- Srimad Bhagavatam Class: SB 11.3.45
- Chapter Name: Liberation from the Illusory Energy
- Venue: Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata
- Day/Date: Monday, 3rd June 2025
- Speaker: HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu
In today’s Srimad Bhagavatam class HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu spoke about the importance of following Vedic injunctions. Prabhuji was speaking on the verse SB 11.3.45
nācared yas tu vedoktaṁ
svayam ajño ’jitendriyaḥ
vikarmaṇā hy adharmeṇa
mṛtyor mṛtyum upaiti saḥ
If an ignorant person who has not conquered the material senses does not adhere to the Vedic injunctions, certainly he will engage in sinful and irreligious activities. Thus his reward will be repeated birth and death.
Important points from the purport of this verse SB 11.3.45
- ..because of false pride a so-called brahmacārī, or celibate student of Vedic knowledge, rejects the marriage ceremony as māyā, or material illusion.
- But if such a celibate student is unable to control his senses, he will undoubtedly degrade himself by eventually engaging in illicit sex..
- ..a neophyte in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is encouraged to eat kṛṣṇa-prasādam to his full satisfaction.
- ..an immature practitioner of bhakti-yoga tries to make a show of severe eating habits and eventually falls down into eating unregulated and abominable foodstuffs.
- .s.a sinful person is awarded a free ticket to hell by the lord of death himself, Yamarāja.
Below article is based on the class given by HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu.
Renunciation should be based on knowledge
An ignorant person cannot control his mind and senses. Controlling mind and senses is not easy. We need proper engagement for it else we will be carried by our instinct. A person whose mind and senses are uncontrolled engage in sinful activities.
In this fallen age of Kaliyuga people are mostly uncivilized. They do not have any goal in life, have no faith in scriptures and God. They live like animals. So, they are compared to dvipad-paśu, two legged animals.
But one who becomes fortunate starts inquiring about the purpose of life – “athato brahma jijnasa. They begin following Vedic injunctions, start believing in God.
Although their motto of life is sense gratification, but they have regards for God. This is what is called karma kand. follows Vedic injunctions, follows God i.e. called karma kand.
However eventually they will realize that goal of life is not sense gratification but to love God and serve God. One also come to understand that Krishna is the Supreme God who should be worshipped.
There may be someone who may start thinking that I now know the highest truth so there is no need for me to follow Vedic injunctions. But one should not disregard the rules of the scriptures. Renunciation is not based on ignorance or frustration but is based on knowledge.
One should come to the conclusion that “I am not this body but eternal soul and serving the Lord is my eternal engagement.” Unless one is situated on this platform and is properly engaging his mind and senses one will indulge in sense gratification.
Performing duty as per Vedic injunctions
We see in Bhagavad Gita that when Arjuna refuses to perform his khastriya duty then Krishna condemns Arjuna. In the beginning, Krishna gives Arjuna karma kanda argument. Krishna says that in the battle if you win then you will enjoy the kingdom and if you will lost then you will die and go to heaven and then you will enjoy there.
So, if one performs his duty properly then may be he is not able to enjoy in this life but in next life, he will be happy.
When one is more advanced then one just focusses on doing one’s duty and is not attached to the result of his activity. By doing duty in this way, one gets transcendental knowledge and will slowly get detached from this world.
More one is attached to senses gratification, more one suffers.
But when one becomes detached from sense gratification one becomes peaceful.
We should always try to engage senses in the service of Lord. Sitting peacefully is difficult at conditioned stage, so better to engage senses properly. This will purify the senses.
From karma kanda one come to the stage of karma yoga, from Karma yoga to jnana yoga and then to astanga yoga. If one is fortunate one comes in the association of devotees and understand God and his relationship with God. Then one starts practicing bhakti yoga.
But if someone comes in touch of a devotee then one can directly start practicing bhakti yoga. Even from the animalistic life one can become a devotee by the mercy of a devotee.
But one should never give up following scriptures else one will not be able to sustain advancement.
Two Example
In spiritual path one should be honest and follow the direction of guru, sadhu, sastra.
In modern times, people want to practice spiritual life but do not follow scriptures and concoct their own philosophy and so cannot sustain.
For example, if one is not able to control his mind and senses then one should get married. If one does not do so, then one will indulge in illicit sex. In married life too one can advance in Krishna Consciousness.
Other important aspect is that one should properly take prasad. If one does not do so then one may end up eating unacceptable food and fall down. So, eat nice prasadam and be happy.
All these Vedic injunctions are helpful and not troublesome.
One should be honest, humble and should have sincere desire to advance in spiritual life.
