Start Lecture Transcribing:

Verse:
“kià punar brähmaëäù puëyä
bhaktä räjarñayas tathä
anityam asukhaà lokam
imaà präpya bhajasva mäm”

SYNONYMS
kim—how much; punaù—again; brähmaëäù—brähmaëas; puëyäù—righteous; bhaktäù—
devotees; räja-åñayaù—saintly kings; tathä—also; anityam—temporary; asukham—full of
miseries; lokam—planet; imam—this; präpya—gaining; bhajasva—be engaged in loving
service; mäm—unto Me.

TRANSLATION
How much more this is so of the righteous brähmaëas, the devotees and the saintly kings.
Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me.

PURPORT
In this material world there are classifications of people, but, after all, this world is not a happy
place for anyone. It is clearly stated here, anityam asukhaà lokam: this world is temporary and
full of miseries, not habitable for any sane gentleman. This world is declared by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead to be temporary and full of miseries. Some philosophers, especially
Mäyävädé philosophers, say that this world is false, but we can understand from Bhagavad-gétä
that the world is not false; it is temporary. There is a difference between temporary and false.
This world is temporary, but there is another world, which is eternal. This world is miserable, but
the other world is eternal and blissful.
Arjuna was born in a saintly royal family. To him also the Lord says, "Take to My devotional
service and come quickly back to Godhead, back home." No one should remain in this temporary
world, full as it is with miseries. Everyone should attach himself to the bosom of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead so that he can be eternally happy. The devotional service of the Supreme
Lord is the only process by which all problems of all classes of men can be solved. Everyone
should therefore take to Kåñëa consciousness and make his life perfect.

Start Lecture by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaja.

It is herein described “anityam asukhaà lokam” that the world we living is not a place of real
happiness. For the simple reason that the soul is seeking eternal pleasure. anandamayo'bhyasat.
And this material world is a place where everything is temporary. In fact everything which is
matter is dead. It is the soul that gives life and that life is the seeker of pleaser and that source of
life or the soul can only find real pleasure in its own element which is eternal. So therefore the few
trial attempts to try to find peace in a place where everything is ultimately un the path towards
death is impossible. And one who takes to such a life is most unfortunate and foolish among man
and till he understand the eternal nature of soul. Then it is natural the only place to try to find
happiness is in the temporary place of misery. For the one who understand truth, that we are
eternal, that we are full of knowledge, full of bliss, that we are part of god. At that time we will
seek our pleasure in that which is of the same nature is ourselves spiritual. And in this chapter of
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 9, Krishna is describing how any one who understands it’s principles and
finds happiness and taking shelter of Krishna. No matter what category of society one may come
in. No matter what type of conditioning one may have been exposed to in this world, it makes
absolutely no difference. Whether one is borne in a most low class sinful environment and one is
addicted to the most miserable conditions of life, whether one is a very saintly, pious, and
righteous person. As soon as one takes the shelter of the supreme Lord it makes no difference
where he has been. Actually sometimes as described in Bhagavad-Gita piety is an impediment for
spiritual life. Generally piety is very auspicious. Because to pious like we come to the mode of
goodness. In the mode of goodness there is enlightenment. And in that enlighten state we can
easily understand the necessity of taking shelter of the supreme absolute truth and surrendering.
But sometimes people misunderstand that the benediction the mode of goodness is providing them
and become proud of their piety. They pride, they think they are very great that they are very
spiritual, that they are very religious. Therefore they find no need to take shelter with all humility
of the supreme Lord. In which case such piety is a great spiritual impediment. Where as sometimes
people in the most sinful and degraded in circumstances of life. They are humble by that situation.
They are realized that they are worseness, they are useless, they are insignificant and they are royal
road hell. And such a case they, give up all the shackles of their sinful desires and raise their arms
and cry out Hey Krishna and Hey Govinda and take shelter of the Lords holy name. Takes shelter
with all humility of the Lord’s devotee. And in this way they were surrendered to their lives into
god. Such a condition was the perfection of life. That person Krishna does not even consider
concern, what he has done or not done. All he considers this person is coming to me helplessly. I
must deliver him. So really the goal of spiritual life is simply come to this point of understanding
necessity of humbly oneself and taking complete shelter of the Lord. And one who do like this,
then the material world no longer exist. You see we do not want to give up this world. We want to
give up illusion. Some says the world is false therefore we must give it up. But higher and more
complete understanding is to know that this world is not false. But it is temporary. Just like you
dream in night that dream is not real but same time it is real. It is real in the sense that the thought
process of that dream is taking place. What is unreal is you are identifying that dream body to be
you. Therefore it is illusory. The example given by Sripad Sankaraya, it is described there was a
snake and there was a rope. The rope is lying on the ground and you take it to be a snake. You
become very fearful. Your heart start beating very fast, you are most have heart attack and run
away. Actually it is only a rope. The rope is real, But the illusion is you are thinking the rope to be
a snake. Therefore you are suffering so bad. So similarly we must understand this world for what it
really is? This world is the energy of the Lord. It is described the supreme Lord has on energy
ultimately. And that energy divide itself, according to your consciousness, it appears before you.
Just like electricity, when it comes into the stove, it creates heat, that same electrical current from
the same electrical powerhouse, when it enters into the refrigeration unit, it creates cold. So the
electricity is hot or cold. Electricity manifests itself or reveals it self according to the receptacle in
which it is entering into. So our consciousness is a receptacle. According to the condition of our
receptacle, we will perceive and Krishna will reveal himself. To those whose consciousness is
greedy, wanting exploit and manipulate what belongs to god. Then the divine energy of the Lord
appears to our heart as just material temporary world. What everything is gliding toward death?
“ye hi saàsparça-jä bhogä
duùkha-yonaya eva te
 ädy-antavantaù kaunteya
na teñu ramate budhaù”
Bhagavad-Gita 5.22
Krishna says an intelligent person does not take part in the pleasures of this world, because they
are temporary, they are the source of misery. He takes part in which that is eternal. But factually
this world can give us that eternal satisfaction if we simply have the proper consciousness. If we
see how we are the servant of the god and everything is meant to be utilize in the service of god.
Therefore the things in this world which are used in the loving service of Sri Krishna, they are no
longer material, they are no longer temporary. They are the paraphernalia of spiritual world. So
therefore Krishna is describing here that how much greater than other brahmans the righteous the
devotees and saintly kings, who in this temporary miserable world engage in loving service to me.
To such persons this temporary miserable world no longer exists. They are living in Baikuntha.
Because they are identifying everything as the paraphernalia meant for the enjoyment of god. And
that is the highest platform of self realization. To realize through direct experience that we are
meant for the pleasure of god and that everything we do and everything we have is meant for the
pleasure of the Lord. That consciousness is the consciousness where there is no more suffering,
where there is no more birth, old age, disease and death. Someone may accuse we see in the
devotees, in the saints, in the sadhus, they are also growing old, they are also getting disease, and
they are also dying. The fact is this material body. Must grow old, disease, and die. No matter
what? If you identifying this body, then you are growing old, getting disease and dying. But if you
identifying the spirit soul, then you are simply watching this temporary place of residence, going
through its natural course, you see how it is all Krishna’s arrangement. Therefore it creates
environment, it creates love, and enlightenment. When we find real peace, real happiness within
our own heart. So we see as we approach Krishna, He rewards us accordingly. If with humble
devotion we approach the Lord, then we can know that from within our heart he will always be
there to direct us and to lead us on towards him. Some people may ask that I have taken to spiritual
life and I have been chanting the holy name and I have been offering respects to saintly persons
and I am reading the scriptures and I am following many spiritual principles. But still I am
suffering. Still I am a victim of lust and greed and ahankar (false ego). Why is this? I chant my
rounds and I feel very nice, I worship the deity and I feel very nice. I touch the feet of the saints, I
feel very nice. Then the rest of the day, I feel miserable. I am simply embodiment of all
abominable desires. What to do? And therefore we want god to immediately or the saintly persons
to immediately just eradicate all of our material conceptions and material contacts of bondage in
life. But generally you see that not easy. Pure devotional service is the ultimate treasure. It is the
supreme perfection of life. It is not given so easy. But it is given. We have to be willing to be
tolerate anger, envy, greed, and lust. Krishna says one must be willing to tolerate these things for
the shake of one’s service to god. As long as Krishna wants you to tolerate you must tolerate it.
And how you tolerate by saying no to the impulses and constantly engaging in saying yes to the
will of god, to the will of guru, and to the will of the great souls. And by performing this act
throughout our life Krishna can see that we are sincere that we are serious. We have been
cultivating the seed of the material desire for millions of births. It’s not that we can take spiritual
life so cheaply that little dust on our head and we are going to be great mahatmas. You must
constantly be putting that dust on your head, through your words, through your acts, and through
your thoughts. And by following the instructions of the great souls. We expressing to Krishna our
willingness, our desire to be purified in his service and gradually when Krishna sees that we have
really shown our sincerity. We should not be so impatient for million births we have been
cultivating material consciousness. If Krishna wants us to go on struggling for five, ten, fifteen,
twenty, sixty years its hardly anything, its hardly a particle of what we have expressed to maya
through millions of births. But if we willing to just do that, Krishna will give us, everything. From
within our heart He will claims all material misconceptions and reveal the true eternal blissful
glory of the soul. So we should not be impatient, we should have complete faith, that the blessings
of the great souls, if it is upon us we are protected. If the blessings of great souls are upon us, we
should know that we are under Krishna’s direction and He is in charge. All we have to do as
continue forward with determination and faith. And the result of pure love will absolutely be
achieved by the guarantee of god himself. You see Krishna reveals himself of the way he wants to
be reveals Himself. Sometimes before he reveals Himself, He wants to put us in more anxiety then
with ever been and before. It is said in English “the darkest moment is before the done” The dark
is the part of night – the light of done. And if you want to live through the sun rises you have to
leave and watch the darkness before you. So there is a story in Caitanya-Bhagavat, which describes
how the Lord shows his infinity mercy to his devotees. According to His super excellent desire.
You know that according to the sasthra, the Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagavatam, and various other
religion Vedic literatures, “in kali yuga Lord Sri Krishna appears within this world in a beautiful
from “jijnya …” in order to propagate congregational chanting of the holy name of the lord. The
fulfillment of that propose took place, when Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifested in
this world, in West Bengal five hundred and three years ago. When the Lord appears, as described
in Bhagavad-Gita
“janma karma ca me divyam
evaà yo vetti tattvataù
tyaktvä dehaà punar janma
naiti mäm eti so 'rjuna”

His activities and His birth are completely transcendental. They are of spiritual nature. So it is
described that when Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was just the very small child. Just coming out
of age as a baby. He was the source of all happiness and bliss for all the residence of Navadvipa
dhama. Now he is living in a home of his father and mother Jagannath Mishra and Sachi mata and
being very very religious and spiritually minded brähmaëa they were always very much anxious to
serve the saintly persons. So one day a brähmaëa from abroad came to their house. And they were
thinking that this is our greatest fortune that he has come as a beggar, not to beg from us for his
sense gratification. But to beg us to engage in the service of the lord. We should understand that
the real sadhu’s their begging is not their own purpose. They are begging as active mercy and
compassion upon the common beings of this world. And those who are truly religious in mind they
welcome such beggars as the greatest fortune of their life. This brähmaëa was very very saintly. He
was constantly chanting the holy name of Krishna. He worship Krishna in the form of Gopal. And
he had a beautiful murti of Gopal, hanging from his neck along with salagram sila. And he would
worship them in everything he did. It is described that tears were constantly decorating his eyes in
love for the Lord of his life Sri Gopal. So when Jagannath Mishra saw the saintly qualities in the
persons -, he was very happy. He offered the brähmaëa a nice sheet, he washed his feet, and he
offered him prayers of humility and devotion. He said my dear sir what ever I have and my home
is yours, please accept my humble offerings. It is only out of great mercy that you leave you dust
from your feet in pure hearted house holder’s abode like myself. – Jagannath Mishra who was
most learnered, who was most pious, he was not thinking himself in any situation but the most
humble condition of life. Some people who are very much – by the age of Kali yuga. They think,
what are these saintly persons, why they not get a job and do something constructive in this world.
One of the become business man or doctors, or lawyers, professional people and do something
tangible. What is this brahmacaries, sannyasis. This is all just lazyness and uselessness. Do
something for society, be constructive. If you want to preach, you have to people that you are
constructive part of society. Otherwise who is going to listen to you. You just useless people,
parasites. This is the way ignorant people think. But great souls like Jagannath Mishra he
understood that such sadhu’s take to the procession of begging as an austerity, a severe austerity,
they could be easily be enjoying life like us, working hard for sense enjoyment, having nice
children, having nice families like this. But they are renouncing all these things to take to the
occupation of a beggar only to give mercy, only to give grace to the world. Therefore we are the
parasites, only the saintly persons are not parasites. Why because we are constantly shocking god
for our own sense gratification. That is a parasite. God is the controller and owner of everything.
The girhamedis, the materialistic householders they are constantly shocking god’s energy thinking
give me this, give me this, this is mine, this is mine, I want more. That a person who gives up this
conception and willing to simple life with the benefit of others, he is not a parasite. His whole life
is simply giving. So Jagannath Mishra was teaching us, what a girhasta life means. To have this
respect and honor for the those who have taken to the renounced order of life with a genuine spirit
of devotion. And of course as the culture of India through this day is still very strong. People in the
grihasta ashram like to feed the guest. So Jagannath Mishra was thinking my greatest fortune that I
can give you some nice Prasad. So he said, we will make you all arrangements. Jagannatha Mishra
even considered himself too lowly to cook for this brähmaëa. He said we will give you all the
ingredients and everything and we will cook for you if you like. But we are very fallen, we want
you cook yourself and offer to Gopal. We will just provide all the facilities. So the brähmaëa began
to cook. And he was cooking he was simply thinking to make every preparation just so nice and
tasteful for Gopal to enjoy. He was not thinking, yes, today I will eat a big feast. He was thinking
today, such a great benediction, I get to cook for Gopal. Usually I am living in the forest, usually I
am eating some roots and fruits. Today I get to cook nice rice for my Lord (thakur ji). So he
finished his preparation and put the preparations on a nice thalir (plate) and he began to meditate
and chant the names of the Lord, inviting him to please come in and enjoy this food. At that this
little child Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who at that time was known as Nimai. He appeared. He was
necked with no cloths. Because he was playing out side, his body was full of dust. And with the
very charming smile on His face. He is tinning little fingers which are like the verge of lotus
flower, picked up the food and he began to eat it. When the brähmaëa saw this he cried out alaaas,
alaaas, my offering is spoiled. This child is come in and step on the food and eating it now. I
cannot offer to Krishna. When Jagannath Mishra the father heard this, he became very angry. He
chased after the child. He may run away. He began to run after Him. The brähmaëa took Jagannath
Mishra’s by hand and said please please do not punish Him. I must punish Him. He has spoiled
your offering. He said, no no He is only a child. He does not know better, be patient, please please.
Jagannath Mishra said, then you kindly cook again, we will get all the preparation. If you are in my
house, you must eat nicely. The brähmaëa said, no no there is no need. He said, yes, yes you must
please. And everybody in the house praying the brähmaëa and taking his feet and hands saying
please cook again. Alright I’ll cook again. So they clean the kitchen, they made all the preparations
for his cooking and he cooked. That this time Jagannath Mishra told now you take my son and you
take Him to some other place and you keep Him busy near this house. So they took Him another
house and all the neighboring ladies they were all playing with Him. He was so beautiful, so
charming and ever respect. And they were teasing him, they were saying Nimai why did you steal
the brähmaëa’s food, he was offering. Nimai said why you blaming me, he called for me. He called
my names, so came in and eat. What is my fault? He called for someone else; I would not come
and eat. He called for me. They said no no nimai, he don’t know even who this brähmaëa is. – low
family then you contaminated by eating his food. Nimai said yes, yes, you do not know who I am?
He said I am come from a cowherd community. I am just a cowherd boy. I am always liking the
foods from the plates of brähmaëas. That is my greatest happiness. And of course the people they
could not understand, what he was trying to say. They would just laughing, haaaaaa, haaaaaa. So
charming of this child. So sweeter his words. He does not know what he is talking about. But
nobody knows he was talking about. But still He is very pleasing. So in this way, he was just
running everyone’s arms and everyone embracing Him, their hearts were melting, in this way got
everyone completely illusion by affection for Him. Meanwhile the brähmaëa was finishing his
preparation. And he had the thali (plate) and he began to offer his prayers to Gopal. Now everyone
was so much bewildered by their affection for the Lord He was just running from one ladies arms
to the next to the next, that they were completely forgot where He was. And He just very very
silently just slip the way and He appeared and with His lotus hand He took the rice and started to
eat it. When the brähmaëa looked up and saw Oh my god, he is back. Then he cried out alaaahs,
alaahs, again my offering is spoiled. At that time Jagannath Mishra picked up a stick and ran
towards Nimai. And Nimai ran into the room and closed the door and locked it. You children do
like that sometime. And everyone in the house were saying no, no, Jagannath do not beat Him. I’ll
beat Him, such a mischievous thief, my son, he must be thought, he must be educated properly, I
cannot tolerate this happening in my home. In this way the people were employing him, He is just
the child. Beating Him – worse. Then the brähmaëa came please Jagannath Mishra you are a
rational man, I am a rational man, but this child has nor rational intelligence. He does not know,
what is right and what is wrong? How can you beat him? Just leave him alone. Besides that it is
my Karma, you are thinking it’s the child’s fault. It has nothing to do with this child. Krishna
wanted me to fast today. That’s why He do it? He said, even if your house is the best quantity of
the best food, if Krishna does not want you to eat, you will not eat. He said, therefore let me fast,
god’s grace. And Jagannath Mishra was saying no, no, you must cook again, you must cook again.
He said no no I’ll not cook again. At that Jagannath Mishra was so much in anxiety that he just sat
down on the floor with his head on his hands, just lamenting. What offence had been committed to
the guest, who came to his house. He was just on ocean of sorrow. At that time Nimai’s elder
brother Viswarupa who was incarnation of Balaram. He came into the room. He was so beautiful.
His – was like the rising sun. His eyes like lotus petals. Every limb of his body was perfectly
attractive to the senses, to the heart and to the soul. And he would speak; he would only speak the
glorification of Krishna. And his words were like nectar to the years. When brähmaëa saw
Viswarupa his mouth just open. He was stock with wonder. Never he had seen such beauty in his
life. Then Viswarupa bow down to the brähmaëa and took the dust from his feet upon his head. He
said my dear sir we are so fortunate that you have come to our home. Our humble home, you have
agreed to bless with the dust from your feet. When a great soul comes to the home, it is the
supreme auspiciousness for that home. But I know what has happened. If you do not eat today, you
will make our house inauspicious. So kindly please cook again. The brähmaëa said, Krishna does
not want me to eat. It is His will. He is the supreme controller. Just bring me some fruit, bring me
some vegetable, or whatever you have. It’s already 1:30 in the morning how can you expect you
me to cook again. At that time Viswarupa took the feet of the brähmaëa and holding with great
devotion and said please it is not too late. For the shake of our delivering our house hold cook
again. And the brähmaëa could not refuse the loving request. He said, I’ll cook again. At that time
they made all the preparation and he started to cook. And Nimai was locked in the room and some
people said why we not tie the door so he cannot get out. Jagannath Mishra said tie the door. He
stood outside the door with a stick. Then Nimai fell asleep. He was a little child. He was already
very late at night. Jagannath Mishra said there is no problem He has fast asleep. And the brähmaëa
was cooking. And then because the lord is the supreme controller of all controllers He is within the
heart of everyone, he cause everyone to fall into deep sleep except the brähmaëa. And he prepared
the offering and began to chant the mantra to Gopal, begging him to humbly accept his service. At
that time the child Nimai appeared right on his plate and began to eat the food. Then the brähmaëa
exasperated, he just cried out alaaas, alaaas, again my offering has spoiled and Nimai looked at
him, He said my dear brähmaëa why you have so much anxiety? You are calling me and I am
coming. He said, do you know, whenever my devotees request Me with great devotion to accept
their service, I am always accept. You are such a pure hearted devotee, how could I refuse you. He
said my dear devotee, know that I am the lord of your life Gopal. And at that time right before the
brähmaëa’s eyes this little child transforms to His form to that of the supreme lord Hari. He
appeared in a most remarkable way with his complexion like the dark monsoon rain cloud with his
eyes like fully blossom lotus petals, His lips red like the – fruits. His neck curved with grace of
lines of conchshell. He was wearing the beautiful vaijayanti garland which was coming down
below his knees . And there were beautiful, beautiful jewels started with most elegant gems. And
this form appeared with eight arms. Four of them were holding the conchshell, the disc (sudarshan
chakra), the flower, and the club. One of the hands was holding the part of butter and other was
eating using that hand to eat the butter. And the other two arms were playing upon the flute. When
the brähmaëa saw this form, he was stock with wonder. There was a beautiful crown on His head,
decorated with peacock feather. And all that once the whole house the entire atmosphere was
transformed into Vrindavana. There he saw the river Jamuna and he saw the beautiful Kadamba
trees, filled with shrillest of the birds, singing and chirping the glories of the Lord. And then He
saw unlimited cowherd boys playing with their cows. And unlimited gopies simply chanting the
glories of the Lrod. The entire spiritual world was revealed before him. And when he received this
unlimited mercy, he fell unconscious in ecstasy. The Lord Gaurasundara with his lotus hand, he
touched the brähmaëa and when He touched him upon his body, immediately consciousness came
back and he stood up and again he saw the land of Vrindavana and he saw the beautiful form of Sri
Krishna. As soon his ecstasy, he would fall down, he would get up, he would fall down, he would
get up, he would go into consciousness, out of consciousness, into consciousness. Meanwhile he
would bewildered, tears, like streams flowing from his eyes. His hair was standing on air. His
limbs were trembling. There was – all over his body, just like high tide an low tide, there was just
waves of ecstasy is just going up and down every atoms of his material frame, his physical frame.
In this way his heart was just in ruptured in love. And then the lord spoke to him, He said my dear
brähmaëa please know that you have been my devotee for many many births. He said in my last
incarnation, when I was living in the house of Nanda Maharaja at that time, He said you came also
as a brahmana pilgrim. There also you are offering your food to the supreme lord Narayana, as
gopal I came and stole your offerings there too. So, know we are always enjoying this wonderful
lila.

End of the Transcripton.