Devotion without Deviation - Part 1

Date: 2015-12-09 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

Maharaj Bharat was the son of King Rshabhadeva. Srimad Bhagavatam says how when he inherited this planet from
his father, he ruled it in such an exemplary manner that the whole planet which was earlier called Ajanabha was
renamed as Bharatvarsha. Maharaj Bharata was a very pious and devoted king. He was obedient to his father and he
was very immaculate in his prescribed duties. He was very devoted to Supreme Lord and performed various kinds of
sacrifices for His pleasures. After ruling the planet for the destined time, he then gave the kingdom to his sons and left
for Haridwar. There he stayed in Pulaha ashrama for spending the remaining days of his life in meditation of Supreme
Lord. Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.7.11 explains how he spent his time in Pulaha ashram.

tasmin vāva kila sa ekalaḥ pulahāśramopavane vividha-kusuma-kisalaya-tulasikāmbubhiḥ kanda-mūla-phalopahāraiś

ca samīhamāno bhagavata ārādhanaṁ vivikta uparata-viṣayābhilāṣa upabhṛtopaśamaḥ parāṁ nirvṛtim avāpa.

In the gardens of Pulaha-āśrama, Mahārāja Bharata lived alone and collected a variety of flowers, twigs
and tulasī leaves. He also collected the water of the Gaṇḍakī River, as well as various roots, fruits and
bulbs. With these he offered food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, and, worshiping
Him, he remained satisfied. In this way his heart was completely uncontaminated, and he did not have
the least desire for material enjoyment. All material desires vanished. In this steady position, he felt full
satisfaction and was situated in devotional service.

The word 'ekalaḥ' in the above verse means to live alone. It is always easy for us to do devotional service when we
are in a group. Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that our real test for devotional
service is how we are performing sadhana when we are left alone. When we are alone, we tend to become lazy and
careless. But here we find Bharata Maharaj who had enjoyed royal opulence for thousands of years, stayed alone in
Pulaha ashrama and sincerely engaged in devotional service.

His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada very nicely mentions in the purport to above verse, "As stated in Bhagavad-Gita:
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. Worship of the Lord is not at all expensive. One
can offer the Lord a leaf, a flower, a little fruit and some water." When Bharata Maharaja was king, he used to use his
wealth nicely in service of Lord. Now at the forest, he worshiped the Lord with whatever things which were available
there. In both the cases Krishna was pleased as Lord is concerned only with the intent and loving mood of service. In
the concluding lines of the above purport Srila Prabhupada nicely mentions that, "One may not be able to go to
Pulaha-ashrama, but wherever one is one can happily render devotional service to the Lord by adopting
the processes mentioned above."

So irrespective of the fact that whether we are rich or poor, we are alone or blessed with association of devotees,
wherever we are and whatever ashram we are, when we perform our sadhana properly, do our prescribed duties and
engage in serving the Lord, then we will always remain blissful. As Maharaj says devotional service should be simple
and at the same time be intense.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 2

Date: 2015-12-10 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw the glorious life of
Bharata Maharaja as a perfect king and how after completing his prescribed duties, he retired to the forest and
engaged in sincere devotional service. Now we shall see further.

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5, Chapter 7 tells us how Bharata Maharaja was constantly engaged in thoughts of
Supreme Lord and as a result symptoms of esctacy also manifested in his body. But even in that sattvic environment
of forest life, there was some distraction for Bharata Maharaja's devotional life. One day when Bharata Maharaj was
meditating on the banks of river Gandaki, a pregnant doe happened to come there to drink water. At that time hearing
a loud roar of lion, the doe became afraid and in a hurry jumped across the river to reach the other bank for safety.
While she jumped the baby deer fell from her womb into the flowing waters of the river. Distressed by the thought of
miscarriage and separation from her flock, the doe immediately died. Bharata Maharaja's meditation was disturbed by
this incident. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.7 Sukadeva Goswami says,

taṁ tv eṇa-kuṇakaṁ kṛpaṇaṁ srotasānūhyamānam abhivīkṣyāpaviddhaṁ bandhur ivānukampayā rājarṣir bharata

ādāya mṛta-mātaram ity āśrama-padam anayat

The great King Bharata, while sitting on the bank of the river, saw the small deer, bereft of its mother,
floating down the river. Seeing this, he felt great compassion. Like a sincere friend, he lifted the infant
deer from the waves, and, knowing it to be motherless, brought it to his āśrama.

The word 'anukampayā' in the above verse means compassion. Bharata Maharaja being a pious king as well as
devotee of the Lord felt compassionate for the baby deer and helped it. But then his compassion turned to passion and
he started believing that he is completely responsible for the deer's growth and safety. By constantly meditating on
the needs of the deer, he slowly started to forget his responsibilities in spiritual life. He forgot the rules and regulations
for the advancement of spiritual life, and he gradually forgot to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After a
few days, he forgot everything about his spiritual advancement.

When some living entity is in trouble, it is natural for any human being to feel compassion for the same and try to
render help. Out of compassion we may try to render help. But after that we don't have the maturity to just move on
with life. The great Vaishnava poet Narsi Mehta very nicely sings in his bhajan.

vaiśnav jan to tene kahiye je pīd parāyi jāne re

paradukhkhe upakār kare toye man abhimān nā āne re

One who knows the pain of others are known as Vaishnavas and such Vaishnavas when they help others,
never feel proud of themselves.
But unfortunately we feel proud of what we did and forget the fact that Krishna had just used us as an instrument to
help in that particular instance. As a result, the doer mentality dominates us and keeps us submerged in mode of
passion and prevents us from discharging devotional service. His Divine Grace very nicely mentions in the purport to
verse 5.8.8. of Srimad Bhagavatam, "From this we can understand how we have to be very cautious in executing our
spiritual duties by observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. If we
neglect doing this, we will eventually fall down. We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangala-
arati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the
rules prescribed by the acaryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall
down, even though we may be very highly advanced."

In the pretext of helping others, we should not be negligent in our sadhana. Krishna willing we shall continue to
meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Kalacakra Krsna das & Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 3

Date: 2015-12-11 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw the below points.

1. Simple and intense bhakti brings bliss in any condition of life. 

2. Compassion for others should not push us to mode of passion.

Now let us see further.

3. Attachment leads to Agitation: In Srimad Bhagavatam Sukadeva Goswami explains how Bharata Maharaj started
developing more and more attachment for the deer. After saving it from drowning, he brought it to his ashram and
began to feed it. When he had to go and collect paraphernalia for worship from the forest, he thought that deer might
be harmed by any wild animals. So he began to carry it along with him wherever he went. He began to eat and sleep
with the deer. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.14 Sukadeva Goswami says,

kriyāyāṁ nirvartyamānāyām antarāle ’py utthāyotthāya yadainam abhicakṣīta tarhi vāva sa varṣa-patiḥ prakṛti-sthena
manasā tasmā āśiṣa āśāste svasti stād vatsa te sarvata iti.

When Maharaja Bharata was actually worshiping the Lord or was engaged in some ritualistic ceremony, 
although his activities were unfinished, he would still, at intervals, get up and see where the deer was.
 In this way he would look for it, and when he could see that the deer was comfortably situated, his mind
and heart would be very satisfied, and he would bestow his blessings upon the deer, saying, 'My dear
calf, may you be happy in all respects.'

This verse shows how material attachments are great stumbling blocks in the path of devotional service. These
attachments make us so restless and agitated that we start paying more attention to them, even while trying to do
devotional service. Srila Prabhupada in his wonderful purport to the above verse says, "In other words, if one's mind is
distracted from worship, a mere show of worship will not be of any benefit. The fact that Bharata Maharaja had to get
up at intervals to look for the deer was simply a sign that he had fallen down from the spiritual platform."

In case of Bharata Maharaja the attachment appeared in the form of a baby deer. Now-a-days the distractions are of
many forms for us through mobiles, laptops and ipads, tablets etc, varying from messages to beeps in Whatsapp or
Facebook and other social media. We are very attached to these gadgets and carry them everywhere and anywhere.
But none of these are going to accompany us in final journey. So we should be alert not to be deviated by these
gadgets while performing our sadhana. In one of the initiation lectures in Dwaraka our beloved spiritual master HH
Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj tells us a powerful mantra to chant before starting our Hare Krishna mantra, "main 
sub kuch chodkar jānewāla hun" - "I have to go leaving everything behind."

Since none of these material things to which we are attached, are going to accompany us, what is the point in
brooding over them or holding on to them? In fact these things are going to entangle us not only in this birth, but will
push us to hellish life for millions of births. So for our own welfare, it is better we turn our attachment towards Krishna
and attentively do our sadhana.

Srila Prabhupada beautifully mentions in purport to verse 5.8.13, "One who is serious in advancing his spiritual
life should be very cautious not to become attached to anything but Krishna. Sometimes, in order to preach,
we have to accept many material activities, but we should remember that everything is for Krishna. If we remember
this, there is no chance of our being victimized by material activities." Whether we are using these gadgets in service
of Krishna or whether our attachments to these gadgets is distracting our attention towards Lord and agitating us is a
honest check which we would have to do for our own selves.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 4

Date: 2015-12-12 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Bharata
Maharaj  became attached to a baby deer which he saved from drowning, while he was meditating in the forest. Now
let us see further.

4. Meetings and Separations are Krishna's arrangement: One day the deer ran away from the ashram of Bharata
Maharaj and never returned back. Bharata Maharaj became very anxious and began to wonder if the deer had been
attacked by wild animals in the forest. He considered himself very unfortunate for having lost the association of the
deer who had become very dear to him like his own son. He began to wonder whether the deer had left him because
he had not taken proper care of it.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.15.3 Angira Muni gives a very beautiful instruction to Maharaj Citraketu, when Citraketu
laments for the death of his son. Angira Muni says,

yathā prayānti saṁyānti sroto-vegena bālukāḥ

saṁyujyante viyujyante tathā kālena dehinaḥ

O King, as small particles of sand sometimes come together and are sometimes separated due to the
force of the waves, the living entities who have accepted material bodies sometimes come together and
are sometimes separated by the force of time.

In his wonderful purport to the above verse His Divine Grace says, "Like small particles of sand, bodies come together
and are separated by the force of time, and people falsely lament for unification and separation. Unless one knows
this, there is no question of happiness."

Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that our meeting any other living entity is
like a re-birth. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 10.5.24 Vasudev while meeting Nanda Maharaj after a long time says, "
It is also by good fortune that I am seeing you. Having obtained this opportunity, I feel as if I have taken birth again.
Even though one is present in this world, to meet with intimate friends and dear relatives in this material world is
extremely difficult". So Maharaj insisted that we should understand that all meetings and separations are all Krishna's
mercy and arrangement.

We may leave for work etc from home and our return to home and meeting our family members is not in our hands.
Depending upon our karma and Krishna's will, Lord makes the living entities to meet or separate. When we fail to see
the hand of Krishna behind all these things and see it on a bodily platform, then we will always be bewildered and
anxious. When we meet people we become very elated and forget everything about Krishna. And when we are
separated, we start concocting so many things.

Maharaj used to give us this example of how if someone does not talk with us for a while, our mind starts imagining so
many things about them, even if there is no real misunderstanding. The other person might have been busy or
occupied with some other problem, but our mind tricks that we are being ignored or neglected. Such negative thoughts
takes us far away from Krishna as we keep wasting time in mental speculations. Even while performing devotional
service we will face such situations and Maharaj insisted that if we don't remain simple and straight-forward in our
dealings then we will fall a prey to such concoctions and they drag us down to the material rut. In case of Bharata
Maharaj, due to his undue attachment for the deer, he was completely overwhelmed by illusory and began to move
like a mad-man in the forest, in search of the deer, completing neglectful of his own needs and duties.
Krishna willing, we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 5

Date: 2015-12-13 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj retired to the forest and performed great austerities. But in the attempts of saving a baby
deer, he became distracted and deviated from his path of devotional service. Inspite of his great care and attention, he
somehow lost the deer and was searching for it desperately. Now let us see further.

5. Negligence results in re-birth: In Srimad Bhagavatam Sukadeva Goswami explains in verse 5.8.27 how 
at the time of death, Bharat Maharaj saw that the deer was sitting by his side, exactly like his own son,
and was lamenting his death. Actually the mind of the King was absorbed in the body of the deer, and
consequently—like those bereft of Krishna consciousness—he left the world, the deer, and his material
body and acquired the body of a deer. However, there was one advantage. Although he lost his human
body and received the body of a deer, he did not forget the incidents of his past life.

Srila Prabhupada in his wonderful purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 5.8.27, quotes the verse 8.6 from Bhagavad Gita:

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram

taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.

Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that at the time of death, we will have rewind of
snapshots of whatever we had been doing in life. If we utilised our time and energy in Krishna's service, then we will
get those good snapshots and that will help us in our journey back home, back to Godhead. On the other hand if we
had engaged our mind and senses mainly in other mundane things, then those snapshots will ensure us to be
entangled in different bodies, life after life. So here we find that Bharat Maharaj was always meditating on the deer and
so after death he got the body of a deer.

Normally when we die thinking of some animal, we may get the body of animal. But we will not remember our past life.
But in case of Bharata Maharaj, because of his sincere devotional activities which he did in the beginning, Krishna
allowed him to remember his past life even in the body of deer. This is indeed causeless mercy of Krishna towards His
devotees. Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains in his purport to verse 5.8.26 of Srimad Bhagavatam that, "Maharaja
Bharata purposefully became over-addicted to the deer and neglected his spiritual advancement. To immediately
rectify his mistake, for a short time he was awarded the body of a deer. This was just to increase his desire for mature
devotional service."

So as practising devotees we should be careful not to be negligent in devotional service. Krishna willing we shall
continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 6

Date: 2015-12-14 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj retired to the forest and performed great austerities. But being distracted by baby deer, he
gave up his spiritual practice. At the end of his life, due to constant remembrance of deer he got the body of deer in
next birth. Now let us see further.

6. Devotional service never goes in vain: In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.28 Sukadeva Goswami says,

tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaṁ bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhānubhāvenānusmṛtya bhṛśam anutapyamāna āha.

Although in the body of a deer, Bharata Maharaja, due to his rigid devotional service in his past life,
could understand the cause of his birth in that body. Considering his past and present life, he constantly
repented his activities, speaking in the following way.

In the above verse bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhā means 'past activities in devotional service'. In his wonderful

purport to verse 5.8.27 Srila Prabhupada says, "There was a difference between Bharata Maharaja's acquiring a deer
body and others' acquiring different bodies according to their mental condition at the time of death. After death, others
forget everything that has happened in their past lives, but Bharata Maharaja did not forget."

We have poor memory that we can't even remember many things which we did in this life. But Supreme Lord is all
powerful and omniscient. He has track of all our accounts and so when we engage sincerely in His devotional service,
He is so merciful to help His devotees to remember Him, even in the body of animal. His Divine Grace says in purport
to above verse, "This is a special concession for a devotee. Even if he attains a body that is nonhuman, by the grace of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead he advances further in devotional service, whether by remembering his past life
or by natural causes."

After death when we get a new body, we don't carry the memories of previous life. But because of his, 'rigid
devotional practice', Krishna mercifully gave him the ability to remember his past life even in the body of animal.
The life of elephant Gajendra is another example. When the crocodile caught his leg and the elephant Gajendra fought
for thousand years, by the grace of Krishna he remembered the prayer which he used to recite in his previous life as
king Indradyumna. Then he started offering those prayers again, the Supreme Lord immediately came on Garuda and
saved him from the clutches of crocodile and from cycle of birth and death. As Krishna assures in Bhagavad-Gita 2.40,

nehābhikrama-nāśo ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate

sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt

In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one
from the most dangerous type of fear.

Devotional service never goes in vain and it protects us life after life. So, now when we have a chance in this life to do
bhakti, we must try to make the best use of the available opportunity. Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate
more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 7

Date: 2015-12-15 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer in his next birth. Now let us see further.

7. Repentance leads to rectification: Remembrance of past, be it previous birth or present birth can be a blessing
or a curse. Pleasing incidents might be sweet memory, but the sins we have committed and many other displeasing
incidents would be mind-boggling and source of embarrassment. In case of Bharata Maharaj, the remembrance of his
past life was very fruitful as it led to repentance of his mistake and increase in intensity of his devotion to Supreme
Lord. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.28 Sukadeva Goswami says,

tatrāpi ha vā ātmano mṛgatva-kāraṇaṁ bhagavad-ārādhana-samīhānubhāvenānusmṛtya bhṛśam anutapyamāna āha.

Although in the body of a deer, Bharata Maharaja, due to his rigid devotional service in his past life,
could understand the cause of his birth in that body. Considering his past and present life, he constantly
repented his activities, speaking in the following way.

The words bhṛśam in the above verse means always and anutapya-mānaḥ means repenting. To err is human and

being encaged in this human body and bound by modes of material nature, we keep committing some mistake or the
other. But after doing the mistake, we have this bad habit of not accepting it. We try to blame others, the situation or
Supreme Lord Himself for our downfall. As a result we never get free from material bondage. But Bharata Maharaj
never blamed anyone else for his mistake.

Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.29 tells us how in the body of a deer, Bharata Maharaja began to lament: "What
misfortune! I have fallen from the path of the self-realized. I gave up my real sons, wife and home to advance in
spiritual life, and I took shelter in a solitary holy place in the forest. I became self-controlled and self-realized, and I
engaged constantly in devotional service, hearing, thinking, chanting, worshiping and remembering the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. I was successful in my attempt, so much so that my mind was always absorbed in
devotional service. However, due to my personal foolishness, my mind again became attached—this time to a deer.
Now I have obtained the body of a deer and have fallen far from my devotional practices."

When we honestly introspect and accept our mistake and repent for it, then Supreme Lord who is residing as Super-
soul in our heart, takes control of us and directs us to the right path. Until we accept our mistakes, we will not be able
to hear the voice of Super-soul. In Srimad Bhagavatam 3.31.13, the child in the womb also very nicely mentions in his
prayer, 'ātapyamāna-hṛdaye ’vasitaṁ namāmi' - The Lord is perceived in the repentant's heart.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 8

Date: 2015-12-20 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the life
of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer in his next birth and repented for his mistakes in the past birth. Now let
us see further.

8. Don't waste time: His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada in his matchless purport to the verse 5.8.29 of Srimad
Bhagavatam explains how life of Bharata Maharaj is very good lesson for us. His Divine Grace says, "If we misuse our
position and think that we are fully engaged in devotional service and can do whatever we like, we have to suffer like
Bharata Maharaja and be condemned to accept the type of body that impairs our devotional service. Only the human
form is able to execute devotional service, but if we voluntarily give this up for sense gratification, we certainly have to
be punished."

Bharata Maharaja had attachment only to deer. But for us the desires are unlimited and so for each and every such
desire, we would have to take that many number of births. And we have no control of how big our karma account
would become in each of those birth. To save ourselves from these pitfalls of desires and attachments, Srila
Prabhupada gives us the solution in the following lines of the purport. "The constant hearing and chanting of the
glories of the Lord is recommended in Bhagavad-Gita: satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ [Bg. 9.14].
Those who have taken to Krishna consciousness should be very careful that not a single moment is wasted and that
not a single moment is spent without chanting and remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His
activities. By His own actions and by the actions of His devotees, Krishna teaches us how to become cautious in
devotional service. Through the medium of Bharata Maharaja, Krishna teaches us that we must be careful in the
discharge of devotional service. If we want to keep our minds completely fixed without deviation, we must engage
them in devotional service full time."

His Divine Grace further says that we must take a lesson from the life of Bharata Maharaja to be very cautious and to
see that not a single moment is wasted in frivolous talk, sleep or voracious eating. As our beloved spiritual
master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj always insists,

kālakṣepo na kartavyo  kṣīṇam āyuḥ  kṣaṇe kṣaṇe

yamasya karuṇā nāsti kartavyam hari kīrtanam

Do not waste time. Our life-span is decreasing every moment. Yamaraj is not merciful and so our time
now should be properly utilised in devotional service.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 9

Date: 2015-12-22 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer in his next birth and repented for his mistakes in the past birth. Now let
us see further.

9. Silent Service:  It is very interesting to see what Bharata Maharaja did in his next birth in the body of deer.
Sukadeva Goswami explains in Srimad Bhagavatam 5.8.30,

ity evaṁ nigūḍha-nirvedo visṛjya mṛgīṁ mātaraṁ punar bhagavat-kṣetram upaśama-śīla-muni-gaṇa-dayitaṁ

śālagrāmaṁ pulastya-pulahāśramaṁ kālañjarāt pratyājagāma.

Although Bharata Mahārāja received the body of a deer, by constant repentance he became completely
detached from all material things. He did not disclose these things to anyone, but he left his mother deer
in a place known as Kālañjara Mountain, where he was born. He again went to the forest of Śālagrāma
and to the āśrama of Pulastya and Pulaha.

The word 'constant repentance' in the above translation is worth meditating. This constant repentance helped
Bharata Maharaj to be detached. Our natural tendency is that we conveniently forget our mistakes which we do, even
now in this birth and don't feel guilty for the same. As a result we keep doing the same mistake again and again. Since
the repentance of our mistake and gratitude for Lord and His devotees are all flickering, our progress in devotional
service is also flickering. If we are really feel repentant and guilty of the sins we performed in the past, we will not
repeat it again.

In spite of being in the deer body, Bharata Maharaj was constantly repentant of his past mistake. At the same time he
always felt grateful to Lord for helping him remember the previous life. So he was determined to continue his
devotional service to the Lord. He did not want to get into any more attachments or entanglements in this life. So he
left his mother deer and again went to the same Pulaha ashrama wherein he had been practising austerities in his
previous life. Bharata Maharaja went there inorder to take association of saintly people who will visit the ashram. This
indeed reflects the effects of the mature devotional service which he had been practising in his previous life.

The word nigudha in the above verse means 'hidden'. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada explains to us in the above
verse that Bharata Maharaj did not keep boasting to everyone about how Lord had blessed him to remember his
previous birth. Silently he left his birth-place. This is yet another lesson to be learnt from Bharata Maharaj. Beauty of
secrecy remains until is hidden. Many a times, in the pretext of glorifying Krishna, we subtly boast about our own self
for whatever benedictions we receive from Lord or His devotees. Our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu
Goswami Maharaj used to tell that service should continue, but servant should not be seen. Maharaj says that 
we should be like the walls. There cannot be room without walls. People may appreciate the pictures
hung on the walls, but no-one praises the wall. And as such walls never claim any recognition for its
presence. Instead of blowing our own trumpets either about the austerities or any other benedictions we receive from
Lord and His devotees, it is important to focus on really executing the service.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 10

Date: 2015-12-23 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer in his next birth and repented for his mistakes in the past birth. Now let
us see further.

10. Waiting Time is Serving Time: In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.31 Sukadeva Goswami explains how Bharata
Maharaja spent his life in the body of the deer.

tasminn api kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ saṅgāc ca bhṛśam udvigna ātma-sahacaraḥ śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā vartamāno
mṛgatva-nimittāvasānam eva gaṇayan mṛga-śarīraṁ tīrthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja

Remaining in that āśrama, the great King Bharata Mahārāja was now very careful not to fall victim to bad
association. Without disclosing his past to anyone, he remained in that āśrama and ate dry leaves only.
He was not exactly alone, for he had the association of the Supersoul. In this way he waited for death in
the body of a deer. Bathing in that holy place, he finally gave up that body.

The words kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ and ātma-sahacaraḥ in the above verse are worth meditating. His Divine Grace gives
the word to word equivalent for kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ as 'always waiting for the end of duration of life in the
deer body'. This waiting time is a crucial period.

Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj always glorified Narada Muni by referring to the verse
1.6.26 in Srimad Bhagavatam. While Narada Muni is explaining about his previous life to Vyasadev, he mentions how in
his previous birth, Narada Muni was son of a maid-servant. After his mother passed away, by the gift of devotional
service which he learnt from few sages, he gets the darshan of the Lord for a moment. But then, Lord disappears and
says that he will no longer get the darshan in that life time and that he has to wait till his next birth. But Narada Muni
without being dejected spends his 'waiting time' in that birth very usefully.

nāmāny anantasya hata-trapaḥ paṭhan

guhyāni bhadrāṇi kṛtāni ca smaran
gāṁ paryaṭaṁs tuṣṭa-manā gata-spṛhaḥ
kālaṁ pratīkṣan vimado vimatsaraḥ

Thus I began chanting the holy name and fame of the Lord by repeated recitation, ignoring all the
formalities of the material world. Such chanting and remembering of the transcendental pastimes of the
Lord are benedictory. So doing, I traveled all over the earth, fully satisfied, humble and unenvious.

So these great souls like Narada Muni, Bharata Maharaj never wasted their waiting time. When unfavourable or
disappointing situations happens in our life, we always try to get out of the situation somehow or the other. These
unfavourable situations are created because of our own fallacies and nothing else. But we try to avoid that situations
and try to take some short-cuts. Bharata Maharaja did not take such adverse steps. He patiently waited for the time of
his death in the body of the deer. He has shown us through his example as to how these situations also can be utilised
to increase in our determination to serve the Lord. Parikshit Maharaj also saw the unfavourable situation of brahmana's
curse as an opportunity to go closer to Krishna. We see from the life of these great devotees as how to change
unfavourable situation also as an opportunity to render service to Krishna.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.
Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 11

Date: 2015-12-24 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer in his next birth and repented for his mistakes in the past birth. Now let
us see further.

11. Constant Companion: In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.8.31 Sukadeva Goswami explains how Bharata Maharaja
spent his life in the body of the deer.

tasminn api kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ saṅgāc ca bhṛśam udvigna ātma-sahacaraḥ śuṣka-parṇa-tṛṇa-vīrudhā vartamāno
mṛgatva-nimittāvasānam eva gaṇayan mṛga-śarīraṁ tīrthodaka-klinnam ut-sasarja.

Remaining in that āśrama, the great King Bharata Mahārāja was now very careful not to fall victim to bad
association. Without disclosing his past to anyone, he remained in that āśrama and ate dry leaves only.
He was not exactly alone, for he had the association of the Supersoul. In this way he waited for death in
the body of a deer. Bathing in that holy place, he finally gave up that body.

We had seen the meaning for the words kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ in the previous offering. Now we shall try to meditate on
the word ātma-sahacaraḥ. His Divine Grace gives the word to word equivalent for 'ātma-sahacaraḥ' as 'having the
Supersoul as the only constant companion (no one should think of being alone)'.

From womb to tomb, we are never alone. Krishna as Supersoul is always our constant companion. The intention of
Bharata Maharaj to return to the ashrama was to get association of sages who kept visiting those places. But in this
material world, we have to understand and accept the reality that no-one can physically stay with us all the time, be it
our friends, relatives, spiritual master or devotees. So we should never feel morose when we are placed in situations
when we have to stay alone. As His Divine Grace very nicely mentions in the word to word equivalents, we should not
think that we are alone, for the Lord is always with us.

In his purport to Bhagavad Gita verse 16.1 Srila Prabhupada while explaining about fearlessness says, "One must thus
have firm conviction that Krishna as Paramatma will take care of a soul surrendered to Him. "I shall never be alone,"
one should think. "Even if I live in the darkest regions of a forest I shall be accompanied by Krishna, and
He will give me all protection." That conviction is called abhayam, fearlessness. This state of mind is necessary for
a person in the renounced order of life."

So having practiced renunciation for so long in his previous life, Bharata Maharaj continued to practice the austerity of
eating frugally, bathing in holy place even in the body of deer. He was very careful about not getting into any bad
association. Remembrance of our past is a blessing of the Lord if it gives us the impetus to increase our loving
devotional service to the Lord. Bharath Maharaj received this blessing from the Lord due to his sincere devotional
service in his past life. The remembrance of his past life and his slip in the last leg of his previous life made him very
careful to avoid the hurdles in the path of spiritual life in his present birth. Always absorbed in thoughts of Supreme
Lord, he waited for his death in the deer's body.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 12

Date: 2015-12-30 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer in his next birth. Repenting for his mistakes in the past birth and
remembering the Supreme Lord, he left the deer's body. Now let us see further.

Maharaja Bharata had done severe austerities in his previous lives as a pious king and in the subsequent birth as the
deer. So by Lord's mercy in the next birth, he was born in the dynasty of Angira Muni as Jada Bharata. In the previous
birth Lord Rshabhadeva, who is incarnation of Krishna was his father and now again in this birth he was fortunate to be
born in nice devoted brahmana family. Sukadeva Goswami says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.9.1 explains how Jada
Bharata's father was fully qualified with brahminical qualifications. His father was well-versed in Vedic scriptures and
was engaged in devotional service of the Lord and was expert in giving charity, and he was always satisfied, tolerant,
very gentle, learned and non-envious.

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, verse 37 Arjuna asks a very nice question to Lord Krishna about what is the condition of a
devotee who falls down from his spiritual practices. "O Krishna, what is the destination of the unsuccessful
transcendentalist, who in the beginning takes to the process of self-realization with faith but who later desists due to
worldly-mindedness and thus does not attain perfection in mysticism?" While replying to this Lord assures Arjuna that 
nothing goes vain in devotional service. Those who falls down after little progress, after many, many years of
enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich
aristocracy. Whereas those who have done longer practice of devotional service and then fall down, for such people
the Lord says in verse 6.42,

atha vā yoginām eva kule bhavati dhīmatām

etad dhi durlabha-taraṁ loke janma yad īdṛśam

Or [if unsuccessful after long practice of yoga] he takes his birth in a family of transcendentalists who
are surely great in wisdom. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.

In his purport to verse 6.42 Srila Prabhupada mentions the great advantage of being born in a family of
transcendentalists is that "The child born in such a family receives a spiritual impetus from the very beginning of his
life. It is especially the case in the acharya or Goswami families. Such families are very learned and devoted by
tradition and training, and thus they become spiritual masters."  His Divine Grace further mentions that if there is lack
of proper education and training, then the child will still miss the chance in this birth even after taking birth in such a
nice family. So as responsible parents/elders we should try to gift the younger generation with an atmosphere which is
conducive for them to nicely learn and practise devotional service.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more Jada Bharata's life in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 13

Date: 2015-12-31 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer and in the subsequent birth he was born in a brahmana family as Jada
Bharata. In this offering we shall try to meditate on some of the sublime qualities of Jada Bharata.

a) Being absorbed in Krishna internally: Jada Bharata's father tried his level best to educate his son on cleanliness,
Vedic scriptures and about performing sacrifices. But Jada Bharata posed as if he was a dull and dumb person. Since
he was remembering his past births, he knew that all these sacrifices based on karma kanda will only cause more and
more bondage. He was fully convinced that devotional service unto the Supreme Lord Krishna alone can free him from
this cycle of birth and death. So he was always internally absorbed in the thoughts of the Supreme Lord. Normal
human tendency is that we are worried about what others will think of us and always be cautious to pose as if we are
good, smart and great personalities. But internally our minds may be polluted with all kinds of trash. In attempts of
posing ourselves as nice devotees many a times, we lose out on the subtle and finer qualities of devotional service like
humility, pridelessness and constant remembrance of Supreme Lord. In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5, Chapter 9 titled,
"The Supreme Character of Jada Bharata", Sukadeva Goswami very nicely explains the glorious character of Jada
Bharata. He was not worried about what others will think of him. In fact by posing himself as deaf, dumb an dull person
helped him to avoid the association of bad people. Seeing his condition his parents also thought that he was not fit for
grhastha ashrama as well. So Jada Bharata led his life like a covered diamond, not revealing his spiritual
effulgence to others.

b) Steer Clear: Failing in his attempts to educate Jada Bharata, the brahmana father died one day and Jada Bharata's
mother leaving him under the care of his step-mother and nine step-brothers, voluntarily died by entering the funeral
pyre of her husband. The step-brothers ill-treated Jada Bharata. But without any protest, Jada Bharata tolerated all
their atrocities. When animalistic men tried to criticise and defame Jada Bharata, he did not protest or try
to convince them that he was not so. Our nature is that when we receive any criticism, irrespective of whether we
are right or wrong, we fight tooth and nail to prove our point. But by doing so, we get stuck in this material modes. Our
beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj gives a very nice example in one of his Bhagavatam
classes. Maharaj says that when we are driving on the road, two things are important. First thing is we
should be very alert and secondly we should know what our destination is. When we are clear on these
two things, then even if there is traffic jam, we try to steer clear and just keep moving towards the
destination, without getting stuck. Maharaj said that the same holds good for us in journey of human life as well.

So we see here that Jada Bharata was very alert and conscious of his final destination. His Divine Grace Srila
Prabhupada mentions in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.9.12, "Bharata Maharaja was determined to
finish his business in this material world, and he did not at all care for the world of duality. He was
complete in Krishna consciousness and was oblivious to good and evil, happiness and distress."

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 14

Date: 2016-01-01 Author: Kalacakra Krsna das

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we saw how the great
emperor Bharat Maharaj got the body of deer and in the subsequent birth he was born in a brahmana family as Jada
Bharata. In this offering we shall try to meditate on some of the sublime qualities of Jada Bharata.

14. Full Surrender: In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5, Chapter 9 Sukadeva Goswami explains to Parikshit Maharaj as to
how a group of dacoits once caught hold of Jada Bharata and bound him with ropes in order to give him in sacrifice to
Goddess Kali. Jada Bharata remained steady in consciousness and was there no sign of agitation in him. Srila
Prabhupada very nicely mentions in the purport to verse 5.9.14 as how Jada Bharata behaved in that situation. His
Divine Grace says, "Being completely surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he remained in that
condition and did not protest being brought before the deity for slaughter. As we have learned from the previous
verses, he was very strong and could have very easily avoided being bound with ropes, but he did not do anything. He
simply depended on the Supreme Personality of Godhead for his protection. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes
surrender unto the Supreme Lord in this way.

mārobi rākhobi-jo icchā tohārā

nitya-dāsa prati tuwā adhikārā

My Lord, I am now surrendered unto You. I am Your eternal servant, and if You like You can kill me, or, if
You like, You can protect me. In any case, I am fully surrendered unto You.

We can see in the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam as to how pure devotees of the Lord are all fearless about death.
When the demon created by Durvasa Muni was about to kill him, Ambarish Maharaj did not even slightly move from his
position. Parikshit Maharaj did not counteract when he was cursed to death by Shrngi. He had darshan of the Lord
when he was in the mother's womb. So if he wanted, he could have prayed to the Lord to save him from the
brahmana's curse. But he did not do so. Pure devotees of the Lord, inspite of being very powerful, do not react. They
neither try to defend themselves, nor pray to Lord to protect them from that precarious situation. But they simply
remain absorbed in remembering Supreme Lord. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.18.48 Sukadev Goswami says,

tiraskṛtā vipralabdhāḥ śaptāḥ kṣiptā hatā api

nāsya tat pratikurvanti tad-bhaktāḥ prabhavo ’pi hi

The devotees of the Lord are so forbearing that even though they are defamed, cheated, cursed,
disturbed, neglected or even killed, they are never inclined to avenge themselves.

Srila Prabhupada very nicely mentions in the purport to verse 9.4.47 of Srimad Bhagavatam, "Nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve
na kutaścana bibhyati (SB 6.17.28). A pure devotee of Narayana is never afraid of any material danger
. There are many examples of devotees such as Prahlada Maharaja, who was tortured by his father but was not at all
afraid, although he was only a five-year-old boy. Therefore, following the examples of Ambarisha Maharaja and
Prahlada Maharaja, a devotee should learn how to tolerate all such awkward positions in this world. Devotees are
often tortured by non-devotees, yet the pure devotee, depending fully on the mercy of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, is never disturbed by such inimical activities."

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Kalacakra Krsna das & Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 15

Date: 2016-01-16 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings, we saw how Jada Bharata
was caught by group of dacoits, whose leader, desirous of getting more riches and son, decided to offer him in
sacrifice to Mother Kali. In this offering, we shall try to meditate further.

Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.9.17, Sukadeva Goswami says how Mother Kali could not tolerate the offense of the
dacoits. "Jada Bharata was the best friend of all living entities. He was no one's enemy, and he was always absorbed in
meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was born of a good brahmana father, and killing him was
forbidden, even though he might have been an enemy or an aggressive person. In any case, there was no reason to kill
Jada Bharata, and the goddess Kali could not bear this. She could immediately understand that these sinful dacoits
were about to kill a great devotee of the Lord. Suddenly the deity's body burst asunder, and the goddess Kali
personally emerged from it in a body burning with an intense and intolerable effulgence."

Mother Kali then picked up the very sword which the dacoits were planning to use to kill Jada Bharata. She then
beheaded all the dacoits and drank their blood. Srila Prabhupada very nicely mentions in the purport to verse 5.9.18 of
Srimad Bhagavatam, "Demoniac people worship goddess Kali to obtain some material benefit, but they are 
not excused of the sins performed in the name of worship." Demigods are sincere servitors of the Supreme Lord
and they can never tolerate any offense done against the Lord or His devotees. While explaining the nature of
demigods Srila Prabhupada very nicely says in purport to verse 1.19.18, "A demigod takes pleasure in seeing someone
go back to Godhead. He is always pleased with a devotee of the Lord, so much so that by his adhidaivik
powers he may help the devotees in all respects. And by their actions, the Lord is pleased with them
. There is an invisible chain of complete cooperation between the Lord, the demigods, and the devotee of the Lord on
earth." So by protecting Jada Bharata Mother Kali pleased the Supreme Lord.

The supreme character of Jada Bharata and the glories of Lord are very nicely summarised by Sukadev Goswami in the
verse 5.9.20 of Srimad Bhagavatam. Sukadeva Goswami then said to Maharaja Parikshit: "O Vishnudatta, those who
already know that the soul is separate from the body, who are liberated from the invincible knot in the heart, who are
always engaged in welfare activities for all living entities and who never contemplate harming anyone are always
protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who carries His disc [the Sudarshana cakra] and acts as supreme
time to kill the demons and protect His devotees. The devotees always take shelter at the lotus feet of the
Lord. Therefore at all times, even if threatened by decapitation, they remain unagitated. For them, this is
not at all wonderful."

Jada Bharata was so very submissive to the will of the Supreme Lord and was always absorbed in remembering Krishna 
that he remained unagitated both when he was about to be killed by the dacoits and when Mother Kali killed the
dacoits and saved him.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on Jada Bharata in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 16

Date: 2016-01-17 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings, we were meditating on
some of the glorious characters of Jada Bharata. Now we shall see further.

16. Be kind to all living entities: In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 10, Sukadeva Goswami narrates the
meeting of Jada Bharata with King Rahugana, ruler of states Sindu and Sauvira. Once King Rahugana was traveling to
Kapilashrama in a palanquin. When the palanquin carriers reached the banks of River Ikshumati, they needed one
more carrier. When they saw Jada Bharata, they considered him to be the right person as he appeared very young and
strong. They forced him to carry the palanquin. Being an exalted soul, Jada Bharata did not want to explain/argue with
the carriers that he is not fit for that work. So he began to assist them in carrying the king's palanquin.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.10.2 Sukadev Goswami says, "The palanquin, however, was very erratically
carried by Jada Bharata due to his sense of nonviolence. As he stepped forward, he checked before him
every three feet to see whether he was about to step on ants. Consequently, he could not keep pace with
the other carriers. Due to this, the palanquin was shaking, and King Rahugana immediately asked the
carriers, "Why are you carrying this palanquin unevenly? Better carry it properly."

Jada Bharata being a devotee of the Supreme Lord did not want to harm even the ants while walking. Whereas the
other carriers were not so mindful. As a result, all of them were not walking in pace and so the shaking of the
palanquin resulted in making King Rahugana angry. Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains the mood of Vaishnava in his
purport to the above verse. "A devotee of the Lord does not forget his devotional service and other
favorable activities, even when he is in a most distressful condition." When we are forced to carry very heavy
load, all we want is to somehow just rush towards the destination and place the load down. In that hasteful mood, we
don't care for what is on our path. But here we find how great soul Jada Bharata, without minding his personal
inconveniences, was cautious not to step over even the small ants that were on the path. As a Vaishnava Jada Bharata
could see the ants also as part and parcel of Supreme Lord.

We find many people who are so particular about taking care of dogs and cats, but don't find any harm in eating non-
vegetarian food. When they are kind to their pet animals like dog and cat, they should not mercilessly kill other
animals just to satisfy their senses. His Divine Grace further explains in the purport as to why we should not kill other
living entities. "Those who are not Vaishnavas consider only human society worthy of their sympathy, but Krishna
claims to be the supreme father of all life forms. Consequently, the Vaishnava takes care not to annihilate untimely or
unnecessarily any life form. All living entities have to fulfill a certain duration for being encaged in a
particular type of material body. They have to finish the duration allotted a particular body before being
promoted or evolved into another body. Killing an animal or any other living being simply places an
impediment in the way of his completing his term of imprisonment in a certain body. One should
therefore not kill bodies for one's sense gratification, for this will implicate one in sinful activity."

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 17

Date: 2016-01-20 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering, we were meditating on the
meeting of King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. We saw how the carriers of King Rahugana's palanquin forced Jada
Bharata to assist them in carrying the king. Now we shall see further.

Since Jada Bharata was careful not to step over the ants, he was not in pace with others and so the king chastised the
carriers. Fearing the punishment of the king, the other carriers informed the king that they were doing their duty with
diligence and the disturbance was due to the new person who they had engaged now in carrying the palanquin.
Understanding the fear of the carriers, Rahugana became angry with Jada Bharata. Power and passion blinded his
eyes. He could not see the exalted position of Jada Bharata and due to his kshatriya spirit and pride of being a king, he
began to speak sarcastically to Jada Bharata.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.10.6, King Rahugana told Jada Bharata: "How troublesome this is, my dear
brother. You certainly appear very fatigued because you have carried this palanquin alone without
assistance for a long time and for a long distance. Besides that, due to your old age you have become
greatly troubled. My dear friend, I see that you are not very firm, nor very strong and stout. Aren't your
fellow carriers cooperating with you?"

Even such piercing words of sarcasm did not affect Jada Bharata. He knew that he was not the body. So he did not care
for the praise/criticism that was attributed to his body, but simply continued the task of carrying the palanquin, his
thoughts fully absorbed in the Supreme Lord. In day to day life, it is a common experience that we keep getting so
many comments about being fat/thin/tall/short/beautiful/ugly. No matter how one's body is, it is all temporary and the
eternal soul within all the bodies are of the same size. Srila Prabhupada in his wonderful purport to the above verse
says, "The body is created according to one's karma, and material nature supplies the ingredients for the development
of a certain type of body. The soul the body covers is different from the bodily construction; therefore anything
favorable or mischievous done to the body does not affect the spirit soul."

Those who are spiritually advanced and have transcended the bodily concept of life, do not waste their time and
energy on such petty sarcasms, but continue with devotional service without deviation. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse
11.7.37 the avadhuta brahmana says,

bhūtair ākramyamāṇo ’pi dhīro daiva-vaśānugaiḥ

tad vidvān na calen mārgād anvaśikṣaṁ kṣiter vratam

A sober person, even when harassed by other living beings, should understand that his aggressors are
acting helplessly under the control of God, and thus he should never be distracted from progress on his
own path. This rule I have learned from the earth.

The phrase na calen mārgād is very important in the above verse. Without getting distracted or deviated by others'
comments, we should continue to do devotional service uninterrupted.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 18

Date: 2016-01-27 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering, we were meditating on the
meeting of King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. We saw how the carriers of King Rahugana's palanquin forced Jada
Bharata to assist them in carrying the king. Since Jada Bharata could not carry the palanquin properly the king
sarcastically chastised him. But Jada Bharata cautious of not stamping over the ants on the path continued to carry the
palanquin, without minding the harsh words. Now we shall see further.

When Jaḍa Bharata did not change the way he was carrying the palanquin, King Rahugana became very angry. He said
that as he had disobeyed the orders of his master, Jada Bharata would be punished by him. In Srimad Bhagavatam
verse 5.10.8, Sukadeva Goswami says to Parikshit Maharaj:

evaṁ bahv abaddham api bhāṣamāṇaṁ nara-devābhimānaṁ rajasā tamasānuviddhena madena tiraskṛtāśeṣa-
bhagavat-priya-niketaṁ paṇḍita-māninaṁ sa bhagavān brāhmaṇo brahma-bhūta-sarva-bhūta-suhṛd-ātmā yogeśvara-
caryāyāṁ nāti-vyutpanna-matiṁ smayamāna iva vigata-smaya idam āha.

Thinking himself a king, King Rahugaṇa was in the bodily conception and was influenced by material
nature's modes of passion and ignorance. Due to madness, he chastised Jada Bharata with uncalled-for
and contradictory words. Jada Bharata was a topmost devotee and the dear abode of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Although considering himself very learned, the King did not know about the
position of an advanced devotee situated in devotional service, nor did he know his characteristics. Jada
Bharata was the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; he always carried the form of the
Lord within his heart. He was the dear friend of all living beings, and he did not entertain any bodily
conception. He therefore smiled and spoke the following words.

Through the character of King Rahugana  the above verse gives a nice idea on the symptoms of an angry person.
When we are angry,

1. We speak non-sense - abaddham

2. We are proud of our position - nara-devābhimānaṁ
3. Maddened (madena) by anger we fail to realize to whom we are speaking and what we are speaking (tiraskṛtā)

The Bhagavatam way of dealing such angry people is shown by Jada Bharata who is glorified as,

1. Bhagavān - spiritually most powerful

2. brāhmana - fully qualified brahmana
3. brahma-bhūta - self-realised
4. sarva-bhūta-suhṛd-ātmā - friend of all living entities
5  yogeśvara- the most advanced yogi
6. vigata-smaya - free from all material pride.

The words Bhagavān, yogeśvara etc are usually used to describe Supreme Lord. But herein we find that Sukadeva
Goswami is describing Jada Bharata with these words on account of his being completely surrendered to Supreme
Lord. Srila Prabhupada has beautifully translated the word Bhagavān in this verse as 'spiritually most powerful'.
When our sadhana is weak, we easily get disturbed by lust, anger, greed etc. But sincere sadhana itself is a great
opulence for pure devotees. Just like how a compassionate doctor smiles at his diseased patient and begins his
treatment, the saintly Jada Bharata smiled at King Rahugana and began his treatment.
Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 19

Date: 2016-01-28 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the life
of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. Hearing the chastisements of the King, Jada Bharata begins to
answer him. Now we shall see further.

Although Jada Bharata was physically strong, the king had criticized him saying that he was neither stout or strong as
he was unable to carry the palanquin properly. In response to this Jada Bharata appreciated the king's words were true
as he considered himself as soul and not associate himself with his body. The size of soul is one ten-thousandth part of
tip of hair and so words like fat/thin/ youth/old age etc. don't apply to the soul. He told the king that the body was
actually carrier and it was not him. Since he did not associate himself with the body he was not affected by the
chastisements to the body. The king was very proud that he is the master and Jada Bharata in spite of being his
servant, was behaving like a living dead. To clarify this statement Jada Bharata says the following beautiful verse in
Srimad Bhagavatam - 5.10.11,

jīvan-mṛtatvaṁ niyamena rājan ādyantavad yad vikṛtasya dṛṣṭam

sva-svāmya-bhāvo dhruva īḍya yatra tarhy ucyate ’sau vidhikṛtya-yogaḥ

My dear King, you have unnecessarily accused me of being dead though alive. In this regard, I can only
say that this is the case everywhere because everything material has its beginning and end. As far as
your thinking that you are the king and master and are thus trying to order me, this is also incorrect
because these positions are temporary. Today you are a king and I am your servant, but tomorrow the
position may be changed, and you may be my servant and I your master. These are temporary
circumstances created by providence.

Since soul is eternal and body is temporary Jada Bharata appreciated the king for calling him as 'living dead'. Our
beloved spiritual master, H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that every criticism has grain of truth in it. So,
here we find that Jada Bharata instead of rejecting the king's statement as all false and incorrect, tried to see truth in
the criticism. He then said that not only is the material body temporary, but the designations associated with body are
also temporary. By arrangement of providence, one may become a pauper or king within no time. Since these
positions in the material world are temporary, what is the point in being proud of these things? In his wonderful purport
to the above verse His Divine Grace says, "Actually no one is master within the material world, for everyone is under
the control of material nature, which is under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the ultimate master."

There is a saying that every sinner has a future and every saint has a past. So. even from a spiritual point of view, we
should never become proud of our spiritual progress. The mercy of spiritual master and Vaishnavas helps a sinful
person to overcome his/her bad tendencies and become saintly in behavior. But after obtaining the mercy, if we
misuse it by looking at others' sins and criticize, then we will be back to material rut. Power, position, prestige are all
temporary and keep changing. Our only eternal designation is that we are servant of servants of Krishna and when we
remember this truth and perform devotional service without deviation, our destination is secure.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.
Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 20

Date: 2016-01-29 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the life
of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam.

King Rahugana had used many inappropriate words to scold the saintly Jada Bharata. He had told that Jada Bharata
was a rascal, crazy and dull fellow and that by proper punishment, the king would bring him back to his senses. In
response to this Jada Bharata said how in reality a mad man can never be brought back to his senses even when he is
given any kind of punishment. Sri Sukadeva Goswami very nicely says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.10.14:

śrī-śuka uvāca
etāvad anuvāda-paribhāṣayā pratyudīrya muni-vara upaśama-śīla uparatānātmya-nimitta upabhogena karmārabdhaṁ
vyapanayan rāja-yānam api tathovāha.

Sukadeva Goswami said: O Maharaja Parikshit, when King Rahugana chastised the exalted devotee Jada
Bharata with harsh words, that peaceful, saintly person tolerated it all and replied properly. Nescience is
due to the bodily conception, and Jada Bharata was not affected by this false conception. Out of his
natural humility, he never considered himself a great devotee, and he agreed to suffer the results of his
past karma. Like an ordinary man, he thought that by carrying the palanquin, he was destroying the
reactions of his past misdeeds. Thinking in this way, he began to carry the palanquin as before.

In the above verse the words muni-varah and upaśama-śīla refer to the glories of Jada Bharata. muni-varah means 

great sage and upaśama-śīla means one who is calm and peaceful in character. Jada Bharata did not consider
the king to be at fault. Rather he saw the king as an agent of his own past karma. Srila Prabhupada while explaining
about humility of Jada Bharata mentions that he never considered himself as a great devotee.

Many times we have high opinion of our own selves and expect everything to be in the way we desire, everyone to
honour us etc. Just because we are attempting to engage in devotional service, we think that we are very pure and
Krishna has to arrange everything best in the way we want it to be. We have no idea about the baggages of karma
which is in our account and falsely become proud. We don't realize that whatever good we are experiencing is also
causeless mercy and that we don't deserve it. As a result we are unable to tolerate even a single act or word of
chastisement or criticism from others. Also our nature is that, we immediately stop the service when we are
blasphemed. But here we find the great sage Jada Bharata silently continuing with his service of carrying the
palanquin, without any grudge against the king.

In his matchless purport to the above verse His Divine Grace says, "When suffering reversed conditions, the devotee
always considers that the reverse conditions are the Lord's concessions. He is never angry with his master; he is
always satisfied with the position his master offers. In any case, he continues performing his duty in devotional service.
Such a person is guaranteed promotion back home, back to Godhead. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.8):

tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo

bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk

My dear Lord, one who constantly waits for Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him and who goes
on suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his
heart, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.
Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 21

Date: 2016-01-30 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata.  Jada Bharata very calmly responded to the chastisements
given by King Rahugana and continued with his service. Now we shall see further.

Hearing Jada Bharata's response, King Rahugana could realise that he was not an ordinary soul. So the king
immediately got down from the chariot and bowed down in front of Jada Bharata. Noticing the sacred thread in Jada
Bharata's body, he inquired with great respect as to who he was. The king could understand that Jada Bharata like a
hidden diamond was moving around this world like a dumb person, in spite of being a highly elevated spiritual soul.
Regretting offending him King Rahugana says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.10.17:

nāhaṁ viśaṅke sura-rāja-vajrān

na tryakṣa-śūlān na yamasya daṇḍāt
nāgny-arka-somānila-vittapāstrāc
chaṅke bhṛśaṁ brahma-kulāvamānāt

My dear sir, I am not at all afraid of the thunderbolt of King Indra, nor am I afraid of the serpentine,
piercing trident of Lord Shiva. I do not care about the punishment of Yamaraja, the superintendent of
death, nor am I afraid of fire, scorching sun, moon, wind, nor the weapons of Kuvera. Yet I am afraid of
offending a brahmana. I am very much afraid of this.

His Divine Grace in his purport to the above verse says, "When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was instructing Rupa
Goswami at the Dashashvamedha-ghat in Prayaga, He pointed out very clearly the seriousness of offending a
Vaishnava. He compared the vaishnava-aparādha to hātimātā, a mad elephant. When a mad elephant enters a garden,
it spoils all the fruits and flowers. Similarly, if one offends a Vaishnava, he spoils all his spiritual assets."

This is a nice lesson for us to learn from King Rahugana. It is best that we don't offend others. But even if we
unfortunately offend, we should never hesitate to seek forgivance. The moment we offend vaishnavas, we start losing
whatever little taste we have for devotional service. In the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam also we find that Lord
tolerates even the offense done against His own self, but He never tolerates or forgives those who offend His dear
devotees. In case of Prahlad Maharaj, we find that Lord appeared as Narasimhadev to kill the demoniac father
Hiranyakashipu. In case of Ambarisha Maharaj, when Durvasa Muni came running to Lord to protect him from the fiery
weapon of Sudarshana cakra, Lord said that the only resort for Durvasa muni is to go back and take shelter at the lotus
feet of Ambarish Maharaj. Although Sudarshana cakra is Lord's personal weapon, still the Lord wanted Durvasa to
understand that since he has offended Lord's dear devotee Ambarish Maharaj, Lord had no control to stop the
Sudarshana cakra.

So, understanding the gravity of his mistake, Rahugana asked for forgivance. He requested Jada Bharata to kindly
accept him as his disciple and placed his doubts in a very humble manner.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 22

Date: 2016-01-31 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. King Rahugana sought forgivance from Jada Bharata for
insulting him. Although Rahugana was intoxicated by pride in the beginning, the few moments of association with Jada
Bharata purified him. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.10.20 King Rahugana says:

sa vai bhavāḹ loka-nirīkṣaṇārtham

avyakta-liṅgo vicaraty api svit
yogeśvarāṇāṁ gatim andha-buddhiḥ
kathaṁ vicakṣīta gṛhānubandhaḥ

Is it not a fact that your good self is the direct representative of Kapiladeva, the incarnation of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead? To examine people and see who is actually a human being and who is
not, you have presented yourself to be a deaf and dumb person. Are you not moving this way upon the
surface of the world? I am very attached to family life and worldly activities, and I am blind to spiritual
knowledge. Nonetheless, I am now present before you and am seeking enlightenment from you. How can
I advance in spiritual life?

In his purport to the above verse His Divine Grace says, "In the association of such a sadhu as Jada Bharata, Maharaja
Rahugana came to the awareness that his activities as a royal authority were simply illusory phenomena. He therefore
agreed to receive knowledge from Jada Bharata, and that was the beginning of his perfection."

This is again a nice lesson to be learnt from King Rahugana. Just like the king, we are also conditioned by modes and
have so many imperfections in us. But when we honestly accept our mistakes and surrender to spiritual master and
seek his advice, then there is chance for purification. Many times we surrender superficially and are not ready to
accept our inebrieties to spiritual master. Nor do we attempt to reveal our doubts or problems to spiritual master with
an open mind. Our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says, "If you reveal only 50% of the
problem to me, then the solution I provide will also work only 50%. If you reveal 100%, it will work 100%."
In other words we should be simple and straight forward in expressing our position to the spiritual master. The spiritual
master, being pure devotee of the Lord definitely knows the position of the disciple, even without the disciple
expressing it. But we will get solution to our problems, only to the extent we surrender to Guru. King Rahugana humbly 
asked the following questions to Jada Bharata

1) O spiritual master, what is the most secure shelter in this world?

2) How can I advance in spiritual life?
3) Although the soul is different from the body,  does not soul suffer the pains and pleasures of the body?
4) Although relationship between king and subjects, master and servant are not eternal, is it not duty of master/           
king to punish the subject/servant when they make mistake?  

Krishna willing we shall meditate on the answers given by Jada Bharata to the above questions in the subsequent
offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 23

Date: 2016-02-05 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the life
of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. 

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 11 we find Jada Bharata giving vivid answers to all the inquiries made by his
disciple King Rahugana. In the battlefield of Kurukshetra when Arjuna refuses to fight, placing his arguments based on
compassion born out of bodily concept of life, Krishna chastises him that although he is speaking like a intelligent
person, he is a fool. On similar lines here we find Jada Bharata chastising King Rahugana that although he was
speaking like a experienced person, his talks showed that he is not at all experienced and that he was devoid of
spiritual knowledge. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.11.2 Jada Bharata says:

tathaiva rājann uru-gārhamedha-

vitāna-vidyoru-vijṛmbhiteṣu
na veda-vādeṣu hi tattva-vādaḥ
prāyeṇa śuddho nu cakāsti sādhuḥ

My dear King, talks of the relationship between the master and the servant, the king and the subject and
so forth are simply talks about material activities. People interested in material activities, which are
expounded in the Vedas, are intent on performing material sacrifices and placing faith in their material
activities. For such people, spiritual advancement is definitely not manifest.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in his purport to the above verse that the two words 'veda-vāda' and 'tattva-vāda' used in
the above verse are worth meditating. Rahugana was proud of his position as king and he had tried to justify his
dealings with the palanquin carriers. He earlier mentioned that according to Vedic principles it is the duty of
master/king to punish the servant/subjects when they commit mistakes. So he thought that there was nothing wrong in
him chastising the carriers as his actions are as per Vedas. In this regard, Jada Bharata is nicely instructing him about
the importance of being tattva-vādi instead of veda-vādi.

Srila Prabhupada says that the veda-vāda followers of Vedas are inclined to karma-kānda, the performance of sacrifice
according to Vedic injunctions. Such people may be promoted to higher planets. But after the pious credits are over,
still would have to return to another body and remain entangled in repeated birth and death. Tattva means Supreme
Absolute Truth. Tattva vādis are those who know the tattva, who is experienced in three features as Brahman,
Paramatma and Bhagavan. His Divine Grace insists that, "Even after coming to the platform of understanding tattva,
one must worship Bhagavan, Vishnu and His expansions, or one is not yet perfect." When one engages his mind in
service of Supreme Lord, he becomes free from the entanglement of birth and death.

Jada Bharata insisted that king should focus on spiritual advancement, instead of being stuck in bodily concept of life
and dealing about material activities. Krishna willing we shall meditate on the answers given by Jada Bharata in
response to the king's questions in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 24

Date: 2016-02-14 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto, Chapter 11 Jada Bharata begins to explain how mind when contaminated by the modes
of material nature behaves like a mad elephant. The mind expands the pious and impious activities of the living
entities. As a result we remain entangled in the cycle of repeated birth and death. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.11.7
Jada Bharata says:

tāvān ayaṁ vyavahāraḥ sadāviḥ

kṣetrajña-sākṣyo bhavati sthūla-sūkṣmaḥ
tasmān mano liṅgam ado vadanti
guṇāguṇatvasya parāvarasya

The mind makes the living entity within this material world wander through different species of life, and
thus the living entity experiences mundane affairs in different forms as a human being, demigod, fat
person, skinny person and so forth. Learned scholars say that bodily appearance, bondage and liberation
are caused by the mind.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in the above verse that how our mind is described as 'para-avara' in the above verse. para 
means transcendental and avara means material. So when mind is absorbed in material things, be it pious or
impious, it leads to further bondage. Whereas when mind is controlled and purified by process of devotional service
then, it helps one to return back home, back to Godhead. The subtle mind plays a very important role in the type of
body which we get in next life, as well as our appearance. Indeed even in this life we can see how thoughts in our mind
have impact on our appearance. It is very rightly said, "face is the index of the mind".

Many years ago we came across an article on whom Leonardo-da-Vinci chose to paint the famous picture "The Last
Supper". While painting the face of Christ he happened to select a man - whose face was very kind and gentle. After
many months he was trying to figure out whom to be chosen for painting the face of Judah - the disciple who betrayed
Christ. At last a prisoner was brought before him to pose for Judah. After completing the painting the prisoner revealed
to him that he was the same person whom he had months back chosen to pose for painting Christ. Now due to the sins
he had committed - his face had lost its original tenderness. Indeed mind has a great impact on the appearance.

Srila Prabhupada many a times mentions in his classes as to how the faces of hippies were very dull and morose in the
beginning. But by giving them the gift of Krishna consciousness His Divine Grace turned them to happies and their
faces brightened up. They became very charming so much so that even many Christian priests used to come to His
Divine Grace and appreciate him for this miraculous change.

Jada Bharata continued to explain the further qualities of mind to King Rahugana and Krishna willing we shall continue
to meditate on the same in the subsequent offerings.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 25

Date: 2016-03-02 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. 

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on
how Bharata Maharaj due to his attachment to a small deer, became a deer in his next birth. But on account of his
sincere devotional service, Lord helped him to remember his previous birth as well as mistake, so that even in deer's
body, he could lead a life of devotion and subsequently in the next birth he was born as Jada Bharata in the family of
pious brahmana. In this birth, Jada Bharata although externally exposed himself as a dumb and dull person, he was
very pure internally and was very alert in always remembering Krishna. In the last offering we were seeing the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. The king, out of pride had ill-treated the great saintly Jada
Bharata and when he realised his grave mistake, the king sought for forgivance and spiritual guidance from Jada
Bharata.

Jada Bharata was advising the king about the influence of mind and how our face is also index of the mind. In Srimad
Bhagavatam 5.11.8 Jada Bharata further says:

guṇānuraktaṁ vyasanāya jantoḥ

kṣemāya nairguṇyam atho manaḥ syāt
yathā pradīpo ghṛta-vartim aśnan
śikhāḥ sadhūmā bhajati hy anyadā svam
padaṁ tathā guṇa-karmānubaddhaṁ
vṛttīr manaḥ śrayate ’nyatra tattvam

When the living entity's mind becomes absorbed in the sense gratification of the material world, it brings
about his conditioned life and suffering within the material situation. However, when the mind becomes
unattached to material enjoyment, it becomes the cause of liberation. When the flame in a lamp burns
the wick improperly, the lamp is blackened, but when the lamp is filled with ghee and is burning
properly, there is bright illumination. Similarly, when the mind is absorbed in material sense
gratification, it causes suffering, and when detached from material sense gratification, it brings about
the original brightness of Krishna consciousness.

In the above verse Jada Bharata gives a nice comparison of the mind with wick in lamp. When properly lit, the wick and
thereby the lamp, illuminates the whole place, whereas when flame burns the wick improperly, then there will be
darkness. Likewise if by steady intelligence, we dovetail the mind to positive service, in service of Supreme Lord, then
we will experience bliss. On the other hand when intelligence is weak and mind gets absorbed in objects of sense-
gratification, then destruction is bound to come.

As Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita verse 6.6, "For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of
friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy." Even as a student we
would have experienced that when we sincerely prepare for the exams, without giving way to whims of the mind, then
our chance of passing the exams are more. On the other hand, if we don't concentrate on studies and keep whiling
away the time in TV, sports and other distractions, then we are most likely to fail in the exams. When Dronacarya
asked Arjuna to aim at the bird on a tree, Arjuna was so focused that he looked only at the eye of the bird alone. Since
his attention was fixed on the goal, he was able to pass the test.

Similarly in the real exam of life, we should train our mind to always focus on the ultimate goal of our life. If we control
the mind, by dovetailing our life as per the instructions of guru, sadhu and shastras, then we will fearlessly face our
final exam of death and pass out in flying colours by gaining entry into the spiritual world, wherein we can do eternal
spiritual service. On the other hand if we get entangled by the distractions in this world, then at the time of death,
such memories will ensure that we keep taking more and more births in this miserable material existence. 

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate on further instructions given by Jada Bharata to King Rahugana in the
subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 26

Date: 2016-03-06 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata SB 5.11.12:

kṣetrajña kṣetrajña etā manaso vibhūtīr

jīvasya māyā-racitasya nityāḥ
āvirhitāḥ kvāpi tirohitāś ca
śuddho vicaṣṭe hy aviśuddha-kartuḥ

The individual soul bereft of Krishna consciousness has many ideas and activities created in the mind by
the external energy. They have been existing from time immemorial. Sometimes they are manifest in the
wakening state and in the dream state, but during deep sleep [unconsciousness] or trance, they
disappear. A person who is liberated in this life [jivan-mukta] can see all these things vividly.

As Krishna explains in Bhagavad Gita 13th Chapter - kshetra refers to the field or body and kṣetrajña is one who knows
the body. The soul and Super-soul are known as kṣetrajña. Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport that the word 
kṣetrajña used in the above verse refers to individual soul. Soul is transcendental as long as we are engaged in service
of Lord. The moment service stops, then we are in great trouble as the mind begins to play its tricks. As the proverb
goes, "A lazy mind is devil's workshop." If mind is not controlled it can make even a mountain out of a mole-hill and
stop our progress.

Srila Prabhupada in his purport to the above verse mentions - "This ordinary living being is of two kinds—nitya-baddha
or nitya-mukta. One is eternally conditioned and the other eternally liberated. The eternally liberated living beings are
in the Vaikuntha jagat, the spiritual world, and they never fall into the material world. Those in the material world are
conditioned souls, nitya-baddha. The nitya-baddhas can become liberated by controlling the mind because the cause
of conditioned life is the mind. When the mind is trained and the soul is not under the mind's control, the soul can be
liberated even in this material world. When it is liberated, one is called jivan-mukta. A jivan-mukta knows how he has
become conditioned; therefore he tries to purify himself and return home, back to Godhead."

His Divine Grace's words are rays of hope for us. We may be in 'nitya baddha' category now. But by grace of Guru and
Krishna, if we control the mind, by engaging in Their service, then we experience Vaikuntha atmosphere even in this
material world.
 
Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate on further instructions given by Jada Bharata to King Rahugana in the
subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 27

Date: 2016-03-07 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata. In yesterday's offering we heard Jada Bharata explain King
Rahugana about the kshetrajna - soul.  Now we shall hear from Jada Bharata about the other kṣetrajña - Supersoul 
further.

One of the question asked by King Rahugana to Jada Bharata was about the most secure shelter in this world. The king
knew that Jada Bharata was fearless amidst all his chastisements, because he had taken shelter of the most secure
shelter and so was eager to know about it. In response to that question, Jada Bharata gives the answer in Srimad
Bhagavatam verse 5.11.13:

kṣetrajña ātmā puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ

sākṣāt svayaṁ jyotir ajaḥ pareśaḥ
nārāyaṇo bhagavān vāsudevaḥ
sva-māyayātmany avadhīyamānaḥ

There are two kinds of kṣetrajña —the living entity, as explained earlier (SB 5.11.12), and the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who is explained as follows. He is the all-pervading cause of creation. He is full
in Himself and is not dependent on others. He is perceived by hearing and direct perception. He is self-
effulgent and does not experience birth, death, old age or disease. He is the controller of all the
demigods, beginning with Lord Brahma. He is called Narayana, and He is the shelter of living entities
after the annihilation of this material world. He is full of all opulences, and He is the resting place of
everything material. He is therefore known as Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

By glorifying the Supreme Lord with words like

a. ātmā  - all-pervading, present everywhere

b. puruṣaḥ- the unrestricted controller, who has unlimited power
c. purāṇaḥ -the original; 
d. sākṣāt  - perceivable by hearing from the authorities and by direct perception
e. svayaṁ jyoti - self-effulgent
f. ajaḥ - unborn;
g. pareśaḥ - the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
h. nārāyaṇah- the resting place of all living entities;
i.  bhagavān- the Personality of Godhead with six full opulences;
j. Vāsudevaḥ- the shelter of everything, manifested and nonmanifest;

Jada Bharata make it clear that no other living entity, except for Supreme Lord Krishna can own these qualities and
therefore He alone is the supreme shelter. Our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says, "
We are actually alone in this world. Although we may have a family, school or office each of us are enjoying or
suffering our karmas all alone. When we are sick, we suffer the pain alone. Our near and dear ones might assist us. But
they have no clue of the pain we are undergoing. When we are attending exams, or attending interviews etc, we are all
alone. The only companion for us at all circumstances is the omnipresent Lord. Not realising this truth we
keep running around false shelters and when that crumbles we are shattered. All these other shelters
have a beginning and an end and are temporary. The Supreme Lord's shelter alone is permanent."

So we must always take shelter of Supreme Lord. Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate on further instructions
given by Jada Bharata to King Rahugana in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 28

Date: 2016-03-08 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata.

King Rahugana had asked Jada Bharata as to how he can advance in spiritual life. This is very important question as
the answer is very very important not just for King Rahugana, but for all of us. Many a times, we blame the
circumstance, people around us, time etc for our stagnancy in devotional service. But Srimad Bhagavatam gives us
clear picture about who is the real culprit. Jada Bharata clearly says that as long as the conditioned soul accepts the
material body and does not become free from the contamination of material enjoyment and is unable to conquer his
six enemies (five senses and mind) he has to keep wandering among different places and different species of life. In
Canto 5 Chapter 11 verse 16 of Srimad Bhagavatam we find Jada Bharata explaining the various features of mind and
how it is capable of eluding us from path of devotion:

na yāvad etan mana ātma-liṅgaṁ

saṁsāra-tāpāvapanaṁ janasya
yac choka-mohāmaya-rāga-lobha-
vairānubandhaṁ mamatāṁ vidhatte

The soul's designation, the mind, is the cause of all tribulations in the material world. As long as this fact
is unknown to the conditioned living entity, he has to accept the miserable condition of the material body
and wander within this universe in different positions. Because the mind is affected by disease,
lamentation, illusion, attachment, greed and enmity, it creates bondage and a false sense of intimacy
within this material world.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 11.23.42, the avanti brahmana, when he was being harassed and insulted by people
around him gets this very nice understanding:

dvija uvāca
nāyaṁ jano me sukha-duḥkha-hetur
na devatātmā graha-karma-kālāḥ
manaḥ paraṁ kāraṇam āmananti
saṁsāra-cakraṁ parivartayed yat

The brahmana said: These people are not the cause of my happiness and distress. Neither are the
demigods, my own body, the planets, my past work, or time. Rather, it is the mind alone that causes
happiness and distress and perpetuates the rotation of material life.

During adverse situations, mind usually gives that as an excuse for not doing devotional service. Whether it is bodily
illness or adhidaivik misery in the form of heavy rains / floods / earthquakes, mind will trick us to start blaming
demigods, to lament and be morose. But devotees of Lord don't go by the whims of the mind. But they take adverse
situations as an impetus to do more devotional service. For example when there was historic floods in Chennai few
months ago, people were forced to be confined at home for many days, with no connectivity with outside world, many
devotees took it as nice opportunity to peacefully chant more and read Srila Prabhupada's books for longer hours -
without any disturbance from the electronic gadgets. On the other hand if we become victim to mind, then there will
be endless anxieties and no peace.

Krishna willing we shall continue hear from Jada Bharata as to what is the best way to control the mind in the
subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 29

Date: 2016-03-09 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata.

King Rahugana had asked Jada Bharata as to how he can advance in spiritual life and Jada Bharata told the king has to
how mind is cause of both bondage and liberation. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.11.17 he says:

bhrātṛvyam enaṁ tad adabhra-vīryam

upekṣayādhyedhitam apramattaḥ
guror hareś caraṇopāsanāstro
jahi vyalīkaṁ svayam ātma-moṣam

This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one neglects it or gives it a chance, it
will grow more and more powerful and will become victorious. Although it is not factual, it is very strong.
It covers the constitutional position of the soul. O King, please try to conquer this mind by the weapon of
service to the lotus feet of the spiritual master and of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Do this with
great care.

Jada Bharata nicely mentions in the above verse that mind is bhrātṛvyam - the greatest enemy for us. In order to curb
the enemy we need weapons. The third line of the above verse the suitable weapon or astra  which could be used to
defeat this greatest enemy - guror harer caraṇa upāsna astra - service to the lotus feet of spiritual master and
Supreme Lord is the weapon which will protect us from the demoniac mind. And Srila Prabhupada nicely mentions in
the translation, this service should be done with great care. In his wonderful purport to the above verse Srila
Prabhupada says, "There is one easy weapon with which the mind can be conquered—neglect. The mind is
always telling us to do this or that; therefore we should be very expert in disobeying the mind's orders.
Gradually the mind should be trained to obey the orders of the soul. It is not that one should obey the
orders of the mind."

Throughout the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam we find various devotees like Dhruva, Pracetas who very carefully
followed the instructions of the spiritual masters like Narada Muni and Lord Shiva and thereby attained perfection.
Dhruva was just 5 years old - but with faith and determinations he followed the instructions of Narada Muni and so was
blessed with darshan of Supreme Lord within six months. In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam verse 4.24.15, Srila
Prabhupada explains the secret of success in spiritual life. He says, "After being initiated and receiving the orders of
the spiritual master, the disciple should unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master and
should not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else." Quoting the words of Srila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura,
His Divine Grace mentions, "the order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple. The disciple should
not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the order of his
spiritual master. Thus a disciple should always meditate on the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional
meditation. Not only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means by which he can perfectly
worship and execute it."

In this Kaliyuga, we are not expected to go to the forest like Dhruva nor perform austerities like Pracetas for 10000
years. The instruction of our spiritual master is to simply chant the Hare Krishna Mantra and so we should sincerely
endeavour to do that with great care and attention, neglecting the mind's orders.

Krishna willing we shall continue further in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Kalacakra Krsna das and Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 30

Date: 2016-03-10 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata. King Rahugana had asked the below four
questions to him.

1) O spiritual master, what is the most secure shelter in this world?

2) How can I advance in spiritual life? 
3) Although relationship between king and subjects, master and servant are not eternal, is it not duty of master/king to
punish the subject/servant when they make mistake?  
4) Although the soul is different from the body, does not soul suffer the pains and pleasures of the body?

Jada Bharata told the king that Krishna is the supreme shelter. Uncontrolled mind is the root cause of all troubles and
controlling the mind by the weapon of service to Guru and Krishna is the way for spiritual progress. By hearing the
sublime instructions from Jada Bharata about mind and soul King Rahugana could realise the transcendental position of
Jada Bharata. But he was not still not clear about the third and fourth question. So he humbly requested Jada Bharata
to explain him again on that subject matter.

King Rahugana, earlier, out of pride of had engaged the palanquin carriers to carry him in the palanquin. He did not
even pay for them and on top of it, he chastised them when their were some jerks in the palanquin. He was thinking
that as a king, he had the right to chastise the palanquin carriers when they did not discharge their duty correctly. Jada
Bharata made it clear to him that the material body of the king inside the palanquin as well as palanquin carriers are
simply transformation of earth. The living force in all the material bodies is Krishna. Only because of Lord's presence in
the form of Super-soul, soul exists in our body and there is life. When Super-soul leaves, the soul also leaves the body
and the material body again gets decomposed to dust. So it is foolish to be proud of one's material body and treat
others badly. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.12.8, Jada Bharata beautifully says:  

yadā kṣitāv eva carācarasya

vidāma niṣṭhāṁ prabhavaṁ ca nityam
tan nāmato ’nyad vyavahāra-mūlaṁ
nirūpyatāṁ sat-kriyayānumeyam
All of us on the surface of the globe are living entities in different forms. Some of us are moving and
some not moving. All of us come into existence, remain for some time and are annihilated when the body
is again mingled with the earth. We are all simply different transformations of the earth. Different bodies
and capacities are simply transformations of the earth that exist in name only, for everything grows out
of the earth and when everything is annihilated it again mingles with the earth. In other words, we are
but dust, and we shall but be dust. Everyone can consider this point.
 
When one of the devotees asked our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj as to how we can
give up pride, Maharaj answered in just three words. "Remember your ash." At the end of life, when we are burnt,
irrespective of whatever we were when we were alive - all of us would be reduced just to handful of ashes. So there is
no point in being proud of this perishable body and its related temporary designations. So we should genuinely respect
everyone and not exploit them for our sense-gratification. As a responsible king, Rahugana instead of ill treating the
subjects, if he had engaged them in serving the Supreme Lord, carrying the Lord in the palanquin, then everyone
would have been pleased. On the contrary, since he was trying to misuse the subjects for his sense gratification,
neither was he peaceful, nor were the palanquin carriers.

Krishna willing we shall continue hear further from Jada Bharata in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 31

Date: 2016-03-11 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata.

One of the question which the king had asked earlier was that although the soul is different from the body, does not
soul suffer the pains and pleasures of the body?  When we identify ourselves with the material body, then we feel that
the soul present within our body is also experiencing the pain and pleasure of the body. But as Krishna says in
Bhagavad Gita verses 2.23 and 2.24, "The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire,
nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and
can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and
eternally the same." So although soul is present within the body, it is not affected when the body is being harmed.
No one can kill or harm the soul. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 3.7.11 Maitreya muni while explaining about the nature
of soul says:

yathā jale candramasaḥ kampādis tat-kṛto guṇaḥ

dṛśyate ’sann api draṣṭur ātmano ’nātmano guṇaḥ

As the moon reflected on water appears to the seer to tremble due to being associated with the quality
of the water, so the self associated with matter appears to be qualified as matter.

In his purport to the above verse Srila Prabhupada explains how the Lord is like the moon and we are like the reflection
of the moon in water. "The moon in the sky is fixed and does not appear to quiver like the moon on the water. Actually,
like the original moon in the sky, the moon reflected on the water should also not quiver, but because of being
associated with water, the reflection appears to be quivering, although in actual fact the moon is fixed. The water
moves, but the moon does not move. Similarly, the living entities appear to be tainted by material qualities like
illusion, lamentation and miseries, although in the pure soul such qualities are completely absent."

Our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that, "We think that the water's quality is our
quality and we forget that we are like the moon and that is our defect. So every time something hurts us, emotionally
and mentally we are disturbed, immediately we should think that we are transcendental product. This is affecting only
our body or mind. Actually it does not affect our soul. Just by thinking like this with unfailing determination we can
come out of the modes."

The lives of great devotees like Bhishmadev, Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva are inspiring examples who
trascended the modes. Bhishmadev was on bed of arrows, but still he could give so much of transcendental knowledge
to Yudhishtira for many months after the Kurkushetra war. Acaryas like Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
enthusiastically preached the glories of the Lord, even during their final days, when the body was giving so much pain. 

Krishna willing we shall continue to hear further from Jada Bharata in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 32

Date: 2016-03-12 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata. Now we shall continue further. Jada Bharata
then continues to explain how we can realise the Absolute truth. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.12.12 he says:

rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti

na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā
na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair
vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam

My dear King Rahugana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the
lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute
Truth simply by observing celibacy [brahmacarya], strictly following the rules and regulations of
householder life, leaving home as a vaanaprastha, accepting sannyaasa, or undergoing severe penances
in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the
scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the
Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee.

On our own endeavours, it is not possible to realise or know the Supreme Lord. Jada Bharata very nicely mentions that
how leading a pious, austere life alone does not guarantee that we realise the Supreme Absolute Truth. In the
Damodar pastime, Lord after breaking the two Yamalarjuna trees and liberating Nalakuvera and Manigriva very nicely
mentions why He appeared before them. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 10.10.25 he says,

devarṣir me priyatamo yad imau dhanadātmajau

tat tathā sādhayiṣyāmi yad gītaṁ tan mahātmanā

Although these two young men are the sons of the very rich Kuvera and I have nothing to do with them,
Devarshi Narada is My very dear and affectionate devotee, and therefore because he wanted Me to come
face to face with them, I must do so for their deliverance.

His Divine Grace very nicely mentions in the purport to above verse, "Nalakuvera and Manigriva actually had nothing
to do with devotional service or seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, for this is not an ordinary
opportunity. It is not that because one is very rich or learned or was born in an aristocratic family one will
be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. This is impossible. But in this case,
because Nārada Muni desired that Nalakuvera and Manigriva see Vāsudeva face to face, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Nārada Muni. If one seeks the
favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very
easily successful."

In Ramayana we find that when Vibhishana goes to meet Lord Rama, there was a bit of argument between Sugriva and
other monkeys that he should not be let in. But knowing the mood of his surrender, Lord Ram let him in. And as soon
as Vibhishana was accepted by the Lord, the four other rakshasas who had come along with Vibhishana were also
accepted without any interrogation. So although we may be imperfect and unqualified, if we simply follow the
instructions of spiritual masters, then by their mercy, the Supreme Lord will reveal Himself to us.
Jada Bharata goes on to explain the nature of such pure devotees and Krishna willing we shall continue to hear the
same in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 33

Date: 2016-03-13 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata. Yesterday we saw how Jada Bharata mentioned
that by the power of association with pure devotees, by their mercy we would be able to realise the Supreme Lord. In
verse 5.12.13 of Srimad Bhagavatam Jada Bharata explains the nature of such pure devotees:

yatrottamaśloka-guṇānuvādaḥ
prastūyate grāmya-kathā-vighātaḥ
niṣevyamāṇo ’nudinaṁ mumukṣor
matiṁ satīṁ yacchati vāsudeve

In an assembly of pure devotees, there is no question of discussing material subjects like politics and
sociology. In an assembly of pure devotees, there is discussion only of the qualities, forms and pastimes
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is praised and worshiped with full attention. In the
association of pure devotees, by constantly hearing such topics respectfully, even a person who wants to
merge into the existence of the Absolute Truth abandons this idea and gradually becomes attached to
the service of Vaasudeva.

The symptoms of pure devotees are nicely mentioned in this verse. They always (anudinaṁ) engage in glorifying the
Supreme Lord's name, qualities and forms. There is no room for mundane conversations (grāmya-kathā). grāmya-kathā
increases our agitations and anxieties. So pure devotees never engage in such frivolous talks. Krishna also very nicely
mentions in the seed verse of Bhagavad Gita 10.9 about how the pure devotees behave. He says, "The thoughts of
My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great
satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me." If by some good
fortune we associate with such pure devotees, then just like how iron gets magnetised when kept in contact with
magnet for a long time, we also get attracted to devotional service. The only qualification required is that we hear
constantly (anudinaṁ) and with great respect (niṣevyamāṇo). Since we are living in the material world, there is always
a danger of being contaminated by the modes of nature. Just like how we take bath daily to keep our body clean, we
should take bath daily in the nectar of Krishna katha by listening attentively from pure devotees. In Srimad
Bhagavatam verse 12.12.48:

saṅkīrtyamāno bhagavān anantaḥ

śrutānubhāvo vyasanaṁ hi puṁsām
praviśya cittaṁ vidhunoty aśeṣaṁ
yathā tamo ’rko ’bhram ivāti-vātaḥ

When people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead or simply hear about His power,
 the Lord personally enters their hearts and cleanses away every trace of misfortune, just as the sun
removes the darkness or as a powerful wind drives away the clouds.

Nārada Muni in his previous birth had the wonderful opportunity of hearing about Krishna from the sages and by their
good association he became a great devotee. Srila Prabhupada has mercifully made arrangements for 'nityam bhā
gavata sevayā'. And we can see how by his mercy in the form of books, temple and his vani, millions of souls are
getting attracted to serve Supreme Lord. So if we also follow their footsteps, then we will be able to nicely do
devotional service, without deviations.
Krishna willing we shall continue to hear more from Jada Bharata in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
 Devotion without Deviation - Part 34

Date: 2016-03-14 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in conclusion of the previous offering titled, "Devotion without Deviation" wherein we were discussing the
life of Bharata Maharaja through the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offerings we were meditating on the
conversation between King Rahugana and the great sage Jada Bharata.

Jada Bharata reveals to the king how in his previous birth he was Maharaj Bharata and how by becoming attached to
the deer, he became neglectful his spiritual duties. This neglect had led to his downfall and by the grace of Lord, he
could remember his past mistake in his subsequent birth as deer and Jada Bharata. Jada Bharata mentioned that how
remembering his past mistake, now he was very careful about his association. In his wonderful purport to Srimad
Bhagavatam verse His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada mentions a very important point, "Despite a very rigid life in
devotional service, Bharata Maharaja did not consult a spiritual master when he became overly attached to a deer
. Consequently he became strongly attached to the deer, and, forgetting his spiritual routine, he fell down." When we
act as per our whims without consulting spiritual master, then fall down is guaranteed. His Divine Grace says, "
If one always follows the orders of the spiritual master, there is no question of falling down. As soon as a
foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls
down." In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.12.16 Jada Bharata says:

tasmān naro ’saṅga-susaṅga-jāta-

jñānāsinehaiva vivṛkṇa-mohaḥ
hariṁ tad-īhā-kathana-śrutābhyāṁ
labdha-smṛtir yāty atipāram adhvanaḥ

Simply by associating with exalted devotees, anyone can attain perfection of knowledge and with the
sword of knowledge can cut to pieces the illusory associations within this material world. Through the
association of devotees, one can engage in the service of the Lord by hearing and chanting [shravanam
and kirtanam]. Thus one can revive his dormant Krishna consciousness and, sticking to the cultivation of
Krishna consciousness, return home, back to Godhead, even in this life.

In this shloka Jada Bharata shares with us the secret to go back to Godhead in this very life. There are so many illusive
things in this material world which will deviate us from the real goal of our life. But all such distractions and deviations
can be curbed by jnaanaasina - sword of spiritual knowledge, simply by associating with pure devotees. Pure devotees
ensure that prasanga - the topic of discussion is always about Krishna. That is why our beloved spiritual master H H
Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says, "prasanga" means Prabhu's sanga, associating with Krishna. To err is human
and so it is possible that we might get deviated from the right path many times in our life, but when we sincerely
endeavour to be under the shelter of pure devotees, follow their advice, then deviation will gradually reduce and by
their mercy we will become eligible to go back home, back to Godhead even in this very life.

Our prayers at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada, that we always remember the glorious life of Jada
Bharata, his sublime character and instructions, so that we remain chaste in devotional service.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.