TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI

February 4, 2008

O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me--though they be lowborn, women, vaisyas, or sudras--can approach the supreme destination. Thus although women, sudras, and vaisyas are

ordinarily considered to belong to a lower class, when one becomes a devotee

he or she goes beyond such designations. Women, sudras, and vaisyas are ordinarily regarded as less intelligent, but if one takes to Krsna consciousness one is the most intelligent, as stated in the

Caitanyacaritamrta (krsna yei bhaje sei bada catura). And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija Among all the living

entities wandering throughout the universe, one who is very fortunate receives, by the mercy of the spiritual

master and the mercy of Krsna, the seed of devotional service. (Cc.

Madhya 19.151) The Krsna consciousness movement does not consist of

wretched, unfortunate men. No. It consists of the most fortunate. One who

has taken to Krsna consciousness is to be considered the most

fortunate because he has found the way to act so that his life will be

perfect. One who is Krsna conscious and discharging his duties nicely is

the most fortunate and the most perfect. This is humbly stated here by

Kuntidevi. Although Kunti had the body of a woman, she was a devotee. Therefore she was not like an ordinary unintelligent woman.

Rather, she was the most intelligent, for she recognized Krsna to be the

Supreme Godhead: "He has come to me to offer me respect, materially

appearing to be my nephew, but He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Therefore in a previous verse she said, alaksyam sarva-bhutanam antar bahir avasthitam: "You are not seen by ordinary men, although You

are everywhere, inside and outside." In another verse also she

said, na laksyase mudha-drsa: "Fools and rascals cannot see You."

This indicates that Kunti saw Him. Unless she were able to see Krsna as He is,

how could she say, na laksyase mudha-drsa? She also said, prakrteh param: You are transcendental to this material creation. Now here also, in this verse, Kunti continues to express herself with humility. This humility is very good in devotional service. Therefore Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us, trnad api

sunicena taror api sahisnuna: "One should be more tolerant than the

tree and humbler than the grass to make progress in spiritual life."

This is necessary because for one who is living in this material world

there will be so many disturbances, just as if one were traveling on the ocean. One cannot expect a very peaceful situation on the ocean;

even a big ship may also be unsteady, and at any moment there may be tumultuous waves. Similarly, in this material world we should always expect

danger; one cannot expect a very peaceful life within this material world.

The sastra, the Vedic literature, says, padam padam yad vipadam (SB. 10.14.58): at every step there is danger. But if one becomes a

devotee, then one can escape (mayam etam taranti te). If one takes to Krsna consciousness, in the beginning there will

be many disturbances caused by Maya, the material energy of illusion.

Maya will test us to see how firmly we are fixed in Krsna

consciousness. Because she is also an agent of Krsna, she does not allow anyone

the freedom to disturb Krsna. Therefore she tests very rigidly to see whether we have taken to Krsna consciousness to disturb Krsna or

are actually serious. That is Maya's business. So in the beginning

there will be tests by Maya, and we shall feel so many disturbances

while making progress in Krsna consciousness. But if we follow the rules

and regulations and chant regularly as prescribed, then we shall remain steady. If we neglect these principles, Maya will capture us immediately. Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at

all is called paramahamsa. Kuntidevi therefore says, tatha paramahamsanam: "You are

meant to be understood by the paramahamsas." The word parama means

"ultimate," and hamsa means "swan." So paramahamsa means "the

perfect swan." If we give a swan milk mixed with water, the swan will take the milk and

leave aside the water. Similarly, this material world is made of two

natures-- the inferior nature and the superior nature. The superior nature

means spiritual life, and the inferior nature is material life. Thus a

person who gives up the material part of this world and takes only the spiritual part is called paramahamsa. One should know that the activities of the body are due to the

soul within the body. That is the real fact. The body is only the

outward covering. Similarly, one should know that Krsna is the real center

of all activities, and one who knows this is a paramahamsa. Thus

bhaktiyoga is for the paramahamsa, one who knows that Krsna is the central fact. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah

sarvam pravartate: "I am the source of everything; everything

emanates from Me." So one who knows, not only theoretically but

practically, that Krsna is the cause of all causes--one who is convinced of this--is

a paramahamsa. Kuntidevi says, "You are meant for the paramahamsas, not for

the rascals and fools. You are meant for the paramahamsas and

munis." The word muninam refers to those who are thoughtful or to mental speculators, and the word amalatmanam refers to one who has no

dirty things in his heart. The heart of a materialistic person is full

of dirty things. What are those dirty things? Lust and greed. All materialistic persons are lusty and greedy, and therefore their

hearts are understood to be full of dirty things, but amalatmanam refers

to those who are freed from these two contaminations. Bhakti-yoga is meant for those whose hearts are cleansed, not for the lusty and greedy. Of course, those who are lusty and greedy

may try to advance, and gradually they may do so, but once one is situated

in bhakti-yoga there is no more lust or greed. Viraktir anyatra ca

(SB. 11.2.42). This is the test--when one is free from lusty desires

and greed, then he is situated in bhakti-yoga and is actually a

paramahamsa. Kuntidevi humbly submits, "You are meant for the paramahamsas

and munis, those who are cleansed in heart and are engaged in bhakti-yoga.

But what are we? We are simply women. We are in a lower class. How can we understand You?" Although she understands everything, she

still takes the position of an ordinary woman and says, "How can I

understand You?" This is humility.THE COMPLETE BOOK TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI IS IN THE ATTACHMENT

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