Prabhupada: All right. Saṅketyam, "indication."

saṅketyaṁ parihasyaṁ va
stobhaṁ helanam eva va
vaikuṇṭha-nama-grahaṇam
aseṣagha-haraṁ viduḥ;
[SB 6.2.14]

Everyone should know, viduḥ;. Generally we do not know what is the power of vaikuṇṭha-nama.

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis
tatrarpita niyamitaḥ; smaraṇe na kalaḥ;
etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragaḥ;

Caitanya Mahaprabhu regretted that the holy name of Krṣṇa is so powerful that all the potencies or all the energies in the Absolute Person, the same thing you'll find in His name, in His form. But these things are not understood by less intelligent class of men. To understand these things means to know Krṣṇa in truth.

manuṣyaṇaṁ sahasreṣu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanaṁ
kascid vetti maṁ tattvataḥ;
[Bg. 7.3]

This is tattva, truth, that Krṣṇa, the Supreme Person, His holy name, His form, His attributes, His pastimes, His paraphernalia, His dhama... Just like we are in Vrndavana-dhama. So why Vrndavana-dhama is worshiped? Because the Vrndavana-dhama is not different from Krṣṇa. When you take little dust of Vrndavana-dhama and take it, that means you are taking the dust of Krṣṇa's lotus feet, and you take it. Vrndavana-dhama, so important.

So Vrndavana-dhama, ordinary man cannot see. Therefore Narottama dasa Ṭhakura says,

rupa-raghunatha-pade haibe akuti
kabe hama bujhabo sri yugala-piriti

viṣaya chadiya kabe suddha ha'be mana
kabe hama herabo sri-vrndavana

Vrndavana, if you come from anywhere by the train and airplane and see Vrndavana, that is not seeing Vrndavana. Vrndavana seeing means

viṣaya chadiya kabe suddha ha'be mana
kabe hama herabo sri-vrndavana

When we shall be free from viṣaya... Viṣaya means ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam. So who can give up viṣaya unless he is a great devotee? Others cannot. Viṣaya, it is very difficult. But if one is advanced devotee—paraṁ drṣṭva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]—they can give up. So if you come to Vrndavana and arrange for a viṣaya-bhoga-ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam—then Vrndavana is far away. Viṣaya chadiya. The whole Krṣṇa consciousness movement is on the basis of viṣaya chadiya. And Sri Locana dasa Ṭhakura also sings, viṣaya chadiya se rase majiya, mukhe bolo hari hari. Viṣaya chadiya. If... Of course, in the beginning it is not possible, but the ultimate goal of life is to give up viṣaya—no more ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna. That is called viṣaya chadiya. Just like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami did. He came here, lived in Vrndavana. He was a very, very rich man's son. Five hundred years ago his father's income was twelve lakhs of rupees. Now it may be crores of rupees. Five hundred years He was such a rich man's son. And very beautiful wife. Because Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was restless, he was always trying to go with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, so his father and uncle He was the only son of these two brothers. So they thought that "This boy is very restless. He wants to go away with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Let him have a very nice, beautiful wife and he'll be attracted." But he was not attracted. He was not even going inside the house. He was lying down outside the house, young man. He had no taste for viṣaya. Viṣaya chadiya. Therefore later on he became Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Formerly he was simply Raghunatha, and when he joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then he became Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.

So he was eating... He was living in Radha-kuṇḍa, you know, all Vrndavana-vasis. He was eating every alternate days a little butter. That's all. So ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau **. This is... The more you have become free from nidra, means sleeping; ahara, eating; and vihara, sex; and... Nidrahara-viharakadi. And so far bhaya, a devotee is not fearful of anything.

narayaṇa-paraḥ; sarve
na kutascana bibhyati
svargapavarga-narakeṣu
narakeṣu api tulyartha-darsinaḥ;
[SB 6.17.28]

A devotee is not interested whether he is going to hell or heaven. Everything is, for him... He knows hell is also kingdom of God and heaven is also kingdom of God. A devotee's kingdom of God means where he gets the chance of serving the Lord. That is wanted. So saṅketyam. Therefore in the Hindu families they keep the name of the children with the God's name. Just like this Ajamila, although he was a very, very sinful man, still, because the culture was there, he kept his son's name Narayaṇa. He did not lose the culture, although he was so much sinful. The culture is so important. Still in India, as there is very, very good propaganda to make the people godless atheist, still, you see, find, in Vrndavana thousands and lakhs of people are coming. It is their birthright. Not only in Vrndavana, we have seen wherever we held that Hare Krṣṇa festival, thousands of men were coming. Even the so-called educated. When we held that ceremony in Delhi, L.I.C. Ground, many, many secretaries, officers, they came and they were dancing with their hat-coat-pant. So it is so nice.

So some way or other, if you be in touch with this Hare Krṣṇa movement, then your life is successful.

Saṅketyam. You keep your children's name just like he kept, Narayaṇa. He actually became delivered because he kept his son's name Narayaṇa. Saṅketyaṁ parihasyam. Joking. Sometimes they joke: "Oh, these people are chanting 'Hare Krṣṇa, Hare Krṣṇa,' " and they joke also, "Hare Krṣṇa!" sometimes seriously, sometimes joking. So joking, they are chanting Hare Krṣṇa—that is taken to their credit, although he is joking; he is not serious. Saṅketyaṁ parihasyaṁ stobham. Sometimes we make fun. To complete one sentence sometimes we, "Hari," "Krṣṇa," we add it. So that is also accepted. And then helanam eva va. Helanam eva va. Just like sometimes in the Western countries there is propaganda, as it was in Germany. Now they are going in Japan: "These Hare Krṣṇa people are very bad." But he's chanting Hare Krṣṇa. While saying that "Hare Krṣṇa people are very bad," but the "Hare Krṣṇa" is chanted. The helanam eva va. And that is going to their credit. Although they are going to say Just like "Rama chor nahe," and somebody heard, "Nahe Rama chor." So "Rama chor," but because he uttered the name Rama, even he says, "Rama chor," he gets the benefit. Sometimes they joke, "Krṣṇa is Makhanchor." So he is accusing "chor," but because he is chanting "Krṣṇa" he is getting the benefit.

So some way or other... Yena tena prakareṇa manaḥ; krṣṇe nivesayet. This is the process. Somehow or other, you engage your mind in Krṣṇa. Yena tena prakareṇa. Without any regulative principle? Yes. Sarve vidhi-niveṣedhaḥ; syur etayor eva kiṅkaraḥ;. If you some way or other think of Krṣṇa, then the vidhi-niṣedha, vidhi-niṣedha, regulative principle and forbidden things Just like we have got our regulative principle that "Chant Hare Krṣṇa mantra at least sixteen rounds." This is called vidhi. And niṣedha: don't have illicit sex, don't eat meat, don't have intoxication, don't indulge in gambling. These are niṣedha. So sarve vidhi-niṣedhaḥ; syur etayor eva kiṅkaraḥ;. As soon as you go on chanting the holy name of the Lord, vidhi, sixteen round, this niṣedha will automatically follow. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcana sarvair guṇais tatra samasate suraḥ; [SB 5.18.12]. This is the process.

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

This is the process. Somehow or other, yena tena prakareṇa, you think of Krṣṇa, you chant Krṣṇa's name, you just offer your obeisances, and... This temple is here. There are many temples. What is the process? Process... If somebody comes here, he immediately think of Krṣṇa. By seeing Krṣṇa's Deity... Krṣṇa's Deity and Krṣṇa is not different. So even if he thinks that it is some stone Deity, but Krṣṇa's stone Deity... Therefore "Krṣṇa's," he says—that will benefit him. Some way or other, he is chanting "Krṣṇa." "Krṣṇa and Balarama is very nice in this temple." So that "Krṣṇa" and seeing Krṣṇa, thinking of Krṣṇa, chanting Krṣṇa Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji [Bg. 18.65]. And if you worship Krṣṇa, offer aratika, bhoga, decorate with flowers Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srṅgara-tan mandira-mar...** Even you wash this temple, you get the benefit. Somehow or other, be in touch with this temple, with the holy name, with the Vaiṣṇava. In this way, by constant association-saṅgat sañjayate kamaḥ;—by association of devotees, you become a Krṣṇa devotee.

Actually it is happening. In your country, the Europeans and Americans, say, ten years before the beginning of this movement, you did not know Krṣṇa, every one of you. That's a fact. How you are now mad after Krṣṇa? It is simply because by association. So association is so important thing. You boys and girls in your country, you were so luxuriously living. Why you have left everything and you are after a beggar sannyasi? It is the association. The association is so strong. Therefore Narottama dasa Ṭhakura says,

taṅdera caraṇa-sevi-bhakta-sane vas
janame janame mor ei abhilaṣ

"Let me engage myself in the service of the Gosvamis and associate with the devotees. I do not want anything." Janame janame mor ei abhilaṣ. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura said that kiṭa-janma hau, jatha tuwa das. This association. "Let me become a worm, not a devotee, even worm." Kiṭa. Kiṭa means worm, an insignificant ant, worm. Better to remain as an ant with the association of devotees than to become a Brahma without any devotee's association. Brahma-janme nahi mora as. Bahir-mukha brahma-janme, nahi mora as, kiṭa janma hau, jatha tuwa das. This is Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura's hankering. So some way or other, we are propagating this association, Krṣṇa consciousness, International Society for Krṣṇa Consciousness. Why? Why we are establishing so many centers? Just to give the people in general the chance of association. It is very important thing, association. Saṅgat sañjayate kamaḥ;.

So either kama or lobha or bhaya or enviousness, some way or other connect with Krṣṇa. Just like the gopis. The gopis, they liked Krṣṇa. They did not know that Krṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. They did not know. They liked Krṣṇa. He was a very funny boy, young boy, very beautiful, and these girls were attracted. They went to Katyayani: "Mother Katyayani, please give Krṣṇa as our husband." Their only prayer was that. They did not go to Katyayani for begging: dhanaṁ dehi, rupaṁ dehi, yaso dehi—no. "Give me Krṣṇa. Give me Krṣṇa." So there is no harm to worship the deity, I mean to say, other demigods. But that is not possible for anyone. That was possible only for the gopis, because they did not know anything except Krṣṇa. Wherever they go, they want Krṣṇa. But we worship demigods not for Krṣṇa—for my sense gratification. Kamais tais tair hrta-jñana yajanty anya-devataḥ; [Bg. 7.20]. When we worship any other demigods... Just like you worship Gaṇesa for siddhi, rddhi-siddhi. You will find in mercantile shop, namo gaṇesaya namaḥ; rddhi-siddhi kurdan mile(?). So similarly, we worship Goddess Durga for beautiful wife. These are prescribed in the sastras, that "If you want this, then you worship this Deity. If you want this, then you worship this Deity." So different worshipers of demigods, they are meant for satisfying the senses. But Krṣṇa is not that. You cannot satisfy your senses by worshiping Krṣṇa. That is not possible. Krṣṇa is not order-supplier: "My dear Krṣṇa, please give me this. Then I shall worship You." Krṣṇa does not accept such worship. Krṣṇa said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇam: [Bg. 18.66] "You first of all surrender to Me. I am not your order-supplier." This is Krṣṇa's worship. So those who are not taking Krṣṇa as order-supplier, those who are accepting Krṣṇa as order-carrier, he will be successful. Otherwise it will take time. Don't take Krṣṇa as your order-carrier, order-supplier. You become. Hrṣikena-hrṣikesa sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Bhakti means when you engage your senses for satisfaction of Krṣṇa. That is bhakti. And if you take Krṣṇa for satisfying your senses, just like you worship other demigod, that is not bhakti. That is not bhakti.

So helanam eva vaikuṇṭha-nama-grahaṇaṁ aseṣagha-haraṁ viduḥ;. So some way or other, if we are engaged in chanting the Vaikuṇṭha-nama Vaikuṇṭha-nama. Vaikuṇṭha is Krṣṇa or Viṣṇu. Vigata-kuṇṭhad yasmad iti vaikuṇṭha. Here in the material world you are always filled up with kuṇṭha, anxieties. And if you go to Viṣṇu or Krṣṇa, then there is no more kuṇṭha, full freedom without anxiety. Because even if you realize yourself that you are part and parcel of Parabrahman, when you realize Brahman yourself, not this body, immediately you become jolly. Brahma-bhutaḥ; prasannatma na socati na kaṅkṣati [Bg. 18.54]. There are many sannyasis who are brahmavadi. So as soon as they feel "Ahaṁ brahmasmi," they are no more in anxiety of this material world. And if you increase that—Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan That simple Brahman realization, it is knowledge that "I am not this, but I am that." Neti. But that knowledge will not be sufficient. You have to make progress further because we are by nature anandamaya. Ananda-mayo 'bhyasat. Our nature is to search after ananda. So simply Brahman realization will not give you ananda. Therefore we see sometimes big, big sannyasis, they gave up this world as brahma satyaṁ jagan mithya, but because they could not get ananda, they come down again. Again they become busy in opening hospital and school and philanthropic work, politics, because they could not get ananda. That is the defect of the impersonalists. They can simply understand ahaṁ brahmasmi: "I am not this body. I am not matter. I am spirit." But that much understanding will not help. It may be helpful for some time, but because he is bereft of ananda, he will fall down. Aruhya krcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ; patanty adho 'nadrta yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ; [SB 10.2.32]. Ananda you cannot get without being a servant of the Supreme Lord. That is ananda, reciprocation(?). That is Vrndavana. There is ananda, cinmaya, ananda, because everyone is engaged in the service of Krṣṇa. The cowherd boys, the calves, the cows, the birds, the beasts, the trees, the water, the father, mother, playmates—everyone—Krṣṇa is the center. That is ananda. And if you make Krṣṇa minus, then there is no ananda. You may be Brahman realized, you may be seeing the Paramatma, but there is no ananda.

Thank you very much. Hare Krṣṇa. (end)

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