Çré Pasankusa Ekädaçé Issue no:195 06th October 2022

The Fruit Of Visiting Holy Places

The Deliverance Of The What Happens When We Approach
Yamala-Arjuna Trees Preachers Who Are Puffed Up?
Srila Sukadeva Goswami Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

The Symptoms Of A Sadhu The Fruit Of Visiting Holy Places

His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Circulaton 32,999
 Issue no 195, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
once appeared there by chance. Seeing them intox-
icated, with rolling eyes, he could understand their
situation. Upon see-ing Narada, the naked young
girls of the demi-gods were very much ashamed.
Afraid of being cursed, they covered their bodies
with their gar-ments. But the two sons of Kuvera
did not do so; instead, not caring about Narada,
they re-mained naked. Seeing the two sons of the
demigods naked and intoxicated by opulence and
false prestige, Devarṣi Narada, in order to show
them special mercy, desired to give them a special
curse. Thus he spoke as follows.
Narada Muni said: Among all the attractions of
material enjoyment, the attraction of riches bewil-
ders one’s intelligence more than having beautiful
bodily features, taking birth in an aristocratic family,
and being learned. When one is uneducated but
falsely puffed up by wealth, the result is that one
engages his wealth in enjoying wine, women and
gambling. Unable to control their senses, rascals
who are falsely proud of their riches or their birth
in aristocratic families are so cruel that to maintain
their perishable bodies, which they think will never
The Deliverance Of The grow old or die, they kill poor animals without mer-
Yamala-Arjuna Trees cy. Sometimes they kill animals merely to enjoy an
Srila Sukadeva Goswami excursion. While living one may be proud of one’s
body, thinking oneself a very big man, minister,
King Parīkṣit inquired from Sukadeva Goswami: president or even demigod, but whatever one may
O great and powerful saint, what was the cause of be, after death this body will turn either into worms,
Nalakūvara’s and Maṇigrīva’s having been cursed into stool or into ashes. If one kills poor animals to
by Narada Muni? What did they do that was so satisfy the temporary whims of this body, one does
abominable that even Narada, the great sage, be- not know that he will suffer in his next birth, for
came angry at them? Kindly describe this to me. such a sinful miscreant must go to hell and suffer
Sukadeva Goswami said: O King Parīkṣit, be- the results of his actions. While alive, does this body
cause the two sons of Kuvera had been elevated to belong to its employer, to the self, to the father, the
the association of Lord Śiva, of which they were mother, or the mother’s father? Does it belong to
very much proud, they were allowed to wander the person who takes it away by force, to the slave
in a garden attached to Kailasa Hill, on the bank master who purchases it, or to the sons who burn
of the Mandakini River. Taking advantage of this, it in the fire? Or, if the body is not burned, does it
they used to drink a kind of liquor called Varuni. belong to the dogs that eat it? Among the many
Accompanied by women singing to them, they possible claimants, who is the rightful claimant?
would wander in that garden of flowers, their eyes Not to ascertain this but instead to maintain the body
always rolling in intoxication. by sinful activities is not good. This body, after all,
Within the waters of the Mandakini Ganges, is produced by the unmanifested nature and again
which were crowded with gardens of lotus flowers, annihilated and merged in the natural elements.
the two sons of Kuvera would enjoy frolicking with Therefore, it is the common property of everyone.
young girls, just like two male elephants sporting in Under the circumstances, who but a rascal claims
the water with female elephants. this property as his own and while maintaining it
O Maharaja Pariksit, by some auspicious opportu- commits such sinful activities as killing animals
nity for the two boys, the great saint Devarṣi Narada just to satisfy his whims? Unless one is a rascal, one
Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org
 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 195, Page—3
cannot commit such sinful activities. Atheistic fools they are living like trees (for trees are naked but are
and rascals who are very much proud of wealth fail not conscious), these two young men should receive
to see things as they are. Therefore, returning them the bodies of trees. This will be proper punishment.
to poverty is the proper ointment for their eyes so Nonetheless, after they become trees and until they
they may see things as they are. At least a pover- are released, by my mercy they will have remem-
ty-stricken man can realize how painful poverty is, brance of their past sinful activities. Moreover, by
and therefore he will not want others to be in a painful my special favour, after the expiry of one hundred
condition like his own. By seeing their faces, one years by the measurement of the demigods, they will
whose body has been pricked by pins can understand be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
the pain of others who are pinpricked. Realising Vāsudeva, face to face, and thus revive their real
that this pain is the same for everyone, he does not position as devotees.
want others to suffer in this way. But one who has Sukadeva Goswami continued: Having thus spo-
never been pricked by pins cannot understand this ken, the great saint Devarṣi Narada returned to his
pain. A poverty-stricken man must automatically āśrama, known as Nārāyaṇa-āśrama, and Nalakū-
undergo austerities and penances because he does vara and Maṇigrīva became twin arjuna trees. The
not have the wealth to possess anything. Thus his Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śri Krishna, to
false prestige is vanquished. Always in need of food, make true the words of the greatest devotee, Narada,
shelter and clothing, he must be satisfied with what slowly went to that spot where the twin arjuna trees
is obtained by the mercy of providence. Undergoing were standing.
such compulsory austerities is good for him because “Although these two young men are the sons of the
this purifies him and completely frees him from false very rich Kuvera and I have nothing to do with them,
ego. Always hungry, longing for sufficient food, a Devarṣi Narada is My very dear devotee, as attached
poverty-stricken man gradually becomes weaker to Me as I am to him, and therefore because he want-
and weaker. Having no extra potency, his senses ed Me to come face to face with them, I must do so
are automatically pacified. A poverty-stricken man, for their deliverance.” Having thus spoken, Krishna
therefore, is unable to perform harmful, envious soon entered between the two arjuna trees, and thus
activities. In other words, such a man automatically the big mortar to which He was bound turned cross-
gains the results of the austerities and penances ad- wise and stuck between them. By dragging behind
opted voluntarily by saintly persons. Him with great force the wooden mortar tied to His
Saintly persons may freely associate with those belly, the boy Krishna uprooted the two trees. By the
who are poverty-stricken, but not with those who great strength of the Supreme Person, the two trees,
are rich.Apoverty-stricken man, by association with with their trunks, leaves and branches, trembled
saintly persons, very soon becomes uninterested in severely and fell to the ground with a great crash.
material desires, and the dirty things within the core Thereafter, in that very place where the two arjuna
of his heart are cleansed away. Saintly persons [sād- trees had fallen, two great, perfect personalities, who
hus] think of Krishna twenty-four hours a day. They appeared like fire personified, came out of the two
have no other interest. Why should people neglect trees. The effulgence of their beauty illuminating all
the association of such exalted spiritual personalities directions, with bowed heads they offered obeisance
and try to associate with materialists, taking shelter to Krishna, and with hands folded they spoke the
of non-devotees, most of whom are proud and rich? following words.
Therefore, since these two persons, drunk with the O Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna, Your opulent mys-
liquor named Varuni, or Mādhvī, and unable to ticism is inconceivable. You are the supreme, orig-
control their senses, have been blinded by the pride inal person, the cause of all causes, immediate and
of celestial opulence and have become attached to remote, and You are beyond this material creation.
women, I shall relieve them of their false prestige. Learned brāhmaṇas know [on the basis of the Vedic
These two young men, Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, statement sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma] that You are
are by fortune the sons of the great demigod Kuvera, everything and that this cosmic manifestation, in its
but because of false prestige and madness after drink- gross and subtle aspects, is Your form. You are the
ing liquor, they are so fallen that they are naked but Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of
cannot understand that they are. Therefore, because everything. The body, life, ego and senses of every
www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya
 Issue no 195, Page — 4 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Top left 4
living entity are Your own self. You are the Supreme Supreme Godhead, is the master of all and was
Person, Viṣṇu, the imperishable controller. You are certainly Gokuleśvara, the master of Gokula, He
the time factor, the immediate cause, and You are was bound to the wooden mortar by the ropes of
material nature, consisting of the three modes pas- the gopīs, and therefore, smiling widely, He spoke
sion, goodness and ignorance. You are the original to the sons of Kuvera the following words.
cause of this material manifestation. You are the The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The
Supersoul, and therefore You know everything great saint Narada Muni is very merciful. By his
within the core of the heart of every living entity. O curse, he showed the greatest favour to both of you,
Lord, You also exist before the creation. Therefore, who were mad after material opulence and who
who, trapped by a body of material qualities in had thus become blind. Although you fell from the
this material world, can understand You? O Lord, higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you
whose glories are covered by Your own energy, were most wonderfully favoured by him. I knew of
You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You all these incidents from the very beginning.
are Saṅkarṣaṇa, the origin of creation, and You are When one is face to face with the sun, there is no
Vāsudeva, the origin of the fourfold caturvyūha longer darkness for one’s eyes. Similarly, when one
expansions. Because You are everything and are is face to face with a sādhu, a pure devotee, who is
therefore the Supreme Brahman, we simply offer fully determined and surrendered to the Supreme
our respectful obeisance unto You. Appearing in Personality of Godhead, one will no longer be
bodies like those of an ordinary fish, tortoise and subject to material bondage. O Nalakūvara and
hog, You exhibit activities impossible for such Maṇigrīva, now you may both return home. Since
creatures to perform extraordinary, incomparable, you desire to be always absorbed in My devotional
transcendental activities of unlimited power and service, your desire to develop love and affection
strength. These bodies of Yours, therefore, are not for Me will be fulfilled, and now you will never fall
made of material elements, but are incarnations from that platform.
of Your Supreme Personality. You are the same Sukadeva Goswami said: The Supreme Personal-
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have now ity of Godhead having spoken to the two demigods
appeared, with full potency, for the benefit of all in this way, they circumambulated the Lord, who
living entities within this material world. was bound to the wooden mortar, and offered obei-
O supremely auspicious, we offer our respectful sance to Him. After taking the permission of Lord
obeisance unto You, who are the supreme good. O Krishna, they re-turned to their respective homes.
most famous descendant and controller of the Yadu — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 10: The Summum
dynasty, O son of Vasudeva, O most peaceful, let us Bonum » CHAPTER TEN » Verses 1- 43.
offer our obeisance unto Your lotus feet. O supreme
form, we are always servants of Your servants, es- The Symptoms Of A Sadhu
pecially of Narada Muni. Now give us permission His Divine Grace
to leave for our home. It is by the grace and mercy A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
of Narada Muni that we have been able to see You
face to face. Hence-forward, may all our words A sādhu is one who is engaged in devotional
describe Your pastimes, may our ears engage in service to the Lord without deviation (bhajate mām
aural reception of Your glories, may our hands, legs ananya-bhāk).
and other senses engage in actions pleasing to You,
and may our minds always think of Your lotus feet. titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
May our heads offer our obeisance to everything suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
within this world, because all things are also Your ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
different forms, and may our eyes see the forms of sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ
Vaiṣṇavas, who are non-different from You.
Sukadeva Goswami continued: The two young "The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant,
demigods thus offered prayers to the Supreme merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has
Personality of Godhead. Although Śrī Krishna, the no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scrip-
tures, and all his characteristics are sublime." (SB
Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org
 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 195, Page—5
3.25.21) A sādhu is suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām, the trigger off his original spiritual nature, which then
friend of everyone. Why then should the rich, instead begins to assert itself. The contact with saintly souls
of associating with sādhus, waste their valuable time is the only provocation or opportunity.
in association with other rich men who are averse to
spiritual life? Both the poor man and the rich man Thus, the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (6.23) states:
can take advantage of the Krishna consciousness
movement, and here it is advised that everyone do so. yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau
There is no profit in avoiding the association of the tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmānaḥ
members of the Krishna consciousness movement.
Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has said: "Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith
in both, the Lord and the spiritual master, are all the
sat-saṅga chāḍi' kainu asate vilāsa imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed."
te-kāraṇe lāgila ye karma-bandha-phāṅsa
The Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.43, 45, 54,
If we give up the association of sādhus, saintly 33) states:
persons engaged in Krishna consciousness, and
associate with persons seeking sense gratification saṁśāra bhramite kona bhāgya keha tāre
and accumulating wealth for this purpose, our life nadira prabhāve yena kāṣṭha lage tīre
is spoiled. The word asat refers to an avaiṣṇava, one kona bhāgya karo saṁśāra kṣayonmukha haya
who is not a devotee of Krishna, and sat refers to a sādhu saṅga kare, kṛṣṇe rati upajaya
Vaiṣṇava, Krishna's devotee. One should always seek sādhu saṅga sādhu saṅga sarva śāstre kaya
the association of Vaiṣṇavas and not spoil one's life lava matra sādhu saṅge sarva siddhi haya
by mixing with avaiṣṇavas. In Bhagavad-gītā (7.15), kṛṣṇa tomāra hau’ yadi bale ekabāra
the distinction between Vaiṣṇava and avaiṣṇava is māyābandha haite kṛṣṇa tāre kare pāra
enunciated:
"There are unlimited conditioned souls who are
na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ bereft of Krishna’s service. Not knowing how to
prapadyante narādhamāḥ cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by
māyayāpahṛta-jñānā the waves of time and tide. However, some are for-
āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ tunate to contact devotees and, by this contact, they
are delivered from the ocean of nescience—just as
Anyone who is not surrendered to Krishna is a most a log, floating down a river, is sometimes acciden-
sinful person (duṣkṛtī), a rascal (mūḍha), and the tally washed up on the bank. By good fortune, one
lowest of men (narādhama). Therefore one should becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience,
not avoid the association of Vaiṣṇavas, which is now and when one’s term of material existence decreases,
available all over the world in the form of the Krishna one may get an opportunity to associate with pure
consciousness movement. devotees. Such association awakens one's attraction
— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 10: The Summum to Krishna. The verdict of the revealed scriptures
Bonum » CHAPTER TEN » Verses 19, Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhak- is that by even a moment's association with a pure
tivedanta Swami Prabhupada. devotee one can attain all perfection and success. One
is immediately freed from the clutches of māyā if he
Even though the jīva, enchanted by māyā, is seriously and sincerely says: 'My dear Lord Krishna,
chained by endless desires for fruitive activities, yet although I have forgotten You, for so many long
he never forfeits his inherent nature and constitution years in the material world, today I am surrendering
as marginal energy. In this condition, his materialistic unto You. I am Your property. Please engage me in
habits, which have turned into his second nature, Your service.'"
grow stronger, but his spiritual consciousness— What is meant by good fortune? If good fortune is
eternal servitorship to Sri Krishna, which is almost the cause of mitigation of our attachment to family
extinguished—nevertheless continues to exist. The and material existence, then why is saintly associ-
slightest provocation or opportunity will immediately ation or resolute faith expounded as being the real
www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya
 Issue no 195, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
cause? Good fortune is a matter of luck i.e. blind, master, and by the special mercy of Krishna. On
inexplicable phenomena. If this is the only source of that platform, one gives up all material desires and
the jīva’s ultimate benediction, then he becomes dis- the association of unwanted people. Thus, one is
inclined and unmotivated to act on his own. Though elevated to the platform of pure devotional service.
this topic is ostensibly simple, explicit formulations (Madhya 22.51)
are required and hence it calls for serious attention. —Amṛta Vāṇī: Nectar of Instructions of Immoratality His Divine Grace
To properly delineate this esoteric concept, one must Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda Compiled by Śrīpāda Bhakti
study the jīva principle, (jīva tattva). Mayukha Bhāgavat Mahāraja Adapted and Published by Īśvara dāsa Translated
—Daśa-mūla-tattva by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Translated by Sarv- from Bengali by Bhumipati dāsa
abhāvana dāsa
The Fruit Of Visiting Holy Places
What Happens When We Approach Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Preachers Who Are Puffed Up?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura While wandering throughout the fourteen worlds
under the shelter of karma and jñāna, by good fortune
Only when we realize, by the mercy of guru and and piety resulting from devotional service, the living
sādhu, that we are servants of the Supreme Lord will entities receive the opportunity to see the lotus feet
we attain auspiciousness.As soon as we receive tran- of the spiritual master, who is the reservoir of the
scendental knowledge our propensity to enjoy matter seed of devotional service. Just by seeing the spiri-
will be destroyed. Until we understand the principle tual master, one’s unauthorized, mundane, sensual,
that we are servants of the Lord and devotees of Viṣṇu argument-based knowledge is checked and the top-
we will continue to see the material world as meant most shining glories of devotional service manifest
for our enjoyment. We will not be able to see this in the heart. This is the fruit of visiting holy places.
world in the mood of īśāvāsyam, everything being Śrīmad Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, the crest-jewel of
the property of the Supreme Lord. the mahājanas, has written in his Kalyāṇa-kalpataru
We try to lord it over material nature. The only as follows:
hope we have of spiritual survival is to seek the as- mana, tumi tīrthe sadā rata
sociation of a pure devotee. Those who desire their ayodhyā, mathurā, māyā, kāśī, kāñci, avantiyā,
ultimate benefit should not approach preachers who dvārāvatī, āra āche yata
are puffed up with lust, anger, greed, ego, or envy. If
they do, they will never attain transcendental knowl- “My dear mind, you are always attached to the
edge. Unless we associate with great personalities different places of pilgrimage such as Ayodhyā,
who are free from material desire, our own desire Mathurā, Haridvāra, Kāśī, Kāñci, Avantī, and
for material enjoyment will not be destroyed. We Dvārakā.
will not realize ourselves as the Lord’s servants. The
Caitanya-caritāmṛta states: tumi cāha bhramibāre, e sakala bāre bāre,
mukti-lābha karibāra tare
mahat-kṛpā vinā kona karme ’bhakti’ naya se sakala taba bhrama, nirarthaka pariśrama,
kṛṣṇa-bhakti dūre rahu, saṁsāra nahe kṣaya citta sthira tīrthe nāhi kare

Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot “You want to travel to all these holy places of
attain the platform of devotional service. To say noth- pilgrimage again and again for the sake of obtain-
ing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from ing liberation. But it is clear that your heart is not
the bondage of material existence. (Madhya 24.97) becoming resolutely fixed by going to all these
places; therefore, all of your wanderings are simply
sādhu-saṅga-kṛpā kimvā kṛṣṇera kṛpāya useless labour.
kāmādi ’duḥsaṅga’ chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti pāya
tīrtha-phala sādhu-saṅga, sādhu-saṅge antaraṅga
One is elevated to the platform of devotional life śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajana manohara
by the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava, the bona fide spiritual yathā sādhu, tathā tīrtha, sthira kari’nija citta,
Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org
 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 195, Page—7
actually Vṛndāvana. Only there can one find unlim-
ited spiritual pleasure.

kṛṣṇa-bhakti yei sthāne, mukti dāsī seikhāne,

salila tathāya Mandakini
giri tathā govardhana, bhūmi tathā vṛndāvana,
āvirbhūta āpani hlādinī

“Liberation personified is herself the humble maid-

servant of places that are surcharged with devotion
to Krishna. All the water at the place is the celestial
Ganges, every hill there is Govardhana, and the very
earth is indeed Vṛndāvana. Only such a place can
manifest the eternal spiritual joy which is revealed
by the Lord’s pleasure-potency.

vinoda kahiche bhāi, bhramiyā ki phala pāi,

vaiṣṇava-sevana mora vrata

“I ask you now, dear brother, what benefit would

I get by circumambulating all the holy places of
pilgrimage? Personally, my vow is to serve the
Vaiṣṇavas with firm resolution and untiring endeav-
our.” (Kalyana Kalpa taru, First branch, song 14)

—Purport to Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata: Ādi-khaṇḍa; Chapter 17, versus 51-52

sādhu-saṅga kara nirantara

“The real benefit of visiting any holy place is to

achieve the association of the pure-hearted devotees
of the Lord living there. Establishing intimate and
friendly relations with such great souls, let your heart !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
be captivated by performing the charming worship ISKCON
of Lord Kṛṣṇa in their association. Wherever the Bhägavata Mahävidyalaya
is a branch of
Lord’s devotees are living, that place becomes a International Society for Krishna Consciousness
place of pilgrimage. Therefore you should become Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
fixed by constantly remaining in the company of
Editor
such devotees. Brajsundar Das
Copy Editor
ye tīrthe vaiṣṇava nāi, se tīrthete nāhi yāi, Isha Prakash Das
ki lābha hāṅṭiyā dūra-deśa
yathāya vaiṣṇava-gaṇa, sei stāna vṛndāvana, Sanskrit Editor,
Vrajsevika Devi Dasi
sei sthāne ānanda aśeṣa
Assistance
Vamsidhari Gauri Devi Dasi
“I never visit any so-called place of pilgrimage that Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
is devoid of the presence of unalloyed devotees, for His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
what benefit is gained by walking to such distant ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
places? Wherever there are devotees, that place is ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists.

www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya