Nectar of Instruction

Purva Svadhyaya
(Question for closed book assessment)
Preface

1. Under whose supervision is the Krsna consciousness movement conducted?

Ans: Srila Rupa Goswami
2. What is one’s duty in all spiritual affairs?
Ans: Control the mind and the senses
3. On what does our advancement in Krsna consciousness depend?
Ans: Attitude of the follower of Krsna consciousness, one must be a perfect Goswami
4. Define Goswami
Ans: “Go’’ means the sense, “master” means the senses

Text One
5. List three examples, from the text, of anger utilized in the Lord’s service
Ans: o Lord Chaitanya becoming angry on Jagai and Madhai
o Hanuman sets fire to Lanka
o Arjuna’s fighting in the battle of Kurukshetra
6. Why does the Krsna consciousness movement encourage marriage?
Ans: For begetting Krsna Consciousness Children

7. Why should one avoid palatable dishes even while eating prasadam?
Ans: Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu taught us to avoid very palatable dishes even while eating
prasäda. If one accepts prasäda only because of its palatable taste and thus eats too much, he falls
prey to trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue.

If we offer palatable dishes to the Deity with the intention of eating such nice food, we are involved
in trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue. If we accept the invitation of a rich man with the idea
of receiving palatable food, we are also trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue.
8. Define Go-dasa
Ans: servant of the senses.
Text Two

9. List the three primary energies of the Lord

Ans: The Supreme Personality of Godhead has three primary energies, or potencies. The first is
called antaraìga-çakti, or the internal potency. The second is called taöastha-çakti, or the marginal
potency. The third is called bahiraìga-çakti, or the external potency. The living entities constitute the
marginal potency, and they are situated between the internal and external potencies.
10. Define Mahatma and Duratma
Ans: Mahätmä - broadminded, always engaged in gratifying the senses of the Supreme Lord.
Durätmäs - cripple-minded persons, always engaged in gratifying their own senses

11. List the threefold miseries in Sanskrit and English.

Ans:
Indeed, all living entities within this material world are under the control of mahämäyä, whose
business is to subject them to the influence of threefold miseries: adhidaivika-kleça (sufferings
caused by the demigods, such as droughts, earthquakes and storms), adhibhautika-kleça
(sufferings caused by other living entities like insects or enemies), and adhyätmika-kleça
(sufferings caused by one's own body and mind, such as mental and physical infirmities).
12. Briefly describe the two meaning of niyama-ägraha.
Ans: 1) Accepting some of the scriptural rules and regulations for immediate benefit, as
utilitarians advocate, is called niyama-ägraha,
2) and neglecting the rules and regulations of the çästras, which are meant for spiritual
development, is called niyama-agraha.
Note: The word ägraha means "eagerness to accept," and agraha means "failure to accept." By the
addition of either of these two words to the word niyama ("rules and regulations"), the word
niyamägraha is formed. Thus niyamägraha has a twofold meaning that is understood according to
the particular combination of words.

13. List the three kinds of atyähäris

Ans:
1) The endeavor of philosophical speculators to acquire knowledge and write volumes of books on
dry philosophy devoid of Kåñëa consciousness.
2) Karmis labor to accumulate more and more money for future generations only because they do
not know their future position.
3) Eating more than necessary

Text Three
14. List the nine processes of devotional service in Sanskrit or English
çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù
smaraëaà päda-sevanam
arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà
sakhyam ätma-nivedanam
[SB 7.5.23]
The nine processes of devotional service are as follows:
1. hearing the name and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
2. chanting His glories
3. remembering the Lord
4. serving the Lord's feet
5. worshiping the Deity
6. offering obeisances unto the Lord
7. acting as the Lord's servant
8. making friends with the Lord
9. surrendering oneself fully to the Lord
15. What is the meaning of avasya raksibe krsna
Krsna will surely protect me
He is completely protected by the Supreme.
Avaçya rakñibe kåñëa viçväsa pälana.
Note:-
Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura says that he is desireless because Kåñëa will give him protection in all
circumstances. It is not that he expects any assistance from Kåñëa; he simply depends on Kåñëa just
as a child depends on his parents. The child does not know how to expect service from his parents,
but he is always protected nevertheless. This is called niñkäma (desirelessness).

16. Breifly describe the two aspect of tat-tat-karma-pravartanat

Ans: Yama and Niyama
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé therefore recommends, tat-tat-karma-pravartanät: "One must strictly follow
the regulative principles of vaidhé bhakti." In addition to these four prohibitions (yama), there are
positive regulative principles (niyama), such as the daily chanting of sixteen rounds on japa-mälä
beads. These regulative activities must be faithfully performed with enthusiasm. This is called tat-
tat-karma-pravartana, or varied engagement in devotional service.

Text Four
17. Define guhyam akhyati prcchati
Ans:
guhyam—confidential topics; äkhyäti—explains; påcchati—enquires;
An experienced devotee explains, and an inexperienced devotee learns from him. This is guhyam
äkhyäti påcchati.
Explanation:
Sometimes the members and supporters inquire very confidentially about the methods of
performing devotional service, and we try to explain this. In this way our Society is successfully
spreading all over the world, and the intelligentsia of all countries is gradually appreciating our
Kåñëa conscious activities. The life of the Kåñëa conscious society is nourished by these six
types of loving exchange among the members; therefore, people must be given the chance to
associate with the devotees of ISKCON because simply by reciprocating in the six ways mentioned
above an ordinary man can fully revive his dormant Kåñëa consciousness.

18. How should one spend his income?

Ans:
50% Devotees and Brahmanas
25% Relative
25% Emergency
According to the dadäti principle, an advanced devotee is supposed to spend at least fifty percent of
his income on the service of the Lord and His devotees. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé has set such an
example in his life. When he decided to retire, he distributed fifty percent of his life's earnings to
Kåñëa's service and twenty-five percent to his relatives and kept twenty-five percent for personal
emergencies. This example should be followed by all devotees. Whatever one's income, fifty
percent should be spent on behalf of Kåñëa and His devotees, and this will fulfill the demands of
dadäti.

19. How should one deal with the devotees (kanistha-adhakari) who chants the holy name?
Ans: mansadriyeta – respect that devotee within one’s mind
The kaniñöha-adhikäré is a neophyte who has received the hari-näma initiation from the spiritual
master and is trying to chant the holy name of Kåñëa. One should respect such a person within his
mind as a kaniñöhavaiñëava.
20. List the four Characteristics of madhayama adhikari
Ans:
• Worships the Lord as the highest object of love
• Makes friends with the Lord’s devotees
• Merciful to ignorant
• Avoids those who are envious by nature
The madhyama-adhikäré is described in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.2.46) in this way:
éçvare tad-adhéneñu
bäliçeñu dviñatsu ca
prema-maitré-kåpopekñä
yaù karoti sa madhyamaù
"The madhyama-adhikäré is a devotee who worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the
highest object of love, makes friends with the Lord's devotees, is merciful to the ignorant and avoids
those who are envious by nature."
çästra-yukti nähi jäne dåòha, çraddhävän
'madhyama-adhikäré' sei mahä-bhägyavän
"A person whose conclusive knowledge of the çästras is not very strong but who has developed firm
faith in chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra and who is also undeterred in the execution of his
prescribed devotional service should be considered a madhyama-adhikäré. Such a person is very
fortunate." (Cc. Madhya 22.67)
21. List the symptoms of a Uttama Bhakta
Ans:
very advanced in devotional service, not interested in blaspheming others, loses interest in
everything but Krsna’s service, always thinking of Krishna, attained the realized state of
unalloyed KC, heart is completely clean, devises means to spread holy names
When a person realizes himself to be an eternal servitor of Kåñëa, he loses interest in everything but
Kåñëa's service. Always thinking of Kåñëa, devising means by which to spread the holy name of
Kåñëa, he understands that his only business is in spreading the Kåñëa consciousness movement all
over the world. Such a person is to be recognized as an uttama-adhikäré, and his association should
be immediately accepted according to the six processes (dadäti pratigåhëäti etc.).

Text Six
22. What is the meaning of Nityananda-Vamsa?
Ans: Nityananda-Vamsa - Descendent of Lord Nityananda,
Explanation:
One should not think, "Oh, here is an American gosvämé," and discriminate against him. Nor
should one think, "Here is a nityänanda-vaàça-gosvämé." There is an undercurrent of protest against
our awarding the title gosvämé to the American Vaiñëavas of the Kåñëa consciousness movement.
Sometimes people flatly tell the American devotees that their sannyäsa or title of gosvämé is not
bona fide.

23. The spiritual master not be subjected to the advice from whom?
Ans: The advanced Vaiñëava is always situated as the spiritual master, and the neophyte is always
considered his disciple. The spiritual master must not be subjected to the advice of a disciple, nor
should a spiritual master be obliged to take instructions from those who are not his disciples.

Text Seven

24. What is the meaning of jiver svarupa haya-krsnera nitya-dasa ?

Ans: Living entity's constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Kåñëa
The normal condition is to remain an eternal servant of the Lord (jévera 'svarüpa' haya-kåñëera
'nitya-däsa' [Cc. Madhya 20.108]).
25. Define duräçraya
Ans: "false or bad shelter."
Explanations:
One who puts his faith in duräçraya becomes a candidate for hoping against hope. In the material
world everyone is trying to become happy, and although their material attempts are baffled in every
way, due to their nescience they cannot understand their mistakes.

26 List the three stages in chanting the holy names of the lord
Ans:
• Nama Aparadha - offensive stage
• Namabhasa – stage of lessening offenses
• Suddhanama - pure stage
There are three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord—the offensive stage, the stage of
lessening offenses, and the pure stage.
Explanation:
When a neophyte takes to the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa mantra, he generally commits many
offenses. There are ten basic offenses, and if the devotee avoids these, he can glimpse the next
stage, which is situated between offensive chanting and pure chanting. When one attains the pure
stage, he is immediately liberated. This is called bhava-mahä-dävägninirväpanam. As soon as one is
liberated from the blazing fire of material existence, he can relish the taste of transcendental life.
27. At what stage can maya not disturb a devotee?
Ans: Bhava Stage
Explanation: Although mäyä may be present, it cannot disturb a devotee once he attains the bhäva
stage.
This is because the devotee can see the real position of mäyä. Mäyä means forgetfulness of Kåñëa,
and forgetfulness of Kåñëa and Kåñëa consciousness stand side by side like light and shadow. If one
remains in shadow, he cannot enjoy the facilities offered by light, and if one remains in light, he
cannot be disturbed by the darkness of shadow. By taking to Kåñëa consciousness, one gradually
becomes liberated and remains in light. Indeed, he does not even touch the darkness.

Text Eight

28. What is the essence of all advice?

Ans: The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time—twentyfour hours a day—
in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord's divine name, transcendental form, qualities and
eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one's tongue and mind. In this way one should reside
in Vraja [Goloka Våndävana dhäma] and serve Kåñëa under the guidance of devotees. One should
follow in the footsteps of the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional
service.
29. List the three examples of perfect devotee in Santa Rasa, Dasya-rasa and Sakhya-rasa
Ans: Santa Rasa- Cows, flute, flower
Dasya Rasa- Citraka, Patraka or Raktaka
Sakhya Rasa- Baladeva, Çrédämä or Sudämä
Explanation: Rägänuga-bhakti, or spontaneous devotional service, can be executed in the
çänta-rasa when one aspires to be like Kåñëa's cows or the stick or flute in the hand of Kåñëa, or the
flowers around Kåñëa's neck. In the däsya-rasa one follows in the footsteps of servants like Citraka,
Patraka or Raktaka. In the friendly sakhya-rasa one can become a friend like Baladeva, Çrédämä or
Sudämä. In the vätsalya-rasa, characterized by parental affection, one can become like Nanda
Mahäräja and Yaçodä, and in the mädhurya-rasa, characterized by conjugal love, one can become
like Çrématé Rädhäräëé or Her lady friends such as Lalitä and Her serving maids (maïjarés) like
Rüpa and Rati. This is the essence of all instruction in the matter of devotional service."

Text Nine
30. List the hierarchy of the different spiritual places
Ans: Vaikuntha, Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Radha Kunda
Explanation: The holy place known as Mathurä is spiritually superior to Vaikuëöha, the
transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathurä—Puré is the
transcendental forest of Våndävana because of Kåñëa's räsa-lélä pastimes. And superior to the forest
of Våndävana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Çré Kåñëa and was the site
of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Çré Rädhä-kuëòa stands supreme,
for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Çré Kåñëa. Where,
then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Rädhä-kuëòa, which is situated
at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
31. Why has Srila Rupa goswami given much stress to Radha-Kunda?
Ans: Rädhä-kuëòa, at the foot of Govardhana, is superior to all because it is there that love of Kåñëa
overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Rädhäkuëòa because this place is the site of many
memories of the eternal loving affairs between Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé (rati-viläsa).

Text Ten
32. Why are the gopis superior to all the devotes?
Ans: The gopés are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always remembering
& totally dependent upon Çré Kåñëa, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopés, Çrématé
Rädhäräëé is the most dear to Kåñëa. Her kuëòa [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Kåñëa as this
most beloved of the gopés.
33. Define Vipralambha-seva?
Ans: vipralambha-sevä- thinking of Krsna in separation. When Kåñëa left Våndävana for Mathurä,
the gopés became most dejected and spent the rest of their lives simply crying in separation from
Kåñëa. This means that in one sense they were never actually separated from Kåñëa. There is no
difference between thinking of Kåñëa and associating with Him. Rather, vipralambha-sevä, thinking
of Kåñëa in separation, as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu did, is far better than serving Kåñëa directly.

Text Eleven
34. What is the result of bathing in Radha Kunda even once?
Ans: If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one's pure love of Kåñëa is fully aroused.
Explanation: It is stated that a devotee will at once develop pure love of Kåñëa in the wake of the
gopés if he once takes a bath in Rädhä-kuëòa. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé recommends that even if one
cannot live permanently on the banks of Rädhäkuëòa, he should at least take a bath in the lake as
many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service. Çréla
Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura writes in this connection that Çré Rädhä-kuëòa is the most select place for
those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhés) and
confidential serving maids (maïjarés) of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.