Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja:
ei-bāra karuṇā kara vaiṣṇava gosāñi
Can’t you sing? You have no song book? Why? Why don’t you keep the songbook? All should sing. Yes, bring the songbook.
ei-bāra karuṇā kara vaiṣṇava gosāñi
patita-pāvana tomā bine keha nāi
jāhāra nikaṭe gele pāpa dūre jāya
emana dayāla prabhu kebā kothā pāya
gaṅgāra paraśa haile paścate pāvana
darśane pavitra kara-ei tomāra guṇa
hari-sthāne aparādhe tāre hari-nāma
tomā sthāne aparādhe nāhi paritrāṇa
tomāra hṛdaye sadā govinda-viśrāma
govinda kahena-mora vaiṣṇava parāṇa
prati-janme kari āśā caraṇera dhūli
narottame kara dayā āpanāra bali'
(Ei-Bāra Karuṇā Kara Vaiṣṇava Gosāñi, Prārthanā, Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura)
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
hari bol! hari bol! hari bol! hari bol!
Nitāi-Gaura! hari bol! hari bol! hari bol! hari bol!
[Devotees chant along]
Gaura-premānande, hari hari bol!
So today, these devotees here are celebrating, inaugurating Prabhupāda’s centennial festival. Isn’t it? This is a very good occasion, a very auspicious occasion. In this auspicious occasion, I am present here. This is such a causeless mercy of such an elevated paramhaṁsa, a dear devotee of Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu ― Śrīla Prabhupāda. Somehow, I am present here in your association and I have gotten an opportunity to speak a few words in glorifying Śrīla Prabhupāda. You know, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa, He is vibhu. He is the Supreme Lord. He is ananta, unlimited. His kathā, his glories are also unlimited. One who is a very dear devotee of Kṛṣṇa, he is also unlimited; his glories are also unlimited. So, I have no qualification to glorify him. Do you understand? [One] who is unlimited, how can one limit him?
mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ
paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande
śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam
(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.1) by Śrīdhara Svāmī; as quoted in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.80)
It is said, someone may be dumb, cannot utter a word; but if he is fortunate enough to get the causeless mercy of Śrī Guru, then he will become an eloquent speaker on Vedas. One may be cripple, cannot move; but if he gets the mercy of Śrī Guru, then he will do mountaineering. Such wonderful; Śrī Guru’s mercy is such wonderful. Kāke ke garuḍa kare, it is said. Kāke ke garuḍa kare. Kāka means crow. If a crow gets the mercy of Śrī Guru, then he will become Garuḍa, the carrier of Viṣṇu; so great. That is his mercy. Do you understand? So Śrīla Prabhupāda, my revered spiritual master, he is a very dear devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Do you understand?
Kṛṣṇa is supremely merciful, parama dayālu; Kṛṣṇa is suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ. He has said that in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29). He is the only well-wishing friend of all living entities. He has His abode in the spiritual sky, i.e., Goloka Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇaloka, where He is always engaged in this rāsa dance; conjugal, loving pastimes with the gopīs. Why will He come here to this material world? What business He has here? He is sac-cid-ānanda-maya. His dhāma, abode is also sac-cid-ānanda-maya, i.e., sanmaya, cinmaya and ānandamaya ― full of eternality, full of knowledge and full of bliss. His dhāma is always like that and He is like that. This material world is completely the opposite. It is asat, acit and nirānanda. That means, it is temporary, it is filled with dense darkness of ignorance and it is duḥkhālaya. It is a miserable platform; only miseries and suffering is there. No pleasure; no bliss. Completely the opposite. Why Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will come here? Because He is the well-wishing friend of all jīvas. Do you understand? Jīvas, the living entities, are His fragmental part and parcels. Isn’t it? And also, the living entities are His children.
sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ
tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir
ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā
Kṛṣṇa says this thing in Bhagavad-gītā (14.4), “I am the seed-giving father.” That means Kṛṣṇa is the seed-giving father; He is the Supreme Father and the jīvas are all His children; and the father has natural love and affection for His children. Though some children may be disobedient to the father, but the father [has] such natural love and affection. Do you understand? Those jīvas [who] are disobedient to the Supreme Father Kṛṣṇa, those jīvas [who] don’t carry out His order… Do you understand? That question we were discussing this morning in the Bhāgavata class purport. Kṛṣṇa gave His instruction:
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
(Bhagavad-gītā 18.65-66)
“Always think of Me, become My devotee, render serviced to Me, offer worship to Me, pay obeisances to Me; thus definitely you will come to Me. Abandoning all varieties of dharma, just surrender unto Me.” That is His message. The most confidential message, the concluding message in Bhagavad-gītā. Those who don’t follow it and disobey it ― they forgot their original consciousness, i.e., Kṛṣṇa consciousness and they became captured by the claws of māyā, the illusory energy of the Lord ― they come down here to this material world, illusionary world; and this is what’s said to be the māyā-kṛta kārāgāra, the prison house created by māyā.
Why is a prison house created? The government has a prison house, the king has a prison house. Why? Those who are disobedient to the king, disobedient to the government, not follow the rules, regulations and the constitution, they will become criminals [and] they will be put in the prison house; and severe punishment will be inflicted unto them. Thereby, they will understand that we have disobeyed the king’s order, disobeyed the government’s order. Therefore, we have been put here in this prison house, [where] such severe punishment is inflicted. Then they will amend themselves. Do you understand? That is the purpose.
Similarly, those who disobey the Supreme Father, the order of the Supreme Father, those who never follow His instructions, for them this illusionary world, material world is created by māyā; that is the prison house. Māyā inflicts punishment on such forgetful jīvas, the conditioned souls, i.e., birth, death, old age and disease. Duḥkha. Do you understand? They have always been inflicted with three tāpas ― adhyātmika, adhidaivika and adhibhautika. Only suffering is there and this is a place of punishment. As long as you are here, you are subject to punishment. This is daṇḍa-bhogya-sthāna.
But Kṛṣṇa is so merciful, you have forgotten Him, but He has not forgotten you. He feels pain in His heart. Do you understand? He feels pain, “Oh! Some of My children have forgotten Me and have been suffering.” So, He comes down here [and] manifests his līlās here. Do you understand? [Manifests] transcendental, very sweet līlās here. Then He gives the opportunity to badhha jīvas, the conditioned souls to see His līlā. As His līlā, kahānī, message will be recorded in śāstra like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and [other] Vedic literatures, the conditioned souls will get the opportunity to read it. He also sends His dear devotees, the most intimate and dear devotees, sādhus, gurus, mahājanas, vaiṣṇavas to this material world, to preach this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness; to speak kṛṣṇa-kathā, bhāgavata-kathā, just to give them the opportunity to listen to it.
This is His kṛpā-līlā upādāna; these are the ingredients of His merciful pastimes. Therefore, He comes down here. It is said, when the Supreme Lord comes down here, manifests His līlās, then He winds up His līlās and goes back to His original abode; but He lives here in the ingredients of His kṛpā-līlā, i.e., merciful pastimes. What are they? Those are śrī-vigraha; nāma, His holy name; dhāma, His abode, holy places like Vṛndāvana dhāma, Māyāpura-Nabadvīpa dhāma, Jagannātha Puri dhāma, Dvāraka dhāma, Mathurā dhāma. Do you understand? He lives here. Nāma, vigraha, dhāma, His kathā, His bhakta, sādhu, śāstra and the paraphernalia for His service. These are His kṛpā-līlā upādāna, ingredients of His merciful pastimes. Do you understand? And if some jīvas, human beings, [who’s] very intelligent and wise, he must cultivate all these ingredients of His merciful pastimes; then he will be able to enter into the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord. That means he will go back home, back to Godhead. He makes such arrangement.
Jīva, as I say, is the eternal, fragmental part and parcel of the Lord, and His child. Therefore, he is very dear to Kṛṣṇa. Do you understand? He is very dear to Kṛṣṇa. You have forgotten Kṛṣṇa. Do you understand? You are not thinking of Him, you are not calling Him, but Bhagavān, the Supreme Lord is always thinking of you. He is calling you. You are not calling Him, but He is calling you. If you have ears, you can hear how He is calling you. Do you understand? Those who are nitya-sidhha pārṣadas, eternal pārṣadas, dear devotees of Kṛṣṇa, they always hear how Kṛṣṇa is calling them. Kṛṣṇa has a flute His hands; through His sweet singing of His flute, He is calling. Do you understand? Because of His such mercy, He send His dear devotees, His eternal associates; very intimate, eternal associates to this material world. Why? “Go and preach this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Preach the science of devotional service. Distribute this bhakti-dhana; this treasure, invaluable treasure, this bhakti.” Do you understand? Kṛṣṇa makes such an arrangement. He sends His most intimate, eternal associates, dear devotees; and Śrīla Prabhupāda is one of them ― the most intimate, eternal associate of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa sent him here, “Go to the material world and preach the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness! Distribute this bhakti-dhana; this invaluable treasure [of] bhakti.” Do you understand? Bhakti, devotional service is an invaluable treasure. Vṛndāvana Dāsa Ṭhākura has said in Caitanya-bhāgavata (Madhya 24.72):
bhakti-yoga, bhakti-yoga, bhakti-yoga-dhana
‘bhakti’ eī-kṛṣṇa-nāma-smaraṇa-krandana
Do you understand? This is dhana; bhakti-yoga is dhana. What is dhana? This is an invaluable treasure ― ‘bhakti’ eī-kṛṣṇa-nāma-smaraṇa-krandana ― to always think of Kṛṣṇa; man-manā bhava and cry for Kṛṣṇa. That is bhakti. And Mahāprabhu came, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself, but He came as a devotee. He set up this example; He is a practical teacher. He taught us practically how to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa; utter the name of Hari and shed tears. Isn’t it? Mahāprabhu was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and shedding tears. This is bhakti-yoga. His dear devotees, they do the same thing. They come here, they speak kṛṣṇa-kathā, very sweet pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, bhāgavata-kathā; they preach the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They chant:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
By chanting, they cry. It is said, this is ātmāra-krandana; this is the crying of the soul; crying in the heart. Do you understand? Soul has been put in this miserable platform, revolving in the cycle of birth and death repeatedly; suffering, suffering from birth, death, old age and disease. Therefore, he is crying.
[break]
You see, when he met his revered spiritual master Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Govāmī Ṭhākura in 1922 in Ulṭāḍaṅgā, Calcutta, immediately He understood; he felt such an inspiration in his heart, attraction in his heart, that he is my guru. Do you understand? It is the heart’s attraction. Do you understand? Prabhupāda has written that thing: he had seen many sādhus, but he had never seen such a sādhu who speaks of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Do you understand? At that time, Prabhupāda was working with Gāṅdhī. Gāṅdhī was trying to drive out the English rulers from India. He was carrying out the Non-violence Movement and Prabhupāda was working with that.
Prabhupāda asked Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Govāmī, “Our motherland India is not independent. It is under the rule of the British people. You are speaking the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but first, our motherland should be free from this British rule.”
Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Govāmī says, “This science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is such a science; this is such an invaluable treasure, dhana, it will never wait for any condition ― independent or dependent condition. It is a perfect, eternal treasure. Never wait for that; [in] any condition, it should be preached and it should be inculcated [by] those who are devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”
Do you understand? At the first sight, he ordered him. He understood; Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Govāmī was such a powerful vaiṣṇava and a pure sādhu. He had a perfect vision, pure vision. He could see things correctly. He understood immediately, this person, this Abhay Charan De… His name was Abhay Charan De. Isn’t it? This person will fulfill the desire of Mahāprabhu. Yes. This person will preach the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the western world in English language. That was Mahāprabhu’s prophecy.
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126)
Isn’t it? That was Mahāprabhu’s prophecy five-hundred years ago. “In all the villages, towns, cities and corners of the world, My name, My message will be preached.” Now, it has become fruitful. Who did it? Who? Who fulfilled this desire of Mahāprabhu? He: Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupādajī Mahārāja. Isn’t it? Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Govāmī Ṭhākura, his father is Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. Isn’t it? Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is also a nitya-sidhha bhagavad-pārṣada, an eternal associate of Bhagavān. Yes. He is an ācārya. One of the most celebrated ācāryas of Gauḍīya-vaiṣṇava-ācaryā-paramparā; who is known as the Seventh Govāmī, after the Six Govāmīs. He had also prophesized that a worthy son will be born, who will preach the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world; fulfill the desire of Mahāprabhu. That was his prophecy, two-hundred years ago. Do you understand? Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura also said, pointing out this birthplace of Mahāprabhu, this Māyāpura dhāma, “A day will come [when] the devotees of Mahāprabhu from the western and the eastern countries ― prācya-pāścātya jagatera bhakta-gaṇa ― will assemble here together and chant Jaya Sacinandana! Jaya Sacinandana! Gaurahari!” Who has done this? It is true, isn’t it? There is a big centre in Māyāpura dhāma, our ISKCON centre; Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. Do you understand? This is Prabhupāda’s vision [that] a great township will grow up here. Devotees from all corners of the world will come and stay here, chant and dance here; chant Jaya Sacinandana! Now it’s going on. Who fulfilled this? He fulfilled the desire of Mahāprabhu, the desire of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
So, as a son of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Govāmī Prabhupādajī Mahārāja was born. A very powerful vaiṣṇava. Do you understand? He was a very powerful; such a powerful vaiṣṇava is not available nowadays. But he had not gone to the western world; he had not gone. He trained his disciples and sent them. “You go and preach this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in English language!” Because that was the prophecy of Mahāprabhu. Mahāprabhu is patita-pāvana, deliverer of the patitas and the people of the western countries are mlecchas and yavanas. Mlecchas and yavanas, the most sinful persons. Isn’t it? They are leading the life of dogs and hogs. Isn’t it? Like dogs and hogs; not a human life. Such low consciousness, degraded consciousness. Yes, animal consciousness. But Mahāprabhu is patita-pāvana, so wonderfully merciful, that He showers mercy on the patitas, the most degraded. Do you understand? So, He gave this prophecy; and His dear devotees are more merciful than Mahāprabhu. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said like that and Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura trained his disciples and sent them. “Go to preach! Spread this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the western countries. Let them be delivered because they deserve [it].” Those who are very, very fallen, the most fallen, they deserve the mercy of Mahāprabhu. They deserve the mercy of the dear devotees of Mahāprabhu; vaiṣṇavas. Yes, because they are the most fallen. Do you understand?
Prior to the sending of Bhaktivedānta Svāmī, my revered spiritual master, Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura had sent some of his other disciples. They were Bhakti Pradīpa Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Bhakti Hṛdaya Bon Mahārāja. They had gone there. They went to England to preach, but couldn’t do; couldn’t do anything. They were not successful at all. Do you understand? They were not successful at all. They came back. But at last, my revered spiritual Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupādajī Mahārāja, he went. He went to the western world in a very, very old age; at the age of seventy. In such old age, nobody even wants to leave home, but he went to the western world. A complete stranger; he was a stranger there ― no friend, no kith and kin; nobody here. Who is there? Kṛṣṇa is there. Kṛṣṇa is there. Isn’t it? [One] who has gotten Kṛṣṇa, [one] who is a completely Kṛṣṇa conscious person, he sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere. Isn’t it? That we were discussing this morning; and this is the purpose of this rarely achieved human birth ― to develop complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Do you understand? [To] develop complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness [is] the purpose of this birth.
labdhvā su-durlabham idaṁ bahu-sambhavānte
mānuṣyam artha-dam anityam apīha dhīraḥ
tūrṇaṁ yateta na pated anu-mṛtyu yāvan
niḥśreyasāya viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.9.29)
Undergoing lakhs, lakhs and lakhs of species of life, one gets a chance by getting a human body; a human birth, which is said to be a rarely achieved birth because the purpose is, in this very birth one can develop complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness; one can develop devotion, bhakti, paramārtha. Thereby, he will get Kṛṣṇa. He will see Kṛṣṇa, he will understand Kṛṣṇa, he will get Kṛṣṇa. Then his life is successful; his life will be perfect. Do you understand? So, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a boon for this material world and this should be preached. Do you understand? Those who are devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they have been suffering. They are covered up with dense darkness of ignorance; and ignorance is the cause of suffering. If Kṛṣṇa consciousness is inculcated unto him, then he can understand who he is. What his institutional position is, what his identity is and what the purpose of his life is. Therefore, Bhāgavata says:
bhaktiḥ kṛṣṇe dayā jīveṣv
akuṇṭha-jñānam ātmani
yadi syād ātmano bhūyād
apavargas tu saṁsṛteḥ
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.29.1b)
“If a living entity is developed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and is merciful to others, and if his spiritual knowledge of self-realization is perfect, he will immediately attain liberation from the bondage of material existence.” Do you understand? So, to preach the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a boon. Thereby, he can understand who he is. He will get spiritual knowledge; self-realisation and he will attain liberation from the bondage of material existence. Do you understand? Preaching this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is showing real mercy to the living entities. Do you understand? Because he is devoid of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is suffering. If he will develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, no more suffering. He can understand Kṛṣṇa is my eternal master, I am His eternal servant. My duty is to surrender unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and render loving service unto Him, giving all pleasure, all happiness [and] all enjoyment. That is complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa says, what is Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra
sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati
tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi
sa ca me na praṇaśyati
(Bhagavad-gītā 6.30)
This is complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. “One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me…” That means, he sees kṛṣṇa-sambandha, the relationship of Kṛṣṇa. Everybody, every jīva has perfect, eternal, loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Whatever you see and find, everything, is also related to Kṛṣṇa; everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. One who sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere and sees the relationship with Kṛṣṇa — how everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa — he is completely Kṛṣṇa conscious. Kṛṣṇa says, “He is not out of My sight, I am not out of his sight. He sees Me, I see him.” He is completely Kṛṣṇa conscious. And Prabhupādajī Mahārāja was a completely Kṛṣṇa conscious person. So he went, at the fag end of his life, in old-age, to the western world. He was a complete stranger there; such an unknown world; no acquaintance, nothing. No friend, no relatives; but Kṛṣṇa was there. Kṛṣṇa was there. He had firm faith in Him, because Kṛṣṇa is everywhere. Kṛṣṇa is there. Yes. Do you understand?
He said that thing to me in Vṛndāvana, when he sent me to Bhubaneśvara. He sent me alone, “Go alone!” When I asked him, “Prabhupāda, will you not give me some devotees? Will you not give me some money?”
“What money, money? Why do you need devotees? Go alone! A vaiṣṇava is not alone, Kṛṣṇa is with him.” Yes. He told his own story, “My Guru Mahārāja sent me to the western world. I was completely a stranger there; completely unacquainted. No acquaintance there, no friends, no kith and kin. Nothing. A vaiṣṇava is not alone, Kṛṣṇa there.” Isn’t it?
“Why do you need some money? Why do you need some men? Go alone! I was there alone. I had only forty rupees with me; only forty rupees”, he said. “[Only] forty rupees with me and I started a business for Kṛṣṇa. My principal money was forty rupees. Now Kṛṣṇa has given me so much; that is more that forty crores of rupees.”
Do you see? You should understand, yes. One who is a completely Kṛṣṇa conscious person, he sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere. Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is my real friend. Kṛṣṇa is rakṣaka āra pālaka āmār ― Kṛṣṇa is my maintainer, Kṛṣṇa is my protector. Firm faith, yes. Not dependent on anybody, completely dependent on Kṛṣṇa. That is complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore, preaching this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is showing real mercy to the living entities. Other types of humanitarian work may be temporarily beneficial for the body, but because a living entity is a spirit soul, ultimately one can show him real mercy only by revealing knowledge of his spiritual existence. This is the most beneficial humanitarian work ― to preach this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He did it. The people of the western world were dying, dying, dying.
[Aside] Ah? Seven-thirty, yes. Yes, I am… [?] I speak. Stop; alright? [?] Alright.
[They] were dying, dying, dying. They had no life. Taking very strong drugs; LSD, marijuana. Hippies, mad fellows; half-naked boys and girls rolling in the park. He went there with kartālas and chanted:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
Thereby, pure name coming from the lips a pure devotee is not different from Kṛṣṇa. It touched the ears of hippies and they woke up, “Oh!” They got live; they got life. They woke up. They came and flocked around Prabhupāda. Prabhupāda was singing Hare Kṛṣṇa tune from the heart [46.30?]; then said, “Chant! Chant! Chant! Chant!” Then they started chanting.
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
They were dying, and they got life. Jīvanaṁ sarva-bhūteṣu (Bg. 7.9). Kṛṣṇa is the life. Kṛṣṇa says, “I am the life in all the living entities.” If you cannot carry Kṛṣṇa in you, what is the value of your life? If there is no soul in the body, then the body is a clump of dead matter. Nobody will decorate a dead body with nice ornaments, nice garments. Nobody will kiss a dead body. Similarly, if there is no Kṛṣṇa in your life, then what is the value of your life? It is dead, jīvana-mṛta. Though living; dead. Though breathing; breathing is like the bellows of a blacksmith. What is the value of your life? So he gave life; he gave Kṛṣṇa. He had come here to give you Kṛṣṇa; to give you life. Therefore, he set up this Society, founded this Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. This thing [is] significant, I was saying; because the purpose of human birth is to develop complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then you will get real life, happiness. At last, they will go back, back to Godhead. Do you understand?
Bhoga-vāsanā, desiring material enjoyment is the cause of all sufferings, distress. Similarly, if somebody will desire how to serve Kṛṣṇa, how to serve His dear devotees, then he will get real life, real pleasure. Do you understand? So, those who are pure devotees, they can change the direction of your life. Their life was directed towards material enjoyment, therefore they were suffering. But coming in contact with Prabhupāda, hearing from him, their lives completely changed; thereby it became directed towards the service of Kṛṣṇa. A new life; he gave a new life. If the wonderful inventions, wonderful material discoveries will be there, do you think that all auspiciousness will come? No. If nice arrangements will be made for eating, sleeping, mating and defending; [if] there is no deficity, do you think you will get peace? In the western world, there is no deficity. Why were they dying? But what does the soul need?
sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6)
The soul needs bhakti. The soul’s need is to surrender unto Kṛṣṇa, serve Kṛṣṇa and develop complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then you’ll get peace. Kṛṣṇa is supremely peaceful. Ātmā, soul, His fragmental part, is peaceful, but the body is material; it is not peaceful. The mind is material; not peaceful. But the ātmā develops complete, selfless Kṛṣṇa consciousness; you are the servant of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, you should engage yourself in the loving service of Kṛṣṇa. There is no other way that one can get peace. Therefore, he preached the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He translated many Vedic literatures, especially Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in English language. They got the chance to read it, know it; many Vedic literatures. It was completely unknown to them; now they know, the preaching is going on.
So Odiā grāma-vāsī, the villagers of Odiā village, once asked Mahāprabhu, “What is our duty?” Mahāprabhu said:
prabhu kahena, — ‘kṛṣṇa-sevā’, ‘vaiṣṇava-sevana’
‘nirantara kara kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana’
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.104)
That is your duty. If you serve vaiṣṇavas… Those who are the dear devotees of Kṛṣṇa, those who preach the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world, those who inculcate Kṛṣṇa consciousness unto the people, i.e., inculcate real life unto those who are dying — they are vaiṣṇavas. If you serve them, thereby Kṛṣṇa is worshipped. Thereby Kṛṣṇa is worshipped. You cannot see Kṛṣṇa, but you can see His dear devotees, those who are moving [here].
janasya kṛṣṇād vimukhasya daivād
adharma-śīlasya suduḥkhitasya
anugrahāyeha caranti nūnaṁ
bhūtāni bhavyāni janārdanasya
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.5.3)
Because of their causeless mercy, they have descended here from the spiritual world and wandering here to inculcate Kṛṣṇa consciousness unto those who are devoid of it, who thereby have been suffering. If you render service to such vaiṣṇavas, vaiṣṇava-sevana, thereby Kṛṣṇa is worshipped. Because they carry in them, they will give you Kṛṣṇa. That is life. Then your life will be successful. Always chant:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
That is Mahāprabhu’s instruction. How can you worship Kṛṣṇa? By serving such a dear devotee of Kṛṣṇa who preaches the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world. Yes; saves the dying human beings and gives them life; inclulcating Kṛṣṇa consciousness, gives them life. Do you understand what good he is doing? Now the time has come; now this year you must think of him, you must glorify him.
vaiṣṇavera guṇa-gāna karile jīvera trāṇa
suniyācchi sādhu-guru-mukhe
(Jayare Jayare Jaya Paramhaṁsa Text 18)
I have heard from the lips of sādhu-guru, if you glorify a vaiṣṇava, a dear devotee of Kṛṣṇa, you be delivered very easily. Kṛṣṇa will be very much pleased, you will get the mercy of Kṛṣṇa; thereby your life will be successful. Now, this is the centennial year of Prabhupāda, so this is our duty to preach his glories vigorously and spread it, and print books, distribute; his līlāmṛta, life-history is there; print, distribute. Let all people know about Prabhupāda and glorify him. Let them come forward and serve him. Thereby Kṛṣṇa is served, Kṛṣṇa is worshipped. Their human life will be successful. Thank you very much. Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Devotees: Jaya! Śrīla Gour Govinda Mahārāja kī jaya! Jaya!
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Prabhupādajī Mahārāja kī jaya! ISKCON Founder-Ācārya Prabhupādajī Mahārāja kī jaya! Samaveta bhakta-vṛnda kī jaya! Gaura premānande hari-hari bol!
[break]
āre bhāi! nitāi āmāra dayāra avadhi
jīvera karuṇā kari, deśe-deśe phiri-phiri
prema-dhana yāce niravadhi
advaitera saṅge raṅga, dharaṇe nā yāya aṅga
gorā-preme gaḍhā tanu-khāni
ḍhuliyā ḍhuliyā cale, bahu tili hari bale
du'-nayane bahe nitāira pāṇi
kapāle tilaka śobhe, kuṭila kuntala lole
guñjāra āṇṭunī cūḍā tāya
keśarī jiniyā kaṭi, kaṭi-taṭe nīla dhaṭi
bājana nūpura rāṅgā pāya
bhuvana mohana veśa, majā-ila saba deśa
rasāveśe aṭṭa-aṭṭa hāsa
prabhu mora nityānanda, kevala ānanda-kanda
guṇa gāya vṛndāvana dāsa
(Āre Bhāi Nitāi Āmāra Dayāra Avadhi, Vṛndāvana Dāsa Ṭhākura)
dayā kara more nitāi, dayā kara more
agatīra gati nitāi sādhu loke bole
jaya prema-bhakti-dātā-patākā tomāra
uttama adhama kichu nā kaila vicāra
prema dāne jagaj-janera mana kaila sukhī
tumi hena dayāra ṭhākura āmi kene dukhī
kānu rāma dāsa bale ki bolibo āmi
e baḍa bharasā more kulera ṭhākura tumi
(Dayā Kara More Nitāi, Kānu Rāmadāsa Ṭhākura)