Consciousness Carries Us Forward

2016-02-04
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.74.46-48 - Consciousness Carries Us Forward (download mp3)
by Vishwarup Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.com









SB 10.74.46
janma-trayanugunita-
 vaira-samrabdhaya dhiya
dhyayams tan-mayatam yato
 bhavo hi bhava-karanam

Translation: 
Obsessed with hatred of Lord Krsna throughout three lifetimes, Sisupala attained the Lord’s transcendental nature. Indeed, one’s consciousness determines one’s future birth.

Purport: 
Sisupala and his friend Dantavakra, who will be killed by Krsna in Chapter Seventy-eight, were previously Jaya and Vijaya, two gatekeepers in Vaikuntha. Because of an offense, the four Kumaras cursed them to take three births in the material world as demons. The first birth was as Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu, the second as Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and the third as Sisupala and Dantavakra. In each birth they were completely absorbed in enmity toward the Lord and were slain by Him.

Srila Prabhupada explains the position of Sisupala as follows: “Although Sisupala acted as the enemy of Krsna, he was not for a single moment out of Krsna consciousness. He was always absorbed in thought of Krsna, and thus he got the salvation of sayujya-mukti, merging into the existence of the Supreme, and finally became reinstated in his original position of personal service. The Bhagavad-gita corroborates the fact that one who is absorbed in the thought of the Supreme Lord at the time of death immediately enters the kingdom of God after quitting his material body.”

The Third and Seventh cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatam elaborately describe the incident wherein the Lord’s personal associates were cursed to come to the material world as His enemies. In this connection, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti quotes the following verse (Bhag. 7.1.47):

vairanubandha-tivrena
 dhyanenacyuta-satmatam
nitau punar hareh parsvam
 jagmatur visnu-parsadau

“These two associates of Lord Visnu — Jaya and Vijaya — maintained a feeling of enmity for a very long time. Because of always thinking of Krsna in this way, they regained the shelter of the Lord, having returned home, back to Godhead.”


SB 10.74.47
rtvigbhyah sa-sadasyebhyo
 daksinam vipulam adat
sarvan sampujya vidhi-vac
 cakre ’vabhrtham eka-rat


Translation: 
Emperor Yudhisthira gave generous gifts to the sacrificial priests and the members of the assembly, properly honoring them all in the manner prescribed by the Vedas. He then took the avabhrtha bath.


SB 10.74.48
sadhayitva kratuh rajñah
 krsno yogesvaresvarah
uvasa katicin masan
 suhrdbhir abhiyacitah

Translation: 
Thus Sri Krsna, the Lord of all masters of mystic yoga, saw to the successful execution of this great sacrifice on behalf of King Yudhisthira. Afterwards, the Lord stayed with His intimate friends for a few months at their earnest request.

Purport: 
Although Lord Krsna is the master of all masters of yoga, such as Lord Siva, still He was controlled by King Yudhisthira’s pure love. Thus the Lord personally saw to the successful completion of the King’s sacrificial performance. And after that He agreed to stay with His dear friends in Indraprastha for a few more months.