2010-10-31
Srimad Bhagavatam 09.05.25 - The InValuable Gift Of Bhakti (download mp3)
by Hari Vilas Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net
Purport:
An exalted and pure devotee like Maharaja Ambarisa is in full awareness of Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan; in other words, a devotee of Vasudeva, Krsna, is in full knowledge of the other features of the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is realized in three features Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan (brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]). A devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, knows everything (vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]) because Vasudeva, Krsna, includes both Paramatma and Brahman. One does not have to realize Paramatma by the yoga system, for the devotee always thinking of Vasudeva is the topmost yogi (yoginam api sarvesam [Bg. 6.47]). And as far as jñana is concerned, if one is a perfect devotee of Vasudeva, he is the greatest mahatma (vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah). A mahatma is one who has full knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Thus Maharaja Ambarisa, being a devotee of the Personality of Godhead, was in full awareness of Paramatma, Brahman, maya, the material world, the spiritual world, and how things are going on everywhere. Everything was known to him. Yasmin vijñate sarvam evam vijñatam bhavati (Mundaka Upanisad 1.3). Because the devotee knows Vasudeva, he knows everything within the creation of Vasudeva (vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah). Such a devotee does not give much value to the highest standard of happiness within this material world.
narayana-parah sarve
na kutascana bibhyati
svargapavarga-narakesv
api tulyartha-darsinah
(SB 6.17.28)
Because he is fixed in devotional service, a devotee does not regard any position in the material world as important. Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati has therefore written (Caitanya-candramrta 5):
kaivalyam narakayate tri-dasa-pur akasa-puspayate
durdantendriya-kala-sarpa-patali protkhata-damstrayate
visvam purna-sukhayate vidhi-mahendradis ca kitayate
yat-karunya-kataksa-vaibhavavatam tam gauram eva stumah
For one who becomes a pure devotee through devotional service to great personalities like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, kaivalya, or merging into Brahman, appears no better than hell. As far as the heavenly planets are concerned, to a devotee they are like a phantasmagoria or will-o'-the-wisp, and as far as yogic perfection is concerned, a devotee does not care a fig for such perfection, since the purpose of yogic perfection is achieved automatically by the devotee. This is all possible when one becomes a devotee of the Lord through the medium of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions.
Srimad Bhagavatam 09.05.25 - The InValuable Gift Of Bhakti (download mp3)
by Hari Vilas Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net
SB 9.5.25
evam vidhaneka-gunah sa raja
paratmani brahmani vasudeve
kriya-kalapaih samuvaha bhaktim
yayaviriñcyan nirayams cakara
evam vidhaneka-gunah sa raja
paratmani brahmani vasudeve
kriya-kalapaih samuvaha bhaktim
yayaviriñcyan nirayams cakara
Translation:
In this way, because of devotional service, Maharaja Ambarisa, who was endowed with varieties of transcendental qualities, was completely aware of Brahman, Paramatma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus he executed devotional service perfectly. Because of his devotion, he thought even the topmost planet of this material world no better than the hellish planets.
In this way, because of devotional service, Maharaja Ambarisa, who was endowed with varieties of transcendental qualities, was completely aware of Brahman, Paramatma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus he executed devotional service perfectly. Because of his devotion, he thought even the topmost planet of this material world no better than the hellish planets.
Purport:
An exalted and pure devotee like Maharaja Ambarisa is in full awareness of Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan; in other words, a devotee of Vasudeva, Krsna, is in full knowledge of the other features of the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is realized in three features Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan (brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]). A devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, knows everything (vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]) because Vasudeva, Krsna, includes both Paramatma and Brahman. One does not have to realize Paramatma by the yoga system, for the devotee always thinking of Vasudeva is the topmost yogi (yoginam api sarvesam [Bg. 6.47]). And as far as jñana is concerned, if one is a perfect devotee of Vasudeva, he is the greatest mahatma (vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah). A mahatma is one who has full knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Thus Maharaja Ambarisa, being a devotee of the Personality of Godhead, was in full awareness of Paramatma, Brahman, maya, the material world, the spiritual world, and how things are going on everywhere. Everything was known to him. Yasmin vijñate sarvam evam vijñatam bhavati (Mundaka Upanisad 1.3). Because the devotee knows Vasudeva, he knows everything within the creation of Vasudeva (vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah). Such a devotee does not give much value to the highest standard of happiness within this material world.
narayana-parah sarve
na kutascana bibhyati
svargapavarga-narakesv
api tulyartha-darsinah
(SB 6.17.28)
Because he is fixed in devotional service, a devotee does not regard any position in the material world as important. Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati has therefore written (Caitanya-candramrta 5):
kaivalyam narakayate tri-dasa-pur akasa-puspayate
durdantendriya-kala-sarpa-patali protkhata-damstrayate
visvam purna-sukhayate vidhi-mahendradis ca kitayate
yat-karunya-kataksa-vaibhavavatam tam gauram eva stumah
For one who becomes a pure devotee through devotional service to great personalities like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, kaivalya, or merging into Brahman, appears no better than hell. As far as the heavenly planets are concerned, to a devotee they are like a phantasmagoria or will-o'-the-wisp, and as far as yogic perfection is concerned, a devotee does not care a fig for such perfection, since the purpose of yogic perfection is achieved automatically by the devotee. This is all possible when one becomes a devotee of the Lord through the medium of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instructions.
