Hari-katha by Paramadhyatama Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, spoken on 14 June 1996, in Houston, published by Bhaktabandhav
[The following is a translation of Srila Gurudeva’s class spoken in Hindi.]
This is the third day of our classes on the Srimad Bhagavatam. I will explain one or two pastimes in a condensed manner. Or else, months will be spent explaining them in detail. I will start explaining the tenth canto. Firstly, you should realize what bhakti is. You should try to understand the description of bhakti given in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
You should realize first that “I am not this body. I am the knower; I am the soul of the body.” The relationship of the atma with Krsna is called prema. In this world, prema is called bhakti. Bhakti is causeless. Just as the sun gives heat and light without any reason, and fire burns anything that it comes in contact with, and just as the rivers flow into the ocean—in the same way, the tendency of the mind to be absorbed in Krsna without any cause, is called bhakti.The word, “Bhakti,” can only be used in relation with Krsna, and not with anyone else. A person who engages in Krsna’s bhakti is called a bhakta. The services rendered by a bhakta to Bhagavan Krsna are called bhakti. One shouldn’t engage in rendering services to others and call it bhakti. But people forcibly try to use bhakti for their own purposes. They use bhakti to propagate their conceptions of this material world. “Rastra-bhakti, desh-bhakti, matri-bhakti, and pitri-bhakti,” are some of the terms they use. These terms mean devotion to one’s country and parents. But they use the term bhakti for their own purposes. Nowadays, the terms related to Krsna’s appearance are used for the birthday of any person. For instance, they say, “Jawahar-jayanti, and Gandhi-jayanti.” They use the term, “Jayanti,” for anyone of this world. But, the word—Jayanti is only used for the appearance of Krsna. If it is Wednesday, astami (the eighth day after the full moon), the month of Bhadra (August—September), and the constellation of Rohini (when the naksatra named Rohini is visible in the sky), then that day is called Jayanti. Or else, no other day can be called as such. But, this term is used in many ways. Therefore, bhakti is used for Bhagavan and especially for the Supreme Personality of Godhead—Krsna. Love for Krsna that is without any cause or reason is called bhakti. In this world, there are two forms of bhakti. If a man cannot tolerate suffering from miseries anymore and being unable to stop them, becomes frustrated, then he develops detachment to samsara and thinks on how to attain happiness. He is told, “Oh brother, chant Krsna’s names and engage in His bhakti.” He then offers everything and engages in Krsna’s bhajan. He chants Krsna’s names and listens to His pastimes and the pastimes explained in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Even though his mind is disturbed, he is convinced that his auspiciousness lies in following bhakti. Therefore, accepting the rules and regulations of bhakti, he engages in Krsna’s bhajan. There are some who have impressions from their previous lives; there are some who have impressions from their present life; and there are some who have the association of Krsna’s bhaktas. By their inherent nature, they will have the desire to follow in the footsteps of the Vrajavasis who have spontaneous love and affection for Krsna. Krsna would “drown,” in the love of the Vrajavasis. Yasoda loves Krsna without any cause. The sakhas love Krsna not because He is Bhagavan. They have spontaneous love and affection for Him. Krsna becomes bound and controlled by their love. He is easily attained by following in the footsteps of the Vrajavasis. Today, we will mention some of Krsna’s pastimes described in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-’bhiramat ka uttamasloka-gunanuvadat puman virajyeta vina pasughnat
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.4
Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampara system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except for a butcher or one who is killing his own self?
Six days had passed since Pariksit Maharaja first started to hear the Bhagavatam from Sukadeva Gosvami on the banks of the Ganga. While he was listening to the pastimes of Krsna, he felt no hunger or thirst. He made his mind equipoised and was completely absorbed in listening to the pastimes of Krsna. Sukadeva Gosvamiji told him, “Go and drink some water. Don’t you want to eat a little?” The king replied, “No Gosvamiji. I only want to listen to you speak on these pastimes that are more powerful than nectar.” Pariksitji was destined to die the day after tomorrow since this was the sixth day, and Sukadeva Gosvami was continuously speaking on the Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaja. Thus, if one remembers or meditates on the pastimes of Krsna at the moment of death, then he will become free from the cycle of birth and death and will attain Krsna’s abode. Those, who do the demigods’ bhajan, will attain to the abode of the demigods. And, enjoying there for some days, they will return to martya-loka, as told by Krsna in the Gita:te tam bhuktva svarga-lokam visalam ksine punye martya-lokam visanti evam trayi-dharmam anuprapanna gatagatam kama-kama labhante
Bhagavad Gita 9.21
When they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasure and the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus those who seek sense enjoyment by adhering to the principles of the three Vedas achieve only repeated birth and death.
The worshipers of the demigods like Indra and others go to heaven. They enjoy sense enjoyment there and fall to this world again. But, one who engages in the service of Krsna will attain Krsna’s abode and never return from there.yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama
Bhagavad Gita 15.6
A person will never have to return from there. Going there once, a soul will never return. The soul doesn’t come to this material world from there. The jiva or soul comes from the tatastha realm. Some people are of the opinion that the souls come from Krsna’s abode. Once having attained the realm of Krsna, the soul will never have to return from there. The soul will never fall from there. Therefore, we have forgotten Krsna. Bharataji thought of a deer continuously, even up to the point of his death. Hence, he became a deer in his next life. Similarly, if one thinks continuously about Krsna, then the soul will attain Krsna’s abode and His service. The soul will never have to return from that world. Hence, it is said, “Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad.” If there are any devotees whose worldly desires have ceased and don’t desire for any form of sense enjoyment, then they will relish listening to Krsna’s pastimes and will no longer be interested in this material world. Sukadeva Gosvami was naked. He did not need anything. He was not interested about having a house or getting married. He had no anxieties about having children. His consciousness was only fixed on Krsna. He didn’t possess a trace of any form of greed to enjoy the material world. He is always absorbed in prema. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad, if such a person speaks on Krsna’s pastimes in a selfless manner, while only wanting our auspiciousness, then this is the medicine for bhava-roga. What is bhava-roga? It is punarapi-jananam punarapi-maranam, punanapi janane jatare gamanam. Taking birth and dying and repeatedly entering the womb of another mother to suffer in this material world, is called bhava-roga. So, the glories of Krsna are the topmost medicine for these conditioned souls. Listen to the pastimes of Krsna from such Mahapurususas who don’t have any trsna, or desire for this material world. The hari-katha they speak is the best medicine for curing this disease of material existence. This medicine is unfailing. Who will not listen to the hari-katha spoken from such personalities? Those, who have a desire for samsara should listen. Those, who have developed detachment to samsara should also listen. Those, who have developed pure devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna will also listen. The liberated personalities will also listen. Even those who have attained Goloka Vrndavana listen to the pastimes of Krsna. But, who doesn’t listen? Those who are atma-ghati don’t listen. Atma-ghati means one who kills himself. In India, some people lie on the railway tracks and get themselves run over by trains. Some swallow poison, and some kill themselves by other means. The most number of suicides occur in Western countries. If someone doesn’t have a car, and is unable to travel on his own, then he will kill himself. If one’s wife applies for a divorce, then the husband commits suicide.People commit suicide for the slightest of things. But they are not the real atma-ghatis. A real atma-ghati is one who although being present in an assembly where hari-katha is being spoken is unable to drown himself in that nectar of hari-katha. Why? A person who suicides spoils one life, but one who has been given the priceless opportunity of listening to hari-katha and liberating himself from the cycle of birth and death; but yet, by not utilizing this chance, he again wanders in the 8.4 million species of life. There is no guarantee if he will become a pig, goat, donkey, snake, or any other animal in his next life.By our own consideration, we will realize that there are very few people who desire the auspiciousness of everyone. Mostly, people have feelings of enmity towards one another. They engage in sin all the time. Even if they are not sinful, just by breathing air, living entities like microbes and other life forms are killed. So, sin is committed. Many insects are also killed when you walk. Sin is committed in some form or another. But, self-killers are those who don’t listen to the pastimes of Krsna. What is the nature of these pastimes? What is the nature of this topmost medicine? It is not like sugar-coated medicine. It is also not bitter. These pastimes are most pleasing to the ears and heart. They are very sweet. By listening to them once, your stomach will not become full. You will want to hear these pastimes again and again. Proceeding further, Sukadeva Gosvami said, “For the welfare of the world, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, took birth at the same time in Mathura and Gokula.”
ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28
Krsna is the ultimate limit of Godhood—He is the Summum bonum. In Mathura, Krsna took birth in the jail where Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned. He appeared with the conch, disc, club, and lotus. He manifested Himself there in His catur-bhuja form, four-handed form. He didn’t take birth from the womb of Devaki. He manifested Himself there. And, at the same time, during midnight, in the house of Yasoda, Krsna appeared from the womb of Yasoda in the form of an infant. The umbilical cord was attached to Krsna. On being told by Krsna, Vasudevaji offered his prayers to the four-handed form of Krsna. He prayed, “Please become a baby.” On becoming a baby, Vasudeva took Krsna on his lap. Then, on Krsna’s instruction, Vasudeva took Him and proceeded towards Gokula. The shackles were removed and the prison doors were opened. The guards fell fast asleep and a thunderous rainstorm followed a drizzle. The Yamuna’s waters started to swell. Vasudeva reached Gokula, and placed Krsna on the bed of Yasoda. At that time, this manifestation of Krsna merged with Krsna, who had taken birth from the womb of Yasoda. But no one knew this secret. When Vasudeva took his son and reached Gokula, Yasoda was in deep sleep. She had given birth to two children, a son and a daughter. Who was the daughter? She was Yogamayaji. This is written in the Srimad Bhagavatam. After this, Vasudeva took the daughter of Yasoda and left for Mathura. When Krsna appeared, Gokula became filled with festive joy. Everyone congratulated each other and much charity was given. The umbilical cord cutting ceremony was also performed. This did not happen in Mathura. [Srila Gurudeva and the devotees sing, “Nanda ke ananda bhayo, Jaya Kanhaiya-lala ki!”] Nanda Baba gave a palanquin to the elderly and what did he give to the children? He gave them horses and elephants. He gave everything he had in charity. This festival didn’t happen in Mathura. Many greetings were exchanged and the atmosphere was filled with bliss. Krsna started to grow. Within three days of His birth, Putana came. What is the meaning of Putana? An aspiring sadhaka has many impurities in him. Merely having a bath doesn’t make one pure. The purity of the mind is real purity. Guru takes the impure mind of the disciple and corrects it. He removes these impurities. Therefore, the Guru rescues the disciple. First of all you must become pure. How? By your body, mind, and words. Don’t think of anyone as your enemy. Your karma and mind are your enemies.mana eva manusyanam karanam bandha-moksayoh
Amrta-Bindu Upanisad 2
Your uncontrolled mind is your enemy; there is no other enemy. Although you taste the fruits of your own karma, you accuse another of being your enemy and say, “He scolded me; he hit me.” But, don’t think like this. Only your karma is your enemy. Therefore, do good karma. Why will you be sad when you are always happy? When you become sad because of committing any sin, then you remember Prabhu. If you remember Bhagavan from first, then you will never be sad in your life. Therefore, don’t do bad karma. Don’t cheat others of their wealth. Don’t steal from others. Always try to speak the truth. Respect everyone, because Krsna is in the hearts of everyone. “Charity begins from home.” Therefore, there is no need to instruct others. Firstly, you correct yourself. The guru must rectify himself first, and then he can make disciples and rectify them as well. How can you help others, when you have not helped or corrected yourself? Your heart is filled with envy, jealousy, and with desires to enjoy the world. A man leaves his wife, parents, children, and home. But what does he do here? He used to live in a hut with his family. Here, he lives in a five-star hotel. He didn’t have a car in his previous home. But now he has a car, which costs ninety lakh rupees. He also has a computer to assist him. He lives in great luxury; he has a diamond-studded ring. Why does he need this wealth? He left his wife and home. This kind of person is not a bona fide guru; he is not a bona fide guru. Therefore, one who is aloof from such attachments, who has realized Bhagavan, and who can remove all our doubts—he is a bona fide guru. If a person is himself bound, then how can he free others? How can one who is himself sleeping, awaken others? Sukadeva Gosvami had Pariksit Maharaja listen to all these instructions. So, all the instructions of Sukadeva Gosvami entered the king’s heart.Even if we were to listen to these instructions for our entire lives, our efforts will be fruitless if we don’t follow the instructions we have heard.A father would tell his son, “Don’t eat rock-candy or else you will suffer from excessive itching.” The son wouldn’t listen to his father, so the father went to his guru. He told his guru, “Guruji, my son doesn’t listen to me. He eats so much rock-candy and he suffers from itching.” The guru replied, “Bring your son tomorrow instead of today.” The father brought his son to see his guru on the next day. The father requested, “Guruji, he suffers from much itching. Tell him to stop eating rock-candy.” “Okay.” The guru told the boy, “Son, don’t eat rock-candy. Okay?” “Yes.” Indeed, the boy stopped eating rock-candy. His father asked guruji, “Why didn’t you tell my son to stop eating rock-candy yesterday? You only told him today.” The guru said, “Oh brother. I myself indulged in eating rock-candy up until yesterday. Today, I made a vow to stop eating rock-candy for the rest of my life. Your son would listen to me if I also stopped eating rock-candy. Or else he would not listen to me.” Nowadays, there are many worldly people who don’t practice anything themselves. Yet, they tell others, “You must become austere. You must become a tyagi, a renunciant.” And, they steal their wealth. So, what will be the fruit of this? Therefore, you must yourself become absorbed in bhajan like Sukadeva Gosvami, Naradaji, and Sankaraji. These personalities don’t have anything. They don’t have anything. Sukadeva Gosvami didn’t even have a langoti. He was naked. Thus, whatever he spoke bore fruit. It must bear fruit. He is a Jagat-Guru. If he were to tell someone, “You will have bhakti,” then that person will have bhakti. So, as Sukadeva Gosvami took his seat, Pariksit Maharaja also sat while waiting for his death. He intently listened to Sukadeva Gosvami’s hari-katha. These pastimes are the medicine for curing this disease of bhava-roga. So, what is the meaning of Putana? Brother, you must be pure by your mind. Bathing ten-twenty times a day will not do. The fish spend their entire lives in the ponds and the rivers, but they still emit a foul odour. So, you will not become pure by bathing three or four times a day. Chant Krsna’s name. Don’t desire that anything bad should happen to others. Even if you don’t do good to others, don’t try to do something which is harmful to them. Don’t ever do something to anyone which is not in their best-interest. In this way make your mind pure. Becoming pure by your body, mind, and words, remember Krsna or else you will not be able to do so. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.