Start Lecture Transcribing:

TEXT 6

“våtras tu sa kathaà päpaù

sarva-lokopatäpanaù
itthaà dåòha-matiù kåñëa
äsét saìgräma ulbaëe”
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.14.6

SYNONYMS
våtraù—Våträsura; tu—but; saù—he; katham—how; päpaù—although sinful (getting the body of
a demon); sarva-loka—of all the three worlds; upatäpanaù—the cause of suffering; ittham—such;
dåòha-matiù—firmly fixed intelligence; kåñëe—in Kåñëa; äsét—there was; saìgräme ulbaëe—in
the great blazing fire of battle.

TRANSLATION
Våträsura was situated in the blazing fire of battle and was an infamous, sinful demon, always
engaged in giving troubles and anxieties to others. How could such a demon become so greatly
Kåñëa conscious?

PURPORT
It has been described that a näräyaëa-paräyaëa, a pure devotee, is rarely found even among
millions and millions of persons. Therefore Parékñit Mahäräja was surprised that Våträsura, whose
purpose was to give trouble and anxiety to others, was one of these devotees, even on a battlefield.
What was the reason for Våträsura's advancement?

Start Lecture by His Holiness Radhanath Svami Maharaja.

Today we are reading from canto 6 of Srimad Bhagavatam, chapter 14, entitled “King Citraketu's
Lamentation” and text 6.

Pariksit Mahaaja was a great descendent of the Pandavas, who had the supreme fortune of directly
seeing Krishna and feeling Krishna’s love within the womb of his mother and who from the
moment of his birth was searching for Krishna like a wealthy person who had lost his treasure in
life. He saw Krishna. Now he was born into the Royal Dynasty, the sole survivor of the Pandava
Dynasty, who was soon to be informed as the next emperor of the world but he was like a man
who had fortune and lost it all because he could not longer see Krishna. He longed, he prayed for
that treasure to return. Wherever he went throughout his life, he was observing, watching, looking
for Krishna. Krishna tells in Bhagavad-Gita, “For one who sees Me everywhere and everything in
Me, for him I am never lost nor he ever lost to Me”.

If we are looking for Krishna, we will see Krishna every where. In separation within our heart we
see. When Krishna was in Vrindavana the Gopi’s were seeing Him with their eyes but after He left
for Mathura and then Dwaraka they could not see Him with their eyes. But in their separation, they
were seeing Him within their heart. Therefore everywhere they looked at every leaf, every tree,
every flower, every house, or in every person they remember Krishna. In remembering Krishna,
we see Krishna internally.

To always remember Krishna and never Krishna is the process by which we see Krishna. This is
the very essence of bhakti, “how to remember Krishna”? All the nine process of the devotional
service are ways in which we can intimately remember Krishna, by offering the fruits of our
activities to Krishna according to our particular position in Varnashrama Dharma. That is a
preliminary state of devotional service. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was told in Udpi by some
of the leaders there that the path of perfection is to perform one’s duties according to Varnashrama
for the pleasure of the Lord, the Lord considered “Yes but that is not the real perfection but that is
external bhakti”. Then He quoted Prahalad Maharaja. What the real aim of life is and how to
achieve it?

“çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù

smaraëaà päda-sevanam
arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà
sakhyam ätma-nivedanam”
Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23
These nine process of devotional service beginning with hearing, chanting, and remembering
because in following these nine processes of the devotional service under proper guidance, we
observe ourselves and always remembering Krishna. All the rules, all the regulations, of all the
scriptures, are all meant to serve these two cardinal principles to always remember Krishna and
never forget Krishna.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu especially taught the most honest and affective way of cultivating this
remembering Krishna in a mood of separation. Because we cannot see everywhere with our eyes
but if we are searching for Him, looking for Him then we remember Him. When we longing for to
see someone that remembrance is very powerful, they can distract your mind away from
everything else. Not just a casual remembrance. In ordinary religious ritual we may not remember
at all. We may be thinking of something come let be selfish or material while we are performing
our puja. But when there is actually the pain of separation and whether we are performing our
ritual or not will be absorbed and remembrance.

This is the great mercy Parikshita Maharaja has received. Before he was born to see the light of the
world he saw Krishna. Before he saw his mother or his father or the light of the day, he saw
Krishna. The womb is a very dark place. I do not remember specifically but it seems that would be
very dark place. Nine months in a womb of a mother. During the last duration of that confinement
the embryo was conscious, seeing, feeling, tasting, aware of the pleasures and the pains if
undergoing and completely bewildered. While he was in womb the Brahmastra was coming right
at Parikshita Maharaja to kill him, a very sensationalistic abortion to say the list. Asvatthama was
determined to kill and he was so expert, he could take a weapon like Brahmastra that how had the
power to destroy in entire planet and directed specifically at an embryo in a womb and would not
even harm the mother. He was real Yogi. So the Brahmastra was coming, the child could not do
anything, the child did not know what is what but his mother Uttara, she loved her child. She
would give her life for million times in a second to protect her child. She was help less. Similar to
Draupadi.
When Draupadi was in a very great dangerous condition of life about to loose which was more
sacred to her than anything else, her chastity because her chastity was very intimate and intricate
part identity with her husbands. For a woman to violet her chastity is the ultimate offence against
the husband and someone like Draupadi to offend the husband, to offend God is worse than death.
So she was praying because she was helpless but she cried out for Krishna with such feeling that
Krishna came to save her.

Uttara is in same situation. Her only child was about to be killed and there was no question of
another child because her husband was already dead and there was no question that she would ever
marry, so that was it. She wants to be a mother. It is it. So one and only chance, her husband is
dead. So she cried to Krishna. This is a very philosophical principle that we are covered in the
darkness of ignorance.
“oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù”
SVA1
The conditioned soul is like in the womb of material nature, in the womb of ignorance in great
darkness, where there is danger at every step. So many inflictions will come upon us. What is our
possibility of approaching god? But when the great souls like Uttara prayed to save her son. If
great souls pray for us, He saw their mercy upon us then Krishna will come and save us too. But
then we have to be willing to be saved. That is the principle.

At Pune Yatra our dear Gauravani Prabhu, who made us dance and sings so joyfully with his
kirtans. At the end if you remember he was expressing very sincerely from his heart, “The only
reason, I am a devotee at all, I was or I am, was due to the prayers of my mother”. Do you
remember? He meant it. He is grateful. He was born a devotee but he was distracted by so many
people when they reach with their teenage years in America. But despite how hard he tried his
mother’s prayers attracted Krishna to pull him back into a joyful blissful life of Krishna
Consciousness and he knows that and he is grateful.

Srila Prabhupada’s disciples they asked Srila Prabhupada, “What is our qualification for coming to
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement”? Just directing us to Goloka Vrindavana. He said, “You
had no qualifications. I made your qualifications”. In Jaladuta he was praying to Krishna to be an
instrument to save us. He was praying to Krishna to speak through him, to enlighten our hearts. In
the darkness of the womb of material existence, he prayed and Krishna appeared. That is the
reality.

Prahalad Maharaja, he describes the nice process of devotional service to his father. In the sense
Hiranyakashipu was really in the darkness of Ignorance and what saved him. Not his mother’s
prayers, not his father’s prayers but by his son’s prayers. After Prahalad Maharaja describes the
nine process of devotional service, he explains to Hiranyakashipu that really the only possible way
to follow these nine principles of bhakti properly
“naiñäà matis tävad urukramäìghrià
spåçaty anarthäpagamo yad-arthaù
mahéyasäà päda-rajo-'bhiñekaà
niñkiïcanänäà na våëéta yävat”
 Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.32
One must have the blessings of great souls. Narada prayed for Prahalad. Prahalad prayed for
Hiranyakashipu. Srila Prabhupada praying for all of us. This is the disciplic succession of being
prayed for. If we take the dust of the feet of the great souls and make that our life and soul that
means by becoming the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord then Krishna will enter the
dark womb of our consciousness and give us light. That is the path of back to godhead. And
actually there is not other way.

Rupa Goswami tells that how does one really come to the path of devotional service. We can give
so many explanations but in essence it comes down to only one thing. Nobody can come to the
path of devotional service without receiving the mercy of a vaisnava. Parikshita Maharaja received
so many blessings and he was a perfect person. He ruled the kingdom in such a way that he made
the world Krishna Consciousness. Even Kali had to stand back. What a soul, he was? We see today
how much influence Kali has over this planet. What is the power of Kali? Kali has tremendous
energy. Here is one man that forced Kali down to his knees to bow his head and who had to beg
Parikshita Maharaja, “Give me somewhere. As long as you are a king there is no place for me. I
can even enter into a cell as long as you a king. Give me some place because I need somewhere to
rule. I am a so called keshetriya too.

Parikshita Maharaja said, “Wherever illicit sex, intoxication, Gambling, and meat eating are that’s
your kingdoms. You can rule and control over any one who is doing that”. What was Kali’s
response? There is no such things of those sinful activities in this world as long as you are king.
Nobody would ever dare to do that. Everyone is Krishna Consciousness. So still there is no place
for me to go. You can brick with the havoc of quarrel and hypocrisy and through that process the
generate, religious principles, create conflict, more hatred, envy and all other vices to hearts
content. “Wherever there is the greed for wealth, greed for gold”. Then we see how due to this
greed so many sinful activities are coming in this world and so much fighting and hatred and envy.

Yesterday a very wealthy person was speaking to me. He was in another country and he said, “In
the villages the people are so poor but they looks so peaceful and happy because they are not so
greedy. Whatever little they have, they share with each other and they are happy.

Narada Muni, he cursed Nalakuvera and Manigriva to become trees, out of his mercy. Srila
Prabhupada explains very nicely, how greed for wealth is such a source of misery. We think we
need more with wealth comes prestige and power and we want more and more. But as long as we
are using it for our own selfish purposes, we are just taking a new rope around neck and pulling it
just pulling it righter and tighter with every paisa we get, unless you use it in God’s service. That is
a fact. But Kali keeps us in this illusion. Simple living high thinking is what Krishna
Consciousness is about. Factually Parikshita Maharaja was emperor of the world as was
Yudhisthira but they live the life simple living and high thinking. They did not have greed for
anything. They did not have attachment. They used to offer Krishna. They used that all for the
benefit of others and what they had and they used it properly for their family as well. But there was
no pride. No greed. These things kill, they murdered, they terrorized, they slaughter the good
qualities of the soul. Hare Krishna.
Radha Gopinath is very expert in special affects in this time. So Narada Muni was so merciful to
Munigriva and Nalakuvera that he took them from the beautiful body so the demigods in the
heavenly planets, the sons of Kuvera, which means they had access to all the wealth of their father,
the treasurer of the heavenly worlds. They were enjoying the most beautiful women and having so
many facilities in every way to just enjoy and then in the next moment they had the bodies of trees.
No more nice heavenly flesh but bark is flesh. No body could look at their eyes; they have only
arms all over the place. They are Arjuna trees. They were not very beautiful trees. Whoever see
them? They stand their for hundred years to leave as trees. Hare Krishna.

When actually in that state and they saw Krishna. If they saw Krishna, is Manigriva and
Nalakuvera they probably made an aparadha to him because they were too puffed up. Duryodhana
saw Krishna and he just made aparadha. Sishupala saw Krishna. Dantavakra saw Krishna.
Dushasan saw Krishna. So many people saw Krishna. Hiranyakashipu saw Krishna. Kamsa saw
Krishna. Unless you have the consciousness of humility and devotion, even if we see Krishna with
your eyes, you will not appreciate because Krishna reveals Himself according to our service
attitude.

So the trees, they were really humbled. They could not even walk. Can you imagine? It’s one thing
to be a tree with consciousness of a tree. But they had the full consciousness of demigods with the
body of the tree. Imagine that. They were constantly flying around on their flower airplanes
anywhere they wanted. Doing anything they wanted. Eating anything they wanted. Drinking
anything they wanted. Every comfort in this world was theirs. Sometimes even in little human
being, you have very little facility and comparison to do anything. But if you hurt your back and
the doctor says, lay on your back bed rest for eight weeks, so long eight weeks. Can you do it? You
cannot move. You cannot get off. So many things you want to do. Or you may have to fast for
sometimes and just drink water. That’s the trees gets to eat. They were eating fine heavenly food
and now all of sudden all they get just water that falls from the sky and there was no water. If there
is no rain, you just wait.

They had the full consciousness of demigods. Beautiful ladies are walking by and they did not
even look at them. Here they are demigods respected by the other devas as the son’s of Kuvera.
Now dog’s are coming and passing urine on them. You are laughing but they were not laughing.
They had to get use to this new life style. It is a culture shock. But then they got to see Krishna.
They were so much purified by the experience of suffering and pain that in the bodies of trees they
were watching Krishna’s lila. They could not even speak. Can you imagine you can speak, you can
move and just stands in the monsoon, cold winters (winters are cold in Vrindavana), Summers are
hot. People are coming on you to get. There is no shelter. It is very difficult, but they praise Narada
Muni. He was so kind. He freed us from our greed for wealth. So that we are actually receptive
that when you saw you we could know you, we could love you and we could surrender to you.

Parikshita Maharja, this was his power. Single handedly he subdued Kali had him bowing his head
at Parikshitia Maharaja’s feet. He was not just ruler, who sat on his office. He regularly travel the
entire planet personally to make sure everyone is satisfied, to make sure spiritual principles were
being appealed and uproot the ego, such a king and he was cursed to die for a small mistake. There
is so many stories in Srimad Bhagavatam. It was only apparently a mistake. Ultimately it was
Krishna’s will. How was Parikshita Maharaja, who was so totally shelf controlled, who was so
compassionate to all living beings, who was such protector of the brahmanas. Why would he
become angry at a brahmana? Just because he was thirsty. It was completely out of his character.
And he did not do anything so wrong. But he just considers that this brahmana is -, he is not
welcoming a guest that comes to his house. He did not give me a garland. Here is a garland for you
and he put a dead snake on his shoulders.

For that reason, Sringi, the son of Saunak risi, cursed him to die in seven days. Kali some how or
other got ride in that son and made that curse. So that he could rule. Parikshita maharaja, actually
he was just the puppet of the Lord to make that mistake for higher purpose. Srimad Bhagavatam is
the crest jewel of all knowledge, was to be spoken by Suka Deva Goswami and Krishna wanted to
set the scene in the most exciting dramatic possible way so that people would take this message
very seriously.

I have been told by capitalist of this country and others, who are propagating various consumer
goods that advertising and packaging is such an important of convincing people to buy a product.
Krishna wants everyone as many as possible to take the Srimad Bhagavatam seriously. So he set
the state. He created this package. Whether the king of the whole planet was cursed to die in seven
days. What he is going to do? Now George Bush is cursed to die in seven days. But he is only for
eight years. The majority in the country and the world do not have so much love for him. If he is to
be curse to die in seven days, it probably would not be such big news any way. So I delete that
example.

But Parikshita Maharaja was loved by everyone. This is amazing. What is he going to do? He
gives up everything. He goes to the bank of Ganges at Sukatal. Have you ever been to Sukatal?
Krishnananda Prabhu you have been every where. It is a very nice place. There is a banian tree
there. That is where Sukadeva Goswami spoke to Parikshita Maharaja. This was such a dramatic
event that all the risis, the sages, and all the learned people from the entire universe came to that
place, to be with the king as she was going to die. There he enquires from Sukadeva Goswami.
Now Srila Prabhupada and the acaryas explained that Parikshita Maharaja had so much power. He
could of counter acted that curse if you wanted to. He was not an ordinary being. He could have
punish Sringi that foolish boy for this curse. But he saw no retaliation, he wanted no revenge, he
did not even wanted to protect himself from dying.

In fact he consider this an opportunity. Sukadeva Goswami tell him in the second canto. “Human
life is not meant for quantity, better one moment of full of consciousness then to live long life
without”. Parikshita maharaja, welcomed the curse as the grace of god.
“tat te 'nukampäà su-samékñamäëo
bhuïjäna evätma-kåtaà vipäkam
håd-väg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jéveta yo mukti-pade sa däya-bhäk”
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.8
This is Krishna’ grace. He is trying to help me and he wanted to utilize every moment of that seven
days for the highest purpose to hear and chant the glories of the lord. He received the blessings of
the so many great devotees and he sat at the feet of the Sukadeva Goswami and presented himself
as a most fallen, ignorant person. Although he was so learned, so Krishna Consciousness he did
not think good for himself. He simple humbled himself. That is the quality of the great soul.
Parikshita Maharaja, he is sitting there on mother Ganga’s bank in the presence Vyasadeva,
Narada Muni, Baisistha Muni, Biswamitra Muni, Devala Muni, Bharadwarja Muni, Angira Muni,
Agastya Muni, all the great celebrities, they were all there. They have these Bollywood events
where all the big stars, gather together.

I saw a hording star studied event, where there India’s and I do not know the any of your people. I
am sorry. I am not sorry but actually I am very happy. I do not know the single Bollyhood people.
As far as Hollywood I know some people from the 1960s. But I am safe, because most of them are
either old or dead. But if you go to such an event, it is quite thrilling experience. How can you
imagine, every great sages and risis from the puranas? Whatever time they live, even if they lived a
million years ago, they still came. They were all there. Look Vyasadeva! Live in person. They
were thousands of such risis. Who we read about? Who we hear about? Who we play for? The
gurus of the greatest personalities that ever live. They were all there. It’s amazing, all out of for
Parikshita Maharaja, such blessings.

So we find Parikshita Maharaja totally engrossed in the Srimad Bhagavatam. A little later when he
comes, he is going to tell Sukadeva Goswami that previously when I was just few hours, I have no
water, I was so thirsty then I made that mistake and offended Saunaka Risi. But here I have not any
a drop of water or any food for many many days and I have not been slept. I am not feeling the
slightest bit of hunger, thirst, and fatigue because I am being nourished by the flow of nectar that
coming from your mouth in the narrations of Krishna katha. He wa absolutely absorbed in Krishna
katha. The best way to remember Krishna is to be absorbed in Krishna. Krishna Consciousness is
about absorption, absorbing our minds, our hearts, and our consciousness in Krishna. But we are
performing devotional service, if we do it, casually there will be minimal purification, minimal
benefits and we get minimal pleasure to Krishna. Because Krishna does not want the thing we do.
Krishna wants our consciousness. Because our love is about our consciousness. So we should
absorbed ourselves and Srila Prabhupada was expert.

Srila Prabhupada taught us that if you really striving to do your service the best you possibly can
then you are absorbed in your service. Whatever we are doing, we should do with our full heart,
with our full consciousness because it is for Krishna. We are making garland for Krishna.
Absorbed yourself and make it the best way for Krishna. Krishna is not please, how the garland
looks. Krishna is pleased with the attitude in which we make the garland. If you are offending
other people and you are making your garland. It may be beautiful to the eyes of mundane people
but Krishna. If you offend others, you take flowers away from them for your garland and you have
the best Malati, Mogra, Lotus, Rose and all the good flowers and put it on Krishna. It is a garland
of thrones for him because you have thorny consciousness picking others. But if you soft
consciousness, in a mood of servitude, servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord and you are
absorbed in that spirit and even if the garlands only some leaves Krishna will smell Malati, Mogra,
Lotus, Roses soft and fresh.

Because Krishna is bhavagrahi. He accepts our consciousness, our service attitude. When we speak
about garlands were speaking about every type of service. When Jagadananda Pandit was fasting
because lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would not accept sense gratification from him in the form of
the pot of very expensive sandalwood oil was supposed to massage Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
body. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Give it to Lord Jagannath”. Jagadananda Pandit said, “I never
made it for You any way”. He broke the pot. He went into his room and locked it. Fasting in just
laying down. It was like on strike. “vaiñëavera kriyä, mudrä vijïeha nä bujhaya”. We cannot
understand vaisnavas. Are any of you done that? You are in big trouble. Jagadananda Pandit does
that and he is one of the greatest acaryas. He writes wonderful books what vaisnavas are still
reading today.

You see, if you do that Caitanya Mahaprabhu will just ignore you. But Jagadananda Pandit does it.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu comes to his house and beg, Please. He knows Lord Caitanya could
not get him to eat, no matter what. The only way he could get him to eat is he cooked for lord
Caitanya then he would get his remnants. So Lord Caitanya loves his devotees so much. He said,
“Jagadananda, today at noon I am coming to your house for lunch. So prepare lunch for me”.
Jagadananda Pandit was very happy because he could give Lord Caitanya sense gratification. He
could make really good preparation. He make so many nice preparations. Lord Caitanya ate. Lord
Caitanya usually take just a little. He was playing the role of a sannyasi. But out of fear of
Jagadananda pandit Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu kept eating more and more and Jagadananda Pandit
give more and more. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was afraid to say no because if you say no,
Jagadananda pundit might start fasting again. When Jagadananda fast that’s very difficult for that
to the lord. That was the reciprocation of the nature of their love.

So Jagadananda Pandit was so absorbed that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was eating his
Prasad. Lord Caitanya said that Jagadananda Pandit cooking is so sweet and so nectarine, even
when he was in angry mood. But if you are in angry mood if some other devotee and you are
cooking, it is going to taste like poison because Krishna tastes your consciousness. It is not just
subji in the spices. The absorption and how you make it that is pleasing to Krishna. And that
applies to every type of devotional service. The substance of a society of devotees is when
devotees really leave with this spirit. The devotees are not trying to get some chief adoration, some
chief positions, or chief prestige. Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur, he saw that in spiritual society
even like Gaudiya matha, if people are after their the whole substance of bhakti is compromised
drastically. So he gave a drastic example. He said the prestige of this world should be seen as the
stool of a bore. We won’t go to any details.

Cow dung is very pure. Pig dung is not pure dong and bore dung is not even acceptable by the
pigs. So in a spiritual society you know the substance of the devotional attitude, they were all
trying to develop is of the essence. That’s what we ultimately attract the conditioned souls to the
path of bhakti. When they see genuineness individual and collective. People are genuine. They are
really striving to be humble. They are really striving to please Krishna through a proper service
attitude. Not trying to show up to each other, control each other, manipulate each other, exploit
each other, or beyond truthful to each other for those purposes. But it is simple. A vaisnava is
simple. A vaisnava’s pleasure is to chant Hare Krishna, to take a little Prasad and to serve. We can
do so many other things. Srila Prabhupada was like that. He was so simple. Simplest man and
anyone had ever seen. But yet to protect Krishna’s interest he was just unbelievably wise and
proficient in everything he did. But his motivation was completely simple. Because he wanted
nothing for himself. He just wanted to help others and please Krishna and his guru that’s all.

So although he was the world acarya. In Juhu he had to do all source of manipulations. So that
Radharasa Bihari would have their temple. He had to do so many things to avoid his devotes being
cheated. He had to organize an entire society. He engaged himself in many complicated situations
and he did it in such efficiency, proficiency and everything else. But he was totally simple.
Because his motivation was nothing for himself. His motivation was simply to please Krishna to
serve the vaisnavas and be an instrument of Krishna’s compassion for the conditioned souls. That’s
what simplicity was about. It is about our motivations. Yudhisthira Maharaja was a king. What
simply about sitting on a throne and wearing a golden crown with the most valuable jewel on
earth. Ususally they put the most valuable jewels on earth and emperor’s crown. Does that looks
simple?

If Krishnananda prabhu come in with beautiful jewel crown and silken robes with golden
embroidery and wonderful necklaces, pearls, emeralds, diamonds, rubies, earrings. Probably one
would say, “He is finished”. Because usually if somebody living in such conditions, wherever
Yudhisthira would go. It is not just that there he would just walk around bare foot. Wherever he
would go, there would be marching bands and entourages and brahmanas chanting mantras. Just he
would go to the river to the bathe. There would be brahmans chanting mantras and slokas and there
would be people playing in instruments and there would be beautiful girls dancing and everybody
would be, the whole kingdom would be lining in the streets to see the king going to take his bath.
Simple living high thinking. It’s actually was. Even in that circumstance, in that environment, he
was totally simple because his service attitude was pure. He just wanted to please Krishna. He did
not want to exploit anyone else. He did not want take any credit. He was just doing it for Krishna.
He was doing it for the welfare of the citizens for him to give it up. He would have been false ego,
if Krishna wants him to do.

Priyavrata, he was living on a mountain with Narada Muni as a saddhu. Lord Brahma says to
become the king and he had to do all that stuff. Entourages where ever you go, getting married,
having children, Royal palace, and so many complicated organizing armies, taxing the citizens,
making laws. Priyavrata did it, because that’s what pleases Krishna in no attachments because
that’s what to please Krishna. So Krishna is bhavagrahi. It is the service attitude that is all
important and that is what we are concerned with. In the long run, if its your service attitude the
people will appreciate. No just the cheap sensation of what you can do today or tomorrow. So in
everything we do, we should really try to absorb ourselves in a service attitude. In that spirit when
we do these nine process of devotional service, it will have tremendous affect on awakening our
Krishna Consciousness.

As we are explaining yesterday, Krishna Consciousness is so rare because you cannot attain it. It is
given to you. All you could do is being receptive to follow the principles, no matter what in that
soft hearted spirit. Then Krishna and the vaisnavas give you their blessings that is the power that
conquers maya. Its not our sense control. Its not our knowledge. It’s the blessings and the mercy of
guru, Krishna, and the vaisnavas that can conquer maya and we must not just pretend to get those
blessings. Those blessings actually come according to our service attitude. According to our
sincerity. Sincerity means in no ulterior motive that you really want something for the right
purpose without ulterior motives.

Parikshita Maharaja he was absorbed, in this mood and therefore when he was listening to Krishna
katha there was not even a thought of hunger or thirst. He was being empowered beyond his own
capacity and abilities. In this particular verse Parikshita Maharaja is utterly in – by the mystery of
this narration. So really a mystery. The greatest of mysteries. What are mysteries are in the
bookshelves of the book stores are nothing compares to this. This is really a mystery, Vritrasura.
The difference is, this is none fiction. This is history. This a fabulous story.

How Krishna sets the philosophy like jewel set in a golden ring. Krishna sets the jewel of this
philosophy in such a beautiful environment, just show the people would really be eager to hear it.
The stories of fascinating. Even if it is not philosophical, but if you read the story without even
knowing it you heard the philosophy.

Indra that great personality, he was the leading demigod of the heavenly planets. He falls victim to
fear to the some attachment to his position. Due to some false pride he did not recognize and offer
honor to his guru, when he came in and because of that he lost everything and there the whole
series of event took place of how to get everything back and ultimately because of his aparadhas,
the demons, the ausras were conquered him. Then he goes to Viswarupa. Viswarupa was very
amazing personality. Lord Brahma tells Indra go to Viswarupa. He goes to Viswarupa. Viswarupa
gives him the abilities to get his kingdom back. But because Viswarupa was very very neutral
person. He was kind to everyone. He offered a little oblation for his relatives, the asuras and what
does Indra do? He cuts his heads up.

Tvasta, who was the father of Viswarupa and a very powerful brahmana. He does not have to go to
the police and file a report. He just does a Yajna and just makes an oblation and out of the fire
comes Vritrasura, instantly a massive demon. He was ugliest than anything. So fearful. When he
roared the earth shook. He was huge. He covered the sky. He was trampling the demigods like ants
under his feet. They throw their weapons at him and he did not even fight against their weapons.
He just like the sewing mosquitoes away. That was the power of Vritrasura. He totally conquered
Indra. Indra was absolutely defeated internally. Because he threw a club at Vritrasura and
Vritrasura was effortlessly just cut and threw it back and knockdown Indra’s elephant Airavata and
made him vomiting blood, fell to the ground and Indra just gave up his hope. How can I fight with
this monster?

Parikshita Maharaja was listening to this amazing narration. In that situation, when Indra like
Arjuna in Kurukshetra, just completely emotionally drained and he just gave up. Indra was due to
fear he was in that state. Arjuna due to compassion, he was in that state. This was, why Krishna
spoke to Arjuna. Here Vritrasura preached same philosophy to Indra. Perfect Vaisnava Siddhant
with such deep realizations. Amazing. Parikshita maharaja was listening. All of sudden this demon
was preaching Hari katha. Then he was telling Indra, how he could kill him. Then empowered by
Vritrasura’s katha, Indra fights. Then Vritrasura just was eager to die, so that he could go back to
god head. He was saying, “You, you are attached to living in this material world. You are a fool.
But myself I am attached to dying. So that I can go back to godhead. So you are meant to win and
stay in this material world. I meant to loose this battle and go back to godhead. In winning you lose
and in losing I win. That’s essentially being said. So Vritrasura was totally Krishna Conscious.
Then he completely immersed in remembering Krishna at the time of dead. Aloof to the whole
material existence. If he is having his head cut off with Indra’s thonderbot and he is just like
absorbed in Narayana smaranam. Then his soul goes back to the spiritual world of Vaikuntha.
Parikshita maharaja was listening to this and he was wondering, “Vritrasura was situated in the
blazing fire of battle and was an infamous sinful demon, engaging in giving troubles and anxieties
to others. How such demon could becomes so greatly Krishna Conscious. This was Parikshita
Maharaja’s amazement. Can you imagine the way Parikshita Maharaja must of stated this
question? If there were Video tapes in those days or tape recorders. But Krishna planned that there
wasn’t. So that we can the massage is right here and according to our service, you see television
and tapes and all that stuff, one of the limitation is you are mechanically listening. You could hear
the vibration, you could hear the Baba and to all that to some extent. But when you are reading “ye
yathä mäà prapadyante täàs tathaiva bhajämy aham” According to how you eager you are to hear
and according to the motivations, which you are reading. The personality that speaking in
scriptures is going to come live to you. You can hear the sentiments. You can hear their emotions.
You can feel their voice. You can feel the power, the enthusiasm of their voice. It is not just the
theoretical thing. Because this is transcendental sound vibration, “The Sabda Brahma”. The
vibration is none different than the original substance of being spoken.

Srila Prabhupada said, “If you are reading Srimad Bhagavatam with the spirit of Arjuna, you will
hear Krishna’s voice exactly as Arjuna did in the page, as you reading they will awaken in your
heart”. So for some of us not for to absorb, not to eager, or not to so serious. We could be reading
this particular verse today and falling asleep. You are just reading and your mind is drifting up
thinking about “why did that person say like that to me today”? or Why have I headache today?
Why do I deserve so many things like this? Your mind could be in so many places. You could be
read Vritrasura is a sinful demon. Why my wife put so much sugar in the dal today? She knows I
do not like sugar in my dal. Always engage in giving troubles and anxieties throughout. That’s my
wife, my wife. That is depending on how you are absorbed. But if you are really eager to hear, if
you are really enthusiastic and you are really receptive, then you will have the blessings of guru,
vaisnavas and Krishna, then from within your heart Parikshita maharaja’s voices were actually
speak these words. As he spoke them on that river bank that is the fact and that is transcendental
vibration.

It is actually none different. He is speaking to right now as he spoke to Sukadeva Goswami and
every word of Krishna speaks, every word Sukadeva Goswam speaks. If you have the ears to hear,
you will hear exactly as it is originally spoken from within. That’s why reading is so special.
Because it is not through mechanical devices that we get the experience. But it is the reciprocation
with our eagerness that we get that experience. Actually it is the same and similar classes which is
very similar we takes. If we are actually listening eagerly the substance is revealed to us according
to our eagerness to hear and our enthusiasm to hear. The sense of urgency of the need to hear.
Parikshita Maharaja was not in the Srimad Bhagavatam class for any ritualistic reason. It is not
because all the councilors were supposed to come to on Sunday. The urgency I need it. It is life or
death. It is desperation. I have to hear this message. To the degree we have that spirit the message
is going to awaken within our heart, the true spirit. Actually even if the speakers not so advanced
but he is speaking the words of Krishna or the words of Srimad Bhagavatam. If you have that
eagerness to hear, you can get more out of that than the speaker even knows. The speaker may be
just repeating but if you really have that eagerness to hear and that desperation for knowledge then
true imports and the purports of Srimad Bhagavatam could be revealed listening to him. That is the
magical bhakti. “vaiñëavera kriyä, mudrä vijïeha nä bujhaya”. It is very difficult to understand the
mind of a vaisnava, especially Vritrasura.
Actually we are about to read in the next pages is going to reveal what is behind Vritrasura’s
demoniac profile? Who really is this personality and why? It is astonishing. A devotee who is fully
surrendered to the lord and we cannot imitate this. If you just think, yes I am a devotee. So I will
become an infamous sinful demon and I’ll give troubles and anxieties to others because it is bona
fide. It is in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Devotees could like this. You will fall down and you will
lose everything, 100%. Just the matter of time. Devotees do not put others in anxiety or give others
troubles. Sometimes people by their own mental condition. They are in anxiety and troubles by
what devotees do but devotees are really honestly trying to be everyone’s well wisher. They never
purposefully put anyone in anxiety or trouble. That’s a devotee. To the degree we are like that you
are a devotee. “Parah-dukha-dukhi” Be real. Be hones. That’s what Krishna Consciousness is
about.

So Vritrasura is going to reveal in the future pages that he was such surrendered soul, he was
willing to do anything, everything for the pleasure of Krishna. Krishna wanted to use him for this
glorious purpose and he was willing to be used. Lord Shiva, the greatest Vaisnava he knows what
Vaisnava’s are really about. The essence of the whole spirit of this entire story is revealed in one
sloka.
“näräyaëa-paräù sarve
na kutaçcana bibhyati
svargäpavarga-narakeñv
api tulyärtha-darçinaù”
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.17.28
This is a vaisnava. Not concerned with his or her own selfish interest. Only concerned with interest
of Krishna. To the extent that here is Chitraketu for him, he does care if he is in heaven. He does
not care if he is in hell. He has no concern even for liberation. He only wants to serve the lord
That’s all. That is a vaisnava. Chitraketu Maharaja was a pure devotee. He went through hellish
conditions to become a pure devotee. His heart was broken more than anyone can imagine. But
that was the part of what his destiny was to become a pure devotee. Once he get there everything
that took him there was all worth while. All the sufferings, all the pains, all the tribulations, all the
trials, and everything you go through in life, If you just go through with the proper consciousness,
it will bring you to the path, it will bring you to the lotus feet of Radha Gopinath and when you
will get there you will think back, how beautiful everything was. Just right. While you are going
through it you could be why, how will I survive? This is too much, too much pressure. Why this is
happening? Too many injustices. If you think like that you just slowing down the process. “tat te
'nukampäà su-samékñamäëo”. Krishna I do not understand but I know that this is the best thing for
me. You are doing what’s best for me. I offer obeisances to you. If we have that consciousness
then when we come to that goal, will think back and all look so sweet. Krishna you are perfect and
perfect what you did.

So Chitraketu he as suffering with the death of his son and seeing his own wives killing his child.
Can you imagine the pain of that, the humiliation that his own queens ar killing his child of another
queen? It is horrible devastating. He was hankering and then he was lamenting. He was hankering
for child and lamented at the death of the child. It is too much. But like Manigriva and Nalakuvera,
he was in a state there he could actually appreciate the message of Narada Muni and he
surrendered everything. Then after surrendering to everything after all that he was cursed by
Parvati. So you may think that when you are karmi then all these things will happen to you. When
you are a devotee, everything is supposed to be nice. The story from Srimad Bhagavatam will
reveal to you, it is not always like that.

Even after he was a devotee and surrendered his life and everything, he was cursed by Parvati. It
was not a small curse. The controller of the entire material nature is cursing you to be a demon and
to go to hell and she was accusing him of blaspheming a vaisnava. ‘vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh”
Shiva is the greatest vaisnava. She was accusing, “You did the greatest vaisnava aparadha. You
blasphemed Shiva. So puffed up. Soarrogant. So ignorant. Fool. Go to hell and be a demon. That’s
what you deserve. Very harsh. Chitraketu maharaja, he did not even try to clear his name. He said,
“Actually I did not mean to offend him but anyways you are me to be a demon and go to hell and
all that. I accepted that is the lord’s mercy. Thank you very much. Now with your blessings I’ll
become demon”. That is surrender.

Another words, “äçliñya vä päda-ratäà pinañöu mäm”. This is the beautiful sloka from
Sikshastakam. Krishna you can do anything like with me. Srila Prabhupada prayed to be a puppet.
Chitraketu simply wanted to be the lord’s puppet. “If you want to make me dance as a great
acarya. I’ll be a great acarya. If you want me to dance in the way that no body knows I even exist
I’ll dance that way. If you want me to dance as the king of the demons and causing anxiety and
troubles to others and be sinful, I’ll do that”. He gladly willingly became a demon and Shiva was
watching this and he was overwhelmed with appreciation. Lord Shiva was worshiping Chitraketu
in the core of his heart. Just see what a vaisnava is about. So we should not judge devotees simply
by there external appearances.

In fact Rupagoswami warns us of that in Upadesamrita that we should not think a devotee’s
previous conditions, birth, or physical features. We should not judge a devotee on that basis. It is
very very dangerous. A devotee due to past conditioning he may have certain habits that we do not
like. But if Krishna sees an honest desire to serve in the heart of that devotee Krishna is pleased
with him or her and if you offend them or you ponder those bad qualities that you do not like on
them you are destroying your own bhakti. So we have to be very careful, “Not to commit
offenses”. Because the mind will justify and give excuses not only proper but it is necessary to
make this offence. In fact the mind will tell you it is not even an offence. So we have to be very
very carefurl. Especially great vaisnavas

There was one great Babaji, who acted in such a way that Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur told
his disciples, “Do not get closer to him”? But Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur would go to him
to get blessings. Because you cannot understand the vaisnavas. His name was Bamsidas babaji
Maharaja. Only of few of his disciples, he told. This is a very important instruction. That we
cannot always understand the mind of a great vaisnava. Some devotees became very disturbed
when Srila Prabhupada would be angry on them.

Giriraja Maharaja tells a story at the Delhi Pandal program that Srila Prabhupada got angry on
someone on stage. Some of the organizers of the Pandal were saying to the devotees that why your
guru maharaja got angry. Great saints are not supposed to get angry. They can understand.
Narashimadeva got angry. Caitanya Mahaprabhu got angry to Jagai and Madhai. That anger was
not due to frustrated lust or ego. It was an ecstatic manifestation of compassion. Devotees who
understand the vaisnavaism and understand for them that’s one of the most relishable pastimes of
Srila Prabhupada. But others even devotees they started to question in doubt why he got angry?
This teach us, how important it is to understand the massage properly. So we must be very very
mature and sincere and if we have a proper service attitude then all of these things will be naturally
understood by us and we can make steady progress. Chanting “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

QD: Is this being absorbed in whatever we do in Krishna Consciousness activities. Is it mercy of

guru and Krishna or is there a separate endeavor involved or something that happens
spontaneously or a period of time just wanted for clarification.

Ans Maharaja: All good things come by the mercy of guru and Krishna. Krishna could manifested
through guru, vaisnavas, and so many ways. But our endeavor is what attracts the mercy of
Krishna. If we do not endeavor, even if the mercy is there we will not be receptive to receive it. So
our endeavor is all important in order to access the mercy which is our only hope. Saddhana
Bhakti, we are asked to follow the rules and regulations that takes endeavor. It is not always easy
to chant 16 rounds everyday minimum. It is not always easy to follow these principles. It is not
always easy to control our gross senses, our ego, our pride, our anger. That may be very difficult.
But Krishna sees that endeavor as the expression of our sincerity. According to that sincerity
Krishna will manifest himself. He will manifest his mercy to deliver us. if a devotee thinks it is
based on my endeavor that I can be Krishna Consciousness. He is in illusion. That’s false ego. The
devotee thinks I do not have to do anything. So by the mercy of Krishna, that’s laziness. Either
way you will fail. You must endeavor to your capacity knowing that my endeavor will attract
Krishna’s mercy. Krishna’s mercy is unlimited.
“ananyäç cintayanto mäà
ye janäù paryupäsate
teñäà nityäbhiyuktänäà
yoga-kñemaà vahämy aham”
Bhagavad-Gita 9.22
Surrender is an endeavor in the beginning stages, when we attain more advance purified stages of
bhakti, surrender is spontaneous. It is our nature. But at the beginning it is training. If we do so
Krishna will preserve what we have. Krishna will carry what we lack. That is his mercy.

QD: Maharaja you mentioned today about the proper service attitude and how one should not be
offensive towards vaisnavas while doing a service. Maharaja you are sometimes do the service of
yours will need to instruct or may be to behave in a particular way towards other vaisanavas and
you may be able to very sensitive not to offend them also and in that mood you may be doing as
service. But by doing the service the person whom you are dealing with that person takes as it an
offence unknowingly. Even you know that all the care you have taken and you have dealing with
that person. May be your position demands to behave in a particular way that devotee. Because we
want to get the things done and you are asked to do the things. But the devotees takes it is an
offence. Now does it become an offence to the person who has committed that.

Ans Maharaja: You sound very defensive. Krishna sees your motive. Certainly we should try to
clarify such a situation and we should also take inventory of our own motives and our own actions
and words. To see if we really did anything that was improper and if we did, we should ask
forgiveness and we can go for that experience. But actually a real offence is something it is done
with negative motivations toward other persons. Those offenses are held very seriously. If we are
trying to hurt a person, or trying to demean a person, or if we trying to abuse a person or exploit a
person for our purposes that is offensive. But if we are honestly and just trying to serve the mission
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and somebody is just interprets it in this way
then what can you do. You could try to be more sensitive and more aware that I may have done or
said something that brought about the misunderstanding. So that you should try to improve
yourself. But at the same time we have to really honestly and earnestly examine our own motives
in our own actions. Sometimes even if we are trying honestly and earnestly, people just like that.
In this case we just offer respects to them and just carry with our service and not worry about it.
But in other thing even that person take an offensive toward you have done it must be coming from
some reasons to you. There must be something you to learn in that situation. May be of
detachment. May be how to improve your character. May be how to be more aware of how others
are perceiving you. But Krishna is speaking through that person obviously for your benefit to learn
something. So main thing is really try to understand, what Krishna wants me to learn through this
person’s anger toward me and you will grow.

QD: Hare Krishna. Maharaja you are saying about Parikshita maharaja’s rhyme how there was no
possibility of anyone breaking the regulative principles and people leading pure life and Kali raj
could not spread his territory. I had a question that there are many people who take shelter of an
institution of like ISKCON and counseling system. So institutionally take shelter but they do not
take shelter with their own heart. So they go on breaking their regulating principles and not taking
advantage of the Krishna Consciousness offered to them. So how much do the leaders responsible
for that. Just like Parikshita maharaja was responsible for all the citizens or all the leaders of
different levels are responsible for the violation of the regulative principles by that people who are
want sheltered physical entered them but not in the heart.

Ans Maharaja. It is not easy being a leader that is what you are saying. Our responsibility is to be
an instrument of the mercy of the parampara. Everyone has their free will. Our responsibility is to
lead them in the right way, by our words, by our examples by the decision we make by how we
organize things to instill the proper attitude and protect devotees. The morality and their
spirituality. That is the responsibility of every leader. And the devotees are breaking regulative
principles. Leadership doing everything within or his power to try to inspire and create an
atmosphere to help that devotee to over come his or her weakness that is our responsibility. But
ultimately if we are doing things properly we are always striving to improve. Nothing is stagnant.
Srila Prabhupada establishes ISKCON. He was constantly doing more and more to improve the
environment of his society, creating temples making standards and policies within the temples,
through his books, through his teachings, through his lectures. Organizing his leaders. Through
training and instructing his leaders. That is responsibility. But still people will deviate that is just
reality of this world in Kali Yuga. Your responsibility is to do everything you can to protect them
from that. That’s all. It is easy it say this person is fallen. But Krishna Consciousness thing is to
think how to bring him or her to back. What to we have to do? Anyone can just push up somebody
is a fallen soul. Srila Prabhupada, it is in transcendental diary. He was remembering a very very
serious devotee that fell away from principles of Krishna Consciousness. So Srila Prabhupada told
his leaders. He said, “Our leaders must organize and managing society so we do not lose good man
like that”. In an another occasion a devotee who was very serious devotee engaged in immoral
activities and Srila Prabhupada told some of his leaders that it is our duty to bring him back. So it
is not a matte of being responsibility for the karma of that person is doing. That’s not our concern.
Our responsibility is to keep inspire people Krishna Consciousness to protect their Krishna
Consciousness and if they fall away to somehow or other created an environment by which they
could comeback. That also means coming back to the standard some people may no leave the
association of devotees but they may leave the teachings of Krishna Consciousness. They may
leave their regular principles of Krishna Consciousness. Our responsibility is to try to inspire them
and created an environment where they can become strong again. And we see that some devotees
who fall away, if they are appreciated for what they have done, they are very likely to comeback in
the association of devotees, in which they can become strong. But if they are blamed then will be
afraid to be in the association of devotees and then there is nothing within world they can do to
improve because they can not do on their own.

So we have to create an association of devotees that is accumulating also, even fallen souls can get
strength of their upliftment in that association. If a person is in the association but is doing for the
activities, it may be through chastisement, may be through encouragement and may be through and
by whatever means possible we should try in an affective way to get that devotee to strength and
we should be taxing our brains to doing everything we can to facilitating Krishna Consciousness in
such a way that devotees are happy following the path of bhakti and usually if we create a dynamic
enthusiastic happy satsang, the happiness that people derive in that environment of bhakti gives
them the strength to overcome all their temptations for sinful activities. We see in many occasions,
when devotees are enthusiastic for Krishna Consciousness, they naturally or strict or they do not
have their environment on them, they fall. So the leaders responsibility to create that powerful
environment of loving trust, relationships between devotees. The devotees feel love and trusted.
The devotees enter into atmosphere where there is real enthusiasm to chant the holy names to hear
about Krishna and to serve the deities, to preach the message. It is the dynamic atmosphere like
that. That atmosphere of enthusiasm and care and love, can empower devotee to over come all his
or her weakness. But if a devotee is fault finding, not carrying about each other, there is not much
enthusiasm, nice kirtan or if there is show up kirtan. And people are just competing, who is the
best dancer or who is the best singer. Then there could be much of spiritual experience. From
many people in that environment they are not going to be empower to control their mind and
senses.
“viñayä vinivartante
nirähärasya dehinaù
rasa-varjaà raso 'py asya
paraà dåñövä nivartate”
Bhagavad-Gita 2.59
Really the duty of Krishna Consciousness leadership to give people the higher taste of Bhakti.
When they have their higher taste they can happily control their senses and follow the four
regulative principles and be exemplary and there is always be people who have their own desires
but it is our responsibility to do everything within our power to create that atmosphere. As you are
doing nobly in Pune at Sri Sri Radha Kunja Bihari temple. Thank you Radhesyam Prabhu.
Whatever I am speaking I am just thinking about how you do thinks that I am just taking water
from Ganga and offering it back to Ganga.
Srila Prabhupada ki jay.

Thank you, very much.

End of the transcription.