Importance of honouring all the disciples of the guru

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila

Prabhupad. All glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga.

 

I wanted to share with devotees an incident from the Srimad Bhagavatham that

shows the importance of honouring all the disciples of the spiritual master

to really please him. As Srila Prabhupada also said that the test of our

love for him is in how much we co-operate with each other. I hope you also

find the quote below interesting and worthwhile.

 

IMPORTANCE OF HONOURING ALL THE DISCIPLES OF THE GURU

 

yajnavalkayc ca tac-chisya

aahaaho bhagavan kiyat

caritenaalpa-saaraanaam

carishye 'ham su-dushcaram

 

TRANSLATION

Once Yajnavalkya, one of the disciples of Vaisampayana, said: O master, how

much benefit will be derived from the feeble endeavors of these weak

disciples of yours? I will personally perform some outstanding penance.

 

ity ukto gurur apy aaha

kupito yahy alam tvaya

vipraavamantraa shishyena

mad-adheetam tyajashv iti

 

TRANSLATION

Addressed thus, the spiritual master Vaisampaayana became angry and said: Go

away from here! Enough of you, O disciple who insults braahmanas!

Furthermore, you must immediately give back everything I have taught you.

 

PURPORT by HH Hrdayananda Maharaj

Sri Vaisampayana was angry because one of his disciples, Yajnavalkya, was

insulting the other disciples, who were, after all, qualified brahmanas.

Just as a father is disturbed when one son mistreats the father's other

children, the spiritual master is very displeased if a proud disciple

insults or mistreats the guru's other disciples. (Srimad Bhagavatham

12.6.63-64)

 

Srila Prabhupad:

Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Yanjavalkya and Jaimini and other compilers of the

religious scriptures cannot know the secret, confidential religious system

of the twelve mahaajanas. They cannot understand the transcendental value of

performing devotional service or chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Because

their minds are attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the

Vedas-especially the Yajur Veda, Saama Veda and Rg Veda-their intelligence

has become dull. Thus they are busy collecting the ingredients for

ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary benefits, such as elevation

to Svargaloka for material happiness. They are not attracted to the

sankirtana movement; instead, they are interested in dharma, artha, kama and

moksa. - SB 6.3.25