Vamana Dvadasi - Thursday, August 30

[Guest guest]

Thursday, August 30 is Vamana Dvadasi, the appearance day of Lord

Vamanadeva. Because we must break the Ekadasi fast on Dvadasi morning, the

fasting for Lord Vamana's appearance is observed on Ekadasi. So on Ekadasi

day, Wednesday, August 29, we fast till noon.

 

Here is a Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture given by His Divine Grace A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1972 about the appearance of Lord

Vamanadeva.

 

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.19

--

Los Angeles, September 24, 1972

720924SB.LA

 

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

pancadasam vamanakam

krtvagad adhvaram baleh

pada-trayam yacamanah

pratyaditsus tri-pistapam

[sB 1.3.19]

 

Translation: "In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a

dwarf-brahmana, Vamana, and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by

Maharaja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the

three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of

land."

 

Prabhupada: So Vamanadeva.

chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana

pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana

kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

 

So Bali Maharaja, he was the grandson of Prahlada Maharaja. They were in the

demon's family. But in the demon's family also, there is sometimes Prahlada

Maharaja, Bali Maharaja. Prahlada and Bali, they are our acaryas. There are

twelve bona fide acaryas. Balir vaiyasakir vayam. The acaryas are mentioned.

Dvadasa-mahajanah. Svayambhu. Svayambhu means Lord Brahma. (aside:) Don't

make sound. Svayambhu, Narada. Narada is also one of the authorities. They

have been accepted at (as) authority for understanding religious principles.

Religious principle is not to be understood by from a rascal. No, that

anyone comes and says religious topics. No. We have to receive it from the

authority.

 

So Bali Maharaja is one of the authorities. Out of the twelve authorities,

first is Lord Brahma; the next, Narada; the next, Lord Siva; then next, the

Kumaras; then Kapiladeva; then Manu, Vaivasvata Manu; then Prahlada

Maharaja; then Janaka Maharaja; then Bhismadeva; then Bali Maharaja; then

Sukadeva Gosvami; and then Yamaraja. It is stated in the sastra that

mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. You cannot understand

transcendental subject matter simply by dry speculation and argument. You

cannot understand. Neither by reading Vedic literature. The conclusion is

that you have to follow those who are authorities. Mahajano yena. Dharmasya

tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186].

Guha. Guha means the cave, mountain cave, and guha means the heart. So

suppose something is very valuable is there in the cave of the mountain, and

you do not know how to search it out. But if you know somebody who knows it,

if you follow him, that "He is going there so I may also follow..."

So religious principles cannot be manufactured, neither it can be made by

speculation. So actually, there cannot be many religions. The rascal theory

that "There are as many religious system as I can believe... You believe

something, that's all right. I believe something, that's all right. He

believes something, that's all right." No. It is not like that. Then

everyone will believe like any nonsense thing, that becomes religion? No.

Religion means dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [sB 6.3.19]. Religion

means the codes, the laws, given by God. That is religion. Man cannot

manufacture. I have several times explained. Just like law, state law. The

state law can be given by the government. You cannot manufacture law. Nobody

will care for your law. The state law is that "You must keep right your car.

As soon as there is red light, you must stop." If you violate, you will be

punished, although it is very simple thing. Similarly, religion means the

law of God. You cannot violate it. If you violate, then you will be

punished. If you think that "This religious system is very stiff. Let me

manufacture my own religion," so that kind of religion is not accepted by

the Vedic culture. And when actually the real religion is violated... Yada

yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati... [bg. 4.7]. Glanih means violation.

Tadatmanam srjamy aham. At that time the Supreme Lord or His representative

comes to establish real religion.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita.

...dharma-samsthapanarthaya

sambhavami yuge yuge.

 

Dharma-samstha... Real religious principle. Real religious principle means

to abide by the laws of the Supreme Lord, God. But they do not believe in

God. "Everyone is God. I am God, you are God, he is God, everyone is God. So

whatever law you give yourself, that becomes your religion." This is going

on. So God is not so cheap that you become God, I become God, he becomes

God. The sastra says, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [sB 1.3.28]. Isvarah paramah

krsnah [bs. 5.1]. God is Krsna, the Supreme Lord, the original God. Isvarah

paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda [bs. 5.1]. God, Krsna also says in the

Bhagavad-gita, mattah parataram nanyat: [bg. 7.7] "There is no superior

authority than Me." The Vedanta-sutra also says, janmady asya yatah [sB

1.1.1]. The original source of everything. Who is that original source? God.

Who is that God? Krsna. Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam

pravartate [bg. 10.8]. "I am the origin of everything." Iti matva bhajante

mam budha bhava-samanvitah. "Those who are budha..." Budha means one who

knows, one who is in the knowledge. Bhava-samanvitah. Bhava-samanvitah,

knowing everything in ecstasy, "Oh, here is God." Budha bhava-samanvitah.

aham sarvasya prabhavo

mattah sarvam pravartate

iti matva bhajante mam

budha bhava-samanvitah

[bg. 10.8]

 

So everything is there. God is there. His name is there. His address is

there. His law is there. Everything is there. But the rascals will not

accept it. That is the position. Therefore we have to follow the mahajana.

So Bali Maharaja is one of the mahajana. How he became mahajana? Because

he's surrendering fully unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This

Vamanadeva, incarnation of... Kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa. So the incident is

that Bali Maharaja was very powerful, and he conquered the whole universe,

even the demigods all. So Visnu is always in favor of the demigods because

demigods, they are also devotees. The difference between sura and asura...

Asura means envious of the demigods. That is called asura. Sura-dvisa. The

another name of the asura, "those who are envious of devotees." That is the

only business. There, two classes of men are always there. Sometimes one

class in more in number, and other class is more in number. But two classes.

Dvau bhuta-sargau loke. "There are two classes of men, living entities."

Daiva asura eva ca. "One is called daiva, demigods, and the other is called

asura." So who is daiva? Visnu-bhakto bhaved daiva. "Those who are devotees

of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, they are called demigods,

or Vaisnava." All Vaisnavas are demigods. And those who are not... Asuras

tad viparyayah. "Anyone opposite number, against Visnu, they are all called

asuras."

 

So sometimes in asura's family also, there are Vaisnavas. By the grace of

Narada. Narada makes... Just like Prahlada Maharaja became a great devotee

by the grace of Narada, although he was born of a father, atheist father,

Hiranyakasipu. So Narada Muni's business is to travel all over the universe

and make Vaisnava. So this Bali Maharaja, he conquered all over the

universe, and the demigods were defeated. So Vamanadeva, He also one of the

considered demigods, Upendra. So He went to Bali Maharaja by a trick.

Because Bali Maharaja... Krsna knows that Bali Maharaja was the grandson of

Prahlada Maharaja and he was a great devotee at heart. He knew that. Isvarah

sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [bg. 18.61]. Lord is situated in

everyone's heart. He knows everyone. So therefore, in order to return back

the kingdoms taken from the demigods, He made a trick. He went there. Bali

Maharaja was performing a great sacrifice, Bali-dhare.(?) So He went there

and asked Bali Maharaja, "Bali Maharaja, you are performing such a great

sacrifice. I am at your door. I am brahmana. Will you kindly give Me some

donation?Yes, why not? That is my... I will give you. Whatever You want,

I will give You."

 

So immediately his spiritual master, the demon's spiritual master

Sukracarya... Sukracarya means... Sukra means semina. Seminal acarya.

Means... You do not know. In India, there is a class of men, they are called

gurus. The professional guru, rather. So Sukracarya. Sukracarya, he was very

learned scholar. He knew everything, that "Here Vamanadeva, He is

incarnation of Visnu. He has come to cheat Bali. He will ask something and

then He will take everything from Bali." He knew it. So sometimes cheating

also done by the Supreme Lord for the sake of the devotee. So this is not

cheating. Just like father sometimes cheats a son. Suppose something is

there, and two brothers, small children, they are fighting. One has taken,

another is crying. So the one will not deliver to the other. So father says,

"My dear child, will you kindly give me this." So he gives to the father and

he delivers to the other child. (laughter) You see? So sometimes God has to

do such cheating of affection. That is not cheating actually. But the

cheating propensity is there in God. Otherwise where we get it? (laughter)

But we use cheating for our personal sense gratification. But if you use

that cheating propensity for Krsna's satisfaction, then it is all right.

Manimiti krtam papam punyayaiva kalpate.(?)

 

So the Bali Maharaja was cheated by... But he, being cheated, he became

conqueror. So this Sukracarya said to Bali Maharaja, "Don't promise to this

Vamana anything. He is Lord Visnu. He has come to cheat you." Bali Maharaja

became more enlightened. "Oh, He is Lord Visnu? But you have taught me that

everything should be given to Visnu. So if Visnu has come at my door, why

you are asking not to make any promise?" So that means Sukracarya were

playing duplicity. He taught something, and now he's saying another thing.

Therefore Bali Maharaja said that "I cannot accept. I give up your company

from this day, that you are checking me to offer everything to Visnu. Oh, I

do not want such spiritual master"

 

So that means... That is the shastric injunction, that anyone who is not a

Visnu devotee, or Vaisnava, he cannot become guru. That is the injunction of

the sastra. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah. A brahmana, very

learned, he knows his duties, brahminical duties very well... Just like

Sukracarya. Sat-karma-nipunah. Sat-karma-nipunah. Brahmana have got six

kinds of occupation: pathana-pathana yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. Brahmana

should be very learned, he should teach others also Vedic knowledge,

pathana-pathana. Yajana-yajana. He must be devotee or great worshiper, and

he should teach others also how to worship. Yajana-yajana. Dana-pratigraha.

He will accept charity from others, and he will give in charity again to

others. These are the six occupation of a brahmana. So sastra says,

sat-karma-nipuno viprah, "A brahmana, well conversed with these duties of

brahminical duties," and mantra-tantra-visaradah, "and expert in studying

the mantras, Vedic mantras, and tantra, other Vedic literature," avaisnavo

gurur na sa syat, "but if he is avaisnava," means he does not worship Lord

Visnu but other demigods, "then he cannot become guru." That is not allowed.

You cannot become guru. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra...

 

So this Sukracarya, he was against Visnu. So Bali Maharaja immediately

rejected him. Therefore he became a mahajana, exemplary. Because you cannot

give up your spiritual master. That is a great sin. Once accepted, the

spiritual master takes responsibility for the disciple. And disciple also

must be obedient to the spiritual master for life, for good. That is the

relationship. So if one rejects spiritual master, he becomes a great sinner,

most sinful. So Bali Maharaja rejected his spiritual master. That's a great

sin. But he rejected on shastric ground, because he objected for Visnu

worship. Therefore such spiritual master should be rejected. Should be

rejected. Therefore he became mahajana, authority. Anyone who is obstruction

to worship the Supreme Lord, he should be rejected immediately. That is

bhakti. Anukulyasya grahanam pratikulyasya varjanam. Anything favorable for

advancement of Krsna consciousness should be accepted; anything unfavorable,

that should be rejected. This is saranagati. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc.

Madhya 19.167]. We have to worship Krsna, whatever is favorable. It is not

that because the microphone is material, therefore I cannot use it. There

are some so-called transcendentalists... Why not? If I speak through the

microphone, I can serve better Krsna. Why shall I not accept it? So

anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anything which is favorable for serving Krsna, we

shall accept. After all, everything belongs to Krsna. Isavasyam idam sarvam

[iso mantra 1]. Nothing belongs to you. Simply we are thieves. We are using

Krsna's property for our own sense gratification. Stena eva sa ucyate. All

thieves.

 

So just like this Bali Maharaja, he conquered. So actually nothing belongs

to Bali Maharaja, but he thought So Krsna, to save him from this theft

criminality, He approached him, "My dear Bali Maharaja, will you kindly give

Me three feet land." So after rejecting his spiritual master, who opposed,

he promised, "Yes, I shall give." So by one feet the whole lower portion of

the universe was covered. The other feet, the upper portion of the universe

was covered. Still, the third feet remained. So Vamanadeva asked, "Now, Bali

Maharaja, all your possession is now covered by My two feet. Where is to

keep the other feet?" Bali Maharaja said, "Yes, there is place. You just put

Your feet, foot on my head." So in this way Bali Maharaja surrendered

everything. Sarvatma-svapateyam. He, personal property and the personal

body, everything dedicated to Krsna. He became mahajana. There are nine

processes of bhakti:

sravanam kirtanam visnoh

smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam

sakhyam atma-nivedanam

[sB 7.5.23]

 

So Bali Maharaja dedicated atma-nivedana, everything: his property, his

personal body, everything. So in exchange, Vamana, Lord Vamana became his

doorkeeper. So Vamanadeva said, "My dear Bali Maharaja, you are so great a

devotee. So in return for your service, I shall remain always your

doorkeeper."

 

So by offering everything to Krsna, nobody is loser. You must always

remem... They are gainer, the best gainer. Because after all, everything

belongs to Krsna. Why should we foolishly say, "It is mine, it is mine?"

Aham mameti [sB 5.5.8]. Janasya moho 'yam. This is called illusion. Nothing

belongs to me, but I think that "This is mine, this is mine, this is mine."

The whole world is going on (like) that. Aham mameti [sB 5.5.8]. "We are

Americans,We are Indians,This belongs to me,That belongs to you."

We make such, I mean to say, shareholder. But shareholder for other's

property. Everything belongs to God. Not only this world -- there are many

millions and millions of planet. Sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Loka means planet.

Krsna says, sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka...

[bg. 5.29]. He is the proprietor. But we are dividing: "This is American,"

"This is Indian." But how long you will remain American and Indian? Say,

fifty years. Then if you are going to be a dog, then who is saving your

country? This is going on. Nothing belongs to us, except everything belongs

to Krsna, and we are all offspring of Krsna. Everyone has got the right to

father's property, but not to encroach others' property. Tena tyaktena

bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam [iso mantra 1]. If people accept this

philosophy, then the whole world becomes Vaikuntha. There is no quarrel.

There is no... Everything becomes happy.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.19 -- Los Angeles, September 24,

1972