Real value
Srimad-Bhagavatam
SB Canto 1
SB Canto 4
King Prācīnabarhiṣat admitted this fact and frankly asked Nārada Muni how he could get out of this karma-bandha-phāṅsa, entanglement in fruitive activities. This is actually the stage of knowledge indicated in the first verse of Vedānta-sūtra: athāto brahma jijñāsā. When one actually reaches the platform of frustration in an attempt to discharge karma-bandha-phāṅsa, he inquires about the real value of life, which is called brahma jijñāsā. In order to inquire about the ultimate goal of life, the Vedas enjoin, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] "In order to understand the transcendental science, one must approach a bona fide spiritual master."
King Prācīnabarhiṣat found the best spiritual master, Nārada Muni, and he therefore asked him about that knowledge by which one can get out of the entanglement of karma-bandha-phāṅsa, fruitive activities. This is the actual business of human life. Jīvasya tattva jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ. As stated in the Second Chapter of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.10), a human being's only business is inquiring from a bona fide spiritual master about extrication from the entanglement of karma-bandha-phāṅsa.SB Canto 5
- enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāra lāgi'
- hari-nāma-mahā-mantra lao tumi māgi'
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
CC Madhya-lila
- śaśvat praśāntam abhayaṁ pratibodha-mātraṁ
- śuddhaṁ samaṁ sad-asataḥ paramātma-tattvam
- śabdo na yatra puru-kārakavān kriyārtho
- māyā paraity abhimukhe ca vilajjamānā
- tad vai padaṁ bhagavataḥ paramasya puṁso
- brahmeti yad vidur ajasra-sukhaṁ viśokam
“What is realized as the Absolute Brahman is full of unlimited bliss without grief. That is certainly the ultimate phase of the supreme enjoyer, the Personality of Godhead. He is eternally devoid of all disturbances, fearless, completely conscious as opposed to matter, uncontaminated and without distinctions. He is the principal, primeval cause of all causes and effects, in whom there is no sacrifice for fruitive activities and in whom the illusory energy does not stand.”
This verse was spoken by Lord Brahmā when he was questioned by the great sage Nārada. Nārada was surprised to see the creator of the universe meditating, for this indicated there might be someone greater than Lord Brahmā. While answering the great sage Nārada, Lord Brahmā described the position of māyā and the bewildered living entities. This verse was spoken in that connection.Other Books by Srila Prabhupada
Mukunda-mala-stotra (mantras 1 to 6 only)
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
This rascaldom has played havoc in India. These rascal so-called commentators, they want to avoid Kṛṣṇa. Therefore this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a challenge to these rascals. It is a challenge that "You want to make Kṛṣṇa without Kṛṣṇa. This is nonsense."
Now let us report. This morning one of our devotee has come from, Śyāmasundara, from London. Now our this Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, is the topmost selling book in London. All the booksellers, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. So Macmillan Company is our publisher, and within one year they have published three editions, fifty thousand each. So real thing will have real value. One professor of religion from London University came to see me. He said, "Now we have rejected Dr. Radhakrishnan's Bhagavad-gītā."And Kṛṣṇa being satisfied with you love... Because real thing is bhakti. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55]. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam. Here we are offering a little food, little leaf, little flower. But what is the essence? What is the value of flower? Value, there is practically no value. But yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. The real value is that the flower is offered with devotion, the food is offered with devotion.
Therefore the devotee gradually realizing that, "Yes, I am offering this flower directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am offering the food directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead." He is eating. He is perceiving. He is taking the prasādam. He's advancing. He's chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. It is self-evident. Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam. This devotional service is directly appreciated. You haven't got to take certificate from others. If you be engaged in devotional service, you actually realize. Therefore it is called pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam. Other things will remain in theoretical, but this is such a nice thing, devotional service, that you directly understand how much you are making progress, how much you have appreciated God, how much you have understood Kṛṣṇa.Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures
General Lectures
Philosophy Discussions
Prabhupāda: So how he'll make it a good cause? The good cause is relative. You think something good cause, I think something good cause, so what is really good cause? Who will, who will decide that this is good cause?
Śyāmasundara: He says that the good cause is determined when we begin to anticipate death. He says that if we lived every moment as if we might die soon in anticipation of death that we will make the right decisions. That then the value, the real value of things will come out.
Prabhupāda: That is not possible, because we see that in the slaughterhouse the animal is seeing that "Next life is mine." What decision he can make? And still he is standing there and does not go away.Conversations and Morning Walks
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: We are not discussing that, but you are cheating—that is practical. You are cheating. Your government is cheating, giving a piece of paper, cheating me that "You get hundred rupees."
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And their cheating in so many... Just like they were paying ninety rupees for a vasectomy, to make someone impotent, to make them sterile, they're giving ninety rupees. They're saying "This ninety rupees is worth... It's worth it to become sterile if you take this ninety rupees."
Prabhupāda: That is paper.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Now, that's cheating. A man can produce a son. A son has got real value in so many ways, but instead they'll give that paper worth...
Prabhupāda: Cheated with ninety rupees, and he's no more...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just like the foreigners bought the island of Manhattan for twenty-four dollars from the Indians, the native Indians in New York, twenty-four dollars' worth of trinkets. And they purchased.
Prabhupāda: No, the land was there. Just like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura purchased Māyāpura at eight annas a bighā.Correspondence
1972 Correspondence
Page Title: | Real value |
Compiler: | Haya |
Created: | 14 of Nov, 2008 |
Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=3, CC=1, OB=1, Lec=9, Con=3, Let=1 |
No. of Quotes: | 18 |