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THE
GAUDIYA
Spiritual Monthly
MANGALÂCHARANAM
2
2 THE GAUDIYA NOVEMBER 2009
Thus Spake Srila Âchâryadeva
I may have some produced by mind is defective. But the
liking to listen to the religious scriptures viz., Vedas,
shastras and to stay for Upanishads, Sutras etc. which are free
sometime at the from all these four defects, can safely
proximity of saintly be relied upon. Anyone who is desirous
persons, but all sorts of knowing the nature of self as well as
of difficulties arise God should study these religious
when I am required to scriptures in association with
observe the advice of Sadhupurushas, (devotees), who can
the Shastras and of the help us with spiritual knowledge, and
Sadhu are not to in the realisation of distinction between
indulge in the enjoyment but to be eternity and non-eternity. God is an
prepared to serve God. He is a traveller embodiment of sat, chit and ananda and
in the path of religion who can observe can manifest Himself in the world
those admonitions of the Shastras. This without the help of any instrument.
is the speciality of the Hindu Religion of Here in this world we find things are
India. Religion will not be practised till not eternal. They remain for a certain
the spirit of renunciation is developed. period and ultimately meet with
Whatever softness I may feel at heart destruction. This is the nature of
listening to the discourses on God, the material phenomena of this world. As
religion will not be practised till I act regards the mental phenomena, it is seen
according to the admonitions of the that the mind is wavering and flickering.
Shastras. Many thoughts come into the mind in a
Escape from the ills of births, rebirths moment and many thoughts pass away
"
and deaths and enjoyment of inherent in the next moment. We are running
spiritual bliss are the goal which can be after a mirage in the desert to quench m.
reached only through the true knowledge our thirst which is never appeased, but
of God in His essence and through the on the contrary increases. Similarly our
transcendental process of Bhakti. endeavours to seek happiness in the
We have our immense wealth in the , b acquisition of material objects ultimately
scriptures and other religious books, such prove futile and on the contrary bring
as Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas etc. But miseries. It is therefore utter folly to seek
there is no adequate arrangement for pleasure in mundane objects which are
utilisation of this wealth. We believe in as transitory as bubbles on the surface
scriptures as they are self-revealed truths. of water. We find immense resources
All philosophic discourses are based on in life, still we are not happy, and we
empiricism and rationalism. These are are greedy after something else. That is
the products of human minds full of four the limit of our material ambitions. n
defects such as Bhrama, Pramada, Our body should be protected in
Karnapatava means defects of the senses relation to the service of God, since this T
and Vipralipsa means to induce others to body is a Temple of God. When we are
accept one's views. Therefore anything
p forgetful of this relation, we take care
m
SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA
AN INTRODUCTION
Sripad B.S.Narayan Maharaj
(Continued from October issue) that, he has digested the entire Gita.
Gita diclares that, those who Among these saintly explanations we can
misidentify themselves with their find variations (Vaividhya) of different
physical body and fickle mind are quite types, but there is no antagonism
stupid and despicable. Materialism (Vaishamya) among them. A sincere
knows nothing about the spirit or reader should never read Gita
consciousness. Those who entirely rely commentaries produced by materialists,
upon materialism or godless secularism politicians, atheists, sectarians, fanatics,
shall face frustration and destruction. mayavadis and commercial persons, as
All the individual living entities are the they shall misguide and deceive the
eternal servants of the Supreme Lord, readers.
Who is all-being, all-intelligence and GITA IS AMIDST MAHA BHARATA:--
all-blissful Personality. Gita is the very Srimad Bhagavad Gita appeared in
sacred message of that Supreme Lord the midst of Maha Bharata (madhye
Sri Krishna, for the universal Mahmâ Bhmâratam). The Maha Bharata is
deliverance. All the excellent and noble of three kinds. Therefore, Gita's place is
human values are the direct result of in the middle of the battle field of Maha
this God-consciousness. Without Bharata, in the middle of the holy book
genuine God-consciousness, the Maha Bharata and in middle of the holy
mundane world is nothing but a grave land of Mahabharat. All these three
yard. Without spiritual awareness, a Maha Bharatas are sacred due to the
person is blind towards the reality. presence of Srimad Bhagavad Gita in
Spiritual culture in holy company their hearts. Therefore, without knowing
establishes divine love, brotherly Gita, one is unfit to be a worthy citizen
affection towards all others and of Bhmârata Bhoomi. Battle between good
balanced detachment towrds the and vice always ensues in the life of
material world. This alone is the real human beings. Without the knowledge
path of highest universal wellbeing. of Gita, one cannot win the battle of life,
u
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(Contd. from October issue) husband sat for supper she served him
"Great is he who serves, others are low, with a dish of rice without any
No distinction of caste His servie doth make." vegetable. The husband grew angry
The next problem is, who should and called for an explanation. The wife
go to do good to others. The preachers told him that as she had gone to attend
above all must be honest and sincere. his lecture, and as it was too late for
Insincere hearts are dangerous and do the market she could get nothing to
incalculable harm both to themselves, cook. At this her husband retorted that
and to those that hear them. Sincerity she could have easily plucked some
qualifies a man for initiation. The Guru brinjals from their kitchen garden and
initiates a sincere heart, for the prepared them. The wife forthwith told
regulation of his hitherto unregulated him that she after having heard so
life, into the holy order of Divine much against it, promised not to touch
Servants, when he as service unto the hellish thing again in future. The
Krishna and the Guru, does the work husband laughed heartily and said that
of preaching. Before initiation none she was a most foolish woman. Hell
A are qualified for the work, no matter . for those who heard him and not for
whatever his natural endowments him who spoke.
might be. In the matter of preaching The influence of his speech on one
we cannot take the initiative. It must of the audience is thus made clear, and
come from high through the medium that on the rest it is not difficult to
of the Guru. As like begets like so guess. Such preachings make man
sincerity begets sincerity. Insincere incredulous and impervious to further
preahers not only engender insincerity education. Our scriptures have
but endanger sincerity and turn men condemned their preaching by the
sceptic and aetheistic. A story may be insincere. They say:--
told here to illustrate this point. Hear not of Hari if by non-vaishnava
A man was once found addressing be preached:
a huge gathering on the subject of It harms, though holy, like milk as orts
"Brinjal as the human diet." He spoke of snake.
with great eloquence for hours and Preaching must be done as a
concluded his speech saying that service unto Krishna; and only a Guru
brinjal as human diet was most can direct such service otherwise it will
injurious, and that the man who lose its divine character and will be
consumed it would have to reside in in turned into a mere mundane exercise.
hell for as many years as there were Guru is a Divine Representative on
seeds in it. Unhappily his wife was earth. He having no other occupation,
among the audience. She knew that is the only Being who can direct such
her husband did not relish a dish service unto him. "Knock and the door
without brinjal. In order to teach him a of heaven will be opened unto you."
lesson she came home and cooked only But where to knock and how to knock?
rice and nothing else. When her It is Guru who teaches how and where
the hostility against Shiva was still noticed Nalakubara and Manigreeva
dwelling (inhibitting) in a latent stage. too
2. much intoxicated with wine, pride,
In his next life he took birth as the son aristocrasy and so many other material life.
of Pracheta and was named Prachetasa disignations. Even by seeing Narada
Daksha. Muni comming in the direction they
Vaishnava aparmâdha from previous neither cared to cover themselves nor
life was the greatest impediment, that they spoke anything to welcome that
did not allow him to receive the mercy great sage. Devarshi Narada considered
of the great sage Devarshi Narada. their distarted and abominable situation
Instead of that he started chastising and thought that in this situation any
Devarshi Narada for advicing his sons mercy will not fruitful on them. At first
to take mendicants attire. Ultimately I have to remove their intoxicatons and
Daksha cursed him that he can never then they will be capable to receive my ns and then they will be capable of recivng myu bon
be able to stay in one place. This boon. Devarshi Narada cursed them not rope
incident clearly proves that if Vaishnava out of anger but out of compassion. reason
aparmâdha inhibits inside the heart of a Immidiately this two boys had taken he
person even from his previous life time birth as twin Arjuna trees in the Gokula bla
he will not be able to receive Sadhu at the courtyard of Sri Nanda Bhavan.
Kripa. By the mercy of Devarshi Narada even
being captivated in the species of plant
In Srimad Bhagavatam 10th canto they could remember their previous life,
10th chapter there is an episode of their uncivilized behaviour, Devarshi's
Nalakubara and Manigreeva. These curse etc. everything.
two are sons of Kubera, who was the
king of Yakshas. Yakshas are a Sri Nanda Maharaj will appear
particular type of devatas and are very after a long time, but since then the two
rich. Kubera is a devotee of Lord Shiva. boys of Kubera in the form of twin
But these two sons of Kubera were Arjuna trees engaged themselves in the
devoid of good manners, became service of the residence of the Vraja.
drunkers and women hunters. Once Sri. Cowes means animals of Vraja used to
they were being surrounded by celestial take rest under the cooling shadow of
damsels, the two brothers were playing these trees, birds used to sit on the twigs
in the holy river Mandakini in of the tree glorifying the Supreme Lord
Himalayas. They were topsyterved by Sri Krishna. (to be continued)
.
Q: Earn to live and live for what? to find out a God realised Mahatma and
A: Earn to live, and live to know become his disciple.
all about God. Q: The Guru in his turn will enroll
Q: Who is the human beings' worst only after putting a would be disciple
enemy? to many tests. Why?
A: He himself is his worst enemy. A: The spiritual path is meant only
His own mind, senses, anger, greed, for those with strong will power. One
lust, passion etc., are his enemies. has to undergo very many obstacles,
or
Q: The worldly people are very, even from one's own kith and kin to
very busy, dure to what? become one among the creamy layer of
A: The worldly people are very, mankind.
very busy, wasting the precious time Q: What is the worldly path known
of human birth in frivolous pursuits as for those who identify themselves !
having been intoxicated by Lord's with the body ?
Maya. A: For them the worldly path is
Q: Lord Krishna proves that he is known as the path of ignorance or
very fond of His Bhakta. How? avidya.
A: He goes to His Bhata and gives (to be continued)
uncommon with the matter, but it is not surcharged with the transcendental
antagonistic to the matter. The sentiments of divine abode Goloka, and
relationship with the spirit and matter he would reach that abode by
is that, the first one is the body and the cultivating the organs of Gokula Bhakti.
other is its shadow. Shadow cannot be Consequently he becomes fully
opposite to the body. When these liberated from avidya or nescience,
salvationists adopt such defective even when living in this world. Thus
dogma, they lose all kinds of spiritual Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
merits such as, -- devotional service to explained the secret of balanced
Lord Krishna, service to the saints, abnegation to Sri Sanatana Goswami for
tasting of spiritual sweetness etc. As the benefit of all those who intend to
the minds of these pseudo ascetics follow the path of pure devotion.
become dry and sterilised, they fail to 38. DISCARD PSEUDO ABNEGATION:
enjoy the sweetness of divine Name, Dear brothers, outright discard all
divine Form, divine Qualities and kinds of pseudo abnegation and
divine Sports of the Supreme Lord. accommodate balanced abnegation
They always try to keep themselves within your hearts. How foolish it is to
away from all these excellent topics for reject all kinds of material objects!
their imaginary fear of coming under Where will you go by dascarding this
the clutch of nescience and at the end world? Even in forest you can only
they become as inert and worthless like come across matter every where. For
rocks and boulders. appeasing your hunger, you should eat
37. BALANCED ABNEGATION: something, for protecting yourself you
By adopting balanced abnegation, need some shelter. (to be contd.)
one can naturally and easily cultivate
pure devotion, as he shall accept only
such objects and affairs which have
been purified and spiritualised by the
help of Krishna-Bhakti. The heart of
such a fortunate devotee easily becomes
free from the materialistic inertness of
the mundane nature, and attaining the
support of spiritual potency, he enjoys
quick upliftment by the help of the
divine sweetness of transcendental
devotion. Lord Krishna becomes
pleased by the performance of Bhakti
Yoga and fulfils His declaration to
Arjuna that, His devotee shall never
undergo destruction. Life of a person
becomes absolutely fulfilled, when
Lord Krishna becomes pleased upon
him. Such a fortunate devotee gets
world by means of our mundane into entities that do not irresistibly and
resources, is very similar to the attempt unaesthically drag us down to the most
to beautify a dead body. The result is rotten things of this world. It is no true
a foregone conclusion. Our aesthetic poetry that seeks to disguise this fact by
favourite of this moment are discarded the external embellishments of rhythm
at the next in favour of others who also and vocabulary. Such ingenuity can
are replaced by others in their turn. The only amuse those to whom it is a novelty,
king who lives in the most costly style and can do so only till the trick does not
has no more liking for the showy grow stale. It is the logical nemesis of
splendours of his royal state, when they this state of things that commerce is
are not renewed, than the pauper has rapidly getting hold of every department
for his old tattered rags. Familiarity of this make believe aesthetics. The
breeds contempt for all things of this tailor is making man, because strangely
world on account of their inherent enough man wants to be made by him
ugliness which is found out on actual in seeming despair of any better
contact. alternative.
Poets and painters rely upon the This craze for the gaudy baubles
equally futile resources of their limited and trinkets of this world is responsible
imagination for masking the inherent for the repugnance that is exhibited by
ugliness of the conditions of mundane the materialistic thinkers to any serious n
num
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SRIMAD BHAGAVADGITA
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u˚oyÆÁzDÜÆÁÆ: CHAPTER-II
ÃÁÊPÆÆÁzT: SÂMKHYA YOGA
(Contd. from October issue) speak such excllently pleasant words of
the Vedas which are like of poisonous
The Lord discribes the nature of flowering plant. 42
distracted mind
N˛Á™Án™Áå: ÀƒT|ú∫Á \ã™N˛™|¢˛¬ú¿tÁ™Ω @
ÆÁu™™ÁÊ úÏu…úoÁÊ ƒÁYÊ ú¿ƒtãnÆuƒúu≈Yo:@ uN¿˛ÆÁuƒ∆z §“ÏpÁÊ ßÁzT{≈ƒÆ|TuoÊ ú¿uo @@ 43˛˛
ƒztƒÁt∫oÁ: úÁs| åÁãÆtÀoyuo ƒÁutå:@@ 42˛
Kâmâtmânah svargaparâ
janmakarmaphalapradâm|
Yâmimâm pushpitâm vâcham
pravadantyavipaschitah | nk kriyâvisheshabahulâm
vedavâdaratah pârtha bhogaishvaryagatim prati || 43
nânyadasteeti vâdinah || 42
N˛Á™Án™Áå: = Their minds attached to f
úÁs| = O Arjuna! , Euƒúu≈Yo = . trivial desires, ÀƒT|ú∫Á: = hanker after
unwise people, ƒztƒÁt∫oÁ:= too much heaven, \ã™N˛™|¢˛¬ú¿tÁ˛ = and speak such
engaged in the extolling portions of apparently sweet words as lead to the
Vedas (without grasping their (eso- cycle of births and deaths, uN¿˛ÆÁuƒ∆z §“ÏpÁÊ
teric) real meaning), ƒÁutå: = argue, b
= and abound in fruitive actions, ßÁzT
Fuo = that, å EãÆoΩ EuÀo = (there is) Lz≈ƒÆ|TuoÊ ú¿uo = leading to enjoyment and
no truth other than the object of en- ' wealth. ˛
joyment (like moksha), ú¿ƒtuão ˛= Their minds attached to trivial
(and) they speak, ÆÁu™™ÁÊ = such, úÏu…úoÁÊ desires hanker after heaven and speak
ƒÁYÊ = excellently pleasent words of such apparently sweet words as lead to
the Vedas which are like a poisonous betr th the cycle of births and deaths and
by
flowering plant. abound in fruitive actions leading to
O Arjuna! Unwise people too enjoyment and wealth (are not deeply
much engaged in the extoling portions and exclusively concentrated upon
of Vedas (without grasping their God). 43
(esoteric) real meaning) argue that there
is no truth other than the object of ßÁzT{≈ƒÆ|ú¿ÃMoÁåÁÊ oÆÁú”oYzoÃÁ™Ω @
enjoyment (like moksha) and they un √ƃÃÁÆÁun™N˛Á §ÏuÚ: ÙÁáÁ{ å uƒáyÆozz @@44˛
drawn away, osÁ = by such flowery devotee, carry the responsibility, EÁn™ƒÁåΩ
speech, ú¿ÃMoÁåÁÊ = and attached to, = and be engaged in the intelligence
ßÁzT{≈ƒÆ| = only pleasures and wealth, given by Me.
√ƃÃÁÆÁun™N˛Á = one pointed or steadfast,
§ÏuÚ: = knowledge, å uƒáyÆoz = does O Arjuna! The Vedas deal with the
not arise, ÙÁáÁ{ = in their mind. three qualities of maya --- Sattva, Rajas
With their minds drawn away by and Tamas. You be free from Karma
such flowery speech and attached to and Jnana and other topics of three
only pleasures and wealth, one pointed qualities and free from the mundane
or steadfast knowledge does not arise
in their mind. 44 and opposites like pleasure and pain, gain
te and loss etc. and associate with My pure ahu
devotees, desist from quest after
Bhakti transcends the three qualities:
unattained objects and anxity for
It is said here to take recourse to preserving the obtained things (because
only Bhakti Yoga, giving up all of your taste for My Bhakti Rasa). This
sadhanas of dharma, artha, kama and is because I, out of affection for My
moksha. devotee, carry the responsibility and be
engaged in the intelligence given by Me.
fi{TÏlÆuƒ ÆÁ ƒztÁ uåÀfi{TÏlÆÁz ߃Á\|Ïå @ 45
uå˚|ã˚zÁz uånÆÃnnƒÀsÁz uåÆÁz|Tqz™ EÁn™ƒÁåΩ @@ 45 ÆÁƒÁås| GtúÁåz Ã|o: éõ¬ÏoÁztNz˛ @
˛ Traigunyavishayâ vedâ oÁƒÁãÃz| Ï ƒztz Ï §¿Á—™mÀÆ uƒ\Áåo: @@46˛
nistraigunyo bhavârjuna |
Yâvânartha udapâne
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho
sarvatah samplutodake |
niryogakshema âtmavân || 45
tâvânsarveshu vedeshu
brâhmanasya vijânatah || 46
E\|åÏ = O Arjuna! ƒztÁ: = the Vedas,
uƒ ÆÁ: = deal with, fi{TÏlÆ = the three o ÆÁƒÁåΩ Es| = All the purposes are
qualities of maya -- sattva, rajas and served, GtúÁåz = by (different -- some
tamas, ߃ = you be, uåÀfi{TÏlÆ = free wells
ƒÁ are used for cleaning the body after ea
from karma and jnana and other topics passing nature, some others are used for
of three qualities, uå˚|ã˚Áz = (and) free brushing teeth, others are used for
from the mundane opposites like (Cont. in page 24) ∫
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