Do Not Misunderstand The Activities Of Vrajvasis

2012-12-30
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.35-36 - Do Not Misunderstand The Activities Of Vrajvasis (download mp3), (download flv)
by Bhakti Vishrambha Madhav Maharaj at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net




SB 10.14.35

esam ghosa-nivasinam uta bhavan kim deva rateti nas
ceto visva-phalat phalam tvad-aparam kutrapy ayan muhyati
sad-vesad iva putanapi sa-kula tvam eva devapita
yad-dhamartha-suhrt-priyatma-tanaya-pranasayas tvat-krte

Translation: 
My mind becomes bewildered just trying to think of what reward other than You could be found anywhere. You are the embodiment of all benedictions, which You bestow upon these residents of the cowherd community of Vrndavana. You have already arranged to give Yourself to Putana and her family members in exchange for her disguising herself as a devotee. So what is left for You to give these devotees of Vrndavana, whose homes, wealth, friends, dear relations, bodies, children and very lives and hearts are all dedicated only to You?


SB 10.14.36

tavad ragadayah stenas
tavat kara-grham grham
tavan moho ’nghri-nigado
yavat krsna na te janah

Translation:
My dear Lord Krsna, until people become Your devotees, their material attachments and desires remain thieves, their homes remain prisons, and their affectionate feelings for their family members remain foot-shackles.

Purport: 
Apparently, the residents of Vrndavana, the abode of Lord Krsna, are simple householders engaged in ordinary affairs such as herding cows, cooking, rearing children and performing religious ceremonies. However, all these activities are intensely engaged in the loving service of Lord Krsna. The residents of Vrndavana perform all activities in pure Krsna consciousness and thus exist on the most exalted platform of liberated life. Otherwise, the same activities performed without Krsna consciousness constitute ordinary bondage to the material world.

Thus, one should not misunderstand the exalted position of the residents of Vrndavana, nor should one consider oneself highly religious simply because one performs ordinary domestic affairs very enthusiastically, but without Krsna consciousness. By focusing our passionate attachment on our family and society, we are completely deviated from the progressive path of Krsna consciousness. Conversely, if we engage our family in the loving service of the Lord, our endeavors to maintain our family become part and parcel of our progressive spiritual duties.

In conclusion, by studying the extraordinary status of the residents of Vrndavana, we can see that the essential quality of their lives is pure Krsna consciousness — the rendering of loving service to the Lord without a trace of material desire or mental speculation. Such loving service to the original Personality of Godhead immediately creates the atmosphere of Sri Vrndavana-dhama, the kingdom of God.