tasmād bhavadbhiḥ kartavyaṁ
karmaṇāṁ tri-guṇātmanām
bīja-nirharaṇaṁ yogaḥ
pravāhoparamo dhiyaḥ
"Therefore, my dear friends, O sons of the demons, your duty is to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which can burn the seed of fruitive activities artificially created by the modes of material nature and stop the flow of intelligence in wakefulness, dreaming, and deep sleep. In other words, when one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his ignorance is immediately dissipated."
Purport by Srila Prabhupada: This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita [14.26]:
māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇān samatītyaitān
brahma-bhūyāya kalpate
"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."
By the practice of bhakti-yoga, one immediately comes to the spiritual platform, transcendental to the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature. The root of ignorance is material consciousness, which must be killed by spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The word bīja-nirharaṇam refers to burning the root cause of material life to ashes. In the Medinī dictionary, yoga is explained by its result: yoge 'pūrvārtha-samprāptau saṅgati-dhyāna-yuktiṣu. When one is put into an awkward position because of ignorance, the process by which one can be freed from this entanglement is called yoga. This is also called liberation.
muktir hitvānyathā rūpaṁ
sva-rūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ
[SB 2.10.6]
Mukti means giving up one's position in ignorance or illusion, by which one thinks in a way contrary to his constitutional position. Returning to one's constitutional position is called mukti, and the process by which one does this is called yoga. Thus, yoga is above karma, jñāna, and saṅkhya. Indeed, yoga is the ultimate goal of life. Kṛṣṇa therefore advised Arjuna to become a yogi (tasmād yogī bhavārjuna). Lord Kṛṣṇa further advised in Bhagavad-gītā that the first-class yogi is he who has come to the platform of devotional service.
yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
sa me yukta-tamo mataḥ
"Of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all." [Bg. 6.47]
Thus, one who always thinks of Kṛṣṇa within the core of his heart is the best of all yogīs. By practicing this best of all yoga systems, one is liberated from the material condition.
"tasmād bhavadbhiḥ kartavyaṁ karmaṇāṁ tri-guṇātmanām
bīja-nirharaṇaṁ yogaḥ pravāho'paramo dhiyaḥ"
[Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.27]: Prahlāda Mahārāja, who is a great devotee of the Lord and one of the mahājanas, gives this instruction to his demoniac boyfriends. He says: "Oh my dear friends—your duty is to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which can burn the seed of fruitive activities artificially created by the modes of material nature and stop the flow of intelligence in wakefulness, dreaming, and deep sleep..."
This is the concluding instruction. You should take... that’s your duty... and you should take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thereby, you can burn the seed of the fruitive activities and also stop the flow of intelligence in wakefulness, dreaming, and deep sleep. In other words, when one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his ignorance is immediately dissipated. This is the most important instruction of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. In Śrīmad Bhāgavatam this is said, and in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā it is also said.
In all Vedic scriptures it is said. We sing before reading Śrīmad Bhāgavatam that: "viṣṇu-bhakti nitya-siddha akṣeya abhaya" (..?... 6.08). In Śrīmad Bhāgavatam it is stated (..?.. 6.34): "ādye madhye ante"—in the beginning of Bhāgavatam, in the middle of Bhāgavatam, and in the last portion of Bhāgavatam, only one thing is stated: "viṣṇu-bhakti nitya-siddha akṣeya abhaya." Viṣṇu-bhakti is eternally perfect and inexhaustible.
Thus, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the essence of all Vedic scriptures, gives this instruction that Prahlāda Mahārāja imparts—take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Be a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Practice your devotion unto Lord Kṛṣṇa. That is the supreme perfection of your life.
What is the constitutional position of a living entity?
Nṛhari: Eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.
Gour Govinda Swami: The living entity is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, yes. "jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya—kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’" [CC Madhya 20.108]. Mahāprabhu says the same thing: "jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya—kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’." This is the constitutional position of a jīva, a living entity—he is an eternal servitor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. But here in this material world, the jīva has forgotten this truth. Why has he forgotten? Why has he forgotten this?
Nṛhari: Because the intelligence is polluted.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, the intelligence is polluted. Why is his intelligence polluted?
Nṛhari: He is forgetting Kṛṣṇa...
Gour Govinda Swami: Same thing you are saying—he is forgetting Kṛṣṇa. My question is—why does he forget? Why does he forget Kṛṣṇa?
Nṛhari: Because he wants to lord it over the spiritual world.
Gour Govinda Swami: He is captured by māyā. Do you understand? He is enchanted by māyā. He wants to enjoy māyā, isn't it? In other words, as I was telling yesterday, he misuses his minute independence, isn't it? Therefore, he is captured by māyā and has forgotten his constitutional position. "‘kṛṣṇa-nitya-dāsa’—jīva tāhā bhuli’ gela ei doṣe māyā tāra galāya bāndhila" [CC Madhya 22.24]. Yesterday we were chanting this from Prema-vivarta. Do you understand? Have you remembered all this? This verse (..?.. 9.50) was written by Jagadananda Dāsa Pandit, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in a book—Prema-vivarta. That book we were chanting; I was chanting. Do you understand? "‘kṛṣṇa-nitya-dāsa’—jīva tāhā bhuli’ gela ei doṣe māyā tāra galāya bāndhila." Do you understand? That jīva, that living entity, committed a wrong. Do you understand? He committed a wrong. What is that?
Nrhari: He misused his minute independence.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, he misused his minute independence—"ei doṣe māyā tāra galāya bāndhila." It is his fault; therefore, he is captured by māyā. What is his fault? That he is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa—he forgets this truth—"jīva nitya Kṛṣṇa dāsa, tāhā bhuli gela ei doṣe māyā tāra galāya bāndhila." When someone commits a wrong, he should be honest. The punishment must be inflicted on him. When the living entity commits this wrong, he is punished—punished by māyā. Do you understand? Māyā-śakti, one of the energies, potencies of Lord Kṛṣṇa, captures him and punishes him, isn't it?
When you break the constitution, the state constitution of government law, there is a police department—the police will capture you, then you'll be put into prison and punished there because you committed a wrong. Similarly, the jīva, the living entity, when he disobeys God's law, is captured by māyā, who is the police officer of Kṛṣṇa, and punished by her. He is put into this prison house created by māyā—this material world. "māyā-kṛpa-karaṭhā" (..?.. 12.24). This material world is a prison house created by māyā to give punishment to the conditioned soul. Because they have forgotten this. Because they misused their minute independence. Because they have tried to lord it over māyā and enjoy her. Because they have forgotten Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(..?.. 12.55) So, "dhamba pratīkar"—"bahirmukha doṣa dambha pratīkar"—because you have forgotten Kṛṣṇa, you committed this wrong, so you should be punished, and this is the punishment.
So, one should understand this very clearly: why I have been punished, what is my wrong, what wrong I have committed. You must know this clearly. Then he should rectify himself. How can it be rectified? You can say, "No, I will never do wrong henceforth... (inaudible, 13.52)..." to the emperor, the Supreme Emperor Kṛṣṇa—rāja-rājēśvara Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Emperor—rāja-rājēśvara. Do you know it? Don't you know? He is rāja-rājēśvara—the Supreme Emperor. A king, an emperor has his court (darbar), where he gives judgment. Do you understand? Similarly, Kṛṣṇa has His court. Have you gone there? You have not gone there? You are a culprit. You have gone there.
Nṛhari: Yes...
Gour Govinda Swami: No, no, you have not gone there. You have gone to the lower court—that is the Supreme Court. You have been punished by the lower court, māyā's court. Do you understand, Nṛhari? There are lower courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court, isn't it? Kṛṣṇa's court is the Supreme Court. There are lower courts, high courts, and Supreme Courts. The master, the Supreme Emperor, is Kṛṣṇa.
In court, you'll find advocates and pleaders. You cannot go directly to court; you should go with the help of a pleader or advocate. That is the court's principle, the law. So, who is the pleader there in the Supreme Emperor's court, Kṛṣṇa's court?
Nṛhari: The spiritual master.
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, the spiritual master—who is like Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni, do you know Nārada Muni? He is the spiritual master; he comes in disciplic succession—Brahmā, Nārada, Svayambhu, Nārada, Śambhu, isn't it? Don't you know it? So, he is the pleader. The spiritual master is the pleader. Nārada Muni is a great pleader. So, he has... the spiritual master has access to that Supreme Court. There are Supreme Court lawyers; they are known as Supreme Court lawyers. They have access to the Supreme Court. The lower court lawyers have no access to the Supreme Court. Similarly, it is the case there. Nārada Muni, the spiritual master, they are Supreme Court lawyers. They plead for whom?
Nṛhari: For the conditioned soul.
Gour Govinda Swami: For these conditioned souls. They plead for these conditioned souls. "Oh, Supreme King, Supreme Emperor Kṛṣṇa, You are sitting here, You are immersed in enjoying the gopīs. You are enjoying too much here. But You have forgotten what the miserable condition is there in this material world. How these souls, conditioned souls, who are eternally part and parcel of You, are suffering? I have come from their side to plead in Your court. Please be kind enough; please go there and see. Please go there and see!" This is what the spiritual master, or Nārada Muni, pleads on behalf of the conditioned souls. Then the Supreme Emperor or Supreme Judge listens to it—yes, yes, this is a fact—alright, alright, I will take some steps, alright—I Myself will go there and see. Then He comes down.
Then He teaches instructions as given in Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā and His instructions also in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. "Oh, you are an accomplice; you have forgotten this truth, you have forgotten your constitutional position. You have forgotten the Supreme Emperor. You have disobeyed Me. So you have been punished. Now you should be careful. You should take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness and practice pure devotional service. Then you'll be freed from this prison house. You'll get released. You will be released from the prison house; otherwise, it will not be possible."
"māyām etāṁ taranti te"
[BG 7.14]
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad Gītā. To completely take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa—Me means Kṛṣṇa. Then you will be... you can overcome māyā—"māyām etāṁ taranti te"—otherwise, it's not possible; this is the only way.
By the instructions and teachings of His pure devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja, Nārada Muni, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Goswāmī Mahārāja, and Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja, all these pure devotees are like pleaders. Then the conditioned soul takes this very seriously and takes up this Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Some conditioned soul who takes up these instructions very seriously is blessed. So, he'll be released. Otherwise, there is no way to get released. And all these instructions are given in Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
Another thing is stated here—this will burn the seed of ignorance. If you put a seed in the ground, it will germinate, isn't it? What will a sādhus do if he puts a seed in the ground and it never germinates?
Nṛhari: Set a fire on it.
Gour Govinda Swami: Set fire... it should be burned to ashes... the seed will be burned to ashes... (inaudible, 21.21) What did you put in the ground? No seed at all. You fry the seeds; don't burn the seed. You fry the seed, fry it and put it, and let it germinate. If you put a fried seed into the earth, will there be germination? No, not at all. This is the process—frying the seed so there will be no germination. Every action has its reaction.
But the action done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness has no reaction. That is like a fried seed. So this is the instruction—"tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta" [SB 11.3.21].
Devotee: ...śreya uttamam.
Gour Govinda Swami: "jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam." Yes, that is the verse. "tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu" (BG 8.7) Bhagavad Gītā, Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna. Therefore, you do your duty. Don't be afraid of the reactions. Alright,
tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu
mām anusmara yudhya ca
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
mām evaiṣyasy asaṁśayaḥ
Every moment you think of Me and fight. That means do your duty in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so there will be no reactions; you will come to Me.
Finish, though I have enough to say.
So let me say a few words in Oriya for them because they feel disappointed. Prahlāda Mahārāja says this is very difficult to understand. Unless one is Kṛṣṇa conscious, unless one meets a pure devotee, you cannot understand it. However great he may be—a great learned scholar, scientist, philosopher, or religionist—isn't it? That was there in the purport of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Do you remember it? No? You are a rascal. You never listen to me. Your attention is there; why don't you listen first?
That is... How is it...? How the soul is not born... is there a weakness only? Most people cannot understand. But this is the fact. Bhagavad Gītā says that thing:
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate
[BG 3.27]
He is ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā. He has a very great false ego—ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā. He says: "I am great." He is ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā—a very great false ego. He thinks his body to be the soul. Bhagavad Gītā says: "prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ," nature is acting. Material nature is acting. You are captured by material nature with the three modes of material nature: sattva, rajas, and tamas. And one of the modes is predominating in you. You are acting accordingly. (inaudible, 25.03) ...no, no, you are the soul. Prakṛti acts, "prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni"—material nature acts. Bhagavad Gītā says very clearly. But many people cannot... no, I am doing, I am the doer. [End inaudible]