Çré Caitanya-caritämåta,

Madhya-lélä 20.337–353
—
December 26, 1966, New York

661226CC-NEW YORK [25:38 Minutes]

Audio

Prabhupäda:

dväpare bhagavän çyämaù

péta-väsä nijäyudhaù
çré-vatsädibhir aìkaiç ca
lakñaëair upalakñitaù
[Cc Madhya 20.337]

[In Dväpara-yuga the Personality of Godhead appears in a blackish hue. He

is dressed in yellow, He holds His own weapons, and He is decorated with the
Kaustubha jewel and the mark of Çrévatsa. That is how His symptoms are
described.]

namas te väsudeväya
namaù saìkarñaëäya ca
pradyumnäyäniruddhäya
tubhyaà bhagavate namaù
[Cc Madhya 20.338]

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

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expanded as Väsudeva, Saìkarñaëa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.]
These are some of the mantras for offering respect to Kåñëa. This mantra you
may particularly note down:

namas te väsudeväya
namaù saìkarñaëäya ca
pradyumnäyäniruddhäya
tubhyaà bhagavate namaù

ei mantre dväpare kare kåñëärcana

'kåñëa-näma-saìkértana'-kali-yugera dharma
[Cc Madhya 20.339]

[By this mantra, the people worship Lord Kåñëa in Dväpara-yuga. In

Kali-yuga the occupational duty of the people is to chant congregationally the
holy name of Kåñëa.]
So in the Dväpara-yuga, this was the process, kåñëärcana, worshiping Kåñëa,
and in the Kali-yuga, this péta, this yellowish-colored incarnation of Kåñëa,
Lord Caitanya, He's to be worshiped by this saìkértana movement. Saìkértanair
yajïair. This is also called sacrifice, this saìkértana yajïa. There are different
kinds of yajïa. This is called näma-yajïa, sacrifice of the holy name of the
Supreme Lord.

dharma pravartana kare vrajendra-nandana

preme gäya näce loka kare saìkértana
[Cc Madhya 20.341]

[Lord Kåñëa, the son of Nanda Mahäräja, personally introduces the

occupational duty of the Age of Kali. He personally chants and dances in
ecstatic love, and thus the entire world chants congregationally.]
The process is that the Lord chants and He dances Himself, and people follows

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similarly. Just like we are painting the picture: the Lord is dancing and
everyone is following. And that following can be continued even up to date.
God is always there. It is not that Caitanya is not present here. He's always
present, and, whenever there is saìkértana, there is this kértana by the
devotees, sincere devotees, it is said that Lord Caitanya is there, present.
Tatra tiñöhämi närada yatra gäyanti mad-bhaktäù [Padma Puräëa].
[O Närada, I am not in Vaikuëöha nor am I in the hearts of the yogés. I
remain where My devotees glorify My name, form, qualities and transcendental
pastimes.]
Çuddha-bhakta, those who are pure devotees... Pure devotees means without
any material desire. They are pure devotees. Those who are determined to go
back to Godhead, to Kåñëa, they are called pure devotees. They have lost all
interest for any material enjoyment. They are now determined. They are called
pure devotees. So this saìkértana movement creates pure devotee, who
gradually loses all interest in the material enjoyment.
So this verse from Çrémad-Bhägavatam, as I've already explained to you, that is
also cited here:

kåñëa-varëaà tviñäkåñëaà
säìgopäìgästra-pärñadam
yajïaiù saìkértana-präyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaù
[SB 11.5.32]

[In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to

worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kåñëa.
Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kåñëa Himself. He is
accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential
companions.]

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That personality, incarnation of God, who is yellowish color and is
accompanied by His associates, confidential associates, He is worshiped by this
process of saìkértana in this age of Kali.

ära tin-yuge dhyänädite yei phala haya

kali-yuge kåñëa-näme sei phala päya
[Cc Madhya 20.343]

[In the other three yugas—Satya, Tretä and Dväpara—people perform

different types of spiritual activities. Whatever results they achieve in that
way, they can achieve in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa
mahä-mantra.]
Ära tina-yuge means this is Kali-yuga, and there are..., there were other three
yugas: the Satya-yuga, the Tretä-yuga, Dväpara-yuga. There are different
processes of realizing God. So Lord Caitanya says, "In other three yugas, what
was achieved by meditation, by sacrifice, by temple worship, now that can be
achieved in this age by saìkértana." Kalau...

kaler doña-nidhe räjann

asti hy eko mahän guëaù
kértanäd eva kåñëasya
mukta-bandhaù paraà vrajet
[SB 12.3.51]

[My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one
good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra,
one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the
transcendental kingdom.]
This is a çloka, verse, from Çrémad-Bhägavatam in connection with
conversation with Mahäräja Parékñit and Çukadeva Gosvämé, and, when the
description of this Kali-yuga was given, Mahäräja Parékñit became very sorry

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that, because he was a pious king, he was thinking always of the welfare of the
citizens. So when he heard about the description of the Kali-yuga, he was very
much disturbed in his mind. Although he was going to die, still he was so
compassionate: "Oh, in the age of Kali, the people will suffer so much."
So, when he was so sorry, so Çukadeva Gosvämé encouraged him, "Mahäräja,
don't be sorry. There is very nice process in the Kali-yuga. In the midst of so
many difficulties of this age, there is one boon, and that boon is one can
become liberated from this material entanglement altogether simply by
chanting this Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare / Hare Räma,
Hare Räma, Räma Räma..."
Kértanäd eva kåñëasya. It was especially mentioned, kértanäd eva kåñëasya,
simply by chanting Hare Kåñëa, one can become... This is the greatest boon in
this age. Although there are so many difficulties, full of miseries, increase in
the greatest volume...
The world is... Material world is miserable. Just like cold season, this winter
season, today we are feeling most inconvenienced. Similarly, this material
world is always miserable. But still, in this age it is most miserable, in this age of
Kali. But the boon is, the first-class boon is that even there are so many
miserable conditions, in the midst of all those disadvantages, one can become
free from all contamination simply by kåñëa..., kértanäd eva kåñëasya. Simply by
this.

kåte yad dhyäyato viñëuà

tretäyäà yajato makhaiù
dväpare paricaryäyäà
kalau tad dhari-kértanät
[SB 12.3.52]

[Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viñëu, in

Tretä-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dväpara-yuga by serving the Lord's

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lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa
mahä-mantra.]
What was achieved in the Satya-yuga by meditation, what was achieved by
offering sacrifices in Tretä-yuga and what was achieved in the Dväpara-yuga
by worship, that can be achieved in this age by saìkértana yajïa.

dhyäyan kåte yajan yajïais

tretäyäà dväpare 'rcayan
yad äpnoti tad äpnoti
kalau saìkértya keçavam
[Cc Madhya 20.346]

[Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of

yajïa in Tretä-yuga or by the worship of Kåñëa’s lotus feet in Dväpara-yuga is
also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories of Lord Keçava.]
A similar passage... The two above passages, they are quoted from
Çrémad-Bhägavatam. Another passage is quoted from Padma Puräëa. Padma
Puräëa... There are eighteen puräëas, puräëam. Six puräëas are in the modes of
goodness, and six puräëas are in the modes of passion and six puräëas are in
the modes of ignorance—for different people. Just like in a best institution,
there are different classes, different kinds of books of learning, gradual process,
similarly, this Vedic culture is so nice, they don't give one class of literature for
all. No. There are so many different literatures, because there are so many
varieties of people. How can you convince you..., convince all classes of people
by one literature? No. That is not possible.
Now the people are here in your country, they are losing interest in religion
because the Bible was given to a certain class of people long, long years before.
So people are far advanced in scientific knowledge. So that does not appeal. So
they're all... We should always remember that there are always different classes
of men, and for different classes... The aim is all the same that, see, "Two plus

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two equal to four." Nothing. But different classes of men there are. So different
class of arithmetic: higher mathematics, middle mathematics, lower
mathematics. The mathematical, mathematical principle is the same, "Two plus
two...," "One to three to nine." There is no other figure.
So similarly, there are eighteen puräëas. Those who are in the modes of
passion, those who are in the modes of ignorance, they should also have some
chance. For them, oh, "You go and you worship this demigod." Because we are,
every one of us, hankering for material acquisition. The disease is that we are
simply thinking of... Idam adya mayä labdham. "Today I have got so much
material possession, and next day I shall have so much, and next day I shall
have so much. And next day and next day...," and when next day I shall go
away—that's all. Finish. This is material disease. They're always hankering
after.
So there are different hankerings, there are different persons. So, the
demigods, "All right, you worship. You want this thing, you want a beautiful
wife? All right, you worship Umä." "You want to be very learned man? All right,
you worship this Devé-Sarasvaté." "Oh, you want to be..., get out of your disease?
All right, you worship the sun-god." So in this way, there are recommendation.
But in the Bhägavata, after all these recommendation, the Bhägavata
concludes,

akämaù sarva-kämo vä
mokña-käma udära-dhéù
tévreëa bhakti-yogena
yajeta paramaà puruña
[SB 2.3.10]

[A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material

desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means
worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.]

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If you have got any desire, still, you go to Kåñëa. You worship. Kåñëa
recommends. Catur-vidhä bhajante mäà sukåtino 'rjuna [Bg 7.16].
[O best among the Bhäratas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render
devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the
inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.]
Even if you go to Kåñëa for asking something material profit, still it is better.
Don't go to other demigods. Kämais tais tair håta-jïänäù yajante anya devatäù
[Bg 7.20].
[Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto
demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according
to their own natures.]
The foolish person, they do not know that the demigods, they cannot offer any
benediction. They cannot offer. They are not fool.
Just like here in this institution, although you are free, you very kindly ask me,
"Swäméjé, can I take this fruit?" Why? This is etiquette. Similarly, the demigods,
they are not fools. Suppose one man worships a demigod and asks some benefit.
Oh, demigod will ask the Lord, Supreme Lord. Or, in a other sense, the
demigods also do not know, because they are also living entities like us. But
éçvaraù sarva-bhütänäm [Bg 18.61].
[The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is
directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine,
made of the material energy.]
Kåñëa is so kind that this person, this particular man, is wanting something,
"All right, give him. Give him." Kåñëa is...
This is freedom. There is no argument, "Oh, why Kåñëa has arranged like this?"
He arranges out of His causeless mercy. He can say; He can stop asking the
individual soul. But He does not do that. Why He shall do? Then there is no

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meaning of independence. "All right, you want it? I have arranged it. Take it.
Take." So He asks the demigod, "All right, he's asking from you? Give him." So
this is going on.
So therefore there are different kinds of literature because there are different
kinds of people. But the ultimate literature is, the substance of all Vedic
literature is, the Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
kåñëe sva-dhäma upagate
dharma-jïänädibhiù saha
[SB 1.3.43]
[This Bhägavata Puräëa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after
the departure of Lord Kåñëa to His own abode, accompanied by religion,
knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of
ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Puräëa.]
It is..., there is a verse in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam. When Kåñëa was present He
personally gave this Bhagavad-gétä and all knowledge. So many people took
knowledge. There is another gétä, Uddhava-gétä. That was spoken to Uddhava.
That is in Bhägavata; this is in Mahäbhärata, Bhagavad-gétä. So there is a
question by the Çaunaka Åñi that, after departure of Kåñëa, wherefrom
knowledge should be searched? So they recommended this Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
So in the Padma Puräëa also there is similar passages. In Bhägavatam also,
there are similar passages. In all Vedic literature, the same thing is there.
Vedaiç ca sarvair aham eva vedyaù [Bg 15.15].
[I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance,
knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am
the compiler of Vedänta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.]
The last target and the last goal, ultimate goal, is Kåñëa. Therefore in the
Bhagavad-gétä it is said, sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja [Bg
18.66].

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 [Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver
you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]
Bhägavata says, akämaù sarva-kämo vä [SB 2.3.10].
[A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material
desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means
worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.]
Even if you are this materially desiring, still, you should go to Kåñëa. And
Kåñëa also confirms, bhajate mäm ananya bhäk sädhur eva sa mantavyaù [Bg
9.30].
[Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in
devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly
situated.]
Api cet su-duräcäro. One should not ask God. But still, if one asks, he's
accepted, because he has come to the point, Kåñëa. That is his good
qualification. He's in Kåñëa consciousness.
So all faults there may be, but when one becomes Kåñëa conscious, everything
is nice. Just like there are so mu..., so much snowfall. As soon as there is rise of
sun, everything finished. Everything finished. Kåñëa sürya sama. Only we have
to wait when the sunrise will be there. Then all these disturbances will be at
once cleared. So we have to take to kåñëa-sürya, and everything will be cleared.

kalià sabhäjayanty äryä

guëa-jïäù sära-bhäginaù
yatra saìkértanenaiva
sarva-svärtho 'bhilabhyate
[Cc Madhya 20.347]

[Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the
essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the

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Age of Kali because in this age one can advance in spiritual knowledge and
attain life’s goal simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra.]
Sarva-svärtho 'bhilabhyate. There are nice verse. You see? Here it is said, yatra
saìkértanenaiva. This Kali-yuga, this age of Kali, we are condemning so much.
But even the demigods, they, I mean to say, highly eulogize this Kali-yuga.
Why? Why? Oh, here is a great opportunity. Simply by chanting Hare Kåñëa,
yatra saìkértanena. Yatra means in this Kali-yuga, simply by this saìkértana
movement, simply by chanting, sarva-svärtho 'bhilabhyate, all interest is served.
Your material interest, your spiritual interest—every interest will be served.
Lord Caitanya also said, ihä haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomära. Just... Even if you
are materially desiring something, that also will be fulfilled by simply chanting
Hare Kåñëa. It is such a nice thing. This is... Therefore we call mahä-mantra.
All...

pürvavat likhi yabe guëävatära-gaëa

asaìkhya saìkhyä täìra, nä haya gaëana
[Cc Madhya 20.348]

[As stated before when I described the incarnations of the material modes
[guëa-avatäras], one should consider that these incarnations also are unlimited
and that no one can count them.]

cäri-yugävatäre ei ta' gaëana

çuni' bhaìgi kari' täìre puche sanätana
[Cc Madhya 20.349]

[Thus I have given a description of the incarnations of the four different

yugas.” After hearing all this, Sanätana Gosvämé gave an indirect hint to the
Lord.]
Now here is a very trick. Sanätana Gosvämé, he was politician. He was
minister. Now, when Lord Caitanya was describing about the incarnations,

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especially of the incarnation of the Kali-yuga, now he's asking, Sanätana
Gosvämé is asking to Lord Caitanya,

räja-mantri-sanätana-buddhye båhaspati
prabhura kåpäte puche asaìkoca-mati
[Cc Madhya 20.350]

[Sanätana Gosvämé had been a minister under Nawab Hussain Shah, and he
was undoubtedly as intelligent as Båhaspati, the chief priest of the heavenly
kingdom. Due to the Lord’s unlimited mercy, Sanätana Gosvämé questioned
Him without hesitation.]
He's asking very frankly, because he's very intelligent. He was minister.

'ati kñudra jéva muïi néca, nécäcära

kemane jäniba kalite kon avatära?'
[Cc Madhya 20.351]

[Sanätana Gosvämé said, ”I am a very insignificant living entity. I am low

and poorly behaved. How can I understand who is the incarnation for this Age
of Kali?]
"My dear Sir, Lord Caitanya, I am the lowest of the lowest. I am very fool
number one. So I may enquire from You that how can I understand that this is
the incarnation of this age, Kali-yuga?"

prabhu kahe—"anyävatära çästra-dväre jäni

kalite avatära taiche çästra-väkye mäni
[Cc Madhya 20.352]

[Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu replied, ”As in other ages an incarnation is

accepted according to the directions of the çästras, in this Age of Kali an
incarnation of God should be accepted in that way.]
"Oh, why you are in confusion? As other incarnation are to be understood from

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the indication of the çästras, similarly, we will have to understand from the
indication of the çästra who is the incarnation."
Sarvajïa munira väkya—çästra-'paramäëa'
[Cc Madhya 20.353]
[The Vedic literatures composed by the omniscient Mahämuni Vyäsadeva
are evidence of all spiritual existence. Only through these revealed scriptures
can all conditioned souls attain knowledge.]
Now çästra, the scripture, is the most first-class evidence, sarvajïa munira vä...,
sarvajïa. Because çästras are written not by ordinary person. Not by
Rabindranath Tagore, a sex play. No. [laughs] Çästras are written by liberated
person. Therefore çästra, scripture, have got so many advantages and so much
respect. So therefore Lord said: sarvajïa munira väkya—çästra-'paramäëa'.
Çästra paramäëa.
Just like [we] see in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, four hundred thousands of years
after there will be avatära, Kalki, and His father's name, His birthplace, is
already mentioned there. This is called çästra. Five thousand years before,
Bhägavata was written, and there is indication that in such-and-such age, in
such-and-such province, in such-and-such family, Lord Buddha will appear.
That is written there. And five thousand years before, ago, the, the symptoms
of Kali-yuga is already written there. And we are experiencing.
In the Bhägavata you'll find, svékära eva hy udhvähe: "In the Kali-yuga, marriage
will be performed simply by agreement." Just see. Another... Lävaëyaà
keça-dhäraëam [SB 12.2.6]:
[A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water
located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one's hairstyle.
Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be
accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an
expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of

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reputation.]
"People will think by keeping long hairs they will be very beautiful." [laughter]
It is stated in Bhägavata. They'll look very beautiful. Lävaëyaà keça-dhäraëam.
It is written there, if you see. It is not story. Svékära eva hy udvähe. Dämpatye
ratim eva hi: "And husband and wife relation means sex. That's all." If the
husband has got sex power, power, then there will be no divorce. These are all
written there. Simply sex life, husband and wife relationship. Simply sex life.
Vipratve sütram eva hi [SB 12.2.3]:
[Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction,
and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will
be judged according to one's expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a
brähmaëa just by his wearing a thread.]
"And one will be considered a brähmaëa simply by this thread." These are all
written there. A two-cent-worth thread, you get it..., "Oh, you have got thread.
Oh, you are a brähmaëa." That's all. This is going on in India. Two-paisa-worth
brähmaëa. [chuckles] He has all the qualification of less than a caëòäla, but,
because he has got this nonsense thread, he's considered a brähmaëa.
So these things are all mentioned. And you have to believe it also that, in the
last stage of the Kali-yuga, nobody will understand what is God, what is
religion. And there will be no supply of these grains. Now we are getting all
these grains. But, as you are, as you are thinking grain is not meant for human
being, they are meant for animals, all right, God will stop completely. Then
you'll have to live only on the seeds and animals' flesh. That is also mentioned.
There will be no milk. There will be no sugar. There will be no grain. These
things are mentioned.
Therefore çästra; it is called çästra. Sarvajïa. Sarvajïa means the çästra is
written by persons who know, who knows the, I mean to say, past, present and
future. Everything is clear. Therefore we have got so much respect for

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scripture. The foolish people say, "Oh, it is also written by man. Why shall I...?"
Yes, it is written by man. That's all right. But he's not a man like you. He's
liberated man. There are different kinds of men. You don't think all men are
like you, all men are like you, fool.
So here it is said, sarvajïa munira väkya-çästra-'paramäëa' [Cc Madhya 20.353].
[The Vedic literatures composed by the omniscient Mahämuni Vyäsadeva
are evidence of all spiritual existence. Only through these revealed scriptures
can all conditioned souls attain knowledge.]
Therefore... Tasmät çästra pramäëa ante. In the Bhagavad-gétä also, that
everything should act..., should be acted in terms of the çästra. Just like when
you go to post something, you are, you are directed by the postal guide. Çästra
pramäëa only. So Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, as Kåñëa has given stress upon
the evidence, on the scripture, similarly, Lord Caitanya also giving stress. The
question is... It is very interesting. The question is how one should accept a
person or a body as incarnation. Lord Caitanya says that through çästra, by the
evidence of çästra. So many fools, they are presenting themselves as
incarnation. The intelligent person should see whether this fool is mentioned
in the çästra. He's presenting himself as incarnation. Whether his activities
and his characteristics is mentioned in the çästra? Then accept. Otherwise,
don't accept.
This will be discussed tomorrow.
Thank you very much. [end]

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