Transcription made by: Aishani Mataji and Ananya Mataji
Śrīmad Goura Govinda Svāmī: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Eighth Canto, Chapter Five, Text Thirteen: na yasya kaścātititarti māyāṁ yayā jano muhyati veda nārtham taṁ nirjitātmātma-guṇaṁ pareśaṁ namāma bhūteṣu samaṁ carantam [ŚB 8.5.30].
The prowess of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, certainly controls all living entities, so much so that the living entities have forgotten the aim of life. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum [SB 7.5.31]: the living entities have forgotten that the aim of life is to go back home, back to Godhead. The external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives all conditioned souls what appears to be an opportunity to be happy within this material world, but that is māyā; in other words, it is a dream that is never to be fulfilled. Thus every living being is illusioned by the external energy of the Supreme Lord. That illusory energy is undoubtedly very strong, but she is fully under the control of the transcendental person who is described in this verse as pareśam, the transcendental Lord. The Lord is not a part of the material creation, but is beyond the creation. Therefore, not only does He control the conditioned souls through His external energy, but He also controls the external energy itself.
To understand Kṛṣṇa, to get Kṛṣṇa—can a conditioned soul understand Kṛṣṇa or get Kṛṣṇa? A conditioned soul is bewildered by māyā, enchanted by māyā. So māyā has made him forget Kṛṣṇa. This māyā-śakti, illusory energy or external energy, is known as external energy. Inferior energy, still very strong. daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā [Bg. 7.14]. Very difficult to overcome that māyā, very difficult. Jīva cannot overcome māyā by his own strength. mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. Kṛṣṇa says, "One who completely surrenders unto Me,” Māyādhīśa, who is the master of māyā, the controller of māyā, Kṛṣṇa. Then he can overcome māyā.
When someone is very fortunate, he gets the spiritual strength from Kṛṣṇa and he will be able to overcome māyā. Māyā will be powerless. Kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana [CC Antya 7.11]—without Kṛṣṇa's power, the jīva has no strength. As it is said, kṛṣṇa dena cit-śaktira bala, māyā haya durbalā (Kṛṣṇa gives the strength of spiritual potency, and then māyā becomes weak). When someone gets the spiritual strength from Kṛṣṇa, he is empowered by the spiritual strength, then māyā will be powerless. He will be able to conquer māyā. Otherwise, there is no possibility. A conditioned soul cannot overcome māyā through his own strength. If someone overcomes māyā, then he can understand Kṛṣṇa.
Mahāprabhu teaches sambandha-tattva in Sanātana-śikṣā. Jñāna is transcendental knowledge. Vijñāna is the realization, anubhava. Jñāna comes from Vedic literature, Vaidika śāstra. And one who is proficient, who knows this tattva, veda-tattva, the Vedic ācārya—it comes through him. Therefore, in Caitanya-caritāmṛta it says: sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya sei jīva nistare, māyā tāhāre chāḍaya [CC Madhya 20.120]. If some jīva who is fortunate gets the mercy of sādhu and śāstra, then he will develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Otherwise, he cannot. He will be bewildered by māyā, covered up by ignorance.
Śāstra means Vedic śāstra, Vedic literature. The essence of all Veda is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore, we say kṛṣṇa-tulya bhāgavata — vibhu, sarvāśraya [CC Madhya 24.318]. This Bhāgavatam is as good as Kṛṣṇa Himself. As we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, also take shelter of Bhāgavatam. So he can get the mercy of Bhāgavata. If some fortunate jīva can get it, he will become Kṛṣṇa conscious. māyā tāhāre chāḍaya. Then he can overcome māyā and realize God.
Bhagavān is completely different from māyā and activities of māyā. Mahāprabhu gives the example of the sun: yaiche sūryera sthāne bhāsaye ‘ābhāsa’ sūrya vinā svatantra tāra nā haya prakāśa [CC Madhya 25.117]. The sun's rays are there, but the rays are not the sun. They have no independent existence. Without the sun, they cannot independently exist. Similarly, Bhagavān and māyā.
To understand this, one must become a disciple under strict discipline. There should not be any speculation. guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koribo aikya, ār nā koriho mane āśā [Śrī Guru Caraṇa Padma]. Whatever guru has said, just do it as it is. Execute it as it is. No speculation. No addition or subtraction. Then you can get the mercy of guru. Disciple means under strict discipline. There are no slackness. A guru will test you to see if you are a real disciple or a bogus disciple. One who never strictly follows the directions of the guru as they are is a bogus disciple. He is just a speculator. One who ungrudgingly accepts even the most severe discipline, at any cost, even at the cost of his life, is a bona fide disciple.
Droṇācārya was teaching dhanur-vidyā, archery, to the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas. Ekalavya once approached Droṇācārya to be his disciple, but Droṇācārya said, "No, you are not allowed. Get out." Ekalavya went out, but he had that intent: "I must learn this thing." Droṇācārya's dear disciple was Arjuna, who had got the full mercy of his guru. Droṇācārya said, "Nobody can surpass Arjuna in archery." Arjuna is a great devotee, a Vaiṣṇava, and naturally he gets the mercy of the guru. yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo [Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka]: the mercy of a bona fide guru brings the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Ekalavya thought, "No, I must surpass." He made an earthen mūrti of Droṇācārya and put it as his guru, thinking he could learn without the direct presence. He was expert and had material qualities, but material qualities are no qualities at all without devotion: harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ [SB 5.18.12]. He was only a speculator, riding in a chariot concocted in the mind. He practiced eight miles away from Droṇācārya and became a great expert archer, even achieving the ability to surpass Arjuna.
Once, Droṇācārya's disciples saw a dog whose mouth was pierced with seven arrows simultaneously. They met Ekalavya, who had done it. Arjuna understood that this archer had surpassed him, despite his guru's promise. Droṇācārya came and said, "If you are my disciple, give guru-dakṣiṇā. Cut off the thumb of your right hand and give it to me." Immediately he did it. Materialistic people glorify this as great guru-bhakti, but they do not see the spiritual consideration. Later on, Ekalavya was killed by Kṛṣṇa. One who is killed by Kṛṣṇa gets sāyujya-mukti, but it means Kṛṣṇa was not pleased with him.
According to material calculation, there is nothing wrong with Ekalavya. But his mentality is speculation. People say, "We will be like Ekalavya. We will stay at home, make a mūrti, and get everything. Why go to a guru?" This is nirviśeṣa-vāda (impersonalism). Droṇa asked for the thumb to check this development of impersonalism. Ekalavya was not a devotee; he took the part of the Kauravas against Kṛṣṇa. He was posing like a devotee, but inside he wanted to surpass the true devotee, Arjuna. Thinking oneself very great is atibaḍī, and the Atibaḍī-sampradāya is an apa-sampradāya (deviated sect). He committed aparādha by wanting to surpass a Vaiṣṇava.
Unless you get the mercy of guru, you cannot get the mercy of Kṛṣṇa or overcome māyā. Serve guru and please guru. Give up this speculation. Jīva is very minute, niḥśaktika (powerless). Unless he gets strength from Kṛṣṇa—kṛṣṇa-bine cit-śaktyera bala māyā haya durbarā—he cannot overcome. Those who are fortunate get this spiritual strength. Then life will be successful. Otherwise, there is no possibility. Give up this speculation and follow as it is.