Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 03 Chapter 29 Purports - Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Pages in category "Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 03 Chapter 29 Purports - Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila"
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A
- A brahmana can serve the Lord by using his intelligence, and the ksatriya can serve the Supreme Lord by using his military arts, just as Arjuna served Krsna. Arjuna was a warrior; he had no time to study Vedanta or other highly intellectual books
- A devotee does not desire anything in this material world. A devotee desires only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This servitude exists eternally; the Lord exists eternally, His servitor exists eternally, and the service exists eternally
- A devotee eats only prasada, or foodstuffs offered to the Supreme Lord, and Krsna says that when a devotee offers Him foodstuffs from the vegetable kingdom, with devotion, He eats that
- A devotee has to execute the principles of devotional service exactly as they are, and he must know that however insignificant a living entity may be, the Lord is present within him. A devotee must realize this universal presence of the Lord
- A devotee is to offer to Krsna foodstuffs prepared from vegetables. If the Supreme Lord wanted foodstuffs prepared from animal food, the devotee could offer this, but He does not order to do that
- A devotee should not be proud of his acquisitions
- A devotee should not ignore any living entity. The devotee must know that in every living entity, however insignificant he may be, even in an ant, God is present, and therefore every living entity should be kindly treated
- A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Krsna and try to serve everything in that spirit. To serve everything means to engage everything in the service of Krsna
- A devotee should worship the Supreme Lord, be friendly to persons who are on the same level and be compassionate to the ignorant. One should exhibit his compassion for ignorant living entities by distributing prasada
- A devotee shows compassion to those poor souls who are wanting in spiritual knowledge by enlightening them in order to elevate them to Krsna consciousness. That is one of the duties of a devotee
- A devotee who is a most confidential servant of the Lord never does anything for his personal account, but does everything for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord
- A devotee's outlook should be that both the soul and Supersoul are equally present in all varieties of living entities
- A devotee's vision must be perfect. He should ignore bodily distinctions and should see only the presence of the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and the Lord Himself in His plenary expansion as Supersoul. That is the vision of a pure devotee
- A human being is not to eat anything which is not offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yajna-sistasinah santah: one becomes freed from all sinful reactions by eating foodstuffs which are offered to Yajna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- A living entity is as eternal as the Supreme Lord, but due to his forgetfulness he is put into this material nature and transmigrates from one body to another, and when the body is destroyed, he thinks that he is also destroyed
- A living entity who wants to enjoy on his personal account and not cooperate with the Supreme Lord is engaged in materialistic life. As soon as he dovetails his enjoyment with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is engaged in spiritual life
- A neophyte considers the arca-vigraha (the statue of the Lord) to be different from the original Personality of Godhead; he considers it a representation of the Supreme Lord in the form of a Deity
- A perfect devotee does not make the mistake of thinking that because the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Paramatma has entered into the body of every living entity, every living entity has become the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is foolishness
- A person becomes fully qualified with all transcendental qualities by following the rules and regulations, as recommended in different scriptures
- A person in need of money approaches the Lord to ask for some improvement in his monetary condition
- A person trained to the stage of understanding the Absolute Truth is a brahmana, and when such a brahmana is veda jna, he understands the purpose of Veda. The purpose of Veda is to understand the Absolute
- A pure devotee does not accept these five kinds of spiritual existence, even if they are offered, and he certainly does not hanker after material benefits, which are all insignificant in comparison with spiritual benefits
- A pure devotee has no interest but to act on behalf of the Supreme Lord. When one has even a tinge of personal interest, his devotion is mixed with the three modes of material nature
- A pure devotee must engage in the service of the Lord twenty-four hours a day, without cessation; his life is so molded that at every minute and every second he engages in some sort of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- A tiger is a living entity, part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Lord is living in the heart of the tiger as Supersoul. But does this mean that we have to treat the tiger in a friendly manner? Certainly not
- A Vaisnava is already a brahmana; in fact, the highest stage of brahminical perfection is reached when one becomes a Vaisnava
- A Vaisnava is one who has taken the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the ultimate goal of life, but if one is not pure and still has motives, then he is not a Vaisnava of the first order of good character
- A yogi is advised to meditate on the form of Lord Visnu from point to point, from ankles to legs to knees to thighs to chest to neck, and in this way gradually up to the face and then to the ornaments. There is no question of impersonal meditation
- Acaryopasanam: one should worship an acarya, a spiritual master who knows things as they are. The spiritual master must be in the disciplic succession from Krsna
- According to devotional vision, a man is poor if he is not in Krsna consciousness. A man may be very rich materially, but if he is not Krsna conscious, he is considered poor
- According to the Vedic system, a dog is not allowed to enter the house. Because of their uncleanliness, cats and dogs are not allowed within the apartment of a gentleman, but are so trained that they stand outside
- Actually the path of devotional service is one without a second, but according to the devotees' condition, devotional service appears in multifarious varieties, as will be nicely explained in the following verses -of SB 3.29
- Actually, as stated in Bhagavad-gita, one cannot get relief from the chain of birth and death even if he goes to the highest planet, Brahmaloka, because the influence of time is present everywhere within this material world
- Actually, pure devotion is explained in the previous chapter: the mind of the Supreme Lord and the mind of the devotee should be dovetailed. A devotee should not wish anything but to execute the desire of the Supreme. That is oneness
- Actually, this forgetfulness of his (the living entity's) relationship with Lord Visnu is the cause of his destruction. Anyone who revives his consciousness of the original relationship receives inspiration from the Lord
- Actually, yoga means meditation on the form of Lord Visnu. If the yoga practice is actually performed according to the standard direction, there is no difference between yoga and bhakti-yoga
- Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this body." This is applicable only to the person who constantly engages in the devotional service of Krsna and is thus in the transcendental stage; he is above the influence of the three modes of material nature
- All the demigods within the material world are temporary, like ourselves. Our lives last for one hundred years at the most, and similarly, although their lives may last for millions and billions of years, the demigods are not eternal
- All the planets are heavy, with their various mountains, seas, oceans, cities, palaces and buildings, and yet they are floating
- Although a devotee sees all living entities on the level of spiritual existence, he is not interested in associating with everyone
- Although Westerners accept that Darwin first expounded the doctrine of evolution, the science of anthropology is not new. The development of the evolutionary process was known long before from the Bhagavatam
- Amongst the trees there are also evolutionary processes; the different kinds of trees have touch perception
- An advanced devotee accepts the Deity in the temple as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not see any difference between the original form of the Lord and the statue, or arca form of the Lord, in the temple
- An analogy may be made with a rich man and a poor man: the propensity for enjoyment is present in both, but the poor man cannot enjoy in the same quantity as the rich man
- Another meaning of the word avyavahita is that the interest of the devotee and the interest of the Supreme Lord are on the same level. The devotee has no interest but to fulfill the transcendental desire of the Supreme Lord
- Another significant phrase in this verse (SB 3.29.15) is natihimsrena ("with minimum violence or sacrifice of life"). Even if a devotee has to commit violence, it should not be done beyond what is necessary
- Another word is arya. Aryans are persons who are advancing in knowledge of Krsna consciousness as well as in material prosperity. The difference between the Aryan and non-Aryan, the sura and asura, is in their standards of spiritual advancement
- Anyabhilasita-sunyam: (CC Madhya 19.167) he (a devotee of God) has no desire to fulfill by rendering devotional service. Such devotional service is meant for the purusottama, the Supreme Personality, and not for anyone else
- Anyone can serve the Supreme Lord by performing his prescribed duties under the direction of a spiritual master, or representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No one should think that his prescribed duties are inferior
- Anyone who accepts Visnu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is accepted as a Vaisnava, but a Vaisnava is expected to develop all the good qualities of the demigods
- Anyone who knows this fact - that the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord are beyond material activities or material conception - is liberated. Yo vetti tattvatah/ tyaktva deham punar janma- BG 4.9
- Anyone who practices yoga and comes to the point of devotional service can attain the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His transcendental abode
- Arjuna engaged in the art of killing, and although killing is, of course, violence, he killed the enemy simply on Krsna's order. In the same way, if we commit violence as it is necessary, by the order of the Lord, that is called natihimsa
- Artha jna brahmana refers to one who has made a thorough analytical study of the Absolute Truth and who knows that the Absolute Truth is realized in three different phases, namely Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan
- As a breeze carrying a pleasant fragrance from a garden of flowers at once captures the organ of smell, so one's consciousness, saturated with devotion, can at once capture the transcendental existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- As long as Brahma does not die, creation, maintenance and destruction are actuated by different demigods under the superintendence of the Supreme Lord
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita, a pandita, one who is learned, sees equally a very learned brahmana, a sudra, a hog, a dog and a cow. He does not see the body, which is only an outward dress
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita, people who are not purified take to devotional service with four purposes. A person who is distressed because of material conditions becomes a devotee of the Lord and approaches the Lord for mitigation of his distress
- As stated in the Caitanya caritamrta (CC Adi 5.14), ekale isvara krsna: the only Supreme Lord is Visnu. Ara saba bhrtya: all others are His servants. Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and other demigods are all servants
- As the sun rises and sets and the seasonal changes ensue at their appointed times by the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so the seasonal plants, flowers, herbs and trees all grow under the direction of the Supreme Lord
- Asat is one who is too materially attached, who is not a devotee of the Lord and who is too attached to women or enjoyable material things. Such a person, according to Vaiṣṇava philosophy, is a persona non grata
- Association with persons who are not spiritually advanced is forbidden. Lord Caitanya advised, asat-sanga-tyaga: one should avoid persons who are attached to the temporary
- Avyavahita means: without cessation
B
- Because every living entity originally has a relationship with the Lord as part and parcel, a devotee should try to see all living entities on the same equal level of spiritual existence
- Because the Supreme Lord is present a pure devotee accepts each body as the temple of the Lord, and since the devotee offers respect to such temples in full knowledge, he gives respect to every living entity in relationship with the Lord
- Better than the trees are the fish because fish have developed the sense of taste. Better than the fish are the bees, who have developed the sense of smell, and better than them are the serpents because serpents have developed the sense of hearing
- Bhakti-yoga is the sunlike illumination for delivering the conditioned souls, whose general condition is described here (in SB 3.29.5). They have no eyes to see their own interests
- Bhakti-yoga with no philosophical basis is more or less sentiment
- Bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is the basic principle of all systems of philosophy; all philosophy which does not aim for devotional service to the Lord is considered merely mental speculation
- By the influence of eternal time, which is a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the father begets a son, and the father dies by the influence of cruel death. But by time's influence, even the lord of cruel death is killed
- By the scientific study of material nature, the living entity and the Supersoul, one has to understand the basic principle of devotional service to the Lord
C
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught that one should be humbler than the grass on the street and more tolerant than the tree. One should not be proud or falsely puffed up. In this way one will surely advance in spiritual life
- Certain birds, such as crows, can distinguish one form from another. Living entities that have many legs, like the wasp, are better than plants and grasses, which have no legs
D
- Demigods are undoubtedly controlling all matter, animate and inanimate, within the universe, but above them the supreme controller is the Personality of Godhead
- Devahuti is requesting her glorious son (Kapiladeva) to illuminate the lives of the conditioned souls so that their most regrettable conditional life may be ended
- Devahuti requests her glorious son, Kapila Muni, to explain about this continued journey to impress upon the conditioned souls that they are undergoing a path of degradation by not understanding the path of bhakti-yoga, devotional service
- Devotees are expected to carry the message or desire of the Lord to such conditioned souls and enlighten them with Krsna consciousness. Thus they may be elevated to transcendental, spiritual life, and the mission of their lives will be successful
- Devotional activities should be transcendental to fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation. Pure devotional service is transcendental to all material qualities
- Devotional service in the modes of ignorance, passion and goodness can be divided into eighty-one categories
- Distribution of prasada to the ignorant masses of people is essential for persons who make offerings to the Personality of Godhead
- Distribution of prasada, or remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord, even to the ignorant masses of people and to animals, gives such living entities the chance for elevation to Krsna consciousness
E
- Eating vegetables is violence, and vegetarians are also committing violence against other living entities because vegetables also have life
- Ekatva is also liberation, but that sort of liberation is never accepted by any devotee, for qualitative oneness is immediately attained as soon as one is situated in devotional service
- Ekatva, or merging into the effulgence of the Supreme Lord, is called kaivalya, but the happiness derived from kaivalya is considered by the pure devotee to be hellish
- Even living entities who are lower than human can be raised to Krsna consciousness by other methods. For example, Sivananda Sena, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, delivered a dog by feeding him prasada
- Every living entity should be kindly treated and should not be subjected to any violence. In modern civilized society, slaughterhouses are regularly maintained and supported by a certain type of religious principle
- Every planet is a residence for innumerable living entities, and the necessary space is provided in the sky by the supreme order of the Lord
- Everyone is afraid of the activities of time, but a devotee who knows that the time factor is another representation or manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has nothing to fear from the influence of time
- Everyone is conscious of the last stage of life, when he will meet the cruel hands of death, but some consider their age and circumstances, concern themselves with the influence of time and thus engage in pious activities
- Everyone wants to act as the proprietor of his actions so that he can enjoy the result. A devotee, however, has no such desire; he acts because the Personality of Godhead wants him to act in a particular way. He has no personal motive
- Everyone's prescribed duty is glorious if it is performed in devotional service of the Lord, without desire for profit. Such loving service must be performed without reason, without impediment, and spontaneously
- Everything is changed and transformed by the time factor, or by the indirect control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
F
- Factually it happened that the same dog (that was fed prasadam by Sivananda Sena), when met by Lord Caitanya at Puri, was liberated from the material condition
- For a devotee there is no question of desiring any material or spiritual prosperity. He simply aspires to serve the Lord. That is his highest happiness
- For a devotee, that qualitative equality (with God), which is the result of impersonal liberation, is already attained; he does not have to try for it separately
- Forgetfulness of one's relationship with Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of one's repeated birth and death
- Four-legged animals are better than many-legged living entities, and better than the animals is the human being, who has only two legs
- Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding. Such persons are said to be sva jati - of the same caste
- From every position, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, sva-karmana tam abhyarcya: (BG 18.46) one can serve the Supreme Lord by performing one's prescribed duty. It is not that only the brahmanas can serve the Supreme Lord and not the sudras
- From Krsnaloka, the bodily effulgence of Lord Krsna is distributed not only to the spiritual world but to the material world as well; it is covered by matter, however, in the material world
- From Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita we can know who the lawmaker is: the lawmaker is the Supreme Personality of Godhead
G
- Generally, people are attached to sense enjoyment and so aspire for life on the heavenly planets. Therefore, they engage themselves in charitable or other pious activities
- Generally, pure devotees utilize their valuable time in chanting and discussing various activities of Lord Krsna or Lord Caitanya amongst themselves
- Gratitude and love for God is exhibited by a pure devotee, who knows that the Lord lives in every living entity
H
- He (a Devotee of God) should make friendship with other devotees so that by discussing among themselves, they may elevate one another on the path of spiritual understanding. This is called ista-gosthi
- He (a materialistic devotee) is not completely situated on the spiritual platform; rather, he is in the lowest stage of devotion. He does, however, show all respect to the Deity
- He (a pandita) does not see the dress of a brahmana, or that of a cow or of a hog. He sees the spiritual spark, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord
- He should also make friendship with persons who are on an equal level with himself or who have the same understanding that he does. For a devotee, there is no point in making friendships with ordinary persons
- He should follow the rules and regulations so that he may actually make advancement
- He thinks that he is the best devotee. Devotional service executed in this way is not pure; it is mixed and is of the lowest grade, tamasah. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura advises that a Vaisnava who is not of good character should be avoided
- Here (in SB 3.29.14) the same fact is confirmed by Lord Kapila: one who is situated in pure devotional service is transcendentally situated, as is the Lord. Just as the Lord is unaffected by influence of the material modes, so too are His pure devotees
- Here (in SB 3.29.15), significantly, it is stated that every living entity has to live by killing another entity; that is the law of nature
- Here (in SB 3.29.33) it is clearly stated that he who has dedicated his life, all his activities, his mind and his soul - everything - for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, is considered to be the greatest person
- Here (in SB 3.29.35) it is clearly stated, purusah purusam vrajet: the purusa, the living entity, goes to the Supreme Person
- Here (in SB 3.29.35) the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kapiladeva perfectly explains that the mystic yoga system, consisting of eight different kinds of yoga activities, has to be performed with the aim of coming to the perfectional stage of bhakti-yoga
- How a living entity gets different kinds of bodies will be explained in the next chapter (SB 3.30). This continual change of bodies in birth and death is called samsara
- However ignorant one may be regarding the path of good fortune and the path down to the darkest region of ignorance, everyone is aware of the influence of eternal time, which devours all the effects of our material activities
I
- If a devotee does not see every living entity as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, he is considered prakrta-bhakta, a materialistic devotee
- If a man is thirty or fifty years old, then the influence of time has already devoured thirty or fifty years of the duration of his life
- If a person is innocent and does not know his relationship with Krsna, an advanced devotee should try to engage him in service of Krsna. One who is advanced in Krsna consciousness can engage not only the living being but everything in the service of Krsna
- If he does not understand this (simply performing one's duties properly, without realizing his relationship with God) then even though he discharges his prescribed duties properly, it is to be understood that he is simply laboring without profit
- If one engages only in caring for the necessities of the body, not caring for the eternal necessities of life, then he is part of a civilization whose advancement puts the living entities in the darkest region of ignorance
- If one has a motive for personal sense gratification, his devotional service is manifested differently. Such a man may be violent, proud, envious and angry, and his interests are separate from the Lord's
- If one has not developed loving devotion to the Lord and simply offers many kinds of foodstuffs, fruits and flowers without real devotion, the offering will not be accepted by the Lord
- If one is engaged in pure transcendental loving service to the Lord, it is understood that he has already achieved the five kinds of liberation
- If one only engages in Deity worship in the temple and does not consider other living entities, then he is in the lowest grade of devotional service
- If someone not only has this knowledge (that the Absolute Truth is realized in three different phases, namely Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan) but is able to clear all doubts if questioned about the Absolute Truth, he is considered better
- If this offering process (performing duties of varna and asrama) is in the mode of goodness rather than in pure devotion, then the interest is different
- If we give up bhakti-yoga and simply busy ourselves in the analytical study of the nature of things as they are, then the result will be practically nil
- If, without this preliminary knowledge of the Lord's omnipresence, one simply attaches himself to the rituals in a temple, church or mosque, it is as if he were offering butter into ashes rather than into the fire
- Ignorant men do not know that after this life they are completely under the grip of material nature and will be offered a life which may not be very congenial
- In Bhagavad-gita it is clearly stated that persons who are trying to elevate the condition of the fallen souls by preaching the conclusion of Bhagavad-gita - namely, full surrender unto the Personality of Godhead - are very dear to Him
- In Bhagavad-gita there is reference to bodhayantah parasparam - discussing among themselves
- In Bhagavad-gita, Thirteenth Chapter, it is clearly stated that one should execute devotional service and advance on the path of spiritual knowledge by accepting the acarya
- In order to advance in spiritual understanding, one has to hear from authentic sources about spiritual knowledge. One can understand the reality of spiritual life by following strict regulative principles and by controlling the senses
- In order to distinguish the personality whom the individual soul must approach, it is described here (in SB 3:29.36) that this purusa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the chief amongst all living entities
- In pure devotional service, the only motive should be to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is not actually a motive; that is the pure condition of the living entity
- In purified consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, one sees the presence of Krsna everywhere
- In sarsti liberation the opulence of the devotee is equal to the opulence of the Supreme Lord. Samipya means to be a personal associate of the Supreme Lord
- In sarupya liberation the bodily features of the devotee are exactly like those of the Supreme Person but for two or three symptoms found exclusively on the transcendental body of the Lord
- In the beginning of this instruction, the Lord explained to His mother that mad-guna-sruti-matrena, simply by hearing of the name, quality, form, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is immediately attracted
- In the Brahma-samhita it is said, isvarah paramah krsnah (Bs. 5.1). Undoubtedly there are many controllers in the departmental management of this universe, but the supreme controller is Krsna
- In the conditioned stage, when one engages in devotional service, he should follow the instruction of the bona fide spiritual master in full surrender
- In the darkness of night a snake can find its eatables simply by hearing the frog's very pleasant cry. The snake can understand, "There is the frog," and he captures the frog simply because of its sound vibration
- In the modern age a yoga process has been manufactured which aims at something void and impersonal
- In the Moksa-dharma section of the Mahabharata it is stated that trees have developed sense perception; they can see and smell. We know by experience that trees can see
- In the previous chapter (SB 3.28), material nature, the spirit and the Supreme Lord, or Supersoul, are analytically studied
- In the previous verse (in SB 3.29.27) it was explained that living entities should be honored by charitable gifts and friendly behavior
- In the Siksastaka, He (Caitanya) prays to the Lord: "All I want from You is that in life after life I may remain a pure devotee at Your lotus feet
- In the Siksastaka, He (Caitanya) prays to the Lord: "O Lord, I do not wish to gain from You any wealth, nor do I wish to have a beautiful wife, nor do I wish to have many followers
- In the spiritual world the time factor has no influence
- In the spiritual world there are innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and on each one the Lord is the predominating Deity. A devotee can be promoted to one such Vaikuntha planet to live with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- In this chapter (SB 3.29) the principles of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service - the execution of activities in the eternal relationship between the living entities and the Personality of Godhead - are explained
- In this Twenty-ninth Chapter, the glories of devotional service are elaborately explained, and the influence of time on the conditioned soul is also described
- In this verse (in SB 3.29.23), two phrases, bhutesu baddha-vairasya ("inimical towards others") and dvisatah para-kaye ("envious of another's body"), are significant
- In this verse (SB 3.29.28) and in the following verses, the description of different grades of living entities is given so that one can know when to behave friendly and when to give charity
- In this verse (SB 3.29.3) the word samsrtih is very important. Sreyah-srti means the prosperous path of advancement towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- In this verse (SB 3.29.33) the word sama-darsanat means that he no longer has any separate interest; the devotee's interest and the Supreme Personality of Godhead's interest are one
- Individual souls may disagree, but the Supersoul, being equally present in every body, is called unchanging, or avikari. The individual soul, when fully saturated with Krsna consciousness, can understand the presence of the Supersoul
- It appears that Srimati Devahuti, the glorious mother of Lord Kapiladeva, is very compassionate for the regrettable condition of people in general, who, not knowing the goal of life, are sleeping in the darkness of illusion
- It has already been stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, Second Chapter, that the highest, most glorious religion is the attainment of causeless, unmotivated devotional service
- It is also stated here (in SB 3.29.43) that the total universal body is increasing. It is covered by seven layers, and as there are five elements within the universe, so the total elements, in layers, cover the outside of the universal body
- It is clearly stated here (in SB 3.29.13) that a pure devotee does not desire ekatva, oneness with the Supreme Lord, as desired by the impersonalists, the mental speculators and the meditators
- It is clearly stated here (in SB 3.29.14) that simply by pure devotional service one becomes qualitatively as good as the Lord Himself
- It is clearly stated mayi sannyasta-karmanah: the devotee works, but he works for the Supreme. It is also stated, mayy arpitatmanah: "He gives his mind unto Me
- It is confirmed here (in SB 3.29.36), purusah purusam vrajet: the living entity goes to the Supreme Personality simply by understanding His transcendental nature and activities
- It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita that (bhaktya mam abhijanati (BG 18.55)) a person saturated with devotional service in full Krsna consciousness can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, either as Supersoul or as the Supreme Person
- It is confirmed in the Katha Upanisad, nityo nityanam: there are many eternal living entities, but He is the chief maintainer. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita also, where Lord Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavah
- It is confirmed in the Vedic literature that before the creation there was only Narayana; neither Lord Brahma nor Lord Siva existed
- It is confirmed in the Vedic literature that the Lord's diverse energies are working so nicely that it appears that everything is being done automatically
- It is described in Bhagavad-gita that the teachings therein should be received by disciplic succession, otherwise there is adulteration
- It is especially mentioned here (in SB 3.29.17), nama-sankirtanac ca: one should chant the holy names of the Lord - Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare - either individually or with others
- It is especially mentioned here (in SB 3.29.23) that a devotee must be free from all violence (jivahimsa). Lord Caitanya has recommended that a devotee not commit violence to any living entity
- It is explicitly stated here (in SB 3.29.27) that mana, respect, is offered to a superior, and charity is offered to an inferior
- It is expressed here (in SB 3.29.23) that the Lord is always eager to deliver the conditioned souls, who have been encaged within material bodies
- It is not acceptable for one to be satisfied simply by practicing the sitting postures and thinking himself complete. By meditation one must attain the stage of devotional service
- It is not that one who has become a devotee of the Lord or who engages in devotional service should give up his prescribed duties. No one should be lazy under the plea of devotional service
- It is not that plants grow automatically, without any cause, as the atheistic philosophers say. Rather, they grow in pursuance of the supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- It is prescribed in Bhagavad-gita: If a devotee offers Me a small flower, a leaf, some water or a little fruit, I will accept it
- It is recommended herewith (in SB 3.29.17) that all the acaryas be given the highest respect. It is stated, gurusu nara-matih. Gurusu means "unto the acaryas," and nara-matih means "thinking like a common man
- It is said by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura that even if one is a Vaisnava, if he is not of good character his company should be avoided, although he may be offered the respect of a Vaisnava
- It is said harim vina na mrtim taranti: no one can be saved from the repetition of birth and death without the help of the Supreme Lord
- It is said here (in SB 3.29.35) that one can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead by either yoga process or bhakti-yoga process. This indicates that factually there is no difference between yoga and bhakti-yoga because the target of both is Visnu
- It is said here (in SB 3.29.42) that the planets do not sink. Since they are floating under the order or energy of the Supreme Godhead, they do not fall down into the water which covers half the universe
- It is specifically mentioned here (in SB 3.29.11-12) that bhakti, devotional service, is meant only for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, Visnu, or Krsna, not for anyone else
- It is stated clearly here (in SB 3.29.22) that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His plenary expansion of Supersoul, is present in all living entities
- It is stated in the Bhagavatam that such engagement (the analytical study of the nature of things as they are) is something like husking a paddy. There is no use beating the husk if the grain has already been removed
- It is the duty of all living entities to take shelter of the lotus feet of Visnu and thus save themselves from the cycle of birth and death
- It is the general feeling of the Vaisnava, or devotee of the Lord, that he should awaken them - conditioned souls sleeping in the darkness of ignorance
- It is the misconception of the impersonalists that one can worship any imaginary form of the Lord, or Brahman, and at the end merge in the Brahman effulgence. Of course, to merge into the bodily effulgence (Brahman) of the Supreme Lord is also liberation
- It is understood from this passage (from Srimad Bhagavatam) that all the other planets that are floating in the air have oceans and mountains similar to those on this planet
- It is understood from this verse (SB 3.29.43) that all planets in outer space are floating, and they all hold living entities. The word svasatam means "those who breathe," or the living entities. In order to accommodate them, there are innumerable planets
- It should not be misunderstood that because the Supersoul is dwelling within the heart of a living entity, the individual soul has become equal to Him
J
- Janma karma ca me divyam: (BG 4.9) the activities and the appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are transcendental; they are not to be considered material
- Jivahimsa means that since every living entity has to pass through a particular type of body according to his past karma, although every living entity is eternal, he should not be disturbed in his gradual evolution
- Jivo jivasya jivanam: one living entity is the life for another living entity. But for a human being, that violence should be committed only as much as necessary
- Just as the government has many different departments, so, within this material world, the government of the Supreme Lord has many departments, and all these departments function in proper order out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Just how discrimination should be maintained is given in the following six verses (from SB 3.29.28) concerning the different grades of living conditions
K
L
- Lord Caitanya has given special stress to chanting of these holy names of the Lord as the basic principle of spiritual advancement. Another word used here is arjavena, meaning "without diplomacy." A devotee should not make plans out of self-interest
- Lord Caitanya teaches us how to execute pure devotional service out of spontaneous love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Lord Caitanya, in the role of a devotee, also preached the same philosophy. He preached that Krsna is the worshipful Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that the interest of His pure devotees is the same as His own
- Lord Kapila was very satisfied by the request of His glorious mother (Devahuti) because she was thinking not only in terms of her personal salvation but in terms of all the fallen conditioned souls
- Lord Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavah: (BG 10.8) "I am the origin of everything, including the Brahman effulgence and Paramatma manifestation." His activities are transcendental, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita
- Lord Visnu is in charge of the mode of goodness, Lord Brahma is in charge of the mode of passion, and Lord Siva is in charge of the mode of ignorance
- Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is clearly described in this passage (SB 3.29.38). He is the supreme enjoyer, and all others are working as His servants
M
- Mana indicates a superior, and dana indicates one who gives charitable gifts or is compassionate towards an inferior. We cannot treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an inferior who is dependent on our charitable gifts
- Many acaryas, such as Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, used to live beneath trees every night. Superficially it appeared that they were poverty-stricken, but from their writings we can understand that in spiritual life they were richest personalities
- Mayavadi philosophers wrongly think that because the Supreme Person has entered the body of a poor man, the Supreme Lord has become daridra-narayana, or poor Narayana. These are all blasphemous statements of atheists and nondevotees
- Mayavadis interpret this word "separatist" in a different way. They say that while worshiping the Lord, one should think himself one with the Supreme Lord. This is another adulterated form of devotion within the modes of material nature
- Mixed devotees, or devotees in the modes of passion and ignorance, think that the interest of the Supreme Lord is supplying the orders of the devotee; the interest of such devotees is to draw from the Lord as much as possible for their sense gratification
N
- Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beyond the material creation; except for Him, everything is within the material creation
- Nature is working under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita
- Neither of these (who simply speculate and meditate and those who have no philosophical basis) can achieve the highest goal of life-or, if they do, it will take them many, many years
- Niyamena: one should offer the greatest respect to the acaryas according to the standard regulations. A devotee should also be compassionate to the poor. This does not refer to those who are poverty-stricken materially
- No one can live within this material world eternally. The phenomenal world is created, maintained and destroyed by the finger signal of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Nondevotees are killing cows, goats and so many other animals for eating purposes, and a devotee, who is vegetarian, is also killing
O
- Of course this is not possible for living entities who are lower than human beings, but in human society it is feasible that all living entities can be enlightened with Krsna consciousness
- One has to execute devotional service according to his prescribed duties. Sva-karma-krt means that one should discharge the duties prescribed for him without neglect
- One has to execute his prescribed duties according to his social position as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra. The prescribed duties of the four classes of men in human society are also described in Bhagavad-gītā
- One may offer his respects to such a Vaisnava because he has accepted the Supreme Lord as the ultimate goal of life, but one should not keep company with a Vaisnava who is in the mode of ignorance
- One must be able to clear all doubts and simultaneously be situated in the brahminical characteristics
- One offers sacrifices by pouring clarified butter into a fire and chanting Vedic mantras, but even if there are Vedic mantras and all conditions are favorable, if the clarified butter is poured on ashes, then such a sacrifice will be useless
- One should be very tolerant and simple, one should accept the spiritual master, and one should control the senses. These are mentioned here and in Bhagavad-gita as well
- One should hear from authentic sources how to advance in spiritual life; such instructions should be taken from the acarya and should be assimilated
- One should not be satisfied simply by discharging his duties properly; he must realize his relationship and the relationship of all other living entities with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- One should not eat more than necessary, he should not collect more paraphernalia than necessary, he should not talk unnecessarily with common men, and he should not follow the rules and regulations without purpose
- One should not give up the execution of devotional service because one or two attempts have not been successful. One must continue. Sri Rupa Gosvami also confirms one should be very enthusiastic and execute devotional service with patience and confidence
- One should not simply acquire knowledge without reaching the goal of life or the basic principle for acquiring knowledge-bhakti-yoga
- One should steadily control the senses and the mind and strictly follow the rules and regulations, and he should make friendship with persons of the same standard
- One should worship the Deity of the Lord until one appreciates the presence of the Lord in every living entity
- One who approaches the Supreme Lord to render devotional service, but who is proud of his personality, envious of others or vengeful, is in the mode of anger
- One who is envious of or inimical towards others never experiences any happiness
- One who is not affected by the three modes of material nature is called a liberated soul, or brahma-bhuta soul (SB 4.30.20). Brahma-bhutah prasannatma (BG 18.54) is the stage of liberation
- One who not only can preach but who also sees everything in the Absolute Truth and the Absolute Truth in everything is in the highest class of Vaisnavas
- One who not only understands the principles of the science of God but can also preach is in the second stage
- One who understands the Absolute Truth in three phases, namely Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan, and who understands the term Bhagavan to mean the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is considered to be the best of the brahmanas, or a Vaisnava
- One who worships the Deity in the temple and does not show respect to others is a devotee on the material platform, in the lowest stage of devotional service
- Only Narayana, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, or Krsna, is always in the transcendental position, beyond the influence of material creation
- Other living entities are undoubtedly part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, but because their consciousness is still covered and not developed in Krsna consciousness, we should renounce their association
- Others, who are not in distress or in need of monetary assistance but are seeking knowledge in order to understand the Absolute Truth, also take to devotional service, and they inquire into the nature of the Supreme Lord
P
- Patience is necessary for developing the confidence that "Krsna will certainly accept me because I am engaging in devotional service." One has only to execute service according to the rules and regulations to insure success
- People who have no knowledge of this material world, God and their actual intimate relationship with Him are actually going to the darkest region of material existence in the name of progress in the material advancement of civilization
- Persons who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living entity, and everywhere else, are in the mode of ignorance
- Preachers sometimes have to make some plan to execute the mission of the Lord under proper guidance
- Pure devotional service as described by Rupa Gosvami is free from all material desires. Anyabhilasita-sunyam (CC Madhya 19.167). There can be no excuse for personal or material interest
- Pure devotional service in Krsna consciousness is one because in pure devotional service there is no demand from the devotee to be fulfilled by the Lord. But generally people take to devotional service with a purpose
- Purusa means "enjoyer," and the spirit of enjoyment is present both in the living entity and in the Supreme Lord. The difference is that the quantity of enjoyment is not equal
- Purusah purusam vrajet: when the living entity enters into the kingdom of God and cooperates with the Supreme Lord by giving Him enjoyment, he enjoys the same facility or the same amount of pleasure as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
R
- Real love and devotion is accepted by the Lord. Many valuable foodstuffs may be presented to a person, but if the person is not hungry, all such offerings are useless for him
- Regarding personal self-interest, a devotee should always be without diplomacy, and he should avoid the company of persons who are not advancing in spiritual life
- Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, used to live beneath trees every night
S
- Samsrti means the continued journey on the path of birth and death towards the darkest region of material existence
- Simply because a tiger is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord does not mean that we embrace him because of his spiritual relationship with the Supreme Lord. We must associate only with persons who have developed Krsna consciousness
- Since He (God) is the origin of the Brahman effulgence and Paramatma manifestation, He is described herewith (in SB 3.29.36) as the chief personality
- Since the individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, in that sense the Lord is living in every body, and, as Supersoul, the Lord is also present as a witness. In both cases the presence of God in every living entity is essential
- Since the individual soul is present only in a particular body, he is altered when another individual soul does not cooperate with him. The Supersoul, however, is equally present everywhere
- Since the Lord is perpetually compassionate towards them, if some of His devotees also become compassionate towards them, He is very pleased with the devotees
- Sleeping in that darkest region, one does not get any refreshment, but, rather, gradually becomes fatigued. He invents many processes to adjust this fatigued condition, but he fails and thus remains confused
- Some consider their age and circumstances, concern themselves with the influence of time and thus engage in pious activities so that in the future they will not be put into a low family or an animal species
- Sometimes in its growth a large tree changes its course of development to avoid some hindrances. This means that a tree can see, and according to Mahabharata, a tree can also smell. This indicates the development of sense perception
- Sometimes Mayavadi philosophers, due to a poor fund of knowledge, define the word sama-darsanat to mean that a devotee should see himself as one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is foolishness
- Sometimes pseudodevotees show devotion to many demigods, thinking the forms of the demigods to be the same as the Supreme Personality of Godhead's form
- Sometimes the question is put before us: "You ask us not to eat meat but you are eating vegetables. Do you think that is not violence?"
- Sometimes the question is raised that since vegetables also have life and devotees take vegetable foodstuffs, isn't that violence? Firstly, however, taking some leaves, twigs or fruit from a tree or plant does not kill the plant
- Spontaneous service unto the Supreme Lord is transcendental and is never contaminated by the material modes of nature. These are the symptoms of pure devotional service, which is free from all contamination of material nature
- Sripada Sankaracarya, who is supposed to be the leader of the impersonalist school of philosophers, has admitted in the beginning of his comments on Bhagavad-gita that Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is beyond the material creation
- Srivatsa, for example, the hair on the chest of the Lord, particularly distinguishes Him (God) from His devotees - who have achieved sarupya liberation
- Such a person (who knows God's activities, appearance and disappearance are beyond material conception), after quitting his body, does not come back again to this material world, but goes to the Supreme Person
- Suppose a person enters into a room; that does not mean that the room has become that person. Similarly, that the Supreme Lord has entered into each of the 8,400,000 types of material bodies does not mean that each of these bodies has become Supreme Lord
- Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, in His Paramatma feature, is present everywhere, even in the heart of every living being
- Sāṅkhya philosophy is the analytical study of all existence. One has to understand everything by examining its nature and characteristics. This is called acquirement of knowledge
T
- Temple Deity worship is one of the functions of a devotee. He goes regularly to see the Deity nicely decorated, and with veneration and respect he touches the lotus feet of the Lord and presents offerings of worship, such as fruits, flowers and prayers
- Temple worship is one of the duties of a devotee. It is especially recommended for neophytes, but those who are advanced should not refrain from temple worship
- Temple worship necessarily includes distribution of prasada. It is not that one should create a temple in his private apartment or private room, offer something to the Lord, and then eat
- That (one creating a temple in private, offering something to the Lord and then eating) is better than simply cooking foodstuffs and eating without understanding one's relationship with the Supreme Lord; people who act in this manner are just like animals
- That is the philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneous oneness and difference. The living entity cannot enjoy life in opposition to the Supreme Lord; he has to dovetail his activities with the Lord by practicing bhakti-yoga
- The activities of brahmanas are to control the senses and to become simple, clean, learned devotees. The ksatriyas have the spirit for ruling, they are not afraid on the battlefield, and they are charitable
- The basic principle of this unadulterated, pure devotional service is love of Godhead. Mad-guna-sruti-matrena means "just after hearing about the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." These qualities are called nirguna
- The best use of the tongue and of sound vibration is to chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That will protect one from the hands of cruel death
- The bodily expression of a particular type of living entity is always ignored by the devotee
- The body is born at a certain time, and immediately the influence of time acts upon it. From the date of the birth of the body, the influence of death is also acting; the advancement of age entails the influence of time on the body
- The brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras, along with the brahmacaris, grhasthas, vanaprasthas and sannyasis, are the members of the eight divisions of varnas and asramas
- The compassionate householder will supply prasada to the dogs and cats, who eat outside and then go away
- The conception that the living entity is one with the Supreme is in the mode of ignorance. Oneness is actually based on oneness of interest
- The damsels in Vrajadhama were girls born of the vaisya class, and they engaged in protecting cows and producing agriculture. Krsna's foster father, Nanda Maharaja, and his associates were all vaisyas
- The development of the evolutionary process was known long before from the Bhagavatam, which was written five thousand years ago. There are records of the statements of Kapila Muni, who was present almost in the beginning of the creation
- The devotee is so fond of rendering service to the Supreme Lord that the five kinds of liberation are not important to him
- The devotee should avoid a person whose character is not fixed in the standard understanding; even though he may be a Vaisnava, or a devotee of Krsna, if his character is not correctly representative, then he should be avoided
- The devotee who wants to elevate himself to the higher level of understanding must know that the Lord is present in every living entity, and, as stated in the previous verse (SB 3.29.23), one should be compassionate to other living entities
- The different limbs of the body cannot enjoy life independently; they must cooperate with the whole body and supply food to the stomach. In so doing, all the different parts of the body enjoy equally in cooperation with the whole body
- The equality of the Supersoul and the individual soul is misconceived by the impersonalist. Here (in SB 3.29.27) it is distinctly mentioned that the individual soul should be recognized in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The exact meaning of the word sattvena is given by Sridhara Svami as being synonymous with dhairyena, or patience. One must perform devotional service with great patience
- The first division is made between dead, stonelike matter and the living organism. A living organism is sometimes manifested even in stone. Experience shows that some hills and mountains grow. This is due to the presence of the soul within that stone
- The flow of the Ganges water cannot be stopped by any condition; similarly, a pure devotee's attraction for the transcendental name, form and pastimes of the Supreme Godhead cannot be stopped by any material condition
- The four asramas and the four varnas act for some benefit in accordance with their personal interests. Therefore such activities are in the mode of goodness; they cannot be counted in the category of pure devotion
- The goal of life is to follow the principles of bhakti, or devotional service, and ultimately attain to the planet of the Supreme Lord in full devotion and love as an eternal servitor of the Lord
- The highest perfectional brahmana is the Vaisnava. A Vaisnava who knows the science of the Absolute Truth but is not able to preach such knowledge to others is described as being in the lower stage
- The impersonalist sometimes accepts a poor individual soul as being daridra-narayana, meaning that Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has become poor. This is a contradiction
- The living entities have 8,400,000 different kinds of bodies, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living in every body both as the individual soul and as the Supersoul
- The living entities, according to different results of fruitive activities, may become rich or poor, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unchangeable; He is always full in six opulences
- The living entity cannot experience the same quantity of enjoyment as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The Lord is always compassionate towards the fallen souls of this material world, and therefore He comes Himself or sends His confidential servants to deliver them
- The Lord is described here (in SB 3.29.5) as yoga-bhaskara, the sun of the system of all yoga. Devahuti has already requested her glorious son (Kapiladeva) to describe bhakti-yoga, and the Lord has described bhakti-yoga as the ultimate yoga system
- The Lord states in Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate: (BG 9.10) "Nature is working under My direction." The foolish person thinks that nature is working automatically, but such an atheistic theory is not supported in the Vedic literature
- The many saintly persons in the jungles do not treat the tigers in a friendly way, but they supply prasada foodstuffs to them. The tigers come, take the food and go away, just as a dog does
- The material qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance cannot affect the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore He is called nirguna free from all tinges of material qualities
- The material scientist explains that all different planets are floating because of the law of gravity or some other law; but the actual lawmaker is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When we speak of law, we must understand that there must be a lawmaker
- The material scientists can discover laws of nature, but they are unable to recognize the lawmaker
- The members of the eight divisions of varnas and asramas, and they have their respective duties to perform for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The method of worshiping the individual soul is described here as either giving charitable gifts or behaving in a friendly manner, free from any separatist outlook
- The next manifestation of the living condition is development of consciousness, and the next manifestation is the development of sense perception
- The only path for mitigating his fatigue in the struggle for existence is the path of devotional service, or the path of Krsna consciousness
- The phrase rupa-bhedaspadam is very significant. By the influence of time, so many forms are changing
- The position of an acarya is that he executes devotional service with no desire for elevation to a higher position of life
- The predecessors of the spiritual master are his spiritual master, his grand spiritual master, his great-grand spiritual master and so on, who form the disciplic succession of acaryas
- The pure devotee is already in the transcendental stage, and the affinity between him and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is natural and is compared to the Ganges water flowing towards the sea
- The purpose of elaborately describing the influence of time is to detach the conditioned soul from his material activities, which are considered to be simply a waste of time
- The real purpose is to exhibit one's loving devotion to the Lord; the offerings themselves are secondary
- The spiritual master is the manifested representation of the Supreme Lord because he receives and presents the instructions of the Lord, as they are, by disciplic succession
- The Supersoul in all living entities is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His omnipotency, He can live anywhere, and He can create His Vaikuntha situation everywhere. That is His inconceivable potency
- The Supreme Lord is uncontaminated by the modes of material nature; therefore He is attractive to the pure devotee. There is no need to practice meditation to attain such attraction; the pure devotee is already in the transcendental stage
- The Supreme Person, in His different plenary expansions, lives on innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and the chief planet is Krsnaloka. Just as within the material universe the chief planet is the sun, in the spiritual world the chief planet is Krsnaloka
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity are qualitatively one; both are defined as purusa. The quality of purusa exists both in the Supreme Godhead and in the living entity
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in all opulences. He can agree to live with a poor soul or even with an animal, but this does not make Him poor
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the chief amongst all living entities and is the ultimate form of the impersonal Brahman effulgence and Paramatma manifestation
- The symptoms of a devotee are meekness and humility. Although spiritually very advanced, he will always remain meek and humble, as Kaviraja Gosvami and all the other Vaisnavas have taught us by personal example
- The system of four classifications in human society according to quality and work is very scientific
- The three modes of material nature, namely goodness, passion and ignorance, are under the control of three deities - Brahma, Visnu and Lord Siva
- The vaisyas, or the mercantile class of men, trade in commodities, protect cows and develop agricultural produce. The sudras, or laborer class, serve the higher classes because they themselves are not very intelligent
- The word "separatist" must be understood carefully. The Sanskrit words in this connection are bhinna-drk and prthag-bhavah. A separatist is one who sees his interest as separate from that of the Supreme Lord
- The word ahaituki means "without reason." A pure devotee does not render loving service to the Personality of Godhead for any cause or for any benefit, material or spiritual. This is the first symptom of unalloyed devotion
- The word avicchinna, "without interruptions," is very important in this connection. No material condition can stop the flow of the devotional service of a pure devotee
- The word sva-karma-krt in this verse (SB 3.29.25) is very significant. Sva-karma-krt is one who engages in discharging his prescribed duties
- The yogis and empiric philosophers desire cessation of the process of birth and death, but a devotee is satisfied to remain even in this material world and execute devotional service
- There are bodily differentiations among all varieties of living entities, but a devotee should not distinguish between one living entity and another on such a basis
- There are different devotional activities, such as hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, offering prayer, rendering service and surrendering everything, and each of them can be divided into three qualitative categories
- There are eighteen qualifications mentioned in Bhagavad-gita, among which is simplicity. One should be without pride; one should not demand unnecessary respect from others, and one should be nonviolent. Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa - BG 13.8
- There are innumerable books which contain countless subjects for discussion among two devotees or more. Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding
- There are many instances in which candalas, or those lower than sudras, have served Krsna. Also, the sage Vidura was considered a sudra because his mother happened to be sudra
- There are many other demigods in charge of the air department, the water department, the cloud department, etc
- There are no distinctions, for it is declared by the Lord in Bhagavad-gita that anyone engaged specifically in devotional service is elevated to the transcendental position without a doubt
- There are prescribed duties for the different social classes of men - the brahmanas, the vaisyas, the ksatriyas and the sudras - and for the different asramas - brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa
- There are sixty-four different prescriptions for worship of the Deity in the temple. There are many items offered to the Deity, some valuable and some less valuable
- There are two classes of men. Some consider themselves intellectually advanced and simply speculate and meditate, and others are sentimental and have no philosophical basis for their propositions
- There are two kinds of dissolutions. One kind of dissolution takes place when Brahma goes to sleep during his night, and the final dissolution takes place when Brahma dies
- There are two kinds of householders. One is called the grhamedhi, and the other is called the grhastha. The objective of the grhamedhi is sense gratification, and the objective of the grhastha is self-realization
- There is a distinction in the manner a neophyte and an advanced devotee appreciate the Lord's presence in the temple
- There is a similarity between the prayers of Lord Caitanya and the statements of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Lord Caitanya prays, "in life after life," indicating that a devotee does not even desire the cessation of birth and death
- There is hearing in the mode of passion, in the mode of ignorance and in the mode of goodness. Similarly, there is chanting in the mode of ignorance, passion and goodness, etc
- There may be a learned brahmana-Vaisnava who can explain clearly and eradicate all doubts, but if he does not follow the Vaisnava principles, then he is not situated on a higher level
- These (working for God and giving the mind unto Him) are the qualifications of a devotee, who, according to this verse (SB 3:29.33), is accepted as the highest of all human being
- They do not know that the goal of life is not to increase the material necessities of existence, because the body will not exist more than a few years. The living beings are eternal, and they have their eternal need
- This (drawing from God for one's sense gratification) is the separatist mentality
- This does not mean that the Lord is someone's enemy and someone else's friend. He helps everyone; one who is not bewildered by the influence of material energy is saved, and one who is bewildered is destroyed
- This example is sometimes given for persons who vibrate sounds simply for death. One may have a very nice tongue that can vibrate sound like the frogs, but that kind of vibration is simply calling death
- This is the vision of a devotee whose devotional service is in highest stage of bhava, or love of Godhead (He doesn't see difference between God's form and the statue in the temple) whereas a neophyte's worship in the temple is a matter of routine duty
- This knowledge has existed since the Vedic time, and all these sequences are disclosed in Vedic literature; the theory of gradual evolution or anthropology is not new to the Vedas
- This system of brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras has now become vitiated as the present caste system in India, but it appears that this system has been current a very long time, since it is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita
- Three multiplied by nine equals twenty-seven, and when again multiplied by three it becomes eighty-one. One has to transcend all such mixed materialistic devotional service in order to reach the standard of pure devotional service
- To act under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master with a motive to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pure devotional service
- To advance in devotional service, a devotee should see other living entities as spiritual sparks, parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. A devotee is to offer respect to every entity that has a relationship with the Lord
- To become one with the Supreme Lord is beyond the dream of a pure devotee. Sometimes he may accept promotion to Vaikuntha planets to serve the Lord there, but he will never accept merging into the Brahman effulgence, which he considers worse than hellish
- To develop transcendental qualities, as explained in the previous verse (in SB 3.29.18), one must become free from these contaminated qualities
- To enter the darkest region of material existence means to enter into a species of life other than the human species
- To have control it is necessary that one be nonviolent and truthful, refrain from stealing, abstain from sex life and possess only that which is absolutely necessary for keeping the body and soul together
- To think of the Vaisnavas, the devotees, as belonging to a particular caste or community, to think of the acaryas as ordinary men or to think of the Deity in the temple as being made of stone, wood or metal, is condemned
- Treating a living entity equally does not mean treating him as one would treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Compassion and friendliness do not necessitate falsely elevating someone to the exalted position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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- Unless there is such a division of the social orders in human society, including the intelligent class, the martial class, the mercantile class and the laborer class, there is always confusion as to who is to work for what purpose
- Usually, we do not see any difference between the body of a child and the body of a boy or young man because we know that these changes are due to the action of the time factor. There is cause for fear for a person who does not know how time acts
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- We also find here (in SB 3.29.40) that the sun shines under the direction of the Lord, and the cloud pours forth showers of rain under the direction of the Lord. All natural phenomena are under superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu
- We can understand from the Vedic literature that this universe is half filled with water, on which Garbhodakasayi Visnu is lying. From His abdomen a lotus flower has grown, and within the stem of that lotus flower all the different planets exist
- We cannot avoid violence, for we are put into a conditional life in which we have to commit violence, but we should not commit more violence than necessary or than ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- We cannot bribe Personality of Godhead. He is so great that our bribery has no value. Nor has He any scarcity; since He is full in Himself, what can we offer Him? Everything is produced by Him. We simply offer to show our love and gratitude to the Lord
- We cannot treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an inferior who is dependent on our charitable gifts. When we give charity, it is to a person who is inferior in his material or economic condition. Charity is not given to a rich man
- We have developed certain unnecessary qualities by material association, and by following the above process (hearing of the name, quality, form of God) we become free from that contamination
- We have to commit violence; that is a natural law. We should not, however, commit violence extravagantly, but only as much as ordered by the Lord
- We have to treat him (the tiger) differently, giving him charity in the form of prasada
- We may offer many valuable items to the Deity, but if we have no real sense of devotion and no real sense of Lord's presence everywhere, then we are lacking in devotional service; in such a state of ignorance, we cannot offer anything acceptable to Lord
- We must treat the lower living entities compassionately, but this does not mean that we have to treat them in the same way we treat other human beings. The feeling of equality must be there, but the treatment should be discriminating
- We should befriend and offer special respect to persons who are developed in Krsna consciousness
- We should not misunderstand that the Supersoul situated in the heart of an animal like a hog and the Supersoul situated in the heart of a learned brahmana are different
- When a child is born his form is small, but in the course of time that form changes into a larger form, the body of a boy, and then the body of a young man
- When a devotee is promoted to the spiritual world, Vaikuntha, he receives four kinds of facilities. One of these is salokya, living on the same planet as the Supreme Personality
- When Lord Caitanya preached Krsna consciousness, it was not with the purpose that people would call Him Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rather, He preached that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be worshiped as such
- When Narayana is living in the heart of a hog, He does not become a hog-Narayana. He is always Narayana and is unaffected by the body of the hog
- When one thinks himself one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no question of serving Him. When there is service, there must be a master. Three things must be present for there to be service: the master, the servant and the service
- When Prahlada was offered some material benefit, he stated - My Lord, my father achieved all kinds of material benefits, and even the demigods were afraid of his opulence, but still, in a second, You have finished his life and all his material prosperity
- When such activities are performed and the results are offered to the Supreme Lord, they are called karmarpanam, duties performed for the satisfaction of the Lord. If there is any inebriety or fault, it is atoned for by this offering process
- When the devotee has an interest or will different from the interest of the Supreme Lord, his mentality is that of a separatist
- When the living entity wants to enjoy by imitating the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his desire is called maya, and it puts him in the material atmosphere
- When the Lord saw that His beloved mother was very compassionate towards the fallen souls, He was pleased, and He also became compassionate towards her
- When the poor man dovetails his desires with those of the rich man and when there is cooperation between the poor man and the rich man, or between the big and the small man, then the enjoyment is shared equally. That is like bhakti-yoga
- When the so-called devotee desires material enjoyment, without reference to the interest of the Supreme Lord, or he wants to become famous or opulent by utilizing the mercy or grace of the Supreme Lord, he is in the mode of passion
- When, by meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all detail, one comes to the point of love of God, that is the point of bhakti-yoga, and at that point he must actually render service to the Lord out of transcendental love
- Without knowledge of the presence of God in every living entity, any so-called advancement of human civilization, either spiritual or material, is to be understood as being in the mode of ignorance
- Worship of the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is prescribed herewith (in SB 3.29.25) even for persons who are simply discharging their prescribed duties