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The following is the concluding part of the notes from His Holiness Mahavishnu Gosvami Maharaj’s class on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 4.6.47, given in London, July 11, 2008. Maharaj gives the cure for the five unwanted qualities mentioned.

In the previous offering we heard from Maharaj as to how

a) By doing our duties immaculately, we will be able to get detached from the fruitive results. Detachment does not mean, stopping the work, but doing it more carefully.
b) We should dress in simple Vedic manner, use time for studying Srimad Bhagavatam, meditating on each and every word
c) We should not discriminate people based on birth, country or caste and see everyone as part and parcel of Supreme Lord.
d) We should be broad-minded and give Krishna to everyone, simply by following Srila Prabhupada’s way, without any dilution or deviation.
e) When we are with Srimad Bhagavatam there will be no discrimination, mean-mindedness or fruitive activities.


Let us continue to hear more nectar from Maharaj.

"In Bhagavad Gita verse 12.15, Lord Krishna says

yasmaan nodvijate loko / lokaan nodvijate ca yah
harshaamarsha-bhayodvegair / mukto yah sa ca me priyah.

"He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me."

But we are para sukha-dukhi. We are unhappy when others are happy (parodayenaarpita-hrd-rujo anisham). This way our whole culture is completely buried, and other culture is pulled upon us. These days churches are morose. You know, nobody is visiting there. Why we don’t feel like going there? Because there is nothing there! With Deities, even a small child can go there and not be scared. But an empty hall is scary, you know. We have become so fallen these days that we are thinking that, "If I can go my way, then Krishna can stand on the altar." In this way we are completely hating Krishna because He is all-present. We are thinking, "Now I’ve come to the temple, now Radha-Neel-Madhava can see me." (Maharaj chuckles). But reality of the matter is that we are just a bag of bones and stool. We are just nothing in front of Him.

Srila Prabhupada tried in a very systematic way, hence he was successful. So many difficulties he had to go through. Because we’re not interested in Srimad Bhagavatam, the tendency is to crash down. Falling down can be tolerated, but crash cannot be tolerated. Particularly women. (Maharaj referred to a previous Granthraj offering) – "No women and no loans." Meditating on women can drag you down anytime. bhaktih pareshaanubhavo viraktir. As soon you take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then you’ll be forced to be detached.

We go to the temple – these are appointments with Krishna, you know. If you don’t chant, you miss the appointment. If you don’t chant Gayatri, you miss the appointment. If you don’t study, you miss the appointment. So therefore we should try not to miss our appointments with Krishna. Then we will be safeguarded always, because He is our guardian. "yasyaasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincanaa, sarvair gunais tatra samaasate suraah", All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva." – (SB 5.18.12) This is the extension of parodayena. Otherwise we hate other’s flourishing activities. And we are very expert in cheating Krishna. We commit so many obnoxious things. Unless you are really scared of coming back into this janma-mrtyu-jaraa-vyaadhi, then you will not be serious in following all these things. All these diseases can be cured in one go, immediately by the Rama-baana (Rama’s arrow) – taking shelter of Srimad Bhagavatam.
(arpita hrd rujo) – we should give up the anger also. To be peaceful with our system is very important. (Maharaj quotes from shastras that real happiness is there when we are satisfied with the Self). Because the peace is not there, the disturbance is there, everywhere; in eating, sleeping and relationships with others. So how much we should be shouting, "Taking shelter of the Srimad Bhagavatam is the only cure for these!"

Ignorance means he is ignoring jivere svarupa haya krishnera nitya dasa. Lord Brahmaji is very nicely saying in the above verse, "paraan duruktair vitudanty aruntudaas". paraan duruktaih – therefore he is uttering harsh speech for others; vitudanti – gives pain; aruntudaah – by piercing words.  The living entity is ignoring Srimad Bhagavatam, that is the only reason for paraan duruktair vitudanty aruntudaas. These words should be learned. This whole line is dedicated to the duruktaih so how much we should remember this!? When will we come back to our senses? taan maavadheed daiva-vadaan bhavad-vidhah. taan – those who have these five things; maavadheed – do not kill them; daiva – by providence; vadaan – already killed. So don’t try to kill them. Otherwise we have a revengeful attitude. Because of Bhagavatam-viddhi we’re completely peaceful also in these circumstances. For example, in my childhood I remember a very honest merchant. The kids were throwing stones at him. But he just said, "Do anything to me, but buy my oranges." Later he became a greatly successful merchant. Similarly we should practise, "Do anything to me, but just read Srimad Bhagavatam."  Please read the next verse – 4.6.48:

yasmin yadaa pushkara-naabha-maayayaa
durantayaa sprshta-dhiyah prthag-drshah
kurvanti tatra hy anukampayaa krpaam
asaadhavo daiva-balaat krte kramam

Translation and purport by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada ki Jai !

"My dear Lord, if in some places materialists, who are already bewildered by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme Godhead, sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion, does not take this seriously. Knowing that they commit offenses because they are overpowered by the illusory energy, he does not show his prowess to counteract them."
PURPORT: It is said that the beauty of

a tapasvi, or saintly person, is forgiveness. There are many instances in the spiritual history of the world in which many saintly persons, although unnecessarily harassed, did not take action, although they could have done so. Parikshit Maharaj, for example, was unnecessarily cursed by a brahmana boy, and this was very much regretted by the boy’s father, but Parikshit Maharaj accepted the curse and agreed to die within a week as the brahmana boy desired. Parikshit Maharaj was the emperor and was full in power both spiritually and materially, but out of compassion and out of respect for the brahmana community, he did not counteract the action of the brahmana boy but agreed to die within seven days. Because it was desired by Krishna that Parikshit Maharaj agree to the punishment so that the instruction of Srimad-Bhagavatam would thus be revealed to the world, Parikshit Maharaj was advised not to take action. A Vaishnava is personally tolerant for the benefit of others. When he does not show his prowess, this does not mean that he is lacking in strength; rather, it indicates that he is tolerant for the welfare of the entire human society."

So nice, you know, everything is given in two verses. Please practise them in your day to day lives. Hare Krishna ! Srila Prabhupada ki Jai !

Although we may feel incapable to do so, let us always focus on improving our own character while studying Bhagavatam and thus follow the instructions of Maharaj.