[A Digest of the Evening Class spoken in Sri Radhe Kunj, Vrndavan-dhama, on Sri Gita Govinda.]
Sri Guru Maharaja and Srila Paramaradhyatama Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja are parakiya-bhagavat-parampara acaryas. Now, by their mercy, we will hear Sri Gita Govinda by Sri Jayadeva Gosvami. Our Guru-varga published this book for the benefit of the sadhakas around the world.
Srila Jayadeva Gosvami first writes:
yadi hari smarane sarasam mano
yadi vilasa-kalasu kutuhalam
madhura-komala-kanta padavalim
srnu tada jayadeva sarasvatim
Everyone has speech, or vani. This can be very sweet, but also it can be very bitter. It can burn. It can kill. Or it can be very sweet. By your speech, you can offer something that will please everyone and will please yourself. If you disturb others with your speech, the bad result will come to you—not to others. This speech is our enemy and also our good friend.
Hari has given the power of speech. With this power of speech, you should glorify Hari and His followers—the bhaktas. Actually, everyone in this world is constitutionally the devotee of God. Those who do not accept this are ignorant and foolish. They have no intelligence. They have turned away from their loving service to God. How to bring them nearby God? With your speech. With your speech don’t disturb anyone. Don’t speak rough and abusively. Don’t speak with fire to burn others. Whatever you have inside comes out through your speech.
rila Gurudeva said that Draupadi once joked with Duryodhana saying that the son of a blind man was himself blind. Duryodhana became furious hearing this. He had fallen into a pool of water, that looked like a carpet, in the Pandavas’ palace.
Draupadi watched from above on the balcony and laughed at Duryodhana, the younger cousin of her husband. He became very angry and because of this, the Mahabharata war ensued.
Jayadeva Gosvami first advises everyone. You have this power of speech. There is sabda-brahma and sabda-samanya—spiritual sound and material sound. Don’t taunt others, don’t hate others, don’t think, “He is low, I am higher.” “He is low, I am senior.” “I am the grandfather, they are all junior to me.” Thinking like this will bring low-class speech out of you.
When sound goes out, it echoes back. This is the law of action and reaction. When you throw a rock into the air, it will fall back down. Therefore, spread spiritual sounds. With your speech, glorify God and God’s devotees and associates. For your selfishness and enjoyment, don’t cheat others. Most people are like this. They have so much anger and it comes out as their aggressive speech.
Pray to your mind: “Dear mind, I tell you, don’t cheat others. This is only cheating yourself.”
If you have no good teacher and guardian, you will not understand this. People first learn from those they are related to. If their associates are rajasik, tamasik, or sattvik, they will become like that generally speaking. If we are associating with nirguna-bhaktas, we can become nirguna, spiritualized. Those who take maha-prasada, and hear hari-katha, and perform kirtana, in sadhu-sanga, they will become pure.
Mahaprabhu therefore said, “Ceto darpana marjanam.”
This is not so easy. Those who have clean hearts are real sadhus. They are not crooked cheaters or hyprocrites.
Also, mitanca saranca vacaham vagmita. They speak truthfully and also sweetly. If you first burn someone with fire, and then give them nectar, they cannot accept it. They are already burnt. This is a very tricky and sweet business.
Also, if they have no pot, where will you put nectar? First help them make a container in their hearts for this nectar.
Nectar distributors are very kind and very clever. They do not look at the anarthas of the jivas.
Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu spoke sweetly with everyone. Why didn’t They curse everyone? They know people are sinful and ignorant. They have so many anarthas, so much false ego. They are tamasik and rajasik. But should we focus on that?
Therefore we pray:
ganaite dosa gunalesa na paobi
jaba tuhu karobi vicara
When I look to see if I have any good qualities, I see that everything is bad. I cannot clean myself. Instead, I only collect bad qualities. I want to be happy. I want to be respected and loved. But I myself am very filthy. I am a filthy pot full of pus, blood, stool, and urine. But Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and the panca-tattva, Srivas Pandit, do not look at these things.
Devananda Pandit disturbed Srivas Pandit so much, but Srivas Pandit never thought bad about him.
Mahaprabhu’s followers are always nearby Vraja-bhumi, Vraja-dhama. Then you will be sarasa—very sweet, humble, and will be filled with good qualities. Bad association is very damaging.
First, determine not to speak rubbish, or to hear such things. When you hear bad things, you become disturbed and speak harshly yourself. If you scratch someone’s surface, you will see their nature. An angry person will vomit so much hate and poison. So be very careful. If you desire hari-bhakti, and to cool your mind, then?
madhurya komala kanta padavalim
Always sing Gita-Govinda.
rati sukha sare gatam abhisare
madana manohara vesam
In the early morning in the Jagannatha temple, when Jagannatha wakes, He first hears:
srita kamalakuca mandala drta kundala he
kalita lalita vanamala jaya jaya deva hare
He hears—pralaya payodhi jale drta manasi veda—and so forth. He doesn’t want anyone to speak bad things in front of Him. So He has so much affection for the songs of Jayadeva Gosvami. If you sing this again and again, you will become very sweet. Your life will change. Therefore, we sing the prayers of our Gosvamis. Our Gosvamis, and Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and ouru acaryas sing very sweetly. This changes our life and lifestyle.
Giyate trayate maho bhayat. If you sing and remember this Gita-Govinda again and again, you will become so happy and you will be freed from all kinds of fear. If you cannot sing or read, try to follow and hear those who are singing. This will make you komala, very soft. And you will become Krsna-kanta—not any other’s beloved.
yadi hari smarane sarasa mano—how to remember God? It is not so easy.
Sing—hari bolbo ara madana mohan heribo go—chant harinama and wander in Vraja-dhama. But it is difficult. You will remember so much nonsense day and night. This is your bhajana and my identity. Therefore, how to perform hari-smarana? Always sing and remember the sweet pastimes and glories of Sri Hari and His associates, in sadhu-sanga. Nothing else is required.
yadi vilasa-kalasu kutuhalam
How can we develop love for God? How can we play with Him? First, develop this conviction: “I do not want to play with any others. I don’t want to share my heart and have friendship with others.” How will this be possible? If you have this desire, if you want to go to Goloka Vrndavana, then again and again read. Again and again sing. And follow those who have this sweet relation.
In this world, everyone is floating in jada-rasa, in maya. If you are drowning in maya and thinking this is enough for you, if you are happy drowning in maya, then don’t read this book. Read mundane books. But if you want to cross over maya and jada-rasa, then read this book again and again. Unqualified persons who are attached to material life should not read this book. They will not understand Jayadeva Kavi and his desire. He is sweetly explaining the loving pastimes of Radha-Krsna.
kama prema doṅhakara vibhinna laksana
loha ara hema jaiche svarupa vilaksana
atmendriya priti iccha tare bali kama
krsnendriya priti iccha dhare prema nama
kamera tatparya nija sambhoga kevala
krsnasukha tatparya prema mahabala
What is the meaning of kama, lust. Lust and love are very different. They are not equal. It is a very special distinction. One is light, and one is dark. Lust is very painful and love is very sweet. They are very different. The symptoms of prema, love, is completely different from lust. Pure love and affection is completely different from lust. Lust is very dark, and takes you down and down. Fire is always increasing in lusty relations. Love brings so much coolness and sweetness and friendship. But lust makes everyone into enemies. When you have so much lust, then people become your enemies. Your family will be your enemies, your senses will be your enemies. You will become enemies very soon. The result will come quickly. The certificate of your character will come very quickly. It is said: if money is lost, nothing is lost, if health is lost, something is lost, but if character is lost then everything is lost. Lust is like rusty iron, and love is like pure gold.
The selfish desire to enjoy one’s own senses is lust. This is there to destroy you. Lust will cause your destruction. Love, prema, priti, this is the desire to please and serve Krsna.
Whatever you do for the pleasure of Krsna, this will develop more and more, and people will be happy with you, and support and follow you.
But if you are very lusty, then your senses, family, and everyone will gradually become against you and will forsake you.
If you are serving God, then even in your old age, you will travel everywhere spreading His love and glories, and everyone will be happy with you and will help you. If you do anything for Krsna’s happiness, this is love. Baladeva Prabhu then gives you the strength of sandhini-sakti—cit-bala. When you want to only enjoy, then you will gradually diminish more and more. But when you have love, your spiritual strength will increase more and more. So transcendental love and material lust are completely different.
Worldly dharma is not the symptom of love. Prema is completely different from any dharma of this world as well.
Jayadeva Gosvami describes how Krsna prays to Devi, Srimati Radhika: dehi pada palavam udaram. You are very kind. Please give me shelter at Your lotus feet. I wish to smear the dust of Your lotus feet on My body.”
He teaches us the power of Srimati Radhika’s foot dust. “Please place the dust from Your feet on My head. Then all My lust will be cooled.”
All medicine in this world is useless to destroy the disease of the heart—or lusty desire. You can go to doctors and ask them, “Please cure my lust.” “I cannot do it.” You can go to yogis, jnanis, karmis, or any others, but they cannot help you. Sukadeva Gosvami indicated how to destroy this lust, the disease of the heart.
vikriditam vraja vadhubhir idam ca visnu
sraddhanvito anusayad atha varnayed ya
bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kama
hrd rogam asu apinoti acirena dhirah
Hearing the glories of the Vraja-devis and their loving pastimes with Krsna cures the heart disease of lust which has been with the jivas for millions of lives. Jayadeva Gosvami teaches how Krsna Himself goes to Radhika and prays to Her:
smara garala kandhanam mama sirasi mandhanam
dehi pada pallavam udaram
“I am burning, I am suffering so much. Please give Me shelter. The dust of Your feet will cool My heart. Nothing else in this world can help.”
When will that day come that I will follow Krsna’s footsteps, and will desire to take the dust of Srimati Radhika’s lotus feet on our heads.
Krsna took the dust of Srimati Radhika and the gopis on His head and body in Dvaraka. And He took the dust of the gopis’ lotus feet all over His body during Holi-lila in Varsana.
Our Guru-varga, Brahma, Sankara, Uddhava, Narada, Bhisma, and other pure devotees all prayed to receive the dust of Srimati Radhika on their heads.
yad brahma sukha bhisma narada…alaksito na sahasa
We are so lucky to be in this sampradaya. After millions of lives, we have a chance to cross over maya. Be very serious, then you will progress and be protected. You must follow this process in proper association.
We will hear later about Srila Jayadeva Gosvami’s transcendental life.
Now, he is advising us how to enter Vraja-dhama.
Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami writes:
candidas vidyapati rayera natak giti
karnamrta sri gita govinda
svarupa ramananda sane mahaprabhu ratridine
gaya sune parama ananda
In the Gambhira, day and night Mahaprabhu was with Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramananda, and His other close associates. What did He speak about and hear from them? He would hear the songs of Candidasa, Vidyapati, and Jayadeva Kavi, and other footstep followers of Srimati Radhika. He would hear Sri Krsna-karnamrta, Sri Gita-Govinda, and Ramananda Raya’s Jagannatha-valabha-natakam.
Mahaprabhu would Himself practice this and instruct others in this same way. To those who are not following the footsteps of Srimati Radhika and the Vraja-devis, we should respectfully offer our pranamas. “You are very high and exalted. But I only have desire to smear the dust of the lotus feet of the Vraja-devis on my body.”
What do we pray to Syamasundara?
syamasundara sikhanda sekhara
smera hasa murali manohara
radhika rasika mam krpa nidhi
sva priya carana kinkarim karu
“When will that day come that You give me the chance to smear the dust of the Vraja-devis on my body. I never want to leave Vraja-bhumi.”
Then your desire-disease will never be able to disturb you. Just develop this mood. Many people may complain, may laugh and ridicule you, but you will never hear them. You will think, “Why aren’t they happy? Why aren’t they taking shelter of Srimati Radhika?”
We are very lucky to be here following Katyayani-vrata in Vrndavana-dhama.
We heard how to pray to Devi Mahamaya, “Please help so that no one looks at me, disturbs me, talks to me, or steals my heart and time. Oh Mahamaya, please don’t send anyone to me. Please cut off all my material relations.”
Once, I went to see my Guru Maharaja in Navadvipa. I waited a few days to see him without being given entrance. After three days I met him. He asked me, “Why didn’t you come to see me earlier?”
“The gate was locked.”
“Oh, you don’t know the process. There are many sevakas, many followers. Make friendship with them and then automatically they will open the gate. Because you don’t make friendship with them, then how can you come near me?”
Krsna teaches us how to come to Vraja-dhama. Chant, “Radhe Radhe!” “Radha-nama-parama-sukha-dai.”
Take shelter of the Vraja-devis and then everything will be very easy.
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami would always explain these transcendental pastimes to Mahaprabhu.
saccidananda purna krsnera svarurpa
ekai cicchakti tar dhare tin rupa
anandamse hladini sadanse sandhini
cidanse sanvit jare jnana kari jani
hladinira sara prema, prema sara bhava
bhavera parakasta nama mahabhava
mahabhava svarupa sri radha thakurani
sarvagunakhani krsnakanta siromani
Krsna has svarupa-sakti. She manifests cit-sakti, sandhini-sakti, and hladhini-sakti. Hladhini-sara, the essence of hladhini, or the bliss potency, is prema, pure love. The essence of prema is bhava, ecstatic moods. The topmost bhava is mahabhava, and he mahabhava-svarupa is Sri Radha Thakurani. Bhava, mahabhava, prema, and hladhini all manifests from Srimati Radhika. She is the dearmost beloved of Sri Krsna.
Srngara-rasa is the method to decorate the soul. This srngara-rasa decorates the soul with all good qualities. Jayadeva Gosvami therefore gives this siddha-pranali for the sadhakas. This is his great gift to the sadhakas.
radha madhavayo jayanti yamunakule rahah kelayah
“Where is Radha-Madhava?” On the bank of the Yamuna.
dhira samare yamuna tira vasati vane vanamali
“Vanamali Krsna is present playing with the gopis on the bank of the Yamuna, where the breeze is gently blowing.”
sri vasudeva rati keli katha sametametam
karoti jayadeva kavih prabandham
Krsna is sattvam-visuddam-vasudeva-sabditam—the supremely pure, transcendental personality, the all-attractive loving reality Krsna is present on the bank of Yamuna, in the soft, cooling sand. This sand is the foot dust of the Vraja-devis. Yamuna Devi accepts the dust of the Vraja-devis and keeps it on Her bank, mostly on the Vrndavan side—not so much on the Mathura side.
Vrajendranandana Syamasundara makes the sand very soft for His playful pastimes with the gopis.
The sand and deserts in this material world only burn us and cause us suffering, but where can we cool our heart and soul, and find happiness? Only at the lotus feet of Guru-pada-padma.
nitai pada kamala koti candra susitala
je chayaya jagat judaya
The lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu cool the hearts of everyone.
srnu tada jayadeva sarasvatim
Jayadeva Kavi is Sarasvati. There are two kinds of Sarasvati—sarasvati related to this material creation, and the transcendental sarasvati. There are seven notes, and various melodies, and harmonies. These are used by our acaryas to express the glories of the Vraja-devis and Syamasundara. The power to express all the loving moods are present with Jayadeva Kavi.
When we speak, we are like donkeys or monkeys. We have no sweet tone or melodies or words, and cannot cool anyone’s hearts. We cannot sing sweet songs like honeybees, cuckoos, and parrots. But Jayadeva Kavi has the grace of the transcendental goddess Sarasvati. Without Her mercy, we will speak like demons. When some demons speak, like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, or Kumbhakarna, then pregnant women have miscarraiges.
Even if you don’t know anything, you should learn to pray to the Vaisnavas, pray to Jayadeva Gosvami, and try to enter this Gita-govinda under proper guidance, then you will gradually be purified and understand everything.
First we must pray:
krpa karo vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hao dura
“Oh Vaisnava Thakura, please give me pure relationship, and destroy all my anarthas and pride.”
If we desire to understand and enter these topics, we must follow the teachings of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He sings:
dainya daya anye mana pratistha varjana
cari gune guni haya karaho kirtana
If you have all other qualities, but no humility, then everything will just be your demonic nature and culture. Therefore, first become humble, compassionate, do not desire respect, offer all respect to others, and free yourself from desire for prestige.
If you have desire to perform ekantika-bhajana, and follow the process properly, then the qualities of transcendental Sarasvati will enter within you.
idamte natapaskaya nabhaktaya kadacana
na casususave vacyam na ca mam yo’bhyasuyati
Those who are not faithful, who do not have devotion for Krsna, they are unqualified to hear these topics. These topics should not be revealed to them.
ya imam param guhyam madbhaktesvabhidhasyati
bhaktim mayi param krtva mamevaisyatyasagsayah
But if you desire this, if you have spiritual greed, then upon taking shelter of faithful devotees, you will become qualified. Don’t lament and think, “I am not qualified for Gita-Govinda.” Some people think, “I am not qualified to hear Gita-Govinda.” But they consider themselves qualified to engage in lusty affairs in this world. And yet, they criticize Jayadeva Gosvami!
People go to school and university and learn about how to increase their lusty affairs and enjoyment. They study this, and engage in material lusty affairs. Ignorant people have very low conceptions and ridicule Krsna. Therefore, don’t follow them. There is no need for tapasya, vrata, or anything else. Only pray to Jayadeva Gosvami to enter these subjects of Gita-Govinda and be in proper association. These songs are the most valuable treasures in this world.
This Gita-Govinda is very secret and deep. In Bhagavad-Gita, Krsna said: “Hear now My most confidential instruction—sarva-guhyatamam:
man mana bhava mad bhakto
mad yaji mam namaskuru
“Hear My secret and deep instruction. Man mana bhava. Give Me your mind. Follow Me. Offer yourself completely to Me.”
Who has done this perfectly? Only the Vraja-devis. People have room in their minds for so many things. They become so disturbed, have high blood pressure, and so many problems, so much stress, but they cannot take it out. They are always collecting more and more poison. How to wash your mind!
We say, “So many people are insulting me, hating me.” Why are you thinking about that? Only follow the Vraja-devis and everything will automatically be cleansed. They only carry Krsna in their hearts. When you can become like the gopis, only carrying Krsna in your heart, then you will never have anything to worry about. You will always be happy in this world.
Srila Gurudeva teaches: In Kali-yuga, the jivas see only external beauty. They don’t know what is real beauty. Outside, there may be a beautiful cover, but inside there is poison. People do not know this. They run to embrace the fire, like moths running into a flame. In this Kali-yuga, there are so many externally beautiful things, but they are very dangerous and poisonous.
The beauty in this world is only to destroy you. It will be very sweet, will show so much sweetness, but only to steal your blood. After they have taken all your blood, they will throw you out like husk or dry straw in the street.
Jayadeva Kavi is teaching us here what real beauty and sweetness is and is thus showing us the proper direction and sadhana. He is manifesting this rasa-tattva for the benefit of all sadhakas. He has brought this from the transcendental world. He is showing us the method to catch on to the lotus feet of Srimati Radhika.
Pray to Her: “Dehi pada pallavam uddaram. I only desire one particle of dust from Your lotus feet.”
Our acaryas glorify the foot dust of the gopis:
vande nanda vraje strinam
pada renum abhisnasah
yasam hari kathodgitam
punati bhuvana trayam
asam aho carana renu jusam aham syam
“Please give me one drop of dust from Your lotus feet.”
Brahma, Prahlada, Bhisma, and the rsis and sages are all praying for this.
ananta saktim tam radhika carana renu anusmarani
“Continuously pray and remember Srimati Radhika and Her lotus feet.”
Anusmarani. Are you doing this? Are you remembering those who are doing this? Krsna Himself is doing this.
nayamatma pravacanena labhya
na medhaya na bahu srutena
How can you serve Krsna? He doesn’t need or want anything. By your own strength or intelligence, you cannot understand or realize anything. You must receive mercy. You must become fit to receive this mercy. How can you please Him? He is atmarama, aptakama. How can you please Him? Krsna Himself prays to Srimati Radhika for one drop of Her mercy. This is how Krsna is pleased. Therefore, if you want to please Krsna, follow His footsteps.
Vipralambha and sambhoga are both present in this Gita-Govinda. How to enter within this book? Srila Gurudeva teaches us. We will hear more tomorrow. Time is not waiting for us. Try to wake early in the morning and pray. Everyday we are doing many kirtans and prayers before and after mangala-arati. We are praying to Srimati Radhika, to Lalita-devi, to Yamuna-devi, to Krsna, and Mahaprabhu. We are praying to all the gopis. if we do this, this is proper Katyayani-vrata and puja. She will not accept anything else. Yogamaya Devi accepts this as the best offering—the glories of the gopis, and prayers to Radhika and the gopis. Don’t waste this life. This human form of life is not easily available. There is no guarantee what will happen tomorrow or the next day. So with as much time as you have, pray to the gopis. Srila Gurudeva labored so much to present us with these treasures—to save these treasures for his children and grandchildren. Therefore, we will hear more tomorrow.
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