Janmastami Lord Sri Krsna's Appearance Day Lecture By Srila

[Guest guest]

Srila "Prabhupada":

 

His Excellency, the High Commissioner; ladies and

gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here

and participating in this ceremony, Janmastami, advent

of Krsna. The subject matter I've been ordered to

speak on is advent of Krsna. Krsna says in the

Bhagavad-gita,

 

janma karma me divyam

yo janati tattvatah

tyaktva deham punar janma

naiti mam eti kaunteya

[bg. 4.9]

 

This fact, that we can achieve such a stage of life

when we can stop our birth and death... Sa 'mrtatvaya

kalpate. This morning, I was explaining this verse:

 

yam hi na vyathayanty ete

purusam purusarsabha

sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram

so 'mrtatvaya kalpate

 

Amrtatva means immortality. So the modern

civilization, they have no idea, either the great

philosopher, great politician or great scientist, that

it is possible to attain the stage of immortality.

Amrtatva. We are all amrta. In the Bhagavad-gita it is

said, na jayate na mriyate va kadacin. We living

entities, we never die, never take birth. Nityah

Sasvato yam, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [bg. 2.20].

Every one of us, we are eternal, nityah sasvato;

Purana, the oldest. And after annihilation of this

body, we do not die. Na hanyate. The body is finished,

but I have to accept another body. Tatha dehantara

praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. Dehino 'smin yatha

dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara [bg. 2.13].

 

This simple thing, at the present moment, they are

lacking knowledge, that we, all living entities, part

and parcel of Krsna, we are eternal, we are blissful,

and we are cognizant. Krsna is described in the Vedic

Sastras:

 

isvarah paramah krsnah

sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah

anadir adir govindah

sarva-karana-karanam

[bs. 5.1]

 

Sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. God, Krsna, when I speak

Krsna, that means God. If there is any important

name... God, it is sometimes said God has no name.

That's a fact. But God's name is given by His

activities. Just like Krsna accepted the sonhood of

Maharaja Nanda, or Yasodamayi, or Devaki, or Vasudeva.

Vasudeva and Devaki were Krsna's real father and

mother. Nobody is real father and mother of Krsna,

because Krsna is the original father of everyone. But

when Krsna comes here, advents, He accepts some

devotees as His father, as His mother. Krsna is the

original, adi-purusam. Adyam Purana-purusam

nava-yauvanam ca [bs. 5.33]. He is the original

person. Then must be very old? No. Adyam purana

purusam nava-yauvanam ca. Always fresh youth. That is

Krsna. When Krsna was on the battlefield of

Kuruksetra, you have seen the picture, He's just like

a boy of twenty years or, at most, twenty-four years

old. But at that time, He had great-grandchildren.

Therefore, Krsna is always youth. Navayauvanam ca.

These are the statements of Vedic literatures.

 

advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam

adyam purana-purusam nava-yauvanam ca

vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau

[bs. 5.33]

 

So, to understand Krsna, simply if we read as a

formality the Vedic literature, it will be very

difficult to understand what is Krsna. Vedesu

durlabham. Although all the Vedas are meant for

understanding Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita, it is said,

vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo. Aham eva vedyo. What

is the use of studying Vedas if you do not understand

Krsna? Because the ultimate goal of education means to

understand the Supreme Lord, the supreme father, the

supreme cause. As it is said in the Vedanta-sutra,

janmady asya yatah [sB 1.1.1]. Athato brahma jijnasa.

Brahma-jijnasa, to discuss about the Supreme Absolute

Truth, Brahman. What is that Brahman? Janmady asya

yatah [sB 1.1.1]. That Brahman means wherefrom

everything emanates. So science, philosophy, means to

find out the ultimate cause of everything. That we are

getting from the Sastras, Vedic literature, that Krsna

is the cause of all causes. Sarva-karana-karanam [bs.

5.1]. Sarva-karana-karanam.

 

isvarah paramah krsnah

sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah

anadir adir govindah

sarva-karana-karanam

[bs. 5.1]

 

Cause of all causes. Just like try to understand. I am

caused by my father. My father is caused by his

father. He is caused by his father, his father... Go

on searching, then you'll ultimately come to somebody

who is the cause. But He has no cause. Anadir adir

govindah [bs. 5.1]. I may be cause of my son, but I am

also result of the cause, my father. But the Sastra

says that anadir adir, He is the original person, but

He has no cause. That is Krsna. Therefore, Krsna says

that janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [bg.

4.9]. The advent of Krsna, it is very important thing.

We should try to understand Krsna, why He advents, why

He comes on this material world, what is His business,

what are His activities. If we simply try to

understand Krsna, then what is the result? The result

is tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya

[bg. 4.9]. You get that immortality. The aim of life

is to achieve immortality. Amrtatvaya kalpate.

 

So in the advent of Krsna, we shall try to understand

the philosophy of Krsna. His Excellency was speaking

of peace. The peace formula is there, spoken by Krsna.

What is that?

 

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam

sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam

jnatva mam santim rcchati

[bg. 5.29]

 

If the politicians, diplomats, they are trying to

establish peace in the world... The United Nation is

there, and there are many other organizations. They

are trying to have real peace and tranquillity, no

misunderstanding between man to man, nation to nation.

But that is not happening. That is not happening. The

defect is that in the root is wrong. Everyone's

thinking "It is my country. It is my family. It is my

society. It is my property." This "mine" is illusion.

In the Sastra it is said, janasya moho 'yam aham

mameti [sB 5.5.8]. This "I and my" philosophy is

illusion.

 

So this illusion means maya. maya... If you want to

get out of this illusion, maya, then you have to

accept the Krsna's formula. Mam eva ye prapadyante

mayam etam taranti te. Everything is there in the

Bhagavad-gita for guidance if we accept the philosophy

of Bhagavad-gita as it is. Everything is there. Peace

is there, prosperity is there. So that is a fact.

Unfortunately, we do not accept it. That is our

misfortune. Or we misinterpret it. Krsna says in the

Bhagavad-gita, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam

namaskuru [bg. 18.65]. Krsna says that "You always

think of Me," man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. "Become My

devotee." Mad-yaji, "You worship Me." Mam namaskuru,

"And offer obeisances unto Me." Is it very difficult

task? Here is Krsna's Deity. If you think of this

Deity, Radha-Krsna, is it very difficult? Man-mana.

You come into the temple and, just as a devotee, offer

your respect to the Deity, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto.

As far as possible try to worship the Deity, patram

puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [bg.

9.26]. Krsna does not want your whole property. Krsna

is open to the poorest man for being worshiped. What

He is asking? He says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo

me bhaktya prayacchati: "With devotion, if a person

offers Me a little leaf, a little fruit, a little

water, I accept it." Krsna is not hungry, but Krsna

wants to make you devotee. That is the main point. Yo

me bhaktya prayacchati. That is the main principle. If

you offer Krsna little things... Krsna is not hungry;

Krsna is providing food for everyone. Eko yo bahunam

vidadhati kaman. But Krsna wants your love, your

devotion. Therefore He is begging little patram puspam

phalam toyam. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. There is no

difficulty in understanding Krsna and to accept Krsna

consciousness. But we'll not do that; that is our

disease. Otherwise, it is not difficult at all. And as

soon as we become devotee of Krsna, we understand the

whole situation. Our philosophy, Bhagavata philosophy,

is also communism because we consider Krsna the

supreme father, and all living entities, they are all

sons of Krsna.

 

So Krsna says that He is the proprietor of all

planets, sarva-loka-mahesvaram [bg. 5.29]. Therefore

whatever there is, either in the sky or in the water

or in the land, they're all Krsna's property. And

because we are all sons of Krsna, therefore every one

of us has the right to use (the) father's property.

But we should not encroach upon others. This is the

formula of peace. Ma grdha kasya svidhanam, isavasyam

idam sarvam [isopanisad mantra 1]. Everything belongs

to God. You are sons of God. You have got the right to

use father's property, but do not take more than you

need. That is punishable. These things are stated in

the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Stena eva sa ucyate, in the

Bhagavad-gita, "he's a thief." If anyone takes more

than he needs, then he's a thief. Yajnarthat karmano

'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [bg. 3.9]. If for

the satisfaction of Krsna... Yajna means Krsna.

Krsna's another name is Yajnesvara. So you act for

Krsna, you take prasada Krsna. That what we are

teaching here. In this temple, we are residing

Americans, Indians, Englishmen, Canadians, Africans,

different parts of the world. You know that. Not only

in this temple, all over the world. [break]

 

....when we forget this philosophy, that Krsna is the

supreme father, Krsna is the supreme proprietor, Krsna

is the supreme enjoyer and Krsna is the supreme friend

of everyone. When you forget this, then we come into

this material world and struggle for existence, fight

with one another. This is material life. So you cannot

get... The politicians, diplomats, philosophers, they

have tried so much, but actually nothing has become

fruitful. Just like the United Nations. It was

organized after the second great war, and they wanted

that peacefully we shall settle everything. But there

is no such thing. The fighting is going on between

Pakistan and India, between Vietnam and America, and

this and that. It is not the process. The process is

Krsna consciousness. Everyone has to understand this

fact, that we are not proprietor. Proprietor is Krsna.

That's a fact. Just like America. Say two hundred

years ago the Americans, the European migrators, they

were not proprietor-somebody was proprietor. Before

them, somebody was proprietor or it was vacant land.

The actual proprietor is Krsna. But artificially you

are claiming that "It is my property." Janasya moho

'yam aham mameti [sB 5.5.8]. This is called maya.

 

So Krsna advents for give us lesson. Yada yada hi

dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [bg. 4.7]. Krsna

says, "My dear Arjuna, I come when there is

discrepancies in the process of religious life."

Dharmasya glanir bhavati. And what is dharma? The

simple definition of dharma is dharmam tu saksad

bhagavat- pranitam [sB 6.3.19]. This is dharma.

Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [sB 6.3.19]. Just

like what do you mean by law? Law means the word given

by the state. You cannot make law at home. That is not

possible. Whatever the government gives you, that "You

should act like this," that is law. Similarly, dharma

means the direction given by God. That is dharma.

Simple definition. You create dharma. I have created

this dharma, another man creates another dharma; these

are not dharma. Therefore, where the Bhagavad-gita

ends, that sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam

[bg. 18.66], this is dharma-to surrender to Krsna. Any

other dharma, they are not dharma. Otherwise, why

Krsna asks sarva-dharman parityajya: "Give up"? He

said that dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge

yuge: "I advent to establish the principles of

religion." And at last He says, sarva-dharman

parityajya. That means the so-called dharmas that we

have manufactured, man-made dharmas, they are not

dharmas. Dharma means what is given by God. But we

have no understanding what is God and what is His

word. That is the modern civilization defect. But the

order is there, God is there-we won't accept. Where is

the possibility of peace? The order is there. Krsna

says, the Supreme, bhagavan uvaca. Vyasadeva writes

bhagavan uvaca. One should know what is bhagavan.

Vyasadeva could have written krsna uvaca. No. He

says... If one may misunderstand Krsna, therefore he

writes in every stanza, every verse, Sri bhagavan

uvaca. So Bhagavan is there. Bhagavan is speaking.

Bhagavan is accepted by all the acaryas.

Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnusvami. Latest, Lord

Caitanya Mahaprabhu also, even Sankaracarya, he also

accepts Krsna as bhagavan svayam krsna. So the verdict

of the modern acaryas, and in the past also,

Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, everyone accepted Krsna, the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. Arjuna, who heard from

Krsna, after understanding Bhagavad-gita, he said,

param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan

purusam adyam sasvatam [bg. 10.12].

 

So everything is there. Especially in India, we have

got so much asset for understanding God. Simple thing.

Everything is there ready made. But we won't accept.

So what is the remedy for such disease? We are

searching after peace, but we won't accept anything

which is actually giving us peace. This is our

disease. So this Krsna consciousness movement is

trying to awaken the dormant Krsna consciousness in

everyone's heart. Otherwise, how these Europeans and

Americans and other countrymen, they never heard of

Krsna four or five years ago, how they are taking

Krsna consciousness so seriously? Krsna consciousness

is there in everyone's heart. It has to be awakened

only. That is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta

 

nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti 'sadhya' kabhu naya

sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

 

It is awakened. Love for Krsna, devotion for Krsna, is

there within everyone's heart, but he has forgotten.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is simply meant

for awakening that Krsna consciousness. This is the

process. Just like when you are sleeping, your, I have

to call you loudly-"Mr. such and such, such and such,

get up. You have got this business." No other senses

will act when you are sleeping. But the ear will act.

Therefore, in this age, when people are so fallen they

will not hear anything, if we chant this Hare Krsna

maha-mantra, he'll be awakened to Krsna consciousness.

This is practical.

 

So actually if we are anxious for peace and

tranquillity in society, then we must be very serious

to understand Krsna. That is our request. Don't take

it neglectfully, the Krsna consciousness movement.

This movement can solve all the problems of life, all

the problems in the world. Social, political,

philosophical, religious, economical-everything can be

solved by Krsna consciousness. Therefore, we request

those who are leaders-just like His Excellency is

present here-you should try to understand this Krsna

consciousness movement. It is very scientific,

authorized. It is not a mental concoction or

sentimental movement. It is most scientific movement.

So we are inviting all leaders from all countries: try

to understand. If you are sober, if you are actually

reasonable, you'll understand that this Krsna

consciousness movement is the sublime movement for the

welfare of the whole human society. That's a fact.

Anyone may come. We are prepared to discuss this

subject matter. Krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare.

We should not...

 

Our human life, the ultimate goal of human life is to

achieve immortality. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti

[bg. 4.9], This is our..., we have forgotten this. We

are simply leading the life of cats and dogs, without

any knowledge that we can achieve that perfection of

life when there will be no more birth, no more death.

We do not understand even that there is possibility of

amrtatvam. But everything is possible. Amrtatvam.

Nobody wants to die. That's a fact. Nobody wants to

become old man, nobody wants to become diseased. This

is our natural inclination. Why? Because originally,

in our spiritual form, there is no birth, no death, no

old age, no disease. So after evolutionary process

down from the aquatics, birds, beasts, plants, trees,

when you come to this form of human form of body

after... Asitim caturas caiva laksams tad jiva-jatisu.

This is evolutionary process. We come to the human

form of body. Then we should know what is the goal of

life. The goal of life is amrtatvam, to become

immortal. That you can become immortal simply by

becoming Krsna conscious. Krsna says. It is a fact. We

have to simply understand. Janma karma me divyam yo

janati tattvatah. If you try to understand Krsna in

truth, tattvatah, then, tyaktva deham punar janma

naiti [bg. 4.9], after giving up this body, you don't

accept any more material body. And as soon as you

don't accept any material body means you become

immortal. Because by nature we are immortal.

 

So Krsna advents, Krsna advents to teach us this

lesson, that "You are immortal by nature. As spirit

soul you are part and parcel of Me. I am as immortal.

So you are also immortal. Unnecessarily, you are

trying to be happy in this material world."

 

mamaivamso jiva bhuto

jiva-loke sanatanah

manah sastanindriyani

prakrti-sthani karsati

 

Simply struggle for..., unnecessarily. The best thing

is that you have enjoyed sense life in so many

varieties of life, as cats, as dogs, as demigods, as

tree, as plants, as insect. Now, in this human form of

life, don't be captivated by sensuous life. Just try

to understand Krsna. That is the verdict of the

Sastras. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman

arhate vid-bhujam ye [sB 5.5.1]. To work very hard

like dogs and hog for sense gratification is not the

ambition of human life. Human life is meant for little

austerity. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam.

We have to purify our existence. That is the mission

of human life. Why I shall purify my sattva existence?

Brahma-saukhyam tv anantam. Then you get unlimited

pleasure, unlimited happiness. That is real pleasure.

Ramante yogino 'nante satyananda-cid-atmani iti

rama-padenasau param brahmabhidhiyate [Cc. Madhya

9.29].

 

So, at least in India, all the great personalities,

saintly persons, sages and acaryas, they have

cultivated this spiritual knowledge so nicely and

fully, and we are not taking advantage of it. It is

not that those Sastras and directions are meant for

the Indians or for the Hindus or for brahmanas. No. It

is meant for everyone. Because Krsna claims

 

sarva-yonisu kaunteya

sambhavanti murtayah yah

tasam mahad brahma yonir

aham bija-pradah pita

[bg. 14.4]

 

Krsna claims that "I am everyone's father." Therefore,

He is very much anxious to make us peaceful, happy.

Just like the father wants to see his son is well

situated and happy; similarly, Krsna also wants to see

every one of us happy and well-situated. Therefore He

comes sometimes. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati

[bg. 4.7]. This is the purpose of Krsna's advent. So

those who are servants of Krsna, devotees of Krsna,

they should take the mission of Krsna. They should

take up the mission of Krsna. That is Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's version.

 

amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa

yare dekha, tare kaha, 'krsna'-upadesa

[Cc. Madhya 7.128]

 

Krsna-upadesa. Just try to preach what Krsna has said

in the Bhagavad-gita. That is the duty of every

Indian. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says.

 

bharata-bhumite manusya janma haila yara

janma sarthaka kari para-upakara.

[Cc. Adi 9.41]

 

So Indians, Indians are meant for para-upakara.

Indians are not meant for exploiting others. That is

not Indians' business. Indian history is all along for

para-upakara. And formerly, from all parts of the

world, used to come to India to learn what is

spiritual life. Even Jesus Christ went there. And from

China and from other countries. That is history. And

we are forgetting our own asset. How much we are

callous. Such a great movement, Krsna consciousness,

is going on all over the world, but our Indians are

callous, our government is callous. They do not take.

That is our misfortune. But it is the Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's mission. He says any Indian, bharata

bhumite manusya janma, if he's human being, he must

make his life perfect by taking advantage of this

Vedic literature and distribute the knowledge all over

the world. That is para-upakara. So India can do. They

are actually appreciating. These Europeans, American

young men, they are appreciating that how great... I

get daily dozens of letter, how they are benefited by

this movement. Actually, that is the fact. It is

giving the life for the dead man. So I shall specially

request the Indians, especially His Excellency, kindly

cooperate with this movement, and try to make

successful your life and others' life. That is the

mission of Krsna, advent of Krsna.

 

Thank you very much.

[

 

 

 

 

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