2016-11-15 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.87.23 - Cultivating Smaranam Step by Step (download mp3) by Mukunda Mala Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.87.23nibhrta-marun-mano-’ksa-drdha-yoga-yujo hrdi yan munaya upasate tad arayo ’pi yayuh smaranatstriya uragendra-bhoga-bhuja-danda-visakta-dhiyo vayam api te samah sama-drso ’nghri-saroja-sudhah Translation: Simply by constantly thinking of Him, the enemies of the Lord attained the same Supreme Truth whom sages fixed in yoga worship by controlling their breath, mind and senses. Similarly, we srutis, who generally see You as all-pervading, will achieve the same nectar from Your lotus feet that Your consorts are able to relish because of their loving attraction to Your mighty, serpentine arms, for You look upon us and Your consorts in the same way. Purport: According to Acarya Sri Jiva Gosvami, the few srutis — such as the Gopala-tapani Upanisad — who identify the cowherd boy Krsna with absolute Brahman in its highest aspect had so far been patiently waiting for their turn to speak. But after hearing the other srutis offer prayers openly glorifying the Lord’s personality, these intimate srutis could no longer contain themselves, and so they spoke out of turn in this verse. Followers of the path of mystic yoga subdue their senses and minds by practicing breath control and severe austerities. If they succeed in thoroughly purifying themselves by this regimen, they may eventually begin to realize the Paramatma, the personal form of Brahman within the heart. And if they continue this meditation without deviation for a long time, they may in the end come to the point of true God consciousness. But the same objective achieved in this difficult and uncertain way was also attained by the demons who were killed by Lord Krsna during His pastimes on the earth. Obsessed with enmity toward Him, demons like Kamsa and Sisupala quickly obtained the perfection of liberation simply by His killing them. Speaking for themselves, however, the personified Vedas here state that they would prefer to develop love of Godhead by learning to emulate the favorable surrender of Lord Krsna’s confidential devotees, especially the young gopis of Vraja. Though they appeared to be simple women attracted conjugally to the Lord’s physical beauty and strength, the goddesses of Vraja exhibited the highest perfection of meditation. The srutis wish to become just like them. In this regard, Lord Brahma relates the following historical account in the supplement to the Brhad-vamana Purana: brahmananda-mayo loko vyapi vaikuntha-samjñitahtal-loka-vasi tatra-sthaih stuto vedaih parat-parah “The infinite world of spiritual bliss is called Vaikuntha. There the Supreme Truth lives, being glorified by the personified Vedas, who are also present there.” ciram stutva tatas tustah paroksam praha tan giratusto ’smi bruta bho prajña varam yam manasepsitam “Once, after the Vedas had elaborately praised Him, the Lord felt especially satisfied and spoke to them in a voice whose source remained invisible: ‘My dear sages, I am very satisfied with you. Please ask of Me some benediction that you secretly desire.’” yatha tal-loka-vasinyah kama-tattvena gopikahbhajanti ramanam matva cikirsajani nas tatha “The srutis replied, ‘We have developed the desire to become like the cowherd women of the mortal world who, inspired by lust, worship You in the mood of a lover.’” durlabho durghatas caiva yusmakam sa manorathahmayanumoditah samyak satyo bhavitum arhati “The Lord then said, ‘This desire of Yours is difficult to fulfill. Indeed, it is almost impossible. But since I am sanctioning it, your wish must inevitably come true.’” agamini viriñcau tu jate srsty-artham uditekalpam sarasvatam prapya vraje gopyo bhavisyatha “‘When the next Brahma takes birth to faithfully execute his duties of creation, and when the day of his life called the Sarasvata-kalpa arrives, you will all appear in Vraja as gopis.’” prthivyam bharate ksetre m