KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING BHAGAVATAM CLASS ON SB 3.3.3:
- Rukmiṇī was beautiful and chaste and was meant to be married to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- Many saintly persons and sages like Nārada Muni used to visit the palace of King Bhīṣmaka. Naturally Rukmiṇī had a chance to talk with them, and in this way she obtained information about Kṛṣṇa.
- She was informed about the six opulences of Kṛṣṇa, and simply by hearing about Him she desired to surrender herself to His lotus feet and become His wife.
- Kṛṣṇa had also heard of Rukmiṇī. She was the reservoir of all transcendental qualities: intelligence, auspicious physical features, liberal-mindedness, exquisite beauty and righteous behavior.
- Kṛṣṇa therefore decided that she was fit to be His wife.
- All of the relatives of King Bhīṣmaka decided that Rukmiṇī should be given in marriage to Kṛṣṇa. But her elder brother Rukmī, despite the desire of the others, arranged for her marriage with Śiśupāla, a determined enemy of Kṛṣṇa.
- When the black-eyed, beautiful Rukmiṇī heard of the settlement, she immediately became very morose. However, being a king’s daughter, she understood political diplomacy and decided that there was no use in simply being morose.
- Letter to Himavati – Yes, to call one another prabhu is all right, but not to become prabhu. To accept others as prabhu, and remain as servant is the idea. But because somebody is calling you prabhu, one should not become a prabhu, and treat others as servants.
- In other words, everyone should feel himself as servant, and not to think himself prabhu because he is being called prabhu. This will make the relationship congenial.
- Our society requires millions of dollars for propaganda work, but Krishna has made us financially poor. I think it is good to remain financially poor because always we shall be able to pray Krishna, asking His help to execute His service.
- If all of a sudden we become very strong financially, Maya may dictate us for sense enjoyment, and we may fall a prey to her tactics. Therefore to remain poor is one of the qualifications for advancing in Krishna Consciousness.
- Our predecessors, the Goswamis, they voluntarily gave up everything for advancement
- in Krishna Consciousness. We do not require any money for our personal account, we shall always be happy with anything Krishna is happy to supply us for maintenance, but for the preaching purposes, we can accommodate to receive all the riches of the world.
- So let us try with sincerity, and Krishna will help us in the matter of our advancing the cause of Krishna Consciousness.
SB 3.3.3 TRANSLATION:
Attracted by the beauty and fortune of Rukmiṇī, the daughter of King Bhīṣmaka, many great princes and kings assembled to marry her. But Lord Kṛṣṇa, stepping over the other hopeful candidates, carried her away as His own share, as Garuḍa carried away nectar.
Princess Rukmiṇī, the daughter of King Bhīṣmaka, was actually as attractive as fortune itself because she was as valuable as gold both in color and in value. Since the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, is the property of the Supreme Lord, Rukmiṇī was actually meant for Lord Kṛṣṇa. But Śiśupāla was selected as her bridegroom by Rukmiṇī’s elder brother, although King Bhīṣmaka wanted his daughter to be married to Kṛṣṇa. Rukmiṇī invited Kṛṣṇa to take her away from the clutches of Śiśupāla, so when the bridegroom, Śiśupāla, came there with his party with the desire to marry Rukmiṇī, Kṛṣṇa all of a sudden swept her from the scene, stepping over the heads of all the princes there, just as Garuḍa carried away nectar from the hands of the demons. This incident will be clearly explained in the Tenth Canto.
This story reveals that some people even though they see God, they cannot realize that He is God..
Seeing is not always believing
But if you hear about God from bonafide devotees then we can understand..
KB – 52
The story of Kṛṣṇa’s marriage with Rukmiṇī is described as follows. The King of Vidarbha, Mahārāja Bhīṣmaka, was very qualified and devoted. He had five sons and only one daughter. The first son was known as Rukmī; the second, Rukmaratha; the third, Rukmabāhu; the fourth, Rukmakeśa; and the fifth, Rukmamālī. The brothers had one young sister, Rukmiṇī. She was beautiful and chaste and was meant to be married to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Many saintly persons and sages like Nārada Muni used to visit the palace of King Bhīṣmaka. Naturally Rukmiṇī had a chance to talk with them, and in this way she obtained information about Kṛṣṇa. She was informed about the six opulences of Kṛṣṇa, and simply by hearing about Him she desired to surrender herself to His lotus feet and become His wife. Kṛṣṇa had also heard of Rukmiṇī. She was the reservoir of all transcendental qualities: intelligence, auspicious physical features, liberal-mindedness, exquisite beauty and righteous behavior. Kṛṣṇa therefore decided that she was fit to be His wife. All of the relatives of King Bhīṣmaka decided that Rukmiṇī should be given in marriage to Kṛṣṇa. But her elder brother Rukmī, despite the desire of the others, arranged for her marriage with Śiśupāla, a determined enemy of Kṛṣṇa. When the black-eyed, beautiful Rukmiṇī heard of the settlement, she immediately became very morose. However, being a king’s daughter, she understood political diplomacy and decided that there was no use in simply being morose. Some steps should be taken immediately. After some deliberation, she decided to send a message to Kṛṣṇa, and so that she might not be deceived, she selected a qualified brāhmaṇa as her messenger. Such a qualified brāhmaṇa is always truthful and is a devotee of Viṣṇu. Without delay, she sent the brāhmaṇa to Dvārakā.
Hearing is much more important than reading and physical
Nine forms of devotional service – Shravanam, Hearing and Kirtanam, Vishnu smaranam- Chanting, Remembering what we heard.. And repeating..
What is the best way of repeating – Going on Harinam Sankirtan.. Preaching to people.offering books, answering questions and challenges.. Come back and ask questions about things you could not answer.. Very quickly you will learn the philosophy of KC..
If you do not go on sankirtan – you will learn somethings and not everything
Live a simple life..
If we simply do what SP asks us to do. Morning chanting, arti, class then you get fixed up
Then you go for sankirtan.. It is the icing on the top of the cake..
Elon Musk – may appear the richest.. He is in lot of anxiety..
Liberalmindedness – open to be instructed by the devotees..
Tell me who your friends and I will tell you who you are – Asat sanga tyaga..
People who are always doing Mundane activities..
Trick of all false gurus – downplay the importance of sastra.. And amplify their personal presence.. They speak only speculations..
Opinions are not acceptable.. Facts are acceptable
Real Science – true in the past, present and future , in all times and all places.
The only science is Krsna.
Mayavadis theory – only Brahman is true is false..
Many of the words in the dictionary are falsely defined..
Bodily attachment to relatives can be a limitation
Triangle of verification – Guru, Sastra and Acharyas..
Bali Maharaj & Sukra Charya example – Guru is someone who repeats Krsna’s words and lives them..
Whenever a devotee is insulted.. He takes it as a blessing.. And chants more rounds. The person who insulted you becomes your guru..
Philosophy – Darshana – how you see things
KC – always sees the silver lining in the most difficult situations. Ex – Parikshit maharaj
Whole spiritual life is based on respect.. Learning to respect
To be a Brahmana you need to take the vow of property.. They educated for free, lived many minimalist life..
Life of a devotee should be very minimalist.. Even if you earn 1 million dollar per day you need to use it all in the service of Krsna..for that day..
Sanatana Goswami – had an Opulent chadar .. replaced it with torn chadar.. Of a poor person..
Vow of property is very imp for the Brahmanas..
Letter to Himavati
Dated: June 14, 1968
Location: Montreal
https://vedabase.io/en/library/letters/letter-to-himavati-4/
Yes, to call one another prabhu is all right, but not to become prabhu. To accept others as prabhu, and remain as servant is the idea. But because somebody is calling you prabhu, one should not become a prabhu, and treat others as servants. In other words, everyone should feel himself as servant, and not to think himself prabhu because he is being called prabhu. This will make the relationship congenial.
Our society requires millions of dollars for propaganda work, but Krishna has made us financially poor. I think it is good to remain financially poor because always we shall be able to pray Krishna, asking His help to execute His service. If all of a sudden we become very strong financially, Maya may dictate us for sense enjoyment, and we may fall a prey to her tactics. Therefore to remain poor is one of the qualifications for advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Our predecessors, the Goswamis, they voluntarily gave up everything for advancement in Krishna Consciousness. We do not require any money for our personal account, we shall always be happy with anything Krishna is happy to supply us for maintenance, but for the preaching purposes, we can accommodate to receive all the riches of the world. So let us try with sincerity, and Krishna will help us in the matter of our advancing the cause of Krishna Consciousness.
Perfect questions and perfect answers
Even one penny used for own sense gratification you go to hell
Maharaj’s story – homeless in Paris, shook down by Tamal Krishna prabhu, service to clean the kitchen every day in the morning
Couples sent to london
Remain sincere and follow the rules and regulations.. Be a preacher and take a risk..
Pure desires to please Krsna – some mysterious way Krsna will help
Bas desires – we fail
Mixed desires – we will not be successful
Remain a minimalist.. Have pure desire to please Krsna..
Perks of KaliYuga – simply by thinking by doing something for Krsna.. We get the result..
Simply by chanting Hare Krsna we can go back to Godhead..