Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 08 Chapter 02 Purports - The Elephant Gajendra's Crisis
Pages in category "Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 08 Chapter 02 Purports - The Elephant Gajendra's Crisis"
The following 72 pages are in this category, out of 72 total.
A
- A fool wrongly thinks that he is happy in this material world, but in fact he is not, for one who thinks that way is only illusioned. At every step, at every moment, there is danger
- All the animals were practically controlled by this elephant (Gajendra), yet although they could move without fear, because of respect they did not stand before him
- Although they (so-called scientists) cannot even estimate the varieties existing throughout the universe, they are very proud of their knowledge, and they are accepted as learned by persons of a similar caliber
- As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: (BG 4.8) the Lord appears in His various incarnations for two purposes - to annihilate the duskrti, the sinful, and to protect His devotees
- As described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 2.3.19), sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh: materialistic leaders are praised by dogs, hogs, camels and asses, and they themselves are also big animals
- As ordinary men may play in the salty ocean, the inhabitants of the higher planetary systems go to the ocean of milk. They float in the ocean of milk and also enjoy various sports within the caves of Trikuta Mountain
E
- Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is advised that no one take sannyasa
- Even in the material world, there are many grades of living entities
- Everyone in the material world is engaged in a struggle for existence. Everyone tries to save himself from danger, but when one is unable to save himself, if he is pious, he then takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
F
- For instance, we understand (from Srimad-Bhagavatam) that there are two million different types of trees, and not all of them are exhibited on earth
- For one who is not in a transcendental position, to take sannyasa artificially is not a very great credit
- For preaching we give young boys sannyasa, but actually it is being experienced that they are not fit for sannyasa
- Four kinds of pious men - namely, one who is in danger, one who is in need of money, one who is searching for knowledge and one who is inquisitive - begin to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order to be saved or to advance
- From Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that there are various oceans. Somewhere there is an ocean filled with milk, somewhere an ocean of liquor, an ocean of ghee, an ocean of oil, and an ocean of sweet water
- From this (asvamedham gavalambham, sannyasam pala-paitrkam, devarena sutotpattim, kalau panca vivarjayet - CC Adi 17.164) we can understand that in this age the sannyasa-asrama is forbidden because people are not strong
- From this verse (in SB 8.2.4), we can understand that if the valleys of some mountains are washed with milk, this produces emeralds. No one has the ability to imitate the activities of material nature as conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
I
- If sannyasa is not suitable, one may enter the grhastha-asrama and fight maya with great strength. But one should not give up the fighting and go away
- In Bhagavad-gita it is said that those who are pious (sukrti) can decide that in a dangerous or awkward condition one should seek shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna
- In Bhagavad-gita the Lord clearly says, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham: (BG 10.34) "I am all-devouring death." Thus mrtyu, or death, is the representative who takes everything away from the living entity who has accepted a material body
- In modern civilization one thinks that if he has a nice home and a nice car his life is perfect
- In the fighting between the elephant (Gajendra) and the crocodile, the difference was that although the elephant was extremely powerful, he was in a foreign place, in the water
- In the higher planetary systems, there are not only different types of human beings, but also animals like lions and elephants. There are trees, and the land is made of emeralds. Such is the creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- In the Western countries, especially in America, it is very nice to possess a good car, but as soon as one is on the road, there is danger because at any moment an accident may take place and one will be killed
- It is assured in Bhagavad-gita (BG 4.9). Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so'rjuna: a devotee, after giving up his body, does not accept a material body, but returns home, back to Godhead
- It is out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that the wind is blowing, that the sun is distributing heat and light, and that death is chasing everyone
N
O
- One may argue, "Does the devotee not die?" The answer is that a devotee certainly must give up his body, for the body is material
- One may stay in whichever asrama is suitable for him; it is not essential that one take sannyasa. If one is sexually agitated, he can enter the grhastha-asrama. But one must continue fighting
- One should not be satisfied with the knowledge imparted by a big animal (materialistic leaders). Rather, one must take knowledge from a perfect person like Sukadeva Gosvami
- One should take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, as we shall see Gajendra do, and at the same time one can be a grhastha if he is satisfied with sexual indulgence
- One who is intelligent understands that there is a great and supreme authority above everything. That great authority appears in different incarnations to save the innocent from disturbances
- Our Krsna consciousness movement has actually declared war against the illusory energy, in which all the living entities are rotting in a false understanding of civilization
S
- Since the bodies of the damsels in the upper planetary systems are so beautiful, we can just imagine how beautifully formed are the bodies of the Vaikuntha damsels or the damsels in Vrndavana, the gopis
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed us an example in taking sannyasa at the age of twenty-four years, but even Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya advised Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be extremely careful because He had taken sannyasa at an early age
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung in this regard, kesava! tuya jagata vicitra: My Lord Kesava, Your creation is colorful and full of varieties
- Srimad-Bhagavatam presents the total knowledge of the affairs of the universe. It not only describes this universe, but also takes into account the spiritual world beyond the universe
T
- That one has been found to be very weak in one place does not mean that he should stop fighting the crocodile of maya. One should take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, as we shall see Gajendra do, and at the same time one can be a grhastha
- The attempts to go from the earth to the moon have failed, but the people of earth can understand what exists on other planets. There is no need of imagination; one may take actual knowledge from Srimad-Bhagavatam and be satisfied
- The best course is to seek shelter of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and be saved from the struggle for existence in this material world, in which one repeatedly takes birth and dies. To reach this understanding is the ultimate goal of life
- The crocodile, however, being an animal of the water, had no difficulties. He was getting food and was therefore getting mental strength and sensual encouragement
- The decision of the King of the elephants, Gajendra, was correct. In such a dangerous position, he sought shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The difference (for a devotee) is, however, that for one who surrenders to Krsna fully and who is protected by Krsna, the present body is his last; he will not again receive a material body to be subjected to death
- The human beings on earth generally cover themselves with external fragrances to stop their bad bodily odors
- The King of the elephants (Gajendra) decided to surrender unto Him. This is intelligent. One must know that great Supreme Personality of Godhead and surrender unto Him
- The King of the elephants (Gajendra), in his condition of danger, decided to seek shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. After considerable thought, he intelligently arrived at this correct decision. Such a decision is not reached by a sinful man
- The Lord comes personally to instruct us how to be happy, and only fools and rascals do not see by intelligence this supreme authority, the Supreme Person
- The modern scientists, who have only limited experience, cannot defy these statements (of Srimad-Bhagavatam); they cannot give us full information about any planet, even the planet on which we live
- The record actually shows that so many people die in such accidents. Therefore if we actually think that this material world is a very happy place, this is our ignorance. Real knowledge is that this material world is full of danger
- The soldiers in this Krsna consciousness movement must always possess physical strength, enthusiasm and sensual power. To keep themselves fit, they must therefore place themselves in a normal condition of life
- The supreme controller Himself appears as Lord Krsna, as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and as Lord Ramacandra to give us instructions and to show us by example how to surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- There are different varieties of oceans within this universe
- There is a supreme controller, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.10): mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram
- There is no harm, however, if one thinks that he is unfit for sannyasa; if he is very much agitated sexually, he should go to the asrama where sex is allowed, namely the grhastha-asrama
- There is no need to give up the fight. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore recommended, sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih
- This material manifestation is working so well because of the supreme controller. Any intelligent person, therefore, can understand that there is a supreme controller
- This material world is described as padam padam yad vipadam (SB 10.14.58), which means that at every step there is danger
- Those who are duskrti, the lowest of men, do not surrender - na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah - BG 7.15
- Those who are the lowest of men refuse to take to Krsna consciousness because they think that they will be able to protect themselves without Krsna's care. This is their mistake
- Those who try to be happy without taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are mudhas, rascals. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah - BG 7.15
V
W
- We are always in danger because at any moment death can take place. It is not that only Gajendra, the King of elephants, was afraid of death. Everyone should fear death because everyone is caught by the crocodile of eternal time & may die at any moment
- We may invent so many ways to be happy or to counteract the dangers of this material world, but unless our attempts are sanctioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they will never make us happy
- We may struggle for existence as far as our intelligence allows and may try to take care of ourselves, but unless the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, ultimately saves us from danger, our attempts will be useless
- We may take the lesson that in our fight with maya we should not be in a position in which our strength, enthusiasm and senses will be unable to fight vigorously
- What constitutes a normal condition will not be the same for everyone, and therefore there are divisions of varnasrama-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa
- While the elephant (Gajendra) became reduced in strength, the crocodile became more and more powerful