SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 1
sri-bhagavan uvaca
idam tu te guhyatamam
pravaksyamy anasuyave
jnanam vijnana-sahitam
yajjnatva moksyase 'subhat

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; idam--this; tu--but; te--unto you; guhya-tamam--the most confidential; pravaksyami--I am speaking; anasuyave--to the nonenvious; jnanam--knowledge; vijnana--realized knowledge; sahitam--with; yat--which; jnatva--knowing; moksyase--you will be released; asubhat--from this miserable material existence.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most confidential knowledge and realization, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.

JOURNAL:

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada describes the actions of a devotee thus; Now this first verse has specific significance. The words idam jnanam ("this knowledge") refer to pure devotional service, which consists of nine different activities: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, praying, obeying, maintaining friendship and surrendering everything. By the practice of these nine elements of devotional service one is elevated to spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness. When one's heart is thus cleared of material contamination, one can understand this science of Krsna. Simply to understand that a living entity is not material is not sufficient. That may be the beginning of spiritual realization, but one should recognize the difference between activities of the body and the spiritual activities of one who understands that he is not the body.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 2
bhavapyayau hi bhutanam
srutau vistaraso maya
tvattah kamala-patraksa
mahatmyam api cavyayam

bhava--appearance; apyayau--disappearance; hi--certainly; bhutanam--of all living entities; srutau--have been heard; vistarasah--in detail; maya--by me; tvattah--from You; kamala-patra-aksa--O lotus-eyed one; mahatmyam--glories; api--also; ca--and; avyayam--inexhaustible.

TRANSLATION

O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from You in detail about the appearance and disappearance of every living entity and have realized Your inexhaustible glories.

PURPORT

Arjuna addresses Lord Krsna as "lotus-eyed" (Krsna's eyes appear just like the petals of a lotus flower) out of his joy, for Krsna has assured him, in the previous chapter, aham krtsnasyajagatah prabhavah pralayas tatha: "I am the source of the appearance and disappearance of this entire material manifestation." Arjuna has heard of this from the Lord in detail. Arjuna further knows that in spite of His being the source of all appearances and disappearances, He is aloof from them. As the Lord has said in the Ninth Chapter, He is all-pervading, yet He is not personally present everywhere. That is the inconceivable opulence of Krsna which Arjuna admits that he has thoroughly understood.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 34
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmamam mat-parayanah

mat-manah--always thinking of Me; bhava--become; mat--My; bhaktah--devotee; mat--My; yaji--worshiper; mam--unto Me; namaskuru--offer obeisances; mam--unto Me; eva--completely; esyasi--you will come; yuktva--being absorbed; evam--thus; atmanam--your soul; mat-parayanah--devoted to Me.

TRANSLATION

Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.

JOURNAL:

This is probably the most quoted sloka in all the Gita. How one follows these instructions is exactly what being Krishna Consciousness is all about.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 33
kim punar brahmanah punya
bhakta rajarsayas tatha
anityam asukham lokam
imam prapya bhajasva mam

kim--how much; punah--again; brahmanah--brahmanas; punyah--righteous; bhaktah--devotees; raja-rsayah--saintly kings; tatha--also; anityam--temporary; asukham--full of miseries; lokam--planet; imam--this; prapya--gaining; bhajasva--be engaged in loving service; mam--unto Me.

TRANSLATION

How much more this is so of the righteous brahmanas, the devotees and the saintly kings. Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 32
mam hi partha vyapasrit ya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim

mam--of Me; hi--certainly; partha--O son of Prtha; vyapasritya--particularly taking shelter; ye--those who; api--also; syuh--are; papa-yonayah--born of a lower family; stri yah--women; vaisyah--mercantile people; tatha--also; sudrah--lower-class men; te api--even they; yanti--go; param--to the supreme; gatim--destination.

TRANSLATION

O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth--women, vaisyas [merchants] and sudras [workers]--can attain the supreme destination.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada begins his purport by writing: It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower and higher classes of people. In the material conception of life there are such divisions, but for a person engaged in transcendental devotional service to the Lord there are not. Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination.

Not only is Love-of-God available to everyone, but Hope-of-God is here too. Without the hope of being able to attain a relationship with Krishna, nothing else can be hoped for. Krishna says the realization of this hope comes to "those who take shelter of me". So, we must approach Him, and surrender to Him, to have the relationship with Him that we all so deeply desire.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 31
ksipram bhavati dharmatma
sasvac-chantim nigacchati
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranasyati

ksipram--very soon; bhavati--becomes; dharma-atma--righteous; sasvat-santim--lasting peace; nigacchati--attains; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; pratijanihi--declare; na--never; me--My; bhaktah--devotee; pranasyati--perishes.

TRANSLATION

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 30
api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah

api--even; cet--if; su-duracarah--one committing the most abominable actions; bhaiate--is engaged in devotional service; mam--unto Me; ananya-bhak--without deviation; sadhuh--a saint; eva--certainly; sah--he; mantavyah--is to be considered; samyak--completely; vyavasitah--situated in determination; hi--certainly; sah--he.

TRANSLATION

Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes at the end of his purport:
In the Nrsimha purana the following statement is given:

bhagavati ca harav ananya-ceta
bhrsa-malino 'pi virajate manusyah
na hi sasa-kalusa-cchabih kadacit
timira-parabhavatam upaiti candrah

The meaning is that even if one fully engaged in the devotional service of the Lord is sometimes found engaged in abominable activities, these activities should be considered to be like the spots that resemble the mark of a rabbit on the moon. Such spots do not become an impediment to the diffusion of moonlight. Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of saintly character does not make him abominable.

On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of material connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.

There is not much else one can say about the meaning of this sloka that Srila Prabhupada does not cover in his purport, so I will speak on a side issue; the "rabbit in the moon".

Here in the west we grow up looking at the "man in the moon", but on the other side of the world they see a rabbit. The moon they see in India at the beginning of the evening can be seen here in the west in the morning. The rabbit sits in profile with his ears back along the top of his head. With a little imagination, he is not hard to see at all.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 29
samo ham sarva-bhutesu
na me dvesyo 'sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu mam bhakt ya
mayi te tesu capy aham

samah--equally disposed; aham--I; sarva-bhutesu--to all living entities; na--no one; me--to Me; dvesyah--hateful; asti--is; na--nor; priyah--dear; ye--those who; bhajanti--render transcendental service; tu--but; mam--unto Me; bhaktya--in devotion; mayi--are in Me; te--such persons; tesu--in them; ca--also; api--certainly; aham--I.

TRANSLATION

I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport: If a reciprocal relationship is not present between the devotee and the Lord, then there is no personalist philosophy. In the impersonal philosophy there is no reciprocation between the Supreme and the living entity, but in the personalist philosophy there is.

It is nice that I can begin with a realization of Brahman and his energy that manifests all around us. It is great when I feel an acceptance by the world around me, knowing that this is a realization of the Paramatma within. But when will I develop that love for Bhagavan that will make me want to serve Him?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 28
subhasubha-phalair evam
moks yase karma-bandhanaih
sann yasa-yoga-yuktatma
vimukto mam upaisyasi

subha--from auspicious; asubha--and inauspicious; phalaih--results; evam--thus; moksyase--you will become free; karma--of work; bandhanaih--from the bondage; sannyasa--of renunciation; yoga--the yoga; yukta-atma--having the mind firmly set on; vimuktah--liberated; mam--to Me; upaisyasi--you will attain.

TRANSLATION

In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 27
yat karosi yad asnasi
yajjuhosi dadasi yat
yat tapas yasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam

yat--whatever; karosi--you do; yat--whatever; asnasi--you eat; yat--whatever; juhosi--you offer; dadasi--you give away; yat--whatever; yat--whatever; tapas yasi--austerities you perform; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; tat--that; kurusva--do; mat--unto Me; arpanam--as an offering.

TRANSLATION

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform--do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens his purport with this sentence; Thus, it is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he will not forget Krsna in any circumstance.

The goal of life is to remember Krishna at the time of death. These last two slokas and their purports have a lot of practical instruction on how to do that.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 26
patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

patram--a leaf; puspam--a flower; phalam--a fruit; toyam--water; yah--whoever; me--unto Me; bhaktya--with devotion; prayacchati--offers; tat--that; aham--I; bhakti-upahrtam--offered in devotion; asnami--accept; prayata-atmanah--from one in pure consciousness.

TRANSLATION

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

JOURNAL:

This is a very important sloka from Bhagavad Gita. These are the most basic instructions for the worship of Krishna in His deity form. Here are some excerpts from Srila Prabhupada's purport:

It does not matter what one is or where one is situated. The process is so easy that even a leaf or a little water or fruit can be offered to the Supreme Lord in genuine love and the Lord will be pleased to accept it. No one, therefore, can be barred from Krsna consciousness, because it is so easy and universal.

Bhakti is mentioned twice in this verse in order to declare more emphatically that bhakti, or devotional service, is the only means to approach Krsna. Without the basic principle of bhakti, nothing can induce the Lord to agree to accept anything from anyone. Bhakti is never causal. The process is eternal. It is direct action in service to the absolute whole.

If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and to reach the goal of life--the transcendental loving service of God--then one should find out what the Lord desires of him.

But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Krsna and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering enables one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Krsna has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Krsna.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 25
yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhuteiya
yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam

yanti--go; deva-vratah--worshipers of demigods; devan--to the demigods; pitrn--to the ancestors; yanti--go; pitr-vratah--worshipers of ancestors; bhutani--to the ghosts and spirits; yanti--go; bhuta-ijyah--worshipers of ghosts and spirits; yanti--go; mat--My; yajinah--devotees; api--but; mam--unto Me.

TRANSLATION

Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Pisaca worship is called "black arts" or "black magic." There are many men who practice this black art, and they think that it is spiritualism, but such activities are completely materialistic.

In my opinion, any form of "spiritualism" whose goal is to have an advantage over other humans is materialistic.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 24
aham hi sarva-yajnanam
bhokta ca prabhur eva ca
na tu mam abhijananti
tattvenatas cyavanti te

aham--I; hi--surely; sarva--of all; yajnanam--sacrifices; bhokta--the enjoyer; ca--and; prabhuh--the Lord; eva--also; ca--and; na--not; tu--but; mam--Me; abhijananti--they know; tattvena--in reality; atah--therefore; cyavanti--fall down; te--they.

TRANSLATION

I am the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifices. Therefore, those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 23
ye 'py anya-devata-bhakta
yajante sraddhayanvitah
te 'pi mam eva kaunteya
yajanty avidhi-purvakam

ye--those who; api--also; anya--of other; devata--gods; bhaktah--devotees; yajante--worship; sraddhaya anvitah--with faith; te--they; api--also; mam--Me; eva--only; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; yajanti--they worship; avidhi-purvakam--in a wrong way.

TRANSLATION

Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kunti, but they do so in a wrong way.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada only speaks of worship of the demigods, not about worship of God outside of Hinduism. When I first read this sloka I was a young man and had just given up on Protestant forms of Christianity. Most of these churches just seemed to make up the rules as they went along, backing what they did with out-of-context verses from the bible. They didn't seem to care for "cultural context" either.

So I read this sloka and thought, "This is mercy! God accepts worship even if it is not done right." I could see God working in the lives of some of these people who attended these churches. I knew they carried with them a love that transcended the teachings of their churches. A thing can be wrong and still Krishna will work with it. How much more will He work with us even when we are wrong?

P.S. -I didn't make it out to the temple yesterday. How long until I see the devotees again Lord?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 22
anan yas cintayanto mam
ye janah paryupasate
tesam nit yabhi yuktanam
yoga-ksemam vahamy aham

ananyah--having no other object; cintayantah--concentrating; mam--on Me; ye--those who; janah--persons; paryupasate--properly worship; tesam--of them; nitya--always; abhiyuktanam--fixed in devotion; yoga--requirements; ksemam--protection; vahami--carry; aham--I.

TRANSLATION

But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form--to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.

JOURNAL:

Today is Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day and I am thinking that I should take the thirty mile trip to the temple tonight for the program. It is a one hour train ride and then a twenty minute walk for me to get there but I am sure it would be worth it. I would so like to see the devotees again!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 21
te tam bhuktva svarga-lokam visalam
ksine punye martya-lokam visanti
evam trayi-dharmam anuprapanna
gatagatam kama-kama labhante

te--they; tam--that; bhuktva--enjoying; svarga-lokam--heaven; visalam--vast; ksine--being exhausted; punye--the results of their pious activities; martya-lokam--to the mortal earth; visanti--fall down; evam--thus; trayi--of the three Vedas; dharmam--doctrines; anuprapannah--following; gata-agatam--death and birth; kama-kamah--desiring sense enjoyments; labhante--attain.

TRANSLATION

When they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasure and the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus those who seek sense enjoyment by adhering to the principles of the three Vedas achieve only repeated birth and death.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 20
trai-vidya mam soma-pah puta-papa
yajnair istva svar-gatim prarthayante
te punyam asadya surendra-lokam
asnanti divyan divi deva-bhogan

trai-vidyah--the knowers of the three Vedas; mam--Me; soma-pah--drinkers of soma juice; puta--purified; papah--of sins; yajnaih--with sacrifices; istva--worshiping; svah-gatim--passage to heaven; prarthayante--pray for; te--they; punyam--pious; asadya--attaining; sura-indra--of Indra; lokam--the world; asnanti--enjoy; divyan--celestial; divi--in heaven; deva-bhogan--the pleasures of the gods.

TRANSLATION

Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly. Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights.

JOURNAL:

Here is heaven for alcoholics, or so I used to think. Personally, I used to love drinking, smoking pot, and reading Srila Prabhupada's books. I read and chanted and never took the four regulative principles seriously.

And here I get to see that future (at best). But was this the goal?

Some demons I will fight to the end of my days. Those that would lead me close to Heaven but still leave me here in this material world are some of my worse.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 19
tapamy aham aham varsam
nigrhnamy utsrjami ca
amrtam caiva mrtyus ca
sad asac caham arjuna

tapami--give heat; aham--I; aham--I; varsam--rain; nigrhnami--withhold; utsrjami--send forth; ca--and; amrtam--immortality; ca--and; eva--certainly; mrtyuh--death; ca--and; sat--spirit; asat--matter; ca--and; aham--I; arjuna--O Arjuna.

TRANSLATION

O Arjuna, I give heat, and I withhold and send forth the rain. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both spirit and matter are in Me.

JOURNAL:

It does not matter whither we believe in God or not. A reality does not depend upon our belief to exist. So, at the time of death, we will all see God, no matter what our qualifications or disqualifications are.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 18
gatir bharta prabhuh sakai
nivasah saranam suhrt
prabhavah pralayah sthanam
nidhanam bijam avyayam

gatih--goal; bharta--sustainer; prabhuh--Lord; saksi--witness; nivasah--abode; saranam--refuge; suhrt--most intimate friend; prabhavah--creation; pralayah--dissolution; sthanam--ground; nidhanam--resting place; bijam--seed; avyayam--imperishable.

TRANSLATION

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge, and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

PURPORT

Krsna is the ultimate goal of shelter, and therefore one should take shelter of Krsna either for protection or for annihilation of his distress. And whenever we have to take protection, we should know that our protection must be a living force. Krsna is the supreme living entity. And since Krsna is the source of our generation, or the supreme father, no one can be a better friend than Krsna, nor can anyone be a better well-wisher.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 9 Text 17
pitaham asya jagato
mata dhata pitamahah
vedyam pavitram omkara
rk sama yajur eva ca

pita--father; aham--I; asya--of this; jagatah--universe; mata--mother; dhata--supporter; pitamahah--grandfather; vedyam--what is to be known; pavitram--that which purifies; om-kara--the syllable om; rk--the Rg Veda; sama--the Sama Veda; yajuh--the Yajur Veda; eva--certainly; ca--and.

TRANSLATION

I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rg, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; In the material existence we create different relationships with different living entities who are nothing but Krsna's marginal energy; under the creation of prakrti some of them appear as our father, mother, grandfather, creator, etc., but actually they are parts and parcels of Krsna. As such, these living entities who appear to be our father, mother, etc., are nothing but Krsna.

I remember a friend of mine, after listening to me complain about my wife, saying, "She may be your wife but remember, she is God's daughter".

How many times must I be told to respect my fellow man? How long before I get it through my head? The Paramatma lives in all of us. Disrespecting people is the same thing as throwing rocks at a church window. I would never do that and it is only a material building. Yet, I find myself doing that very same thing, time and again, to a "living building".