SB: 4.28.16
duhitṝḥ putra-pautrāḿś ca
jāmi-jāmātṛ-pārṣadān
svatvāvaśiṣṭaḿ yat kiñcid
gṛha-kośa-paricchadam
 
TRANSLATION
King Purañjana then began to think of his daughters, sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, servants and other associates as well as his house, his household paraphernalia and his little accumulation of wealth.
 
PURPORT
It is not infrequent for a person overly attached to the material body to request a physician to prolong his life at least for some time. If the so-called scientific physician is able to prolong one's life for a few minutes through the use of oxygen or other medicines, he thinks that he is very successful in his attempts, although ultimately the patient will die. This is called the struggle for existence. At the time of death both patient and physician still think of prolonging life, although all the constituents of the body are practically dead and gone.
 
Today we are reading from Srimad Bhagavatam:
Puranjan becomes a woman in next life. Text: 16
 
Here in Narada Muni is continuing on his story on King Puranjan, for the sake of illuminating the darkness in the heart of King Prachini Barhishit. King Puranjan is on the verge of death. His mind, due to conditionings, is irresistibly, spontaneously, thinking of material relations and material accumulations, he has acquired during his life. What we attach ourselves to in life, is what naturally, we take shelter of at the time death. At time of death we are helpless conditions. No body around that can really help. Perhaps many have tried. But the dear body and all that is connected to body is on the verge of being stripped away forever. All our relationships, all the time and energy, we have spent, to accumulate, a particular identity with in this world; it is about to parish, in a moment for ever. And for a materialistic person, it is a most horrible experience. Because, they do not know, where they will go, in fact, for most materialistic persons, they do not know, if they will even exist. For those, with out a theistic faith, death means, we cease to exist. There is nothing left. When death is approaching, the body’s organs shutting down for good, --one of the names, we use in India is a lock out, a closure, lock out may be sick --actually, when it is time to die, it is finished, closed. So, at that time, we are helpless, who ever we are. Even if we are, great heroes, in combat, or persons who can control planets, by political prowess, at the time of death, we are totally helpless, we are humbled. When devotee was recently telling us: how when he first came to Hare Krishna temple, he was determined, not to bow down to anyone. Actually, he wouldn’t bow down, he was brought in class of Srila Prabhupada and every one was bowing down and he thought, why should I ever bow down to a man. And in the lecture, SP, looking at him straight in eyes, SP said, if you don’t offer your prostrated obeisance in life, in front of God, then he will force you to bow down at the time of death. Then he bowed down. It’s a fact, we have no choice. It doesn’t matter, who we are. Death doesn’t take concern for how much money is in bank balance, for how much property, we have acquired in life, Death doesn’t concern how beautiful and handsome your body may be, how intellectual, what education qualifications you have, doesn’t consider, even how many people you love and how many people love you and how many people u hate and   how many people hate u, sure as death. The most certain thing in all of material creation is death. There is absolutely nothing that could be more certain than death. So, we are helpless. In that helpless state, who ever we are, we need to seek shelter somewhere.  At the time of death it is such a traumatic experience that it is not like at that time you intellectually/psychologically/logically you can discriminate, where u should take shelter. Your mind and your heart just runs, where ever you were seeking shelter in life. Where ever our conditionings are, is our attachments are, and the mind will run in that direction.
 
Sarvasya caaham hrdi sanni vishto…….
Krishna is the source of rememberance, forgetfulness, knowldege
Ye yeda maam prapadyante….
 
And he reciprocates, how we approach Him.  So, time of death is final exam of life. People, who accumulate with in heart deep attraction to things of world, will naturally unavoidably take shelter of those things. Here in Puranjan is taking shelter of the thoughts of daughters/sons/daughters in law/sons in law/servants/grandchildren/other associates/his house, his household paraphernalia, and his accumulation of wealth
Antha keelecha maam eva smaran muktava kalevaram
Yam yam vaapi smaran bhavam
 
Krishna tells in BG, what ever you think at the time of death that last thought, will determine next life. If somehow or other, we think of Him, we will go to Him, otherwise, according to our state of our consciousness, the culmination of our attachments, our aspirations, our desires in life, will appear as last thought at the time of death and that will determine the destination of soul. Puranjan although he was somewhat of a pious king, he was very very deeply attached to senses and their objects; he was very much attached to temporary things in world. Here in we find, he is trying to somehow or other prolong his life as long as possible. Because, without this life, all our attachments are gone. We even see sometimes, people are in such a suffering state, horrible suffering state, but they just can’t let go. Their attachments are so strong and to somehow or other prolong life is their only goal. Because there is really nothing else. Now in SB: canto 10. it is explained in the translation and also in the purport, Srila Prabupada elaborately explained in the purport: How it is duty of every human being to do everything possible to maintain or sustain the life with in this body. Because the body is given by Krishna—for a devotee and it should be taken care of in proper way, so that it can have its greater utilization in Krishna’s service. Even for the materialist, the body is given by Krishna thru material nature, therefore it is our duty to preserve and honor as far as possible what God has given us. It is natural, the soul is eternal. So, it is natural that we want the body to live as long as it is possible. However when the inevitable does come, we should be prepared to be completely detach from everything in this world, Otherwise, we are forced to take birth again. Therefore the human form of life is different than animal
 
Nayam deho deha bhajam ya loke……
 
 the animals are enjoying: eating, mating, sleeping and defending. The animals are enjoying sense gratification. A human being, whose life is dedicated to sense gratification is of no better quality than of animals. Human life is meant for self realization. The only means of attaining self realization is tapasya.
Tapo divyam putra kayena satvam.
There are many teachers today, who are considered to be spiritual teachers, who teach that there is no need for tapasya. No need to deny ourselves of anything. All we need to do is perform meditation, be little pious and you will enjoy life better. Actually you enjoy life in a better way, if you are more peaceful, more self controlled, and living in pious way, where sinful reactions not inundating with miseries. that is to some extent mode of goodness. But to actually, transcend modes of nature:
 
 Tapo divyam putra kayena satvam.
 
We must perform tapasya. Srila Prabhupada lost lot of potential candidates when he said no meat eating, no illicit sex, no gambling and no intoxication. When he said, not to talk prajalpa, when he explained how we should reduce our sleeping, eat proper foods and live in a certain way by which we become detached from the body and the senses. Spiritual life is not meant to do some various yogic exercises, so that we can enjoy this body better, Yoga means to detach you from the pleasure of this body. Ultimate yoga is yoginam api sarvesam mad gate antharatmana is to find the  highest pleasure in serving the senses of God. Other wise, whether we are pious or impious, at the time of death, our mind will uncontrollably focus on our attachments. Therefore this varnashrama dharma is recommended for human society. It prepares one for the final exam of death.
 
This is scientific and systematic way of living. So that, ultimately you can attain perform action. Beginning the life of brahmacarya, perform austerities, where we actually learn to be happy with austerity. When we are young so many impressions have lasting impact in our life. Whether a boy or girl, should be trained in such a way to find happiness in service, to find happiness in simple way of life, to perform austerities. Actually for children, austerity is fun, if guided in proper way. Then, one comes to marrying age, if one feels a great need and desire to get married, they attain grihastha ashram and many rules and regulations in grihastha ashram to moderate and protect one from sense gratification. The difference between a grihastha and a griha medhi is simple. Tapsya. Griha medhi means sense enjoyment and grihastha is tapasya. But tapasayas of Krishna Conscious are not hard. Not to make us cold hard hearted. Actually the more we perform tapasya, in proper spirit, we become happier, we become detached with the sources of anger, anxiety and find real happiness in Krishna, hearing about K, in glorifying Krishna, taking association of wonderful and kind hearted devotees of Krishna, seeing beautiful form of Krishna, by performing service to Krishna, and then after kids are grown up, and there is really no need to work, then vana prastha and them the husband and wife, really, practically no sense gratification, simply live together to serve and them some may take sannyas. So the idea is by the time death comes, you are not attached to anything, but Krishna and every person from infancy till death and possible old age every phase of life should really be planning. Planning so that when we do leave world, we are completely, exclusively attached to Krishna, then we go back home back to godhead, Krishna says without doubt. This is human life. Srila Haridas Thakur, when he was in old age, he told, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that because he could no longer perform his services, he has no attachment for living in this body.  Body is meant for service, Not for sense gratification. Meant for service, I have been chanting 300,000 names all my life. Now body is not allowing me to do it. Let me give up this body, His only attachment in life was to serve. I sometimes, tell story: many years ago, when I was in vrindaban, I happen to be walking and saw a dear friend Ghanshyam. It was early morning and he was carrying a bucket of water from Jamuna. Everyday would go to Jamuna and carry bucket of water bring back to bath the deities Gopijanavallaba and Smt Radha Rani, and because he was very thin, very small, and very old, to carry this bucket was so much trouble, he would walk about 3 steps and put the bucket down to rest and pick it up again struggling and straining, walk for 3 steps, and pick it up, walk about  3 steps , and rest again, pick it up, 3 to 4 steps and stop. Breathing hard really struggling. It was not very long distance, but took him 40 minutes to come to temple. So, I picked up the bucket for him. I was 20 years old at that time. No problem, I could have carried so  many buckets and run to temple. But he wouldn’t let me take it. He held it, it was all the strenthg He was squeezing strong and no no no need no need. Let me carry the bucket for you, no need, no need.  I asked why? You are so old? I can run to the temple. You are stuggling, suffering. He started to cry. Actually statrted to cry. I am an old man, my body , my life is useless.  My life is useless, the only thing that has value is service. This is the only service I have in life. This is my service, If you take away my service, you take way my entire reason to live. My life is to serve. You take way service, you take away my life. You are young; you could do so many things for Krishna. This is all Krishna has give me. Please, I beg, do not take this away from me, This is Krishna Consciousness.
 
Srila Prabhupada served, we see, we have seen and heard, how even in his last days, he was translating SB. He couldn’t even sit up. But still went on his service, translating Srimad Bhagavatham, instructing his disciples. When nothing else could be done, he just sat, encouraging devotees, just having them chant Kirtan for him and ultimately teach them, how to leave this world.So , in living and passing, at every moment he was simply serving. His life was simple offering to lord and his devotees.
 
So, this attachemnet to service I sthe higher taste. Param dristva nivarthathe. And we must have the convition and faith in this principle. That is why it is so very important to associatete with devotees and hear this message of SB, Bg, to hear bout the lives of great souls, because the mind by its inclination, is conditioned to take shelter of materialistic illusion. To take shelter of materialistic people, materialistic pleasure, materialistic music, materialistic conceptions. Some people take shelter of foood. When they get in a n anxiety, they just want to eat and aeat and eat. Ofcourse, if it is Prasad, there is some spiritual value. If it s not Prasad, then you take shelter of food, if that is the mentality of taking food. Then you may become: so many animals are expert in eating. Some people take shelter of TV, when in anxiety. They just forget of everything. Some people take shelter of alcohol, narcotic drugs, gamja, just to somehow or other, take the edge of the problems of life. Some people taek shelter of sex life. Just in anxiety, want to forget by taking shelter of experience of sex life: wheterh in marriage life or not, according to ones morality. Some people take shelter of exercise. Really. I have seen, just running, jogging and doing all kinds of excercies. Some people take shelter of music. And it is natural. It is the nature of soul, to seek shelter. Now Krishna consciousness is the most sublime process. We can Krishnize, because the natural conditions of soul even. We can take shelter of music: beautiful songs about Krishna. Taek shelter of exercise, by dancing in kirtan. But somehow or other, we have to learn, to seek shelter of Krishna in life. When there is a test of distress, anxiety, problems, where do we turn? That is very important. Because at the time of death, it is a major test. We are not going to turning to Krishna at the time of death, unless, we have complete faith and we have reconditioned ourself to take shelter of Krishna at the time of problems during our life. So, this particular story about King Puranjan, culminates, in his death. Because Narada Muni wanted King Prachini Barhishit to understand:  “this is what you are going to become. Death is going to come to you and his life is just like yours and his death will be just like  yours, unless, you wake up” the tapasaya of KC, actually is real happiness. We areal looking for happiness. We must learnt to take the shelter of happiness of KC and recondition our minds, to find the pleasure in K. because we are pleasure seeking being.snot that we want to enjoy K, but we take pleasere in K, by serving K. this si our const nature. Real happiness is service to God. KC program is so perfect, because it trains us. And if we are sincere, we have the opportunity 24 hrs a day, practically, to larn how to take shelter of service to Krishna. Even if we are working outside, it is question of our attitude, our mental disposition. Who and how are we doing it for? This is most important. Are we doing it for Krishna? Actually? Or are we doing it the way, Krishna wants us to do it? With spiritual integrity then, even while living in this world, we cultivating attachement to K. Naturally sons, daufheter,s husbands, mothers, fathers, etc.., all these relationships are dear to heart. This is natural. A and S were attached to Abhimanyu. when he was killed, they cried. S and A they did n’t say: he is not ths body, he is not my son,. They cried, because they loved him. Haribol.
 
So is that defect? It is natural, need to  Krishnize all those relationships. Parents should be attached in serving their children, by giving them Krishna. That attachment will actually become perfect in life. That’s what a grishastha ashram is actually meant to do. To re channel the natural affections and attraction for family memeners, so that they are  perfectly directed towards pleasing krihsna. What will please K? If I serve this person, by helping them serve K in e very step of life. SP gave example of his father
His father was very very attached to son, but how was he attached, he was attached to his son by every day inviting so many sadhus and you know in India, what kind of crazy people sadhus can be. Inviting so many sadhus, hoping one of them could be good sadhus and then serving them, cooking nice prsadam for them. They weren’t so wealthy, but could serve good prasadam for sadhus, Every night would serve them. At the end, asking them one benediction: Bless my son, so that he can be a dear devotee to Radha Rani
 
So, that was his attachment to his son. He loved his son. Therefore he wanted to give his son Krishna. Look at what SP shared that same gift with all of us.
What a powerful gift he gave his son, and at least SP explained that way.  So that is love. That all our natural relationships, all our natural activities all our natural conditions of finding happiness in this world should be centered around  cultivating the attitude of serving Krishna and doing what Krishna wants. One who tastes even a drop of what devotional service really is to heart and soul, then all the so called pleasures of this illusory world are meaning less. In fact, they are just distasteful, because they distract the attention away from K, who is the reservoir of all the pleasure. So, death is not bad thing, Death is a natural thing. The only bad thing is forgetting krishna, the only bad thing is the attachment to things that distract our attention away from krishna. In one sense that is spiritual death. If u look back in history, every one that ever lived, died,. So many people living are dying and everyone who will live, will die, that’s natural. The beauty of old age is you start taking seriously hopefully. So there is really no separation from people we love, from devotees is hard. But it’s not bad. Death is good for a devotee, its like SP, gave that example of the prophet that came to kingdom: to prince he said: better u live, that you are enjoying like anything at the expense of others, so that you have to suffer miserable karma, better u just go on living, as long as you can.
 
And to the butcher: better you do not live and do not die. That’s not easy thing to do, because you are living in miserable condition and you will have to suffer miserably for the karma of all the pain u caused to all the innocent animals
To brahmacari: in a very happy spirit: better u die, because u did so many tapasyas, u go back to godhead, u have no attachments to world. Just dying you go back to godhead.
To vaishnava saint: either you live or die, makes no difference. In life you are serving Krishna with love and after death you will serve Krishna with love, what ever Krishna wants.
 
So, death is inevitable, what is important, is how we live, because how we live, will determine, how we die. For a devotee, who is always remembering Krishna death is simply the gates to vaikuntha opening up. But to a materialistic person, it’s the most tragic unknown fate. Let us take this lesson from SB very seriously. In our life, not to wait, Prahalad Maharaj, told his little classmates of 5 years old, now is the time to cultivate attachment to Krishna, because everything u do, everything you speak, everything you think, is conditioning your consciousness. At every moment, we are conditioning our consciousness. So, intelligence is utilize these moments, to cultivate Krishna Consciousness, rather than cultivate obstructions, obstacles, difficulties on the path of Krishna Consciousness. If we know this is the goal of life, why should we purposefully put obstacles on path? Why should we purposefully make it difficult?
 
Any Questions?
GVP:  you are mentioning about if we are not completely Krishna Consciousness, we have to get another material body. Sometimes, we see that those who practiced devotional service for sometime, they give up devotional service and continue in sinful activities, but same time, they have got some affection for spiritual master. So, when we see them that they have great affection for guru, but at the same time, they are not able to practice the instruction of guru. And  by seeing them, u know, we sometime, feel that what is important is not that one has to be very strict, one can continue to be attached to ones guru and devotees, that is what is sufficient  How to solve this? If we are attached, we will come back? But if we are not practicing, what Krishna wants us to practice, then it will bring us back to material world, bit at the same time, there is some level of attachment to devotee and guru. what is needed?
 
Ans: there are different levels of attachment also. Attachments to please spiritual master, is perfect. And that means, to do what spiritual master wants you to do. That is most perfect. To speak what guru wants you to speak, to act, how he wants you to act, that is true attachment. SP: his attachment to his guru was he was willing to do anything and everything to fulfill his guru’s order. That is how he taught us to be attached to spiritual master. In the many cases, you are speaking of where a person is attached to spiritual master, as a person, as a shelter, but is not due to weak heartedness or , what ever not able to follow his instructions, we should understand that, that devotee will ultimately be saved, by that attachment /affection for Guru and Krishna
How may be saved? Usually, the spiritual master, somehow or other, or Krishna thru Guru, or spiritual master to guru, which is higher realm, will somehow or other drag that devotee back, to proper disposition, to perfect detachment.
We shouldn’t think, that if I just love my guru, I can do anything, that is not really love. That is sentiment. So, the actual, substance of love is very much demonstrated by our surrender and affection with out that surrender is to one extent or other on a sentimental level, not a pure spiritual level. So, there is a difference. But we should not judge others and try to cultivate the right disposition in our own heart. Some people may be externally surrender, but they really don’t have much affection in heart. But if they are sincere by the process of sincdrly surrendering, that affection will grow. Others have surrendered for years and they have that affection in heart, due to that surrender, but because of  previous conditionings or what ever or  improper association, they do not follow instructions. Their heart is surrendering, but still that affection is there, because that affection is there, it is certain that the person will be brought back
 
Would be brought back to right path in due course of time………to continue on his /her spiritual quest. But that affection with out surrender is proportionately on a sentimental platform. the actual spiritual platform of real affection is in our surrendering. Anyone who has surrendered for many years and who has gained, so much of the mercy and blessings of guru, but then, due to some association, lack of association, or past conditionings they fall into a some what materialistic condition, we should honor those people. We should understand that the years of surrender and accumulated blessings they received; we shouldn’t think they are fallen souls. They are not. But at the same time, we shouldn’t imitate them. We should imitate the way they used to be, when they were getting blessings and surrendering whole heartedly everything but we shouldn’t imitate their temp diseased cond. We should honor them as they are, their incredible love for SP. We must simultaneously understand, what it means for us to show our love to SP. What it means fir us to take real affection to Srila Prabhupada. That takes surrender. So, we want our love to be real. Real love is based on surrendering. To the degree, we are not surrendered, to that degree; our affection is on a sentimental platform. It is mixed with material sentiment. Even that, we honor that in others, when we see it, striving to actually, please the spiritual master. And actually, what we find that the types of people that we talking about, we are talking about older devotees now right?, what we find in those devotees, is because of the years of surrender, and undivided service they render, they develop, real affection for guru and in their somewhat fallen state, sometimes, they rebel, when they actually come back to the, when the guru starts grabbing them back to proper sense, then, they deeply painfully regret, their condition, their position, they know, because of their affection, they want to please their guru and they know they have to please guru and they start trying to associate with people who help them inspire them and give them strength to do that and we see that often. Its not they are blissfully saying, I love SP, you don’t. Because they love prabhupad, they are feeling: what did I done with my life? Why am I not living up to his expectation? How can I improve and actually please prabhupada, the way he wants me to please him. Their affection will leave them to that consciousness, in that consciousness its not a cons of misery to the degree they really really feel, efficient, and wanting to do the right thing, to that degree, they are actually given the grace of SP in a very special way,  it gives them life and happiness
 
So, we should honor and show our great affection, for those who have given their life
And who have such love for Srila Prabhupad. But at the same time we should understand that they are not happy with where they are at, unless they are fully surrendered. And they know, that their love is deficient. They know their love is sentiment to the degree they are not surrendering and even that sentimental platform, because the right person, he is going to ultimately bring them back to godhead, but they have to surrender before they have to go back to godhead, so we should be inspired by hearing about their surrendering, hearing about their love and use that to help us to actually develop true bhakti.
Is that answer your question?
 
Q: Sridamam Prabhu: In your class u mentioned that one of the important parts of life is to plan. You said Planning. And many of us, who are in the beginning stage of grihastha ashram, when we think of planning, we feel that, let us spend some more time, to make some quick money and then, when I have enough money, I can spend more time in Krishna consciousness. What is happening in the bargain is :the precious youth, energy we have is used in making money, and not for Krishna. So, what is the right Krishna consciousness way planning for young grihsathas? What is the right balance that they should apply?
 
A: yesterday you celebrated your 9th anniversary, so you are no longer a new grihastha. You are now a very old senior grihastha. Time imperceptibly steals away our entire life, unless, we are very conscious. Prahalad maharaj explains the life of a conditioned soul, always postponing, the most valuable, goal of life, because of some consideration and maya will never allow you to say now is the time. You have to surrender against all odds, at any stage Prahalad, explains, when a little baby, you are bewildered and everybody showing affection, then you start playing: let me just play. We just play, then we go to school, let me just get studies done and then start family, start business.  Let me just make money. Raise my children and let me raise grand children and by that time, you are so deeply entrenched in material habits and conditionings-- very very difficutly to get out of it. Impossible , very difiicult and maya will always tell you  and prove to you, just wait something else has to be done. The story of kailash that story is a story of everyone in this world. Every devotee in this world, until they ultimately say, NO maya, I am going to surrender now. Yes, in Grihastha ashram, money may be required, materialistic people think, they work so hard, for the retirement, how much they can enjoy, when they retire? It is really unbelievable, how maya can capture and they work hard for retirement. Husband and Wife, actually working working all long and by the time, they actually retire and one of them dies and they can’t even enjoy all alone. So, in KC, we should do the needful. For we should never compromise our kc. Then it is a great mistake. We may have to work to earn money and if that money is actually and actually being used to further on the mission of Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, then it is valuable devotional service.
 
If it is actually being used in spreading Krishna consciousness and helping people to love Krishna, then, that’s service: making that money. But in order to acquire proper disposition in doing so, we have to put quality time aside for our sadhana and for our association. If we don’t balance that properly then, we find all of a sudden, our life is so mundane. We have no taste for the holy name, no taste to sing for deities, no taste for association of devotees, hardly have taste for service and that’s something money cannot buy. If you lose that, you lose. You are giving up rare diamond, for broken glass. Money is only valuable to the extent it helps us become Krishna consciousness and helps others to become Krishna consciousness, but if money is doing the opposite, it is an impediment. You are selling your soul, for the cheap things of this world. It’s not worth it. So, we must –grihastha must be very very careful to balance the life in such a way. But if they are working and struggling in the passion of youth in earning money, some grihasthas do that, what can you do? That’s alright, but balance it with Krishna consciousness. That’s real wealth. Do no loose anything for that. We must have that conviction.
 
Srila Prabhupad ki jai
Thankyou very much!