A Poem by Amrita (11 years old)

Amrita Geddam from Waukesha, Wisconsin, wrote a poem on Krishna Janmashtami. Its amazing how a eleven year old thinks with so much maturity. I made a small video based on this poem. It has been uploaded on Youtube.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGxk31GE2Ng

Pearls of Wisdom - 172

Sometimes, to mitigate distresses in this forest of the material world, the conditioned soul receives cheap blessings from atheists. He then loses all intelligence in their association. This is exactly like jumping in a shallow river. As a result one simply breaks his head. He is not able to mitigate his sufferings from the heat, and in both ways he suffers. The misguided conditioned soul also approaches so-called sâdhus and svâmîs who preach against the principles of the Vedas. He does not receive benefit from them, either in the present or in the future.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 14 Verse 13

Pearls of Wisdom - 171

The conditioned soul sometimes personally appreciates the futility of sense enjoyment in the material world, and he sometimes considers material enjoyment to be full of miseries. However, due to his strong bodily conception, his memory is destroyed, and again and again he runs after material enjoyment, just as an animal runs after a mirage in the desert.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 14 Verse 10

A poem from a young devotee

Krishna

By: Amrita Geddam

Nilachala Bhakti Vriksha - Milwaukee

As His peacock feather

was proudly fluttering behind Him,

and as His hair, which looked luscious

as a divine river was flowing past.

Then as strings of pearls and emeralds

formed a crown for Him

as though lotuses in the river,

we see Krishna, the divine Lord and the Supreme.

At His left stood our beloved Gopi, Radharani.

Her eyes were locked unto Her lord,

Govinda and Her maple brown eyes

were always flashing one message-

I am your servant.

You are My heart and soul.

Your wish is My work.

Then the Lord picked up His flute

and drew it to His lips.

At once Vrindavana became as though hypnotized.

Gopis danced around Him.

Their impeccable minds fixed unto Krishna.

Cows gave milk without complain.

Calves danced circling their mothers.

Everyone was in a joyous mood

and meanwhile, the sun shown down radiantly.

Krishna - The Majestic

Hare Krishna,

Watch the video and spread the glories of Krishna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt-aLrHfduc

Pearls of Wisdom - 170

Every year the plowman plows over his grain field, completely uprooting all weeds. Nonetheless, the seeds lie there and, not being completely burned, again come up with the plants sown in the field. Even after being plowed under, the weeds come up densely. Similarly, the grihastha-âs'rama [family life] is a field of fruitive activity. Unless the desire to enjoy family life is completely burned out, it grows up again and again. Even though camphor may be removed from a pot, the pot nonetheless retains the aroma of camphor. As long as the seeds of desire are not destroyed, fruitive activities are not destroyed.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 14 Verse 4

Krishna The Majestic - Video

Hare Krishna,

Watch the Video - Krishna The Majestic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt-aLrHfduc

Pearls of Wisdom - 169

In the forest of material existence, the uncontrolled senses are like plunderers. The conditioned soul may earn some money for the advancement of Krishna consciousness, but unfortunately the uncontrolled senses plunder his money through sense gratification. The senses are plunderers because they make one spend his money unnecessarily for seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, desiring and willing. In this way the conditioned soul is obliged to gratify his senses, and thus all his money is spent. This money is actually acquired for the execution of religious principles, but it is taken away by the plundering senses.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 14 Verse 2

Pearls of Wisdom - 168

When King Parîkshit asked S'ukadeva Gosvâmî about the direct meaning of the material forest, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî replied as follows: My dear King, a man belonging to the mercantile community [vanik] is always interested in earning money. Sometimes he enters the forest to acquire some cheap commodities like wood and earth and sell them in the city at good prices. Similarly, the conditioned soul, being greedy, enters this material world for some material profit. Gradually he enters the deepest part of the forest, not really knowing how to get out. Having entered the material world, the pure soul becomes conditioned by the material atmosphere, which is created by the external energy under the control of Lord Vishnu. Thus the living entity comes under the control of the external energy, daivî mâyâ. Living independently and bewildered in the forest, he does not attain the association of devotees who are always engaged in the service of the Lord. Once in the bodily conception, he gets different types of bodies one after the other under the influence of material energy and impelled by the modes of material nature [sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna]. In this way the conditioned soul goes sometimes to the heavenly planets, sometimes to the earthly planets and sometimes to the lower planets and lower species. Thus he suffers continuously due to different types of bodies. These sufferings and pains are sometimes mixed. Sometimes they are very severe, and sometimes they are not. These bodily conditions are acquired due to the conditioned soul's mental speculation. He uses his mind and five senses to acquire knowledge, and these bring about the different bodies and different conditions. Using the senses under the control of the external energy, mâyâ, the living entity suffers the miserable conditions of material existence. He is actually searching for relief, but he is generally baffled, although sometimes he is relieved after great difficulty. Struggling for existence in this way, he cannot get the shelter of pure devotees, who are like bumblebees engaged in loving service at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 14 Verse 1

Pearls of Wisdom - 167

King Rahûgana said: This birth as a human being is the best of all. Even birth among the devatas in the heavenly planets is not as glorious as birth as a human being on this earth. What is the use of the exalted position of a devata? In the heavenly planets, due to profuse material comforts, there is no possibility of associating with devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 13 Verse 21

Pearls of Wisdom - 166

When the living entity becomes exactly like a monkey jumping from one branch to another, he remains in the tree of household life without any profit but sex. Thus he is kicked by his wife just like the he-ass. Unable to gain release, he remains helplessly in that position. Sometimes he falls victim to am incurable disease, which is like falling into a mountain cave. He becomes afraid of death, which is like the elephant in the back of that cave, and he remains stranded, grasping at the twigs and branches of a creeper.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 13 Verse 18

Pearls of Wisdom - 165

Jada Bharata, who had fully realized Brahman, continued: My dear King Rahûgana, the living entity wanders on the path of the material world, which is very difficult for him to traverse, and he accepts repeated birth and death. Being captivated by the material world under the influence of the three modes of material nature. (sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna), the living entity can see only the three fruits of activities under the spell of material nature. These fruits are auspicious, inauspicious and mixed. He thus becomes attached to religion, economic development, sense gratification and the monistic theory of liberation. (merging with the Supreme) He works very hard day and night exactly like a merchant who enters a forest to acquire some articles to sell later for profit. However, he cannot really achieve happiness within this material world.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 13 Verse 1

Pearls of Wisdom - 164

Simply by associating with exalted devotees, anyone can attain perfection of knowledge and with the sword of knowledge can cut to pieces the illusory associations within this material world. Through the association of devotees, one can engage in the service of the Lord by hearing and chanting [s'ravanam kîrtanam]. Thus one can revive his dormant Krishna consciousness and, sticking to the cultivation of Krishna consciousness, return home, back to Godhead, even in this life.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 12 Verse 16

Pearls of Wisdom - 163

In an assembly of pure devotees, there is no question of discussing material subjects like politics and sociology. In an assembly of pure devotees, there is discussion only of the qualities, forms and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is praised and worshiped with full attention. In the association of pure devotees, by constantly hearing such topics respectfully, even a person who wants to merge into the existence of the Absolute Truth abandons this idea and gradually becomes attached to the service of Vâsudeva.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 12 Verse 13

Pearls of Wisdom - 162

Jada Bharata : My dear King Rahûgana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy [brahmacarya], strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vânaprastha, accepting sannyâsa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee.

Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 5 Chapter 12 Verse 12

Pearls of Wisdom - 161

Since this universe has no real ultimate existence, the things within it--shortness, differences, grossness, skinniness, smallness, bigness, result, cause, living symptoms, and materials--are all imagined. They are all pots made of the same substance, earth, but they are named differently. The differences are characterized by the substance, nature, predisposition, time and activity. You should know that all these are simply mechanical manifestations created by material nature.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 12 Verse 10

Pearls of Wisdom - 160

All of us on the surface of the globe are living entities in different forms. Some of us are moving and some not moving. All of us come into existence, remain for some time and are annihilated when the body is again mingled with the earth. We are all simply different transformations of the earth. Different bodies and capacities are simply transformations of the earth that exist in name only, for everything grows out of the earth and when everything is annihilated it again mingles with the earth. In other words, we are but dust, and we shall but be dust. Everyone can consider this point.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 12 Verse 8

Pearls of Wisdom - 159

The self-realized brâhmana Jada Bharata said: Among the various material combinations and permutations, there are various forms and earthly transformations. For some reason, these move on the surface of the earth and are called palanquin carriers. Those material transformations which do not move are gross material objects like stones. In any case, the material body is made of earth and stone in the form of feet, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, torso, throat and head. Upon the shoulders is the wooden palanquin, and within the palanquin is the so-called King of Sauvîra. The body of the King is simply another transformation of earth, but within that body Your Lordship is situated and falsely thinking that you are the King of the state of Sauvîra.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 12 Verses 5-6

Pearls of Wisdom - 158

Jada Bharata to King Raghuguna: This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one neglects it or gives it a chance, it will grow more and more powerful and will become victorious. Although it is not factual, it is very strong. It covers the constitutional position of the soul. O King, please try to conquer this mind by the weapon of service to the lotus feet of the spiritual master and of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Do this with great care.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 17

Pearls of Wisdom - 157

The soul's designation, the mind, is the cause of all tribulations in the material world. As long as this fact is unknown to the conditioned living entity, he has to accept the miserable condition of the material body and wander within this universe in different positions. Because the mind is affected by disease, lamentation, illusion, attachment, greed and enmity, it creates bondage and a false sense of intimacy within this material world.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 16

Pearls of Wisdom - 156

When the living entity's mind becomes absorbed in the sense gratification of the material world, it brings about his conditioned life and suffering within the material situation. However, when the mind becomes unattached to material enjoyment, it becomes the cause of liberation. When the flame in a lamp burns the wick improperly, the lamp is blackened, but when the lamp is filled with ghee and is burning properly, there is bright illumination. Similarly, when the mind is absorbed in material sense gratification, it causes suffering, and when detached from material sense gratification, it brings about the original brightness of Krishna consciousness.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 8

Pearls of Wisdom - 155

The materialistic mind covering the living entity's soul carries it to different species of life. This is called continued material existence. Due to the mind, the living entity suffers or enjoys material distress and happiness. Being thus illusioned, the mind further creates pious and impious activities and their karma, and thus the soul becomes conditioned.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 6

Pearls of Wisdom - 154

As long as the mind of the living entity is contaminated by the three modes of material nature. (goodness, passion and ignorance), his mind is exactly like an independent, uncontrolled elephant. It simply expands its jurisdiction of pious and impious activities by using the senses. The result is that the living entity remains in the material world to enjoy and suffer pleasures and pains due to material activity.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 5

Pearls of wisdom -153

Jada Bharata: A dream becomes automatically known to a person as false and immaterial, and similarly one eventually realizes that material happiness in this life or the next, on this planet or a higher planet, is insignificant. When one realizes this, the Vedas, although an excellent source, are insufficient to bring about direct knowledge of the truth.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 3

Pearls of wisdom -152

Jada Bharata: My dear King, talks of the relationship between the master and the servant, the king and the subject and so forth are simply talks about material activities. People interested in material activities, which are expounded in the Vedas, are intent on performing material sacrifices and placing faith in their material activities. For such people, spiritual advancement is definitely not manifest.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 11 Verse 2

Pearls of Wisdom - 151

King Rahuguna: O my dear lord, you are the friend of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the friend of all living entities. You are therefore equal to everyone, and you are free from the bodily conception. Although I have committed an offense by insulting you, I know that there is no loss or gain for you due to my insult. You are fixed in your determination, but I have committed an offense. Because of this, even though I may be as strong as Lord S'iva, I shall be vanquished without delay due to my offense at the lotus feet of a Vaishnava.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 10 Verse 23

Pearls of wisdom -150

Jada Bharata to King Raghuguna: My dear King, you have unnecessarily accused me of being dead though alive. In this regard, I can only say that this is the case everywhere because everything material has its beginning and end. As far as your thinking that you are the king and master and are thus trying to order me, this is also incorrect because these positions are temporary. Today you are a king and I am your servant, but tomorrow the position may be changed, and you may be my servant and I your master. These are temporary circumstances created by providence.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 10 Verse 11

Pearls of wisdom -149

Fatness, thinness, bodily and mental distress, thirst, hunger, fear, disagreement, desires for material happiness, old age, sleep, attachment for material possessions, anger, lamentation, illusion and identification of the body with the self are all transformations of the material covering of the spirit soul. A person absorbed in the material bodily conception is affected by these things, but I am free from all bodily conceptions. Consequently I am neither fat nor skinny nor anything else you have mentioned.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 10 Verse 10

Pearls of wisdom -148

The great brâhmana Jada Bharata said: My dear King and hero, whatever you have spoken sarcastically is certainly true. Actually these are not simply words of chastisement, for the body is the carrier. The load carried by the body does not belong to me, for I am the spirit soul. There is no contradiction in your statements because I am different from the body. I am not the carrier of the palanquin; the body is the carrier. Certainly, as you have hinted, I have not labored carrying the palanquin, for I am detached from the body. You have said that I am not stout and strong, and these words are befitting a person who does not know the distinction between the body and the soul. The body may be fat or thin, but no learned man would say such things of the spirit soul. As far as the spirit soul is concerned, I am neither fat nor skinny; therefore you are correct when you say that I am not very stout. Also, if the object of this journey and the path leading there were mine, there would be many troubles for me, but because they relate not to me but to my body, there is no trouble at all.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 10 Verse 9

Pearls of wisdom -147

Even though one is in the renounced order, one who is advanced certainly feels compassion for suffering living entities. One should certainly neglect his own personal interests, although they may be very important, to protect one who has surrendered.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 8 Verse 10

Pearls of wisdom - 146

After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Mahârâja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva. In other words, he performed all the yajñas for the satisfaction of Lord Vâsudeva, Krishna. Mahârâja Bharata thought that since the devatas were different parts of Vâsudeva's body, He controls those who are explained in the Vedic mantras. By thinking in this way, Mahârâja Bharata was freed from all material contamination, such as attachment, lust and greed. When the priests were about to offer the sacrificial ingredients into the fire, Mahârâja Bharata expertly understood how the offering made to different demigods was simply an offering to the different limbs of the Lord. For instance, Indra is the arm of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Sûrya [the sun] is His eye. Thus Mahârâja Bharata considered that the oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto the different limbs of Lord Vâsudeva.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 7 Verse 6

Business Opportunity for Devotees

Hare Krishna,

We have a very good business opportunity for devotees. We tried selling One Gram Gold Jewelery and found very good response. In these days of limited spending they have become very popular. These exotic, traditional jewelery pieces are perfect for deities and matajis. They are plated with one gram gold and are far superior to the imitation ones.

We have few genuine family sources and we will be able to ship within North America from our home. You will have good margin and no bad karma!!

Please contact us at:

subuddhi@gmail.com

Your servants,
Deepapriya Radhika dd
Subuddhi Krishna das

Pearls of wisdom -145

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: My dear King, the Supreme Person, Mukunda, is actually the maintainer of all the members of the Pândava and Yadu dynasties. He is your spiritual master, worshipable Deity, friend, and the director of your activities. To say nothing of this, He sometimes serves your family as a messenger or servant. This means He worked just as ordinary servants do. Those engaged in getting the Lord's favor attain liberation from the Lord very easily, but He does not very easily give the opportunity to render direct service unto Him.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 18

Pearls of wisdom -144

Devotees always bathe themselves in devotional service in order to be relieved from the various tribulations of material existence. By doing this, the devotees enjoy supreme bliss, and liberation personified comes to serve them. Nonetheless, they do not accept that service, even if it is offered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. For the devotees, liberation [mukti] is very unimportant because, having attained the Lord's transcendental loving service, they have attained everything desirable and have transcended all material desires.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 17

Pearls of wisdom -143

People who are lowest among men and bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord will give up the original varnâs'rama-dharma and its rules and regulations. They will abandon bathing daily and worshiping the Lord. Abandoning cleanliness and neglecting the Supreme Lord, they will accept nonsensical principles. Not regularly bathing or washing their mouths regularly, they will always remain unclean, and they will pluck out their hair. Following a concocted religion, they will flourish. During this age of Kali, people are more inclined to irreligious systems. Consequently these people will naturally deride Vedic authority, the followers of Vedic authority, the brâhmanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 10

Pearls of wisdom -142

The mind is the root cause of lust, anger, pride, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear. Combined, these constitute bondage to fruitive activity. What learned man would put faith in the mind?

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 5

Pearls of Wisdom - 141

An unchaste woman is very easily carried away by paramours, and it sometimes happens that her husband is violently killed by her paramours. If the yogî gives his mind a chance and does not restrain it, his mind will give facility to enemies like lust, anger and greed, and they will doubtlessly kill the yogî.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 4

Pearls of Wisdom - 140

S'rîla S'ukadeva Gosvâmî replied: My dear King, you have spoken correctly. However, after capturing animals, a cunning hunter does not put faith in them, for they might run away. Similarly, those who are advanced in spiritual life do not put faith in the mind. Indeed, they always remain vigilant and watch the mind's action.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 2

Pearls of Wisdom - 139

All the learned scholars have given their opinion. The mind is by nature very restless, and one should not make friends with it. If we place full confidence in the mind, it may cheat us at any moment.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 6 Verse 3

Pearls of Wisdom - 138

Lord Rishabhadeva: The true activity of the sense organs--mind, sight, words and all the knowledge-gathering and working senses--is to engage fully in My service. Unless his senses are thus engaged, a living entity cannot think of getting out of the great entanglement of material existence, which is exactly like Yamarâja's stringent rope.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 27

Pearls of Wisdom - 137

Lord Rishabhadeva:

My dear sons, you should not envy any living entity--be he moving or nonmoving. Knowing that I am situated in them, you should offer respect to all of them at every moment. In this way, you offer respect to Me.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 26

Pearls of Wisdom - 136

Lord Rishbhadeva:

The Vedas are My eternal transcendental sound incarnation. Therefore the Vedas are s'abda-brahma. In this world, the brâhmanas thoroughly study all the Vedas, and because they assimilate the Vedic conclusions, they are also to be considered the Vedas personified. The brâhmanas are situated in the supreme transcendental mode of nature--sattva-guna. Because of this, they are fixed in mind control [s'ama], sense control [dama], and truthfulness [satya]. They describe the Vedas in their original sense, and out of mercy [anugraha] they preach the purpose of the Vedas to all conditioned souls. They practice penance [tapasya] and tolerance [titikshâ], and they realize the position of the living entity and the Supreme Lord [anubhava]. These are the eight qualifications of the brâhmanas. Therefore among all living entities, no one is superior to the brâhmanas.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 24

Pearls of Wisdom - 135

Of the two energies manifest [spirit and dull matter], beings possessing living force [vegetables, grass, trees and plants] are superior to dull matter [stone, earth, etc.]. Superior to nonmoving plants and vegetables are worms and snakes, which can move. Superior to worms and snakes are animals that have developed intelligence. Superior to animals are human beings, and superior to human beings are ghosts because they have no material bodies. Superior to ghosts are the Gandharvas, and superior to them are the Siddhas. Superior to the Siddhas are the Kinnaras, and superior to them are the asuras. Superior to the asuras are the devatas, and of the devatas, Indra, the King of heaven, is supreme. Superior to Indra are the direct sons of Lord Brahmâ, sons like King Daksha, and supreme among Brahmâ's sons is Rudra. Since Rudra is the son of Lord Brahmâ, Brahmâ is considered superior, but Brahmâ is also subordinate to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because I am inclined to the brâhmanas, the brâhmanas are best of all.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verses 21-22

Pearls of Wisdom - 134

Lord Rishabhadev:

My dear sons, you should not envy any living entity--be he moving or nonmoving. Knowing that I am situated in them, you should offer respect to all of them at every moment. In this way, you offer respect to Me.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 26

Pearls of Wisdom - 133

The Vedas are My eternal transcendental sound incarnation. Therefore the Vedas are s'abda-brahma. In this world, the brâhmanas thoroughly study all the Vedas, and because they assimilate the Vedic conclusions, they are also to be considered the Vedas personified. The brâhmanas are situated in the supreme transcendental mode of nature--sattva-guna. Because of this, they are fixed in mind control [s'ama], sense control [dama], and truthfulness [satya]. They describe the Vedas in their original sense, and out of mercy [anugraha] they preach the purpose of the Vedas to all conditioned souls. They practice penance [tapasya] and tolerance [titikshâ], and they realize the position of the living entity and the Supreme Lord [anubhava]. These are the eight qualifications of the brâhmanas. Therefore among all living entities, no one is superior to the brâhmanas.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 24

Pearls of Wisdom - 132

Lord Rishabhdeva:

My transcendental body [sac-cid-ânanda-vigraha] looks exactly like a human form, but it is not a material human body. It is inconceivable. I am not forced by nature to accept a particular type of body; I take on a body by My own sweet will. My heart is also spiritual, and I always think of the welfare of My devotees. Therefore within My heart can be found the process of devotional service, which is meant for the devotees. Far from My heart have I abandoned irreligion [adharma] and nondevotional activities. They do not appeal to Me. Due to all these transcendental qualities, people generally pray to Me as Rishabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all living entities.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 19

Pearls of wisdom -131

If someone is ignorant and addicted to the path of samsâra, how can one who is actually learned, merciful and advanced in spiritual knowledge engage him in fruitive activity and thus further entangle him in material existence? If a blind man is walking down the wrong path, how can a gentleman allow him to continue on his way to danger? How can he approve this method? No wise or kind man can allow this.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 17

Pearls of Wsidom - 130

If one is serious about going back home, back to Godhead, he must consider the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the summum bonum and chief aim of life. If he is a father instructing his sons, a spiritual master instructing his disciples, or a king instructing his citizens, he must instruct them. Without being angry, he should continue giving instructions, even if his disciple, son or citizen is sometimes unable to follow his order. Ignorant people who engage in pious and impious activities should be engaged in devotional service by all means. They should always avoid fruitive activity. If one puts into the bondage of karmic activity his disciple, son or citizen who is bereft of transcendental vision, how will one profit? It is like leading a blind man to a dark well and causing him to fall in.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 14

Pearls of wisdom - 129

Lord Rishabhdev:

O My sons, you should accept a highly elevated paramahamsa, a spiritually advanced spiritual master. In this way, you should place your faith and love in Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You should detest sense gratification and tolerate the duality of pleasure and pain, which are like the seasonal changes of summer and winter. Try to realize the miserable condition of living entities, who are miserable even in the higher planetary systems. Philosophically inquire about the truth. Then undergo all kinds of austerities and penances for the sake of devotional service. Give up the endeavor for sense enjoyment and engage in the service of the Lord. Listen to discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and always associate with devotees. Chant about and glorify the Supreme Lord, and look upon everyone equally on the spiritual platform. Give up enmity and subdue anger and lamentation. Abandon identifying the self with the body and the home, and practice reading the revealed scriptures. Live in a secluded place and practice the process by which you can completely control your life air, mind and senses. Have full faith in the revealed scriptures, the Vedic literatures. Perform your prescribed duties and avoid unnecessary talks. Always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, acquire knowledge from the right source. Thus practicing bhakti-yoga, you will patiently and enthusiastically be elevated in knowledge and will be able to give up the false ego.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verses 10-13

Pearls of wisdom - 128

As long as one does not inquire about the spiritual values of life, one is defeated and subjected to miseries arising from ignorance. Be it sinful or pious, karma has its resultant actions. If a person is engaged in any kind of karma, his mind is called karmâtmaka, colored with fruitive activity. As long as the mind is impure, consciousness is unclear, and as long as one is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 5

Pearls of wisdom - 127

When a person considers sense gratification the aim of life, he certainly becomes mad after materialistic living and engages in all kinds of sinful activity. He does not know that due to his past misdeeds he has already received a body which, although temporary, is the cause of his misery. Actually the living entity should not have taken on a material body, but he has been awarded the material body for sense gratification. Therefore it is not befitting an intelligent man to involve himself again in the activities of sense gratification by which he perpetually gets material bodies one after another.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 4

Pearls of wisdom - 126

One can attain the path of liberation from material bondage only by rendering service to highly advanced spiritual personalities. Whether one wants to merge into the Lord's existence or wants to associate with the Personality of Godhead, one should render service to the mahâtmâs. For those who are not interested in such activities, who associate with people fond of women and sex, the path to hell is wide open. The mahâtmâs are equipoised. They do not see any difference between one living entity and another. They are very peaceful and are fully engaged in devotional service. They are devoid of anger, and they work for the benefit of everyone. They do not behave in any abominable way. Such people are known as mahâtmâs.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 2

Pearls of wisdom - 125

Lord Rishabhadeva told His sons: My dear boys, of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness and which continues forever.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 1

Pearls of wisdom - 124

No one likes to possess anything that is like a will-o'-the-wisp or a flower in the sky, for everyone knows very well that such things do not exist. When Lord Rishabhadeva ruled this planet of Bhâratavarsha, even common men did not want to ask for anything, at any time or by any means. No one ever asks for a will-o'-the-wisp. In other words, everyone was completely satisfied, and therefore there was no chance of anyone's asking for anything. The people were absorbed in great affection for the King. Since this affection was always expanding, they were not inclined to ask for anything.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 4 Verse 15

Pearls of wisdom - 123

Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 4 Verse 15

Pearls of wisdom - 122

Being an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Rishabhadeva was fully independent because His form was spiritual, eternal and full of transcendental bliss. He eternally had nothing to do with the four principles of material misery [birth, death, old age and disease]. Nor was He materially attached. He was always equipoised, and He saw everyone on the same level. He was unhappy to see others unhappy, and He was the well-wisher of all living entities. Although He was a perfect personality, the Supreme Lord and controller of all, He nonetheless acted as if He were an ordinary conditioned soul. Therefore He strictly followed the principles of varnâs'rama-dharma and acted accordingly. In due course of time, the principles of varnâs'rama-dharma had become neglected; therefore through His personal characteristics and behavior, He taught the ignorant public how to perform duties within the varnâs'rama-dharma. In this way He regulated the general populace in householder life, enabling them to develop religion and economic well-being and to attain reputations, sons and daughters, material pleasure and finally eternal life. By His instructions, He showed how people could remain householders and at the same time become perfect by following the principles of varnâs'rama-dharma.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 4 Verse 14

Pearls of wisdom - 121

Dear Lord, unless one worships the lotus feet of great devotees, one will be conquered by the illusory energy, and his intelligence will be bewildered. Indeed, who has not been carried away by the waves of material enjoyment, which are like poison? Your illusory energy is unconquerable. No one can see the path of this material energy or tell how it is working.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 14

Pearls of wisdom - 120

Dear Lord, we may not be able to remember Your name, form and qualities due to stumbling, hunger, falling down, yawning or being in a miserable diseased condition at the time of death. We therefore pray unto You, O Lord, for You are very affectionate to Your devotees. Please help us remember You and utter Your holy names, attributes and activities, which can dispel all the reactions of our sinful lives.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 12

Pearls of wisdom - 119

Dear Lord, all the great sages who are thoughtful and saintly persons incessantly recount Your spiritual qualities. These sages have already burned up all the unlimited dirty things and, by the fire of knowledge, strengthened their detachment from the material world. Thus they have attained Your qualities and are self-satisfied. Yet even for those who feel spiritual bliss in chanting Your attributes, Your personal presence is very rare.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 11

Pearls of wisdom - 118

The priests to Lord Vishnu:

O Lord of lords, we are completely ignorant of the execution of dharma, artha, kâma and moksha, the process of liberation, because we do not actually know the goal of life. You have appeared personally before us like a person soliciting worship, but actually You are present here just so we can see You. You have come out of Your abundant and causeless mercy in order to serve our purpose, our interest, and give us the benefit of Your personal glory called apavarga, liberation. You have come, although You are not properly worshiped by us due to our ignorance.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 9

Pearls of wisdom - 117

Lord Vishnu appeared before King Nâbhi with four arms. He was very bright, and He appeared to be the best of all personalities. Around the lower portion of His body, He wore a yellow silken garment. On His chest was the mark of S'rîvatsa, which always displays beauty. He carried a conchshell, lotus flower, disc and club, and He wore a garland of forest flowers and the Kaustubha gem. He was beautifully decorated with a helmet, earrings, bangles, belt, pearl necklace, armlets, ankle bells and other bodily ornaments bedecked with radiant jewels.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 3

Pearls of wisdom - 116

In the performance of a sacrifice, there are seven transcendental means to obtain the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead:. (1) by sacrificing valuable things or eatables,. (2) by acting in terms of place,. (3) by acting in terms of time,. (4) by offering hymns,. (5) by going through the priest,. (6) by offering gifts to the priests and. (7) by observing the regulative principles. However, one cannot always obtain the Supreme Lord through this paraphernalia. Nonetheless, the Lord is affectionate to His devotee; therefore when Mahârâja Nâbhi, who was a devotee, worshiped and offered prayers to the Lord with great faith and devotion and with a pure uncontaminated mind, superficially performing some yajña in the line of pravargya, the kind Supreme Personality of Godhead, due to His affection for His devotees, appeared before King Nâbhi in His unconquerable and captivating form with four hands. In this way, to fulfill the desire of His devotee, the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifested Himself in His beautiful body before His devotee. This body pleases the mind and eyes of the devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 2