11 May 1996
Prahlada’s Devotion
[Hari-katha spoken by Nitya Lila Pravista Om Visnupada Astottara Sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja Srila Gurudeva]
Srila Gurudeva: We have come to this bhajan kutir of (?)Prabhu and his wife Shyamabihari devi dasi. His family is also here, so is his mother in law. Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja has managed for me to come here. He has made a very sweet and soft platform and certainly he has brought me here, to meet all these beautiful devotees. When I reached the bhajan kutir of any devotee like (?)Prabhu, I become overjoyed and wonder that how he has managed all these devotional programs? There are no words to express my gratitude to him. So combined together, we should all try to fulfill the desire of Svamiji. The Vaishnavas may be from any section, they may be the disciples or the grand disciples of Svamiji. The Vaishnavas are also the godbrothers of Svamiji like Pujyapada Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja and Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami Maharaja or anyone. A devotee is of the conviction, “I am of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I am a follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami,” and worships and meditates on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or remembers Sri Radha-Krishna and chants Hare Krishna in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This devotee may be a dog or a mosquito, or anything, but we should honor the devotee from the core of our hearts. And we should serve and help the devotees. You should not tell the devotee, “You should not speak.” Don’t confine the Vaishnava using a “lock and key.” Because the Vaishnava will speak on Krishna bhakti in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and you will be deprived.
I have seen from many years that without the help of Vaishnavas and sadhu-sanga, no one can avail themselves of the mercy of Sri Krishna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Anyone who comes in the vicinity of sadhu sanga, even if they are animals like monkeys and dogs; regardless, all will be benefited. The dog who took shelter of Sri Sivananda Sena Prabhu is one such example. By the effect of this bona fide sadhu sanga, they will become immaculately pure and they will be most worthy of our honor. We sing in the kirtan, Gurudeva krpa bindhu diya kore ei dase trna peksha ati dina— “Sakale sahane bala diya koro nija mane spriha hina,” and “Sakale sammana korite sakathi deha natha yatha-yatha.” Without the mercy of Gurudeva and sadhu-sanga, we cannot honor all Vaisnavas. So Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura prays, “O Gurudeva! You are the repository of such power and energy that through your grace, I will properly honor all Vaisnavas.” There is no envy or spite among Vaisnavas, who have taken shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu and who are serving the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Krishna. Offenses are never committed in the association of such Vaisnavas. If any so-called Vaisnava is engaged in committing offenses, we should try to tolerate. We should not quarrel and cause harm to them. When Srila Haridasa Thakura was being beaten by his perpetrators who were not devotees but demons, he did not call out to his Prabhu and tell Him, “You should punish them.”
Rather, Srila Haridasa Thakura prayed, “O Prabhu, You should excuse them.” Prahlada Maharaja also prayed like this. We should be tolerant like how Vaisnavas are. Our policy is not, “Tit for tat.” This is the policy of Chanakya and the demons. Vaisnavas always tolerate, they know that, “Krishna is saving us. Gurudeva is saving us.” So we should try to honor each and every Vaisnava, regardless of him belonging to other sections of the school of Vaisnavas. This is the first criteria. Guru is never sectarian. He embodies the sloka:
trnad api su-nicena
taror iva sahisnuna
amanina mana-dena
kirtaniyah sada harih
–Sri Siksastakam 3 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 17.31
[“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.”]
We should not only try to speak on all these principles. You should be established in these principles, otherwise you will be a so-called Vaisnava. Bhakti is a very easy path. But if you try to control bhakti and Vaisnavas, you will be like Putana. Who is Putana? Pu-ta-na—“Puta,” means very sacred and “na,” means no. Putana means she who is not sacred, but who externally poses herself as the mother of Krishna. In a bid to kill Krishna, Putana tried to appear as Yasoda—the mother of Krishna. So, so-called devotees who behave like Putana, who externally pose as Vaisnavas and inwardly have no Vaishnavata (the nature of Vaisnavas), who have no honor for Vaisnavas, then they are like Putana. They want to control, exercise many rules and regulations on Vaisnavas on the pretext of protecting bhakti. But they will be destroyed by these very rules and regulations, as Putana was destroyed. She went to control and kill Krishna for the protection of Kamsa Maharaja. She was a so-called mother. We should not be like that. Instead, we should be like Mother Yasoda.
When Yasoda saw Putana, she thought, “Oh this demigoddess is really the mother of Krishna! I am not as beautiful and qualified as she is. She should take Krishna in her arms.”
Taking her boy Krishna in her lap, Yasoda was caressing, kissing, and smelling the head of Krishna. In the meantime, milk that was kept boiling on the stove started to boil over. And the milk started to make its way into the fire. Yasoda ran to save the milk at once.
The milk was thinking, “I am not serving Krishna. Yasoda has boundless quantities of milk in her breasts that Krishna can suckle on for millions of births. Nonetheless, the supply of the milk from Yasoda’s breasts will never be depleted. On the other hand, Krishna’s stomach is so big that it will remain empty despite Krishna drinking endless quantities of milk. I realize that I have no chance to serve Krishna because Krishna will never cease drinking the milk of Yasoda Ma and there will never be an end to Yasoda’s supply of milk. So what am I to do? If I am not serving Krishna, it is better that I enter fire and give my life up. There is no use of sustaining this life if it is not used in Krishna’s service.” A devotee thinks like this.
You should also think, “If I am not serving Vaisnavas, Gurudeva, Radha-Krishna Conjugal, Gaura-Nityananda Prabhu, Gaura-Gadadhara Prabhu, then I must die for I have no right to live.” Thinking like this, the milk wanted to suicide and started to meander its way into the fire. Yasoda Ma saw what was happening from a distance and ran to save the milk.
She cried out, “Don’t enter the fire! Don’t suicide! I am coming at once!”
“I will give Krishna up and save you. And I will engage you in the service of Krishna.” Saying thus, Yasoda hurried to save the milk.
Krishna thought, “I am still hungry. I wanted to drink more milk.”
Now, time is over.
[Laughter]
Brajanatha Prabhu: We have one more program.
Srila Gurudeva: I will continue for two more minutes. What should I tell?
Devotee: Gaura Premanande! Haribol!
[Laughter]
Srila Gurudeva: Krishna thought, “My appetite hasn’t been satisfied yet. So I will not give maiya up.” He entwined His legs around the stomach of Yasoda and His hands clung to her neck, like how a monkey would cling to its mother. With the full power of Purna Brahma at His disposal, Krishna clung to His mother. Putana wanted to break free of Krishna’s hold, and despite having the power of sixty thousand elephants; she couldn’t get rid of Krishna. With all her might, Putana tried pushing Krishna away, but she couldn’t. When Krishna gripped Putana, He only used a fraction of His power, but when He clung to Maiya Yasoda, He used His entire power and indeed, at that moment He used all His might as the Supreme Personality of Godhead would. By His mouth, He caught hold of Yasoda with all His strength.
But Yasoda said, “Oh sit down!”
[Laughter]
Using only one of her hands, she made Krishna sit down as a helpless child. Krishna’s power and opulence failed Him and He was bound to sit on the floor. This was a miracle.
Yasoda is so liberal! She helps other devotees serve Krishna. Leaving her service aside, she gives others the opportunities to serve Krishna. We should be like Ma Yasoda. A devotee should not be of the mentality, “He is my Gurudeva, so I must serve him. But I will give no chance to others.”
Instead, a devotee should think, “My Gurudeva is jagat-guru, so I will give a chance to others to also serve him. My Gurudeva is my Gurudeva always. So all should be given a chance to serve him.” This is Vaisnavata—the culture and character of the Vaisnavas. So we must follow all these etiquettes from the core of our hearts. Bhakti is not controlled by rules and regulations. Bhakti will vanish if she is tried to be constricted by rules and regulations. When Putana came to harm Krishna, He vanished away. She couldn’t even touch Krishna. But she was under the false impression of holding Krishna in her hands, so she thought of killing Him. But she could not. She thought that Krishna was in her hands but Krishna had eluded her ghastly clutches. Yogamaya performed an amazing miracle!
So we should try to follow the deep imports of all these pastimes and gradually develop our Krishna Consciousness.
Gaura Premanande! Haribol!
I am happy to meet all devotees. Prasad should be distributed to all.
[Break of audio.]
[A devotee introduces Srila Gurudeva in Hindi and soon after, Srila Gurudeva begins his Hindi class.]
[Devotee introduces Srila Gurudeva to the audience and speaks in Hindi.]
Devotee: Our heartily welcome to all the members of the audience, comprising of the devotees and Srila Svami Maharaja’s disciples. All of you have spared some part of your priceless time and assembled to be a part of this sat-sanga, so we thank you all. Today, by our greatest fortune, an esteemed guest from Vrindavana who is in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and performs bhajan of Sri Radha-Krishna, has come to the temple and graced us all by being within our midst. He is a preacher of the scriptural injunctions stated in the Sri Bhagavat Gita, Srimad Bhagavatham, Sri Ramayana, the Vedas, the dharma sastras, and the Puranas. He also preaches pure bhakti in the line of the afore-mentioned scriptures. So we offer our humble obeisance to our most esteemed guest—Sri Narayana Maharaja. The physical body of Srila Narayana Maharaja is from Bihar. It has been fifty-five years since Sri Narayana Maharaja has left home. Sri Narayana Maharaja resided in the Buxar district of Bihar, while he was situated in his previous asrama. Buxar district is the very place where great ascetics and Brahmarsis like Vishvamitra performed austerities and attained perfection. While residing in that abode of perfection, Lord Ramachandra vanquished the fierce some demoness—Taraka. Bhagavati Ahilya was also delivered by Lord Ramachandraji in that same place. Sri Narayana Maharaja is the disciple of Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. On the order of his Gurudeva and Siksha Gurudeva, Sri Narayana Maharaja who is already steadfastly preaching in Bharath-varsa, is now also preaching pure bhakti in the Western countries and gracing them with his divine presence.
Sri Narayana Maharaja is the Vice President and the general secretary of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. He is also the supervisor of Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math in Mathura. He, who has love for the devotees and the precepts of sanatana-dharma, acceding to the request of the devotees, has embarked on the distinguished journey of preaching and inculcating the tenets of pure bhakti to all the citizens of the world. Exactly a month from today, Sriman Istadevaji’s son called me on the phone and informed me of the impending arrival of a mahan (great) acharya from Vrindavana to Holland and his stay here for ten or eleven days.
[Addressing the managers of the temple:] If you could allot one day of the temple schedule to Sri Narayana Maharajaji, it would be your great mercy. When saints of this stature and caliber come to bestow mercy on us, it would be our limitless fortune to invite, and host Maharajaji in our temple for at least a day. This way, we can avail ourselves of the bhakti rasamrita (nectar of devotion), Maharajaji has come to give. Today, Sri Narayana Maharajaji has blessed us with his presence, but it as matter of great sadness that we can have the darsana and listen to the hari-katha from Sri Narayana Maharajaji for only one day. However, we requested Sri Narayana Maharajaji to speak for at least three or four days in the temple instead of just one day. We would have made all the arrangements for Maharajaji and his entourage. But, Sri Narayana Maharajaji’s disciples have already scheduled Maharajaji’s visit to various places around Holland, so we have deprived ourselves of Sri Narayana Maharaja’s association by not informing him of our desire earlier. That is why; we were unable to arrange a three or four day program for Sri Narayana Maharajaji. Even so, Sri Narayana Maharajaji has come for at least a day. Now much time has already passed, and I do not wish to speak further. I beseech Sri Narayana Maharajaji to inundate us with the rasa (mellow) of the amrtamayi (nectar laden) bhakti, for which we have assembled. I request Maharajaji to please start his amrtamayi vani (nectar laden discourse) on the glories of Bhagavan.
With folded hands, let us prayerfully entreat Maharajaji to begin his glorification of Bhagavan.
[The devotee-speaker and the audience recite an invocation prayer in Sanskrit.]
Devotee: Now I pass the mike to Parama pujaniya (most worshipful) Sri Narayana Maharajaji.
[Srila Gurudeva begins his Hindi lecture.]
Srila Gurudeva: We should chant the maha-mantra for a couple of minutes.
[Maha-mantra is chanted and Srila Gurudeva begins the class.]
Srila Gurudeva: After many days, today, I am going to speak in the Hindi language. The devotees who are native to Holland will perhaps not understand my discourse. So I request that an English translation is arranged for them. I will now speak in the Hindi language for those well acquainted with it.
[Srila Gurudeva speaks in English:] I have been speaking in English for many days, but today, I want to speak in Hindi as the audience comprises of many speakers of the Hindi dialect. Thereafter, the katha will be translated into English.
[Srila Gurudeva resumes speaking in Hindi:] I am very happy that today, I will speak hari-katha to the audience in the Hindi language. I can speak many languages of India like—Sanskrit, Hindi, Bangla, Assamese, and Oriya. I can also speak many more languages. I am very happy that today I will able to speak in my mother tongue, the language I was born into—Hindi.
We should all understand…If you know Hindi then you will surely be familiar with the name of Tulasidasji. Tulasidasji has said, “Sruti siddhanta ye he urugari, bhajiye ram sabkaj visari.” Bhajiye ram sabkaj visari—even if you have abandoned all your material works; there is no harm in this, if you are engaged in the bhajan of Rama and Krishna. If you have obtained all the treasures and benedictions of this world, like how Ravana attained a city of gold, and how Hiranyakashipu achieved an immensely long life, where his invincibility stood unchallenged by the demigods and even by Brahma. All the demigods bowed to him in submission. His benediction bore the guarantees of not being killed by any of Brahma’s creations, either in the earthly, heavenly realms, or the sphere of the netherworlds. Even upon acquiring these godly opulence’s, if you don’t perform the bhajan of Bhagavan, then your life has been completely squandered. All the sastras speak this truth. This is the only essence of all the conclusions of the sastras like—Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatham, Ramayana, and the Puranas. They are unequivocal in their standpoint that if you perform bhajan everything has been achieved, but if you have not performed bhajan, all has been lost, and you have lived the life of an animal.
dharmena hina pasubhih sammana
If you lack a sense of dharma, you are an animal. But what kind of an animal will you bear the characteristic features of? The animal that has no horn and tail. You will be that sort of an animal if you don’t worship Bhagavan. Personalities like Sabari and Vidurani had no material possessions, but by the performance of bhajan, they became the most renowned personalities of this world. Despite being a monkey, Hanuman is worshipped by the entire world, but why is this so? Every part of Hanuman’s body chants the name of Rama, there is no place on his body that doesn’t reverberate with the name, “Rama.” His entire body is permeated with Ramanama. So he is worshipful for the entire world. On the contrary, by seeing the face of an ordinary monkey, you will not get any food for the entire day and misfortune will befall you. The pilgrimage you would have undertaken will also be swung into the opposite pole of inauspiciousness, if you see the face of a monkey. This is especially true for black monkeys. But by remembering Hanuman, the person becomes worshipful for the entire world.
Rama nama ka anka hai, sab sadhana hai…
If zero is added next to one, the number ten is formed. If another zero is added, hundred is formed. The number increases ten times over when another set of zeros are added. But if you remove the number one and add millions of zeros, it would amount to nothing. Perhaps all of you understand?
[Srila Gurudeva speaks in English]
The name of Krishna is like the digit- one and all other practices you are involved in are like zeros. The number, “one,” is of paramount importance to a set of innumerable zeros.
[Srila Gurudeva resumes speaking in Hindi]
Rama nama ka anka hai, sab sadhana hai su…
If you have engaged in bhagavat-bhajan, your life will be successful. Or else, the life you have led has already taken a blind turn to the life of an animal, rather, a life that is worse than that of an animal. Animals also eat, sleep, procreate, and engage in other activities, which you are involved in. Without Bhagavat-bhajan, your lives are no different to that of the animals. Animals eat—you eat, animals procreate—you procreate, animals sleep—you sleep. All these traits also have their rightful places in animals. Animals are always fearful of being killed, while you are also. So where is the distinction between the animals and you, when you are engaged in the same activities as them? The only distinguishing feature that separates them from you is—Bhagavat-bhajan. Your lives will be successful if you realize your constitutional position as the servant of Rama and Krishna. But if you do not understand your constitutional position, then all endeavors have been in vain, and your state is more degraded than that of a donkey. Which animal is the most ignorant among all animals? It is the donkey. You will also be a donkey if you remain ignorant. The donkey will not taste anything by itself, despite being overburdened with a burgeoning load. Even if you stack a donkey’s back with bags of milk, sugar, ghee, butter, and other foodstuffs, it will carry the load, but will not taste anything by itself. It will always eat repulsive foodstuffs. So, you will also be like a donkey, if you don’t engage in bhagavat-bhajan.
Tulasidasji has taken the essence of the Bhagavatham, Gita, and the Vedas and written the Ramayana. He has written it in very simple language. Those who don’t know Hindi will also understand the Ramayana. Based on my intuition, I understand that katha on Tulasidasji’s Ramayana is also arranged here from time to time.
So, he has written, “Sruti siddhanta ye hai…” All your work of this world may be ruined, no harm, only engage in the bhajan of Bhagavan. Or else, life will be wasted. To support this, Tulasidasji gave nine examples. What are those examples?
Do you all know what a tortoise is? Hair may grow on the shell of a tortoise, this may be possible. Although it never happens, let’s agree that it may happen—hair growing on the shell of a tortoise.
It may also be likely that a barren woman gives birth to a son and someone kills him. This is also possible—a barren woman’s son being killed. How can this boy be killed when the woman is barren? But, we agree that this may also be possible.
It may also be probable that flowers bloom in the sky. How can flowers bloom in the sky when the sky has no support? But the poet tells us that this may be possible.
Due to excessive heat, the air creates an illusion of the presence of water. Seeing this body of water, the deer runs to the imaginary body of water to quench its thirst. The more the deer approaches the mirage, the farther the mirage gets out of reach. Scorched by the excessive heat, the deer slowly starts losing its life and finally breathes its last while hopelessly treading the unforgiving desert. Water was not found anywhere. Quenching your thirst without Krishna’s grace is also possible.
But, without Bhagavat-bhajan, a person’s miseries will never be dispelled and his life will not be successful.
Darkness may engulf the sun, though this phenomenon has never happened. But despite the extreme rarity of all these incidents happening, Tulasidasji consents to the chance of these incidents manifesting.
Fire is never produced by ice. But, we agree that this may happen—fire produced by ice. Logically, there is no chance of this happening, but we agree that this might happen.
Tulasidasji says, “There is the chance of ghee being churned from water. Ghee is obtained from the churning of milk. Despite churning water for lakhs of years, nothing will be obtained. But we agree that this might happen.
Oil may also be extracted by grinding the dust present on the road. The chance of this happening is next to impossible. But again, we agree that this might happen. Oil can only be obtained by grinding mustard seeds, not by pressing dust and sand.
But despite the probabilities of these outrageous phenomena’s manifesting, one truth is unflinching—without Hari-bhajan, no person can cross this insurmountable, overwhelming ocean of birth and death. We will never agree to the possibility of a person devoid of the practice of Hari-bhajan, crossing the ocean of birth and death. All our sastras like the Vedas, Upanisads, Puranas, Bhagavat, Gita etc.; all of them state this truth—it is imperative that you engage in the bhajan of Bhagavan. He who doesn’t engage in Hari, Rama, or Krishna bhajan has squandered his life.
Firstly, I want to tell you all that all our sastras state that the pre requisite principle of entering spiritual life is that you understand that you are not this physical body. We should understand this. To enable you to understand this indefatigable truth, I will present an example:
If the audience was willing and I would give hari-katha for seven days, then I would be convinced that I have the time to speak what I came for. Only an introduction can be given in the time frame of a single day’s hour. If we come the next time, I request that I am given at least five days to speak. That way, I can at least speak a little on what I have realized during my life’s practice of hari-bhajan. I will also relate some of the facts that are stated in the Ramayana, Bhagavat, and the Bhagavat Gita.
Today, I will narrate a pastime from the Bhagavat that will act as a corollary to the statement of the Gita: “I am not this body, I am a spirit soul—a part and parcel, and eternal servant of Krishna.”
There was one son born of a father. A disagreement arose between them. The father would tell the son, “Don’t take the name of Rama, Visnu, or Krishna.”
The son would reply, “I will not give up on chanting Krishna’s name even if I were to give up my life.”
The father’s name was Hiranyakashipu and the son’s name was Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada was only of five years of age. He was a small boy. But his determination was unflinching. “My life may leave, but not my chanting of the Lord’s names.”
“I will always chant Krishna’s names, even if my body is cut into pieces. My determination to engage in bhajan will not slacken despite your unrelenting threats. This body is yours, so you can treat it any way you see fit; I will not offer any resistance. But, I will never forsake the chanting of the holy names,” Prahlada told Hiranyakasipu.
Hiranyakasipu vehemently said, “The Person whose names you incessantly chant is my sworn enemy!”
“Krishna is not anyone’s enemy. He is the beloved of everyone. Try to understand this.”
“All right, now go to school.” And Prahlada was sent to school. But to whose school? It was the school of Sukracharya. Sukracharya is the acharya (preceptor) of sukra (semen). Through the agency of sukra, birth of the material body takes place. A person impregnates his wife and soon after, a child is born from the womb of the mother. Sukracharya is called as so, because he is well conversant with this process of impregnation. He is the acharya of this science of impregnation. If he so desires, through the medium of mantras, he can revive a dead being. He would often do this. By sprinkling some water and uttering some mantras, he would revive thousands of dead demons.
He would proclaim, “Arise!” And the demons would be brought to life.
So, Prahlada was sent to this school. But at that time, Sukracharya was not present, instead, his two sons—Sanda and Amarka, were present. Do you know what “Sanda” means? It is a bull, which always eats and wanders here and there. It doesn’t remain under anyone’s control. It is always running behind cows and engrossed in thoughts of eating. “Eat, drink, and be merry,” is its motto.
In the absence of Sukracharya, the school’s acharyas were Sanda and Amarka. Prahlada was sent to this school to get educated. After educating Prahlada for some days, Sanda and Amarka said, “Prahlada, we have educated you. Now go offer your pranamas (obeisance) to your parents.”
Prahlada reached his home and offered his obeisance to his parents. His mother decorated him and placed him on the lap of his father. Seeing his well-groomed and educated son, Hiranyakasipu was greatly pleased.
He asked, “My dear son Prahlada, what did you learn in school today?”
“Should I tell you what I have studied?”
“Why not?”
“I have studied: Tat sadhu manye asura varya dehinam…”
Prahlada said, “O best of the demons, to engage in the bhajan of bhagavan is the most exalted activity. This grha (house) is a blind well. What kind of a blind well? The well is parched and has no water. Pippal trees and weeds grow in corners of the well. The well is filled with grass.” Once, a person was walking in the forest. His solitude was broken by a lion, which gave him a fiercesome chase. In a bid to save his life, the beleaguered man took shelter of a dry well. He lowered himself into the well by the agency of some branches of a pippal tree. The lion was unable to grab him as he had lowered himself. The lion held its paws out and roared in frustration, while waiting for him from the top of the well. If the man would climb to the top, he would only find himself to be devoured by the lion. So he clung to the branches of the pippal tree.
When he thought of resting on the bottom of the well, he saw black, venomous snakes hissing with upraised hoods. Death awaited him if he would lower himself to the bottom of the well. If he would climb to the top, the lion would devour him.
Meanwhile, a couple of mice caught his attention. A black and white colored mouse was continuously gnawing the branches and in a little time, the man would fall to the bottom as the branches would have been completely gnawed. He would not survive.
After a few short seconds, another sight caught his eyes. Drops of honey were dripping from a beehive situated above. He stuck his tongue out and began to relish whatever drops of honey he could muster. He thought, “The honey is so wonderful and sweet!” Enamored by the delectable taste of the honey, he forgot the sight of the gnawing of the branches by the mice. The starving lion and hissing snakes also escaped his notice.
The couple of branches he hung onto is your lifespan. You taste the fruits of your previous karma and those fruits are the mainstay of your bodily existence. One branch represents good karma while the other represents bad karma. And what are the mice? The black mouse is night, while the white one is day. Time runs on, not waiting for anyone.
A man was asked, “What is your age?”
“A hundred years,” he replied with great gusto and happiness.
“A hundred years have passed, now how much longer will you live? Do you understand in the first place that a hundred years have passed?”
The entire life of a person has passed and he will die today or tomorrow. As every day and night passes, your life is being reduced without invoking the slightest notice from you. One day, you will have to surely die. Except for the Lord, His incarnations, and His devotees, there is no one in this world who can claim to have not died after taking birth. He who has taken birth, will surely have to die. If one who has taken birth will die, than what is the fate of those who have died? If they haven’t engaged in bhagavat bhajan, they will assuredly have to take birth again. The name of this cycle is, “bhava-sagara.”
What is this bhava- sagara? It is punarapi jananam, punarapi maranam, punarapi janani jatare gamanam. Since millions of lifetimes, a conditioned soul has entered a mother’s womb, taken birth, and died. Since the dawn of creation, this cycle has been prevalent. But many of the conditioned souls haven’t been delivered yet. Lord Ramachandra, Krishna advented…
[End of audio file]
[Transcribed by the Bhaktabandhav Team]