Demigod Indra

Çré Nirjala Ekadäsé Issue no:113 13th June 2019

Envy : The Chief Of All Internal Enemies

Birth Of The Maruts Why Is Envy The Chief
Srila Sukdeva Goswami Of All Internal Enemies?
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
When Enemies Turns Into Friends
His Divine Grace Aversion To Lord Hari
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura

Envious Brähmaëas And

Those Who Abandon Srila Narottama Das Thakura
Their Spiritual Master An excerpt from the life
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura of Srila Narottama Das Thakura

Circulaton 28, 715

 Issue no 113, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä

Indra with 49 Maruts

Birth Of The Maruts he became deeply anxious.
Srila Sukdeva Goswami Having grown weak and thin because of
strictly following the principles of the vow,
O pious King, who are ever-respectful unfortunately Diti once neglected to wash
to everyone, lord Indra understood Ditis her mouth, hands and feet after eating and
purpose, and thus he contrived a plan went to sleep during the evening twilight.
to fulfill his own interests. Following the Seizing the opportunity, Indra, who has
logic that self-preservation is the first law all the the yogic perfections like aëimä
of nature, lord Indra wanted to break Ditis and laghimä, entered Ditis womb while
promise. To this end he daily engaged she was unconscious, being in deep sleep.
himself in the service of his aunt, Diti, After entering Ditis womb, Indra, took up
who was now residing in an Ashrama. his thunderbolt and cut her fetus, which
Indra served his aunt by bringing flowers, glowed like gold, into seven pieces. In
fruit, roots and wood for yajïas from the seven places, seven different living beings
forest. He also brought kusha grass, leaves, began crying. Indra told them, "Do not
sprouts, earth and water, all exactly at cry," and then he cut each of them into
the proper time. As the hunter of a deer seven pieces again. O King, those very
becomes like a deer by covering his body aggrieved entities pleaded to Indra with
with deerskin and befriending the deer, so folded hands, saying, "Dear Indra, we are
Indra, although at heart the enemy of the the Maruts, your younger brothers. Why
sons of Diti, became outwardly amiable are you trying to kill us?" When Indra
and served Diti in a faithful way. All saw that they were actually his devoted
along Indras purpose was malevolent. He followers, he said to them: "If you are all
simply wanted to impede Diti as soon as my brothers, then you have nothing more
he could find some fault in her discharge to fear from me."
of the vows of the ritualistic ceremony. Sukadeva Goswami said: My dear King
However, as he wanted to remain Pariksit, when you were being scorched
undetected he served her very carefully. by the brahmästra of Ashvatthama,
O master of the entire world, when Indra Lord Krishna entered the womb of your
could find no faults, he thought, "How mother, and you were saved. Similarly,
will there be good fortune for me?" Thus although the one fetus was cut into
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 113, Page—3
forty-nine pieces by the thunderbolt of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If an
Indra, the personalities thus created were intelligent man serves the most dear Lord,
all saved by the mercy of the Supreme who gives Himself to His devotees, how
Personality of Godhead. If one worships can he desire material happiness, which
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the is available even in hell? O my mother,
original person, even once, he receives the O best of all women, I am a fool. Kindly
benefit of being promoted to the spiritual excuse me for all of the offenses that I
world and possessing the same bodily have committed. Your forty-nine sons
features as Lord Vishnu. Diti worshiped have been born unhurt because of your
Lord Vishnu for almost one year, adhering devotional service. As an enemy, I cut
to a great vow. Because of this she them to pieces, but because of your great
generated sufficient spiritual strength and devotional service they did not die.
consequently the forty-nine Maruts were Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Diti
born. How, then, is it wonderful that those was extremely satisfied by Indras good
Maruts, although born from the womb of behavior. Then Indra offered his respects
Diti, became equal to the demigods by the to his aunt with profuse obeisance, and
mercy of the Supreme Lord? with her permission he left for the heavenly
Because of worshiping the Supreme planets with his new brothers, the Maruts.
Personality of Godhead, Diti was My dear King Pariksit, I have replied as
completely purified. When she got up far as possible to the questions you have
from her rest, she saw her forty nine sons asked me, especially in regard to this pure,
along with Indra. These forty nine sons auspicious narration about the Maruts.
were all as brilliant as fire and were all in
friendship with Indra. Seeing all this Diti Now you may inquire further, and I shall
was very pleased. explain more.
Diti said to Indra: My dear son, I —Çrémad-Bhägavatam » Canto 6: Prescribed Duties for
adhered to this difficult vow just to get a Mankind » Chapter 18. Diti Vows to Kill King Indra » Verses 56-78.
son to kill you twelve Adityas. I prayed for
only one son, but now I see that there are When Enemies Turns Into Friends
forty-nine. How has this happened? My His Divine Grace
dear son Indra, if you know, please tell me A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
the truth. Please do not try to mislead me.
Indra replied: My dear mother, because When Diti, who is Indra's aunt, explained
I was blinded by grossly selfish interests, to him without reservation what she had
I lost sight of religion. When I understood
that you were observing a great vow in
spiritual life, I wanted to find some fault in
you. When I found such a fault, I entered
your womb and cut the fetus to pieces. First
I cut the unborn child into seven pieces,
which became seven children. Then I cut
each of the children into a further seven
pieces. However, by the grace of the
Supreme Lord, none of them died. My
dear mother, when I saw that all forty-
nine sons were alive, I was certainly struck
with wonder. After some deliberation, I
concludeded this was a secondary result
of your executing regulated devotional
service to Lord Vishnu.
Although those who are solely interested
in worshiping the Supreme Personality of
Godhead do not desire anything material
from Him and do not want even liberation
from this material world, Lord Krishna
fulfills all their desires. The ultimate goal
of all ambitions is to become a servant of
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 Issue no 113, Page — 4 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
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An intermediate devotee is one who has developed
love for the Supreme Lord Krishna, is affectionate
and friendly to the Lord's devotees, is compassion-
ate to the innocent and avoids the association of
envious non-devotees. Very soon, on the strength
of his devotional service and Krishna's mercy, an
intermediate devotee becomes a first class devotee
or uttama-adhikari.
—Prema-Vivarta - Srila Jagadananda Pandita
Translated by Sarvabhavana dasa.

of being influenced by their worship of

Vishnu, both Diti and Indra were purified
of their incongruent intentions.
.— Çrémad-Bhägavatam » Canto 6: Prescribed Duties for
Mankind » Chapter 18. Diti Vows to Kill King Indra »Verses 71,
Purport.

Those Who Abandon

Their Spiritual Master
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

The spiritual masters servants are

Vaisnava. Devotees who are initiated
by bonafide gurus and who have taken
complete shelter at their spiritual masters
feet are Vaisnavas. According to how
well we serve the spiritual master, there
are gradations in the quality of our
service to Krishna. Those who abandon
their spiritual master or who are envious
of him are avaisnava (non-devotees).
They are atheists possessed by a hellish
mentality. Those who are envious of the
spiritual master are also envious of the
Supreme Lord. Actually, they are envious
of the entire world. Only devotees who
are fixed at the spiritual masters lotus feet
and who are free of material desire are
completely pure in heart. A person who is
free from the influence of wealth, women,
and the tigress of fame is a Vaisnava. He
wanted to do, Indra also explained his is detached and pure-minded and can
intentions to her. Thus both of them, influence the entire world.
instead of being enemies, freely spoke the —Amåta Väëé: Nectar of Instructions of Immoratality His
truth. This is the qualification that results Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Thakura Prabhupäda
from contact with Vishnu. As stated in Compiled by Çrépäda Bhakti Mayukha Bhägavat Mahäraja.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (5.18.12): Adapted and Published by Éçvara däsa. Translated from Bengali
by Bhumipati däsa.
yasyästi bhaktir bhagavaty akiïcanä
sarvair guëais tatra samäsate suräù Why Is Envy The Chief
Of All Internal Enemies?
If one develops a devotional attitude Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
and becomes purified by worshiping the
Supreme Lord, all the good qualities are What is envy? Are envy and love
certainly manifested in his body. Because
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 113, Page—5

The Krishna consciousness movement aims at creat-

ing an atmosphere of non-envy. Of course, it is not
possible for everyone to become Krishna conscious,
but the Krishna consciousness movement can create
an exemplary society wherein there is no envy.”

Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam. 5.13.11

—Sajjana Toñaëé-4/7

What is the living entities liberation

and bondage?
Non-enviousness is the cause of the
living entities liberation and enviousness
the cause of their bondage.
—Sajjana Toñaëé-4/7

Can an envious person feel

compassion for other living entities,
develop faith in the Vaisnavas and
become lower than the straw in the
street?
opposed to each other?
A person who feels distress on seeing
To become happy on seeing others others happiness can never show
distress and to become distressed on seeing compassion to other living entities. He
others happiness is called envy. Envy and cannot worship the Supreme Lord with a
love are contradictory, and hence mutually simple mind. Due to his perverted nature he
exclusive. Wherever there is envy there is maintains hatred and enviousness towards
no question of love; and wherever there is the Vaisnavas. It is to be understood that
love there is no question of envy. a person who has completely divested
—Sajjana Toñaëé-4/6 himself of envy has actually understood
the purport of the "tånäd api sahiñëunä"
Why envy is the leader of all 6 internal verse.
enemies? —Sajjana Toñaëé-4/7

Lust, anger, greed, illusion and pride are

included within envy. Lust is included Aversion To Lord Hari
in anger; Lust and anger are included in Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura
greed; Lust, anger and greed are included
in illusion; Lust, anger, greed and illusion Because of aversion to Hari, materialistic
are included in pride and lust, anger, greed, people accept the service of the six internal
illusion and pride are included in envy." enemies headed by lust and anger as their
—Sajjana Toñaëé-4/7 only shelter. All living entities of the visible
and invisible worlds are established as
How is Vaisnava dharma non-envious servants of the Supreme Lord. If a person
religion? exhibits envy of another person then, rather
than confirming himself as a Vaisnava,
Vaisnava dharma consists of compassion that envious person simply shows that
for the fallen souls, eagerness in chanting he is malicious of those who are inclined
the Lords holy names and serving the to the Lord's service. Whatever envy is
Vaiñëavas. It stands in one side and envy exhibited in such situations is more or less
stands on the other side as its opposite." envy of the Supreme Lord. Moreover, since
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 Issue no 113, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä

the devotees' propensity for performing alternative to bring about realization of

service or spiritual welfare activities is so the Supreme Lord. Therefore, those who
strong, those who are envious consider are inimical to the spiritual master, accept
that the endeavours of such servants of enmity towards the spiritual master,
Sri Caitanya to increase ignorant people's pride, and other valueless sentiments as
inclination towards Krishna are similar to wealth. Thus they merge into the darkness
their own variegated exhibitions of envy.; of ignorance and give importance to
This gross misapprehension guarantees impersonalism (kevalädvaita-väda),
their inauspiciousness. which denies svajätéya-vijätéya bheda,
Because of their propensity for inordinate the distinctions among both similar and
material enjoyment, ordinary people dissimilar objects. This is their downfall.
become envious of objects that are Unalloyed service to the Supreme Lord
not related to the Absolute Truth. Pure who is posesed of eternlity, knowledge
devotees are never driven by the three and blissfulness, (sac-cid-änanda mayi )
modes of nature to merge in the waters is the unique opportunity to become self-
of goodness, passion, and ignorance. realized. Relinquishing that opportunity,
Therefore, by not taking shelter of non- one certainly falls down.
envious devotees, the envious materialistic —Madhya-khaëòa, 19.211, Çré Caitanya-bhägavata by Çréla
enjoyers of the temporary material world Våndävana däsa Thakura » Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
fall into inconvenience as a result of their Gosvämé Mahäräja » Translated by Bhumipati Däsa.
karma. They accept philosophies like
Mayavada and thus bring about their own
ruination. One can never realize one's
self by unconstitutional propensities.
Spiritually aspiring mankind has no
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 113, Page—7
Envious Brähmaëas And Narottama will not be able to say anything.
Srila Narottama Das Thakura O King we request you to please assist us
An excerpt from the life in this matter." The King, Raja Nrsimha
of Srila Narottama Das Thakura said, "I myself shall accompany you every
step of the way."
Ganganarayana Chakravarti was a In this way, that group of brähmaëas
famous and highly learned brähmaëa along with the great and learned world-
living in Gambhila Grama ( presently in conquering Paëòita Rupa Narayana
Bangladesh). He heard with great attention began their journey to Kheturi Grama. As
the siddhänta of the Goswamis from the they were traveling on the road someone
lips of Srila Narottama Thakura. Thus he heard the news and went to Kheturi Grama
took shelter of the lotus feet of Narottama, where he informed Srila Ramachandra
under whose guidence he later studied the Kaviraja and Narottama dasa Thakura.
scriptures of the Goswamis very deeply. When Srila Ramachandra Kaviraja and
There was another brähmaëa named Sri Ganganarayana Chakravarti heard this
Jagannatha Acarya who was a worshipper news, they became very disturbed in mind.
of Durga. One day in a dream Durga Subsequently, after some inquiry, the
appeared to him and said, "O you simple two of them came to know that the party
hearted brähmaëa, go to Narottama of smarta paìòitas, were about to arrive in
Thakura. Take shelter of his lotus feet. the marketplace of a town called Kumara
Practice kåñëa-bhajana ( devotional Pura. They were informed that after resting
service to Lord Krishna) and you will there for one day, they would reach Kheturi
achieve the highest good fortune. Krishna Grama on the following day. Ramachandra
is my master and my guru. Not a blade of and Ganganarayana quickly went to that
grass moves without His wish." marketplace in Kumara pura and the
After his afternoon bath, Jagannatha two of them set up two different shops.
Acarya, went to Kheturi Grama and Srila Ramachandra Kaviraja set up a stall
offered his danòavats at the lotus feet of for selling clay pots and Ganganarayana
Narottama Thakura, explaining all that Chakravarté set himself up in a stall selling
Durga had told him in the dream. Hearing pän and betel-nut.
this, the Thakura smiled slightly and said, The smarta Paëòitas, along with Raja
"You are very fortunate to have attained Nrsimha, arrived in the marketplace of
Krishnas mercy." On the next auspicious Kumära-pura and set up their camp near the
day Thakura Mahasaya initiated him into shops. The disciples of the Paëòitas went
a Rädhä-Kåñëa mantra. Sri Jagannatha to buy some clay pots for cooking with,
Acarya became a very dear and confidential and went to the pottery shop. The " potter
disciple of Narottama Thakura. " they met was Ramachandra Kaviraja. He
Seeing the glories of Srila Narottama began speaking to them in pure Saìskrit.
Thakura, the society of smarta brähmaëas The disciples of the Paìòitas similarly
burned with envy. A large faction of them replied in Saìskrit, and soon they began
went to the Raja Nrsimha and petitioned to debate. However, the disciples of the
him for redress. They told him: "O Mahäräja, Paëòitas were defeated. In the same way,
if you don't rescue the brähmaëas, when the students went to purchase pän
your reputation will be ruined and your and betel-nuts from the shop of the pan-
death will be imminent. The son of Raja seller (Ganganarayana Chakravarti) he
Krishnananda Datta, Narottama Thakura, is spoke to them in pure Saìskrit. They again
a çüdra, and yet he dares to make disciples began to argue. Gradually their teachers
of the brähmaëas. If this goes on, we arrived at the place where the argument
shall all be drowned like the members of was going on and found themselves unable
the Yadu dynasty." Raja Nrsimha assured to reply to the arguments of the betel seller
them, "I shall protect you. But please tell and potter.
me, what is to be done?" Finally King Nrsimha arrived there with
The brähmaëas said; "Let us all go to the great Paëòita Rupa Narayana. At that
Kheturi Grama along with the great and time a great uproarious argument was
famous, mahä-digvijaya-paëòita Sri heard from all directions. In the presence
Rupa Narayana and defeat Narottama. of the king, the potter and the pän-walla
With that great Paëòita as our leader, defeated all the smarta brähmaëas,
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 Issue no 113, Page — 8 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä

including Rupa Narayana. Raja Nrsimha Dev had given them, Narottama mildly
made some inquiries and came to know smiled. Thereafter, within a few days, he
that the pän-walla and the potter were initiated them into the mantra of Çré Rädhä-
disciples of Srila Narottama dasa. At that Kåñëa mantra.
time he said to the Paëòitas: "When you
are unable to defeat a common, ordinary —Excerpt from the Prema Vilasa of Nityananda das , Adopted
disciple of Narottama in the matter of from Prarthana, Prayers of Loving Devotion by Srila Narotaama
siddhänta, how will you defeat Narottama Dasa Thakura, Isvara Dasa (Editor, Introduction), Bhumipati
himself?" The smarta Paëòitas were dumb Dasa (Translator), Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
struck. Dismayed, they realised their (Translator).
defeat and solemnly made preparations to
return to their home villages. !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
That evening, King Raja Nrsimha and
Sri Rupa Narayana saw Durga Devi in a ISKCON
dream. She threateningly told them, "If Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya
is a branch of
you don't accept the shelter of Narottamas International Society for Krishna Consciousness
lotus feet, I will cut you all to pieces with Founder-Äcärya: His Divine Grace
my razor-sharp sword." The following A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupāda
morning Raja Nrsimha and Rupa Narayana Editor
hurried to the place of Narottama Brajsunder Das
Thakura. Thakura Mahäsaya received Copy Editor
them with great affection and with due Isha Prakash Das
respect and cordiality, offered them all
a seat. He said, "I am very fortunate to Saìskrit Editor,
have the company of such highly learned Vrajsevika Devi Dasi
and noble personages such as your good Assistance
selves." Raja Nrsimha and Rupa Narayana Rasa Manjari Devi Dasi
were overwhelmed at Narottamas polite Hari Lila Devi Dasi
and gentle Vaisnava behaviour. Thus they
prostrated themselves at his lotus feet Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
begging forgiveness for their offenses. His Divine Grace A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
They explained all that had happened. ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
Upon hearing of the warning that Durga ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists.

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