Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja:
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
jaya prabhupāda, jaya prabhupāda
jaya prabhupāda, jaya prabhupāda
jaya gurudeva, jaya gurudeva
jaya gurudeva, jaya gurudeva
(jaya) śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
govinda jaya jaya, gopāla jaya jaya
rādhāramaṇa hari, govinda jaya jaya
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 sing along)
gaura-premānande hari-hari bol!
Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇu-pāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad A.C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Śrīla Prabhupādajī Mahārāja kī jaya
Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇu-pāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Gosvāmī Mahārāja kī jaya
ananta-koṭi vaiṣṇava vṛnda kī jaya
Nāmācārya Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura kī jaya
prema se kaho
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda kī jaya
śrī śrī rādha-kṛṣṇa, gopa-gopīnatha,
śyāma-kuṇḍa, rādhā-kuṇḍa, giri govardhana-kī jaya
vṛndāvana dhāma kī jaya
mathurā dhāma kī jaya
jagannātha-purī dhāma kī jaya
māyāpura-navadvīpa dhāma kī jaya
gaṅgā-māyī kī jaya
yamunā-māyī kī jaya
tulasī-devī kī jaya
bhakti-devī kī jaya
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī kī jaya
harināma saṅkīrtana kī jaya
samaveta bhakta-vṛnda kī jaya
gaura-premānande hari-hari bol!
All glories to the assembled devotees!
All glories to the assembled devotees!
All glories to the assembled devotees!
All glories to Śrī Guru-Śrī Gaurāṅga!
om ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
[I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.]
śrī-caitanya-mano-’bhīṣṭaṁ
sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ
dadāti sva-padāntikam
[When will Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet.]
vande ’haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-
kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca
śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-
raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam
sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-
sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ
śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-
lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca
[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and unto the feet of all Vaiṣṇavas. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī along with his elder brother Sanātana Gosvāmī, as well as Raghunātha Dāsa and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda along with Advaita Ācārya, Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and other associates. I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Śrī Kṛṣṇa along with Their associates Śrī Lalitā and Viśākhā.]
he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho
dīna-bandho jagat-pate
gopeśa gopikā-kānta
rādhā-kānta namo ’stu te
[O my dear Kṛṣṇa, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the gopīs and the lover of Rādhārāṇī. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.]
tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi
rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari
vṛṣabhānu-sute devi
praṇamāmi hari-priye
[I offer my respects to Rādhārāṇī, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vṛndāvana. You are the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, and You are very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.]
vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ
[I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord. They can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and they are full of compassion for the fallen souls.]
namo mahā-vadānyāya
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ
[O most munificent incarnation! You are Kṛṣṇa Himself appearing as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kṛṣṇa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.]
yad advaitaṁ brahmopaniṣadi tad apy asya tanu-bhā
ya ātmāntar-yāmī puruṣa iti so ’syāṁśa-vibhavaḥ
ṣaḍ-aiśvaryaiḥ pūrṇo ya iha bhagavān sa svayam ayaṁ
na caitanyāt krṣṇāj jagati para-tattvaṁ param iha
[What the Upaniṣads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His localized plenary portion. Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa Himself, full with six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth, and no other truth is greater than or equal to Him.]
rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād
ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau
caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ
rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam
[The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, previously They separated Themselves. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.]
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
ānanda-līlā-maya-vigrahāya
hemābha-divyacchavi-sundarāya
tasmai mahā-prema rasa-pradāya
caitanya-candrāya namo namaste
[O Lord Caitanyacandra, whose form is full of blissful pastimes, whose complexion is as splendid as gold, and who gives in charity the most glorious mellow of pure love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.]
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you one and all, that you have, very kindly, given us an opportunity to meet you and also do some harī-kīrtana, saṅkīrtana. This harī-kīrtana, harī-saṅkīrtana is yuga-dharma.
kali-yuge ‘dharma’ haya ‘hari-saṅkīrtana’
etad arthe avarīrṇa śrī-śacī-nandana
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 2.22)
This is the age of Kali. In this age, yuga-dharma is harī-saṅkīrtana. Therefore Śacī-nandana, the son of Śacī-mātā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself descended here in this material world to introduce this harī-kīrtana. Bhagavān or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in this age of Kali, has incarnated Himself as[in] the form of His holy name. [In] Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kavirāja Gosvāmī has said:
kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra
nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 17.22)
nāma vinu kali-kāle nāhi āra dharma
sarva-mantra-sāra nāma, ei śāstra-marma
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.74)
Yes, [in] Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kavirāja Gosvāmī has said: kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra. In this age of Kali, Kṛṣṇa has incarnated Himself in the form of His holy name. Nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra — the whole world will be delivered by this nāma-saṅkīrtana only. Nāma vinu kali-kāle nāhi āra dharma / sarva-mantra-sāra nāma, ei śāstra-marma — there is no other dharma except this nāma; harināma, the holy name of the Lord and it is the essence of all Vedic scriptures; sarva śāstra-marma. So, those who are the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu or pure devotees; sādhus, bhaktas, they always do this nāma-saṅkīrtana. They are the real persons or sādhus, those who are doing good to this whole world; those who are doing nāma-saṅkīrtana. They wander throughout the world and do this nāma-saṅkīrtana.
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
They do saṅkīrtana; in the streets also, the nagara-saṅkīrtana. Everywhere they go; whomever they meet, they also speak about Hari, tell about Hari. By that, the world will be delivered. The miseries, the miserable conditions will be vanquished; mitigated.
This material world is a horrible place. The spiritual master of my spiritual master, Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja has said, this material world is a very, very horrible place. It is not at all a fit place for any gentleman to live [in]. Why? Why is it so? If someone is an intelligent person, a sane person, he must realise; if you think of [it] very deeply, you can realise how far this statement is true. It’s not at all a fit place. It’s really a very, very horrible place because [at] every step, there is danger — pade pade vipadāṁ; and also, in the name of friendship, so-called friendship, this cheating is going on. In Bhagavad-gītā (8.15), Lord Kṛṣṇa has also said, this material world is duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam. It is duḥkhālaya, it is a miserable place; it’s filled with miseries. There is no happiness; and also, it is aśāśvata. It is a temporary place. It’s temporary; it is not eternal. It will not last long; this material world will not exist forever.
Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam — [in] Bhagavad-gītā (13.9), Kṛṣṇa has said, “These are duḥkha, miseries — janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi.” These are miserable conditions; to take birth is a misery; death is misery; jarā [or] old age is misery; vyādhi, all are diseased persons. This material body is — [do] you know the synonym, pratiśabda — roga-bhū, roga-mandira. This material body is a temple of disease. So such is the place; there is no happiness at all, and also everybody, beginning from Lord Brahmā to the tiniest ant, all are suffering. All are suffering; nobody is getting happiness, because there is no happiness here in this material world. Why are they suffering? What is the reason of their suffering? This question arises. The answer to this question is: this ignorance. Ajñatā, ajñāna. They don’t know why they are suffering and what is the real way to get pleasure or happiness. They have forgotten [Kṛṣṇa].
kṛṣṇa bhuli’ sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha
ataeva māyā tāre deya saṁsāra-duḥkha
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.117)
It is said, as we have forgotten Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, therefore we are suffering. The māyā-śakti is causing you [to] suffer. Therefore, in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), Lord Kṛṣṇa says: suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ — “I am the only well-wisher friend of all the living entities.” Suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ. Nobody else is there who is your real friend, real well-wisher except Kṛṣṇa; and we have forgotten that Kṛṣṇa. We have an eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa; we have forgotten that relationship and we have established here some temporary relationship or false relationship; so-called relationship, material relationship, and that gives us misery.
māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna
jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.122)
When we forget Kṛṣṇa; we are captured by māyā-śakti. Māyā-śakti makes you forget Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa bhuli’ sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha. Māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna / jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa. So Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, who is well-wisher, for our benefit, out of mercy, He has compiled these Vedic scriptures, veda-purāṇa. In these Vedic literatures and purāṇas, Kṛṣṇa says how you can be delivered; how you can re-establish your eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa; how you can really get pleasure and happiness. And Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the essence of all Vedic scriptures. In that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.4.40), it is said:
saṁsāra-sindhum ati-dustaram uttitīrṣor
nānyaḥ plavo bhagavataḥ puruṣottamasya
līlā-kathā-rasa-niṣevaṇam antareṇa
puṁso bhaved vividha-duḥkha-davārditasya
It has been said, this saṁsāra, this material world is like a very horrible ocean. Saṁsāra-sindhu; sindhu means ocean. An ocean is very horrible: very high waves are coming, so many ferocious aquatic animals are there in the ocean. If you are put into the ocean, sometimes you’ll come up, sometimes you’ll drown. Coming up and drown, coming up and drown. Khāccho hābuḍubu, bhāi (Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Bol Bol, Text 1). In this way, suffering.
saṁsāra-sindhum ati-dustaram uttitīrṣor
nānyaḥ plavo bhagavataḥ puruṣottamasya
līlā-kathā-rasa-niṣevaṇam antareṇa
puṁso bhaved vividha-duḥkha-davārditasya
At[in] that miserable condition, state of life one will be thinking how I can cross over this horrible ocean. To cross over this ocean, what is needed? What is needed? Is a boat needed? Isn’t it? If you have a boat, then you can cross over the ocean. Isn’t it? So, what is the boat here? In this material world, which is like a very horrible ocean, what is the boat? By what kind of boat can you cross over this saṁsāra-sindhu? This question arises. So, it is stated here in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Yesterday that professor came; what is his name? Dr. Paul?
Devotee: [?].
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Dr. Paul. He has written a book; he showed us a book. What is the name of the book?
Devotee: [?].
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: That means?
Devotee: Philosophy of [?].
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: When people are in desperate[despair]; thinking what I shall do. What shall I do? This series; name of the series?
Devotee: Name of the series: ‘What do I know?’.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: ‘What do I know?’ [Laughs]. What should I know? Isn’t it? So, when someone is in [desperate]despair, looking after what I should know…
Devotee: Kau-panthā.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Kau-panthā. What is the way? What should I adopt? What way should I adopt? So, you will find out, “Oh, this book teaches this thing!” Then he takes up that book. Isn’t it? But really, Kṛṣṇa has given. Jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa. Because He is the only well-wisher friend; Kṛṣṇa. He knows. Nobody else but Kṛṣṇa knows this is the real way: how you can be delivered [from] this miserable condition; how you can cross over this horrible ocean, saṁsāra-sindhu and get real happiness. Then, you should take lessons from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā, these Vedic scriptures. Do you understand? You should read this thing and take lessons and listen to it. Here, it is said:
saṁsāra-sindhum ati-dustaram uttitīrṣor
nānyaḥ plavo bhagavataḥ puruṣottamasya
līlā-kathā-rasa-niṣevaṇam antareṇa
puṁso bhaved vividha-duḥkha-davārditasya
There is no other boat to cross over this horrible ocean-like place: this material world. There is only one plava, one boat, i.e., puruṣottamasya līlā-kathā śravaṇa — hearing or listening the message of Puruṣottama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or hari-kathā or kṛṣṇa-kathā. This is like a boat. This will help you to cross over this horrible ocean, this saṁsāra-sindhu, saṁsāra-samudra. So, this is the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also as good as Kṛṣṇa.
kṛṣṇa-tulya bhāgavata — vibhu, sarvāśraya
prati-śloke prati-akṣare nānā artha kaya
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.122)
We take shelter of Kṛṣṇa and we also take shelter of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is as good as Kṛṣṇa. The dear devotees of Kṛṣṇa are known as sādhus. Sādhu means a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, who is a completely surrendered soul at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. He is named as sādhu, pure devotee. He also comes to this world to these teach these ignorant people, those who have forgotten Kṛṣṇa, those who are suffering out of ignorance. He speaks on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, kṛṣṇa-kathā and helps them to be delivered and how they how they will cross over this material ocean and get pleasure, real happiness in life.
In Fourth Canto Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is stated in Pracetā upākhyāna: the Pracetās, according to the instruction of their father, they underwent severe penance for many, many years, entering into the sea. They did penance to please Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, at last, Bhagavān Viṣṇu was pleased; He gave them darśana and asked, “Now, I am very much pleased with your penance. You ask for a boon, whatever you want from Me; I will give you.” Do you know, what did they ask for? Don’t you know?
[Break]
If some material[istic] man would have met, he must have asked for material pleasure — give me all pleasures, all enjoyment; whatever possible here in this material world. He would have asked for like that, isn’t it, whatever Bhagavān can bestow. But the Pracetās say, “No, we don’t want anything. We don’t want anything.”
kṣaṇārdhenāpi tulaye
na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya
martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.57)
They say this thing. “O Lord! We are the residents, inhabitants of this martya-pura, mṛtyu-saṁsāra, this material world, where there is birth and death. This is known as martya-pura or mṛtyu-saṁsāra. So, we are the inhabitants of this place; a horrible place. In this place, all are revolving in the cycle of birth and death and suffering. In order to mitigate this suffering, one requires sādhu-saṅga, association of sādhus. Bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ. There is no other boon, no other blessing, āśīṣa than this.” Āśīṣa means blessing or boon. “…getting the association of real sādhus, pure devotees. Kṣaṇārdhenāpi tulaye na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam. If we can get the opportunity of associating with such a sādhu for a moment, lave, then it cannot be compared with the attainment of svarga-sampada, heavenly pleasure, heavenly planet [or] attainment of brahma-sāyujya mukti. It cannot be compared with it.”
They ask for sādhu-saṅga only, they never ask for any other boon. Because:
sādhu-saṅge kṛṣṇa-nāma—ei mātra chāi
saṁsāra jinite āra kona vastu nāi
(Śrī Śrī Prema-vivarta 6.13)
Only this is required: association of sādhus; and with their association, chant hari-nāma and listen to hari-kathā. This is the only means to cross over this horrible place; horrible ocean, saṁsāra-sindhu.
sādhu-saṅge kṛṣṇa-nāma—ei mātra chāi
saṁsāra jinite āra kona vastu nāi
No other way is there. Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, my grand spiritual master, parama-guru, he has also said: this material world, this saṁsāra is a place of severe test, mahāna-parīkṣā-sthala. It’s a place of severe test. How can you come out successful in this test? There is examination; the students, university students appear in the examinations. Isn’t it? They answer the question papers, then it is evaluated, then result comes out; some are successful, some are not successful. So this saṁsāra, this material world, Bhaktisidhhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja says, is a place of severe test. And how can you come out successful in this test? There is only one means: you have to listen to sādhus. You have to listen to the sādhus, then you can come out successful in this severe test. Because sādhus, I have already told, they have come here to do hari-saṅkīrtana, speak about hari-kathā, kṛṣṇa-kathā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, thereby they are helping these māyā-baddha jīvas, conditioned souls. They only speak about Hari. They only chant hari-nāma and speak about Hari. They have no other business.
So, when you meet a sādhu, when you listen to him, you should put firm faith in his words. Do you understand? You should have firm faith in his words and take it seriously, what sādhu says; because what sādhu says, that is the śāstra-siddhānta, the conclusion of Vedic scriptures. That is also bhagavān-kathā, hari-kathā; that is Kṛṣṇa’s message. So you should believe in Kṛṣṇa; you should believe in the śāstric injunctions; you should believe in the statements of sādhus. Take it seriously, then you will be benefited. So, one of such sādhus, mahājanas is Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. He has written a song. Shall we sing it?
Devotee: Yes.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes? [Laughs]. Through this song, he has taught us a very good lesson.
‘āmāra’ balite prabhu! āra kichu nāi
tumi-i āmāra mātra pitā-bandhu-bhāi
bandhu, dārā, sutā, suta — tava dāsī dāsa
sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayāsa
dhana, jana, gṛha, dvāra `tomāra’ baliyā
rakṣā kari āmi mātra sevaka ha-iyā
tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana
tomāra saṁsāre-vyaya kariba vahana
bhāla-manda nāhi jāni sevā mātra kari
tomāra saṁsāre āmi viṣaya-praharī
tomāra icchāya mora indriya-cālanā
śravana, darśana, ghrāṇa, bhojana-vāsanā
nija-sukha lāgi’ kichu nāhi kari āra
bhakativinoda bale, tava sukha-sāra
(Āmāra’ Bolite Prabhu, Śaraṇāgati)
A very nice song. In this song, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has given the essence of all Vedic teachings.
‘āmāra’ balite prabhu! āra kichu nāi
tumi-i āmāra mātra pitā-bandhu-bhāi
He says: There is nothing which I can say ‘this is mine’. Nothing’s mine. Can you show me anything which is yours? No, nothing is there. Our Guru Mahārāja also used to say very often, “Whatever you see, whatever you possess, what[ever] is there in this world, it all belongs to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa; but out of ignorance these people say that this belongs to me.” So, there is nothing that you can say, “Yes, this is mine.” No, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. You are also His servant. You belong to Him also, to Kṛṣṇa. Because He is the source of creation, the source of all emanations, all manifestations. Yes.
ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ
(Bhagavad-gītā 10.8)
janmādy asya yataḥ
(Brahma-sūtra 1.1.2)
sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ
tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir
ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā
(Bhagavad-gītā 14.4)
These are the verses in Bhagavad-gītā, Vedic scriptures, Kṛṣṇa has said. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Brahma-sūtra, Bhagavad-gītā; in all Vedic scriptures, you see this one thing. Kṛṣṇa is the source of all emanations, the source of creation; so everything belongs to Him.
sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ
tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir
ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā
He says, “Whatever… you see so many species of life. There are eighty-four lakhs of species of life in this material world. I am the seed-giving father.” Ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā. So He is really the Supreme Father. Isn’t it? You think of [it] seriously: you have a father. Your father has a father. Then, he has a father. He has a father. In this way you go up, where will you reach?
Devotee: Kṛṣṇa.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: In this way if you go up — his father, his father, his father, his father — you will reach Manu, because manu-putra mānava. We are mānava, we are men. Isn’t it? So, Manu is our father. Who is Manu’s father?
Devotee: Brahmā.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Lord Brahmā. Manu’s father is Lord Brahmā. Who is Brahmā’s father?
Devotee: Kṛṣṇa.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: So, you will reach Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā — I am the seed-giving father. He is the source, you see. So, we are related with Kṛṣṇa. We are all related, everything is related to Kṛṣṇa. So, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Nothing is there which is not Kṛṣṇa’s. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā — I am the seed-giving father. And in Bhagavad-gītā you’ll find in the Eleventh Chapter, which is Viśvarūpa-darśana Yoga; there’s a picture there [of] how Kṛṣṇa manifested His universal form before Arjuna, when Arjuna requested to see it, “I want to see.” In the Tenth Chapter, which is Vibhūti Yoga, He speaks about His vibhūtis, His opulences; how He is the source of everything. In the Eleventh Chapter, at the request of Arjuna, He showed His universal form, viśvarūpa and He gave Arjuna divya-cakṣu, divine eyes through which one can see. You cannot see with these eyes, these material eyes; you can’t see it. If you are endowed with that eye[vision], then you can see. So, Arjuna could see how everything in this universe is there in His viśvarūpa, in His universal form. So, everything is there; so everything belongs to Him.
So, ‘Āmāra’ balite prabhu! āra kichu nāi, but out of ignorance you say, “O! This is mine. This is mine. This is mine. This house is mine, this place is mine.” Isn’t it? “This wife is mine. These children are mine. These friends are mine. This neighbour is mine. This district is mine. This province is mine. This state is mine. Everything is mine! I am the monarch of all I survey.” You see, this is ignorance. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, ‘āmāra’ balite prabhu! āra kichu nāi — there is nothing which I say ‘this is mine’. No, everything belongs to You. Tumi-i āmāra mātra pitā-bandhu-bhāi — You are my father, you are my friend, you are my brother, you are everything; nobody else.
bandhu, dārā, sutā, suta — tava dāsī dāsa
sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayāsa
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says: so-called bandhu, friend, dārā means wife, sutā-suta means daughters and sons, they are you servants and dāsīs, maidservants. They don’t belong to me. Sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayāsa — I want that relationship: relationship with you, relationship with the Supreme Lord; no other relationship. Sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayāsa — we want that relationship: relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Here in this material world, the so-called relationships, whatever you find, that may be categorised into five different varieties.
Devotee: Pañca-rasa?
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No, sambandha. Relationship. Pitā-putra sambandha, pati-patnī sambandha, prabhu-bhṛtya sambandha, bandhu-bāndhava sambandha, apara sambandha — five different types of relationships we may find or we may categorise. Can you understand? Apara sambandha, other relationships — he is my countrymen, he is my neighbour, like this; he belongs to my race, like this: apara sambandha. Only five [types] you will find. But this sambandha, this relationship gives you misery in this material world. Kāle mitra, kāle śatru; you will find. Kāle mitra, kāle śatru. For sometimes you will find, there is good relationship between husband and wife, then the other day you will find there is quarrel. Different; enmity. Isn’t it? It’s quite natural, you see. Kāle mitra, kāle śatru. You see, it’s quite natural. Isn’t it? That’s stated. Because this is not the real relationship. You have not established the relationship through Kṛṣṇa.
There is only one relationship — sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayāsa. If all these relationships will be established through the relationship of Kṛṣṇa, then that is the real relationship and thereby you will get pleasure. Otherwise, you will get distress; and you are getting. Bandhu, dārā, sutā, suta — tava dāsī dāsa. Jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya — kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’ (Cc. Madhya 20.108). Kṛṣṇa is our eternal master. Kṛṣṇa nitya prabhu, jīva nitya dāsa — Kṛṣṇa is the eternal master and all jīvas are eternally His servants. This is prabhu-bhṛtya sambandha. This is the relationship. So, husband is the dāsa, servant and wife is dāsī, kṛṣṇa-dāsī, is His maidservant. Tava dāsī dāsa — the son is the servant; the daughter is the maidservant. Tava dāsī dāsa.
bandhu, dārā, sutā, suta — tava dāsī dāsa
sei to’ sambandhe sabe āmāra prayāsa
So, if you can establish this relationship, then this relationship will give you pleasure.
If someone will say, “I am such and such. Who are you?”
“O, I am servant of Kṛṣṇa.”
“Is it your house?”
“No, no, no. It is not my house. It is Kṛṣṇa’s house. Kṛṣṇa is the master of this house. He is the master. He is sitting there.”
“Where is He?”
“You see, He is sitting there. Kṛṣṇa is sitting there, the master is sitting there on the throne, siṁhāsana. He is the master. This house belongs to Him; this property, everything belongs to Him.”
“Who are you?”
“I am His servant.”
Noticing the wife, “Who is she?”
“She is His maidservant. I am the servant; she is the maidservant. We are serving Him.”
This is the relationship. Nothing’s mine. Nothing’s mine. Everything belongs to Him. This is the Vedic truth. Kṛṣṇa is the only enjoyer.
ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ
bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca
(Bhagavad-gītā 9.24)
upadraṣṭānumantā ca
bhartā bhoktā maheśvaraḥ
(Bhagavad-gītā 13.23)
Bhoktā means I[Kṛṣṇa] am the enjoyer; the only enjoyer. We are there to give Him enjoyment. We are to be enjoyed by Him. Do you understand? He is the only enjoyer and everything here is meant for His enjoyment, and we are also meant for His enjoyment. Our duty or business is to give Him enjoyment or to be enjoyed by Him, then we will get pleasure. If you think [of] yourself [as] the enjoyer and think that all these things belong to me and all these things are meant for my enjoyment, then you will suffer; because these things belong to Kṛṣṇa and you claim that this belongs to me, then you are a thief. Isn’t it? These are Kṛṣṇa’s things and you say [it’s] mine, then you are a thief.
What is the fate of a thief? A thief should be imprisoned; a thief should be punished. Punishment should be inflicted on him. Therefore, you are imprisoned here in this material world, this māyā-sṛṣta kārāgāra. Kārāgāra means prison house. This material world is a prison house māyā has created. You are bound up with māyā, māyābaddha and māyā is inflicting punishment on you. So, you are suffering because you are a thief. You are claiming Kṛṣṇa’s property as yours, that’s the reason why you suffer. This is the teaching.
dhana, jana, gṛha, dvāra `tomāra’ baliyā
rakṣā kari āmi mātra sevaka ha-iyā
All wealth, all members here in this house or family, all gṛha, dvāra, everything belongs to You and I am Your servant. I protect it, I guard it for Your enjoyment as a sevaka, as a servant.
tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana
tomāra saṁsāre-vyaya kariba vahana
I will earn money — tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana. All are busy here in earning money; toiling very hard, day and night.
gardabhera mata āmi kari pariśrama
kā’r lāgi’ eta kari nā ghucila bhrama
(Durlabha Mānava Janma Text 5, Kalyāṇa Kalpataru)
Like an ass, you are toiling hard, very much here in this material world; but you don’t know, kā’r lāgi’ eta kari — for whom you are doing? You don’t know? Why are you toiling so hard like an ass? Ass is toiling for two things: for a bundle of grass and for sexual pleasure. An ass is toiling very hard and you are doing like that. But you should know, you are the servant of Kṛṣṇa and for Him if you are toiling hard, you toil hard — for Kṛṣṇa, to give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa. Tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana. All are busy in earning money for their own enjoyment, for their own sense gratification: how they can enjoy more and more; get more and more pleasure. Isn’t it?
But here, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana — I will earn money… This is the instruction to gṛhasthas. Gṛhasthas have to earn money. Gṛhasthas are toiling very hard for the maintenance of their family, their wife, their children, their property, their house, everything. Family maintenance. But here, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana — this is Your family, Kṛṣṇa’s family and Kṛṣṇa has entrusted you to look after His family: “You look after My family.” To look after His family, you have to earn money.
tomāra kāryera tare uparjiba dhana
tomāra saṁsāre-vyaya kariba vahana
I will shoulder the burden of maintaining Your family. Therefore, I have to earn money. This is the purpose of earning money; this should be the purpose of earning money. You carry on business to earn money; sometimes you get some profit, sometimes you sustain loss in the business. When you sustain loss, you lament. Isn’t it? You lament. [Giggle]. “O! I made so many plans, so many projects, did so much thing, tried so hard. What happened? All loss.” Then there is blood pressure; then there is heart fail and death. Oh! [Laughter]. Because it is out of ignorance.
But if you will be doing business for Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate award [?1:27:41] of the result… Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana (Bg. 2.47) — “Your duty is to do work, work for Me. There is no right in the result, in the fruit. I have the right because I am the enjoyer. You are not the enjoyer. So, if I give profit, that is also for Me. I am the enjoyer of the profit. If I give loss, that is also Mine. Then why do you lament?” Why do you lament? Because you think ‘I am the enjoyer. It’s mine, mine’. That’s the cause of your suffering. If you know this thing, then no cause of suffering. You should not lament; there is no case of blood pressure, no heart failure, no death. [Laughs]. You should not lament for it. It’s out of ignorance.
bhāla-manda nāhi jāni sevā mātra kari
tomāra saṁsāre āmi viṣaya-praharī
I don’t know whether I am doing good or bad.
[Break]
[End]