Haṁsaduta: The following lecture was recorded on the morning of February 20, 1971, at Sree Krishna-niketana, Gorakhpur, U.P.

Prabhupada:

te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha
ye sadhavaḥ; samadrso bhagavat-prapannaḥ;
tan nopasidata harer gadayabhiguptan
naiṣaṁ vayaṁ na ca vayaḥ; prabhavama daṇḍe
[SB 6.3.27]

So devotees, they are so exalted that as Krṣṇa's activities, pastimes, are transcendentally relishable, similarly, devotees dealings with the Personality of Godhead is also relishable. Sometimes we find the gopis, they accuse Krṣṇa, "Ungrateful cheater," and so many things. Very strong words sometimes gopis use. When Uddhava came, they immediately accused Uddhava, "Oh, you are coming from Krṣṇa? We know your Krṣṇa, how cheater He is. So you must be another cheater." You see? But these strong words used by the gopis in connection with Krṣṇa, that is, it is stated here, te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha. When these words are discussed even in the society of the demigods and the siddhas...

Siddha means there is a Siddhaloka. The inhabitants of that planet, they are automatically yoga-siddhi. All the perfection of yogic principles are there, yoga siddha. There are different planets of different vibhutis. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi-koṭiṣv aseṣa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. Every planet is differently exalted. And the more you go in the upper planetary systems, thousands and thousands of times better comfortable life than on this planet. I have several times explained. Vibhuti-bhinnam. All of them are differently situated. Not that all planets are of the same type. So there is a Siddhaloka. In that Siddhaloka, if anyone wants to go to another planet, he does not require any airplane or sputnik. He can go immediately. That is called Siddhaloka.

So ye sadhavaḥ;. Te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha. Pavitra-gatha, varṇita pavitra-katha. If they are discussed as Krṣṇa's pastimes... Srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ; [SB 1.2.17]. As Krṣṇa's pastimes, Krṣṇa's activities, are puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;... If somebody hears and chants, if he does not understand even a farthing of it, still, he becomes pious. There is no need of understanding. Simply that holy sound will make his heart pure. Pavitra-gatha. This sound. Just like when kirtana is going on, an animal is standing. He does not understand what is the meaning of that kirtana, but that sound will purify him. There are many insects within this room, many small creatures, ants, mosquitos, flies. Simply by hearing this holy name, transcendental vibration, they will be purified. Pavitra-gatha. As soon as you discuss dealings of Krṣṇa with the gopis... Because Krṣṇa's pastimes means there must be the other party. And what is that other party? That is devotee. Dealings. There is a proverb like that. Some foolish persons were speaking that "This year I have seen many boys were married." What does it mean? Many boys are married means there must be many girls also. Otherwise, how he's married? Similarly, Krṣṇa's pastimes means there must be devotees; otherwise, with whom Krṣṇa will play? Krṣṇa does not play with any other one unless they are devotees. Sadhavo hrdayaṁ mahyam. As a devotee is always absorbed in thought of Krṣṇa, similarly, Krṣṇa is always absorbed in thought of His devotees.

The gopis... Krṣṇa became absent from Vrndavana, so their mind was always absorbed in the thought of Krṣṇa. When Krṣṇa was present in Vrndavana, that time also. When Krṣṇa used to go the forest, the gopis were thinking of Krṣṇa always: "Oh, how Krṣṇa is walking on the rough field. There are so many stone chips. Krṣṇa's feet is so soft. How He is feeling?" And feeling this, they were crying. That was the gopis. So therefore, as Krṣṇa and Krṣṇa's thought, they are absolute, there is no difference... Therefore it is said Krṣṇa never goes a step forward from Vrndavana because gopis have captured them. Krṣṇa cannot go out of Vrndavana on account of gopis always thinking of Him. The gopis will never cease to think of Krṣṇa; therefore it is not possible for Krṣṇa to go out of Vrndavana, although physically He may not be present. He has no difference between physical or mental, or subtle or gross. He has no such difference. Krṣṇa is absolute any way. Similarly, if you also think of Krṣṇa, if you are also pure devotee, then Krṣṇa is always with you. That is the advantage. Otherwise, how Krṣṇa says, yoginam api sarveṣaṁ mad-gatena [Bg. 6.47]? The topmost yogi: those who are always thinking of Krṣṇa. Pavitra-gatha.

Te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha ye sadhavaḥ; samadrso bhagavat-prapannaḥ;. Bhagavat-prapannaḥ; sadhavaḥ;. Sadhus, sadhavaḥ;, bahuvacana, plural number. So only the bhagavat-prapannaḥ; sadhus, not others. Sadhur eva sa mantavyaḥ; [Bg. 9.30]. Api cet suduracaraḥ;. Sadhu, there is a word, sadhu, means "pious man." So pious man is he who is surrendered to Krṣṇa, bhagavat-prapannaḥ;. They are sadhavaḥ;. Sadhavaḥ; sadhu-bhuṣaṇaḥ;. Sadhavaḥ; sadhu-bhuṣaṇaḥ;. Ajata-satravaḥ;... Suhrdaḥ; sarva-dehinam, titikṣavaḥ; karuṇikaḥ; [SB 3.25.21]. These are the symptoms of sadhavaḥ;, sadhus. The first symptom is titikṣavaḥ;, very tolerant. In any condition they'll go on thinking of Krṣṇa, never mind what is happening externally. There may be so many dangerous things coming and going, but they cannot give up thinking of Krṣṇa. Titikṣavaḥ;. And karuṇikaḥ;. Karuṇikaḥ; means very compassionate. Just like Gosvamis. Nana-sastra-vicaraṇaika-nipuṇau sad-dharma-saṁsthapakau lokanaṁ hita-kariṇau. The devotee's business is he's always thinking of how to do good to the people in general, how they will accept Krṣṇa consciousness. Simply twenty-four hours thinking, making plan. Therefore karuṇikaḥ;. Although personally they are in so many inconveniences—tolerating. But that planning, Krṣṇa planning, is going on. Karuṇikaḥ;: how the people of the world will be happy. Titikṣavaḥ; karuṇikaḥ;. Why they are planning like...? Suhrdaḥ; sarva-dehinam. They are not selfish, "Now I have become Krṣṇa devotee. That's all right. Let others go to hell." No. They want to see that everyone becomes a devotee of Krṣṇa. Therefore they are real friend. That is, he is real friend. Lokanaṁ hita-kariṇau.

The Gosvamis, ideal. They left their comfortable position as ministers, went to Vrndavana, and became a mendicant. Kaupina-kanthasritau. Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa-maṇḍala-pati-sreṇiṁ sada tucchavat. Because they were ministers, their associates, their friends, their companions were all rich men, aristocratic. Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa-maṇḍala-pati. Maṇḍala-pati means "great leaders of aristocratic family." He gave up. Gosvamis, Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, they gave up this association of big aristocratic families. Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa-maṇḍala-pati-sreṇiṁ sada tucchavat. Tucchavat means "There is no necessity. It is most insignificant. We don't want it." Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa... Why you are standing? Huh?

Haṁsaduta: This just fell off the wall.

Prabhupada: Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa-maṇḍala-pati-sreṇiṁ sada tucchavat. Just like you have got a piece of scrap paper, you throw it away, similarly, they gave up the association of aristocratic families just like: "Oh, what is this? No need. Throw it away." Tucchavat. Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa-maṇḍala-pati-sreṇiṁ sada tucchavat bhutva dina-gaṇesakau karuṇaya kaupina-kanthasritau. Being compassionate with the poor souls. Poor souls... Who are poor souls? Anyone who is not Krṣṇa conscious, he's a poor soul. He may be outwardly very rich, but he's a poor soul. Dina-gaṇesakau karuṇaya kaupina-kanthasritau. Tyaktva turṇam aseṣa-maṇḍala-pati-sreṇiṁ sada tucchavat bhutva dina-gaṇesakau karuṇaya kaupina-kanthasritau, gopi-bhava-rasamrtabdhi-lahari-kallola-magnau muhuḥ;. And how they were living? Always thinking of the pastimes of the gopis with Krṣṇa. That was their life substance. How Krṣṇa gopi-jana-vallabha. They are thinking of Krṣṇa as gopi-jana-vallabha. That is Krṣṇa's business. Radha-madhava gopi-jana-vallabha. So how gopi-jana-vallabha was dealing, they were always thinking. In that ecstasy they were keeping life. Otherwise, they had no comforts of the body. They gave up everything, living underneath a tree and became a mendi... Kaupina-kanthasritau. Kaupina means simply the two pieces of underwear, that's all. No gorgeous clothing, nothing of the sort. But they were rich in understanding the gopi-jana-vallabha. They understood what is gopi-jana-vallabha. Gopi-bhava-rasa. That is just like ocean. Rasamrtabdhi. There is a rasa, mellow, which they were tasting twenty-four hours, and therefore they didn't care whether they were living underneath a tree or there was no cloth, no food. That doesn't matter. Gopi-jana-vallabha.

So sadhavaḥ;, they are... Apparently, it appears that they are living in a very, in a poor condition. But they are very rich. Sadhavaḥ;. Sadhavaḥ; sadhu-bhuṣaṇaḥ;. These are the symptoms of sadhu.

titikṣavaḥ; karuṇikaḥ;
suhrdaḥ; sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravaḥ; santaḥ;
sadhavaḥ; sadhu-bhuṣaṇaḥ;
[SB 3.25.21]

The first thing is they are very tolerant, titikṣavaḥ;; karuṇikaḥ;, compassionate; and suhrdaḥ;, friend of all living entities. They are not like that... Just like politicians, they are friends only to the countrymen or to the party. But still, they are so much eulogized: "Oh, he is our leader." But this sort of leader cannot be compared with a sadhu because a sadhu is leader for all living entities. They are thinking of the ant also, how it will be helped. Not only human society or own society, family members. There cannot be broader-minded than a sadhu. That is real sadhu. Suhrdaḥ; sarva-dehinam. Friend of all living entities. Never mind whether it is an ant or whether he is Brahma—he's friend of everyone. Ajata-satravaḥ;. And because a sadhu is friend of everyone, there cannot be any conceivable enemy. But still, there are enemies. That is the nature of the world.

So here it is said, ye sadhavaḥ; samadrsaḥ;. Samadrsaḥ;. Samadrsaḥ; means equally, equipoised. Not that "I shall simply serve this, my brothers or my community or my society or my nation or the human society." Nowadays there is a hobby. Just like Vivekananda: "daridra-narayaṇa-seva," the human society, the poor men. And chaga-narayaṇa, the goat narayaṇa, they must be killed for this daridra-narayaṇa-seva. This kind of discrimination of not for the sadhu. He's not a sadhu. Sadhu is equally disposed to all living entities—not only human society; animal society. In the material atmosphere... Because the material atmosphere is envious to one another. I am envious to you, you are envious to me. That is the position of the material world. So these so-called philanthropists or altruists, they take a section only, do good to them, but neglect others. Neglect others. Or others are enemies. But a sadhu is equipoised. He takes compassion for all kinds of living entities. Suhrdaḥ; sarva-dehinam. Ajata-satravaḥ; santaḥ; sadhavaḥ; sadhu-bhuṣaṇaḥ;. Ye sadhavaḥ; samadrso bhagavat-prapannaḥ;. So without being surrendered soul to Krṣṇa, bhagavat-prapannaḥ;, there cannot be any sadhu and there cannot be any man equipoised to everyone. (short Hindi conversation with a woman) But these are the description of sadhu. Bhagavat-prapannaḥ;. Each and every word is so nice, perfect in Srimad-Bhagavatam, describing... Ye sadhavaḥ;. Sadhavaḥ; means those who are pious men. Who is a pious man? Samadrsaḥ;. Samadrsaḥ;, equipoised. And bhagavat-prapannaḥ;.

So therefore the conclusion is the same thing as we repeat several times: without being Krṣṇa conscious, nobody can be a good man. That's all. We should not hate, that "Oh, he's not a good man; therefore we have to hate." No. That is not our business. No. But this is the conclusion. And because the world is full of no good men, therefore we have to preach. So we cannot hate, even he's not a good man. But this is a fact. One who is not a Krṣṇa conscious person, he's not a good man. But our duty is preach. Because the world is full of no-good men, therefore we have to preach. Otherwise what is the use of preaching? Therefore we should not be envious, although a man is not good man. That is the time. Samadrsaḥ;. Just like Gosvamis. Krṣṇotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau. Dhira. Dhira means sober, and adhira means rascals. So dhiradhira-jana-priyau. They are priya, dear, both the rascals and good men because they were distributing Krṣṇa consciousness. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, just you saw in Benares. Not that all the men who joined the procession, they were all good men. From materialist's point of view... But this Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so kind, thousand of men joined Caitanya and they danced. Dhiradhira. Not that in the crowd only selected devotees were there. No. Most of them, ninety-nine percent all nondevotees. Similarly, in your country you have seen. That Caitanya Mahaprabhu statue attracted so many people in Berkeley.

Dhiradhira-jana-priyau. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His servant, they are dear both to the sober and rascals. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau. Because in their mind there is no such discrimination that "Here is a rascal. I shall not talk to him," or "Here is only good man. I shall talk to him." No. Nityananda Prabhu, He first of all selected, "Oh, here is Jagai-Madhai. All right, first..., My first business is with them," and delivered them. These are the examples. Sadhu. What is sadhu? Sadhu is not with a tilaka and in a secluded place chanting and not coming out and very, imitating Haridasa Ṭhakura. And as soon as the throat is dry, "Oh, biḍi. Give me biḍi." You see? These imitations are going on. You see. Showing just like Haridasa Ṭhakura, but chanting, chanting, the throat becomes dry, and immediately assistance of cigarette or biḍi is required, or a gañja, (laughter) still more. What do you think, Muktananda? Is it not? Did you practice this?

Muktananda: No, I have not... (laughter)

Prabhupada: Thank you. Therefore you have come to us. Because... So sadhavaḥ; samadrso bhagavat-prapannaḥ; tan nopasidata. These are the signs of sadhu. "Don't approach there." Yamaraja says, "Don't approach there. Be careful. You have no business to go there." Nopasidata. "Don't approach." Why nopasidata? Harer gadayabhiguptan. "You know, Viṣṇu has got club? Immediately that club will be used." Just like the Viṣṇuduta acted in case of Ajamila as soon as they approached. Therefore warning, "Don't do this again. One who's a devotee, don't do, don't go there. Otherwise... They are protected by the club of Viṣṇu, cakra. Immediately that will be used." Just see, everything is clearly said.

So simply become Krṣṇa devotee, your life is successful. That's all. You are well protected and you are very recognized. Your qualities, your everything becomes all transcendental, immediately. It is so nice. Krṣṇa says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam [Bg. 18.66]. "I'll give you." That is... These are things are stated. Tan nopasidata harer gadayabhiguptan naiṣaṁ vayaṁ na ca vayaḥ; prabhavama daṇḍe. "They are not our candidates and neither we have got any power to punish them. Even he's in wrong, that is not our jurisdiction. That is Krṣṇa's jurisdiction. Krṣṇa will see to it what to do, even if he's wrong." That is called departmental punishment. That is Krṣṇa's departmental punishment. Not outside. "Krṣṇa may punish him or excuse him; that is Krṣṇa's business, not ours." Therefore a devotee knows, when he's fully surrendered to Krṣṇa, if there is some punishment from the side of Krṣṇa, they accept it as mercy of Krṣṇa. Tat te 'nukampaṁ susamikṣamaṇaḥ; [SB 10.14.8]. They have the eyes to see that "This is mercy of Krṣṇa. Krṣṇa has put me into some dangerous position. That is Krṣṇa's mercy." And actually it is so. By a little inconvenience, immediately he's rectified.

So Yamaraja says, naiṣaṁ vayaṁ na ca vayaḥ; prabhavama daṇḍe. Atas tan nopasidata samipan api na gacchat.(?) Sridhara Svami says, "Do not try to go their vicinity even, what to speak of going directly before them. Where they are sitting, don't go hundreds of thousands years away's time." Vayaḥ; kalo 'pi na prabhavati. Then the Yamadutas can say that "We may not go, but the time factor will act on them." So that is also, "No. There is no question of time factor for them." Such are the facilities. Now, Yamaraja is a mahajana. We have to take his statement, how devotees are stated. Krṣṇa says summarily that "I'll give you protection." And how they are protected you have to learn from the mahajana. Mahajano yena gataḥ; sa panthaḥ; [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Then next question will be: "Then what is our business? Where to go? Suppose they're all devotee?" Sometimes a rascal question is there, that "If everyone becomes devotee, how this world will go on?" That is their concern. If everyone becomes honest, how the prison house will go on? What is the use of prison house? If it is closed, that is good. Similarly, if the whole world becomes devotee and the business of the material world is closed for good, that is very good. But that will not happen. That is not possible.

So Yamaraja says, tan anayadhvam. Tan anayadhvam asato vimukhan mukunda-padaravinda-makaranda-rasad ajasram [SB 6.3.28]. "You simply approach to persons who are averse to the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krṣṇa. One who does not relish the honey in the lotus feet..." Because in the lotus there is honey. So devotees, they take the honey at the lotus feet of Krṣṇa... But how? What they are tasting? They are tasting: niṣkiñcanaiḥ; paramahaṁsa-kulair asaṅgair juṣṭad grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trṣṇan. Those who are not associating with pure devotees, niṣkiñcanaiḥ;. One who has no other business than to taste the honey at the lotus feet of Krṣṇa... The persons who are not associating, that means those who are not becoming life members of Krṣṇa conscious movement. (chuckles) Yamaraja is advising, "Go there." (laughter) "Go there." Why? Why? Juṣṭad grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trṣṇan. They are staying at home, which is the path to hell, and they are absorbed in unlimited desires. Grhe. Grhe. Grhe means staying at home, not going out for canvassing for Krṣṇa. Grhe niraya-vartmani. What is this grhe? Niraya means hell, and vartmani means path. Grhe means "the path of going to hell." That was also advised by Prahlada Maharaja. Grham andha-kupam. Tyaktva grham andha-kupam. Andha-kupam means blind well. I saw one blind well in Ascot when I was at... What is his name?

Haṁsaduta: John Lennon.

Prabhupada: John Lennon's house. There was a blind pit, and it was covered with grass, and somebody fell. So this grham andha-kupam, this family life is sometimes... Unless there is Krṣṇa, the family life... Without Krṣṇa, without Krṣṇa consciousness, family life is just like a blind well covered with grass. As soon as you go, and fall down. Prahlada Maharaja recommended that one should give up this blind well and go to the open forest. So here also it is said, grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trṣṇan. And why they are staying in that blind well? Baddha-trṣṇan, conditioned by material desires. That's all. Thinking that "I am in family. My..., they are friends, they are countrymen, they are my children, and they'll give me protection. What this Krṣṇa consciousness movement will give us protection? They have no money. They are begging. So how they can?" No. That is their idea, that "This, my family affairs, a nice situation, that will give me protection." But that is wrong. Teṣaṁ pramatto nidhanaṁ pasyann api na pasyati.

dehapatya-kalatradiṣv
atma-sainyeṣv asatsv api
teṣaṁ pramatto nidhanaṁ
pasyann api na pasyati
[SB 2.1.4]

They think that "This atmosphere will give me protection," without seeing that they'll be all destroyed by the laws of nature. So Yamaraja says, "Those who are under this conception, that 'This secure home life will give me protection...,' " but that is not the fact. Such security means security for gliding down to hell. That's all. Juṣṭad grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trṣṇan.

(reads commentary): Ke tarhi daṇḍartham anaya tat praha tan iti darbhyam asataḥ;.(?) Asataḥ;, duṣṭan. Asat means duṣṭan, rogues. Asato duṣṭan tan eva aha mukunda padaravindayoḥ;.(?) How one can distinguish that he's a rogue? That's what I say, that rogue you can understand immediately: who is not Krṣṇa conscious. He's a rogue. So tan evaha mukunda-padaravindayo marakanda-rupa-rasaṁ tasmad vimukhan. Those who are averse to taste the honey in Krṣṇa consciousness, they are rogues. They are rogues. And the Yamaraja is advising, "Go there. Bring them here, and I shall chastise them nicely." That is Yamaraja. Duṣṭan tan eva aha mukunda-padaravindayo yo makaranda-rupa tasmad vimukhan. Katham bhutat? Niṣkiñcinair ajasram juṣṭad tesam jñapakam aha niraya-vartmani sva-dharma-sunye grhe baddha trsnad ye tan.(?) So what is their symptoms? Their symptoms we shall describe tomorrow. [break]

The advantages of Krṣṇa consciousness. Yes. Mahajano yena gataḥ; sa panthaḥ; [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Yamaraja personally explains. He is mahajana. Anyone who is not Krṣṇa conscious, he's a candidate for Yamaraja. [break] ...incarnations are as unlimited as there are waves in the sea. As there is no limit how may waves are there, similarly there is no limit of Krṣṇa's incarnation. But some of the prominent incarnations connected with this world, they have been mentioned. Now this boy is advancing in Krṣṇa consciousness by this method. So Kausalya has transferred Krṣṇa consciousness to him?

Devotee: She's leaving today.

Tamala Krṣṇa: But he's also leaving today. That means he has to transfer it to someone else. [break]

Prabhupada: ...adau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ;. We should not transfer our service to somebody. The more we serve, the more we understand Krṣṇa. We should follow this principle. Sevonmukhe hi... The only means of understanding Krṣṇa is service. There is no other means. [break]

Devotee: Some day one person will do the floor, and the next day another person? Is that all right?

Prabhupada: If one man can continue, that's nice. Why should we try for another man?

Devotee: I was thinking that everybody could have an opportunity that way.

Prabhupada: Well, that is very doubtful. (chuckles) The opportunity is neglected. That attitude, it is accepted that "Here is an opportunity," that is very nice. But sometimes we try to transfer the opportunity, being compassionate with another devotee. (laughter) Himavati? (chuckles) Devotees are very compassionate. (laughs) Karuṇikaḥ;. "Please you take this service, and other service, I may take prasadam. (laughter) That I cannot neglect." And Krṣṇa is so kind, any service you do, still you are accepted. Either you take this service or that service, still you are accepted.