Q. 256. WHAT IS THE STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHEN IT IS AFFECTED BY THE MODE OF PASSION ?
A. BY SRILA PRABHUPADA.
yad arpitaḿ tad vikalpeindriyaiḥ paridhāvatirajas-valaḿ cāsan-niṣṭhaḿcittaḿ viddhi viparyayamSYNONYMSyat — when; arpitam — fixed; tat — this (consciousness); vikalpe — in material variety (the body, home, family, etc.); indriyaiḥ — with the senses; paridhāvati— chasing all around; rajaḥ-valam — strengthened by the mode of passion; ca — also; asat — to that which has no permanent reality; niṣṭham — dedicated;cittam — consciousness; viddhi — you should understand; viparyayam — the opposite (of what was previously mentioned).TRANSLATIONWhen consciousness is fixed on the material body, home and other, similar objects of sense gratification, one spends one's life chasing after material objects with the help of the senses. Consciousness, thus powerfully affected by the mode of passion, becomes dedicated to impermanent things, and in this way irreligion, ignorance, attachment and wretchedness arise.(Srimad Bhagavatam).PURPORTIn the previous verse Lord Kṛṣṇa explained the auspicious results of fixing the mind in Him, and now the opposite is explained. Rajas-valam indicates that one's passion grows so strong that one commits sinful activities and reaps all types of misfortune.Although materialistic people are blind to their impending wretchedness, one can confirm by all types of evidence — namely Vedic injunctions, direct observation, traditional wisdom and inductive logic — that the result of violating the laws of God is disastrous.
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Pranam Dearest Devotee. Hare Krishna.
1. Select a question and answer.
2. Read it. Re-read it.
3. Little by little, memorize the verses and translations.
4. Learn also the word-for-word meaning.
5. When you have done this with one question and answer,
do the same with the others. Take your time.
6. As you engage in this spiritual study daily,
Lord Krishna showers blessings upon you.
I wish you success in your studies.
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Pranam Dearest Devotee. Hare Krishna.
3. SHRI GURVASTAKAM. (eight prayers to the Spiritual Master).
4. TWO PRAYERS FROM SHRI VRINDAVANA MAHIMAMRTA.
5. TWO PRAYERS FROM MUKUNDA MALA STOTRA.
6. SIX PRAYERS FROM SHRI BRAHMA SAMHITA.
7. THE EIGHT YUGALASHTAKAM PRAYERS.
Everyday read them.