Unit 22

Chapter 4 The Characteristics of Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

1. List some of the qualities of Åñabhadeva. (1-2,14)

He manifested symptoms of the Supreme Lord, such as marks on the bottoms of His
feet [the flag, thunderbolt, etc.]. This son was equal to everyone and very peaceful. He could
control His senses and His mind, and, possessing all opulence, He did not hanker for material
enjoyment. a well built body with all the symptoms of the Godhead, prowess, strength,
beauty, name, fame, influence and enthusiasm.Lord Åñabhadeva was fully independent
because His form was spiritual, eternal and full of transcendental bliss. He eternally had
nothing to do with the four principles of material misery [birth, death, old age and disease].
Nor was He materially attached. He taught the ignorant public how to perform duties within
the varëäçrama-dharma. He showed how people could remain householders and at the same
time become perfect by following the principles of varëäçrama-dharma.
2. Explain the meaning of the name Åñabha. (2)
His body was well structured, and He displayed all the transcendental qualities. He
showed great influence, and He could control His mind and senses. Consequently He was
named Åñabha, which indicates that He was the supreme living being.
3. Explain the role of yogamäyä in the dealings between Näbhi and Åñabhadeva. (4)
Due to getting a perfect son according to his desire, King Näbhi was always
overwhelmed with transcendental bliss and was very affectionate to his son. It was with
ecstasy and a faltering voice that he addressed Him,“My dear son, my darling.” This mentality
was brought about by yogamäyä, whereby he accepted the Supreme Lord, the supreme
father, as his own son. Out of His supreme good will, the Lord became his son and dealt with
everyone as if He were an ordinary human being. Thus King Näbhi began to raise his
transcendental son with great affection, and he was overwhelmed with transcendental bliss,
joy and devotion.
4. What was the qualification of the brähmaëas engaged as priests in the sacrificial ceremony
of King Näbhi? (7)
They were so powerful that they could bring forth the Supreme Personality of Godhead
by their prayers. Thus Mahäräja Näbhi was able to see the Lord face to face. Unless one is a
Vaiñëava, he cannot call forth the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
5. Why did Åñabhadeva take His education in the gurukula? (8)
He went there just to teach the people in general how to take an education from the
right source, from Vedic teachers.
6. Explain the significance of the names Bhärata-varña and puëya-bhümi. (9)
The inhabitants of this piece of land are very fortunate.They can purify their existence by
accepting this Kåñëa consciousness movement and go outside Bhärata-bhümi (India) and
preach this cult to benefit the whole world.
7. Explain the significance of Åñabhadevas 100 sons’ accepting different occupations.(13)
These are some practical examples of how one can become fit for a certain type of
activity by qualification, not by birth. All the sons of Mahäräja Åñabhadeva were kñatriyas by
birth, but by quality some of them became kñatriyas, and some became brähmaëas. Nine
became preachers of Çrémad-Bhägavatam (bhägavata-dharma-darçanäù), which means that
they were above the categories of kñatriya and brähmaëa.

8. Explain why a ritual should be performed by young men.(17)

From childhood, people should be trained in Vedic culture,especially in devotional service.
In this way, one can perfect one’s life

Chapter 5 Lord Åñabhadeva’s Teachings to His Sons

1. Compare the austerities of materialists and spiritualists. (1)

of all the living entities who have accepted materialbodies in this world, one who has
been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense
gratification, which is available even for dogs and for hogs that eat stool. One should engage in
penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one’s
heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is
transcendental to material happiness, and which continues forever.
2. Describe the qualities of mahätmäs. (2)
Seeks happiness in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
3. Name the two kinds of materialists. (2)
One is attached to women and sense gratification, and the other is simply a non-devotee.
4. Describe the way of life for a spiritually-minded householder.(3)
householder should lead such a life that he gets full opportunity to hear and chant. He
should worship the Deity at home, observe festivals, invite friends in and give them prasäda. A
householder should earn money for this purpose, not for sense gratification.
5. Why is the living entity put into the material condition? (4)
The living entity is not really connected with this material world, but due to his tendency to
enjoy the material senses he is put into the material condition.
6. Explain the term karmätmaka. (5)
If a person is engaged in any kind of karma, his mind is called karmätmaka, colored with
fruitive activity.
7. Explain hådaya-granthi and how it can be slackened. (8,9)
Sex serves as the natural attraction between man and woman, and when they are married,
their relationship becomes more involved. Due to the entangling relationship between man
and woman, there is a sense of illusion whereby one thinks,“This man is my husband,” or“This
woman is my wife.” This is called hṛdaya-granthi, “the hard knot in the heart.” When, by
associating with sādhus and engaging in devotional service, one is gradually freed from the
material conception due to knowledge, practice and detachment, the knot of attachment in
the heart is slackened. Thus one can get freed from conditional life and become eligible to
return home, back to Godhead.
8. Sex with one’s wife according to scriptural injunctions is considered what? (10-13)
Sex with one’s wife according to the scriptural injunctions is also accepted as brahmacarya
(celibacy), but illicit sex is opposed to religious principles, and it hampers advancement in
spiritual consciousness.
9. What is the sum and substance of verses 10-13?
You should detest sense gratification and tolerate the duality of pleasure and pain, which
are like the seasonal changes of summer and winter. Philosophically inquire about the truth.
Then undergo all kinds of austerities and penances for the sake of devotional service. Give up
the endeavor for sense enjoyment and engage in the service of the Lord. Listen to discussions
about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and always associate with devotees.Thus
practicing bhakti-yoga, you will patiently and enthusiastically be elevated in knowledge and
will be able to give up the false ego.
10. How does a living entity become desireless? (10-13)
One should perform activities only for the benefit of the soul; any other activity should be
given up. When a person is situated in this way, he is said to be desireless. Actually a living
entity cannot be totally desireless, but when he desires the benefit of the soul and nothing
else, he is said to be desireless.
11. Explain anena yogena yathopadeçam. (14)
he instructions received from the spiritual master must be followed immediately. One
should not deviate from or surpass the instructions of the spiritual master. One should not be
simply intent on consulting books but should simultaneously execute the spiritual masters
order (yathopadeśam).
12. What should one do if a disciple, son, or citizen is unable to follow his order? (15)
Without being angry, he should continue giving instructions, even if his disciple, son or
citizen is sometimes unable to follow his order.
13. Explain nañöa-dåñöiù. (16)
The word naṣṭa-dṛṣṭiḥ, meaning “one who has no eyes to see the future,”
14. Why is one supposed to give everything to the Lord? (18)
everything belongs to the Lord.
15. Give examples of great personalities who rejected their superiors. (18)
Śukrācārya was rejected by Bali Mahārāja due to his inability to save Bali Mahārāja from
the path of repeated birth and death. Similarly, the wives of the brāhmaṇas who were
performing sacrifices gave up their relatives just to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Prahlāda Mahārāja rejected
his father, and Bharata Mahārāja rejected his mother
16. Why is the spiritual world called absolute? (19)
There is only sevya, sevā and sevaka — the person served, the process of service and the
servant. These three items are completely spiritual, and therefore the spiritual world is called
absolute. There is no tinge of material contamination there. Being completely transcendental
to the material conception.
17. For whom are Lord Åñabhadeva’s instructions particularly meant? (28)
for sannyāsīs who intend to become advanced devotees. Sannyāsīs must abide by Lord
Ṛṣabhadeva’s instructions while on the path of devotional service.
18. Explain the meaning of the word avadhüta. (29)
one who does not care for social conventions, particularly the varṇāśrama-dharma.

Analogies
1. The human body is like a junction. One may either take the path of liberation or the
path leading to a hellish condition.
2. If one puts into the bondage of karmic activity his disciple, son, or citizen who is bereft
of transcendental vision, how will one profit? It is like leading a blind man to a dark well and
causing him to fall in.
3. If someone is ignorant and addicted to the path of saàsära, how can one who is
actually learned, merciful, and advanced in spiritual knowledge engage him in fruitive activity
and thus further entangle him in material existence? If a blind man is walking down the wrong
path, how can a gentleman allow him to continue on his way to danger?

Chapter 6 The Activities of Lord Åñabhadeva

1. Why did Lord Åñabhadeva refuse to manifest mystic perfections? (Intro, 2-6, 15)
An ordinary yogé is captivated by mystic powers and his progress checked; therefore a
perfect yogé does not welcome them. Because the mind is restless and undependable,it must
remain always under control. Even the mind of the advanced yogé Saubhari created such a
disturbance that he lost his yogic mystic powers. Due to a restless mind, even a very advanced
yogé can fall down. The mind is so restless that it induces even a perfect yogé to be controlled
by the senses.
2. What is the first business of one trying to advance in spiritual life? (3)
The first business of one trying to advance in spiritual life is to control the mind and senses.
3. What did Lord Åñabhadeva adopt the behavior of an avadhüta? (6)
He adopted this behavior just to teach yogés how to give up the body.
4. What effect did Lord Åñabhadeva’s presence have on animals burnt in the forest fire? (8)
Due to Lord Åñabhadeva’s presence, all the animals in the forest were also liberated from
material encagement
5. Describe the activities of King Arhat and his followers. (9-12)
Arhat, heard of the activities of Åñabhadeva and, imitating Åñabhadeva’s principles,
introduced a new system of religion. Taking advantage of Kali-yuga, the age of sinful activity,
King Arhat, being bewildered, gave up the Vedic principles, which are free from risk, and
concocted a new system of religion opposed to the Vedas. That was the beginning of the Jain
dharma. Many other so-called religions followed this atheistic system.People who are lowest
among men and bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord will give up the
original varëäçrama-dharma and its rules and regulations. They will abandon bathing three
times daily and worshiping the Lord. Abandoning cleanliness and neglecting the Supreme Lord,
they will accept nonsensical principles. Not regularly bathing or washing their mouths
regularly, they will always remain unclean, and they will pluck out their hair. Following a
concocted religion, they will flourish. During this Age of Kali, people are more inclined to
irreligious systems. Consequently these people will naturally deride Vedic authority, the
followers of Vedic authority, the brähmaëas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the
devotees.
6. Where does the hippie philosophy originate from? (10)
they all originated from King Arhat, who imitated the activities of Lord Åñabhadeva, who
was situated on the paramahaàsa stage.
7. Why are the people of Bhärata-varña so glorious? (13)
The followers of Vedic literature understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His
different incarnations, and they are privileged to glorify the Lord by following the directions of
Vedic literature. After realizing the glories of human life, such people should take up the
mission to spread the importance of human life throughout the whole world.
8. In which dynasties did Kåñëa, Rämacandra, and Åñabhadeva appear? (14)
Lord Kåñëa appeared in the Yadu dynasty, and Lord Rämacandra appeared in the Ikñväku,
or Raghu, dynasty. Similarly, Lord Åñabhadeva appeared in the dynasty of King Priyavrata. All
these dynasties are very famous, and of them the dynasty of Priyavrata is most famous.
9. For a devotee why is mukti not a very great achievement? (17)
having attained the Lord’s transcendental loving service,they have attained everything
desirable and have transcended all material desires.
10. What does the Lord not very easily give? (18)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always inclined toward His pure devotees, and by
His action it is clear that liberation is not very important for the devotees. Lord Kåñëa easily
gives one liberation, but He does not so easily give one the facility to become a devotee.
Muktià dadäti karhicit sma na bhakti-yogam. Directly or indirectly, it is proved that bhakti-yoga
is the basis for the supreme relationship with the Supreme Lord. It is far superior to liberation.
For a pure devotee of the Lord, mukti is automatically attained.
11. What general principle does Çréla Prabhupäda draw from Lord Kåñëa’s being more
inclined to the Kuru dynasty than the Yadu dynasty? (18)
The Kuru dynasty may be considered more glorious due to the presence of devotees like
the five Päëòavas, who rendered unalloyed devotional service. Although Lord Kåñëa did not
appear in the Kuru dynasty. He was so obligated to the Päëòavas’ devotional service that He
acted as a maintainer of the family and spiritual master of the Päëòavas. Although He took
birth in the Yadu dynasty, Lord Kåñëa was more affectionate to the Päëòavas. By His actions,
Lord Kåñëa proved that He was more inclined to the Kuru dynasty than the Yadu dynasty.
Indeed, Lord Kåñëa, indebted to the Päëòavas’devotional service, sometimes acted as their
messenger, and He guided them through many dangerous situations..

Analogies
1. After capturing animals, a cunning hunter does not put faith in them, for they
might run away. Similarly, those who are advanced in spiritual life do not put faith in the mind.
Indeed, they always remain vigilant and watch the mind’s action.
2. An unchaste woman is very easily carried away by paramours, and it sometimes
happens that her husband is violently killed by her paramours. If the yogé gives his mind a
chance and does not restrain it, his mind will give facility to enemies like lust, anger, and
greed, and they will doubtlessly kill the yogé.