Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

Srimad Bhagavatam at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata – October 2026 | Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14

Below are the important points from the morning Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam classes at ISKCON Newtown Temple, Kolkata, during October 2026.
The classes cover Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14 (Canto 11, Chapter 14 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam), “Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava.”

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Rajgopinath Prabhu on 2 October 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.14.12
• Chapter Name:  Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Lord Krishna says, “O learned Uddhava, those who fix their consciousness on Me, giving up all material desires, share with Me a happiness that cannot possibly be experienced by those engaged in sense gratification.”

Important Points from Class

• We should focus on things which bring auspiciousness, peace and fulfilment in life.
• Some say, make your karma as dharma, and by this you can attain the Supreme Goal. Some say life’s purpose is to get name and fame.
• When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya what is most glorious, Ramananda Raya said, “The biggest glory is to become a devotee of Krishna.”
• In the Purana, it is mentioned that fame goes away in due course of time, but the glories of devotees never go away. We see people still remember Prahlada Maharaja and Dhruva Maharaja; we are still singing their glories.
• What is the use of this life if we have not become a devotee of the Lord? Devotees say that if I cannot use my body in the service of the Lord, then it is better that my body burn to ashes.
• Ramananda Raya says to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, “The only knowledge is the knowledge to know who Krishna is and how to serve Krishna.”
• It does not matter how many years we have lived. Most important is that whatever number of years we have lived, have we served Krishna during that time period or not.
• When King Khatvanga came to know that he had to live for a moment, then he came from the heavenly abode to earth to practice devotion to Krishna.
• For a fruit to get ripened, the fruit does not have to do anything; it has to just remain connected to the tree. Similarly, we have to just remain connected to the process of devotional service. We should daily do morning sadhana as given by Srila Prabhupada, whether we like it or not.
• It is not that a devotee gets joy only when he goes back to the spiritual world. In fact, in this world too, a devotee experiences great joy in serving Krishna.

Explore More Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class Notes

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14 at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – September 2026

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Haridas Thakura: The Foremost Devotee and the Glories of the Holy Name | Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 3.94

In Krishna Lila, Brahma was bewildered when Krishna killed Aghasura, a snake demon.

Everyone glorified Krishna for this act. Brahma wanted to see who this little child was. When he came, he saw Krishna eating remnants of his cowherd friends. Brahma thought, how can the Supreme Lord do this?

He thought Krishna was an ordinary child. But he wanted to test him, so he stole the cowherd boys and the calves. But when Brahma came after one year, he saw all the calves and cowherd boys there. Krishna had expanded himself as the cowherd boys and calves.

Brahma was bewildered and sought forgiveness from Krishna.

He said to the Lord, “I offended you because of my big position. I have become proud and arrogant. Please forgive me.” Krishna forgave him.

Brahma knew that in Kaliyuga the Lord would come as a hidden incarnation. He thought that when the Supreme Lord would come as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, I won’t be able to recognize him. He began performing Tapasya. Krishna was pleased with his Tapasya and asked him for a benediction.

Brahma said, “I am fearful that in Kaliyuga I may offend you again. So, I pray to you to give me the benediction that I take birth in a low-class family. People will then not respect me, and I will also not expect respect from others. I will remain humble and then can chant your holy name. In this way, I will not offend you again.”

Krishna granted Brahma’s wish, and the same Brahma appeared as Haridas Thakura. He took birth in a meat-eater’s family. Despite being born in a low family, he was spontaneously chanting the holy name of Krishna.

Haridas Thakura and His Absorption in the Holy Name

Because of his purity and absorption in chanting the holy name, people got attracted to him. In 24 hours, he would chant for 22 hours, 192 rounds daily. In the remaining 2 hours, he would take bath, get some rest, and take prasadam.

Seeing his popularity, Ramchandra Khan became envious of him. He was living in Benapola (or Benapura). He was thinking, “Why are people glorifying him, even though he is not a Hindu? I am a big zamindar, highly learned, have so much wealth and power, but still people are respecting Haridas Thakura more than me.” Ramchandra Khan devised a plan to disgrace Haridas Thakura.

He came up with an idea. He approached a prostitute named Lakshahira. She was beautiful, young, and would seduce anyone. Ramchandra Khan said, “I will give you lots of money if you can defame Haridas Thakura.” He said, “You engage him in illicit activity. Police will then catch him, and everyone will reject him.”

Lakshahira thought it was an easy job. She said, “Do not send the police the very first night. First night, let me enjoy, and 2nd night you send the police.”

The prostitute went to the kutir of Haridas Thakura. Haridas Thakura was chanting. She began exposing her private parts and began speaking to distract him. She said, “You and I are young, so let us enjoy.” Haridas Thakura said that he had taken a vow to complete his chanting. Once his vow of chanting was completed, he would enjoy with her. The prostitute said it was fine; he could complete his chanting. She was thinking that in half an hour his chanting would be over. But Haridas Thakura kept chanting, and the whole night passed. Morning came; the sun rose.

Haridas Thakura said, “Please forgive me, as I was not able to please you. You come today night.” The prostitute again came in the evening. Haridas Thakura said, “Today I will surely complete my rounds. You just sit.” She was hopeful that today Haridas Thakura would enjoy with her. Again, the whole night passed, and it was morning. Haridas Thakura again sought forgiveness and said that tonight he would surely complete his chanting, so she should come that night.

Again, she came, and Haridas Thakura said, “Let me complete my chanting, and I will then satisfy you.” Haridas Thakura again began chanting. Again, it was morning. But by this time, since she had been hearing the Hare Krishna Mahamantra for the last 3 nights, she too began chanting.

Lakshahira Takes Shelter of the Holy Name

She began realizing what a great sinful activity she was going to perform. The prostitute fell at the feet of Haridas Thakura, seeking forgiveness. She revealed that Ramchandra Khan had given her money to defame him. But now she realized how sinful a person she was. She now understood that she had no other shelter than the holy name. She begged for his mercy and asked him to save her. Haridas Thakura said that he was aware of why she had come. He said that he could have left the place, but to deliver her, he stayed there.

Haridas Thakura told her that whatever money she had earned in a sinful way, she should distribute it to the Vaisnavas and Brahmanas. After that, she should come there, worship Tulasi, and chant the holy name of Krishna, the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. She should not worry about her livelihood; Krishna would provide everything. Haridas Thakura then left the place.

The prostitute distributed all the wealth. Wearing one sari, she came to the kutir of Haridas Thakura. She began worshipping the Tulasi plant and began chanting the holy name. The news spread everywhere that a prostitute had become a devotee of Krishna. People came to see her. When they came, they brought many items with them, including food and clothing. In this way, Haridas Thakura’s glories spread.

Ramchandra Khan had committed a great offense, and later he was destroyed along with the whole village.

Haridas Thakura came to Chandapura (Chandpur) from Benapura. Balaram Acharya invited him for prasadam and arranged for him to stay at a kutir. Balarama Acharya was a priest of Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara. Govardhana Majumadara’s son was Raghunath Das Goswami.

One day, Balarama Acharya requested Haridas Thakura to come to the house of Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara. Many people had gathered there. Seeing Haridas Thakura, everyone started glorifying him. Also, different people began saying the glories of the holy name.

Gopal Chakravarthy said that the holy name can give liberation. Haridas Thakura said that liberation is a by-product of the holy name. Haridas Thakura said that chanting is at 3 levels – nam-apradha, nama-bhasa, and suddha-nama. Chanting at the nama-apradha state gives one material wealth, chanting at the nama-bhasa stage gives one freedom from sins and liberation. And when one chants at the stage of suddha-nama, one attains love for Krishna.

Haridas Thakura and the Power of Nama-Bhasa

Gopal Chakravarthy was infuriated. He said, “Do you think liberation is so cheap?”

He said to Haridas Thakura, “I will cut off your nose if you are wrong.”

“Gopāla Cakravartī said, ‘If one is not liberated by nāmābhāsa, then you may be certain that I shall cut off your nose.” Chaitanya CharitamritaAntya 3.198

Haridas Thakura said that he did not have to cut it; he would cut off his own nose. The assembled devotees were angry at Gopal Chakravarthy; they threw him away from the assembly. But Haridas Thakura was not angry.

After 3 days, Gopal Chakravarthy, who was young and beautiful, got leprosy, and his nose fell off. When Haridas Thakura heard this, he felt sorry for him.

Haridas Thakura left the place and came to Shantipura. There he was chanting in a cave. Many people would come to see him. There they saw a big snake in the cave. One day, all the villagers came and requested Haridas Thakura to leave the cave. They said that the snake might bite him. Haridas Thakura said, “I will shift tomorrow.” When this discussion was going on, the snake came out of the cave and left the place. People never saw that snake in the cave again.

When he was staying there, there was a shradh ceremony of Advaita Acharya’s parents. During the shradh ceremony, it was the tradition to give first prasad to the topmost brahmana. Advaita Acharya was the leader of all the brahmanas. He gave first prasad to Haridas Thakura. The brahmanas were disturbed; they wondered how a meat-eater could be honoured in such a way. Advaita Acharya explained to them that although Haridas Thakura may be born in a meat-eater’s family, he is the topmost devotee of Krishna. He said that anyone who chants the name of Krishna can deliver the whole world. And Haridas Thakura is always absorbed in chanting.

Later, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur, Advaita Acharya and Haridas Thakura were chanting and jumping in ecstasy.

Haridas Thakura’s Unwavering Faith in Chanting

Both Muslims and Hindus were disturbed by Haridas Thakura’s devotion and popularity. They complained to Kazi. Kazi called Haridas Thakura and told him, “You are so fortunate that you are born in a Muslim family. Why are you chanting a Hindu god’s name?”

Haridas Thakura started laughing. He said that just like there is no Hindu sun or Muslim sun, similarly there is not Hindu God and Muslim God.

Kazi was not happy. He said, “You stop chanting, and I will spare you. But if you continue chanting Hare Krishna, I will punish you.”

Haridas Thakura said, “No problem. You can punish me.”

Kazi said, “I will cut your body to pieces.”

Haridas Thakura said, “Each piece of my body will chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.”

Kazi called the soldiers and asked them to beat him at a public place because when people saw him being punished, then no one would dare to chant the name of Krishna. The soldiers began beating him severely, but Haridas Thakura was chanting the holy name of the Lord. They beat him in 22 marketplaces, but nothing happened to Haridas Thakura.

The soldiers became fearful. They fell at the feet of Haridas Thakura and said that if he did not die, then Kazi would kill them. Haridas Thakura said, “Do not worry, I will die.”

When the soldiers were beating Haridas Thakura, he was praying to the Lord to forgive the perpetrators. In fact, Sudarshan Chakra came to kill the perpetrators, but since Haridas Thakura was praying to save the soldiers, the chakra left.

After saying this, Haridas Thakura fell flat on the ground and went into samadhi. It appeared that he had died. The soldiers took the body to the court. Kazi said to burn the body. But Hindus said not to burn it because he would be delivered. Muslims said not to bury it because he was a kafir. They said that if they buried him, then he would go to Jannat.

Kazi was thinking what to do with the body. So, finally, it was decided to throw his body into the Ganges. Haridas Thakura floated in the Ganges for some time, then he swam across the Ganges and again started chanting.

When Kazi and others came to know, they were repentant. Kazi said, “Wherever you want to go, you can go and chant.”

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Reveals Haridas Thakura’s Glory

In Maha Prakash Lila, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was calling all the devotees one by one and was revealing how he blessed each one of them.

He called Haridas Thakura and said, “Do you remember that when you were beaten in 22 marketplaces, I had sent Sudarshan Chakra to kill them, but you were praying to save the perpetrators. So, I covered your body with mine.”

Mahaprabhu then removed his uttari, upper garment, and Haridas Thakura could see the signs of beating on Mahaprabhu’s body.

The Lord loved Haridas Thakura. He instructed him and Nityananda Prabhu to make everyone chant the holy name of the Lord. Both Haridas Thakura and Nityananda Prabhu would knock at every door and request people to chant the name of Krishna.

Later, when the Lord took sannyas and went to Puri, Haridas Thakura too went to Puri with Sivananda Sen. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was looking for Haridas Thakura, and he was offering dandavats to him from far. He always thought himself to be a lowly person. He never came close to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and he never entered Jagannath Puri temple, thinking he was fallen.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave him a place a little away from the temple. But every day Mahaprabhu would bring prasadam for Haridas Thakura. One day, the Lord saw that Haridas Thakura was chanting under the sun. He brought a tooth stick of Lord Jagannath and pushed it into the ground, and immediately a tree grew. It became a bakul tree. That tree is called Siddha Bakul.

bhaktera guṇa kahite prabhura bāḍaye ullāsa
bhakta-gaṇa-śreṣṭha tāte śrī-haridāsa

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derives great pleasure from glorifying His devotees, and among the devotees, Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the foremost.” Chaitanya CharitamritaAntya 3.94

Haridas Thakura’s Humility and Faith in the Holy Name

Haridas Thakura was so exalted, but he considered himself as insignificant as an ant.

We should pray to Haridas Thakura for faith in the holy name. We should also pray to him so that we remain humble, tolerant, and respectful towards others without expecting any respect for ourselves.

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Based on an enlightening class by HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on September 25, 2026, with additional points and editing.

Overcoming Obstacles in Our Spiritual Journey | Lessons from Hanuman | Bhagavad Gita 2.41

Today we sing paeans in glory of Hanuman for his extraordinary service to Lord Rama. It was Hanuman who crossed the gigantic ocean and searched Mother Sita and later burned the entire city of Lanka. But there was a time when Hanuman did not believe that he has the ability to perform such heroic deeds.

In search of Mother Sita, when the monkey warriors of Sugriva saw the vast ocean then they all felt disheartened. Sampati, the brother of Jatayu, informed them that Sita is in Ravana’s Lanka. And Lanka is 100 yojanas i.e. around 800 miles from the shore. Everyone wondered how they can reach there.

Angad, the prince, said that he can go Lanka but is doubtful of returning back. Other monkeys had no ability to cross the ocean. And while the discussion was going on Hanuman was silent. He too was agreeing with all that it is not possible for them to go to Lanka and find Sita. Everyone felt disheartened.

Dealing with self-doubt

At that time, Jambavan, the mighty bear king who was quite old at that time told Hanuman about his real strengths and capabilities. He motivated, guided and persuaded Hanuman to do this gigantic task. Jambavan’s words instilled confidence in Hanuman. He understood and realized his god gifted talent and decided to do this herculean task.

From this incident we understand that how we need a guru in our life. Many times, we may not know our own capabilities. Like Hanuman we may also doubt our abilities. But a guru knows that the Lord has bestowed upon each soul talents which can be positively used. 

We see that how Srila Prabhupada identified potentials in devotees and engaged them in the service of Krishna. These devotees helped Srila Prabhupada in spreading Krishna consciousness movement all over the world and did so many wonderful things for Krishna.  We may not be blessed enough to have the power of Hanuman but if we follow the guidelines of guru then we too can do great service for the Lord.

Hanuman’s example teaches us that overcoming obstacles in our spiritual journey requires faith, guidance and determination.

Beware of comfort zone

In our spiritual journey many times there are possibilities of getting distracted. Distractions are not just the sufferings which we encounter in our spiritual life, but it is the material pleasures which comes in our way.

Hanuman on his way to Lanka was greeted by a mountain, Maināka. With pleasing words Maināka requested Hanuman to rest for a while on his peaks. “You must be tired, and you have to travel a lot. So, just relax for a while and then resume your journey.”

Lord Rama and Mother Sita were separated, and Hanuman’s service was to unite them. So, how can Hanuman relax! He thanked Maināka for his kind words. He respectfully touched the mountain and without relaxing continued with his journey. 

Srila Prabhupada too never relaxed. When at 70 everyone prefers to lead a retired life, he was travelling all over the world preaching the message of Krishna. He was getting up in the middle of the night and writing books. And it is because of his books that today millions of people are practicing devotion to Krishna all over the world.

Like Hanuman and Srila Prabhupada, we should never become slack in our devotional life. We should not get into comfort zone. We are fortunate that we now know that the purpose of our life is to always serve Krishna. So, we should use every moment of our life in Krishna’s service.

Avoiding unnecessary distractions

With all his might Hanuman was flying towards Lanka.  He was completely focussed, and he wanted to reach the city of Ravana as soon as possible. But his journey was interrupted by Surasa, the mother of the Nāgas.

She assumed the form of a Rākṣasī and came in front of Hanuman.  “I have been blessed by Brahma that anyone who comes to my way will have to enter into my mouth. You cannot escape me. Now, I am going to eat you.”

Hanuman said, “Sure, I will fulfil your desire. But now I am on a mission to serve Lord Rama. First let me find Mother Sita.  And after that I will return back and then you can eat me.”

Surasa exclaimed, “No. I will devour you now.”

She opened her mouth and increased its size to eight miles. Hanuman then increased his size to sixteen miles. Surasa expanded her mouth to 20 miles, Hanuman too expanded himself. She again grew in size but now Hanuman reduced himself to the size of a thumb. He then quickly entered her mouth and came out. 

Hanuman said, “By entering your mouth I have respected the benediction of Brahmaji and have also fulfilled your desire. So, now let me continue with my journey.”  Surasa was pleased with the intelligence of Hanuman. She blessed him saying that you will be successful in your mission.

Hanuman teaches an important lesson to us that we should not get into any unnecessary confrontations with others in our devotion journey. We should not get into ego clashes because that will impede our journey. Instead, we should be humble and get out of any unpleasant situation so that we can focus on pleasing the Lord with our service.

Kill envy to advance spiritually

Hanuman continued with his journey. He was moving with the speed of Garuda. Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Vidhyadharas and other celestial beings were watching Hanuman’s prowess and were praising him. But suddenly Hanuman felt that someone is trying to pull him down.  As he looked down, he saw a Rākṣasa woman called Simhika. She was trying to seize Hanuman’s shadow.  

While doing so, she opened her terrific mouth to swallow Hanuman. And hanuman fearlessly entered her mouth. The demigods in the sky were in shock. Simhika was delighted. But her happiness was short lived because Hanuman whose body is as hard as diamond quickly ripped apart her body and burst out of it.

The fearsome Simhika fell dead in the sea. And the fearless Hanuman continued with his journey and finally reached Lanka.

Simhika represents envy. Just like Simhika tried to arrest the progress of Hanuman, similarly, envy arrest our progress. Just like Hanuman destroyed Simhika, similarly, we should completely destroy envy.

Conclusion

Hanuman reached Lanka, found Mother Sita, burnt Lanka and later assisted Lord Rama in his war with Ravana. In Ramayana, we see that Hanuman never got distracted and always served Lord Rama. Similarly, we should never allow any material distractions or attractions to come between us and the Supreme Lord.

This determination of Hanuman reminds us of Bhagavad Gita 2.41, where Lord Krishna explains that those who are spiritually determined have a resolute purpose. Hanuman remained fixed on his service to Lord Rama despite the many obstacles and distractions he encountered on his journey to Lanka. Similarly, we can learn from Hanuman about overcoming obstacles in our spiritual journey and remaining determined in our service to the Lord.

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca
buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām

“Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.” Bhagavad Gita 2.41

And with enthusiasm (utsāhāt), confidence (niścayāt) and patience (dhairyāt), we should always serve the Lord. Nectar of Instruction 3

We should pray at the lotus feet of Hanuman, a great devotee of Lord Rama, for his mercy in overcoming obstacles in our spiritual journey and remaining fixed in our service to Lord Rama.

Krishna Katha and Memories of Srila Prabhupada | HG Sandamini Devi Mataji and HG Mukhya Devi Mataji

Devotees at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata got an opportunity to hear Krishna katha and Prabhupada katha from HG Sandamini Devi Mataji and HG Mukhya Devi Mataji during the Sunday Satsang program on 20^th September 2026.

Both are disciples of Srila Prabhupada. The class was organized in Nityananda Hall.  The class started at 11:30 am with melodious Hare Krishna kirtan.

During the class both Matajis discussed pastimes of Krishna and the lessons we can learn from those pastimes. Further, they talked about their temples where they are currently serving. The talk focused on how the temples started, how they grew and how they are doing now. At the end, they shared their personal experiences with Srila Prabhupada, which transformed their lives.

Please read below to know in detail what they spoke. Each topic was spoken one by one by both the Matajis.

Krishna Katha and Memories of Srila Prabhupada

HG Sandamini Devi Mataji

As Rukmini had never met Krishna but had heard about Krishna, so was desirous to meet Krishna. Similarly, I had heard a lot about Iskcon Newtown Kolkata, so I was keen to come here.

Today’s class will be in three parts – Krishna katha, preaching in the West and Srila Prabhupada katha.

Me and HG Mukhya Devi Mataji have been travelling together for the last 17 years. We have come to India many times, visited dhams, temples and bought things from India.

Once I had asked the parents of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja, when they had come to the temple, to share his amazing experience about Vrindavan. They said that wherever they went, people would come to meet them and say, “Your son is my best friend.” Maharaja’s parents said that if you have one friend then you are rich, but my son had so many friends.

Important Point: Loving relationships among devotees are an important aspect of Krishna consciousness.

This is a very important aspect of Krishna consciousness, which is to have loving relationship. This is also said by Srila Rupa Goswami in his Nectar of Instruction – dadāti pratigṛhṇāti / guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati.

Once HG Guru Prasad Maharaj asked in his class, “What is the most important article you possess?” Some said that my japa bag, some said books, some said cell phones. Maharaja said the best thing is to have a dear friend who will tell you if you are in maya or not.

In Krishna Consciousness sometimes we keep façade and only good friend will tell us the truth. So, it is important to have that friend. This is the ornament of a devotee. It is more valuable than knowing many slokas, having many preaching programs.

Lessons from Krishna’s Pastimes and the Demons He Killed

We just had Janmashtami celebration, so let us reflect on Krishna’s pastimes, especially the pastimes of Krishna killing the demons.

When Krishna was only three months old, Saktasura came. We do not hear much about him; he came as a ghost. Brajvasis were having celebration because Krishna had just turned his back on the bed. So, Mother Yashoda and everyone were busy in celebration when the demon came.

The demon came in the form of a cart. Krishna hit the cart with his leg and the demon died.

Saktasura represents bad habits like laziness and ahankar. In Krishna Consciousness, we give up major sinful habits easily. For Westerners it is a little difficult to give up as compared to Indians.

Here we are talking about giving up subtle bad habits. For example, bad habit of staying up late in the night. When you sleep late, you get up late and when you get up late, your rounds will remain. And then you keep chanting whole day.

As devotees we should take vow to rise early in the morning. This becomes possible by regulating lives.

Important Point: Spiritual progress also requires us to overcome subtle bad habits and regulate our daily lives.

Bakasura Represents Cunning Mentality

Another demon which Krishna killed was Bakasura. Bakasura represents cunning mentality, duplicity and hypocrisy.

Indra had everything but was envious of Prithu Maharaja. He was fearful that Prithu Maharaja would complete 100 ashwamedha yagyas and he came as a sannyasi to deceive the king and steal the sacrificial horse.

Putana also came dressed as a beautiful woman. We know a beautiful woman can get away with a lot of things. Putana was able to approach Krishna. But Krishna cannot be deceived.

Krishna expects honesty, he looks for pure heart. He is already in everyone’s heart, but he manifests when we are honest and respectful.

When we came here to Kolkata, then devotees who picked us up from the airport were very sweet. They could have thought that why I have picked them from the airport, they could have come on their own. We went to various places of pilgrimage, and we were feeling that we are taking so many services from the devotee.

Important Point: Humility and service attitude are the ornaments of a devotee.

HG Mukhya Devi Mataji: Overcoming Pride and False Prestige

We were discussing what to say during the class. We thought of discussing about Krishna killing demons and the lessons to learn from it.

Demons which Krishna killed also represent our anarthas. We also learn how to get rid of those anarthas.

For example, Kesi demon represents false prestige.

Kamsa was having hard time to kill Krishna. Nothing was working, so he sent Kesi demon, a gigantic horse. He came galloping, terrorizing everyone. He was trying to kill Krishna by hitting him with his legs. To show how great he was, the demon opened his mouth. And Krishna immediately put his hand in the horse’s mouth. Krishna’s hand became red hot and the demon got killed quickly.

After killing the demon, Krishna went to Yamuna to take bath and that place came to be known as Kesi Ghat.

Srimad Bhagavatam teaches how to live our life and how to uproot our pride.

Daksha Prajapati was a powerful king, had a big position. But while entering the sacrificial arena, he did not pay respect to Lord Shiva. And because of this he lost his head, literally and figuratively.

Indra was upset that residents of Vrindavan were not honouring him. So, he tried to kill them. But Krishna saved all. We also know the story of Hiranyakasipu.

In our heart humility and false pride are side by side.

We are in this world because of false pride. Pride is destroyer of bhakti. On our own we cannot suppress it. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura says that only Lord can help us.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that desire for pride and prestige is biggest obstacle in bhakti. He wrote prayers and prayed to Lord Nityananda for protection from pride and prestige.

Sometimes we do not know how to pray, so we should learn to pray from our acharyas.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave three simple ways to remove false pride – pray to Lord, be humble and show to Lord how we are helpless, expect divine grace which means to allow Krishna to nullify our anarthas.

Krishna is always there to help us, but we should first help ourselves.

Important Point: Pride and the desire for prestige can become major obstacles in devotional life. We should pray for Krishna’s mercy, remain humble and recognize our dependence on the Lord.

All parts of devotional life feed each other.

Preaching Krishna Consciousness in the West

HG Sandamini Devi Mataji

Now let us discuss about our centres. Arizona is a desert. Srimad Bhagavatam says that deserts are cursed. Desert is because of sinful reaction of killing a brahman. In the desert there is no puja and no yagna.

But because of the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada we are having preaching there.

Lord Chaitanya wanted Krishna Consciousness to spread everywhere and Srila Prabhupada fulfilled the desire of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

I was in San Diego temple. I was happy serving there. There I was cooking and serving the deities. I thought there are lots of devotees here, so I should go to a place where there are less devotees and give them prasadam. This is because of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.

Hayagriva Prabhu has written a book named Hare Krishna Explosion. In the book he writes how during Prabhupada’s time devotees were inspired to go all over the world to preach. They would take some Lakshmi and go open a centre. Srila Prabhupada had said that if you open a centre I will come.

Prabhupada had even come to a small city of Mexico where two devotees had started a centre.

Important Point: From the instruction of guru, devotees receive inspiration and empowerment to serve and preach.

We are in Arizona since late 1980s. We have a humble setup there, we have Govindas. Our focus is Western preaching.

In many Iskcon temples in USA, mostly Indians come and this is natural. Indians are like low hanging ripe mangoes, easy to make them devotees. Many Indians began coming to help us since 1980s.

But Prabhupada wanted us to preach to the locals. He said that the congregation should represent the people who live there. We are trying to do that.

We go to university, do Food for Life, do harinam and so on.

Thinking Creatively About Preaching

In China, they would not allow any kind of religion earlier. Devotees would put advertisement in newspaper saying that we are hiring people for an assignment of teaching.

Their job was to read Srimad Bhagavatam seven hours a day and last one hour, there was exam to assess how much they have learned. People became devotees because of that.

We have to think out of the box.

Here in Newtown Kolkata, a big project is there. You have a desire to do something big. We should think how can we do it. If everyone has that desire, then Krishna will surely fulfil.

Important Point: Devotees can explore creative ways to spread Krishna consciousness according to the circumstances and needs of different places.

HG Mukhya Devi Mataji will talk about her temple which is the biggest Iskcon temple in America.

The Growth of the ISKCON Community in Alachua, Florida

HG Mukhya Devi Mataji

In Alachua Florida there is a big university – University of Florida. Any place where Prabhupada put his feet, it became a tirtha.

There a small group of devotees were distributing books and putting money in a bank. The temple president bought 122 acres of land in countryside using the money available in bank.

The same day, when Prabhupada left the world, he signed the paper to buy the land. He considered this land, the last gift of Prabhupada to his devotees.

The community has gradually grown.

There is a charter school in Florida. You write the charter. Devotees applied because they wanted to start a charter school. The school is funded by the government and run by the devotees.

We also have a gurukul – Bhaktivedanta Academy. We have around 1,400 devotees and a big congregation because of the school.

Like other temples, we have same program – book distribution, prasadam distribution, harinam, deity worship etc. You can take darshan of the deity on the website – alacuatemple.com.

When there are lots of devotees then there are lots of opinions and devotees desire to serve Krishna.

We have there 250 Srila Prabhupada disciples, their children and also their children’s children.

Srila Prabhupada said that your grandchildren will be pure devotees, at least till 14 years they are pure devotees.

Both seniors and juniors get benefit from each other. We have grandfather grandmother day. It is a very loving family relationship.

We do prasadam distribution; we also distribute prasadam near a college.

During Christmas holidays and other US holidays, we serve prasadam to neighbourhood.

Important Point: A spiritual community can grow through many forms of service, including book distribution, prasadam distribution, harinam, deity worship, education and congregational development.

Unity in Diversity

Key thing in Iskcon is service. You should always think how can I serve the devotees.

In temple you have different devotees, some very serious in sadhana, some are upcoming, some are family members and so on.

Prabhupada said that Iskcon is better than United Nation and Alachua is real United Nation. We have devotees from every ethnic community. There are Russians, Americans, Latinos, Indians etc. All work together.

Important Point: Devotional service brings devotees from different backgrounds together in the service of Krishna.

Personal Memories of Srila Prabhupada

HG Sandamini Devi Mataji

We were initiated in 1975. At that time movement was on its peak. Every day devotees would join the temple.

Since there were many devotees, so one-to-one relationship which was possible in 1960s was not possible during that time with Prabhupada.

If Prabhupada looked or glanced on a devotee, then one would build their entire life based on that one glance.

Today devotees have so much opportunity to get near to Srila Prabhupada.

We would get some aerogram and would hear what Prabhupada said to a particular devotee. We would be waiting for Srimad Bhagavatam to come. When I joined 3rd Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam had come and 4th Canto was about to come.

Now devotees have all the books and lectures of Prabhupada on phone. So, you have to become more Krishna conscious than we are.

A Memory from Mayapur

When I came to India for the first time in 1977, I went to Mayapur. There was not much facility and whatever was there it was given to men.

They put ladies on roof of kitchen in the open sky. During rain we would be totally soaked and got sick.

So, one person took mercy on us. He put 10 of us in a 10 by 10 room. It was a very painful situation. Everyone had dysentery.

In the morning, somehow, I crawled to hear Prabhupada’s Srimad Bhagavatam class. I was trying to listen.

After the class, Prabhupada circumambulated the temple. I was sitting there among hundreds of devotees and watching Prabhupada.

Suddenly Prabhupada glanced at me. He motioned his hand as if asking me to get up. I got energy in my body; I immediately jumped up and began dancing for a minute.

He was a pure devotee, his merciful glance purified all.

Important Point: The personal association and mercy of Srila Prabhupada left a deep and lasting impression on his disciples.

HG Mukhya Devi Mataji’s Memories of Srila Prabhupada

At Detroit airport, I was there with the devotees. And all of a sudden, Prabhupada looked at me. I was thinking he is not looking at me, but he was looking at me.

There is memory tape of Prabhupada. In those tapes I heard devotees saying that at Detroit airport Prabhupada was looking at me.

Srila Prabhupada is a saktyavesha avatar, he can look simultaneously at everyone.

During early days of Iskcon, young men were brahmacharis and they did not know how to deal with matajis. It was their false renunciation.

But Prabhupada was very caring. He was concerned that women are properly taken care.

In Detroit, there was one grihastha devotee who had a small flat. Once Prabhupada was speaking in his house, the room was small. I came with my mother-in-law. She was a nice lady, was dressed nicely.

When we came, the room was full of devotees. No one was ready to move, so we could not get inside. But when Prabhupada saw, he asked us to come in. He made us sit near him.

Prabhupada was very respectful to our parents. He knew that we are dedicating our life to Krishna Consciousness, so he had great respect for our parents.

Our parents loved us but not Krishna Bhakti. And they would come to see Prabhupada because of us.

Yesterday we went to Bhaktivinod asana and other places where Prabhupada performed pastimes.

All my life I thought Krishna Consciousness started in New York, but in Kolkata I saw the place where Prabhupada first met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, where he got the instruction to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world.

Important Lessons from the Class

• Loving relationships among devotees are an important part of Krishna consciousness.
• We should identify and overcome our anarthas and subtle bad habits.
• Humility and a service attitude are important qualities of a devotee.
• Pride and the desire for prestige can become obstacles on the path of bhakti.
• We should pray to Krishna for the strength to overcome our unwanted qualities.
• Devotees should think creatively about how to spread Krishna consciousness.
• Spiritual communities grow through the sincere service of many devotees.
• Devotees from different backgrounds can work together in the service of Krishna.
• The teachings and personal example of Srila Prabhupada continue to inspire devotees around the world.
• We should always think about how we can serve Krishna and His devotees.

Conclusion

At the end there was Question and Answer session too. Many devotees, both prabhujis and matajis, were eager to ask question and get person guidance from them. Both the matajis patiently answered devotee’s questions.

The class continued till around 2 pm.  At the end there was delicious lunch prasadam for all.

The Krishna katha and Prabhupada katha shared by HG Sandamini Devi Mataji and HG Mukhya Devi Mataji provided devotees at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata with an opportunity to hear about Krishna’s pastimes, the importance of overcoming anarthas, the growth of Iskcon communities and the personal mercy of Srila Prabhupada.

Choose Krishna in All Circumstances | Bhagavad Gita 18.65

Let us honestly ask ourselves, “If given an option to choose between Krishna and His material energy, what are we going to choose?” Are we going to select Krishna, or are we going to opt for His energy so that we can enjoy disproportionately in this world?

Krishna has given us the free will to exercise our choice. He never interferes with our free will. But the Supreme Lord always tests us to check if you and I really love Him or if we love to live without Him.

For example, before the start of the Mahabharata war, Krishna gave both Arjuna and Duryodhana the opportunity to exercise their free will. Both had to choose either Krishna or Krishna’s Narayani Sena (army). Before they expressed their desire, Krishna also made it clear that He would not be fighting during the war, but His powerful army, the Narayani Sena, would be fighting.

Arjuna had made up his mind, and Duryodhana was also not confused. Arjuna, without any hesitation, chose Krishna, and Duryodhana was jubilant because he got the mighty Narayani Sena. In the end, both were happy because they got what they wanted.

Like Arjuna and Duryodhana, in our life too, you and I get opportunities to exercise our free will. Whether we choose Krishna or Krishna’s material energy shows what our heart longs for.

Krishna Knows the Real Desire of Our Heart

Most of us are still addicted to material life. We just want to live and enjoy without Krishna. Even when we approach Krishna, we mostly ask Him to satisfy our material desires. We never desire to satisfy Krishna’s desire. Krishna is the Supreme Lord; He resides in everyone’s heart, so He knows what is there in our heart.

Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati — “The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna.” (Bhagavad-gītā 18.61)

We can fool the world, but not Krishna. We can show the world that we are great devotees of the Lord, but the Lord knows what kind of devotees we are.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta tells the story of Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa, who chanted the holy name of Lord Rama twenty-four hours a day. Seeing his devotion to Lord Rama, Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami was impressed. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was not. The Lord could understand that he was chanting the name of Lord Rama not because he had love for Rama, but because he wanted to become Lord Rama.

“Within his heart, Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa was an impersonalist who desired to merge into the existence of the Lord, and he was very proud of his learning. Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, He can understand the heart of everyone, and thus He knew all these things.” Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 13.110

The Supreme Lord does not see how we behave externally, but He sees what is there in our heart.

Material Desires Never Bring Lasting Happiness

We nurture material desires or the desire to enjoy like the Lord or become like the Lord because we think they will give us happiness.

But if we turn the pages of history, or even if we reflect upon our own life, we will see that all material desires ultimately become the cause of great suffering. Material desires can never satisfy us because we are spiritual and not material.

Krishna comes to remind us of this again and again. In the Bhagavad-gītā, He repeatedly tells us that we are not the material body, mind, or senses, but pure spirit souls. As souls, we are eternal and are meant to live in peace and bliss. This is possible only when we shun the desire to enjoy this temporary world and turn towards Krishna.

Those who do so never regret it, but those who foolishly think that they can be happy without Krishna voluntarily choose a life of stress, anxiety, and suffering.

Duryodhana chose the mighty Narayani Sena, thinking that it would help him win the war. But without Krishna, victory is phantasmagoria, just as without the sun, quelling darkness is impossible.

Duryodhana ultimately lost the war and his dignity. And whoever was on his side also met the same destiny. In fact, in this world everyone is always defeated.

When We Choose Krishna, Victory Is Guaranteed

Only the Lord is always victorious, and those who are with Him never face defeat. Arjuna was on Krishna’s side, so he too tasted victory.

In the last verse of the Bhagavad-gītā, Sanjaya confirms that those who are on the side of Krishna attain all success and get everything in life.

“Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.” Bhagavad-gītā 18.78

Such a wonderful future awaits us. The only thing we have to do is always choose Krishna in all situations and circumstances. At present, it may look difficult because we are still addicted to material life. Spiritual life does not attract us; it seems boring and unnatural.

We experience this because we have been disconnected from Krishna for several lifetimes. But if we connect with Krishna, then we will begin seeing how pleasurable spiritual life is. We read in the scriptures about the devotees of the Lord who were always in bliss. Even today, we see devotees who have been practising devotion to Krishna for several decades and who enjoy every moment of their lives.

Experiencing the Joy of Choosing Krishna Every Day

We need to put in some endeavour, and Krishna’s love will begin blossoming in our hearts. According to our dedication and commitment, we will experience joy and contentment in our hearts.

For example, if we sit before the Lord in the temple and chant sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, which takes around two hours, then after finishing our chanting, we feel great happiness. But suppose we spend two hours watching movies or YouTube videos. In that case, we do not feel that joy; in fact, most of the time we feel frustrated afterwards.

This is why it is said that material life appears to be nectar in the beginning but becomes poisonous in the end, whereas spiritual life may appear poisonous in the beginning but is nectar in the end.

If we continue choosing Krishna and practising Krishna consciousness, then we will gradually start experiencing pleasure in devotional service too.

But that is not true for material activities. No matter how much we try to seek happiness from material things, we will not get it. Duryodhana, after getting the Narayani Sena, thought he would be victorious and become happy, but the result was just the opposite.

So, let us be like Arjuna and always choose Krishna—victory and happiness are guaranteed.

Whenever we get to choose in our life, let us always choose Krishna.

Krishna as our most dear friend and well-wisher wants us to always choose him in call circumstances.

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

“Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.” Bhagavad Gita 18.65

Three Reflections

• Krishna always tests us to check if we really love him or we love to live without him.
• Only the Lord is always victorious and those who are with him too never face defeat; Arjuna was on the side of Krishna, so he too tasted victory.
• Let us be like Arjuna and choose always Krishna – victory and happiness is guaranteed.

Ask Yourself

• Given an option to attend a program in the temple or watch a movie or a cricket match or a soccer match what do I choose?

Apply this Teaching

• Once in every week go to temple and chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra in front of the Lord with full absorption.

Srimad Bhagavatam at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata – September 2026 | Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14

Below are the important points from the morning Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam classes at ISKCON Newtown Temple, Kolkata, during September 2026. The classes cover Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14 (Canto 11, Chapter 14 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam), “Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava”

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Raj Gopinath Prabhu on 18 September 2026

• Verse Number: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14.1-2
• Chapter Name: Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Sri Uddhava requests Lord Kṛṣṇa to identify the supreme among all processes of self-realization.
• Pure devotional service is the supreme process for fixing the mind in the Supreme Truth, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
• Can everyone practice this process, or is it limited to an elite class of transcendentalists?

Important Points from Class

• Sri Uddhava asks Krishna, “What is the topmost process to attain perfection?”
• Here it is mentioned that the process of devotional service is the topmost process to attain perfection.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asks Ramananda Raya what is the topmost process to attain self-realization, and Ramananda Raya says the topmost is association of devotees.
• Whatever yoga you want to practice, you need association of devotees to attain success.
• Although devotion is easy and simple, when we go away from devotees, then it becomes difficult to practice devotion.
• HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja started his devotion by reading Nectar of Devotion.
• Bhakti even attracts Krishna.
• By His sweetness, Krishna attracts the entire creation.
• Krishna, who attracts all, gets attracted to bhakti because bhakti is a symbol of Radharani.
• But bhakti should be pure and without any material motivation – anyabhilāṣitā śūnyam.
• We should continuously hear about Krishna from devotees.
• Gopis had only one desire, and that was to give pleasure to Krishna. For that, they also did not care about social etiquette or family relationships.
• The nature of devotion is that the amount of pleasure which gopis get while serving Krishna is more than what Krishna gets. To give pleasure to Krishna, gopis render many services. As Krishna’s pleasure increases, gopis’ pleasure increases manyfold.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sudama Prabhu on 21 September 2026

Verse Number: SB 11.14.4
Chapter Name: Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Everyone engages in a certain way of life based on one’s own nature and propensities.
• Bhakti-yoga is the natural activity of one whose nature is completely purified by association with the Supreme Lord.
• Other processes are meant for those whose nature is still affected by the material modes, and thus such processes, along with their results, are themselves also materially contaminated.
• Devotional service to the Lord, however, is a pure spiritual process, and by executing it with a pure consciousness, one comes directly in touch with the Personality of Godhead, who describes Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.2) as pavitram idam uttamam, the supreme pure.

Important Points from Class

• This sloka talks about parampara. Our parampara is Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya. Gaudiya means in this parampara Lord Chaitanya comes.
• First knowledge was given to Brahma by the Supreme Lord.
• There may be many wires, but all wires may not have current. Only the ones connected to a powerhouse have current. Only in an authorised letter box is a letter placed. Similarly, to receive the proper knowledge, we have to be connected to an authorised Parampara like the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Parampara.
• Everyone has to get married to Krishna through sound vibration.
• Krishna is the only purusa, and all the living entities are prakriti. And prakriti is meant to give pleasure to the Lord. Prakriti cannot give pleasure to another prakriti.
• When we use the senses in Krishna’s service, then we attain perfection – hrisikena hrisikesa sevanam.
• In Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna prem is hidden. Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are like the Ganges. In Gita too, there is braj bhakti, for example, in the verse Bhagavad Gita 18.66, sarva-dharmān parityajya/mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.
• All bhakti is great, but topmost is prem bhakti. There are many types of misra bhakti, but only one bhakti, which is braj bhakti or Radha’s bhakti, is prem bhakti.
• We have to rise above rajo and tamo guna and do bhakti of Krishna.
• In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna has praised everything, but topmost is prem bhakti.
• Seva means to know what the person whom I am serving likes.
• Guru, sadhu, sastra can give us uttama bhakti.
• Repetition is required to stress the importance – so mana-manā bhava mad-bhakto is repeated twice in Bhagavad Gita. Once in BG 9.34 and again in BG 18.65.
• Krishna comes in the form of name – kali-kāle nāma-rūpe.
• In Hare Krishna Mahamantra, there is no word from outside. In Jai Sri Rama, Jai is an outside word.
• Ask the mind to jump from Bhagavad Gita (graduation) to Srimad Bhagavatam (post-graduation) to Chaitanya Charitamrita (PhD, philosophy in action). Also, ask the mind to find which is the same sloka in both Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In this way, keep your mind engaged.
• Topmost dharma is given in Srimad Bhagavatam – sai vai pumsam paro dharmo.
• If we have to worship like gopis, then we have to get up in Brahma Muhurat. Gopis would get up in Brahma Muhurat to make makhana.
• Two types of karuna should be there – one for us and one for others.
• For ourselves, we should take a vow to return to Back To Godhead in this life only.
• Simplicity is the quality of a vaisnava.
• We see how simple-hearted Hanuman was.
• When he saw Mother Sita applying sindoor, he smeared his entire body with sindoor. Wife put sindoor so that husband is happy and is always with her. Hanuman thought that if he would apply sindoor all over his body, then Lord Rama would be happy with him and would always be with him.
• We look for happiness, satisfaction, but this is possible only in bhakti.
• In bhakti, sadhana and sadhya are the same. If we put heart and mind, then while doing seva only we will experience the ananda. This is why mukti stands with folded hands in front of bhakti.
• Hanuman, with his body smeared with sindoor, came to Ram darbar. Ram asked Hanuman, “Why have you put sindoor all over your body?” Hanuman said that when Mother Sita puts a little sindoor, then how happy you become, so if I put sindoor all over the body, then how much pleasure it will give you.
• One quality which the Lord likes is simplicity.
• Whatever we do for the Lord, the Lord acknowledges it.
• For example, anyone who offers food to the Lord never dies of hunger.

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Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Maharaas Prabhu on 28 September 2026

Verse Number: SB 11.14.9
Chapter Name: Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• According to one’s individual way of doing things (yathā-karma) and one’s personal preference (yathā-ruci), one speaks to others about what is good for them.
• Everyone thinks, “What is good for me is good for everyone.”
• Without knowledge of the Absolute Truth, many so-called learned people are whimsically advising other whimsical people who also lack perfect knowledge of the actual goal of life.

Important Points from Class

• When Kirtananda Swami was taken to a mental asylum, then Prabhupada wrote an article, “Who Is Crazy?”
• Materialistic people think devotees are crazy, and devotees think that materialistic people are crazy. Prabhupada says that scriptures will decide who is crazy and who is not.
• In Bhagavad Gita 16.23, it is mentioned that:

yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya
vartate kāma-kārataḥ
na sa siddhim avāpnoti
na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim

“He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.”

• Even if one wants happiness in this material world, then for that too one has to follow scriptures.
• One devotee, an IIT professor, Kanchan Chaudhary, had a friend who established a company. He had worked hard and made it a successful company. When he was asked how he attained success, then he said that while working he only focused on his work. So, we see that whatever success one gets in this world, this is also because they follow some aspects of scriptures, even if it may be unknowingly.
• To acknowledge the complexity of a thing is humility.
• We should not immediately come to a conclusion.
• One devotee from Russia had come to Krishna Balarama Temple in Vrindavan. On that day, Shahi Paneer was made. During lunch, he only took Shahi Paneer; he did not take even rice or roti. He ate 2–3 plates of Shahi Paneer. Later, the Russian devotee said that earlier he was addicted to meat eating, so someone suggested him to eat paneer to give up his addiction to meat. And he found this suggestion helpful.
• In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that we should not tell people to give up karma immediately; instead, we should ask them how to engage their present occupational duty in Krishna’s service.
• Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Bhaktyaloka says that there are 6 types of people who can take us away from devotional life.
  • Sense gratifier (visaye)
  • One who is attached to women
  • Those who are attached to those who are sense gratifiers
  • Mayavadis – who do not accept the Lord’s form, rupa, guna, lila
  • Nastik (atheist): one who does not believe in Vedas
  • One who accepts the scriptures externally; they are most dangerous
• Our desire for sense gratification is because of our conditioned nature.
• Shuddha bhakti is anyabhilasitah sunyam. If someone is trying to kill us and we protect ourselves, then it is not wrong.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ignored Ramdas Viswas, who had come with Raghunath Bhatt Goswami, because Ramdas Viswas was chanting the name of Lord Rama because he wanted to become Lord Rama.
• Those who have accepted Srila Prabhupada’s books are practicing Shuddha bhakti.
• In Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.25, Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura explains how devotees should never be morose but should always be hopeful.

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Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Aravind Gopal Prabhu on 29 September 2026

Verse Number: SB 11.14.10
Chapter Name: Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Dharmam eke refers to those atheistic philosophers called karma-mīmāṁsakas, who state that one should not waste time worrying about a kingdom of God that no one has ever seen and from which no one has ever returned.

Important Points from Class

• Conversations between the Lord and His devotees are so auspicious.
• When there is comparison, then things become clear. Here different yoga processes are compared, and ultimately, we see that bhakti is superior.
• Different quests for happiness are described in this verse.
• The natural propensity of the soul is to be happy, so the quest for happiness is not wrong, but unfortunately jivas take the wrong path to become happy.
• Other than bhakti, nothing can give us peace, as mentioned in Chaitanya Charitamrita 19.149.
• kṛṣṇa-bhakta — niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’
  bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī — sakali ‘aśānta’
• “Because a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jñānīs desire liberation, and yogīs desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.”

Chaitanya Charitamrita 19.149

• All these quests for happiness in this verse fall into bhukti, mukti, siddhi, or kami.
• People remain in heaven till the time their piety is not exhausted.
• Material pleasure is just pleasing to hear; one experiences very little happiness.
• Last snare of maya is to think that “I am God.”
• Need of the soul is unlimited happiness. This is possible when one experiences love, i.e. “love of Krishna,” not the love of this material world.
• This is why Srimad Bhagavatam says, sai vai pumsam paro dharmo.
• Only bhakti can satisfy our real need. Bhakti gives one unlimited happiness. Bhakti helps to experience Krishna’s love.
• When we practice bhakti, we come to know how much Krishna loves us. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, su hrdam, sarva bhutanam.
• Love is voluntary, not forced. Krishna has given us freedom and also so many things to enjoy in this world.
• Since morning, we see how Krishna has arranged everything for us. We breathe, see, touch, feel, smell because of Krishna’s mercy.
• Real protection is not just physical protection. Krishna also protects us by giving literatures like Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita.
• Krishna protected Parikshit when he was in the womb of his mother, Uttara. When he took birth, then he was searching for who had protected him, so his name is Parikshit.
• In Bhagavad Gita 11.55, Krishna gives 5 ways to reciprocate with His love:
  • mat-karma-kṛt — by being engaged in Krishna’s work.
  • mat-paramaḥ — considers Krishna as the Supreme.
  • mat-bhaktaḥ — engages in Krishna’s devotional service.
  • saṅga-varjitaḥ — is free from the contamination of fruitive activities and mental speculation.
  • nirvairaḥ — is without any enemy and is friendly to all living entities.
• In Karma yoga, we first work as per our desire and offer the result to Krishna. But gradually, we should come to the stage where we are doing anything which is pleasing to Krishna.
• Srila Prabhupada says that if you are a businessman, then do business and offer the result to Krishna. If you are an artist, do something for Krishna. We have to offer our results to Krishna.
• We see that whatever salary HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja earned, he gave it to Prabhupada. He did not keep anything for himself.
• If we give the result to Krishna, then we can experience more joy.
• The word mat-paramaḥ refers to one who considers the association of Krishna in His supreme abode to be the highest perfection of life.
• When we chant Krishna’s name, then Krishna becomes happy. Just like when someone calls our name, we become happy.

Explore More Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class Notes

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.13 at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – September 2026

Srimad Bhagavatam at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – May 2026

Srimad Bhagavatam at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata – September 2026 | Srimad Bhagavatam 11.13

Below are the important points from the morning Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam classes at ISKCON Newtown Temple, Kolkata, during September 2026. The classes cover Canto 11, Chapter 13 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, “The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā.”

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Narasimha Prabhu on 1 September 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.13.31
• Chapter Name: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Those states of existence that are conceived of as separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead have no actual existence.
• Since this world is the Lord’s creation, one cannot deny that its existence is also real; yet the living entity who identifies the creations of this world as belonging to himself is certainly in illusion.
• A liberated soul in Krishna consciousness does not see anything substantial in even the most exalted rewards offered by the Vedas, such as promotion to the heavenly planets.
• Lord Krishna advised Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita to remain fixed in self-realization, without being deviated by fruitive rituals performed in the name of religion.

Important Points from Class

• In one lecture on Balarama Jayanti HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja says to kill the demon of doubt.
• Maharaja said that Pralambasura who was killed by Balarama was the original terrorist.
• Just as terrorist do recce before attacking a target, Pralambasura did recce of Vrindavan.
• The demon thought that Krishna is extremely powerful so let me kill Balarama. If Balarama dies, then Krishna will automatically die and when Krishna and Balarama are not there then everyone in Vrindavan will die.
• Pralambasura studied the cowherd boys and figured out which cowherd boy did not come on that day. He took the form of that cowherd boy.
• During the game between the cowherd boys, Pralambasura was on the side of Krishna. Krishna’s team lost and as per the games rule, he lifted Balarama on his shoulders.  
• Lord Balarama eventually understood that he was a demon and so he became as heavy as Mandara mountain. Unable to bear the load, Pralambasura came to his original form. With a single fist attack, Balarama killed the demon.
• There are atheists in the guise of scientists who systematically try to destroy the faith of people in the Lord.  If the faith is uprooted, then no matter how many pastimes people hear of Krishna their devotion for the Lord will not develop. Just like if the root of the plant is uprooted, then no matter how much we water it, the plant will not grow.
• So, if there is no faith then no matter how much we hear the pastime of Krishna, it does not work.
• Acharyas make sure that the root of the faith is taken care of.
• People may go to temple, but they do not have conviction and confidence that Lord is there.
• Srila Prabhupada challenged the atheistic scientists and defeated them.
• Krishna means different austerities such as of speech, mind and body but the purpose is to attain the absolute truth.
• Balarama has a club with which he smashes the false ego or foolish ego of the living entities and with the plough he makes the heart fertile.
• Six children of Devaki killed by Kamsa is compared to six anarthas. After the anarthas are destroyed, we get mercy of Balarama who is guru tattva. For us it is the instruction of Srila Prabhupada and his disciples.
• We do not know how much time we have in this body, so we have to be sincere and serious in following instructions of the scriptures.
• If there is no time of maya then no maya. We should make schedule of 28 hours in a day so that we do not have time for maya. We have to do so many things – chanting, reading, preaching and so on.
• Main purpose of all service is to experience presence of Krishna in the holy name.
• When one prepares for competitive examinations, one is very much focused on completing things on time. For bhakti too we should do the same.
• When Krishna appears in his self-same form then everything one gets attracted to him, not just human beings, even birds and animals are attracted to him.
• Capitalism is destroying varnasrama and secularism is nothing but communism.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Anand Vardhan Prabhu on 9 September 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.13.35
• Chapter Name: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

Important Points from Translation & Purport

· The living entity, while living in the external energy of the Lord, should give up any anxiety for sense gratification and should not act for his personal enjoyment.

· If one accepts any material object for one’s personal enjoyment, attachment will inevitably develop, and thus one will be bewildered by illusion.

· By gradually developing one’s spiritual body, one will no longer desire to enjoy anything within the material world.

Important Points from Class

• Everything in this world will remain only for some time.
• Even this body, which we love the most, will eventually go away. People having “Out of Body Experience” see their own body lying dead.
• One rich person had many doctors helping him to keep young. He was more than 55 years old but would think that he was 25 years old. He once came to India but left an interview in the middle because the pollution level was a little high in the room where he was giving the interview. He has a team of experts who monitor everything so that he remains healthy, young and survives for a long period of time. But a month back, he put up a post on social media saying that he has a disease which is destroying his cells and he cannot do anything about it.
• One person was riding on a scooter. An eagle was carrying a half-dead snake in its mouth and flying. Suddenly, the snake fell on the person riding the scooter. The snake bit him and he died. One child got a heart attack and died. So, we see death can come anytime.
• The only connection the soul has with the body is ahankara, i.e. false ego. For example, what relationship do we have with our slippers? It is only ahankara, i.e. this is mine.
• When we identify with the body, then we start looking for different ways to gratify the senses.
• This body is a machine. Just if we take care of our car and not of ourselves, then we will suffer. Similarly, if we just take care of our body and not the soul, then we suffer because we are souls, not material bodies. Whatever is required to take care of the body should be done.
• Soul is just an observer.
• Someone asked Srila Prabhupada why Iskcon preaches only to rich people. Prabhupada said, as per me, everyone is poor from a spiritual perspective.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Vrindavan Chari Prabhu on 10 September 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.13.36
• Chapter Name: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• One who has achieved his eternal identity does not notice whether the temporary body is sitting or standing.
• If by God’s will the body is finished or if by God’s will he obtains a new body, a self-realized soul does not notice, just as a drunken man does not notice the situation of his outward dress.
• A Krishna conscious person who has achieved his spiritual identity does not accept sense gratification in the material world as the goal of his life.
• A liberated soul does not, however, inflict punishment on the body but rather remains neutral, naturally accepting his destiny as the will of the Supreme.

Important Points from Class

• Mind is naturally attracted to sense objects, and sense objects in the form of desires enter the mind.
• Whatever desires we have come in the dream.
• To destroy mutual attraction between mind and sense objects, first we have to understand our identity.
• Once a sage gave different blessings to different people based on how they were living.

The prince (Raja Putra): He gave him the blessing, raja-putra ciram jiva (“You live forever”). He is indulging in sense pleasure, so his next life will be painful; so it is better for him to live longer and enjoy as much as possible.

• Son of a Saintly person, i.e. brahmachari (Muni-putra): He blessed him with ma jiva ma jiva (“You don’t live”). He was indulging in many austerities and had purified himself. He was destined to go to the spiritual world. So, why should he do penance here? Better for him to go to the spiritual world.
• Devotee: He was blessed with jiva va mara va (“Either you live or you die, as you like”). A devotee engaged in the service of the Lord is happy in the present life, and in the next life too he will be engaged in the service of the Lord and will remain happy. So, living and dying does not affect him. We see devotees live in the middle of a city and engage in blissful Krishna Conscious activities. His day begins with Mangala Arati, where he sings and dances, then chants, hears Srimad Bhagavatam, honours prasadam and so on. We may say chanting is an austerity, but if we develop a taste for chanting, then chanting won’t be an austerity. A yogi who wants to attain God has to do lots of austerities. He has to go to the forest and do pranayama. Unless he is purified, he cannot concentrate on the Lord. But for a devotee, things are simpler. Once he understands that he is not the enjoyer, it becomes easy for him to serve Krishna. But for a yogi, it is not so easy to understand that Krishna is the real enjoyer.
• Butcher (Sinful Person): He was given the blessing ma jiva ma mara (“You don’t die, don’t live”). His life is abominable, and after death he is going to suffer for his sins. So, it does not matter whether he lives or dies.

• We see Prabhupada did whatever was required to spread Krishna Consciousness. He sat on the stairs for six hours to get the attention of Sumati Murarji. In the USA, he would purchase food items, cook food, serve the hippies, clean their plates and also give classes. Later, when they surrendered to him, he sometimes chastised them to correct them. Whatever designation is required, devotees accept and perform the service. We should also do our service in that consciousness.
• Our eternal identity is that I am not this body.
• Once Prabhupada was giving a class and was speaking on four classes – brahmana, kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra. One person asked him what was his class. Prabhupada said, I am fifth class, servant of four other classes.
• Pure devotees are always in their eternal identity and act in this world as required to serve the Lord.
• We may have different designations but should remember who we are. We should develop humility; then we can chant nicely. To offer respect to somebody is not easy.
• Even if we do menial of menial service, still we remain attached to our identification. At some places, we feel superior to others and we do apradh.
• How we chant depends on how we spend the whole day. The whole day we have to practice trinad api sunicena.
• In this verse, we see a pure devotee is always engaged in the service of the Lord. His mind is also pure.
• When we do gayatri, then from time to time we have to remember our identity. The three times gayatri we do is also to remember our identity.
• Prayers help us to come out of the material mind and understand our spiritual identity.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu on 11 September 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.13.37
• Chapter Name: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• One should not foolishly starve or injure the body but should patiently wait until the chain of one’s previous fruitive work has completely exhausted itself.
• At that time the body will automatically die according to destiny.
• One who is highly elevated in Krishna consciousness never again surrenders to the illusory identification with the material body, which is just like the body seen in a dream.

Important Points from Class

• In Uddhava Gita, Uddhava’s Question to Krishna – Material life is full of suffering. People understand this, but still, why do people engage in material activities like a dog or an ass? Even intelligent and learned people commit the same mistake again and again.

• Krishna explains, “So-called learned people, when situated in goodness, understand that material life leads to suffering. But since they identify with the mind and body, they get influenced by raja-guna, and because of raja-guna, they engage in material activities.”
• Since they think they are the mind and body, there is a tendency to gratify the mind and body.
• As long as people identify with the body and mind, they will get dragged toward sense gratification.
• So, a person should drag one’s mind away from sense gratification and meditate on Krishna through the practice of yoga.
• Actual yoga is taught by devotees like the four Kumaras.
• Uddhava asked, if Sanaka could teach yoga, then when did you teach him yoga? In what form did you teach him yoga? Because unless you teach, no one can know.
• Then Krishna explained how the four Kumaras approached Brahma, but Brahma could not answer their queries. As Brahma was influenced by the three modes, he was not able to answer the question. One can answer questions when one is in goodness and pure goodness. Brahma, because of the influence of raja-guna, could not answer. But Brahma did one great thing: he meditated on Krishna. As soon as he meditated, Krishna said, “I appeared in Hamsa form to answer the question.”
• Question of the four Kumaras to Lord Hamsa: The mind is attracted to sense objects, and sense objects naturally enter the mind, so how can one disconnect the mind from sense objects?
• When we see anything, the mind goes there unintentionally. Some young girl comes; the mind turns in that direction. If there is nice prasadam or nice music, the mind goes in that direction.
• The five senses naturally get attracted to objects of sense gratification.
• The problem with sense gratification is that it leads to samsara, i.e., to the continuous cycle of birth and death.
• Those who want liberation should cut the connection between sense objects and the mind.
• The four Kumaras asked how to cut this attraction of the mind.
• When the Lord appeared as Hamsa Avatara, His form was beautiful and His voice was captivating. The four Kumaras were amazed. Brahma’s carrier is also a hamsa, but is not like Lord Hamsa.
• The four Kumaras asked, “My dear sir, who are you? Please tell us.” The Lord, being in the heart, knows what conception people have in their hearts. The four Kumaras had a Brahman conception, an impersonal understanding of God.
• First, the Lord smashed the impersonal conception. Hamsa said, “If I am you and you are me, then there is no meaning to your question.”
• The Lord said, “You and I are spiritual beings but are different in identity. I am Supreme, and you are subordinate.” The Lord removed the impersonal conception first.
• Living entities are spiritual beings but can come under maya, whereas maya is always under Krishna. So, Krishna is never bewildered and never overcome by ignorance. Therefore, He can say what is right and wrong.
• A living entity is not God and can never be God.
• Another misconception people have: People think they are the body and mind. As long as people think they are the body or mind, it is difficult to cut the attraction to sense objects. When we think we are the body and mind, we think we are the doer and proprietor, and the purpose of this world is for our enjoyment.
• We have to understand that we are spirit souls.
• The three states of consciousness are waking, dreaming, and susupti, i.e., deep sleep. In all these states, one identifies with the body. We are imagining that we are young, old, this and that.
• One should understand that we are not the body and the mind.
• The first misconception is impersonalism; the second is, “I am the body and mind.”
• The third misconception is to think, “Let us not waste time in finding God.” If we do not understand God, then one will not understand oneself. Without God, self-realization is impossible. Without the sun, we cannot see. Similarly, unless we understand God, we cannot have self-realization.
• If we do not understand the self, we will misidentify ourselves. We will think that we are the body and mind. And if this is the case, then there is no possibility of cutting the connection between the mind and sense objects.
• Before creation, Brahma performed one thousand celestial years of tapasya. Pleased with his tapasya, the Lord spoke four verses, which are called Catuh Sloki Bhagavatam, to Brahma.
• 1st verse of Catuh Sloki Bhagavatam: Before creation, the Lord is there; during the creation, the Lord is there; and after annihilation, God is also there.
• 2nd verse of Catuh Sloki Bhagavatam: If you see anything of value without connection with Me (Krishna), then it is an illusion. We may think money will give security, but either we leave money or money leaves us. If education does not lead to Krishna, then it leads to pride and does not solve the problems of life. Anything connected with Krishna has value. Krishna is one and other things are zero. So, when connected with Krishna, they have value. If there is no “one,” then no matter how many zeros are there, there is no value.
• 3rd verse of Catuh Sloki Bhagavatam: I enter the cosmos, and I am outside of the cosmos too. The Lord enters the cosmos as Maha-Vishnu, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and Kshirodakasayi Vishnu. In every aspect of life, we should search for Krishna. When we connect to Krishna, then we go to the fourth state of consciousness. In that state, one is awakened to the reality that I am part and parcel of Krishna. When one comes to this stage, then one can meditate on Krishna – man-mana bhava mad-bhakto. Unless the mind meditates on Krishna, it is not possible to cut the mind from sense objects. The mind will always be overpowered by maya. Hamsa first teaches the four Kumaras Sankhya, i.e., that spirit and matter are different. And to connect to the Supreme is called yoga. Lord Hamsa says that if you meditate on Me, then you can save yourself from the three modes of material nature. A person intoxicated with love of God is not disturbed by bodily changes.
• A person in a car is not focusing on the car but on the destination, i.e., going home or to the office. Similarly, a devotee is not concerned about his body but about service to Krishna. But at the same time, he does not neglect his body, just as a person does not neglect the car which he is driving.
• By repeatedly hearing from guru, sadhu, and sastra, we understand that we are not the body but spirit souls. Our intelligence is polluted, so we should not pay attention to it. Real intelligence is the words of guru, sadhu, and sastra.
• In our current state, the mind will accept anything which will take us to sense gratification. So, we should regularly hear Srimad Bhagavatam and accept the words of guru, sadhu, and sastra, whether we like it or not.
• If I don’t like it but still hear the holy name, I will start liking the holy name gradually. I may not like Bhagavatam class, but if we continue hearing, we will start liking it. We have to tolerate and do the things recommended. Slowly, our feelings will change, and we will begin liking the holy name, Bhagavatam, devotees, and Krishna.
• We should not take the mind seriously but should take the words of guru, sadhu, and sastra seriously.
• Sometimes the Lord uses pure devotees to teach us some lessons. For example, Arjuna was put into that condition by Krishna.
• In the case of the four Kumaras, we see that they hear from Ananta Sesa and Lord Hamsa. They even go to the Vaikuntha planets, where the Jaya-Vijaya pastime took place. These pastimes may happen in different creations of the Lord, and understanding the chronology may not be possible.
• Just by knowledge and intelligence, we cannot cut the connection to sense gratification. Only devotional service can cut that connection. It happens when devotees get a higher taste.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Kushal Vihari Prabhu on 12 September 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.13.38
• Chapter Name: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• My dear brāhmaṇas, I have now explained to you the confidential knowledge of Sāṅkhya, by which one philosophically distinguishes matter from spirit, and of aṣṭāṅga-yoga, by which one links up with the Supreme.
• After explaining the sāṅkhya- and aṣṭāṅga-yoga systems, the Lord clearly answers the original question of the sages, “Who are You, sir?” Thus, Lord Brahmā and his sons were enlightened by Lord Haṁsa.

Important Points from Class

1. When Lord appeared as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then he was more merciful. During Mahaprakash like he showed his mercy to the devotees explicitly.
2. In Maha Prakash Lila, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that I am Lord Vishnu, worship me.
3. For example, to Murari Gupta Lord showed him his form of Lord Rama and all the devotees turned into monkeys.
4. To Catus Kumar too here, Lord Hamsa says I am Vishnu.
5. In Mahaprakash Lila, Lord also showed the glories of the devotees. He informed how Haridas Thakura was ready to be beaten at 22 marketplaces. But Lord also showed that how he took the beatings on his body to protect Haridas Thakura.
6. Lord Chaitanya is most merciful, he showed how he interacts with the devotees.
7. To Arjuna also he told, take my shelter, in this verse, Lord is saying to take his shelter.
8. In Mahaprakash Lila, Lord is showing what happens when anyone surrenders to the Lord. Haridas Thakura while glorifying the Lord tells how the Lord reciprocates with his devotees.
9. Pure devotees of the Lord pray to the Lord without any motive; we should also pray to the Lord with that mindset.
10. By hearing devotees’ reciprocation with the Lord, we develop love for the Lord.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Govind Ghosh Prabhu on 14 September 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.13.40
• Chapter Name: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Because the Lord completely ignores the so-called enjoyment offered by the illusory energy, He is called nirapekṣakam,
• Being the best well-wisher of His devotees, He is called suhṛdam.
• Priyam indicates that the Lord is the supreme lovable object and that He establishes wonderful, affectionate relationships with His devotees.
• Sāmya indicates that the Lord is neutral and detached in all material situations.

Important Points from Class

• In Jail, local prisoners train the new prisoners.
• In some schools especially in villages, when teachers are not available, then senior students teach the junior classes.
• Me giving class, is akin to that. We are in maya, but we are speaking how to come out of maya.
• In the last two verses 40-41, we learn how by understanding qualities of the lord, we can come out of maya.
• Lord Hamsa in this section discusses jnana and vairagya in detail.
• Lord discusses in this world that vairagya is important and along with vairagya jnana is required. But both should be done in relationship with bhakti.
• Because of three modes, living entities start considering himself as material body and mind. To get out of this one should come to sudha-satva and to come to Sudha-satva, we should first come to the level of satva guna.
• When Krishna teases Rukmini saying that he is not even the king, Rukmini says that you are right, you are not the king of this world, but you are the king of the spiritual world. In this material world, maya is the ruler.
• In ŚB 11.13.4, it is mentioned that ten items are under the three modes.
• Mode of goodness brings us to the level that we can discriminate what is right or wrong.
• In 11^th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, vairagya and jnana is discussed. Srimad Bhagavatam is teaching in the concluding verses how to get detached from this world.
• When spider makes cobweb, she does not get entangle in it. Even her children do not get entangle in it. But other insects get entangled.
• Similarly, Lord creates this world but does not get entangled in it. Nor does his pure devotees.
• To get out of this world, we have to take help of this world. If we engage gross and subtle body in the service of the Lord, then we can purify ourselves.
• Because of friction between two bamboos there is fire and the fire burns the entire bamboo forest. We are engaged in this world because of material mind and senses. We have to do reverse it by engaging mind and senses in the service of the Lord.
• By engaging mind, body and senses in the service of the Lord, we can destroy our material mind, senses and body.
• Engaging mind and body and service of the Lord is very important. Single minded devotion and focus is very much required.
• People know that because of too much indulgence (bhoga) one is suffering and but still people are not able to give it up.
• People are not able to give up sense gratification because a person misidentifies himself with the material body and mind.
• Especially because of Rajo and Tamo guna, one is attached to sense gratification.
• If a toy is taken away from a child, the child will cry. Solution is to give something better to a child. Similarly, we should give up lower taste by taking up higher taste.
• Mind and intelligence are right and left hand of ahankara.
• Lord Hamsa first smashed mayavad, then sense gratification, then he explains that everything comes from him.
• There are three types of consciousness – jagrat, swapna, susupti. Beyond this is turya.
• Whatever we are getting in this world is result of our past karmas. Sometimes an enemy becomes the son of a person and troubles him.
• We should serve Krishna with mind, intelligence and body. We should cut our attachment to this world by the sword of knowledge.
• In SB 11.13.38 – 41 – Lord Hamsa tells that he is Lord Vishnu

Previous Month’s Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class Notes

• Srimad Bhagavatam at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – May 2026

Offense to Devotees Brings Great Misfortune | Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 3.164

HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja spoke in detail as how offense to devotees brings great misfortune. Maharaj said that offense to devotees bring misfortune to not just a devotee but to entire community.

He was giving morning Chaitanya Charitamrita class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 20^th Feb 2026.

Before starting the class, Maharaja said that devotees should take notes during the class. He said, “Without taking notes, you retain 7%; with notes, 50%; and when you revise the notes, you retain 93%.”

Below is what Maharaj said in the class.

When a devotee makes an offense to an advanced devotee, then the entire temple is affected. We get the benefits of good things done, and similarly we get negative effects when someone does wrong. We all have the responsibility to at least help correct the situation.

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Offense to Devotees – The Case of Ramachandra Khan

Ramachandra Khan, a Hindu, was proud, arrogant, wealthy, influential, and the top man in his village. He had heard of Haridas Thakura and that Hindus were appreciating and glorifying him. Ramachandra Khan did not appreciate this. He thought Haridas Thakura was putting on a show.

So, he thought, “I must make arrangements so that people see what he really is.” He believed Haridas Thakura was not a real devotee and should not be appreciated or glorified as an advanced devotee because he was sure that he was not an advanced devotee.

Ramachandra Khan hired a prostitute and sent her to Haridas Thakura. When a beautiful girl comes and shows her physical features, he was sure that Haridas Thakura would fall upon seeing her. He had policemen behind the bushes and probably some reporters. The purpose was to inform others that Haridas Thakura was bad and should be treated like that.

The prostitute came and spoke in a certain way. She tried, but nothing happened to Haridas Thakura. He continued chanting. If you are approached, then do not follow what Haridas Thakura did and say that first you have to chant. He said, “I want to enjoy, but I have to chant my rounds.” In the middle of the night she fell asleep.

In the morning, when the rooster made sound, she asked Haridas Thakura, “Have you not finished your rounds?” Haridas Thakura said that it was yesterday’s rounds and he had to complete today’s rounds. She sat and began listening to the chanting. Her heart got purified, and she eventually became a transformed person.

Our chanting is not at that level. When we chant, we are distracted by so many things – what we have to do and what not to do. The propensity for getting distracted from japa is prominent. Haridas Thakura’s chanting was pure.

Work on your chanting

First lesson – we need to work on our chanting. It is an ongoing process.

Srila Prabhupada was once asked, “How long did it take you to perfect your chanting?” Srila Prabhupada said, “About 25 years.” He asked the students, “How old are you?” The students said, “20.” Srila Prabhupada answered, “You have time.”

We may think 25 years is fine, but it depends on whether we are working on it or not.

The prostitute became an advanced devotee in hours. Haridas Thakura left that place. The lady came and started living in the same hut and became a famous devotee. She asked him, “How will I maintain myself?” Haridas Thakura said, “Don’t worry. If you do so, Krishna will supply.” It was a fact. Many people saw that she had become a devotee, and local people supplied what she needed.

Later Maya Devi herself came with the complete potency of material energy, and the same thing happened. She could not bewilder Haridas Thakura.

Ramchandra Khan offends Lord Nityananda

Later on, Lord Nityananda, accompanied by a whole group of His disciples and devotees traveling around India, happened to pass through that area. They came to the town where Ramachandra Khan was living, and he was a big man in the town with wealth and influence.

Lord Nityananda and the devotees entered. Some asked local people if there was any place where their large group could be accommodated. They were advised to go to Ramachandra Khan’s place, as there was room there.

Lord Nityananda arrived there with devotee.

“Lord Nityānanda, who is omniscient because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, came to the house of Rāmacandra Khān and sat down on the altar of the Durgā-maṇḍapa.”
CC Antya-lila 3.150

When Lord Chaitanya had Mahaprakash lila at Srivas Thakura’s place, He moved the Saligram sila to the side and sat on the altar. Often Lord Chaitanya’s activities are exemplary, and sometimes they are not. It is called the Isvara principle. Srila Prabhupada said Lord Krishna does exemplary things which we should follow, but sometimes He does things that are not exemplary, such as dancing with the gopis. Because He is the Lord, if He wants to do something He can do it.

We should have transcendental intelligence to understand what to follow and what not to follow.

Srila Prabhupada was traveling for the first time with foreign devotees. There was no temple, and they were staying with devotees. But those devotees had some sahajiya ideas. They asked Srila Prabhupada to tell about rasa dance. Every day they asked the question, and Srila Prabhupada avoided it. When they kept on persisting then Srila Prabhupada said, “You may be qualified to hear it, but I am not qualified to speak about it.”

Ramchandra Khan suffers

As Lord Chaitanya did during the beginning of Mahaprakash lila, similarly Lord Nityananda sat on the Durga Mandap.

A servant came and asked what they could do. Lord Nityananda said, “Can we stay here tonight?” The servant went in and told Ramachandra Khan, but Ramachandra Khan did not come out.

Uninvited guests should be taken as God.

And here Lord Nityananda is God. Ramachandra Khan was so ignorant that he did not come out to meet or greet the Lord. The servant came out and said that Ramachandra Khan had asked him to accompany them to a local house, a cowshed, because this place was not spacious. It was very offensive.

Lord Nityananda said: “Rāmacandra Khān has spoken rightly. This place is unfit for Me. It is fit for cow-killing meat-eaters.” CC Antya 3.155

Ramachandra Khan ordered the servant to dig up the dirt in the place where Lord Nityananda had sat. He wanted to throw away the dirt. To purify the place, he sprinkled water and used cow dung. Ramachandra Khan went berserk. But Lord Nityananda is God. Because of making such offenses, things went downhill for Ramachandra Khan.

Ramachandra Khan was in the practice of hiding taxes. The Muslim minister of finance understood this and came to his place, the same place where Lord Nityananda was refused to stay. The minister arrested Ramachandra Khan, killed a cow there, and cooked the meat in that place. He continuously plundered their house and village for three days.

Ramachandra Khan lost his position, money, and followers, and the village became abandoned.

“Wherever an advanced devotee is insulted, for one man’s fault the entire town or place is afflicted.” CC Antya-lila 3.164

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Because of Sringi’s fault whole Brahminical society suffered

Maharaj Parikshit was cursed by Sringi, the son of Samika Rsi. Samika Rsi was a devotee. Not only Maharaj Parikshit died, but the whole brahminical society gradually went downhill because of the fault of Sringi.

It takes a village to educate a child. Sringi was not qualified. He was proud and got carried away. Maharaj Parikshit was a pure devotee of the Lord and was ruling as a first-class Vaishnava. Like Ramachandra Khan, Sringi insulted Maharaj Parikshit.

At least locally everyone should have tried correcting Sringi.

Samika Rsi had not trained him properly. He had only trained him to curse. The village brahmanas were also negligent in correcting him.

One difficulty is how to deal with faults effectively. For example, when we see a senior breaking principles, if you are junior then do not try to correct them unless it is an emergency.

We should try to get a suitable devotee to correct the situation. If someone sincerely tries to correct, there may not be any reaction.

Lord Nityananda wanted to deliver Jagai and Madhai to glorify Lord Chaitanya. Since Lord Nityananda’s devotees were not properly treated, He behaved in this way with Ramchandra Khan.

Balarāma Jayanti 2026 Celebrated at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata

Balarama Jayanti was celebrated at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata on Friday, 28th August 2026.

On the day of Balarāma Jayanti, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class was given by HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu, followed by HG Rajgopinath Prabhu. The class began at 8 am and continued till 11:30 am.

Below is what HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu said during the Balarama Jayanti 2026 class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata.

Wonderful Qualities of Lord Balarama

He began the class by singing the song “Hari Hari Biphale Janama.”

Balarāma has appeared in this age of Kali as Lord Nityānanda.

People of the world did not know who Krishna and Balarāma were, but because of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mercy, today people all over the world know who Krishna and Balarāma are.

Krishna Is the Supreme Lord

Someone suggested that Prabhupāda use “God Consciousness” instead of “Krishna Consciousness,” but Prabhupāda disagreed. He said that God is a vague term; people should know who God is, and all scriptures say that Krishna is God.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.28 says:

Krishnas tu bhagavān svayam

which means that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Not only that, Krishna is the source of all incarnations, He is the Supreme Lord, and the cause of all causes. So Prabhupāda used the term “Krishna Consciousness” instead of “God Consciousness” because Krishna is the Supreme Lord.

Krishna did not appear only 5,000 years ago; He exists eternally.

He is the source of everything:

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo

“From Me everything emanates.”

Lord Balarāma is His first expansion, His second body.

Svāṁśa and Vibhinnāṁśa

The Lord has two types of expansions—svāṁśas and vibhinnāṁśas.

All svāṁśas are omnipotent and omniscient.

Vibhinnāṁśas are the living entities.

Balarāma is a svāṁśa expansion. One visible difference between Krishna and Balarāma is their complexion: Krishna is blackish and Balarāma is whitish.

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Balarāma is the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead.

Balarāma Serves Krishna in Different Forms

Lord Balarāma serves Krishna through various expansions and forms, including Mahā-Saṅkarṣaṇa, Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and Śeṣa.

Mahā-Saṅkarṣaṇa

Mahā-Saṅkarṣaṇa is associated with the spiritual world and its expansions.

Mahā-Viṣṇu

Mahā-Viṣṇu creates the material universes. One breath of Mahā-Viṣṇu corresponds to the lifetime of Brahmā—approximately 311.04 trillion human years.

Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu

The local manifestation of the Lord within each universe is Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who resides in Kṣīrasāgara, the Ocean of Milk, on Śvetadvīpa.

He expands as Paramātmā and enters the heart of all living entities.

Śeṣa

Lord Balarāma also expands as Lord Śeṣa. He performs personal service to the Lord in innumerable ways.

Although Balarāma is the first expansion of Krishna, His only desire is to serve Krishna.

Balarāma as Ādi-Guru and Ādi-Servant

Balarāma is Ādi-guru, the original spiritual master.

The four Kumāras hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from His lips, and they in turn repeat it in the transcendental bliss of love of Godhead. This is mentioned in Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 5.122.

Balarāma Gives Strength to the Guru

Balarāma is Ādi-guru. All gurus receive spiritual strength from Balarāma.

The word Bala means strength. Balarāma gives us the spiritual strength necessary to advance in Krishna consciousness.

The Plough of Balarāma

Balarāma carries a plough.

A farmer uses a plough to till the soil and make it fertile so that seeds can be planted and crops can grow.

Similarly, Balarāma softens and prepares our heart by removing impurities and anarthas, making it fertile for the seed of Krishna-prema.

Balarāma is therefore both Ādi-guru and Ādi-servant.

He serves the Lord in all five rasas.

Balarāma Serves Krishna in Five Rasas

Balarāma serves Krishna in different relationships, demonstrating His mood of loving service.

Śānta-rasa

In śānta-rasa, the Lord is served through various paraphernalia. Balarāma expands as clothes, umbrella, shoes, seat, and other articles used in the service of Krishna.

He also expands as musical instruments such as the mṛdaṅga and karatālas.

Dāsya-rasa

In dāsya-rasa, Balarāma serves Krishna as a servant. He massages Krishna’s feet and performs various services for Him.

Sakhya-rasa

In sakhya-rasa, Balarāma is Krishna’s elder brother and intimate friend.

He plays with Krishna and the cowherd boys in Vṛndāvana.

Vātsalya-rasa

Balarāma also displays parental affection toward Krishna and protects Him.

Nanda Mahārāja and Mother Yaśodā have great confidence in Balarāma.

During the pastime of Krishna and Kāliya, Balarāma was not present, and Krishna entered the Yamunā to subdue Kāliya.

Mādhurya-rasa

Balarāma also serves Krishna in mādhurya-rasa.

In this connection, He is manifested as Anaṅga Mañjarī, who is described in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition as the younger sister of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and who assists Rādhārāṇī in Her service to Krishna.

Thus, Balarāma’s mood is always one of service to Krishna.

Balarāma and the Demons He Killed

Balarāma killed several powerful demons, including Pralambhāsura and Dhenukāsura.

Pralambhāsura Represents Desire for Prestige

Pralambhāsura can be understood as representing the desire for prestige—pūjā, lābha and pratiṣṭhā.

A devotee should therefore be careful about the desire for recognition and honour.

Instead of seeking honour for ourselves, we should transfer all honour to our spiritual master and to Krishna.

By the mercy of Balarāma, we can overcome these unwanted desires.

Dhenukāsura Represents Foolishness

Dhenukāsura appeared as a donkey and was killed by Balarāma in Tālavana.

The donkey represents foolishness and the mentality of considering ourselves to be the proprietor of things that actually belong to Krishna.

The body, home, land, spouse, children and material possessions are not ultimately ours. We are simply caretakers of what has been given to us by Krishna.

The cowherd boys wanted to go to Tālavana to enjoy the fruits there. Their desire can also be understood in the mood of wanting to enjoy Krishna’s association and serve Him.

By the mercy of Balarāma, we can overcome the foolish mentality of material proprietorship.

Dvivida, the Powerful Ape

He was devotee of Lord Rama; he is glorified in Ramayana. But he did not respect Lakshman. When one disrespects guru, one falls down from good association. He later became friends with asuras like Narakasura.

In Treta yuga, he was devotee but in Dwapar yuga he became a demon. Balarama eventually killed him. If you accept Krishna but not Balarama, then it is ardha-kukkuṭī-nyāya, the half – hen logic.

Balarāma Teaches Us Not to Imitate Krishna

Once Balarama was crying because he wanted Krishna’s dress and peacock feather. So, Balarama wore Krishna’s dress and peacock feather. On that day Kesi demon came. As Balarama was looking like Krishna the demon kicked Balarama and Balarama became fearful. The demon was finally killed by Krishna.

It was not that Balarama could have not killed the demon but he wanted to teach that one should not imitate Krishna. Great devotees do not become great by imitating Krishna but by serving Krishna.

This is an important lesson for devotees: do not imitate the Lord; follow the instructions of the Lord and the spiritual master.

Balarāma and the Brahmā-Vimohana Līlā

Another important pastime connected with Krishna and Balarāma is the Brahmā-vimohana-līlā.

The demon Aghāsura was killed by Krishna. After this, Brahmā stole the cowherd boys and calves and hid them.

On that day Balarama had not gone with Krishna to the forest. After Aghasura was killed, Brahmaji became bewildered and to test if Krishna is Supreme Lord or not, he stole cowherd friends of Krishna and the calves.

Krishna expanded himself into the cowherd boys and the calves. For one year Balarama did not know that Brahma had stolen the cowherd boys and calves. This shows that Krishna can even bewilder Balarama.

This pastime demonstrates the inconceivable potency of Krishna. Even Balarāma can wonder at Krishna’s arrangements and transcendental activities.

Balarāma Is Sometimes Angry and Sometimes Compassionate

Balarāma can display great anger toward those who oppose Krishna, but He is also extremely compassionate toward devotees.

His anger destroys the obstacles that prevent us from advancing in Krishna consciousness, while His mercy gives us the strength to approach Krishna.

Prayers on Balarāma Jayanti

On Balarāma Jayanti, we can pray to Lord Balarāma for the strength to properly honour our spiritual masters, take their instructions seriously, and serve them nicely.

We can pray to Balarāma to destroy the anarthas represented by Pralambhāsura and Dhenukāsura within our hearts.

We can also pray for His mercy so that we may develop genuine strength in Krishna consciousness.

May Balarāma give us the strength to overcome our weaknesses and allow us to serve Krishna with sincerity.

We can also pray that Abhay Tīrtha manifests in Kolkata for the service of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the devotees.

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Below is what HG Rajgopinath Prabhu said during the Balarama Jayanti 2026 class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata.

Balarama teaches how to serve Krishna

Lord Balarāma was the seventh child conceived by Mother Devakī, but the seventh pregnancy of Devakī brought both happiness and sadness.

Balarāma came to the womb of Devakī and was subsequently transferred to the womb of Rohiṇī by the internal potency of the Lord. This was part of the divine arrangement preceding the appearance of Krishna. – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.2.4–8

The Fear of Māyā

The fear which Devakī had for Kaṁsa can be compared to the fear devotees should have of Māyā.

Just as Devakī was constantly fearful because of Kaṁsa, devotees should remain cautious about the influence of Māyā.

We should always be careful not to become distracted from Krishna consciousness.

The Six Children of Devakī

The six children of Devakī can be understood as representing the six anarthas.

After these anarthas are destroyed, bhakti can mature.

When Krishna-prema develops in the heart, Krishna manifests Himself there.

Balarāma’s Love for Krishna

Lord Balarāma has great love for Krishna.

When Bakāsura swallowed Krishna, Krishna escaped from his mouth and killed him. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.11.48–55

But when Balarama saw that Bakasura has swallowed Krishna, he fainted. This demonstrates the loving relationship between Krishna and Balarāma.

Everything Can Be Used in Krishna’s Service

Whatever we use in the service of Krishna can be understood in relation to Balarāma, who expands as Śeṣa and serves Krishna in innumerable ways.

Therefore, everything should be used in the service of Krishna.

Instead of using things for our own enjoyment, we should learn how to engage everything in Krishna’s service.

Balarāma’s Beautiful Choti

Balarāma had a long, beautiful and thick choti.

There is a beautiful traditional devotional song in which Krishna asks Mother Yaśodā when His own choti will become as long and thick as Balarāma’s.

The song says:

Maiyā, kabahin baṛhegī choṭī?
Kitik bāra mohiṁ dūdha piyata bhaī, yaha ajahūṁ hai choṭī.
Tū jo kahati Bala kī benī jyoṁ, hvai hai lāṁbī moṭī.
Kāṛhata-guhata nhāvata jaihai, nāgin-sī bhūī loṭī.
Kāṁcho dūdha piyāvati pachi-pachi, deti na mākhana-roṭī.
Sūrasyaṁma cirajīvau dou bhaiyā, Hari-Haladhara kī joṭī.

The song beautifully glorifies the two brothers, Krishna and Balarāma.

Garga Muni Gives the Name Balarāma

Garga Muni was requested by Vasudeva to perform the name-giving ceremony for Krishna and Balarāma – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.8.1–5

The name Balarāma consists of Bala, meaning strength, and Rāma, referring to pleasure.

Balarāma gives us spiritual strength.

He gives us the strength to advance in spiritual life and to develop our relationship with Krishna.

Balarāma Gives Spiritual Strength

Material strength alone cannot help us achieve Krishna.

We need spiritual strength.

Balarāma, as Ādi-guru, gives us the strength to follow the instructions of the spiritual master and remain steady in devotional service.

Just as the plough prepares the land for cultivation, Balarāma prepares our hearts for the cultivation of bhakti.

By the mercy of Balarāma, we can attain Krishna.

Conclusion

Balarama Jayanti 2026 was celebrated with reverence at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. Devotees remained absorbed in Balarāma-kathā until around 11:30 a.m. After the class, devotees sang Vaiṣṇava songs. At 12 noon, puṣpāñjali was offered to Lord Balarāma, followed by āratī and kīrtana. Devotees had also fasted from both food and water on this auspicious day. They broke their fast after 12 noon by honouring delicious Kṛṣṇa-prasādam.

Without the mercy of Lord Balarama, we cannot attain Krishna. He is first expansion of Krishna and is powerful almost like Krishna but still he only wants to serve Krishna.

His life and pastimes teach us the importance of service, humility, spiritual strength, and proper association. On the auspicious occasion of Balarāma Jayanti, let us pray for His mercy so that we may become sincere servants of Krishna and our spiritual master.

Our Forgotten Relationship with Krishna | Srimad Bhagavatam 11.11.4

Although we are part and parcel of Krishna, but still we suffer because we have forgotten our relationship with Krishna.

Supreme Lord Krishna has three energies – internal, marginal & external.  The Lord’s abode like Goloka Vrindavan or Vaikuntha planets and the ever-liberated devotees living there are part of his internal energy.  

This material world is his external energy. And we the living entities are his marginal energy.  Krishna has given us, the finite souls, the free will to choose to live with him in his spiritual kingdom or to live away from him in this material world.

When we decide to live separately from him in this world, we get overpowered by his material energy.  Although, the living entities and the material energy both are potencies of the Lord, but the Lord has gifted the material nature the power to overpower those jivas who do not want to be with him.

But the material nature cannot overpower the Lord because he is the Supreme. The Lord is the potent and both, the living entities and the material energy, are his potencies.

Jivas are like God but not God

Since we, the living entities are part and parcel of the Lord, so we have qualities like the Lord but quantitatively we are infinitesimal to the Lord. What Lord can do, we too can do but in small proportion. For example, the Supreme Lord Krishna can create oceans, we can also dig wells or create small reservoirs to store water.  The Lord creates huge planets which seamlessly float in the space, we create small planes which fly in the sky.

Lord gives us this material body which has the capability to give birth to another material body. The human intelligence too creates a robot, but the robot cannot give birth to another robot, neither it is conscious like us.

If we look around, we find each of the living beings have unique idsentity – their faces are different, they sound differently, they think and act differently. But robots are all the same – they look the same, they work as they are programmed. Living beings have feelings but not the machines.

As his potency, we can do things like him but in a small way.  Lord can be compared to an ocean, and we are like a drop of the ocean. He is like the sun; we are like the rays of the sun.  As we are minuscule, so we easily get influenced by the material energy which is also called his illusory energy. Illusory because this world makes us believe that we can be happy here forever without the Lord.

Curing our enjoying mentality

Now to live in this material world, we are given material bodies.  Confined within the material body, we, the spirit souls, gradually start misidentifying ourselves with this material body and with this material world. Pains and pleasures to the material body start affecting us. We forget that this material body is just an outer covering and we are aloof to it.

As we carry desires to enjoy, we are given different bodies.  Sometimes we get a human body and sometimes an animal body.  Just as in our present body we have father, mother, brother and sister similarly in our previous lives we had such relationships.

Srimad Bhagavatam tells the story of King Citraketu and his wife Kṛtadyuti who were in great distress as they lost their young son. Sage Narada by his spiritual potency made the departed soul re-enter the dead body of the boy. When the sage told him that the king and the queen are his father and mother, then the boy was confused. He asked, “In which body they were my father and mother because I had many such bodies. I was sometime born in a human species, sometimes in animal species, sometimes in heavenly abode and sometimes in lower planetary system.”

So, as a soul, we are on a never-ending journey in this world. But wherever we go miseries and death accompanies us.  We came to this world thinking we can enjoy here without Krishna and even more than Krishna. But the opposite happens here.  One of the reasons why the Lord allows us to come here is to make us understand that we can never be happy without him. The Lord mercifully wants to cure us from the enjoying mentality.  

Suffering due to misidentification with this material body

Whatever punishment or sufferings we are subjected to is to remind us that this place is not fit for us. Just like in a prison the prisoner cannot expect to live peacefully and happily, similarly in this prison of material existence peace and bliss is a phantasmagoria.

But as a soul, we are pleasure seekers but imprisoned in a material body we remain unhappy.  As a soul we always remain pure.  Just like the reflection of the moon on a river appear to quiver as the water in the river flows but in reality, the moon is still in the sky.

Similarly, the souls remain permanently pure and free from all contamination but in this material world it looks like it gets affected by material qualities like illusion, lamentation, distress and so on.

The suffering is only due to misidentification with this material body and material world. We must give up this misidentification. We should also be convinced that this material body and material world is not a safe place for us.  

Even Krishna wants to educate us about this. Although we choose to turn away from him, but he never leaves us. This is why he appears in this world time to time to remind us about our original home which is full of joy.

He gifts us scriptures to uproot our ignorance. The holy books help us understand who we are, why we are suffering and how we can free ourselves from all sufferings. 

Krishna underlines the importance of transcendental knowledge to Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.11.4, “O most intelligent Uddhava, the living entity, called jīva, is part and parcel of Me, but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial. By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.”

Reviving our forgotten relationship with Krishna

The most important knowledge is to know that we belong to Krishna, and our suffering is only because we are choosing to live separately from Krishna.  And being away from him for such a long time, we have forgotten our relationship with Krishna.

Once this understanding that we belong to Krishna percolates in our heart, our miseries will start dissipating.  

Jīva kṛṣṇa-dāsa, e viśvāsa, karle ta’ āra duḥkha nāi: “Please therefore accept yourself as the servant of Kṛṣṇa. Then you will be freed from all miseries.” Srimad Bhagavatam 4.26.8 Purport

For our own good we should revive our forgotten relationship with Krishna. Right now, we are helplessly overpowered by Krishna’s material energy. But Krishna, who is the master of the material energy, can easily free us from the material bondage.  

Not just that, he can even take us back to his kingdom where he enjoys with his intimate devotees.   

But the all-capable Krishna will not do so unless we want him to do so because he never interferes with our free will.  The choice is always with us – to be with him or not to be with him.