"Inevitable Death And A Way Out" -- Srila Prabhupada

[Guest guest]

"Inevitable Death And A Way Out"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.7

Los Angeles, January 4, 1974

 

"O Suta Gosvami, there are those amongst men who desire freedom from death and get eternal life. They escape the slaughtering process by calling the controller of death, Yamaraja."

 

Ksudrayusam nrnam. Ksudra, means very small, ayusam, duration of life. As we can compare that an ant's life or a germ's life... They are also living entities. Their duration of life is very small. There are many flies, they take their birth at night, in the evening, and the whole night they are busy, the same way: eating, sleeping, begetting children and being afraid of. All the qualities are there. In India we have got experience. They are called diwali germs or insects. In the evening before the light -- one, two, three -- in this way, by midnight, it increases to thousands and millions. And in the morning, at the end of the night, you will find heaps of insects or dead body. Heaps. Millions.

 

So there are different grades of life. It is called mrtyu-loka. This material world is called mrtyu-loka: "where everyone dies." But there are grades of duration of life. One living entity has got four minutes life, another, ten minutes, another, hundred minutes. Then days. One day, hundred days. Then year. One year, or four year, or five year, or utmost, hundred years, on this planet. So the human being can live up to utmost hundred years, but in other planets there are other living entities, demigods. And the highest, the topmost planet is Brahmaloka. And you have learned from Bhagavad-gita, in the Brahmaloka, the duration of life, to our calculation, is very, very long. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh [bg. 8.17]. In the Brahmaloka, the duration of twelve hours, our twelve hours, morning to evening, that is many millions of years to our calculation. So even if you go to that planet Brahmaloka, as you are trying to go to the moon planet... From sastra we understand in the moon planet, they live up to ten thousands of years according to heavenly calculation. In each planet, in each society, the calculation is different. So it is calculated that in the moon planet you can live for ten thousands of years, and that calculation is compared: our six months equal to one day in that planet. So just imagine how many years of our calculation they can live.

 

But Bhagavan Sri Krsna informs us that wherever you may go, the Yamaraja is ready, the representative of Krsna as Yamaraja. Just like the magistrate is also the representative of the government. So he is ready to come exactly as you finish your terms of duration of life. That is the way. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [bg. 8.16]. So at the end of life, everyone becomes disgusted. Therefore there is some release interval. At the end of life, mostly, people, those who are..., especially ordinary human being, they do not wish to live anymore. Even from the point of view, this bodily, old body, always diseased, rheumatic pains, so... And there is no life. For old man there is no enjoyment, material enjoyment. He wants to enjoy, but he cannot enjoy. Therefore generally, they become disgusted.

 

There was a question, very nice question, by Akbar Vasar, the Muhammadan emperor, Mogul emperor of India, Akbar Vasar. He was in the fifteenth century, five hundred years ago. So he kept very intelligent ministers. They would reply. Whatever inquiries are made by the emperor, the particular minister will inform, "This is this, sir." So he inquired one minister. His name was... I forget now. So "How long the lusty desires continue, sex desire?" So he replied, "Up to the point of death." So the emperor said, "No, no, how it can be?No, he has got the desire, but he cannot use it. His instruments become dull or useless. Therefore... But the desire is there." And, "I don't believe. I cannot...I am not satisfied with this answer.All right, sir, I will satisfy you."

 

So one day, all of a sudden the minister came to Akbar Vasar, "Sir, you will have to come with me immediately, and take your young daughter with you." So Akbar Vasar could understand there is some meaning, so immediately he prepared and took his young daughter with him. So he asked, "Where you are going?You will come to know." So he entered a house where an old man was on the death bed, a very old man. So the minister requested the emperor that "While entering the room, you kindly try to see the face of the lying man who is going to die." So Akbar was very intelligent. So he was seeing the face. So he marked it that the man was looking towards the young girl, not to the emperor. So he said, "Yes, I have got your answer."

 

So these desires... This is the root cause of our coming to this material world, to enjoy. Enjoyment is there in the spiritual world, but there, in the spiritual world, the enjoyer is Krsna, and everyone is enjoyed. That is the position. Just like in the Western countries, the women declare that "Why we should not have equal rights with the man?" But by nature it is different. The man is the enjoyer, and the woman is the enjoyed. That is the position. Bhokta and bhogya. There are many social problems in your country -- I do not wish to discuss -- but it is very grave problems. But they do not know how to systematize the human form of life because they do not know what is the aim of life. That they do not know. So aim of life is to stop this repetition of birth and death. That is the aim of life. The so-called scientists, they do not know it, and neither they work for it. They do not know it.

 

So here it is said, ksudrayusam: "those who have got small duration of life." Although this small duration of life, human life, in comparison to the duration of life of other planets, it is very, very small, so but they do not know how to fulfill the mission of living condition during this life. In the animal life, the consciousness is not developed, but in the human form of life, although it is perishable, adhruvam... Prahlada Maharaja said, adhruvam. Dhruva. Dhruva means certain. So he advised,

 

kaumara acaret prajno

dharman bhagavatan iha

durlabham manusam janma

tad apy adhruvam arthadam

[sB 7.6.1]

 

That is his advice, Prahlada Maharaja. He was talking with his classfriend, five years old. So he was teaching them that "Just become Krsna conscious. Chant Hare Krsna." Narada taught him. He listened from Narada. So he was convinced that this is the only business, how to make advancement in Krsna consciousness by chanting Hare Krsna mantra.

 

So he was Hiranyakasipu's son. He did not appoint any teacher to teach him about Krsna consciousness. But when he was in the womb of his mother, Narada Muni advised the mother about Krsna consciousness. She had to live for some time at the care of Narada Muni when her husband was out being defeated by the demigods, the Hiranyakasipu. So the woman's anxiety was when her husband will come back. And at that time the child was within the womb, and she begged a benediction from Narada, "Sir, kindly arrange in that way, that as long as my husband does not come back, I may not give birth to this child." Narada Muni said, "All right, it will be." So Narada Muni was giving her advice about Krsna consciousness. But her mind was absent, but the child within the womb, he was hearing. He was hearing. This is stated in the Bhagavatam. You will find that when Prahlada Maharaja was asked this question by his friend, "My dear Prahlada, we are also being taught by the same teacher. You are also being taught by the same teacher. You are a prince. You cannot go out. Wherefrom you have learned all this nice instruction?" So he replied that "This instruction was given by Narada. So it was given to my mother, but as woman she has forgotten, and I remember."

 

So that is the difference between a child in the womb and a grown-up woman. You see? That is by nature. They forget. Stri-sudra-dvijabandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Therefore Mahabharata was created by Vyasadeva, Vedic instruction through history, to battle of Kuruksetra. Because stri, sudra, woman, sudra and dvija-bandhu... Men born in high-class family, but behavior is different, they are called dvija-bandhu. So they cannot understand the Vedic lessons directly. It is not possible. They have no such intelligence. Stri, sudra and dvija-bandhu. So Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas carthesu [sB 1.1.1]. They cannot understand. Therefore through Mahabharata they are instructed. History. History they can hear. So Prahlada Maharaja says, "It is the duty of a human being, even from childhood, kaumara..." Kaumara means from the age of fifth year up to tenth year. This is called kaumara. So people should be educated about this, that the problem is how to stop janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. This education. This is called Bhagavata instruction. You are noting. We are talking on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The subject matter is how one shall transfer himself from this material world to the spiritual world and thereby stop birth, death, old age and disease. This is the whole subject matter.

 

So martyanam rtam icchatam. Martyanam. They should be conscious that "I do not wish to die. Why death is forced upon me?" This is intelligent question. This is the most intelligent man's question. "I do not want death." Just like if there is immediately some natural disturbance... I have got experience. Sometimes there was little trembling in the front house. People were crying, especially ladies, screaming. And that I have seen many times. As soon as there is a big trembling, everyone becomes afraid, "Now we are going to die. We have to die." So everyone is afraid of death, but nobody thinks how to make a solution of this problem. But there is solution. Therefore here it is said, martyanam. Martyanam means those who are destined to die. Rtam icchatam. If they are willing to live, if they want to stop calling the Yamaraja... Yamaraja means he will take you or take me, every one of us, after this body is finished, according to our karma. Yamaraja is there when we are sinful. Yamaraja is not for the devotees.

 

That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Ajamila upakhyana, Ajamila. Ajamila was a great sinful man. So at the time of death, somehow or other, he remembered Narayana, Narayana. So he was fond of his youngest child, and the Yamaraja, not directly, by sending his men, Yamaduta... So they are very fierceful. So at the time of death this Ajamila saw fierceful creatures, very odd-looking. So he was very much afraid, "Who are they?" So he thought, because he was very much affectionate to his youngest child... So his name was Narayana. He called him, "Narayana, please come here. I am very much afraid." But just see the power of chanting the name of Narayana. He immediately become eligible to go to Vaikuntha. He did not mean Narayana also. But Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, he gives his commentation that he remembered real Narayana after reference to the context. When he called for his child Narayana, he remembered real Narayana. Because in his boyhood, when he was... Up to his youthhood, he was very sincere devotee of Narayana, a son of a brahmana. But he fell under the clutches of a prostitute. Therefore, after mixing with the prostitute, his all spiritual activities stopped. That is natural. So he became too much inclined to the prostitute, and he became a drunkard, he became a thief, he became a gambler, meat-eater, and debauch. All these qualifications he acquired, by the association of one prostitute. And in this age our only business is to mix with prostitute. Just see our position. How much fallen they should be. There is open market for prostitution. This is modern civilization. By the association of one prostitute... Ajamila was a brahmana's son, very regulated, following all the rules and regulation. But as soon as he associated with a prostitute, he became fallen down. So this man remembered Narayana. According to Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, he supports that simply calling the name of his son was not sufficient. He remembered Narayana. But according to sastra, that Narayana, the holy name of the Lord, if one chants even neglectfully, he also gets the chance of being liberated. That's a fact.

 

There is one statement in the Nrsimha-Purana that a Muhammadan was attacked by a white boar. They kill by the tusk of the nose. So while the boar was killing that Muhammadan, he uttered, "Harama, harama." Harama is an Urdu word, but this word is found in Puranas also, ha rama. Harama means condemned, condemned. So the Muhammadans, they do not eat, I mean, the flesh of pig. Just like the Hindus, they do not eat the flesh of cow, similarly, this flesh of pig is harama. So he did not mean Rama. He wanted to say, "Condemned. This boar is condemned, harama." But he got the result of chanting ha rama, ha rama, "O my Lord Ramacandra." He got the result.

 

So the holy name of Krsna, Narayana... There are hundreds and thousands of names of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So any name, if you chant, you get the result. That is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah. The person, Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His name, they are identical. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, this is instruction. If we chant the holy name of Krsna, Krsna, the Supreme Person, that is not different. That is Krsna absolutism. Krsna and Krsna's form here, they are not different. Krsna's form can give you the same result as He can do being personally present. That is Krsna's absolutism. So namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktih. So in the name of Krsna, there is complete potency, as it is in Krsna personally. Therefore it is so important. In this age, we are so fallen. It is not possible to understand Krsna as He is. But if we associate with Krsna's name, then that is also association with Krsna. This is the advantage. Namnam akari. So as you associate with Krsna in His sound form, so you become purified. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [sB 1.2.17]. This is the advantage.

 

So everyone's duty is to stop this birth and death problem by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That is the only duty. And this should be taught from the very beginning of life. Just like these pious children, those who are dancing here, taking part in this meeting. You see? And one side you can see that this is the only path of Krsna realization that even a child can take part in it. He has no education, he has no knowledge, but the method is so nice that they can also take part. They can enjoy with their father and mother. There is no other yoga system... There are many yoga system, but this bhakti-yoga system is so perfect that the great-grandfather of the child and the child himself -- anyone can take part in it. That is practical. They are dancing here. Sometimes they are chanting. These things are going to their credit of spiritual advancement. The Deity worship is introduced for the general public, that anyone who will come, who will see the Deity, who will chant the Hare Krsna mantra, dance little or play the karatala, some way or other, if somebody is engaged in Krsna's service, that will be credited to his account. "Yes. This living entity has advanced so much." Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Even you do very little of this process of bhakti-yoga, it can save you from the greatest danger of life. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat.

 

The example is this Ajamila. This Ajamila, in the beginning of his life, he executed some service to the Lord under the instruction of his father. That was in his credit. So when he became first-class sinful man and was dying, so somehow or other, he chanted the name of Narayana, and he became saved. He became saved. Even though it is taken as a chance, but the chance also gives him the benefit. So as soon as he uttered the name of Narayana, he became eligible to be transported to Vaikuntha, and immediately Narayana sent his men, Narayana-duta, "Just go and save this man. He is being harassed by the Yamaduta." So Yamaduta, they were taking away him. In the meantime the messenger from Vaikuntha, Narayana-duta came, stopped, "No, you cannot take this." So they were surprised. "Oh, who are these, so good-looking?" Because they were very odd-looking, and they did not see any good-looking men, especially from Vaikuntha. They were coming with four hands, very nice. In the Vaikuntha, the people are also exactly looking like Narayana. Just like in this planet, the president is there. So far bodily features are concerned, there is no difference. The president has also two hands; we have also got two hands. Similarly, in the Vaikunthaloka, the president is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So He has got four hands, so the devotees or the inhabitants there, they have also the similar feature of the body, four hands. So these Yamaduta were surprised, that "You are looking so gentle, so nice. Why you are stopping in our duty? This man is sinful. It is our duty to take to Yamaraja, Mrtyu."

 

So there was argument, and their attempt was foiled by these Narayana-duta. So when they came to their master Yamaraja, that "This is our first experience, that somebody else took away from our hand the person who was to be brought here. So is there any greater personality like you, er, more than you?" So he explained, "Yes, I am servant of Narayana." So in that time Yamaraja advised that "To a devotee, you shall never go. It is not your jurisdiction." Just like the police jurisdiction is for the criminals, not for the gentlemen, similarly, Yamaraja's duty and his servant's duty, to take away to the Yamaraja only these sinful men. And those who are devotees, they are supposed to be not sinful. Naturally, they should be sinless. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. Without becoming sinless, one cannot completely devote himself in Krsna consciousness.

 

yesam tv anta-gatam papam

jananam punya-karmanam

te dvandva-moha-nirmukta

bhajante mam drdha-vratah

[bg. 7.28]

 

A person can be completely engaged in Krsna consciousness business if he is completely sinless. Of course, by becoming Krsna conscious, even there is little tinge of sin, it is evaded gradually. But one should be very alert. It is not that "Because I am Krsna conscious, and by becoming Krsna conscious or chanting Hare Krsna mantra, I am getting out of the jurisdiction of sinful activities..." This should never be thought of. We should be very much alert, because maya is very strong. As soon as she gets the opportunity, immediately captures. So we should be... Therefore it is said, rtam icchatam. Rtam icchatam. So they should try to avoid sinful activities if they actually want relief from this cycle of birth and death. This is the program.

 

So Krsna consciousness movement is in support of this desire. One must be serious and execute Krsna consciousness. Follow the rules and regulation, very simple, and chant Hare Krsna mantra, and they will be saved from Mrtyu, Yamaraja.

 

Thank you very much. (end)

[Guest guest]

"How To Stop Death"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.8

Los Angeles, January 5, 1974

 

"As long as Yamaraja, who causes everyone's death, is present here, no one shall meet with death. The great sages have invited the controller of death, Yamaraja, who is the representative of the Lord. Living beings who are under his grip should take advantage by hearing the deathless nectar in the form of this narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord."

 

Prabhupada: So Yamaraja, Yamaraja is the representative of the Lord. Just like the police chief. The... What is called, the police chief? The superintendent or what? Commissioner. Commissioner of police. He is representative of government. So the police department is fearful department for the criminals, not for the law-abiding persons. Similarly, Yamaraja, who is the superintendent of death... Death is certainly cruel. At any moment death can stop all our activities. Nobody can protest. That is not possible. So... And nobody wants death also. That is also fact. But nobody can stop death also. The so-called scientific advancement, they cannot stop death. You can talk all kinds of nonsense of advancement of life, but after all, you have to die. Big, big scientists, professors, they talk so many things, but when death came, it could not save him by his scientific process. Because death is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Who can check? Therefore the Lord's name is Ajita, Ajita. Ajita means one who is never conquered by any other means. Sva-rat, self-independent. These are the words used. Sva-rat. Sva-rat means fully independent. Nobody can make him dependent. That is Krsna. That is God. Every one is dependent, but Krsna is not dependent. Therefore He is called sva-rat.

 

So Maharaja, the Yamaraja... Yamaraja is representative. There are twelve recognized representative of God. We have many times cited this verse. Svayambhu, Brahma. Lord Brahma is representative. And Narada, great sage Narada, he is representative. Sambhu, Lord Siva, he is representative. Kapila, Kapiladeva, he is also representative. Kumara, the four Kumaras, Sanaka, Sanat-kumara. And Manu, Manu, Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. Manu received the transcendental knowledge from his father, Vivasvan, the sun-god. So... And Prahlada. Prahlada Maharaja is also representative of God. Prahlada, Janaka. King Janaka, father of Sitadevi or father-in-law of Lord Ramacandra. He is also representative. Grhastha. This Janaka-raja is grhastha, householder, and Narada is brahmacari. Lord Brahma is also grhastha. Lord Siva is also grhastha; Kumara, brahmacari; Kapila, brahmacari. So there are many. Yamaraja is also grhastha. Sukadeva Gosvami is brahmacari. So it doesn't matter whether one is brahmacari or householder or a sannyasi. He must try to become confidential servant of the Lord. Then he becomes the representative, representative of God, Krsna.

 

So Yamaraja is a great devotee Vaisnava. We should not be afraid of Yamaraja. Those who are devotees, they are... Yamaraja says that "I offer them respect, my obeisances." He advised his messengers that "Don't go to my devotees. They are to be offered respect by me. You go to persons who are reluctant to chant Hare Krsna mantra. You go there and bring them here for judgment." The Christian also believe, "the day of judgment." The judgment is given by Yamaraja. But who goes to his court for judgment? The criminals, those who are not devotees, those who are not Krsna conscious, they go to the court of Yamaraja.

 

So in other words, it is the duty of the Yamaraja to see that everyone is becoming Krsna conscious. That is his duty, just as the police department's duty is to see that everyone is law-abiding, acting according to the law of the state. Police is not anyone's enemy. He is enemy to the criminals, not to the law-abiding citizens. I have seen it, personal experience. In one of my friend's house there was burglary. The police inquiry was there. So we were going in another's house, the policemen and we also. So we saw in distant place a few men were fleeing. They were going away, hastily running away. So I inquired the police, "Why these people are running away?" So he answered, "You do not know Babaji, that they are criminals. Because we are passing, they are thinking, ‘Now the police is coming to arrest us,' although there is no purpose. How one can arrest? But they are..." What is called, this? Culprit mind is always suspicious. Because they are culprit, criminals, as soon as they saw, "The policeman is coming," they began to go away, run away.

 

So Yamaraja is not to be afraid by the devotees. This is the purpose. And it is the Yamaraja's duty to see that these rascals who have forgotten Krsna, or God, and come here to enjoy material sense gratification, they must be punished. Because material sense gratification is always sinful. We may create so many artificial laws, "This is good, and this is bad." Just like in your country, drinking is good. And in some other country, drinking is bad. In your country, meat-eating is no offense. But in the Vedic civilization, meat-eating is one of the foremost sinful activities. So here the so-called "good" and "bad," they are all mental creation. Otherwise, everything is bad, nothing good. Here, only goodness is to become Krsna conscious. Otherwise, everything is bad. So-called ethics, morality and law, good and bad, they are all rascaldom. It has no meaning. Because they are punishable. They can avoid the punishment of the law of the state. Just like in the government in every state, there is some punishment if one kills another living entity. Another man, not living entity. There is punishment. The law punishes. If you kill someone, if you commit murder, then you will be punished. This is punishable. But because it is man-made law, therefore it is defective. A man is a living entity, and a cow is also a living entity. Why this discrimination, that if a man is murdered or killed, that murderer must be punished? But that law is not permissible in God's law. In God's law, either you kill a man or you kill an ant, you are punishable. You are punishable. You cannot avoid this. Because in the eyes of God, the Brahma, Lord Brahma, and a small ant, they are all sons of God.

 

sarva-yonisu kaunteya

murtayah sambhavanti yah

tasam brahma mahad yonir

aham bija-pradah pita

[bg. 14.4]

 

Krsna says like this, "I am their father." To whom? Sarva-yonisu: "In all species of life, beginning from Brahma down to the ant." So if you kill your brother, say, who is not important, will your father approve, "Oh, you have done nice. You are very nice son. You are earning millions of dollars, and this man is useless, this, this boy. So you have killed. It is very nice"? No, father will never tolerate. To the father, the useless son and the earning son, both are equal in affection.

 

So therefore it is the duty of the elderly son, those who are advanced, not to kill the insufficient son, but to give them education of Krsna consciousness. This is the duty. It is not that "Because this living entity is useless, then kill him." So you can kill, but you will be implicated. Therefore Yamaraja is there. Yamaraja's business is to see how much sinful this living entity is, and he is offered a similar body. Karmana daiva-netrena. You will be judged after your death, every one of us. Of course, if he takes Krsna consciousness seriously, then the path is automatic. Automatically you go back to home, back to Godhead. There is no question of judgment. Judgment is for the criminals, the rascals who are not Krsna conscious. But if you become Krsna conscious, even if you cannot finish the job in this life, even if you fall, still, you will be given another chance of human body, to begin where you ended, to begin from the point where you fell down. That is...

 

Therefore svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. If you have taken to Krsna consciousness, try to execute it very seriously, means to follow the rules and regulation and chant Hare Krsna. That's all. Five things. No illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating... We don't prohibit sex, but illicit sex is most sinful. Most sinful. Unfortunately, they are so rascals, one sex to another, another sex to another, another sex... That is maya's illusion, influence. But if you stick to Krsna... Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [bg. 7.14]. If you catch up Krsna's lotus feet very tightly, then you will not fall down. But if you make a show of so-called brahmacari, so-called grhastha, or so-called sannyasi, then you will fall down. We are experiencing that. Then you must fall down. Krsna will not tolerate a defaulter, a pseudo devotee. Maya is very strong. Immediately capture him: "Come on. Why you are here? Why you are in this society? Get out." That is Yamaraja's duty. But if you remain in Krsna consciousness, Yamaraja will not touch you. Your death is stopped from the point where you begin Krsna consciousness. Your death is stopped. Nobody is prepared to die. That is a fact. You may say, I may say, "No, I am not afraid of death." That is another rascaldom. Everyone is afraid of death, and nobody wants to die. That is a fact. But if you are serious about that thing, that "I shall stop my process of death, dying process," then it is Krsna consciousness.

 

Therefore it is advised, aho nr-loke piyeta hari-lilamrtam vacah. "O the human society, you have got this body. Just go on drinking the nectarine of krsna-katha." It is advised here. Aho nr-loke. Especially it has been advised in the nr-loke, the human society. It is not addressed to the dog-loke or cat-loke. They cannot. They have no capacity. Therefore it has been: nr-loke. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nr-loke. Another verse in the Fifth Canto: nayam deho deha-bhajam nr-loke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye. These are the Bhagavata. There is no comparison. There is no literature throughout the universe like Srimad-Bhagavatam. There is no comparison. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society. Every word, each and every word. Therefore we stress so much in the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, "Oh, they have taken so much price. Let me see what is there." If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. If one sloka, one word. This is such nice things. Therefore we are stressing so much, "Please distribute book, distribute book, distribute book." A greater mrdanga. We are chanting, playing our mrdanga. It is heard within this room or little more. But this mrdanga will go home to home, country to country, community to community, this mrdanga.

 

So it is advised that nr-loke. Nr-loke means the human form of body, in the human society. We don't discard that "This is American society" or "This is European society,This is Indian society..." No, all human being. All human being. It doesn't matter what he is. All human being. What to speak of civilized men, even uncivilized, anarya. They are also described in the Bhagavatam. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah. These names are there. Kirata. Kirata means the black, the Africans. They are called kirata. Kirata-huna andhra. Huna, the nation or the community on the North Pole, above Russian, German, they are called huna. There are so many we do not know. Khasadayah, the Mongolians. Khasadayah means who does not grow sufficiently mustaches and beard, this Mongolian group. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah. Yavana, the mlecchas, yavanas, means those who are Muhammadans and others. So they are also included. Nr-loke. Because it is nr-loka. Every human being. Superficially, externally, there may be, this nation is better than that nation. That is fact. The Aryans and non-Aryans. There are divisions: civilized, noncivilized; educated, noneducated; cultured, noncultured; black, white; this and that. There are... Externally these divisions... But that distinction is of the body.

 

But spirit soul is not this body. He is spirit. That quality is one. There is no such distinction, "This is better,This is lower,This is black,This is white,This is civilized." In the spirit soul platform, everyone is one, one. Samah sarvesu bhutesu. Samah. Samata. Samata means equality. Where? Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [bg. 18.54]. When one is self-realized, aham brahmasmi... "I am not this body. I am not Christian, I am not Hindu, I am not black, I am not white, I am not fat, I am not thin. I am Brahman." Brahmasmi. That is called Brahman. "I am spirit soul, part and parcel of God. My only business is to serve God, because I am part and parcel of God." Just like I have given several times: the part and parcel of my body is this finger. What is the duty? To serve the whole body. I ask the finger, "Come here immediately. Do this.Yes." Natural. If I am part and parcel of God, then my only duty is to serve God. That's all. I have no other duty.

 

So that is brahma-bhutah. It is very simple thing. Not that by becoming brahma-bhutah, one gets four legs and one dozen hands. No. The hand is there, the leg is there, the mouth is there, everything is there. When it is purified, that "These hands, legs, are meant for serving Krsna," that is called brahma-bhutah. That is brahma-bhutah. Not that brahma-bhutah means I become nirakara, no form. The Mayavadi philosophers, they think like that, something different. Because this is not Brahman. This is asat. Brahma satyam jagan mithya. "This world is false. Therefore Brahman realization means that something opposite must be there. In the maya, everything is variety. So Brahman must be without variety." This is also material conception, because he is thinking like that. But my thinking, if I am in maya, so whatever I am thinking, that is also maya. But these rascals they do not understand that. They do not understand that. I am thinking that "Brahman must be opposite of this variety. Therefore Brahman must be impersonal." But what is their conclusion? The conclusion... He is thinking. He is thinking like that. But real Brahman, Parabrahman, Krsna, is not impersonal. He does not say that "I am impersonal." But these rascals say that "God is impersonal." So this kind of thinking by the person who is in maya, that is also maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadi. Mayavadi means all their philosophy is also maya. It has no meaning. Therefore they are Mayavadi. They are handling something in the maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadi.

 

So here it is said that nr-loke. Nr-loke, in this human form of body... Here advising, aho nr-loke piyeta hari-lilamrtam vacah. This is advised. Those who are born in the human society, they should join this Krsna consciousness movement where simply hari-lilamrtam vacah, there is no other business. What is our business here? Constantly, twenty-four hours, we are engaged in hari-lilamrtam vacah. That's all. And so long you are engaged in hari-lilamrtam vacah, there is no question of death. There is no question of death. Then if you say, "We are seeing that devotees are dying,Yes, but death has been stopped. "Then still, why he is dying?He is not dying. He is going back to home, back to Godhead." Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [bg. 4.9]. Tyaktva deham. He has given up this body, but he is not going to accept anymore a body like this. Then? Mam eva: "He is coming to Me." What is that mam eva? Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [bg. 15.6]. If you go somehow or other to Krsna, you will never come back.

 

So mrtyu, death, is stopped as soon as you take Krsna consciousness very seriously, immediately, from that moment, as soon as you are initiated. You promise before the spiritual master, "Yes, I am initiated, I shall act like this," and if you follow, then your death is stopped from that point. No more death. No more death. Simply an official business, just like you sleep and again you awake, similarly, a devotee's death is like that. It is like sleeping, and next moment in the spiritual kingdom, immediately. Immediately. When he will rise, he will see that "I am with Krsna."

 

Devotees: Jaya! Prabhupada!

 

Prabhupada: This is the fact. So don't fall down. Don't be childish, that "Yes, I have promised before spiritual master, before Krsna, before fire. All right, that's all right. Let me break." No, don't do that. Don't do that. Don't lose this opportunity. You are now on the point of deathlessness, but if you again commit... Bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi. There is chance. If your execution of devotional service is not going perfectly, so there is chance of falldown.

 

So devotional service so nice, that even if you fall down, there is not very great loss. Great loss means you get human body, not an animal body. That is stated in the Bhag... Yoga-bhrasto 'bhijayate. Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrastah. One who has fallen down from the bhakti-yoga, where does he go? Sucinam srimatam gehe: in the house of very rich man and in the house of nice, Vaisnava brahmana. This is the opportunity. This is first-class opportunity. If you take your birth in the house of Vaisnava brahmana, just like these children are taking birth, father and mother Vaisnava... They are very fortunate. They are not ordinary children. Otherwise they would not have gotten this chance of chanting and dancing before Deity and Vaisnava. They are not ordinary children. The parent must take care, very good care, that they may not fall down. They have got the chance. Now train them to complete this Krsna consciousness. That is the duty of father and mother. "Now this child has come under my care." If both the father and mother think like that... Not contraceptive. Oh, rascaldom. "Oh, here is a child who has taken shelter of me as mother, who has taken shelter of me as father. Oh, it is my duty to train him in such a way that no more birth, no more death." Therefore Bhagavata says, pita na sa syat...na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum: "One should not become mother, one should not become father, if he cannot release his children from the clutches of death." And how one can be saved from the clutches of death? This is the process, hari-lilamrtam vacah. If he is trained up... Therefore we have got this school from the Dallas. From the beginning, hari-lilamrtam vacah. They are being trained up in hari-lilamrtam vacah.

 

So once one becomes situated in hari-lilamrtam vacah, that means he has stopped his process of death. So this dying again of this body... Of course, this body is material. It must make a show that this material body... But he is a spiritual body. He is going back to home, back to Godhead. There is no doubt about it. Therefore Yamaraja's duty... Yamaraja is Vaisnava. He wants to see that you do not die again. He wants to see that you continue your deathlessness. Now you are engaged in krsna-kathamrtam vacah. So that is the point of... Just like a diseased man. A diseased man, as soon as goes to the physician and he gives the right medicine, and he takes it, that means his diseaselessness condition has already begun. It will take little time. So in the meantime, in that treatment time, diseaselessness condition, if you make another infection, that is your fault. Otherwise, deathlessness begins from the day of initiation. Adau gurvasrayam. As soon as you take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, your point of deathlessness begins immediately. Immediately. And if you continue the advice and instruction of the spiritual master, or the sastra, then you become deathless. No more death. And Yamaraja wants to see that actually you are continuing your deathlessness process. This is... Krsna consciousness is so nice. Therefore it is advised.

 

Now if somebody argues that "Here is... A devotee is also dying." A devotee is also dying. How can I say that it is deathlessness? No, he does not know. Devotee is not dying. There is very good example. Just like a cat. He catches the rat and he catches his cub also. But these two kinds of catching is different. When the cat catches a rat, that rat means his, "Chi chi chi," means dying, actually dying. And the cab (cub), he is feeling very comfortable: "Meow, meow, meow." Because the same cat, catching, process is the same, but the feeling is different. So a devotee seemingly dying, he is not dying. He is going back to Krsna. He is very pleased, "Now my labor is finished. I am going to Krsna." That is his feeling. And others, they are crying, "Oh, this is my estate. This is my family. This is my, this is my, this is my... I am leaving. I do not want to leave it. What will happen to that?" He is crying. That is death. And this is not death.

 

So it appears like death, but it is actually not death. Just like the electric fan, if you make the switch off, it has stopped running, but if you say, "Still running," that is not running. That is a show of running. Actually, the running is stopped. Similarly, as soon as you surrender to God, through His representative, your death is stopped unless you make it nullified by accepting anything which is against the bhakti principle. Otherwise your deathlessness is guaranteed. That is stated here. Na kascin mriyate tavad yavad asta ihantakah. If you simply know that "Yamaraja is there; he is supervising that I may not fall down," then you will not die. You will not die. It is not impractical. It is practical. Try to perceive the truth that since you have begun Krsna consciousness, to become Krsna conscious, your death has been stopped. But don't fall down and again capture death. That is the instruction.

 

Thank you very much. (end)