Letters to the editor

Dear Guru Mahārāja,

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I would like to share an understanding and also a confusion that has been coming to me while reading some purports in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and I would be grateful for your guidance.

In one purport (SB 1.15.10), Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that after Draupadī fell at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord decided that all the wives of Duḥśāsana and his associates would have their hair loosened as a result of the Battle of Kurukṣetra, and that, in other words, all the wives of the Kuru family became widows because of Duḥśāsana’s insulting a great devotee of the Lord.

In another purport (SB 1.15.15), Śrīla Prabhupāda states:

“…the Lord conducted the Battle of Kurukṣetra according to His own plan. He wanted that battle to establish Yudhiṣṭhira as the Emperor of this planet, and to facilitate this transcendental business He killed all who were on the opposite party by His omnipotent will.”

I do not have a problem with what is said in the purports themselves. My difficulty is understanding the relationship between such explanations. At times, it appears that one specific cause is presented as the reason for the Lord’s actions, while elsewhere another distinct purpose is emphasized.

From my limited understanding, it seems natural that Kṛṣṇa’s actions would have multiple motives simultaneously—protecting devotees, fulfilling vows and prayers, establishing dharma, and arranging His own līlā. Yet when a purport presents one reason in a very exclusive way, and another purport elsewhere presents a different reason, I find it difficult to reconcile them without feeling some tension.

This sometimes gives me the impression—though I may be mistaken—that the descriptions are very sharp and singular, rather than balanced, even though the reality of Kṛṣṇa’s will must be multifaceted.

I am not questioning the authority of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purports. Rather, I am trying to understand how to read them properly. Should such statements be understood as emphasizing one dominant aspect within a particular narrative or devotional context, rather than as an exhaustive explanation of all causes? Or is there another way I should be approaching these passages so that this apparent exclusivity does not disturb my clarity?

Moreover, I am sharing this as it is something I have encountered not only here but also occasionally in other contexts/purports, although I do not have further references at hand.

Thank you very much for your patience and guidance.

Your servant,

Namacarya Das

HpS ASA - AgtSP! Paoho...

Second seems like a general action that includes the specific action in first?

Battery of chaste women just one reason for two.

Okay?🙂

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja!

Please accept my respectful obeisances !!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Sorry this is late in the day....it's already tomorrow for you and you are with Chan Ting.

As you have requested, i am chanting more! It feels great, thank you so much for the recommendation.

Actually I'm going to more harinama's now, and more kirtan at the farm and temple.

Everyone just celebrated Radha Krishna prabhu's Vyasa Puja. And there was also the appearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and the disappearance of Tamal Krishna Goswami.

Meitreya Rsi is having back surgery, and Krishna Kripa prabhu is in the hospital too. They had to remove a tumor.

We replaced 5 out of 6 of the iron temple gates today. The ones that slide back and forth on the altar. They are made with small wheels from China, but I think roller skate wheels would work better.

Thank you for all of your mercy and encouragement! I have some work to do to make my japa more pleasing for Krishna. But I want to keep going and never stop!

I'm reading more, too! Jaya Srila Prabhupada! (Bhagavad Gita, SB classes daily, and we're going to casually start the CC). Plus I got a copy of Your Ever Well Wisher but I haven't started it yet. I did watch the YouTube video though!

I took my first Sadachara SSR test and I think I did okay! (It's Krishna's mercy!)

Here is a list of books distributed in January and February:

Maha books- 108

Big books- 31

Medium - 1

Small books- 132

Total- 272

Plus

1 Brhad Bhagavatamrta Set

1 Krsna Art Book

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!!

I don't have many photos from the events but I can show you some doodles if you like??

Your servant,

jaya hari

HpS - Please send Doodles.

Your news of Iskcon Houston is great.

36 hours from now we go to Chile.

Hope anveSaka and this Blog send good pictures.

Who is Maitreya? Why in hospital?

He was Navy Corpman before?

Thank you!

Querido Guru Maharaja. Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias.

Todas las Glorias sean a nuestro muy misericordioso Fundador Acarya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada y todas las Glorias sean a sus fieles seguidores.🌻

🌻

Gurudeva, muchas gracias por su incansable servicio, ejemplo e inspiración en la ejecución del Servicio devocional. Gracias por empujarnos a mantenernos firmes y entusiastas en esta trascendental formación.

Me presento ante usted, como soldado en el ocaso. Por ahora, nuestro campo de batalla ha sido interno. Los últimos meses mi cuerpo colapsó, debido a inflamación cerebral. Nuestra energía es ínfima y tuve que reducir al mínimo mis actividades; tuve que dejar el servicio fijo que tenía el templo; no he podido visitar el templo desde hace meses así que mi asociación presencial con los devotos también disminuyo; reduje al mínimo el ritmo de mis estudios Bhakti Vaibhava (vamos lento, pero al parecer, avanzando).

En ocasiones, el dolor es tan fuerte que incluso es difícil pensar apropiadamente, a veces cumplir con nuestras 16 rondas es una labor titánica. Me avergüenza decirlo, pero durante un tiempo fallé constantemente y no lograba terminar ni siquiera 16 rondas diarias. Ahora, me encuentro más estable y, por su misericordia, he logrado ponerme al corriente con mis rondas. Por favor disculpe mis faltas.

No quiero darle demasiada atención a este cuerpo, sin embargo, los embates a veces son tan fuertes que me arrastran y confunden. La enfermedad pone a prueba nuestro entusiasmo y determinación, también parece que evalúa nuestra confianza y entrega hacia nuestro misericordioso Señor. Pero es sin duda una gran oportunidad para fortalecer nuestra relación con Sri Hari.

Definitivamente estoy lejos de entender que este mundo material es una ilusión y que los dolores del cuerpo no son del alma, lo único que sé, es que nuestro misericordioso Señor Krsna, siempre hace sentir su compañía, guía e infinita misericordia sin causa, y eso parece suficiente para continuar.

Querido Gurudeva, deseo que alguna vez, por su misericordia, yo pueda ser verdaderamente útil en este trascendental batallón, pero por ahora parece que nuestro mayor logro es mantenernos con vida.

Muchas gracias por la inspiración que usted nos brinda.

Siempre a sus órdenes

Karuna Sakti Devi Dasi

HpS

Hare Krsna.

"One who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil", KRSNA, BG

Death is the sum total of all possible bad experiences - SP.

Don't focus on chanting 16-rounds, focus on chanting the next syllable.

Haw

Ray

Krs

Na

Raw

Ma.

Surrender even your sanity.

Querido Gurumaharaja 

Por favor acepte nuestras respetuosas reverencias. 

Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada! 

Durante la reunión de japa Joe escribió: 

"Las gopis siempre están mejorando su vaidhi bhakti? 

¿Les encanta hacer vadhi bhakti?"

Queremos entender por favor cómo mejoran su vaidhi bhakti siendo perfectas en los principios regulativos? 

Todos los asociados de Sri Krsna en Vrndavan son raganuga bhakti? 

Las gopis mayores son las maestras eternas de las menores? 

Con el paso de Kali yuga cada vez es más difícil seguir instrucciones, cómo nos enseñan las gopis la humildad de internamente poseer una atracción natural y externamente observar los principios regulativos del servicio devocional? 

Muchas gracias por su infinita misericordia y asociación bajo la guía de Śrīla Prabhupāda. 

Vuestra eterna aspirante a sirviente 

Asta Sakhi dd 

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. Is very nice question that we will encounter again and again.

From what we understand the Gopis have different rules and regulations they follow.

For example, they would come each morning to the house of Nanda and Yasoda after Krsna left.

So maybe they chant 16 rounds on their beads and follow the four principles strictly, but they do it not with just the motivation of the scriptures but because it is stimulated by their Prema Bhakti.

They are all Ragatmika Bhaktas. Their souls, atmas, are filled with Bhakti.

The Raga anu ga, bhaktas go, ga, after, anu, after the Raga of the Ragatmika bhaktas.

This was translated incorrectly in the original Nectar of Devotion but the correct translation was given of the verse where it is quoted by KDKaviraja in CC.

Kali yuga or being Prahlada in H. Kasipu's house can be great impetus to be pure internally.

Yet, we also pray to have a replica of Braja in our Iskcon life to help us wake up our real self.

O. K.?

Hare Krsna, Gurudeva,

Please accept Obeisances

AGtSP

HpS/ASA - AgtSP... ! .... !

After wife left us with kid, we sort of reading SP books ourself, if somebody is teaching we would accept.

Now we are starting reading books on own, we started with LoB.

Is LoB verbatim from SB 10.20?

HpS - As I remember it seems that some verses may not be exact of even 100% there. Would have to review in more detail, yet it seemed that a very tight relationship.

Lob 2

"As soon as this movement is taken up through spiritual singing, dancing, and feasting, the people will automatically become obedient and honest."

What is importance of classes then?

HPS/ASA - lasses, puppet shows, PPTX shows of the classes by Brahmanas for themselves and others give us perspective for chanting.

It is like selecting nice place and time to chant.

Class, books, give us nice Thinking, Feeling and Willing place for chanting.

Nice chanting then we want to sit properly, dance.

When we are tired, take Prasadam, it is ready.

Reading SP's books is also singing. Send audio clips to Anirruddha!

Thanks to all of our readers.

Want to read and respond to last post from Nama acharya Das but must rest a little before Japa.

Drove for about three hours to and from Madrid to lecture, Kirtan, associate with devotees and guests at the chapel there. Was fantastic program.

Sure so many people took the program to heart.

Want to share it with others.

Hare Krsna Gurudeva,

all glories to Srila Prabhupada

Please accept my humble Obeisances.

I have been keeping it to myself. And try to work on sadhana myself, here I am writing to you not expecting any solution, as you many times say " you don't know our situation".

Our four rules have been intact.

HpS/ASA

That means that by Srila Prabhupada's mercy we are at least human beings, no?!!

Our chanting from June 2025 remained 16 but, we used to do it un-enthusiastically, while watching kirtan, video. Because the moment we stop using eyes we sleep.

Now from Dec 2025, our parents are with us

HpS/ASA - Jaya!

...and we talk everything. Our main focus is not get angry.

Maybe it is Indian cold or our insincerity our average rounds are 3 on beads.

We don't want to ramble our mind.

Positive: Some mental chanting goes on, lots of Narasimha videos. The recent one replay in our mind.

Seems remembering has increased.

Trying to be ritualistic disciple.

HpS/ASA - Thank you for report. Probably true of many readers. We also struggle to keep Rupa Goswami's sadhana!

We keep beating the nine basic words into our heart:

Get up early and get your rounds done well.

Oue basic religious principle is to start chanting by 12.50AM. That gives us ten minutes for each round until 3.30AM. Then bath, Mangala arati, etc with devotees. Then SB class with devotees. Then Ayurvedic break fast feast then...

Many challenges from weather, old body etc, but feel that we have something to contribute to the Sankirtan movement!

If people take it our not is not 100% under our control.

I'm sure that your effort with your family has an effect. Great or small depends on Krsna.

NoI 7 is true. If we GUEAGORDW then we start to get a taste for Chan Ting. It maybe only a game of chess of putting the words in the right place, but the Euclidean logic games, Rasa, later starts to glow with real efforts like compassion, satisfying Radha/Krsna, Gauranga!

Waiting for more news.