View source for 710819 - Lecture SB 01.01.03 - London

[[Category:1971 - Lectures]]
[[Category:1971 - Lectures and Conversations]]
[[Category:1971 - Lectures, Conversations and Letters]]
[[Category:1971-08 - Lectures, Conversations and Letters]]
[[Category:Lectures - Europe]]
[[Category:Lectures - Europe, England - London]]
[[Category:Lectures, Conversations and Letters - Europe]]
[[Category:Lectures, Conversations and Letters - Europe, England - London]]
[[Category:Lectures - Srimad-Bhagavatam]]
[[Category:SB Lectures - Canto 01|10103]]
[[Category:Audio Files 30.01 to 45.00 Minutes]]
[[Category:1971 - New Audio - Released in June 2016]]
<div style="float:left">[[File:Go-previous.png|link=Category:Lectures - by Date]]'''[[:Category:Lectures - by Date|Lectures by Date]], [[:Category:1971 - Lectures|1971]]'''</div>
{{RandomImage}}


<!-- Nectar Drop Code Start -->
<div class="center">[[Vanipedia:710819 Lecture - Srila Prabhupada Speaks a Nectar Drop in London|''' <span style="display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center"><b class="fa fa-solid fa-volume-up" style="font-size: 330%">&nbsp;</b><big>Listen to a 'Nectar Drop' created from this lecture'''</big></span>]]</div>
<!-- Nectar Drop Link end -->


<div class="code">710819SB-LONDON - August 19, 1971 - 39:31 Minutes</div>


<mp3player>https://s3.amazonaws.com/vanipedia/full/1971/710819SB-LONDON.mp3</mp3player>


'''Pradyumna:''' . . . ''vāsudevāya''. (Prabhupāda and devotees repeat) (leads chanting of verse, etc.)

:''nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ''
:''śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam''
:''pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayam''
:''muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ''
:([[SB 1.1.3|SB 1.1.3]])

'''Prabhupāda:''' (indistinct) . . . next anyone? Anyone? All right. Now word meaning.

'''Pradyumna:''' ''Nigama''—the Vedic literatures; ''kalpa-taroḥ''—the desire tree:

(break) ''Galitam''—fully matured; ''phalam''—fruit; śuka—Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the original speaker of ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam''; ''mukhāt''—from the lips of; ''amṛta''—nectar; ''drava''—semisolid and soft and therefore easily swallowable; ''saṁyutam''—perfect in all respects; ''pibata''—do relish; ''bhāgavatam''—the book dealing in the science of the eternal relation with the Lord; ''rasam''—juice (that which is relishable); ''ā-layam''—until liberation, or even in a liberated condition; ''muhuḥ''—always; ''aho''—O; ''rasikāḥ''—those who are full in the knowledge of mellows; ''bhuvi''—on the earth; ''bhāvukāḥ''—expert and thoughtful.

'''Pradyumna:''' Translation: "Know, O thoughtful men, that ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' is the mature fruit of the tree of Vedic literature. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this nectarean fruit is all the more relishable by liberated souls."

'''Prabhupāda:''' Hmm. So, ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' is the ripened fruit of Vedic literature. ''Nigama-kalpa-taru. Kalpa-taru.'' We have no experience of ''kalpa-taru'' within this material world, but in the spiritual world there is ''kalpa-taru. Kalpa'' means desire, and ''taru'' means tree. Here you can get from a mango tree mango, not any other fruit. But in the ''kalpa-taru'' . . . the description of ''kalpa-taru'' is there in the ''Brahma-saṁhitā: cintāmaṇi kalpa-taru''.

:''cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-''
:''lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam''
:''lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ''
:''govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi''
:(Bs. 5.29)

There is Kṛṣṇa's planet. That planet is made of touchstone. We do not know whether anyone has got experience of this touchstone, but there is a touchstone which you touch on iron, it becomes gold. Touchstone. So in the spiritual world there are also houses like these trees, like this; there are cows, and the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa. So their description is given in the ''Brahma-saṁhitā''. We should not think that we have imagined something artistic and created a Kṛṣṇa. No. It is completely supported by Vedic literature, ''Brahma-saṁhitā''.

So in the ''Brahma-saṁhitā'' it is clearly stated about Kṛṣṇa's place, original place. This is also Kṛṣṇa's place. That is also Kṛṣṇa's place. But here, because we are forgetful of Kṛṣṇa, therefore we are accepting this place as material. Just like king, he possesses all the places of the country. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor. Kṛṣṇa says in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', ''sarva-loka-maheśvaram.''

:''bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ''
:''sarva-loka-maheśvaram''
:''suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ''
:''jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati''
:([[BG 5.29 (1972)|BG 5.29]])

If anyone wants happiness, ''śānti'', peace, then he must know these three things. What is that? That Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer of everything. Kṛṣṇa says, ''bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram.'' You can perform ''yajña'', you can perform austerities, penances, but the result should be enjoyed by Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When you come to that consciousness, that "I am working hard and am earning so much money . . ."

Everyone is thinking that, "I must enjoy. Why others?" That is the materialistic way of thinking. But we are trying to change the consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means that . . . that you earn as much as you like, but the enjoyer should be Kṛṣṇa, not you. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not very difficult thing to understand. The only . . . we have to change the account. That's all. Everyone . . . the ''karmīs'', they are working so hard, day and night. The ultimate aim is that he will enjoy; he'll satisfy his senses. Therefore he's working so hard. The ''Bhāgavatam'' therefore says:

:''nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke''
:''kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye''
:([[SB 5.5.1|SB 5.5.1]])

"Simply for sense gratification we should not work so hard, because these things are done by even hogs and dogs."

So Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means that we have to change the account, not for sense gratification. Because real proprietor is Kṛṣṇa. When I think, "I am proprietor, I am enjoyer," that is illusion. That is illusion. ''Janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti'' ([[SB 5.5.8|SB 5.5.8]]). So in the ''cintāmaṇi-dhāma'' (Bs. 5.29), Kṛṣṇa's abode, everything is there, but the account is different.

That is spiritual world. Here the account is different. Is everything there, but everyone is trying to enjoy for himself. There is competition. I am enjoyer, you are enjoyer—therefore there is competition. Individually, man to man, family to family, society to society, nation to nation, there is always competition. But this competition will stop as soon as there is Kṛṣṇa consciousness that, "I am not proprietor. We are not proprietor. Kṛṣṇa is proprietor." That's all. That is the means of ''śānti''.

:''bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ''
:''sarva-loka-maheśvaram''
:''suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām''
:([[BG 5.29 (1972)|BG 5.29]])

These three things, if we understand properly, that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer, ''bhoktā''—He's friend also. Kṛṣṇa is so nice friend that . . . ''īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati'' ([[BG 18.61 (1972)|BG 18.61]]). Kṛṣṇa, or the Supreme Lord, is situated in everyone's heart as friend. That is stated in the ''Upaniṣads''.

Two birds are sitting on one tree as friend. One bird is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other friend is simply witnessing. He is friend, He's supreme friend, not so-called friend. Actually He's our supreme friend. He's always trying to get us back to home, back to Godhead. Not only He's sitting within our hearts, but He's descending as Kṛṣṇa.

:''yadā yadā hi dharmasya''
:''glānir bhavati bhārata''
:''abhyutthānam adharmasya''
:''tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham''
:([[BG 4.7 (1972)|BG 4.7]])

He comes and canvasses. What is that canvassing? ''Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja'' ([[BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]): "Why you are engaged in so many so-called occupations? You simply surrender unto Me." ''Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi''.

But we are so engulfed in matter that we cannot take the advice of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa again comes as a devotee, Lord Caitanya. Lord Kṛṣṇa said that, "You surrender unto Me." Same Kṛṣṇa came as devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. ''Bhaktākhyaṁ bhaktāvatāraṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam''.

:''pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ''
:''bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam''
:''bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ''
:''namāmi bhakta-śaktikam''
:([[CC Adi 1.14|CC Adi 1.14]])

Lord Caitanya's prayer.

So Kṛṣṇa is always trying. He's coming Himself as Lord, the Supreme Lord, He's coming as a devotee, He's sending His representative simply to canvass to come to the ''cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa'' (Bs. 5.29), where there is eternal happiness, desire trees . . . therefore this Vedic literature . . .

What is the purpose of Vedic literature? ''Veda'' means knowledge. ''Veda'' means knowledge. ''Vetti veda-vido jñānam''. Anything from which you get knowledge, that is called ''Veda''. So from the ''Vedas'' we have to acquire the supreme knowledge. Therefore it is called ''Vedānta''. ''Vedānta'' means . . . we have got so many different types of knowledge, but what is the ultimate knowledge? That is called ''Vedānta''.

Ultimate knowledge means to inquire about the Supreme. We are getting knowledge . . . we are inquiring, "What is the newspaper today? What has happened?" That is also knowledge. But that is not ultimate knowledge. Ultimate knowledge is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', ''vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ'' ([[BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]]). Ultimate . . . ''Vedānta'' means to know the Supreme Absolute Truth. That is ultimate knowledge. ''Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ''.

:''sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo''
:''mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca''
:''vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo''
:''vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham''
:([[BG 15.15 (1972)|BG 15.15]])

People are after so-called Vedāntists, but they do not know Kṛṣṇa, so-called Vedāntist. But one who is actually Vedāntist, he knows Kṛṣṇa. Therefore sometimes ago some of these Vaiṣṇavas, they gave me this title, Bhaktivedanta. Bhaktivedanta means ultimate understanding of ''Vedānta'' is ''bhakti'', not to become impersonalist.

So here it is stated, ''nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalam'' ([[SB 1.1.3|SB 1.1.3]]). All the ''Vedas'', they are summarized in the ''Vedānta-sūtra''. You have heard the name of ''Vedānta-sūtra.'' So this ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' is explanation of the ''Vedānta-sūtra''. Therefore from the very beginning of ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'', the first aphorism of the ''Vedānta-sūtra'' is there, ''janmādy asya yataḥ'' ([[SB 1.1.1|SB 1.1.1]]). In the ''Vedānta-sūtra'' the first quote is, ''athāto brahma jijñāsā'', "Now we have to inquire about Brahma, the Absolute Truth." That is the business of human being. Because in other life other than the human form of body, we have simply passed our time in the matter of bodily necessities of life, ''āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunam''.

:''āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca''
:''sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām''
:(Hitopadeśa)

The bodily necessities of life . . . the animals, they have also bodily necessities of life—''āhāra'', eating; ''nidrā'', sleeping and ''bhaya'', fearing or defending and ''maithuna'', sexual intercourse. So the cats and dogs, they have got all these functions, and the human being has also the same functions. It may be little polished, but the function is the same. Then what is the extra business of this human form of life?

If you are simply engaged in these four principles of life—eating, sleeping, sex life and defending, or fearing—then what is the difference between a man and a dog? There is no difference. The only difference is ''athāto brahma jijñāsā''. A man can come here in this temple and he can inquire about Kṛṣṇa, or the Absolute Truth. That is the difference.

So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means we are giving chance to everyone to come and inquire about Brahman. ''Athāto brahma jijñāsā''. Or, in other words, the whole activities of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is ''Vedānta'' life. ''Vedānta'' life. Anyone who is inquiring about Kṛṣṇa, inquiring about the Absolute Truth . . . now there are different stages of inquiring about the Absolute Truth. That is explained in the ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'':

:''vadanti tat tattva-vidas''
:''tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam''
:''brahmeti paramātmeti''
:''bhagavān iti śabdyate''
:([[SB 1.2.11|SB 1.2.11]])

The Absolute Truth is one, but according to our understanding, some are accepting the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman, some of them accepting the Absolute Truth as the localized Paramātmā, and some of them are understanding the Absolute Truth as Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu. So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means to understand the Absolute Truth as the ultimate issue. That means to understand the Absolute Truth as the Supreme Person.

Therefore ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' is describing the Absolute Truth in the beginning, ''oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya'' ([[SB 1.1.1|SB 1.1.1]]). ''Vāsudeva'' means Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva. He appeared as the son of Vasudeva. But spiritually, unless one becomes on the position of vasudeva, nobody can understand Vāsudeva. ''Vasudeva'' is the name of ''śuddha-sattva'', pure goodness.

Not contaminated goodness. Here in this material world there are three types of status: goodness, passion and ignorance. So ignorance and passion, they're simply material. The symptom of ignorance and passion is greediness and lust. Above this greediness and lust there is another platform, which is ''Vedānta'' platform—to understand everything clearly. That is called goodness.

Now pure goodness means one has to transcend even this material platform of goodness, because in the material platform of goodness there is possibility of being contaminated by the other two qualities, namely passion and ignorance. Sometimes it becomes mixed up. The material type of goodness is just like a pure ''brāhmaṇa—satyaṁ śamo damas titikṣā''—with all the good qualities: truthfulness, controlling the senses, controlling the mind, full of knowledge, tolerance and knowledge . . . knowledge means about the Supreme. These are brahminical qualifications. But sometimes these brahminical qualifications also become contaminated by the other two qualities, passion and ignorance. It has been experienced.

At the present stage also, we see that many persons who are coming from the brahminical family, but they have been contaminated by the other two qualities, passion and ignorance. So there is possibility. In the material goodness there is possibility of being attacked with the other two qualities and thereby fall down. But when you transcend the material platform of goodness and come to this transcendental platform of goodness, then you cannot fall down. That is called ''sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ vasudeva-śabditam.'' That ''sattva'', that existence of pure goodness, is called ''vasudeva''.

In that pure transcendental platform of goodness you can understand Vāsudeva. That means in that status of life, Vāsudeva is born . . . because Vāsudeva is already there, you simply realize Him. Vāsudeva . . . ''īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati'' ([[BG 18.61 (1972)|BG 18.61]]). Vāsudeva is already there within your heart, but you simply realize it by placing yourself in the pure consciousness, pure platform.

So this can be done simply by our discussion of ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam''. Therefore it is said here, ''nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalam idam'' ([[SB 1.1.3|SB 1.1.3]]). It is the mature fruit of Vedic knowledge. And ''śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam''. This ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' was written by Vyāsadeva. And it was spoken for the first time by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, his son.

He wrote this ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' under the instruction of his spiritual master, Nārada, and he taught his son, beloved son, Śukadeva Gosvāmī that, "You preach. I am writing; you preach." That is the duty of the student. The spiritual master writes, and it is a duty of the disciple to preach. And if the student is also as pure as the spiritual master, then it becomes very nice. ''Śuka-mukhāt. Śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam.''

The . . . another explanation of this verse is that any fruit ripened in the tree, it is already very nice, very sweet. If you take an unripe fruit from the tree and keep at your home, it also ripens, but it is not so tasteful. If it is ripened in the tree and you take it, then it is very tasteful. I think you have got this experience. Again, if that fruit is cut by the lips or by the beaks of the parrot, which is called ''śuka'', it becomes still more tasteful.

Similarly, this fruit, the ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge, ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'', is already very tasteful because it is the ripened fruit, but it has been tasted by the lips of Śukadeva Gosvāmī; therefore it is still more tasteful. ''Drava-saṁyutam''. Therefore it is recommended, ''pibata bhāgavatam'', "Now, this ripened fruit, just taste it," ''pibata'', "drink it." ''Pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam.''

When we eat something, we taste its ''rasa'', the juice. ''Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya'' ([[BG 7.8 (1972)|BG 7.8]]). Just like Kṛṣṇa says in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', "Kaunteya, My dear Arjuna, I am the taste of the water." Everyone, when he's thirsty, he wants, "Give me water, give me water." Because there is a taste in the water which will immediately quench your thirst. So we enjoy everything because there is some taste. That is called ''rasa''. Anything we do.

Just like a man, he's working very hard day and night. What for? For maintaining his family, his children and wife. So unless there is some ''rasa'', some taste, he cannot work so hard day and night. There is some flavor in maintaining the family with hard labor. And sometimes we see therefore one who has no family, one who has no family affection, he does not work so hard. He doesn't care to work. This is practical. Therefore in the Vedic civilization the family life is recommended unless one will become confused, hopeless, because he has no taste for the family life. So everything there is some ''rasa'', taste. Without that taste, nobody can live.

Now here it is recommended, ''śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayam.'' Here is a taste which you can enjoy up to the end of your life or up to the point of liberation. Because life is meant for getting liberated from this painful material existence. That is life. Everyone is trying to get out of the painful situation. That is struggle for existence. But they do not know what is the ultimate life, free from all painful activities. That is called liberation. The whole Vedic civilization is based on this point, how to get liberated and enjoy eternal happiness.

:''ramante yogino 'nante''
:''satyānande cid-ātmani''
:''iti rāma-padenāsau''
:''paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate''
:([[CC Madhya 9.29|CC Madhya 9.29]])

Rāma. Rāma, this word, comes from ''ramaṇa'', ''ram'', ''ram-dhātu'', "enjoyment." Just like here in this material world they are also engaged in ''ram'', ''ramaṇa'', but that is sex life. That's all. That is sex life. That is also ''ramaṇa''. But there is another ''ramaṇa'', that is Rāma. If you take the shelter of Rāma, that is real happiness. ''Ramante yoginaḥ anante''. Those who are ''yogīs'' . . .

''Yogīs'' means transcendentalists. Those who are aspiring after spiritual perfection, they are called ''yogīs''. So the preliminary ''yoga'' system that is practiced generally . . . ''haṭha-yoga'', ''aṣṭāṅga-yoga'', that is preliminary. Nobody gets perfection even in the preliminary ''yoga'' system. And what to speak of further progress.

So the ''bhakti-yogī'', those who are engaged in this ''bhakti-yoga'' system . . . ''māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate.'' That is ''yogī''. This ''yoga'' system:

:''māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa''
:''bhakti-yogena sevate''
:''sa guṇān samatītyaitān''
:''brahma-bhūyāya kalpate''
:([[BG 14.26 (1972)|BG 14.26]])

Kṛṣṇa says: "If you take to this ''bhakti-yoga'' system . . ." What is that ''bhakti-yoga'' system?

:''śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ''
:''smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam''
:''arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ''
:''sakhyam ātma-nivedanam''
:([[SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23]])

So if you take to this ''bhakti-yoga'' system, ''avyabhicāreṇa . . . avyabhicāreṇa'' means without any deviation; strictly on rigid principles. ''Māṁ ca yaḥ avyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate''. One who is engaged in the service of the Lord by accepting the ''bhakti-yoga'' system, ''sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate'' ([[BG 14.26 (1972)|BG 14.26]]), he immediately becomes transcendental to the three material qualities, namely the ''sattva-guṇa'', ''rajo-guṇa'' and ''tamo-guṇa''. And that is called ''mukti''. ''Mukti'' does not mean that when you become liberated you'll have got so many heads or so many legs. No. ''Mukti'' means ''svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ'' ([[SB 2.10.6|SB 2.10.6]]), to be situated in one's original, constitutional position. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

So this verse recommends that ''pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayam. Rasam ālayam. Ālayam'', ''laya''. ''Laya'' means "to merge." We are also merged into this material world. Just like your body, my body is material. But I am the soul, you are the soul. I am merged into this material . . . but because I am spirit, although I am merged, I am not getting happiness.

Just like if you are put into the Atlantic Ocean, you merge, but because you are not the living entity of the water, you cannot be happy. You cannot be happy. That merging is there. You have to merge into the spiritual existence; then you'll be happy. That is ''bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayam'' ([[SB 1.1.3|SB 1.1.3]]).

Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances) (end)