CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The morning passed, and the cowherd boys were very hungry because they had not eaten breakfast. They immediately approached KášášŁáša and BalarÄma and said, âDear KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, You are both all-powerful; You can kill many, many demons, but today we are much afflicted with hunger, and this is disturbing us. Please arrange for something that will mitigate our hunger.â
Requested in this way by Their friends, Lord KášášŁáša and BalarÄma arranged to show compassion to certain wives of brÄhmaášas who were performing sacrifices. These wives were great devotees of the Lord, and KášášŁáša took this opportunity to bless them. He said, âMy dear friends, please go to the house of the brÄhmaášas nearby. They are now engaged in performing the Vedic sacrifice known as Äáš girasa, for they desire elevation to the heavenly planets. All of you please go to them.â Then Lord KášášŁáša warned His friends, âThese brÄhmaášas are not Vaiᚣášavas. They cannot even chant Our names, âKášášŁášaâ and âBalarÄma.â They are very busy in chanting the Vedic hymns, although the purpose of Vedic knowledge is to find Me. But because they are not attracted by the names of KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, you had better not ask them for anything in My name. Better ask for some charity in the name of BalarÄma.â
Charity is generally given to high-class brÄhmaášas, but KášášŁáša and BalarÄma did not appear in a brÄhmaáša family. BalarÄma was known as the son of Vasudeva, a kᚣatriya, and KášášŁáša was known in VášndÄvana as the son of Nanda MahÄrÄja, who was a vaiĹya. Neither belonged to the brÄhmaáša community. Therefore, KášášŁáša considered that the brÄhmaášas engaged in performing sacrifices might not be induced to give charity to a kᚣatriya and vaiĹya. âBut at least if you utter the name of BalarÄma, they may prefer to give in charity to a kᚣatriya rather than to Me, because I am only a vaiĹya.â
Being thus ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all the boys went to the brÄhmaášas and began to ask for some charity. They approached them with folded hands and fell down on the ground to offer respect. âO earthly gods, kindly hear us, who are ordered by Lord KášášŁáša and BalarÄma. We hope you know Them both very well, and we wish you all good fortune. KášášŁáša and BalarÄma are tending cows nearby, and we have accompanied Them. We have come to ask for some food from you. You are all brÄhmaášas and knowers of religious principles, and if you think that you should give us charity, then give us some food, and we shall all eat along with KášášŁáša and BalarÄma. You are the most respectable brÄhmaášas within the human society, and you are expected to know all the principles of religious procedure.â
Although the boys were village boys and were not expected to be learned in all the Vedic principles of religious ritual, they hinted that because of their association with KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, they knew all those principles. By addressing the brÄhmaášas as âknowers of all religious principles,â the boys expressed the point of view that when the Supreme Personality of Godhead, KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, were asking for food, the brÄhmaášas should immediately deliver some without hesitation because, as stated in the Bhagavad-gÄŤtÄ, one should perform yajĂąa (sacrifices) only for the satisfaction of Viᚣášu.
The boys continued: âLord Viᚣášu as KášášŁáša and BalarÄma is standing waiting, and you should immediately deliver whatever food you have in your stock.â They also explained to the brÄhmaášas when food is to be accepted and when it is not to be accepted. Generally, the Vaiᚣášavas, or pure devotees of the Lord, do not take part in ordinary sacrificial performances. But they know very well the ceremonials called dÄŤkᚣÄ, paĹu-saášsthÄ and sautrÄmaáši. One is permitted to take food after the procedure of dÄŤkášŁÄ and before the animal sacrificial ceremony and the sautrÄmaáši, or ceremony in which liquors are also offered. The boys said, âWe can take your food at the present stage of your ceremony, for now it will not be prohibited. So you can deliver us the food.â
Although the companions of Lord KášášŁáša and BalarÄma were simple cowherd boys, they were in a position to dictate even to the high-class brÄhmaášas engaged in the Vedic rituals of sacrifice. But the smÄrta-brÄhmaášas, who were simply sacrificial-minded, could not understand the dictation of the transcendental devotees of the Lord. They could not even appreciate the begging of the Supreme Lord, KášášŁáša and BalarÄma. Although they heard all the arguments on behalf of KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, they did not care for them, and they refused to speak to the boys. Despite being highly elevated in the knowledge of Vedic sacrificial rites, all such nondevotee brÄhmaášas, although they think of themselves as very highly elevated, are ignorant, foolish persons. All their activities are childish because they do not know the purpose of the Vedas, as it is explained in the Bhagavad-gÄŤtÄ: to understand KášášŁáša. In spite of their advancement in Vedic knowledge and rituals, they do not understand KášášŁáša; therefore their knowledge of the Vedas is useless. Lord Caitanya, therefore, gave His valuable opinion that although a person may not be born in a brÄhmaáša family, if he knows KášášŁáša or the science of KášášŁáša consciousness he is more than a brÄhmaáša, and he is quite fit to become a spiritual master.
There are various details to be observed in the performance of sacrifices. They are known as deĹa, place; kÄla, time; pášthag-dravya, the different detailed paraphernalia; mantra, hymns; tantra, scriptural evidences; agni, fire; áštvik, learned performers of sacrifices; devatÄ, the demigods; yajamÄna, the performer of the sacrifices; kratu, the sacrifice itself; and dharma, the procedures. All these are for satisfying KášášŁáša. It is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gÄŤtÄ that He is the actual enjoyer of all sacrifices because He is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Supreme Absolute Truth, beyond the conception or speculation of the material senses. He is present just like an ordinary human boy, but for persons who identify themselves with the body, it is very difficult to understand Him. The brÄhmaášas were very much interested in the comforts of the material body and in elevation to the higher planetary residences called svarga-vÄsa. They were therefore completely unable to understand the position of KášášŁáša.
When the boys saw that the brÄhmaášas would not reply to them even with a simple yes or no, they became very much disappointed. They then returned to Lord KášášŁáša and BalarÄma and explained everything that had happened. After hearing their statements, the Supreme Personality of Godhead smiled. He told them that they should not be sorry for being refused by the brÄhmaášas, because that is the way of begging. He convinced them that one who is engaged in collecting or begging should not think that he will be successful everywhere. He may be unsuccessful in some places, but that should not be cause for disappointment. Lord KášášŁáša then asked all the boys to go again, but this time to the wives of those brÄhmaášas engaged in sacrifices. He also informed them that these wives were great devotees. âThey are always absorbed in thinking of Us. Go there and ask for some food in My name and the name of BalarÄma, and I am sure that they will deliver you as much food as you desire.â
Carrying out KášášŁášaâs order, the boys immediately went to the wives of the brÄhmaášas. They found the wives sitting inside the brÄhmaášasâ house. They were very beautifully decorated with ornaments. After offering them all respectful obeisances, the boys said, âDear mothers, please accept our humble obeisances and hear our statement. May we inform you that Lord KášášŁáša and BalarÄma are nearby. They have come here with the cows, and you may know also that we have come here under Their instructions. All of us are very hungry; therefore, we have come to you for some food. Please give us something to eat for KášášŁáša, BalarÄma and ourselves.â
Immediately upon hearing this, the wives of the brÄhmaášas became anxious for KášášŁáša and BalarÄma. These reactions were spontaneous. They did not have to be convinced of the importance of KášášŁáša and BalarÄma; immediately upon hearing Their names, they became very eager to see Them. Being advanced by thinking of KášášŁáša constantly, they were performing the greatest form of mystic meditation. All the wives then became very busily engaged in filling up different pots with nice food. Due to the performance of the sacrifice, the various foods were all very palatable. After collecting a feast, they prepared to go to KášášŁáša, their most beloved object, exactly in the way rivers flow to the sea.
For a long time the wives had been eager to see KášášŁáša. However, when they were preparing to leave home to go see Him, their husbands, fathers, sons and relatives asked them not to go. But the wives did not comply. When a devotee is called by the attraction of KášášŁáša, he does not care for bodily ties. The women entered the forest of VášndÄvana on the bank of the YamunÄ, which was verdant with vegetation and newly grown vines and flowers. Within that forest they saw KášášŁáša and BalarÄma engaged in tending the cows along with Their very affectionate boyfriends.
The brÄhmaášasâ wives saw KášášŁáša with a blackish complexion, wearing a garment that glittered like gold. He wore a nice garland of forest flowers and a peacock feather on His head. He was also painted with the minerals found in VášndÄvana, and He looked exactly like a dancing actor on a theatrical stage. They saw Him resting one hand on the shoulder of His friend, and in His other hand He was holding a lotus flower. His ears were decorated with lilies, He wore marks of tilaka, and He was smiling charmingly. With their very eyes the wives of the brÄhmaášas saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, of whom they had heard so much, who was so dear to them, and in whom their minds were always absorbed. Now they saw Him eye to eye and face to face, and KášášŁáša entered within their hearts through their eyes.
Within themselves they began to embrace KášášŁáša to their heartsâ content, and the distress of separation was mitigated immediately. They were just like great sages who, by their advancement of knowledge, merge into the existence of the Supreme. As the Supersoul living in everyoneâs heart, Lord KášášŁáša could understand their minds; they had come to Him despite all the protests of their relatives, fathers, husbands and brothers, and despite all the duties of household affairs. They came just to see Him, who was their life and soul. They were exactly following KášášŁášaâs instruction in the Bhagavad-gÄŤtÄ: one should surrender to Him, giving up all varieties of occupational and religious duties. He therefore began to speak to them, smiling very magnificently. It should be noted in this connection that when KášášŁáša entered into the wivesâ hearts and when they embraced Him and felt the transcendental bliss of being merged with Him, the Supreme Lord KášášŁáša did not lose His identity, nor did the individual wives lose theirs. The individuality of both the Lord and the wives remained, yet they felt oneness in existence. When a lover submits to his lover without any pinch of personal consideration, that is called oneness. Lord Caitanya has taught us this feeling of oneness in His ĹikᚣÄᚣášaka: KášášŁáša may act freely, doing whatever He likes, but the devotee should always be in oneness or in agreement with His desires. That oneness was exhibited by the wives of the brÄhmaášas in their love for KášášŁáša.
KášášŁáša welcomed them with the following words: âMy dear wives of the brÄhmaášas, you are all very fortunate and are welcome here. Please let Me know what I can do for you. Your coming here to see Me, neglecting all the restrictions and hindrances of relatives, fathers, brothers and husbands, is completely befitting. One who does this actually knows his self-interest, because rendering transcendental loving service unto Me, without motive or restriction, is actually auspicious for the living entities.â
Lord KášášŁáša here confirms that the conditioned soul can reach the highest perfectional stage by surrendering to Him. One must give up all other responsibilities. This complete surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the most auspicious path for the conditioned soul because the Supreme Lord is the supreme objective of love. Everyone is loving his self according to the advancement of his knowledge. Ultimately, when a person comes to understand that his self is the spirit soul and that the spirit soul is nothing but a part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, he recognizes the Supreme Lord as the ultimate goal of love and then surrenders unto Him. This surrender is considered auspicious for the conditioned soul. Our life, property, home, wife, children, house, country, society and all paraphernalia which are very dear to us are expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the central object of love because He gives us all bliss, expanding Himself in so many ways according to our different situations, namely bodily, mental or spiritual.
âMy dear wives of the brÄhmaášas,â KášášŁáša said, âyou can now return to your homes. Engage yourselves in sacrificial activities and in the service of your husbands and household affairs so that your husbands will be pleased with you and the sacrifice which they have begun will be properly executed. After all, your husbands are householders, and without your help how can they execute their prescribed duties?â
The wives of the brÄhmaášas replied, âDear Lord, this sort of instruction does not befit You. Your eternal promise is that You will always protect Your devotees, and now You must fulfill this promise. Anyone who comes and surrenders unto You never goes back to the conditioned life of material existence. We expect that You will now fulfill Your promise. We have surrendered unto Your lotus feet, which are covered by tulasÄŤ leaves, so we have no desire to give up the shelter of Your lotus feet and return to the company of our so-called relatives, friends and society. And what shall we do if we return home? Our husbands, brothers, fathers, sons, mothers and friends will no longer accept us at home because we have already left them all. Therefore we have no shelter to return to. Please, therefore, do not ask us to return home, but arrange for our stay under Your lotus feet so that we can eternally live under Your protection.â
The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied, âMy dear wives of the brÄhmaášas, rest assured that your husbands will not neglect you on your return, nor will your brothers, sons or fathers refuse to accept you. Because you are My pure devotees, not only your relatives but also people in general, as well as the demigods, will be satisfied with you.â KášášŁáša is situated as the Supersoul in everyoneâs heart. So someone who becomes a pure devotee of Lord KášášŁáša immediately becomes pleasing to everyone. The pure devotee of Lord KášášŁáša is never inimical to anyone, nor can any sane person be an enemy of a pure devotee. âTranscendental love for Me does not depend upon bodily connection,â KášášŁáša said further, âbut anyone whose mind is always absorbed in Me will surely very soon come to Me for My eternal association.â
After being instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all the wives returned home to their respective husbands. Pleased to see their wives back home, the brÄhmaášas sat together with them and executed the performances of sacrifices, as enjoined in the ĹÄstras. According to Vedic principle, religious rituals must be executed by the husband and wife together. When the brÄhmaášasâ wives returned, the sacrifice was duly and nicely executed. One of the brÄhmaášasâ wives, however, who had been forcibly checked from going to see KášášŁáša, began to remember Him as she heard of His bodily features. Being completely absorbed in His thought, she gave up her material body conditioned by the laws of nature.
After the departure of the brÄhmaášasâ wives, ĹrÄŤ Govinda and His cowherd boyfriends enjoyed the food they had offered. In this way the ever-joyful Personality of Godhead exhibited His transcendental pastimes in the guise of an ordinary human being in order to attract the common people to KášášŁáša consciousness. With His words and beauty He attracted all the cows, cowherd boys and damsels in VášndÄvana. All of them together enjoyed the pastimes of the Lord.
After the return of their wives from KášášŁáša, the brÄhmaášas engaged in the performance of sacrifices began to regret their sinful activities in refusing food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They could finally understand their mistake; engaged in the performance of Vedic rituals, they had neglected the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had appeared just like an ordinary human being and asked for some food. They began to condemn themselves after seeing the faith and devotion of their wives. They regretted very much that, although their wives were elevated to the platform of pure devotional service, they themselves could not understand even a little bit of how to love and offer transcendental loving service to the Supreme Soul. They began to talk among themselves: âTo hell with our being born brÄhmaášas! To hell with our learning all the Vedic literatures! To hell with our performing great sacrifices and observing all the rules and regulations! To hell with our family! To hell with our expert service in performing the rituals exactly according to the description of the scriptures! To hell with it all, for we have not developed transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the speculation of the mind, body and senses.â
The learned brÄhmaášas, expert in Vedic ritualistic performances, were properly regretful, because if one does not develop KášášŁáša consciousness, all discharge of religious duties is simply a waste of time and energy. They continued to talk among themselves: âThe external energy of KášášŁáša is so strong that it can create illusion to overcome even the greatest mystic yogÄŤ. Although we expert brÄhmaášas are considered to be the teachers of all other sections of human society, we also have been illusioned by the external energy. Just see how fortunate these women are! They have so devotedly dedicated their lives to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, KášášŁáša, that they could easily do what is ordinarily so difficult: they gave up their family connections, which are just like a dark well for the continuation of material miseries.â Women in general, being very simple at heart, can very easily take to KášášŁáša consciousness, and when they develop love of KášášŁáša they can easily get liberation from the clutches of mÄyÄ, which are very difficult for even so-called intelligent and learned men to surpass.
The brÄhmaášas continued: âAccording to Vedic injunction, women are not allowed to undergo the purificatory process of initiation by the sacred thread, nor are they allowed to live as brahmacÄriášÄŤs in the ÄĹrama of the spiritual master, nor are they advised to undergo the strict disciplinary procedures, nor are they very expert in discussing the philosophy of self-realization. And by nature they are not very pure, nor are they very much attached to auspicious activities. Therefore, how wonderful it is that these women have developed transcendental love for KášášŁáša, the Lord of all mystic yogÄŤs! They have surpassed all of us in firm faith and devotion unto KášášŁáša. Although we are considered to be masters in all purificatory processes, we did not actually know what their goal is because we are too much attached to the materialistic way of life. Even though we were reminded of KášášŁáša and BalarÄma by the cowherd boys, we disregarded Them. We now think that the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply played a trick of mercy on us by sending His friends to beg food from us. Otherwise, He had no need to send them. He could have satisfied their hunger then and there just by willing to do so.â
If someone denies KášášŁáša's self-sufficiency on hearing that He was tending the cows for His livelihood, or if someone doubts His not being in need of the food, thinking that He was actually hungry, then such a person should understand that the goddess of fortune is always engaged in His service. In this way the goddess can break her faulty habit of restlessness. In Vedic literatures like the Brahma-saášhitÄ it is stated that KášášŁáša is served in His abode with great respect by not only one goddess of fortune but many thousands. Therefore it is simply illusion for one to think that KášášŁáša begged food from the brÄhmaášas. It was actually a trick to show them mercy by teaching them that they should accept Him in pure devotional service instead of engaging in ritualistic ceremonies. The Vedic ceremonial paraphernalia, the suitable place, the suitable time, the different grades of articles for performing the ritualistic ceremonies, the Vedic hymns, the process of sacrifice, the priest who is able to perform the sacrifice, the fire, the demigods, the performer of the sacrifice and the religious principles are all meant for understanding KášášŁáša, for KášášŁáša is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the Supreme Lord Viᚣášu and the Lord of all mystic yogÄŤs.
âBecause He has appeared as a child in the dynasty of the Yadus, we were so foolish that we could not understand that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead,â the brÄhmaášas said. âBut on the other hand, we are very proud because we have such exalted wives who have developed pure transcendental service of the Lord without being shackled by our rigid opposition. Let us therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord KášášŁáša, under whose illusory energy, called mÄyÄ, we are absorbed in fruitive activities. We therefore pray to the Lord to be kind enough to excuse us because we are simply captivated by His external energy. We transgressed His order without knowing His transcendental glories.â
The brÄhmaášas repented their sinful activities. They wanted to go personally to offer their obeisances unto Him, but being afraid of Kaášsa, they could not go to KášášŁáša and surrender unto Him. In other words, it is very difficult for one to surrender fully unto the Personality of Godhead without being purified by devotional service. The example of the learned brÄhmaášas and their wives is vivid. The wives of the brÄhmaášas, because they were inspired by pure devotional service, did not care for any kind of opposition. They immediately went to KášášŁáša. But the brÄhmaášas, although they had come to know the supremacy of the Lord and were repenting, were still afraid of King Kaášsa because they were too much addicted to fruitive activities.
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Twenty-third Chapter of KášášŁáša, âDelivering the Wives of the BrÄhmaášas Who Performed Sacrifices.â