2016-09-10 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.38 - Taking Care of Bhakti Lata (download mp3) by Damodar Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.38sa indraseno bhagavat-padambujam bibhran muhuh prema-vibhinnaya dhiyauvaca hananda-jalakuleksanah prahrsta-roma nrpa gadgadaksaram Translation: Taking hold of the Lords’ lotus feet again and again, Bali, the conqueror of Indra’s army, spoke from his heart, which was melting out of his intense love. O King, as tears of ecstasy filled his eyes and the hair on his limbs stood on end, he began to speak with faltering words. Purport: Srila Prabhupada describes this scene as follows in Krsna: “King Bali was feeling such transcendental pleasure that he repeatedly grasped the Lord’s lotus feet and kept them on his chest; and sometimes he put them on the top of his head, and in this way he was feeling transcendental bliss. Tears of love and affection began to flow down from his eyes, and all his bodily hairs stood on end.”

2016-09-08 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.32-37 - Humility is the Real Goal of a Sadhana (download mp3) by Dwarkadhish Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesietree.com SB 10.85.32-33ciran mrta-sutadane guruna kila coditauaninyathuh pitr-sthanad gurave guru-daksinamtatha me kurutam kamam yuvam yogesvaresvaraubhoja-raja-hatan putran kamaye drastum ahrtan Translation: It is said that when Your spiritual master ordered You to retrieve his long-dead son, You brought him back from the forefathers’ abode as a token of remuneration for Your guru’s mercy. Please fulfill my desire in the same way, O supreme masters of all yoga masters. Please bring back my sons who were killed by the King of Bhoja, so that I may see them once again. SB 10.85.34rsir uvacaevam sañcoditau matra ramah krsnas ca bharatasutalam samvivisatur yoga-mayam upasritau Translation: The sage Sukadeva said: Thus entreated by Their mother, O Bharata, Balarama and Krsna employed Their mystic Yoga-maya potency and entered the region of Sutala. SB 10.85.35tasmin pravistav upalabhya daitya-rad visvatma-daivam sutaram tathatmanahtad-darsanahlada-pariplutasayah sadyah samutthaya nanama sanvayah Translation: When the King of the Daityas, Bali Maharaja, noticed the arrival of the two Lords, his heart overflowed with joy, since he knew Them to be the Supreme Soul and worshipable Deity of the entire universe, and especially of himself. He immediately stood up and then bowed down to offer respects, along with his entire entourage. SB 10.85.36tayoh samaniya varasanam muda nivistayos tatra mahatmanos tayohdadhara padav avanijya taj jalam sa-vrnda a-brahma punad yad ambu ha Translation: Bali took pleasure in offering Them elevated seats. After They sat down, he washed the feet of the two Supreme Personalities. Then he took that water, which purifies the whole world even up to Lord Brahma, and poured it upon himself and his followers. SB 10.85.37samarhayam asa sa tau vibhutibhir maharha-vastrabharananulepanaihtambula-dipamrta-bhaksanadibhih sva-gotra-vittatma-samarpanena ca Translation: He worshiped Them with all the riches at his disposal — priceless clothing, ornaments, fragrant sandalwood paste, betel nut, lamps, sumptuous food and so on. Thus he offered Them all his family’s wealth, and also his own self. Purport: Bali Maharaja’s devotional attitude is renowned as the perfect example of complete self-surrender. When Lord Visnu in the guise of a young brahmana student approached him for charity, Bali offered all he possessed, and when he had nothing more to offer, he surrendered himself as the Supreme Lord’s eternal servant. There are nine standard processes of devotional service, and the last, atma-samarpanam, as taught by Bali Daityaraja, is the culmination toward which every endeavor should aim. If one tries to impress the Lord with wealth, power, intelligence and so on but fails to humbly understand oneself to be His servant, one’s so-called devotion is only a presumptuous show.

2016-09-04 Sunday Feast - Deliverance of Demons Series - Killing of Pralambasura (download mp3) by Brajvasi Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com

2016-09-06 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.26-28 - Adidevik and Adhyatamik Vichar (download mp3) by Prem Gauranga Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.26sri-suka uvacaevam bhagavata rajan vasudeva udahrtahsrutva vinasta-nana-dhis tusnim prita-mana abhut Translation: Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, hearing these instructions spoken to him by the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva became freed from all ideas of duality. Satisfied at heart, he remained silent. SB 10.85.27-28atha tatra kuru-srestha devaki sarva-devatasrutvanitam guroh putram atmajabhyam su-vismitakrsna-ramau samasravya putran kamsa-vihimsitansmaranti krpanam praha vaiklavyad asru-locana Translation: At that time, O best of the Kurus, the universally worshiped Devaki took the opportunity to address her two sons, Krsna and Balarama. Previously she had heard with astonishment that They had brought Their spiritual master’s son back from death. Now, thinking of her own sons who had been murdered by Kamsa, she felt great sorrow, and thus with tear-filled eyes she beseeched Krsna and Balarama. Purport: Vasudeva’s love for Krsna had been disturbed because his awareness of Krsna’s opulences conflicted with seeing Him as his son. In a different way, Devaki’s love was somewhat distracted by her lamentation for her dead sons. So Krsna arranged to relieve her of the mistaken idea that anyone else but Him was actually her son. Since Devaki is known to be worshiped by all great souls, her show of maternal affection must actually have been an effect of the Lord’s Yoga-maya, who increases the pleasure of His pastimes. Thus in text 54 Devaki will be described as mohita mayaya visnoh, “bewildered by the internal energy of Lord Visnu.”

2016-09-07 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.29-31 - Stages of Hearing (download mp3) by Hare Krishna Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.29sri-devaky uvacarama ramaprameyatman krsna yogesvaresvaravedaham vam visva-srjam isvarav adi-purusau Translation: Sri Devaki said: O Rama, Rama, immeasurable Supreme Soul! O Krsna, Lord of all masters of yoga! I know that You are the ultimate rulers of all universal creators, the primeval Personalities of Godhead. SB 10.85.30kala-vidhvasta-sattvanam rajñam ucchastra-vartinambhumer bharayamananam avatirnau kiladya me Translation: Taking birth from me, You have now descended to this world in order to kill those kings whose good qualities have been destroyed by the present age, and who thus defy the authority of revealed scriptures and burden the earth. SB 10.85.31yasyamsamsamsa-bhagena visvotpatti-layodayahbhavanti kila visvatmams tam tvadyaham gatim gata Translation: O Soul of all that be, the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe are all carried out by a fraction of an expansion of an expansion of Your expansion. Today I have come to take shelter of You, the Supreme Lord. Purport: Srila Sridhara Svami explains this verse as follows: The Lord of Vaikuntha, Narayana, is but one expansion of Sri Krsna. Maha-Visnu, the first creator, is Lord Narayana’s expansion. The total material energy emanates from Maha-Visnu’s glance, and of that total material energy the three modes of nature are divided portions. Thus it is Sri Krsna, acting through His expansions, who generates, sustains and dissolves the universe.

2016-09-02 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.21 - Place of Aishvarya Bhav in Devotional Service (download mp3) by Sarvabhauma Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.21sri-suka uvacaakarnyettham pitur vakyam bhagavan satvatarsabhahpratyaha prasrayanamrah prahasan slaksnaya gira Translation: Sukadeva Gosvami said: Having heard His father’s words, the Supreme Lord, leader of the Satvatas, replied in a gentle voice as He bowed His head in humility and smiled. Purport: Srila Jiva Gosvami describes what Lord Krsna thought after hearing His father glorify Him: “Vasudeva has been honored with the eternal role of My father, something even demigods like Brahma cannot aspire for. Therefore he shouldn’t be absorbed in thinking of My godly aspects. Moreover, his reverence greatly embarrasses Me. It was to avoid this very situation that, after killing Kamsa, I made a special effort to reinforce their pure parental love for Me and Balarama. But now, unfortunately, the statements of these sages threaten to revive some of Vasudeva’s and Devaki’s previous awareness of My majesty.”

2016-09-03 Srimad Bhagavatam10.85.22-23 - Benefits of Listening and Following (download mp3) by Navin Nirada Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.22sri-bhagavan uvacavaco vah samavetartham tataitad upamanmaheyan nah putran samuddisya tattva-grama udahrtah Translation: The Supreme Lord said: My dear Father, I consider your statements appropriate, since you have explained the various categories of existence by referring to Us, your sons. Purport: Posing as Vasudeva’s dependent son, Lord Krsna expresses gratitude for His father’s edifying instructions. SB 10.85.23aham yuyam asav arya ime ca dvarakaukasahsarve ’py evam yadu-srestha vimrgyah sa-caracaram Translation: Not only I, but also you, along with My respected brother and these residents of Dvaraka, should all be considered in this same philosophical light, O best of the Yadus. Indeed, we should include all that exists, both moving and nonmoving. Purport: To protect His parents’ intimate relationship with Him, Lord Krsna stresses the oneness of all existence in this statement to His father, Vasudeva. Vasudeva had been reminded of his sons’ greatness by hearing the sages gathered at Kuruksetra. But his sense of awe was ruining his intimate parental relationship with Krsna, and therefore Krsna wanted to dispel it. We should not misunderstand the “oneness” Lord Krsna speaks of here. The subtle words of the Upanisads often mislead impersonalists into believing that all existence is ineffably one, without any variety in the ultimate issue. Some Upanisadic mantras emphasize the sameness of God and His creation, while others speak about their difference. Tat tvam asi svetaketo (“You are that, O Svetaketu”), for example, is an abheda-vakya, a mantra affirming that all things are one with God, being His dependent expansions. But the Upanisads also contain many bheda-vakyas, statements that affirm the unique, distinguishing qualities of the Supreme, such as this statement: ka evanyat kah pranyad yady esa akasa anando na syat, esa evanandayati. “Who would there be to activate the creation and give life to all beings if this infinite Supreme were not the original enjoyer? Indeed, He alone is the source of all pleasure.” (Taittiriya Upanisad. 2.7.1) By the influence of the Supreme Lord’s bewildering Maya, envious impersonalists read the abheda-vakyas literally and accept the bheda-vakyas only in a figurative way. Authoritative Vaisnava commentators, on the other hand, carefully reconcile the apparent contradictions in accordance with the interpretive principles of Vedic Mimamsa and the logically established conclusions of Vedanta.

2016-08-31 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.19 - Krishna is Friend of Distressed (download mp3) by Nanda Gopa Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.19tat te gato ’smy aranam adya padaravindam apanna-samsrti-bhayapaham arta-bandhoetavatalam alam indriya-lalasena martyatma-drk tvayi pare yad apatya-buddhih Translation: Therefore, O friend of the distressed, I now approach Your lotus feet for shelter — the same lotus feet that dispel all fear of worldly existence for those who have surrendered to them. Enough! Enough with hankering for sense enjoyment, which makes me identify with this mortal body and think of You, the Supreme, as my child. Purport: Srila Jiva Gosvami suggests that Vasudeva condemns himself here for thinking of trying to gain special opulences because he is the father of the Supreme Lord. Thus Vasudeva contrasts himself with Nanda, the King of Vraja, who was satisfied with pure love of God and nothing else.

2016-08-30 Srimad Bhagavatam 10.85.16-18 - Role of Emotions in Krishna Consciousness (download mp3) by Adi Keshav Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.16yadrcchaya nrtam prapya su-kalpam iha durlabhamsvarthe pramattasya vayo gatam tvan-mayayesvara Translation: By good fortune a soul may obtain a healthy human life — an opportunity rarely achieved. But if he is nonetheless deluded about what is best for him, O Lord, Your illusory Maya will cause him to waste his entire life. SB 10.85.17asav aham mamaivaite dehe casyanvayadisusneha-pasair nibadhnati bhavan sarvam idam jagat Translation: You keep this whole world bound up by the ropes of affection, and thus when people consider their material bodies, they think, “This is me,” and when they consider their progeny and other relations, they think, “These are mine.” SB 10.85.18yuvam na nah sutau saksat pradhana-purusesvaraubhu-bhara-ksatra-ksapana avatirnau tathattha ha Translation: You are not our sons but the very Lords of both material nature and its creator [Maha-Visnu]. As You Yourself have told us, You have descended to rid the earth of the rulers who are a heavy burden upon her. Purport: According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti, in this verse Vasudeva offers himself and his wife as excellent examples of those who are materially deluded. Although at the time of His birth in Kamsa’s prison Lord Krsna told Vasudeva and Devaki that His mission was to rid the earth of unwanted ksatriyas, still His two parents could not avoid thinking of Him as their helpless son who needed protection from King Kamsa. In reality, of course, both Vasudeva and Devaki were participating in the divine pastime of the Lord’s birth under the perfect direction of His internal energy; only out of transcendental humility does Vasudeva criticize himself in this way.

2016-08-28 Srimad Bhagavatam 10-85-15 - Krishna is Everywhere (download mp3) by Vraj Bihari Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty www.iskcondesiretree.com SB 10.85.15guna-pravaha etasminn abudhas tv akhilatmanahgatim suksmam abodhena samsarantiha karmabhih Translation: They are truly ignorant who, while imprisoned within the ceaseless flow of this world’s material qualities, fail to know You, the Supreme Soul of all that be, as their ultimate, sublime destination. Because of their ignorance, the entanglement of material work forces such souls to wander in the cycle of birth and death. Purport: A soul who forgets his true identity as a servant of God is sent to this world to be imprisoned in a succession of material bodies. Wrongly identifying himself with these bodies, such a conditioned soul suffers the consequent distress of karmic action and reaction. Vasudeva, as a compassionate Vaisnava, laments for the suffering conditioned souls, whose unhappiness, the result of ignorance, can be remedied by knowledge of the principles of devotional service to Lord Krsna.