Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

naṣṭa-prayeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhiki
[SB 1.2.18]

Translation: "By regularly hearing the Bhagavatam and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact."

Prabhupada: So here it is said bhagavata-sevaya, not bhagavan-sevaya. Bhagavan is Krṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and bhagavata means in relation with Bhagavan, who has got relationship with Bhagavan. So here it is recommended bhagavata-sevaya, not bhagavan-sevaya. The idea is that you cannot approach Bhagavan, God, directly. That is not possible. First of all, you have to serve bhagavata, the devotee bhagavata.

There are two kinds of bhagavata: book bhagavata and devotee bhagavata. So in the Siva Puraṇa, there was a question by Parvati to Lord Siva. Lord Siva and Parvati, husband and wife. Parvati means the material nature. Srṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga [Bs. 5.44]. Durga-devi. Durga-devi is in charge of this material world. It is called durga, durga, just like fort. And the superintendent of this fort is Durga. You cannot go out of this fort; you are imprisoned. So such Durga-devi, who is so powerful energy—she can create, annihilate, maintain, srṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana—she is always sitting by the side of her husband, Lord Siva, and questioning about spiritual enquiries. Just see. Such powerful deity is also ignorant about spiritual life. So the husband, Lord Siva, is Vaiṣṇava, and she's always asking, and sitting down underneath a bael tree. She can create so many universes, but for her, no building; only underneath a tree.

So the question was, "Which worship is best?" So Lord Siva replied, aradhananaṁ sarveṣaṁ viṣṇor aradhanaṁ param: "My dear Parvati, of all methods of worship, Viṣṇu worship is the topmost." There are many demigods' worship, even Lord Siva's worship, but Lord Siva says, "Viṣṇu worship is the best." Then he says again, tasmat parataraṁ devi. "My dear Devi, better than that Viṣṇu worship is tadiyanaṁ samarcanam." Tadiya. Tadiya means those who are in relationship with Viṣṇu, tadiya. Just like His devotee, tadiya. Tulasi-vrkṣa. Tulasi is tadiya. Or temple tadiya. Preaching tadiya. Tadiyanaṁ samarcanam. This is bhagavata. So Lord Siva recommends that "Of all methods of worship, Viṣṇu worship is the best, and better than Viṣṇu worship is to worship His devotee or things in relationship with Him."

Tadiyanam, that is bhagavata. Here it is also said, tadiyanam, bhagavata-sevaya. This book bhagavata, spoken by the devotee bhagavata, this should be taken very seriously daily. Otherwise you..., we do not understand what is Bhagavan. Therefore it is recommended here: nityam, daily, or constantly, twenty-four hours. We have to mold our life in such a way that twenty-four hours, not a single moment leaving aside, we should be engaged in bhagavata-sevaya, in the service of Lord's relations. The Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, the spiritual master, tulasi-devi, the temple, the preaching, the books—these are all bhagavata. So nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya. Naṣṭa-prayeṣu. If we engage ourself in this bhagavata-sevaya... Just like we are doing daily, trying to read one verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, discussing amongst ourselves. This is bhagavata-sevaya. Nityam, daily, regularly. By this process, when the dirty things within the heart, naṣṭa-prayeṣv abhadreṣu [SB 1.2.18].

Abhadra means dirty things, inauspicious things. What is that inauspicious thing? Inauspicious things means the heart disease for sense enjoyment; this is inauspicious, Different varieties, abhadreṣu. There are three modes of material nature. And multiply it three, mix it again, it becomes nine, and again multiplied, nine by nine, it becomes eighty-one. So these, this... Originally the three... Just like three colors, yellow, red and blue. These three colors, you mix... Those who are artists, those who know the color display... Simply you mix three colors in different way, and it becomes varieties of color. So our heart disease, dirty thing, varieties of sense enjoyment, varieties. So heart is full with varieties of sense enjoyment. Therefore by nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18], by daily, regular worshiping Bhagavatam, we become free from the dirty things.

In the previous verse we have read that srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;, hrdy antaḥ; stho hy abhadraṇi [SB 1.2.17]. We have got abhadraṇi, so many inauspicious things, within our heart. This can be cleansed simply by hearing the message of Krṣṇa from Srimad-Bhagavatam, from Bhagavad-gita, from the lips of devotees. In this way, when almost the dirty things are cleared off—not all... As soon as all dirty things are cleared off, then we are liberated soul. Immediately love of God, the original consciousness. You become mad. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

yugayitaṁ nimiṣeṇa
cakṣuṣa pravrṣayitam
sunyayitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ
govinda-viraheṇa me

"Feeling separation of Govinda." How? "One moment is equal to twelve years," yugayitam. One yuga means twelve years. One moment appearing. Sometimes we have got experience, if we want to see something, it is called expectant psychology. I am expecting something, somebody, that my friend or my lover is coming. So on the door, if there is "koot," "Oh, you have come? No, no. He has not come." The one moment is twelve years. Such kind of separation, when we feel for Krṣṇa, that means all dirty things are over. And something for Krṣṇa, something for sense enjoyment, that means still the dirty things are there. But the more we engage our time, nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya, the dirty things becomes cleansed, gradually. Just like when you are hungry, you are given foodstuff, you eat. The more you eat, your hunger is satisfied. You feel strength, you feel satisfaction. Similarly, the more you advance in Krṣṇa consciousness, you feel comfortable, released from the material discomforts. In this way, naṣṭa-prayeṣu. Gradual process.

So naṣṭa-prayeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Not all cleansed, but praya, say, seventy-five cleansed. At that time, you become fixed-up in devotional service, naiṣṭhiki. There are different stages of devotional service. That I have explained several times. First of all, sraddha, sadhu-saṅga, bhajana-kriya, anartha-nivrttiḥ; syat. When anartha-nivrttiḥ; syat, all unwanted things are finished, at that time, niṣṭha, firm faith. So bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhiki. So, so long there are dirty things, our faith and devotion in Krṣṇa is not very fixed up, sometimes we deviate, we go away. But then naṣṭa-prayeṣu, when seventy-five percent of the dirty things are cleansed, then our faith in God becomes fixed up. Bhagavaty uttama-sloke.

Uttama, uttama means udgata-tama. This material world is tama, ignorance, darkness. And Krṣṇa is beyond this material world; therefore He is called para. Para means transcendental. So uttama-sloka. So when we offer our prayers to Krṣṇa, they are not ordinary words. Therefore those who are not liberated soul, they cannot offer prayers actually. We have to repeat the prayers offered by liberated soul, not by ordinary man. Because he is not yet uttama, he is not yet in the transcendental platform. Therefore we don't allow songs which are not sung by liberated souls like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura, Narottama dasa Ṭhakura. They are liberated souls. We don't allow any literature which is not given by liberated soul. Literatures, they are always following Vedic principles. Vedas, the original transcendental literature, and any literature which is produced under the guidance of Vedic literature, that is also nice. That is perfect. Therefore whenever we write something, we give immediately Vedic evidence. We give some Sanskrit verse. This means that we are not manufacturing ourself. What we have heard from the parampara system, from higher authorities, we are presenting, simply, in our own language, and the evidence is this Vedic verse. This is perfect literature.

So whimsically, we cannot write any poetry for Krṣṇa. That is not possible. That will create havoc. Srila Rupa Gosvami says,

sruti-smrti-puraṇadi-
pañcaratra-vidhiṁ vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir
utpatayaiva kalpate
[Brs. 1.2.101]

Any devotional sentiment which is not supported by Vedas, sruti... Sruti means Veda, and smrti means corollary to the Veda, or things which are written in corroboration with the Vedic ideas... That is called smrti. Just like Bhagavad-gita is smrti. Bhagavad-gita, the purpose of Bhagavad-gita is the same as the Vedas, but it is not directly Veda; therefore it is called smrti. Sruti-smrti-puraṇadi [Brs. 1.2.101]. The Puraṇas, there are eighteen Puraṇas. Puraṇadi means Ramayaṇa, Mahabharata also. Sruti-smrti-puraṇadi-pañcaratra-vidhiṁ vina [Brs. 1.2.101]. Pañcaratra-vidhi, given by Narada Muni for worshiping the Deity. We are worshiping the Deity under the pañcaratra-vidhi. So Rupa Gosvami says that "Any devotional service which has no reference with sruti, smrti, puraṇa, pañcaratra, that is simply a disturbance. Simply disturbance, creating disturbance." We cannot manufacture. Sometimes we are questioned, "Can we do this? Can we do that?" Of course, it is good. But there is no need of manufacturing some idea. Whatever idea is already there, follow strictly.

So bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhiki. That fixed up bhakti is required, not oscillating: sometimes this side, sometimes that side. So this can be possible, fixed up devotional service, by nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18], regularly worshiping the bhagavata-grantha and the devotee bhagavata. Because without hearing about God authentically, how we can fix up? So we should hear, srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;. Sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; [SB 1.2.17]. Krṣṇa's word is given by Krṣṇa. Just like Bhagavad-gita. Sva-kathaḥ; means "His own words." So this is bhagavata. And sva-kathaḥ;, Srimad-Bhagavatam is also sva-kathaḥ;. The Puraṇas also, sva-kathaḥ;. Because all these books are given by Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva is incarnation of Krṣṇa. So that is also sva-kathaḥ;. So we have to hear about Krṣṇa which is given by Krṣṇa. Bhagavad-gita is given by Krṣṇa, and Bhagavata and other Puraṇas and Vedic literature given by Krṣṇa Dvaipayana Vyasa. And the method is taught by Krṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So therefore, everything is Krṣṇa's. Krṣṇa directly, Krṣṇa as Vyasadeva; Krṣṇa as Caitanya Mahaprabhu devotee.

So we have to follow this. Sri-krṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityananda, sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. Krṣṇa is teaching how to approach Krṣṇa. That is bona fide. We cannot take any other method. This is the authorized method. The, the person concerned, He is teaching how to worship Krṣṇa, how to become devotee. Krṣṇaya krṣṇa-caitanya-namne. Rupa Gosvami said,"Lord Caitanya, You are Krṣṇa, but You have appeared as Krṣṇa Caitanya." Krṣṇaya krṣṇa-caitanya-namne. Namo maha-vadanyaya krṣṇa-prema-pradaya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53]. "You are distributing love of Krṣṇa." How it is possible for ordinary man? "But Krṣṇa, because You are Krṣṇa, simply You are in the name of Krṣṇa Caitanya. So therefore You can distribute. Your thing, You can distribute."

So,

srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;
puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;
hrdy antaḥ; stho hy abhadraṇi
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]

Naṣṭa-prayeṣv abhadreṣu. A little, maybe; not all. There may be some habitual... But still, even there are some flaws in the beginning, if we fix up our devotion to Krṣṇa... That is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita:

api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyaḥ;
samyag vyavasito hi saḥ;
[Bg. 9.30]

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmatma
sasvac-chantiṁ nigacchati
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktaḥ; praṇasyati
[Bg. 9.31]

So in the beginning we must be sincere, very sincere, to follow the rules and regulations. But due to our past habits, if there is some flaw, that is excused. Not intentionally. Because I am habituated to something, and I am, although engaged in Krṣṇa consciousness, my past habits sometimes becomes manifest. So Krṣṇa says, "All right, you try your best. It will be rectified." Kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmatma. Kṣipram means "Very soon, you'll be dharmatma, perfect, religious." Kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmatma sasvac-chantiṁ nigacchati: "And you'll be elevated to the eternal platform of peace and tranquillity." Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktaḥ; praṇasyati: [Bg. 9.31] "If one is sincere devotee, he'll be not lost. He'll make progress." But if there is any ulterior motive, then he'll be lost. Maya is there. The maya, just like shadow and light, they're side by side. A little crossing the marginal line between shadow and light, you are in the darkness. Similarly, a little crossing of the marginal line from the darkness to light, you are in light.

So Krṣṇa and maya are side by side. As soon as you forget Krṣṇa, or as soon as you want to utilize Krṣṇa for your sense gratification, it is immediately maya, darkness. And as soon as you want to serve Krṣṇa, immediately it is light. So if we keep ourself on this side, light side, always serving Krṣṇa, then there is no possibility of our being in contact with maya.

daivi hy eṣa guṇamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etaṁ taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]

This maya is very strong. The same example yesterday we were giving. The sun, little deviation, the whole world, universe, becomes frozen, and little deviation, the whole universe becomes ablaze. This is the position, very... Therefore our position is marginal. We are called marginal energy. We may be dark side or in the light side. So Krṣṇa consciousness means to keep always in the light side. If we always think of Krṣṇa, by chanting Hare Krṣṇa mantra, then we shall keep ourself on the light side. And as soon as we think of sense gratification, immediately we are on the dark side. So our... We should be very cautious that we may not fall down on the dark side. We can keep ourself in the light side by nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Simply studying Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, try to understand, chanting Hare Krṣṇa mantra. Twenty-four hours be engaged in this way. You'll be on the light side.

Read the purport.

Pradyumna: "Here is the remedy for eliminating all inauspicious things within the heart which are considered to be obstacles in the path of self-realization. The remedy is the association of the Bhagavatas. There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the obstacles. A devotee Bhagavata is as good as the book Bhagavata because the devotee Bhagavata leads his life in terms of the book Bhagavata and the book Bhagavata is full of information about the Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees, who are also Bhagavatas. Bhagavata book and person are identical. The devotee Bhagavata is a direct representative of Bhagavan, the Personality of Godhead, so by pleasing the devotee Bhagavata one can receive the benefit of the book Bhagavata. Human reason fails to understand how by serving the devotee Bhagavata or the book Bhagavata one gets gradual promotion on the path of devotion. But actually these are the facts explained by Srila Naradadeva, who happened to be a maidservant's son in his previous life. The maidservant..."

Prabhupada: There is another Vedic evidence:

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthaḥ;
prakasante mahatmanaḥ;
[SU 6.23]

To... Vedic literature, the meaning becomes revealed to a person who has got unflinching faith in God and the spiritual master. Just like Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, he was illiterate, but he became the spiritual master of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami. So the purport of the Vedic literature becomes revealed to a person who has got unflinching faith in God and the spiritual master. Go on.

Pradyumna: "The maidservant was engaged in the menial service of the sages, and thus he also came into contact with them. And simply by associating with them and accepting the remnants of foodstuff left by the sages, the son of the maidservant got the chance to become the great devotee and personality Srila Naradadeva. These are the miraculous effects of the association of Bhagavatas. And to understand these effects practically, it should be noted that by such sincere association of the Bhagavatas one is sure to receive transcendental knowledge very easily..."

Prabhupada: So our principle should be not to disassociate ourself from the devotees. Narottama dasa Ṭhakura therefore sings, taṅdera caraṇa-sebi-bhakta-sane bas, janame janame hoy ei abhilaṣ: "I desire birth after birth to serve the acaryas and to live with devotees." So our this association, society's is giving these two opportunity: you serve the purpose or the orders of the acaryas and live with devotees. Then you will be secure in devotional service. Taṅdera caraṇa-sebi-bhakta-sane bas. Bhakta-sane bas is very important thing. Even there is little inconvenience, still we should stick to live with the devotees. Then we shall be profited. Go on.

Pradyumna: "...with the result that he becomes fixed in the devotional service of the Lord. The more progress is made in devotional service under the guidance of the Bhagavatas, the more one becomes fixed in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The messages of the book Bhagavata, therefore, have to be received from the devotee Bhagavata, and the combination of these two Bhagavatas will help the neophyte devotee to make progress on and on." (end)

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