Maharaj Prthu, the 9th Incarnation

Verse 1.3.14: We are discussing the different incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We are talking about the 9th incarnation, where the Lord descended as a ksatriya. Here Srila Prabhupada is highlighting us about the varnaashrama system. The intelligent class of men (the brahmanas) are responsible for selecting or dethroning the King (the administrative class), according to the rules and regulations of scriptures. If the King is not pious and does not take care of the all-around welfare of his citizens, then they can dethrone him. But they themselves do not occupy this position, as their duty is to simply select a Ksatriya for this purpose, who would fulfill his duties for the welfare of the citizens.

Maharaj Prthu, the ninth incarnation of the Lord is the example being quoted in this verse.

The 8th incarnation, King Rsabhadev...

Verse 1.3.13: Today we are discussing the 8th incarnation of the Supreme Lord, which is King Rsabhadev. Summarizing how the Supreme Lord came to be the son of Kind Nabhi and his wife Merudevi. They prayed and performed austerities to have a son like the Supreme Lord, but He told them that there is no one like Him, so He Himself will come as their son.

King Rsabhadev sets the path of perfection for the rest of humanity. He also had 100 sons, the prominently known among them is Maharaj Bharat. King Rsabhadev instructs His sons to tapasya, austerity, so that the real purpose of life is fulfilled.

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5, Chapter 5 is completely immersed in these instructions that King Rsabhadev gives to His sons, which are so potent even today to all of us. We read 5.5.1, 5.5.2 and 5.5.3 translations too, as a glimpse into King Rsabhadev's instructions.

Preparation to understand Krishna...

Verse 1.3.12: In the first chapter of this Canto, one of the questions the sages in Naimisharanya were asking was to explain the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So here in this chapter, Suta Goswami is explaining the various incarnations of the Lord.

An important point to understand in the complete Srimad Bhagavatam is that the first 9 Cantos are setting stage for a clear understanding of who we are and who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And only then we can understand in Canto 10, the complete pastimes of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is above all the modes of material modes of nature.

Prabhuji shared with us the story of Narada muni, the brahmin, the poor farmer and Vishnu, about Vishnu passing an elephant through the eye hole of the needle.
Moral: The farmer has a clear cut conviction that nothing is impossible for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because of this conviction, he was going to be liberated in this life itself. Unless we understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is beyond our understanding, unless we read Srimad Bhagavatam to prepare ourselves and purify ourselves by chanting, we will not be able to understand Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Incarnation of Dattatreya!

Verse 1.3.11: Sixth Incarnation. The story of Atri muni praying to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is given in the 3rd Canto of Srimad Bhgavatam. Here Srila Prabhupada comments that Atri muni was not advanced enough to understand who the Supreme Personality of Godhead is. That's why he wanted all three of them together as his son.

Dattatreya was born there of. He spoke about the soul and especially instructed Alarka, Prahlada and others.
The incarnation of Dattatreya is one of the different incarnations of the Lord. We think there are only 10, but there are many incarnations.

Although all these incarnations are either expansions of the Lord or expansions of expansions of the Lord, Krishna is the svayam bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whom all these incarnations emerge.

And to understand this, chanting is very very important. Chanting, Srimad Bhgavatam class, serving devotees and Guru, the temples established by Srila Prabhupada, are all there just for us to be involved in bhakti and invoke transcendental love for Krishna within us. That's why we should take this opportunity and chant very very well.

Kapila Muni, 5th Incarnation, Sankhya Philosophy explained

Verse 1.3.10: Kapila muni is called devahuti putra kapila. His father was Kardama muni.

He is known for his knowledge. He expounded the sankhya philosophy, the 24 different material elements, but everything in relation to Bhakti. There is another non-devotee kapila, but to not confuse ourselves, we refer to this Kapila Muni as Devahuti-putra Kapila.

There are 8 gross material elements(Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego), 5 knowledge acquiring senses (eyes, nose, ear, mouth, skin), 5 sense objects (taste, sight, perception, sound, smell), 5 working senses (hands, legs, rectum, genitals, mouth), false ego and mahat-tattva. He has delineated very nicely this whole material world into these 24 elements. There is nothing other than these 24 elements, in this material world, even in the body of a cinema star.

If we understand this and get a realization out of it, we will make a lot lot lot of progress. Please contemplate on it.

Fourth Incarnation...

Verse 1.3.9: Nara-narayana rishi is another incarnation of Krishna, known for their austerities. Each incarnation has a purpose. Nara and Narayana are sages and they performed many many severe austerities. One pastime is there. Indra felt they are performing such austerities, to usurp his throne. So he sent many apsaras to deviate them.

But Nara and Narayana, being Krishna's incarnations understood Indra's plan and Narayana created Urvashi from His thigh. Looking at her captivating beauty far better than their's, all the apsaras got embarrassed. Indra understood that Narayana was the Lord Himself. Then Narayana rishi gave Urvashi to Indra.

This incarnation, came about to show exemplify to people that voluntary acceptance of penance for realization of the Transcendence, is the only duty of the human being.

The Boar Incarnation, Varaha Avatar!

Verse 1.3.7: This chapter details Krishna and His incarnations. We will come to know about the different types of incarnations. Gunaavatars, shyaktavatars etc. Today we are reading about the boar incarnation. The Earth stays in the balance because of gravitational force. Hiranyaksa, the demon takes all the gold away. Because of this, Earth becomes light, and because of that it fell down away from its orbit into the garbodhka ocean.

Today, we are taking off so much oil from Mother Earth. She needs it for lubrication. It is said that this extraction of too much oil is also like Hiranyaksa taking the gold away. We are in this process, putting Mother Earth is jeopardy again, of losing her balance in this gravitational field. Similarly, cell phones, although very inconspicuous, their electro-magnetic signals make the bees loose their way back to home and hence so many of them die. This is today's problems.

When earth so fell down into the lower planets, into Pluto's region of filthy matter, the Supreme Lord took the form of the boar. So why this form. Since the garbhodaka ocean has to be searched and you get wet in this process, and the boar is best in taking something out of the filthy matter, the Supreme Lord Himself descended in the form of a boar to bring Earth back to its orbit, and thus astonished the demons.

4 Kumaras, sons of Brahma

Verse 1.3.6: Brahmana is not a qualification by birth, but it is by action. Srila Prabhupada said that he came to bring Vedic culture to America, but reporters were saying that he brought cast system to America. To this, Srila Prabhupada said no, I am bringing a system that is there in the scriptures. Someone is very intelligent, someone is not so, someone is very less, so comes Brahmana, Vysya and Sudra. Srila Prabhupada said it is already there in America. An intelligent class, not so intelligent mercantile class and the labor class, people are there with such qualities.

A Brahmana means brahma janati brahmana. They are very very intelligent class. Eg: 4 Kumaras, the sons of Brahma. They are bachelors, extremely qualified to be Brahmanas. Their energy is flowing upwards, and so they are not interested in any material things, only interested in spiritual brahman realization.

Incarnations: Direct and Indirect

Verse 1.3.5: Continuing the purport...
Here in the beginning, Srila Prabhupada is talking about Lord Siva. Lord Siva is a guna-avatara. This material world is created for living entities who have rebelled. This material nature is guided by the 3 modes of material nature. So the jiva's have to be impregnated in material nature, that is done by the glance of Maha Vishnu, which is Lord Siva. ..does not come in contact with material nature directly, He does it through Lord Siva.

So it is like milk and curd. Curd is also milk type, but it cannot be used in place of milk.

Next, Srila Prabhupada talks about the manu's. There are 14 manu's in one day of brahma. Right now, Vaivasvata Manvantara is going on. Actually in Bhagavad-gita, it is told that Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita first to Vivasvan, he then told it to manu.

...

Then Srila Prabhupada writes about yuga cycles and the long span of a Manu.
...

Krishna has all this incarnations and empowered incarnations only to bring us back to Godhead.

Explaining how we come into being....

Verse 1.3.5: This is how the material world is created. There is a scripture called Sattvata tantra, in which all these 3 incarnations are given. There are 3 Vishnu's, not just one: This Maha-Vishnu creates mahat-tattva. When he lies down in the causal ocean, Karuna, the universes emanate from His pores of His body. In each universe, He enters as Garbodhaksayi Vishnu, lying in the Garbhodaka ocean. From the navel of this Vishnu, a lotus stem comes and then Brahma takes birth.

So this brahma is the secondary creator. He creates prajapati's. Through prajapati's, Brahma creates all the living entities. So this whole thing is part of Krishna's universal form. Right now, Brahma's age is 57 years, so for mahapralaya to come there are 47 more Brahma's years. Then Brahma sleeps. Then complete destruction takes place.

Srila Prabhupada's disciple (Sadaputa Prabhu) gave a wonderful example on how time works: like a Whirlpool. On the top, the ball in it might move slowly, but as it goes down, the speed of the ball is very very fast. Similarly, we are lower in the system, so time seems to be going very very fast, but for Brahma who is in the top system, it is slower.

So we take brith in the day of Brahma helplessly and in his night we die helplessly. So what is the end, so that's why we should chant nicely and try and get out of this cycle of birth and death in this lifetime itself. And for this we have the mercy of Srila Prabhupada.

Eyes anointed with love, only can see Krishna!

Verse 1.3.4: "Premanjana churitha.... govindam adi purusam tamaham bhajami", Krishna is the supreme spirit and our matarial vision cannot see His transcendental form. We need to have eyes anointed with love, devotional service. Krishna says, only a devotee can know Me who I am. This is not easy, devotional service is not so easy. Bhakti is actually equivalent to all sacrifices, austerities.

This is Karthik month. If we offer morning and evening, ghee lamps to Krishna with devotion, it is very very auspicious. The mood is completely dominated by love. Mother Yasoda always thinks that Krishna cannot live without her protection. That is her love dominates all the real facts happening. Same is with all the gopi's.

But in Vaikunta, the mood is dominated by the aishwarya bhav. That's why the residents of Vaikunta knew Narayana as God, and they offer prayers. But the residents of Goloka dham do not know that Krishna is God, thats why their always want to protect Krishna. Thats why we want to be there to serve unconditionally, in Vraja bhakti.

And this is provided to us by Srila Prabhupada. That's why we should be so indebted to our previous acharya's. Srila Prabhupada has been given this facility of bringing anyone to the spiritual world, by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and by Krishna. That's why we need to utilize this facility. Anyone who does not use this is actually by himself taking poison.

Virat-rupa is temporary, for neophyte understanding...

Verse 1.3.3: Krishna is actually one without a second. This material world, Sankarshan maintains all the planets bearing it on His head.

The Lord's universal form is actually temporary. Once the mahat-tattva expands, then the universal from becomes manifest. When it goes back into pradhan state, the universal form becomes unmanifest. So basically Krishna and other incarnations are eternal, always existing in the spiritual planets, but the universal form is not. Krishna has nothing to do with the material world, He is always in the spiritual worlds.

First point to remember: We hear the names of Narayana and Vishnu more in the material world than Krishna, why. This is because Narayana is the incarnation in qualitative mode of goodness, is in contact with the material world for its creation, maintenance and destruction. Hence Narayana is more heard in this world. Whereas Krishna is always in the spiritual world, but just to take back conditioned living entities back to godhead, Krishna Himself appears once in the day of Brahma.

Second point: Unlike other forms of Krishna, the universal form is temporary.

Brahma, the master of all engineers is born...

Verse 1.3.2: The first purusa is the Karanodakshayi Vishnu. From His skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, the purusa enters as the Garbhodashayi Vishnu. He is lying within the half of the universe which is full with the water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodashayi Vishnu has sprung the stem of the lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahmä, who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the perfect design and working of the universal order. Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, and the earthly planets are situated in the middle. Upwards there are other, better planetary systems, and the topmost system is called Brahmaloka or Satyaloka. Downwards from the earthly planetary system there are seven lower planetary systems inhabited by the asuras and similar other materialistic living beings.

From Garbhodashayi Vishnu there is expansion of the Ksirodakshayi Vishnu, who is the collective Paramätmä of all living beings. He is called Hari, and from Him all incarnations within the universe are expanded.

It is also explained in this verse that material nature has no power to create without the power of the purusa, just as a prakrti, or woman, cannot produce a child without the connection of a purusa, or man. The purusa impregnates, and the prakrti delivers.

Krishna Is the Source of All Incarnations!

Verse 1.3.1: Starting Chapter 3 of Canto 1, explaining Lord Krishna as the source of all incarnations.

Srila Süta Goswami is saying: In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form of the purusa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients for the material creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the sixteen principles of material action (5 gross material elements and 11 working senses). This was for the purpose of creating the material universe.

It is also explained as to how the eternally conditioned beings are given a chance through this creation to come out of the cycle of birth and death and go back home back to Godhead.

In the Bhagavad-gita it is also mentioned that the material world is created at certain intervals and then again destroyed. This creation and destruction is done by the supreme will because of the conditioned souls, or the nitya-baddha living beings. The nitya-baddha, or the eternally conditioned souls, have the sense of individuality or ahankara, which dictates them sense enjoyment, which they are unable to have constitutionally. The Lord is the only enjoyer, and all others are enjoyed. The living beings are predominated enjoyers. But the eternally conditioned souls, forgetful of this constitutional position, have strong aspirations to enjoy. The chance to enjoy matter is given to the conditioned souls in the material world, and side by side they are given the chance to understand their real constitutional position. Those fortunate living entities who catch the truth and surrender unto the lotus feet of Väsudeva after many, many births in the material world join the eternally liberated souls and thus are allowed to enter into the kingdom of Godhead. After this, such fortunate living entities need not come again within the occasional material creation. But those who cannot catch the constitutional truth are again merged into the mahat-tattva at the time of the annihilation of the material creation.

Divinity and Divine Service...

Oct 14: Canto 1, Chapter 2 last verse completed.

Sincerity is the key....

Verse 1.2.33: Krishna, as paramatma sits in the heart is explained in this shloka.
We are actually making newer bodies for us everyday, especially if we are not Krishna conscious. Krishna is explaining that it is very difficult to explain the material nature.

Paramatma sitting in the heart, allows some actions and rejects some. Why paramatma rejects is that we might not deserve those reactions. He is the overseer and permitter.
He watches our actions and either permits them or rejects them. The gross material body is based on the conditions of the subtle mind, and the senses are created according to the desire of the living being. The Lord as Paramätmä helps the living being to get material happiness because the living being is helpless in all respects in obtaining what he desires.

This is what has been happening for time immemorial. Because Krishna is not there, our actions have reactions. It is deepening the feeling that we are this body and we are getting into the conditioning of doing it again and again.

Our have a subtle body, in close proximity of around 1 m with another body, we are being influenced by the other body. Unknowingly we are making newer bodies for us. Actually spirit soul has nothing to do with this body, it is just because of avidya we identify with all these bodily connections.

Happiness-distress-happiness-distress....continues.
So what should we do. There is no happiness in this world. It is so temporary.
So finally we come in touch with Krishna. In the association of devotees, we chant and serve. That cleanses us. Until we are sufficiently cleansed, we will not know for sure that we are not this body, we are spirit soul.

So we should be very very sincere. Why? Because only in the human beings, we are have this wonderful opportunity to understand. No other body will allow us this facility. Sincerity is the only way we can continue our quest to be Krishna Conscious.

Paramatma is Transcendental....

Verse 1.2.31: So here, Sukadeva Goswami is telling that after creating the creation, Vasudev (Krishna) enters into each and every atom.
Nice example in Srimad Bhagavatam: iron rod in contact with fire. Likewise,
....
....
....
What we need to do: is to develop prema.
Our krishna conscious path given by Srila Prabhupada is very pure and purifying to us, that's why we need to chant very very nicely.

How do we chant nicely...."trnad api sunicena.....sada harih".

Recognizing the mercy of the parampara....

Verse 1.2.30: Sripad Sankaracharya writes in his commentary that the Supreme Lord Narayana manifests in the material world.
Pradan means the elements needed for the mahattatva to manifest. From mahattatva, ether, wind, fire, air, water and earth, the gross elements of matter come.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna: about his 8 separated elements which cause the material nature.
Krishna's internal energy is different from His external energy. The living entity from time immemorial are trying to enjoying the dead matter of material nature. This is because of false ego, ignorance and we have developed a taste for the 3 modes. But we are never happy in this situation. This itself is a fool-proof thing that we don't belong to this material world. So how to come out of this cycle.

That's where eating prasad, going to holy places which are spiritually surcharged, we slowly try to revive our original nature. Otherwise we will be trying to enjoy matter and we will be forced to enjoy the material bodies birth after birth. Actually Srila Madhvaacharya says that anyone taking birth and living for just 18 years, creates enough karma to again take birth for another 10 births.

So we should see how much fortunate we are, we are getting this mercy of in just one life time we have a chance to get out of this cycle of birth and death. Srila Prabhupada has told us that if we simply follows his words, he will take us back somehow. That is the mercy of the acharya's of our parampara and of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We really do not know how much mercy we are receiving.

Maya tells us to give it up. This is Maya's service to Krishna. We should not leave it for anything, we should continue in this as our service to Srila Prabhupada.

Para and apara Prkrati's...

Verse 1.2.28-29: Continuing the purport summary -
Krishna is explaining in the Bhagavad-gita that there are two prakriti's - para (transcendental) and apara (material nature). Krishna has two expansions: amsa (integrated) and vibinnamsa (separated). The jiva's, who want to enjoy independent of Krishna, fall in the later expansion. We fall down, get caught in the 3 modes of material nature, have pride, false ego and we enjoy for a little time or suffer for some time and this has been going on since time immemorial. The thing to remember is happiness is for a much smaller time than suffering.

So here Sukadeva Goswami is explaining as to how we come out of this cycle, by taking shelter of Krishna unmotivated and uninterrupted. There is a way to come out of the material nature, Krishna is telling that just by serving to Him, coming under his shelter, we will definitely transcend the modes of nature and come to the platform of Brahman. That is the only way, only way, only way. Except for the chanting of Krishna only, there is no other way. Even one round of chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna, will give us eternal credit.

All austerities as an offering to Krishna...

Verse 1.2.28-29: Continuing summary to purport.
Actually Bhagavad-gita 18th chapter speaks of the austerities. In India, usually we see people fasting on specific days for material needs. It is mainly in the mode of passion or mode of ignorance, since the goal of fasting is something other than Krishna.

But Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita explain that it is wrong. There is benefit, but it is in the mode of ignorance and passion. But austerity should be done for Krishna. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita..."Yat karosi, yat juhosi....tad kurusva mad arpanam", whatever austerities you perform, do it for me as an offering to me, then you will become my devotee and you will come back to me. That is Krishna Consciousness. So doing things, should be according to dharma is important. If we somehow or other keep Krishna as the goal of life, then we achieve the perfection of our life.

Culturing of Knowledge...

Verse 1.2.28-29: Summary to Purport Continuing-
Srila Prabhupada is explaining that there are so many people who are educated, but why they are not understanding Krishna. A Person who is well educated, but his knowledge is stolen away by maya, is the lowest among mankind, is demoniac. According to Bhagavad-gita, there are 18 items in culturing knowledge. The topmost objective of knowledge is to surrender to the spiritual master, offering oneself to his service culminating in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That will be eternal credit, as compared to the temporary nature of material knowledge.

Krishna is the Ultimate everything!!!

Verse 1.2.28-29: Basically this verse summarizes that Krishna is the ultimate source of all the sacrifices. So Krishna is the source of all the devathas. So whatever Srimad Bhagavatam says and is explaining, is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita. People do not understand this. Though Sankaracharya initially talked about the demigods, he himself in the Bhagavad-gita's commentary is telling the let their be one God, Sri Krishna, etc .

...

There are problems we are exposed to, so we understand the temporary nature of this world. So we are reminded of taking shelter of Sri Krishna. So so many life times goes waste for us, it is important to realize this.

...

If we don't follow strictly the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, then it becomes diluted and once so, it is very tough for all of us. There are many examples we can see today of this dilution in many religions. Uphold the principles strictly and give it to our family and all others.

Verse 1.2.27: Coming soon...

Verse 1.2.26: Coming soon...

3 Modes of Nature

Verse 1.2.24: Krishna speaks of the same thing in Bhagavad-gita also, worship in the 3 modes. Mostly no one of us was aware of these 3 modes before we came to Krishna Consciousness. Here Srimad Bhagavatam is explaining that tamo guna is like wood, but sattva guna is like fire, which can be used very nicely. Many people in this world have little idea on ignorance, passion and goodness, modes of nature.

Only when one comes into the sattva guna, will one get an understanding of the temporary nature of this world. They therefore lead the life oriented towards Krishna. But the problem with mode of goodness is we tend to think that we are the doer. Since many activities especially philanthropy etc., are done in the mode of goodness, it leads us to think we are the doer's. But we are not. So higher than this is shuddasatva. Sincere candidates must, therefore, approach an expert spiritual master for such a progressive march, and the bona fide, expert spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life: tamas, rajas or sattva.

It is a mistake, therefore, to consider that worship of any quality or any form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is equally beneficial. Except Vishnu, all separated forms are manifested under the conditions of material energy, and therefore the forms of material energy cannot help anyone to rise to the platform of sattva, which alone can liberate a person from material bondage.
...

By simply serving the lotus feet of Krishna, we can transcend the 3 modes. The beauty lies in balancing the material and spiritual life, so if we chant nicely, we can perfectly do that.

Goal of Religion....

Verse 1.2.25: The goal of religion is to understand that we are not this body, we are spirit soul and render devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The goal of any/every religion is to go back to Vaikunta. For that, what is to be done is to chant the Holy Name, serve the Vaishnavas and stay in the association of Vaishnavas.

Devotional service performed in the the association of Vaishnavas is the cause of pure devotional service. Srila Prabhupada is telling that for us to get pure devotional service, we have to do bhakti staying in the association of devotees. If devotees are pleased, then Krishna is pleased.

We have to please Krishna by starting from sravanam and kirtanam. We have to serve the devotees according to their spiritual levels. Uttama, Madhyama and Kanishta adhikari's, all of them have to be paid obeisances and take guidance from Uttama and Madhyama adhikari's.

Non devotee and people who are envious, we have to avoid their association.