Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita:   Chapter 7 - Knowledge of the Absolute

 TEXT 6
 
                           etad-yonini bhutani
                          sarvanity upadharaya
                         aham krtsnas ya jagatah
                        prabhavah pralayas tatha
 
 
WORD FOR WORD
 
etat--these two natures; yonini--whose source of birth; bhuta-ni--everything created; sarvani--all; iti--thus; upadharaya--know; aham--I; krtsnasya--all-inclusive; jagatah--of the world; prabhavah--the source of manifestation; pralayah--annihilation; tatha--as well as.
 
 
TRANSLATION
 
All created beings have their source in these two natures. Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and the dissolution.
 
 
PURPORT by HDG Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad:
 
Everything that exists is a product of matter and spirit. Spirit is the basic field of creation, and matter is created by spirit. Spirit is not created at a certain stage of material development. Rather, this material world is manifested only on the basis of spiritual energy. This material body is developed because spirit is present within matter; a child grows gradually to boyhood and then to manhood because that superior energy, spirit soul, is present. Similarly, the entire cosmic manifestation of the gigantic universe is developed because of the presence of the Supersoul, Visnu. Therefore spirit and matter, which combine to manifest this gigantic universal form, are originally two energies of the Lord, and consequently the Lord is the original cause of everything. A fragmental part and parcel of the Lord, namely the living entity, may be the cause of a big skyscraper, a big factory, or even a big city, but he cannot be the cause of a big universe. The cause of the big universe is the big soul, or the Supersoul. And Krsna, the Supreme, is the cause of both the big and small souls. Therefore He is the original cause of all causes. This is confirmed in the Katha Upanisad (2.2.13). Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam.

 - His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

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Prabhupada Uvacha:
(here's some nectar, sometimes it comes in the form of Srutakirti prabhu's diary, other times from Govinda dasi's diary, Hari Sauri prabhu's Transcendental Diary, Bhurijan prabhu's book, or sometimes from a letter, or other related source, but still nectar...)

The sign of a devotee

NOD: THE SIGN OF A DEVOTEE

Srila Prabhupada: "That is the sign of a devotee, appreciation. Narada Muni says that the devotee always appreciates the qualities of the other devotees. Yes, that is the sign, appreciation of the activities of devotees.

"A devotee who is actually freed from all contaminations does not find any fault with other devotees. He does not think himself that he's a bigger devotee or greater devotee than others. He thinks himself as the lowest of all. As Chaitanya Caritamrta author, Krishna das Kaviraj says, 'I am lower than the insect within the stool, I am a greater sinner than Jagai and Madhai. Anyone who takes my name, immediately all the results of his pious activities become vanquished.'

"It is not imitation or any bluff. Any devotee who is actually advancing, he feels like that. Just like the great scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, used to say, 'I've simply collected a few grains of sand from the ocean of knowledge.' Actually, that is a fact, everything is unlimited.

"So nobody should be proud falsely, that he has become a great devotee. Everyone should be very humble, 'Trnad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna, amanena manidena, kirtaniya sada Harih.' If one thinks that he has become very advanced devotee, then that is very dangerous.

"Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, 'My spiritual master saw Me as a great fool, therefore he has chastised Me. 'Don't read Vedanta, chant Hare Krishna.' He presented Himself like that. Is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu murkha? (fool) But that is the conception of an advanced devotee. They never think that they are very highly advanced devotee. What is advanced. What devotion can we offer to Krishna. He is unlimited. He is kindly accepting our little service that's all. Don't be proud of becoming a great devotee. That is first-class falldown." (72/55)

- From the "Prabhupada at Radha-Damodara" by HH Mahanidhi Swami

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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Listen to Srila Prabhupad on-line
....a different lecture, morning walk, conversation or class daily.

"Dangerous Yogis"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.55
Paris, August 11, 1975

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
http://prabhupadaradio.com/M3U/Bhagavatam/m3u_II/SB527.m3u

Prabhupada: (leads chanting line by line:)

esa prakrti-sangena
purusasya viparyayah
asit sa eva na cirad
isa-sangad viliyate
 [SB 6.1.55]

Hm. In the previous verse it has been discussed, na hi kascit ksanam api jatu tisthaty akarma-krt. Nobody can... (child making sounds) Just like this child. He wants to do something. (laughter) He does not know that he is doing something nonsense. (devotee translates throughout) Similarly, the child's father also, he wants to do something although it is nonsense. Therefore, here it is mentioned, na hi kascit, "Anyone," ksanam api, "even for a moment," na hi kascit ksanam api jatu tisthaty akarma, "he must do something." This is the tendency. How? Karyate hy avasah. Avasah means being forced. He has no control. He must do something and he has no control over it. So why no control? No control means he is controlled by somebody else. He is not in his own control. And what is that controller? Gunaih svabhavikair balat. He has infected some type of material modes of nature and he has to act accordingly. Prakrteh kriyamanani. The similar verse is there in the Bhagavad-gita. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27].

So we are under the control of the modes of material nature. Now, the next verse says, esa prakrti-sangena. Esa means all these living entities. In this way, on account of association with this material nature... Prakrti-sangena purusasya viparyayah. Purusasya means the living entities; viparyayah, entanglement. Asit: "In this way he is involved." Sa eva na cirad isa-sangad viliyate. So he is involved in this way, but if he associates with Isa, the Supreme Lord, then na cirad, very soon, all these things, entanglement, can be finished. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. One who is entangled with these modes of material nature, it is very difficult to come out of it. But mam eva ye prapadyante: "Anyone who takes My shelter, he can get out." And practically you have got all experience that our regulative principle is very difficult to give it up, but those who have become devotee, they have easily given up. That is also confirmed in another place, vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yoga-prayojitah. If we engage ourself in devotional service of Vasudeva, Krsna, janaty asu vairagyam, then very soon he become detached to these material activities. Vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7]. These two things required: knowledge and detachment. Knowledge means that "I am not this body," and detachment means "I am not this body; therefore I have nothing to do with this material world." [break]

...of Yamaraja, came to take him to Yamaraja. In the meantime, because he uttered the name of Narayana, the order-carriers of Narayana also came there. So while the Yamadutas were dragging this Ajamila to take him to Yamaraja, the Narayana-dutas warned, "Don't touch him." So Yamadutas complained that "This man was very sinful. We must take him to Yamaraja." But the Narayana-dutas said, "No, you cannot take because he has uttered the holy name of Narayana." So the discussion was going on, "Now who will take him." In the meantime the Narayana-dutas challenged the Yamadutas that "Do you know the principles of religion?" And so they were explaining.

Now, these Yamadutas explained about the past life of Ajamila. His past life is described in this way, ayam hi sruta-sampannah: "This man, Ajamila, was formerly, was a very learned scholar, brahmana." Sruta. Sruta means Vedic knowledge, and sampannah means accomplished. So ayam hi sruta-sampannah sila-vrtta-gunalayah. "And very well behaved, properly situated in his position," dhrta-vrata, "and avowedly following the regulative principles." So he was learned, he was well-behaved, and he was avowedly, strictly following the regulative principles. Mrduh. Mrdu means very gentle. Dantah: he had control over his senses. Satya-van: he was very truthful. Mantra vit sucih: and he knew all the Vedic mantras and he was very clean. Then gurv-agny-atithi-vrddhanam. Guru, spiritual master; agni, sacrificial fire; vrddha, aged person; and atithi... Atithi means guest without invitation. This is the Vedic culture, that these men should be well received. Guru means spiritual master; agni, fire; atithi... Atithi. Atithi means without any fixed-up invitation if somebody comes at your place. And old men, they should be respectful. Not very long ago, when we were young men, say thirty years old, that time we have seen that a young man would not smoke before an old man. This was the etiquette. Now they have all forgotten this cultural civilization. They have no respect for old men. And the time is coming when old men will be killed as mercy?

Brahmananda: Mercy-killing.

Prabhupada: Mercy-killing. Sarva-bhuta-suhrdam. Not only these particular persons, but he was friendly to all living entities, sarva-bhuta-suhrdam. Sadhu, very honest devotee, sadhu. And mita-vag: did not speak more than required. This is also good qualification: don't talk nonsense. Unless you are required to speak, don't speak. This is also another good feature. Mita-vag anasuyakah: and not envious to anyone. These were his qualification when he was young man. Up to the age of, say, twenty, he was like this.

Ekadasau vanam yatah pitr-sandesa-krd dvijah. Once upon a time, he was passing through the forest to collect flowers, dry wood, by the order of his father for performing sacrifices, worshiping the Deity. He asked his son, "Please collect all these things and bring it." Ekadasau vanam yatah pitr-sandesa-krd dvijah. He is explained as dvija. Dvija means twice-born. So this dvija He was a brahmana, dvija. He was initiated for the second time, dvija. So about his going to the forest for collecting all these things he was going. Yes. Adaya tata avrttah phala-puspa-samit-kusan. In this way he collected all the things required for sacrifice, yajna. Sacrifice, yajna is It doesn't require any money. You can collect. Just like flowers you can collect, leaves you can collect, kusa, a kind of grass, you can collect, and nobody will object. Even you collect from a nice garden nobody will object. So while he was coming back home with all these things, what happened? Dadarsa kaminam kancic chudram saha bhujisyaya. Kama, a lusty s\ udra. There are four classes -- brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra. So he saw one lusty sudra, fourth class. Dadarsa kaminam kancic chudram saha bhujisyaya. What he saw? That this sudra was embracing another sudrani, woman sudra. So nowadays it has become a fashion -- young man is kissing another young woman on the street. So this embracing of young man and young woman on the public street was strictly prohibited, especially for the higher castes. But the sudras, the lower class, fourth-class men, they used to do such things sometimes, not always. And what was their position? Pitva ca madhu maireyam madaghurnita-netraya. They were not only embracing but they were drunken. And their eyes were rolling in a different way. Mattaya, and being mad, almost mad, mattaya, or intoxicated, vislathan nivya vyapetam nirapatrapam, the dress of both of them were loose and they did not care for it. So in this posture -- kridantam, doing their own business; anugayantam, singing; hasantam, laughing, cheering, hasantam; anayantike, in a place in the forest -- so he saw, this young man. So after seeing that, he also become inclined, lusty, and that will be explained next, that he became a victim of this lusty woman and then he lost his good character and left home and his young wife, coming of very respectable family. He forgot everything. Then, in association with this prostitute, he gradually became degenerated, degraded. He became a thief. He became a rogue. He became a cheater. That will be explained later on.

The purport is: human life is not meant for these things. Human life is meant for being elevated to the highest platform of good character and controlling the senses, controlling the mind, remain very clean. Then you can make progress and your life can become successful. So because they are not accustomed already to follow this, therefore so many rascals and dangerous yogis are advertising that "There is no need of control. You can join this yoga system and give me money. I shall give you mantra, and you become God." Be careful of these dogs.

Thank you very much. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.55 -- Paris, August 11, 1975
 

Krishna Consciousness is always dormant in everyone's heart & it can be awakened simply by service attitude. You are already allotted a nice service & if you continue this reponsibility anywhere you live & at the same time chant at least 16 rounds a day you will do all right in any circumstances.
 
Letter to Jadurani, Calcutta 1967
 
 

Other Events today:
Bhisma Panchaka
Gaura Kishora dasa Babaji maharaj - Tirubhav

Lord Brahma said to Narada Muni, "Dear son, O best of the sages, I shall narrate to you the glories of Haribodhini Ekadasi, which eradicates all kinds of sins and bestows great merit, and ultimately liberation, upon the wise persons who surrender unto the Supreme Lord.
  "O best of the brahmanas, the merits acquired by bathing in the Ganges remain significant only as long as Haribodhini Ekadasi does not come.  This Ekadasi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Kartika, is much more purifying than a bath in the ocean, at a place of pilgrimage, or in a lake.  This sacred Ekadasi is more powerful in nullifying sin than one thousand Asvamedha sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices."
  Narada Muni inquired, "O father, please describe the relative merits of fasting completely on Ekadasi, eating supper (without grains or beans), or eating once at midday (without grains or beans)."
  Lord Brahma replied, "If a person eats once at midday on Ekadasi, the sins of his previous birth are erased, if he eats supper, the sins acquired during his previous two births are removed, and if he fasts completely, the sins accumulated during his pervious seven births are eradicated.
  "O son, whatever is only rarely achieved within the three worlds is obtained by him who strictly observes Haribodhini Ekadasi.  A person whose sins equal Mount Sumeru in volume sees them all reduced to nothing if he simply fasts on Papaharini Ekadasi (another name for Haribodhini Ekadasi).  The sins a person has accumulated over a thousand previous births are burned to ashes if he not only fasts but also remains awake throughout Ekadasi night, just as a mountain of cotton can be burned to ashes if one lights a small fire in it.
  O Narada, a person who strictly observes this fast achieves the results I have mentioned.  Even if one does a small amount of pious activity on this day, following the rules and regulations, one will earn merit to Mount Sumeru in volume; however a person who does not follow the rules and regulations given in the Scriptures may perform pious activity equal to Mount Sumeru in volume, but he will not earn even a small amount of merit.  One who does not chant the Gayatri mantra three times a day, who disregards fast days, who does not believe in God, who criticises the Vedic Scriptures, who thinks the Vedas bring only ruination to one who follows their injunctions, who enjoys another's wife, who is utterly foolish and wicked, who does not appreciate any service that has been rendered to him, or who cheats others - such a sinful person can never perform any religious activity effectively.  Be he a brahmana or a shudra, whoever tries to enjoy another man's wife, particularly the wife of a twice-born person, is said to be no better than a dog-eater.
  "O best of the sages, any brahmana who enjoys sex with a widow or a brahmana lady married to another man brings ruin to himself and his family.  Any brahmana who enjoys illicit sex will have no children in his next life, and any past merit he may have earned is ruined.  Indeed, if such a person displays any arrogance toward a twice-born brahmana or a spiritual master, he loses all his spiritual advancement immediately, as well as his wealth and children.
  "These three kinds of men ruin their acquired merits: he whose character is immoral, he who has sex with the wife of a dog-eater, and he who appreciates the association of rogues.  Whoever associates with sinful people and visits their homes without a spiritual purpose will go directly to the abode of Lord Yamaraj, the superintendent of death.  And if someone eats in such a home, his acquired merit is destroyed, along with his fame, duration of life, children, and happiness.
  "Any sinful rascal who insults a saintly person soon loses his religiosity, economic development, and sense gratification, and he at last burns in the fire of hell.  Anyone who likes to offend saintly persons, or who does not interrupt someone who is insulting saintly persons, is considered no better than an ass.  Such a wicked man sees his dynasty destroyed before his very eyes.
  "A person whose character is unclean, who is a rogue or a swindler, or who always finds fault with others does not achieve a higher destination after death, even if he gives charity generously or performs other pious deed.  Therefore one should refrain from performing inauspicious acts and perform only pious ones, by which one will acquire merit and avoid suffering. "However, the sins of one who, after due consideration, decides to fast of Haribodhini Ekadasi are erased from one hundred previous lives, and whoever fasts and remains awake overnight on this Ekadasi achieves unlimited merit and after death goes to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, and then thousand of his ancestors, relatives, and descendants also reach that abode.  Even if one's forefathers were implicated in many sins and are suffering in hell, they still attain beautifully ornamented spiritual bodies and happily go to Vishnu's abode.
  O Narada, even one who has committed the heinous sin of killing a brahmana is freed of all stains on his character by faster on Haribodhini Ekadasi and remaining awake that night.  The merit that cannot by won by bathing in all the places of pilgrimage, performing a horse sacrifice, or giving cows, gold, or fertile land in charity can easily be achieved by fasting on this holy day and remaining awake throughout the night.
  "Anyone who observes Haribodhini Ekadasi is celebrated as highly qualified and makes his dynasty famous.  As Death is certain, so losing one's wealth is also certain.  Knowing this, O best of sages, one should observe a fast on this day so dear to Hari - Sri Haribodhini Ekadasi.
  "All places of pilgrimage in the three worlds at once come to reside in the house of a person who fasts on this Ekadasi.  Therefore, to please the Lord, who holds a disc in His hand, one should give up all engagements, surrender, and observe this Ekadasi fast.  One who fasts on this Haribodhini day is acknowledged as a wise man, a true yogi, an ascetic, and one whose senses are truly under control.  He alone enjoys this world properly, and he will certainly achieve liberation.  This Ekadasi is very dear to Lord Vishnu, and thus it is the very essence of religiosity.  Even one observance of it bestows the topmost reward in all the three worlds.
  "O Naradaji, whoever fasts on this Ekadasi will definitely not enter a womb again, and thus faithful devotees of the Supreme Godhead give up all varieties of religion and simply surrender to fasting on this Ekadasi.  For that great soul who honours this Ekadasi by fasting and remaining awake throughout the night, the Supreme Lord, Sri Govinda, personally terminates the sinful reactions that soul has acquired by the actions of his mind, body, and words.
  "O son, for anyone who bathes in a place of pilgrimage, gives charity, chants the holy names of the Supreme Lord, undergoes austerities, and performs sacrifices for God on Haribodhini Ekadasi, the merit thus earned all becomes imperishable.  A devotee who worships Lord Madhava on this day with first-class paraphernalia becomes free from the great sins of a hundred lifetimes.  A person who observes this fast and worships Lord Vishnu properly is freed from great danger.
  "This Ekadasi fast pleases Lord Janardana so much that He takes the person who observes it back to His abode, and while going there the devotee illuminates then ten universal directions.  Whoever desires beauty and happiness should try to honour Haribodhini Ekadasi, especially if it falls on Dvadasi.  The sins of one's past hundred births - the sins committed during childhood, youth and old age in al those lifetimes, whether those sins are dry or wet - are nullified by the Supreme Lord Govinda if one fasts on Haribodhini Ekadasi with devotion.
  Haribodhini Ekadasi is the best Ekadasi.  Nothing is unobtainable or rare in this world for one who fasts on this day, for it gives food grains, great wealth, and high merit, as well as eradication of all sin, the terrible obstacle to liberation.  fasting on this Ekadasi is a thousand times better than giving charity on the day of the solar or lunar eclipse.  Again I say to you, O Naradaji, whatever merit is earned by one who bathes in a place of pilgrimage, performs sacrifices, and studies the Vedas is only one then-millionth the merit earned by the person who fasts but one on Haribodhini Ekadasi.  Whatever merit one has acquired in his life by some pious activities becomes completely fruitless if one does not observe the Ekadasi fast and worship Lord Vishnu in the month of Kartika.  Therefore, you should always worship the Supreme Lord, Janardana, and render service to Him.  Thus you will attain the desired goal, the highest perfection.
  "On Haribodhini Ekadasi, a devotee of the Lord should not eat in another's house or eat food cooked by a non devotee. If he does so, he achieves only the merit of fasting on a full moon day.  Philosophical discussion of Scriptures in the month of Kartika pleases Sri Vishnu more than if one gives elephants and horses in charity or performs a costly sacrifice.  Whoever chants or hears descriptions of Lord Vishnu's qualities and pastimes, even if but a half or even a fourth of a verse, attains the wonderful merit derived from giving away a hundred cows to a brahmana.  O Narada, during the month of Kartika one should give up all kinds or ordinary duties and devote one's full time and energy especially while fasting, to discussing the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord.  Such glorification of Sri Hari on the day so dear to the Lord, Ekadasi, liberates a hundred previous generations.  One who spends his time enjoying such discussions, especially in the month of Kartika, achieves the results of performing ten thousand fire sacrifices and burns all his sins to ashes.
  "He who hears the wonderful narrations concerning Lord Vishnu, particularly during the month of Kartika, automatically earns the same merit as that bestowed upon someone who donates a hundred cows in charity.  O great sage, a person who chants the glories of Lord Hari on Ekadasi achieves the merit earned by donating seven islands."
  Narada Muni asked his glorious father, "O universal sire, I best of all demigods, please tell me how to observe this most sacred Ekadasi.  What kind of merit does it bestow upon the faithful?"
  Lord Brahma replied, "O son, a person who wants to observe this Ekadasi should rise early on Ekadasi morning, during the brahma-muhurta hour (an hour and a half before sunrise until fifty minutes before sunrise).  He should then clean his teeth and bathe in a lake, river, pond, or well, or in his own home, as the situation warrants.  After worshipping Lord Sri Keshava, he should listen carefully to the sacred descriptions of the Lord.  He should pray to the Lord thus:  'O Lord Keshava, I shall fast on this day, which is so dear to You, and tomorrow I shall honour Your sacred prasadam.  O lotus-eyed Lord, O infallible one, You are my only shelter.  Kindly protect me.'
  "Having spoken this solemn prayer before the Lord with great love and devotion, one should fast cheerfully.  O Narada, whoever remains awake all night on this Ekadasi, singing beautiful songs glorifying the Lord, dancing in ecstasy, playing delightful instrumental music for His transcendental pleasure, and reciting the pastimes of Lord Krishna as records in bona-fide Vedic literature - such a person will most assuredly reside far beyond the three worlds, in the eternal, spiritual realm of God.
  "On Haribodhini Ekadasi one should worship Sri Krishna with camphor, fruits, and aromatic flowers, especially the yellow agaru flower.  One should not absorb oneself in making money on this important day.  In other words, greed should be exchanged for charity.  This is the process for turning loss into unlimited merit.  One should offer many kinds of fruits to the Lord and bathe Him with water from a conchshell.  Each of these devotional practices, when performed on Haribodhini Ekadasi, is ten million times more beneficial than bathing in all the places of pilgrimage and giving all forms of charity.
  "Even Lord Indra joins his palm and offers his obeisances to a devotee who worships Lord Janardana with first-class agastya flowers of this day.  The supreme Lord Hari is very pleased when he is decorated with nice agastya flowers.  O Narada, I give liberation to one who devotedly worships Lord Krishna on this Ekadasi in the month of Kartika with leaves of the bel tree.  And for one who worships Lord Janardana with fresh tulasi leaves and fragrant flowers during this month, O son, I personally burn to ashes all the sins he has committed for then thousand births.
  "One who merely sees Tulasi Maharani, touches her, mediates on her, narrates her history, offers obeisances to her, prays to her for her grace, plants her, worships her, or waters her lives in the abode of Lord Hari eternally.  O Narada, one who serves Tulasi-devi in these nine ways achieves happiness in the higher world for as many thousands of yugas as there are roots and subroots growing from a mature tulasi plant.  When a full grown tulasi plant produces seeds, many plants grow from those seeds and spread their branches, twigs, and flowers, and these flowers also produce numerous seeds.  For as many thousands of kalpas as there are seeds produced in this way, the forefathers of one who serves tulasi in these nine ways will live in the abode of Lord Hari.
  "Those who worship Lord Keshava with kadamba flowers, which are very pleasing to Him, get is mercy and do not see the abode of Yamaraj, death personified.  What is the use of worshipping someone else if all desires can be fulfilled by pleasing Lord Hari?  For example, a devotee who offers Him bakula, ashoka, and patali flowers is freed from misery and distress for as long as the sun and moon exist in this universe, and at last he achieves liberation.  O best of the brahmanas, an offering of kannera flowers to Lord Jagannatha brings as much mercy upon the devotee as that earned by worshipping Lord Keshava for four yugas.  One who offers tulasi flowers (manjaris) to Sri Krishna during the month of Kartika receives more merit than can be obtained by donating ten million cows.   Even a devotional offering of newly grown sprouts of grass brings with it a hundred times the benefit obtained by ordinary ritualistic worship of the Supreme Lord.
  "One who worships Lord Vishnu with the leaves of the samika tree is freed from the clutches of Yamaraja, the lord of death.  One who worships Vishnu during the rainy season with champaka or jasmine flowers never returns to the planet earth again.  One who worships the Lord with but a single kumbhi flower achieves the boon of donating a pala of gold (two hundred grams).  If a devotee offers a single yellow flower of the ketaki, or wood-apple, tree to Lord Vishnu, who rides on Garuda, he is freed from the sins of ten million births.  Furthermore, one who offers Lord Jagannatha flowers and also a hundred leaves anointed with red and yellow sandalwood paste will certainly come to reside in Svetadvipa, far beyond the coverings of this material creation.
  "O greatest of brahmanas, Sri Narada, after thus worshipping Lord Keshava, the bestower of all material and spiritual happiness, on Haribodhini Ekadasi, one should rise early the next day, bathe in a rive, chant japa  of Krishna's holy names, and render loving devotional service to the Lord at home to the nest of one's ability.  To break the fast, the devotee should first offer some prasadam to brahmanas and only then, with their permission, eat some grains.  Thereafter, to please the Supreme Lord, the devotee should worship his spiritual master, the purest of the Lord's devotees, and offer him sumptuous food, nice cloth, gold, and cows, according to the devotee's means.  this will certainly please the Supreme Lord, the holder of the disc.
  "Next the devotee should donate a cow to a brahmana, and if the devotee has neglected some rules and regulation of spiritual life, he should confess them before brahmana devotees of the Lord.  Then the devotee should offer them some dakshina (money).  O king, those who have eaten supper on Ekadasi should feed a brahmana the next day.  That is very pleasing to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  "O son, if a man has fasted without asking the permission of his priest, or if a woman has fasted without asking her husband's permission, he or she should donate a bull to a brahmana.  Honey and yoghurt are also proper gifts for a brahmana.  Someone who has fasted from ghee should donate milk, one who has fasted from grains should donate rice, one who has slept on the floor should donate a bedstead with a quilt, one who has eaten on a leaf plate should donate a pot of ghee, one who as remained silent should donate a bell, and one who has fasted from sesame should give gold in charity and feed a brahmana couple with sumptuous food.  A man who wants to prevent baldness should donate a mirror to a brahmana, one who has second-hand shoes should donate shoes, and one who has fasted from salt should donate some sugar to a brahmana.  During this month everyone should regularly offer a ghee lamp to Lord Vishnu or to Srimati Tulasidevi in a temple.
  "An Ekadasi fast is complete when one offers a qualified brahmana a gold or copper pot filled with ghee and ghee wicks, along with eight waterpots containing some gold and covered by cloths.  One who cannot afford these gifts should at least offer a brahmana some sweet words.  One who does so will surely attain the full benefit of fasting on Ekadasi.
  "After offering his obeisances and begging permission, the devotee should eat his meal.  On this Ekadasi, Chaturmasya ends, so whatever one gave up during Chaturmasya should now be donated to brahmanas.  One who follows this process of Chaturmasya receives unlimited merit, O king of kings, and goes to the abode of Lord Vasudeva after death.  O king, anyone who observes the complete Chaturmasya without a break attains eternal happiness and does not receive another birth.  But if someone breaks the fast, he becomes either a blind man or a leper.
  "Thus I have narrated to you the complete process for observing Haribodhini Ekadasi.  Someone who reads or hears about this achieves the merit earned by donating cows to a qualified brahmana."

PRABODHINIM UPOSYA EVA NA GARBHE VISATE NARAH
SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA TASMAT KURVITA NARADA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/289 from SKANDA PURANA spoken by Lord Brahma)

 Oh Narada Muni, one who fasts on Prabodhini (when the Lord gets up) Ekadasi, does not enter again into the womb of another mother. Therefore, a person should give up all varieties of occupation and fast on this particular Ekadasi day.

DUGDHABDHIH BHOGI SAYANE BHAGAVAN ANANTO
YASMIN DINE SVAPITI CA ATHA VIBHUDHYATE CA
TASMINN ANANYA MANASAM UPAVASA BHAJAM
KAMAM DADATY ABHIMATAM GARUDANKA SAYI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/293 from PADMA PURANA)

 One who fasts with one pointed intelligence on the day when the Supreme Lord Sri Hari, Who sleeps on a bed of the enemy of Garuda (snake) goes to take rest in the Milk ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesa and also the day He gets up, gets all of his desires fulfilled.

BHAKTIPRADA HAREH SATU NAMNA KSATA PRAVODHINI
YASA VISNOH PARA MURTIR AVYAKTA ANEKA RUPINI
SA KSIPTA MANUSE LOKE DVADADI MUNI PUNGAVA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/301 from VARAHA PURANA conversation between Yamaraja and Narada Muni)

 This Prabodhini Ekadasi is famous for rewarding devotion to Lord Sri Hari. Oh best of the sages (Narada Muni), the personality of Ekadasi is present on this earthly planet in an unmanifested form of Lord Hari.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in his Digdarsini-tika that one who exactly observes the Ekadasi fast by observing this, he directly worships Lord Sri Hari. This is the meaning of this verse. Therefore, Ekadasi is said to be equal to Lord Sri Hari Himself.

CATUR DHA GRAHYA VAI CIRNAM CATUR MASYA VRATAM NARAH
KARTIKE SUKLAPAKSE TU DVADASYAM TAT SAMACARET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/412 from MAHABHARATA)

 A person who observed Caturmasya fast stated in four different ways should end his fast on the Dvadasi day on the light fortnight of the month of Karttika.

EVAM YA ACARET PARTHA SOBHANAM DHARMAM APNUYAT
AVASANE TU RAJENDRA VASUDEVA PURAM VRAJET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/433 from BHAVISYA UTTARA PURANA)

 Oh son of Prtha, Oh best of the kings, one who follows his vows properly as it is stated here achieves the highest merit and at last goes to the abode of Lord Sri Hari, the son of Vasudeva.

See Bhisma Panchaka

See Gaura Kishora dasa Babaji maharaj

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UtpannA EkAdasii

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Margasirsa-krsna Ekadasi, or Utpanna Ekadasi, from the Bhavisya-uttara Purana.

ITY ASASYA PRABHOR AGRE GRAHANIYAN NIYAMAM VRATI
CATURMASESU KARTAVYAM KRSNA BHAKTI VIVRDDHAYE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/113 from NAVA-PRASNA PANCARATRA)

 After properly praying to the Supreme Lord near Him, one should properly take a vow to follow the proper rules and regulations and process of Caturmasya to increase one's devotion to Lord Sri Krsna.

EKA DASYANTU GRAHANIYAT SANKRANTAU KARKATASYA TU
ASADHYAM VA NARO BHAKTYA CATUR-MASYO DITAM VRATAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/114, Sanat Kumara speaks)

 In the month of Asadha, either on the Ekadasi when the Lord sleeps or in Cancer Sankranti day or a full moon day, it is the duty of a fasting person to take a vow to fast in Caturmasya with devotion, in front of the Lord.

YO VINA NIYAMAM MARTYO VRATAM VA JAPYAM EVA VA
CATURMASYAM NAYEN MURKHO JIVANN API MRTO HI SAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/116 from BHAVISYA PURANA)

 Any person in this material world who performs Caturmasya without following any rules and regulations, or fasts, or without chanting any japa, such a foolish person is considered to be dead, even though alive.

SRAVANE VARJAYET SAKAM DADHI BHADRA PADE TATHA
DUGDHAM ASVAYUJE MASI KARTIKE CA AMISAM TYAJET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 15/117 from SKANDA PURANA, NAGARA KHANDA)

 (While following Caturmasya) one should give up eating leafy vegetables in the month of Sravana (July-August). In the month of Bhadrapada (August-September), one should give up yogurt. In the month of Asvina (September-October) one should give up milk and in the month of Karttika (October-November), one should give up eating white dahl.

Bhavisya Purana-  "One who passes the Chaturmasya season without observing religious vows, austerities and chanting of japa, such a fool although living should be considered to be a dead man."
Kanda Purana, Nagava Khunda-  "In the month of shravana (July, August) one should refrain from eating spinach.  In the month of Bhadra (August, September) of yogert in Ashvina (September, October) milk. In Kartik (October, November) meat and urd dall.
Various vows and austerities during Chaturmasya and Their respective results.
"O King, one who is My devotee and is fixed in vow, whether man or woman, for the purpose of Dharma, should accept these various austerities and observances. I shall now describe to you all of them along with their respective results.
1) No salt—One's voice becomes sweet.
2) No oil—One's life is prolonged and gets progeny.
3) No oil massages—One's body becomes beautiful.
4) No cooking with oil—One's enemies are vanished.
5) No licorice and oil—One becomes wealthy.
6) Give up wearing unoffered flowers—One becomes a Vidyadhara in Devapura.
7) Give up six kinds of tastes (spice, sour, bitter, sweet, salty and harsh)—One never becomes ugly, smelly, or obtains a bad birth.
8) Practice of yoga—One goes to Brahmaloka.
9) No betal nuts—One becomes happy.
10) No cooked food (raw fruits & Vegetables)—One obtains purity.
11) No honey—One becomes lustrous.
12) No yogert or milk—One attains Goloka.
13) No cooking with earthen pots—One gets ... (?)
14) No hot food—One gets offspring with a long life.
15) Take rest on the ground or on stone—One becomes an associate of Vishnu.
16) One who gives up meat & honey is a yogi and muni.
17) No intoxicating liquors—One becomes powerful and free from disease.
18) Fast for one day—One is honored in Brahmaloka.
19) No cutting of hair and nails—One gets the benefit of taking bath daily in Ganges.
20) No speaking of grama katha (nonsense)—One's order will never be disobeyed.
21) Eat food on the ground without dish or plate—One obtains a kingdom on Earth.
22) Chant the mantra Namo Narayana—One obtains the result of giving in charity 100 times.
23) Offer prayers to the Lord—One gets the result of giving cows in charity.
24) Touch the lotus feet of the Deity—One becomes a successful person.
25) Clean the temple of the Lord—If one is king he remains so for a Kalpa.
26) Circumambulating the temple three times offering prayers—At the time of death one will mount a swan airplane and go to Vaikuntha.
27) Singing or playing musical instruments in the temple of the Lord—One goes to Gardharvaloka.
28) Take pleasure in studying the sastras—One goes to Vishnuloka.
29) Sprinkle water in the temple—One goes to apsaraloka.
30) Take bath in a holy place—One's body becomes pure.
31) Worship Lord Vishnu with flowers—One goes to Vaikuntha.
32) Eat panchagavya—One gets the result of observing candrayana fasting.
33) Eat one meal a day—One gets the results of performing an Agnihotra.
34) Eat at night only—One gets the result of going to all the places of pilgrimage.
35) Eat at noon only—One attains Devaloka.
36) Take food not obtained by begging or any extraneous endeavor—One gets the results of opening water stands and digging wells.
37) Take bath daily—One will never see hell.
38) No eating on a plate—One gets the result of bathing at Pushkara
39) Eat on a leaf—One obtains the result of living at Kurukshetra.
40) Eat on a stone—One obtains the result of bathing at Prayog.
41) Giving up drinking to six hours—One will not be attacked by diseases.
42) During the Chaturmasya, garlands, caranamrta, candana and water from the conshell of the Lord, mahaprasädam, Deity garlands must be accepted.

In this way one who performs this vrata for the satisfaction of Lord Kesava becomes satisfied himself. O best of the Pandavas, among My devotees, he who accepts these vows and austerities during the Chaturmasya goes to my abode at the time of death, of this there is no doubt.

Vishnu Rahasya-  Lord Brahma to Narada Muni.