I shall speak to you about glorification of the holy name of God. This was discussed between Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī in connection with one brāhmiṇ who was very much fallen and addicted to all kinds of sinful activities, but he was saved simply by chanting the holy name. So this is from the Sixth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
In the fifth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the universal planetary system have been very nicely explained, and within the planetary system there is some planet, some planetary system, which are called hellish planet. Actually, in every scripture, not only in Bhāgavata, in other religious scripture, the description of hell and heaven are there, some way or other.
So in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam you'll find where are those hellish planets, how it is distant from this planet. Just like modern astronomy, they have got calculation how far the moon planet is there from here, what is the distance, what is the distance between earthly planet, the sun planet. Similarly, there are hellish planets also.
Just like . . . we have got practical experience. Even on this planet, there are different conditions of atmosphere. Western countries, nearing the North Pole, the climate is different from India because it is near the equator. As there are differences of atmosphere and condition of life within this planet, similarly, there are particular planets also, the condition of life, atmosphere and everything different.
So after hearing all these descriptions of hellish planets . . . as there are heavenly planets, there are hellish planets also. So Parīkṣit Mahārāja inquiring from Śukadeva Gosvāmī:
- adhuneha mahā-bhāga
- yathaiva narakān naraḥ
- nānā ugra yātanān neyāt
- tan me vyākhyātum arhasi
- (SB 6.1.6)
"Sir, I have heard from you about many hellish planetary description, and the men who are very much sinful, they are put into those planets." But Parīkṣit Mahārāja is a Vaiṣṇava. Vaiṣṇava is always feeling for others' distress. That is Vaiṣṇava.
(aside) Don't make this sound.
Vaiṣṇava—para-duḥkha-duḥkhī. They're very much afflicted with others', I mean to say, miserable life. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he presented himself as very much afflicted with others' miserable condition of life. So all the Vaiṣṇavas, devotees—it doesn't matter which country he belongs to or which sect he belongs to—anyone who is God conscious or Kṛṣṇa conscious . . . therefore to blaspheme a Vaiṣṇava, a preacher of God's glory, is great offense. Kṛṣṇa, or God, will never tolerate offense on the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava.
So here Parīkṣit Mahārāja is asking . . . because he's a Vaiṣṇava. Mind that. A Vaiṣṇava is actually feeling . . . para-duḥkha-duḥkhī, kṛpāmbudhi. These are the adjectives of the qualification.
(aside) Sit down.
Kṛpāmbudhi means ocean of mercy, kṛpāmbudhi. And para-duḥkha-duhkhī. Vāñchā-kalpa-taru. Vāñchā-kalpa-taru means everyone has got desires, but Vaiṣṇava can fulfill all desires. Kalpa-taru.
Kalpa-taru means desire tree. There is a tree which is called desire tree. Here, in this material world, you get a fruit, a particular type of fruit, from a particular type of tree. But in Kṛṣṇa-loka or Vaikuṇṭha planets, all the trees, because they're spiritual, so you can get anything you like from any tree. That is described in the Brahma-saṁhitā, cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa (Bs. 5.29). Kalpa-vṛkṣa means desire trees.
So here Parīkṣit Mahārāja is asking, adhunā, "now," iha mahā-bhāga. A Vaiṣṇava is addressed as mahā-bhāga. Bhāga means fortunate. One who becomes Vaiṣṇava, God conscious, he is to be understood as great fortunate. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, therefore, has said that:
- ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kono bhāgyavān jīva
- guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
- (CC Madhya 19.151)
The living entities are rotating in different species of life, in different planetary system, all over the universe. Brahmāṇḍa means a living entity can go anywhere, hell, heaven, as he likes, as he prepares himself.
So there are many heavenly planets, many hellish planets, many species of life, not only planets. This is varieties, 8,400,000 species of life. So a living entity is rotating, wandering. According to the type of mentality he's creating in the present life, he's getting next life similar body. "As you sow, so you reap." This is going on.
So therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa brahmite. The living entity is rotating. Out of them . . . millions, numberless living entities are rotating. Out of them, one who is fortunate . . . ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kono bhāgyavān jīva . . . (CC Madhya 19.151). Kono, not all. If all would have been so fortunate, everyone would have taken to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is being distributed freely everywhere. But why they are not taking to it? Because unfortunate. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, kono bhāgyavān jīva: "Only one who is fortunate."
So because . . . why fortunate? Because if he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all the problems of his life become solved. But he'll not take to it due to his unfortunate condition. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu says: "Only the fortunate persons." There are many fortunate persons all over the world, and many unfortunate persons also.
So those who are fortunate, they're taking to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this ideal life, hopeful life, pleasant life, blissful life, life of knowledge. They're taking to it. But it is the duty of vaiṣṇava to go door to door to make them fortunate. Although they are unfortunate, but you have to go door to door to make them fortunate. That is your duty.
So a vaiṣṇava is thinking, mahā-bhāga, "How these people can be delivered from this hellish condition of life?" That was his inquiry. "Sir, you have described that on account of these sinful activities, he's put into this hellish condition of life or in hellish planetary system. Now what are the counter methods by which they can be saved?" This is the question. This question . . . because he is Vaiṣṇava, he is thinking, "Oh, so many living entities are suffering. How they can be saved?"
A Vaiṣṇava comes, God also comes and God's son or very confidential devotee also comes—their only mission is how to save these sinful men who are suffering so much. That is their mission. They have no other mission.