Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala, Part 58
BY: SUN STAFF
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
Jul 19, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
Bhagavad Arka Marichi Mala
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sadhana Bhakti Executed Exclusively by Taking Shelter of the Holy Name (aikantiki namasraya sadhana-bhakti)
06.03.25 Yamaraja to his Order Carriers
prayena veda tad idam na mahajano 'yamdevya vimohita-matir bata mayayalamtrayyam jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayamvaitanike mahati karmani yujyamanah
prayena—almost always; veda—know; tat—that; idam—this; na—not; mahajanah—great personalities besides Svayambhu, Sambhu and the otherten; ayam—this; devya—by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vimohita-matih—whose intelligence is bewildered; bata—indeed; mayaya—by the illusory energy; alam—greatly; trayyam—in the three Vedas; jadi-krta-matih—whose intelligence has been dulled; madhu-puspitayam—in the flowery Vedic language describing the results of ritualistic performances; vaitanike—in the performances mentioned in the Vedas; mahati—very great; karmani—fruitive activities; yujyamanah—being engaged.
Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajnavalkya and Jaimini and other compilers of the religious scriptures cannot know the secret, confidential religious system of the twelve mahajanas. They cannot understand the transcendental value of performing devotional service or chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.
Because their minds are attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas - especially the Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Rg Veda - their intelligence has become dull. Thus they are busy collecting the ingredients for ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary benefits, such as elevation to Svarganloka for material happiness. They are not attracted to the sankirtana movement; instead, they are interested in dharma, artha, kama and moksa.
11.21.34 Shri Krishna to Uddhava
Being excessively proud and greedy, the minds of such persons are bewildered by the flowery words of the Vedas. They are not attracted to topics about Me, the Supreme Lord.
06.01.18 Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit
prayascittani cirnaninarayana-paranmukhamna nispunanti rajendrasura-kumbham ivapagah
prayascittani—processes of atonement; cirna-ni—very nicely performed; narayana-paranmukham—a nondevotee; na nispunanti—cannot purify; rajendra—O King; sura-kumbham—a pot containing liquor; iva—like; apa-gah—the waters of the rivers.
My dear King, as a pot containing liquor cannot be purified even if washed in the waters of many rivers, nondevotees cannot be purified by processes of atonement even if they perform them very well.
07.09.46 Prahlada Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva
mauna vrata-sruta-tapo-'dhyayana-sva-dharma-vyakhya-raho japa-samadhaya apavargyahprayah param purusa te tv ajitendriyanam
varta bhavanty uta na vatra tu dambhikanam
mauna—silence; vrata—vows; sruta—Vedic knowledge; tapah—austerity; adhyayana—study of scripture; sva-dharma—executing varnasrama-dharma; vyakhya—explaining the sastras; rahah—living in a solitary place; japa—chanting or reciting mantras; samadhayah—remaining in trance; apavargyah—these are ten types of activities for advancing on the path of liberation; prayah—generally; param—the only means; purusa—O my Lord; te—all of them; tu—but; ajita—driyanam—of persons who cannot control the senses; vartah—means of living; bhavanti—are; uta—so it is said; na—not; va—or; atra—in this connection; tu—but; dambhikanam—of persons who are falsely proud.
O Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are ten prescribed methods on the path to liberation - to remain silent, not to speak to anyone, to observe vows, to amass all kinds of Vedic knowledge, to undergo austerities, to study the Vedas and other Vedic literatures, to execute the duties of Varnasrama-dharma, to explain the sastras, to stay in a solitary place, to chant mantras silently, and to be absorbed in trance. These different methods for liberation are generally only a professional practice and means of livelihood for those who have not conquered their senses. Because such persons are falsely proud, these procedures may not be successful.
04.31.09-12 Narada Muni to the Pracetas
narada uvacataj janma tani karmanitad ayus tan mano vacahnrnam yena hi visvatmasevyate harir isvarah
naradah uvaca—Narada said; tat janma—that birth; tani—those; karmani—fruitive activities; tat—that; ayuh—span of life; tat—that; manah—mind; vacah—words; nrnam—of human beings; yena—by which; hi—certainly; visva-atma—the Supersoul; sevyate—is served;harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; isvarah—the supreme
The great sage Narada said: When a living entity is born to engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme controller, his birth, all his fruitive activities, his life-span, his mind and his words are all factually perfect. (9)
kim janmabhis tribhir vehasaukra-savitra-yajnikaihkarmabhir va trayi-proktaihpumso 'pi vibudhayusa
kim—what is the use; janmabhih—of births; tribhih—three; va—or; iha—in this world; saukra—by semen; savitra—by initiation; yajnikaih—by becoming a perfect brahmana; karmabhih—by activities; va—or; trayi—in the Vedas; proktaih—instructed; pumsah—of a human being; api—even; vibudha—of the demigods; ayusa—with a duration of life.
A civilized human being has three kinds of births. The first birth is by a pure father and mother, and this birth is called birth by semen. The next birth takes place when one is initiated by the spiritual master, and this birth is called savitra. The third birth, called yajnika, takes place when one is given the opportunity to worship Lord Vishnu. Despite the opportunities for attaining such births, even if one gets the life-span of a demigod, if one does not actually engage in the service of the Lord, everything is useless. Similarly, one's activities may be mundane or spiritual, but they are useless if they are not meant for satisfying the Lord. (10)
srutena tapasa va kimvacobhis citta-vrttibhihbuddhya va kim nipunayabalenendriya-radhasa
srutena—by Vedic education; tapasa—by austerities; va—or; kim—hat is the meaning; vacobhih—by words; citta—of consciousness; vrttibhih—by the occupations; buddhya—by intelligence; va—or; kim—what is the use; nipunaya—expert; balena—by bodily strength; indriya-radhasa—by power of the senses.
Without devotional service, what is the meaning of severe austerities, the process of hearing, the power of speech, the power of mental speculation, elevated intelligence, strength, and the power of the senses? (11)
kim va yogena sankhyenanyasa-svadhyayayor api
kim va sreyobhir anyais ca
na yatratma-prado harih
kim—what is the use; va—or; yogena—by mystic yoga practice; sankhyena—by the study of Sankhya philosophy; nyasa—by accepting sannyasa; svadhyayayoh—and by study of Vedic literature; api—even; kim—what is the use; va—or; sreyobhih—by auspicious activities; anyaih—other; ca—and; na—never; yatra—where; atma-pradah—full satisfaction of self; harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Transcendental practices that do not ultimately help one realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead are useless, be they mystic yoga practices, the analytical study of matter, severe austerity, the acceptance of sannyasa, or the study of Vedic literature. All these may be very important aspects of spiritual advancement, but unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, all these processes are useless. (12)
04.31.14 Narada Muni to the Pracetas
Yatha taror mula-nisecanenatrpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhahpranopaharac ca yathendriyanam
tathaiva sarvarhanam acyutejya
yatha—as; taroh—of a tree; mula—the root; nisecanena—by watering; trpyanti—are satisfied; tat—its; skandha—trunk; bhuja—branches; upasakhah—and twigs; prana—the life air; upaharat—by feeding; ca—and; yatha—as; indriyanam—of the senses; tatha eva—similarly; sarva—of all demigods; arhanam—worship; acyuta—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ijya—worship.
As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, and as supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality.
06.09.22 Demigods to Shri Vishnu
avismitam tam paripurna-kamamsvenaiva labhena samam prasantamvinopasarpaty aparam hi balisahsva-langulenatititarti sindhum
avismitam—who is never struck with wonder; tam—Him; paripuma-kamam—who is fully satisfied; svena—by His own; eva—indeed; labhena—achievements; samam—equipoised; prasantam—very steady; vina—without; upasarpati—approaches; aparam—another; hi—indeed; balisah—a fool; sva—of a dog; langulena—by the tail; atititarti—wants to cross; sindhum—the sea.
Free from all material conceptions of existence and never wonderstruck by anything, the Lord is always jubilant and fully satisfied by His own spiritual perfection. He has no material designations, and therefore He is steady and unattached. That Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only shelter of everyone. Anyone desiring to be protected by others is certainly a great fool who desires to cross the sea by holding the tail of a dog.
07.09.09-11 Prahlada Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva
manye dhanabhijana-rupa-tapah-srutaujas-tejah-prabhava-bala-paurusa-buddhi-yogah
naradhanaya hi bhavanti parasya pumsobhaktya tutosa bhagavan gaja-yutha-paya
manye—I consider; dhana—riches; abhij-ana—aristocratic family: rupa—personal beauty; tapah—austerity; sruta—knowledge from studying the Vedas; ojah—sensory prowess; tejah—bodily effulgence; prabhava—influence; bala—bodily strength; paurusa—diligence; buddhi—intelligence; yogah—mystic power; na—not; aradhanaya—for satisfying; hi—indeed; bhavanti—are; parasya—of the transcendent; pumsah—Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktya—simply by devotional service; tutosa—was satisfied; bhagavan—the Supreme personality of Godhead; gaja-yutha-paya—unto the King of elephants (Gajendra).
Prahlada Maharaja continued: One may possess wealth, an aristocratic family, beauty, austerity, education, sensory expertise, luster, influence, physical strength, diligence, intelligence and mystic yogic power, but I think that even by all these qualifications one cannot satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, one can satisfy the Lord simply by devotional service. Gajendra did this, and thus the Lord was satisfied with him. (9)
viprad dvi-sad-guna-yutad aravinda-nabha-padaravinda-vimukhat svapacam
varisthammanye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitartha-pranam punati sa kulam na tu bhurimanah
viprat—than a brahmana; dvi-sat-guna-yutat—qualified with twelve brahminical qualities; aravinda-nabha—Lord Vishnu, who has a lotus growing from His navel; pada-aravinda—to the lotus feet of the Lord; vimukhat—not interested in devotional service; sva-pacam—one born consider; tat-arpita—surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord; manah—his mind; vacana—words; ihita—every endeavor; artha—wealth; pranam—and life; punati—purifies; sah—he (the devotee); kulam—his family; na—not; tu—but; bhurimanah—one who falsely thinks himself to be in a prestigious position.
If a brahmana has all twelve of the brahminical qualifications [as they are stated in the book called Sanat-sujata] but is not a devotee and is averse to the lotus feet of the Lord, he is certainly lower than a devotee who is a dog-eater but who has dedicated everything - mind, words, activities, wealth and life - to the Supreme Lord. Such a devotee is better than such a brahmana because the devotee can purify his whole family, whereas the so-called brahmana in a position of false prestige cannot purify even himself. (10)
Naivatmanah prabhur ayam nija-labha-purnomanam janad avidusah karuno vrniteyad yajjano bhagavate vidadhita manamtac catmane prati-mukhasya yatha mukha-shrih
na—nor; eva—certainly; atmanah—for His personal benefit; prabhuh—Lord; ayam—this; nija-labha-purnah—is always satisfied in Himself (He does not need to be satisfied by the service of others); manam—respect; janat—from a person; avidusah—who does not know that the aim of life is to please the Supreme Lord; karunah—(the Supreme Personality of Godhead), who is so kind to this foolish, ignorant person; vrnite—accepts; yat yat—whatever; janah—a person; bhagavate—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vidadhita—may offer; manam—worship; tat—that; ca—indeed; atmane—for his own benefit; prati-mukhasya—of the reflection of the face in the mirror; yatha—just as; mukha-shrih—the decoration of the face.
The Supreme Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always fully satisfied in Himself. Therefore when something is offered to Him, the offering, by the Lord's mercy, is for the benefit of the devotee, for the Lord does not need service from anyone. To give an example, if one's face is decorated, the reflection of one's face in a mirror is also seen to be decorated. (11)
