SB 01.03.29 janma guhyam bhagavato... cited

Expressions researched:
"duhkha-gramad vimucyate" |"janma guhyam bhagavato" |"sayam pratar grnan bhaktya" |"ya etat prayato narah"

SB Canto 1

SB 1.3.29, Translation and Purport:

Whoever carefully recites the mysterious appearances of the Lord, with devotion in the morning and in the evening, gets relief from all miseries of life.

In the Bhagavad-gītā the Personality of Godhead has declared that anyone who knows the principles of the transcendental birth and activities of the Lord will go back to Godhead after being relieved from this material tabernacle. So simply knowing factually the mysterious way of the Lord's incarnation in this material world can liberate one from material bondage. Therefore the birth and activities of the Lord, as manifested by Him for the welfare of the people in general, are not ordinary. They are mysterious, and only by one who carefully tries to go deep into the matter by spiritual devotion is the mystery discovered. Thus the knower is relieved of all miseries. In other words, one gets liberation from material bondage. It is advised therefore that one who simply recites this chapter of Bhāgavatam, describing the appearance of the Lord in different incarnations, in sincerity and devotion, can have insight into the birth and activities of the Lord. The very word vimukti, or liberation, indicates that the Lord's birth and activities are all transcendental; otherwise simply by reciting them one could not attain liberation. They are therefore mysterious, and those who do not follow the prescribed regulations of devotional service are not entitled to enter into the mysteries of His births and activities.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 1.3.29 -- Los Angeles, October 4, 1972:

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

janma guhyaṁ bhagavato

ya etat prayato naraḥ

sāyaṁ prātar gṛṇan bhaktyā

duḥkha-grāmād vimucyate

(SB 1.3.29)

Translation: "Whoever carefully recites the mysterious appearances of the Lord with devotion in the morning and in the evening gets relief from all miseries of life."

Prabhupāda: This is called phala-śruti,(?) result. This chapter was describing different incarnations of God, and it is concluded that kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam (SB 1.3.28). There were many incarnations, and incarnations are coming incessantly just like there are waves in the ocean or in the river. You cannot sit down and count how many waves are flowing. As it is not possible, similarly, you cannot also count how many incarnations are there, how they are coming out. But the most important of them are described. And the conclusion is made that Kṛṣṇa is the origin, as it is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ. "I am the origin of everything, even the incarnations." Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate (BG 10.8). Everyone, all incarnations, all demigods, all living entities, all energies. The Vedānta-sūtra also confirms, janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). The Absolute Truth is that which is the original source of everything.

So sometimes we mistake that Kṛṣṇa is also incarnation. No. He is not incarnation. He is the source of incarnation. Therefore in the last verse it has been clearly, ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam (SB 1.3.28). Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam. They are from Kṛṣṇa, not Kṛṣṇa is from them. Sometimes they argue that Kṛṣṇa is the incarnation of Viṣṇu, but that is not the fact. Viṣṇu is incarnation of Kṛṣṇa. Now, there is no use arguing, because there is no difference between incarnation and the source of incarnation. The example is given: just like dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya dīpāyate (Bs. 5.46). Just like you have got one thousand candles here. So first you light on one candle, then the second, the third, the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh—you go on increasing. So each candle is equal to another candle. So far candlepower light is concerned, there is no difference. The first candle and the second candle, although second candle is lit up from the first candle, but the power of light is the same, either in the first candle or in the second candle. Similarly, do not think that because Kṛṣṇa is the original candle and the next candle is Balarāma, or Rāma, that does not mean Balarāma, or Rāma, is less powerful than Kṛṣṇa. They are equally powerful. Dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya dīpāyate vivṛta-hetu-samāna-dharmā (Bs. 5.46). There is no difference.

Lecture on SB 1.3.29 -- Los Angeles, October 4, 1972:

If you are a jñānī, a philosopher, speculating what is the truth, so the truth is, ultimate truth is Kṛṣṇa. So if from the very beginning you try to search out by your philosophical knowledge or if you try to prove the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa by your philosophical speculation, that is perfection. That is your perfection. Otherwise it is simply laboring, waste of time. Śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8). If you cannot go forward up to Kṛṣṇa by your philosophical and scientific research, then all the labor you have taken, that is almost simply waste of time. The limit of knowledge, the limit of scientific research, will be confirmed when you have surrendered to God.

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante

jñānavān māṁ prapadyate

vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti

sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ

(BG 7.19)

That mahātmā who knows Kṛṣṇa is the supreme cause... Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. So our conclusion is that, that He is the Supreme, Govinda. So we bow down. Yes. Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi **. We give all respects to others, but so far our surrendering process is concerned, that is to Kṛṣṇa. Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi **. Under the direction of Lord Brahmā.

So therefore here it is said that janma guhyaṁ bhagavato ya etat prayato naraḥ. Just like we are here, in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We don't claim that we have become perfect. That is not our... We cannot become perfect. Or at least, we have not become perfect. But prayataḥ, we are trying to be perfect. Prayataḥ. Prayataḥ means endeavoring, endeavoring for understanding God. So therefore here it is said, janma guhyaṁ bhagavato ya etat prayato naraḥ. Any person who endeavors for understanding Kṛṣṇa through the relative śāstras and devotional service, then what is the result? When? Sāyaṁ prātaḥ. Two times at least, in the evening and in the morning. So if we sleep in the morning, snoring, then how we can understand? It is recommended here, sāyaṁ prātaḥ. Tri-sandhyā. Tri-sandhyā means three times. We initiate... We... They promise that three times they will chant gāyatrī-mantra, but I do not know what they are doing.

Lecture on SB 1.3.29 -- Los Angeles, October 4, 1972:

So these are the recommendation in the śāstra. If we don't follow, then we must fall down. There is no doubt about it. But if we follow the regulative principles, as they are enjoined in the śāstra... Sādhu-guru-śāstra. Śāstra will say the same thing as guru advises. Sādhu-guru. A saintly person also will say the same thing. Just like here, Sūta Gosvāmī, he is saintly person. He is advising, sāyaṁ prātaḥ, "Morning and evening you should try to understand the science of God." Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, topics, chanting. So these are the process. Sāyaṁ prātar gṛṇan bhaktyā.

Now, this is the most important work, bhaktyā. Because without bhakti... The real process is bhakti. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti (BG 18.55), Bhagavad-gītā says. Here also, it is said that "Don't read just like a academic scholar." No. That will not benefit you. It will benefit you, but it will take long, long time. Because without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Everywhere you will find that. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patram (BG 9.26), a little flower, little leaf. Suppose I am very poor man. I cannot arrange for puri and rasagullā for Kṛṣṇa. Then what my offering will be? No, there is no opportunity for offering Kṛṣṇa? No. Kṛṣṇa says, "You can offer Me a little flower, a little leaf, a little water." That's all. Who cannot secure it. Any part of the world, anywhere a person can offer to Kṛṣṇa, "Sir, I have no means. I have secured these things." Now, Kṛṣṇa says, "Yes, that's all right." Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati (BG 9.26). "This bhakta, one who offers Me in devotion and love." That is the main ingredient. And a nondevotee cannot offer anything Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not poor. Kṛṣṇa has not come here, He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your puri and rasagullā. No. (laughter) (laughs) Don't think like that. But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has come before you to accept whatever you can offer with devotion. That is the point. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati, tad aham aśnāmi. "I eat." Kṛṣṇa says. Kṛṣṇa is a liar? He's God, He says that "I eat." You cannot say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat. Kṛṣṇa says "I eat." Who are you to say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat? Sometimes this atheist class, the rascal class, they say that "You are offering food. Why? Kṛṣṇa is not eating. It is there." No. Kṛṣṇa eats. But His eating is not like your eating. That is the difference. Pūrṇam, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣ... (Īśo Invocation). He will eat everything and it will keep everything. If I give, I am given a plate, I eat everything, then remains nothing. But when Kṛṣṇa eats, He eats everything and remains everything. Therefore it is prasādam. Therefore it is prasādam.