Hare Krishna Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Summary of last week’s Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.12 to 1.2.21 :

Verses 1-5 : Suta  goswami’s reply with obeisances.

Verse 6 -7 – Answers to Questions 1 and 2

Verses 8-15 : Only Bhakti should be the goal of any activity we do.

Verses 16-21 The progression in Bhagavatam– Suta Shiksha

Details of the verses:

V13: VAD for smoother  functioning of the society not for oppressing the weaker sections.  The ultimate goal of VAD is Hari tosanam. Pleasing the Supreme Lord.

V14: 4 processes of obtaining the absolute truth Srotavya – hear about Kirtitavya – glorify dhyeyah – remember, pujya – worship.

V15:  We can get liberated from knots of reactionary work by remembering Krishna constantly.

V16:

Mahatsevaya – service to pure devotees.  This is stage 2 . Before that we need the mercy of those devotees whom we want to serve. So

1. Mercy of the pure devotees

2. Service to pure devotees

3. Faith – Shradha. This is not blind faith. The faith we developed by serving the pure devotees.

4. Punya tirtha. Tirtha means guru. Then we take shelter of Guru.

5. Eagerness to worship: Vasudeva katha ruci. We develop taste for hearing the messages of Krishna.

V17:

For the devotee who has developed the urge to hear the messages of Krishna, He personally cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from the devotees’ heart.

V18: Nasta prayesu

6. Bhakti – bhaktir bhavati . Devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

7, Disappearance of obstacles:  nasta prayesu abhadresu. Inauspicious things like nama aparadas disappear.

8. nishta : then steadiness achieved. Naishtiki.

HpS - ASA -- We remember hear Srila Prabhupada comment on this and say that this "steadiness" was always chanting our rounds, always getting up in the morning, not sometimes yes, and sometimes, no. Then he said that this was (!) 80% Krsna conscious.

V19:

Once we achieve steadiness in devotional service modes of passion and ignorance disappear. Lust, hankering, desire will no longer bother us. Devotee will be situated in the mode of goodness and will be happy.

9. ruci : Spiritual taste: Aruchi for the sense objects results in actual spiritual taste anavidham rajas tamah. No affected by passion and ignorance.

10. Asakti – Sthitam – firmly attached.

V20:

11. Rati: Fondness.  Prasanna manasa  Enlivened mind. When fondness for the Lord arises, mind is enlivened.

12.  Prema : Devotional love.  Bhagavat bhakti yogatah.

13: Vision or audience : Bhagavt tattva vijananam. Experience of Krishna form , pastimes etc.

14. Direct experience of the Lord’s sweetness. Bhagavat tattva vijananam.

V21:

Once we see the Lord, we can see ourselves also in proper perspective.

Next week’s syllabus is 1.2.22 to 1.2.29.

Thank you.

Your servant,

Sundari Radhika dd.

HpS - ASA -- Thank you!  We are getting more and more educated by these classes. When does Ananta-rupa Das get back?