Verse: Srimad Bhagvatam 1.8.19
Date: April 27th, 1991
Place: Dôle, France
maya-javanikacchannam
ajïadhokñajam avyayam
na lakñyase müòha-dåça
naöo naöyadharo yatha
TRANSLATION
Being beyond the range of limited sense perception, you are the eternally irreproachable factor covered by the curtain of deluding energy. You are invisible to the foolish observer, exactly as an actor dressed as a player is not recognized.
PURPORT
In the Bhagavad-Gita Lord Sri Krishna affirms that less intelligent persons mistake Him to be an ordinary man like us, and thus they deride Him. The same is confirmed herein by Queen Kunti. The less intelligent persons are those who rebel against the authority of the Lord. Such persons are known as asuras. The asuras cannot recognize the Lord's authority. When the Lord Himself appears amongst us, as Rama, Nåsiàha, Varaha or in His original form as Krishna, He performs many wonderful acts which are humanly impossible. As we shall find in the Tenth Canto of this great literature, Lord Sri Krishna exhibited His humanly impossible activities even from the days of His lying on the lap of His mother. He killed the Putana witch, although she smeared her breast with poison just to kill the Lord. The Lord sucked her breast like a natural baby, and He sucked out her very life also. Similarly, He lifted the Govardhana Hill, just as a boy picks up a frog's umbrella, and stood several days continuously just to give protection to the residents of Vrindavana.
These are some of the superhuman activities of the Lord described in the authoritative Vedic literatures like the Puranas, Itihasas (histories) and Upaniñads. He has delivered wonderful instructions in the shape of the Bhagavad-Gita. He has shown marvelous capacities as a hero, as a householder, as a teacher and as a renouncer. He is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by such authoritative personalities as Vyasa, Devala, Asita, Narada, Madhva, Çaìkara, Ramanuja, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Jéva Goswami, Vishvanatha Cakravarté, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvaté and all other authorities of the line. He Himself has declared as much in many places of the authentic literatures. And yet there is a class of men with demoniac mentality who are always reluctant to accept the Lord as the Supreme Absolute Truth. This is partially due to their poor fund of knowledge and partially due to their stubborn obstinacy, which results from various misdeeds in the past and present.
Such persons could not recognize Lord Sri Krishna even when He was present before them. Another difficulty is that those who depend more on their imperfect senses cannot realize Him as the Supreme Lord. Such persons are like the modern scientist. They want to know everything by their experimental knowledge. But it is not possible to know the Supreme Person by imperfect experimental knowledge. He is described herein as adhokñaja, or beyond the range of experimental knowledge. All our senses are imperfect. We claim to observe everything and anything, but we must admit that we can observe things under certain material conditions only, which are also beyond our control. The Lord is beyond the observation of sense perception. Queen Kunti accepts this deficiency of the conditioned soul, especially of the woman class, who are less intelligent.
For less intelligent men there must be such things as temples, mosques or churches so that they may begin to recognize the authority of the Lord and hear about Him from authorities in such holy places. For less intelligent men, this beginning of spiritual life is essential, and only foolish men decry the establishment of such places of worship, which are required to raise the standard of spiritual attributes for the mass of people. For less intelligent persons, bowing down before the authority of the Lord, as generally done in the temples, mosques or churches, is as beneficial as it is for the advanced devotees to meditate upon Him by active service.
HH Bhakti Caru Swami (BCS): Queen Kunti is speaking like this about Krishna. Krishna was about to leave Hastinapura. The battle of Kurukshetra was won. The Pandavas were reinstated in their kingdom and Krishna’s duty was done. Krishna protected His devotees and He took care of them very nicely. He established His devotees on the throne of the whole world, the kingdom of the whole world, and when Krishna was about to leave, Queen Kunti tried to stop Him.
Here she is offering her heartfelt prayers. Here she is describing that Krishna’s identity is covered by the deluding energy of Krishna, maya-javanikacchannam, ajïadhokñajam avyayam. Krishna is adhokñaja. The word adhokñaja means adhakåta indriya iti adhokñaja. Adhaḥ means putting down and akñaja means sense perception. In plain simple words, adhokñaja means beyond our sense perception; beyond the range of our sense perception, when the sense perceptions are left behind or kept underneath. Beyond the sense perception is the spiritual reality, which means with our senses we cannot possibly understand the spiritual nature. The spiritual reality cannot be perceived by our mundane senses. With our material senses we can only see material objects; that also just a limited range of material nature. We can see only just a small range of light. We can hear only a small range of sound. Although there are light rays beyond violet and below red, we cannot see them. Our perception is only between red and violet. The range of light between red and violet can be perceived.
Similarly sound also is perceived only up to sonic range. There is supersonic beyond the hearing range and below hearing range. Those sounds we cannot hear. In this way we can see that our senses, namely eyes, ears, nose, touch, tongue, mind, they are very, very limited. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be perceived by these senses. Therefore, another name of Him is adhaḥ akñaja, adhokñaja and avyayam, He is inexhaustible, avyayam, irreproachable. He is eternal, He is constant, He is undiminishing. Krishna never deteriorates. He always remains the same, eternal, supreme, absolute Personality of Godhead. Queen Kunti is offering prayers to Krishna in this way. Queen Kunti knew that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She knew that Krishna is beyond our sense perception. She knew that Krishna is irreproachable, but she also recognised that very mercifully Krishna had manifested Himself within our sense perception.
Although Krishna is beyond our sense perception, but out of His causeless mercy, manifests Himself within the range of our sense perception. That is why she is saying that just as an actor, when he plays a role, he dresses up to play that role, but observers or spectators cannot recognize that. The observer thinks that the actor is that personality whose role he is actually playing. When an actor plays a role of Napoleon Bonaparte, those who are observing, those who are seeing, they think that he is Napoleon. They identify the actor with the personality. Or, if somebody plays the role of Julius Cesar, the spectator thinks that he is Julius Cesar. If somebody plays the role of Marc Anthony, the observer thinks the actor to be Marc Anthony. He does not recognize the real identity of the actor, but he identifies himself with the role that the actor plays.
Here Queen Kunti is telling Krishna, “You are just like an actor and the role that You play, you play it absolutely perfectly.” Na lakñyase müòha-dåça, those who are müòha-dåça, the foolish observers, they cannot recognize You. Now of course, Krishna’s role is a little different. Generally, the actors play the role of some great personality, but Krishna is the greatest personality who is playing the role of an ordinary human being. That is the difference in Krishna’s acting. When Krishna came, He played the role of an ordinary human being. He did not play the role of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He plays the role of an ordinary human being, still those who are intelligent, those who are situated in knowledge, could very easily see that actually Krishna is The Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although Krishna is playing the role of ordinary human being, but His activities are not ordinary.
Krishna took birth as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Also, He appeared in the prison. Krishna was born in the prison; just to think of it is so painful, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is being born in a prison. Actually, Kansa was torturing, tormenting, Vasudeva and Devaki in a very, very terrible way. It was very inhuman treatment Kansa was giving them. They were not only tied up with chains but it is mentioned that a heavy stone was placed on the chest of Devaki and Vasudeva so that they could not move. In this way one can see what kind of atrocities Krishna’s father and mother, Devaki and Vasudeva, had to go through. Krishna was born in a prison. Even an ordinary human being does not take birth in a prison. Even an ordinary human being, when the mother is about to give birth, she is sent to the hospital or nursing home. She is given so much care and attention, but Krishna was born in a prison house. Although He was born as ordinary human child, right from His birth one could see how His activities are wonderful. Right after His birth Krishna displayed His identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In this way, those who are situated in knowledge, those who are faithful, those who are çraddhavan, those who believe in the words of the scriptures and the words of the saintly personalities, they could recognize that Krishna is not an ordinary personality, although He appeared to be an ordinary personality. That is why Queen Kunti is addressing Krishna as naöaù, as an actor playing a specific role, naöo naöyadharaḥ. Krishna is playing the role of an ordinary human being, but He plays the role so wonderfully. Krishna is the greatest in all respects. When He becomes an actor, He is the greatest actor. When He plays the role of a warrior, He is the greatest warrior. When He plays the role of a protector, He is the greatest protector. When He plays the role of a friend, He is the greatest friend and when He plays the role of a lover, He is the greatest lover. Krishna is the greatest in all respects. When He plays the role of an actor, when He becomes an actor, He plays the role of an actor in the most perfect way. He is the perfect actor. He does His wonderful activities in such a wonderful way that one cannot possibly recognize Him, especially the foolish people.
Therefore, Krishna Himself said in Bhagavad-Gita, avajananti maà müòha manuñéà tanum açritam. [BG 9.11] Avajananti maà müòha. Müòha, here also we find the expression müòha-dåça. What is the meaning of müòha-dåça? Müòha-dåça is a combination of two words. One is müòha and the other is dåça. Müòha means a first-class fool. There are different grades of stupidity; there are different grades of fools. The greatest fool is called a müòha and dåça means an observer. A foolish observer cannot recognize Krishna, na lakñyase müòha-dåça, or as Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita, avajananti maà müòha. The fools do not recognize me and they deride Me, thinking Me manuñéà tanum açritam, thinking Me to be an ordinary human being. But paraà bhavam ajanantaḥ, they do not recognize My paraà bhavam. Param means Supreme and bhavam means position or activity. They do not recognize Krishna’s supreme transcendental position and activities. Although Krishna appears as a human being but Krishna’s activities are not human, not ordinary. Krishna’s activities are always wonderful.
Prabhupada mentions in the purport that Krishna killed Putana. How old was Krishna at that time when He killed Putana?
Devotee: (indistinct)
BCS: Seven days old. He was in Nanda Maharaja’s house and Putana came wanting to kill Him. How did she come to kill? She came dressed as a very beautiful woman. She was so beautiful that although Nanda Maharaja’s house was very well guarded, there were hundreds of guards guarding his house, but this beautiful lady was not at all stopped. She just walked straight in. Everybody thought that she was the goddess of fortune, LakñméDevi, but she came to kill Krishna. Even mother Yashoda became enchanted by her beauty. When Putana picked Krishna up on her lap then mother Yashoda did not object. She also thought that this must be LakñméDevi herself. Then Putana offered Krishna her breast. Instead of milk her breast was carrying the most deadly poison, the poison of king cobra, kalaküöa. Then Krishna, He just went to the lap of Putana. Although He knew who she was, He played the role most perfectly. Although Krishna was only seven days old, He was fully cognisant, Krishna knew everything. Krishna was perfectly aware of who this person was, but Krishna is bhava-grahé. Krishna simply takes the mood. Because Putana offered Him her breast to Krishna like a mother, Krishna actually accepted Putana as a mother, but at the same time Krishna knew that I have to kill this witch.
Therefore, in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, it has been described that Krishna actually closed His eyes while killing Putana. There are various reasons why Krishna closed His eyes. One reason was that Putana was so sinful that Krishna did not want to look her. He did not want to look at such a sinful person. Another reason why Krishna closed His eyes was that the first person that Krishna is going to kill in His pastimes is a woman. It is instructed in the scriptures that a woman should not be killed, but Krishna was about to kill this witch, so He closed His eyes. This way there were various reasons why Krishna closed His eyes, but ultimately what did Krishna do? Krishna accepted her breast and when Putana thought that while drinking the poison Krishna will be killed. Actually, by sucking her breast, Krishna sucked out her life air and Putana was dead. She ran out of the house in pain. She tried to get rid of the child, but the child was clinging on to her body. In pain she could not hide her identity anymore. That beautiful form was gone and she manifested her original form, a huge gigantic witch. Do you know how long is the body of Putana?
Devotee: Twelve miles?
BCS: Almost. Seven kroças. Two miles make a kroça. So, Putana’s body was fourteen miles long; that body was lying there fourteen miles long. Such a terrible witch was killed by Krishna. Can anybody do that? Did you ever hear of any such activity of any seven-day old child? You are right actually; it was 12 miles. Krishna was not seven days old He was six days old and Putana’s body was six kroças long. Six kroças is twelve miles. In this way Krishna started to perform all kinds of wonderful activities, right from His childhood. Now consider what happened to Putana? That terrible witch came to kill Krishna, a little child. How cruel one must be to derive such pleasure in killing children. Putana’s main activity was to kill the newborn children, newborn babies. She was so cruel that she would derive great pleasure by killing little children and sucking their blood. Finally, she came to kill Krishna, but being killed by Krishna, Putana was delivered. Just like any demon, when he is killed by Krishna, he becomes delivered. Now what happens to a demon when he is killed by Krishna? Asura hariëa hataù. When a demon is killed by Krishna he attains liberation. What kind of liberation does a demon achieve when he is killed by Krishna?
Devotee; Sayujya.
BCS: He achieves brahma-sayujya, merging in Brahman. But what happened to Putana? Did Putana get brahma sayujya, merging in brahmajyoti? No. Then what happened to Putana?
Devotee: She became the mother.
BCS: Right, she got the position of the mother of Krishna; not even in Vaikuntha, in Vrindavana, Goloka. Why did Putana get that position? Because she came as a mother. Even though she was pretending to be a mother, just because she came as a mother and offered her breast to Krishna like a mother, Krishna accepted her as a mother and gave her liberation and the eternal position as a mother. This is how wonderful Krishna’s activities are. There are so many wonderful activities like that.
When Krishna was one month old then Tarnavarta came. When Krishna was one year old, Saktasura came. One after another the demons were coming and try to kill Krishna, but what happened? The demons were killed, very easily. When Tarnavarta came, he came as a terrible, inconceivable whirlwind. Tarnavarta, when he was asked by Kansa to go and kill Krishna, he thought that Putana went there with a form, therefore Krishna could kill her. But he would go without a form. He would go there as a whirlwind, as a storm. So, he thought because he did not have a form Krishna would not be able to kill him. He thought he was safe in that way.
Just before Tarnavarta came Krishna was on mother Yashoda’s lap. Krishna knew that Tarnavarta was coming. He felt that this demon is coming to take Me away as a whirlwind and if I am still on my mother’s lap, then My mother may be in trouble; my mother may face some danger. So, in order to protect mother Yashoda, Krishna became very heavy and all of a sudden mother Yashoda could not carry Krishna anymore. He became so heavy that mother Yashoda placed Krishna on the ground. She could not keep Him on her lap any longer. Right at that time the whole of Vrindavana became covered with a dust storm. The dust started to fly all over. The whole of Vrindavana became dark due to the storm. Tåëa means dry grass. Along with the dust the dry grass also started to fly and the tables. All kinds of things were flying in the air. No one could see anything. At that time Tarnavarta just came and he carried Krishna and took Him high up in the sky. His idea was that he would drop Him from a great height and that is how he would kill Him.
Tarnavarta took Krishna up in the sky and Krishna put His arms around Trinavarata’s neck. So, when Tarnavarta wanted to drop Krishna, he found that Krishna’s arms were around his neck. He tried to free Himself from Krishna’s arms and let Him go, but he found that those little arms of Krishna were holding on to his neck like a vice. Just as in a vice you make it closer and closer, tighter and tighter, that is what stared to happen. Krishna’s arms started to get closer and closer around Tarnavarta’s neck. Finally, Tarnavarta’s throat was choked and he couldn’t breathe anymore. He lost all his strength and the boy started to become so heavy. So Tarnavarta started to fall himself with a tremendous speed from such a height. When something falls from a great height the acceleration keeps on increasing and it becomes faster and faster. Finally, Tarnavarta fell on the ground from a great height. Where did he fall? He fell on top of a huge stone. His whole body was smashed to a pulp. This is how wonderfully Krishna made His pastimes and killed all the demons.
When Krishna was seven years old, He lifted Govardhana hill. He lifted that hill and kept it there for seven days as Prabhupada mentions in the purport. Prabhupada gives the example of how Krishna held it, just as a little boy holds a mushroom. When a boy holds a mushroom, it does not require any effort. Effortlessly he holds the mushroom. Similarly, Krishna lifted Govardhana hill and held that huge mountain for seven days. He held it as an umbrella to protect the residents of Vrindavana form the wrath of Indra, from Indra’s anger. Indra got angry with Krishna and the residents of Vrindavana because they did not worship Him. On Krishna’s instruction the residents of Vrindavana decided to worship Govardhana with all the paraphernalia that was meant for Indra puja. When Indra got to know that he became very angry.
He said, “These people of Vrindavana are so foolish that by just listening to that little boy’s words they have ignored me. They have insulted me. The ingredients that were meant for my offering, for my pleasure, my enjoyment, they have offered it to this mountain called Govardhana. So, I will show them. I will teach them a lesson.”
At that time Indra called the cloud devastation. At the time of devastation, the cloud called the saàvartaka produces a huge thunderstorm and starts showering rain. As a result of that the whole universe becomes flooded. That cloud came over Vrindavana and started to pour rain and all the residents of Vrindavana came running to Krishna.
They said, “Krishna, Krishna, there is such a terrible storm and rain coming what should we do?”
Krishna said, “Do not worry.”
Krishna just lifted His Govardhana hill and held it as an umbrella. In Gopala-campü Srila Jéva Goswami describes what actually happened at that time. The residents of Vrindavana found that due to the lifting of Govardhana a cave was created on the ground and there was a beautiful stair case leading into that cave. So, they just climbed down into that cave and they found that the floor of the cave was studded with beautiful jewels. The whole place was filled with all kinds of food stuffs and drinks. The walls were decorated with jewels and it was like a huge palace. They all took shelter there and Krishna held Govardhana as an umbrella for seven days. Finally, Indra realized, and that is also quite funny. Indra sent lightening to find out what happened after the rain started to shower.
He said, “Lightening you go and find out what happened.”
So, in a flash, the lightening came and went back. The lightening reported that Vrindavana is completely empty. Everybody had been washed away or killed by this devastating rain.
So, Indra became very happy he said, “Yes, they tried to fool around with me so they learnt a lesson.”
And he blessed lightening by saying, “Long live lightening.”
Then again, this time he sent the wind. The wind went and reported something else.
He said, “It is wrong that everyone is killed, actually everyone is fine.”
The wind went and gave the information that something very strange has happened. Govardhana, after eating all the offerings that were meant for you has developed some strange power and he is flying in the sky. All the residents of Vrindavana have taken shelter under Govardhana.
So, Indra said, “Mountain flying, it is unheard of. There used to be a mountain called Mainaka that used to fly but I cut the wings off Mainaka. Is it the same mountain that has grown wings again and started flying in the sky? Anyway, I will take care of it.”
He called thunder and sent the thunderbolts to smash Govardhana but repeated attacks of thunderbolts could not do anything to the mountain Govardhana. Then the report came to him that actually Krishna is holding Govardhana on His little left hand.
Then Indra started to wonder, “Who is this Krishna, actually?”
Finally, when He realised that Krishna is Narayana Himself, his boss, then he became very, very worried.
He said, “My Lord Narayana must be so angry with me, because I have committed such an offense. What to do?” Then Indra took shelter of surabhi. Indra knew that surabhi is very dear to Krishna. The cows are very dear to Krishna; especially surabhi is Krishna’s own cow. He took shelter of surabhi.
He said, “Surabhi I committed a great offense against Krishna, so you please come with me and plead to Krishna.” Surabhi agreed. Devotees are always willing to reciprocate. This also shows that the best way to approach Krishna is through His devotees. If we approach Krishna directly then we will be in trouble, or if we approach Krishna directly, Krishna won't care. Who are we? But if we approach Krishna through His devotees then Krishna recognises us.
We approach Him and when Krishna asks, “Who are you?”
We say, “I am the disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.”
Then Krishna will say, “Oh I see. Very good.”
So the best way to approach Krishna is through His devotees because Krishna loves His devotees and when we identify ourselves through His devotees then Krishna recognises us.
So, Indra took shelter of surabhi and went to Krishna and then Krishna was pacified. This is how Krishna performs so many wonderful activities, even as a child. The demons that were so terrible that even the demigods were afraid of them; even the demigods could not do anything. Those demons were killed by Krishna as a child, completely effortlessly. That is why we must recognise that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He comes as an ordinary human being, as an ordinary human child, but He always remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Does anybody have any questions?
Devotee: For the performance of the Lord's pastimes when he comes as Krishna, Rama or Vishnu avartaras; Let’s say Hiranyakashapu is coming and Hiranyaksha they are causing so much killing and so on. What happens to those people are killed by them because actually they come by the will of the Lord who wanted to fight with them.
BCS: Yes. You see in the material nature things take place by the law of karma. Those who get killed by the demons, we have to understand that that is due to the law of karma, due to their own karma. But because they are devotees of the Lord, like Hiranyakashapu and Hiranyaksha, they are devotees of the Lord and came to perform certain pastimes with the Lord, because those people are killed by the devotees of the Lord, they get some special benefit. To be killed by the devotee of the Lord is not an ordinary death. Due to their own karma, they are being killed, but because they have been killed by devotees, they get some special benefit.
Devotee: Maharaja, I was wondering how does it work with Devaki and Vasudeva, they were in prison for many years and they produced eight children and they were chained up. How did Kansa ... (indistinct)
(break)
BCS: (indistinct) ... It is described that stones were placed on their chest. This precaution Kansa took during Krishna's birth. The other times they were not always in prison.
Devotee: Did they know that children were going to be killed?
BCS: They did know.
Devotee: They knew that children were going to be killed?
BCS: Yes, they knew.
Devotee: So why did they want children?
BCS: Why did they produce children? Actually, we can look at it the other way round. When the first child of Devaki was born, Kansa actually gave the child back.
He said, “Why should I kill this child? This child is not going to kill me. I don't have to be afraid of this child.”
When Vasudeva actually brought the child, Kansa returned the child back to him. Then the demigods considered, if this child lives, then Vasudeva and Devaki will take longer time to produce the next children. Therefore, it will be better to get rid of the child as soon as possible. Then the next child will be born quickly, so in this way one after another seven children will be born and the eighth child’s appearance will be accelerated. So, the demigods went to Narada Muni and asked him to help them.
That is why Narada Muni came to Kansa and told him: "How do you know from which way eight is counted? Is it counted from front backwards or back to front? If you count from the end child, then maybe the first child can be the eight one."
In this way he advised and Kansa said, “Yes, it is true. Why take a chance?”
So, he got the child and killed the child. In this way six children were born and they were killed. The seventh one was Balarama who was transferred to the womb of Rohini in the seventh month. To go back to that point, so now you got the answer. That was your question, yes?
Devotee 1: That was the first child but then after they had more and those were also killed so why did they ...
Devotee 2: Vasudeva’s words. He said that he would give the children so he had to ... (indistinct)
BCS: His question is why the children were born?
Devotee 2: Yes, but he is not Vasudeva. He put his word that he would give all the children.
BCS: Yes, but if he did not produce the child then he did not have to give the child. Why, did they produce children although they knew that the children would be killed? The plain and simple answer will be that it was the arrangement of providence and the six children who were born, they were actually cursed to be killed by their own father. They were the children, ñaò-garbhas, they were cursed by Hiranyakashapu that they would be killed by their own father, Kalanemi. Kalanemi in his next life became Kansa and he killed them. Another consideration is that why the children were born, produced? Because they knew that eighth child will kill Kansa. In order to let eighth child come they had to produce seven before.
Devotee: I think that in the Fifth Canto it is explained the mountains used to fly, so you explained now about Mainaka ... (indistinct) ... could you also speak a little about this mountain because the understanding about that is all the mountains used to fly, at least ... (indistinct)
BCS: It must have been in other ages, maybe in Satya-yuga. But then, ultimately there was only one mountain that could fly, that was Mainaka. All the other mountains lost their ability to fly. Only Mainaka could fly, but Mainaka created havoc because wherever he would land everything would be destroyed. That is why people prayed to the demigods and Indra decided to cut the wings off that mountain Mainaka.
Devotee: I had one man ... (indisctinct) ... can be there and he was reading the whole Srimad-Bhagavatam and he came to the Fifth Canto and he was reading this and he was completely bewildered and he was asking me to explain to him. So, I could not and I said something but I do not remember exactly what ... (indisctinct) ... idea anyway we cannot understand it. So, then he lost faith in the Vedic scriptures. So, how would you have answered him, Maharaja?
BCS: I don't think I would have answered him in a different way. But here is a very interesting point actually. You see Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that Sukadeva Goswami gave the Fifth Canto so that the materialistic people cannot go beyond that. You see to go up to Tenth Canto, you have to be qualified. Those who are materialistically motivated, those who are materialistic, they will get trapped in the Fifth Canto. They won't be able to go beyond that and you will find that even some devotees get stuck in the Fifth Canto, they can't go beyond that. Ultimately, they are not strong enough, they lose faith. But what is the understanding? The understanding is that every single word in Srimad-Bhagavatam is the absolute truth. We have to have that faith. It does not matter how it appears to me, through my intelligence, but the words of Bhagavatam are the words of Krishna, nothing else. Unless and until we have that faith, we will not be able to derive the benefit of reading Bhagavatam.
Another consideration is that the Fifth Canto is a description of the material nature, practically. Now is the material nature absolute or relative? Material nature is relative. Relative means, from different individual’s perspectives it will appear to be different. Isn't it? It is not that we have to have one common understanding of this universe. Somebody who is looking from svarga-loka, he will get the vision one way. Like when you go in a plane you see the city of Zürich, it appears in one way. When you look at it from the land it looks in another way. When you look at it from underground, I am sure it will look in another way. From different perspectives the material nature appears to be different. An intelligent person will accept, “Well, that is the perspective of Sukadeva Goswami. He is seeing from that perspective and he describes it in that way. If that perspective does not fit into my perspective, it does not matter let me just accept it.”
Yes, you have a question for me.
Devotee 1: (indistinct)
BCS: Yoga Maya is the younger sister of Krishna. What was the question actually, I could not get that?
Devotee 2: Krishna appeared as the son of mother Yasoda, but before that he appeared as the son of Devaki ... (indistinct) ... she’ll be younger sister so she would have to appear before ... (indistinct)
BCS: I see. Actually, just as Krishna is eternal, yoga-maya is also eternal. This maya who appeared as Krishna’s sister, this maya is not quite younger as such. You can say that they are born at the same time, almost at the same time, but Subhadra-Devi is a younger sister who is also yoga-maya. Actually yoga-maya is not just one form. Yoga-maya has many forms. In Vrindavana yoga-maya is Purnamasi. Purnamasi-devi is yoga-maya in Vrindavana. Another expansion of yoga-maya is Subhadra. In Dvaraka that yoga-maya is Subhadra. The daughter of Yashoda that appeared at the time of Krsna’s birth, she actually manifested herself in different forms. In that form she is being worshipped on this planet. It is described that after that she slipped out of Kansa's hand, she actually went to Vinda Mountain. In the central part of India there is a mountain called Vinda. She resides there in the Vinda Mountain. Is that clear? The main point is that are many forms of yoga-maya.
Devotee: I never heard so much about Subhadra, was she ... (indistinct)
BCS: Subhadra is the younger sister of Balarama. She is the daughter Vasudeva of Rohini. Balarama’s mother is Rohini Devi and Subhadra was born as the daughter of Rohini Devi. Subhadra was born after they came to Mathura and Dvaraka. After Krishna killed Kansa, Rohini Devi also joined Vasudeva first in Mathura and they went to Dvaraka. So, she was born at that time.
Thank you all very much. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!