Pradyumna: (chanting verse) Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Devotees: Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Prabhupāda: It is sandhi? Na ghaṭeta artha. It has been lost? Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Again, recite the whole śloka.
Pradyumna: (devotees repeating)
- śrī śuka uvāca
- ātma-māyām ṛte rājan
- parasyānubhavātmanaḥ
- na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ
- svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā
- (SB 2.9.1)
- Svapna. Draṣṭur. Svapna-draṣṭur. Iva. Añjasā. Ivāñjasā.
Prabhupāda: Svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā.
Pradyumna: Svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā.
Prabhupāda: Now read again.
Pradyumna: Whole thing?
Prabhupāda: No, this same verse. Practice it. In this way you practice one mantra daily. Each mantra will purify you hundred yards daily. Go forward. These mantras are very powerful, given by Vyāsadeva Gosvāmī, vibrated. And spoken by... Śuka-mukhād drava-saṁyutamrtam. That is explained in the beginning. Just like a ripened fruit in the tree is already very sweet, and if it is touched by the beak of the parrot, it becomes sweeter. These are natural course. If the parrot touches the fruit, he cuts little by his beak, beak. Beak, you call beak? Then it becomes still sweeter. Śuka-mukhād drava-saṁyutam. Similarly, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is already sublime, transcendental. And when it is spoken through the mouth of Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it becomes still sweet, just like the fruit. The parrot is also called śuka. It is called śuka-pakṣi, śuka bird. So this comparison is given. As the fruit becomes still sweeter by the touch of the beak of the parrot, similarly, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, because it is already spoken by Vyāsadeva, ripened fruit, the experienced contribution of Vyāsadeva, all the Vedic literatures, but when it is spoken through the paramparā system of Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it becomes still sweeter.
Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from bhāgavatam. Bhāgavata para giyā bhāgavata sthāne. Bhāgavata means the grantha-bhāgavata, book bhāgavata... Bhāgavata means about Kṛṣṇa. Bhagavān is Kṛṣṇa. And anything in relationship with Kṛṣṇa is called Bhāgavata. So the devotee is also in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. He is also called bhāgavata. Mahā-bhāgavata. Those who are highly advanced, or first-class devotees, they are called mahā-bhāgavata. So this Bhāgavatam, it is the essence of the Vedic knowledge and when it is received through the paramparā system of pure devotee, then it becomes still more sweet than before. That is the purport.
So we should try to learn, get it by heart, at least one śloka, two ślokas in a week. And if we chant that... Just like you are chanting so many songs, similarly, if we chant one or two verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that will make you very quickly advanced for spiritual realization. We are therefore taking so much trouble to get this transliteration, the meaning, so that the reader may take advanced step, full advantage of the mantra. It is not that to show some scholarship, that "I know so much Sanskrit." No. It is just offered with humility to learn the mantra because one who will chant the mantra... They are all transcendental vibration. Just Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra... This is mahā-mantra, but they are also mantras, all the verses from Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, spoken by Kṛṣṇa, spoken by... Bhāgavata also, spoken by Kṛṣṇa. Vyāsadeva is incarnation of Kṛṣṇa. They're also mantras, infallible instructions. So try to get it by heart, chanting. Either you chant by seeing the book or get it by heart, it is all the same. But try to chant one, two ślokas daily. Chant.
Pradyumna: (chants with devotees responding)
- śrī śuka uvāca
- ātma-māyām ṛte rājan
- parasyānubhavātmanaḥ
- na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ...
- (SB 2.9.1)
Prabhupāda: (correcting) Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Like that. It is written like that?
Pradyumna: Ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Prabhupāda: artha, artha separated?
Pradyumna: No. Together. Ghaṭetārtha.
Prabhupāda: No. Ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. It should, should not be. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Like that. Tā should be long. Tā. Ghaṭeta artha-sambandhaḥ. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Is that all right?
Pradyumna: Yes.
Prabhupāda: So pronounce like that.
Pradyumna: Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Prabhupāda: Loud. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Pradyumna: Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Devotees: Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ.
Pradyumna: Svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Again pronounce.
Pradyumna: Śrī śuka uvāca (repeats verse)
Prabhupāda: Very important verse. Now we shall go to the words and meaning. Again recite. Śrī śuka uvāca.
Devotees: (repeat verse)
Prabhupāda: Once again. Do it again.
Pradyumna: (repeats verse)
Prabhupāda: Again. (devotees repeat verse again) Anyone can recite? All right. See the book and recite.
Śyāmasundara: Śrī-śuka uvāca ātma-māyām ṛte rājan parasyānubhavātmanaḥ.
Prabhupāda: Parasya. The transliteration is the long a. You have seen? You just try to follow the transliteration. That will be easier.
Śyāmasundara: Parasyānu...
Prabhupāda: Parasyānubhava, bhavātmanaḥ. Ātmā.
Śyāmasundara: Yes. Long a over a. Atmanaḥ.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now, beginning.
Śyāmasundara: Parasyānu...
Prabhupāda: No. First line. (devotees repeating)
Śyāmasundara: Śrī śuka uvāca ātma-māyām ṛte rājan parasyānubhavātmanaḥ.
Prabhupāda: Read it again.
Śyāmasundara: Śrī śuka uvāca ātma-māyām ṛte rājan parasyānubhavātmanaḥ na ghaṭetārtha...
Prabhupāda: Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā. Next. Next. You read. Go on. One after another. (continues devotee reciting, Prabhupāda correcting) You read the transliteration. The thing is hearing the meter and repeat. That's all. The writing is already there, transliteration. Simply you have to hear the written. Just like you have chanted so many verses, songs, by hearing. The hearing is very important. A child learns another language simply by hearing, pronunciation, hearing. That is natural. If we hear one thing repeatedly, you will learn. You will learn. So one has to hear little attentively. Then it will be easy. There is no difficulty. Just like you are singing our song in tune, (sings) saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka **. This is by hearing. So simply you have to hear. Therefore whole Vedic śāstra is called śruti. It is a process of hearing. (coughing) This is a disease of old age. These are the warnings that the body is getting rotten. Go on. (recitation continues) Next. Each one of you. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā. What is the añjasā spelling?
Devotee: I-v-a-n-j-a-s-a. Ivāñjasā.
Prabhupāda: Long a or short a?
Devotee: Long a.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Ivāñjasā. Añjasā. Añjasā means wholesale. Go on. (recitation and corrections continue) Na ghaṭeta artha sambandhaḥ, combined together it becomes na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. Tārtha. What is the spelling? Tārtha?
Devotee: T, long a, r-t-h-a.
Prabhupāda: Of tha? What is the...?
Devotee: T-a-r-t-h-a. Na ghaṭa...
Prabhupāda: T-h-a. There must be r.
Pradyumna: Yes. Ghaṭetārtha. G-h-a-t-e-t-a-r...
Prabhupāda: T-a-r. Yes. T-a, artha. So you were missing that r. Na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. All right. Next. (recitation continues) Get it next. Come here. So you have to study like that. So many ślokas, I am taking so much labor. If you do not read it carefully... It is not for that I am making business, for selling only, and not for my students. You must all read like this, practice. Why so much trouble is being taken, word to word meaning and then transliteration? If you chant this mantra, that vibration will cleanse the atmosphere. And wherever you go, in any part of the world, if you can chant this mantra, oh, you'll be received like God. It is so nice. And in India he'll actually receive like Gods if you chant this mantra. They will so offer their respects, so many. Veda-mantra. Next chant. (another devotee recites verse) Very good. Next, next. Bhanu prabhu (Bhanu recites) Thank you very much. He has pronounced very nicely. So he will teach you. Yes. Next. (another devotee recites verse) Very good. (another devotee recites verse) Very good. Yes. In this way, each one of you, you chant and others will follow. Then one or two days, you get the śloka by heart. You can chant. It is not difficult. Now read the word meanings and translation.
Karandhara: "Śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ātma— the Supreme Personality of Godhead; māyām—the energy; ṛte— without; rājan—O King..."
Prabhupāda: Rājan.
Karandhara: Rājan—O King.
Prabhupāda: It is address, addressing. Nominative is rāja and addressive is rājan. Go on.
Karandhara: Parasyāsya...
Prabhupāda: Parasya.
Karandhara: Parasya.
Prabhupāda: Parasya. Yes.
Karandhara: "Parasya—of the pure soul; anubhava-ātmanaḥ— of the purely conscious; na—never; ghaṭeta—it can so happen; artha—meaning; sambandhaḥ—relation with the material body; svapna—dream; draṣṭuḥ—of the seer; iva—like it; añjasā—completely."
Prabhupāda: Añjasā.
Karandhara: "Añjasā—completely. Translation: Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, unless one is influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material body. It is just like the dreamer seeing his own body working."
Prabhupāda: So, purport?
Karandhara: "Purport. The question of Mahārāja Parīkṣit is perfectly answered as to how a living entity began his material life, although he is apart from the material body and the mind."
Prabhupāda: It is a very important question. Parīkṣit Mahārāja inquired... Many people inquired that "How the living entity was with Kṛṣṇa, he became fallen in this material world?" Is not done? This question is raised? So this question is answered here, that "How the living entity who was with Kṛṣṇa became fallen down in contact with this material qualities?" So this is the answer. Read the translation.
Karandhara: "Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O king, unless one is influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead..."
Prabhupāda: It is simply the influence of the material energy, nothing. Actually he has not fallen. Another example given is given. Just like the moon is covered with scattered cloud, the passing cloud. You have seen. Everyone has experience. The cloud passes, and it appears that the moon is moving. Have you seen this?
Devotees: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Actually the moon is not moving. It is a māyā, illusion. It appears that the moon is moving. But similarly, the living entity, because he is spiritual spark of the Supreme, it has not fallen. It has not fallen. But he is thinking, "I am fallen. I am material." That is the reason. He is thinking, "I am this body." Actually the body has no connection with me. That is experienced, that the body has no connection with the soul. The body is changing, dying. But I am the same. The same example, the moon: The cloud is passing over in different way. The moon is far away from the cloud, and it has nothing to do with the cloud, but it appears the moon is moving. (break) Try to understand. Have questions and answer. It is very important thing. Ātma-māyām ṛte rājan. Except ātma-māyā, the illusory energy... It is the maneuver or handling of the illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa. This illusory energy develops when we forget Kṛṣṇa. That's all. It is... In other words, this illusory identification of me with the body is simply due to my forgetfulness. We wanted to forget, we wanted to give up Kṛṣṇa and wanted to enjoy this material world. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is giving us...
Just like when you play some part in a drama, if you feel that "I am king," then you can talk very nicely. And if you feel that "I am Karandhara," then you cannot play nicely king. Is it not? Feeling must be there. If you are playing the part of a king, then you must have the same courage and belief that "I am king." You have to forget that you are Karandhara. Then your part will be very nicely played. It will be appreciated. But if you think simultaneously that "I am Karandhara. I am taking, playing the part of the king," then you cannot play. So because we wanted to play the part of Kṛṣṇa, enjoyer, Kṛṣṇa is giving us chance that "You feel like Me."—"I am king. I am Kṛṣṇa. I am God." (laughter) All these rascals, those who are feeling like that, "I am master. I am king. I am Kṛṣṇa. I am God," they are all simply in that feeling only. That's all. And this feeling is created by Kṛṣṇa: "All right. You want to play the part of a king. I shall train you in such a way." Just like director means, dramatic director means, he creates a feeling. His direction is nothing but how to feel.
Sometimes we played in our younger age Caitanya-līlā. I introduced. And one big director, Amrtalal Chosa, he was just like grandfather. He was one of the, just like in England Shakespeare and others, big, big dramatic, well-known persons. This Amrtalal Chosa and Girish Chandra Chosa, they introduced in India theatric... So we called him to give us direction. He was giving us direction, and repeatedly he was telling that "You feel like that," especially to me. "You feel like that." So actually, when we played according to his direction, the audience were all crying. And we could not understand how they cried. We could not understand. On the stage when we played, it was so perfect that all audience were crying. Actually we saw they were smearing over their eyes with... But the whole thing is artificial, but the effect to the audience became so nice. So similarly, we are... Actually we have nothing to do with this material world, But we have been trained by the illusory energy in such a way that we are thinking, "I am Indian. I am American. I am this. I am that. I am brāhmaṇa. I am śūdra. I have to do this. I have got so much duty," all these illusions, simply thinking. We have nothing to do with all this nonsense, but still, we are taking it very serious. "I have to do like that. I have to do like that. I am this. I am that." That's all. That is explained. Ātma-māyām ṛte rājan: "Except the influence of that ātmā-māyā, the illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa..." Ātma-māyā. Read. Ātma-māyām ṛte rājan parasyānu. Read it?
Karandhara: Parasyānubhavātmanaḥ.
Prabhupāda: Parasyānubhavātmanaḥ. Na ghaṭeta artha-sambandha. There cannot be any relation at all. Na ghaṭeta. Cannot be. Artha sambandhaḥ. Svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā. The very exact example is given, svapna-draṣṭuḥ. Just like a man seeing dream: "Oh, there is tiger, tiger, tiger, tiger! Save me!" He is crying. Another man is, "Where is tiger? Why you are crying? Where is tiger?" But he, in the dream, he is actually feeling: "The tiger has attacked me." Therefore this example is given, na ghaṭetārtha-sambandhaḥ. There cannot be any meaning of this relationship except like a man dreaming and he is creating a situation. He is dreaming there is a tiger and he is creating a situation, fearful situation. Actually there is no cause of fear. There is no tiger. That situation is created by dream. Actually there is no tiger. Similarly we have created this material world and activity. People are running, "Oh..., sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh," identifying that "Oh, I am the manager. I am the factory owner. I am this, I am that. We have got his politics. We have to defeat such competitors." All these things are created exactly like that, svapna-draṣṭur ivāñjasā, just like a man is creating his particular situation simply by dream. That's all.