Discover Your Super Soul

55th Kolkata Rath Yatra – Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Maharaas Prabhu (23rd July 2026)

Purushottam Nitai Das July 24, 2026

Without the association of Krishna’s devotees, it is difficult to make spiritual progress. The beginning of spiritual life is śravaṇam (hearing), and śravaṇam becomes easier in devotee association. Srila Prabhupada established Iskcon so that devotees can come together, chant the names of Krishna, hear about Krishna, discuss the topics related to Krishna, honour Krishna prasadam and remain engaged in the service of Krishna.

Hearing Develops the Desire to Attain Krishna

The more we hear about Krishna, the more we develop a desire to attain Krishna.

When we hear about something, we get motivated and put in the effort to attain it. For example, students first hear that IIT is a good college and then get inspired to gain admission to it. In Kolkata, many businessmen are not Bengalis, but they came here because they heard that there is good scope for doing business here.

Hearing helps us understand the importance of things.

For example, when we hear about the glories of Vrindavan, we develop a desire to go to Vrindavan.

The pastime discussed in relations to the verse Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.11, shows how Krishna always protects His devotees.

In the purport to SB 1.15.11, Srila Prabhupada introduces Durvasa Muni. Most Indians know about Durvasa Muni, so why does Prabhupada introduce him? It is because Prabhupada wanted to spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world. His audience was not only Indians but the entire world.

Durvasa Muni was a mystic brahmana. He would become pleased or angry very quickly. Duryodhana wanted to take advantage of Durvasa Muni’s unpredictable nature to execute his wicked plan against the Pandavas.

He once requested Durvasa Muni to accept prasadam at the Pandavas’ place while they were living in the forest. He specifically requested him to go for prasadam after Draupadi had eaten her meal. Duryodhana was so envious of the Pandavas that he always wanted to harm them. Envious people can go to any extent to inflict suffering upon others.

HH Radha Govind Swami Maharaja once narrated an interesting story.

A man was going to a forest. A person asked, “Don’t you know that a man-eating tiger lives there?” The man said, “I know about it, and I want the tiger to eat me. Once he tastes my blood, he will come to know that a village is nearby, and he will come and eat the other villagers.” The person, surprised, asked, “Are you mad? Why are you doing this?” He answered, “Because I hate the villagers.”

This is the nature of a person burning with the disease of envy.

The Deadly Disease of Envy

We have to free ourselves from this deadly disease of envy. Although we can hide it from the world, Krishna knows what is in our hearts. In bhakti, both intent and action are important. The Lord knows our intentions.

We see that Durvasa Muni accepted Duryodhana’s food, but Krishna did not. Instead, He accepted food at the house of Vidura.

Duryodhana thought that when the Pandavas would not be able to provide food to Durvasa Muni, who was accompanied by his 10,000 disciples, he would curse them. According to grihastha-dharma, a householder should offer food and water to anyone who comes to the house, even an enemy.

When Durvasa Muni came with his disciples to the Pandavas’ forest dwelling, Draupadi had already eaten her meal. Draupadi had the Akshaya Patra, which could produce an unlimited amount of food until she had eaten.

Pandavas feared that they would not be able to serve Durvasa Muni. At that moment of distress, Draupadi remembered Krishna, and Krishna, who was with Rukmini in Dvaraka, immediately appeared. He ate one morsel of food, and everyone in the three worlds became satisfied. Durvasa Muni and his thousands of disciples felt so full that they quietly left the place.

When we satisfy Krishna, everyone becomes satisfied, and we too become satisfied. For example, when we chant the holy names of Krishna, we feel happy and fulfilled. We no longer feel that we need anything else.

Great devotees, by their personal examples, show how all material achievements becomes insignificant once one starts relishing chanting the holy names of Krishna.

Hearing Leads to the Goal of Life

Sanatana Goswami was an important minister of Bengal during the reign of Sultan Husain Shah, but he left everything because he had the holy name of Krishna with him. He teaches us that life’s purpose is to always satisfy Krishna.

This verse, SB 1.15.11, is part of the chapter “The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely.” We too should plan our lives in such a way that we do not remain engaged in work our whole lives.

At least the last twenty years of our lives should be dedicated to the service of Krishna.

But how to develop attachment to Krishna? It is by śravaṇam (hearing).

Bhakti begins with śravaṇam. By hearing, we develop a strong desire to attain Krishna. Krishna cannot be attained through jñāna, karma, pious activities, wealth, power, or position.

He is attained through pure bhakti. Initially, we may have some desire; we should fan that desire.

And how to fan that desire is explained very systematically by Srila Rupa Goswami, younger brother of Srila Sanatana Goswami, in Nectar of Instruction. This book has eleven verses. If we carefully follow its instructions, it will gradually lead us to Krishna-prema.

In the first verse of The Nectar of Instruction, Rupa Goswami explains the six urges. The first urge is the urge to speak. Anyone who knows how to use the tongue properly can attain Krishna. We should speak about Krishna or about service to Krishna, and we should honor food that has been offered to Krishna. When we control the tongue, the other senses gradually come under control.

Verse 2 of The Nectar of Instruction explains how bhakti is destroyed.

If we want to protect our bhakti, then we have to have right kind of association. Jiva Goswami says, “To advance rapidly in spiritual life, chant sincerely and deal nicely with others.”

Give up the association of materialistic people. If you associate with them, you will become afflicted by the viruses of lust, anger, and greed.

We should associate with devotees. Devotee association protects us from many dangers. The importance of good association can be understood through a simple example from nature.

Why Association of Devotees are Important

Tigers are generally stronger than lions. A tiger can kill a lion. However, lions live in groups, so together they can overpower and even kill a tiger. The association of other lions protects each lion.

But association also brings some challenges, and we have to tolerate them.

For example, some porcupines huddle together to keep warm during cold weather. However, when they come close, their sharp quills can sometimes prick one another.

Srila Prabhupada always cautioned the devotees that when they live in association, they will have to face some challenges.

HH Niranjan Swami Maharaja once said that Prabhupada had instructed him, “Never leave bhakti under any circumstances.” Once, while staying in a temple, he faced a difficult situation. One morning, he was woken up in a very rude manner, which deeply hurt him. While taking his bath, he thought, “Today I will leave the temple.” Then he remembered Srila Prabhupada’s instruction never to leave bhakti under any circumstances, so he decided to stay.

Rupa Goswami’s teachings help us to cultivate these qualities which help us to properly deal with devotees.

The first three verses of The Nectar of Instruction are about self-improvement.

The next three verses are about interpersonal relationships.

Verse 4 of The Nectar of Instruction explains how to live in satsanga. We should give gifts to others and render service to others, but we should not expect anything in return. If someone serves us, we should accept it gratefully but should not expect others to serve us.

Satsanga means discussing Hari-katha.

There are three benefits of satsanga – Devotees develop a taste for Hari-katha, friendship develops among them, and the desire for sense gratification gradually goes away.

In satsang, relationship is important. Services come and go, but relationships with devotees are very important. And for relationship tolerance is required.

The topmost devotee is one who does not criticize anyone and does not look for faults in others.

Verse 6 of The Nectar of Instruction teaches us to overlook the minor faults of devotees. In Verse 7, Rupa Goswami explains the importance of chanting the holy names of Krishna, and in the later verses he discusses bhava-bhakti and prema-bhakti.

Thus, we see that spiritual life begins with hearing and grows through the association of devotees. If we follow the instructions of great acharyas like Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami, then gradually we can purify our hearts of all impurities and ultimately attain Krishna-prem.

These were some of the important points from the Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Maharaas Prabhu on 23rd July 2026 at 55th Kolkata Rath Yatra Pandal.