Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.9.19-21

New Delhi
19 February 1994

sri-deva ucuh
vayv-ambaragny-ap-ksitayas tri-loka
brahmadayo ye vayam udvijantah
harama yasmai balim antako 'sau
bibheti yasmad aranam tato nah

The demigods said: The three worlds are created by the five elements—namely ether, air, fire, water and earth—which are controlled by various demigods, beginning from Lord Brahma. Being very much afraid that the time factor will end our existence, we offer presentations unto time by performing our work as time dictates. The time factor himself, however, is afraid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore let us now worship that Supreme Lord, who alone can give us full protection.

LECTURE

So the demigods in this part of the Bhagavatam are in great anxiety. Why are they in great anxiety? Because they were amazed to see the power of Vrtrasura. Vrtrasura had performed great austerities and as a result of which he had become very very powerful. He was so powerful that by his yogic power he could cover all the planetary systems and because of this he was given the name Vrtrasura. It means one who can cover all the planetary systems. The demigods headed by Indra had attacked the demons but they were surprised that he was totally unharmed by their weapons. Not only was he unharmed by their weapons but he even swallowed all of them. If you throw a bomb on someone, it will be very striking to see the person swallowing it. You will be amazed, isn't it? Indra and the demigods were so confident that they would be able to defeat and destroy Vrtrasura. But, actually, all the weapons that they threw on him were just engulfed with great ease by him. As a matter of fact the demigods' anxiety increased tremendously because they knew that this demon is very very powerful. Just like, if you see someone very powerful you get scared of him, isn't it? When the demigods saw the great strength of Vrtrasura, their own strength began to decline and then what did they do? They took shelter of Lord Sri Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavat-gita (7.16)

catur-vidha bhajante mam
janah sukrtino 'rjuna
arto jijnasur artharthi
jnani ca bharatarsabha

"O best among the Bharatas, four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Me — the distressed, the desire of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute."

These four kinds of people surrender unto the Lord. How is it that one person who is in distress comes to the Lord and another one turns to the whisky bottle. So, why is that one person thinks of sense enjoyment and the other turns towards God. Srila Prabhupada has explained that if one has pious activities to one's credit, then in distress one will turn towards the Lord, otherwise one will turn against Krishna. The demigods have pious activities to their credits that is why they are demigods, isn't it? They are demigods because they have a pious record. But, because they are demigods they are also conditioned to some extent and due to this bewilderment they are under the influence of the illusory energy. They even begin to doubt the position of the Supreme Lord. They think that they are almost equal to the Supreme Lord. So, as long as we are in this material world this danger is always there, the danger of getting bewildered by the illusory energy. So the demigods having pious credits ultimately turn to the Supreme Lord. Because of their pious backgrounds they ultimately turn to the Supreme Lord for protection. So, in this verse we see that the demigods are actually praying to the Supreme Lord. This goes to confirm that the demigods are not equal to the Supreme Lord.

However, Indians have the strong belief that all gods are one, isn't it? All gods are one. Please don't tell us to worship only Krishna. Please don't give us only one mantra. They believe that all these 33 crores demigods are equal to the Supreme Lord. But, if you read the Srimad Bhagavatam carefully you will see this point being refuted. Otherwise, why will the demigods acknowledge and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, here the demigods are praying to the Supreme Lord for protection and shelter. This is not the only verse which emphasizes this point. There are many verses in the entire Bhagavatam. You will see so many situations where the demigods are actually glorifying the Supreme Lord and taking shelter of Him. Thus, they are acknowledging their subordinate positions. So the Brahma-Samhita ( 5.1 ) confirms -

isvara parama krsna
sac-cid-ananda vigraha
anadiradir govinda
sarva karana karanam

"Krishna, who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes."

There are many controllers (isvaras). So the demigods are also controllers but they remain controllers under the power of the Supreme Controller that is Lord Sri Krishna. That is why Lord Brahma says that there are many Isvaras but one Paramesvara and this Supreme Isvara is the cause of all causes. No one can claim to be the cause of this creation. So the demigods acknowledge the supreme position of the Lord and they recognize that they are subordinate to the Supreme Lord. Here the demigods are saying that these three worlds are made of five elements. Lord Sri Krishna explains in the Bhagavat-gita (7.4) -

bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha

"Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—all together these eight constitute My separated material energies."

This same point is confirmed by the demigods. But the important thing is from where these elements are coming. For example in material society we see that people are manipulating the resources given by God, isn't it? Everything that we see with our naked eyes is the result of a combination of different elements whether the microphone through which we are communicating to you or the tape recorder with which we are recording the lectures, the temple which we are building, the roads on which we are walking and even the body which we have. These are nothing but a result of the combination of these five elements.  Krishna explains in the Bhagavat-gita (10.8) -

aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam
budha bhava-samanvitah

"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts."

So this understanding must be there. The devotees' understanding is that everything spiritual and material is coming from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is acknowledged by the demigods that these ingredients are under their control. However, they are controllers under the supervision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This point is proven beyond doubt in the vedic scriptures how the Lord is the cause of everything. Because the devotees understand that everything is coming from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are inclined to use everything in Krishna's service.

The difference between the position of a devotee and a non devotee is that the devotee fully realizes this fact that everything is coming from the Lord. Hence he uses everything in Krishna's service. Lord Brahma was entrusted with the task of creating this universe. When the living entities were to be created, Lord Brahma created different aspects of ignorance and he also created different aspects of knowledge. So one of the aspects of ignorance which he created was fear of death. Just like we see in the material world everyone is afraid of death. It doesn't matter wherever one may be situated, one may be rich, one may be a great scientist, but when it comes to death it really strikes the living entity. Then the principle of false deception, anger after frustration. When you cannot get what you want you become angry just like a child. Just see a child, it cries when it is unable to obtain what it desires. Similarly, we become angry when we are frustrated in our attempt to realize our quota of sense enjoyment. Another aspect of ignorance is the sense of false proprietorship. Sense of false proprietorship means I am thinking that I am the creator, I am the maintainer and I am the enjoyer. This is what happens when you are under the influence of this sense of false proprietorship. The devotees' understanding is that Krishna is the creator, He is the only maintainer and He is the enjoyer, whereas the nondevotees' understanding is that their efforts are responsible for the creation and maintenance. Hence, it is natural for them to be the enjoyer. They want to be the enjoyer. However, the devotees' understanding is that Krishna is the enjoyer. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (5.29) -

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati

"A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries."

So the demigods are explained to have taken shelter of the Supreme Lord because they were amazed to see the great power of Vrtrasura. Now they have taken shelter of God and the series of verses that we are going to read in this chapter are very beautiful verses describing the Supreme position of the Lord. At present the demigods are confirming one very important point that the position of the time factor. They are confirming that the time factor destroys everything. This is another understanding which the devotees have and the nondevotees lack. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (11.32) -

sri-bhagavan uvaca
kalo 'smi loka-ksaya-krt pravrddho
lokan samahartum iha pravrttah
rte 'pi tvam na bhavisyanti sarve
ye 'vasthitah pratyanikesu yodhah

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people. With the exception of you [the Pandavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain."

That is the firm understanding of the transcendentalist. In the absence of spiritual understanding we don't understand the strong influence of the time factor. That is why the Bhagavatam explains with the rising and setting of the sun, the duration of life of everyone is reduced except for one who has surrendered unto the lotus feet of Krishna.

All of us have come and we all have a certain quota of time alloted to us. When the time goes away then finish. Just like in the Caitanya Caritamrita you all have read the story of how Lord Caitanya was performing kirtan in the house of Srivasa Acarya. One day after the death of Srivasa's son Lord Caitanya was performing kirtan but Srivasa Acarya did not inform anyone about it. He did not want to disturb Lord Caitanya's mood. He did not want to stop the ecstatic kirtan. However, Lord Caitanya being the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Paramatma knew the calamity that had taken place. After the kirtan was over, Lord Caitanya found out that Srivasa's son had died. He asked him why didn't you tell Me? Then He brought back the son to life and Lord Caitanya told him, "Oh! why did you leave so early?" However the son said I came here because I was alloted a certain lapse of time by You and now my time is over. I am leaving. You must have heard the story of Harsh-shoka, son of Citraketu. How Harshashoka was brought back to life by the great sages and when the great sages told him why did you leave so early, why have you left your parents? See your parents are crying. What did Harshashoka say? Which parents do you want me to go back to ? I had so many parents in so many species of life. You only knew me one year ago, before that you did not even know me and then Harshashoka started preaching. As a result of which the King came to his senses. So the time factor is very powerful.

One who is on the spiritual path has great consideration for time. He values time because it is the manifestation of the Lords's energy. Time is the representation of the Lord. Therefore, a devotee's understanding is that this time cannot be wasted, isn't it? This time should not be misused. The devotees are conscious of not wasting time as they know that even a minute wasted won't be able to be retrieved even with the wealth of the entire world. That is why Canakya Pandit has said-

ayusah ksana eko 'pi
na labhyah svarna-kotibhih
sa cen nirarthakam nitah
ka nu hanis tato 'dhika

"Time is so valuable that you cannot get back a moment of it, even if you pay millions of gold coins. What is lost is lost for good. If you spoil such valuable time without profit, just imagine how great a loser you are."

A minute loss cannot be compensated by the wealth of the entire world. If you commit a foolish mistake then you lose some money, you can compensate with. You may be healthy then you get sick and again you can recover. But time which has been lost cannot be brought back. One minute lost cannot be brought back by the wealth of the entire planet. So time in the life of a devotee has to be used very very intelligently. It means I must not sleep too much, I must not sleep too little.  Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita ( 6.16 ) -

naty-asnatas tu yogo 'sti
na caikantam anasnatah
na cati-svapna-silasya
jagrato naiva carjuna

"There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough."

Who is the perfect yogi? One who doesn't eat too much, one who doesn't eat too little, one who doesn't sleep too much and doesn't sleep too little, he is a perfect yogi.

So proper utilisation of time means I don't want to sleep more than necessary, I don't want to eat more than necessary, I do not want to talk more than necessary. I want to speak only Krishna katha. In one of his prayers to the vaisnavas Thakura Bhaktivinoda has sung -

chaya bega domi, chaya dosa sodhi
chaya guna deho' dase
chaya sat-sanga, deho' he amare
boshechi sangera ase

"Teach me to control my six passions; rectify my six faults, bestow upon me the six qualities, and offer unto me the six kinds of holy association."

Controlling my six urges and purifying me of the six faults, please give to your servant the six good qualities. Oh, give me the six kinds of holy association. I have sat down here in the hope of having your company.

This is a long subject of discussion. So one of the six faults that Thakura Bhaktivinoda talks about is this desire to talk without restriction, to be engaged in prajalpa or talk that is not related to Krishna. So engaging in talks not related to Krishna, idle talk as joke or sarcastic remarks fall under the heading of prajalpa. Rupa Goswami explains in Nectar of Instruction -

atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana-sangas ca laulyam ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati

"One's devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) overendeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna conscionsness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements."

So those who understand the value of time are very careful in not engaging in activities which will hamper their progress in Krishna consciousness. Now the demigods are further saying that the time factor is itself an energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore we take shelter of His lotus feet. Everyone else is scared of time, isn't it? But time itself takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Time itself is scared of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore in the purport Srila Prabhupada says that the Supreme Lord is also addressed as Abhaya. Abhaya means fearless. The supreme Lord is fearless.

Now here we see that the demigods are in a fearful position. The demigods were very proud of and confident of their strength but when they threw weapons on Vrtrasura he was totally unharmed. Not only unharmed but he swallowed them with such great ease, the demigods got afraid of this and to whom did they turn? To the Supreme Personality of Godhead for shelter. So, one who is intelligent knows that one must take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and then naturally one will become fearless.

What is our understanding? Whom Krishna wants to protect, no one can annihilate and whom Krishna wants to annihilate no one can protect. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (18.66) -

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."

So the demigods are very fortunate as they know that the only shelter from fear is the Supreme Lord, Abhaya. That is why we see in text 21 till the end of this chapter the demigods are only praying to the Supreme Lord in a series of verses, and the Supreme Lord was very pleased by their offerings . Then He descended to speak to them. Factually this is the mentality of a devotee, to constantly glorify the Lord through prayers as demonstrated by demigods in this part of the Bhagavatam. The Supreme Lord is the source of shelter, and if you take shelter unto Him then only will you become fearless, otherwise you will always be in a fearful condition.

So, what does it mean to take shelter of the Supreme Lord? Different people will have different understanding of it. If we do a survey in India among the Hindus naturally everyone will say I am surrendered to Krishna, I am a devotee of Lord Krishna. But what does it really mean to surrender to Krishna? Prahlada Maharaja explains in Bhag.(7.5.23-24) -

sri-prahrada uvaca
sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita visnau
bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye 'dhitam uttamam

"Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge."

You should take shelter of the Supreme Lord by executing these nine processes of devotional service. We all know how demoniac Prahlada Maharaja's father was. Anyway sometimes parental affection awaken even in the heart of a demon. So once when his son had returned from school, the demoniac father lifted him and kept him on his lap and asked, "Tell me my son what did you learn in your school today? The father expected that the son would say that you are God. That was what the father was busy in telling his teachers. The father could never understand who is coming and instructing Prahlada about this transcendental philosophy. He had very tight security arrangement even tighter than President Clinton. But, still he couldn't figure out from where his son is getting this knowledge.

Hiranyakasipu had instructed to train up this child to understand that his father was actually the Supreme Controller. So, what did he say when the king asked what did you learn in the school today? Prahlada Maharaja said in S. Bg. ( 7.5.32 ) -

naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat

"Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Krsna conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination."

When the father heard about this he threw his son from his lap. Our understanding is that you do what the Lord wants you to do. Prabhupada said a devotee lives to serve the Lord, not that he uses the Lord to earn his living. So we live to serve the Lord. We execute only those activities which are useful for spiritual advancement and we reject those activities which are not favorable for spiritual advancement. As we take shelter of the Supreme Lord a devotee becomes fearless. Now, sometimes you come to spiritual life from so many different angles of fear that hit a devotee. One fear is, "Oh! now I am serving the Lord, now what is going to happen tomorrow, who is going to look after me tomorrow when I will be old. Now I am giving the best years of my life in devotional service. But, well this institution guarantees that it will look after me always?" These types of thoughts come, isn't it? They do come. These are the different types of fears that haunt one after coming to spiritual life. No doubt one should be intelligent in understanding. One must understand that if he serves the Lord years after years even in the best time of his life, why will there be loss? There is no question of being exploited on the spiritual path. There is no question of being exploited as far as the service to the Lord goes. Because whatever service one executes, that stands to one's eternal credit. So when a devotee takes shelter of the process of devotional service, he lives by the teachings of the Lord that come down from the disciplic succession. He is fully confident that whatever the Lord does, is ultimately for my benefit. Just like Pariksit Maharaja was cursed to die. But he was not afraid at all nor was he nervous. He had taken shelter of the Lord. He prepared to die.

So if you really want to be fearless you don't need an extra tight security arrangement but you need an extra tight security arrangement in which you don't think of maya, don't act in maya, don't contemplate upon maya. Then naturally you will be protected by the Supreme Lord and one who is intelligent, he understands that this is the only real shelter. Therefore he uses his valuable time, his body, his mind, his intelligence to serve the Supreme Lord as directed by superior authorities.

Hare Krisjna!