Sri Krishna Kathamrita

Bindu Issue 545

Movement and Mission

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 Sri Krishna Kathamrita
तवकथामृतं तप्तजीवनम्
tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanam
Bindu
Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications

Issue No. 545 Śrī Kāmadā Ekādaśī 2 April 2023

• The Movement is an Incarnation of Krishna

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
• Success for the Movement
From the Life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Highlights

• The Pretense of Childish Devotees

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
• Respect to Other Religions
Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
• False Vaishnavas Doesn’t Mean There are None
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
• Curse of the Dog
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa

The Movement is an
Incarnation of Krishna
His Divine Grace
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The prajās, the people in general, must take to the Krishna
consciousness movement, the Hare Krishna movement,
which is the sound incarnation of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra: Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, has now appeared as
an incarnation by his holy name. Therefore, when the
prajās become Krishna conscious they can then expect a
good government and a good society, a perfect life, and
liberation from the bondage of material existence.
— Purport to Bhāg. 9.15.15.

Success for the Movement

very first time I sat alone with Srila Prabhupada. I
From the life of His Divine Grace had been with Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada before in his room, but there were other people
Nara-Narayan Das: One of the most deeply there, and I was a newcomer. But then I sat alone
impressive things that happened to me was the with Srila Prabhupada, and I was terribly fearful
Cover: “Prema-nāma-saṅkīrtana of Mahaprabhu and his associates”.
By Kshitindranath Majumdar. Mid 1950s.
 Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 2
Unknown artist. Kashmir school. 1801-1825

Maharaja Parikshit prays to Lord Vishnu

because I didn’t know what to do, what to say. I was goal should be how to make this ant Krishna conscious.”
a little spaced out from all my karmic activities and I was just sort of blown away by what he said. He said,
was totally tense, like I was going to explode like “We should go to this ant and we should lean down,”
a jack-in-the-box, because I didn’t know what to and Prabhupada leaned down to the invisible ant on
do. I watched Srila Prabhupada opening letters. He the table where he propped his forefinger and thumb
opened the envelope all the way out and saved it and together, poking toward the ant. “You should chant
used it later to write on it in order to save paper. He Hare Krishna.” And he said, “We should give a little
showed me some letter from somewhere and asked prasādam. If we do that,” he said, “our whole movement
my opinion. Then he asked me to get something from will be a success.” I was completely impressed by the
his cabinet, and I did. statement because I understood even though Srila
His room was surrounded by windows, with light Prabhupada always had big schemes for a big world
shining in from a very nice angle because of the way it ISKCON, yet his heart was always lined with these small
was a little subterranean. The table was very low, just like items, and this was so wonderful. If one person hears
a coffee table, and he was sitting behind it. I happened Hare Krishna, then it is worth the whole effort.
to be in the back against the wall, and he asked me to — From Prabhupāda-līlā, by Satsvarupa Das Goswami. Gita-nagari Press.

get something from one of his cabinets which was also

behind there. So he and I both ended up behind his low The Pretense of
table. He was standing and I was crouching. When I stood
up, Srila Prabhupada, out of the blue, began to talk to
Childish Devotees
me. I was just so flabbergasted. Anytime he spoke to me,
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
I became so disconcerted that I could hardly hear what
he was saying. He pointed to the table. When childish people think themselves mahā-
He said, “You see this little ant?” I looked at the table bhāgavatas and act in defiance of the vaiṣṇava spiritual
and no ant was there. Prabhupada was pointing his master, such behavior simply holds them back from
finger. He said, “Do you see that little ant?” I said, “Yes, receiving the mercy of the vaiṣṇava guru. Bewildered
Srila Prabhupada.” He said, “We should think that our by false ego, these self-proclaimed devotees gradually
 Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 3 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Unknown artist. 1780-1800. Kangra school

Krishna dancing on the hoods of Kaliya

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 4
become fit to be ignored by pure devotees on the appreciation for my own system of worship. The
intermediate platform and are cheated of the mercy Lord is only one, not two. I offer respect to the form
that comes from the devotees’ satisfaction. Thus I see here, and pray to the Lord in this new form that
they become asādhu by constantly committing he increase my love for the Lord in His accustomed
offenses against the devotees who preach the holy form.” Those who do not follow this procedure, but
name of Krishna. Pure devotees, therefore, in all instead criticize other systems of worship and show
circumstances display indifference to those who hatred, violence and envy, are worthless and foolish.
falsely imagine themselves to be viśuddha-bhaktas, The more they indulge in useless quarreling, the more
pure devotees of the Lord. This indifference is an they betray the very goal of their religion.
excellent manifestation of their mercy. — From Śrī Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta. First shower. English translation by
Sri Bhanu Swami. Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education.
— Purport to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.2.46. English translation and
commentary by the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
Los Angeles. 1985. False Vaishnavas
Doesn't mean
Respect to There are None
Other Religions
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura Bhaktivinode Thakur says that in the bazar, the
If one goes to someone else’s place of worship, one market, you may find some adulterated impure
should think, “These people are worshiping my Lord, ghee. To make profit, some businessmen do this.
but in a different way. Because of my different training, They say it’s pure ghee, but actually it is adulterated
I cannot quite comprehend this system of worship. and they are cheating. One should not think that
However, through this experience I can deepen my this means that all ghee is bad. There is pure ghee.

Unknown artist. Kashmir school. 1801-1900.

Arjuna offers prayers to Krishna’s universal form

Unknown artist
Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 5 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Krishna and his friends enter into the mouth of the demon Aghasura
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 6

Unknown artist. Kangra. C 1770.

The Vrajavasis burn the body of the demon Putana

Ghee is very good. Similarly, in the name of vaiṣṇavism,

so many avaiṣṇavas, pretenders, are there. Hypocrites Curse of the Dog
are there. They have only put on the dress of a
vaiṣṇava, but inside their heart all nasty things, lusty
desires are there. They are great envious persons, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa
hypocrites. But don’t think that all vaiṣṇavas are bad. Taking the position of being a leader is a serious
You have not seen a real vaiṣṇava. When I first came thing, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (1.77) states:
to Bhubaneswar [with nowhere else to stay] I was
rājñi cāmātyajā doṣāḥ patnī-pāpaṁ sva-bhartari
staying among some coolies [manual laborers]. These
tathā śiṣyārjitaṁ pāpaṁ guruḥ prāpnoti niścitam
coolies said, “We have seen vaiṣṇavas. They speak very
The sins of a counselor fall on his king, and the sins
high things, but what they do? They go to the market
of a wife fall on her husband. In the same way a guru
and purchase dry fish and eat it. I’ve seen.” takes the sins of his disciple. That is certain.
I told them, “Stop your mouth. You have seen false
Srila Prabhupada has described the thankless and
vaiṣṇavas, therefore you are thinking that vaiṣṇavas
dangerous service of managing in a spiritual institution:
are bad.” Then I told them this story of Bhaktivinode
Thakur and ghee. I said, “I challenge you, come and So Vidura was Yamaraja. Not only he was Yamaraja, but
just stay one night with me and see what is a vaiṣṇava. he is one of the twelve great authorities mentioned in the
śāstra. One of them is Yamaraja. This is stated in the Śrīmad
Can you do it? You cannot stay even one night, so why
Bhāgavatam. Yamaraja is one of the GBC of Krishna. As we
are you telling these things?” I became angry. They have got twelve GBC’s, similarly Krishna has got GBC’s.
are great offenders, puffed up with material opulence
svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ
and learning. How can they recognize a vaiṣṇava? prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balir vaiyāsakir vayam [Bhāg. 6.3.20]
— From a lecture in Bhubaneswar. 9 May 1995.
Unknown artist. Odia Pata-citra style. From a mural in the Gangamata Math temple in Jagannath Puri. C. 1800
Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 7 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Lord Ramachandra and his consort Sita

Twelve men are authorized to preach Krishna con- Although the following story is found in most editions
sciousness. So we have to follow them — mahājano yena of Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Khanda, it is considered by
gataḥ sa panthāḥ. Therefore we have created these GBC.
many scholars to be interpolated. Nevertheless, we
So they should be very responsible men. Otherwise,
they will be punished. They will be punished to become present it here because it nicely illustrates the points
śūdras. Although Yamaraja is a GBC, he made a little Srila Prabhupada has made above:
mistake so he was punished to become a śūdra. So One early morning, lotus-eyed Rama arrived at
those who are GBC’s, they should be very, very careful the royal council chamber along with Vasishtha
to administer the business of ISKCON. Otherwise they
will be punished. As the post is very great, similarly
and Kasyapa to attend the duties of state
the punishment is also very great. [Class on Śrīmad administration. That royal assembly consisted of
Bhāgavatam 1.13.15 — Geneva, June 4, 1974.] ministers, persons expert in common practices,
teachers of law, diplomats, kings, and other
Similarly, in a room conversation in Los Angeles,
respectable persons. The exalted assembly of Sri
Srila Prabhupada said:
Rama looked like the assembly of Indra, Yamaraja
... if we do not understand the responsibility... Just
or Varuna. Rama ordered his brother, “O long-
like in an establishment one man is promoted. His
first charge is doorkeeper, then gradually he is given armed Lakshman, go to the palace gate and see if
promotion; he may come to the post of the manager. anyone has come with any petition.”
Just like in bank, it so happens. They must go through Lakshman soon returned and said, “O Lord, it
all the different stages of service. So when he becomes appears that there is no one in the Kosala Kingdom
manager, if he does not understand the responsibility
who is in need of anything.”
then again he falls to the lowest position. Again he has
to strive for the top. So if we forget our responsibility
Rama, however, insisted, “Go again and look more
and become like cats and dogs, then we are going to carefully. I do not wish to be accused of the slightest
come back again to take the forms of cats and dogs. neglect. Nor do I want the least bit of adharma to go
[Room Conversation — Los Angeles, June 14, 1972.] undetected in my kingdom.”
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 8

By Amardas Bhatti Jodhpur. 1830

The court of Lord Ramachandra

Unknown artist
Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 9 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Pages from an old handwritten copy of the Rāmāyaṇa

Going out again, Lakshman then noticed a dog sitting foremost of those who delight others. He is the moon
near the palace gate, its head bleeding. While looking at god, death personified, as well as the gods of wealth,
Lakshman, the dog whined mournfully. Thus Lakshman fire, water and the sun. Sri Rama is Indra, the king
asked, “What is wrong? Why have you come here? Please of the gods, and he is the protector of his subjects. O
do not fear, for you may tell me everything.” Laksman, tell him that without his permission I do
The dog replied, “I wish to speak directly to Lord not want to enter into the royal palace.”
Rama, whose lotus feet award one fearlessness and When Lakshman reported the matter, Rama
who is the shelter of the distressed.” immediately commanded, “Whoever it may be, usher
Lakshman then said, “If you have something to say, them in without delay!”
then you are welcome to come speak to the King himself.” The dog then humbly came before Rama and said,
lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ śrutvā sārameyo ‘bhyabhāṣata “O Lord, the king is the representative of the Supreme
devāgāre nṛpāgāre dvija-veśmasu vai tathā Personality of Godhead. Thus he is the savior of all
creatures. While others sleep peacefully, the king
vahniḥ śata-kratuś caiva sūryo vāyuś ca tiṣṭhiti
remains alert, always working for the welfare of his
nātra yogyāstu saumitre yonīnām adhamā vayam
subjects. However, since everything depends upon
Hearing Lakshman, the dog replied, “Agni the fire god,
him, when the king is negligent his subjects very
Indra the king of heaven, Surya the sun god, and Vayu
the wind god, are all present in the temples, the palace soon perish. The king is the upholder of religious
of the king, and the abodes of the Brahmins. Lowborn principles, and thus curbs the forces of evil. Those
creatures like myself are unfit to enter these places. who follow religious principles experience happiness
(Texts 60.20-21) in this life and the next. Thus the king receives great
“The king is the embodiment of dharma. He always merit for sustaining dharma. O Rama, you are the
speaks the truth, is expert at fighting, and is devoted model of a religious king. With my head placed at
to the welfare of everyone. Sri Rama knows the proper your lotus feet, I seek your mercy. Do not become
dispensation of justice. He is omniscient and is the angry at what I have to say.”
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 10

Unknown artist. Pahari school

Rama and Lakshman in the forest during their exile
Rama reassured the dog, saying, “Go on! Speak “Therefore, one should give up anger, and as a driver
without fear!” controls a chariot one should control ones senses,
which are running towards their objects like wicked
Thus encouraged, the dog continued, “A mendicant
horses. (Text 61.23)
Brahmin named Sarvartha-siddha has injured my
head, although there was no fault on my part.” manasā karmaṇā vācā cakṣuṣā ca samācaret
Immediately, Rama had his men summon Sarvartha- śṛeyo lokasya carato na dveṣṭi na ca lipyate
siddha. Soon thereafter, when the Brahmin came “By one’s thoughts, words, and deeds one should do
good to those nearby. One should not hurt others. Sin
before him, Rama inquired, “Why did you strike this
will not come to one who behaves like this. (Text 61.24)
dog? What was his fault?
na tat kuryād asis tīkṣṇaḥ sarpo vā vyāhataḥ padā
krodhaḥ prāṇa-haraḥ śatruḥ krodho mitra-mukho ripuḥ
arir vā nitya-saṅkruddho yathātmā dur-anuṣṭitaḥ
krodho hy asir mahātīkṣṇaḥ sarvaṁ krodho ‘pakarṣati
“The harm that can be accomplished by an uncon-
“Anger is a deadly enemy, a sweet spoken enemy in the trolled mind is greater than that which can be done
garb of a friend. It is like a sharp sword and it destroys
everything. (Text 61.21)

tapate jagate caiva yaś ca dānaṁ prayacchati

krodhena sarvaṁ harati tasmāt krodhaṁ visarjayet
“Anger nullifies whatever sacrifices and austerities
Unknown artist

one has performed as well as whatever charity one

has given. (Text 61.22)

indriyāṇāṁ praduṣṭānāṁ hayānām iva dhāvatām

kurvitā dhṛtyā sāradhyaṁ sahṛtyendriya-gocaram A dog in the court of the Lord
Unknown artist. Circa 16th century CE, Chamba School of Pahari Kalam, Museum of Kangra Art, Dharamshala
Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 11 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

The court of Lord Ramachandra

by a sharp sword, a poisonous snake that has been Bhrigu, Angiras, Vasishtha, Kasyapa, and other
stepped on, or an enemy who has been provoked. knowers of religious principles replied, “A Brahmin is
(Text 61.25) never to be punished. This is the unanimous opinion
of those conversant with rāja-dharma. Still, O Rama,
vinīta vinayasy āpi prakṛtirna vidhīyate you are the ultimate judge, for you are the Lord of
prakṛtiṁ gūhamānasya niścayena kṛtir dhruvā the entire universe. You are Lord Vishnu himself.
“In spite of making an external show of proper social Thus, whatever is spoken by you is eternal religion.”
behavior one’s nature will be revealed by one’s ac- The dog then interrupted, saying, “O king, you have
tions.” (Text 61.26)
asked, ‘What can I do for you?’ If you truly wish to
The Brahmin then replied, “I was wandering about please me then kindly appoint this Brahmin as the
for a long time, begging for alms, when I came upon this head of the Kalanjara Monastery.”
dog squatting in the middle of the road, blocking my Rama fulfilled the dog’s request, and thus the
path. I told him, ‘Make way!’ but he got up so slowly that delighted Brahmin, Sarvartha-siddha, became honored
I struck him over the head with my staff. I was famished as a spiritual leader and was placed atop a magnificently
and my anger was easily aroused. O king, I admit my decorated elephant. Seeing this, however, the ministers
guilt. You should punish me as you see fit, just to save became greatly upset and protested, “O king, this cannot
me from falling down into a hellish condition of life.” be considered a punishment! Rather than punishing the
Rama turned to his ministers and inquired, “What Brahmin you have awarded him an exalted position!”
punishment should be inflicted on him? Justice Rama replied, “You do not understand the
must be done, for nothing instills more confidence intricacies of karma. The dog, however, does.”
in people’s minds than the administration of fair Then, prompted by Rama, the dog explained, “In
punishment to all wrongdoers.” my last life I was the head of the Kalanjara Monastery.
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 12

Unknown artist. South Indian school

The court of Lord Ramachandra
I duly worshiped the deities and the Brahmins and I Saying this, the dog suddenly departed while Rama
always took prasādam. I performed my sacred duties and the others sat wonder-struck with wide-open eyes.
carefully, and properly maintained the servants Although previously born in a very high family, that
and maidservants. I was modest and well-behaved living being had somehow been forced to accept the
and was always engaged in doing good to all living body of a dog. After leaving the royal court at Ayodhya,
beings. Still, in spite of taking so much care, due to the dog gave up his life by abstaining from food and
some unknown fault I had to take this lowest birth as water with the hope of attaining a better birth.
a wretched dog. If in spite of having taken so much Now, one could argue that since the Lord personally
care I had to take a birth like this, then what to speak gave the exalted position to the Brahmin Sarvartha-
of this Brahmin! He is hot-tempered, ruthless, and siddha, how could there be any danger in his accepting
harsh. He cannot control his anger and he is engaged it? Certainly there is no inherent fault in accepting
in harming others. He is certainly unfit to be an the post of a leader. From the example of Maharaja
ācārya. For his audacity in accepting such a position Priyavrata in the fifth canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam we
he will degrade seven generations of his family. can understand that if one accepts a position for the
“Therefore, if you wish to condemn someone to pleasure of Guru and Krishna he is protected from
hell, put them in charge of the Brahmins, cows, and material entanglement. Srila Prabhupada has described:
deity worship. Anyone who steals from the Brahmins, When Priyavrata’s father, Swayambhuva Manu, re-
the demigods, women or children is doomed, as is one quested him to accept the responsibility of ruling over
who takes back a gift that was freely given. Indeed, the world, he did not welcome the suggestion. This
even the very thought of stealing from the demigods is the symptom of a great, liberated devotee. Even
though engaged in worldly affairs, he does not take
and Brahmins will send a man to the lowest of hells.”
Issue Five Hundred Forty Five, Page — 13 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Unknown artist. Pahari school

Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavan

pleasure in them, but remains always absorbed in the King Priyavrata had to be persuaded by Lord Brahma to ac-
Lord’s service. While thus serving the Lord, he deals cept the post of emperor of the entire universe. Similarly,
externally with worldly affairs without being affected. his father, Swayambhuva Manu, felt relieved to entrust the
... By serving the lotus feet of his spiritual master, universal government to Priyavrata. Thus it is evident that
prince Priyavrata very soon attained the perfectional the kings and executive heads of government in the Vedic
stage of Krishna consciousness. This is the only way age never accepted their positions for sense enjoyment.
to advance in spiritual life. [Purport to Bhāg. 5.1.6.] Such exalted kings, who were known as rājarṣis, ruled only
to maintain and protect the kingdom for the welfare of
the citizens. The history of Priyavrata and Swayambhuva
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Manu describes how exemplary, responsible monarchs
performed the duties of government with disinterest,
A free bi-monthly service provided by
keeping themselves always aloof from the contamination
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However, unlike Maharaja Priyavrata, Sarvartha-
Gopal Jiu Publications is a section of the International siddha accepted the position of head of the
Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder- Kalanjara Monastery not for the service of the
Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Lord but for his own self-aggrandizement. The dog
Swami Prabhupada. understood this, and thus knew that he would be
suitably punished in due course of time.
Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures Bibliography
of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
—Krishna Dwaipayan Vyasadev. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. English
Prabhupada ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. All translation and commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
other materials, unless specified, © ISKCON Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Singapore. 1982.
Gopal Jiu Publications. All rights reserved. —Sanatan Goswami. Śrī Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa. Sanskrit with Bengali
Blanket permission is given to redistribute translation by Kanailal Adhikari. Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math.
Mayapur. 2000.
Bindu in electronic or print form provided no
—Valmiki Muni. Rāmāyaṇa. Sanskrit with English translation. Gita
changes are made to the contents. Press. Gorakhpur, India. 1995.
—Valmiki Muni. Rāmāyaṇa. English translation by Hari Prasad
Shastri. Shanti Sadan. London. 1985.