One Good Quality in Kali-Yuga

Prabhupada:

dvapare bhagavan syamah
pita-vasa nijayudhah
sri-vatsadibhir ankais ca
laksanair upalaksitah

namas te vasudevaya
namah sankarsanaya ca
pradyumnayaniruddhaya
tubhyam bhagavate namah

These are some of the mantras for offering respect to Krsna. This mantra, you may particularly note down:

namas te vasudevaya
namah sankarsanaya ca
pradyumnayaniruddhaya
tubhyam bhagavate namah
ei mantre dvapare kare krsnarcana
'krsna-nama-sankirtana'-kali-yugera dharma

So in the Dvapara-yuga, this was the process, krsnarcana, worshiping Krsna, and in the Kali-yuga, this pita, this yellowish-colored incarnation of Krsna, Lord Caitanya, He's to be worshiped by this sankirtana movement. Sankirtanair yajnair. This is also called sacrifice, this sankirtana yajna. There are different kinds of yajna. This is called nama-yajna, sacrifice of the holy name of the Supreme Lord.

dharma pravartana kare vrajendra-nandana
preme gaya nace loka kare sankirtana

The process is that the Lord chants and He dances Himself, and people follows similarly. Just like we are painting the picture: the Lord is dancing and everyone is following. And that following can be continued even up to date. God is always there. It is not that Caitanya is not present here. He's always present, and, whenever there is sankirtana, there is this kirtana by the devotees, sincere devotees, it is said that Lord Caitanya is there, present. Tatra tisthami narada yatra gayanti mad-bhaktah. Suddha-bhakta, those who are pure devotees. Pure devotees means without any material desire. Those who are pure devotees, those who are determined to go back to Godhead, to Krsna, they are called pure devotees. They have lost all interest for any material enjoyment. They are now determined. They are called pure devotees. So this sankirtana movement creates pure devotees, who gradually loses all interest in the material enjoyment.

Now this verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, as I've already explained to you, that is also cited here:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
[SB 11.5.32]

That Personality, incarnation of God, who is yellowish color and is accompanied by His associates, confidential associates, He is worshiped by this process of sankirtana in this age of Kali.

ara tin-yuge dhyanadite yei phala haya
kali-yuge krsna-name sei phala paya

Ara tina-yuge means this is Kali-yuga, and there are, there were other three yugas: the Satya-yuga, the Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga. There are different processes of realizing God. So Lord Caitanya says, "In other three yugas, what was achieved by meditation, by sacrifice, by temple worship, now that can be achieved in this age by sankirtana. Kalau..."

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-bandhah param vrajet
[SB 12.3.51]

This is a sloka, verse, from Srimad-Bhagavatam in connection with conversation with Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Gosvami, and, when the description of this Kali-yuga was given, Maharaja Pariksit became very sorry that, because he was a pious king, he was thinking always of the welfare of the citizens. So when he heard about the description of the Kali-yuga, he was very much disturbed in his mind. Although he was going to die, still he was so compassionate: "Oh, in the age of Kali, the people will suffer so much."

So, when he was so sorry, so Sukadeva Gosvami encouraged him, "Maharaja, don't be sorry. There is very nice process in the Kali-yuga. In the midst of so many difficulties of this age, there is one boon, and that boon is one can become liberated from this material entanglement altogether simply by chanting this Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama..." Kirtanad eva krsnasya. It was especially mentioned, kirtanad eva krsnasya [SB 12.3.51], simply by chanting Hare Krsna, one can become... This is the greatest boon in this age. Although there are so many difficulties, full of miseries, increase in the greatest volume... The world is, material world is miserable. Just like cold season, this winter season, today we are feeling most inconvenienced. Similarly, this material world is always miserable. But still, in this age it is most miserable, in this age of Kali. But the boon is, the first-class boon is that even there are so many miserable conditions, in the midst of all those disadvantages, one can become free from all contamination simply by krsna..., kirtanad eva krsnasya. Simply by this.

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
[SB 12.3.52]

What was achieved in the Satya-yuga by meditation, what was achieved by offering sacrifices in Treta-yuga, and what was achieved in the Dvapara-yuga by worship, that can be achieved in this age by sankirtana yajna.

dhyayan krte yajan yajnais
tretayam dvapare 'rcayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam

A similar passage... The two above passages, they are quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Another passage is quoted from Padma Purana. Padma Purana, there are eighteen puranas, puranam. Six puranas are in the modes of goodness, and six puranas are in the modes of passion, and six puranas are in the modes of ignorance -- for different people. Just like in a best institution, there are different classes, different kinds of books of learning, gradual process. Similarly, this Vedic culture is so nice, they don't give one class of literature for all. No. There are so many different literatures because there are so many varieties of people. How can you convince you, convince all classes of people by one literature? No. That is not possible. Now the people are here in your country, they are losing interest in religion because the Bible was given to a certain class of people long, long years before. So people are far advanced in scientific knowledge. So that does not appeal. So they're all... We should always remember that there are always different classes of men, and for different classes... The aim is all the same that, see, "Two plus two equal to four." Nothing. But different classes of men there are. So different class of arithmetic, higher mathematics, middle mathematics, lower mathematics. The mathematical, mathematical principle is the same, "Two plus two...," "One to three to nine." There is no other figure.

So similarly, there are eighteen puranas. Those who are in the modes of passion, those who are in the modes of ignorance, they should also have some chance. For them, oh, "You go and you worship this demigod." Because we are, every one of us, hankering for material acquisition. The disease is that we are simply thinking of... Idam adya maya labdham. "Today I have got so much material possession, and next day I shall have so much, and next day I shall have so much. And next day and next day...," and when next day I shall go away -- that's all. Finish. This is material disease. They're always hankering after. So there are different hankerings, there are different persons. So, the demigods, "All right, you worship. You want this thing, you want a beautiful wife? All right, you worship Uma. You want to be very learned man? All right, you worship this Devi-Sarasvati. Oh, you want to be, get out of your disease? All right, you worship the sun-god." So in this way, there are recommendations.

But in the Bhagavata, after all these recommendations, the Bhagavata concludes,

akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta paramam purusa
[SB 2.3.10]

If you have got any desire, still, you go to Krsna. You worship. Krsna recommends. Catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtino 'rjuna. Even if you go to Krsna for asking something material profit, still it is better. Don't go to other demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajante anya devatah [Bg. 7.20]. The foolish persons, they do not know that the demigods, they cannot offer any benediction. They cannot offer. They are not fool. Just like here in this institution, although you are free, you very kindly ask me, "Swamiji, can I take this fruit?" Why? This is etiquette. Similarly, the demigods, they are not fools. Suppose one man worships a demigod and asks some benefit. Oh, demigod will ask the Lord, Supreme Lord. Or, in another sense, the demigods also do not know, because they are also living entities like us. But isvarah sarva-bhutanam [Bg. 18.61]. Krsna is so kind that this person, this particular man, is wanting something, "All right, give him. Give him." Krsna is... This is freedom. There is no argument, "Oh, why Krsna has arranged like this?" He arranges out of His causeless mercy. He can say, He can stop asking the individual soul. But He does not do that. Why He shall do? Then there is no meaning of independence. "All right, you want it? I have arranged it. Take it. Take." So He asks the demigod, "All right, he's asking from you? Give him. Give." So this is going on.

So therefore there are different kinds of literature because there are different kinds of people. But the ultimate literature is, the substance of all Vedic literature is the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Krsne sva-dhama upagate dharma-jnanadibhih saha. It is..., there is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. When Krsna was present He personally gave this Bhagavad-gita and all knowledge. So many people took knowledge. There is another gita, Uddhava-gita. That was spoken to Uddhava. That is in Bhagavata; this is in Mahabharata, Bhagavad-gita. So there is a question by the Saunaka Rsi that, after departure of Krsna, wherefrom knowledge should be searched? So they recommended this Srimad-Bhagavatam. So in the Padma Purana also there is similar passages. In Bhagavatam also, there are similar passages. In all Vedic literature, the same thing is there. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. The last target and the last goal, ultimate goal, is Krsna. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Bhagavata says, akamah sarva-kamo va [SB 2.3.10]. Even if you are this materially desiring, still, you should go to Krsna. And Krsna also confirms, bhajate mam ananya bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. Api cet su-duracaro. One should not ask God. But still, if one asks, he's accepted, because he has come to the point, Krsna. That is his good qualification. He's in Krsna consciousness. So all faults there may be, but when one becomes Krsna conscious, everything is nice. Just like there are so mu..., so much snowfall. As soon as there is rise of sun, everything finished. Everything finished. Krsna surya sama. Only we have to wait when the sunrise will be there. Then all these disturbances will be at once cleared.

So we have to take to krsna-surya and everything will be cleared.

kalim sabhajayanty arya
guna-jnah sara-bhaginah
yatra sankirtanenaiva
sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate

Sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate. There are nice verse. You see? Here it is said, yatra sankirtanenaiva. This Kali-yuga, this age of Kali, we are condemning so much. But even the demigods, they, I mean to say, highly eulogize this Kali-yuga. Why? Why? Oh, here is a great opportunity. Simply by chanting Hare Krsna, yatra sankirtanena. Yatra means in this Kali-yuga, simply by this sankirtana movement, simply by chanting, sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate, all interest is served. Your material interest, your spiritual interest -- every interest will be served. Lord Caitanya also said, iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomara. Just... Even if you are materially desiring something, that also will be fulfilled by simply chanting Hare Krsna. It is such a nice thing. This is... Therefore we call maha-mantra. All...

purvavat likhi yabe gunavatara-gana
asankhya sankhya tanra, na haya ganana
cari-yugavatare ei ta' ganana
suni' bhangi kari' tanre puche sanatana

Now here is a very trick. Sanatana Gosvami, he was politician. He was minister. Now when Lord Caitanya was describing about the incarnations, especially of the incarnation of the Kali-yuga, now he's asking, Sanatana Gosvami is asking to Lord Caitanya,

raja-mantri-sanatana-buddhye brhaspati
prabhura krpate puche asankoca-mati

He's asking very frankly because he's very intelligent. He was minister.

'ati ksudra jiva muni nica, nicacara
kemane janiba kalite kon avatara?'

"My dear Sir, Lord Caitanya, I am the lowest of the lowest. I am very fool number one. So I may inquire from You that how can I understand that this is the incarnation of this age, Kali-yuga?"

prabhu kahe -- anyavatara sastra-dvare jani
kalite avatara taiche sastra-vakye mani

"Oh, why you are in confusion? As other incarnation are to be understood from the indication of the sastras, similarly, we have to understand from the indication of the sastra who is incarnation." Sarvajna munira vakya-sastra-'paramana'.

Now sastra, the scripture, is the most first-class evidence, sarvajna munira va..., sarvajna... Because sastras are written not by ordinary person. Not by Rabindranath Tagore, a sex play. (?) No. (laughs) Sastras are written by liberated persons. Therefore sastra, scripture, have got so many advantages and so much respect. So therefore Lord said: sarvajna munira vakya-sastra-'paramana'. Sastra paramana. Just like (we) see in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, four hundred thousands of years after there will be avatara, Kalki, and His father's name, His birthplace, is already mentioned there. This is called sastra. Five thousand years before Bhagavata was written, and there is indication that in such and such age, in such and such province, in such and such family, Lord Buddha will appear. That is written there. And five thousand years before, ago, the, the symptoms of Kali-yuga is already written there. And we are experiencing.

In the Bhagavata you'll find, svikara eva hy udhvahe: "In the Kali-yuga, marriage will be performed simply by agreement." Just see. Another... Lavanyam kesa-dharanam: "People will think by keeping long hairs they will be very beautiful." It is stated in Bhagavata. They'll look very beautiful. Lavanyam kesa-dharanam. It is written there if you see. It is not story. Svikara eva hy udvahe. Dampatye ratim eva hi: "And husband and wife relation means sex. That's all." If the husband has got sex power, then there will be no divorce. These are all written there. Simply sex life, husband and wife relationship. Simply sex life. Vipratve sutram eva hi: "And one will be considered a brahmana simply by this thread." These are all written there. A two-cent-worth thread, you get it..., "Oh, you have got thread. Oh, you are a brahmana." That's all. This is going on in India. Two-paisa-worth brahmana. He has all the qualification of less than a candala, but, because he has got this nonsense thread, he's considered a brahmana. So these things are all mentioned. And we have to believe it also that, in the last stage of the Kali-yuga, nobody will understand what is God, what is religion. And there will be no supply of these grains. Now we are getting all these grains. But, as you are, as you are thinking grain is not meant for human being, they are meant for animals, all right, God will stop completely. Then you'll have to live only on the seeds and animal flesh. That is also mentioned. There will be no milk. There will be no sugar. There will be no grain. These things are mentioned. Therefore sastra, it is called sastra. Sarvajna. Sarvajna means the sastra is written by persons who know, who knows the, I mean to say, past, present and future. Everything is clear. Therefore we have got so much respect for scripture. The foolish people say, "Oh, it is also written by man. Why shall I...?" Yes, it is written by man. That's all right. But he's not a man like you. He's liberated man. There are different kinds of men. So don't think all men are like you, all men are like you fools.

So here it is said, sarvajna munira vakya-sastra-'paramana.' Therefore... Tasmat sastra pramana ante. In the Bhagavad-gita also, that everything should act, should be acted in terms of the sastra. Just like when you go to post something, you are, you are directed by the postal guide. Sastra pramana only. So Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as Krsna has given stress upon the evidence, on the scripture, similarly, Lord Caitanya also is giving stress. The question is very interesting. The question is how one should accept a person or a body as incarnation. Lord Caitanya says that through sastra, by the evidence of sastra. So many fools, they are presenting themselves as incarnation. An intelligent person should see whether this fool is mentioned in the sastra. He's presenting himself as incarnation. Whether his activities are, his characteristics is mentioned in the sastra? Then accept. Otherwise, don't accept. This will be discussed more.

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.337-353
New York, December 25, 1966