Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.28–29

Nitāi: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Sixth Canto, First Chapter, verses 28 and 29. [leads chanting of verse, etc.]

sa pāśa-hastāṁs trīn dṛṣṭvā puruṣān ati-dāruṅān vakra-tuṅḍān ūrdhva-romṅa ātmānaṁ netum āgatān

dūre krīḍanakāsaktaṁ putraṁ nārāyaṅāhvayam plāvitena svareṅoccair ājuhāvākulendriyaḥ [SB 6.1.28-29]

[05:07]

"At the time of death, Ajāmila saw three awkward persons, very fearsome in appearance, with ropes in their hands. They had twisted faces and deformed bodily features, and their hair stood on end. They had come to take Ajāmila away to the shelter of Yamarāja. Ajāmila became extremely bewildered when he saw them. His small child, Nārāyaṅa, was playing a little distance off, and with tearful eyes and great anxiety, he called the name of his son very loudly three times, 'Nārāyaṅa, Nārāyaṅa, Nārāyaṅa!' "

Prabhupāda: Is there "three times"?

Nitāi: It said in the manuscript. The manuscript said "three times."

Prabhupāda: Who said in the manuscript? There is no three times. Not "Nārāyaṅa" three times. One time, "O Nārāyaṅa," that's all. So did I say "three times"? Hmm? No, it is not said here. You should correct it. Once, hey, "O Nārāyaṅa," that's all. There is no reason of calling three times. There is no mention here. Once is sufficient. [laughter] Hmm.

sa pāśa-hastāṁs trīn dṛṣṭvā puruṣān ati-dāruṅān vakra-tuṅḍān ūrdhva-romṅa ātmānaṁ netum āgatān

dūre krīḍanakāsaktaṁ putraṁ nārāyaṅāhvayam plāvitena svarupena ājuhāvākulendriyaḥ [SB 6.1.28-29]

Uccair ājuhāva, very loudly, "Nārāyaṅa!" Like that. That's all. Uccair ājuhāva ākulendriyaḥ. Hmm. So you edited it? Not yet?

Nitāi: No.

Prabhupāda: So you should keep at least what is there. So this is the position at the time of death. Sometimes you will find the dying man is crying, ākulendriyaḥ, tearful eyes. He cannot express. He is not practiced. But he was given the chance. Kṛṣṅa gave him the conscience when the child was born to keep his name Nārāyaṅa. This is Kṛṣṅa's mercy, that "This rascal was My devotee, and now he is so fallen. All right, he is attracted to his children." So He gave the conscience, "Now keep your son's name Nārāyaṅa." Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ. Kṛṣṅa is situated in everyone's heart. Mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca [Bg 15.15].

[I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.]

Kṛṣṅa says, "From Me everything—remembrance and forgetfulness—come." Those who want to forget Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa helps him to forget: "All right, you forget." He does not give. He does not dictate from the within. And one who is foolishly in bad association, unfortunately forgets Kṛṣṅa, then Kṛṣṅa gives him chance. Offenders are very nuisance. Kṛṣṅa... Too much offender, purposefully, guru-Vaiṣṅava, his position is very difficult. But by chance if one forgets Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa does not forget him.

Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said,

api cet sudurācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ [Bg 9.30]

[Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.]

Practiced..., we are practiced to so many bad habits life after life in this material condition. So sometimes, one who is engaged in devotional service to the Lord may, on account of old practice, he commits some sinful activities. Kṛṣṅa forgives him. He knows that he is sincere, but on account of his old practice, he has done something mistake. There is a verse, saḥ pāda-mūlaṁ bhajatāṁ priyasya. Somehow or other, you become recognized by Kṛṣṅa, priya. Kṛṣṅa may know that "He is sincerely trying to do something for render..." Kṛṣṅa does not require your service or my service. He is self-sufficient. If we render service, that is for..., that is good for us. Kṛṣṅa, He recognizes, "Oh, now he has again begun service. That's nice." So to such person Kṛṣṅa excuses. Saḥ pāda-mūlaṁ bhajatāṁ priyasya. That verse. Now I forget. There is a verse like that.

So the Ajāmila, young man, on account of association with a prostitute, he lost his good character and began to maintain the prostitute by stealing, by cheating, one after another. So by mistake or on account of the age, he became captivated by the prostitute. So Kṛṣṅa was watching. Therefore He gave him this chance that on account of his affection towards the child, he will at least repeat "Nārāyaṅa, Nārāyaṅa." "Nārāyaṅa come. Nārāyaṅa take your food. Nārāyaṅa sit down." So bhāva-grāhi-janārdanaḥ [CB Ādi-khaṅḍa 11.108]. Kṛṣṅa is so kind, He takes the purpose, or the essence. Because the holy name has its effect. So although this Ajāmila, by his foolishness, he was attached to the material body of the son, but because he was chanting "Nārāyaṅa," Kṛṣṅa was taking that essence, that's all, that "Some way or other, he is chanting." The importance of chanting is so nice. So do not give up chanting. Then Kṛṣṅa will protect you. This is the example. "Hare Kṛṣṅa, Hare Kṛṣṅa," you practice. Naturally, when you are in danger, you will say, "Hare Kṛṣṅa." This much do. If you are practiced to do something, chant Hare Kṛṣṅa, then you are safe.

So it is not difficult. Sincerely chant. Try to avoid offense. Don't try to fall down purposefully for sense gratification. That is very dangerous. He... Purposefully, he did not fall down. Circumstantially came in contact with a prostitute, could not help him. So circumstantially he fell down, not by willingly. This should be noted. Willingly doing, that is very great offense. But circumstantially there is every chance, because we are fallen and practiced to malpractices life after life. Because the material life means sinful life. You see the whole people. They do not care. They do not know even this is sinful. We say, "No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication and no gambling." So Western people will think, "What is this nonsense? These are the preliminary facilities for a human being, and this man is denying." They do not know even. Some of our students left this institution. They thought that "Swāmījī is denying the primary necessities of life." They are so dull that they cannot understand this is sinful. Not only ordinary, common man, even a big man, Lord Zetland in England. So one of my Godbrothers went to preach, and Lord Zetland, Marquess of Zetland... He was known as Lord Ronaldsay. He was governor of Bengal. In our college days he came to our coll... He's Scotch man. So very gentleman and inclined to philosophy. So he asked this Godbrother, "Can you make me brāhmaṅa?" So he proposed, "Yes, why not? You follow these rules and regulation, you will become brāhmaṅa." So when he heard the rules and regulation—no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication—he said, "Oh, it is impossible. It is not possible." He flatly refused, that "In our country it is not possible."

So it is very difficult job, but if one is able to give up these sinful activities, then his life is very pure. He becomes purified. And unless one is purified, he cannot chant Hare Kṛṣṅa, neither he can understand Kṛṣṅa consciousness.

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṅya-karmaṅām te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ [Bg 7.28]

[Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.]

This Kṛṣṅa says. "One who has ended the process of sinful activities and engaged in pious activities, such person can become a firm devotee." So these four principle, as we have recommended, you must follow. There is no question of optional, "I may do it, I may not do." No, you must. Otherwise, the progress will be checked. Kṛṣṅa will not leave you. Just like the Ajāmila: the progress was checked, but because he did not do it willfully, therefore Kṛṣṅa was giving him opportunity. As soon as possible, again capture him. Because he did not do anything willfully. First of all, this is the condition, circumstantial. Therefore Kṛṣṅa was very kind. He gave him the son, "Call him. You have affection for your son? All right, chant 'Nārāyaṅa' by calling your son." This opportunity was given.

So for his sinful activities he saw fierceful features of these order carriers, or Yamadūta. That is going on. If one is not offender, then he has no chance even to see the Yamadūta. But because willfully or nonwillfully he was engaged in sinful activities—associating with the prostitute, and for maintaining the prostitute he was planning so many sinful activities, cheat and take others' money and enjoy—for that reason, he had to see. And if he remains pure, he hasn't got to see. This is the difference.

So regular resultant action of sinful life, one has to. Just like Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja. Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja was advised by Kṛṣṅa that "You go to Droṅācārya and tell him the lies." "What is that?" "Now, tell him that 'Your son Aśvatthāmā is dead.' " Because Droṅācārya had some benediction that unless he is shocked by the death of his son, he will never die. So Kṛṣṅa had to take this diplomatic, because it is politics. So Kṛṣṅa... Because Droṅācārya will not believe anyone. He knew that Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira is a most pious man; he never tells lies. So if Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira goes and says that "Your son is dead," then he will believe. Otherwise, Kṛṣṅa could have gone personally, but He knew that people do not believe Him. [laughter] He is very tricky. [laughter] So therefore no tricky man can excel Him. A man may be very tricky, very intelligent, but he will not be able to excel Kṛṣṅa. He is more tricky. Just like in His childhood, Kṛṣṅa was naughty, so mother wanted to bind Him. So Kṛṣṅa also became tricky. Mother first of all brought some rope and bound, and when it was to be knotted, it was short. And then again she joined another rope. In this way, whatever rope store she had, she brought one after another, and at last, when knotting, it is too... What is called?

Devotees: Inches.

Prabhupāda: Short. So she... Kṛṣṅa thought, "Mother, nobody can bind Me, and because I have accepted to become your child, you are trying to bind Me? All right, you bring your all ropes. You will never be able to bind Me." This is Kṛṣṅa. But Mother Yaśodā is the greatest devotee. So when Kṛṣṅa saw that "My mother is now exhausted, perspiring. All right, you can bind Me." This is the... You have seen in the Kṛṣṅa book. So ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham [Bg 4.11].

[All of them—as they surrender unto Me—I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.]

If you want to play tricks with Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa is the greater trick. You will never be able. That is our mistake, that we think that "I am so intelligent, I can do something without the knowledge of Kṛṣṅa." That is our foolishness. Kṛṣṅa says, sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ [Bg 15.15]:

[I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.]

"I am sitting in everyone's heart." How you can cheat Him? It is not possible. Don't try to cheat Kṛṣṅa. Don't try to cheat guru. Don't try to cheat Kṛṣṅa. Then your progress is sure. Guru-kṛṣṅa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc Madhya 19.151].

[According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṅa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṅa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.]

You are singing daily, śrī-guru-caraṅa... What is that? Śrī-guru...

Devotees: Śrī-guru-caraṅa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma.

Prabhupāda: No, that...

Devotee: Guru-mukha?

Prabhupāda: Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya. Don't try to cheat guru. Then progress will be checked.

ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit na martya-buddhyāsūyeta sarva-devamayo guruḥ [SB 11.17.27]

[One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.]

Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān. Kṛṣṅa says, "Ācārya means I am." Nāvamanyeta karhicit: "Do not try to neglect." Na martya-buddhyāsūyeta: "Do not consider ācārya, spiritual master, as ordinary human being and become envious." These things are warned. Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit, na martya-buddhyāsūyeta. Familiarity breeds contempt. That is not good. Similarly... Because by the mercy of ācārya, by the mercy of guru, you will get Kṛṣṅa. You sing that, kṛṣṅa-prāpti jāhā hoite, what is that?

Devotee: Kṛṣṅa-prāpti hoiya jānā.

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṅa-prāpti jāhā hoite. What is that language?

Kṛta-kṛta: That by his mercy he brings us close to Kṛṣṅa.

Prabhupāda: No, no, what is that Bengali language? You cannot... You are singing daily?

Kṛta-kṛta: Prema-bhakti jāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa jāte.

Prabhupāda: Ah. Avidyā vināśa jāte, kṛṣṅa-prāpti haya... So these are the things. Avidyā vināśa jāte. Avidyā means ignorance. We are full of ignorance. So guru's duty is to open the eyes, and by opening your eyes he will give you Kṛṣṅa. So this is the process. So you should be very much careful not to cheat Kṛṣṅa, not to cheat guru, and become very sincere and follow. Then it is guaranteed. Guru-kṛṣṅa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc Madhya 19.151]. Two things required. You cannot jump over Kṛṣṅa, neglecting guru. Then it is finished. If you want to jump over Kṛṣṅa without favor of the guru... Kṛṣṅa is not so easy. So these things should be very carefully observed. No offense. Sincerely follow. Then Kṛṣṅa will protect, and your progress in Kṛṣṅa consciousness, to go back to home, back to Godhead, will be assured, insured.

So this man circumstantially fell down. So Kṛṣṅa is saving him. Kṛṣṅa is saving him, and he will be saved. We shall see in the following passage.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupāda. [end]