Hare Krishna, today article: Who Can Understand Sri Krishnas Advice? is from Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Gosvami, disciple of Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami
Prayers
Śrī Guru-Praṇāma:
oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
caksur unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-guruve namaḥ
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.”
Two important verses:
suna suna nityananda, suna haridasa
sarvatra amara ajna karaha prakasa
prati ghare ghare giya kara ei bhiksa
‘bala krsna, bhaja krsna, kara krsna-siksa’
“Listen, listen, Nityananda! Listen, Haridasa! Make My command known everywhere! Go from house to house and beg from all the residents, ‘Please chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna, and practise what Krishna teaches.’” (Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, 2.13.8-9)
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverence is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”
Mahā-mantra Hare Kṛṣṇa:
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Who Can Understand Sri Krishnas Advice?
by Śrīla Bhakti Vallabha Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja
This is a transcript of Śrīla Gurudeva’s lecture on who can understand the real implication of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s words spoken in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā. Those without knowledge of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who have not submitted to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, may write many commentaries, but they cannot comprehend the actual significance of the teachings of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā is a universally adored name and scripture. It is commonly known to everyone across the globe. But the difficulty is, there are thousands of commentaries on the Gītā, and in these commentaries the commentators have expressed their own views. They all have different views and ordinary people are confused about the actual message of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā.
The speaker of the Gītā is the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Only those who have entered into the heart of Śrī Kṛṣṇa can understand the real implication and significance of His sayings and the purpose of His speech and advice. Outside people cannot understand.
In India, and outside India, you will find many people who say, “We do not believe Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord because He took birth and, therefore, He is a human being. He may have many powers, perhaps even superhuman powers. He may even be a great politician, a great diplomat. But He is still only a human being.”
Even those who have gone through the Gītā may also speak like this. It is most astounding. When I ask them, “Have you gone through the Gītā?” The reply is, “Oh, yes.”
I ask them, “How! If you have gone through the Gītā, then you should accept the teachings of the Gītā.”
Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa mentions in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā (7.7), there is nothing superior to Him. With emphasis, He says that He is the Supreme Lord. We read Gītā, but we do not believe the teachings of Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Why is this? He also says in the Gītā (9.24), He is the only Master and the only Enjoyer of all yajñas (sacrifices).
There are many verses in Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā substantiating Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord. In the Gītā (10.8), He says, “I am the cause of all creation, the origin of all the things.”
In verse (14.27), He says, “I am the cause of the impersonal formless God (Brahman).” That impersonal, formless God is the halo of own light of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, emanating from Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. How can we know the Supreme Lord? Without His grace, no one can know Him. If anybody says that he can know Him, then he will be equal to or greater than the Supreme Lord. But the Supreme Lord, Infinite and Absolute, is One. Nothing can be outside the Infinite. If you say that, a flower is outside the Infinite, then the Infinite becomes finite.
Even a particle of dust cannot be outside the Infinite, or the Absolute will lose His position. The Absolute is One. The only way to get Him is to take absolute shelter at His Lotus Feet and to act according to His will. There is no other way to get Him except by means of exclusive, pure devotion.
Therefore, only those who have surrendered to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who have access to the heart of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, can understand the implication and significance of His teachings. Those without knowledge of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who have not submitted to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, may write many commentaries, but they cannot comprehend the actual significance of the teachings of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Even Śrī Arjuna took the shelter unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa, before he was imparted with this divine knowledge. He says in the Gītā (2.7), “I have lost my natural valour. I am bewildered and cannot ascertain what is right and what is wrong. I submit to you. I am your disciple. Please advise me regarding my eternal welfare.”
