Srimad Bhagavatam Class by
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
05th September 2009
SB 8.3.12
(Word to word transcription)
—————————————————————————————————
TEXT 8.3.12
namaù çäntäya ghoräya
müòhäya guëa-dharmiëe
nirviçeñäya sämyäya
namo jïäna-ghanäya ca
SYNONYMS
namaù—all obeisances; çäntäya—unto Him who is above all material qualities and completely peaceful, or unto Väsudeva, the Supersoul in every living entity; ghoräya—unto the fierce forms of the Lord like Jämadagnya and Nåsiàhadeva; müòhäya—the form of the Lord as an animal, such as the boar; guëa-dharmiëe—who accepts different qualities within the material world; nirviçeñäya—who is without material qualities, being fully spiritual; sämyäya—Lord Buddha, the form of nirväëa, wherein the material qualities stop; namaù—I offer my respectful obeisances; jïäna-ghanäya—who is knowledge or the impersonal Brahman; ca—also.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
05th September 2009
SB 8.3.12
(Word to word transcription)
—————————————————————————————————
TEXT 8.3.12
namaù çäntäya ghoräya
müòhäya guëa-dharmiëe
nirviçeñäya sämyäya
namo jïäna-ghanäya ca
SYNONYMS
namaù—all obeisances; çäntäya—unto Him who is above all material qualities and completely peaceful, or unto Väsudeva, the Supersoul in every living entity; ghoräya—unto the fierce forms of the Lord like Jämadagnya and Nåsiàhadeva; müòhäya—the form of the Lord as an animal, such as the boar; guëa-dharmiëe—who accepts different qualities within the material world; nirviçeñäya—who is without material qualities, being fully spiritual; sämyäya—Lord Buddha, the form of nirväëa, wherein the material qualities stop; namaù—I offer my respectful obeisances; jïäna-ghanäya—who is knowledge or the impersonal Brahman; ca—also.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
05th September 2009
SB 8.3.12
(Word to word transcription)
—————————————————————————————————
TEXT 8.3.12
namaù çäntäya ghoräya
müòhäya guëa-dharmiëe
nirviçeñäya sämyäya
namo jïäna-ghanäya ca
SYNONYMS
namaù—all obeisances; çäntäya—unto Him who is above all material qualities and completely peaceful, or unto Väsudeva, the Supersoul in every living entity; ghoräya—unto the fierce forms of the Lord like Jämadagnya and Nåsiàhadeva; müòhäya—the form of the Lord as an animal, such as the boar; guëa-dharmiëe—who accepts different qualities within the material world; nirviçeñäya—who is without material qualities, being fully spiritual; sämyäya—Lord Buddha, the form of nirväëa, wherein the material qualities stop; namaù—I offer my respectful obeisances; jïäna-ghanäya—who is knowledge or the impersonal Brahman; ca—also.

TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Väsudeva, who is all-pervading, to the Lord’s fierce form as Lord Nåsiàhadeva, to the Lord’s form as an animal [Lord Varähadeva], to Lord Dattätreya, who preached impersonalism, to Lord Buddha, and to all the other incarnations. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who has no material qualities but who accepts the three qualities goodness, passion and ignorance within this material world. I also offer my respectful obeisances unto the impersonal Brahman effulgence.
PURPORT
In the previous verses it has been described that although the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no material form, He accepts innumerable forms to favor His devotees and kill the demons. As stated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam, there are so many incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that they are like the waves of a river. The waves of a river flow incessantly, and no one can count how many waves there are. Similarly, no one can calculate when and how the different incarnations of the Lord appear according to the necessities of time, place and candidates. The Lord appears perpetually. As Kåñëa says in Bhagavad-gétä (4.7):
yadä yadä hi dharmasya
glänir bhavati bhärata
abhyutthänam adharmasya
tadätmänaà såjämy aham
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.” In the material world there is always the possibility of deviation from Kåñëa consciousness, and therefore Kåñëa and His devotees always act in various forms to curb such godlessness.
Even impersonalists who stress the knowledge feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead want to merge in the effulgence of the Lord. Therefore, here the word jïäna-ghanäya indicates that for atheists who disbelieve in the form and existence of the Lord, all these various incarnations appear. Since the Lord comes to teach in so many forms, no one can say that there is no God. The word jïäna-ghanäya is especially used here to refer to those whose knowledge has become solidified by dint of their searching for the Lord through speculative philosophical understanding. Superficial knowledge is useless for understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but when one’s knowledge becomes extremely intense and deep, one understands Väsudeva (väsudevaù sarvam iti sa mahätmä sudurlabhaù [Bg. 7.19]). A jïäné attains this stage after many, many births. Therefore the word jïäna-ghanäya is used here. The word çantäya indicates that Lord Väsudeva is situated in everyone’s heart but does not act with the living entity. Impersonalist jïänés realize Väsudeva when they are fully mature in knowledge (väsudevaù samam iti sa mahätmä sudurlabhaù)..
Lecture begins
Today we are reading from SB canto 8, chapter 3, entitled ‘Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender’, text no. 12.
GAJENDRA’S EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL TURMOIL
We find here Gajendra is in this severest trauma, a most painful condition, both physically as well as emotionally. Physically, for such a long time during this fight he has the teeth of a crocodile sinking deeply through his flesh into his body. Elephants have very tough outer flesh. But you go beneath the layer and it is sensitive as anyone else. The jaws of this crocodile, we can’t imagine how strong they must be. Gajendra doesn’t only have the power of an elephant but, the king of the elephants, in the heavenly planet. He’s extremely strong. Perhaps 1000 times stronger than an ordinary elephant that we know. And yet for so many years with all his strength, he cannot get out of the jaws of this crocodile. He’s trapped. And it is explained here that the crocodile is getting stronger and stronger as they are fighting, because he is in the water he is getting nourishment. Gajendra is getting weaker and weaker. Thus the crocodile is biting harder and deeper into his body. Very painful condition! And emotionally how painful, he’s about to lose his life. His wives, children and all of his friends and subjects are standing and watching him. They are standing and watching the king and champion of their lives being totally defeated. Very emotionally painful!.
DRAUPATI’S HELPLESSNESS CHANTING
For one who is honored, dishonor is worse than death. In this state Gajendra fights and fights and fights, similar to Draupadi. Draupadi was also, fighting for her life, for her chastity is more important than her life itself. When she was pulling on that saree against Dushasana, it was even more than fighting for her life. She was kshatriya. A kshatriya would better die than run from the battlefield. We see how Bali Maharaj, he was ready to lose everything, he would rather die than tell a lie. Just as a ksatriya would rather die than run from a battle. For a ksatriya woman, better to die than to be insulted in such a way of being stripped naked in front of all these men. So when she was fighting with these words, she was insulting, she was pleading, she was begging, through her strength. She was fighting for more than her life. The Pandavas stood by, couldn’t do anything. Bhisma, all the others in the assembly stood and just watched, as the crocodile of Dushashana was stripping her. And she tried to fight. But she had no chance, and then she threw her arms up, hey Krishna! Hey Govinda! When she was chanting the holy names, it was not just to get her rounds done. It was with very sincere feelings. Queen Kunti prayed that those who are too much attached to high birth, to beauty, to knowledge, and fame and strength. These same opulence that are so dear to materialistic people, that they will spend their while life, trying to achieve, they are the greatest disqualifications for a devotee, because they make one proud or they make one complacent. And then even if you chant the holy names it is not with sincere feelings. Tvam akincana gocara… Krishna is the property of those who feel that I have nothing but You, my Lord. There is nothing that can protect me. The world is a dreary void without you, my Lord. That is the mood in which Draupadi threw up her hands and surrendered and chanted the names of God.
SIMILARITY IN THE SITUATION OF GAJENDRA AND DRAUPADI
In a very similar way Gajendra is in the same circumstance that we are reading today. Dussashana was pulling the sari and the crocodile was pulling the leg of Gajendra, back into the water. In both cases, they are pulling away their life, pulling away everything that is dear to them. In both cases their most dear well-wishers and everybody else are assembled, watching and helpless. Nobody is able to lift a finger to do anything, because there is nothing they could do. They are both in mortal pain, both emotionally and in this case very much physically. It would have been very difficult for Gajendra to throw up his arms like Draupadi, so his equivalent was to throw up his trunk and he cries out for Krishna’s help, through these beautiful prayers.
KRISHNA ACCEPTS THE INTENT
It’s not like someone who just ritualistically chants 1000s of prayers every morning, as part of their routine of beginning their day. That’s very good. But the prayers are the package by which we send a message to Krishna or to God according to our religion. You have an envelope, may even have the right address on it. Some people put the wrong address. If you are not worshipping the wrong God, then you are putting the wrong address. As we understand from parampara, guru, sadhu and sastra, putting the right address is on still it’s not the envelope people are impressed with. When you send the letter, people open the envelope and throw it. They are concerned what is inside. What is inside is our bhava, our feelings, our intent. As Srila Prabhupada writes very strongly that Krishna accepts the intent of a devotee - actions, words. Gajendra is helpless, Gajendra is desperate. He is at a state, where he raises his trunk, he offers a lotus flower to the sky and he is surrendering his life, received by the content of the heart which is manifested in these prayers. He is not asking Krishna,’ please save my life’. He has realized futility of material life. Even in his exalted position, he is crying out to Krishna, ‘accept me. I surrender.  I am yours.’ And in this kind of emergency situation, one really has to believe in what they are doing. Gajendra has full faith that Krishna will save him.
KRISHNA NEVER FORGETS
And amazingly, he didn’t practice Bhakti his whole life. Whatever advancement he made was in his previous life. He was an advanced devotee. He was a king Indradyumna. Ruled his kingdom and then for spiritual purposes he gave up his home and everything and went to the forest for spiritual life. Somehow or other he was cursed by a sage to become an animal. And as an animal he forgot everything. Because he was so caught up in his animal existence but here we find in this most critical part of his entire life, he stood the prime of his youth. All was past spiritual credits, nehäbhikrama-näço ’sti pratyaväyo na vidyate sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya träyate mahato bhayät. Krishna is there for him. He forgot Krishna but Krishna never forgot the devotional service he rendered to Him and He is coming to him at the greatest time of need. He revived.  Krishna who is within the heart, the source of remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness, is reawakening his remembrance in his Bhakti. And he has such faith that Krishna is here for me.
LORD IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE
We find that in this verse, that Krishna, Vasudev is all pervading. He is everywhere. He is in everyone’s heart. That means He is in my heart, He is in crocodile’s heart, He is… He is watching, He is hearing. He knows exactly what I am going through. He knows that I am surrendering to Him and He is here. And he is glorifying Krishna for His various avataras. In his heart he is feeling I know that You hear me, I know that You are here. I know that You are with me and You will accept my surrender. When Prahalad was thrown into the ocean when he was thrown off massive cliffs, when he was thrown of pits of snakes, when he was thrown in blazing fire, he surrendered to you and my Lord, You were there to protect him, to accept his devotion. And when Hiranyakasipu, personally with his own sword, was about to slay Prahalad, Prahalad surrendered to You. And You appeared from a pillar, the least conspicuous place for the Supreme Absolute truth – to appear from a pillar. There are so many pillars everywhere. As Lord Narasinga dev, if the Lord can appear from a pillar, that means He can appear from anywhere, in any situation. For a devotee, the Lord is unlimited.
LORD CAN APPEAR FROM ANYWHERE
We cry out for Krsna. It’s not that Kamsa has to come to our neighborhood, and Devaki and Vasudev have to get married, and then six children and then finally Krsna is born, and then He helps us. Krishna can be born in an instant in any situation. It just so happened that the closest thing nearby to them when Hiranyakasipu was about to kill him, was a pillar. “Is He in the pillar?” – The closest thing. Prahalad said, “Yes!” To protect the word of Prahllad, to make sure everybody knows – “When My devotee speaks, it is true.” Kaunteya pratijaniti na me bhakta pranasyati. The Lord appeared from a pillar in this most amazing form. All odds were against Prahalad from a material perspective. Hiranyakasipu was about to kill that 5 year old child. And Hiranyakasipu already had all those benedictions of Brahma. Now, Hiranyakasipu was a great scholar. He was a powerful logician. And he figured it out – he was there for a long time in doing that tapasya and he had a lot to think about. And he was figuring things out. And he figured out exactly what benedictions he was going to ask for – it was meticulous, it was complete, thorough, it would make him immortal. He knew it. And he knew the powers of Visnu. He already killed his brother – Hiranyaksha. And he was going to declare war against Visnu. He was making himself immortal. There was no chance for Prahalad materially. But the Lord not only appeared from a pillar – the nearest place possible, He not only protected Prahalad’s word, but He appeared in this type of form, in that particular place – neither in the twilight, neither morning, afternoon or night, neither inside or outside, it was at the doorstep. He was not any living entity created by Lord Brahma. He was neither a man nor an animal. He didn’t kill him with weapons. He didn’t kill him in the sky or the earth or in the water. Lord Narasinga dev – it’s not that He was trying to figure out exactly – what time, where, how – instantaneously, He appeared, perfectly when none of the blessings of Brahma were violated. And He saved Prahalad – not only physically. But He took Prahalad as His own little child. He gave Prahalad the highest revelations of Love of God.
LORD APPEARS AT RIGHT TIME
And similarly, when the earth was plunged into the Garbhodaka ocean, Brahma, the demigods, everybody – they didn’t know what to do. Hiranyaksha was really really creating havoc. No one could stand before him. And right at that moment, the moment of the greatest need, the supreme lord appears as Varaha Dev the boar, the perfect form to lift up the earth with its tusks and pur it right back in its place. And with a single hit of His hoof and pierce of His tusk, Hiranyakshya was finished. How the Lord appeared, right then, right there at that time and as Dattatraya at a time when there was rampant ignorance in this world, He appeared perfectly to explain knowledge and Lord Buddha who saved millions and millions of cows that were being slaughtered by coming just at the right time and teaching ahimsa and according to time, place and circumstance, preparing for bhakti acharyas to spread love of God. The Lord who has no material qualities, in this case, in His situation having no material qualities means when everything is materially completely impossible for us, it’s very simple for the Lord to come and intervene because He is beyond material creation, He’s abhijnaya and He’s svarat, He is all knowing, He is all pervading and He is completely independent. In his offering obeisances to the impersonal Brahman effulgence, the Lord’s all pervading energy, through His impersonal Brahman effulgence, He is also experiencing and witnessing everything that exists. For a Vaishnav the impersonal Brahman is the personal bodily rays of the Absolute Truth.
KRISHNA IS PRESENT WITH US AT EVERY MOMENT
So we find here, Gajendra in his condition he has complete faith, he’s not offering a prayer that “Maybe the Lord will come, I hope He comes, I hope He hears me, I hope He exists”. Have any of you chanted with that frame of mind. You chant in a very very dangerous situation we’re chanting the Holy Names, we may be thinking “I hope Krishna exists, I really need Him and I hope He hears me and I hope He reciprocates. In other words we are practicing bhakti but we don’t have complete shraddha, nista. Nista means very very deep and strong faith. This is preliminary to bhava or to love awakening within our hearts is we have very strong foundational faith in whatever we do. When we’re making a garland, we have such faith that Krishna at this very moment is accepting my service or we’re sitting in Bhagavatam class, when we’re chanting our rounds, when we’re doing kirtana, when we’re sweeping the floor or washing the walls or whatever service we’re doing, management or book distribution or taking care of our child or our parents or studying in school with a spiritual purpose. Whatever service we may be doing it’s important that we have complete faith that here and now at this very moment, Krishna is present. Present in my heart, present in between every atom, present in the effulgence of Brahman, present in the moon and in the sun, present watching, hearing, responding, accepting my efforts and if I’m doing it properly, Krishna at this very moment is pleased with me. That is bhakti, not that “I’ll please Krishna tomorrow, today threes just some other things I have to deal within my mind”. Tomorrow never comes in that sense.
BE CONVINCED THAT KRISHNA ACCEPTS YOUR SERVICE
Gajendra was not thinking, well he was trying to do things on his own, he was thinking so many things, but when finally he decided to surrender to Krishna, he was here now. It was not about future or the past. So we should be convinced, “Yes, Krishna is here and he’s accepting what we are doing. And we have that conviction then we can put our complete heart into what we are doing. Because bhakti is about offering our love in whatever we do. How could we actually offer our love with substance if we are not convinced that Krishna is right here at this moment watching and accepting? So this faith is very very critical. Kaviraj Goswami, Srila Prabhupada they say that we gain shraddha or faith by associating with devotees and hearing and chanting with them especially. And if we find that our faith is not so strong, we really, seriously need to develop it by associating with devotees who have faith, by serving people who have faith, by hearing from people who have faith, by practicing that’s favorable for developing that faith and avoiding those things that are unfavorable for cultivating that shraddha. Because at the time of greatest need we are going to call out for Krishna with faith that he hears us and that he is with us. Otherwise, what kind of calling out will that be? It will be envelope may be with nothing inside or with an illegible message.
KRISHNA’S HERE TO HEAR
Gajendra, he is teaching us, how we are supposed to process all the amazing teachings of Srimad Bhagvatam. We read about Prahlad and Varaha Dev and so many other incarnations. And we may know the story and we may tell them to our children in so many nice ways as they are going to sleep, which is very very good. But like Gajendra we should understand how to respond to situations as these great souls have responded and how if we do, the Lord will be with us. Whether Gajendra knows it or not, in his following the footsteps of these great souls, he is naming and with his total faith that the Lord is there at that moment to save him, due to these historical episodes, his situation is going to be another one of them historical episodes. So one of the most inspiring stories that have ever come to Brahma’s creation is the story of Gajendra. Yes, he’s surrendering and calling out God’s names, in a prayerful mood with complete faith. And when we are in the most dangerous type of situation or any situation, even right now when things seem to be all right we should be confident, “As Narhari was there with prabhlad, as Varaha Dev was there for the people of the universe, the Lord within my hear is there and watching and he is accepting and he will help me, he will save me.
Different material situations are like different teeth of a crocodile
See for us, we should know that even if the things are good, we still need to be saved. It is not only when we are on the verge of death when we need to be saved. We definitely need it then. But in good times also we need to be saved. We are taught to chant like Gajendra, even when it is nice weather and everyone is nice to us. And things are just flourishing all around my life. We are supposed to chant like Gajendra, even at that time. And we should know that the crocodile of illusion, even when things are really good, we are still in those jaws. As soon as we come into material existence, unless we are in pure devotional consciousness, transcendental to the bodily concept, transcendental to the mental and intellectual concept of life, we are in the jaws of the crocodile. Sometimes it squeezes in one way and sometimes it kind of releases it a little. But you are still under jaws; you are still under control of material energy. So when we know that. Scriptures are all filled with so many explanations of the dangers of material existence, what material existence is about. Padam padam yat vipadam na tesam. There is danger in every step. So even when things are good, we don’t have much faith in that stuff, we try to do our service and do the best we can when it is good or bad whatever it is, but we are still the jaws of that crocodile. The aim of life is not to have a few minutes more enjoyment while in the jaws of the crocodile. But the aim of life is not to get someone to give you some pain killers so that it does not hurt so much while you are in the jaws of the crocodile. The aim of life is to get out of the jaws of the crocodile, whether in happiness or distress, in honor or dishonor, success or failure, pleasure or pain, health or disease, whether we are born or about to die. We are in the jaws of the crocodile. Whether we win or lose on this worldly platform it’s all happening in these jaws. We were explaining Maya’s crocodile has many teeth. Some feel good, sometimes it squeezes in another kind of teeth, just see I have become so successful. I am being honored so much. But then another tooth, everything is taken away. So we are in the jaws. And the content of our message to Krsna has to be, that right now in this moment it is here.
SERVICE IN THE MOOD OF GAJENDRA – WITH FAITH
Whatever little service I am performing I am doing it like Gajendra. He offered that lotus flower, he actually offered a lotus flower but in that lotus flower he was offering his body, his mind, his everything. So we have ladies making a garlands, each flower you are making an offering. Are you doing in the mood of Gajendra? That I am offering my life in that flower. In everything we do, we should be offering our heart. We should be offering our surrender. Doesn’t matter what the world thinks, the world can’t save you. When Gajendra was lifting that lotus flower to the sky to offer it, he knew that Krishna was there even though all there was was sky. He didn’t see anything. Nobody else saw anything except sky, just sky everywhere. But he is taking that lotus flower and offering these prayers of love to Krishna to the sky. Now people around are thinking who is he talking to, there is nobody out there. Why is he offering this lotus flower to the sky, I mean what does the sky need lotus flower for. He had complete faith, I don’t see him, I don’t hear him, I don’t feel Him, but I know he is there. I know because He was there for Prahalad and he was there was Dhruva and he was there for Devaki and Vasudev. He is always there, he is within the heart, he is within everything and He hears me. He had complete faith that Krishna was accepting that lotus flower and his life and soul with it, because he had such feeling. And we are going to read very soon, that Krishna is about to descend personally, incarnate and Krishna can incarnate anywhere and anytime to save his devotee, no imitations. Right out of the sky Krishna comes with Gajendra with a chakra and cuts that crocodiles mouth, which means mukti- liberation, But that wasn’t all, because he surrendered his life, He picked up Gajendra awarded him his original spiritual form, put him in an airplane and sent him to vaikuntha, on that very day.
KRISHNA HAS UNLIMITED LOVE FOR HIS DEVOTEES
We have to have faith in this and this is what Srila Prabhupada very strongly tried to instill with in our hearts, we have to have faith in Krishna’s unlimited inconceivable Love for his devotees. Prabhupada said certain things at certain times because devotees, and everybody else in society for one degree or another had learnt to have faith in mundane alternatives to God. Whether its politics, whether its philosophical speculation or whether its science. People put so much faith in science, which when it comes to science in regards to the origin of the universe, and the origin of the species, it’s filled with speculation. Yes, there are logical observable facts and evidences, but what’s that is tying them all together is a lot of speculation which can’t be proven, There is no real evidence of it, there is evidence of what it might be, what we think it is but what is it. What is the cause of all causes? ..aham sarvasvaa prabhavo….Krishna clears it all up. Be a scientist that’s very good but understand this foundational principle. Krishna says that I am the source of all material and spiritual worlds everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly worship Me with all their hearts. So do your science and worship Me with all your herats and then its perfect. But Srila Prabhupada saw that people whatever their motives, some are good some are bad, some are really trying to help society, some have their egos. But it’s not perfect.  Krishna the supreme Lord descends into this world and gives us the scriptures and gives us the perfect understanding of reality.  So Prabhupada wanted us to have faith in that, that yes, if Krishna want to enlighten and save the elephant Krishna can do it. Krishna wants to appear from a pillar He can do it, to show his love for his devotee. All the stories of the Bhagavatam, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat are stories how Krishna’s there to protect the love his devotees and how His devotees have that faith that He is here and they surrender with Love. All of these great scriptures are about the reciprocation of God’s love. Some of the others Vedas and upanisads are about how god in everywhere and in everything. And then these puranas and itihasas are teaching us how He personally reciprocates through everything and anything with His devotees.
CHANTING IN GAJENDRA’S MOOD
In this way, whatever we do could be with bhakti, real feeling, real bhava. At each moment, when we are chanting our japa, or doing kirtan, at each moment, we have the ultimate supreme opportunity to connect to Krsna, to attract Krsna to shower His infinite mercy upon us, according to how sincerely we chant the holy names. Such an opportunity! Srila Prabhupad said, if you just one time chant the holy name with that feeling of complete surrender, your life becomes perfect. That means just one time, any day during japa, if you can just chant one time like Gajendra, in that spirit of faith and surrender, and humility –
trinadapi sunicena tarorapi sahisnuna,
amanina manadena kirtaniya sada hari.
Gajendra is more humble than a blade of grass, as he is chanting the holy name of the Lord. “My Lord, I am Yours” –
maro bhi rako bhi jo icca tohar,
nitya dasa prati tua adhikar
Bhakti Vinod Takur is praying like Gajendra, like Draupadi, “My Lord, if You want to protect me, nothing can harm me. If You want to destroy me, nothing can save me. My Lord, I am Yours, You can do anything You want. You can protect me, You can kill me. I am Yours. Do what You like. Because I am Your servant, eternally.”
Aslisya va pada ratam pinastu mam
Adarsanan marma hatam karotuva
Mahaprabhu – Sri Caitanya has prayed – You can make me broken hearted by not being present before me, You could trample on me or You can embrace me. You have every right to deal with me in any way You like.” This spirit of surrender – “Krsna, I am Yours. And You are here. And You hear me. And You could do anything at anytime.” If Krsna wants to, He can incarnate in any of these light bulbs in the chandelier. But are you calling upon Him with the faith to induce Him to do that. He is everywhere, waiting for us. This is the spirit Gajendra is teaching us to chant the holy names.
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
In the spirit of Gajendra, much louder please…
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
One question… Yes Krsnanaam Prabhu…
QUESTION:  When things are good we don’t take so much shelter of Krishna, though we need to at the same time when we are having bad days….we understand this theoretically but at the same time there is fear in our heart that when things are going to go bad, are we really going to take shelter of Krisha or are we going to take shelter of Material nature. So how does one reconcile?
ANSWER: The fear is very nice fear. Fear should not make us paranoid, depressed or miserable but healthy fear should make us very alert and serious because factually we condition ourselves at every moment whether things are good or things are bad, every time we take shelter of the alternatives of the crocodile, the crocodile has us…and is also providing so many alternatives to keep us in its jaws, Maya. So we should know and we should expect that at every moment at in every situation, Maya is going to provide so many attractive alternatives to Krsna to take shelter of, to enjoy. When you try to enjoy something, we’re taking shelter of that thing. Yes? In one sense, you want pleasure, you need pleasure because of an emptiness in your heart and this thing is providing pleasure so you are actually taking shelter of that thing but you’re not just taking shelter of that thing, you’re taking shelter of material energy that is attracting you to that thing. Rajo guna or tama guna are saying, “You’ll find pleasure here, you’ll find relief here” and when we go there we are looking for shelter and we become conditioned to that. Everytime we go to some object for shelter or some manifestation of material energy, whatever it may be, we are creating that habit within us. So when things get really bad, we going to probably turn to those things because it habitual. So when whatever situation we have..bhakti is about reconditioning our habits, learning to find pleasure in things..in making Krsna happy. That means devotional service. When we seek shelter in devotional service, when we seek our happiness in devotional service, when we seek our refuge in devotional service, everytime we do that we’re conditioning ourselves in that way. It’s like the good dog and the bad dog. The more you feed the bad dog thats telling you to take shelter of Maya, the more it becomes very powerful calling within our heart and controls us. But everytime we feed that divine nature, that calling toward bhakti, toward devotional service, that calling, that voice, that tendency is becoming stronger and stronger and stronger within us. So we should always be sincerely trying to cultivate love of God at each moment. Does that answer your question?