Brahma-vaivarta Purana (Lectures)

Expressions researched:
"Brahma Vaivarta Purana" |"Brahma-vaivarta Purana"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

The Darwin theory, although they are giving some idea of progressive evolution, but he does not know what is the goal of life, why this progress is there. That these rascals they do not know. Simply just imagining, taking some whims from the Padma Purāṇa, Brahmā Vaivarta Purāṇa.

Lecture on BG 1.43 -- London, July 30, 1973:

The Darwin theory, although they are giving some idea of progressive evolution, but he does not know what is the goal of life, why this progress is there. That these rascals they do not know. Simply just imagining, taking some whims from the Padma Purāṇa, Brahmā Vaivarta Purāṇa. Aṣitiṁś catvarāṁś caiva, jīva-jātiṣu, lakṣāṁs tān jīva-jātiṣu. There are 8,400,000 types of jīva-jātis. Aṣitiṁś catvarāṁś caiva lakṣāṁs tān jīva-jātiṣu. So this is already there. Brahmādbhiḥ. In this way the living entity is wandering in the cycle of transmigration of the soul. So from this, Mr. Darwin might have taken some hints, but he could not explain properly. He could not catch up that brahmādbhiḥ, who is wandering. So it is a chaos.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Vedas, they are dealing with these three guṇas, Vedas, giving direction according to the guṇa—the sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. For the sattva-guṇa, the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa, Brahmāṇḍa-Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta-Purāṇa, Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, according to his capacity.

Lecture on SB 2.1.7 -- Paris, June 15, 1974:

Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna, traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna. Vedas, they are dealing with these three guṇas, Vedas, giving direction according to the guṇa—the sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, tamo-guṇa. So one who is in the sattva-guṇa, for them, there are six purāṇas. Sattva-guṇa, tamo-guṇa, rajo-guṇa. Eighteen purāṇas there are. Some of them are for the persons who are situated on the modes of goodness, and some of them are for the persons who are in rajo-guṇa, and some of them are for persons in tamo-guṇa. Just like in the Vedic śāstras, there is also recommendation to worship goddess Kali. That is for the tamo-guṇa, not for the sattva-guṇa. For the sattva-guṇa, the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa, Brahmāṇḍa-Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta-Purāṇa, Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, according to... Because knowledge has to be given to everyone, but according to his capacity. If one is in tamo-guṇa, you cannot say..., you cannot raise him immediately to the sattva-guṇa. Tamo-guṇa is meat-eating, drinking. These are tamo-guṇa, in the darkness. So the Vedas has given chance to them, "All right, you want to eat meat? All right, you eat meat. But offering to the goddess Kālī." Means restriction. It is not required, but the rascal will not hear immediately. Therefore give him some concession, "All right, you can eat meat by offering sacrifice..., not the cow, but one lower animal which is useless, like goats." Generally, goat and the chicken. They do that.

This Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is not a manufactured way. This is actually following the Vedic principle. This is Agni-Purāṇa, Brahmāṇḍa-Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta-Purāṇa, and Kali-santaraṇa-Upaniṣad.

Lecture on SB 3.26.35-36 -- Bombay, January 12, 1975:

Our this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is pursuing, following the footstep of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā

(CC Adi 17.21)

These are all according to Vedic injunction. This Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is not a manufactured way. This is actually following the Vedic principle. This is Agni-Purāṇa, Brahmāṇḍa-Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta-Purāṇa, and Kali-santaraṇa-Upaniṣad. There are many Vedic literatures, they are recommended, this Hare Kṛṣṇa. Sometime it is said, "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare"; sometime it is "Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare." So people become puzzled, which one should be first vibrated. So any one you can vibrate. Either you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa or Hare Rāma in the beginning, it doesn't matter. There is no difference between the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma. But still, there is some distinction. In the śāstra it is said that "If you chant one thousand times Lord Viṣṇu's name, that is equal to chanting one name of Lord Rāma." Sahasra, sahasra, Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma. And if you chant three times Lord Rāma's name, it is equal to one time chanting Kṛṣṇa's name. This is the shastric injunction.

You have to hear and chant about Kṛṣṇa, not any other demigod. It is from the śāstra, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Agni-Purāṇa. A saintly person, mahānta, will not speak anything which is not mentioned in the śāstra.

Lecture on SB 5.5.2 -- Hyderabad, April 12, 1975:

Strenuous training was there to live in gurukula and sacrifice the whole life for guru's instruction. This is the Vedic culture, brahmacārī, and live at the place of guru just like a menial servant. Where is that education? Why you'll not expect these upstarts, Naxalites? Where is that training? Of course it is very difficult to bring back that mode of civilization at the present moment, kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām, we have lost everything by the influence of this Kali-yuga. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised that you harer nāma, harer nāma, harer nāma eva kevalam (CC Adi 17.21), chant the name of Hari. Harer nāma, thrice He's stressing. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalaṁ kalau, in this age of Kali, nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. This is simple method. Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, harer nāma. Not other's name, harer nāma. There people also diverting their attention, "Any name will do." No. Not any name. Harer nāma. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ (SB 7.5.23). You have to hear and chant about Kṛṣṇa, not any other demigod. No. It is particularly mentioned, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam. This is wanted. Very simple thing. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has... It is from the śāstra, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Agni-Purāṇa. A saintly person, mahānta, will not speak anything which is not mentioned in the śāstra. If somebody manufactures, he's a devil. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhāgavata, yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ, na siddhiṁ sa avāpnoti (BG 16.23). Anyone who goes against the śāstra and manufactures his own concoction, for him there is no siddhi, na siddhiṁ sa avāpnoti. Na sukham, neither any happiness. And what to speak of parāṁ gatim?

In Kali-yuga, all are fourth-class men, śūdrā-sambhavāḥ. So therefore they are unable to perform all these tapasya or brahmacarya. That has been enunciated in the śāstra, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa.

Lecture on SB 6.1.13-14 -- Los Angeles, June 26, 1975:

So to fulfill the human life aim of human life, we have to become first-class human being. The first-class human being, ideal human being, is the brāhmaṇa. And the second class, the kṣatriya; the third class, vaiśya; and fourth class, śūdra. So at the present moment, Kali-yuga, kalau śūdrā-sambhavāḥ. In Kali-yuga there is no first class, second class, or even third class. All fourth-class men, śūdrā-sambhavāḥ. So therefore they are unable to perform all these tapasya or brahmacarya. Then what is their hope for progress? That has been enunciated in the śāstra, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given us the formula that,

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalaṁ

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā

(CC Adi 17.21)

To make one's life successful, to reach to the goal of life, it is very difficult. (break) ...discharge all these principles, tapasā, brahmacarya. Śamo damaḥ titikṣa satyam. Satyam means truthfulness. One should be so truthful that if a rogue comes to him and if he asks, "What money you have got?" he will say, "I have got so much money." This is called satyam. He will not conceal even to the enemies. That is called truthfulness. Everything should be plainly and truthfully presented. These are satyam. And śaucābhyām, cleanliness. Cleanliness means if you go to the latrine, the injunction is that you will have to wash your hands, legs, so many times. Not with water, but with earth. Nowadays it is soap. So if we cannot wash our hands and legs for many times, at least we should wash once or twice with soap. This is called śaucam. A brahminical qualification is he is very neat and clean, three times taking bath, and keeping the body very neat, cloth, everything. Where he lives, his bedding, his place—all must be cleansed. And yamena niyamena vā: sex control, mind control, and senses control by regulative principles.

If you do not follow the vidhi as they are given in the Vedas, śruti, and smṛti, as in the Bhagavad-gītā, śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi, and the Purāṇas, Padma Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Agni Purāṇa, Sattvika-Purāṇa.

Lecture on SB 7.6.7 -- Vrndavana, December 9, 1975:

Prabhupāda: Nāvāpnoti siddhi na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim. So in the beginning, neophyte stage, not that "Because we have come to Vṛndāvana, immediately we have become advanced." No. Vidhi-bhakti must be followed, regulative principle, by the injunction of the śāstra and the order of the spiritual master. Vidhi-bhakti. Kṛṣṇa Himself says, yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya. Rūpa Gosvāmī has said also, śruti-smṛti-purāṇadi-pāñcarātriki-vidhiṁ vinā. Again, vidhi.

śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-

pañcarātriki-vidhiṁ vinā

aikāntikī harer bhaktir

utpātāyaiva kalpate

(Brs. 1.2.101)

If you do not follow the vidhi as they are given in the Vedas, śruti, and smṛti, as in the Bhagavad-gītā, śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi, and the Purāṇas, Padma Purāṇa, Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Agni Purāṇa, Sattvika-Purāṇa... So śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi and pañcarātrika, Nārada-Pañcarātra.

General Lectures

There are eighteen purāṇas. Out of that, one Purāṇa is called Agni Purāṇa, and another Purāṇa is called Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa.

Brandeis University Lecture -- Boston, April 29, 1969:

It is stated in the Agni Purāṇa—perhaps you have heard. There are eighteen purāṇas. Out of that, one Purāṇa is called Agni Purāṇa, and another Purāṇa is called Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa. So in these two purāṇas, and many other purāṇas also, this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is there, that in this age... "In this age" means this age of Kali, where everything is based on disagreement and dissension. Nobody will agree with others' proposal. Everyone is thinking that "I am independent. I can think in my own way. I can have my own process of self-realization." So many. Therefore it is recommended in this age that for self-realization these mantras, sixteen mantra, should be chanted... Faithfully.

Philosophy Discussions

Aśitiṁ caturaś caiva, this is Brahmā-vaivarta Purāṇa and this Brahmā-vaivarta Purāṇa was written by Vyāsadeva five thousand years ago. Darwin has stolen this theory, this idea, from Brahmā-vaivarta Purāṇa, and he has tried to prove it in a different way.

Philosophy Discussion on Charles Darwin:

Prabhupāda: Now what is there? Finished. (break) ...fact. It is known to the Vedic culture millions of years ago. (indistinct) I was reading, aśitiṁ caturaś caiva, this is Brahmā-vaivarta Purāṇa and this Brahmā-vaivarta Purāṇa was written by Vyāsadeva five thousand years ago. And it was known long, long years ago. It was written in the Purāṇas, but it was coming by tradition long, long ago. So (indistinct). He has stolen this theory, this idea, from Brahmā-vaivarta Purāṇa, and he has tried to prove it in a different way. Otherwise this evolutionary theory is already there.

aśitiṁ caturaś caiva

lakṣāṁs tāñ jīva-jātiṣu

bhramadbhiḥ (puruṣaiḥ prāpyaṁ

mānuṣyaṁ janma-paryayāt)