Upakhyane Upadesa

Insfrucfive Sfories
from
SriIa Bhakfisiddhanfa Sarasvafi Thakura
A Lesson on Geomefry
Tlcic was oncc a pooi widow wlo, iliougl gicai laidslip, was siiuggling io
biing up lci only son. As slc icaliscd ilai lc was lci only lopc loi ilc luiuic, slc
appoinicd a iuioi loi lim alilougl slc would somciimcs lavc io boiiow ilc
moncy io pay loi ilc iuiiion lccs.
Oncc, alici bcing piomoicd io class VII, ilc boy was bcing iaugli Gcomciiy by ilc
icaclci in Lnglisl. As soon as ilc boy icad oui loud, Lci AlC bc a iiianglc`, ilc
boy's moilci iuslcd inio ilc classioom and scicamcd ai ilc icaclci ilus :
Tlis boy is supposcd io bc advancing in lis siudics alici bcing iaiscd io class VII,
bui you aic siill icacling lim AlC - lc lcaincd all ilis wlcn lc was an inlani -
and io ilinl I am paying you 10 iupccs a monil! Iiom ioday you aic no longci
icquiicd lcic. You aic only lii loi icacling a piimaiy sclool il all you can icacl is
AlC!`
Tlc widow's ouibuisi was so violcni ilai ii lcli no scopc loi ilc icaclci io aiguc
and lc was compcllcd io lcavc ilc placc.
PURPORT
Tlc aigumcnis pui loiwaid by pcisons dcsiiing oilci ilan Kisna consciousncss,
along wiil ilc harmís, jnanís, yogís, ascciics and ilc lilc, including so-callcd
icligious communiiics, aic similai io ilosc cxpicsscd by ilc widow. Tlcy say,
Wc lavc bccomc ioially woiillcss iliougl sciving all ilc iimc in ilis woild`.
Tlis soii ol slavc-lilc mcnialiiy is ilc iooi causc ol all iioublcs. Il wc wcic io
acccpi sciviiudc cvcn alici cniciing inio ilc domain ol icligion, and io scivc
Godlcad in complcic sciviiudc cvcn alici libciaiion, ilcn low will wc advancc'
Only wlcn wc aic ignoiani, and condiiioncd undci illusion, ilcn oui slavc
mcnialiiy is inicnsilicd. lui upon libciaiion, ilc icalisaiion anam branmasí¨ ilai
I am Pranman` slould bc dcvclopcd. Upon lisicning io sucl an aigumcni, puic
dcvoiccs will aiguc ilai dcvoiion oi scivicc io Godlcad is ilc cicinal posiiion ol
all conscious living cniiiics. Sucl dcvoiion, wlcn culiivaicd iliougl dillcicni
siagcs ol pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc (saánana bnahtí), ccsiaiic dcvoiion (bnava
bnahtí), and loving dcvoiion (prcma bnahtí) , conliims vciily ilc cicinal uiiliiy ol
dcvoiion iiscll.
Sciviiudc io Loid Kisna wlilc pciloiming dcvoiional aciiviiics is lnown as
saánana bnahtí (pciloiming dcvoiion), wlcicas iniimaic sciviiudc oi scivicc io Sii
Kisna, alici libciaicd icalisaiion, is prcma bnahtí (loving dcvoiion). Scivicc io
Godlcad in ilc libciaicd siagc is iiicsisiiblc scivicc (apratínata scva).
A,l,C,D oi ha-hna-ga-gna may bc piaciiscd wlilc lcaining ilc alplabci on ilc
clcmcniaiy lcvcl; ilcn again cvcn alici bccoming ilc iopmosi man ol lciicis, onc
las io culiivaic ilc vaiicgaicdncss and aiiisiic dclicacy ol ilai vciy alplabci.
Tlosc wlo aic impcisonalisis, spcculaic jusi lilc ilc widow as naiiaicd in ilis
sioiy, advocaiing ilai A,l,C,D slould only bc piaciiscd by clildicn in ilc
clcmcniaiy lcvcl and ilai ilcsc lciicis aic ol no usc io any lcaincd pcison.
Ii is noi ilai sciviiudc io Sii Kisna slould bc ollcicd only duiing dcvoiional
pciloimancc, bui ii musi bc icncwcd cvcn upon aiiaining pcilcciion iliougl
libciaiion as scivicc io Loid Kisna is oui cicinal piolcssion. Sciviiudc oi scivicc
ollcicd io Loid Kisna is oui cicinal piolcssion. Sciviiudc oi scivicc ollcicd io Loid
Kisna alici aiiaining ilc siagc ol libciaiion is io bc considcicd as ical and ilc mosi
pcilcci loim ol scivicc. Sciviiudc io illusion (Maya) and sciviiudc io Loid Sii
Kisna slould ncvci bc considcicd cqual.
Tlc LxpIoding Frog
Tlcic was oncc a liog ilai livcd in a pond. Onc day, lci son lappcncd io scc an
clcplani ncai a ianl. Tlc baby liog iciuincd io ii's moilci and cnilusiasiically
iold lci, Moilci, ioday I saw a lugc animal!`
Tlc moilci liog aslcd, Rcally' How big was ilc animal'`
Tlc baby liog icplicd, Ol, ii was mucl biggci ilan you aic.`
Tlc liog pullcd up lci body and aslcd, Tlis mucl biggci'`
Tlc baby icplicd, Ol no, mucl biggci.`
Tlc moilci pullcd up lci body moic and aslcd, Lvcn ilis mucl biggci'`
Hci clild icplicd, No, no moilci, mucl biggci ilan ilai.`
In ilis way ilc moilci liog giadually pullcd up lci body moic and moic and cacl
iimc ilc baby-liog would coniinuc io icll lci, mucl biggci, mucl biggci`.
Iinally, wlilc iiying io pull up lci body bcyond limii, ilc liog's bclly cxplodcd
wiil a big bang.
PURPORT
Tlc insignilicani living cniiiics wlo considci ilcmsclvcs as para-branma¨ (para =
supicmc, branma = Absoluic lcing), oi as il noiling is cqual io oi gicaici ilan
ilcmsclvcs in spiic ol ilc laci ilai ilcy'ic simply misconccivcd insignilicani
cniiiics consiiiuiionally cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc, ialc a lancy io bc cqual in
pcilcciion wiil a libciaicd soul. Tlcy aic usually dcsiioycd lilc a pullcd-up liog
duc io ilcii lalsc cgo.
Sii Caiianya Malapiablu las said :
jnaní jívanmuhta áasa paínu harí manc /
vastutan buáání suáána nanc hrsna-bnahtí vínc //
mayaánísa mayavasa, ísvarc jívc bncá /
ncna jívc ísvara-san hana ta` abncá //
prabnu hanc-vísnu vísnu ína na haníva /
jívanamc hrsna`-jnan hobnu na horíva //
sannyasí - cít-hana jíva, hírana-hana-sama /
saáoísvaryapuna hrsna noy suyopama //
jíva, ísvara-tattva-hobnu nanc sama` /
jvaIaáagnírasí jaícnc spnuIíngcra hana` //
jcí muána hanc, -jíva ísvara noy sama` /
scí ta` pasanáí` noy, áanác tarc yama //
Tlcic aic many plilosoplical spcculaiois ( jnanis) bclonging io ilc Mayavaáa
sclool wlo considci ilcmsclvcs libciaicd and call ilcmsclvcs Naiayana. Howcvci
ilcii iniclligcncc is noi puiilicd unlcss ilcy cngagc in Kisna's dcvoiional scivicc.`
(Caítanya -carítamrta - Maánya LíIa 2-.29)
Tlc Loid is ilc masici ol ilc poicncics, and ilc living cniiiy is ilc scivani ol
ilcm. Tlai is ilc dillcicncc bciwccn ilc Loid and ilc living cniiiy. Howcvci, you
dcclaic ilai ilc Loid and ilc living cniiiics aic onc and ilc samc.` (Cc - Maánya
LíIa 6.162)
Sii Caiianya Malapiablu immcdiaicly cxclaimcd, Visnu! Visnu! Do noi call Mc
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. A jiva cannoi bccomc Kisna ai any iimc. Do
noi cvcn say sucl a iling!`
A sannyasi in ilc icnounccd oidci is cciiainly paii and paiccl ol ilc complcic
wlolc, jusi as a slining molcculai paiiiclc ol sunslinc is paii and paiccl ol ilc sun
iiscll. Kisna is lilc ilc sun, lull ol six opulcnccs, bui ilc living cniiiy is only a
liagmcni ol ilc complcic wlolc.`
`A living cniiiy and ilc Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic ncvci io bc
considcicd cqual, jusi as a liagmcnial spail can ncvci bc considcicd ilc oiiginal
llamc.` ( Cc - Maánya LíIa 1S.111-113)
A loolisl pcison wlo says ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc samc
as ilc living cniiiy is an ailcisi, and lc bccomcs subjcci io punislmcni by ilc
supciinicndcni ol dcail, Yamaiaja.` (Cc - Maánya LíIa 18.115)
N.l.
ly naiiaiing ilis lablc ol ilc cxploding liog, Siila llaliisiddlania Saiasvaii
Gosvami Piablupada uscd io insiiuci ilai ii is bciici io bc a good man ilan io bc
a big onc. I am Pranaman,` I am síáána` , I am Vaisnava` , I am panáíta` , I
am scll - icalizcd` - ilis soii ol lalsc cgo is ilc iooi causc ol ilc lallcn cniiiics'
bondagc. Onc wlo is cnliglicncd wiil puic dcvoiion loi Sii Haii, ncvci conccivcs
limscll io bc ilc loid ol ilis maiciial naiuic oi ilc cnjoyci ol ilis maiciial woild,
as a gicai woilci, a gicai picaclci, and ilc lilc. Sucl a pcison slould icalizc
limscll as insignilicani as cicinal dusi-paiiiclcs undci ilc lcci ol lis spiiiiual
masici and ol all ilc Vaisnavas. Hc posscsscs a vciy candid lumiliiy all ilc iimc in
lis lcaii. A living cniiiy can ncvci bc para-branma, jusi as Ravana can ncvci bc
Loid Sii Ramaclandia.
The °GoIden` Sfone Pof
A wcalily landloid callcd upon a goldsmiil in lis villagc and icqucsicd lim wlilc
giving lim a lump ol puic gold, You aic io malc a nicc poi loi my mill wiil ilis
gold. You slould noi malc ii in any way impuic by mixing any lind ol alloy in ii.`
Tlc goldsmiil agiccd, Ycs sii`, and wcni away wiil ilc gold-lump.
Tlus gciiing a lump ol puic gold in lis posscssion, ilc goldsmiil was icmpicd
io sical ii. Howcvci, lc appiclcndcd ilai lc would bc punislcd by ilc landloid il
lc clcaicd lim cniiicly, so lc madc up a plan io picpaic a sionc-poi and gold-
plaic ii so ilai lc would noi bc accuscd ol sicaling ilc gold.
Wlcn ilc goldsmiil iool ilc gold-plaicd sionc poi io ilc landloid, ilc landloid
aslcd lim in gicai asionislmcni, Wlai is ilis iling you lavc biougli'`
Tlc goldsmiil icplicd, O sii! Tlis is a goldcn poi. I lavc madc ii wiil laid
laboui.`
Tlc landloid said,` Aic you joling' Tlis is a sionc poi!`
Tlc goldsmiil iold lim, O sii, ilis is a 'goldcn' sionc poi.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo considci casicism among ilc Vaisnavas, classilying ilcm as bialmana-
Vaisnavas, lsaiiiya-Vaisnavas, vaisya-Vaisnavas, sudia-Vaisnavas, oi as candala-
Vaisnavas, simply indulgc in a spcculaiivc inlcicncc as "goldcn" sionc poi. Liilci
onc slould bc considcicd as Vaisnava', oi as bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya, oi sudia.
Liilci onc slould call ii a goldcn poi', oi a sionc poi.' Mango-calc (amsaiva)
musi bc picpaicd liom mango iiscll, and no onc can call somciling mango calc'
il ii is madc ol jaclliuii' (lnailalci amsaiva). Similaily, ii would bc wiong
iciminology io asciibc ilc qualiiy ol a sudia io a Vaisnava. Wlcncvci onc is
acccpicd io bc a Vaisnava', ilcn ii is conliimcd ilai lc docs noi bclong io any
mundanc social classilicaiion sucl as bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya, sudia oi low-
boin candala and ilc lilc, noi cvcn Hindu oi non-Hindu. Any iciminology sucl
as Hindu-Vaisnava' oi Yavana-Vaisnava' is uiicily absuid and also ollcnsivc.
°Yes, No, Very Good`
A simplc villagci piclcd up somc Lnglisl iliougl lisicning. Hc mcmoiizcd only a
lcw Lnglisl woids, sucl as Ycs' and No', and Vciy good'. lui lc ncvci aiicmpicd
sciiously io undcisiand ilc applicaiion ol ilcsc woids in ilc piopci conicxi. Hc
only lncw ilai a soii ol icspcci loi an Lnglisl-spcaling' pcison could bc aiiaincd
by using ilosc woids in lioni ol pcoplc.
Oncc a lcw dacoiis madc a plan io commii a muidci and ilcn cscapc maling ii
lool as il ilai villagci lad bccn ilc culpiii.
Wlcn ilc villagci was biougli io ilc law couii, ilc judgc aslcd lim in lcngali,
"Did you commii ilc muidci '"
Tlc loolisl villagci ilougli ilai il lc could spcal somc Lnglisl in lioni ol ilc
judgc, ilcn ilc judgc migli lavc gicai icspcci loi lim, considciing lim io bc a
lollowci ol Wcsicin culiuic, and ilus lc may bc iclicvcd liom ilc allcgaiion ol
muidci.
Conicmplaiing ilus, ilc villagci icplicd io ilc judgc, "Ycs!"
Tlc judgc aslcd, "Was ilcic anyonc clsc wiil you'"
Piompily ilc villagci icplicd, "No!"
Tlcn ilc judgc said, "Do you icalisc ilai you will lavc io go io jail'"
Now ilc villagci ilougli ilai lc slould pui loiil lis pioicsi againsi sucl an
injusiicc by applying lis lasi icsoii. In oidci io conliim ilai lc was a pcilcci
gcnilcman, and ilai lc did noi commii ilc muidci, and ilai lc slould ncvci bc
iliown in piison, lc icplicd io ilc judgc's qucsiion, saying, "Vciy good!"
PURPORT
Lvcn in ilc licld ol dcvoiional scivicc, many pcoplc olicn dclivci a loi ol sciipiuial
quoics in a paiioi-lilc laslion, wiiloui piopci undcisianding ol ilc insiiuciions,
icligious iciminology and ilc injunciions ilai ilcy icccivc liom ilc puic dcvoiccs.
Tlcy simply lanlci loi icspcci liom ilc pcoplc in ilai mannci.
lui cvcniually ilcii posiiion bccomcs similai io ilai ol ilis villagci. In ilc casc
ilc sciipiuial quoics and auiloiiiaiivc injunciions aic noi piopcily assimilaicd
and digcsicd, ilc iiglicous communiiy ncvci appicciaics ilcm. Ii is also noi
possiblc io bc iclcascd liom ilc cluiclcs ol maya' oi illusion iliougl sucl a
paiioi-lilc vcibiagc.
Ii is olicn obscivcd in pubic mcciings, asscmblics and populai mundanc liiciaiuic
ilai many so-callcd "mcn-ol-lciicis ol modcin civilisaiion dclivci sucl ludicious
vcibosiiy on ilc subjccis ol dcvoiion, dcvoiccs, and ilc Supicmc Godlcad. Puic
dcvoiccs simply considci ilosc dclibciaiions similai io ilosc ol ilc villagci
mcniioncd abovc, wlo did noi icalizc anyiling bcyond Ycs, No, Vciy good.
'Tlosc pcisons aic uliimaicly dcsiincd io sullci impiisonmcni undci ilc mcicilcss
cluiclcs ol maya'.
Honey and fhe FooIish BumbIebee
Oncc a bumblcbcc saw a iianspaicni glass boiilc lull ol loncy, and ii wanicd io
cnjoy ilc conicnis. Wiiloui icalising ilai ilc loncy was covcicd by ilc glass
boiilc, ilc loolisl bcc iiicd again and again io iclisl ii.
Siiiing upon ilc boiilc, ilc bcc concludcd linally ilai ii lad iclislcd ilc loncy. In
laci, ii could noi cvcn ioucl ilc loncy, noi io spcal ol iclisling iis swccincss. Tlc
bcc was simply scll-dcccivcd.
PURPORT
Tlc maiciialisiic pcisons and commonplacc so-callcd vaisnaviics bclicvc ilai ilcy
lavc iclislcd ilc ncciai ol dcvoiion. In laci, ilcy can noi cvcn discovci ilc souicc
ol iiansccndcnial mcllows ol dcvoiion, Loid Kisna.
In modcin iimcs, somc pcoplc wlilc lisicning io claniing and pciloiming
musical icciiaiions ol ilc composiiions ol sucl sialwaiis lilc Candidas, Vidyapaii
and ilc lilc on ilc pasiimcs ol Loid Sii Kisna, bclicvc ilai ilcy lavc iclislcd ilc
iiansccndcnial mcllows ol lovc liom Loid Sii Kisna. In laci, ilcy ncvci icacl ilc
piovincc ol Loid Sii Kisna's pasiimcs oi His iiansccndcnial mcllows.
Somc awlul icligious icncgadc and iuibulcni lciciic lilc Kalapaladl, ilc
noioiious iconoclasi, may ilinl ilai ilcy can dcmolisl and dcsiioy Dciiics and
icmplcs ol ilc Supicmc Godlcad, oi somc cgoiisiic so-callcd picaclcis may boasi
ol linding oui quiic a good numbci ol laulis and discicpancics in ilc loly
sciipiuics lilc Siimad llagavaiam and Siimad llagavad Giia!
Lvcn Ravana, ilc gicai ling ol dcmons, inicndcd io abduci Siia Dcvi wiil an idca
ol cnjoying lci. In laci, ilcy could noi cvcn lavc a lool ai ilc objcci ol ilcii lusi
and dcsiic, noi io spcal ol ioucling ilcm. Ravana simply dcccivcd limscll by
abduciing only ilc sladow-loim ol Siia Dcvi and lailcd in lis aiicmpi io cnjoy lci.
Il anyonc icais up a map ol India in angci and jcalousy, and ilinls ilai lc las
dcsiioycd ilc cniiic siaic ol India, ilcn ii is noiling bui lis loolislncss. Similaily,
pcoplc wlo aic inclincd io go againsi Sii Haii and ilc spiiiiual masicis including
all Vaisnavas, undci ilc illusoiy maiciialisiic lnowlcdgc, simply cxposc
ilcmsclvcs as ilc mosi loolisl cniiiics on ilis caiil.
Sii Caiianyadcva las said:
aprahrta vastu nanc prahrta gocar /
vcác puranctc cí hanc nírantar //

"Spiiiiual subsiancc is ncvci wiilin ilc juiisdiciion ol ilc maiciial
conccpiion. Tlis is always ilc vcidici ol ilc Vcdas and Puianas."
(Cc.Maánya LíIa 9.195)
Seeing fhe Sun in fhe Nighf
A lancilul landloid oncc bccamc vciy anxious io scc ilc sun in a ncw-moon nigli
sly. Tlc llaiiciing sycoplanis ol ilc landloid said, "Wlcn you, oui loid, dcsiics, ii
musi bc lullillcd. Wc slould sci up in ilis woild sucl an cxcmplaiy dccd so ilai
cvciyonc will gloiily you and lollow ilc samc cxamplc."
Ilaiiciing ilus, onc ol ilc sycoplanis biougli in a lugc lanicin and lcld ii up
iowaids ilc sly, saying, "Lool lcic, my loid, can you scc ilc sun'"
Two oilci sycoplanis ilcn plcadcd, "Tlc sun cannoi bc sccn in sucl a liiilc
amouni ol ligli liom onc lanicin. Lci us aiiangc loi icn cioics ol candlc-powci
ligliing."
So cvcn ilai was aiiangcd loi, as ilc landloid dcsiicd. Somc ol ilc scicniilic-
mindcd liicnds ol ilc landloid madc an aiicmpi io slow ilc sun io ilc landloid
wiil ilc lclp ol powcilul clcciiic ligliing aiiangcmcni. lui all sucl clloiis madc
by ilc scicniisis conccincd wcic simply in vain.
Tlcn a considciaic pcison wlo was picscni ilcic cxplaincd io ilc landloid ilai
lc could ncvci scc ilc sun in ilc nigli cvcn il all ilc clcciiic ligliing
aiiangcmcnis in ilc woild wcic asscmblcd iogcilci -ii would simply bc a wasiagc
ol powci, moncy and iimc. So, lc musi waii iill suniisc io scc ilc sun. Only wiil
ilc lclp ol sunslinc can onc scc ilc sun. Tlc sun can ncvci bc sccn wiil ilc lclp
ol any oilci aiiilicial ligli.
PURPORT
Similaily, cvciy aiicmpi ol ilc maiciialisiic scicniisis, aiclacologisis, and oilci
pcoplc undci illusion, io scc and icalizc ilc cicinal loim ol ilc iiansccndcnial
Supicmc Loid, lull ol bliss and lnowlcdgc, wiil ilc lclp ol so-callcd mundanc
lnowlcdgc acquiicd iliougl maiciial scnscs and spcculaiivc icasoning, is only
scll-dccciving.
As ilc sun can ncvci bc sccn in ilc nigli cvcn wiil ilc lclp ol lundicds ol
aiiilicial ligliing aiiangcmcnis, similaily, ilc consiiiuiional loim ol Loid Sii Haii
and ilc spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnavas is ncvci visiblc iliougl lundicds ol
aiicmpis wiil ilc lclp ol so-callcd mundanc lnowlcdgc acquiicd by ilc maiciial
scnscs ol ilc living cniiiics.
As ilc sun is visiblc only in ilc sunligli, icalizaiion ol ilc iiuly consiiiuiional
loims ol Loid Sii Haii, guiu oi ilc Vaisnava, will only bc possiblc undci ilcii
mcicy. Tlc spiiiiual masici can noi bc asscsscd iliougl a sliglicd undcisianding.
Any living bcing condiiioncd undci illusionaiy mcnialiiy can noi malc a piopci
asscssmcni ol Loid Kisna, ilc Supicmc Coniiollci ol illusion and ol ilc ical
Vaisnava wlo is convcisani wiil Kisna Consciousncss.
A FamiIy for fhe Gifa
Oncc a icnounccd spiiiiual masici picscnicd lis disciplc wiil ilc copy ol ilc loly
Giia, advising lim io siudy ilc bool all ilc iimc. Tlc disciplc siaiicd siudy ol ilc
Giia siiiing insidc a cavc on ilc Vindlya Hills.
A small mousc in ilc cavc siaiicd caiing ilc pagcs ol ilc Giia cvciyday. Tlus
bcing cxiicmcly pciiuibcd wiil ilc misclicl causcd by ilc mousc, ilc disciplc
biougli a liiicn liom a ncaiby villagc. Tlcn mill was icquiicd loi ilc
mainicnancc ol ilc liiicn.
Considciing all ilc iclaicd pioblcms ol acquiiing mill cvciyday, ilc nccd loi
lccping a cow was vciy siiongly lcli by ilc disciplc. ly ilc giacc ol ilc Loid, a
lind-lcaiicd pcison gilicd onc cow. Now an anxiciy loi mainiaining ilc cow
loomcd laigc in ilc lcaii ol ilc disciplc. So ilai ilc cow migli siay salcly and
comloiiably, ilc icnounccd disciplc buili a bain wiil mucl laboui and clloii.
Tlcicalici camc ilc anxiciy loi day-io-day caic and mainicnancc ol ilc cow,
pioviding lci wiil icgulai loddci and waici. Ovci and abovc ilis, ilc icnounccd
disciplc was vciy mucl anxious aboui spoiling lis dcvoiional pciloimanccs wlilc
caiing loi ilc cow, and as sucl lc dccidcd io appoini a cowlcid.
Tlc cowlcid iool claigc ol mainiaining ilc cow. lui ilcn, wlo was going io
lccd ilc cowlcid, and lool alici lis duiics icgulaily' So, alici mucl dclibciaiion
linally ilc anxious sannyasi goi maiiicd.
Giadually, lis lamily swcllcd up. Hc acquiicd vasi piopciiy, manpowci and a big
placc. Tlc sannyasi ilus bccamc an oui-and-oui lamily man, lcaving asidc lis
siudy ol ilc Giia.
Alici a long lapsc ol iimc, lis spiiiiual masici, iiying io lind oui lis disciplc's
wlcicabouis, lappcn io comc io ilc lioni ol ilc disciplc's placc. Looling ai ilc
maiciial opulcncc, and ilc losi ol lamily mcmbcis ol ilc sannyasi, lc aslcd lim,
"Wlai is all ilis '"
Tlcn ilc disciplc submiiicd cvciyiling wiil loldcd lands in lioni ol lis spiiiiual
masici, "O masici, ilis is ilc lamily I lad io build up loi ilc salc ol youi Giia,
you icmcmbci '"
PURPORT
A iiuly Kisna conscious pcison slould noi incicasc ilc magniiudc ol lis wanis
and icquiicmcnis io ilc namc ol yulia-vaiiagya' (piopci icnunciaiion). A living
cniiiy cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc slould ncvci considci limscll io bc cqual in
siaius and posiiion wiil a pcilccily libciaicd gicai soul.
Onc wlo is cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc, ciilci as a sannyasi oi as a gilasila,
musi adlcic siiicily io ilc sciipiuial injunciion wlicl picsciibcs ilus:
yavanniivala piaiigiala' - lc slould cndcavoui only loi ilai mucl wlicl is
csscniially icquiicd in lavoui ol woislipping Sii Haii. His maiciial aciiviiics
slould nciilci bc cxccssivc, noi vciy scaniy as ciilci ol ilcm lcads io divcision
liom spiiiiual uplilimcni.
Pcisons undciialing ilc iigouis ol cclibacy (bialmacaiya), scclusion
(vanapiasila), and icnunciaiion (sannyasi) as ilcii ways ol living (asiama) and so
siaying in a sccludcd loly placc sucl as a mail, away liom lomc loi cngiossing
ilcmsclvcs in ilc dcvoiional sciviccs io Loid Sii Haii, migli also lind ilcmsclvcs
cnianglcd in sucl a lamily' loi ilc salc ol ilc Giia, in casc ilcy bccomc cnclanicd
wiil ilc ilouglis ol daily wanis and icquiicmcnis, ilus dccciving ilcmsclvcs in
ilc namc ol lavouiing dcvoiional sciviccs io Loid Sii Haii. So, an loncsi pcison
musi bc caiclul. lc musi noi lall undci ilc cluiclcs ol illusoiy cncigy (maya)
wlilc picicnding io acquiic lavouiablc objccis loi dcvoiional sciviccs io Sii Haii.
Tlc maiciial scnscs aic always iliisiy loi objccis ol scnsc giaiilicaiion.
Picicnding io aiiain pcilcciion iliougl caiclully lisicning and adlciing io myiiads
ol injunciions liom gicai libciaicd souls, oui wiclcd, misclicvous, unconiiollablc,
cxiiovciicd mind along wiil ii's piopcnsiiics, cndcavouis io acquiic giaiilying
objccis lalscly asciibing ilcm as lavouiablc io dcvoiional scivicc io Sii Haii, wlilc
ialing iccouisc io lypociiiical diplomaiic dcmcanouis.
Many ol us bccomc liglly aiiiacicd io maiciial lnowlcdgc. In ilc namc ol
siudying sciipiuics oi lcaining ciudiiion !
Wc bccomc mucl aiiaclcd io plysical comloii and io oui dcpcndani wilc and
clildicn iliougl scll-dcccpiion ol undcigoing lamily lilc wiil a plca io obscivc
yulia-vaiiagya' (piopci icnunciaiion) and ollciing dcvoiional sciviccs io Loid Sii
Haii simuliancously.
Lvcn alici bccoming a sannyasi, a biamlacaii, a Kisna conscious gilasila oi a
vanapiasila, many ol us dcsiic io aiiain maiciial icpuiaiion and lamc and wc iiy
io loid ii ovci cvciyiling. Tlis will causc us uiici spiiiiual dcsiiuciion.
Ii is ilcicloic mosi csscniial io piay loi ilc mcicy ol puic loncsi dcvoiccs,
consianily lccping ouisclvcs in ilcii unconiaminaicd associaiion wiil complcic
loyaliy and allcgiancc and ilus cxposing bcloic ilcm all oui misgivings so ilai wc
may bc blcsscd wiil ilcii incsiimablc guidancc.
°There Runs fhe Thief!`
Tlcic was oncc a villagc ilai was plagucd wiil consiani ilcli. Tlc villagcis wcic
unablc io dcicci ilc ilicl in spiic ol all clloiis. Wlcncvci ilc pcoplc wcic alciicd,
ilc ilicl would iun away. A luc and ciy would bc iaiscd by ilc pcoplc, and ilc
villagcis gailcicd only io bc disappoinicd.
Iinally, ilc lcadman in ilc villagc callcd loi all ilc viciims ol ilc ilcli
individually and qucsiioncd ilcm in conlidcncc. Upon a iliougl inquiiy, lc
discovcicd ilai onc paiiiculai pcison was lound io bc picscni and anxious io lind
oui ilc ilicl cvciy iimc ilcic lad bccn a ciimc.
Tlc villagc lcadman bccamc suspicious ai ilis coincidcncc. Tlcicloic lc
dcviscd a plan and adviscd ilc villagc guaid io lccp an cyc on ilc suspccicd
pcison ai lis lousc liom midnigli and icpoii lis movcmcnis. Tlc lcadman
limscll was also caiclully waicling ilc guaid and icgulaily supciviscd lis duiics.
Onc nigli ilc guaid saw ilc suspcci coming oui ol lis lousc ai aboui 2 o' clocl,
liding a buiglai's iool loi lousc-bicaling undci lis slawl.
As ilc guaid lollowcd lim, maling suic ilai lc was liddcn liom vicw, lc
obscivcd ilc suspccicd man bicaling iliougl ilc wall ol a villagci's lousc wiil
ilc lclp ol a buiglai's iool. Alici a wlilc, ilc lousc ownci siaiicd scicaming,
Tlicl, ilicl!!`, and ilc guaid waiclcd as ilc suspccicd man camc oui ol ilc
lousc wiil ilc siolcn goods and luiiicdly cnicicd inio ilc ncaiby junglc.
Wlcn ilc villagcis gailcicd as usual alici ilc lousc ownci siaiicd scicaming loi
lclp, ilc suspccicd man camc oui ol ilc opposiic sidc ol ilc junglc and innoccnily
joincd ilc ciowd ol villagcis inquiiing aboui ilc incidcni. Hc was jusi picicnding
io lool loi ilc ilicl and iunning up and down in all diicciions. Tlus coming
acioss ilc villagc guaid paiiolling ncaiby, lc caugli lold ol lim and siaiicd
slouiing, Hcic is ilc buiglai, lcic is ilc buiglai!`.
Aiiiacicd by lis scicaming, ilc pcoplc gailcicd aiound ilcm and siaiicd jcciing
ai ilc guaid, ialing lim io bc ilc buiglai. Somc ol ilcm wcic picpaiing io bcai
lim.
Luclily, ilc villagc lcadman appcaicd on ilc spoi and appcasing ilcm, lc iool
ilc guaid io ilc sidc and aslcd lim io givc a complcic icpoii on ilc incidcni. Hc
adviscd somc oilci villagcis io obscivc ilc icaciions ol ilc man wlo was ilc ical
culpiii.
Tlcicalici, lc piocccdcd iowaids ilc junglc as diiccicd by ilc guaid, along wiil
oilci pcoplc, wlilc ilc ilicl icpcaicdly aslcd ilcm, Wly on caiil aic you going
inio ilc junglc loi ilc buiglai' On ilis dail nigli, ilai snalc-inlcsicd junglc is
mosi dangcious. No buiglai can lidc limscll in ilcic, loi suic !`
Wlcn cvciyonc was walling inio ilc junglc, disicgaiding lis consiani
giumbling, ilc man siaiicd giadually bacling away wiil ilc idca ol iunning oll. Ii
appcaicd liom lis lacc ilai lc was gicaily liiglicncd.
Lvcniually, ilc jcwcllciy box wlicl ilc ilicl lad ialcn liom ilc villagci's lousc
was lound in ilc junglc along wiil ilc buiglai's iool. Ii was ilcn ciysial-clcai io
cvciyonc picscni ilai ilc man complaining was ilc buiglai limscll, and so ilc
ciowd ian oui ol ilc junglc and siaiicd clasing lim. As lc was iunning away,
ilcy all slouicd oui, Tlcic gocs ilc ilicl. ilcic gocs ilc ilicl!`.
Tlc cunning ilicl also siaiicd slouiing wlilc iunning, Tlcic gocs ilc ilicl,
ilcic gocs ilc ilicl`, and poiniing io all ilc innoccni passcis-by, lc goi away by
cicaiing an uiici conlusion.
PURPORT
Tlcic is no dcaiil ol sucl misclicvous ailcisis among ilc pcoplc. ilcy consianily
malign ilc ical pioicciois ol ilc sociciy wlo aic lilc waiclmcn, and laiass ilosc
gicai souls wlo aic iiuly and sclllcssly bcncvolcni io common pcoplc, only io
iainisl ilcii icpuiaiion by a vilc aiicmpi io piovc ilosc sainily pcisons as
ilicvcs' and ilc lilc.
In all Vcdic liiciaiuic, Giia, llagavaia, Upanisads cic., ii las bccn spccilically
advocaicd ilai ilis maiciial woild bclongs io ilc Supicmc Loid, lc is ilc
piopiicioi ol cvciyiling, and onc wlo docs noi ollci cvciyiling io ilc Supicmc
Loid loi His saiislaciion iliougl picacling His gloiics and ilc loly namc, simply
dcvouis His piopciiy loi onc's own scnsc giaiilicaiion, and as sucl, lc is a ilicl.
Sucl a ilicl is always cndcavouiing io indicaic ilai any pcison wlo is picacling
ilc loly namc ol ilc Supicmc Godlcad, and going liom dooi io dooi in oidci io
walc cvciyonc up liom ilcii illusoiy siaic ol living, is only woiillcss, idlc and a
ilicl ol social wcalil. Tlis is jusi lilc ilc moiivaicd icndcncy ol a ilicl wlo
poinis io a sadlu as il lc is iunning away liom a buiglaiy.
Tlis is ilc noimal piaciicc wc lind in ilis agc ol Kali. ilc lamous poci Tulasi das
wioic long ago ilus:
corho cnoác saánho banánc, patníhho Iagaoc pnansí /
ánanya haIíjug tcrí tamasa, áunhn Iagc aor nasí //
Tlc ical ilicl is iclcascd, ilc sainily pcison is iicd up, and ilc passci-by is
langcd - all gloiics io Kali yugas, sucl is youi gicai jolc ilai cicaics piiy as wcll as
lauglici.`
Somc iiadcis wlo dcal in so-callcd icligion, loly sciipiuics, Giia, llagavaia, and
ilc Dciiics ol Godlcad as ilcii cconomic piolcssion, iiy io cquaic sclllcss
picaclcis ol ilc loly namc ol Loid Haii and ilc picacling ol ical sainily pcisons
as an illicii giccd loi moncy lilc a piolcssional pcison.
Tlcy uscd io say misclicvously ilai onc slould noi only condcmn maiciialisiic
pcisons wlcn cvcn ilc sainily pcisons nccd moncy. In laci, ilis is jusi lilc
bianding a waiclman as a buiglai.
Moncy collccicd by sainily pcisons loi ilc wcllaic ol ilc cniiic woild in lavoui
ol picacling ilc loly namc ol Loid Sii Haii, is noi mcani loi spcnding on
mainicnancc ol lamily mcmbcis lilc a piolcssional lamily-man, oi loi indulging in
somc illicii misdcmcanoui, oi pcisonal scnsc giaiilicaiion.
Rcal sainily pcisons collcci moncy and usc ii wiscly. Tlai moncy is vciy
caiclully spcni in picacling ilc loly namc and opulcnccs ol ilc oiiginal
piopiicioi and ilc Loid ol ilc goddcss Lalsmi in oidci io cnsuic cicinal wcllaic
io all ailcisiic, condiiioncd living cniiiics ol ilis maiciial woild.
In laci, pcisons wlo iiy io sical ilc wcalil ol ilc Loid ol Lalsmi, malc an
aiicmpi io conlusc common pcoplc by cicaiing a lalsc luc and ciy by poiniing ai
ical sainily pcisons and slowing - Tlcic gocs ilc ilicl, ilcic gocs ilc ilicl!` Tlc
cnvious impcisonalisis only malc an aiicmpi io lidc ilcmsclvcs wiil ilcii innaic
polluicd claiacici by slouiing oui ai ilc sainily pcisons, ilicl, ilicl!`
°AII GIories fo BaIam Rice and Cow Ghee!`
Tlcic was oncc a landloid in wlosc lousc no scivani could cvci coniinuc io woil
loi long. ilc landloid uscd io appoini ncw scivanis licqucnily and ilcy would
lcavc ilc job only alici a lcw days. Tlc landloid was mucl pciiuibcd ai ilis. ii was
almosi impossiblc loi lim io mainiain ilc lousclold woil wiiloui any scivanis.
Onc day lc was lamcniing io onc ol lis liicnds, How unloiiunaic I am! Noi
cvcn a singlc scivani could siay! Wlai's ilc soluiion'`
Tlcn ilc liicnd adviscd ilc landloid, Il you lollow my advicc, ilcn youi
scivani won'i lcavc you cvcn il you wani io gci iid ol lim. You icciuii any scivani
and lccd lim wiil a linc vaiiciy ol lalam iicc wiil cow glcc iwicc a day. Alici
mainiaining lim in ilis mannci loi six monils, ilcn you can givc lim any lind ol
job you dcsiic.`
Tlc landloid did as lis liicnd adviscd. Alici iclisling lalam iicc wiil glcc loi
six monils, no oilci vaiiciy ol iicc was palaiablc io lis scivani. Tlcn ilc landloid,
alici ilc lapsc ol six long monil, siaiicd picssuiing ilc scivani wiil all soiis ol
iigoious jobs. Tlc scivani ilcicalici siaiicd maling complainis io ilc assisianis ol
ilc landloid, I'm going clscwlcic il so mucl picssuic is coniinucd io bc pui on
mc.`
In ilis way wlcncvci ilcic was a liiilc moic woil io do, ilc scivani uscd io say,
I won'i siay lcic any longci.`
Onc day ilc landloid iold lim, Go wlcicvci you wani!` ilc scivani loolcd loi
somc alicinaiivc job clscwlcic, bui lc could noi lavc ilc saiislaciion ol linc
vaiiciy lalam iicc and cow glcc.
Ai lasi lc camc bacl lclplcssly io ilc louscs ol ilc landloid and coniinucd io
siay loi a long iimc. lui wlcncvci ilcic was somc addiiional woilload, lc uscd io
go clscwlcic loi iclicl, bui as soon as lc icmcmbcicd ilc saiislaciion ol lalam iicc
and cow glcc, lc would immcdiaicly iciuin io ilc landloid's lousc and uscd io
say ilai lc lad dcvclopcd a scniimcni loi ilc landloid and ilai's wly lc was
unablc io siay anywlcic clsc in pcacc.
Alici a lcw ycais, wlcn ilc landloid lappcncd io mcci lis liicnd, lc slouicd oui
in gicai joy, All gloiics io lalam iicc, and cow glcc!`
PURPORT
Tlis anccdoic givcs us a moial aboui ilc inllucncc ol womcn, moncy and
icpuiaiion, loi wlicl pcoplc aic dcsiious. Ii is vciy dilliculi io lind a pcison
willing io ollci causclcss dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Haii in ilis woild. Noi a
singlc pcison wanis io siay sicadlasily in ilc dcvoiional insiiiuiion ol Loid Sii
Kisna's lamily cnviionmcni. Only moiivaicd wiil maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion and
mundanc dcsiics loi a lcw days, somc would lilc io picicnd io ollci sciviccs in
Loid Kisna's lamily and ilcn would icvcii io dillcicni aspccis ol maiciial gain,
posiiion, and icpuiaiion, icligion, wcalil, liuiiivc woil oi libciaiion io saiisly
ilcii iliisi loi scnsc giaiilicaiion.
Wiil a vicw io aiiiaciing sucl pcisons by all mcans, and io cnliglicn ilcm ol
ilcii laicni poicniial, all bcncvolcni spiiiiual masicis aiiangc loi lalam iicc and
glcc io lccd ilcm. In oilci woids, spiiiiual masicis malc cvciy aiicmpi io iciain
ilosc iiuani pcisons wiilin ilc lamily cnviionmcni ol Loid Kisna by way ol
pioviding vaiious soiis ol posiiion and icpuiaiion loi ilcm. In ilc bcginning sucl
pcisons may olicn play iiuancy by going away liom Loid Kisna's lamily, bui wlcn
ilcy coniinuc io icccivc somc awaid, picsiigc, posiiion. lonoui cic. in ilc loim ol
lalam iicc and glcc oi ilc lilc, ilcn somc ol ilcm picicnd io slow up somc soii
ol s
oli scniimcni iowaids ilc landloid oi ilc spiiiiual masici. Tlcicalici sucl
pcisons aic noi lilcly io go away cvcn il ilcy aic aslcd io. Tlcicloic, all gloiics io
lalam iicc and cow glcc!
Tlc caincsi cnicipiisc on ilc paii ol ilc landloid loi ilc pciloimancc ol lis
csscniial sciviccs is ianiamouni io ilc caincsi dcsiic ol a spiiiiual masici oi a
sinccic dcvoicc io saiisly Loid Sii Gauianga, wlcicas ilc scivani is vciy wcll
compaiablc io all soiis ol sciviiois wlo picicnd io scivc ilcii spiiiiual masicis in a
liim aiiiiudc, and lalam iicc wiil cow glcc may iiglily bc ilougli ol as a
sciviioi's dcsiic loi posiiion, lonoui, and icpuiaiion.
LaIu and KaIu
A giocci lad iwo sons - Lalu and Kalu. Hc wanicd ilcm io lcain basic
mcasuicmcnis on a wcigling scalc and as sucl, lc cniiusicd lis boys io a iuioi.
Tlc boys wcic so uniuly and naugliy ilai a numbci ol iuiois piovcd ilcmsclvcs
unablc io impaii ilis minimum insiiuciion io ilcm.
Iinally, ilc giocci lad io dcclaic ilai lc would givc away a lall ol lis giocciy
busincss io anyonc wlo could cducaic lis iwo sons in numbcis up io onc lundicd
ai lcasi.
Tlosc iwo boys wcic, lowcvci, lull ol so many viccs ilai ilcy bccamc addicicd
io smoling cvcn ilougl ilcy wcic siill inlanis.
A pooi old branmana, bcing alluicd by ilc luciaiivc ollci, undciiool ilc job ol
icacling ilcm. Tlcii lailci madc a vciy siiingcni aiiangcmcni so ilai ilc boys
would always siay wiil ilcii iuioi.
Onc day, Lalu and Kalu wcni oui loi a siioll along wiil ilcii iuioi. As ilcy wcic
walling, ilcy camc acioss a cow and ilc iuioi aslcd Lalu, Could you say low
many lcgs ilis cow las '`
Lalu siaiicd couniing ilc cow's lcgs - onc, iwo, ilicc ..... All ol a suddcn, Kalu
sioppcd lis bioilci by closing lis bioilci's mouil wiil lis land, saying, O
bioilci! Don'i couni - lc will iiy io clcvcily icacl you numbcis.` Lalu ilcicloic
sioppcd couniing as lc could icalizc ilc cialiy icacling mcilod ol lis iuioi.
Anoilci day, Lalu and Kalu wcic ialing icsi in onc ioom, along wiil ilcii
iuioi. loil ol ilcm siaiicd snoiing as il ilcy wcic in dccp slccp, so ilai ilc iuioi
may ialc ilcm io bc in dccp slumbci.
Tlcii iuioi, noiing ilai lis pupils wcic aslccp, dccidcd ilai lc would also ialc
icsi. Alici a wlilc, Lalu and Kalu bcgan iiying io ascciiain il ilc iuioi was aslccp
and bcing assuicd, ilcy goi up, and wcni ouisidc io smolc io ilcii lcaii's conicni.
Alici linisling ilcii cigaiciics, ilcy iciuincd io ilc ioom and picicndcd io bc
slccping again.
Alici a wlilc, wlcn ilc iuioi wolc up, lc smcli a siiong odoui ol smolc insidc
ilc ioom. Immcdiaicly lc iouscd ilc boys liom ilcii slccp` and siaiicd inquiiing
aboui ilc smcll. His suspicions wcic conliimcd wlcn lc smclicd ilcii lands.
Lalu and Kalu coniinucd io dclcnd ilcmsclvcs, ciying, O sii, wc lcll aslccp
bcloic you, wc aic jusi waling up now. How could wc bc smoling, sii' lui ii's
possiblc ilai somc iascal was smoling wiil ilc lclp ol oui lands wiiloui oui
lnowlcdgc wlilc wc wcic lasi aslccp.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo aic dcicimincd io acccpi no advicc oi insiiuciion loi ilcii scll-
dcvclopmcni, aic icllccicd in ilc modc ol claiacici as icvcalcd in ilcsc iwo
cunning boys, Lalu and Kalu. Quiic olicn, many ol us do noi lilc io pay any lccd
io ilc mcssagcs and injunciions in oui daily aciiviiics, only bccausc ol oui
appiclcnsion ilai ilcy migli lcad us io a domain ol pcacc and wcllaic.
Jusi lilc Lalu and Kalu, ilc majoiiiy ol common pcoplc ncvci acccpi ilc way io
ical wcllaic and lappincss - ilcy would piclci a picicnsion ol lccping ilc
associaiion ol sainily pcisons wlilc coniinuing ilcii aciiviiics ol scnsc giaiilicaiion
in wcalil, womcn, and winc.
Ii is bccausc wc aic unablc io givc up oui lypociisy and scnsc ol loolisl
individualism and indcpcndcncc ilai sainily pcisons lail io lcad us io ical wisdom.
Wlcncvci oui spiiiiual masici sccs oui inclinaiion io sucl unwoiily aciiviiics, wc
malc an aiicmpi io dclcnd ouisclvcs wiil a lalsc plca ilai wc aic noi ically
inicicsicd in sucl aciiviiics and ilai ii is mcicly ilai somc unsciupulous icligious
oi social lcadcis lavc loiccd us io bccomc cngiosscd in ilcm.
ly naiuic, all misclicvous pcisons aci lilc ilis and ilcy pui all ilc blamc upon
oilcis in oidci io conccal ilcii laulis. ilcy iiy io piojcci ilcii iliisi ol scnsc
giaiilicaiion onio loncsi pcisons.
Rowing AIong fhe Wind
A landloid oncc lad a sycoplaniic scivani, wlo was only inicicsicd in giabbing
somciling loi lid own scnsc giaiilicaiion by llaiiciing lis masici.
Onc day ilc landloid aslcd ilc sycoplani, Could you icll mc wlai lind ol
vcgciablc is ilc poiaio'`
Tlc sycoplani icplicd wiil an uncasy gcsiuic and loldcd lands bcloic ilc
landloid, O Loid! I piay ilai youi lonoui may plcasc naiiaic ilc naiuic ol
poiaio. Plcasc lci us lcai youi wisc woids on ilis maiici.`
Tlcn ilc landloid said, Poiaio is ilc mosi dclicious ol all vcgciablcs in ilis
picscni agc.`
Lvcn bcloic ilc landloid could linisl lis siaicmcni, ilc sycoplani buiicd in,
Ycs, my Loid! Rcally dclicious! Lxccllcnily dclicious, plcasanily dclicious,
liglly iasiclul and dainiy! Ii is said ilai ilis iound poiaio - boilcd in iicc, boilcd
in waici, liicd, mixcd up in a subji, pui in a soup oi dall, ciilci in picllc
condimcni, oi in iicl giavy, oi lolia - cvciywlcic in cvciy iccipc, ilis iound
poiaio is omnipicscni! Is ilcic any oilci vcgciablc compaiablc io ii' Ii is simply
sccond io nonc, - unpaiallclcd!!`
Tlcn ilc landloid icjoindcicd, Wlaicvci you say, I slould lilc io asscii ilai
poiaio is vciy agiiaiing and vciy dull, in spiic ol ilc laci ilai ii is iasiclul.
Immcdiaicly ilc sycoplani blusicicd, O ycs loid, loi suic. Ii is a ically
agiiaiingly agiiaiing vcgciablc, vciy loi, cxccssivcly passionaic, vciy dilliculi io
cool down. My loid! Wc aic bcing plagucd by a ncw wavc ol unlnown discascs
nowadays! Tlcsc aic all duc io ilis iound poiaio. All soiis ol llaiulcncc, clolcia,
diaiiloca, diabcics, plilisis aic icsuliing loim ilis iound poiaio - do you lnow,
my loid ' Poiaio is cciiainly ilc iooi causc ol all ilcsc iioublcs.`
Tlc landloid ilcn aslcd lis lawning scivani, Wcll wlai is youi opinion ol
cggplani'`
Tlc sycoplani icplicd, O loid , lci us liisi lcai you, plcasc. Wlai is cggplani
lilc'
Tlc landloid bcgan, Tlcic is noiling bad aboui an cggplani! As lai as I lnow,
cggplani is a nicc vcgciablc.`
Again ilc scivani spolc, Ycs loid! Lci us lool ai ii; ilcic is laidly anoilci
bcauiilul vcgciablc lilc ii. Wlai clsc is icquiicd wlcn wc gci iwo picccs ol liicd
cggplani' Tlcn cvcn buiici is noi compaiablc io ii! Wlcn onc las noiling clsc in
ilc lousc, only onc piccc ol cggplani could scivc ilc puiposc ol mainiaining
picsiigc ol a louscloldci - you can ioasi ii, liy ii, cool ii in a subjí, picpaic a
cluincy - any way you lilc - ilai cggplani piovcs iiscll somcwlai cxiiaoidinaiy
among all vcgciablcs. Siill among all vaiiciics ol cggplani, ialc Iapna cggplani - an
cxccllcni cicaiion ol ilc supicmc godlcad indccd!`
Alici lcaiing all ilis, ilc landloid icplicd, Anylow, ilcic is no nuiiiiious valuc
in an cggplani.
Tlc sycoplani said, O my loid ,oll causc! Tlai's wly ii is callcd bc-gun` wlicl
mcans no valuc ai poicniial valuc, bui bcgan, ilc cggplani is mucl moic inlciioi
io ilai. An cggplani givcs moic iicling iioublc in ilc mouil ilan any wild iuinip
oi hocu` iooi! Lggplani is ilc iooi causc ol so many iioublcs. Lggplani caiiics
cicinal bad lucl. Tlai's wly ii is olicn ioasicd bcloic sciving!`
Tlc landloid ilcn icioiicd saying, You'ic a vciy siiangc lcllow! Wlcn I say
'Poiaio is good ' you also icpcai,' Ycs, poiaio is vciy good', and wlcn I say 'ii is
bad' , ilcn you also siaii plcading ilai ii is vciy, vciy bad. Wlcn I said , 'Lggplani
is good', ilcn youi appicciaiion loi cggplani lncw no bounds. Wlcn I said,
'Lggplani is bad' dcpiccaiing ii as il ii slould ncvci bc considcicd as a vcgciablc.
Don'i you posscss any pcisonal inicgiiiy''
Wiil loldcd lands and laliciing voicc ilc sycoplani cxplaincd, O my loid!
Plcasc lavc mcicy, plcasc loigivc my ollcnccs. lui, io bc iiuillul, I am noi a
scivani ol a poiaio, noi ol an cggplani - I am simply youi scivani, my loid!
Wlaicvci you say, my loid, I musi say lilcwisc. Poiaio will noi piovidc mc wiil a
wagc paclci cvciy monil, and cggplani is noi going io givc mc a job loi my
livclilood. I am youi scivani, so my loid's voicc slould bc my voicc.`

PURPORT
Somc pcoplc always iow wiil ilc wind loi ilcii own advaniagc, and cxpicss ilcii
concocicd opinions only moiivaicd by ilcii own scllisl dcsiics loi gaining
icpuiaiion. Somciimcs ilcy picicnd io bc dcvoiccs ol Loid Sii Caiianya, oi
paiiiois, social lcadcis, oi simply unmindlul lovcis, oi many oilci disguiscs.
lasically ilcy aic impcisonalisis, oi in oilci woids, ilcy do noi bclicvc in ilc
cicinal loly namc, loim, qualiiics, associaics and pasiimcs ol ilc Supicmc Loid.
Any appicciaiion oi culogising ol Loid Sii Caiianya cxpicsscd by sucl pcisons is
simply ilcii vcibal cxpicssion, as ilcy aic anxious io posc ilcmsclvcs as
dcvoiccs` bcloic ilc common pcoplc.
Many sucl pcisons culogisc Loid Sii Caiianyadcva wiil an uliciioi moiivc ol
aiiiaciing somc soii ol lonoui and icspcci liom a laigc communiiy ol Vaisnavas.
lui ilcy aic noi ai all inicicsicd in iclisling ilc ncciai ol iiuc insiiuciions
bcsiowcd by Loid Sii Caiianyadcva wlo dcpiccaicd sucl icnowncd idcologics as
luddlism, Sanlaiacaiya plilosoply, and ilc dociiincs ol liuiiivc woil, mundanc
lnowlcdgc and mcdiiaiional yogic plilosoply. Tlosc moiivaicd pcisons do noi
acccpi Sii Caiianya Malapiablu's advicc io woislip Loid Visnu only and io
considci all oilci loims ol dcmigods and goddcsscs as suboidinaic io Loid Visnu.
Noi can ilcy cndoisc wlolclcaiicdly ilc dcvoiional piaciiccs ol icligion, wcalil,
lusi, and libciaiion.
Tlis only lappcns bccausc as ilcic aic many lollowcis ol Loid Sii Caiianyadcva,
similaily ilcic cxiis a numbci ol lanaiics in ilc linc ol Sii Sanlaiacaiya, luddla,
Madlviia Jina, Kumaiila llaiia, Kapila ilc ailcisi and ilc lilc, wlo picaclcd
non-dcvoiional dociiincs among ilc pcoplc.
In ilis cvcni, all moiivaicd pcisons considci ii bcnclicial io ilcii scll-inicicsi ol
caining namc, lamc and icpuiaiion io picacl ilc dociiincs ol oilci communiiics
ilan ilosc ol Sii Caiianyadcva, sincc ilcsc non-dcvoiional communiiics command
a widc populacc.
Tlosc wlo aic dcvoid ol ilc ical uigc loi inquiiing inio ilc icalm ol cicinal and
absoluic iiuil will always lusl up ilc basic dociiincs as piopagaicd by Loid Sii
Caiianyadcva. Tlcsc pcoplc aic nciilci sinccic lollowcis ol Loid Sii Caiianyadcva,
noi ol Sii Sanlaiacaiya. In laci ilcy aic basically oppoiiunisis iiying io giaiily
ilcii scnscs.
Tlcsc oppoiiunisis aic ol ilc opinion ilai all dociiincs aic good`, bui ilcii ical
naiuic is cxposcd wlcncvci ii is clcaily piovcd ilai ilc lovc loi Loid Sii Kisna can
ncvci bc cquaicd wiil ilc non-dcvoiional piaciiccs loi gaining posiiions in ilc
liclds ol icligion, mundanc wcalil, maiciial cnjoymcni, and libciaiion liom ilc
cyclc ol biiil, dcail, old agc and discasc.
Any aiicmpi in synilcsizing all dociiincs iiicspcciivc ol ilcii iniiinsic mciii is a
lypociisy. ilis was vciy boldly cxpicsscd by Loid Sii Caiianyadcva, wiil iclcicncc
io His icllcciions on onc ol His own dcvoiccs, Sii Mulunda Daiia Tlaluia, ilus,
prabnu baIc, o bcta jahnan yctna jayc /
scí moto hatna honí tatnayí mísayc //
vasístna paáayc javc aávaítcr sangc /
bnahtí-yogc nacc gayc trna horí áantc //
anya sampraáayc gíya yahnan sambnayc
naní manc bnahtí, jatní marayc saáayc //
bnahtí naítc baáa acnc-yc ína vahnanc /
nírantar jatní morc marc scí janc //
Loid Caiianya said : Wlcncvci ilai iascal (Mulunda) gocs io ilc mayavaáís , lc
bccomcs lilc ilcm, ialling accoiding io ilcii ilcoiy. Wlcncvci lc siudics ilc
yoga-vasístna wiil Advaiia Acaiya, lc danccs in ccsiasy lolding siiaw in lis iccil.
And going io oilci sampraáayas ,mayavaáís), wlcn lc spcals, noi only docs lc
ncglcci bnahtí, lc always aiiacls bnahtí. Onc wlo says ilcic is somciling bciici
ilan bnahtí, is bcaiing Mc.`
,Caítanya Pnagavata M.10.1SS-191)
Tlc pcison las madc ollcnccs io dcvoiional scivicc and duc io ilis lc will ncvci
aiiain Kisna.
Mosi ol ilc piolcssional naiiaiois ol sciipiuial and myilological sioiics,
spcalcis, wiiicis, auilois cic. Tiy io cniciiain common pcoplc iliougl ilcii
dclibciaiions and pciloimanccs only io aiiiaci somc soii ol maiciial gains and
loiiuncs. In laci, ilcii cxposiiions ol dcvoiional sciipiuics, aic noi iiuly cxpicssivc
ol ilcii ical lovc and dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Loid.
Kife-pIaying on an UnwaIIed Roof
A dull lcadcd boy was oncc lappily llying a liic liom an unwallcd iooliop. Hc
bccamc so cngiosscd in playing ilai lc losi lis awaicncss. His playmaics wcic
also cncouiaging lim vciy mucl. Tlc boy goi so caiiicd away ilai lc lailcd io
noiicc ilai onc ol lis lcgs was langing ovci ilc cdgc ol ilc iool. Nonc ol ilc
oilci boys alciicd lim io ilis pciil; iailci ilcy simply coniinucd io cncouiagc
lim io lly ilc liic.
Ai ilai ciiiical momcni, a wisc man lappcncd io pass by. Hc saw ilai ilc boy
was in immincni dangci ol lalling liom ilc iool. Hc immcdiaicly iuslcd up io
savc ilc boy alilougl ilc oilcis saw no dangci. Hc pullcd ilc boy away liom ilc
cdgc, ioic oll ilc ilicad ol ilc liic and iool away ilc spool ol ilicad.
lui ilc loolisl boy and lis liicnds, iailci ilan lccling ilanllul, bcgan io cuisc
ilc wcll-mcaning gcnilcman. Tlcy callcd lim a ilicl, iascal, iicspassci, gunáa,
looligan, iullian and oilci sucl namcs. Tlcy cvcn ilicaicncd io ialc ilc
gcnilcman io couii alici complaining io ilcii ovci-indulgcni paicnis. Somc cvcn
iiicd io plysically assauli lim. lcaiing all ilis, ilc lind-lcaiicd gcnilcman savcd
ilc boy liom immincni dcail.
PURPORT
Maiciialisiic pcisons cmbiacc ilcii cciiain dcail by acccpiing wlaicvci is
appaicnily palaiablc io ilcm. ly no mcans aic ilcy picpaicd io acccpi anyiling
wlicl is appaicnily biiici bui uliimaicly plcasani. Many ol oui so-callcd liicnds in
ilis maiciial woild also cncouiagc us in scnsc giaiilicaioiy
aciiviiics ilai lcad us io cciiain dcail and dcsiiuciion.
ly clancc il onc comcs acioss a bcncvolcni sainily pcison, lc picaclcs io us oui
ol lis slcci mcicy somc ical iiuils alilougl in an unplcasanily sicin cxposiiion
(lilc a dosc ol siiong mcdicinc) in spiic ol oui unwillingncss io acccpi ii.
Tlcicloic wc slould acccpi all good scimons liom sainily pcisons dclivcicd in ilc
causc ol oui cicinal wcllaic, cvcn il ilosc woids appcai uiicily biiici and lcaii
icnding.
The Physician`s Knife
Amai was a villagc boy wlo lad bccn sullciing so mucl liom a boil on lis bacl
ilai lc aiicmpicd suicidc. His moilci and closc iclaiivcs wcic all iiying io
allcviaic lis pain by using land-lans oi cvcn by oially blowing on ilc swclling
boil.
Onc ol lis nciglbouis adviscd ilai ilc boy slould bc givcn somc anacsilciic
diug io savc lim liom sucl unbcaiablc plysical agony. Siill anoilci pcison
iccommcndcd ilai ii was bciici io iclicvc lim cicinally liom sucl a painlul
cxpciicncc. His aigumcni was ilai ilc boy las bccn sullciing iciiibly bccausc was
alivc, so, il lc wcic dcad lc wouldn'i bc in pain anymoic. Tlc icsuli would bc
complcic solacc io boil ilc discasc and paiicni.
Unncivcd by sucl advicc, ilc wisc lailci ol ilc boy immcdiaicly scni loi an
cxpciicnccd plysician, disicgaiding lis son's so callcd wcll-wislcis. Wlcn ilc
plysician adviscd ilai a minoi suigciy bc loimcd on ilc boy, ilc iclaiivc
including ilc boy's moilci, giandmoilci and oilcis siaiicd wccping all in a iow.
Tlc ignoiani boy also siaiicd abusing ilc plysician in ilc mosi vulgai woids,
saying, You lavc comc io lill mc. Lcavc mc alonc iigli now, oi I musi scnd loi
ilc policc io aiicsi you! Wly don'i you siiilc ilc lnilc on youi own body' Would
you go and lyncl youi own son' I would iailci ialc a dosc ol poison bcloic I
suiicndci myscll io youi lands loi cciiain dcail.`
Tuining a dcal cai io ilc boy's dcliiious ouibuisi, ilc plysician lcld lim iiglily
wlilc lc picsscd and cxccuicd ilc suigical opciaiion on ilc boil. Alici a wlilc,
ilc boy was complcicly iclicvcd ol all agony and giadually bccamc wcll wiilin a
lcw days.
PURPORT
Jusi lilc a ical plysician, quiic olicn ilc ical spiiiiual masicis and sainily pcisons
also disscci somc ol ilc lnois in ilc obsiinaic mind ol living cniiiics by way ol
appaicnily disiasiclul injunciions and insiiuciions vaiying on ilc dcgiccs ol
cnianglcmcni. lui ilc sullciing cniiiy is laidly inclincd io agicc wiil sucl
injunciions and insicad, misapply a loi ol laisl woids io ilosc sainily pcisons
blasplcming ilcm as ilcii cncmics and cxiicmcly mcicilcss cxccuiioncis.
So-callcd iclaiivcs and liicnds ol sucl sullciing cniiiics siiongly advocaic againsi
sucl a suigical opciaiion io avoid ilc appaicni pain and uncasincss. Somc sucl
pscudo-liicnds cvcn in ilc namc ol impcisonalism advisc onc io commii suicidc io
gci iid ol ilc iui.
In laci, nonc ol ilcsc ways can bc liuiilully undciialcn loi cicinal wcllaic ol an
cniiiy. Tlc consiiiuiional posiiion ol a living cniiiy is only icalizcd alici
discnianglcmcni liom all unwoiily mundanc aiiaclmcnis wiil ilc lclp ol sainily
injunciions sinccicly lollowcd. Tlis cnablcs onc io cnici inio ilc piovincc ol
dcvoiional scivicc wlicl is ilc only way io cicinal bliss and pcacc ol mind.
°Kasfvam`, °Khasfvam`
Oncc ilcic livcd a branmana-panáíta in a villagc wlo was vciy pioud ol lis lamily
iiadiiion ol sclolasiic disiinciion. In couisc ol iimc, lowcvci, succcssois ol ilai
lamily bccamc a avcisc io acadcmic puisuiis ilai ilcy uscd io wlilc away ilcii
iimc in playing caids, dicc, clcss cic. To cain a living ilcy would go io
louscloldcis io woislip ilcii Dciiics, bui in laci ilcy wcic simply clcaiing ilc
louscloldcis and ilc Dciiics by claniing inaccuiaic mantras. Yci ilcy boasicd
cvciywlcic ilai sclolaily pcisons sucl as ilcmsclvcs wcic iaic in ilis woild,
bccausc ilcii bloodsiicam caiiicd ilc lciiiagc ol ciudiiion and ilc acumcn ol
many many ancicni panáítas.
Onc ol ilc viiiuous local pcoplc, wlo was a dcicimincd clampion ol iiuil, oncc
dccidcd io inviic a iiuly ciudiic pcisonaliiy io lis villagc wiil a vicw io smasl ilc
vain aiiiiudc ol ilosc so-callcd panáítas.
As ilc lcaincd pcisonaliiy camc and cnicicd ilc villagc, all ilosc lalsc panáítas
lcli cxiicmcly ncivous and iuslcd immcdiaicly io ilcii villagc clicl asling lis
advicc io ovcicomc sucl an avcisc siiuaiion. Tlc villagc ilicl was populaily
lnown as Dada Tlalui` among all ilc villagcis and lad also caincd widc lamc as
ilc gicaicsi ol all ilc panáítas. Assuiing all ilc villagcis, lc said, Don'i woiiy.
Wiil ilc lciiiagc ol oui anccsiois iunning in my blood, I will cciiainly dclcai ilis
ncwly-aiiivcd panáíta. I will lavc a convcisaiion wiil lim in Sansliii, ilis will
cciiainly malc lim silcni. Tlcn lc won'i bc ablc io asscss anyiling clsc oi malc
any liiilci aiicmpi io ciiiicizc us in any way. Hc'll lavc io lcavc ilis villagc in
disgiacc.`
Upon lis aiiival in ilc couiiyaid loi ilc dcbaic, ilc lcaincd pcisonaliiy lound
ilc panáíta siiiing on a ligl pcdcsial. Tlc lcaincd pcison ilcn bcgan by asling
ilc pandiia by asling ilc panáíta in Sansliii, Kasivam'` oi Plcasc iniioducc
youiscll. Wlo aic you'`
In icply, ilc villagc panáíta Dada Tlalui bluiicd oui, Knastvam,, gastvam,
gnastvam, castvam, cnastvam, jastvam, jnastvam, nastvam, nnastvam, tastvam,
tnastvam, áastvam, ánastvam,..........hsastvam`¨
Tlc lcaincd pcisonaliiy icalizcd immcdiaicly ilai ii was ol no usc io coniinuc
any moic dialoguc wiil sucl a blaiani panáíta, ilc soonci lc could lcavc ilai placc
ilc bciici loi lis own digniiy. Hc ollcicd lis obcisanccs liom a disiancc and wlcn
ilc said lcaincd digniiaiy was aboui io go away liom ilc placc, ilc disciplcs and
lollowcis ol Dada Tlalui bcgan io laugl loudly and slouicd, Jusi scc! Oui Dada
Tlalui is sucl a gicai panáíta! Tlai lcaincd lcllow couldn'i cvcn opcn lis mouil
in lioni ol lim! Tlcic musi bc laidly anyonc in ilis woild wlo could iall io oui
Dada Tlalui in Sansliii! How llucnily lc can spcal in Sansliii!
PURPORT
loasiing aboui ilcii iiadiiional lamily lciiiagc ol bialminical ciudiiion and
succcssivc associaiion wiil Loid Visnu, Vaisnavas, sainily pcisons and sclolais ol
cmincncc, somc pcoplc spcculaic ilai ilcic musi lavc bccn an acuic dcaiil ol
ical Vaisnavas ol ilc icgulai linc ol lcicdiiy, complcicly suiicndcicd unio ilc
Supicmc Loid iliougl pciloimancc ol pcilcci dcvoiional scivicc. Mad wiil sucl
maiciial vaniiy, ilcsc pcoplc audaciously lavc a clallcnging aiiiiudc iowaids puic
Vaisnaviic injunciions and maxims wiil ilc lclp ol ilcii abcccdaiian pcdaniiy.
Wlcncvci ilcy aic conlionicd wiil a qucsiion liom a iiuc Vaisnava, Kastvam'`
oi Wlo aic you'`, Wlai is youi iiuc consiiiuiional posiiion'` - ilcn sucl
pcisons wiil ilcii maiciialisiic vaniiy and gioss iniclligcncc, considciing ilcii
bodics as ilcii sclvcs, picicnd io conquci ilc Vaisnavas by iliowing oui a
maiciialisiically - oiicnicd pcdaniic icply bascd on ilcii mundanc lnowlcdgc and
unloundcd spcculaiions. Tlcsc soiis ol pcdaniic dclibciaiions sound simply
dcliiious.
In icsponsc io ilc qucsiion, Kasivam'` - Wlo aic you'`, a ical sclolai slould
say, gopíbnartun paáahamaIayor áasaáasanuáasa¨ oi I am ilc scivani ol ilc
scivani ol ilc scivanis ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid Sii Kisna, Loid ol ilc Gopis.`
The Frog`s HaIf-rupee Coin
A liog , living in a pond, by clancc piclcd up a lall-iupcc coin. Upon gciiing ilc
lall iupcc coin ilc liog bccamc pullcd-up and ilougli, , Is ilcic anyonc clsc as
iicl as I am now' Il ilc ling's clcplani comcs ilis iimc io diinl waici lcic, I will
clain lim up. I won'i lci lim diinl waici lcic again!` Mcdiiaiing ilus, ilc liog
sai iiglily on ilc lall-iupcc coin on ilc banl ol ilc pond.
Sloiily alici, ilc lccpci ol ilc ling's clcplani aiiivcd ai ilc pond along wiil ilc
clcplani loi ialing a bail. Tlc liog immcdiaicly jumpcd oll and ilicw limscll
ncai ilc lcci ol ilc clcplani, lcaving ilc lall-iupcc coin bclind. Ii wasn'i long
bcloic lc losi lis lilc undci ilc clcplani's lcci.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo aic simply pullcd-up wiil ilcii gicai splcic ol mundanc aciiviiics in
ilis maiciial woild, piovc ilcmsclvcs io bc insignilicani lilc ilc 'lall-iupcc coin ol
ilc liog' wlcncvci ilcy aic conlionicd wiil a siiuaiion ol ical asscssmcni.
Tlc gicai valoui ol an uniiiing woilci in ilis maiciial woild may bc ciuslcd
undcilooi ai any momcni undci ilc picssuic ol ilc mundanc spcll, as ii is noiling
bui a gili liom ilc maiciial naiuic.

Tlus ilc Pnagavaá - Gíta says :
prahrtcn hríyamananí gunaín harmaní sarvasan /
ananhara-vímuánatma hartanam ítí manyatc //
Tlc spiiii soul bcwildcicd by ilc inllucncc ol lalsc-cgo ilinls limscll ilc doci ol
aciiviiics ilai aic in aciualiiy caiiicd oui by ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.`
(lG 3.27)
Tlc aciiviiics pciloimcd undci ilc inllucncc ol dillcicni modcs ol naiuic, aic
considcicd by ilc living cniiiy io lavc bccn donc by limscll undci ilc illusion ol
I am ilc Loid`.
Sucl a pullcd-up pcison undci illusion ilinls limscll io bc ilc loid ol
cnjoymcni in ilis woild and ilus wanis io loid ii ovci ilc woild. Tlcy lail io
icalizc, lowcvci, ilai moilci naiuic can ai any momcni ciusl down ilcii iall
cdilicc ol boasiing as a gicai woilci. Tlcic is no usc ol indcpcndcncc and iis
iclaicd conccii in ilis maiciial woild. Today's ling may bc iomoiiow's bcggai on
ilc siicci. Today's paupci may bccomc pullcd-up wiil unlimiicd wcalil and
opulcncc. So ilc gicai saini sings :
rajar yc rajyapat ycna natuur nat
áchnítc áchnítc hícnu noy /
ncna maya harc ycí, param ísvara scí
tanrc mana saáa hara bnaya //
Tlc ling's lingdom is lilc ilc dancci's dancc, in an insiani ii can bc linislcd. In
ilc samc way, Maya, ilc supicmc coniiollci, acis. O mind, bc always lcailul ol
lci!`
Tlalui Sii Naioiiama
Prudence of a Woodcuffer
A woodcuiici planncd io go io ilc loicsi ol Sundaiban loi collcciing wood.
Sundaiban is lull ol wild animals, so an cxpciicnccd pcison waincd ilc
woodcuiici ilai ii migli bc laial il lc cnicis ilc loicsi wiiloui bcing adcquaicly
aimcd.
lui ilc woodcuiici icioiicd saying, I would lilc io dispiovc ilc unloundcd
noiion ol common pcoplc ilai onc slould cnici a loicsi wiil aims. I won'i cxposc
my loolislncss io caiiy io caiiy coal io a Ncwcasilc Coallicld`. Tlcic aic so
many big iiccs in ilc loicsi. Il I usc a biolcn biancl liom onc ol ilosc iiccs all ilc
wild animals will iun away lcic and ilcic. Il I scc any animal appioacling, I will
bical a biancl liom a iicc and ilicaicn ilc bcasi so mucl ilai ii won'i daic comc
ncai mc. Ii will iun away wlcn ii sccs mc wiclding ilc biancl.`
Tlc woodcuiici ilougli limscll io bc vciy piudcni, bui lc did noi lavc ilc
basic common scnsc ilai lis spcculaiion would bc ol no usc in casc a iigci jumpcd
upon lim suddcnly and bii oll lis lcad wlilc lc was busy bicaling a biancl liom
a iicc. Hc would nciilci bc ablc io gci lold ol a biancl, noi could lc lill ilc
iigci; insicad, lc limscll will bc lillcd.
Aciually, ilai was ilc casc. Alici a lcw days ol ilc woodcuiici's cniciing ilc
junglc, inloimaiion camc ilai a small iigci lad vciy casily jumpcd on lim and
cnjoycd lis blood and llcsl wiiloui any pioblcm.
In laci, wlcn lc saw ilc iigci, ilc woodcuiici bcgan cuiiing a biancl ol a big
iicc io malc lis wcapon io ligli wiil ilc animal. lui bcloic lc could linisl, ilc
iigci aiiaclcd lim and lc was lillcd almosi immcdiaicly.
PURPORT
In a similai mannci, yogís iiy io coniiol ilcii maiciial scnscs iliougl laboiious
mcilods ol plysical lcais, bui quiic olicn six inlcicni and caidinal passions and
viccs ol man lilc luiiously uniamcd iigcis may jump upon lim and siaii sucling
lis blood. In ilis cvcni ii is quiic possiblc ilai onc may lall picy io agiiaiion ol ilc
scnscs.
A dcvoicc's considciaiion is noi io ilinl ol lis wcllaic alici coniiolling ilc
maiciial scnscs, noi docs lc dccidc in lavoui ol collcciing scvcial iypcs ol wcapons
loi icmpoiaiy scll-dclcncc. A dcvoicc docs noi bclavc in sucl a malc-bclicvc
laslion. Hc docs noi indulgc in spcculaiivc and cgoiisiic cndcavoui in coniiolling
lis caidinal passions iliougl aiiilicial mcilods ol lis own accoid.
A dcvoicc ol ilc Supicmc Loid liimly bclicvcs ilai scnsc coniiol will dcvclop
auiomaiically along wiil lis dcvclopmcni ol dcvoiional scivicc, and no oilci lcais
aic io bc piaciiscd scpaiaicly loi ilis. Hc is noi vciy anxious io coniiol lis caidinal
passions, on ilc coniiaiy, ilosc passions bccomc conducivc io lis dcvoiional
scivicc undci ilc iiansccndcnial inllucncc ol dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad.
In laci, lis passions ilcn bccomc lis consiani liicnds and ilcii moiivcs aic
basically icoiicnicd. His 'lusi' is ilcn cngagcd as iiansccndcnial Kamadcva` in ilc
scivicc ol Loid Kisna; lis angci is diiccicd iowaids ailcisis; lis aiiaclmcni and
giccd will bc anxious in lisicning io ilc loly namcs; lis illusion and inlaiuaiion
will malc lim cngagcd caincsily in ollciing scivicc io ilc Loid; and lis vaniiy will
lclp lim io bc ioially cngiosscd in gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid. Lnvy will noi siay in a
ical dcvoicc, bccausc lc is ncvci pciiuibcd wiil ilc cxccllcncc ol anyonc as lc is
mcicilul io cvciyonc iliougl lis dcvoiional scivicc.
So, ii iianspiics ilai only iliougl ilc piaciicc ol dcvoiional scivicc, can onc
vciy casily subduc all soiis ol cvil cllccis and convcii cvcn an cncmy inio a
liicndly companion io cngagc lim in wcllaic sciviccs loi onc and all.
A Boafman`s Dream
Oncc a boaiman was iowing lis boai along a iloiny iivci banl, wlilc ilc solcs ol
lis lcci wcic bccoming cui all ovci. Tlc boaiman was biooding low il lc could
malc lois ol moncy by iowing ilc boai, lc could spicad a long loam cuslion all
along ilc iivci banl so ilai lis lcci would noi bc cui by ilc iloins, ilcn lis
iowing busincss would bc moic cllicicni as lc would bc ablc io wall moic
comloiiably.
PURPORT
Many pcoplc spcculaic lilc ilis boaiman.. Tlcy icnd io asciibc aniliopomoiplic
oi zoomoiplic piocliviiics on ilc Supicmc Loid. Wlai would bc ilc nccd loi ilc
boaiman io pull along ilc iivcisidc wlcn ilc boaiman bccomcs iicl and wcalily'
Ii simply icllccis onc's ignoiancc in iugging a boai along wiil a loam-covcicd iivci
banl, jusi as ii is in aiiiibuiing maiciial impcilcciion and dclicicncy io Vailunila,
ilc iiansccndcnial abodc ol ilc Supicmc Loid.
Tlc cxisicncc ol para-branma` oi ilc Absoluic Supicmc lcing anywlcic slould
cvcniually conliim ilc non-cxisicncc ol all soiis ol sloiicomings, objcciions oi
maiciial wanis wlaisocvci.
Is There Any PIeasure and Sacrifice in Devofion:
Somc lcions wcic siiiing by ilc sidc ol a boggy pond. A swan lappcncd io pass
by, ilcn a lcion aslcd ilc swan, Wly aic you lacc, cycs and iocs icd' Wlo aic
you'`
Tlc swan icplicd, I am a swan.`
Tlc lcion aslcd, Wlcic do you comc liom'`
Tlc swan icplicd, Iiom ilc lalc 'Manas Saiovai'.`
Tlc lcion ilcn aslcd, Wlai is ii lilc ilcic'`
Tlc swan loolcd and said, Ii is a gaidcn ol goldcn loiuscs, ilc waici ol ilai
bcauiilul lalc is ncciaican, and all aiound ii, ilcic aic vaiious iypcs ol iiccs and
planis, liuiis and llowcis, bcauiilully aiiangcd on jcwcl bcdcclcd plailoims.`
Tlc lcion siaicd widc-cycd and aslcd, Aic ilcic any big-sizcd snails'`
Tlc swan icplicd No!`
Ai ilis ilc lcions lauglcd loudly and iidiculcd ilc swan, Ol damn! Wlcn
ilcic aic no snails ilcic, low can you cvcn considci ii a lalc' No onc slould go
ilcic.`
PURPORT
Olicn pcoplc in ilis maiciial woild wiil uliciioi moiivcs, aic inclincd io cnquiic
aboui ilc objcciivcs ol puic dcvoiion and ilc puiposc ol ilc insiiiuiions cngagcd
in puic dcvoiional piaciiccs.
Wlcncvci ilcy comc io lnow aboui any pciloimancc oi any insiiiuiion wlicl
malcs aiiangcmcni loi claniing and lisicning io ilc gloiilicaiion ol Loid Sii Kisna
oi ilc cicinal wcllaic ol all living cniiiics iliougl ilc picacling ol ilc loly namcs
ol ilc Loid, ilcy asl, Is ilcic any piaciicc ol icligion iclaiing io scivicc io
manlind'`
To sucl pcoplc, ilc icligion ol scivicc mcans maiciial assisiancc io sicl pcisons
inllicicd wiil plaguc, small-pox oi clolcia and io viciims ol lloods, caiilqualcs,
lamincs, and similai oilci naiuial calamiiics, iliougl licc disiiibuiion ol lood,
cloiling, slclici and ilc lilc.
Wlcncvci ilcsc pcoplc aic iold by ilc dcvoiccs ilai ilc insiiiuiions ilus
piaciising puic dcvoiional sciviccs do noi undciialc any sucl aciiviiics iclaiing io
so-callcd plilaniliopic sciviccs, ilcn ilcy laugl loudly oi iidiculc, saying ilai any
sucl insiiiuiion wlicl docs noi caic loi plilaniliopic sciviccs sucl as mcdical
assisiancc io paiicnis sullciing liom plaguc, clolcia, smallpox cic., disiiibuiing ol
lood io ilc lungiy pcoplc, waici io ilc iliisiy pcoplc, cloiling io ilc pooi.
cducaiion io ilc illiiciaic masscs and ilc lilc, is simply an insiiiuiion loi
piaciising idlcncss mcani loi lazy, woiillcss loll. No discicci pcison slould
appioacl ii
Sucl pcisons ncvci acccpi any claiilicaiion ilai no icmpoiaiy maiciial assisiancc
can bc ol pcimancni iclicl io ilosc sullciing loll unlcss and uniil an aiicmpi is
madc io ciadicaic ilc iooi causc ol cicinal sullciing ol all ilc living cniiiics.
Tlc living cniiiy is ilc cicinal sciviioi ol Loid Sii Kisna. Ii is only duc io ilc
loigcilulncss aboui Loid Sii Kisna ilai ilc living cniiiics aic subjccicd io vaiious
iypcs ol maiciial disiicss. Upon consianily lisicning io ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid
Sii Kisna, wlcn ilc living cniiiy is awalcncd io lis oiiginal consciousncss aboui
lis own consiiiuiional posiiion, ilcn and ilcn only, ilc iooi causc ol all sullciings
will bc ciadicaicd. No oilci scpaiaic icmpoiaiy cndcavoui loi iclicving plysical
and mcnial disiicss nccd bc piaciiscd.
Tlc bcsi awaid io common pcoplc is io awalcn in ilcm scll-icalizaiion by ilc
mcicy ol ilc loly namcs ol ilc Loid. Undci ilc iiansccndcnial inllucncc ol sucl a
piaciicc, ilc iooi causc ol all maiciial disiicss ol ilc sullciing masscs is ciadicaicd
wiil ilc lcasi clloii.
Tlis pioccss is applicablc io ilc iicl and ilc pooi iiicspcciivcly loi ilc causc ol
ilcii cicinal wcllaic. Tliougl ilis pioccss, an unpicccdcnicd laimony bciwccn
univcisal and no-communal aliiuism, scivicc mcnialiiy and scllisl aiiiiudc may
vciy wcll bc losicicd among ilc pcoplc. In laci ilcic is no dcaiil ol univcisal lovc
and bioilcilood in ilc maiici ol lovc Loid Sii Kisna, inasmucl as a singlc
liaciion ol a coin is iiuly in cxisicncc wiilin ilc lugc amouni ol moncy adding io
cioics oi billions. Univcisal bioilcilood, paiiioiism cic. aic all picscni in lull
cxisicncc wiilin lovc loi Sii Kisna.
As sucl, anyonc wlo ollcis lis lovc and dcvoiion io ilc Loid, is iiuly ollciing
lis lovc io ilc cniiic mass ol living cniiiics. Tiuc dcvoiccs aic noi lazy noi aic ilcy
scllisl-mindcd. Tlcy aic aciually dcvoicd day and nigli in ilc scivicc ol Kisna
conscious pcoplc iliougl picacling ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid.
Dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid is aimcd ai plcasing ilc Loid and ilis scivicc docs
noi pcimii any lind ol pcisonal cnjoymcni saciilicc. Anyonc dcvoicd io Loid Sii
Kisna is lully imbucd wiil all good qualiiics ilai wc lool loi.
Naked Penco
In a villagc ilcii livcd a boy namcd Pancanan. In iiopical lands, small boys in
ilcii caily agc movc aiound nalcd. Pancanan as a boy ol livc ycais uscd io go
nalcd all ilc iimc. So ilc nciglbouis wcic lond ol calling lim nalcd Pcnco`.
Howcvci, Pcnco was a vciy good boy in lis siudics and gcncial labiis. Lvciy
ycai lc uscd io gci ilc iopmosi posiiion in sclool and naiuially lc bccamc vciy
dcai ioo mosi ol lis nciglbouis.
lui somc ol ilc nciglbouis wcic noi on good icims wiil Pcnco's lailci and ilcy
wcic noi ai all lappy wiil ilc good bclavioui ol Pcnco. Lvciy iimc ilcy lisicncd
ioo any appicciaiion ol Pcnco, ilcy bccamc vciy agiiaicd and uscd io say, Ol,
lang youi nalcd Pcnco, don'i mcniion lis siudics!`
Wiilin a lcw ycais, Pancanan aiiaincd a dcgicc ol law and iool io ilc lcgal
piolcssion as a plcadci in a couii ol law. Wlcn ilc inimical nciglbouis ol
Pancanan's lailci camc io lcai ilis ncws, ilcy icmailcd, Pcnco musi lavc passcd
ilc cxaminaiion by clcaiing.`
Pancanan labu was giadually piomoicd io ilc posiiion ol a Disiiici judgc wiilin
a couplc ol ycais, and bccamc vciy icnowncd. Tlcn ilc lcaii ol ilosc cnvious
pcoplc buincd wiil jcalousy. Tlcy pullcd laccs and slouicd, Ol, lang youi cocl-
and-bull sioiics! How could ilai wlippcisnappci bccomc a disiiici judgc'`
Wlcn ilc namc ol ilc Disiiici Judgc Honouiablc Mi Pancanan` was slown io
ilcm in somc auilcniic papcis, ilcy ciicd vocilciously, Nalcd Pcnco musi bc
woiling as a judgc wiiloui any icmunciaiion!`
PURPORT
Any Vaisnava wlo las suiicndcicd limscll unio ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc
Loid oi any pcison wlo las bccn duly iniiiaicd inio ilc Mana mantra undci a ical
spiiiiual masici accoiding io ilc Pancaratríha sciipiuics, slould ncvci bc
subjccicd io any soii ol casic disiinciion. As dcpicicd in ilc sioiy jusi naiiaicd,
Pancanan labu was wiongly considcicd io bc a nalcd Pcnco` cvcn wlcn lc
bccamc a icspcciablc couii judgc, and ii was also an unloundcd assumpiion ilai
Pancanan could ncvci bccomc a couii judgc, only bccausc lis lailci was noi in
good icims wiil lis nciglbouis. Tlis is noiling bui a icllcciion ol onc's jcalousy.
Onc wlo is a Vaisnava, cvcn boin ol a low casic, slould ncvci bc loolcd down
upon as a lowly pcison. As onc singlc iupcc is in cxisicncc wiilin an amouni ol
cioics and iupccs, similaily ilc qualiiics ol a branmana all cxisi wiilin a Vaisnava.
As sucl, ii is considcicd io bc an ollcncc io blacllisi any Vaisnava as a non-
branmana loi any icason wlaisocvci.
In laci an uttama-aáníharí oi a Vaisnava clcvaicd io ilc liglcsi siagc ol scll-
icalizaiion, may vciy wcll bc lonouicd as a paramanamsa oi a iiuly wisc sagc.
Tlosc wlo considci ilcmsclvcs as scivanis only io sucl paramanamsa Vaisnavas,
aciually abidc by ilc iiansccndcnial sysicm ol ilc cigli divisions ol varna and
asrama as cicaicd by God. Tlcy ncvci posc ilcmsclvcs as Vaisnavas undci a scnsc
ol vaniiy. Insicad. ilcy considci ilcmsclvcs as scivanis ol ilc Vaisnavas undci ilc
paramanamsa.
Lvcn il ilcsc pcisons camc ol a suára, low casic oi social branmana lamily bcloic
ilcy iool slclici undci ilc loius lcci ol a Vaisnava, siill ii is unicasonablc and
ollcnsivc io iniioducc oi call ilcm suáras, low casic pcoplc oi social branmanas,
iccalling ilcii posiiions in ilcii picvious asramas.
Onc wlo las icccivcd ilc iniiiaiion mantra accoiding io Pancartíha sciipiuics
and ilus aiiaincd lis sccond biiil undci ilc auspiccs ol ilc lailcily spiiiiual
masici, and moilcily Gayatrí mantra, is callcd a iiansccndcnial (noi social)
branmana.
All ilcsc iiansccndcnial branmanas (wlo lavc obiaincd ilcii sccond biiil in
oidci io ollci scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid Sii Haii) acccpi sacicd ilicads, claniing
bcads, tíIaha, and ilc lilc, as pci sciipiuial picsciipiions.
Tlosc wlo mainiain ilai Vaisnavas cvcn il iniiiaicd inio ilcii ncw lilc, musi bc
considcicd bclonging io ilcii own suára oi sucl low casic as ilcy wcic by biiil,
and ilai sucl Vaisnavas slould noi acccpi any sacicd ilicad, noi clani Gayatrí oi
Pranava mantra - aic similai io sucl pcoplc wlo piclci io biand ilc disiiici judgc
Pancanan labu mcicly as a nalcd Pcnco`, oi ilai nalcd Pcnco would noi diaw
any salaiy cvcn wlcn lc bccomcs an lonouiablc couii judgc. Tlis musi bc lnown
as an cnvious mcnialiiy.
Lacl and cvciy giil movcs nalcd in lci vciy caily agc, bui wlcn ilc samc giil
aiiains lci moilcilood, ilcn ii will bc mosi indcccni and ollcnsivc io iccall lci
clildlood nudiiy and ilus pui lci io slamc.
Similaily, ii is moic ollcnsivc and cxiicmcly laid-lcaiicd io malc an impicssion
aboui any Vaisnava in ilc ligli ol lis picvious asrama, bcloic ialing slclici ol
iniiiaiion in ilc Kisna-mantra.

A Wise OId Monkey
A ling uscd io mainiain a gioup ol monlcys loi pioviding cniciiainmcni loi lis
sons. Tlc monlcys wcic vciy niccly lcd wiil sumpiuous dclicacics cvciyday. Tlc
lcadci ol ilc monlcys was wcll-vciscd in ilc sciipiuics ol sucl wisc pcisonaliiics
as Suliaciya, lilaspaii and Canayala, and lc uscd io icacl ilc oilci monlcys
ilcsc sciipiuics.
Tlcic was also a pacl ol slccp in ilc ling's palacc and ilc liiilc piinccs uscd io
iidc ilcm loi lun. Onc ol ilosc slccp was vciy lond ol caiing anyiling liom ilc
palacc liiclcn. Tlc cools in ilc liiclcn lad io bcai ilc slccp quiic olicn io
picvcni ii liom causing misclicl.
Tlc monlcy lcadci ilougli ilai ilis lind ol bclavioui cvciy now and ilcn
may icsuli in somciling disasiious loi ilc monlcys in ilc long iun.
Tlc slccp aic cxiicmcly gluiionous and ilc cools, on ilc oilci land, aic vciy
adcpi in bcaiing ilc slccp wiil wlaicvci ilcy lind ai land. In casc ilc cools any
iimc siaii liiiing ilc slccp lii a buining siicl liom ilc liic, ilcn ilc luiiy body ol
ilc slccp would suicly siaii buining. Wlcn sucl a buining slccp siaiis iunning
aiound in licnzy and by clancc cnicis inio ilc ncaiby loisc siablc, ilcn ilc lay
insidc will caicl on liic and ilc cniiic siablc along wiil ii's loiscs will bc a blazing
liic in no iimc. Onc ancicni cxpcii Saliloiia, wlo is wcll vciscd in animal
lusbandiy picsciibcs ilai buins on loisc llcsl can bc lcalcd by animal slin
obiaincd liom monlcys. Accoidingly, ilc ling will lavc ilc monlcys lillcd.`
Appiclcnding ilus, ilc wisc old monlcy lcadci callcd along all ilc monlcys
conlidcniially and iold ilcm, In a placc lilc ilis wlcic ilc slccp and ilc cools
aic in consiani conlioniaiion, wc, ilc monlcys, aic suic io mcci wiil oui
dcsiiuciion. So, lci us ialc iclugc in a loicsi somcwlcic bcloic wc aic dcsiioycd cn
massc.` lui ilc aiiogani young monlcys did noi lavc any icspcci loi ilc wisc old
monlcy's advicc. Tlcy simply iidiculcd ilc old monlcy, saying, You musi bc
undci somc soii ol dclusion duc io youi advancing agc, and so you aic ialling lilc
a lunaiic. Wc aic noi inicicsicd in lcaving ilc placc loi loicsi lilc only io livc on
disiasiclul liuiis; lcic wc aic bcing lcd wiil ncciaican vaiiciics ol loodsiulls by ilc
piinccs ilcmsclvcs.`
Upon lcaiing ilc pullcd-up monlcys icioiiing lilc ilis, ilc old monlcy iold
ilcm wiil icailul cycs, O lools, you do noi lnow ilc icsulis ol sucl plcasuic.
Don'i you lnow ilis will bc uliimaicly dcsiiuciivc loi you! So lci mc lcavc loi ilc
loicsi alonc - I don'i wani io scc youi dcails.` Saying ilus, ilc monlcy-lcadci
siaiicd loi ilc loicsi, lcaving bclind all ilc oilci monlcys.
Iollowing ilis, onc day ilai giccdy slccp cnicicd inio ilc liiclcn. Tlc cool
siiucl ilc bcasi wiil a buining liicwood. Immcdiaicly ilc slccp siaiicd ciying
and ian siiaigli inio ilc ncaiby loisc siablc. As ilc slccp, wiil ilc liic all ovci ii's
body, siaiicd iolling dcspciaicly ovci ilc lay-siacl lcpi in ilc siablc, ilc cniiic
pavilion caugli liic and many ol ilc loiscs wcic buini io dcail wlilc ilc oilcis
jusi ian amocl, icsuliing in a gicai consicinaiion all ovci.
Tlc ling immcdiaicly summoncd lis vciciinaiy suigcon loi ilc iicaimcni ol ilc
loiscs. Tlc suigcon quoicd Saliloiia's picsciipiion ilai monlcy's iallow was
csscniial loi ilc quicl lcaling ol ilc buins sullcicd by ilc loiscs. So ilc ling
oidcicd ilai iicaimcni slould immcdiaicly bc undciialcn io savc ilc loiscs, and
accoidingly lc also issucd lis insiiuciions io lill ilc monlcys io collcci ilcii
iallow's. Tlc monlcy lcadci goi ilc ncws and was vciy mucl dcpicsscd.
PURPORT
Tlis moial sioiy as naiiaicd by Siila llaliisiddlania Saiasvaii Tlaluia, iianspiics
ilai anyonc wlo laiillully lollows ilc insiiuciions ol lis ical spiiiiual masici and
cngagcs limscll in ilc dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid unllinclingly, will
cciiainly aiiain uliimaic wcllaic.
Tlosc wlo conicmplaic ilai ilc agcing advisoi (spiiiiual masici) migli bc
undci dclusion and may noi lnow moic ilan a common pcison lnows, and ilus
lollow cvil companions, will cciiainly mcci wiil a disasiious cnd in cvciyiling.
Cracking Nufs wifh a SaIagrama
A landloid oncc appoinicd a piolcssional piicsi loi icgulai ollciings io lis lamily
Salagiama. Tlc landloid uscd io aiiangc loi ilc daily ollciing ol somc clcsinuis
loi ilc saiislaciion ol Sii Naiayana.
Tlc piicsi accoidingly uscd io ialc ilc clcsinuis insidc ilc Dciiy ioom and
closc ilc dooi as il lc wcic going io ollci ilcm io ilc Dciiy. In laci ilc piicsi
would usc ilc Salagiam as an oidinaiy sionc, convcnicni loi ciacling ilc
clcsinuis. Alici ciacling ilcm wiil ilc Salagiama and lccping ilcm on ilc
sandalwood sionc, lc aic many ol ilcm cvcn bcloic ollciing.
In couisc ol iimc, lis misclicl camc io ligli and ilc landloid ilcn ilicw lim
oui by ilc nccl.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo dcsiic loi somc scnsc giaiilicaiion wiil scll-inicicsi oi loi libciaiion
wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc, oi loi womcn, wcalil and picsiigc, usually ialc
iccouisc io sucl labiis as ciacling ilc nuis wiil a Salagiama`.
Onc wlo plans io cain moncy and lamc by pciloimancc ol Giia and llagavaiam
lcciuics iclaiing io icligion, iliougl publicaiion and compilaiion ol icligious
iicaiiscs, oiganising congicgaiional sanliiiana oi ollciing csoiciic maniias simply
loi lis own scnsc giaiilicaiion, may vciy wcll bc indicaicd as onc wlo malcs an
aiicmpi io ciacl nuis wiil a Salagiama`.
In laci, all piolcssional naiiaiois ol sciipiuial and myilological anccdoics, and
busincssman-lilc gloiilicis ol ilc Loid aic iiying io ciacl nuis wiil a Salagiama,
wlicl mcans ilai ilcy aic using cvciyiling ollcicd io ilc Loid simply loi ilcii
own scnsc giaiilicaiion.
Tlcic aic pcisons wlo picicnd io bc living in associaiion wiil dcvoiccs in a
matn, bui aic simply looling loi laciliiics loi ilcii own scll-inicicsi and aciually
malc pcisonal usc ol ilc sociciy ol dcvoiccs insicad ol ollciing sciviccs io sucl
sociciy, and cnjoy Loid Sii Kisna's piopciiy wiiloui ilc sliglicsi inicicsi in
ollciing sciviccs loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilc Loid.
Tlcsc so-callcd dcvoiccs aic similai io ilc piolcssional piicsis wlo iiy io ciacl
nuis wiil a Salagiama, and ilcy piaciisc dcvoiional sciviccs ilai aic noi
considcicd sinccic oi loncsi. Ii is ilus said ilai any piayci io ilc Loid loi
icligion, wcalil pcacc oi libciaiion is ianiamouni io ciacling a nui wiil a
Salagiama`.
Dr. Frog`s Thesis
Noi lai liom ilc occan ilcic livcd a liog in a wcll. Tlc liog was, in laci, boin and
biougli up wiilin ilc said wcll and ncvci wcni ouisidc ii. Ncvciilclcss ii was siill
a pullcd up cicaiuic.
Tlc liog uscd io ilinl ilai ii was ilc solc piopiicioi ol ilc wcll - ii cvcn
suimiscd ilai ilc wcll was ianiamouni io ilc woild and as sucl, ilc liog
considcicd iiscll ilc loid ol ilc wlolc woild!
Onc day anoilci big liog liom ilc scasidc camc acioss ilc wcll and by clancc ii
lcll insidc. Tlc icsidcni liog iool ilc scasidc liog io bc ncw picy and as sucl ii
jumpcd upon ii, bui icalizcd soon ilai ii was anoilci liog ilai was jusi a liiilc
dillcicni.
So ilc icsidcni liog aslcd ilc ncwcomci, Wlcic do you comc liom'`
Tlc scasidc liog answcicd, Iiom ilc scasidc.`
Hcaiing ilis ilc wcll-icsidcni cnquiicd, How small is ilc sca compaicd io my
wcll'`
Tlc scasidc liog lauglcd, Tlc sca is bcyond any compaiison wiil ilis wcll.`
Tlc wcll-liog was suipiiscd. Is ii ilis laigc'` Saying ilus lc gavc a long lcap.
Scasidc liog : How long a jump can you aiicmpi'! Tlc sca is lai biggci ilan
youi wcll.`
Tlcn ilc wcll-liog jumpcd liom onc cnd io ilc oilci cnd ol ilc wcll and
slouicd, Impossiblc! Noiling laigci ilan ilis can cxisi.`
Ai ilis ilc scasidc liog said, `Plcasc malc an clloii io lool abovc ilis wcll and
scc low laigc ilc occan aciually is!`
Tlc wcll-liog scollcd, You appcai io bc cxiicmcly lanaiical. I am suic ilai ilc
occan may vciy wcll bc as laigc as ilis wcll. I am noi so naiiow-mindcd ilai I am
going io dcclaic my wcll ilc biggcsi placc ol all. Youi occan musi bc as big as my
wcll, bccausc waici is ilcic in boil ilc placcs. Tlis is my siiong conviciion. You
musi bc simply boasiing aboui youi occan lilc a lanaiic loi youi own saiislaciion.`
PURPORT
In ilc maiciial woild as wcll, ilcic aic so many pcdaniic compiomising pandiis
wlo insisi ilcii own vicwpoinis aic ilc bcsi oncs bui uliimaicly lail io suppoii
ilcii own lypoilcscs. Tlcy linally iiy io cquaic dcvoiional scivicc wiil oilci
iypcs ol sciviccs. Tlcy bclavc jusi lilc liglly lcaincd Di. Iiogs`, bui in laci ilcii
pciccpiion aboui dcvoiional sciviccs is lai liom saiislacioiy.

Boxing wifh fhe Sky
A liglly concciicd pcison uscd io considci cvciyiling on ilis caiil io bc vciy
insignilicani io lis own csiimaic. Oncc lc camc io ilc conclusion ilai ilc sly
iiscll is mosi pioud and appaicnily ilc siiongcsi ol all. Naiuial calamiiics lilc
sioim, slowci, ilundciboli cic. comc diiccily liom ilc sly. Tlc clouds ioai liom
ilc sly and ilis icllccis ilai ilc sly is vciy mucl boasilul ol ii's own posiiion, and
as sucl, ilc sly musi bc givcn a good lcsson.` Accoidingly ilis pioud pcison
spcculaicd ilai lc slould icai ilc sly apaii by lis own siiong lisis.
Wiil ilis dciciminaiion in mind, onc day lc siaiicd vainly puncling iowaids
ilc sly in oidci io coniiol ii. In laci, ilc sly icmaincd as unpciiuibcd and as
giacclul as bcloic. On ilc oilci land, ilc pullcd up pcison bccamc giadually
iiicd ol iliowing incllcciivc blows ai ilc gicai sly. Uliimaicly, lc bccamc so
cxlausicd ilai lc lcll io ilc giound and luii limscll.
PURPORT
Tlc spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnavas icmain unpciuibcd and giacclul wlilc ilcy
aic cngiosscd in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid Sii Haii, wlilc ilc
mundanc lools considci sucl ical dcvoiccs icsponsiblc loi all soiis ol calamiiics
and dciangcmcnis in ilc woild loi ilc boasilul aiiiiudc.
lccausc ol ilis lalsc appiclcnsion aboui ilc Vaisnavas, many sucl pcoplc
cxlibii ilcii unloundcd misdcmcanouis iowaids loncsi dcvoiccs mosi
unicasonablc, bui ilcii lalsc aiicmpi ol puncling gocs all in vain. Tlc Vaisnavas,
as ilc cvci - bcncvolcni gicai sly, icmain calm and quici, wlilc ilc ailcisis
ilcmsclvcs undcigo coniinucd maiciial agonics.
The HaIf-young / HaIf - oId FaIIacy
Undci cxiicmc povciiy, a non - Hindu pcison oncc iool lis lcn io mailci loi salc.
Hc suimiscd ilai ii could lcicl a vciy ligl piicc il li dcclaicd ii io bc an anccsiial
onc, bccausc lc spcculaicd ilai usually an old vaiiciy ol iicc, iamaiind and glcc is
moic cxpcnsivc in ilc mailci.
As sucl, lc was pioudly dcclaiing io all poicniial cusiomcis in ilc mailci ilai
lis lcn was ol a vciy old vaiiciy ol pouliiy and coniinucd io do so loi aboui a
ycai, unloiiunaicly noi a singlc buyci was inicicsicd in buying sucl a dccicpii and
discascd lcn ai any piicc.
ly clancc, an cldcily wisc man suggcsicd io lim ilai ilc buycis wcic icluciani
io buy ilc lcn bccausc ii lad bccn dcclaicd io bc an old onc, and ilai ilcy would
bc naiuially inicicsicd il ii was picscnicd as a young viigin.
Upon ilis good advicc, ilc lcn - ownci conjcciuicd ilai lc lad alicady
picscnicd ilc lcn as vciy old loi scvcial monils. So lc dccidcd io picscni ilc lcn
in ilc mailci as lall-old and lall-young io aiiiaci cusiomcis. Howcvci, wlcn lc
did ilai lc was iidiculcd by cvciyonc in ilc mailci and ol causc no onc camc
loiwaid io puiclasc ii.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo aic impcisonalisis spcculaic similaily advocaiing ilai lialman is boil
loimlcss and as wcll as wiil a loim. In laci, ilc icalizaiion ol complcicncss ol
lialman is gicaily allccicd unlcss iis cicinal and iiansccndcnial poicncy is
acccpicd.
Sii Caiianya Malapiablu ilus says -
brnaá-vastu branma` haní-`srí-bnagavan`
saá-víánaísvarya-purna, para-tattva-ánama
tanrc narvíscsa` haní, cíc-cnahtí na maní
arána-svarupa na maníIc purnata naya naní
lialman, wlo is gicaici ilan ilc gicaicsi is ilc Supicmc pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Hc is lull ol six opulcnccs, and ilcicloic Hc is ilc icscivoii ol uliimaic iiuil and
absoluic lnowlcdgc.`
Wlcn wc spcal ol ilc Supicmc as impcisonal, wc dcny His spiiiiual poicncics.
Logically, il you acccpi lall ol ilc iiuil, you cannoi undcisiand ilc wlolc.`
(Cc,Adi. 7/13S,1+0)
Tlosc wlo gloiily Sii Gauiasundaia, bui noi Loid Sii Niiyananda ,oi gloiily Loid
Sii Niiyananda wiiloui gloiilying Loid Sii Gauiasundaia oi ollci obcisanccs io
Loid Sii Kisna, bui noi io Loid Sii Gauiasundaia; oi pay icspcci io Loid Sii Gauia
bui noi io lis spiiiiual masici ,oi acccpi Supicmc Godlcad, ncglcciing His
dcvoiccs oi lonoui His dcvoiccs wiiloui lonouiing ilc Supicmc Loid simply
spcculaic on ilc basis ol ilc lallacy ol ilc lall-old and lall-young lcn.
Mercy for fhe Earnesf OnIy
ly clancc a pcison slippcd and lcll inio a dccp wcll and could noi gci oui in spiic
ol all lis clloiis; ilcicloic lc bcgan slouiing loi lclp.
lcing mcicilul, a vciy lind - lcaiicd passci-by biougli a piccc ol long iopc
wlicl was lowcicd down in ilc wcll so ilai ilc man could gci oui by giabbing ilc
iopc. Tlc passci-by aslcd ilc man io caicl lold ol ilc iopc and iiy io climb up so
ilai lc could pull lim up.
In icsponsc ilc pcison siaiicd slouiing, O my liicnd, plcasc lclp mc so ilai I
can pui my lingcis aiound ilc iopc.`
PURPORT
Sucl a lind-lcaiicd pcison is lilc ilc spiiiiual masici oi ilc Supicmc Godlcad
Himscll. Hc las alicady lowcicd a iopc ol icscuc inio ilc dccp dailncss inio oui
ignoiancc. Ii is only by oui caincsi clloii in caicling lold ol ilai mcicy ilai wc
can bc dclivcicd and libciaicd liom maiciial agonics.
Unlcss wc cxicnd oui bcsi clloiis caincsily, and qualily ouisclvcs loi ilc Loid's
mcicy, ii is ncxi io impossiblc ilai wc can bc icscucd liom oui lallcn condiiion.
Popcorn Bondage
lcing cxiicmcly iicicd ol lungci, a paupci was lcaining againsi a widc pillai in a
iiavcllcis' icsi lousc. Ai ilai iimc a wcalily mciclani was passing by alici ialing
lis daily bail in ilc loly Gangcs. Upon sccing ilc lungiy pcison, lc lcli
compassionaic and puiclascd somc popcoin liom a ncaiby slop io givc io lim.
Tlc lungiy pcison was naiuially anxious io acccpi ilc lood and so lc piompily
siiciclcd oui boil lis land bui wiiloui undoing lis cmbiacc aiound ilc pillai,
ciilci oui ol uiici laiiguc oi lacl ol iniclligcncc.
Rcalising ilai ilc lungiy pcison wouldn'i bc ablc io malc usc ol ilc lood wlilc
cmbiacing ilc pillai ilc compassionaic gcnilcmcn adviscd lim io icmovc lis aims
liom ilc pillai bcloic acccpiing ilc popcoins. Unloiiunaicly, ilc loolisl pcison
insisicd upon acccpiing ilc popcoin wlilc siill cmbiacing ilc widc pillai.
Mosi iclucianily ilc lind - lcaiicd mciclani pouicd ilc popcoin inio ilc lands
ol ilc lungiy pcison and wcni away. Tlc wiciclcd pcison ilcn siaiicd maling all
soiis ol aiicmpis io cai ilc popcoin bui lis mouil could ncvci icacl lis lands
aiound ilc widc pillai. Hc icmaincd as lungiy and dcjccicd as bcloic.
PURPORT
All ailcisis sullci lilc ilis. Condiiioncd souls piclci io cmbiacc ilc pillai ol ilc
maiciial woild and ilc loolisl wani io ialc icsi, wlilc iclusing io acccpi anyiling
woiilwlilc. Tlcy slould iailci acccpi and abidc by ilc valucd insiiuciions ol ilc
puic dcvoiccs so ilai ilcy can iiain ilcmsclvcs low io givc up ilc alluicmcni ol
ialing usclcss icsi upon ilc pillai ol ilis mundanc woild.
A FaIIacy of Cusfom
Lvciy moining somc branmanas would ialc ilcii bail in ilc Gangcs and ollci
ilcii daily picsciibcd piaycis io ilc Loid. All ol ilcm wcic ialing ilcii own
coppci vcsscls loi ollciing waici io ilc Loid. lui iliougl ovcisigli, all ilc coppci
vcsscls invaiiably clangcd lands cvciyday.
Iinally an cldcily branmana, in oidci io dillcicniiaic lis own coppci vcsscl liom
oilcis, pui a lump ol sand on lis own coppci vcsscl and wcni io ialc a bail.
Obsciving ilis piaciicc, all ilc oilci branmanas assumcd ilai ilis musi bc a loly
cusiom and imiiaicd ilc said cldcily bialmana by puiiing ilc a lump ol sand on
ilcii vcsscls.
Alici ialing bail, ilc cldcily bialmana camc oui ol ilc iivci and lound ilai ii
was impossiblc io idcniily lis own coppci vcsscl, bccausc cacl and cvciy vcsscl
lad a lump sand on ii. Ai ilis, ilc cldcily bialmana said io limscll, How ovci-
aiiaclcd io iiiuals ilcsc lcllows aic! Wiiloui icalising ilc ical puiposc ol
anyiling, ilcy jusi imiiaic oilcis. Il ilcy lad applicd ilcii common scnsc, ilcy
would noi lavc mailcd ilcii coppci vcsscls in ilc samc way.`
PURPORT
In modcin sociciy, piaciicc ol icligious pciloimanccs is quiic olicn lilc ilis. Tlcic
aic so many cusiomaiy piaciiccs in ilc licld ol liiciaiuic and social conduci in
icspcci ol usagcs and pciloimanccs ilai mosi ol ilc pcoplc lollow ilcm blindly
wiiloui maling asscssmcni ol ilcii validiiy and auiloiiiy.
Loid Niiyananda is ilc supicmc coniiollci ol all wcalil and Hc las no wani
wlaisocvci. Tlosc wlo sullci liom wani, aic lnown as daiidia` oi paupcis.
Povciiy is onc ol ilc ilicc iypcs ol sullciings undcigonc by living cniiiics. Tlc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvci inllucnccd by any ol ilc ilicc modcs noi
by any soii ol povciiy oi wani. lui common pcoplc, wiiloui considciing ilis,
quiic olicn icgaid a paupci io bc Loid Naiayana in a cusiomaiy lallacy, and ilc
modcin usagc ol ilc woid daiidia-naiayana` las bccn coincd.
Somc pcoplc may aiguc ilai Loid Naiayana may noi bc a paupci, bui siill Hc
cxisis in cvciy living bcing and ilc said populai woid las bccn coincd in oidci io
icmcmbci Him. Tlis aigumcni is also bascd on lallacy. Tlc laci is ilai Loid
Naiayana is noi ai all povciiy-siiiclcn pcisons; and ilai no living cniiiy is Loid
Naiayana Himscll in any ciicumsianccs.
The FaIIacy of BIindIy FoIIowing
Oncc wlcn Loid Sii Caiianyadcva was siaying in Vindavana, somc pcoplc spicad
a iumoui lilc wildliic ilai Loid Sii Kisna lad appcaicd in ilc lalc ol Kaliya in
Vindavana. Many pcoplc iuslcd io Loid Sii Caiianya icpoiiing ilai ai nigli ilcy
lad undoubicdly sccn in ilc lalc ol Kaliya ilc snalc, and ilai Loid Sii Kisna was
dancing on ii. Ioi ilicc consccuiivc days siicams ol pcoplc camc io Loid
Caiianyadcva wiil cycwiincss icpoiis ol ilc cvcni.
Upon lcaiing sucl icpoiis, lalabladia llaiiacaiya, onc ol ilc simplc-mindcd
sciviiois ol Loid Sii Caiianyadcva, dcvclopcd a vciy siiong uigc io go io ilc lalc
ol Kaliya loi laving áarsana ol Loid Sii Kisna. Tlcn Loid Sii Caiianyadcva gavc
lalabladia a laid slap, saying, Wly do you gci alluicd wiil ilc icpoiis ol sucl
blind lollowcis' Ncvci acccpi anyiling unloundcd undci ilc illusoiy dcsciipiion
givcn by blind lollowcis.`
Ncxi moining, a scnsiblc pcison visiicd Loid Sii Caiianyadcva and by asling
lim Hc ilcn camc io lnow ilc ical laci ol ilc maiici wlicl was ilai ilc local
lislcimcn uscd io caicl lisl in ilc nigli, wiil lamps on ilcii boais, in ilc lalc ol
Kaliya. Ioolisl pcoplc musi lavc misialcn liom a disiancc ilc boai as ilc gicai
scipcni Kaliya, ilc lamp as ilc slining jcwcl on ii's lcad, and ilc lislciman as
Loid Kisna in ilc dailncss ol nigli. Tlis soii ol dclusivc vision was wiongly
bclicvcd by ilcm io bc a iiuc plcnomcnon.
PURPORT
In ilc licld ol icligion many ilings aic piopagaicd as iiuc icligion, iliougl sucl a
lallacy ol blind lollowing. Tlcic is, in laci, no limii io sucl widcspicad mislcading
piaciiccs piopagaiing liciiiious incainaiions, pioplcis and so-callcd -isms`,
iuining ilc moialc ol ilc masscs. Rcal lovcis ol iiuil musi bc awaic ol ilis cvil.
The BIind Men and fhe EIephanf
A gioup ol blind mcn lcaid a siiangc animal callcd an clcplani` liom somc
cldcily pcoplc. Naiuially ilcy lad a vciy siiong uigc io lavc liisi-land cxpciicncc
ol sucl an animal iliougl ilcii scnsc ol ioucl. Wiil walling siicls in land, ilc
blind pcisons aiiivcd ai ilc clcplani siablc in ilc ioyal palacc, and icqucsicd ilc
clcplani lccpcis io pcimii ilcm io ioucl ilc clcplani's dillcicni limbs. Somc ol
ilcm iodc on ilc clcplani's bacl wiil ilc assisiancc ol ilc clcplani lccpci, somc
ol ilcm wcic ioucling ilc iiunl ol ilc clcplani, somc wcic ioucling ilc iail, and
somc wcic lccling ilc lcgs ol ilc clcplani.
Tlc blind pcison wlo iouclcd ilc iiunl ol ilc clcplani, dccidcd ilai ilc
clcplani musi bc an animal wiil ilc loim ol a laigc scipcni. Tlc onc wlo iouclcd
ilc lcgs assumcd ilai ii was jusi lilc a pillai. Anoilci wlo iouclcd ii's cais
ilougli ilai ii musi bc somciling lilc winnowing plaiici, and ilc onc wlo
iouclcd ii's bclly camc io lis own conclusion ilai ilc clcplani musi bc an animal
lilc a big dium. Tlus, ilc undcisianding ol ilc clcplani was noi pcilcci io any ol
ilc blind pcisons.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo aiiivc ai ilcii own conclusion aboui ilc consiiiuiional loim ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by applying ilcii maiciialisiic lnowlcdgc, so-
callcd mundanc cducaiion oi objcciivc obscivaiion also sullci liom sucl impcilcci
and concocicd conccpiion ol ilc iiuil.
Ii is bccausc ol ilis lind ol cndcavoui loi icalisaiion ol ilc Supicmc Godlcad
iliougl onc's diicci obscivaiion and spcculaiion ilai vaiious ailcisiic
plilosoplics lilc illusionism, slcpiicism cic. lavc bccomc csiablislcd. lui wlcn
onc is cnliglicncd, wlicl mcans, iniiiaicd inio iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc liom a
ical dcvoicc ol ilc Supicmc Loid, and is loiiunaic cnougl io cnjoy a vision ol ilc
Loid, ilcn, and ilcn only, ilc pcilcci consiiiuiional loim and posiiion ol ilc Loid
can bc piopcily icalizcd.
Tlosc wlo aic noi dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid and aic undci illusion liom maiciial
lnowlcdgc, dclivci only sucl idcas aboui ilc Supicmc Loid ilai aic simply
impcilcci, concocicd and spcculaicd -isms` only. Any conccpiion ol loimlcssncss
ol ilc Loid, oi ol lis iiansccndcnial loim, is io bc considcicd impcilcci and
unloundcd, unlcss and uniil ii is suppoiicd by a iiuc vision and icalizaiion ol lis
ical posiiion ol a iiuc dcvoicc.
The BIind Man HoIding fhe Cow`s TaiI FaIIacy
Oncc upon a iimc a blind pcison was going io lis lailci-in-law's lousc, iiacling
ilc way wiil ilc lclp ol lis walling siicl. Vciy soon wlilc passing iliougl a licld
lc camc acioss a cowlcid boy and aslcd, O bioilci, would you plcasc do mc a
lavoui by lcading mc io my lailci-in-law's lousc'`
Ai ilis ilc cowlcid icplicd, I am busy in icnding so many cows. Il I ialc you io
youi lailci-in-law's lousc, all ilc cows will iun away. Ol couisc, I can do onc
iling loi you - I can lcnd you a vciy docilc and laiillul cow ol minc - you can
salcly caicl lold ol lci iail and slc can smooilly lcad you io youi in-laws lousc.`
Tlus adviscd by ilc cowlcid, ilc blind iiavcllci liimly caugli lold ol ilc cow's
iail and ilc cow bcgan walling wlilc iiailing lim bclind. Howcvci, ilc cow goi
quiic scaicd ol ilc siiong pulling ol ii's iail by a blind pcison, and lcncc slc
bclavcd so lianiically ilai ilc blind pcison was viiiually bcing pullcd iouglly
along ilc ioad and iliougl iloiny buslcs wlilc sullciing licqucni laid licls ol
ilc cow's lind lcgs. As a icsuli ilc blind man's body was scvcicly injuicd and lis
gaimcnis wcic all ioin apaii.
Anyway, lc aiiivcd in ilc dcad ol nigli io lis in-laws lousc, in a vciy wiciclcd
condiiion wiil cuis and biuiscs and ioially nalcd. Tlc scivanis ol lis in-laws
lousc iool lim io bc a caiilc ilicl and punclcd and slappcd lim in oidci io gci
lim io iclcasc ilc cow's iail liom lis lold. Tlus ilc blind man sullcicd
unlimiicdly.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo lavc uliciioi moiivcs ialc slclici ol so-callcd guiu's insicad ol a iiuly
bona-lidc spiiiiual masici and uliimaicly sullci vciy badly lilc ilc blind man in
lis siiuaiion.
Any and cvciy pcison cannoi lcad onc io ilc Supicmc abodc ol Godlcad and no
unauiloiiscd io oui iiuc wcllaic. Ii is, ilcicloic, obligaioiy ilai onc slould ialc
slclici ol a bona-lidc Kisna conscious spiiiiual masici wiiloui any lcsiiaiion.
The Righf Whip for fhe Righf Dog
Samba, ilc son ol Sii Kisna, was boin wiil lis wilc Jambavaili. Oncc Samba
abducicd Lalsmana, ilc dauglici ol Duiyodlana, liom ilc asscmbly ol lci
piobablc suiiois (svayamvara-sabna). Tlcn loui ol ilc Kauiava lciocs capiuicd
Samba, claincd lim up and iool lim along wiil Lalsmana io Hasiinapuia.
In icialiaiion, ilc Yadavas picpaicd ilcmsclvcs loi a baiilc againsi ilc Kauiava.
In oidci io pacily boil paiiics, laladcva wcni io Hasiinapuia along wiil a icam ol
branmanas and cldcily pcisons, alici pacilying ilc Yadavas. laladcva convcycd ilc
oidci ol King Ugiascna io ilc Kauiavas by saying ilai ilc Kauiavas bcing loiiilicd
wiil a laigc numbci ol soldicis lad ovcipowcicd and ilus capiuicd Samba and
ilai lc slould loiilwiil bc landcd ovci io laladcva.
Upon lcaiing ilis oidci, ilc Kauiavas bccamc gicaily agiiaicd and siaiicd
aiioganily maling insinuaiions againsi ilc Yadavas; and ilcy cvcn indulgcd in
luiling many iudc commcnis againsi Sii Kisna and laladcva as wcll. As a icsuli
laladcva dccidcd io submcigc ilc cniiic ciiy ol Hasiinapuia inio ilc Gangcs by
using His powcilul plougl, and ilc Kauiavas ilcn bccamc so aliaid ilai ilcy iool
slclici ol Loid laladcva, alici biinging Samba and Lalsmana in lioni ol Him.
PURPORT
In ilis icspcci Sii Suladcva Goswami said,
nunam nana-máonnaáánan
santím ncccnantí asaánavan /
tcsam ní prasamo áanáan
pasunam Iaguáo yatna //
Clcaily as many as passions ol ilcsc scoundicls lavc madc ilcm so pioud ilai
ilcy do noi wani pcacc. Tlcn lci ilcm bc pacilicd by plysical punislmcni, as
animals aic wiil a siicl.`
(Srímaá Pnagavatam 10.68.31)
Lvil-mindcd pcisons wlo aic mad wiil wcalil, lollowcis and ilc lilc, obviously
aic unwilling io malc pcacc. As biuic animals aic subducd only wiil ilc usc ol
ilc iigli wlip oi siicl, so ilcsc animal-lilc bcings dcscivc no oilci iicaimcni
ilan bcaiing wiil a club. Sucl iogucs aic noi qualilicd io pay any lccd io good
advicc wlaisocvci. So bcaiing wiil a wlip is ilc only iiuc lcsson loi ilcm.
NOTL :
Quiic olicn Siila llaliisiddlania Saiasvaii Goswami Piablupada uscd io quoic
ilc abovc-noicd vcisc, siiongly advocaiing appiopiiaic punislmcni insicad ol
good advicc io sucl ciiiics ol Loid Sii Haii, ilc spiiiiual masicis, and ilc
Vaisnavas, as ilosc pcoplc aic dccmcd io bc dcmoniac ailcisis only.
Pcoplc wlo lavc no icspcci loi any good advicc in ilis woild, usually iuin a
dcal cai io any picacling. Ii is also ollcnsivc io ollci sucl good advicc and
picacling io ilcm. Tlcy slould simply bc iicaicd on ilc piinciplc ol ilc iigli
wlip loi ilc iigli dog`.
A Vaisnavas iolciaic aloi ol vindicaiion on lis pcison and also ovcicomcs
lundicds ol insinuaiions as sucl. lui lc is unablc io siand any ciiiicism againsi
lis spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnava communiiy. Ii is considcicd io bc a iiuc
Vaisnava aiiiiudc ilai onc bccomcs agiiaicd ai any ciiiicism luilcd againsi ilc
spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnava communiiy in gcncial.
Tlc impcisonalisis considci ilc spiiiiual masicis and ilc Vaisnavas on ilc samc
lcvcl as common pcoplc only, and as sucl, ilcy advisc onc io bc lalscly iolciani
and as submissivc as giass wlcncvci conlionicd wiil a ciiiical csiimaic ol ilc
spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnavas.
The AncesfraI WeII
A villagc pandiia was vciy mucl dcvoicd io lis dcpaiicd lailci. Tlc pandiia uscd
io say, Tlc lailci is ilc God incainaic, wc aic cnjoying all caiilly plcasuics
simply by lis mcicy only. So I do noi acccpi any oilci cicaioi oi Godlcad cxccpi
my lailci.`
píta svarga píta ánarma
píta ní paraman tapa
pítarí prítímapannc
príyantc sarva ácvata
Tlis was ilc lavouiiic vcisc ilai ilc pandiia uscd io clani all ilc iimc. To clani
ilc namc ol lis lailci, io mcdiiaic on ilc imagc ol lis lailci, and io givc ollciings
io lis anccsiial loiclailcis wcic lis daily iiiuals.
Tlc gicai-giandlailci ol ilis pandiia lad buili a diaw-wcll loi lis lamily's usc.
In ilc pasi, ilc waici diawn liom ilis wcll lappcncd io bc widcly lnown as ilc
swccicsi and clcaicsi ol all ilc wclls in ilc villagc. Howcvci, in duc couisc ol iimc,
alici ilicc oi loui gcnciaiions ol ilc lamily covciing onc lundicd and liliy ycais
oi so, ilc siagnani waici ol ilc wcll bccamc cxiicmcly puiiid. Ii was no longci
suiiablc loi diinling oi gcncial usc as a lugc mass ol lilil, mud and all iypcs ol
planis lad dccomposcd in ii. Onc oi iwo dcad liogs also addcd io ilc
dccomposiiion ol ilc wcll. As sucl ii bccamc smclly and complcicly inlcsicd wiil
dcadly baciciia.
Tlc pandiia, bcing dcvoicd io lis lailci uscd io diinl waici liom ilc diaw-wcll
dug by lis gicai-giandlailci. Aciually lis lailci lad ncvci ialcn waici liom any
oilci ianl oi iivci in ilc villagc so ilc pandiia would ncvci allow lis lamily
mcmbcis io diinl any oilci waici cxccpi liom ilc anccsiial diaw-wcll.
Tlc pandiia, so loyal io lis lailci, lad a numbci ol sons and giandsons, all ol
wlom dicd liom vaiious discascs. Lvcniually, cvcn lis wilc dicd ol a coniagious
discasc. Tlc pandiia limscll also sullcicd liom many ailmcnis. Tlcic wcic quiic a
numbci ol iubcwclls in ilc villagc and ilc iivci Gangcs was llowing only a lcw
milcs away liom ilcic. Lvciyonc was icpcaicdly advising ilc pandiia io siop using
ilc waici liom ilai coniaminaicd wcll and io diinl waici liom oilci iubcwclls oi
ilc Gangcs.
ly ilis iimc ilc pandiia, duc io lis lanaiical aiiaclmcni io lis anccsiial lailci
and loiclailcis, and lad ioially dcsiioycd all lis lamily mcmbcis as a icsuli ol lis
obsiinacy and dic laid aiiiiudc. Ai lasi ilc local auiloiiiics camc io dcsiioy ilc
wcll io cnsuic good lcalil in ilc villagc. Wlcn ilc pandiia saw ilcm
appioacling, lc squaiicd on ilc wcll in sucl an obsiinaic mood io lis anccsiial
loiclailcis, ilai ii appcaicd io ilc auiloiiiics ilai noi cvcn ioyal powci could
dcsiioy ii.
PURPORT
Pcisons wlo aic adamani in gciiing iniiiaicd liom a paiiiculai anccsiial gosvami,
also dcmonsiiaic sucl an obsiinaic aiiiiudc. Anyonc claiming limscll io bc onc's
anccsiial spiiiiual masici may noi bc iiuly qualilicd iliougl coniinucd dciogaiion
ol digniiy and posiiion.
NOTL :
Siila llaliisiddlania Saiaswaii Goswami Piablupada uscd io say, A docioi's son
may noi ncccssaiily bc a iiuc docioi.` Tlosc wlo aic caiclcss aboui ilcii own
wcllaic, cxiicmcly lazy and guidcd by ilc plcasuic piinciplc, ncvci ialc ilc pain io
scaicl oui ilcii iiuc bona-lidc spiiiiual masici.
°B-B`, °M-A`
Two vciy lazy mcn livcd joinily in a ioom. ly clancc, on onc winicis nigli ilc
ioom somclow caugli liic. As ilc liic was spicading, onc ol ilc lazy pcisons lcli
ilc lcai on lis bacl bui didn'i caic io gci up. Wlcn ilc lcai ol ilc liic gicw
unbcaiablc, ilc liisi lazy man didn'i cvcn ialc ilc iioublc io alcii lis ioom-maic.
Hc jusi uiicicd iwo lciicis only, l-l` , by wlicl lc mcani io say, bacl buining!`
Tlc sccond lazy man was also similaily icluciani io icspond wiil a lully
cxpicsscd scnicncc and lc only muimuicd, M-A` , oui ol slcci lazincss, mcaning
io advisc lis liicnd io `movc asidc`.
All ilis iimc ilc liic was gciiing biggci and biggci wlilc ilc lazy mcn in ilcii
dicamlul slumbci ilougli ilai ilc nigli was ovci and ilai ilc sun was up, and
ilai ilcy wcic lccling ilc waimil ol sunslinc. Wiil ilis dicaming conjcciuic, ilc
liisi lazy man aslcd ilc sccond onc wiiloui gciiing oui liom lis bcd, O bioilci,
could you plcasc clccl low loi ilc sun is'`
Tlc sccond lazy man ilougli, Wlo wanis io ialc so mucl iioublc'`
So lc icplicd, How can I opcn my cycs'`
As ilcy wcic lazily passing ilc iimc in ilis way, boil ol ilcm wcic ioasicd in ilc
blazing liic.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo picicnd io bc icsidcnis ol ilc asiama loi ilc salc ol piaciising scivicc
io Loid Sii Haii, bui wlo bccamc lazy in ollciing daily scivicc io ilc Loid, ilc
spiiiiual masici, and ilc Vaisnavas, aic also susccpiiblc io bc caugli wiilin ilc
cluiclcs ol illusion and uliimaicly io mcci wiil a similai cnd.
Tlc lilcsiylc ol onc wlo las dcvoicd limscll io ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid slould
ncvci bc ai any iimc lazy.
°I`m Nof SfeaIing Bananas!`
Oncc a landloid lad buili a icmplc. Hc lad no lacl ol wcalil , so in oidci io
aiiiaci moic lonoui and picsiigc liom ilc visiiois ol ilc icmplc lc madc claboiaic
aiiangcmcnis io dicss ilc dciiy and also oidcicd ilc ollciing ol nicc loodsiulls io
ilc dciiy so ilai ilc piasadam could bc disiiibuicd among lis iclaiivcs loi ilcii
appicciaiion.
Tlc landloid appoinicd a piicsi wlo uscd io ilinl ilus : Tlc Dciiy las a loi ol
oinamcnis and so many dicsscs; I wondci il I could cnjoy onc ol ilcm . lui ilcic
aic scniiics on guaid cvciywlcic so noi a singlc objcci can bc ialcn away ! I can'i
cvcn cnjoy any ol ilc bcsi picpaiaiions liom ilc ollciings
bccausc ilc cniiic amouni ol piasadam gocs io ilc Loid's iclaiivcs. I gucss ilai I
musi icmain saiislicd wiil livc iupccs a monil.`
Onc day ilc landloid biougli somc bcsi qualiiy amrtasagar and agnísvar
bananas, and landing ilcm ovci io ilc piicsi, lc aslcd lim, O pujarí! plcasc ollci
ilcsc bananas io ilc Dciiy and ilcn scnd ilc wlolc loi io my piivaic apaiimcni.
Somc ol my liicnds aic coming ioday and ilcsc bananas slould bc icscivcd loi
ilcm only.`
lcloic ilc ollciing ai midday, ilc landloid limscll was anxious io clccl
wlcilci ilc bananas wcic ically bcing ollcicd io ilc Dciiy, bui wlcn lc
appioaclcd ilc aliai lc lound ilai ilc dooi was bolicd liom ilc insidc. In laci, ilc
piicsi was picicnding io ollci ilc bananas io ilc Dciiy and wlilc caiing somc ol
ilcm, was ilinling, Wlcn could I lavc ilc clancc io cai sucl a dclicious vaiiciy
ol bananas in my lilc' Gciiing ilcm now ai my disposal, wly slould I miss ilis
oppoiiuniiy ol cnjoying ilcm' I doubi ilai ilc landloid counicd all ilc bananas,
so I am suic lc won'i dcicci ilc loss ol a lcw bananas il I ialc ilcm.`
Wlilc caiing ilc bananas and ilinling ilus, ilc piicsi lcaid ilc landloid
slouiing liom ouisidc ilc icmplc, Wlo is in ilc Dciiy ioom'` A ilicl's mind
icmains cvci anxious, so ilc piicsi, bcing cxiicmcly liiglicncd icplicd wlilc siill
clcwing ilc bananas, I didn'i sical ilc bananas!` Lisicning io ilc clolcd voicc
ol ilc piicsi and lis awlwaid icply, ilc landloid was suic ilai ilc piicsi was
consuming ilc bananas.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo picicnd io ollci dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid wlilc in ilcii lcaii
dcvcloping an uigc loi oilci moiivcs, usually cxposc ilcmsclvcs wiiloui lail in
lioni ol ical sainily pcisons and Vaisnavas. Wlcncvci a pcison siaiis uncxpccicdly
piaising lis own aciiviiics oi malcs an aiicmpi io conliim lis appaicnily good
conduci jusi iliougl ciiiicising oilcis, ii may bc vciy iiglily assumcd ilai ilc
pcison conccincd las oilci moiivcs in mind. Lvcn il ilc cniiic populaiion ol
ciiiics ciiiicizcd a ical sainily pcison oi il scllislly-moiivaicd pcisons siaii
blasplcming lim, lc ncvci malcs an aiicmpi io vindicaic limscll.
A iiuly dcvoicd Vaisnava ncvci malc any pioicsi againsi limscll, bui lc ncvci
iolciaics any ciiiicism againsi oilci Vaisnavas oi lis spiiiiual masici. Ii is bclicvcd
ilai anyonc wlo malcs any aiicmpi io vindicaic limscll musi bc laciually a guiliy
pcisons and oilciwisc moiivaicd loi namc and lamc in ilc gcncial sociciy.
°Bhagavan` Becomes a Ghosf Under Infrigue
In a cciiain iown livcd a lcaincd pcison namcd llagavan wlo bccamc vciy
liicndly ol ilai couniiy by dini ol lis sclolaislip . Ai ilis, ilc lings minisicis
bccamc vciy cnvious and ilcy laiclcd a ploi so ilai ilc pandiia would bc diivcn
oui ol ilc couniiy. Tlc minisicis iold ilc gaiclccpci, Tlc ling las oidcicd ilai
ilc pandiia slould noi bc pcimiiicd io cnici ilc ioyal palacc again.` Tlc
gaiclccpci caiiicd ilc insiiuciion as adviscd. Howcvci ilc ling was anxious as lc
did noi scc ilc pandiia. Wlcn lc aslcd ilc minisicis aboui ilc wlcicabouis ol
ilc pandiias, ilcy said, llagavan las cxpiicd.` Accoiding io ilc minisicis' ploi,
ilc ioyal plysician lad also icpoiicd ilai llagavan lad dicd. Tlc ling was vciy
dcpicsscd ol ilc ncws ol ilc pandiias dcail.
Alici a lcw days ilc ling camc oui ol ilc palacc loi a siioll and ilc llagavan
pandiia wanicd io ialc a clancc io mcci lim. Ol couisc ilc minisicis and aidcs
wcic all aiound ilc ling and vciy clcvcily ilcy madc sucl a iigli luman baiiicadc
ilai llagavan pandiia was simply unablc io pcnciiaic ilcm and mcci ilc ling.
lcing dcspciaic, ilc pandiia climbcd a iicc and siaiicd slouiing io ilc ling, O
ling! Hcic I am, youi llagavan pandiia!` As soon as ilc ling glanccd ai lim all
ilc aidcs and minisicis, O ling! llagavan pandiia las now bccomc a glosi alici
lis dcail and lool! Hc is now calling you liom ilai iicc-iop. Lci us bc quicl io
movc asidc.`
Considciing ilai so many pcoplc wcic saying ilc samc iling and conliiming ii
io bc iiuc, ilc ling ignoicd ilc call ol llagavan pandiia and wcni away in a
dillcicni diicciion, wlilc ilc pandiia lamcnicd saying, Ol, low powcilul is ilc
iniiiguc ol ilcsc pcoplc! Undci ilcic iniiiguc cvcn llagavan pandiia las bccomc a
glosi!`
PURPORT
Tlis is now cxacily ilc siiuaiion in ilc maiciial woild undci ilc iniiiguc ol
ailcisiic public opinion, paiiiculaily in ilc domain ol icligion and spiiiiual living.
Tlc so-callcd public opinion is now dcmoniacally picvcniing sainily pcoplc liom
lisicning io any soii ol dcvoiional subjcci. Tlc majoiiiy ol common public aic
siiongly ol ilc opinion ilai dcvoiional piaciicc is jusi lilc oilci maiciial oi
acadcmic piaciiccs. Tlcy advocaic ilai ilcic aic as many ways ol libciaiion as
ilcic aic plilosoplics. Tlcy aic unablc io icalizc ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc
uliimaic plilosoply ol living.
Crossing fhe River When if is Dry
A pcison was cxiicmcly iniiovciicd and lc didn'i wani io lcavc lis own lousc..
Onc day lis liicnd aslcd lim, O Kaminimolan! Lci us boil go and visii a saánu.
A gicai pcisonaliiy las comc io Siidlam Mayapui and lc is picacling vciy nicc
iiansccndcnial subjcci maiicis. You lilc will bc lullillcd upon lcaiing lis
insiiuciions. Kaminimolam was vciy icluciani io lcavc ilc comloii ol lis lomc
jusi io visii a saánu`s placc. Tlcn lis liicnd iiicd io alluic Kaminimolan, saying,
ly ilc way, ilcic's a gicai lunlaic ai ilc banl ol Kuliya. Ii is lull ol iccicaiion and
amuscmcnis. So lci us go and visii ilc laic.` So Kaminimolan agiccd io go visii
ilc lunlaic ai Kuliya loi somc cnjoymcni. Tlc liicnds plan was io ialc
Kaminimolan io ilc banl ol Kuliya and ilcn ii would bc possiblc loi lim io ialc
lim acioss ilc Gangcs io aiiivc ai Siidlama Mayapuia.
Aiiiving ai ilc banl ol Kuliya, Kaminimolan cnjoycd ai ilc lunlaii loi a wlilc.
Tlcn lis liicnd iold lim, Jusi acioss ilc iivci is Sii Mayapui. Lci us go an visii
ilc loly ánama. Tlcic you will lind ilc biiil placc ol Loid Sii Caiianyadcva, iomb
ol Cland Kazi, ilc icmnanis ol lallal Scn's ancicni ioyal palacc, ilc gicai lalc ol
lallal Scn and many oilci placcs ol inicicsi.`
Kaminimolan icaliscd now ilai lis liicnd lad bccomc almosi dcicimincd io
ialc lim acioss ilc iivci loi a visii io ilc loly ánama. So lc madc oui a counici-
plan and said, My dcai liicnd, I am vciy aliaid ol ciossing a iivci. I am, in laci,
noi ai uscd io boaiding a boai, ii givcs mc nausca, dizzincss, I bccomc cxiicmcly
aliaid ol diowning and palpiiaiions siaii immcdiaicly. Tlis is iainy scason, bui in
winici, wlcn ilc iivci will bccomc diy, ilcn wc can casily wall down ilc iivci
wiiloui ilc lclp ol any boai. Ai ilai iimc I will dcliniicly visii Sii Mayapui and all
iis inicicsiing placcs.
Lisicning io Kaminimolan plca, lis liicnd iold lim, O my dcai liicnd, you say
you'll cioss ilc iivci wlcn ii is diy. Tlis is noiling bui youi insincciiiy and
lypociisy. Tlc iivci will ncvci bc diy, and you wouldn'i bc ablc io cioss ii.

PURPORT
My ol us ilinl ilai wc may dcvoic cnougl iimc loi lisicning io ilc iiansccndcnial
picacling liom somc sainily pcison alici complciing oui busincss in ilc licld ol
oui domcsiic maiciial cnianglcmcnis conccining oui lamily mcmbcis, ilcii dcsiics
and wanis, discascs and oilci ilings. lui in laci, ilcsc cnianglcmcnis will ncvci
go. Dcvoiional piaciiccs will ncvci bc undciialcn, unlcss wc malc ii a poini io
siaii dcvoiional piaciiccs immcdiaicly.
The Desire fo Swim Ouf of fhe Wafer
Tlc moilci ol a boy would ncvci pcimii lci son io ialc a bail in ilc iivci. Slc
was vciy anxious in casc lci son diowncd in ilc iivci wlilc ialing a bail. Onc day
an cldcily nciglboui camc and adviscd ilc moilci ol ilai boy ilai lci son would
ncvci lcain swimming unlcss lc was cncouiagcd io lavc a icgulai bail in ilc
iivci. Wiiloui piaciising low io swim ilc bay may bc in dangci wlilc ciossing a
iivci by boai. Ii was ilcicloic mosi csscniial ilai lc slould lcain swimming.
Lisicning io sucl advicc ilc boy iold lis moilci, I wani io lcain swimming so
ilai I can savc myscll liom diowning, bui could you plcasc lind a mcilod ol
lcaining io swim wiiloui gciiing inio waici'`. Tlc boys moilci appicciaicd ilc
boys iniclligcncc and piompily iccommcndcd an idca.
PURPORT
Hcaiing ilc insiiuciions and injunciions ilai onc is supposcd io sullci a loi oi goo
io lcll in ilc ncxi lilc unlcss onc piaciiscs woislipping Loid Sii Haii, maiciialisis
bccomc anxious io cnsuic ilcii liccdom liom sucl sullciings. lui ilcy aic noi ai
all picpaicd io icndci dcvoiional scivicc io ilc loid and lollow ilc icgulaiivc
piinciplcs alici gciiing iniiiaicd in Kisna Consciousncss undci ilc loius lcci ol a
spiiiiual masici. Tlcy indulgc in slyncss, appiclcnsion, indccision, dillidcncc cic.
, in ilis icspcci.
As a icsuli ilcii inicicsi in icndciing dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid ncvci
maiciializcs. jusi lilc a dcsiic io lcain swimming oui ol waici. To swim, onc musi
lavc ilc icquisiic, dciciminaiion and similaily, onc las io ialc slclici ol a bona-
lidc spiiiiual masici in oidci io bc qualilicd in dcvoiional, and io ovcicomc all ilc
impcdimcnis.
Cheafing a BIacksmifh wifh Inferior SfeeI
A iiadcsmcn wanicd io picscni limscll as vciy iniclligcni. Hc appcaicd io bc adcpi
in maling a lool ol oilcis by dini ol lis cunningncss. Oncc lc managcd io gci
somc coconuis iliougl lis usual slyncss. Tlcn lc wanicd a slaip cloppci io
bical ilcn opcn. Lvcniually lc lound a vciy old and iusiy cloppci in ilc coinci
ol lis ioom. Taling ii io a blaclsmiil, lc aslcd lim io icslapc ii and malc ii liisi
class again. Tlc blaclsmiil iold lim ilai lc could loigc a vciy good cloppci, il
good qualiiy siccl was givcn io lim. Tlcn ilc clcvci iiadcsmcn playcd a doublc
gamc iclling ilc blaclsmiil, I am a siccl mciclani and I lavc goi somc good
qualiiy in my siocl. I would lilc io givc you an cxiia amouni ol ilc cxccllcni siccl
- could you loigc a coppci loi mc wiil ilai siccl licc ol cosi' Ol causc you may
lccp ilc cxiia siccl, wlaicvci was lcli alici loiging ilc cloppci, loi youi own
laboui claigc. I can assuic you ilai nowlcic in India can you lind sucl cxccllcni
siccl ilai I will scnd you. Ii is vciy cosily you lnow.`
Alici dclivciing sucl aiilul languagc, ilc iiadcsmcn in laci scni a condcmncd
iliid-iaic slcci ol iion iliougl lis son io ilc blaclsmiil. Jusi glancing ai ilc
piccc ol iion ilc blaclsmiil icalisc ilai ii was noi siccl, bui only a piccc ol usclcss
iion. A ii was incllcciivc and piaciically usclcss, ilc iiadcsmcn camc bacl io ilc
blaclsmiil ilicaicning and slouiing ai lim wlilc ilc blaclsmiil icioiicd saying,
Clcaiing a blaclsmiil wiil inlciioi siccl can only biing oui sucl a cloppci.`
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo malc any aiicmpi io dcccivc ilcii spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnavas in
icndciing dcvoiional scivicc will cciiainly comc io an cnd wiil somciling
spuiious. Any aiicmpi ol dcccpiion in ilc licld ol dcvoiional scivicc is simplc scll-
dcccpiion. Ii pulls onc down inio ilc cluiclcs ol illusionaiy cncigy, wiiloui any
bcnclii. Somc pcoplc wiil uliciioi moiivcs ilinl ilai oilcis wlo lavc suiicndcicd
cvciyiling io ilc Loid aic only dcccivcd; and ilosc wlo aic coniinuing io play ilc
doublc iolcs ol boil dcvoiional scivicc as wcll as scll giaiilicaiion aciually gain
moic.
In laci, sucl a doublc gain is suicly ianiamouni io dccciving a blaclsmiil by
supplying lim wiil an inlciioi qualiiy ol iion wlilc asling lim io picpaic a good
qualiiy siccl cloppci. No onc can cvci dcccivc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Ii is ncvci possiblc io conquci ilc domain ol ilc Loid by any soii ol
dcccpiion and quaclciy. Only onc wlo las candidly suiicndcicd cvciyiling unio
ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid is cligiblc loi aclicving all good.
The BIacksmifh and The Poffer
In ilc villagc lilaspui , ilcic livcd a blaclsmiil namcd Vamacacaian. oncc lc
wcni io visii lis liicnd wlo lappcncd io bc a poiici in ilc villagc Haiipui. Hoping
io cain somc appicciaiion liom lis liicnd Vamacaian ollcicd io assisi io lim in
lis woil. Tlc poiici was vciy dclicaicly using lis lammci io givc slapc io somc
piiclcs and pois, wlilc Valacaian, imiiaiing lim siaiicd lammciing ilc oilci
piiclcs and pois so violcnily ilai all ol ilcm wcic complcicly smaslcd.
PURPORT
Tlc mannci in wlicl ilc blaclsmiil lammcis iion io givc slapcs io ii is noi
mcani loi a poiici io modcl clay. Tlc mcilod and icclniquc ol boil ol ilcn aic
cniiicly dillcicni. A maiciialisiic woilci usually dcvclops a conccpiion ilai ilc
dcvoiional scivicc ollcicd by a dcvoicc loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilc Loid is appaicnily
and cxicinally alin io scnsc - giaiilicaiion maiciial aciiviiics and as sucl ilcy all
bclong io ilc samc caicgoiy.
In laci, ilcic is a ical dillcicncc bciwccn ilc pioccss and ilc mannci in boil
sucl aciiviiics. So - callcd dispassionaic maiciial aciiviiics caiiy no iniiinsic valuc
unlcss ilcy aic lavouiablc loi ilc saiislacioiy dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. An
impcisonalisi woislippci ol livc clcmcnis, bcicli ol dcvoiional suiicndci, will only
cicaic moic laim ilan good ilan any puic dcvoicc wlo is sinccicly piaciising ilc
dclicaic pioccss ol saiislying ilc Supicmc Loid.
The Idiof Gardener and Sfupid Pandif
A landloid lad onc gaidcnci loi icnding lis gaidcn and onc pandii in lis couii.
loil ol ilcm wcic in ilc samc in as mucl as onc was a gaidcnci lnowing vciy
liiilc aboui plani-caic, wlilc ilc oilci onc, alilougl wcll-vciscd in lciicis, wcic
sloii in common scnsc. Onc day wlilc ilc landloid was ialing a siioll in lis
gaidcn, lc saw by clancc ilai ilc gaidcnci was picicnding io woil vciy
laboiiously in waiciing ilc planis. Tlc idioi gaidcnci, in laci, uscd io caiiy a
conviciion ilai ilc lcavcs, bianclcs and llowcis slould bciici bc waicicd
pioluscly bccausc ilosc aic ilc pioducis ol a iicc. So lc was waiciing vciy
mciiculously cacl and cvciy llowci, cvciy lcal and cvciy biancl onc by onc.
Obsciving ilc idioi gaidcnci doing ilus, ilc landloid iold lim, Wlai aic you
doing. Waiciing cacl and cvciy llowci, lcal and biancl will noi nouiisl ilc cniiic
plani, iailci ii will dic soon as ilc llowcis and ilc lcavcs will go ioiicn liom sucl
diicci waiciing. You'd bciici poui ilc waici ai ilc iooi, so ilai ilc cniiic plani
will gci waici wiil lcss clloii, and ilcn ii will giow niccly.`
Alici advising ilc siupid gaidcnci, ilc landloid lappcn io mcci ilc pandii in lis
ioom and lound ilai lc io was commiiiing a gicai blundci. As ilc gaidcnci was as
illiiciaic as a lool, ilc pandii, on ilc oilci land, alilougl appaicnily lcaincd, was
a gicaici lool. Tlc pandii was siiiing in lioni ol scvcial dislcs ol dclicious loods
and was maling small lumps oui ol ilc lood puiiing ilosc lumps onc alici ilc
oilci inio ilc caviiics ol lis cais, nosc, cycs, and on lis lands and lcci wlilc
icciiing maniias lilc Om laimablyam svala, om nasilablyam svala om
calsuiblyam svala` cic.
Tlc silly pandii liimly bclicvcd ilai ilc scnscs lilc ilc cais, nosc, cycs, lands
and lcci aic all ilc iimc woiling vciy laid and always lullilling oui vaiious dcsiics
and ilcicloic ilcy slould bc saiislicd liisi, bcloic saiislying ilc siomacl and ilc
mouil. Tlc landloid was asioundcd wiil ilc basic lolly ol ilc pandii and so lc
iold lim ilai all ilc scnscs aic nouiislcd auiomaiically il you lccd ilc siomacl.
PURPORT
Siimad llagvaiam says :
yatna tarormuIa nísccancna
trpyantí tat shanánobnujopasahnan
prínopanarac ca yatncnáríyanam
tatnaíva sarvarnanam acyutcjya
As pouiing waici on ilc iooi ol a iicc cncigizcs ilc iiunl, bianclcs, iwigs and
cvciyiling clsc, and as supplying lood io ilc siomacl cnlivcns ilc scnscs and
limbs ol ilc body, simply woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
iliougl dcvoiional scivicc auiomaiically saiislics ilc dcmigods, wlo aic paiis ol
ilai Supicmc Pcisonaliiy.`
(Sl +.31.1+)
Open fhe Door fo AIIow fhe Lighf in Your Room
A boy liom a wcalily lamily was spoili iliougl ovci -indulgcncc. His paicnis uscd
io lullil all lis lancilul dcsiics and ilus ilcy did gicai laim io ilc boy. wlcn ilc
boy gicw up as a young man lc bccamc moic and moic uniuly. Hc concludcd ilai
ilc sun and moon musi caiiy oui lis oidcis. Onc day ilc young man was slccping
in a ioom wiil all ilc doois closcd. ly laic alicinoon ilc paicnis ol ilc boy
ilougli ilcii son was siill slccping bccausc lc migli lavc woilcd vciy laid ilc
nigli bcloic. Wlcn midday was aiiiving , ilc paicnis bccamc dccply anxious and
siaiicd lnocling ai ilc dooi. Siill in bcd, ilc boy lcpi on iclling, Wly aic you
lnocling ai my dooi in ilc dcad ol nigli ' I am noi going io opcn ii now. You
musi lavc comc wiil somc bad moiivc.` Lvciyonc ouisidc was uiging, Tlc sun
las bccn up loi a long iimc, now ii is almosi midday. Plcasc opcn ilc dooi.`
Tlc young man icplicd, Tlc midday sun musi bc vciy siiong and il ii is so, lci
lim comc inio my ioom and slow lis siicngil. Alici all , I am noi going io gci up
liom my cosy comloiiablc bcd .` ilcn cvciyonc appcalcd , Will you opcn ilc
dooi so ilai ilc sunligli will gci inio ilc ioom'`
PURPORT
Somc pcoplc ilinl ilai ii is noiling bui llaiiciy io say ilai ilc Loid is all mcicilul.
Il ilc Loid was ically mcicilul, low is ii ilai ilcic is so mucl sullciing in ilc
woild' Somc pcoplc cvcn ilinl ilai il Godlcad was omnipoicni, Hc slould lavc
clangcd oui moiivcs wiiloui oui clloii. Tlcic aigumcni is similai io sucl a spoili
clild. Tlcy lavc, in laci, cncagcd ilcmsclvcs in ilcii own appaicnily cosy
comloiiablc bcdioom undci illusionoiy cncigy.
Tlc sun disiiibuics lis ligli cvciywlcic indisciiminaicly, loi iicl and pooi,
palacc and coiiagc alilc. Anyonc wlo ialcs ilc iioublc ol opcning lis doois and
windows will suicly gci sunligli. Tlc Loid las also bcsiowcd lis mcicy
cvciywlcic and cvciy living cniiiy, using lis liccwill, can cnjoy ii.
How Offen does a BaId Man Go Under a BaeI Tree :
Oncc a slavcn-lcadcd man was going io mailci and lappcn io wall undci a bacl
iicc. ly clancc a big bacl liuii lcll on lis lcad liom lis iicc. Ii luii lim vciy mucl
as lc was slavcn-lcadcd. Ncxi day, ilc samc iling lappcn wlilc lc was passing
again undci ilc samc bacl iicc. Tlcicalici, lc ncvci uscd io pass undci ilai iicc.
Alici a lcw days, somc ol lis liicnds wcic walling along wiil lim on ilc samc
way and wlcn ilcy lad io pass undci ilai bacl iicc, ilc slavcn-lcadcd pcison
icluscd io go ilai way, saying, How olicn docs a slavcn-lcadcd man visii a bacl
iicc'` Similaily, no onc laving somc biiici cxpciicncc lilc io pass ilc samc iiacl
in lis lilc iimc.
PURPORT
A loi ol pcoplc may noi lollow ilis vciy simplc cxamplc wlilc ilcy sullci many
iimcs ilc samc misciy in ilis illusionaiy maiciial woild. Tlcy do sccm io bc as
wisc as ilc slavcn-lcadcd man in ilc sioiy.
An iniclligcni pcison comcs io lis scnscs liom ilc vciy liisi biiici cxpciicncc ol
illusionaiy sullciing. Onc wlo licqucnily undcigocs ilc samc lind ol misciy, is
noiling bui an cxamplc ol a mosi loolisl cniiiy.
SIeeping on fhe Bare Ground When fhe Bed is Broken
A man icquiicd a bcd as dowiy liom lis lailci-in-law. In laci, ilc bcd was vciy
clcap and lc was ilus iicaicd. Vciy soon ilc bcd was biolcn and ilc man, jusi io
savc lis lacc siaiicd spcaling lilc a icnunciaic in icspcci ol lis maiciial loss. Hc
dccidcd io slccp on ilc baic giound ilcicalici. Hc also siaiicd picacling io
cvciyonc ilai cvciy objcci ol plcasuic and comloii is icmpoiaiy and wc slould
icnouncc cvciyiling wiiloui a scnsc ol lalsc aiiaclmcni.
PURPORT
Tiuc icnunciaiion is noi ilai onc slccps on ilc baic giound wlcn ilc bcd is
biolcn. In laci, ilis icllccis noiling bui a moiivc loi caining lamc and
appicciaiion loi oncs unusual aciiviiics. Wlcn an impcisonalisi oi illusionisi
slows oll lis icnunciaiion in ilis maiciial woild, lc simplc cxposcs limscll io bc
in angci oi dccp aiiaclmcni wiil ilosc objccis ol appaicni icnunciaiion. Hc
would lavc coniinucd io cnjoy ilosc objccis il ilcy wcic ol no iioublc io lim
bcloic.
Puic dcvoiccs will ncvci cxposc ilcii spiiii ol icnunciaiion in sucl a mannci.
Tlcy icnouncc cvciyiling loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, Loid Sii Kisna. Tlcy lnow vciy wcll ilai ilc Loid is ilc Supicmc
cnjoyci and ilai no living cniiiy slould lavc any dcsiic loi cnjoymcni loi lis own
salc. A puic dcvoicc is cvci saiislicd wiil ilc icmnanis obiaincd liom ilc Loid as
lis causclcss mcicy, and lc is ncvci unlappy oi aiiaclcd wiil any sucl objcci.
FIying Popcorn - °Govindaya Namah`
Haialania Caliavaii lappcncd io bc a lamous Vaisnava in somc villagc. Pcoplc
would say, Caliavaii Tlaluia ncvci cnjoys anyiling wiiloui ollciing ii io ilc
Loid liisi.` Ai ilc Pausa Sanlianii lcsiival, ilc Caliavaii bougli somc popcoin
liom ilc mailci loi lis wilc's luncl. ly clancc ilcic was a siiong galc and ilc
popcoin siaiicd blowing oui ol lis papci-bag .
Ai ilai iimc somc ol lis acquainianccs camc io scc lim and lccling somclow
awlwaid in ilai siiuaiion, Caliavaii lci ilc icsi ol ilc popcoin lly liom lis bag as
il ollciing ii io ilc Loid wlilc claniing, Govindaya Namal!` On ilc oilci land,
ilc wilc ol Caliavaii bccamc anxious bccausc Caliavaii was laic and slc aslcd
lci son io lind lis wlcicabouis.
Tlc innoccni boy lound lis lailci on ilc way, among oilci pcisons and siaiicd
iclling lim, Iailci, moilci las bccn waiiing loi a long iimc loi ilc popcoin.
Wlcic is ilc popcoin'` Tlus Caliavaii was pui io slamc as ilc iiuc laci was
discloscd in lioni ol scvcial gcnilcmcn.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo aic anxious loi ilcii scnsc giaiilicaiion bui ouiwaidly picicnd io bc
pious loi caining namc and lamc, aic jusi picicnding io bc pious. In laci, ilc
popcoin was bougli loi scll-saiislaciion, bui wlcn ii could noi bc cnjoycd
piopcily, ollciing ii io ilc Loid was noi ical dcvoiional scivicc.
Wlcn a maiciialisiic pcison lails io pioicci lis maiciial gains in spiic ol all
clloiis, lc may siaii saying, O Loid, You aic ilc Loid ol lccping as wcll as
lilling` - ilai is noi iiuc suiicndci.
Spiffing Upward
A spoili clild oncc insisicd ilai lis paicnis slould biing down ilc moon and ilc
siais liom ilc sly. Howcvci lis paicnis iiicd laid io convincc lim ilai ii is
bcyond onc's abiliiy io cvcn ioucl ilcm, bui ilc boy paid no lccd io ilcii woids.
Tlcn ilc paicnis iool ilc boy upon ilc iool ol a vciy ligl slysciapci. Iinding
cvcn ilcn ilai ilc moon and ilc siais wcic siill bcyond icacl, ilc boy bccamc
luiious wiil ilc sly and slouicd ai ii saying, Damn sly! Wly do you lavc io
lold ilc moon and ilc siais so ligl' Lool low I will malc you lccl ilc cvil
conscqucnccs!`
As lc was cuising ilus, ilc idioi boy siaiicd spiiiing up ai ilc sly in gicai
disgusi, bui obviously cvciy diop ol lis spii lcll bacl in lis lacc.
PURPORT
Tlosc wlo piclci io blasplcmc ilc liglcsi oidci ol ilc spiiiiual masici and ilc
Vaisnavas, aic simply aiiiaciing uiici disgiacc upon ilcmsclvcs. As sucl, ii is
adviscd ilai all insignilicani living cniiiics slould bciici iiy io ialc slclici ol ilc
spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnavas in oidci io bc assuicd ol ilcii own wcll bcing.
Cuffing One`s Own Nose fo SpoiI Anofher`s ]ourney
In a villagc ilcic livcd iwo nciglbouiing liicnds in closc alliniiy, bui subscqucnily
ilcy wcic ai odds wiil cacl oilci. Onc was namcd Susania, and ilc oilci
Kiiiania. Susania dccidcd ilai ii was bciici io go on pilgiimagc loi somc iimc io bc
away liom sucl biclciing. So lc lixcd an auspicious day io siaii loi Puii.
Kiiiania ilcn lound ilai ilcic would bc laidly any clancc loi lim io laiass
Susania il lc lcli ilc villagc. So lc dccidcd ilai by lool oi by ciool Susania
slould bc madc compcllcd io siay in ilc villagc so ilai ilcic would bc
oppoiiuniiics io picl a quaiicl wiil lim cvciy now and ilcn.
Kiiiania was in ilc lnow ilai Susania bclicvcd in somc unloundcd wciid
supcisiiiions. Ioi insiancc, lc considcicd ii vciy, vciy inauspicious io scc on ilc
onsci ol a jouincy anyonc wlosc nosc is somclow oi oilci ampuiaicd. So Kiiiania
scizcd upon ilc oppoiiuniiy io ampuiaic lis own nosc, jusi wlcn Susania was
siaiiing loi Puii. Hc iool a scai in lioni ol Susania's lousc wiil lis ampuiaicd
nosc cxlibiicd conspicuously.
As soon as Susania camc oui ol lis lousc io bcgin lis jouincy io Puii, lc saw
Kiiiania wiil lis ampuiaicd nosc and immcdiaicly dccidcd io canccl lis jouincy.
PURPORT
Ailcisis bclavc similaily in ploiiing ominous dcsigns cvcn ai ilcii own lcavy cosi
so ilai Vaisnavas can ncvci malc good piogicss in ilcii dcvoiional piaciiccs.
Tlcsc ailcisis do ilcii own spiiiiual laim loolislly by cicaiing disiuibanccs on
ilc way ol ilc Vaisnavas jouincy iowaids Vailunilalola.
LiveIy HeII
A pious God-conscious branmana oncc adviscd a diunlaid, Lool lcic - loi youi
own salc, givc up winc. In ilc loly sciipiuics ii is givcn ilai onc wlo ialcs winc
will go io lcll.`
Tlc diunlaid icplicd, lui Suicn labu also ialcs winc!`
Tlc branmana said, Hc will also go ioo lcll.`
Tlc diunlaid said, laiun labu also ialcs winc!`
Tlc branmana icplicd, Hc will also go io lcll.`
Tlc diunlaid said, Aiun labu also ialcs winc!`
Tlc branmana icplicd, Hc will also go io lcll. Wlocvci ialcs winc musi go io
lcll.`
Tlcn ilc branmana aslcd, Wlai clsc musi onc do io go io lcll'`
Tlc branmana iold lim, Tclling lics, sicaling, clcaiing oilcis, piaciising illicii
scx - all ialc you io lcll.`
So ilcn ilc diunlaid aslcd lim, Tlcn wlai will bc ilc laic ol lialmini ilc
piosiiiuic'`
Tlc branmana answcicd, Hcll.`
Tlc diunlaid pauscd a wlilc and aslcd, Lvciyonc wlo is a piosiiiuic musi go
io lcll'`
Tlc branmana icplicd, Ycs.`
Tlc diunlaid ilcn qucsiioncd luiilci, And ilosc wlo visii a piosiiiuic's lousc,
wlcic will ilcy go'`
Tlc branmana said, Also io lcll.`
Tlc diunlaid was ilcn bcsidc limscll wiil joy and cxclaimcd, Ol, ilcn ilcic
musi bc a lcllisl pandcmonium in lcll! Il somc mcn llocl io lcll, ilcn ii musi bc
gicai lun!`
PURPORT
Many pcoplc in ilis maiciial woild ialc inio ilcii lcads ilai ilcic slould bc
noiling io woiiy il many pcoplc commii lcinous ciimcs in piolusion. In laci, ilc
lallcn souls wlo ncvci caic loi sinccic dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid aic in
majoiiiy on ilis planci. Accoidingly, ilc biuic majoiiiy may icmain complaccni
wiiloui piaciising dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid and may comc io ilc conclusion
ilai ilcy will undcigo ilc samc laic as oilci ailcisis so wlai's ilc usc ol
appioacling a lcw sainily pcisons io gci io lcai good scimons! lciici io go by ilc
majoiiiy.`
Tlus many pcoplc bccomc avcisc io dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Tlis simply
icllccis ilc modc ol passion.
Doing Sums for fhe Teacher
Oncc a landloid appoinicd a iuioi loi lis son on a monilly salaiy ol liliccn iupccs
plus a monilly siipcnd ol anoilci liliccn iupccs loi ilc iuioi's mainicnancc cosi.
Tlc landloid's son was vciy wcal in mailcmaiics, so ilc iuioi would givc lim aloi
ol sums ioo do by limscll. In spiic ol ilc pupil's insisiing ilc iuioi io do ilc sums
loi lim, ilc iuioi would icll lim, Il I do ilc sums loi you, ilcn you will ncvci
lcain ilc mcilods. Railci, I would lilc io dcmonsiiaic ilc basic mcilod ol solving
ilc sums, oi ai lcasi I can assisi you wlcn you gci conluscd. lui you'll lavc io do
all youi sums loi youi own piaciicc.` Tlc boy was mosi inaiicniivc and lazy. Hc
lad laidly any inicicsi loi lcaining mails, bui lc lad io cngagc limscll in
piaciising mails wiil ilc iuioi undci picssuic liom lis paicnis.
Onc day lc was loudly ialling io lis sidclicls so ilai lis iuioi could casily
ovcilcai lim. Ioi mc my lailci las cngagcd a woiillcss iuioi on a monilly
salaiy ol liliccn iupccs plus an addiiional liliccn iupccs loi lis lood and cloiling -
in all iliiiy iupccs a monil! And lool, I am siill doing so many sums loi lim
cvciyday. Rcally I can'i iolciaic ilis anymoic; ilis siiain upon mc wlilc spcnding
so mucl moncy and siill ialing ilc iioublc ol doing all ilc sums loi lim! Wly
slould onc pay lim any salaiy wlcn in laci I myscll lavc io do all ilc sums'`
PURPORT
Many ol us mainiain a similai conccpi ilai wc icnouncc oui lamily lilc, wc
saciilicc aloi in ilc scivicc ol oui spiiiiual masici, somc ol us collcci donaiions
and do aloi ol muliilaiious diicci and indiicci scivicc loi ilc saiislaciion ol oui
spiiiiual masici, bui wlai do wc gain'
Hcic wc loigci ilai wc do sucl sums loi oui own bcnclii alonc and by sucl
sciviccs, wc aic ouisclvcs aic uplilicd, noi ilc spiiiiual masici.
Tlc spiiiiual masici lnows ilc sums vciy wcll and ii is only loi oui own wcll-
bcing ilai lc is gciiing ilc sums donc by us. Tlc spiiiiual masici is cngaging us in
dillcicni sciviccs loi oui own saiislaciion and wcllaic in ilc pail ol dcvoiion.
Tlosc wlo aic avcisc io ilcii own bcnclii, only considci sucl sciviccs io bc mcani
loi ilc wcllaic ol ilc spiiiiual masici, loi ilc icmplc complcx, loi ilc Vaisnavas,
loi ilc Loid, and ilus loolislly ialc liiilc inicicsi in ilcm.
GoIden, SiIver, and Iron ShackIes
Tlcic was oncc a piincc, a minisici's son, and a iicasuici's son wlo wcic all closc
liicnds . Oncc upon a iimc, all ilicc ol ilcm sci oui on a long jouincy io dillcicni
disiani lands. On ilc way ilcy lappcncd io aiiivc ai a ioyal palacc wlcic ilc ling
ol ilai land was abscni, bui lis dauglici, ilc piinccss, was siaying ilcic along
wiil lci iwo closcsi liicnds - onc ilc minisici's dauglici and ilc oilci ilc
iicasuicis dauglici ol ilai land. Tlosc ilicc ladics wcic also similaily closc
liicnds lilc ilc piincc, ilc minisici's son and ilc iicasuici's son mcniioncd abovc.
Tlc piincc and lis iwo liicnds cxclangcd ilcii acquainianccs wiil ilc piinccss
and lci iwo consoiis. And ii wasn'i long bcloic ilc ilicc young mcn pioposcd io
maiiy ilosc ilicc damscls. lui ilcy lcsiiaicd as ii was cusiom io gci pcimission
liom ilcii icspcciivc paicnis loi ilc maiiiagc. Howcvci, ilcy dccidcd io maiiy
wiiloui luiilci dclay, accoiding io ilc old saying anyiling auspicious slould bc
lasicncd`.
So ilcic lappy maiiiagcs wcic solcmniscd. Tlcicalici ilc ling ol ilc land wiil
lis minisici and iicasuici camc bacl liom ilcii iiavcls and cnicicd ilc ioyal
palacc only io scc in gicai asionislmcni ilai ilcii piinccss and ilcii iwo consoiis
wcic claiiing up wiil ilicc young siiangcis. Upon lcaiing ilai ilosc ilicc mcn
lad iicspasscd inio ilc ioyal palacc only io lliii wiil ilc young womcn and iall
ilcm inio an illcgal maiiiagc, ilc ling oidcicd ilcii aiicsi.
Tlc piinccss ilcn bcggcd lci lailci io iclcasc lci lusband. Tlc iicasuici's
dauglici and ilc minisicis dauglici also icspcciivcly lcll on ilcii lnccs in lioni ol
ilcii lailcis and bcggcd ilcm loi ilcii lusbands' iclcasc. Howcvci, ilc ling did
noi iclcasc ilc young lusbands, bui oidcicd ilai piopci icspcci slould bc slown
io ilc young piincc by iying lim up wiil goldcn slacllcs, wlcicas ilc young son
ol ilc minisici slould bc givcn silvci slacllcs, and ilc iicasuicis son slould bc
bound wiil iion slacllcs, all accoiding io ilcii icspcciivc siaius.

PURPORT
Tlc Supicmc Loid binds up all living cniiiics similaily in ilicc iypcs ol slacllcs,
namcly ilc maiciial modcs accoiding io ilc icaciions ol ilcii icspcciivc liuiiivc
aciiviiics. Tlc bondagc ol goodncss may vciy wcll bc compaicd io goldcn slacllcs,
ilai ol passion io silvci slacllcs, and ilc cnianglcmcni in ignoiancc is ianiamouni
io iion slacllcs.
Wlaicvci migli bc ilc clcmcnis oi mcials wiil wlicl ilc slacllcs aic madc,
ilcy aic simply mcani loi impiisonmcni. Unlcss and uniil onc gocs bcyond ilcsc
ilicc maiciial modcs oi cnianglcmcnis, onc can ncvci bc considcicd licc and
libciaicd. Only onc wlo complcicly suiicndcis unio ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc
Loid uncondiiionally may ilus bc dclivcicd liom sucl bondagc.
The Pauper and fhe Omniscienf Sage
A vciy pooi louscloldci branmana lad io mainiain a laigc numbci ol clildicn.
Tlc branmana was almosi a paupci and lc lamcnicd lis piolongcd povciiy. Tlc
local pcoplc ncvci caicd io lclp lim bui uscd io iidiculc lim in many ways, saying
ilai lc aciually posscsscd lugc wcalil and picicndcd io bc a paupci wiil a moiivc
io misappiopiiaic moncy liom oilcis on lalsc picicxis. Tlus ilc branmana was
bcing scandalizcd wiiloui ilc sliglicsi sympaily. As a icsuli, ilc branmana livcd
in uimosi dcpicssion and wcpi all ilc iimc loi lis unpicccdcnicd misloiiunc.
Ii jusi so lappcncd ilai an omniscicni sainily pcison oncc camc io ilc branmana
and lisicncd io lis pioblcms. Tlc sainily pcison was in laci a omniscicni sagc and
iold ilc branmana, O branmana, you aic lamcniing unicasonably wiiloui
lnowing ilai youi lailci lad aciually lcli loi you a mass ol wcalil. Lool oui loi
ilai iicasuic, and you will lind ii buiicd somcwlcic in youi own couiiyaid.`
Upon lcaiing ilis, ilc branmana immcdiaicly siaiicd digging a placc on ilc
souilcin sidc ol lis lousc, wlcn ilc omniscicni sagc waincd lim saying, O
branmana! You musi bc awaic ilai ilcic you will lind somciling moic dangcious
ilan ilc loinci. On ilai noiil sidc, ilcic livcs a blacl snalc and ii will suicly
dcvoui you, ilcn ilcic will bc no clancc ol gciiing ilc iicasuic.`
Tlcn ilc branmana iuincd io ilc wcsi sidc and jusi siaiicd digging in scaicl ol
ilc liddcn iicasuic, wlcn ilc cnliglicncd sagc adviscd lim saying, O branmana!
You musi bc cvcn moic caiclul now. Hcic a glosi is siaying appoinicd io guaid
youi lailci's liddcn iicasuic. Hc will lill you.`
Now ilc branmana camc io lis wii's cnd and cniicaicd ilc sagc, o masici! You
io aic mocling mc. As you may lnow, I am a complcicly dcjccicd paupci. Plcasc
don'i laiass mc lilc ilis any moic.`
Tlc lind-lcaiicd sagc iold lim ai lasi, Don'i gci impaiicni. You slould lnow
vciy wcll ilai ilcic musi bc a loi ol lindianccs bcloic aiiiving ai ilc uliimaic goal.
Youi lailci lad posscsscd gicai iniclligcncc and so lc buiicd ilc iicasuic on ilc
casi sidc, wlilc lccping scvcial unusual scniiics on all oilci sidcs loi pioicciing
ilc wcalil. Havc a liiilc moic paiicncc and jusi siaii digging ai ilc casi sidc ol
youi couiiyaid wlcic you will icacl ilc loiiunc.`
Tlc branmana was ilcn cncouiagcd io dig on ilc casi sidc as adviscd and goi ilc
liddcn iicasuic in no iimc. Tlcicalici lc was wcalily loi ilc icsi ol lis lilc.
PURPORT
Naiiaicd by Sii Caiianyadcva, ilis sioiy conliims ilai oui Supicmc Iailci las lcli
cnougl liddcn iicasuic loi us and oui spiiiiual masici comcs inio oui lilc io lcad
us pcilccily io obiain ilai iicasuic . lui wc slould bc vciy caiclul io avoid going
in ilc wiong diicciions. In casc oui clloiis aic diiccicd iowaids liuiiivc aciiviiics
wiil a maiciial moiivc ilcn wc sullci liom uncnding dcsiics. On ilc oilci land, il
wc aic inclincd io icnouncc cvciyiling ilcn ii will bc suicidal in ilc licld ol ilc
iiansccndcnial way ol living.
And, ai ilc lasi, il wc aic inicicsicd in ilc yogic piaciicc, ii will simply polluic
oui spiiiiual livcs. So, ilc bcsi mcilod is io ialc up ilc dcvoiional aspcci ol living,
wlicl suicly lclps us in aclicving ilc ical wcalil wiiloui any dangci.
-THE END-