TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI
Chapter 22:

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.39
neyaṁ śobhiṣyate tatra
yathedānīṁ gadādhara
tvat-padair aṅkitā bhāti
sva-lakṣaṇa-vilakṣitaiḥ

na — not; iyam — this land of our kingdom; śobhiṣyate — will appear beautiful; tatra — then; yathā — as it is now; idānīm — now; gadādhara — O Kṛṣṇa; tvat — Your; padaiḥ — by the feet; aṅkitā — marked; bhāti — is dazzling; sva-lakṣaṇa — Your own marks; vilakṣitaiḥ — by the impressions.

Translation

O Gadādhara [Kṛṣṇa], our kingdom is now being marked by the impressions of Your feet, and therefore it appears beautiful. But when You leave, it will no longer be so.

JOURNAL:

There is a lot spoken of in this chapter. I have chosen these four quotes from Srila Prabhupada. He opens the chapter thus;

There are certain particular marks on the feet of the Lord which distinguish the Lord from others. The marks of a flag, thunderbolt, and instrument to drive an elephant, and also an umbrella, lotus, disc, etc., are on the bottom of the Lord's feet. These marks are impressed upon the soft dust of the land where the Lord traverses. The land of Hastinapura was thus marked while Lord Sri Krsna was there with the Pandavas, and the kingdom of the Pandavas thus flourished by such auspicious signs. 

It is not that this applied only when Krsna was present and Kunti was speaking. Rather, the truth is always the same. Despite the advancement of our civilization, if we cannot bring Krsna and Krsna consciousness into the center of everything, our civilization will never become beautiful.

He then closes the chapter with this reminder;

"O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man." (Bg. 7.8) Why then do people say, "I have not seen God"? Why don't they see God as God directs them to see Him? Why do they manufacture their own way? One cannot see God by one's own way.

If I want to see the President of the United States, can I see him in my own way? If not, then how can I expect to see God in my own way?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 30
sadhibhutadhidaivam mam
sadhiyajnam ca ye viduh
prayana-kale 'pi ca mam
te vidur yukta-cetasah

sa-adhibhuta--and the governing principle of the material manifestation; adhidaivam--governing all the demigods; mam--Me; sa-adhiyajnam--and governing all sacrifices; ca--also; ye--those who; viduh--know; prayana--of death; kale--at the time; api--even; ca--and; mam--Me; te--they; viduh--know; yukta-cetasah--their minds engaged in Me.

TRANSLATION

Those in full consciousness of Me, who know Me, the Supreme Lord, to be the governing principle of the material manifestation, of the demigods, and of all methods of sacrifice, can understand and know Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even at the time of death.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada ends his purport to this last sloka of chapter seven by saying; This determined faith is called drdha-vrata, and it is the beginning of bhakti-yoga, or transcendental loving service. That is the verdict of all scriptures. This Seventh Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita is the substance of that conviction.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 29
jara-marana-moksaya
mam asritya yatanti ye
te brahma tad viduh krtsnam
adhyatmam karma cakhilam

jara--from old age; marana--and death; moksaya--for the purpose of liberation; mam--Me; asritya--taking shelter of; yatanti--endeavor; ye--all those who; te--such persons; brahma--Brahman; tat--actually that; viduh--they know; krtsnam--everything; adhyatmam--transcendental; karma--activities; ca--also; akhilam--entirely.

TRANSLATION

Intelligent persons who are endeavoring for liberation from old age and death take refuge in Me in devotional service. They are actually Brahman because they entirely know everything about transcendental activities.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada states in his purport; Only persons who perform activities in Krsna consciousness (mam asritya) are actually entitled to be called Brahman, because they are actually endeavoring to reach the Krsna planet. Such persons have no misgivings about Krsna, and thus they are factually Brahman.

New Audio of Srila Prabhupada from 1977

Today the Bhaktivedanta Archives released many new MP3 files of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivendanta Srila Prabhupada from 1977. Their plan is to continue releasing audio of him while working backward (next will be 1976, then 1975, etc.) until all audio files have been released. To hear these new files, which include two new lectures on Bhagavad Gita 7.1, click on the link below:

http://www.prabhupadavani.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=660:oat-table-1&catid=79:original-audio-transcriptions&Itemid=173

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 28
yesam tv anta-gatam papam
jananam punya-karmanam
te dvandva-moha-nirmukta
bhajante mam drdha-vratah

yesam--whose; tu--but; anta-gatam--completely eradicated; papam--sin; jananam--of the persons; punya--pious; karmanam--whose previous activities; te--they; dvandva--of duality; moha--delusion; nirmuktah--free from; bhajante--engage in devotional service; mam--to Me; drdha-vratah--with determination.

TRANSLATION

Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with determination.

JOURNAL:

Today I picked up Bal Gopal's cows and the picture of Lord Chaitanya and His associates. After performing ariti I could swear that He smiled at me.

It was a long journey down to the UPS station to pick up the package and on the way I did four round of japa. Japa on mass transit never feels like it is very good but better to chant than not. I wonder if I will ever chant loudly in these situations? Sometimes I think I should. I once heard a question put to Srila Prabhupada about this and he said that one should at least chant loud enough to feel the vibration of the mantra so this is my rule of thumb.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 27
iccha-dvesa-samutthena
dvandva-mohena bharata
sarva-bhutani sammoham
sarge yanti parantapa

iccha--desire; dvesa--and hate; samutthena--arisen from; dvandva--of duality; mohena--by the illusion; bharata--O scion of Bharata; sarva--all; bhutani--living entities; sammoham--into delusion; sarge--while taking birth; yanti--go; parantapa--O conqueror of enemies.

TRANSLATION

O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.

JOURNAL:

I find this sloka interesting because, in my own life, if my desires are not met than I become hateful. Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Such deluded persons, symptomatically, dwell in dualities of dishonor and honor, misery and happiness, woman and man, good and bad, pleasure and pain, etc., thinking, "This is my wife; this is my house; I am the master of this house; I am the husband of this wife." These are the dualities of delusion.

I know that everything belongs to the Lord and yet I still try to control my little corner or the universe. Letting go is hard. Giving back to God what is His is even harder. Still, there are times when I relax and everything falls into place. Usually humility is the key to a better attitude, and life, for me.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 26
vedaham samatitani
vartamanani carjuna
bhavisyani ca bhutani
mam tu veda na kascana

veda--know; aham--I; samatitani--completely past; vartamanani--present; ca--and; arjuna--O Arjuna; bhavisyani--future; ca--also; bhutani--all living entities; mam--Me; tu--but; veda--knows; na--not; kascana--anyone.

TRANSLATION

O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows.

JOURNAL:

Before the move I ordered my little Gopal some cows to play with along with a picture of Lord Chanitanya for my alter. They are scheduled to show up at my old address tomorrow but no one lives there any more. I talked to UPS and they told me that I had to wait until the first attempt to deliver them had failed. It looks like two more days before I will receive them. I am still waiting for my wife to make His pillow also.

I had so hoped that everything would be in place for Gopal when we got here to our new home. Oh well, Krishna is in control and I can not do more than I can do.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 25
naham prakasah sarvasya
yoga-maya-samavrtah
mudho 'yam nabhijanati
loko mam ajam avyayam

na--nor; aham--I; prakasah--manifest; sarvasya--to everyone; yoga-maya--by internal potency; samavrtah--covered; mudhah--foolish; ayam--these; na--not; abhijanati--can understand; lokah--persons; mam--Me; ajam--unborn; avyayam--inexhaustible.

TRANSLATION

I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; It may be argued that since Krsna was present on this earth and was visible to everyone, then why isn't He manifest to everyone now? But actually He was not manifest to everyone. When Krsna was present there were only a few people who could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The difference between the images of Krishna and those of Lord Jesus is extreme. One is God laughing and dancing with His friends and devotees and the other is a serious looking man whose is almost always suffering. Outside of a few pictures of Jesus with children you almost never see Him portrayed as smiling.

My guess is that people prefer an image of God suffering because they are suffering. The devotees live lives that are much more austere and yet they are happier and more committed to their values than most (but not all) of the Christians I know.

Even though there is only one God it seems to me that you are what you worship.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 24
avyaktam vyaktim apannam
manyante mam abuddhayah
param bhavam ajananto
mamavyayam anuttamam

avyaktam--nonmanifested; vyaktim--personality; apannam--achieved; manyante--think; mam--Me; abuddhayah--less intelligent persons; param--supreme; bhavam--existence; ajanantah--without knowing; mama--My; avyayam--imperishable; anuttamam--the finest.

TRANSLATION

Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 23
antavat tu phalam tesam
tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam
devan deva-yajo yanti
mad-bhakta yanti mam api

anta-vat--perishable; tu--but; phalam--fruit; tesam--their; tat--that; bhavati--becomes; alpa-medhasam--of those of small intelligence; devan--to the demigods; deva-yajah--the worshipers of the demigods; yanti--go; mat--My; bhaktah--devotees; yanti--go; mam--to Me; api--also.

TRANSLATION

Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 22
sa taya sraddhaya yuktas
tasyaradhanam ihate
labhate ca tatah kaman
mayaiva vihitan hi tan

sah--he; taya--with that; sraddhaya--inspiration; yuktah--endowed; tasya--of that demigod; aradhanam--for the worship; ihate--he aspires; labhate--obtains; ca--and; tatah--from that; kaman--his desires; maya--by Me; eva--alone; vihitan--arranged; hi--certainly; tan--those.

TRANSLATION

Endowed with such a faith, he endeavors to worship a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone.

JOURNAL:

At the end of his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; For the living entity who desires to return to Godhead, material desires are impediments. A pure devotee of the Lord is therefore not awarded the material benefits desired by less intelligent living entities, who therefore prefer to worship demigods of the material world rather than engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord.

When I was young I was baptised as a Methodist. As I got older and entered high school I became a "Born Again Christian". At that time I also started reading Srila Prabhupada's translation of Bhagavad Gita. After my son was born in 1994 I became a Catholic. All this time (35 years) I have been chanting a few rounds each day and keeping a silent love affair between myself and Sri Krishna slowly growing.

A couple of year before I even thought of being a Catholic, or having a wife and son, I used to sit in a garden that had a stature (murti?) of Saint Joseph holding the child Jesus in his arms. I would sit in front of that murti and pray to have a son. I also started wearing his medal at that time.

When Srila Prabhupada talks about demi-gods I think Saints.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 21
yo yo yam yam tanum bhaktah
sraddhayarcitum icchati
tasya tasyacalam sraddham
tam eva vidadhamy aham

yah yah--whoever; yam yam--whichever; tanum--form of a demigod; bhaktah--devotee; sraddhaya--with faith; arcitum--to worship; icchati--desires; tasya tasya--to him; acalam--steady; sraddham--faith; tam--that; eva--surely; vidadhami--give; aham--I.

TRANSLATION

I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship some demigod, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to that particular deity.

JOURNAL:

Srila prabhupada answers the question of free will in this purport when he writes; Some may ask why the all-powerful God gives facilities to the living entities for enjoying this material world and so lets them fall into the trap of the illusory energy. The answer is that if the Supreme Lord as Supersoul does not give such facilities, then there is no meaning to independence. Therefore He gives everyone full independence--whatever one likes--but His ultimate instruction we find in the Bhagavad-gita: one should give up all other engagements and fully surrender unto Him. That will make man happy.

The move to our new home begins today. I expect it to be a rough week. Everyone (including my son) has to work so a lot of it will be done after we get home. I just hope I can keep up on everything.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 20
kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah
prapadyante 'nya-devatah
tam tam niyamam asthaya
prakrtya niyatah svaya

kamaih--by desires; taih taih--various; hrta--deprived of; jnanah--knowledge; prapadyante--surrender; anya--to other; devatah--demigods; tam tam--corresponding; niyamam--regulations; asthaya--following; prakrtya--by nature; niyatah--controlled; svaya--by their own.

TRANSLATION

Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.

JOURNAL:

His Holiness Radhanath Swami is coming to Portland this weekend on a book tour. I love listening to his talks (see the Audio Offerings section) and am hoping to meet him. It will be a busy weekend for me because we are moving. Still, I need to make the time!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 19
bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma su-durlabhah

bahunam--many; janmanam--repeated births and deaths; ante--after; jnana-van--one who is in full knowledge; mam--unto Me; prapadyate-- surrenders; vasudevah--the Personality of Godhead, Krsna; sarvam--everything; iti--thus; sah--that; maha-atma--great soul; su-durlabhah- -very rare to see.

TRANSLATION

After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.

JOURNAL:

I moved in Laddu Gopal before His alter was finished. The main section was done but I quickly realized that Gopal wants some cows to play with. These I cannot order until tomorrow. Also my wife is going to sew Him a little pillow to sit on. It is nice to see her doing this important service.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 18
udarah sarva evaite
jnani tv atmaiva me matam
asthitah sa hi yuktatma
mam evanuttamam gatim

udarah--magnanimous ; sarve--all; eva--certainly; ete--these; jnani--one who is in knowledge; tu--but; atma eva- just like Myself; me--My; matam--opinion; asthitah--situated; sah--he; hi--certainly; yukta-atma-- engaged in devotional service; mam--in Me; eva--certainly; anuttamam--the highest; gatim--destination.

TRANSLATION

All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to be just like My own self. Being engaged in My transcendental service, he is sure to attain Me, the highest and most perfect goal.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; It is not that devotees who are less complete in knowledge are not dear to the Lord. The Lord says that all are magnanimous because anyone who comes to the Lord for any purpose is called a mahatma, or great soul.

I am as guilty as the next man for asking Krishna to give me this or that. I try to keep my requests unselfish but when a crisis comes I always find myself on my knees begging. It is good to be reassured by the above sloka that the Lord loves me no matter what state I may be in.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 17
tesam jnani nitya-yukta
eka-bhaktir visisyate
priyo hi jnanino 'tyartham
aham sa ca mama priyah

tesam--out of them; jnani--one in full knowledge; nitya-yuktah- -always engaged; eka--only; bhaktih--in devotional service; visisyate--is special; priyah--very dear; hi--certainly; jnaninah--to the person in knowledge; atyartham--highly; aham--I am; sah--he; ca--also; mama--to Me; priyah--dear.

TRANSLATION

Of these, the one who is in full knowledge and who is always engaged in pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.

JOURNAL:

For years I have read different scriptures and attended different churches looking for God. the above sloka mentions that it is not enough to simply gain knowledge. One has to render devotional service also. Now I study this short scripture and chant the holy names - Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare - and I find I am infinitely more satisfied than I ever was before.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 16
catur-vidha bhajante mam
janah sukrtino 'rjuna
arto jijnasur artharthi
jnani ca bharatarsabha

catuh-vidhah- -four kinds of; bhajante--render services; mam--unto Me; janah--persons; su-krtinah-- those who are pious; arjuna--O Arjuna; artah--the distressed; jijnasuh--the inquisitive; artha-arthi- -one who desires material gain; jnani--one who knows things as they are; ca--also; bharata-rsabha- -O great one amongst the descendants of Bharata.

TRANSLATION

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

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; These persons come to the Supreme Lord for devotional service under different conditions. These are not pure devotees, because they have some aspiration to fulfill in exchange for devotional service. Pure devotional service is without aspiration and without desire for material profit. The Bhakti-rasamrta- sindhu (1.1.11) defines pure devotion thus:

anyabhilasita- sunyam
jnana-karmady- anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama

"One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service."

When we come to the Lord with a problem we, in essence, ask Him to do our will. Although I think it is good to come to God no matter what the reason we have to understand that from our limited point of view we may not know what is truly good for us. I can not be disappointed if Krishna does not fulfill my order.

This is one of the reasons I prefer to see Krishna as Laddu Gopal. If He is my child I want to fulfill His wish. When I see Him as my father I want Him to fulfill mine.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 15
na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta- jnana
asuram bhavam asritah

na--not; mam--unto Me; duskrtinah-- miscreants; mudhah--foolish; prapadyante- -surrender; nara-adhamah- -lowest among mankind; mayaya--by the illusory energy; apahrta--stolen; jnanah--whose knowledge; asuram--demonic; bhavam--nature; asritah--accepting.

TRANSLATION

Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me.

JOURNAL:

My new job is taking up a lot of my time (working six days a week) and I'm falling behind on this blog. Still, I'm happy to have the work and I'm sure my life will smooth out soon. A regulated life is so important.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 14
daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te

daivi--transcendent al; hi--certainly; esa--this; guna-mayi--consisti ng of the three modes of material nature; mama--My; maya--energy; duratyaya--very difficult to overcome; mam--unto Me; eva--certainly; ye--those who; prapadyante- -surrender; mayam etam--this illusory energy; taranti--overcome; te--they.

TRANSLATION

This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Another meaning of guna is rope; it is to be understood that the conditioned soul is tightly tied by the ropes of illusion. A man bound by the hands and feet cannot free himself--he must be helped by a person who is unbound. Because the bound cannot help the bound, the rescuer must be liberated. Therefore, only Lord Krsna, or His bona fide representative the spiritual master, can release the conditioned soul.

In Srila Prabhupada's lecture (9-8-1969 in Hamburg Germany) on this sloka he mentions how many problems we create by trying to solve the problems of our lives. We even makes bombs in an attempt to create peace. He points out that here is the real problem; overcoming our material nature.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 7 Text 13
tribhir guna-mayair bhavair
ebhih sarvam idam jagat
mohitam nabhijanati
mam ebhyah param avyayam

tribhih--three; guna-mayaih- -consisting of the gunas; bhavaih--by the states of being; ebhih--all these; sarvam--whole; idam--this; jagat--universe; mohitam--deluded; na abhijanati-- does not know; mam--Me; ebhyah--above these; param--the Supreme; avyayam--inexhausti ble.

TRANSLATION

Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible.

JOURNAL:

People like to say God is love as if that is all He is. Some Christians talk as if Jesus and the Satan are some how equal yet opposite. Here we read that God is beyond of our conceptions.

I want Krishna to be conceivable but He would not be God if He was. It is near impossible to know Him as Brahman or Paramatma so He has kindly shown Himself to us in His deity form. This is the form we can comprehend and come to know and love.