In his lecture from London, August 10, 1971, Srila Prabhupada mentions the following (paraphrased) points, among others:
The question raised by the sages at Naimisaranya was, "After departure of Krsna, unto whom the charge of religious principle depended?"
Suta Gosvami is a disciple of Sukadeva Gosvami. It is the etiquette, before speaking anything, the disciple should first of all offer respect to the spiritual master.
Offering respect to the spiritual master means to remember some of his activities. namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine (Prabhupada Pranama Mantra). He is preaching the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and he's a disciple of Sarasvati Thakura. You should pronounce it sarasvate, not sarasvati.
Lord Caitanya's message is that you go and speak everyone about Krsna and Krsna's message. This is called parampara system.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as disciple of Isvara Puri, is preaching Krsna consciousness. Similarly, in the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya, the Gosvamis -- Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Bhatta Raghunatha, Sri Jiva, Gopala-bhatta, Dasa Raghunatha. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. (Sri Sri Sad-goswamy-astaka)
We begin from our first disciplic succession. Vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam. (Mangalacarana)"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my guru, spiritual master." And then, his guru, his guru, his guru, they're all Vaisnavas.
Then we offer respect to Sri Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. (Sri Sri Sad-goswamy-astaka) All six Gosvamins.
Sagraja. Agraja means elder brother. Sanatana Gosvami was the elder brother of Rupa Gosvami, and Rupa Gosvami accepted him as his spiritual master.
Sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam. (Mangalacarana)Associated by Raghunatha. There are two Raghunathas: Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami. Sa-jivam, with Jiva Gosvami.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's status: sadvaitam savadhutam. (Mangalacarana) First of all, Advaita Gosani, then Nityananda Mahaprabhu, Prabhu.
Mahaprabhu is applicable only to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Others, all prabhus. Ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya. (Cc. Adi 5.142)Krsna, and He has got innumerable servants.
The spiritual master who has got many prabhus to abide by his order, he is addressed as Prabhupada.
sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-caitanya-devam. (Mangalacarana) After offering all these obeisances to Gosvamis, to guru, and Advaita, Nityananda, then you come to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Then Sri Radha. Not Krsna directly. Sri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca. (Mangalacarana) Radha-Krsna means they are always associated by the gopis, of whom Lalita-Visakha are the chief out of the asta-sakhis.
This is the parampara system. mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. (Cc. Madhya 17.186)We have to accept the path of the authorities. Here is authority, Suta Gosvami. He is offering his respect to his spiritual master, Sukadeva Gosvami.
You can[not] say simply "I offer my respectful obeisances to my spiritual master." No. You must describe his activities. What is the activity of spiritual master? samsara-davanala-lidha-loka. (Samsara Prayers) Otherwise, everyone will become spiritual master.
The quality, the activity will support the bona fide spiritual master. Guna-karma-vibhagasah. (Bg 4.13)Action is that he is to deliver his disciple from the blazing fire of this material existence.
This material world is always blazing, always a problem. Nobody can deny it. Nobody goes to set fire. But by accident, by manipulation, fire takes place. In this material world, everyone is trying to be peaceful, happy, tranquil. No. There must be fire. Therefore this material existence is called samsara-davanala-lidha-loka. (Samsara Prayers)
This fire can be extinguished only if there is cloud upon it--if there is rain. You cannot send fire brigade. The fire of this material world can be extinguished through the exigency of spiritual master, because he has received the mercy cloud, from the ocean of mercy, Krsna, and he pours it over this samsara-davanala.
Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. (SB 7.5.31)The so-called rascal leaders, they are making plan, lifelong. The United Nations making plan to stop war, fighting. They cannot do it. It is not possible. You have to take mercy from Krsna.
The demons, they don't care for Krsna. They think, "I am God. I shall do it." Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. (Bg 7.15) Because they are naradhama, lowest of the mankind. Asuram bhavam asritah. na mam duskrtino mudhah. (Bg 7.15)
Asuric bhava means denying the existence of God. There are two kinds of men: asura and devata. Those who are accepting the authority of the Supreme Lord are called devata. Those who are denying the existence of God... such demons are prevalent everywhere.
The demons write, on the note, "We Trust In God," but practically does nothing. That is also another edition of demons: under the garb of believing in God, doing all nonsense.
na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. (Bg 7.15) Human life is meant for understanding what is God, what is my relationship with Him. God is great, I am very small. The rascal says, "No, I am God." God is not so cheap.
yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah. (BS 5.48) Simply by the breathing of Maha-Visnu, innumerable universes are coming and going. That is God. na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. (Bg 7.15)
How to become devotee? adau gurvasrayam. (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu) One has to seek out a bona fide spiritual master. Just like Suta Gosvami has become disciple of a bona fide spiritual master, Sukadeva Gosvami.
Sukadeva Gosvami was liberated. He remained within the womb of his mother for sixteen years because he was conscious that, "As soon as I get out of the womb, I'll be immediately captured by maya. So let me become little strong."
Prahlada Maharaja learned all about God consciousness from within the womb, as Narada Muni was teaching Prahlada's mother.
It is the business of saintly person, whoever comes to him, he would give him instruction about spiritual knowledge.
Prahlad's mother, less intelligent woman, but Prahlada took all the instruction and became a perfect devotee.
Prahlad's friends inquired, "My dear Prahlada, you are the son of a king and you do not go outside your palace, and we are sent here in this school, teaching. Our teacher is the same. How you have learned all these nice things?" He said, "My dear friends, these nice things I learned from Narada, the same spiritual master. The instruction was actually meant for my mother, but being woman, she has forgotten."
striyah sudras tatha vaisyas te 'pi yanti param gatim. (Bg 9.32) By Krsna's mercy, even if she's woman. mam hi partha vyapasritya (Bg 9.32) -- "It doesn't matter whether he is woman or sudra or a vaisya. If he takes shelter of My lotus feet, according to the regulative principle, they also go back to home, back to Godhead." kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha (Bg 9.33), what to speak of the persons who are born in brahmana family and those who are devotee.
If you want to get relief from this temporary world and the distresses within this world, then bhajasva mam: "Just become a devotee of Me."
Sukadeva Gosvami purposefully remained within the womb of his mother for sixteen years, and as soon as he got out, immediately he left home. Immediately. Anupeta.
According to Vedic system there is upanayana, upetam. Upa means near, and nayana means bringing. When the spiritual master brings the disciples nearer by giving him gayatri-mantra, that is called upanayana-samskara.
Sukadeva Gosvami did not take any such samskara. He learned from his father within the womb of his mother, and as he became perfectly in knowledge, liberated soul, immediately he got out of the womb of his mother and immediately started for the forest. Naked, he was going on.
His father became very much aggrieved: "Oh, my son is born and he's going immediately!" Son didn't care. Went away. putreti tan-mayataya taravo 'bhineduh. (Bhagavat Purana) Because the father was so aggrieved, the trees replied. There was vibration, echoes.
tam sarva-bhuta-hrdayam munim anato 'smi: (SB 1.2.2) "I am offering my respectful obeisances unto the great sage, Sukadeva Gosvami, whose activities is like that. Immediately coming out of the womb of his mother he left home without being, undergoing any samskara."
Samskara is required who is impure. We should not imitate, not that as soon as we get out of the womb of mother we can walk. No. It is special. It is special. Therefore everything is special.
Even without taking any initiation. He was initiated by his father, Vyasadeva.
Suta Gosvami is describing the wonderful activities of his spiritual master and offering obeisances. Tam munim anato 'smi: (SB 1.2.2) "That great sage, anato 'smi, I humbly bow down on his lotus feet."
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