890327 - SB 7.7.16 - Seven Defects of Women - Bhubaneswar
Gour Govinda Swami:
Translation:
Because of the long duration of time that has passed and because of her being a woman and therefore less intelligent, my mother has forgotten all those instructions; but the great sage Nārada blessed me, and therefore I could not forget them.
Purport:
In Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) the Lord says:
māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya
ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim
“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me—though they be lowborn, women, vaiśyas [merchants] or śūdras [workers]—can approach the supreme destination.” The word pāpa-yoni refers to those who are less than śūdras, but even though a woman may not be pāpa-yoni, because of being less intelligent she sometimes forgets devotional instructions. For those who are strong enough, however, there is no question of forgetting.
Women are generally attached to material enjoyment, and because of this tendency, they sometimes forget devotional instructions. But if even a woman practices devotional service strictly, according to the rules and regulations, the statement by the Lord Himself that she can return to Godhead (te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim) is not at all astonishing.
One must take shelter of the Lord and rigidly follow the rules and regulations. Then, regardless of what one is, one will return home, back to Godhead. Prahlāda Mahārāja’s mother was more concerned with protecting the child in the womb and was very anxious to see her husband return. Therefore, she could not consider very seriously the sublime instructions of Nārada Muni.
This is Srila Prabhupada's purport on this verse. (speaks in Oriya)
3.00: (repeats translation of the verse in English)
Prahlāda Mahārāja says why his mother couldn't remember all the instructions of Nārada Muni and why he remembered. Prahlāda Mahārāja remembered. He gives the reason.
One reason he says, Prahlāda Mahārāja says, that my mother is a woman or less intelligent. So she forgot all those instructions. But Prahlāda Mahārāja, though he was in his mother's womb, was a great devotee and he was blessed by Nārada Muni. Because those who are devotees of the Lord, naturally they are blessed by all mahājanas, all great personalities, like Nārada Muni. Therefore, I could not forget anything. So Prahlāda Mahārāja says that this was the blessing of Nārada Muni that I couldn't forget those instructions.
In his purport, Śrīla Prabhupāda says, quoting a verse from Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā (speaks verse 9.32): "mām hi pārtha...gatim." A most important instruction of the Lord. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna: "O son of Pṛthā...supreme destination."
That is the special mercy of the Lord. Those who take shelter of His lotus feet, they can "te ’pi yānti param gatim," they can go home, back to Godhead. That is the Lord's special mercy. The Lord doesn't consider whether he is a qualified person or whether he is eligible to go home, back to Godhead, or not. He never considers this. Only one condition is there – he or she must take complete shelter, complete surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord. So, he or she is guaranteed to go back home, back to Godhead.
"ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ" (repeats the śloka Bhagavad-gītā 9.32): "mām hi pārtha...param gatim." Most important instruction. Whatever they may be, a woman, vaiśya, śūdra, they can approach the supreme destination. Those who take shelter in Me.
Pāpā-yoni means those who are less than śūdras, they are considered a pāpā-yoni. Here the Lord says: "striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti param gatim" "ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ." Vaiśyas, śūdras, and striyas (women) can approach the lotus feet of the Lord if they take complete shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, complete shelter in them.
Though a woman may not be a pāpā-yoni, she is less intelligent. She is much attached to material enjoyment. She is not so serious about devotional service or instructions on devotional service as a male person, maybe. Therefore, she sometimes forgets these instructions on devotional service. That Prahlāda Mahārāja says here why his mother forgot, whereas he didn’t.
But Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā says, our Lord Kṛṣhṇa in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā says: but if a living entity, maybe pāpā-yoni, or a woman, but if he takes complete shelter in Me, he can approach the supreme destination. This is the most important thing. The women, those who are very strong, those who very strictly follow the rules and regulations of devotional service, they cannot forget it. They will get the blessings of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord says that she can return back to Godhead – "te ’pi yānti param gatim."
But one thing is most important here, that one must take seriously all these instructions and very rigidly follow the rules and regulations. And must completely take shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord. This is the most important thing. But Prahlāda Mahārāja's mother, Prahlāda Mahārāja says here, that she was not so serious. She was more concerned with protecting the child in her womb and was very anxious to see her husband return. She didn’t pay much attention to the instructions of Nārada Muni. Therefore, though she heard it, she forgot. But Prahlāda Mahārāja could remember it by the blessings of Nārada Muni.
Therefore, the women, those who are very serious, can get the blessings of the Lord and blessings of the mahājanas. But those who are not so serious, they cannot get the blessings. This is especially stated here. Therefore, the mother of Prahlāda Mahārāja couldn’t consider very seriously the sublime instructions of Nārada Muni.
I was telling one question, an answer to one question of this devotee yesterday, that in other yugas, women are forbidden to take to the study of Vedas, because of their less intelligence, and they are considered as so low-born. But in this yuga, Kali-yuga, Śrīman Mahāprabhu gives them special blessings. They are entitled, by getting the blessings of Śrīman Mahāprabhu, to read the Vedas. This is Mahāprabhu’s special mercy on them. That we say: "mukham karoti vācalam pāṅgum laṅghayate giriṁ...parāmananda-mādhava" (CC Madhya 17.80). If someone is fortunate enough to get the blessings of the Lord, or blessings of mahājanas, great personalities like Nārada Muni, they can qualify themselves to read the Vedas and speak on the Vedas.
They may be mukha, mukha means one who doesn't know what to say, what to speak, is mukha. But if he is blessed, gets special mercy or blessing of the Supreme Lord, of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he can speak the Vedas. It is not at all astonishing, it is only the mercy of the Lord.
In Caitanya-caritāmṛta we see, one story is there. The story of Pūrī-dāsa. Those who read Caitanya-caritāmṛta, they know it. Pūrī-dāsa was the son of Śivānanda Sena. Śivānanda Sena was a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, a very dear devotee. Śrīman Caitanya Mahāprabhu took sannyāsa and stayed in that Puruṣottama-dhāma, here in Jagannātha Purī-dhāma, according to the instructions of His mother, Śacīmātā.
So, the devotees of Gauḍa-deśa, that means Bengal, every year used to come to Jagannātha Purī during the time of Ratha-yātrā, of Cāturmāsya, to see Lord Jagannātha on the car and associate with Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Every year they used to do it. Śivānanda Sena was the leader of the devotees of Gauḍa-deśa.
Once Śivānanda Sena's wife came with the devotees, with her baby son, Pūrī-dāsa. This Pūrī-dāsa, from his very childhood, had gotten the blessings of Śrīmad Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And Mahāprabhu had also instructed or told Śivānanda Sena to name the child after this name – Pūrī-dāsa. Because when Śivānanda Sena and his wife were in Jagannātha Purī-dhāma, the conception was there. So Mahāprabhu said, "name this child Pūrī-dāsa." This is the mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Again, when Pūrī-dāsa was a very small child, a little baby, Mahāprabhu thrust the toe of His leg into his mouth and the baby sucked it. That is special mercy.
So, when Pūrī-dāsa just grew up, say a five-year-old child or six-year-old child, once he came with his parents to Jagannātha Purī and Śivānanda Sena and his wife took the baby to Mahāprabhu. Mahāprabhu told that child, Pūrī-dāsa: "you, Pūrī-dāsa, you say Kṛṣṇa." Many times, repeatedly Mahāprabhu said, "say Kṛṣṇa. Why are you not saying Kṛṣṇa?" Pūrī-dāsa didn't say. He remained silent. This is a wonderful līlā, pastime of Śrīman Mahāprabhu.
Then Mahāprabhu, expressing His astonishment, says: "What is this? I could recite, I could make these wild animals, the lions and tigers and deer chant Hare Kṛṣhṇa" while He passed through the Jārikānda forest, "but I couldn’t make this child speak Kṛṣhṇa!" This is a wonderful līlā, pastime of Śrīman Mahāprabhu.
Svarūpa Dāmodara Goswāmī, he was there, he told Mahāprabhu: "No, Mahāprabhu, Pūrī-dāsa is saying Kṛṣhṇa silently, not loudly." This is one day's event.
The next day again Pūrī-dāsa went to Śrīman Mahāprabhu. Śrīman Mahāprabhu told Pūrī-dāsa: "You recite a verse!" What is this? Yesterday the child couldn’t say Kṛṣhṇa but today Mahāprabhu asked Pūrī-dāsa to recite a verse. "Mukham karoti vācalam pāṅgum laṅghayate giriṁ." Pūrī-dāsa had got the blessings of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. Therefore, (even) though he was a very small child, had never gone to any school, never been taught, had no education at all, but to everyone’s amazement, he uttered a very nice verse.
What is that verse? (devotee:) (CC Antya 16.74) "Śravaso...harir jayati" that is the verse, you understand, he uttered, a very nice verse. All were very much astonished. The meaning of the verse is: Let that Hari be glorified – harir jayati – let that Hari be glorified. Hari, śravaso kuvalayam – who is adorned with a blue lotus on His ears – śravaso kuvalayam. Akṣnor aṅjanam – whose eyes are anointed with nice ointment, aṅjan, black ointment, akṣnor aṅjanam.
Then? Uraso mahendra-maṇi-dāma – and on His chest, there is the kaustubha-maṇi, a jewel. It looks very beautiful. Vṛndāvana-ramanīnāṁ akhilaṁ maṇḍanaṁ hṛdaye – and that Hari is like an ornament, all sorts of ornaments of the damsels of Vṛndāvana, Vraja. Let that Hari be glorified. This is the meaning of the verse. Such a great, nice verse. All were very much astonished.
How is it possible? Yesterday the child cannot utter Kṛṣhṇa, but today he utters such a nice verse. All said this is the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You understand. Mukham karoti...girim. A mukha who doesn’t know what to say will speak Vedas if he gets the blessings of the Lord or blessings of a great personality like Nārada Muni. Mukham karoti vācalam pāṅgum, pāṅgum – a cripple can do mountaineering by the blessings of the Lord, that we say. It is only by blessings, therefore the same thing is stated here: Prahlāda Mahārāja says this is the causeless mercy of Nārada Muni that I could remember all his instructions. But my mother is not so serious enough, was not so serious enough to consider the sublime instructions of Nārada Muni to be remembered. She was only thinking of the protection of the child within her womb and the return of her husband. She was not paying much attention to the sublime instructions of Nārada Muni, so she couldn’t remember. Whereas I could remember. This is the important thing here.
So let me say something in Oriya now. Because many people are there who don’t know English. (However elevated) the way a woman may be, her consciousness is inferior. Ekata śāstra... (?....25.43). Cāṇakya also said that the statements of a woman should not be relied on. It is stated...ke viśvas... (broken recording). These people should not be relied on. (Some exchange with devotee in Oriya till 26.22). The Vaiṣṇavas accept it. Our spiritual master, Śrīla Prabhupāda, quotes many verses from Cāṇakya, isn't it? (...?..26.42)... viśvaso naiva kartavyaḥ striṣu rāja-kuleṣu ca. This Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says.
You should not trust that animal who has horns. Narka – very pointed nails, like tigers, lions, and deer. Narka siṁhadāri... (?...27.20). Those who have horns, pointed nails, they should not be trusted. At any time they may attack. Then comes – viśvaso naiva kartavyaḥ striṣu rāja-kuleṣu ca – a king or rājā karmācārī, king’s servants should not be relied on. You understand? King’s servant, officials, rājā karmācārī, government officials (laughs) should not be relied on.
Then – nadi, a river should not be relied on. Sometimes you'll find less water, sometimes more. (devotee:) Change of course. (Gurudeva:) Changes course. That problem has taken place there in Navadvīpa-dhāma, Māyāpur, how the Gaṅgā very rapidly changes the course... (devotees talk in background)... yes, in China. So Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says should not be relied on, should not be trusted.
And nāri – woman – should not be trusted, you understand (laughs). This also... Cāṇakya Paṇḍita has said many things – strī loka maṅka doṣa (...?...28.53). How they have so many defects. They have seven defects, Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says: (...?...29.07) anṛtam saharṣam... Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says this thing – (I'm guessing) anṛtam saharṣam māyā mūrkhāṇām atilobhataḥ asaucatam...strīya doṣa (...?). Seven defects.
First – anṛtam, anṛtam means they tell lies. Nitya bāditaḥ.
Second – saharṣam, ati saharṣa. Though, generally speaking, they are abala, abala means very weak
Devotee: vināśraya navartante...?
Gour Govinda Swami: Huh?
Devotee: (repeats)
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, vināśraya navartante kavita...? abala, very weak. They are always dependent on male persons, but – ati saharṣa – they are very bold (laughs), you understand.
Then comes carṇa – pretension, they are very... they know this trick. If a woman has something to get from you, from the male person, she pretends. And another saying is – (? 30.57) bālā... another saying is that (repeats). Bālā means woman and bālā means a child, their strength is crying (Gurudeva pretends crying). You see, a woman who will cry, then the male person, his heart is melted and so sympathetic – alright, alright. (Gurudeva laughs) whatever she says has to be granted....alright, alright. (repeats) bālānām....(?...31.33) The woman and child, this crying is their strength. Abala, but this strength is there. (...?...31.46). Pretension, there is pretension.
And mūrkhata – they are foolish. And ati-lobha – they are very greedy. Then apāvitra – they are not śuci, you understand? Śuci you know? Aśuci, apāvitra, mūci, śuci, aśuci. And nirdayatra (...?...32.19) they are very cruel, very cruel. Though it is stated: nāri hṛdaya kurva (...?...32.29) there is a general saying – the heart of a woman is very soft. But this is not a fact, they are very cruel. (laughs) Outwardly they are very soft, but inwardly very cruel. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says like that. These are their seven defects – svabhāvād doṣa – naturally, by nature these seven wrongs or defects are there in women.
It is stated here and Cāṇakya Paṇḍita... and also you'll find in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, as we say, is paramahaṁsi saṅgīta – sarva-vedānta-sarva, the essence of all Vedas – Śrīmad Bhāgavatam pramāṇam amalam, the spotless proof, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam pramāṇam amalam, prema-pum-artho mahān śrī caitanya mahāprabhor matam idam tatrādāraḥ na paraḥ. It is stated here. So the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam also says many things on this woman.
We have, we can find Urvāśī-Purūrava pakṣa in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and also Yayāti, Devayānī pakṣa, ninth canto Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, where much is said on this woman. Purūrava pakṣa, Purūrava... You know Purūrava? Purūrava was a great king. He became Indra in the heavenly kingdom. He was so powerful, Purūrava. In heaven there are prostitutes, heavenly prostitutes, angels like Urvāśī, Menakā. Like that, so many are there.
Urvāśī is a very beautiful woman. So Purūrava was captured by the beauty of Urvāśī. And the association of a woman is so dangerous. That is stated (SB 11.14.30) na tathāsya... saṅgi-saṅgataḥ. Bhāgavatam says this thing. Eleventh canto Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (repeats verse). That means the association of a woman or association of such persons who associate with women, strī-saṅgī that we say, is very dangerous. If you associate with such persons, then your bondage in this material world will be very tight and you'll undergo a very, very miserable life. That it says: (repeats śloka SB 11.14.30) strī-saṅga strī-saṅgī puruṣa-saṅga... Oriya. I speak in English.
And that Purūrava was captured by the beauty of Urvāśī. And Purūrava enjoyed many years with Urvāśī. Even he forgot how many times, he says, the sun had risen and the sun had set. Or the day and night, he was enjoying Urvāśī. But Urvāśī at last kicked Purūrava and was running away. Purūrava was so mad after Urvāśī, he was crying and running after Urvāśī. (SB 11.26.10 or 9.14.34?) ayi jaye...(...?...38.29), he says. "O my dear lady, please don't leave me. I am very much distressed, don't leave me."
Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, you can read that chapter and you can understand. It is stated here (SB 11.26.12): kim vidyāyā kim tapasā kim tyāgena śrutena vā kim viviktena maunena strībhir yasya mano hṛtam. Most important instruction. kim vidyāyā kim tapasā...(repeats śloka). If a male person is captured by a woman, but if he is a very learned scholar, learned pāṇḍita, great tapasī, he might have done great penance, he is a great learned scholar, might be a great renunciant, vairāgī, tyāgī. He might have done many sādhana in a secluded place, but what is the good of it if his mind is captured by a woman? (repeats śloka)
(40.13...?....) What happened Mahārāja, you turned? (cut)
Bhagavad-gītā says daivam eva pañcama?
So, when Purūrava was running after Urvaśī, Urvaśī was not looking at him. A very good instruction is there in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Urvaśī has said. When Purūrava says that I am dying, I cannot survive if you leave me. But Urvaśī said, "You are such a powerful king, very powerful, and you also are the king of heaven now, why will you die?" This woman—duniya sab barakhobe (..?...42.00)—he says women are like tigresses. Don't believe a tigress. You are such a powerful king. Why are you captured by the beauty of a woman? And why are you losing your strength, your intelligence, your wisdom? Like that, being captured by a woman, and now you are going to die? Don't die.
Very nice verse is there in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Therefore I was reciting that verse from Cāṇakya Nīti. Though there are so many defects, still there is something good. That side is there as well as the bright side. Mahāprabhu's blessings are there. If a woman will be a devotee and gets the blessings of Śrīman Mahāprabhu, then her defects will be nullified. Therefore, a woman is generally not allowed to do deity worship in the temple. But she can do deity worship in her home—home deities.
And they are known, considered as untouchable at the time of menstruation; they are untouchable. Even nobody should look at their face, see them. So they keep themselves in a very secluded place, not to be seen by anybody. That period is a very inauspicious period. But those who are the devotees of Lord Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, they are not considered so. They are not asucci. They are always suci because they are chanting the holy name—Hare Kṛṣṇa... Hare Hare. Nitya śuddha Kṛṣṇa nāma, it is stated, nitya śuddha Kṛṣṇa nāma—the name of Kṛṣṇa is always suci, pavitra, purified. Anything unpurified will be made purified by this hārināma, Kṛṣṇa. Though a woman is considered asucci during the time of her menstrual period, still if she is a devotee of Lord Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, by this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, she is considered suci and she can cook for the Lord. Yes, that is there.