We are trying to write so many books. What is that book? That means whatever we have understood from our spiritual master. That's all

Expressions researched:
"That means whatever we have understood from our spiritual master. That's all" |"we are trying to write so many books. What is that book"

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Just like we are trying to write so many books. What is that book? That means whatever we have understood from our spiritual master. That's all. So one should be inquisitive, assimilate them, and susampannam, and... This is called śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ (SB 7.5.23). The inquiry means śravaṇam. Inquiry means to get the answer; that is hearing. And then assimilate. Then kīrtanam, then distribute the knowledge to the world.

Lecture on SB 1.5.1-4 -- New Vrindaban, May 22, 1969:

Simply word to word if you try to understand, then you'll get enlightenment. Still, there are ācāryas who can help you.

So this Mahābhārata, which is referred now by Nārada Muni: kṛtavān bhārataṁ yas tvaṁ sarvārtha-paribṛṁhitam, he says that jijñāsitaṁ susampannam api te mahad-adbhutam (SB 1.5.3). Jijñāsitam. Because Vyāsadeva inquired from Nārada. That is the duty of the disciple. Just like Rūpa Gosvāmī says that how we can develop . . . we are explaining these things in our Nectar of Devotion. Ādau gurvāśrayam (Brs 1.1.74). You must inquire, you must be inquisitive. Wherefrom inquiry? You have to inquire from a guru, a spiritual master, who can actually give you right knowledge. And spiritual master means he is able to answer your question.

So one should be very much inquisitive. What sort of inquisitiveness? Asking his spiritual master, "What is the rate of this article?" just like businessman? No. That is also explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that you should inquire. What is that inquiry? Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ (SB 11.3.21). Jijñāsuḥ. Inquisitive. What is that? What is that inquiry? Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ . . . jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam: one who is inquisitive to understand uttamam, beyond this darkness. Because anything you inquire about material things, that is darkness. Tamasi mā jyotir gama. Uttamam. Tama, tama means darkness. Ut. Ut means udgatam.

So every word has volumes of meanings. Udga . . . therefore sometimes right commentary required. So uttamam means udgataṁ tamam. Tama means this material world. When one is inquisitive to understand about the spiritual life, then he should accept a spiritual master. Otherwise there is no need. A spiritual master is not a fashion that, "Oh, I should have a spiritual master." People after fashion. No.

One must be very much inquisitive to know. What about, inquisitive? Uttamam. Śreya uttamam, what is the highest perfection of life. If one is actually inquisitive to understand about the highest perfectional stage of our life, then he should search after a spiritual master. That is the direction.

So here Nārada says that, "You, jijñāsitam, you have inquired. You have inquired. And after inquiry you have done also very nicely." Because Vyāsadeva has written so many books. Just like we are trying to write so many books. What is that book?

That means whatever we have understood from our spiritual master. That's all. So one should be inquisitive, assimilate them, and susampannam, and . . . this is called śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ (SB 7.5.23). The inquiry means śravaṇam. Inquiry means to get the answer; that is hearing. And then assimilate. Then kīrtanam, then distribute the knowledge to the world. That is the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that bhārata-bhūmite manuṣya janma haila yāra (CC Adi 9.41).

Anyone who has taken birth in this holy land of India, Bhārata-varṣa . . . just see how Caitanya Mahāprabhu gives power to every Indian. Every Indian has got this opportunity, because his land of religion, the land of knowledge, spiritual knowledge.

But these rascal men, they are being taught that, "Throw away these books." You see. Such misfortunate condition is now in India. They are recommending wholesale cow slaughter in India, to make this business . . . unfortunately, we have to be governed by such rascals. So the sooner the Indians give up their . . . now, so long these nonsensical things are going on, it is better. It is better.

So jijñāsitam. Nārada says that, "You inquired nicely and you have written very nice books also." Jijñāsitaṁ susampannam api te mahad-adbhutam. "And your knowledge is wonderful." Everything, all credit is being given to Vyāsadeva. Adbhutam.

Jijñāsitam adhītaṁ ca brahma yat tat sanātanam. "Not only ordinary things, not only your material knowledge, but you have inquired about Brahman," athāto brahma jijñāsā. Sanātanam. The Brahman means that is eternal. And what is not Brahman, that is temporary.

So sanātana, "You have inquired about Brahman and you have understood, you have assimilated. You have compiled very wonderful books, adbhutam, and the history, bhāratam, Mahābhāratam." Sarvārtha. Sarvārtha-paribṛṁhitam. "And in that Mahābhārata you have given all the information of these four principles of perfection, namely dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa.

And this Bhagavad-gītā is there in the Mahābhārata, in the Bhīṣma-parva." So tathāpi śocasi. Tathāpi: "Still you are morose. After doing all these things, you are still morose." Tathāpi śocasy ātmānam akṛtārtha iva prabho. Prabho.