KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 3.1.14 TODAY (4/16/22):
- It is said that giving good counsel to a foolish person causes the fool to become angry, just as feeding milk to a snake only increases its venomous poison.
- Saint Vidura was so honorable that his character was looked up to by all respectable persons.
- But Duryodhana was so foolish that he dared to insult Vidura. This was due to his bad association with Śakuni, his maternal uncle, as well as with his friend Karṇa, who always encouraged Duryodhana in his nefarious acts.
- The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities make for bondage.
- Lord Kṛṣṇa encouraged Arjuna by telling him that he was not born with demoniac qualities. His involvement in the fight was not demoniac, because he was considering the pros and cons.
- He was considering whether respectable persons such as Bhīṣma and Droṇa should be killed or not, so he was not acting under the influence of anger, false prestige or harshness. Therefore he was not of the quality of the demons.
- For a kṣatriya, a military man, shooting arrows at the enemy is considered transcendental, and refraining from such a duty is demoniac. Therefore there was no cause for Arjuna to lament.
- Anyone who performs the regulative principles of the different orders of life is transcendentally situated.
- Devotee: can we request Kṛṣṇa to force us to surrender to Him, due to our conditioning?
- Prabhupāda: Yes, you can request Him. And He sometimes forces. He puts you in such circumstances that you have no other way than to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Yes. That is special favor. That is special favor. Yes.
- So when Kṛṣṇa forces somebody to surrender, that is a great favor. But generally, He does not do so. But He does so to a person who is very sincere to Kṛṣṇa’s service, but at the same time he has got slight desire for material enjoyment. In that case He does, that “This foolish person does not know that material facility will never make him happy, and he is sincerely seeking My favor. So he is foolish. Therefore whatever resource, little resource he has got for material enjoyment, break it. Then he will have no other alternative than to surrender unto Me.”
SB 3.1.14 TRANSLATION:
While speaking thus, Vidura, whose personal character was esteemed by respectable persons, was insulted by Duryodhana, who was swollen with anger and whose lips were trembling. Duryodhana was in company with Karṇa, his younger brothers and his maternal uncle Śakuni.
It is said that giving good counsel to a foolish person causes the fool to become angry, just as feeding milk to a snake only increases its venomous poison. Saint Vidura was so honorable that his character was looked up to by all respectable persons. But Duryodhana was so foolish that he dared to insult Vidura. This was due to his bad association with Śakuni, his maternal uncle, as well as with his friend Karṇa, who always encouraged Duryodhana in his nefarious acts.
BG 16.5
The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities make for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pāṇḍu, for you are born with the divine qualities.
Lord Kṛṣṇa encouraged Arjuna by telling him that he was not born with demoniac qualities. His involvement in the fight was not demoniac, because he was considering the pros and cons. He was considering whether respectable persons such as Bhīṣma and Droṇa should be killed or not, so he was not acting under the influence of anger, false prestige or harshness. Therefore he was not of the quality of the demons. For a kṣatriya, a military man, shooting arrows at the enemy is considered transcendental, and refraining from such a duty is demoniac. Therefore there was no cause for Arjuna to lament. Anyone who performs the regulative principles of the different orders of life is transcendentally situated.
How does a man become a criminal?
Grihasta who is not giving in charity –
Brahmachari who is not surrendering to guru and accumulating wealth will never progress.
Vocab – Nefarious
Vocab – Largess – money or gifts given generously
After Rama defeated Ravana he did not rule Lanka, he made Vibhishan the king of Lanka.
Three things before you act –
- Can this help me in KC
- If I do this – will I be satisfied or will I regret
- Is this beneficial to me or others
Anger, False prestige, Unnecessarily harsh – Serious reaction, and then we will suffer
Formula for bad karma.. – Acting in Anger, FP, harshness..
Will Krsna accept this if I do this.. Is the Ultimate question before we act. If answer is NO
Smartavyam… vismartavyam najatu chit..
Justifiable anger – insults Krsna, devotees, Guru.. – Walk away!
We can be a Sudra and if our goal is to please Krsna, follow the instructions of Guru..we can go back to Godhead at any position.
Main THIng is Association
Rama – did not discriminate the outcaste – Guha, Sabari, Jatayu..
Day after Śrī Gaura-Pūrṇimā Lecture March 5 1969 Hawaii
Devotee: ...withdraw that independence, can we request Kṛṣṇa to force us to surrender to Him, due to our conditioning?
Prabhupāda: Yes, you can request Him. And He sometimes forces. He puts you in such circumstances that you have no other way than to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Yes. That is special favor. That is special favor. Yes.
[pause] My spiritual master wanted me to preach, but I did not like it, but he forced me. Yes. That is my practical experience.
I had no desire to accept the sannyāsa order and preach, but my spiritual master wanted it. I am not very much inclined, but he forced me. That is also done. That is special favor. When he forced me, at that time I thought that “What is this? What…? I am committing some mistake, or what is that?” I was puzzled. But a little after, I could understand that it is the greatest favor shown to me. You see?
So when Kṛṣṇa forces somebody to surrender, that is a great favor. But generally, He does not do so. But He does so to a person who is very sincere to Kṛṣṇa’s service, but at the same time he has got slight desire for material enjoyment. In that case He does, that “This foolish person does not know that material facility will never make him happy, and he is sincerely seeking My favor. So he is foolish. Therefore whatever resource, little resource he has got for material enjoyment, break it. Then he will have no other alternative than to surrender unto Me.”
That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, er, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: yasyāham anughṛnāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ sanaiḥ. [SB 10.88.8]
[The Personality of Godhead said: If I especially favor someone, I gradually deprive him of his wealth. Then the relatives and friends of such a poverty-stricken man abandon him. In this way he suffers one distress after another.]
Kṛṣṇa says that “If I do somebody special favor, then I make him poverty-stricken. I take away all his means of sense enjoyment.” You see? That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Because here in this material world everyone is trying to be happy by earning more money, by business, by service, by this way or that way.
But in special cases, Kṛṣṇa makes his business or service unsuccessful. Do you like that? [laughs] At that time he has no other alternative than to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. You see? But sometimes, when we are unsuccessful in our business attempt or earning attempt, we become sorry, that “Oh, Kṛṣṇa is so cruel upon me that I could not trust in this.” But that is His favor, special favor. You should understand like that. Yes. [end]