya-rataù Dhåta-vrataù

this meditation cannot be done by ordinary person

You can liberate all the conditioned souls. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says - yei kåñëa-

tattva-vettä, sei guru haya

How he liberates

urukramasyäkhila-bandha-muktayeSamädhinä anusmara tad-viceñöitam

Urukramasya - Uru means great. And krama. Krama means activities

Samadhina Anusmara tad vicestitam Akhila bandha muktaye - For what? – Not

just for his own benefit, but to benefit the whole world (liberate)

Srila Prabhupada’s lecture

Akhilasya bandhasya muktaye tam anusmara småtya varëayata.(?) And again Çrédhara Svämé gives note herewith that "Not only you meditate, but you preach. That will help your meditation.“

One who is preaching, he's also in samädhi, because he's thinking of Kåñëa. Otherwise, how he can talk of Kåñëa if he does not think of Kåñëa? Çrédhara Swami gives... Tam anusmara småtya varëayata. Varëayata means "Describe also, preach."

Srila Prabhupada’s lecture

bhärata-bhümite haila manuñya-janma yära

janma särthaka kari' kara para-upakära.

So Caitanya Mahäprabhu says that "Anyone who has taken birth on this land of Bhäratavarña, India," janma särthaka kari', "just become, yourself, liberated, and then make others liberated."

Srila Prabhupada’s lecture

Just like Närada Åñi is giving us good literature. He is instructing Vyäsadeva, "Give this literature to the people." We are taking advantage of Çrémad-Bhägavatam. Are we not debtor? We go to school, college, and pay so much fees to the teachers. Are we not debtor to Vyäsadeva and Närada? But we don't care for it. So acyutejya. If you become Kåñëa conscious, naturally you will try to propagate the teachings of Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam. That means you are paying. You have learned something from them, and you are distributing the knowledge. That was their mission. If you keep it for yourself, then you are simply debtor. You are not paying.

Text 1.5.14

tato 'nyathä kiïcana yad vivakñataùpåthag dåças tat-kåta-rüpa-nämabhiùna karhicit kväpi ca duùsthitä matirlabheta vätähata-naur iväspadam

Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind as the wind

agitates a boat which has no resting place.

Text 1.5.14

Disturbed in finding the real path of self realization Fruitive activities, speculative knowledge,

mystic power and devotional service Disturbed in finding the real object of

worship Recommendation of worship of many

demigods Just like if your ship is on the ocean and

it is being tossed by heavy wind, you cannot sit very nicely.

Mahabharat

Text 2.41

vyavasäyätmikä buddhirekeha kuru-nandana

bahu-çäkhä hy anantäç cabuddhayo 'vyavasäyinäm

Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved

child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-

branched.

Text 1.5.15

jugupsitaà dharma-kåte 'nuçäsataùsvabhäva-raktasya mahän vyatikramaù

yad-väkyato dharma itétaraù sthitona manyate tasya niväraëaà janaù

The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that

way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because

they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion

and will hardly care for prohibitions.

Text 1.5.15

Natural inclination – to lord it over Purpose of human life Plan for sense enjoyment in the name of

religious functions Great barrier for spiritual advancement People will forget purpose of religious activities Example: Sacrificing animals

Mahabharata Compromising spirit is condemned by

Narada Patient & Physician

Text 1.5.16

vicakñaëo 'syärhati vedituà vibhorananta-pärasya nivåttitaù sukham

pravartamänasya guëair anätmanastato bhavän darçaya ceñöitaà vibhoù

The Supreme Lord is unlimited. Only a very expert personality, retired from the activities of material

happiness, deserves to understand this knowledge of spiritual values. Therefore those who are not so well situated, due to material attachment, should

be shown the ways of transcendental realization, by Your Goodness, through descriptions of the

transcendental activities of the Supreme Lord.

Text 1.5.16

Theological subject is difficult Can be understood only by those retired

from activities of material happiness Acts like medicine

Text 1.5.17

tyaktvä sva-dharmaà caraëämbujaà harerbhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi

yatra kva väbhadram abhüd amuñya kiàko värtha äpto 'bhajatäà sva-dharmataù

One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord

may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being

unsuccessful. On the other hand, a non devotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties,

does not gain anything.

Srila Prabhupada’s lecture

"Suppose next life a brähmaëa falls down. He takes to Kåñëa consciousness. Neither he executes the brahminical duties, nor he could prosecute Kåñëa consciousness to perfection, still," Närada Muni says, "there is no loss. There is no loss." Yatra kva va nica-yony apy amuñya abhadra abhüt kim.(?) Now, if the brähmaëa, by not executing his prescribed duties, he becomes a çüdra-next life he takes birth in a çüdra family or lower than çüdra family—so Närada Muni says, "What is the loss there? Because Kåñëa consciousness is so nice that it will not leave the person who has once taken to Kåñëa consciousness. It will revive even in that lower status of life.“

BG 2.40

nehäbhikrama-näço 'stipratyaväyo na vidyate

sv-alpam apy asya dharmasyaträyate mahato bhayät

In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most

dangerous type of fear.

Text 1.5.18

tasyaiva hetoù prayateta kovidona labhyate yad bhramatäm upary adhaùtal labhyate duùkhavad anyataù sukhaà

kälena sarvatra gabhéra-raàhasäPersons who are actually intelligent and philosophically

inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the

topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Pätäla]. As far as happiness derived from sense

enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of

time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.

Text 1.5.18

Various programs for sense enjoyment Why work for Material happiness? It is already settled up - daivena, daiva-

netreëa, karmaëä. duùkhälayam açäçvatam: [Bg. 8.15] Intelligent should endeavor for what is

eternal Caitanya-caritämåta also says that

dvaite bhadräbhadra sakali samäna

Srila Prabhupada lecture

"Don't bother yourself to make yourself happy by working day and night without trying for Kåñëa consciousness. This is simply waste of time." There is no question of happiness in this material world. If you actually want to be happy, änandamayo 'bhyäsät (Vedänta-sütra 1.1.12), if you want to be placed in real happiness, that is Kåñëa consciousness. Tasyaiva hetoù prayateta kovido na labhyate [SB 1.5.18].

Text 1.5.19

na vai jano jätu kathaïcanävrajenmukunda-sevy anyavad aìga saàsåtim

smaran mukundäìghry-upagühanaà punarvihätum icchen na rasa-graho jana

My dear Vyäsa, even though a devotee of Lord Kåñëa sometimes falls down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence

like others [fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who has once relished the taste of the

lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again

Text 1.5.19

A devotee can never be equated to Karmi

A neophyte devotee sometimes wants to imitate karmi

A devotee is rasa – graha, uninterested in material enjoyment

Example: Hot sugar cane juice

BG 9.30

api cet su-duräcärobhajate mäm ananya-bhäksädhur eva sa mantavyaùsamyag vyavasito hi saù

Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his

determination.

BG 9.31

kñipraà bhavati dharmätmäçaçvac-chäntià nigacchati

kaunteya pratijänéhina me bhaktaù praëaçyati

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunté, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

Srila Prabhupada’s lecture

“One who has chanted Hare Kåñëa, he cannot give it up. Cannot give it up. He has to come again. This life or next life, Kåñëa will not leave him. Kåñëa... Once surrender sincerely, "Kåñëa, I am Yours," Kåñëa will never leave him. He will protect you. But if he had become little stronger, then there is no question of falling down. Rasagra rasena grhyate vaçi kriyate.(?) Kåñëa vaçi kriyate. Vaçi kriyate means hypnotized. It is so nice that one becomes hypnotized. Otherwise, why the boys are working so hard? They are... (laughter) They're all qualified. They can earn money outside. In your country sufficient money is paid for work, but they are hypnotized here.”

Text 1.5.20

idaà hi viçvaà bhagavän ivetaroyato jagat-sthäna-nirodha-sambhaväù

tad dhi svayaà veda bhaväàs tathäpi teprädeça-mätraà bhavataù pradarçitam

The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is aloof from

it. From Him only has this cosmic manifestation emanated, in Him it rests, and unto Him it

enters after annihilation. Your good self knows all about this. I have given only a synopsis.

Text 1.5.20

We accept this matter as all in all and we are separate from the Lord

Both pure devotee perceive the Lord as both in his personal and impersonal

Text 1.5.21

tvam ätmanätmänam avehy amogha-dåkparasya puàsaù paramätmanaù kaläm

ajaà prajätaà jagataù çiväya tanmahänubhäväbhyudayo 'dhigaëyatäm

Your Goodness has perfect vision. You yourself can know the Supersoul Personality of Godhead

because you are present as the plenary portion of the Lord. Although you are birthless, you have appeared on this earth for the well-being of all

people. Please, therefore, describe the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa more vividly.

Text 1.5.21

Vyasadeva – empowered plenary portion incarnation

To deliver the fallen souls who are separated from loving devotion to the Lord

Vyasadeva in essence is the spiritual master of everyone

Teaching by own conduct, he accepts Spiritual Master

Text 1.5.22

idaà hi puàsas tapasaù çrutasya väsviñöasya süktasya ca buddhi-dattayoù

avicyuto 'rthaù kavibhir nirüpitoyad-uttamaçloka-guëänuvarëanam

Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the advancement of

knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of

the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry.

Text 1.5.22

Virtous deeds – sacrifice, charity, austerity & Studies

Are all are means gradually lead one Lord and his service

Not for pious enjoyment Gradual method is unsatisfactory as it

encourages self centered pleasure Confusing – few people will only understand

it Pious credits – not enough to break

attraction to mundane enjoyment Possible with Krsna katha

BG 8.28

vedeñu yajïeñu tapaùsu caivadäneñu yat puëya-phalaà pradiñöam

atyeti tat sarvam idaà viditväyogé paraà sthänam upaiti cädyam

A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying

the Vedas, performing sacrifices, undergoing austerities, giving charity or pursuing philosophical

and fruitive activities. Simply by performing devotional service, he attains all these, and at the

end he reaches the supreme eternal abode.

Summary