SB 02.01.07 prayena munayo rajan... cited

Expressions researched:
"gunanukathane hareh" |"nairgunya-stha ramante sma" |"nivrtta vidhi-sedhatah" |"prayena munayo rajan"

SB Canto 2

SB 2.1.7, Translation and Purport:

O King Parīkṣit, mainly the topmost transcendentalists, who are above the regulative principles and restrictions, take pleasure in describing the glories of the Lord.

The topmost transcendentalist is a liberated soul and is therefore not within the purview of the regulative principles. A neophyte, who is intended to be promoted to the spiritual plane, is guided by the spiritual master under regulative principles. He may be compared to a patient who is treated by various restrictions under medical jurisdiction. Generally, liberated souls also take pleasure in describing the transcendental activities. As mentioned above, since Nārāyaṇa, Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is beyond the material creation, His form and attributes are not material. The topmost transcendentalists or the liberated souls realize Him by advanced experience of transcendental knowledge, and therefore they take pleasure in the discussion of the transcendental qualities of the Lord's pastimes. In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), the Personality of Godhead declares that His appearance and activities are all divyam, or transcendental. The common man, who is under the spell of material energy, takes it for granted that the Lord is like one of us, and therefore he refuses to accept the transcendental nature of the Lord's form, name, etc. The topmost transcendentalist is not interested in anything material, and his taking interest in the matter of the Lord's activities is definite proof that the Lord is not like one of us in the material world. In the Vedic literatures also, it is confirmed that the Supreme Lord is one, but that He is engaged in His transcendental pastimes in the company of His unalloyed devotees and that simultaneously He is present as the Supersoul, an expansion of Baladeva, in the heart of all living entities. Therefore, the highest perfection of transcendental realization is to take pleasure in hearing and describing the transcendental qualities of the Lord and not in merging into His impersonal Brahman existence, for which the impersonalist monist aspires. Real transcendental pleasure is realized in the glorification of the transcendental Lord, and not in the feeling of being situated in His impersonal feature. But there are also others who are not the topmost transcendentalists but are in a lower status, and who do not take pleasure in describing the transcendental activities of the Lord. Rather, they discuss such activities of the Lord formally with the aim of merging into His existence.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Los Angeles, August 13, 1972:

So here it is recommended, ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ (SB 2.1.6). Somehow or other, if you can remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead in any way, by His name, by His form, by His quality, by His activities, by His paraphernalia, anything, then your life is successful. Now Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking about his own self. Śukadeva Gosvāmī's supposed to be liberated from his birth. So he says,

prāyeṇa munayo rājan

nivṛttā vidhi-ṣedhataḥ

nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma

guṇānukathane hareḥ

Even those who are liberated persons, they are also attracted by the pastimes of the Lord. Not that only the conditioned souls should execute this order, but even one who is liberated. He's giving his personal experience. He says,

idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma

purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam

adhītavān dvāparādau

pitur dvaipāyanād aham

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is supposed to be liberated soul from the beginning of his life. That is a long story. He was sixteen years within his mother's womb. Anyway, he's accepted as a liberated soul. But still, he's attracted by the activities of the narration of the activities of the Lord, and he says that, idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma purāṇam, nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma guṇānukathane hareḥ. Idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma. This Bhāgavata, this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, brahma-sammitam... Brahma-sammitam. So "I heard it from my father, Dvaipāyana." Vyāsadeva, he composed this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and he found his son, Śukadeva Gosvāmī... He had many other sons, but this son, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, because he thought that "This body is liberated," so he taught him about the lessons of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and this is the first time... Because śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam. He heard it from his father, Dvaipayana, and he is now narrating, kīrtanam. He got the chance of narrating Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam at the time of death of Parīkṣit Mahārāja.

Lecture on SB 2.1.7 -- Paris, June 15, 1974:

Nitāi: "O King Parīkṣit, mainly the topmost transcendentalists who are above the regulative principles and restrictions take pleasure in describing the glories of the Lord."

Prabhupāda:

prāyeṇa munayo rājan

nivṛttā vidhi-ṣedhataḥ

nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma

guṇānukathane hareḥ

(SB 2.1.7)

So there is a stage which is called paramahaṁsa stage. At that time, one is not very strictly following the regulative principles. Not that they're not following, but they're above all regulative principles. But we should not imitate that, that "Now we have become paramahaṁsa and we can neglect all regulative principles." No. The paramahaṁsa stage is described here. If you simply imitate, that "Now I have become paramahaṁsa, I do not require to follow rules and regulations"... But you must prove that you are paramahaṁsa.

Therefore what is that paramahaṁsa stage? That is nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma guṇānukathane hareḥ. His only business is to glorify Kṛṣṇa. He does not do that... Not that "I have become paramahaṁsa. Let me eat and sleep." No. The symptom is that he cannot waste a moment without glorifying Kṛṣṇa. That is paramahaṁsa. At that time, you can know, that when you cannot remain even for a single moment without describing Kṛṣṇa, then you can know that you are on the paramahaṁsa stage. No attachment anything material; simply attachment for Kṛṣṇa. Then you can give up the regulative principles. Not before that. Don't imitate. Unless you come to that stage, positive stage... It is not that simply negative. Negative means you must stand on a positive platform. Therefore those who are Śūnyavādī, simply negative... The other day, some Zen Buddhist came. He said that "to become desireless." These nonsense people, they do not know it is impossible to become desireless. They are thinking... Therefore they are disturbed always. It is not possible to become desireless. You... That is negative post, nirvāṇa. That is Buddha philosophy, nirvāṇa. "Stop these material nonsense activities." But unless he has got positive activities, how he can give up this nonsense? Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 2.59). You must give good engagement. Otherwise, he'll go on committing all nonsense. Just like you, you have been given good engagement, Deity worship and so many other things. You are engaged. Therefore you have no time to divert your attention for nonsense things. Simply artificially, if you want to stop, no. The U.S. government, they tried to stop this intoxication habit, LSD, millions of dollars. Not a single man was stopped. Not a single man. And here in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as soon as they come, immediately... Why? Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. When he understands that he is better intoxication, "Why shall I go to LSD?" That is required.

So here it is said, prāyeṇa munayo rājan, "My dear King," nivṛttā vidhi-ṣedhataḥ... Vidhi and niṣedha. They are two things. We say, "You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra," and prohibit, "No illicit sex," negative and positive. So vidhi means "do's" and niṣedha, "do not's." So this is the beginning of life. Don't try to become paramahaṁsa, munayaḥ, from the very beginning. Then you'll fall flat. That is not required. When you actually be situated nairguṇya... Nairguṇya means above the material nature. That is called nairguṇya. This material nature is called traiguṇya. Traiguṇya means three modes of material nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. So when you become above these three guṇas, then there is possibility of becoming nairguṇya.

Lecture on SB 2.1.7 -- Paris, June 15, 1974:

Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna, traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna. Vedas, they are dealing with these three guṇas, Vedas, giving direction according to the guṇa—the sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. So one who is in the sattva-guṇa, for them, there are six purāṇas. Sattva-guṇa, tamo-guṇa, rajo-guṇa. Eighteen purāṇas there are. Some of them are for the persons who are situated on the modes of goodness, and some of them are for the persons who are in rajo-guṇa, and some of them are for persons in tamo-guṇa. Just like in the Vedic śāstras, there is also recommendation to worship goddess Kali. That is for the tamo-guṇa, not for the sattva-guṇa. For the sattva-guṇa, the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa, Brahmāṇḍa-Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta-Purāṇa, Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, according to... Because knowledge has to be given to everyone, but according to his capacity. If one is in tamo-guṇa, you cannot say..., you cannot raise him immediately to the sattva-guṇa. Tamo-guṇa is meat-eating, drinking. These are tamo-guṇa, in the darkness. So the Vedas has given chance to them, "All right, you want to eat meat? All right, you eat meat. But offering to the goddess Kālī." Means restriction. It is not required, but the rascal will not hear immediately. Therefore give him some concession, "All right, you can eat meat by offering sacrifice..., not the cow, but one lower animal which is useless, like goats." Generally, goat and the chicken. They do that.

But it is not meant for the sattva-guṇa. Sattva-guṇa's prescription is different. Rajo-guṇa's prescription is different. On the whole, we are always mixed up with the sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. That is our material position. Therefore sometimes we come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness when we are in sattva-guṇa. Again sometimes fall down. The tamo-guṇa attacks, rajo-guṇa attacks. So we have to become above these guṇas. Traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna. Arjuna advised, Kṛṣṇa advised him that "You become above these three guṇas." So how it can be done? It can be done simply by hearing about Kṛṣṇa. This is nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma guṇānukathane hareḥ. If you simply engage yourself only hearing about Kṛṣṇa, then you are nistraiguṇya. This is the process, simple, no other business.

So we have given you so many books. Don't sleep. Don't waste a single moment. Of course, you have to sleep. Reduce it as much as possible. Eating, sleeping, mating and defending-reduce it. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. That is the example given by the Gosvāmīs. Nidrā, āhāra and vihāra. Āhāra means eating, and vihāra means sense enjoyment, and nidrā means sleeping. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau: "Conquered over." That is spiritual platform. No more sleeping, no more eating, no more sex life. That is perfection. And one who can conquer over these three things, eating, sleeping and sex life, he's fearless, automatically. There is no requirement of defense because they can meet any situation. That is paramahaṁsa stage. Nivṛttā. Munayaḥ prāyeṇa munayo rājan nivṛttā vidhi. For them, there is no regulation. Don't imitate, that "I have become..." Some of our students exhibited that "There is no need of regu... We are all paramahaṁsas." Paramahaṁsa not; rascal number one. Here is the test. When you'll not be influenced by the material qualities, rajo-guṇa, sattva-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. And the test is that nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau, that conquering over the sleeping, nidrā. First thing is mentioned here. Sleeping and eating and sense enjoyment. Śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhu-guṇānukathane.

Lecture on SB 2.1.7 -- Paris, June 15, 1974:

Iti rāma-padenāsau paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate (CC Madhya 9.29). Because when we enter the platform of continuous blissfulness, ānanda, that is the connection with, that is the meaning of Rāma. The Rāma, Paraṁ Brahma. That means when one is situated in the service of the Paraṁ Brahma, then his life is successful. So here it is said, nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma guṇānukathane hareḥ. Then not a single moment is wasted without talking about Kṛṣṇa. Vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane. In other, other place it is...: sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane. So practice this. First of all, fix up your mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and that is called sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ (SB 9.4.18). So if your mind is fixed up, then other senses will act because other senses are acting under the leadership of the mind. Mind is your enemy and mind is your friend. When the mind is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that mind is your friend. And the mind, when it is engaged in other consciousness, that is your enemy. So you can create your mind—friend or enemy—according to your desire. If you fix up always... The Deity worship means to fix up your mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, always worshiping Kṛṣṇa. So therefore I am asking why there is no ankle bell. There must be ankle bell the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. So if you fix up your mind, then immediately, fix up your mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, immediately you are nairguṇya-stha, situated in the nairguṇya, transcendental platform.

Lecture on SB 2.1.7 -- Paris, June 15, 1974:

Sanātana Gosvāmī says, āpanāra hitāhita kichui nā jāni: "Sir, I was minister, and people used to say that I am very learned scholar, and this and that, but... I was also accepting, 'Oh...' But actually, since I am come in Your contact, I thought that 'What kind of leader I am? I do not know what is beneficial for me. I am such a leader. I am such a fool. I do not know my own benefit, and I want to become leader to lead others for benefit of life.' " Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ (SB 7.5.31). A blind man, he does not think that he's blind. How he can lead others, other blind men? But this is cheating. All these leaders, so-called rascal leaders, they are blind themselves. They do not know what is the aim of life, and they're becoming leader. And the leader, blind leader, and the blind follower, they're all going to hell. This is the position of the world.

So therefore we should be careful that don't imitate that "I am now become paramahaṁsa. I do not require to follow the rules and regulations. Let me do whatever I like." Don't do that. The test is there. Test is there, here. It is said, guṇānukathane hareḥ. When you are paramahaṁsa, then you have no other business than simply to hear about Kṛṣṇa, and chant about Kṛṣṇa.