Bharata Maharaj : Past karma carried in the subtle body can deviate us

Sukadeva Goswami states in SB 5.8.26 : "..........Due to the fruitive results of his past deeds, he fell down from mystic yoga, austerity and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If it were not due to his past fruitive activity, how could he have been attracted to the deer after giving up the association of his own son and family, considering them stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual life? How could he show such uncontrollable affection for a deer? This was definitely due to his past karma."

When King Pracinabarhi inquires from Narada Muni about the transmigration of the soul Narada Muni explains how karma is carried by the subtle body during transmigration. In the new body the living entity gets a chance to fulfill his plans by the grace of the Supreme Lord. The living entity also suffers the good and bad reactions of his past life in the new body. The sinful reactions may also manifest in the form of desires not conducive for progress. This has been explained in great detail in this post:Liberation means getting out of the clutches of the subtle body..4.29.61 purport

If past karma could affect Bharat Maharaj in this way, causing him to deviate rom his practices what about all the past karma and desires we have. How powerful can they be? We are not even as pure as Bharata Maharaj who had left his family and kingdom to engage himself in achieveing the Ultimate goal.

• We need to be extremely careful of how we allow our desires to guide us. Association of devotees and sadhana is the safety net for this.
• We should also be extremely careful of what we expose ourselves now as that will manifest in the form of fesires or reactions in the future blocking our progress.

Razor's edge : Lessons from Bharat Maharaj

Maharaj Bharat had attained the stage of Bhava and had retired in the forest to attain the perfection of life- love for Krsna.However he got distracted by his compassion towards a deer calf.He got extremely attached to the deer and while caring for it , he negelected his own sadhana and feel to the position of a deer in his next birth.

One can fall even from the stage of bhava (albiet temporarily) if one neglects one's spiritual practices.Spiritual life is like a razor's edge. If we dont practice right we will lose all our spiritual credits and fall down. One small distraction can pull our mind away. The distraction maybe seemingly justified , however if it is taking us away from Krishna it is material.

Importance of association and sadhana:
Practicing great caution is absolutely necessary and sadhana should not be compromised at any cost.Maya came in the form of a deer to distract Bharat Maharaj- it may manifest in different forms for us. Unless we follow rigid sadhana and remain in association we will not be able to make the right judgement.

Material compassion:
Bharat Maharaj felt responsible towards the deer and took great care of it - to the extent that he thought it ok to compromise his spiritual practices to take care of the motherless deer. The compassion transformed to attachment and an eventual fall down from his position.

He states thus:
SB 5.8.10: Even though one is in the renounced order, one who is advanced certainly feels compassion for suffering living entities. One should certainly neglect his own personal interests, although they may be very important, to protect one who has surrendered.

This is how the mind can trick us. The mind can win when sadhana is compromised.

Srila Prabhupada states in this regard:
"by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, we may raise a person to spiritual consciousness if we ourselves follow the rules and regulations. If we give up our own spiritual activities and simply become concerned with the bodily comforts of others, we will fall into a dangerous position."

So many times in the name of preaching or cultivating someone we may find ourself in a situation similar to Bharat Maharaj. We may feel that the person is dependent only on us for their spiritual life and we need to go the extra mile to help them in their practice and personal problems. However we must realize that our time in the material world is at a premium - for services and our own upliftment .
If we have difficulty following SP's statement above then we need to examine our consciousness : Do we really desire to help this devotee ?How much time is needed here?
I cannot sustain myself if I dont do my sadhana right - I will not be able to help anyone.
Am I doing this on the platform of service or is it giving pleasure to my false ego?Am I really helping the devotee take shelter of Krishna- Am I right the person- Maybe I can connect them with a higher authority?

If we help the new devotee take shelter of Krishna through His Holy Names, take shelter of SP books and lectures we would be doing great service. Also if such attachment is cultivated the number of times the new devotee will need our help will reduce.

However we can encourage someone to cultivate such attachment only if we ourselves are similarly attached. This again goes back to SP's statement in bold above.

We should endeavor to raise people to Krishna Consciousness - thats is real compassion. This is possible by raising ourselves.

SP's powerful quotes in this pastime:
"Spiritual salvation and liberation from material bondage must be worked out with great caution, otherwise a little discrepancy will cause one to fall down again into material existence. ......... We should be compassionate by raising one from the material platform to the spiritual platform; otherwise at any moment our spiritual advancement may be spoiled, and we may fall down onto the material platform. Maharaj Bharat's compassion for the deer was the beginning of his falldown into the material world." SB 5.8.7

"we have to be very cautious in executing our spiritual duties by observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. If we neglect doing this, we will eventually fall down. We must rise early in the morning. bathe, attend mańgala-ārati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the ācāryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced." SB 5.8.8

Sympathy towards bodily condition:
"if one does not know of the material sufferings of fallen souls and becomes sympathetic because of bodily comforts, as in the case of Bharat Maharaj, such sympathy or compassion is the cause of one's downfall. If one is actually sympathetic to fallen, suffering humanity, he should try to elevate people from material consciousness to spiritual consciousness." SB 5.8.9

Lastly:
"We should be very careful not to be misled by so-called welfare activities conducted in bodily, terms. One should not give up his interest in attaining the favor of Lord Viṣṇu at any cost. Generally people do not know this, or they forget it. " SB 5.8.10

Wife's encouragement necessary for execution of duties in grhastha ashram

From the purport to SB 5.1.23:

Maharaja Priyavrata, strictly maintained varnasrama-dharma by his extraordinary, unparalleled prowess.To maintain such a life of strict vigilance, one needs encouragement from his wife. In the varnasrama-dharma system, certain classes, such as the brahmanas and sannyasis, do not need encouragement from the opposite sex. Ksatriyas and grhasthas, however, actually need the encouragement of their wives in order to execute their duties. Indeed, a grhastha or ksatriya cannot properly execute his responsibilities without the association of his wife. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally admitted that a grhastha must live with a wife. Ksatriyas were even allowed to have many wives to encourage them in discharging the duties of government. The association of a good wife is necessary in a life of karma and political affairs. To execute his duties properly, therefore. Maharaja Priyavrata took advantage of his good wife Barhismati, who was always very expert in pleasing her great husband by properly dressing herself, smiling, and exhibiting her feminine bodily features. Queen Barhismati always kept Maharaja Priyavrata very encouraged, and thus he executed his governmental duty very properly. In this verse iva has twice been used to indicate that Maharaja Priyavrata acted exactly like a henpecked husband and thereby seemed to have lost his sense of human responsibility. Actually, however, he was fully conscious of his position as a spirit soul, although he seemingly behaved like an acquiescent karmi husband.

Importance of attachment to Krsna's Lotus feet in grhastha ashram

Maharaj Priyavrata was leading a life in the renounced order. He was instructed by Lord Brahma to take the service of ruling all the planetary systems. For doing so , he would have to leave the renounced order and accept a wife.Maharaj Priyavrata asked Lord Brahma if he will be diverted from the devotional service of the Lord by accepting the responsibility of ruling over of the world. Maharaj Pariksit also asked Sukadeva Maharaj how was it possbile for Priyavrata Maharaj to be in householder life and still achieve the topmost perfection of Krishna Consciousness.

This a plaguing question for most grhasthas as the ashram offers many material distractions.
How can one keep oneself protected when one is completely surrounded by debilitating material attractions?

Following is a summary of the answers provided by Sukadeva Goswami,Lord Brahma and Srila Prabhupada's purports in answer to these pertinent questions from the verses SB 5.1.1 -5.1.23.

• Experience bliss in the Lord's shelter : Those who have taken shelter of the Lord's lotus feet are under His cool shade ,experiencing complete bliss and are protected from the anxieties of the material world.They are completely satisfied and blissful. Thus they have no attraction and attachment for the material world.param drstva nivartate: one gives up lower engagements when he experiences a higher taste. Thus one becomes detached from family life as soon as he comes under the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Ref SB 5.1.4
  
• Mind and senses automatically conquered in the Lord's shelter:When a bumblebee enters the opening of a lotus flower and drinks its honey, it is fully protected by the petals of the lotus. The bee is undisturbed by sunshine and other external influences. Similarly, one who always seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the personality of Godhead is protected from all dangers - the urges of the mind and senses.Our actual duty is to carry out the supreme order of the Personality of Godhead. If we are fixed in our determination to carry out the supreme order of the Lord, we are always secure, regardless of where we are situated, whether in hell or in heaven.Ref SB 5.1.19
  
• Following strictly rules and regulations of Sadhana Bhakti: Householder life affords one a chance to either go back to Godhead or get entangled in frutive material enjoyment. If one follows rigid sadhana and the rules and regulations of sadhana bhakti under guidance of Spiritual Master one can use householder life as a vehicle to get blessed with love for Krishna.Lord Brahma indicated that since Maharaj Priyavrata followed a high standard of renunciation, austerity, penance and devotion he would not be deviated from devotional service, even though he would accept household life. Ref SB 5.1.10
• Krpa siddhi:By the blessings of the spiritual master and senior devotees one can achieve anything.Our attitude and following of the practice should be such that it can attract such blessings. By Narada Muni's and Lord Brahma's blessings it will be possible for Maharaj Priyavrata to be in houshold life yet in complete KC. Ref SB 5.1.10
  
• Yuktam vairagya: SP quotes the sloka anasktasya visyana .... and states "Visayan, material affairs, should be accepted without attachment. and everything should be dovetailed with the service of the Lord. That is real intelligence (manisa). Becoming a family man or king in the material world is not harmful if one accepts everything for Krsna's service. That necessitates clear intelligence. "Ref SB 5.1.12
• Follow instructions of spiritual master:By following the instructions of Lord Brahma and Narada Muni Maharaj Priyavrata performed the worldly affairs but was always engaged in thought of the Lotus Feet of the Lord.He did so to honor the orders of his superiors. If we just follow the instructions of the spiritual master properly we will also be protected from material desires and will be able to constantly think of Krishna's lotus feet. The spiritual master is providing us with so much help and mercy we just have to access it - by following his orders. Ref SB 5.1.23

A description of Maharaj Priyavrata's activities in householder life as a king is given as such:

SB 5.1.29: After Kavi, Mahavira and Savana were completely trained in the paramahamsa stage of life, Maharaja Priyavrata ruled the universe for eleven arbudas of years. Whenever he was determined to fix his arrow upon his bowstring with his two powerful arms, all opponents of the regulative principles of religious life would flee from his presence in fear of the unparalleled prowess he displayed in ruling the universe. He greatly loved his wife Barhismati, and with the increase of days, their exchange of nuptial love also increased. By her feminine behavior as she dressed herself, walked, got up, smiled, laughed, and glanced about, Queen Barhismati increased his energy. Thus although he was a great soul, he appeared lost in the feminine conduct of his wife. He behaved with her just like an ordinary man, but actually he was a great soul.

Svayambhuva Manu's happiness in giving his responsibilities to his son

SB 5.1.22: Svayambhuva Manu, with the assistance of Lord Brahma, thus fulfilled his desires. With the permission of the great sage Narada, he delivered to his son the governmental responsibility for maintaining and protecting all the planets of the universe. He thus achieved relief from the most dangerous, poisonous ocean of material desires.


Svayambhuva Manu took great satisfaction from abnegating the responsibility for ruling all the planetary systems of the universe. King Priyavrata had to be persuaded by Lord Brahma to accept the post of emperor of the entire universe. His father, Svayambhuva Manu, felt relieved to entrust the universal government to Priyavrata.

In the vedic culture one did their duty only for the purpose of satisfying the Supreme.When it was time to accept another duty they could very easily leave their current duty in the hands of someone else as they were not attached to the duty and its fruits , but attached to pleasing the Supreme.

Handling disagreements without resentment

Narada Muni had been instructing Maharaj Priyavrata in the details of renounced life. Lord Brahma instructs Maharaj Priyavrata to accept household life and responsibilities of ruling over the planet and give up the renounced order.

Narada Muni and Maharaj Priyavrata did not feel any resentment with this happening as they are not attached to their opinion. They were only attached to what is good for the service of the Lord and thus bore no resentment in their heart and offered due respect to Lord Brahma.They both saw Lord Brahma as their superior and as one who was carrying out the service of the Lord.

SB 5.1.21: Lord Brahmā was then worshiped by Manu, who respectfully satisfied him as well as he could. Priyavrata and Nārada also looked upon Brahmā with no tinges of resentment. Having engaged Priyavrata in accepting his father's request, Lord Brahmā returned to his abode, Satyaloka, which is indescribable by the endeavor of mundane mind or words.


To not feel resentment when being advised by two different authorities especially when one direction maybe different from the longing of our heart:

• When we are being guided by two different devotees , who are both representatives of the Lord our attitude should be to neglect neither of them and to use our intelligence to follow the advise of both. Apparently Maharaj Priyavrata was being inspired in different ways by Narada Muni and Lord Brahma. SP write in the purport to SB 5.1.12 that "Priyavrata should neglect neither of them but should use his intelligence to follow the advice of both".
  
• He then elaborates to explains "material affairs, should be accepted without attachment. and everything should be dovetailed with the service of the Lord."
• Thus our goal should be service in KC, if that is in place we will not have any resentment with following authority.
• Maharaj Priyavrata as an ideal disciple left his personal desires aside at the call of service.
  
• However if we do feel resentment, a thorough examination of our consciousness will reveal to us our attachments and that are services are still on the material platform.

To not have resentment when the person whom we are guiding is guided by another devotee with an apparently different instruction:

• This can be learned from Narada Muni's example.
• He did not feel any resentment in his heart as he saw Lord Brahma's instruction in line with service to the Lord.
• The instruction maybe apparently different but at the core it is in line with service to the Lord - the goal of all instructions.
  

Vaikuntha atmosphere: Hearing and chanting in association of devotees

Lord Vishnu being pleased with the austerities of the Pracetas comes before them and blessed them with His beautiful darshan.He expressed His pleasure with the Pracetas and requested them to ask for a benediction in SB4.30.8. The Pracetas offer their prayers glorifying the Lord and state that association of pure devotees in the only benediction they ask for and it is the highest benediction. They then glorify the benefits of hearing and chanting in the association of devotees in verses SB 4.30.35-37.

"Whenever pure topics of the transcendental world are discussed, the members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear."

• Audience forget material hankerings
• No longer envious of each other:By vibrating or discussing the Holy Name of the Lord, one becomes non-envious and devoid of material hankering.
  
• Free from anxiety and fear
• Lord Narayana Himself is present

The above three indicate a Vaikuntha atmosphere and therefore hearing and chanting in the association of devotees is the highest benediction given to us.
Srila Prabhupada says "The living entities who have accepted this material world as a residence are full of anxiety. A place immediately becomes Vaikuntha whenever the holy topics of the Personality of Godhead are discussed by pure devotees. "

And from SB 3.25.25

• Pastimes of the Lord are pleasing and satisfying to the mind and heart
• One can become free from material attraction
• Attraction to Krsna becomes fixed
• Real devotion and devotional service begins
  

Association with pure devotees: The highest benediction

Lord Vishnu being pleased with the austerities of the Pracetas comes before them and blesses them with His beautiful darshan.He expressed His pleasure with the Pracetas and requested them to ask for a benediction in SB4.30.8. The Pracetas offer their prayers glorifying the Lord and then state in SB 4.30.33:

"As long as we have to remain in the material world and take up different bodies in different planets, they pray that they associate with those who are engaged in discussing Your Pastimes" and " A moment's association with a pure devotee cannot be compared with liberation.Association with pure devotees is the highest benediction."

Similar benedictions were sought after by Jaya-Vijaya, the 4 kumaras and Prthu Maharaj:

• When Jaya and Vijaya were being cursed they said they were ready to accept any condition save and except the condition where they are under the illusion of forgetting the SPG.
• The Kumaras also thinking they maybe forced to fall into the material world because they cursed Jaya and Vjaya also request for the benediction that they maybe born in any condition but they should also be engaged in the Lord's service and in hearing the glories of the Lord.
• When Prthu Maharaj is asked for a benediction he only desires the benediction of hearing the glories of the Lord from the mouths of the pure devotees.

Association of devotees is the topmost benediction.In the Siksastaka Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu states "Mam janmani janmani ishware bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi". How will we always be continuously engaged in devotional service birth after birth?
This is possible only if we are always in the association of devotees.

1. The most important thing for a devotee is getting a chance to hear about the pastimes and glories of the Lord.
2. By associating with devotees who are very attached to Krishna's Lotus feet we will also develop the same attachment.
3. We will be protected from becoming non-devotees only if we are in strong association.
   
4. Activities of hearing and chanting in the association of devotees are very purifying and full of transcendental pleasure.All miseries are vanquished and the atmosphere is thus a Vaikuntha atmosphere. More on the benefits of hearing and chanting in association can be read here.
5. A moment's association with a pure devotee is the highest benediction.Even in a moment we can receive all their mercy and grace to develop love for Krishna.The Pracetas got the association of Lord Siva and through that association they were able to get the darshan of Lord Narayana.
6. It is therefore the duty of everyone to associate with a pure devotee and thus attain freedom from material contamination. Everyone should take advantage of the wandering devotees, whose only business is to deliver conditioned souls from the clutches of māyā.
7. SB 4.22.19: When there is a congregation of devotees, their discussions, questions and answers become conclusive to both the speaker and the audience. Thus such a meeting is beneficial for everyone's real happiness.
   

Results of Envy

Lord Indra becomes envious of the horse sacrifices performed by Prthu Maharaj as Prthu Maharaj was performing his 100th horse sacrifice and would get the same fame as him for performing 100 horse sacrifices.

Reacting on the platform of envy Lord Indra then performs various activities to disrupt the 100th sacrifice.

Envy is the inability to tolerate another person's success:

1. Essence of the material experience.
2. Essence of all bad qualities that our present in our heart.

Envy causes the jiva to perform various activities in a bid to stop someone's success.Depending on the level of material contamination it will manifest either as thoughts or thoughts and words or thoughts, words and actions.

Following is a synopsis of the ill effects of envy based on the example of Lord Indra's attempts to stop the 100th sacrifice. SB 4.19

Envy:

1. Leads to Pain :Pain that someones possess something we lack
2. Leads to Fear:Someone may possess something more than what we have and surpass us.Lord Indra feared that Prthu Maharaj's piety would exceed his own and thus he felt threatened
3. Bewilderment of intelligence(vinash kale viprit buddhi) :One performs actions against injunctions of Guru and Shastra. e.g Indra stole the horse, decieved everyone as a sanyasi, ran from the battlefield out of cowardice
4. Repeatedly perform the same mistakes: To relieve his envy Lord Indra repeatedly kept stealing the horse
5. Deepening of bad qualities: Owing to his envy Lord Indra's bad qualities started magnifying
6. Perform irreligious acts: Lord Indra started different pseudo sanyasa orders. Out of envy we may hurt someone through our words, we may criticise them openly, degrade their reputation, one may also kill or one may start parallel lines of authority.
7. Purity reduces: One's purity and potency to perform devotional service reduces.Lord Indra's powers and credibility both reduced.
8. Reflects badly on Krishna: An envious devotee's activities reflect badly on our dearmost Lord Sri Krsna.
   

Friendly Relationships between devotees pleases Krishna

Pleased by the austerities of the Pracetas (sons of King Pracinabarhi) Lord Vishnu appears before them in His eight handed form and blesses them.

Lord Vishnu speaks the verse SB 4.30.8 "My dear sons of the King, I am very much pleased by the friendly relationships among you. All of you are engaged in one occupation — devotional service. I am so pleased with your mutual friendship that I wish you all good fortune. Now you may ask a benediction of Me."

Notes:

1. The Lord is extremely pleased when He sees devotees cooperating in service to Krishna.
2. Disunity exists when DS is carried out on the bodily platform for the satisfaction of one's need for fame, prestige, envy,etc- that is in the mood of serving oneself and not Krishna.
3. Thus one must rise above material desires and keep questioning oneself " What is the purpose of doing this service. For whose pleasure?

Handling disagreements:

1. If there is some disagreement over service, such disagreement is to be taken as spiritual.
2. There is variegatedness in Krsna's creation and everyone will have their own way of serving the Lord.We should be able to perceive this and accept different viewpoints as the ultimate goal is to serve Krishna.
3. If we ourselves try to follow this mood and see someone else not doing the same, instead of looking down upon them we must be compassionate and encourage them to come to this platform through our love and care for them. We must refrain from being judgmental as that is detrimental to pleasing Krishna.
4. If we see someone not doing service correctly , instead of discouraging them we must help them improve their service by our love and care.
5. We must humbly meditate on how best we can serve the Lord and not find faults with one another.

We should learn somehow with the grace of guru and Krsna to rise above our petty frailties and unite for the right and only cause - devotional service.

The result is that Krishna will be extremely pleased and willing to award all kinds of benedictions on living beings

Liberation means getting out of the clutches of the subtle body..4.29.61 purport

In 4.29 King Pracinabarhisat inquires from Narada Muni about the transmigration of the soul.
Narada Muni replies to this question:

1. Karma is carried in the subtle body, and as the soul transfers to a new body along with the subtle body and the soul's karma , the living entity feels a sense of continuity
2. Although the gross bodies apparently change, the real root of the gross body — the subtle body of mind, intelligence and ego — is always there
3. When the gross body is finished, the plans of the living entity are taken by the mind, and by the grace of the Lord, the living entity gets a chance to give these plans shape in the next life.
4. By the grace of the Supersoul, the living entity gets remembrance and begins to execute plans begun in the previous life

Srila Prabhupada states in SB 4.29.61 " Liberation means getting out of the clutches of the subtle body...If we train the subtle body in this life by always thinking of Krsna, we will transfer to Krsna Loka after leaving the gross body."

My Notes:

One must train the subtle body to be constantly engaged in thoughts about Krishna.This is possible by constant devotional service and chanting the Holy Names of the Lord with full attention.Service on the bodily platform increases identification with matter. True service is anyabhilasita sunyam.... Thus one must be constantly watchful of their consciousness throughout the day in order that the subtle body does not carry material impressions and does not force the gross body to act on the material platform.Cultivation of an attitude of accountability towards Guru in every action will be very helpful in this regard.

References:

1. It is far easier to engage the gross body in service than to control the mind,and therefore the early stages of learning to practice devotional service are centered on engaging the body. Yet aspiring devotees should note that they must ultimately shift their service from merely physical engagement to deep , mental,intellectual and emotional involvement.True devotion means to replace self centeredness with Krsna centeredness. When desire to please Krishna becomes natural, continuous and full of love, one is no longer a part of this world. - Excerpt "Unveiling His Lotus Feet" Pg 946
2. When one is fully absorbed in Krishna Consciousness, in one stroke he is freed of past and future mental desires.By the grace of Lord Krishna motther Yashoda saw all the universes and planets within the mouth of Krishna .Similarly by the grace of Krsna, a Krsna Conscious person can see all his dormant desires at one one time and finish all his future transmigrations. This facility is especially given to the devotee to make his path clear for returning home, BTG.SB 4.29.69
3. One of the goals of Krsna Consciousness is to break the connection between the soul and both the gross and subtle bodies. Pure devotional service effects the break.-Excerpt "Unveiling His Lotus Feet" Pg 949
4. After understanding Krsna as He is, one can become eligible to enter Kṛṣṇaloka and associate with Him. The mind is the cause of such an exalted position. The mind can also get one a body like those of dogs and hogs. To absorb the mind always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is therefore the greatest perfection of human life.SB 4.29.76-77