Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 2: The Cosmic Manifestation

CHAPTER EIGHT

Questions by King Parīkṣit

 The King said: I wish to text 7: O learned brāhmaṇa, the transcendental spirit soul is different from the material body. Does he acquire the body accidentally or by some cause? Will you kindly explain this, for it is known to you.Text 8: If the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whose abdomen the lotus stem sprouted, is possessed of a gigantic body according to His own caliber and measurement, then what is the specific difference between the body of the Lord and those of common living entities?Text 9: Brahmā, who was not born of a material source but of the lotus flower coming out of the navel abdomen of the Lord, is the creator of all those who are materially born. Of course, by the grace of the Lord, Brahmā was able to see the form of the Lord.Text 10: Please also explain the Personality of Godhead, who lies in every heart as the Supersoul, and as the Lord of all energies, but is untouched by His external energy.Text 11: O learned brāhmaṇa, it was formerly explained that all the planets of the universe with their respective governors are situated in the different parts of the gigantic body of the virāṭ-puruṣa. I have also heard that the different planetary systems are supposed to be in the gigantic body of the virāṭ-puruṣa. But what is their actual position? Will you please explain that?Text 12: Also please explain the duration of time between creation and annihilation, and that of other subsidiary creations, as well as the nature of time, indicated by the sound of past, present and future. Also, please explain the duration and measurement of life of the different living beings known as the demigods, the human beings, etc., in different planets of the universe.Text 13: O purest of the brāhmaṇas, please also explain the cause of the different durations of time, both short and long, as well as the beginning of time, following the course of action.Text 14: Then again, kindly describe how the proportionate accumulation of the reactions resulting from the different modes of material nature act upon the desiring living being, promoting or degrading him among the different species of life, beginning from the demigods down to the most insignificant creatures.Text 15: O best of the brāhmaṇas, please also describe how the creation of the globes throughout the universe, the four directions of the heavens, the sky, the planets, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, the seas and the islands, as well as their different kinds of inhabitants, takes place.Text 16: Also, please describe the inner and outer space of the universe by specific divisions, as well as the character and activities of the great souls, and also the characteristics of the different classifications of the castes and orders of social life.Text 17: Please explain all the different ages in the duration of the creation, and also the duration of such ages. Also tell me about the different activities of the different incarnations of the Lord in different ages.Text 18: Please also explain what may generally be the common religious affiliations of human society, as well as their specific occupational duties in religion, the classification of the social orders as well as the administrative royal orders, and the religious principles for one who may be in distress.Text 19: Kindly explain all about the elementary principles of creation, the number of such elementary principles, their causes, and their development, and also the process of devotional service and the method of mystic powers.Text 20: What are the opulences of the great mystics, and what is their ultimate realization? How does the perfect mystic become detached from the subtle astral body? What is the basic knowledge of the Vedic literatures, including the branches of history and the supplementary Purāṇas?Text 21: Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the advantages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the Lord. What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary Vedic rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction?Text 22: Please also explain how, merged in the body of the Lord, living beings are created, and how the infidels appear in the world. Also please explain how the unconditioned living entities exist.Text 23: The independent Personality of Godhead enjoys His pastimes by His internal potency and at the time of annihilation gives them up to the external potency, and He remains a witness to it all.Text 24: O great sage, representative of the Lord, kindly satisfy my inquisitiveness in all that I have inquired from you and all that I may not have inquired from you from the very beginning of my questionings. Since I am a soul surrendered unto you, please impart full knowledge in this connection.Text 25: O great sage, you are as good as Brahmā, the original living being. Others follow custom only, as followed by the previous philosophical speculators.Text 26: O learned brāhmaṇa, because of my drinking the nectar of the message of the infallible Personality of Godhead, which is flowing down from the ocean of your speeches, I do not feel any sort of exhaustion due to my fasting.Text 27: Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī, being invited by Mahārāja Parīkṣit to speak on topics of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa with the devotees, was very much pleased.Text 28: He began to reply to the inquiries of Mahārāja Parīkṣit by saying that the science of the Personality of Godhead was spoken first by the Lord Himself to Brahmā when he was first born. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the supplementary Vedic literature, and it is just in pursuance of the Vedas.Text 29: He also prepared himself to reply to all that King Parīkṣit had inquired from him. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was the best in the dynasty of the Pāṇḍus, and thus he was able to ask the right questions from the right person.

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“ ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ ”

This famous verse written by Rupa Goswami brings us to the highest realms of consciousness with loving exchanges that are further described as the land of sixty-four excellances.

That’s a very esoteric understanding, of course, but needless to say, the beginnings of such consciousness originate from the simple understanding we are not the body , which means we are not black or white , nor are we Hindu ,Muslim or Christian, nor American British or European or rich , poor or any other designations originating from identifying with a body .

That we are consciousness is self-evident , the body is changing, but where does this eternal consciousness belong permanently ? The above verse gives us insights into the realms of the consciousness and life of Divinity.

The understanding that we should not limit ourselves or be in crippled designated consciousness is illustrated in the Bible as well .

How to free oneself and engage in positive work to please Divinity and thus everybody.

Jesus wanted him to please God and be a blessing to others. So Jesus commanded him: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” God created us to get up and walk, not to lie down in disappointment. Spiritually speaking, many people are lying down, paralyzed by their sins. God sent Jesus, and many Holy persons , or He personally comes , to save us from our sins and heavy conditioning

ALL IN ALL
…I personally applaud causion that you take on matters of Radha Krishna lila ……….thats the right thing to do ….

In conclusion..Srila Prabhupada and
All our acaryas advise extreme caution re Radha Krishna nitya lila esoteric meditation

The topics are never discussed in public .

And extremely rarely amongst devotees…and even then , devotees do not speak of their own attraction, except to clarify certain understandings they may have the good fortune to have insight to and only to persons who have such insights …having heard from and served a pure devotee or read from bone fide param para acaryas…and who are recognised and pure in devotional service..

And thus ….when one has dedicated his life in service and has been strictly following for , as Srila Bhaktisiddanta Goswami Maharaja says , for 30 years or more with developments of spiritual character and service attitudes with humility towards all persons, one can further develop , if he so desires and has the benediction of greed …..and it should come , irresistibly within, …… says Srila Sridhar Swami , his or her attraction for any of the services of the residents of Vrndavana……and the wide variations of many different types of sakhaya rasa .Madhurya rasa … mixed with variations of service attitudes, some more intimate, some less so, and some more at a distance .

But also , of course, knowledge and appreciation for all Krishnas activities remain .in Mathura, Dwarka. And His actions in Kuruksetra as well as His incarnations and expansions in Vaikuntha…..

In Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus line , which the materialistic prakrita bhaktas know nothing about , … ( ie..The Manjari bhava .. (pranaya .).oneness with Radharani in service to Her ) ,is discussed , because She is the most expert at pleasing Krishna…
This is Gaudia Vaisnavism. ….these Manjaris, who are intimate servants of Radharani , or Her friends, are different than the Shakis …..who all have direct union with Krishna. ..the Manjaris desire only Radha Dasyam

We should never compare sincere followers of Gaudia Vaisnavas with proven characters and service history to perverse materialistic so-called devotees of Krishna.

See the following…and
Note the difference….from Prabhupada.

The class of men known as prākṛta-sahajiyās, who consider the transcendental pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa something like the behavior between a man and a woman in the material field, artificially think that hearing the rāsa-līlā will help them by diminishing the lusty desires of their diseased hearts.

THE DIFFERENCE….

(But because they DO NOT follow the regulative principles but instead violate even ORDINARY MORALS, their contemplation of rāsa-līlā is a futile attempt, which sometimes results in their imitating the dealings of the gopīs and Lord Kṛṣṇa.)…

Because the Bhagavatam is ever expanding , the particular realisations of our Great Acaryas are recorded in trancendental literature. Prabhupada has himself commented on this unlimited ocean , and if he were still performing his Lila here , he would continue to expand the ocean of unlimited bliss .
Actually, one does not require unlimited literature because one drop can inundate the whole world…
But still Mahāprabhu desires are such that complete inundation of the universe is to take place .

A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda words as follows..

So one has to follow. The same example, try to understand, that a perfect, expert technologist or technician or mechanic is working, and somebody is working under his instruction. So this somebody, because he is strictly working under the instruction of the expert, he’s also expert. He may not be cent per cent expert, but his work is expert. Is that clear? Because he is working under the expert. Do you follow?

So if you follow pure devotee, then you are also pure devotee. It may not be one is cent per cent pure, because we are trying to raise ourself from the conditional life. But if we strictly follow the pure devotee, then we are also pure devotee. So far we do, that is pure.

So pure devotee does not mean one has to become immediately cent per cent pure. But if he sticks to the principle that “We’ll follow a pure devotee,” then his actions are… He is as good as a pure devotee. That is a… It is not I am explaining in my own way; it is the explanation of Bhāgavata. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186].

The Vedas have an extremely broad prospective on governance and compliance.

There are eighteenth puranas , six in the mode of goodness , six in the mode of passion , and six in the mode of goodness .

Extremism is always met by extremism , something both the Israeli government and the Palestinian people should know .

So, the Vedic government sees the needs of all classes of persons , giving all citizens a sense of freedom and responsibility with autonomy , and progressive paths are chalked out , according to individuals’ needs , wise men trained in understanding the psychological and physical needs of different classes of persons and who have no ulterior motives , or personal bank balance , give excellent counsel.

But where are such persons ?

Seek and you shall find …..if you’re sincere.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.36 it is said .

A person who knows the principles of religion does not kill an enemy who is careless, intoxicated, insane, asleep, afraid, or devoid of his chariot. Nor does he kill a boy, a woman, a foolish creature, or a surrendered soul.

Queen Draupadi sets examples for all of us to follow .

When , having heard news, her sleeping sons were killed by Asvatarma , she, feeling deep grief , did not want the mother or family of Ashvatarma to feel the same grief by ordering Ashvatarmas death .

Revenge is not the business of any intelligent, thoughtful, and cultured persons….

The complexity of identifying the original historical inhabitants of lands is historically clear all over the world . Just who are the original inhabitants?

In the case of our latest conflict of interests , the same complexities are prevalent , with a long written history and history long forgotten .

It makes sense and would be best if both sides admit to historical discrepancies and encroachments as well as past misdeeds and settle up on permanent arrangements for a peaceful solution for the sake of the innocent persons who are suffering , and who depend on leaders to be just and fair .

Neither Israel,  USA .or Palestine authorities have a  vision or  any good   sense to move forward on these matters . Ancient encroachment histories need to be viewed in the context of historic time. Currently, irresponsible leaders who lack good academic counsel appear hell-bent on revenge.

Time to call for independent thoughtful and mature thinkers beyond the irresponsible political classes, to construct futures and lasting relationships between citizens minimising the influences of biased  self-motivated contributors who have  attachment to their versions of history and have hatred.

Two persons come to mind

JOHN MEARSHEIMER AND JONATHAN SACHS.

If I flip a coin it’s reasonably feasible that 50% of the time you will guess correctly. 

But supposing two of us are flipping coins simultaneously and our coins are somehow connected,  meaning when your coin lands on heads mine will land on tails …..a kind of instant communication….and further , if somehow I was situated at the distant part of our universe and the same connection was operating , this instant communication would be puzzling. 

Actually Einstein called this instant communication within quantum physics as ” spooky action at a distance “.

But what do the Vedas say ?

Certainly the energy and the energetic are one and the same , so anything the energetic transforms in terms of energies will be known by the energetic no matter where that takes place .

The huge machine of the universe along with the conscious particles within it , are working in responsive ways , cooperative systems are in place  , as much as a nuclear engineer is fully aware of his nuclear power plant , using various methods of measurement. 

All in all , Divinity is fully conscious and is fully conscious of all aspects of the millions of universes and one part of one universe can and will interact with another part instantaneously,  by the process of supreme consciousness , a mind and consciousness certainly can travel faster than light , even our minds can transfer us instantly to another destination . Divinity is absolute , His mind and consciousness are non different , and thus, the energy and the energetic are one . The Vedas depict Divinity as Brahman ( all pervasive) Paramātma ( localised), and Bhagavan . ( personal )

One who knows these three aspects of Divinity is a knower of truth .

The astonishing thing is that the unlimited can be made known to the limited , if He couldn’t, He would not be unlimited.

The other aspects of quantum physics and unpredictable circumstances is demonstrated by Schrödinger cat ..

Ie .

WHAT IS SCHRÖDINGER’S CAT IN SIMPLE TERMS?

Schrödinger’s Cat, as a thought experiment, states that if you seal a cat in a box with something that can eventually kill it, you won’t know if the cat is alive or dead until you open the box. So, until you open the box and observe the cat, the cat is simultaneously dead and alive. 

The parallel in the Vedas is that consciousness affects matter , this point is much further demonstrated by the ” two slits experiment ” , ultimately, free will means the universe is unpredictable because it’s our actions and thoughts and deeds that make the universe function , in a responsive way and such actions are linked in spacetime…past , present and future.

DIVINITY has left it to you and the other conscious particles that surround you .Problem is everyone blames DIVINITY for what goes on , not understanding free will and the eternal consciousness caught up in matter.

Today’s slogan is that everything is for the people, and therefore, the government is for the people and by the people. The artificial way of living depending on factories and tools can render so-called happiness only to a limited number at the cost of millions. Since the energy of the mass of people is engaged in factory production, the natural products are being hampered, and for this the mass is unhappy. Without being educated properly, the mass of people are following in the footsteps of the vested interests by exploiting natural reserves, and therefore there is acute competition between individual and individual and nation and nation. There is no control or advice given by trained and sensitive representatives of Divinity , such mature and unbiased saintly persons are desperately needed in current times .We must look into the defects of modern civilization   and should follow in the footsteps  of the great leaders of  the past , like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira , who always took good council from intelligent and pure hearted people , to cleanse man and wipe out anachronisms.

A rewrite and additions taken from Srimad Bhagavatam purport 1.10.5 originally from AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

In vedic society’s the intellectual classes were essential for guidance, the political classes must always keep good council from truly independent persons who have everyone’s interest at heart , and who know the value of independent states and the variable cultures within them all , such learned and respected scholars are sympathetic to all citizens of the world ,including the movements and needs of the tiniest creatures that walk the earth .

FOR PEACE AND GOOD SENSE IN THE WORLD…DONT WE NEED GOOD COUNCIL ? WE MUST ASK OURSELVES WHY ARE GEOPOLITICAL SCHOLARS LIKE PROF .JOHN MEARSHEIMER OR JEFFREY SACHS BEEN CANCELLED AND IGNORED BY MEDIA AND POLITICAL CLASSES and only warmongers given voice ??.

Those interested can you tube Jeffrey Sachs analysis of current geopolitical matters Jeffrey Sachs interview Stong geopolitical tensions , or Professor John Mearsheimer who lectures at Chicago University on historical geopolitical topics.

Unfortunately, media outlets have not allowed this wise council to be aired

CC Madhya 13.80

নাহং বিপ্রো ন চ নরপতির্নাপি বৈশ্যো ন শূদ্রো
নাহং বর্ণী ন চ গৃহপতির্নো বনস্থো যতির্বা ।
কিন্তু প্রোদ্যন্নিখিলপরমানন্দপূর্ণামৃতাব্ধে-
র্গোপীভর্তুঃ পদকমলয়োর্দাসদাসানুদাসঃ ॥ ৮০ ॥

nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ

Synonyms

na — not; aham — I; vipraḥ — a brāhmaṇa; na — not; ca — also; nara–patiḥ — a king or kṣatriya; na — not; api — also; vaiśyaḥ — belonging to the mercantile class; na — not; śūdraḥ — belonging to the worker class; na — not; aham — I; varṇī — belonging to any caste, or brahmacārī (A brahmacārī may belong to any caste. Anyone can become a brahmacārī, or lead a life of celibacy.); na — not; ca — also; gṛha–patiḥ — householder; no — not; vana–sthaḥ — vānaprastha, one who, after retirement from family life, goes to the forest to learn how to be detached from family life; yatiḥ — mendicant or renunciant; vā — either; kintu — but; prodyan — brilliant; nikhila — universal; parama–ānanda — with transcendental bliss; pūrṇa — complete; amṛta–abdheḥ — who is the ocean of nectar; gopī–bhartuḥ — of the Supreme Person, who is the maintainer of the gopīs; pada–kamalayoḥ — of the two lotus feet; dāsa — of the servant; dāsa–anudāsaḥ — the servant of the servant.

Translation

“ ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ ”

In Vedic society’s there are the intellectual classes , and formally, social mobility .

The essence of educational pursuit is shown in the above verse , although in Vedic Culture, there are the Vipras, the brahmanas, and the Bhagavat Bhaktas , it’s clearly shown in the verse that whatever one’s external situation may be the perfection of life is only reached by the Bhagavat Bhakta , why ? because he or she discovers the original occupation of consciousness or the soul and enters into a relationship with Krishna. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has written on this topic, and the book is entitled Jiva Dharma….( the occupational activity of the soul ) .

So sincere seekers of the truth of consciousness progression should aquire a copy .

Rg Veda, Säma Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda, Çikñä, Kalä, Vyäkaraëa, Nirukta, Jyotiña (astrology), Dhätu (metallurgy), Vedänta Darçana, Mémäàsä Darçana, Nyäya Darçana, Vaisheshika Darshana, Säìkhya Darshana, Pätaïjala Darçana (yoga), Puräëas and Dharma çästras (books on morality) are the 18 sciences.

Look out for further articles that will summarise each of the above .

With the state of the world both in terms of so-called democracies or so-called autocracies , I think it’s about time intelligent persons looked to conserve values and traditions and help stop the downward spiral where current unfit leaders are taking everyone, a dangerous and dark place and lets see how the Vedas actually recommend a combination of Autocracy and democracy the balanced approach carried out by qualified sincere persons , not here today gone tomorrow political classes who are not trained for purposes of any real governance. The Vedic systems of governance put people on the planet and all its inhabitants first .