TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT KRISHNA (4.1 – 4.10)

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(c) Qualification to understand these multi-forms – and example of such a qualified person

(d) Difference between ‘devotee forgetting the nature of Lord’ and ‘demon not understanding’

Learnings from Purport 4.7

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

Meaning of ‘Srjami’ – Lord is not created or born but “manifests” as per free will
‘Srjami’ is mentioned as “manifests” because Text 4.6 refutes the Lord being born or created, by calling Him as ‘aja’.

(b) When does the Lord incarnate – Usual schedule of Lord’s appearance

End of Dvapara-yuga of 28th millennium of seventh Manu of a day of Brahma
But no obligation to rule

What are the ‘principles of dharma’ – Direct orders of Supreme Personality of Godhead
o Ref. SB 6.3.19 “Dharmam tu…”
What is ‘Highest dharma’ – Surrender unto Him only

(d) Certain facts about ‘Avatara’

Mission: Comes with mission, e.g. Lord Buddha came to establish Vedic principles of ‘Nonviolence’
Sanctioned: Mentioned in scriptures – criteria to accept
Place: Can appear anywhere, not only on Indian soil
Message: Speaks as per audience, e.g. higher and lower mathematics
Common mission:
o To lead people to God-consciousness,
o Obedience to the principles of religion

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(c) Qualification to understand these multi-forms – and example of such a qualified person

(d) Difference between ‘devotee forgetting the nature of Lord’ and ‘demon not understanding’

Learnings from Purport 4.7

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

Meaning of ‘Srjami’ – Lord is not created or born but “manifests” as per free will
‘Srjami’ is mentioned as “manifests” because Text 4.6 refutes the Lord being born or created, by calling Him as ‘aja’.

(b) When does the Lord incarnate – Usual schedule of Lord’s appearance

End of Dvapara-yuga of 28th millennium of seventh Manu of a day of Brahma
But no obligation to rule

What are the ‘principles of dharma’ – Direct orders of Supreme Personality of Godhead
o Ref. SB 6.3.19 “Dharmam tu…”
What is ‘Highest dharma’ – Surrender unto Him only

(d) Certain facts about ‘Avatara’

Mission: Comes with mission, e.g. Lord Buddha came to establish Vedic principles of ‘Nonviolence’
Sanctioned: Mentioned in scriptures – criteria to accept
Place: Can appear anywhere, not only on Indian soil
Message: Speaks as per audience, e.g. higher and lower mathematics
Common mission:
o To lead people to God-consciousness,
o Obedience to the principles of religion

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

Learnings from Purport 4.5 – 4.6

(a) Peculiarity of Lord’s birth

Lord appears like an ordinary person
But remembers many many past births
Common man cannot remember past few hours, therefore no-one can claim to be God

(b) Lord has many incarnations but He is original

Ref. Vedas – Analogy: Lord is like the Vaidurya stone which changes color but still remains
one (Lord manifests so many innumerable forms)
Ref. Brahma-Samhita 5.33; 5.39

(c) Qualification to understand these multi-forms – and example of such a qualified person

Only by pure unalloyed devotion and not by simple study of the Vedas, can one understand
e.g. Arjuna incarnates as one of the associate devotees in all incarnations

(d) Difference between ‘devotee forgetting the nature of Lord’ and ‘demon not understanding’

Devotee may forget but by His divine grace, one immediately understands the infallible nature of the Lord
Non-devotee never understands

(e) Living entity can never equal the Lord (4.5)

Lord is Achyuta (Infallible) – Never forgets Himself and His previous births even in material contact
Lord is Advaita – There is no distinction between His body and Self, therefore He does not change His spiritual body and never forgets His past births
Living entity, however great, spiritually liberated or materially great, can never equal the Lord, e.g. Arjuna
o Materially – He is famous as ‘Parantapa’ (Subduer of enemies)
o Spiritually – is one of the liberated associates

(f) ‘Atma-maya’ (4.6) – means

Lord descends by ‘internal potency’ and not by ‘external potency’
o Lord’s body and intelligence never deteriorates (‘avyayam’) and is never contaminated by material nature (thus it defeats Mayavada teaching)
o Prakriti means nature or ‘svarupa’ (own form)
o Analogy: His appearance and disappearance are likes the sun’s rising and setting
o He is always the “Lord of all living entities” – evident by wonderful and superhuman acts on Earth
‘Atma-maya’ also means that Lord descends by ‘causeless mercy’ so that we can concentrate on His form as He is and not on ‘Mental concoctions and imaginations’
o Ref. Amara-kosa dictionary

Learnings from Purport 4.7

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

Meaning of ‘Srjami’ – Lord is not created or born but “manifests” as per free will
‘Srjami’ is mentioned as “manifests” because Text 4.6 refutes the Lord being born or created, by calling Him as ‘aja’.

(b) When does the Lord incarnate – Usual schedule of Lord’s appearance

End of Dvapara-yuga of 28th millennium of seventh Manu of a day of Brahma
But no obligation to rule

What are the ‘principles of dharma’ – Direct orders of Supreme Personality of Godhead
o Ref. SB 6.3.19 “Dharmam tu…”
What is ‘Highest dharma’ – Surrender unto Him only

(d) Certain facts about ‘Avatara’

Mission: Comes with mission, e.g. Lord Buddha came to establish Vedic principles of ‘Nonviolence’
Sanctioned: Mentioned in scriptures – criteria to accept
Place: Can appear anywhere, not only on Indian soil
Message: Speaks as per audience, e.g. higher and lower mathematics
Common mission:
o To lead people to God-consciousness,
o Obedience to the principles of religion

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

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(b) Is Arjuna convinced of Krishna’s position – Yes, as evident from Chapter 10 mentioned in this purport.

(c) What is demoniac standpoint about Krishna’s position? (These points are similar to those mentioned in Purports of 4.1 – 4.3)

LINK BETWEEN 4.4 & 4.5 : This question in Text 4.4, asked for the benefit of others, gives Krishna the opportunity to speak directly about Himself in the next few verses.

COMMON THEME : Krishna reveals His transcendental position about His birth and activities.

1. Text 4.5 and 4.6 talks about ‘His appearance and disappearance’

Text 4.5: My birth and death are not like yours
Text 4.6: I appear in My original transcendental form which is unborn and never dies , I appear by My own will

2. Texts 4.7 – 4.8 talks about ‘His activities.’ It explains when and why Krishna appears – reasons of descent:

When
o Decline in religion
o Predominant rise in irreligion
Why
o To annihilate the demons
o To deliver the devotees (from anxiety to see the Lord)
o To re-establish the principles of religion

3. Text 4.9 – 4.10 talks about the result of understanding the knowledge of ‘transcendental birth’ (Texts 4.5 & 4.6) and ‘activities’ (Texts 4.7 & 4.8)

To be absorbed in Krishna
Become purified
Freed from attachment, fear and anger
Attain love for Krishna
Go back to Krishna (Transcendental abode)
No re-birth in material world

PLEASE NOTE : All Themes of Texts 4.5 – 4.10 are described above under the common theme and their purports are described in their respective Focus of Learning sections below. Only some points of the purports of Texts 4.5 and 4.6, are described under the Summarsized Theme 4A.

SUMMARISED THEME 4A

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KRISHNA AND THE CONDITIONED LIVING ENTITY (4.5 – 4.6 purports)
S no	KRISHNA	CONDITIONED LIVING ENTITY
1	Eternal and remembers past, present and future (Acyuta: never forgets – infallible)	Eternal but forgets
2	Remembers all births because body does not change or deteriorate (Avyayam)	Forgets because body changes and deteriorates
3	Appears by own will	Forced to appear by karma
4	Body is transcendental	Body is material
5	No difference between body and self (Adwaita)	The soul acquires an external body (gross and subtle)

Learnings from Purport 4.5 – 4.6

(a) Peculiarity of Lord’s birth

Lord appears like an ordinary person
But remembers many many past births
Common man cannot remember past few hours, therefore no-one can claim to be God

(b) Lord has many incarnations but He is original

Ref. Vedas – Analogy: Lord is like the Vaidurya stone which changes color but still remains
one (Lord manifests so many innumerable forms)
Ref. Brahma-Samhita 5.33; 5.39

(c) Qualification to understand these multi-forms – and example of such a qualified person

Only by pure unalloyed devotion and not by simple study of the Vedas, can one understand
e.g. Arjuna incarnates as one of the associate devotees in all incarnations

(d) Difference between ‘devotee forgetting the nature of Lord’ and ‘demon not understanding’

Devotee may forget but by His divine grace, one immediately understands the infallible nature of the Lord
Non-devotee never understands

(e) Living entity can never equal the Lord (4.5)

Lord is Achyuta (Infallible) – Never forgets Himself and His previous births even in material contact
Lord is Advaita – There is no distinction between His body and Self, therefore He does not change His spiritual body and never forgets His past births
Living entity, however great, spiritually liberated or materially great, can never equal the Lord, e.g. Arjuna
o Materially – He is famous as ‘Parantapa’ (Subduer of enemies)
o Spiritually – is one of the liberated associates

(f) ‘Atma-maya’ (4.6) – means

Lord descends by ‘internal potency’ and not by ‘external potency’
o Lord’s body and intelligence never deteriorates (‘avyayam’) and is never contaminated by material nature (thus it defeats Mayavada teaching)
o Prakriti means nature or ‘svarupa’ (own form)
o Analogy: His appearance and disappearance are likes the sun’s rising and setting
o He is always the “Lord of all living entities” – evident by wonderful and superhuman acts on Earth
‘Atma-maya’ also means that Lord descends by ‘causeless mercy’ so that we can concentrate on His form as He is and not on ‘Mental concoctions and imaginations’
o Ref. Amara-kosa dictionary

Learnings from Purport 4.7

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

Meaning of ‘Srjami’ – Lord is not created or born but “manifests” as per free will
‘Srjami’ is mentioned as “manifests” because Text 4.6 refutes the Lord being born or created, by calling Him as ‘aja’.

(b) When does the Lord incarnate – Usual schedule of Lord’s appearance

End of Dvapara-yuga of 28th millennium of seventh Manu of a day of Brahma
But no obligation to rule

What are the ‘principles of dharma’ – Direct orders of Supreme Personality of Godhead
o Ref. SB 6.3.19 “Dharmam tu…”
What is ‘Highest dharma’ – Surrender unto Him only

(d) Certain facts about ‘Avatara’

Mission: Comes with mission, e.g. Lord Buddha came to establish Vedic principles of ‘Nonviolence’
Sanctioned: Mentioned in scriptures – criteria to accept
Place: Can appear anywhere, not only on Indian soil
Message: Speaks as per audience, e.g. higher and lower mathematics
Common mission:
o To lead people to God-consciousness,
o Obedience to the principles of religion

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(b) Importance of Bhagavad-gita being given to the sun-god as the first disciple (4.1)

(h) What is real “devotional service to the cause of Bhagavad-gita” (4.3) – Any commentary on Bhagavad-gita in footsteps of Arjuna – This is the only way to benefit from Bhagavad-gita.

THEME : : Arjuna’s doubt: How can Krishna, born as son of Devaki, instruct Vivasvan who is millions of years older.

Learnings from Purport 4.4

(a) Why does Arjuna question about this doubt

To defy demoniac and atheistic people who say that ‘Krishna is ordinary’
Wants Krishna to speak authoritatively
⇒ Benefits of Krishna’s speaking
▪ Krishna’s speech is auspicious for the whole world
▪ Devotees heartily welcome and worship such statements
▪ They are always eager to hear more and more about Krishna
Wants demons to know that Krishna is superhuman, transcendental and above modes, time and space.

(b) Is Arjuna convinced of Krishna’s position – Yes, as evident from Chapter 10 mentioned in this purport.

(c) What is demoniac standpoint about Krishna’s position? (These points are similar to those mentioned in Purports of 4.1 – 4.3)

Not like the idea that Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead
Reject Him as ‘Supreme Authority’
Distort Him according to their understanding
Find such explanations strange, because they study from their own standpoint

LINK BETWEEN 4.4 & 4.5 : This question in Text 4.4, asked for the benefit of others, gives Krishna the opportunity to speak directly about Himself in the next few verses.

COMMON THEME : Krishna reveals His transcendental position about His birth and activities.

1. Text 4.5 and 4.6 talks about ‘His appearance and disappearance’

Text 4.5: My birth and death are not like yours
Text 4.6: I appear in My original transcendental form which is unborn and never dies , I appear by My own will

2. Texts 4.7 – 4.8 talks about ‘His activities.’ It explains when and why Krishna appears – reasons of descent:

When
o Decline in religion
o Predominant rise in irreligion
Why
o To annihilate the demons
o To deliver the devotees (from anxiety to see the Lord)
o To re-establish the principles of religion

3. Text 4.9 – 4.10 talks about the result of understanding the knowledge of ‘transcendental birth’ (Texts 4.5 & 4.6) and ‘activities’ (Texts 4.7 & 4.8)

To be absorbed in Krishna
Become purified
Freed from attachment, fear and anger
Attain love for Krishna
Go back to Krishna (Transcendental abode)
No re-birth in material world

SUMMARISED THEME 4A

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KRISHNA AND THE CONDITIONED LIVING ENTITY (4.5 – 4.6 purports)
S no	KRISHNA	CONDITIONED LIVING ENTITY
1	Eternal and remembers past, present and future (Acyuta: never forgets – infallible)	Eternal but forgets
2	Remembers all births because body does not change or deteriorate (Avyayam)	Forgets because body changes and deteriorates
3	Appears by own will	Forced to appear by karma
4	Body is transcendental	Body is material
5	No difference between body and self (Adwaita)	The soul acquires an external body (gross and subtle)

Learnings from Purport 4.5 – 4.6

(a) Peculiarity of Lord’s birth

Lord appears like an ordinary person
But remembers many many past births
Common man cannot remember past few hours, therefore no-one can claim to be God

(b) Lord has many incarnations but He is original

Ref. Vedas – Analogy: Lord is like the Vaidurya stone which changes color but still remains
one (Lord manifests so many innumerable forms)
Ref. Brahma-Samhita 5.33; 5.39

(c) Qualification to understand these multi-forms – and example of such a qualified person

Only by pure unalloyed devotion and not by simple study of the Vedas, can one understand
e.g. Arjuna incarnates as one of the associate devotees in all incarnations

(d) Difference between ‘devotee forgetting the nature of Lord’ and ‘demon not understanding’

Devotee may forget but by His divine grace, one immediately understands the infallible nature of the Lord
Non-devotee never understands

(e) Living entity can never equal the Lord (4.5)

Lord is Achyuta (Infallible) – Never forgets Himself and His previous births even in material contact
Lord is Advaita – There is no distinction between His body and Self, therefore He does not change His spiritual body and never forgets His past births
Living entity, however great, spiritually liberated or materially great, can never equal the Lord, e.g. Arjuna
o Materially – He is famous as ‘Parantapa’ (Subduer of enemies)
o Spiritually – is one of the liberated associates

(f) ‘Atma-maya’ (4.6) – means

Lord descends by ‘internal potency’ and not by ‘external potency’
o Lord’s body and intelligence never deteriorates (‘avyayam’) and is never contaminated by material nature (thus it defeats Mayavada teaching)
o Prakriti means nature or ‘svarupa’ (own form)
o Analogy: His appearance and disappearance are likes the sun’s rising and setting
o He is always the “Lord of all living entities” – evident by wonderful and superhuman acts on Earth
‘Atma-maya’ also means that Lord descends by ‘causeless mercy’ so that we can concentrate on His form as He is and not on ‘Mental concoctions and imaginations’
o Ref. Amara-kosa dictionary

Learnings from Purport 4.7

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

Meaning of ‘Srjami’ – Lord is not created or born but “manifests” as per free will
‘Srjami’ is mentioned as “manifests” because Text 4.6 refutes the Lord being born or created, by calling Him as ‘aja’.

(b) When does the Lord incarnate – Usual schedule of Lord’s appearance

End of Dvapara-yuga of 28th millennium of seventh Manu of a day of Brahma
But no obligation to rule

What are the ‘principles of dharma’ – Direct orders of Supreme Personality of Godhead
o Ref. SB 6.3.19 “Dharmam tu…”
What is ‘Highest dharma’ – Surrender unto Him only

(d) Certain facts about ‘Avatara’

Mission: Comes with mission, e.g. Lord Buddha came to establish Vedic principles of ‘Nonviolence’
Sanctioned: Mentioned in scriptures – criteria to accept
Place: Can appear anywhere, not only on Indian soil
Message: Speaks as per audience, e.g. higher and lower mathematics
Common mission:
o To lead people to God-consciousness,
o Obedience to the principles of religion

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

Progress Chapter 1 50%

(b) Importance of Bhagavad-gita being given to the sun-god as the first disciple (4.1)

(h) What is real “devotional service to the cause of Bhagavad-gita” (4.3) – Any commentary on Bhagavad-gita in footsteps of Arjuna – This is the only way to benefit from Bhagavad-gita.

THEME : : Arjuna’s doubt: How can Krishna, born as son of Devaki, instruct Vivasvan who is millions of years older.

Learnings from Purport 4.4

(a) Why does Arjuna question about this doubt

To defy demoniac and atheistic people who say that ‘Krishna is ordinary’
Wants Krishna to speak authoritatively
⇒ Benefits of Krishna’s speaking
▪ Krishna’s speech is auspicious for the whole world
▪ Devotees heartily welcome and worship such statements
▪ They are always eager to hear more and more about Krishna
Wants demons to know that Krishna is superhuman, transcendental and above modes, time and space.

(b) Is Arjuna convinced of Krishna’s position – Yes, as evident from Chapter 10 mentioned in this purport.

(c) What is demoniac standpoint about Krishna’s position? (These points are similar to those mentioned in Purports of 4.1 – 4.3)

Not like the idea that Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead
Reject Him as ‘Supreme Authority’
Distort Him according to their understanding
Find such explanations strange, because they study from their own standpoint

LINK BETWEEN 4.4 & 4.5 : This question in Text 4.4, asked for the benefit of others, gives Krishna the opportunity to speak directly about Himself in the next few verses.

COMMON THEME : Krishna reveals His transcendental position about His birth and activities.

1. Text 4.5 and 4.6 talks about ‘His appearance and disappearance’

Text 4.5: My birth and death are not like yours
Text 4.6: I appear in My original transcendental form which is unborn and never dies , I appear by My own will

2. Texts 4.7 – 4.8 talks about ‘His activities.’ It explains when and why Krishna appears – reasons of descent:

When
o Decline in religion
o Predominant rise in irreligion
Why
o To annihilate the demons
o To deliver the devotees (from anxiety to see the Lord)
o To re-establish the principles of religion

3. Text 4.9 – 4.10 talks about the result of understanding the knowledge of ‘transcendental birth’ (Texts 4.5 & 4.6) and ‘activities’ (Texts 4.7 & 4.8)

To be absorbed in Krishna
Become purified
Freed from attachment, fear and anger
Attain love for Krishna
Go back to Krishna (Transcendental abode)
No re-birth in material world

SUMMARISED THEME 4A

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KRISHNA AND THE CONDITIONED LIVING ENTITY (4.5 – 4.6 purports)
S no	KRISHNA	CONDITIONED LIVING ENTITY
1	Eternal and remembers past, present and future (Acyuta: never forgets – infallible)	Eternal but forgets
2	Remembers all births because body does not change or deteriorate (Avyayam)	Forgets because body changes and deteriorates
3	Appears by own will	Forced to appear by karma
4	Body is transcendental	Body is material
5	No difference between body and self (Adwaita)	The soul acquires an external body (gross and subtle)

Learnings from Purport 4.5 – 4.6

(a) Peculiarity of Lord’s birth

Lord appears like an ordinary person
But remembers many many past births
Common man cannot remember past few hours, therefore no-one can claim to be God

(b) Lord has many incarnations but He is original

Ref. Vedas – Analogy: Lord is like the Vaidurya stone which changes color but still remains
one (Lord manifests so many innumerable forms)
Ref. Brahma-Samhita 5.33; 5.39

(c) Qualification to understand these multi-forms – and example of such a qualified person

Only by pure unalloyed devotion and not by simple study of the Vedas, can one understand
e.g. Arjuna incarnates as one of the associate devotees in all incarnations

(d) Difference between ‘devotee forgetting the nature of Lord’ and ‘demon not understanding’

Devotee may forget but by His divine grace, one immediately understands the infallible nature of the Lord
Non-devotee never understands

(e) Living entity can never equal the Lord (4.5)

Lord is Achyuta (Infallible) – Never forgets Himself and His previous births even in material contact
Lord is Advaita – There is no distinction between His body and Self, therefore He does not change His spiritual body and never forgets His past births
Living entity, however great, spiritually liberated or materially great, can never equal the Lord, e.g. Arjuna
o Materially – He is famous as ‘Parantapa’ (Subduer of enemies)
o Spiritually – is one of the liberated associates

(f) ‘Atma-maya’ (4.6) – means

Lord descends by ‘internal potency’ and not by ‘external potency’
o Lord’s body and intelligence never deteriorates (‘avyayam’) and is never contaminated by material nature (thus it defeats Mayavada teaching)
o Prakriti means nature or ‘svarupa’ (own form)
o Analogy: His appearance and disappearance are likes the sun’s rising and setting
o He is always the “Lord of all living entities” – evident by wonderful and superhuman acts on Earth
‘Atma-maya’ also means that Lord descends by ‘causeless mercy’ so that we can concentrate on His form as He is and not on ‘Mental concoctions and imaginations’
o Ref. Amara-kosa dictionary

Learnings from Purport 4.7

(a) How the Lord incarnates – By His internal potency – This is indicated by the word ‘Srjami’

Meaning of ‘Srjami’ – Lord is not created or born but “manifests” as per free will
‘Srjami’ is mentioned as “manifests” because Text 4.6 refutes the Lord being born or created, by calling Him as ‘aja’.

(b) When does the Lord incarnate – Usual schedule of Lord’s appearance

End of Dvapara-yuga of 28th millennium of seventh Manu of a day of Brahma
But no obligation to rule

What are the ‘principles of dharma’ – Direct orders of Supreme Personality of Godhead
o Ref. SB 6.3.19 “Dharmam tu…”
What is ‘Highest dharma’ – Surrender unto Him only

(d) Certain facts about ‘Avatara’

Mission: Comes with mission, e.g. Lord Buddha came to establish Vedic principles of ‘Nonviolence’
Sanctioned: Mentioned in scriptures – criteria to accept
Place: Can appear anywhere, not only on Indian soil
Message: Speaks as per audience, e.g. higher and lower mathematics
Common mission:
o To lead people to God-consciousness,
o Obedience to the principles of religion

(e) Bhagavad-gita is for highly advanced people, e.g. Arjuna (higher principles of religion begin with Varna-asrama).

Learnings from Purport 4.8

(a) Definition of Sadhu – A man in Krishna consciousness, apparently may be irreligious but if he is wholly and fully Krishna conscious, he is a sadhu.

(b) Definition of ‘Duskrtam’ – Does not care for Krishna consciousness

To appease His unalloyed devotees e.g. Prahlada Maharaja and Devaki
Otherwise the athiests can be dealt with by the Lord’s agents

(d) Ref. Caitanya-caritamrta on (Principles of Incarnation)

The avatara, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation.
And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who descends is called an incarnation, or avatara.
Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When they descend to the material creation, they assume the name avatara.

(e) Why specifically does Lord Krishna descend (Prime purpose) – To mitigate anxieties of pure devotees who are anxious to see His Vrindavana pastimes.

(f) Who is the ‘Avatara’ for Kali-yuga – Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

How does he spread religion and deliver miscreants – Propogated Sankirtan Movement throughout India.
Sastric proof – This Avatara is mentioned secretly and not directly in Upanisads, Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam.
Mission
o He does not kill but delivers by causeless mercy
o Predicts the broadcast of Sankirtana movement all over the world

Learnings from Purport 4.9

(a) Liberation of living entity from material bondage is not very easy – Two paths are possible:

Path of impersonalism and yoga
Path of devotees

(b) Path of Impersonalists and yogis

Endeavor – Not very easy – many, many births
Goal – Only partial success, brahmajyoti
Safety – Risk of fall-down

Endeavor – Very easy, one has to simply understand the transcendental nature of Lord’s
birth and activities (4.9)
Goal – Abode of Krishna – Thus complete success is assured
Safety – Lord protects from falldown again into the material world

(d) Who can attain ‘Perfection of liberation’

A faithful devotee, who accepts Krishna’s protection with faith
One who accepts Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has many transcendental forms
o These forms have relations with unalloyed devotees
One who does not waste time in philosophical speculations
o Ref. Brahma Samhita, Vedas, Svetasvatara Upanisad (study purport)

(e) Fate of other processes like empiric philosophers and puffed-up mundane scholars

Waste of time
May get important roles in material world, not liberation
Analogy: licking the outer surface of a bottle of honey

(f) What is the hope for these speculators etc. – ‘Only causeless mercy of devotee of the Lord’.

(g) Conclusive suggestion – Cultivate Krishna consciousness with faith and knowledge and attain perfection.

Learnings from Purport 4.10

(a) Problem: They are too materially affected – They cannot understand personal nature of Lord as per Text 4.9

(b) Different degrees of affliction

‘Raga’: Strong attachment to material life – leads to negligence of spiritual life
‘Bhaya’: Fear of personal spiritual identity – For them merging into impersonal is highest,
o Because they are too absorbed in material bodily concept, concept of retaining personality after liberation from matter frightens them
o e.g. Analogy: Impersonalists compare living entities to the bubbles in the ocean which merges into the ocean
‘Krodha’: Conception of void resulting from frustration of life
o Become angry at all sorts of spiritual speculation out of hopelessness
o Takes to intoxications
o Accept hallucinations as spiritual vision

Take complete shelter of Lord Krishna.
Under the spiritual master’s guidance.
Follow disciplines and regulative principles of devotional life.

(d) Different stages of bhakti – This is a progression to higher levels of purity, free from any of the above mentioned three diseases

Sraddha to prema (study purport) (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15 – 1.4.16).
o This explains the ‘Science of devotional service’.

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