The importance of taking “shelter of Krishna.” This was the focus of today’s (20th May 2025) Srimad Bhagavatam class which was given by HG Prem Swarup Prabhu at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. Prabhuji was speaking on SB 11.3.26.
SB 11.3.26
śraddhāṁ bhāgavate śāstre
’nindām anyatra cāpi hi
mano-vāk-karma-daṇḍaṁ ca
satyaṁ śama-damāv api
Translation
“One should have firm faith that he will achieve all success in life by following those scriptures that describe the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. At the same time, one should avoid blaspheming other scriptures. One should rigidly control his mind, speech and bodily activities, always speak the truth, and bring the mind and senses under full control.”
Below article is based on the class given by HG Prem Swarup Prabhu.
Understanding Paramhamsas
This chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam is entitled “Liberation from the illusory energy.” This is possible when we take shelter of a Paramhamsa who is absorbed in Krishna. So, what is the definition of Paramhamsa? Hamsa i.e. swan, if it is given a mixture of milk with water and other substances then hamsa can separate everything from milk and will drink milk only.
Similarly, Paramhamsa can be in this world, where he sees Krishna everywhere. A paramhamsa is not an ordinary hamsa. He can find Krishna in this world at every place. Even living in this material world, he can bring Krishna in focus.
All of us get affected by the modes of material nature, but when we associate with the devotees of the Lord, we become Krishna Conscious. Devotees teach us how to see Krishna and how to engage in Krishna Consciousness while living in any situation.
Srila Prabhupada’s faith in holy name & Srimad Bhagavatam
For example, Srila Prabhupada went to Bowry, Manhattan, USA where no one wanted to go. Even police did not go there. There people used to be drunk, would take LSD and carried a gun. And in drunken state they would shoot from the gun. So, who would go to that crazy land! But Srila Prabhupada went to such a place.
nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
“Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.” CC Madhya 22.107
Srila Prabhupada had full confidence in the holy name of Krishna and in Srimad Bhagavatam.
“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.11
Srila Prabhupada says that the literature which describes the glories of the Lord can immediately create revolution. And the testimony is Srila Prabhupada transforming the hippies. Srila Prabhupada chanted for hours together, invited people to chant, gave them prasadam, gave them Srimad Bhagavatam and convinced them to take shelter of Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada had full confidence that this is asausadhi (medicine). He did not have any material possessions but only had spiritual possessions. He gave Srimad Bhagavatam and Hare Krishna Maha mantra unfiltered. Although, he had Bengali accent, but all were convinced that this Swamiji has something which is very valuable. And if we start following him then we too can get that precious thing.
Most important principle in Iskcon
When Mahaprabhu asks Ramananda Ray about the object and process of worship then Ramananda Ray first speaks about the system of varnasrama. But Mahaprabhu says, “This is bāhya i.e. external.”
Ramananda Ray then speaks about many things, but Mahaprabhu is not satisfied.
But when he starts talking about chanting then Mahaprabhu says this will work. Mahaprabhu says that other things will make you feel spiritual but those are façade. But when a person develops taste in chanting and hearing in the association of devotees, then that is substantial.
So, foundation of spiritual life is sravanam and kirtanam in the association of devotees. Srila Prabhupada started Iskcon, with this principle and this is how it is being sustained.
Srila Prabhupada says that the literature like Srimad Bhagavatam which glories the Lord is so important for us for sravanam and kirtanam.
When material energy stops harassing us
In this chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, we are hearing about material energy and its capacity to absorb us 24 by 7, in fact every moment of life, life after life. It is impossible for anyone to come out of this. If you are in the material world there is always disturbance. Srila Prabhupada says when one is drowning in ocean, then can one be peaceful? But someone says that I know swimming.
But in bhavasāgara how long can you swim? However great swimmer you may be, you will lose breadth at some moment. So, there is so much fear. In this material life, if we deny Krishna then it will give us constant disturbance. Peace comes when we accept Krishna as the enjoyer and proprietor as stated in Bhagavad Gita 5.29. The moment we try to take position of Krishna, police catch us. For example, if someone barge into your house and try to enjoy there then you will call police and get him arrested.
Similarly, when we try to enjoy without connection to Krishna in this world which belongs to Krishna then police catch us. Police of this world is Durga Devi. And she has ten hands and ten weapons. She constantly harasses jivas (living entities) with these weapons who try to enjoy independently from Krishna.
Yesterday I was giving class, and, in the audience, there were elderly people, middle aged and also children. When I asked what you want in life then elderly people said peace, middle aged said peace and one little child also said peace. So, we see everyone is baffled in this world and are looking for peace. I told them if you do not surrender to Krishna then there won’t be peace, but life will be in pieces. So, it is necesary to always remain under the shelter of Krishna.
Be focussed on a specific goal
Whatever we do, maya will baffle us confuse us. I may think, I did hard work, but why this is happening? Material energy has power to create duality. In this world, if you give choice to people, then people will be confused that in which direction to go.
So, in army, they give only one instruction. The moment you give two instructions whole army will split. One group will go this way and the other another way. So, in Bhagavad Gita 2.41, Krishna says,
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.”
Suppose that there are mango trees having 100 mangoes. You take 100 stones and try to hit different mango with each stone. You will keep on targeting different mangoes, but nothing will happen. In this way you will waste 40, 50, 60,80 stones without getting any mango.
But suppose that you decide to hit just one mango with 100 stones. Then once you begin hitting then after hitting it with few stones you will come to know that what is the best way to hit the stone to get the mango. And eventually you will get the mango.
Only goal should be to take shelter of Krishna through spiritual master
Srimad Bhagavatam is compared to a ripened fruit.
So, only way to counteract duality is to surrender to Krishna as given in the scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam. Surrendering to Krishna means surrendering to the spiritual master. We should surrender to someone who creates obligation. Srila Prabhupada says spiritual master is a transparent via media. We may have blurred vision.
But through sastra caksu which the spiritual master gives us we can see the Lord. Spiritual master helps us to surrender to Krishna.
Right now, we are busy making people surrender to us and not to Krishna. But our only goal should be to take shelter of Krishna. We should try to cultivate surrender to Krishna carefully as Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita.
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Bhagavad Gita 18.66
