Pradyumna:

harer guṇakṣipta-matir
bhagavan badarayaṇiḥ;
adhyagan mahad akhyanaṁ
nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ;
[SB 1.7.11]

"Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, son of Srila Vyasadeva, was not only transcendentally powerful. He was also very dear to the devotees of the Lord. Thus he underwent the study of this great narration Srimad-Bhagavatam."

Prabhupada:

harer guṇakṣipta-matir
bhagavan badarayaṇiḥ;
adhyagan mahad akhyanaṁ
nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ;
[SB 1.7.11]

This Srimad-Bhagavatam, maha-puraṇam, it is called maha-puraṇam. Mahad akhyanam. Akhyanam, narration, history. It is not fictitious; it is history. The activities of the Kauravas, Paṇḍavas, many other activities mentioned here. Dhruva Maharaja, Prahlada Maharaja, Ambariṣa Maharaja... Many, many devotees and their activities, their history. It is not mythology. The rascals, they say mythology. No. It is history. Mahabharata. Maha means greater and bharata means this planet. So Mahabharata means the history of this planet. Now it is minimized, "India." India is given the name given by the Britishers or the Europeans. Real name is Bharata, Bharata-varṣa, according to the name of Maharaja Bharata. So this greater India, Mahabharata, this is also history. Itihasa. Itihasa-puraṇa. Puraṇa means old history. Puraṇa means old. It is not mythology. Puraṇa.

So Srimad-Bhagavatam is amalaṁ puraṇam. Amalam. Mala means dirty things and amalam means without any dirty things. What is that dirty things? The dirty things means the material modes of nature—sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. Because it is material it is called mala, dirty. And Srimad-Bhagavatam: amalam, without any material contamination, because simply narration of Bhagavan and Bhagavan's devotees. Bhagavata, bhakta. Therefore it is named Bhagavatam: dealings between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees. Srimad-Bhagavatam.

So who will be interested in Srimad-Bhagavatam? That is mentioned here: harer guṇakṣipta-matiḥ;. Kṣipta means madness. Here is a man, kṣipta, means he's mad. So there are two kinds of madness. One madness is for material enjoyment. They are also mad, pramatta. Nunaṁ pramattaḥ; kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. The material madness entangles people more and more in the process of birth and death. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura has sung, anadi karama-phale paḍi' bhavarṇava-jale taribare na dekhi upaya. Anadi karama-phale paḍi' bhavarṇava-jale. Somehow or other, we have fallen in this material world, the ocean of nescience, bhavarṇava. Arṇava means ocean, and bhava means repetition of birth. In this ocean we have fallen. Therefore our prayer should be not for any material opulence, as we generally do. Dhanaṁ dehi rupaṁ dehi: "Give me money or mitigate my distress." This is very lower stage of devotion, to ask something from the Supreme Lord. Arto jijñasur artharthi . In the beginning, provided one is, background is pious... Because without piety nobody can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yeṣaṁ tv anta-gataṁ papaṁ jananaṁ puṇya-karmaṇam. Those who are simply acting piously, such person can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not impious person can... Therefore we shall be very, very careful about impious activities. Impious activities, we know the four legs of impious activities: illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling. So therefore we should be very, very careful about these impious activities. You cannot make any spiritual progress by simultaneously acting impiously and at the same time... It may... Not it may—it is sure it will go. But it will go very slow. Just like if you have got dry wood, then the fire ignites very easily. And if you bring wet fuel, it takes time. Of course, as soon as there is fire, the wetness of the fuel will dry. But it will require extra energy. And if you put dry fuel, then it ignites very easily. So in order to keep us dry without being wetted by the impious activities, then spiritual progress will be very quick. We should remember that.

Actually, if we want to be advanced in Krṣṇa consciousness, it is our duty to keep ourself dry from material wetness. That is our duty. Yeṣaṁ tv anta-gataṁ papam. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, especially two things: viṣayiṇaṁ sandarsanam atha yoṣitaṁ ca [Cc. Madhya 11.8]. Two things: woman and money. If we become attracted... Woman means for man the woman is woman, and for the woman the man is woman. Not that woman means a particular class. Woman means which are enjoyable. So in this material world, the man is enjoyable by the woman, and the woman is enjoyable by the man. For both of them, viṣayiṇaṁ sandarsanam atha yoṣitam. Yoṣit means enjoyable. This body is superfluous. The bodily structure, it can be changed. Perhaps you know, now in medical science they can change the woman's body into man's body, and the man's body into woman's body. It was formerly being also changed. In Bhagavata you'll find that in a garden—I forget the name—in a garden where Lord Siva was engaged with Uma, husband and wife, all of a sudden many saintly persons entered to see Lord Siva. At that time Uma, Parvati, became very much ashamed. She was not very properly dressed. So immediately the saintly persons, they left, that "Lord Siva is now in his private affairs." So Lord Siva, to please Parvati, he immediately said, "Hence forward, anyone who will enter this forest, he'll become woman." So one king, I forget the name, with his party, without the knowledge he entered the forest, and all of them became women.

So the idea is that the man's body can be transformed into woman's body, and a woman's body can be transformed into man's body. Because we are not this body, dress. Suppose I have got this dress. This man's dress I can transform into woman's dress with a sari; but that does not mean I am woman. So every one of us living entities, we are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. The outward dress, man and woman, that is dress. Vasaṁsi jirṇani yatha vihaya [Bg. 2.22]. We are changing this dress. So in this material world, because our mentality is to enjoy, therefore he is called puruṣa. Puruṣaḥ; prakrti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakrti-jan guṇan [Bg. 13.22]. Puruṣa, here puruṣa, the living entities... It is said puruṣa. Puruṣa means both men and women because everyone has got the spirit, "I shall enjoy." Therefore he is described as puruṣa. Puruṣaḥ; prakrti-stho hi. In this material world, bhuṅkte prakrti-jan guṇan, karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. We are getting different types of bodies on account of our different desires. Karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu. According to the desire, Krṣṇa is so kind, as we are desiring He is supplying some body. That is also explained: isvaraḥ; sarva-bhutanaṁ hrd-dese 'rjuna tiṣṭhati [Bg. 18.61]. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Isvaraḥ;, He is situated everyone's heart. So He knows what I want. Isvaraḥ; sarva-bhutanaṁ hrd-dese [Bg. 18.61]. It is pointed out, hrd-dese, "in the core of the heart." You haven't got to search throughout the universe. He is within the heart. He's there. Therefore the yogis, they try to find out the Supreme Lord within the heart. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ; [SB 12.13.1]. That is yogi who tries to find out the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart. That is dhyana. That is meditation. Meditation does not mean anything nonsense. To see the Supreme Personality of Godhead Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu.

So prakrti-stho hi. We are in this material world. What is this material world? Material world means three modes of material nature: sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. So according to the association, karaṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya. Either sattva-guṇa, or rajo-guṇa or tamo-guṇa. This is going on, and therefore we are getting different types of body. So this is going on. It is called bhavarṇava. So if we want to get release from this entanglement of being polluted by the three modes of material nature, then we have to come to this platform, nirguṇa. Nirguṇa. Nirguṇa means to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead or to be engaged in devotional service. That is nirguṇa.

maṁ ca yo 'vyabhicareṇa
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
[Bg. 14.26]

Immediately. Immediately you can be placed on the transcendental platform as soon as you begin your devotional service. Avyabhicareṇa, without any deviation. Ananya-bhakti. Bhajate mam ananya-bhak. That is wanted. What is that ananya-bhak? Anyabhilaṣita-sunyam: [Brs. 1.1.11] without any material desires. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. That is pure devotion.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore recommends that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Anyone who is aspiring to become advanced in Krṣṇa consciousness, bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya... Why bhagavad-bhajana required? Paraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sagarasya. For a person who wants to go to the other side of the ocean of nescience, paraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣoḥ;. [break] ...means one who is very rich man. No. Rich man and poor man doesn't matter. If one is interested simply with the four principles of the bodily necessities, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna-eating, sleeping sex and defense, they are called viṣayis. Viṣayiṇam... Viṣayaḥ; khalu sarvataḥ; syat. If viṣayi means rich man, then why the sastra says viṣayaḥ; khalu sarvataḥ; syat: the enjoyment of these four necessities of body, it is available everywhere? The sparrow, he's also enjoying viṣaya. There is a male and female, and they are jumping from one tree to another, from here to there. And as soon as they require, they are enjoying sex and eating something. So eating, sleeping, mating, this is going on. That viṣaya is available... I have seen at night a small insects, they are also enjoying eating, sleeping, mating. A small, very small ant is captured. Jivo jivasya jivanam. One life is meant for being eaten by another life. You can see, very small. He has got all the same tendencies. So viṣayaḥ; khalu sarvataḥ; syat. So one has to become free from this viṣaya. Viṣayiṇaṁ sandarsanam atha yoṣitaṁ ca ha hanta hanta viṣa-bhakṣaṇato 'py asadhu [Cc. Madhya 11.8]. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... So we should be very careful. Viṣayiṇam, a devotee, if he thinks, "Oh, here is a nice woman. If I could enjoy her," or "Here is a nice man. If I could enjoy him." This is viṣayi. Viṣayiṇaṁ sandarsanam. To see one woman is not dangerous, but to think of enjoying, that is dangerous. Similarly, to see one man is not dangerous—you cannot avoid that; you are on the street here—but to see with the spirit of enjoyment, that is dangerous.

So we should be very careful. That requires, I mean to say, training, very strong training in Krṣṇa consciousness. Unless one is strongly in Krṣṇa consciousness, that long habit of enjoying spirit cannot be given up. This is, loke vyavayamiṣa-madya-seva nitya hi jantoḥ;. Jantu, animals. Anyone who is addicted to vyavaya, sex life, amiṣa, meat-eating, madya-seva, intoxication... That is the natural tendency of anyone in this material world. Vyavayamiṣa-madya-seva nityaḥ;. So spiritual advancement means to give up this amiṣa-madya-seva. That is spiritual life. Spiritual life does not mean you have to grow four hands and four legs. No. Simply you have to give up these tendencies of vyavayamiṣa-madya-seva. Therefore sastra gives you training how to... Therefore here it is said, harer guṇakṣipta-matir bhagavan badarayaṇiḥ;. (aside:) Don't do that. Don't divert attention. If you cannot understand, you can go play there. Harer guṇakṣipta. So you cannot be mad after harer guṇa unless you give up your madness of material enjoyment. So long we are mad after material happiness, then we do anything wrong, nunaṁ pramattaḥ; kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. Vikarma means activities which are forbidden. Just like vyavayamiṣa-madya-seva—these are forbidden. But they indulge in these things nowadays all over the world, vyavayamiṣa-madya-seva. This is vikarma, forbidden activities. But they indulge in. Why? Because pramatta. They have become mad.

So madness there is. So one madness you have to give up—this material madness—and you have to become mad after Krṣṇa. Then your life is successful. That madness is exhibited by Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

yugayitaṁ nimeṣeṇa
cakṣuṣa pravrṣayitam
sunyayitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ
govinda-viraheṇa me

That madness wanted. Yugayitaṁ nimeṣeṇa: one moment appears to be one yuga. One yuga means twelve years. So yugayitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣa pravrṣayitam. Crying. There is tears in the eyes like the torrents of rain. Yugayitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣa... Sunyayitaṁ jagat sarvam. "I feel the whole world is vacant." Why? Govinda-viraheṇa me. This madness is wanted. Without Govinda, that madness. So that madness (was) fully exhibited in Vrndavana by the gopis. They were mad after Krṣṇa. When Krṣṇa left Vrndavana, went to Mathura, they became so mad that they had no other business than cakṣuṣa pravrṣayitam, simply crying torrents of rain. That is wanted. That is Vrndavana life. Not that seeking after sex in Vrndavana. That is... That means such person will have to take birth as monkey next life. Monkey. Because they have taken shelter of Vrndavana, and still they're indulging, monkey's business, so they have to... It is Krṣṇa's mercy. Tat te 'nukampaṁ su-samikṣamaṇaḥ; [SB 10.14.8]. In Vrndavana the land, transcendental land, that will not go in vain. But these persons who are indulging unnecessary sex life in Vrndavana, they'll have to take birth as monkeys in Vrndavana, and then next life they'll be liberated. So otherwise, why in Vrndavana the monkeys? They are also devotees, but they could not proceed nicely. So animal life means stopping sinful activities, and whatever sinful reaction is there in one life finished. We should be very, very careful. Dhama, dhama-aparadha. In the dhama... In other places if you chant Hare Krṣṇa, the result of such chanting will be increased thousand times if you chant in Vrndavana. Similarly, in other place, the sinful activities, if you commit that sinful activity in Vrndavana, then it will be thousand times increased. So we have to be very careful.

So Krṣṇa is very kind. Tat te 'nukampaṁ su-samikṣa..., bhuñjana evatma-krtaṁ vipakam. If we act impiously, we have to suffer. But for a devotee, karmaṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs. 5.54]. Karmaṇi nirdahati. Others, for sinful activities, they will have to continue, but if a devotee is in sinful activities, in one life it is finished. But don't take this concession. We should be very much careful not to commit. So we shall have to increase our madness for harer guṇakṣipta-matir bhagavan badarayaṇiḥ;. And badarayaṇi, Sukadeva Gosvami, is also addressed as Bhagavan. If one is mad after Bhagavan, he's as good as Bhagavan. Harer akṣipta. One who is mad after Bhagavan, he's as good as Bhagavan. Therefore badarayaṇi is addressed here as Bhagavan. In the spiritual world, Bhagavan and His paraphernalia, there is no difference. Don't think that the calf or the cows in Vrndavana is less than Krṣṇa. No. They're as good as Krṣṇa. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhiḥ; [Bs. 5.37]. They are expansion of Krṣṇa's ananda-cinmaya-rasa. Krṣṇa wants to play with the cows and calves. So He's ananda-cinmaya. His spiritual potency appears as cows and calves. Therefore we see Krṣṇa is embracing the calves and cows. He's not embracing a material cow. He has nothing to do with material. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhiḥ;.

So a pure devotee of Krṣṇa is also addressed Bhagavan. Pure devotee. Not that a magician. A pure devotee. Anyabhilaṣita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. Bhagavan badarayaṇiḥ; adhyagan mahad akhyanam. This is mahad akhyanam. It is not ordinary akhyanam. Srimad-Bhagavatam. Amalaṁ puraṇam. He was liberated person, but being to hear about Krṣṇa more and more, this is not material; this is spiritual. Mahad akhyanaṁ nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ;. Nityam. Bhagavata is not for a saptaha. Bhagavata is meant for nityam. Nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya. Naṣṭa-prayeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Not that one is completely free from the modes of material nature, but prayeṣu: almost finished. Naṣṭa-prayeṣu abhadreṣu. Then he becomes interested. Nityaṁ bhagavata-sevaya. Or by serving Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly, nityam. As it is said, nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ;. Viṣṇu-jana and hari-jana. Hari-jana does not mean camara and bangi. Hari-jana means... Camaras and bangis can be elevated to hari-jana but not by rubber-stamp, "Viṣṇu-jana." Viṣṇu-jana and hari-jana, the same thing. So viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ;. Those who are viṣṇu-jana, their most favorable subject matter of understanding is Srimad-Bhagavatam amalaṁ puraṇam.

Thank you very much. (end)

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