Homages from ISKCON Centers

Homages from ISKCON Centers
kutaù punaù çaçvad abhadram éçvare
na cärpitaà karma yad apy akäraëam
“When pure knowledge is beyond all material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead [Kåñëa], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material
tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities—which are naturally painful from the beginning
and transient by nature—if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord? How can
they be very attractive?”
[PURPORT] This is a quotation from Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.5.12). Even after writing many
Vedic literatures, Vyäsadeva felt very morose. Therefore his spiritual master, Näradadeva, told
him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Up to that time, Çréla Vyäsadeva had written the karma-käëòa and jïäna-käëòa sections of
the Vedas, but he had not written about upäsanä-käëòa, or bhakti. Thus his spiritual master,
Närada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Therefore Vyäsadeva began writing Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
tapasvino däna-parä yaçasvino
manasvino mantra-vidaù su-maìgaläù
kñemaà na vindanti vinä yad-arpaëaà
tasmai subhadra-çravase namo namaù
“Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions
out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity, those who are engaged
in meditation and mental speculation, and even those who are very expert in reciting the Vedic
mantras are not able to obtain any auspicious results, although they are engaged in auspicious
activities, if they do not dedicate their activities to the service of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. I therefore repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, whose glories are always auspicious.” [Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.4.17]
Because I was born in India, which is full of seemingly spiritual activities, I didn’t understand the
complexities of genuine spiritual life. But you, Çréla Prabhupäda, being empowered by Lord Caitanya, were
able to explain such complex things to my dull brain so expertly that I was easily able to understand.
Indeed, you were so expert that in twelve short years hundreds of thousands of people in countries
throughout the world started practicing the highest process of bhakti-yoga and became preachers of
the same.
Of course, it is not surprising that genuine spiritual life was a mystery before I met you. As you
explain in your purport above, even Lord Vyäsadeva, the incarnation of Kåñëa and a clairvoyant sage,
couldn’t quite understand it until his mahä-bhägavata guru Närada Muni explained it to him. Närada
addresses Vyäsadeva as mahä-bhäga, “greatly fortunate one,” and amogha-dåk, “one whose vision is
infallible (i.e., one who can see past, present, and future).” Näradajé told him, “Even though you are the
most learned person in the entire universe, you are feeling unfulfilled and anxious because you have not
described pure bhakti-yoga, free from karma, jïäna, and yoga. That is why you feel something missing
in your heart.” After this inspiring meeting with Närada, Vyäsa compiled the pure devotional scripture
Çrémad-Bhägavatam, which is the highest literature in the world.
That in such a short time you were able to expertly transmit such confidential, exalted knowledge to
Kali-yuga’s most fallen creatures surely proves that Lord Kåñëa personally empowered you, Otherwise,
it simply would not have been possible.
kali-kälera dharma—kåñëa-näma-saìkértana
kåñëa-çakti vinä nahe tära pravartana
“The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kåñëa. Unless
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