Potency of Devotional Service - Part 1

Date: 2014-08-28 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

There is a famous quote in Bible which goes as follows - "There is no one without sin, no, not one". Initially I used to wonder how could this be, but over time I was able to realise the truth behind this statement. Of course it is only because of our sins, we have taken birth in this material world now and are enjoying/suffering the reactions of whatever good/bad things we have done in the past. We might have forgotten whatever we did in our past and present lives, but the Supreme Lord Krishna remembers them all and is sanctioning things accordingly in each of our lives. In the purport to verse 9.2 of Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupada nicely explains how for every sin we perform, we are bound to face the reactions. He compares the sin to be the seed, which takes time to fructify. "There are sins which are still in the form of a seed, and there are others which are already fructified and are giving us fruit, which we are enjoying as distress and pain." So even if we have stopped the sinful action, we sometimes face the reactions little later, either in next lifetime or after some time in this life itself.

Now let us introspect how we treat another sinner, in spite of the fact that we are also one. Indeed it is so difficult for us to even talk or smile to a person who does some sin against us, what to speak of loving and caring for them. But all merciful and infallible Supreme Lord Krishna is such a loving Supreme father that He is tolerating all our sins and yet is eager to take us back to His abode. He sends His dear representatives or sometimes even comes personally to teach us the way to come to His abode quickly. And that way is devotional service. The glories of devotional service is also nicely explained by Lord Krishna in several places in Bhagavad Gita. In verse 9.2 He says,

rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ pavitram idam uttamam pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam

This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.

In the above verse pavitram means pure and uttamam means transcendental. In his purport to the above verse Srila Prabhupada says, "Therefore the purifying potency of devotional service is very strong, and it is called pavitram uttamam, the purest". Quoting the below verse from Padma Purana, His Divine Grace says,

aprārabdha-phalaṁ pāpaṁ kūṭaṁ bījaṁ phalonmukham krameṇaiva pralīyeta viṣṇu-bhakti-ratātmanām

For those who are engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all sinful reactions, whether fructified, in the stock, or in the form of a seed, gradually vanish.

The process of bhakti is transcendentally pure so it is completely potent to purify our sinful nature and also makes us free of the reactions of the sins. Dirty room cannot be cleansed with dirty water. So we can imagine how potent and pure should be the process of bhakti that it is able to cleanse our contaminated hearts.

Krishna willing we shall try to meditate on the purifying potency of devotional service through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam in the subsequent offerings.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi. Potency of Devotional Service - Part 2

Date: 2014-08-29 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous topic titled, "Potency of Devotional Service", wherein we saw that devotional service is so potent that those who are engaged in bhakti or freed of all sinful reactions.

Diti the wife of Kashyapa Muni was very upset over the death of her sons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Since Lord Vishnu had killed her sons to help Indra, she was very angry with Indra and decided to beget a son to kill Indra. So she served her husband Kashyapa Muni with devotion and care and having captivated his mind, she got the benediction from him that he would fulfill her desires. When Diti expressed her desire to beget a son to kill Indra, Kashyapa Muni was very aggrieved. Apart from the fact that Indra was his son, Kashyapa Muni knew that it was not correct for Diti to have a revengeful attitude towards Indra. He knew that since he had promised to give her the benediction, it could not be revoked. So he decided to find a suitable win-win solution which will prove to be good for Diti as well as Indra.

In purport to Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.18.43, Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains the mood of Kashyapa Muni. ' Kashyapa Muni concluded, "Diti is eager to have a son who can kill Indra, since she is a woman, after all, and is not very intelligent. I shall train her in such a way that instead of always thinking of how to kill Indra, she will become a Vaishnava, a devotee of Krishna. If she agrees to follow the rules and regulations of the Vaishnava principles, the unclean core of her heart will certainly be cleansed." Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ [Cc. Antya 20.12]. This is the process of devotional service. Anyone can be purified by following the principles of devotional service in Krishna consciousness, for Krishna consciousness is so powerful that it can purify even the dirtiest class of men and transform them into the topmost Vaishnavas.'

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.18.45 Kashyapa Muni gives the following advice to Diti.

śrī-kaśyapa uvāca putras te bhavitā bhadre indra-hādeva-bāndhavaḥ saṁvatsaraṁ vratam idaṁ yady añjo dhārayiṣyasi

Kaśyapa Muni said: My dear gentle wife, if you follow my instructions regarding this vow for at least one year, you will surely get a son who will be able to kill Indra. However, if you deviate from this vow of following the Vaiṣṇava principles, you will get a son who will be favorable to Indra.

One of the quality of Vaishnava is daksha and here we can see how Kashyapa Muni, being a great devotee of the Lord, tackled this difficult situation very expertly. If Diti follows the instructions sincerely for the whole year - then she will get a son, but by then both the consciousness of Diti and the child in the womb would be changed due to her following the Vaishnava principles and so the child will not kill Indra. And if for some reason she breaks the vow, then she will get a son favourable to Indra. By giving the above instruction, he ensured that Indra would not be killed in either case.

Krishna willing we shall try to see the details of the vow given by Kashyapa Muni to Diti and how Diti followed them in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi. Potency of Devotional Service - Part 3

Date: 2014-08-31 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous topic titled, "Potency of Devotional Service", wherein we saw , the below points.

1. Bhakti is so potent that it frees the devotee from all sins and its reactions. 2. Kashyapa Muni expertly advises Diti to follow a vow by which she can get the child she desires.

In this offering let us meditate on some of the instructions given by Kashyapa Muni.

3. Say No to Envy: Kashyapa Muni knew that if he tells Diti openly that she should give up the idea of killing Indra, she will not be able to accept it whole-heartedly. Her heart will not be pacified. But it will become more agitated and she would try to sort for some other ways and means to harm Indra. So just like how an expert doctor administers sweet-coated medicine to his patients, here the first instruction he gives to Diti is as follows.

SB 6.18.47 śrī-kaśyapa uvāca na hiṁsyād bhūta-jātāni na śapen nānṛtaṁ vadet na chindyān nakha-romāṇi na spṛśed yad amaṅgalam

Kashyapa Muni said: My dear wife, to follow this vow, do not be violent or cause harm to anyone. Do not curse anyone, and do not speak lies. Do not cut your nails and hair, and do not touch impure things like skulls and bones.

In the above verse hiṁsyāt means violence and śapet means to curse. We behave violently and harm others or curse them only when we are envious of them. In his wonderful purport to above verse Srila Prabhupada says, "Kashyapa Muni's first instruction to his wife was not to be envious. The general tendency of anyone within this material world is to be envious, and therefore, to become a Krishna conscious person, one must curb this tendency, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (paramo nirmatsarānām [SB 1.1.2]). A Krishna conscious person is always non-envious, whereas others are always envious. Thus Kashyapa Muni's instruction that his wife not be envious indicates that this is the first stage of advancement in Krishna consciousness. Kashyapa Muni desired to train his wife to be a Krishna conscious person, for this would suffice to protect both her and Indra."

He further advises her never to be angry and not even speak or associate with wicked people. He also then gives her variety of instruction on personal hygiene and Deity worship. Being non-envious, free from anger, being truthful and avoiding association of wicked people will help us to concentrate our minds on Krishna. On the other hand when our minds are filled with these anarthas, then there is no room for Krishna. So Kashyapa Muni gave these good instructions to his wife Diti and told her that if she follows this vow with faith, for one year, then she is sure to get what she wanted.

Krishna willing we shall try to see how Diti followed the above instructions in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi Potency of Devotional Service - Part 4

Date: 2014-09-01 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous topic titled, "Potency of Devotional Service", wherein we saw,

1. Bhakti is so potent that it frees the devotee from all sins and its reactions. 2. Kashyapa Muni expertly advises Diti to follow a vow by which she can get the child she desires. 3. Say No to Envy.

In this offering let us see how Diti followed these instructions.

4. Krishna's Inconceivable Mercy: Diti became pregnant and faithfully began to discharge the vow as instructed by her husband Kashyapa Muni. When Indra saw his aunt Diti observing the vow, he sensed that she was definitely planning to trouble him. So in order to protect himself he wanted to ensure that Diti somehow breaks the promise. So he engaged himself in her service, by assisting her in performing the sacrifice, bringing her the necessary paraphernalia at the right time. At heart, he wanted to somehow find fault in the way she was carrying out the vow. But externally he appeared to be friendly to her and tried to assist her in every possible way. He was anxiously waiting for an opportune moment.

Having grown weak and thin because of strictly following the principles of the vow, Diti once unfortunately neglected to wash her mouth, hands and feet after eating and went to sleep during the evening twilight. Seeing this Indra used his mystic powers and entered into the womb and cut her embryo which was shining like gold, into seven pieces. To his surprise 7 living entities appeared and they cried. He asked them not to cry and cut each one of them into 7 pieces. So now the 49 living entities spoke to him, pleading with folded hands, saying, "Dear Indra, we are the Maruts, your brothers. Why are you trying to kill us?" When he heard this Indra became pleased and he said he will not harm them any more. While narrating this pastime to Parikshit Maharaj, Sukadev Goswami says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.18.65,

na mamāra diter garbhaḥ śrīnivāsānukampayā bahudhā kuliśa-kṣuṇṇo drauṇy-astreṇa yathā bhavān

Sukadeva Goswami said: My dear King Parikshit, you were burned by the brahmaastra of Ashvatthaama, but when Lord Krishna entered the womb of your mother, you were saved. Similarly, although the one embryo was cut into forty-nine pieces by the thunderbolt of Indra, they were all saved by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the above verse Srila Prabhupada beautifully translates the words 'srinivaasaanukampayaa' as 'by the mercy of Lord Vishnu, the resting place of goddess fortune.' Lord is inconceivable and so is His mercy. Although we have many flaws in us, our material mind will make us think both Diti and Indra are bad people and they deserve no fortune, rather they deserve only punishment and misfortune. But, the infallible Lord Krishna who never wishes misfortune for others, protected Diti, Indra as well as the 49 children in Diti's womb out of His causeless, inconceivable mercy.

It is also nice to note how Sukadeva Goswami very wonderfully related this incident to Parikshit Maharaj who himself was saved in the womb of his mother from the brahmastra by Supreme Lord's mercy. Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that not only Pariskhit Maharaj, each and everyone of us were protected in the mother's womb by mercy of Krishna. Maharaj says, "The condition in the womb is so horrible that either child should die or mother should die or both should die. But somehow we are all born. It is only because of Krishna's mercy ".

Krishna willing we shall continue more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi. Potency of Devotional Service - Part 5

Date: 2014-09-02 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous topic titled, "Potency of Devotional Service", wherein we were meditating on the pastime of how Diti vowed to beget a son to kill Indra. Indra also had ill feelings for Diti and came to serve her, only with motive of finding some fault in her and thereby disturbing her vow. And when he got the opportune moment, he entered into her womb and cut the embryo. But by the mercy of Lord, 49 Maruts were born and they were all friendly to Indra.

5. Change in Behavior: Now when Diti woke up, she was happy to see her 49 children and being purified by the devotional service which she had performed for almost one year, she lovingly inquired Indra as to how she got 49 children, although she had desired just one to kill him. Indra then honestly confessed to her as to how he had become suspicious of her devotional practice and had come to serve her, only to ensure that she somehow breaks the vow. He also told her as to how he had attempted to cut the embryo, but still by mercy of Lord all her children were born safe and sound. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.18.73 Indra says,

tatas tat paramāścaryaṁ vīkṣya vyavasitaṁ mayā mahāpuruṣa-pūjāyāḥ siddhiḥ kāpy ānuṣaṅgiṇī

My dear mother, when I saw that all forty-nine sons were alive, I was certainly struck with wonder. I decided that this was a secondary result of your having regularly executed devotional service in worship of Lord Vishnu.

So far we can see two very nice qualities exhibited by both Diti and Indra. Firstly they frankly admitted their mistakes with an open heart. They did not have any reservations in their heart and did not behave in duplicit manner. Secondly both of them spoke kindly, without any inimical feelings and appreciated each other. When we don't like someone, when we are envious of them, we will not share our feelings honestly. We will speak in a rude manner. Also we would never appreciate their good qualities or even their devotional service. Here Indra praised Diti by saying that due to her sincere devotional service, she was able to beget 49 children and all of them were alive, although he had tried to kill them. In purport to Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.18.71 Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains as to what brought this change in their behaviour. He says, "Both of them, instead of being enemies, freely spoke the truth. This is the qualification that results from contact with Vishnu. As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (5.18.12):

yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ

All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord’s external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?

If one develops a devotional attitude and becomes purified by worshiping the Supreme Lord, all the good qualities are certainly manifested in his body. Because of being touched by worship of Vishnu both Diti and Indra were purified.

Krishna willing we shall continue more on this topic, in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi. Potency of Devotional Service - Part 6

Date: 2014-09-03 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

5. Change in Behavior: In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.18.76, Indra further says,

tad idaṁ mama daurjanyaṁ bāliśasya mahīyasi kṣantum arhasi mātas tvaṁ diṣṭyā garbho mṛtotthitaḥ

O my mother, O best of all women, I am a fool. Kindly excuse me for whatever offenses I have committed. Your forty-nine sons have been born unhurt because of your devotional service. As an enemy, I cut them to pieces, but because of your great devotional service they did not die.

Here we further see how Indra seeks forgivance to Diti for all his offences and again appreciates Diti for the nice devotional service which she performed for the whole year when she was observing the vow. This is one more wonderful change which we can see in Indra's behaviour. Usually we never want to accept our faults to others, not to speak of people with whom we don't have cordial relationship. Such attitude only reflects our pride and ego. Here we see Indra humbly accepted his mistakes and glorified Diti for her good devotional service. We might wonder how this change happened in Indra. As far as Diti was concerned, although her intentions were wrong in the beginning, she sincerely followed the instructions of her husband Kashyapa Muni and did devotional service to Lord Vishnu and thus she was gradually purified. But how did Indra's nature change?

Indra had been serving Diti when she was observing the vow. Although his motive was not good, still the all-merciful Lord was pleased with his attempts to serve Diti. The Lord is pleased when we serve His devotees or even when we simply genuinely appreciates others' devotional service. Only when there is at least a tinge of devotion in us, we will be able to appreciate others' devotional service. As Srimati Kunti Maharani says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.8.36,

śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanty abhīkṣṇaśaḥ smaranti nandanti tavehitaṁ janāḥ ta eva paśyanty acireṇa tāvakaṁ bhava-pravāhoparamaṁ padāmbujam

O Krishna, those who continuously hear, chant and repeat Your transcendental activities, or take pleasure in others' doing so, certainly see Your lotus feet, which alone can stop the repetition of birth and death.

In the above verse 'nandanti' means "to take pleasure in others' devotional service". Since Indra served Diti and also genuinely appreciated her devotional service, he also became recipient of the mercy of Lord and there was change in his behaviour as well. Krishna willing we shall try to meditate further on the potency of devotional service in subsequent offerings.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Sudarshana devi dasi. Potency of Devotional Service - Part 7

Date: 2014-09-05 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in conclusion of the previous topic titled, "Potency of Devotional Service". So far we had seen the below points from the pastime of Diti wishing to beget child to kill Indra.

1. Bhakti is so potent that it frees the devotee from all sins and its reactions. 2. Kashyapa Muni expertly advises Diti to follow a vow by which she can get the child she desires. 3. To do nice devotional service, we have to say no to envy. 4. Krishna's mercy is inconceivable - He purifies the devotee engaged in devotional service and also the person who serves the devotee. 5. By performing bhakti all good qualities gradually develop in us.

In this offering we shall see some more instances of how potent is devotional service.

6. We have heard about the story of Mrgaari the hunter who used to torture the animals in the forest by hurting them and leaving them half-dead. He was so unfortunate that he didn't even know that it was a great sinful act and the reactions for the same, until he got the touch of a pure devotee like Narada Muni. When Narada Muni made him realise his mistake and asked him to chant the names of the Lord, he took it up sincerely and years later when Narada Muni again came to meet him, he saw how Mrgaari did not even want to hurt a small ant and was careful not to step over it. One more instance is in case of hunter Ratnakar who for the sake of taking care of his family members was engaged in killing animals. Later when Narada Muni made him realise that he alone would have to suffer the fruits of his sinful reactions, he surrendered to Narada Muni and started chanting the name of Lord Ram for many many years. He was so fixed in his chanting that he was not even affected by the ant-hills that were grown all over his body. Later Narada Muni came to meet him, removed all the ant-hills and he gave him the name Valmiki. And it was this great devotee Valmiki who later compiled the Ramayana.

Also in case of Ashvatthama, we find that even after he performed the heinous act of killing the sleeping children of the Pandavas, he was not given severe punishment by the Lord. Scriptures say that in fact he will be taking the post of Vyasadeva to compile the Vedic literatures in the next millenium and that he is also blessed with boon of long life (chiranjeevi). When Pandavas were in Drona's gurukul, Ashwattama used to wait every day in the night to serve Arjuna who used to come late for prasadam as he would be practising archery for longer hours. Acaryas say that this sincere act of serving prasadam to His dear devotee Arjuna, pleased the Lord so much. Krishna simply removed the jewel from Ashwatthama's head, for his act of killing the sons of Pandavas.

From these instances we can nicely realise the potency of devotional service to Lord and His devotees. But we should be very careful that we don't take things for granted and continue to do sins thinking that bhakti will nullify the reactions of the same. That is why His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada very nicely warns us in the purport to Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.4.15, "One is sure to get free from the reactions of sins provided one is very careful about not committing sins willingly in expectation of getting free from the reactions of sins by worshiping in the temple or by offering prayers in the church. This mentality of committing sins willfully on the strength of devotional service is called nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ, and it is the greatest offense in the discharge of devotional service."

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi.