SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 20
iti guhyatamam sastram
idam uktam mayanagha
etad buddhva buddhimnan syat
krta-krtyas ca bharata

iti--thus; guhya-tamam--the most confidential; sastram--revealed scripture; idam--this; uktam--disclosed; maya--by Me; anagha--O sinless one; etat--this; buddhva--understanding; buddhi-man--intelligent; syat--one becomes; krta-krtyah--the most perfect in his endeavors; ca--and; bharata--O son of Bharata.

TRANSLATION

This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 19
yo mam evam asammudho
janati purusottamam
sa sarva-vid bhajati mam
sarva-bhavena bharata

yah--anyone who; mam--Me; evam--thus; asammudhah--without a doubt; janati--knows; purusa-uttamam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sah--he; sarva-vit--the knower of everything; bhajati--renders devotional service; mam--unto Me; sarva-bhavena--in all respects; bharata--O son of Bharata.

TRANSLATION

Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son of Bharata.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 18
yasmat ksaram atito 'ham
aksarad api cottamah
ato 'mi loke vede ca
prathitah purusottamah

yasmat--because; ksaram--to the fallible; atitah--transcendental; aham--I am; aksarat--beyond the infallible; api--also; ca--and; uttamah--the best; atah--therefore; asmi--I am; loke--in the world; vede--in the Vedic literature; ca--and; prathitah--celebrated; purusa-uttamah--as the Supreme Personality.

TRANSLATION

Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in the Vedas as that Supreme Person.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 16-17
dvav imau purusau loke
ksaras caksara eva ca
ksarah sarvani bhutani
kuta-stho 'ksara ucyate

uttamah purusas tv anyah
paramatmety udahrtah
yo loka-trayam avisya
bibharty avyaya isvarah

dvau--two; imau--these; purusau--living entities; loke--in the world; ksarah--fallible; ca--and; aksarah--infallible; eva--certainly; ca--and; ksarah--fallible; sarvani--all; bhutani--living entities; kuta-sthah--in oneness; aksarah--infallible; ucyate--is said.
uttamah--the best; purusah--personality; tu--but; anyah--another; parama--the supreme; atma--self; iti--thus; udahrtah--is said; yah--who; loka--of the universe; trayam--the three divisions; avisya--entering; bibharti--is maintaining; avyayah--inexhaustible; isvarah--the Lord.

TRANSLATION

There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every living entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every living entity is called infallible. Besides these two, there is the greatest living personality, the Supreme Soul, the imperishable Lord Himself, who has entered the three worlds and is maintaining them.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to Sloka 17; The purport is that amongst all the living entities, both conditioned and liberated, there is one supreme living personality, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who maintains them and gives them all the facility of enjoyment according to different work. That Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone's heart as Paramatma. A wise man who can understand Him is eligible to be in perfect peace, not others.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 15
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtirjnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham

sarvasya--of all living beings; ca--and; aham--I; hrdi--in the heart; sannivistah--situated; mattah--from Me; smrtih--remembrance; jnanam--knowledge; apohanam--forgetfulness; ca--and; vedaih--by the Vedas; ca--also; sarvaih--all; aham--I am; eva--certainly; vedyah--knowable; vedanta-krt--the compiler of the Vedanta; veda-vit--the knower of the Vedas; eva--certainly; ca--and; aham--I.

TRANSLATION

I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 14
aham vaisvanaro bhutva
praninam deham asritah
pranapana-samayuktah
pacamy annam catur-vidham

aham--I; vaisvanarah--My plenary portion as the digesting fire; bhutva--becoming; praninam--of all living entities; deham--in the bodies; asritah--situated; prana--the outgoing air; apana--the down-going air; samayuktah--keeping in balance; pacami--I digest; annam--foodstuff; catuh-vidham--the four kinds.

TRANSLATION

I am the fire of digestion in the bodies of all living entities, and I join with the air of life, outgoing and incoming, to digest the four kinds of foodstuff.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport; There are four kinds of foodstuff--some are swallowed, some are chewed, some are licked up, and some are sucked--and He is the digestive force for all of them.

I have also found that watching my breath while saying my japa is helpful in concentrating on the holy names. I breathing in at a moderate speed and say one mantra as carefully as possible with my outgoing breath. I do not do this always but there are occasions when I am so distracted that it helps to say the first round in this manner.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 13
gam avisya ca bhutani
dharayamy aham ojasa
pusnami causadhih sarvah
somo bhutva rasatmakah

gam--the planets; avisya--entering; ca--also; bhutani--the living entities; dharayami--sustain; aham--I; ojasa--by My energy; pusnami--am nourishing; ca--and; ausadhih--vegetables; sarvah--all; somah--the moon; bhutva--becoming; rasa-atmakah--supplying the juice.

TRANSLATION

I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 12
yad aditya-gatam tejo
jagad bhasayate 'khilam
yac candramasi yac cagnau
tat tejo viddhi mamakam

yat--that which; aditya-gatam--in the sunshine; tejah--splendor; jagat--the whole world; bhasayate--illuminates; akhilam--entirely; yat--that which; candramasi--in the moon; yat--that which; ca--also; agnau--in fire; tat--that; tejah--splendor; viddhi--understand; mamakam--from Me.

TRANSLATION

The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada equates fire with electricity; Everyone sees the sun, moon, fire and electricity. One should simply try to understand that the splendor of the sun, the splendor of the moon, and the splendor of electricity or fire are coming from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In such a conception of life, the beginning of Krsna consciousness, lies a great deal of advancement for the conditioned soul in this material world.

Srila Prabhupada has brought this ancient wisdom into our modern world, showing us how it relates to us, today. All through his "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" he shows us starting points for our advancement. All glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 11
yatanto yoginas cainam
pasyanty atmany avasthitam
yatanto 'py akrtatmano
nainam pasyanty acetasah

yatantah--endeavoring; yoginah--transcendentalists; ca--also; enam--this; pasyanti--can see; atmani--in the self; avasthitam--situated; yatantah--endeavoring; api--although; akrta-atmanah--those without self-realization; na--do not; enam--this; pasyanti--see; acetasah--having undeveloped minds.

TRANSLATION

The endeavoring transcendentalists, who are situated in self-realization, can see all this clearly. But those whose minds are not developed and who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try to.

JOURNAL:

In Srila Prabhupada's purport he states; The word yoginah is significant in this connection. In the present day there are many so-called yogis, and there are many so-called associations of yogis, but they are actually blind in the matter of self-realization. They are simply addicted to some sort of gymnastic exercise and are satisfied if the body is well built and healthy. They have no other information.

What little self-realization I have been able to gather for myself has come from chanting and listening to the names of God. Early in my life it was repeating Christian prayer. Now it is chanting the maha-mantra; Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Both have worked well for me.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 10
utkramantam sthitam vapi
bhunjanam va gunanvitam
vimudha nanupasyanti
pasyantijnana-caksusah

utkramantam--quitting the body; sthitam--situated in the body; va api--either; bhunjanam--enjoying; va--or; guna-anvitam--under the spell of the modes of material nature; vimnudhah--foolish persons; na--never; anupasyanti--can see; pasyanti--can see; jnana-caksusah--those who have the eyes of knowledge.

TRANSLATION

The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this.

JOURNAL:

How the modes of material nature effect the body and our enjoyment was discussed in the the last chapter of the Gita.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 9
srotram caksuh sparsanam ca
rasanam ghranam eva ca
adhisthaya manas cayam
visayan upasevate

srotram--ears; caksuh--eyes; sparsanam--touch; ca--also; rasanam--tongue; ghranam--smelling power; eva--also; ca--and; adhisthaya--being situated in; manah--mind; ca--also; ayam--he; visayan--sense objects; upasevate--enjoys.

TRANSLATION

The living entity, thus taking another gross body, obtains a certain type of ear, eye, tongue, nose and sense of touch, which are grouped about the mind. He thus enjoys a particular set of sense objects.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 8
sariram yad avapnoti
yac capy utkramatisvarah
grh itvaitani sam yati
vayur gandhan ivasayat

sariram--the body; yat--as; avapnoti--gets; yat--as; ca api--also; utkramati--gives up; isvarah--the lord of the body; grhitva--taking; etani--all these; samyati--goes away; vayuh--the air; gandhan--smells; iva--like; asayat--from their source.

TRANSLATION

The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada ends his purport with this statement; It is stated here that the subtle body, which carries the conception of the next body, develops another body in the next life. This process of transmigrating from one body to another and struggling while in the body is called karsati, or struggle for existence.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 7
mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah-sasthanindriyani
prakrti sthani karsati

mama--My; eva--certainly; amsah--fragmental particle; jiva-loke--in the world of conditional life; jiva-bhutah--the conditioned living entity; sanatanah--eternal; manah--with the mind; sasthani--the six; indriyani--senses; prakrti--in material nature; sthani--situated; karsati--is struggling hard.

TRANSLATION

The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.

JOURNAL:

Srial Prabhupada writes in his purport; In this verse the identity of the living being is clearly given. The living entity is the fragmental part and parcel of the Supreme Lord--eternally. It is not that he assumes individuality in his conditional life and in his liberated state becomes one with the Supreme Lord. He is eternally fragmented. After this life we are still who we are. Death does not bring an end to our identity.

He also points out; As fragmental parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, the living entities also have fragmental portions of His qualities, of which independence is one. Every living entity, as an individual soul, has his personal individuality and a minute form of independence. So we should use our freedom to serve him. We should also use these "qualities" of His nature to better our world. I have found that by paying just a little attention to my brother I seem to know how I can help him, or, if you prefer, how to serve Krishna in him.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 6
na tad bhasayate suryo
na sasanko na pavakah
yad gatva na nivartante
tad dhama paramam mama

na--not; tat--that; bhasayate--illuminates; suryah--the sun; na--nor; sasankah--the moon; na--nor; pavakah--fire, electricity; yat--where; gatva--going; na--never; nivartante--they come back; tat dhama--that abode; paramam--supreme; mama--My.

TRANSLATION

That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 5
nirmana-mohajita-sanga-dosa
adhyatma-nitya vinivrtta-kamah
dvandvair vimuktah sukha-duhkha-samjnair
gacchanty amudhah padam avyayam tat

nih--without; mana--false prestige; mohah--and illusion; jita--having conquered; sanga--of association; dosah--the faults; adhyatma--in spiritual knowledge; nityah--in eternity; vinivrtta--disassociated; kamah--from lust; dvandvaih--from the dualities; vimuktah--liberated; sukha-duhkha--happiness and distress; samjnaih--named; gacchanti--attain; amudhah--unbewildered; padam--situation; avyayam--eternal; tat--that.

TRANSLATION

Those who are free from false prestige, illusion and false association, who understand the eternal, who are done with material lust, who are freed from the dualities of happiness and distress, and who, unbewildered, know how to surrender unto the Supreme Person attain to that eternal kingdom.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 3-4
na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nanto na cadir na ca sampratistha
asvattham enam su-virudha-mulam
asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva

tatah padam tat parimargitavyam
yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah
tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye
yatah pravrttih prasrta purani

na--not; rupam--the form; asya--of this tree; iha--in this world; tatha--also; upalabhyate--can be perceived; na--never; antah--end; na--never; ca--also; adih--beginning; na--never; ca--also; sampratistha--the foundation; asvattham--banyan tree; enam--this; su-virudha--strongly; mulam--rooted; asanga-sastrena--by the weapon of detachment; drdhena--strong; chittva--cutting; tatah--thereafter; padam--situation; tat--that; parimargitavyam--has to be searched out; yasmin--where; gatah--going; na--never; nivartanti--they come back; bhuyah--again; tam--to Him; eva--certainly; ca--also; adyam--original; purusam--the Personality of Godhead; prapadye--surrender; yatah--from whom; pravrttih--the beginning; prasrta--extended; purani--very old.

TRANSLATION

The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree with the weapon of detachment. Thereafter, one must seek that place from which, having gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything began and from whom everything has extended since time immemorial.

JOURNAL:

When I first read this verse I wondered what was meant by "that place from which, having gone, one never returns". Srila Prabhupada explains this in his purport thus; The word asanga is very important in this connection because the attachment for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature is very strong. Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the first thing one must do is surrender to Him. The description of that place whence having gone one never returns to this false reflected tree is given here.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 2
adhas cordhvam prasrtas tasya sakha
guna-pravrddha visaya-pravalah
adhas ca mulany anusantatani
karmanubandhini manusya-loke

adhah--downward; ca--and; urdhvam--upward; prasrtah--extended; tasya--its; sakhah--branches; guna--by the modes of material nature; pravrddhah--developed; visaya--sense objects; pravalah--twigs; adhah--downward; ca--and; mulani--roots; anusantatani--extended; karma--to work; anubandhini--bound; manusya-loke--in the world of human society.

TRANSLATION

The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the three modes of material nature. The twigs are the objects of the senses. This tree also has roots going down, and these are bound to the fruitive actions of human society.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from Krishna.com):

The Banyan Tree of the Material World
by Baradraja Dasa, Muralidhara Dasa, Jadurani Dasi

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 15 Text 1
sri-bhagavan uvaca
urdhva-mulam adhah-sakham
asvattham prahur avyayam
chandamsi yasya parnani
yas tam veda sa veda-vit

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; urdhva-mulam--with roots above; adhah--downwards; sakham--branches; asvattham--a banyan tree; prahuh--is said; avyayam--eternal; chandamsi--the Vedic hymns; yasya--of which; parnani--the leaves; yah--anyone who; tam--that; veda--knows; sah--he; veda-vit--the knower of the Vedas.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is said that there is an imperishable banyan tree that has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

JOURNAL:

Last night I met up with the devotees at a street fair in NE Portland for an hour or so of sankirtan. The fair itself was a wild affair with all sorts of counter-culture folks selling all sorts of stuff. There were musicians on every corner, topless women wearing body paint, and maya everywhere. In my youth these were rare things to see and one had to go to a Grateful Dead show to experience them. Now days that culture has become common place.

The devotees were at the beginning of the thirty block area and caught much of the crowd as it came into the fair. I am always amazed at how happy people are to see us. ISKCON may have had a bad reputation in the past but it seems those days are over.

I was asked to play kartales and I performed this service happily, freeing the devotees to go into the street and talk to the people, many being induced to dance for the Lord. I look forward to the next time I can associate with Krishna and His followers in this joyful way.

All glories to Sri Krishna Caitanya's sankirtan movement!