UNIT-6 (SB 1.19-2.

3)
1.19 THE APPEARANCE OF ÇUKADEVA GOSVÄMÉ
CLOSED BOOK SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. What is the process for being delivered from accidental sins?
(1)
Ans. Accidental sins committed by a devotee are sincerely regretted, and by
the grace of the Lord all sins unwillingly committed by a devotee are burnt to
ashes in the fire of repentance.
2. Why didn't Maharaj Pariksit ask to be pardoned? (4)
Ans. The news of imminent death was conveyed to the king with so much
regret by the muni that the king did not want to shame the muni further by
his presence there. He decided to prepare himself for his imminent death
and find out the way to go back to Godhead.
3. In the Varäha Puräëa what is mentioned about the Ganges and
the Yamunä? (6)
Ans. According to the Varäha Puräëa, as quoted by Çréla Jéva Gosvämé,
there is no difference between the water of the Ganges and the Yamunä, but
when the water of the Ganges is sanctified one hundred times, it is called the
Yamunä.
4. How can the first-grade be offender is excused? (11)
Ans. The system of bowing the head to the ground to show respect to
superiors is an excellent etiquette which obliges the honored guest deep into
the heart. Even the first-grade offender is excused simply by this process.
5. Why did the King inform the sages of his decision to fast till
death? (12)
Ans. He humbly expressed his decision to elicit the opinions of the great
authorities present there. Any important decision, however firmly fixed,
should be confirmed by some authority.
6. Why is there both nothing to be lamented, every reason to be
sorry, with a devotee’s departure? (21)
Ans. When a great devotee of the Lord passes away, there is nothing to be
lamented because the devotee is destined to enter into the kingdom of God.
But the sorry plight is that such great devotees leave our sight, and therefore
there is every reason to be sorry.
7. What two questions does the King ask the sages? (24)
Ans. The first question is what is the duty of everyone in all circumstances,
and the second question is what is the specific duty of one who is to die very
shortly.
8. What 4 activities instantly sanctify the homes of the
householders? (33)
Ans. Simply by our remembering saintly personalities, seeing them, touching
them, washing their holy feet and offering them a seat in our house.

CLOSED BOOK SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Why was the cursing of the brahmana boy a blessing upon
Maharaja Pariksit? (4)
Ans. Mahäräja Parékñit was a great devotee of the Lord and a bona fide
candidate for entering into the kingdom of God, but even though he was so,
his material assets as the Emperor of the world were setbacks to perfect
attainment of his rightful status as one of the associates of the Lord in the
spiritual sky. As a devotee of the Lord, he could understand that the cursing
by the brähmaëa boy, although unwise, was a blessing upon him, being the
cause of detachment from worldly affairs, both political and social.
2. Discuss the significance of the sages coming to meet Maharaja
Pariksit, as described in (8).
Ans. Actually they came to meet Mahäräja Parékñit and not to take a bath
while on pilgrimage, because all of them were competent enough to sanctify
the places of pilgrimage. Common men go to pilgrimage sites to get
themselves purified of all sins. Thus the places of pilgrimage become
overburdened with the sins of others. But when such sages visit
overburdened places of pilgrimage, they sanctify the places by their
presence. Therefore the sages who came to meet Mahäräja Parékñit were not
very much interested in getting themselves purified like common men, but
on the plea of taking a bath in that place they came to meet Mahäräja
Parékñit because they could foresee that Çrémad-Bhägavatam would be
spoken by Çukadeva Gosvämé.
3. “Any important decision, however firmly fixed, should be
confirmed by some authority. That makes the matter perfect.”
1.19.12. Discuss the significance of this statement referring
Maharaja Pariksit’s meeting the sages on the bank of the Ganges in
your response.
Ans. Although the king had already decided to fast until death on the bank of
the Ganges, he humbly expressed his decision to elicit the opinions of the
great authorities present there. Any important decision, however firmly fixed,
should be confirmed by some authority. That makes the matter perfect. This
means that the monarchs who ruled the earth in those days were not
irresponsible dictators. They scrupulously followed the authoritative
decisions of the saints and sages in terms of Vedic injunction. Mahäräja
Parékñit, as a perfect king, followed the principles by consulting the
authorities, even up to the last days of his life.
4. “The system of bowing the head to the ground to show respect
to superiors is an excellent etiquette which obliges the honoured
guest deep into the heart.” Discuss the significance of this
statement for the Krsna consciousness movement. (11)
Ans.
5. Discuss how Maharaja Pariksit was considered blessed by the
so-called curse of the brahmana boy. (19)
Ans. The natural beauty of a living being is enhanced by rising up to the
platform of devotional service. Mahäräja Parékñit was absorbed in
attachment for Lord Kåñëa. Seeing this, the great sages assembled were
very pleased, and they expressed their approval by saying, "Very good!" The
devotional service of the Lord is so auspicious that all demigods, all sages
and the Lord Himself become pleased with the devotee, and therefore the
devotee finds everything auspicious. All inauspicious matters are removed
from the path of a progressive devotee. Meeting all the great sages at the
time of death was certainly auspicious for Mahäräja Parékñit, and thus he
was blessed by the so-called curse of a brähmaëa's boy.
6. Discuss why saintly persons visit holy places. (33)
Ans. The importance of holy places of pilgrimage is due to the presence of
great sages and saints. It is said that sinful persons go to the holy places and
leave their sins there to accumulate. But the presence of the great saints
disinfects the accumulated sins, and thus the holy places continue to remain
sanctified by the grace of the devotees and saints present there. If such
saints appear in the homes of worldly people, certainly the accumulated sins
of such worldly enjoyers become neutralized.
Compulsory CBA
1. What was Parékñit’s response on receiving the news of
Çréngi’s curse? Elaborate. Why didn’t he beg forgiveness from
Çaméka?
Ans. The king accepted this as good news, for it would be the cause of his
indifference toward worldly things. Mahäräja Parékñit was a great devotee of
the Lord and a bona fide candidate for entering into the kingdom of God, but
even though he was so, his material assets as the Emperor of the world were
setbacks to perfect attainment of his rightful status as one of the associates
of the Lord in the spiritual sky. As a devotee of the Lord, he could understand
that the cursing by the brähmaëa boy, although unwise, was a blessing upon
him, being the cause of detachment from worldly affairs, both political and
social.
Mahäräja Parékñit could have gone to the muni to beg his pardon, but the
news of imminent death was conveyed to the king with so much regret by
the muni that the king did not want to shame the muni further by his
presence there. He decided to prepare himself for his imminent death and
find out the way to go back to Godhead.
Analogies:
1.19.16: As a good son of the father behaves in a friendly way with all his
other brothers, so also the devotee of the Lord, being a good son of the
supreme father, Lord Kåñëa, sees all other living beings in relation with the
supreme father.
1.19.23: In the material world these attributes (up to seventy-eight percent
of the Lord's attributes) are covered by the material energy, as the sun is
covered by a cloud. The covered strength of the sun is very dim, compared
to the original glare, and similarly the original color of the living beings with
such attributes becomes almost extinct.
1.19.25: As doctors differ, so also sages differ in their different
prescriptions.
1.19.30: Çukadeva Gosvämé was then surrounded by saintly sages and
demigods just as the moon is surrounded by stars, planets and other
heavenly bodies.

2.1 THE FIRST STEP IN GOD REALIZATION

CLOSED BOOK SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. How is the First Canto specifically helpful to the neophyte
devotees? (Invocation)
Ans. The first chapter describes the glories of chanting, and it hints at the
process by which the neophyte devotees may perform meditation on the
universal form of the Lord.
2. What helps an impersonalist become attracted to the personal
activities of the Lord? (9)
Ans.The personal activities of the Lord are deplored by the less intelligent
impersonalists; but reason and argument, together with the transcendental
process of approaching the Absolute Truth, help even the staunch
impersonalist to become attracted by the personal activities of the Lord.
3. What was Mahäräja Parékñit’s question? (37-38) Why is it
described as loka-hitaà? (1)
Ans.
 To show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one
who is about to die.
 Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember and
worship, and also what he should not do.
It has been described as loka hitam because the very question is so nice
that it is the best subject matter for hearing. Simply by such questioning
and hearing, one can achieve the highest perfectional stage of life.
4. Briefly describe the process of detachment recommended by
Çukadeva Gosvämé. (14-19)
Ans.
 At the last stage of one's life, one should be bold enough not to be
afraid of death. But one must cut off all attachment to the material
body and everything pertaining to it and all desires thereof.
 One should leave home and practice self-control. In a sacred place he
should bathe regularly and sit down in a lonely place duly sanctified.
 After sitting in the above manner, make the mind remember the three
transcendental letters [a-u-m], and by regulating the breathing
process, control the mind so as not to forget the transcendental seed.
 Gradually, as the mind becomes progressively spiritualized, withdraw it
from sense activities, and by intelligence the senses will be controlled.
The mind too absorbed in material activities can be engaged in the
service of the Personality of Godhead and become fixed in full
transcendental consciousness.
 Thereafter, you should meditate upon the limbs of Viñëu, one after
another, without being deviated from the conception of the complete
body. Thus, the mind becomes free from all sense objects. There
should be no other thing to be thought upon. Because the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Viñëu, is the Ultimate Truth, the mind becomes
completely reconciled in Him only.
5. For what reasons does Çukadeva Gosvämé cite his own life’s
example? (8-9)
Ans. He himself was attracted by the transcendental activities of the Lord,
and he studied Çrémad-Bhägavatam. By the grace of the Lord, if an
impersonalist is enlightened by the superior statements of Çrémad-
Bhägavatam, he is also converted into a transcendental devotee of the
Personality of Godhead.
6. What does Srila Jiva Gosvami instruct about the chanting of
the holy name of the Lord?(11)
Ans. Çréla Jéva Gosvämé instructs that chanting of the holy name of the Lord
should be loudly done, and it should be performed offenselessly as well, as
recommended in the Padma Puräëa.
7. How are Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita
interdependent? (29)
Ans. Çrémad-Bhägavatam is the postgraduate study for the student of the
Bhagavad-gétä. Both of them are the science of Kåñëa, the Absolute Truth,
and so they are interdependent.
8. Why did Maharaja Parikit inquire from Çukadeva Gosvämé
about the impersonal virat-rupa of the Lord considering that he was
already directly connected with the personal feature of Lord
Krishna? (22)
Ans. He inquired after a detailed description of the matter for the benefit of
others, who are unable to conceive of the transcendental personal feature of
the Lord as the form of eternity, knowledge and bliss.

CLOSED BOOK SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Why does Srila Prabhupada entitle the First Canto “Creation”,
and the Second Canto “The Cosmic Manifestation”? (Invocation)
Ans. In the First Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the principles of creation are
described, and thus the First Canto may be called "Creation."
Similarly, in the Second Canto, the post-creation cosmic manifestation is
described. The different planetary systems are described in the Second
Canto as different parts of the universal body of the Lord. For this reason, the
Second Canto may be called "The Cosmic Manifestation."
2. What comparison is made between the topics of Lord Krishna
with the Ganges water?(1)
Ans. The topics of Lord Kåñëa are so auspicious that they purify the speaker,
the hearer and the inquirer. They are compared to the Ganges waters, which
flow from the toe of Lord Kåñëa. Wherever the Ganges waters go, they purify
the land and the person who bathes in them. Similarly, kåñëa-kathä, or the
topics of Kåñëa, are so pure that wherever they are spoken, the place, the
hearer, the inquirer, the speaker and all concerned become purified.
3. What is the significance of the story of Mahäräja Khaöväìga?
(12-13)
Ans. A fully responsible man should always be conscious of the prime duty of
the present human form of life. The activities to meet the immediate
necessities of material life are not everything. One should always be alert in
his duty for attainment of the best situation in the next life. Human life is
meant for preparing ourselves for that prime duty. Mahäräja Khaöväìga is
mentioned herein as a saintly king because even within the responsibility of
the state management, he was not at all forgetful of the prime duty of life.
Such was the case with other räjarñis (saintly kings), like Mahäräja
Yudhiñöhira and Mahäräja Parékñit. They were all exemplary personalities on
account of their being alert in discharging their prime duty.
4. Explain the reason that even samadhi stage fails to control the
materially absorbed mind. (18)
Ans. Experience has proven that even the samädhi stage also fails to control
the materially absorbed mind. For example, the great mystic Viçvämitra
Muni, even in the stage of samädhi, became a victim of the senses and
cohabited with Menakä. History has already recorded this. The mind,
although ceasing to think of sensual activities at present, remembers past
sensual activities from the subconscious status and thus disturbs one from
cent per cent engagement in self-realization.
5. Explain why worship of the Visnu forms in great temples of
India is not idol worship. (19)
Ans. In this verse, it is definitely assured that the Supreme Lord is not
impersonal. He is a person, but His body is different from the bodies of
conditioned persons like us. Otherwise, meditation beginning from the
praëava (oàkära) up to the limbs of the personal body of Viñëu would not
have been recommended by Çukadeva Gosvämé for the attainment of
complete spiritual perfection.
They are different spiritual centers of meditation on the transcendental limbs
of the body of Viñëu. The worshipable Deity in the temple of Viñëu is
identical with Lord Viñëu by the inconceivable potency of the Lord.
The common man can benefit more by meditating on the form of Viñëu in
the temple than on the oàkära, the spiritual combination of a-u-m. Here it is
indicated that the Viñëu form is the ultimate goal of meditation, and as such
it is better to concentrate upon the forms of Viñëu than on impersonal
oàkära. The latter process is also more difficult than the former.
6. Describe the symptoms of a grhamedhi, as mentioned in the
beginning of this chapter, and discuss the significance of Srila
Sukadeva Gosvami beginning his narration with this topic. (2-4)
Ans.
 Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the
knowledge of ultimate truth, have many subject matters for hearing in
human society, O Emperor.
 The lifetime of such an envious householder is passed at night either in
sleeping or in sex indulgence, and in the daytime either in making
money or maintaining family members.
 Persons devoid of ätma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life,
being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and
wife. Although sufficiently experienced, they still do not see their
inevitable destruction.
7. Explain how the exhibition of the Lord’s virat feature
demonstrates His kindness? (38)
Ans. The transcendental form of the Lord is beyond the jurisdiction of such
materialistic activities, and it is very difficult to conceive that the Lord can be
simultaneously localized and all-pervasive, because the materialistic
philosophers and scientists think of everything in terms of their own
experience. Because they are unable to accept the personal feature of the
Supreme Lord, the Lord is kind enough to demonstrate the viräö feature of
His transcendental form.
Each and every item of the material manifestation entails a part of the body
of the gigantic form, and thus the flickering mind can be fixed in the Lord
only and nothing else. This process of concentrating on the different bodily
parts of the Lord will gradually diminish the demoniac challenge of
godlessness and bring about gradual development of devotional service to
the Lord.

Analogies:
2.1.1: The topics of Lord Kåñëa are so auspicious that they purify the
speaker, the hearer and the inquirer. They are compared to the Ganges
waters, which flow from the toe of Lord Kåñëa. Wherever the Ganges waters
go, they purify the land and the person who bathes in them.
2.1.4: The great ocean of material nature is tossing with the waves of time,
and the so-called living conditions are something like foaming bubbles, which
appear before us as bodily self, wife, children, society, countrymen, etc.
2.1.8: One has to be admitted to the medical college and study the books
under the guidance of learned professors. Similarly, Çrémad-Bhägavatam,
the postgraduate study of the science of Godhead, can only be learned by
studying it at the feet of a realized soul like Çréla Vyäsadeva.
2.1.15: After death one forgets everything about the present bodily
relations; we have a little experience of this at night when we go to sleep.
While sleeping, we forget everything about this body and bodily relations,
although this forgetfulness is a temporary situation for only a few hours.
2.2 THE LORD IN THE HEART
CLOSED BOOK SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Why are the Vedic sounds described as bewildering? (2)
Ans. It directs the intelligence of the people to meaningless things like the
heavenly kingdoms. The conditioned souls hover in dreams of such heavenly
illusory pleasures, but actually they do not relish any tangible happiness in
such places.
2. List those things Çukadeva Gosvämé recommends to save us
from endeavouring for unwanted things? (4-5)
Ans.
 When there are ample earthly flats to lie on, what is the necessity of
cots and beds? When one can use his own arms, what is the necessity
of a pillow? When one can use the palms of his hands, what is the
necessity of varieties of utensils? When there is ample covering, or the
skins of trees, what is the necessity of clothing?
 Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees,
which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do
the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are
the caves of the mountains now closed?
3. What is the first duty of a person in the renounced order of
life? (5)
Ans. The first duty of a person in the renounced order of life is to contribute
some literary work for the benefit of the human being in order to give him
realized direction toward self-realization.
4. List the three headings sex life is summarized in as described
in the purport to 2.2.12.
Ans. Sex desire is summarized in three headings, namely profit, adoration
and distinction.
5. Why can no sane man can ignore the statements of , Çrémad-
Bhägavatam? (26)
Ans. The statements of Çrémad-Bhägavatam are accepted by great äcäryas
like Çrédhara Svämé, Rämänujäcärya and Vallabhäcärya. Lord Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu specifically accepts Çrémad-Bhägavatam as the spotless Vedic
authority, and as such no sane man can ignore the statements of Çrémad-
Bhägavatam when it is spoken by the self-realized soul Çréla Çukadeva
Gosvämé.
6. How does one purify the polluted aim of life? (37)
Ans. By sufficient hearing of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the polluted aim of life,
namely lording it over matter, will subside.

CLOSED BOOK SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. What is the forgetfulness of Lord Brahma compared to? (1)
Ans. It is compared to the forgetfulness of the living entities in the material
world. This forgetfulness of the living being—beginning from Brahmä down to
the lowest insignificant ant—is a tendency which can be counteracted by
meditation on the viräö-rüpa of the Lord.
2. How can one counteract forgetfulness? Discuss how this
chance is only available to one in the human form of life with
reference to Srimad Bhagavatam. (1)
Ans. This forgetfulness of the living being—beginning from Brahmä down to
the lowest insignificant ant—is a tendency which can be counteracted by
meditation on the viräö-rüpa of the Lord. This chance is available in the
human form of life, and if a human being follows the instruction of Çrémad-
Bhägavatam and begins to meditate upon the viräö-rüpa, then revival of his
pure consciousness and counteraction of the tendency to forget his eternal
relationship with the Lord can follow simultaneously.
3. Why is a voluntary life of renunciation advised? (4)
Ans. The so-called comforts of life are not actually helpful for progressive
civilization; rather, they are detrimental to such progressive life. In the
system of sanätana-dharma, of four divisions of social life and four orders of
progressive realization, there are ample opportunities and sufficient
directions for a happy termination of the progressive life, and the sincere
followers are advised therein to accept a voluntary life of renunciation.
4. What qualities is a person who meditates on the virat-rupa
endowed with? (23)
Ans. Those who are too engrossed in sense gratification cannot be allowed to
participate in arcana or to touch the transcendental form of the Rädhä-Kåñëa
or Viñëu Deities. For them it is better to meditate upon the gigantic viräö-
rüpa of the Lord, as recommended in the next verse. The impersonalists and
the voidists are therefore recommended to meditate upon the universal form
of the Lord, whereas the devotees are recommended to meditate on the
Deity worship in the temple. Because the impersonalists and the voidists are
not sufficiently purified in their spiritual activities, arcana is not meant for
them.
 too engrossed in sense gratification.
 not sufficiently purified in their spiritual activities.

5. Briefly explain the creeper of devotion, and unwanted weeds.

(30)
Ans. Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu recommends that the devotee sow the
seed of bhakti-yoga in his heart and nurture it by the watering of hearing and
chanting the holy name, fame, etc., of the Lord. This primary practice of
bhakti-yoga will cause the seed already sowed in the heart to sprout, and by
a regular watering process, as mentioned above, the bhakti-yoga creeper will
begin to grow.
Actually these weeds are material enjoyment, merging of the self in the
Absolute without separate individuality, and many other desires in the field
of religion, economic development, sense enjoyment and emancipation.
6. What are the special qualities of Satyaloka? (26-28)
Ans.
 The duration of life in Satyaloka is calculated to be
311,040,000,000,000 years.
 In that planet of Satyaloka, there is neither bereavement, nor old age
nor death. There is no pain of any kind, and therefore there are no
anxieties, save that sometimes, due to consciousness, there is a
 feeling of compassion for those unaware of the process of devotional
service, who are subjected to unsurpassable miseries in the material
world.
 After reaching Satyaloka, the devotee is specifically able to be
incorporated fearlessly by the subtle body in an identity similar to that
of the gross body, and one after another he gradually attains stages of
existence from earthly to watery, fiery, glowing and airy, until he
reaches the ethereal stage.

7. Describe the recommendations of Sukadeva Gosvami for the

renounced order with reference to verses and purports of
2.2.3-5.
Ans.
 The renounced order of life is never meant for begging or living at the
cost of others as a parasite.
 The renounced order is meant for contributing something substantial
to society and not depending on the earnings of the householders.
 The first duty of a person in the renounced order of life is to contribute
some literary work for the benefit of the human being in order to give
him realized direction toward self-realization.
 When a man becomes a mendicant willfully or by circumstances, he
must be of firm faith and conviction that the Supreme Lord is the
maintainer of all living beings everywhere in the universe.
Analogies
2.2.7: In the Vedas it is said that persons who are attached to demigods to
the exclusion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are like the animals
who follow the herdsman even though they are taken to the slaughterhouse.
2.2.12: As a person feels his hunger satisfied after eating each morsel of
foodstuff, he must similarly be able to see the degree to which he has been
freed from sex desire.
2.2.31: The impersonalists… may be compared to certain species of fish,
who, being born in the rivers and rivulets, migrate to the great ocean. They
cannot stay in the ocean indefinitely, for their urge for sense gratification
brings them back to the rivers and streams to spawn.

2.3 PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE: THE CHANGE IN HEART

CLOSED BOOK SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. What is the duty of a man especially when he is preparing for
death? (1)
Ans. One must therefore take to the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa and fully
engage himself in the devotional service of hearing and chanting the holy
name and pastimes of the Lord, which are all hari-kathämåta.
2. Why are the leaders of nonsensical persons still more
nonsensical? (9)
Ans. The leaders of nonsensical persons are still more nonsensical because
they preach openly and foolishly that one can worship any form of demigod
and get the same result.
3. What happens to those persons who have failed in the proper
discharge of yoga practices? (15)
Ans. A person who has failed in the proper discharge of yoga practice is
given a chance to take birth in the house of devout brähmaëas or in the
houses of rich men like kñatriya kings or rich merchants.
4. Who is compared to a prostitute in the verse 2.3.20?
Ans. The tongue, which is given to the human being for chanting the Vedic
hymns, will be considered a prostitute when engaged in chanting some
mundane nonsense.

CLOSED BOOK QUESTIONS

1. What are the gains of worshipping the Supreme Personality of
Godhead rather than the demigods? (9-12)
Ans.
 For fulfillment of material desires one may worship the Supreme Lord,
but the result of such worship is different, as will be explained in the
next verse. Generally the Lord does not fulfill anyone's material desires
for sense enjoyment, but He awards such benedictions to worshipers of
the Lord, for they ultimately come to the point of not desiring material
enjoyment.
 It is He only who can award liberation to the impersonalists by
absorbing such aspirants in the brahma-jyoti, the bodily rays of the
Lord.
 One cannot obtain any result from demigods without getting sanction
from the Supreme Lord. Therefore a person with a broader outlook can
see that the ultimate authority is the Lord, even for material benefits.
 Under the circumstances, one with a broader outlook, even with the
desire for material enjoyment or for liberation, should take to the
worship of the Lord directly.
2. List similarities and differences between Mahäräja Parékñit
and Çukadeva Gosvämé. (15-16)
Ans. Both of them were on the same level, although it appeared that
Mahäräja Parékñit was a great king accustomed to royal facilities whereas
Çukadeva Gosvämé was a typical renouncer of the world, so much so that he
did not even put a cloth on his body. Superficially, Mahäräja Parékñit and
Çukadeva Gosvämé might seem to be opposites, but basically they were
both unalloyed pure devotees of the Lord.
The use of the word ca after vaiyäsakiù suggests, according to Çréla Jéva
Gosvämé, that both Çukadeva Gosvämé and Mahäräja Parékñit were of the
same category, settled long before, although one was playing the part of the
master and the other the disciple.
The principal speaker was Çukadeva Gosvämé and the chief audience was
Mahäräja Parékñit.
3. List and explain five analogies that Çaunaka Åñi gives to
condemn those aversed to devotional service. (17-24)
Ans.
 One who has not listened to the messages about the prowess and
marvelous acts of the Personality of Godhead and has not sung or
chanted loudly the worthy songs about the Lord is to be considered to
possess earholes like the holes of snakes and a tongue like the tongue
of a frog.
 The upper portion of the body, though crowned with a silk turban, is
only a heavy burden if not bowed down before the Personality of
Godhead who can award mukti [freedom].
 And the hands, though decorated with glittering bangles, are like those
of a dead man if not engaged in the service of the Personality of
Godhead Hari.
 The eyes which do not look at the symbolic representations of the
Personality of Godhead Viñëu [His forms, name, quality, etc.] are like
those printed on the plumes of a peacock.
 The legs which do not move to the holy places [where the Lord is
remembered] are considered to be like tree trunks.
4. Srila Prabhupada writes in Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.22 purport,
“Book knowledge is theoretical, whereas the arcana process is
practical.” Discuss the relevance of this statement.
Ans. Especially for the householder devotees, the path of Deity worship is
strongly recommended. As far as possible, every householder, by the
direction of the spiritual master, must install the Deity of Viñëu—forms like
Rädhä-Kåñëa, Lakñmé-Näräyaëa or Sétä-Räma.
Any member of the family who is above twelve years of age should be
initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, and all the members of the
household should be engaged in the daily service of the Lord, beginning from
morning (4 a.m.) till night (10 p.m.).
Engagement in such worship of the Deity, under the direction of a bona fide
spiritual master, will greatly help the householders to purify their very
existence and make rapid progress in spiritual knowledge. Simple theoretical
book knowledge is not sufficient for a neophyte devotee. Book knowledge is
theoretical, whereas the arcana process is practical. Spiritual knowledge
must be developed by a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge,
and that is the guaranteed way for attainment of spiritual perfection.
5. How has Jīva Gosvāmī has explained this desirelessness in his
Sandarbha ? (10)
Ans. Desireless means, therefore, not to be inert like the stone, but to be
conscious of one's actual position and thus desire satisfaction only from the
Supreme Lord. Çréla Jéva Gosvämé has explained this desirelessness as
bhajanéya-parama-puruña-sukha-mätra-sva-sukhatvam in his Sandarbha.
This means that one should feel happy only by experiencing the happiness of
the Supreme Lord. This intuition of the living being is sometimes manifested
even during the conditioned stage of a living being in the material world, and
such intuition is expressed in the manner of altruism, philanthropy, socialism,
communism, etc., by the undeveloped minds of less intelligent persons. In
the mundane field such an outlook of doing good to others in the form of
society, community, family, country or humanity is a partial manifestation of
the same original feeling in which a pure living entity feels happiness by the
happiness of the Supreme Lord.
6. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami is described by Srila Prabhupada as “a
poet amongst the sages.” Discuss the significance of both Saunaka
Rsi and Srila Prabhupada appreciating this quality. (13).
Ans. A pure devotee of the Lord automatically develops all godly qualities,
and some of the prominent features of those qualities are as follows: he is
kind, peaceful, truthful, equable, faultless, magnanimous, mild, clean,
nonpossessive, a well-wisher to all, satisfied, surrendered to Kåñëa, without
hankering, simple, fixed, self-controlled, a balanced eater, sane, mannerly,
prideless, grave, sympathetic, friendly, poetic, expert and silent. Out of these
twenty-six prominent features of a devotee, as described by Kåñëadäsa
Kaviräja in his Caitanya-caritämåta, the qualification of being poetic is
especially mentioned herein in relation to Çukadeva Gosvämé. The
presentation of Çrémad-Bhägavatam by his recitation is the highest poetic
contribution. He was a self-realized learned sage. In other words, he was a
poet amongst the sages.
7. Srila Sukdeva Goswami expounds in 2.3.24, “Certainly that
heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one’s chanting the holy
name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy
takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end.” Discuss
this statement in relation to the so-called ecstasy of the sahajiyas
and the eight symptoms of real, steady bhava.
Ans. Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura and Srila Rupa Goswami has very
critically discussed all these bhäva displays in connection with some
unscrupulous neophytes imitating the above symptoms for cheap
appreciation. Sometimes all the above eight symptoms of ecstasy are
imitated by the mundane devotees (präkåta-sahajiyäs), but the pseudo
symptoms are at once detected when one sees the pseudo devotee addicted
to so many forbidden things. Even though decorated with the signs of a
devotee, a person addicted to smoking, drinking or illegitimate sex with
women cannot have all the above-mentioned ecstatic symptoms. But it is
seen that sometimes these symptoms are willfully imitated, and for this
reason Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté accuses the imitators of being
stonehearted men. They are sometimes even affected by the reflection of
such transcendental symptoms, yet if they still do not give up the forbidden
habits, then they are hopeless cases for transcendental realization.
Analogies:
2.3.17: As a highly potent drug injected intravenously acts at once on the
whole body, the transcendental topics of the Lord injected through the ear of
the pure devotee of the Lord can act very efficiently…
2.3.19: Men who are like dogs, hogs, camels and asses… p. the so-called
educated persons move like dogs from door to door with applications for
some service… Persons who have no discrimination in the matter of foodstuff
and who eat all sorts of rubbish are compared to hogs… The thorns, mixed
with fresh blood, create a taste for the foolish camel. Similarly, the great
business magnates… eat the thorny results of their actions mixed with their
own blood... In this age the human being is actually engaged in the work of
an ass.
2.3.20: …considered to possess earholes like the holes of snakes and a
tongue like the tongue of a frog. p The human tongue is especially given for
chanting the Vedic hymns and not for croaking like frogs.. Similarly, the
tongue… will be considered a prostitute when engaged in chanting some
mundane nonsense.
2.3.21: The upper portion of the body, though crowned with a silk turban, is
only a heavy burden if not bowed down before the Personality of Godhead…
And the hands... are like those of a dead man if not engaged in the service of
the Personality of Godhead Hari.
2.3.22: The eyes which do not look at the symbolic representations of the
Personality of Godhead Viñëu… are like those printed on the plumes of the
peacock, and the legs which do not move to the holy places… are considered
to be like tree trunks.