June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 1

June 2023| Issue 72

A Monthly E-Magazine from the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha with Illuminating Perspectives on the Srimad-Bhägavatam

Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedänta Swämi Prabhupäda

Founder-Äcärya of the International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness

Living a Life
of Prayer
Inside: Lord Jagannätha and Ratha-yäträ| Bhägavata darçana: Forgiveness|
Analogy Arena | Verse of the Month

Monthly Ezine Subscription Link: https://gaurangadarshandas.com/bhagavata-pradipika-ezine/

 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 2

FROM THE DESK OF

THE FOUNDER ÄCÄRYA

Lord Jagannätha and Ratha - yäträ

Prabhupäda’s Childhood Ratha- The POWER of a SMALL
yäträ SERVICE offered to Lord
By the grace of Lord Çré Kåñëa, we had Jagannätha
the chance of being born in a Vaiñëava
family, and in our childhood we Mahäräja Pratäparudra, the
imitated the worship of Lord Kåñëa by greatly powerful King of
imitating our father. Our father Orissa, was always very busy
encouraged us in all respects to observe with heavy state
all functions such as the Ratha-yäträ responsibilities, yet he made it
and Dola-yäträ ceremonies, and he used a point to sweep the temple of
to spend money liberally for Lord Jagannätha at Puré once a
distributing prasädam to us children year during the festival of the
and our friends. SB 2.3.15 P Lord. The idea is that however
important a man one may be,
he must accept the supremacy
Lord Caitanya in Ratha-yäträ
of the Supreme Lord. This
As long as the Lord remained at Puré, God consciousness will help a
thousands of His devotees used to come man even in his material
to see Him during the Ratha-yäträ car prosperity. Mahäräja
festival of Lord Jagannätha. And during Pratäparudra's subordination
the car festival, the washing of the before Lord Jagannätha made
Guëòicä temple under the direct him a powerful king, so
supervision of the Lord was an much so that even the great
important function. The Lord's Pathan in his time could not
congregational saìkértana movement at enter into Orissa on account
Puré was a unique exhibition for the of the powerful Mahäräja
mass of people. SB Intro Pratäparudra. SB 2.3.21
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 3

Living a Life of
Prayer
Hari Bhakti Das

Deepening the Quality of the Prayers we offer to the Supreme Lord

The silent yet speedy way to reach God is known as prayer. Imagine
ourselves going in front of the most kind, the most magnanimous person in
the entire universe. What would we ask from such a person? We would
definitely want to make the best use of the opportunity at hand. Also, before
we go to meet him or her, won’t we plan fully what are we going to speak?
And what if that person is the Supreme Lord Himself? Once a while, we may
be inspired to heartfully pray what we yearn for in our life. Yet sometimes
when we go in front of God, we become so captivated by the surroundings
that we forget to pray. Sometimes we may be confused whether praying for
a particular thing for oneself is right or not. Yet sometimes after an inspiring
seminar on detachment, some prayers make way from our mind and heart in
the form of a prayer. But we may later regret that we didn't really mean it
and we may request Him not to take our prayers seriously. Sometimes years
may go by and we may remain without praying anything substantial to the
Supreme Lord. The following analysis will help us in increasing the quality
of prayers when we approach the Supreme Lord. It is not that we offer
prayers only when we go in front of the Supreme Lord. He is accessible
everywhere and for all time without restrictions of time and space. Gajendra,
the elephant was in danger of his life from a crocodile. He prayed while he
was struggling inside water and the Lord heard him. Draupadi called for
Kåñëa in the midst of the assembly in Hastinäpura. Kåñëa could hear while
being in Dvärakä. Little Dhruva who was only five years old prayed while
being in the forest of Madhuvana. He received the darçana of the Lord in six
months.
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 4

Whom to Pray?
While reading through the pages of Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-
Bhägavatam, we understand that demigods like Indra, Candra, Väyu,
Gaëeça, Umä can fulfill our material desires, but they not being eternal in
their posts cannot offer us something eternal. Furthermore, whatever they
grant us is actually granted by the Supreme Lord Kåñëa only. The
demigods say in SB 6.9.22,
avismitaà taà paripürëa-kämaà
svenaiva läbhena samaà praçäntam
vinopasarpaty aparaà hi bäliçaù
çva-läìgulenätititarti sindhum
"The Supreme Lord is free from all material conceptions, He is self-
satisfied and never bewildered. He is steady and unattached. Anyone who
desires to be protected by others is certainly a great fool. He can be
compared to a person who tries to cross the sea by holding the tail of a
dog."
The demigods themselves tell the pitiable situation of one who takes their
shelter. Uddhava tells why Kåñëa is the perfect shelter for everyone.
tasmäd bhavantam anavadyam ananta-päraà
sarva-jïam éçvaram akuëöha-vikuëöha-dhiñëyam
nirviëëa-dhér aham u he våjinäbhitapto
näräyaëaà nara-sakhaà çaraëaà prapadye
"O Lord, feeling weary of material life and tormented by its distresses, I
now surrender unto You because You are the perfect master. You are the
unlimited, all-knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose spiritual
abode in Vaikuëöha is free from all disturbances. In fact, You are known
as Näräyaëa, the true friend of all living beings." SB 11.7.18

Can we Pray for Fulfillment of Material Desires?

Once we are convinced that there is no one other than the Supreme Lord
Kåñëa who should be the object of our prayers, the next question that
arises is what should we pray for? If we desire to have a child, if we yearn
to go to another country, if we cherish the desire of cracking a competitive
exam, can we pray the same to the Supreme Lord? Bhägavatam urges to
worship the Supreme Lord for the fulfillment of even our material desires.
SB 2.3.10 mentions,
akämaù sarva-kämo vä
mokña-käma udära-dhéù
tévreëa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruñaà param
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 5

"A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material
desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means
worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.”
The beauty of worshipping Kåñëa is that He knows which desires to fulfill
and which ones to hold back. And He exactly knows the way to fulfill
them. Dhruva desired a kingdom greater than his great grandfather, the
Lord fulfilled. Kardama, on the order of his father Brahma desired a
suitable wife. He got married to Devahüti by Lord’s grace. Mahäräja Nabhi
wanted a son exactly like the Supreme Lord. Lord Vishnu replied that no
one can be like Him. And therefore, He Himself came as Åñabhadeva.
The way in which Kåñëa fulfills material desires is also extra-ordinary. He
certainly gives desired objects to devotees who request them, but He does
not give in such a way that the devotee will ask them again after finishing
his enjoyment. Instead, He gives His lotus feet, which include all
desirables, to those worshippers who do not desire them. Same thing
happened with Dhruva Mahäräja. He became detestable of the thing he so
intensely yearned for.
Citraketu Mahäräja, who is another celebrated devotee of the Lord
mentions that even those obsessed with material desires worshipping the
Supreme Lord are not subject to rebirth just as roasted seeds do not grow.
An object which falls in a well of juice becomes juicy, similarly, when
material desires enter the Supreme Lord, they become spiritual. (SB 6.16.39)
At the same time, asking for material things
does not constitute the topmost form of
worship to the Supreme Lord. Çréla
Prabhupäda writes, "Asking for material
benefit is not a sign of a pure devotee. For
the living entity who desires to return to
Godhead, material desires are impediments."
BG 7.22
At the same time, asking for material things
does not constitute the topmost form of
worship to the Supreme Lord. Çréla
Prabhupäda writes, "Asking for material benefit is not a sign of a pure
devotee. For the living entity who desires to return to Godhead, material
desires are impediments." BG 7.22
Påthu Mahäräja in the Fourth Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam says that the
Lord, being our father and well-wisher, knows what is best for us. He
requests the Lord to bestow on him whatever the Lord thinks the best for
him.
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 6

Can we Pray for our own Deliverance?

One may feel that if one desires one's own welfare, isn't it selfishness? Yes,
it is selfishness but it is real selfishness. After all, isn't self-realization
desired by one who pursues a spiritual path? What one means by
deliverance needs to be also understood. If deliverance means freedom
from suffering, the first thing that naturally happens as a result of
practicing the process is kleçaghné, or relief from material distress. Yet one
can beseech the Lord for deliverance from one’s insignificant fallen
condition and suffering to attract Kåñëa’s grace. There are many prayers in
Çrémad-Bhägavatam that depict such feelings.
If deliverance means ending the cycle of birth and death and going back to
the spiritual world, that is an extremely healthy aspiration. An orphan
desiring to go back to his or her real parents is not a selfish desire. That is
the orphan's greatest need. To pray to get eternal association of Kåñëa is a
petition from the devotee's side that makes Kåñëa eager to take him or her
back to the spiritual world. Also, if we do our part, even without asking
Kåñëa takes us back to His abode. Kåñëa is more eager than us to take us
back to Goloka Våndävana.

Can we Pray for a Specific Service?

When one pursues the path of spiritual life, one may be simply happy
rendering the services that are given by one’s authorities. And that is
perfect. A thought that may also arise in the mind of a practitioner is can
one pray for rendering a specific type of service?
Påthu Mahäräja says, "Now I wish to engage in the service of the lotus
feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to serve just like the
goddess of fortune." (SB 4.20.27) Narottama Däsa Öhäkura, one of the
acharyas in the Gauòéya-Vaiñëava-sampradäya expresses his desire to
anoint the forms of Rädhä and Kåñëa with sandalwood paste, garland
Them and fan Them with a camara whisk. These prayers are technically
termed as 'lälasämayé', meaning to intensely long for personal service of
the Lord.
Prayers for rendering a specific service to the Lord is a means to express
our spiritual desires. The chanting of the Hare Kåñëa Mahämantra is also a
petition to the Lord to engage us in His service. Lord is extremely pleased
when we wish to render Him service. At the same time, non-fulfillment of
our desires for an exclusive service should not become an obstacle in
rendering other designated services. Nor it should lead to an unhealthy
attitude of wanting to render a particular service by hook or crook and
thus becoming insensitive towards people and situations.
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 7

Prayers Conducive to Bhakti

The basis of the prayers in Çrémad-Bhägavatam is that the devotees wish to
progress in Kåñëa Consciousness and attract Lord’s grace. Their prayers
give us a guideline what exactly we should pray for. Many of the devotees
like Parékñit Mahäräja, Påthu Mahäräja, Dhruva Mahäräja, Pracetäs pray to
the Supreme Lord for association of His devotees. For instance, the
Pracetäs say in SB 4.30.33,
yävat te mäyayä spåñöä
bhramäma iha karmabhiù
tävad bhavat-prasaìgänäà
saìgaù syän no bhave bhave
"Dear Lord, as long as we have to remain within this material world due to
our material contamination and wander from one type of body to another
and from one planet to another, we pray that we may associate with those
who are engaged in discussing Your pastimes. We pray for this benediction
life after life, in different bodily forms and on different planets.”
Another prayer conducive to bhakti is when we pray to the Lord to protect
us from committing offenses and mistakes on the devotional path. Brahmäjé
prayed to the Lord in the Third Canto of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam to not get
deviated and to not become proud. He also prayed for getting empowered
to render his designated service of creation efficiently. Such prayers for
empowerment signify our dependence on the Lord. When a great king
Rahügaëa mistakenly committed a great offense against a devotee Jaòa
Bharata, the former prayed that he was neither afraid of Indra's
thunderbolt nor Çiva's trident. But he terribly feared disrespecting
brahmanas and Vaiñëavas. All these are apt prayers to be offered to the
Supreme Lord.

From Practice to Perfection

Çrémad-Bhägavatam is filled with prayers of various devotees. Although we

cannot compare the prayers of the pure devotees of the Supreme Lord, we
can estimate the quality of prayers based on Kåñëa's reciprocation
thereafter. When Dakña prayed to the Supreme Lord for getting
empowered to increase progeny, the Lord fulfilled his desire, and He left
without granting him any spiritual benediction. After Lord Vishnu
appeared in Mahäräja Påthu's sacrificial arena, being greatly inclined to the
behavior of Påthu Mahäräja, he didn't depart. Then Påthu Mahäräja
offered beautiful prayers unto the Supreme Lord.
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 8

One of the kind of prayers that constitute the highest form of worship are
the ones where one doesn't ask anything for oneself but simply prays for
other living entities. When compassion takes the form of a prayer to the
Supreme Lord, He is extremely pleased. Prahläda Mahäräja prayed to Lord
Nåsiàhadeva for the deliverance of all the unfortunate souls who are
suffering in this material world. Nåsiàhadeva's reciprocation to Prahläda
was he delivered all the people from their suffering. Even Prahläda's father,
the demon Hiraëyakaçipu and twenty-one generations of Prahläda’s
ancestors were delivered by the grace of Nåsiàhadeva.

Another place where Kåñëa offered even higher reciprocation was when He
confessed to the gopis His inability to reciprocate their love. And what was
the gopis mood and their prayers that made Kåñëa speak like that? Gopés
desired nothing for themselves. They simply desired Kåñëa's pleasure. They
were ready to sacrifice any amount of time and energy, they were ready to
forsake their reputation and they were ready to be forever in utter distress
simply to make Him happy for a moment. Their prayers and their life both
were simply meant to awaken the deepest feelings of love in Kåñëa's heart
and give Him the ultimate happiness.
A Life of Prayer
Sometimes, Kåñëa may reciprocate externally and sometimes He may not as
well just to intensify the devotion of His devotees! Therefore, all the
prayers from Çrémad-Bhägavatam or any other scripture that express the
highest desire to serve Kåñëa and to please Him demanding nothing for
oneself are valuable jewels to be cherished and adored. All of these
constitute the perfect prayers. In bhakti, there can be unlimited perfections
in various shades. Journey of life is to transform ourselves from a state of
no prayer or prayers for material well-being to a state of prayers of the
highest stature. One must not only deepen the quality of prayers, but
deepen the commitment to prayers. From occupying a small part of our
daily life, prayers are meant to envelope our entire life. The heart-melting
prayers of Våträsura from the sixth canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the
devotional prayers of Pracetas, Påthu Mahäräja’s earnest entreaties and
many others are among the choicest prayers offered in the Çrémad-
Bhägavatam. Kåñëa fills that devotee’s heart with grace who prays to the
Lord in a humble disposition. That grace inspires newer and newer desires
for service in the heart of the devotee and the cycle continues indefinitely.
When a devotee lives a life of prayer, not only he or she feels extremely
content in life, but such devotees become touchstones of Lord’s grace and
spread that grace everywhere. Çréla Prabhupäda was such a touchstone
whose life exemplified prayerful living. By his prayers and by his life, he
transformed the lives of millions of people all over the world.
 September 2022| Issue 63 | Page 9

VERSE OF THE MONTH

The ONLY Benediction Desired

SB 4.20.25
sa uttamaçloka mahan-mukha-cyuto
bhavat-padämbhoja-sudhä kaëänilaù
småtià punar vismåta-tattva-vartmanäà
kuyoginäà no vitaraty alaà varaiù

My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses

uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your
lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the
transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees
carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the
forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal
relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the
right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I
therefore do not need any other benediction but the
opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.
(Påthu Mahäräja to the Supreme Lord Viñëu)
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 10

ANALOGY ARENA
Just as a student in a law class is
to be understood to have already
graduated from general
education, anyone who is
engaged in the chanting of the
holy name of the Lord—Hare
Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa,
Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare
Räma, Räma Räma, Hare
Hare—must have already passed
all lower stages. SB 3.33.7

Just as one can appreciate the

real taste of milk with the
tongue and not with the eyes,
nostrils or ears, one can
similarly appreciate the Absolute
Truth perfectly and with all
relishable pleasure only through
one path, devotional service.
SB 3.32.33

I may dream that I am flying in

the sky or that I have gone into
the forest or some unknown
place. But as soon as I am
awake I forget all these bodies.
Similarly, when one is Kåñëa
conscious, fully devoted, he
forgets all his changes of body.
SB 3.33.26
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 11

Kåñëa is Supremely Forgiving

BHÄGAVATA
Uddhava says in SB 3.2.23 DARÇANA
aho baké yaà stana-käla-küöaà
Jewels of
jighäàsayäpäyayad apy asädhvé
lebhe gatià dhätry-ucitäà tato 'nyaà Vaiñëava Character
kaà vä dayäluà çaraëaà vrajema
JEWEL EIGHTEEN
Kåñëa granted the topmost destination of a
nurse to a demoness who had come to kill
FORGIVENESS
Part-2 : Forgiving Others
Him. This is the forgiveness exhibited by
the Lord.

Why should one Forgive Others?

1] Kåñëa is pleased and it is duty of saintly people to Forgive:
kñamayä rocate lakñmér
brähmé sauré yathä prabhä
kñamiëäm äçu bhagaväàs
tuñyate harir éçvaraù

The duty of a brähmaëa is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is

illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is
pleased with those who are forgiving. SB 9. 15.40

2] Revengeful Attitude spoils one’s Consciousness:

The material world is full of embarrassing and irritating situations, and
unless one is inclined to be very much forgiving he will become infected by
a vindictive mentality, which spoils one's spiritual consciousness. SB
11.3.24 P
3] Why to kill those who are already killed?
Lord Brahma says to Lord Siva begging pardon from him for the offense of
Daksa, “My dear lord, if in some places materialists, who are already
bewildered by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme
Godhead, sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion,
does no t take this seriously. Knowing that they commit offenses because
they are overpowered by the illusory energy, he does not show his prowess
to counteract them.” SB 4.6.48

4] Forgiveness is a Measure of one’s Advancement:

One who is both devoted and highly advanced in intelligence does not take
action against the soul or the body. If there is any discrepancy, he forgives.
It is said that forgiveness is a quality of those who are advancing in
spiritual knowledge. SB 4.20.3 P
 June 2023| Issue 72 | Page 12

NOMENCLATURE PUBLISHED BY
SB: Çrémad-Bhägavatam
Bhaktivedänta Vidyäpéöha, ISKCON
CC: Çré Caitanya-
caritämåta Govardhan Eco Village (GEV),
BG: Bhagavad-gétä Galtare, Hamrapur (P.O), Wada
BS: Brahma-saàhitä (Taluka), Palghar (District),
1.1.1: Canto 1, Chapter 1, Maharashtra, India, 421303.
Verse 1 The Çrémad-Bhägavatam images, verses
1.1.1 P: From Çréla and quotes from the books of His Divine
Prabhupäda’s purport to Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
SB 1.1.1 Prabhupäda are copyright of The
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Other
To subscribe, please visit
Bhakti
our websiteVaibhava
images are copyright of their respective
artists / photographers/ websites.
Online Course
www.vidyapitha.in.