Time ran out!

Verse 1.18.9 (Yugal Kishore Prji):

* Jayananda Prabhu executed Bhakti for probably 10 years. But his devotional quality is so high, that Srila Prabhupada (SP) when he departed in 1977, SP wrote a message: your spiritual master cries at your departure. And SP said that Jayananda Pr's appearance and disappearance should be celebrated.
* Krishna includes his devotees in His entourage always.
* If you execute pure transcendental bhakti, you are glorious. Whatever you have in this world, beauty, education etc is all 0's. Krishna is the 1 in front of all of these 0's.
* Anything we do materially, it has no value wrt eternity, wrt our eternal constitutional position. That's why we should do everything for the pleasure of Krishna.
* Why, after so many life times we have got this opportunity.
* We are awake now, cause it is Paramatma who has woken us up. When we are in swapna or sushupti, we do not know how we are. As soon as we come to Jagruti, we remember all of our family members and everything connected to us.
* If we carefully check, we are sleeping almost 50% of our life. So jagruti is just 50%. So our life becomes successful, only if we becoming conscious of Krishna.
* Every life, we have everybody, the only one missing is Krishna!
* After having shelter of human life, if we don't take shelter of Radha and Krishna, then we are willfully committing suicide.
* We have to wake up to the reality. Time is not running out. Time ran out.
* We have to genuinely take shelter of the Spiritual Master and Krishna.

Advantages of the age of Kali!

Verse 1.18.7 (Mohan Prji):

* Maharaj Parikshit was never envious of the age of Kali.
* Very nice verse, giving us a lot of positive aspect of the age of Kali.
* In this verse, MP is compared to the bees, which goes for the essence of the flower, not the external beauty.
* Even though this age of Kali is full of quarrel, the essence here is that it gives us an very good opportunity to be Krishna Conscious. Because, auspicious things produce good effects immediately, whereas inauspicious acts must be actually performed [to render effects] in this age.
* In previous ages, just thinking about a sinful activity in the mind, one would get the consequences of it.
* As we go ahead, SP is mentioning what is the best thing that can be done in this age.
- it is said that even though all nefarious activities of the personality of Kali are present, there is a great advantage in the age of Kali. One can attain salvation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord.
* SP then explains the second advantage of Kali
- In the beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is also said that by the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Supreme Lord becomes at once arrested within one's heart.
* Purpose of ISKCON is just to facilitate the association of devotees for chanting and hearing from Srimad Bhagavatam.
- So the process and the facility is also given. It is just up to us to decide whether we want to continue in our materialistic life or enjoy the nectar of the spiritual life.

Krishna is the Light!

Verse 1.18.6 (Ashish Pr):

* If we imagine living in an open field without any source of light other than the sun, then we cannot see anything as soon as the sun goes down.
- So something external is needed for us to see. Otherwise this is darkness.
* But Krishna, within us, makes us complete, makes us see everything. No Krishna means ignorance.
* ....
* Spiritual energy is the only way to come out of any crisis.
* ...

Process of revelation, through the Spiritual Master!

Verse 1.18.3 (Mohan Prji):

* For one who is in Krishna Consciousness, unless one realizes that we cannot understand Krishna easily. He is inconceivable. Krishna is unconquerable even with knowledge.
* BG: there are very rarely people who take to Krishna Consciousness.
* Even in them, it is very rare to actually find a person who actually knows the absolute truth.
* SP goes one more step, it is even rare to find a person who is practicing devotional service.
* Process of understanding spiritual knowledge is revelation. Krishna reveals it to the sincere seeker.
* After one goes through all the Vedic scriptures, one comes to the conclusion that Krishna is inconceivable.
* So how to know Krishna through this revelation process.
- That is possible through one who has realized this. That is the Spiritual Master. It is through the mercy of the spiritual master that we can conceive the inconceivable
* 3 prayers that summarize this
- Guruvastaka prayers: Samsara dava prayers
- Guruvandana prayers: Sri Guru charana
- Gurudeva by SBVT
- We should meditate on these prayers often
* Spiritual master is the external manifestation of the internal SM, the SPG as paramatma.
* The disciple should beg the spiritual master for the mercy of the spiritual master. We don't have any qualification on our own.

Solution to all Fear...

Verse 1.18.2 (Mohan Prji):

* Maharaj Parikshit (MP) is constantly surrendered to the SPG, due to which he is neither afraid nor..
* He always sees everything as the Lord's blessing.
* Narayana Parayana
* So today, the primary key word we will concentrate on is Fear.
* Fear = Expectation - Reality!
* Root cause of fear
- Symptomatic Causes
- Afraid of being ill, losing a relationship, losing money or not having money, losing respect, losing power, afraid of leaving beauty, afraid of being defeated by someone, of being exposed, or of losing the body
- Today's verse, MP is never afraid although he knows that the snake-bird is going to kill him soon. Completely dependent on Krishna.
* Very reason of fear
- as soon as it becomes envious of Krishna and began rebellion against Krishna
- so we came from spiritual to material world, but here limited resources, so many people wanting it, so fear to lose comes in
* ...
* Anything happening in my life is by the will of the Supreme Lord.
* Then we have no fear.
* Flexibility will be achieved by regularly practicing devotional service.
* Chanting + Hearing to SB is the solution to fear.

Practical Lessons from Srimad Bhagavatam!

Verse 1.17.43-44 (Kasi Prji):

* Here we see that Maharaj Parikshit practically drove out kali and he ruled the world with great success.
* SP is saying that by following the 4 regulative principles, we can establish the principles of dharma well.
* This will take us to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
* Story about Dhanurdas, a favorite disciple of Sri Ramanujacharya, from Sri Rangam.
- Ramanujacharya showing the glory of Dhanurdas
- He tore his disciple's clothes a bit, too much fighting erupted. Then after two weeks, he asked his two disciples to steal Dhanurdas's wife - Hemambi's jewels.....
- Moral: If we all can also endeavor to have such qualities as Dhanurdas, his surrender to his Guru, then we can also attain the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
* In this verse, SP talks about the modern administrators. Modern administrators want to banish corruption from the state, but fools as they are, they do not know how to do it. They want to issue licenses for gambling houses, wine and other intoxicating drug houses, brothels, hotel prostitution and cinema houses, and falsity in every dealing, even in their own, and they want at the same time to drive out corruption from the state. They want the kingdom of God without God consciousness. How can it be possible to adjust two contradictory matters?
* Recently in Andhra Pradesh, government auctioned licenses for liquor, to get money. So here we can see how Gov. is encouraging this irreligious activities.
* Bribery, prostitution also is becoming so common in these days.
* That's why SP is saying that administrators first of all organize society to accept the principles of religion, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, and to make the condition favorable we must close all places of gambling, drinking, prostitution and falsity.

Checking the progress of Kali...

Verse 1.17.42 (Yugal Kishore Prji):

* Here Srila Prabhupada is explaining the way to prevent Kali to enter the society.
* Today Kali has infiltrated all over the world. People of Kaliyuga are actually experiencing the ill effects of kaliyuga coupled with the illusion of Maya. - Like fire mixed with air devastates everything.
* So here SP is making a point here (most probably from NOI). You don't want Kali to enter into your house, then: one's accumulated wealth may be divided into three parts for distribution, namely fifty percent for the service of the Lord, twenty-five percent for the family members and twenty-five percent for personal necessities. Spending fifty percent for the service of the Lord or for propagation of spiritual knowledge in society by way of the sankirtana-yajna is the maximum display of human mercy.
* Srila Rupa Goswami wrote this same thing in NOI, but also set an example by following it too.
* Happiness is within. When we identify with body, fear comes, then we look for happiness through accumulating money.
* Where there is illicit money, there is kalah, fights, quarrel. They are not happy, fights etc.
* To the best of our ability possible, we should practice these above mentioned principles are followed - austerity, mercy, cleanliness and truthfulness.
* If we don't want our children to be confused, then we should strictly practice devotional service, as mentioned above.
* Problems come, but if we are fully Krishna Conscious, we will learn quick lessons what Krishna is giving to us to help us get rid of our material conceptions. Then we will be able to fight with the onslaught of Kali and Maya.
* We have to check the advance of Kali, at least in our personal life.

Truthfulness is the basis of all religions!

Verse 1.17.40-41 (Ramana Prji):

* Without the moral principles, human life is equal to animal life.
* Maharaj Parikshit was talking to Dharma personified as a bull, whose 3 legs were broken.
- Austerity, Cleanliness and Mercy
* But now, with Kaliyuga rising, the 4th leg is also being broken - Truthfulness
* SP comments, that in Kali, even truth does not win many times.
* It is better to face bitter consequences by speaking truth than facing it later in a bad way.
* If we lie before coming to KC, then it is very likely that after too we might lie.
* So the point is to follow the 4 regulative principles.
* How
- Fasting, rising early
- Clean, being bodily and mentally clean
- Mercy, show others by teaching others, by being kind
- Truthfulness, speaking about absolute truth
* More about this Truthful property
- Pastime of Maharaj Yudhistira, Dronacharya, in the war of Kurukshetra. Krishna asking MY to lie
* For us, whatever Krishna says is the Truth. Dharmam tu saksad...pranitam
* Facts should not be misrepresented
- Funny story: About the tailor and King, such nice dress (empty), was wearing nothing at all, small child spoke the truth
- So as devotees, we should be childlike and speak truth only
* SP: Speak truth, truth is truth even if it is unpalatable.
* "Truthfulness is the basis of all religions"!

Gold Standards...

Verse 1.17.39 (Ramana Prji):

* Govinda Prji once told, in American currency it is said: In GoD we trust.
- This is not the actual GOD, but it is basically Gold, Oil and Defense.
* ...
* In Krishna's service, everything is automatically achieved. But again that must only be used in Krishna's service.
* In Kaliyuga, people are so ready to quarrel all the time, without knowing that Kali is the main reason behind it.
* Story as told by Sachinandan Maharaj - Mr. and Mrs. Patel
* Another eg: India and China fought for a useless piece of land where people could do nothing. All this is because of Kali.
* SP knew that Kali would weaken the movement so he set
- asat sanga tyaga, harinam, as set by SP
- nama hatta, as said by SBVT
- SBSST, too nice sanga, but strict
* SP, first established league of devotees and then went to establish ISKCON on these principles.
* Solution to all quarrel is humility, selfless service. Keeping Krishna in the center, we should aspire for
* Gold means actually greed. The more and more we reduce it, the better and happier we will be.

Detachment and Surrender...

Verse 1.17.37 (Mohan Prji):

* In this verse, Kali personified is seeking shelter from Maharaj Parikshit.
* SP comments: A surrendered soul should be given all protection, even though he may be an enemy. That is the principle of religion.
* How can one be Krishna Conscious in Kali's environment
- From BG, these modes of nature are very hard to overcome, but just by surrendering unto Sri Krishna, we can cross over it
- the only two ways out are chanting of the holy name and association of devotees
* The enemy usually takes out the strongest post first. Similarly, Maya is trying to take out these two strong points for the devotees.
* Maya can use other devotees as an instrument or us also as an instrument. The only thing that will help is detachment - from anything we do. Because if we have attachment to services or activities, there is all chance of offenses.
* In this verse, we see that Kali personified is taking shelter of Maharaj Parikshit. Imagine much faith Kali has in him. Do we have similar faith in the holy name, Krishna!
* Surrender can be in the footsteps of the Vrajavasi's. They prayed for the protection of the cows, cause they are very dear to Krishna.
- Same our case, we should pray that, Krishna if it is your desire, then please give us nama ruchi, jiva daya and vaisnava seva, and that too if we can pray like that for other devotees, then He will be very happy.

Kali cannot coexist with a Vaisnava!

Verse 1.17.36 (Srinivas Pendyala Prji):

* ...
* Wherever there is a Vaisnava (pure devotees of the Lord), Kali cannot be present there.
* Eg: Maharaj Parikshit, Srila Prabhupada.
* A vaisnava is also very merciful, so is the merciful nature of the Supreme Lord.
- Eg: Lord Rama in terms of Ravana
* Another aspect to the whole story
- as long as we don't surrender to the will of the Lord, we are in the shelter of Ravana or Kali.
- So only by inviting the Supreme Lord in our heart through the process of chanting, then the Supreme Lord will win over all our Ravana like tendencies and make us pure.
* Kali cannot have its influence on a Vaisnava. As we see in this verse, Kali is so scared of the presence of a Maharaj Parikshit
- So best and easiest way to protect ourselves is by Vaisnava association.

Kali being excused...

Verse 1.17.35 (Ashish Prji):

* (Summarizing the chapter so far.)
* At this time Maharaj Parikshit could have finished Kali off.
* But being a compassionate ksatriya, he does not do, but asks Kali to not remain in any part of his kingdom.
* Bad association is very bad
- Eg: Mantara in Ramayana
- Eg: Shakuni in Mahabharat
- Eg: associations of drugs and ppl using them will only bring about the same addiction in us
* Implicating Kali would be a low side on the bull's side.
* Good will not come about when we are in the association of people with bad habits.
* It will come only in Krishna consciousness.
* We will see in the future shloka's as to the fate of Kali.

Yatra to Badrinath!

HG Yugal Kishore Prabhuji, sharing about the yatra::

* Vyas Guha and Ganesh Guha, this is where Vyasdeva wrote SB.
* Adjacent to this Vyasdeva Cave, there is a very nice Saraswati River, falling down from the top of the mountain.
* Next to the cave is a big rock, called Bheem Pool.
* Little distance between Ganeshji's cave and Vyasdeva's cave.
* In Kaliyuga, ppl's memory is less, age is reducing, so many faults.
* Here, Saraswati mixes with Alkananda and then goes underground, finally, at Prayag we can see her and then she goes to the ocean.
* As Kaliyuga progresses, all rivers will slowly go underground. Only one river will stay to purify the kaliyuga world. That is Srimad Bhagavat river, the Ganga of SB.
* Making it available for the anxiety ridden ppl of Kali yuga.
* The only medicine in Kali yuga is
- nama ruchi, chanting the holy name
- jiva daya
- vaisnava seva, service to devotees
* Mother Ganga comes about in the Himalayas and her goal is to reach the ocean. But there are so many rocks on the way, it is also not straight. But still she goes up, down, side, underneath, somehow manages to go forward.
- Similarly, even in our KC, problems will come. We have to face them, and somehow continue forward towards realizing the self. Krishna gives these problems so we can come out of the bad habits and influences we have.
- Let me progress no matter what.

To whom the demigods also pray!

Verse 1.17.34 (Shalini Mji):

* From childhood, almost all Indians, have worshipped so many demigods on the altar, not knowing what we are doing actually.
* Here, in SB, a clear explanation is being given:
- In all sacrificial ceremonies, although sometimes a demigod is worshiped, the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is worshiped because He is the Supersoul of everyone, and exists both inside and outside like the air. Thus it is He only who awards all welfare to the worshiper.
* So if we get the understanding that the demigods are themselves getting their power from Krishna only, then it becomes all clear to us as to who is ultimate beneficiary of all our sacrifices.
* In BG also Krishna says: bhoktaram yajna tapasam....
* Here He says that He only is the ultimate beneficiary and ultimate controller of everything!
* Another shloka SP mentions from BG:
- Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kuntī, is really meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding.
* Avidipurvakam, SP mentions this many times, without a true understanding we do so many things.
* In another shloka from BG, it is further confirmed: yanti deva vrtam devan....
- So if we worship demigods, finally we will go to them alone. Similarly worshipping ghosts will lead us there. But Krishna says those who worship Him, will go to Him, from where alone no one needs to come back.
* Even in Brahma samhita it is said that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Krishna is present in each and every atom one and same time. ==> Krishna is present everywhere, inside and outside as well.
* Another pastime to confirm all this: Krishna's Govardhan Lila, how Krishna taught Indra a nice lesson!
- Where finally Indra himself acknowledges how Krishna is the supreme controller of all controllers. His prayers to Lord Krishna are also so important in this regard.
* By the example of Indra, we can see that the demigods themselves are praying to Lord Krishna!

Sankirtana Yajna, easiest method!

Verse 1.17.33 (Mohan Prji):

* We are looking at the conversation between Maharaj Parikshit and Kali personified.
* "Therefore, O friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
* SP is giving 3 points:
1) Sacrifice means to accept the supremacy of the Lord and thereby perform acts by which the Lord may be satisfied in all respects.
- first step is to understand that the SPG exists (sambanda gyana)
- second is to perform acts for pleasing the SPG
* If the supreme Lord is Supreme and He does not need anything, then why should we perform yajna's to please Him
- No, that is not the point
- He does not need anything, but we surrender to Him. In that process, we are the benefactors actually, not the SPG.
- Eg: Father and son
- Because if the son is obedient to the father, then it is just the son who gains all the time.
2) There are different countries in different parts of the world, and each and every country may have different types of sacrifice to please the Supreme Lord, but the central point in pleasing Him!
- Different religions are taught to different classes of men based on time, place and circumstance.
3) Then SP is talking about what is the yajna which is meant for this age of Kali. It is Sankirtana Yajna, brought forward by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Sukadeva Goswami finally tells MP: Even though everything is going to be bad in the age of Kali, but the process of yajna is going to the easy - Sankirtana Yajna! And it is so easy, no paraphernalia required etc.

Stressing the importance of the principles of religion!

Verse 1.17.32 (Kavitha Mji):

* 4 religious principles are the topic of today;'s verse. They are the basis of Dharma, or religion.
- Cleanliness
- Truthfulness
- Austerity
- Mercy
* They are made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead only. Not even the demigods can make it. So what to say of mere human beings creating principles of religion.
* SB 6.3.19 dharmamtu saksad bhagavat pranitam - Religious principles are those that have been spoken by the Lord Himself.
* So it is very important to adhere to these principles and not make up our own principles.
* The SPG gave 12 people the authority to speak and propagate these religious principles
- the 12 Mahajanas - Brahma, Narada, Prahalad Maharaj, Bheesma, Bali Maharaj, Mahatma Vidhura etc.
* And we want to stress here is that Religion is not faith. Religion is the eternal occupation of the living entity, not any particular faith like Hinduism or Islam or Christianity etc.
* A secular state may be impartial to any particular type of faith, but the state cannot be indifferent to the principles of religion as above-mentioned.
* Sa vai pumsam paro dharma...
- Supreme most religion is whatever that teaches us love of God!
* SP also is explaining here, that w/o religious principles, there will be greed, falsehood, cheating and pilfery, will naturally follow, and so there will be no meaning to propaganda crying to stop corruption in the state.

Exemplifying Qualities of Maharaj Parikshit

Verse 1.17.30 (Puja Mji):

* In this chapter we are seeing how Kali in the form of an uncultured Sudra is trying to torture Dharma personified as a Bull.
* Maharaj Parikshit (MP) upon seeing this is very angry on Kali and is about kill him with his sword.
* 4 legs of religion
- Austerity, Mercy, Truthfulness and Cleanliness
* Even an ordinary kṣatriya does not kill a surrendered person, and what to speak of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who was by nature compassionate and kind to the poor.
* MP ran his kingdom based on scriptures, that is why everybody in his kindgom including animals were very happy.
* MP was a true devotee of the Lord and a true devotee of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord.
* He was smiling because the artificially dressed Kali had disclosed his identity as a lower-class man, and he was thinking how ironic it was that although no one was saved from his sharp sword when he desired to kill, the poor lower-class Kali was spared by his timely surrender. Mahārāja Parīkṣit's glory and kindness are therefore sung in history. He was a kind and compassionate emperor, fully worthy of accepting surrender even from his enemy. Thus the personality of Kali was saved by the will of Providence.
* Today's shloka exemplifies MP as a true devotee of the Lord, that even though he was capable of killing Kali, he still forgave him because Kali surrendered to him.
* Whatever action a great man performs, common man follows. So here, MP ruled his kingdom based perfectly on scriptural injunctions.
* Unfortunately, in this age of kali, lower class man follow the society. It is therefore not a God conscious society.
* Revival of Bhagavat dharma is the only means to bring back the whole society into peace and prosperity. And that is chanting the holy name, serving devotees!
* And chanting of the holy name must be done sincerely, that will only help us!

Devotees cannot be lazy...

Verse 1.17.28-29 (Mohan Prji):

* Maharaj Parikshit is talking here.
* The age of Kali is designed by the Lord for deterioration only. So one may say that it is the Lord's will that in this age Dharma is broken. So we don't have to do anything about it. But SP is saying, No, that is not the case. The devotees should not just sit down and be quiet. The leaders of the society still should try hard for its betterment.
* Eg: Srila Prabhupada's (SP's) dealing with the landlord of Mumbai, who tried to cheat SP when SP was trying to buy it for Krishna's temple.
* We should not have a lazy mentality saying that if Krishna is not willing, then it won't happen.
* SP says, the devotees should not give up, they should try their best in trying to achieve things for the Lord, but not be attached to the result.
* Sri Caitnaya Mahaprabhu (CM) said: trnad api sunicena.... so the point is that when something wrong happens to oneself, then one should tolerate. But when something happens to another devotee, we should not tolerate it, we should strive hard to serve and support the other devotee.
* Same happened with the Juhu temple in Mumbai, if SP did not try for it for Krishna, then so many people who are visiting it today everyday would not have happened.

Qualities of a Ksatriya!

Verse 1.17.26-27 (Krishna Patro Prji):

* ...
* Just by the glance of the SPG, the whole kandavaprastha became so green!
* SP comments that the Ksatriya has to have qualification especially to protect the citizens, especially children, women and cows.
* Qualities of a Ksatriya
- he has to heroic, courageous in battle
- generosity
- leadership
* Today, we will not find a single rules in the world with these criteria
* Current system of selecting the rulers, this is not the criteria and they are also not trained in these qualities.
* Rulers are selected just based on popularity or indirect power.
* If we keep on meditating on what is happening in this world, it is actually painful.
* But good thing is that the solution is being given in the SB. Varnashrama dharma is the answer.
* By educating the people systematically in the teaching of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will clear up the hazy atmosphere of corruption, bribery, blackmail, etc.
* That will definitely improve this age for the best.