By Sravaniya DiPecoraro, ACBSP
In this chapter Lord Śrī Krishna explains to Uddhava the difference between conditioned and liberated living entities, the characteristics of a saintly person and the different aspects of the practice of devotional service.
In this verse Krishna points out that studying the Vedas without any reference to Him or His activities, pastimes, devotees, etc is a useless waste of time.
श्रमस्तस्य श्रमफलो ह्यधेनुमिव रक्षत: ॥ १८ ॥
śabda-brahmaṇi niṣṇāto
na niṣṇāyāt pare yadi
śramas tasya śrama-phalo
hy adhenum iva rakṣataḥ
He said the same to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. But a very clear picture is exhibited in the narration found in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 23: The Brāhmanas Wives Blessed. Here is a synopsis:
The cowherd boys went with Krishna and Balarama to tend the cows in the morning. Because they had not eaten breakfast they were hungry and asked Krishna to arrange something for them. Krishna wanted to bless His devotees, the wives of the Brahmanas who lived nearby. He told the boys to go and beg for some food from the Brahmanas who were performing sacrifices. When the boys respectfully and politely approached those priests and begged for something for Krishna and Balarama, the Brahmanas wouldn’t even speak to them, and the boys went back disappointed. But then Krishna told them to go back and ask their wives. Those ladies responded by immediately putting together a feast of the food they had prepared for the sacrifice that was going on. The wives had heard about Krishna and were lovingly attached to Him, and the thought of seeing Him in person overwhelmed them with excitement. So the chaste wives of the Brahmanas left their houses, against the wishes of their relatives, taking pots full of sumptuous food to go see Krishna on the bank of the river Yamuna.
Here are some excerpts from Krishna Book.
“The women entered the forest of Vrndāvana on the bank of the Yamunā, which was verdant with vegetation and newly grown vines and flowers. Within that forest, they saw Krishna and Balarāma engaged in tending the cows, along with Their very affectionate boy friends.
“The brāhmanas’ wives saw Krishna putting on a garment glittering like gold. He wore a nice garland of forest flowers and a peacock feather on His head. He was also painted with the minerals found in Vrndāvana, and He looked exactly like a dancing actor on a theatrical stage. They saw Him keeping one hand on the shoulder of His friend, and in His other hand, He was holding a lotus flower. His ears were decorated with lilies, He wore marks of tilaka, and He was smiling charmingly. With their very eyes, the wives of the brāhmanas saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, of whom they had heard so much, who was so dear to them, and in whom their minds were always absorbed. Now they saw Him eye to eye and face to face, and Krishna entered within their hearts through their eyes.
“They began to embrace Krishna to their hearts’ content, and the distress of separation was mitigated immediately. They were just like great sages who, by their advancement of knowledge, merge into the existence of the Supreme. As the Supersoul living in everyone’s heart, Lord Krishna could understand their minds; they had come to Him despite all the protests of their relatives, fathers, husbands, brothers, and all the duties of household affairs. They came just to see Him who was their life and soul. They were actually following Krishna’s instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā: one should surrender to Him, giving up all varieties of occupational and religious duties. The wives of the brāhmanas actually carried out the instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā in total. He therefore began to speak to them, smiling very magnificently. It should be noted in this connection that when Kṛṣṇa entered into the wives’ hearts and when they embraced Him and felt the transcendental bliss of being merged with Him, the Supreme Lord Krishna did not lose His identity, nor did the individual wives lose theirs. The individuality of both the Lord and the wives remained, yet they felt oneness in existence.”
Basically the wives of the Brahmanas learned in Vedic sacrifices were more spiritually advanced than their scholarly husbands. So much for the ‘women are less intelligent’ meme we hear so frequently. When Krishna thanked them and told them to return home, they didn’t want to at first, thinking they would be rejected by their families for breaking the rules and leaving home without permission. But the Lord assured them that they would be accepted. “Because you are My pure devotees, not only your relatives but also people in general, as well as the demigods, will be satisfied with you.”
More from Krishna Book.
“After the return of their wives from Krishna, the brāhmanas engaged in the performance of sacrifices began to regret their sinful activities in refusing food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They could finally understand their mistake; engaged in the performance of Vedic rituals, they had neglected the Supreme Personality of Godhead who had appeared just like an ordinary human being and asked for some food. They began to condemn themselves after seeing the faith and devotion of their wives. They regretted very much that, although their wives were elevated to the platform of pure devotional service, they themselves could not understand even a little bit of how to love and offer transcendental loving service to the Supreme Soul.
“They began to talk among themselves. “To hell with our being born brāhmanas! To hell with our learning all Vedic literatures! To hell with our performing great sacrifices and observing all the rules and regulations! To hell with our family! To hell with our expert service in performing the rituals exactly to the description of scriptures! To hell with it all, for we have not developed transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the speculation of the mind, body and senses.”
“The learned brāhmanas, expert in Vedic ritualistic performances, were properly regretful, because without developing Krishna consciousness, all discharge of religious duties is simply a waste of time and energy. They continued to talk among themselves; “The external energy of Krishna is so strong that it can create illusion to overcome even the greatest mystic yogi. Although we expert brāhmanas are considered to be the teachers of all other sections of human society, we also have been illusioned by the external energy. Just see how fortunate these women are who have so devotedly dedicated their lives to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. They could easily give up their family connection, which is so difficult to do. Family life is just like a dark well for the continuation of material miseries.”
“But how wonderful it is that they have developed transcendental love for Krishna, the Lord of all mystic yogīs!” the brāhmaṇas exclaimed. “They have surpassed all of us in firm faith and devotion unto Krishna. Being too attached to the materialistic way of life, although we are considered to be masters in all purificatory processes, we did not actually know what the goal is. Even though we were reminded of Krishna and Balarāma by the cowherd boys, we disregarded Them. We think now that it was simply a trick of mercy upon us by the Supreme Personality of Godhead that He sent His friends to beg foodstuff from us. Otherwise, He had no need to send them. He could have satisfied their hunger then and there just by willing to do so.”
The brāhmanas repented for their sinful activities. They wanted to go personally to offer their obeisances unto Him, but being afraid of Kamsa, they could not go. Prabhupada writes, “The example of the learned brāhmanas and their wives is vivid. The wives of the brāhmanas, because they were infused by pure devotional service, did not care for any kind of opposition. They immediately went to Krishna. But although the brāhmanas had come to know the supremacy of the Lord and were repenting, they were still afraid of King Kamsa because they were too addicted to fruitive activities.”
We should therefore understand
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā, sei 'guru' haya
What is the definition of that science of God realization? Let’s hear it from an expert (SB 7.5.23-24)
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye ’dhītam uttamam
There is a lot to think about here.
That’s all the time we have for today’s session so we’ll leave it at that. Keep chanting and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books.
