Our only business

Expressions researched:
"Our only business" |"one's only business" |"one's own business"

BG Chapters 1 - 6

BG 2.53, Purport:

The highest perfection of self-realization is to understand that one is eternally the servitor of Kṛṣṇa and that one's only business is to discharge one's duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person, or unflinching devotee of the Lord, should not be disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas nor be engaged in fruitive activities for promotion to the heavenly kingdom.

BG 3.7, Purport:

Instead of becoming a pseudo transcendentalist for the sake of wanton living and sense enjoyment, it is far better to remain in one's own business and execute the purpose of life, which is to get free from material bondage and enter into the kingdom of God.

SB Canto 5

SB 5.1.38, Purport:

Our hearts are meant for the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This means that one should be fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, thinking of Kṛṣṇa, as He Himself advises (man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru (BG 18.65)). This should be our only business.

SB Canto 7

SB 7.6.3, Purport:

Our only business in the human form of life should be to revive our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become qualified to return home, back to Godhead.

SB Canto 9

SB 9.19.27-28, Purport:

One's only business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and render service unto Kṛṣṇa as extensively as possible for a living being.

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

SB 10.7.31, Purport:

There have been many instances in which a devotee like Prahlāda Mahārāja or Dhruva Mahārāja has been put in difficulty even by his father but has been saved under all circumstances. Therefore our only business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and depend fully on Kṛṣṇa for all protection.

Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Krsna Book 85:

Our only business should be to glorify Your supreme greatness.”

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

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

Our only tradition is how to satisfy Viṣṇu. That is the tradition of everyone, but, especially Vaiṣṇavas. They must be very alert, very careful, how to keep Lord Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa satisfied. That is our only business.

Lecture on BG 2.17 -- (with Spanish translator) -- Mexico, February 17, 1975:

We are appearing, taking birth in the material world. This is called bhava: "You become." And after sometimes you become finished, means death. This is called disease. Bhava-roga. Yes. We have to cure this disease and come to our healthy standard of life. That opportunity is here in this human form of life. If you want to cure this material disease and revive your healthy condition of eternal spiritual life, the opportunity is here. Therefore our only business in this human form of life is to cure this material disease, not to aggravate it.

Lecture on BG 3.27 -- Melbourne, June 27, 1974:

There are two classes of men, demon and god. Those who are engaged in God consciousness they are not God but godly. And those who are not... Because this human life is meant for this purpose. Forgetting our father, forgetting our God, we are criminal within this material world. Therefore our only business is how to get out of this prison house and go back to home, back to Godhead.

Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Bombay, March 30, 1974:

We have got this human form of life to understand Kṛṣṇa. That is the, our only business.

Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Vrndavana, August 2, 1974:

So our only business is how to get out of this material existence. That is our only business, not that how we can adjust things here and become happy.

Lecture on BG 4.15 -- Bombay, April 4, 1974:

We are not wonderful men. But our only business is that we are speaking only the same thing as Kṛṣṇa has spoken.

Lecture on BG 4.17 -- Bombay, April 6, 1974:

"If one becomes devoted to My worship, My business, bhakti-yoga, he comes to Me." In another place He says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi (BG 18.55). So therefore our only business is to understand Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on BG 5.26-29 -- Los Angeles, February 12, 1969:

Our only business should be simply to serve Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Durban, October 9, 1975:

Bhakti is so nice that now they hate any other engagement. This illicit sex, meat-eating, and intoxication and gambling, they hate. You bribe them lakhs of rupees; they will not agree. Viraktir anyatra. This is the test of bhakti: virakti, detachment from all these nonsense things. And unless you are purified, you cannot understand God. So if you... That is our only business in the human life, to understand God.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Nairobi, October 27, 1975:

Kṛṣṇa is instructing us how to understand Him. That is our only business.

Lecture on BG 9.23-24 -- New York, December 10, 1966:

Suppose if I encroach upon others' property, will it be peaceful? The police action is already there. Why the police is there? So that one may not encroach upon others' rights. Police is there. The law and, what is called, order, law and order department, department of law and order. So they are... Why that is? That everyone should be, I mean to say, free to enjoy his right. So you cannot encroach upon others' right. But here, in our material conception of life, our only business is to encroach upon the right of others.

Lecture on BG 13.17 -- Bombay, October 11, 1973:

Our own business is how to revive our original consciousness. That is our only business.

Lecture on BG 16.2-7 -- Bombay, April 8, 1971:

The real position is, as Kṛṣṇa says, that mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ: (BG 15.7) "All living entities are My parts and parcels." When you realize that "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa; therefore my only business is to serve Kṛṣṇa..." Just like part and parcel of my body is always serving, similarly, we, being part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, our only business is to be engaged in devotional service of Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on BG 16.8 -- Tokyo, January 28, 1975:

Our only business is as advised by Caitanya Mahā..., yāre dekha, tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa (CC Madhya 7.128). This is our business. We are carrying this Bhagavad-gītā as it is, and we are trying to educate people that "Here is real knowledge. Take it." This is our business. That means Kṛṣṇa is the supreme. Īśvaraḥ param... That is our only business. That is our only business, that people may know that Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Lord, that's all. We have no other business.

Lecture on BG 16.8 -- Tokyo, January 28, 1975:

So our only business is to spread that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 1.1.4 -- London, August 27, 1973:

That is our only business, to perform yajña.

Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Delhi, November 12, 1973:

Our only business is to make people happy.

Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Mauritius, October 5, 1975:

Then, because our only business is to see that "I am happy. I have no anxiety," that we are searching after, every one of us.

Lecture on SB 1.2.8 -- New Vrindaban, September 6, 1972:

Now, after coming here, when you hear about God, because we, our only business is, we don't talk here politics or sociology or anything.

Lecture on SB 1.2.9 -- Vrndavana, October 20, 1972:

The only business is how to develop our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is our only business.

Lecture on SB 1.2.10 -- Vrndavana, October 21, 1972:

Our only business is how to develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, how to know Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 1.2.10 -- Delhi, November 16, 1973:

It is not our only business that simply to eat, sleep and have sex life and defend. That is not our only business.

Lecture on SB 1.2.11 -- Vrndavana, October 22, 1972:

So if we learn Kṛṣṇa, if we understand Kṛṣṇa, then our life is fulfilled. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya (BG 4.9). This is our only business.

Lecture on SB 1.2.12 -- Vrndavana, October 23, 1972:

Our only business is tattva-jijñāsā.

Lecture on SB 1.3.15 -- Los Angeles, September 20, 1972:

We are so much engrossed by the influence of māyā that we are trying to do so many things, but our only business is how to forget Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 1.7.6 -- Vrndavana, April 23, 1975:

Our only business is to awaken his Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and the whole world will be happy.

Lecture on SB 1.8.20 -- Mayapura, September 30, 1974:

Some way or other, we should be attached to Kṛṣṇa. Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha. That is our only business, how we can be... It doesn't matter, in broken language. Sometimes... There are many Sanskrit..., I mean to say, not properly pronounced. Just like we do. We are not very expert. There are many expert Sanskrit pronouncers, the veda-mantra. And we are not so expert. But we try. We try. But the Kṛṣṇa name is there. Therefore it is sufficient. Therefore it is sufficient.

Lecture on SB 1.8.42 -- Mayapura, October 22, 1974:

So our only business is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 1.10.5 -- Mayapura, June 20, 1973:

We, our only business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Lecture on SB 1.15.31 -- Los Angeles, December 9, 1973:

So when you fully surrender and you become freed from other desires: only surrender to Kṛṣṇa. That is our only business.

Lecture on SB 1.15.51 -- Los Angeles, December 28, 1973:

Our only business is, "Just become dear to Kṛṣṇa." That's all.

Lecture on SB 1.16.7 -- Los Angeles, January 4, 1974:

And in this age our only business is to mix with prostitute. Just see our position.

Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973:

Our only business is how to get out of the matter.

Lecture on SB 3.25.11 -- Bombay, November 11, 1974:

Our only business is to take shelter.

Lecture on SB 3.26.22 -- Bombay, December 31, 1974:

Caitanya Mahāprabhu's preaching is that our only business is how to revive our original consciousness.

Lecture on SB 3.26.22 -- Bombay, December 31, 1974:

Why you are leading such life?" Jīv kṛṣṇa-dās, e biśwās, korle to' ār duḥkho nāi: "You come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and try to understand that you are eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa; you are being carried away by the whims of māyā. So that will make you happy." Therefore Caitanya-caritāmṛta, er, Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches us, patitaṁ kiṅkaraṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau: "My Lord," ayi nanda-tanuja, "O the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa, I am Your eternal servant. Somehow or other, I am now fallen in this ocean of nescience." Patitaṁ kiṅkaraṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau. Bhava ambudhau. Ambudhi means sea, ocean. "So how to save myself?" Kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya.

This is our only business. This Hare Kṛṣṇa means, "O Kṛṣṇa, O Harā, Kṛṣṇa's energy, Rādhārāṇī, Harā..." Hari Harā. So this addressing, "O Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa's internal potency..." Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, chanting, addressing: "O Lord Kṛṣṇa, O the internal energy of Kṛṣṇa." So They will respond that "Why you are calling Me, or Us?" You have to submit, "Please again accept me as Your eternal servant." This is the only prayer, not that "Give me this money, this me that, this me that. Give me that." No. That is not pure devotion.

Lecture on SB 3.26.26 -- Bombay, January 3, 1975:

That is the whole subject matter of the Sāṅkhya philosophy, Kapiladeva, how we are becoming degraded from the original state of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So our only business is how to revive again.

Lecture on SB 3.26.41 -- Bombay, January 16, 1975:

When we are under the care of daivī-māyā, then our only business is to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is our original constitutional position, Kṛṣṇa-dāsa. As we have several times given this example, the part and parcel of my body, the finger, it is always serving the whole body according to the order, similarly, as part and parcel of God, Kṛṣṇa, our only business is to serve Him.

Lecture on SB 5.5.7 -- Vrndavana, October 29, 1976:

The only one interest is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. This is our only business.

Lecture on SB 6.2.12-14 -- Allahabad, January 17, 1971, at Kumbha-mela:

We are writing books, we are publishing magazines, we are preaching, we are going everywhere—just to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. That is our only business.

Lecture on SB 6.2.17 -- Vrndavana, September 20, 1975:

We are, by the impelling of the material nature—prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ (BG 3.27)—we are wandering throughout the whole universe in different types of bodies, in different planets, but we are not getting released. Therefore our only business is to get released from this repetition of birth and death.

Lecture on SB 7.9.52 -- Vrndavana, April 7, 1976:

So don't be depressed. Try to please Kṛṣṇa. That's all. That is our only business. That is our only business, whether Kṛṣṇa is satisfied or not. Then it is, everything, all right.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 24, 1972:

So we should be very careful. If we are... Because our only business is yato bhaktir adhokṣaje, to increase our loving propensity for Kṛṣṇa, Adhokṣaja, who is beyond the reach of our senses.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 11, 1972:

So people do not know that our only business is to take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Calcutta, January 25, 1973:

Our only business is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 14, 1972:

You are experiencing that our only business is to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but there are so many enemies also.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.105 -- New York, July 11, 1976:

Divya-jñāna is that we are all servant of Kṛṣṇa, and our only business is to serve Kṛṣṇa.

Festival Lectures

Ratha-yatra -- London, July 13, 1972:

This sky is temporary. Just like your body, my body, or anything in this material world, they are temporary. They have got a date of birth, and they grow, they stay, they produce some by-products, then dwindle, and then vanishes. That is material nature. But there is another nature, which is called spiritual nature. Even when everything is annihilated, that nature stands. So that spiritual nature, or spiritual sky, is described in the Vedic literature, in the Upaniṣads, that there is no need of sunshine, there is no need of moonshine, there is no need of electricity. That is another sky. So our only business is to transfer ourself from this sky to that sky, that illuminating sky.

Sri Vyasa-puja -- London, August 22, 1973:

As our Śrīman Revatīnandana Mahārāja is doing. He has now very nice bus. All others also doing. Gṛhasthas are also doing. Because our only business is Kṛṣṇa. It doesn't matter whether a gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsī. It doesn't matter.

Arrival Addresses and Talks

Arrival Lecture -- Los Angeles, June 29, 1971:

Our only business is to repeat the Kṛṣṇa's word.

General Lectures

Lecture Excerpt -- Los Angeles, February 9, 1969:

So śaraṇāgati, surrender to Kṛṣṇa, is our only business.

Lecture on Teachings of Lord Caitanya -- Bombay, March 17, 1971:

Our only business is how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, April 6, 1971:

Our only business is to follow the superiors.

University Lecture -- Calcutta, January 29, 1973:

Our only business is how to become advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Lecture -- London, August 23, 1973:

Our only business is to serve God.

Philosophy Discussions

Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard:

Prabhupāda: Our only business is to love God.

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- August 17, 1971, London:

Prabhupāda: Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Don't try to understand Kṛṣṇa. Simply try to love Him. That is perfection. That's all. You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. Nobody can understand. Kṛṣṇa Himself cannot understand Himself. Yes. (laughter) He's so acintya. And what to speak of us. Therefore our only business: how to love Kṛṣṇa, how to serve Kṛṣṇa.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- April 18, 1972, Hong Kong:

Prabhupāda: Wherever we are opening our branches, it is our only business that we are requesting people to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa or Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- September 18, 1973, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Preaching is our only business, preaching.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- March 16, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Sense gratification is wrong. You cannot gratify your senses. You have to enjoy your senses in the service of the Lord. That is perfection. Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate (CC Madhya 19.170). That is our only business.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- May 20, 1975, Melbourne:

Prabhupāda: Just like when I came to your country, I never expected any success because I knew, "As soon as I will say, 'No illicit sex, no meat-eating,' they will reject me immediately."

(laughter) So I was not hopeful at all.

Devotee (1): They are so attached.

Prabhupāda: Yes. But it is your kindness that you accepted me. But I never expected. I never expected that "These people will accept." I never expected.

Hari-śauri: So simply if we rely on Kṛṣṇa...

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is our only business.

Conversation with Professor Hopkins -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia:

Prabhupāda: Our only business is to know the Absolute Truth.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 20, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: (break) ...all convinced that our only business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Our only business is to spread Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, door to door, town to town, city to city.

Interview with Professors O'Connell, Motilal and Shivaram -- June 18, 1976, Toronto:

Jayādvaita: "One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna."

Prabhupāda: Yes. This is the solution. Therefore our only business should be to understand Kṛṣṇa.

Room Conversation -- August 14, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Our only business is how to implement the instruction of Kṛṣṇa, the rascals may understand and be happy.

Room Conversation -- September 5, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So our only business is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

Garden Conversation -- September 7, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Our only business is to follow Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Room Conversation -- November 3, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Our only business is how to establish Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: All right, let us preach. That is our only business. Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (CC Adi 17.31).

Room Conversation -- October 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: In this condition, even I cannot move my body on the bed. Only chance you should give me—let me die little peacefully, without any anxiety. I have given in writing everything, whatever you wanted—my will, my executive(?) power, everything. Disaster will happen if you cannot manage it. Hm?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, we do not want any disaster to happen. Our only business as your sons and servants is to maintain what you have established. Even if we don't increase it, if we just maintain it...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Janardana -- New York 26 April, 1968:

Our only business is to present Krishna Consciousness to the ignorant mass of people, and if such people agree to hear in consideration of our important position in the material world, it is a great opportunity to place our submission, and thereby our mission is fulfilled.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Allston, Mass 14 May, 1968:

Our only business is to spread Krishna Consciousness to the best of our possibility, and Krishna has given us discrimination and judgment.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 1 August, 1969:

You have mentioned that you have been invited to attend some "World Brotherhood Conference," and if it is convenient, you may go there with your Sankirtana Party, chant Hare Krishna, give some talk on Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and distribute Prasadam. That is our only business, and we can do these activities anywhere; it doesn't matter on the street or in some "World Brotherhood Conference."

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Ekayani -- Los Angeles 3 May, 1970:

Our only business is to remain steadfast devotee to Krsna in all conditions.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Ekayani -- Bombay 3 December, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 1, 1972, and I have noted the contents with great concern. I do not know why these things inventions are going on. That is our only business, to invent something new programme? We have already got our Vaisnava standard. That is sufficient for Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, it was sufficient for Lord Caitanya, six Gosvamis, for Bhaktivinode Thakura, for my Guru Maharaja Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, for me, for all big big saints and acaryas in our line—why it shall be inadequate for my disciples so they must manufacture something? That is not possible. Who has introduced these things, that women cannot have chanting japa in the temple, they cannot perform the arati and so many things? If they become agitated, then let the brahmacaris go to the forest, I have never introduced these things.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Rajiblocan -- Calcutta 31 January, 1973:

Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved by me. You may arrange with Kirtanananda Maharaja for receiving beads duly chanted upon by him. Now both of you cooperate for pushing on this Krsna Consciousness movement as this is our only business in this human form of life.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 3 December, 1973:

Book and prasadam distribution, Sankirtana and Deity worship is our only business so these programs must remain energetic. Your number one duty is to see that they are continuously carried on with enthusiasm.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Pancadravida -- Bombay 24 November, 1974:

So take this as Krishna's desire, and we are servants of Krishna, so our only business is to try to satisfy Him.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Sons and Daughters -- Bombay 14 August, 1976:

Our only business is to be fixed up in devotional service by pleasing the spiritual master.

Letter to Madhava -- Vrindaban 3 October, 1976:

It is best to keep faith in Sukadeva Goswami, because actually our only business is to go back to home, back to Godhead.