Çré Utthäna Ekädaçé Issue no:149 26th November 2020

Activities Appropriate For Bhakti

The Demigods Appeal To The Activities Appropriate For Bhakti
Lord For Protection Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Srila Sukadeva Goswami

The Favorable Execution of

A Struggle For Existence Krishna Conscious Activities
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

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The Demigods Appeal to the Personality of Godhead’s various incarnations

Lord for Protection are wonderfully described, sometimes we are
Srila Sukadeva Goswami unable to understand them. Yet everything is
possible for Lord Visnu. If one could count the
Sukadeva Goswami said: O King, I have de- atoms of the universe, then he could also count
scribed to you the pastime of Gajendra-mokñaëa, the qualities of the Supreme Personality of God-
which is very pious and hence beneficial to hear. head. In truth however, no one can count the
By hearing such activities of the Lord, one can atoms of the universe, nor can anyone com-
become free from all sinful reactions. Now please pletely describe all the transcendental qualities
listen as I describe Raivata Manu. The brother of of the Lord.
Tamasa Manu was the fifth Manu, named Raivata. The son of Caksu known as Caksusa was
His sons were headed by Arjuna, Bali and Vind- the sixth Manu. He had many sons, headed
hya. O King, in the millennium of Raivata Manu by Puru, Purusa and Sudyumna. During the
the King of heaven was known as Vibhu, among reign of Caksusa Manu, the King of heaven was
the demigods were the Bhutarayas, and among the
seven brähmaëas who occupied the seven planets known as Mantradruma. Among the demigods
were Hiranyaroma, Vedasira and Urdhvabahu. were the Apyas, and among the great sages were
From the combination of Subhra and his wife, Havisman and Viraka. In this sixth manvantara
Vikuntha, there appeared the Supreme Personal- millennium, Lord Visnu, the master of the uni-
ity of Godhead, Vaikuntha, along with demigods verse, appeared in His partially expanded form.
who were His personal plenary expansions. Just He was begotten by Vairaja in the womb of his
to please the goddess of fortune, the Supreme wife, Devasambhuti, and His name was Ajita. By
Personality of Godhead, Vaikuntha, at her request, churning the Ocean of Milk, this Ajita produced
created another Vaikuntha planet, which is wor- nectar for the demigods. In the form of a tortoise,
shiped by everyone. Although the great activities He moved here and there, carrying on His back
and transcendental qualities of the Supreme the great mountain known as Mandara.
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 143, Page—3
King Pariksit inquired: O great brähmaëas, Su- the living entities born from embryos all come
kadeva Goswami, why and how did Lord Visnu from the Supreme Lord, from His incarnation of
churn the Ocean of Milk? For what reason did He rajo-guëa Lord Brahma, and from the great sages
stay in the water as a tortoise and hold up Manda- [åñis] who are part of me. Let us therefore go to the
ra Mountain? How did the demigods obtain the Supreme Lord and take shelter of His lotus feet.
nectar they sought, and what other things were For the perfectly neutral Supreme Personality of
produced from the churning of the ocean? Kindly Godhead there is no one to be killed, no one to
describe all these wonderful activities of the Lord. be protected, no one to be neglected and no one
My heart, which is disturbed by the three misera- to be worshiped. Nonetheless, for the sake of cre-
ble conditions of material life, is not yet sated with ation, maintenance and annihilation, as required
hearing you describe the glorious activities of the in due course of time, He accepts different forms
Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who as incarnations, appearing as either in the mode
is the master of the devotees. of goodness, the mode of passion or the mode of
Sri Suta Gosvami said: O learned brähmaëas ignorance. Now is the time to invoke the mode of
assembled here at Naimisaranya, when Sukadeva goodness of the living entities who have accepted
Goswami the son of Dvaipayana was thus ques- material bodies. The mode of goodness is meant
tioned by the King, he congratulated the King and to establish the Supreme Lord’s rule, which will
then endeavoured to further describe the glories of maintain the existence of the creation. Therefore,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. this is the opportune moment to take shelter of
Sukadeva Goswami said: When the asuras, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because He
with their serpent weapons, severely attacked is naturally very kind and dear to the demigods,
the demigods in a fight, many of the demigods He will certainly bestow good fortune upon us.
fell and lost their lives. Indeed, they could not be O Maharaja Pariksit, capable of subduing all
revived by any means. At that time, O King, the enemies, after Lord Brahma finished speaking to
demigods had been cursed by Durvasa Muni, the the demigods, he took them with him to the abode
three worlds were poverty-stricken, and therefore of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which is
ritualistic ceremonies could not be performed. beyond this material world. The Lord’s abode is
The effects of this were very serious. Seeing their on an island called Svetadvipa, which is situated
lives so disrupted, Lord Indra, Varuna and the in the Ocean of Milk. There Lord Brahma offered
other demigods, consulted among themselves, prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
but they could not find any solution. Therefore all even though he had never directly seen Him.
the demigods assembled and went together to the Simply because Lord Brahma had heard about the
peak of Sumeru Mountain. There, in the assembly Supreme Personality of Godhead from Vedic litera-
of Lord Brahma, they fell down to offer him their ture, with a fixed mind he offered the Lord prayers
obeisance, and thereafter they informed him of as written or approved by those sacred scriptures.
everything that had taken place. Lord Brahma said: O Supreme Lord, O change-
Upon seeing that the demigods were bereft of all less, unlimited supreme truth. You are the origin
influence and strength and that the three worlds of everything. Being all-pervading, You are in ev-
were consequently devoid of auspiciousness, eryone’s heart and also in the atom. You have no
and upon seeing that the demigods were in an material qualities. Indeed, You are inconceivable.
awkward position whereas all the demons were The mind cannot catch You by speculation, and
flourishing, Lord Brahma, who is above all the words fail to describe You. You are the supreme
demigods and who is most powerful, concentrated master of everyone, and therefore You are wor-
his mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. shipable for everyone. We offer our respectful
Thus being encouraged, he became bright-faced obeisance unto You. The Supreme Personality
and spoke to the demigods as follows. of Godhead directly and indirectly knows how
Lord Brahma said: I, Lord Siva, all of you everything, including the living force, mind and
demigods, the demons, the living entities born of intelligence, is working as it is all under His con-
perspiration, the living beings born of eggs, the trol. He is the illuminator of everything and has
trees and plants sprouting from the earth, and no ignorance. He does not have a material body
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subject to the reactions of previous activities, and us therefore simply offer our respectful obeisance
He is free from the ignorance of partiality and unto Him the unknowable Lord.
materialistic education. I therefore take shelter of On this earth there are four kinds of living en-
the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, who appears tities, who are all created by Him. The material
with six opulences in the three yugas Satya, Tretä creation rests on His lotus feet. He is the great
and Dväpara, who is eternal, all-pervading and as Supreme Person, full of opulence and power. May
great as the sky. In the cycle of material activities, He be pleased with us. The entire cosmic manifes-
the material body resembles the wheel of a mental tation has emerged from water, and it is because
chariot. The five working senses and five knowl- of water that all living entities endure, live and
edge gathering senses and the five life airs within develop. This water is nothing but the semen of
the body form the fifteen spokes of the chariot’s the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore,
wheel. The three modes of nature goodness, may the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who
passion and ignorance are its hub, and the eight has such great potency, be pleased with us. Soma,
ingredients of nature [earth, water, fire, air, sky, the moon, is the source of food grains, strength
mind, intelligence and false ego] comprise the and longevity for all the demigods. He is also the
rim of the wheel. The external, material energy master of all vegetation and the source of gener-
moves this wheel like electrical energy. Thus the ation for all living entities. As stated by learned
wheel revolves very quickly around its central scholars, the moon is the mind of the Supreme
support, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Personality of Godhead. May that Supreme Per-
who is the Supersoul and the ultimate truth. We sonality of Godhead, the source of all opulence,
offer our respectful obeisance unto Him. The be pleased with all of us. Fire, which is born for
Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in the sake of accepting oblations in ritualistic cere-
pure goodness [çuddha-sattva], and therefore He is monies, is the mouth of the Supreme Personality
eka-varëa the sacred sound oàkära. Because the of Godhead. Fire exists within the depths of the
Lord is beyond the cosmic manifestation, which is ocean to produce wealth, and fire is also present in
considered to be darkness, He is not visible to ma- the abdomen to digest food and produce various
secretions for the maintenance of the body. May
terial eyes. Nonetheless, He is not separated from that supremely powerful Personality of Godhead
us by time or space, but is present everywhere. be pleased with us. The sun-god marks the path
Seated on His carrier, Garuda, He is worshiped of liberation, which is called arcirädi-vartma. He
by means of mystical yogic power by those who is the chief source for understanding of the Vedas,
have achieved freedom from mental agitation. Let he is the abode where the Absolute Truth can be
us all offer our respectful obeisance unto Him. worshiped, he is the gateway to liberation, and he
No one can overcome the Supreme Personality is the source of eternal life as well as the cause of
of Godhead’s illusory energy [mäyä], which is so death. The sun-god is the eye of the Lord. May
strong that it bewilders everyone, making one lose that Supreme Lord, who is supremely opulent,
the sense to understand the true aim of life. That be pleased with us.
same mäyä, however, is subdued by the Supreme All living entities, both moving and non-mov-
Personality of Godhead, who rules everyone and ing, receive their vital force, their bodily strength
who is equally disposed toward all living entities. and their very lives from the air. All of us follow
Let us offer our obeisance unto Him. Since our the air for our vital force, exactly as servants
bodies are composed of the mode of goodness follow an emperor. The vital force of air is gener-
[sattva-guëa], we, the demigods, are internally and ated from the original vital force of the Supreme
externally situated in goodness. All the great saints Personality of Godhead. May that Supreme Lord
are also situated in that way. Therefore, if even be pleased with us. May the supremely powerful
we cannot understand the Supreme Personality Personality of Godhead be pleased with us. The
of Godhead, what is to be said of those who are different directions are generated from His ears,
most insignificant in their bodily constitutions, the gates of the body come from His heart, and
being situated in the modes of passion and igno- the vital force, the senses, the mind, the air within
rance? How can they understand the Lord? Let the body, and the ether, which is the shelter of
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 143, Page—5
the body, come from His navel. Mahendra, the other senses. O Lord, O Supreme Personality of
King of Heaven, was generated from the prowess Godhead, by Your sweet will You appear in var-
of the Lord, the demigods were generated from ious incarnations, millennium after millennium,
the mercy of the Lord, Lord Siva was generated and act wonderfully, performing uncommon
from the anger of the Lord, and Lord Brahma activities that would be impossible for us. Karmés
from His sober intelligence. The Vedic mantras are always anxious to accumulate wealth for their
were generated from the bodily holes of the Lord, sense gratification, but for that purpose they must
and the great saints and prajäpatis were generated work very hard. Yet even though they work hard,
from His genitals. May that supremely powerful the results are not satisfying. Indeed, sometimes
Lord be pleased with us. The goddess of fortune their work results only in frustration. However,
was generated from His chest, the inhabitants of devotees who have dedicated their lives to the
Pitrloka from His shadow, religion from His bo- service of the Lord can achieve substantial results
som, and irreligion from His back. The heavenly without working very hard. These results exceed
planets were generated from the top of His head, the devotee’s expectations. Activities dedicated
and the Apsaras from His sense enjoyment. May to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even if
that supremely powerful Personality of Godhead performed in small measure, never go in vain.
be pleased with us. The brähmaëass and Vedic The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being the
knowledge come from the mouth of the Supreme supreme father, is naturally very dear and always
Personality of Godhead, the kñatriyas and all bodily ready to act for the good of the living entities.
strength come from His arms, the vaiçyas and their When one pours water on the root of a tree, the
expert knowledge in productivity and wealth come trunk and branches of the tree are automatically
from His thighs, and the çüdras, who are outside pleased. Similarly, when one becomes a devotee
of Vedic knowledge, come from His feet. May that of Lord Visnu, everyone is served, for the Lord is
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full in the Supersoul of everyone. My Lord, all obeisance
prowess, be pleased with us. Greed is generated unto You, who are eternal, beyond time’s limits
from His lower lip, affection from His upper lip, of past, present and future. You are inconceivable
bodily lustre from His nose, animalistic carnal de- in Your activities, You are the master of the three
sires from His sense of touch, Yamaraja from His modes of material nature, and, being transcen-
eyebrows, and eternal time from His eyelashes. dental to all material qualities, You are free from
May that Supreme Lord be pleased with us. All material contamination. You are the controller of
learned men say that the five elements, eternal all three of the modes of nature, but at the pres-
time, fruitive activity, the three modes of material ent You are in favor of the quality of goodness.
nature, and the varieties produced by these modes Let us offer our respectful obeisance unto You.
are all creations of yoga-mäyä, which is one of His — Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto
energies. This material world is therefore extreme- 8: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations » Chapter Five » Verses: 1-50.
ly difficult to understand, and yet those who are
highly learned have rejected it as illusory. May A Struggle For Existence
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
controller of everything, be pleased with us. Let us
offer our respectful obeisance unto the Supreme The material world is conducted by the three
Personality of Godhead, who is completely silent, modes of nature, namely sattva-guëa, rajo-guëa
free from endeavour, and completely satisfied by and tamo-guëa. By rajo-guëa everything material
His own achievements. He is not attached to the is created, by sattva-guëa everything material is
activities of the material world by His senses which maintained properly, and by tamo-guëa, when
are beyond it. Indeed, in performing His pastimes the creation is improperly situated, everything is
here, He is just like the unattached air. destroyed.
O Supreme Personality of Godhead, we are From this verse we can understand the situation
surrendered unto You, yet we wish to see You. of Kali-yuga, through which we are now passing.
Please make Your original form and smiling lotus Just before the beginning of Kali-yuga—or, in
face visible to our eyes and appreciable to our other words, at the end of Dväpara-yuga—Lord Sri
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 Issue no 143, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Krishna appeared and left His instructions in the tana movement and chanting the Hare Krishna
form of Bhagavad-gétä, in which He asked all living mahä-mantra, the fallen souls of this Kali-yuga
entities to surrender unto Him. Since the beginning will be delivered. After the Battle of Kuruksetra, at
of Kali-yuga, however, people have practically been which Bhagavad-gétä was spoken, Kali-yuga con-
unable to surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, and tinues for 432,000 years, of which only 5,000 years
therefore, after some five thousand years, Krishna have passed. Thus there is still a balance of 427,000
came again as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just to years to come. Of these 427,000 years, the 10,000
teach the entire world how to surrender unto Him, years of the saìkértana movement inaugurated by
and unto Sri Krishna, and thus be purified. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago provide
Surrendering unto the lotus feet of Krishna means the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga
achieving complete purification. Krishna says in to take to the Krishna consciousness movement,
Bhagavad-gétä (18.66): chant the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra and thus be
delivered from the clutches of material existence
sarva-dharmän parityajya and return home, back to Godhead.
mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja Chanting of the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra is
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo always beneficial, but this chanting is especially
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù potent in this Age of Kali. Therefore SukadevaGos-
vami, while instructing Maharaja Pariksit, stressed
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just sur- this chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.
render unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful
reaction. Do not fear." Thus as soon as one surren- kaler doña-nidhe räjan
ders unto the lotus feet of Krishna, one certainly nasti hy eko mahän guëaù
becomes free from all contamination. kértanäd eva kåñëasya
Kali-yuga is full of contamination. This is de- mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet
scribed in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam (12.3.51):
"My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of
kaler doña-nidhe räjann faults, there is still one good quality about this
asti hy eko mahän guëaù age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna
kértanäd eva kåñëasya mahä-mantra, one can become free from material
mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet bondage and be promoted to the transcendental
kingdom." (SB 12.3.51)
This Age of Kali is full of unlimited faults. Indeed, Those who have accepted the task of spreading
it is just like an ocean of faults (doña-nidhi). But the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra in full Krishna
there is one chance, one opportunity. Kértanäd consciousness should take this opportunity to
eva kåñëasya mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet: simply deliver people very easily from the clutches of
by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, one can be material existence. Our duty, therefore, is to fol-
freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga and, in low the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
his original spiritual body, can return home, back to and preach the Krishna consciousness movement
Godhead. This is the golden opportunity available all over the world very sincerely. This is the best
in Kali-yuga. welfare activity for the peace and prosperity of
When Krishna appeared, He gave His orders, and human society.
when Krishna Himself appeared as a devotee, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement consists
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He showed us the path of spreading kåñëa-saìkértana. "All glories to the Çré
by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga. That is kåñëa-saìkértana!" Why is it so glorious? This has
the path of the Hare Krishna movement. When Sri also been explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, He ushered in Ceto-darpaëa-märjanam: by the chanting of the
the era for the saìkértana movement. It is also said Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra, one's heart is cleansed.
that for ten thousand years this era will continue. The whole difficulty is that in this Age of Kali there
This means that simply by accepting the saìkér- is no sattva-guëa and no clearance of the heart, and

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 143, Page—7
therefore people are making the mistake of identi- repeated birth and death take place." Therefore,
fying with their bodies. Even the big philosophers not to speak of going to the moon, even if one is
and scientists with whom we deal are practically promoted to the highest planetary system, Brah-
all under the impression that they are their bodies. maloka, there cannot be any happiness in this
The other day we were discussing a prominent material world. If one actually wants happiness,
philosopher, Thomas Huxley, who was proud of one must go to the spiritual world.
being an Englishman. This means that he was in The material world is characterized by a strug-
the bodily conception of life. Everywhere we find gle for existence, and survival of the fittest is
this same misunderstanding. As soon as one is in a well-known principle, but the poor souls of
the bodily conception of life, one is nothing but an this material world do not know what survival
animal like a cat or a dog (saeva go-kharaù [Bhäg actually entails and who is fit. Survival does not
10.84.13]). Thus the most dangerous of the dirty mean that one eventually dies; survival means
things within our hearts is this misidentification that one should not die, but should enjoy an
of the body as the self. Under the influence of this everlastingly blissful life of knowledge. This is
misunderstanding, one thinks, "I am this body. I sublime survival. The Krishna consciousness
am an Englishman. I am an Indian. I am an Amer- movement is meant to make every person fit for
ican. I am Hindu. I am Muslim." This misconcep- this kind of survival. Indeed, it is meant to stop
tion is the strongest impediment, and it must be the struggle for existence. The Çrémad-Bhägavat-
removed. That is the instruction of Bhagavad-gétä am and Bhagavad-gétä give definite directions on
and of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Indeed, Bhaga- how to stop the struggle for existence and how
vad-gétä begins with this instruction: to survive in eternal life. The saìkértana move-
ment, therefore, is a great opportunity. Simply
dehino 'smin yathä dehe by hearing Bhagavad-gétä and chanting the Hare
kaumäraà yauvanaà jarä Krishna mahä-mantra, one becomes completely
tathä dehäntara-präptir purified. Thus the struggle for existence ceases,
dhéras tatra na muhyati and one goes back home, back to Godhead.
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 8: Withdrawal of the
"As the embodied soul continually passes, in Cosmic Creations » Chapter Five » Verses : 23, Purport.
this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the
soul similarly passes into another body at death. Activities Appropriate For Bhakti
The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
change." (Bg. 2.13)
Although the soul is within the body, neverthe- For those aspiring to perform pure devotional
less, because of misunderstanding and animalistic service, Srila Rupa Gosvami has enjoined the
tendencies one accepts the body as the self. Caitan- system of tat-tat-karma-pravartanat, acting ac-
ya Mahaprabhu therefore says, ceto-darpaëa-mär- cording to the regulative principles of bhakti.
janam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. To cleanse the core of In the Upadeçämåta, activities by which pure
the heart, which is full of misunderstanding, is devotional service is cultivated are called tat-tat-
possible only through çré-kåñëa-saìkértana. The karma, appropriate actions. Sri Krishna tells Ud-
leaders of the Krishna consciousness movement dhava in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.19.20-24):
should very seriously take this opportunity to be
kind to the fallen souls by delivering them from çraddhämåta-kathäyäà me
the misunderstanding of materialistic life. çaçvan mad-anukértanam
One cannot be happy in any way within this pariniñöhä ca püjäyäà
material world. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä (8.16): stutibhiù stavanaà mama

äbrahma-bhuvanäl lokäù punar ävartino 'rjuna ädaraù paricaryäyäà

sarväìgair abhivandanam
"From the highest planet in this material world mad-bhakta-püjäbhyadhikä
down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein sarva-bhüteñu man-matiù
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 Issue no 143, Page — 8 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
must accept initiation from him. (3) One must
mad-artheñv aìga-ceñöä ca serve him. (4) One must receive instructions from
vacasä mad-guëeraëam the spiritual master and make inquiries in order to
mayy arpaëaà ca manasaù learn devotional service. (5) One must follow in
sarva-käma-vivarjanam the footsteps of the previous äcäryas and follow the
directions given by the spiritual master.
mad-arthe 'rtha-parityägo
bhogasya ca sukhasya ca kåñëa-prétye bhoga-tyäga, kåñëa-térthe väsa
iñöaà dattaà hutaà japtaà yävan-nirväha-pratigraha, ekädaçy-upaväsa
mad-arthaà yad vrataà tapaù
"The next steps are as follows: (6) One should be
evaà dharmair manuñyäëäm prepared to give up everything for Krishna's satis-
uddhavätma-nivedinäm faction, and one should also accept everything for
mayi saïjäyate bhaktiù Krishna's satisfaction. (7) One must live in a place
ko 'nyo 'rtho 'syävaçiñyate where Krishna is present -- a city like Vrindavan
or Mathura or a Krishna temple. (8) One should
"Firm faith in the blissful narration of My pas- acquire a livelihood that is sufficient simply to keep
times, constant chanting My glories, unwavering body and soul together. (9) One must fast on the
attachment to ceremonial worship of Me, praising Ekädaçé day."
Me through beautiful hymns, great respect for
My devotional service, offering obeisance with dhätry-açvattha-go-vipra-vaiñëava-püjana
the entire body, performing first-class worship sevä-nämäparädhädi düre visarjana
of My devotees, consciousness of Me in all living
entities, offering of ordinary, bodily activities in "(10) One should worship dhatri trees, banyan
My devotional service, use of words to describe trees, cows, brähmaëas and devotees of Lord Visnu.
My qualities, offering the mind to Me, rejection (11) One should avoid all offenses against devo-
of all material desires, giving up wealth for My tional service and the holy name."
devotional service, renouncing material sense
gratification and happiness, and performing all de- avaiñëava-saìga-tyäga, bahu-çiñya nä kariba
sirable activities such as charity, sacrifice, chanting, bahu-grantha-kaläbhyäsa-vyäkhyäna varjiba
vows and austerities with the purpose of achieving
Me -- these constitute actual religious principles. "The twelfth item is to give up the company
By executing these activities human beings who of non-devotees. (13) One should not accept an
have truly surrendered themselves to My service unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should
automatically develop love for Me. What other not partially study many scriptures so as to be
purpose or goal could remain for My devotee?" able to pretentiously give references and expand
Based on these instructions of the Lord, Srila explanations."
Rupa Gosvami has divided these activities into
sixty-four items in his Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu. häni-läbhe sama, çokädira vaça nä ha-iba
Similarly, Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami anya-deva, anya-çästra nindä nä kariba
has written about those activities in the Caitan-
ya-caritämåta (Madhya 22.115-129) as follows: "(15) The devotee should treat loss and gain
equally. (16) The devotee should not be over-
guru-pädäçraya, dékñä, gurura sevana whelmed by lamentation. (17) The devotee should
sad-dharma-çikñä-påcchä, sädhu-märgänugamana not worship demigods, nor should he disrespect
them. Similarly, the devotee should not study or
"On the path of regulative devotional service, criticize other scriptures."
one must observe the following items: (1) One
must accept a bona fide spiritual master. (2) One

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 143, Page—9

visnu-vaiñëava-nindä, grämya-värtänä çuniba show respect by standing in the presence of the

präëi-mätre mano-väkye udvega nä diba Deity and the spiritual master, (15) follow the Deity
or the spiritual master and (16) visit different places
"(18) The devotee should not hear blasphemy of pilgrimage or go to see the Deity in the temple."
of Lord Visnu or His devotees. (19) The devotee
should avoid reading or hearing publications that parikramä, stava-päöha, japa, saìkértana
contain stories of love affairs between men and dhüpa-mälya-gandha-mahäprasäda-bhojana
women or other mundane subjects which are
palatable to the senses. (20) Neither by mind nor "One should (17) circumambulate the temple,
words should the devotee cause anxiety to any liv- (18) recite various prayers, (19) chant mantras in-
ing entity, regardless how insignificant he may be." dividually, (20) chant the Lord’s names congrega-
tionally, (21) smell the incense and flower garlands
çravaëa, kértana, smaraëa, püjana, vandana offered to the Deity, and (22) eat the remnants of
paricaryä, däsya, sakhya, ätma-nivedana food offered to the Deity."

"After one is established in devotional service, ärätrika-mahotsava-çrémürti-darçana

the positive actions are (1) hearing, (2) chanting, nija-priya-däna, dhyäna, tadéya-sevana
(3) remembering, (4) worshiping, (5) praying,
(6) serving, (7) fully embracing His service (8) "One should (23) attend ärati and festivals, (24)
becoming a friend to the Lord and (9) complete see the Deity, (25) present what is very dear to
dedication to Him." oneself to the Deity, (26) meditate on the Deity,
and (27-30) serve those things intimately related
agre nåtya, géta, vijïapti, daëòavan-nati to the Lord (tadéya)."
abhyutthäna, anuvrajyä, tértha-gåhe gati
'tadéya'—tulasé, vaiñëava, mathurä, bhägavata
"One should also (10) dance before the Deity, ei cärira sevä haya kåñëera abhimata
(11) sing before the Deity, (12) open one's mind
to the Deity, (13) offer obeisance to the Deity, (14)
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 Issue no 143, Page — 10 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
"Tadéya means the tulasé leaves, the dev- is undeveloped are absorbed in the so-called
otees of Krishna, the birthplace of Krishna happiness of this world. If by chance they get
(Mathura), and the Vedic literature Çré- the association of a saintly devotee (mahäjana),
mad-Bhägavatam. Krishna is very eager to see then their intelligence similarly awakens and
His devotee serve tulasé, Vaisnavas, Mathura develops. They then consider, "How unfortunate
and Bhägavatam." I am! I'm always engaged in sense gratification
and am passing my days hankering for material
kåñëärthe akhila-ceñöä, tat-kåpävalokana enjoyment." This initial association with a great
janma-dinädi-mahotsava laïä bhakta-gaëa soul is also called association with the guru by
hearing. By good fortune, at this time faith in the
"(31) One should perform all endeavours Lord is awakened. When such faith is awakened,
for Krishna’s pleasure. (32) One should look one endeavors for devotional service. Then it is
forward to attaining His mercy. (33) One essential for one to take shelter of the lotus feet of
should participate in various festive cere- a guru. In this way, by good fortune, persons with
monies with devotees -- ceremonies like the undeveloped intelligence become intelligent and
appearance day celebrations of Lord Krishna take shelter of the lotus feet of a guru.
or Ramacandra." — The Six Qualities of Bhakti, Çré Bhaktyäloka, Srila BhaktivinodThakura.

sarvathä çaraëäpatti, kärtikädi-vrata The Favorable Execution Of

'catuù-ñañöi aìga' ei parama-mahattva Krishna Conscious Activities
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
"(34) One should surrender to Krishna
in all respects. (35) One should observe Lord Visnu carries out no one’s order – rather
particular vows like Kärttika-vrata. These He is the master of all who order others. Due
are some of the sixty-four important items to the fact that Lord Visnu is worshipable for
of devotional service." everyone, the words “devotional service” can
apply truly only to Him. The concept of “devo-
sädhu-saìga, näma-kértana, bhägavata-çravaëa tional service” cannot be truthfully apply to the
mathurä-väsa, çré-mürtira çraddhäya sevana demigods, even though the demigod worshipers
falsely attribute those words to their practices.
"Ultimately, one should associate with dev- When we worship the demigods, we want religi-
otees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear osity, economic development, sense gratification,
Çrémad-Bhägavatam, reside at Mathura and or liberation, but when we truly worship Lord
worship the Deity with faith and veneration." Visnu we attend only to His desires.
The Supreme Lord (Bhagavan) , His devotional
sakala-sädhana-çreñöha ei païca aìga service (bhakti), and His devotees (bhakta gana)
kåñëa-prema janmäya ei päìcera alpa are all sewn with the same thread. Devotional
saìga service is the via media between the Lord and His
devotees, the Lord is the object of the devotees’
"These five limbs of devotional service are worship, and the devotees are the Lord’s servants.
the best of all. Even a slight performance of The demigods are not god but empowered
these five awakens love for Krishna." living entities (jévas). The Caitanya-caritämåta
Aspiring devotees should first take shelter states: ekale éçvara kåñëa, ärasababhåtya, yäreyai-
of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual mas- chenäcäya, se taichekarenåtya: “Lord Krishna
ter. Without taking shelter of sad guru, one alone is the supreme controller, and all others
cannot achieve anything auspicious. There are His servants. They dance as He makes them
are two types of people -- one who has devel- do so.” (Ädi 5.142)
oped intelligence and one whose intelligence
is undeveloped. Those whose intelligence The Padma Puräëa states:

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 143, Page—11
pure devotional service, in due course of time,
harir eva sadärädhyaù sarva deveçvareçvaraù he develops his original love for Krishna. These
itare brahma rudrädyä nävajneyäù kadäcana symptoms are described in Vedic literatures like
yas tu näräyaëaà devaà brahma-rudrädi-daivataiù the Païcarätras and Çrémad-Bhägavatam.”
samatvenaiva vékñeta sa päñaëòé bhave dhruvam
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.29.11-12 states:
“Lord Hari alone is the supreme worshipable
object. He is the controller of all controllers. mad-guëa-çruti-mätreëa mayi sarva-guhäçaye
Demigods like Brahma and Siva are subordinate mano-gatir avicchinnä yathä gaìgämbhaso ’mbudhau
to Him. Yet they should never be disrespected. A lakñaëaà bhakti-yogasya nirguëasya hy udähåtam
person who considers demigods like Brahma and ahaituky avyavahitä yä bhakti puruñottame
Siva to be on an equal level with Narayana is to be
considered an offender.” “The manifestation of unadulterated devotional
The scriptures declare that service to the Su- service is exhibited when one’s mind is at once
preme Personality of Godhead Hari is devotion, but attracted to hearing the transcendental name and
at present the word bhakti is being misinterpreted qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
and misused. People have come to think that it who is residing in everyone’s heart. Just as the
means devotion to the father, king, or school teach- water of the Ganges flows naturally towards the
er. If we do not know what devotional service is ocean, such devotional ecstasy, uninterrupted by
and through which medium it is to be performed, any material condition, unstoppably flows towards
we will find ourselves in spiritual difficulty. Serving the Supreme Lord.”
Lord Hari, the master of all the senses, with our — Amåta Väëé: Nectar of Instructions of Immortality; His Divine Grace
senses is called devotional service. The Närada-paï- Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada; Compiled by Sripada Bhakti
carätra states, sarvopädhi-vinirmuktaà tat-parat- Mayukha Bhagavat Maharaja; Adapted and Published by Isvaradasa; Translated
vena nirmalam/ håñékeëa håñékeça sevanaà bhaktir from Bengali by Bhumipati dasa.
ucyate: “Bhakti, or devotional service, means
engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of
all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service
unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
is freedom from all material designations, and the
ISKCON
other is that one’s senses are purified simply by Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya
being employed in the service of the Lord. is a branch of
Lord Gauranga states in Caitanya-caritämåta International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
(Madhya 19.168-69): anya-väïchä, anya-püjä A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
chäòi’ ’jïäna’, ’karma’, änukülye sarvendriye kåñëä Editor
nuçélana// ei ’çuddha-bhakti’—ihä haite ’premä ha- Brajsunder Das
yapaïcarätre, bhägavate ei lakñaëa kaya//: “A pure Copy Editor
devotee by nature never cherishes any desire other Isha Prakash Das
than to serve Krishna. He does not offer regular Sanskrit Editor,
worship to the demigods or to mundane person- Vrajsevika Devi Dasi
alities. He does not cultivate artificial knowledge, Assistance
which is devoid of Krishna consciousness, and he Vamsidhari Gauri Devi Dasi
will never engage himself in anything other than Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
Krishna conscious activities. One must engage all His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
one’s purified senses in the service of the Lord. This ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists.
is the favorable execution of Krishna conscious
activities. These activities are called çuddha-bhak-
ti, pure devotional service. If one renders such

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