Srimad Bhagavatam – 1.17.2 | HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj | ISKCON Chennai | Sept 10, 2025 |
Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya
Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya
Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine
jaya sri-krishna-chaitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri-adwaita gadadhara
srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Reading from Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 17 Verse 2.
ŚB 1.17.2
वृषं मृणालधवलं मेहन्तमिव बिभ्यतम् ।
वेपमानं पदैकेन सीदन्तं शूद्रताडितम् ॥ २ ॥
vṛṣaṁ mṛṇāla-dhavalaṁ
mehantam iva bibhyatam
vepamānaṁ padaikena
sīdantaṁ śūdra-tāḍitam
Synonyms
vṛṣam — the bull; mṛṇāla-dhavalam — as white as a white lotus; mehantam — urinating; iva — as if; bibhyatam — being too afraid; vepamānam — trembling; padā ekena — standing on only one leg; sīdantam — terrified; śūdra-tāḍitam — being beaten by a śūdra..
Translation
The bull was as white as a white lotus flower. He was terrified of the śūdra who was beating him, and he was so afraid that he was standing on one leg, trembling and urinating.
Purport
The next symptom of the Age of Kali is that principles of religion, which are all spotlessly white, like the white lotus flower, will be attacked by the uncultured śūdra population of the age. They may be descendants of brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya forefathers, but in the Age of Kali, for want of sufficient education and culture of Vedic wisdom, such a śūdra-like population will defy the principles of religion, and persons who are religiously endowed will be terrified by such men. They will declare themselves as adherents of no religious principles, and many “isms” and cults will spring up in Kali-yuga only to kill the spotless bull of religion. The state will be declared to be secular, or without any particular principle of religion, and as a result there will be total indifference to the principles of religion. The citizens will be free to act as they like, without respect for sādhu, śāstra and guru. The bull standing on one leg indicates that the principles of religion are gradually diminishing. Even the fragmental existence of religious principles will be embarrassed by so many obstacles as if in the trembling condition of falling down at any time.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj:
So these are verses describing the destruction of Dharma in Kali Yuga. And Dharma is represented by the bull. And of course, Kali Yuga is represented by this low-class Sudra dressed like a king. And Dharma getting destroyed is represented by that Sudra beating the legs of the bull. And as described in this verse, the bull is standing on one leg, which indicates that three quarters of Dharma have already been destroyed. So, the bull on four legs is very stable, if it’s on one leg, it is not stable at all. In other words, in Kali Yuga, the position of Dharma is not stable at all. So, in other words, in Kali Yuga, Dharma is not very strong. We know that Krishna comes to establish Dharma when it is weakened. When Krishna was present, then, with the victory of the Pandavas, Dharma became strong. But then soon after that, Dharma became weak again. One factor was the disappearance of Krishna Himself. And secondly, the corruption of the line of kings. And thus, by the beginning of Kali Yuga, then we see that Dharma had become weakened again.
Along with the bull was the cow. The cow represents the earth. We also see that Krishna came because there was a burden on the earth. Too many demons create a big problem for the earth. So, in this case, we see the earth is weeping when she sees the bull being attacked. So, Kali did not directly attack the cow or the earth, but the same effect was produced by attacking Dharma. So, in other words, there is a relationship between Dharma and the earth. When Dharma is strong, the earth is happy. When Dharma is weak, then the earth laments. And what happens when the earth is lamenting?
We see another case just before Prthu became the king. So, at that time, the earth was not giving any produce. And then Prthu had to chase the earth around. And eventually she agreed to give her produce. So, in other words, by the corruption of human beings, then the earth does not give its produce. So, what this means is, there is a great relationship between human conduct and the earth. And the more violent the human beings become, the less the earth will give. And we see that expressed in the modern world. Due to the greed of materialists to exploit the earth, then the earth eventually becomes barren and doesn’t give any crops. To put it in simpler words, due to man exploiting the earth, we have a lot of environmental problems. And it is very difficult to stop, because it’s difficult to stop the greed. In other words, when dharma is weak and greed is rampant, then we will have an earth which is very disturbed.
What is the solution to all of this? So, Pariksit’s solution was that, he stopped Kali from influencing. And Kali agreed. So, he stopped beating the bull. But Pariksit gave Kali a place to live. So, he gave Kali places where all the sinful activities and greed were taking place, he could live in those places. So, unfortunately for the earth, due to the influence of time in Kali Yuga, gradually there’s more sinful activities, more greed, etc., so Kali again becomes prominent and the earth again becomes afflicted. And one of the reasons for this is that after Pariksit, there were not very strong kings. In the 9th Canto, there’s a description how in Kali Yuga, the line of kings gets destroyed.
At the beginning of the Manvantara, Manu is established. He is empowered by the Supreme Lord to institute Dharma. Similarly, his descendants are also empowered to institute Dharma. In this way, for 71 Yuga cycles, as long as the lineage of that Manu continues, Dharma will be intact. However, we do know that when Kali Yuga comes, Dharma is always in problems. In our particular case, not only Dharma is in problem, but the line of Manus has been disrupted. And the last descendants from Manu decided to abdicate and not do their job. Only when Satya Yuga again arises after 400,000 years, will the descendants of Manu appear again and start ruling.
So, we have a very particular miserable Kali Yuga because there is no ruler for Dharma. So, what are we to do? Of course, this question was asked by the sages of Naimisaranya. And what was the answer? Krishna is gone, but in Kali Yuga, Srimad Bhagavatam has arisen. So, how is it that a scripture itself can prevent Kali Yuga? So, the scripture, Bhagavatam, presents the highest object of worship. So, who is the highest object of worship? Krishna.
How do we worship Krishna? Nama Sankirtana. So, it’s explicitly stated that in Kali Yuga, the process for worshipping the Lord is Nama Sankirtana. So, in spite of all of the faults of Kali Yuga, the good quality is Nama Sankirtana. And thus, though there is no longer any kings to rule and thus Dharma is also in a very weak state, the compensation is Nama Sankirtana. This becomes the easiest way to execute Dharma. Of course, Bhakti itself is called Paro-dharma, highest Dharma. Of course, actually it is beyond Dharma. Dharma is part of the material world. Bhakti is part of the spiritual world. So, it is quite different.
Usually, for all the Yugas, Dharma is there for the people in general. And for those who are devotees, it acts favourably for them. In Kali Yuga, that Dharma is no longer present. So, what do the common people do? They have to practice Bhakti. But how can they practice Bhakti unless they have faith? Nobody has faith in Kali Yuga. So, there is neither Dharma nor Bhakti in Kali Yuga.
So, the solution is, within Bhakti we have Nama Sankirtana. So, Nama Sankirtana is for everyone, even people with no faith. The devotees can practice Nama Sankirtana for attaining Prema. The non-devotees can hear the name of the Lord for their purification. So this is the substitute for Dharma in Kali Yuga. It’s a very simple process, so no one has an excuse for not performing it. At the same time, it gives all results. So, we should never give up this process, we should make this our main process. And whatever else we do, the main process always has to be Nama Sankirtana. And because of this, then we can, to some extent restore Dharma. It is Paro-dharma, so therefore all positive aspects of Dharma can also manifest.
So this is the solution to the problem in Kali Yuga, as explained by Suta Goswami to the sages. It’s a very simple process. But it is necessarily simple, because the people themselves are short-lived and disturbed and not very intelligent. But though it is a simple process, it also gives the best results. So, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, ‘harer nāmaiva kevalam’, only chanting of the holy name.
Hare Krsna!
Q&A
1) Maharaj you were explaining that Dharma is a part of the material world and Bhakti is a part of the spiritual world. And when Dharma is destroyed, Earth is not happy. But Earth itself, she is a devotee. Why is she not happy? Because ultimately this is a material process only. Can you also say that Dharma is one step ahead, one step towards Bhakti, that is why she is not happy?
Of course, Dharma and Earth are devotees [Laughs]. But the relationship between Dharma and Earth, of course, here is the cow and the bull, husband and wife. So, Dharma is meant for the human beings. And what is it for? – Artha, Dharma, Kama. And how can they fulfill that? They have to get everything from the Earth [Laughs]. So, therefore, Dharma, following Dharma, is the minimum way of disturbing the Earth. Dharma means controlling the senses. And it gives means to do that. So, when there is lack of Dharma, lack of sense control, people become greedy and then they begin to exploit the Earth. And then the Earth doesn’t give anything. So, this analogy is used to show the relationship between sense control and non-exploitation of the Earth. And when we exploit too much, then the Earth will not give anymore.
2) Maharaj, we know that in kali yuga normally Manu doesn’t establish the dharma in kali yuga. He is no more visible in Kali yuga. So can we also say that because in Kali yuga, Manu doesn’t rule. Manu only rules in 3 yugas, Satya yuga, Treta and Dvapara. He doesn’t rule for the Kali Yuga.
Well, the absence of the descents of Manu is particular for our particular Yuga. Yeah, it doesn’t mention that it happens every Kali Yuga, one thousand times in the day of Brahma [Laughs]. But this particular kali yuga, they disappear.
3.) In Kali Yuga, we have Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Whereas in other Kali Yuga, there is no Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There are other avatars is there. That’s why we think that you know in this Kali Yuga, Dharma is more than this other Kali Yuga. Because of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
In other Kali Yugas, apparently the descendants of Manu are still there. So, that’s why they are not so bad Kali Yugas [Laughs].
4.) Hare Krishna Maharaj. Maharaj, we see in the vedic knowledge there are many options given for us to choose. Like there are 33 crore Devatas and then finding out who is the supreme Lord and then in the Supreme Lord we have so many options and then finding out who is the source of all and then to connect with Him again there are so many types of yoga processes and then we are left to us to choose. And when we know Bhakti is supreme, then in Bhakti also there are so many options to perform Bhakti. And then we get to know that Nama Sankirtan is the most important. And in Nama Sankirtan also there is Japa and then there is Kirtan. So, Maharaj, don’t you think that it would have been easier if there were not too many options? I mean then we would know what to do rather than navigating through the entire thing and reaching out at one conclusion.
So one of the basic principles is people act according to their qualification. And because people are differently qualified, then we have different processes, different objects of worship, etc. And people are in the different gunas, so therefore according to the guna, different process, different worship. Generally, people cannot go beyond their qualification, so they have to stick to one type of worship and one process. And thus, for the people in tamo guna and rajo guna, they follow Dharma, Varnashrama, etc. And the goal is Artha, Dharma and Kama. Those who are in sattva guna strive for liberation through Jnana and Yoga. Those who are beyond the gunas do Bhakti Yoga.
However, Bhakti Yoga qualification is different. It is not qualification by guna. It’s qualification by faith. And the faith in the Supreme Lord and Bhakti is not caused by the gunas. It’s caused by the mercy of devotees. So therefore, Bhakti is applicable to all people, provided they get mercy of devotees and they have faith. So the process of Bhakti is also recommended for all people in all Yugas.
But again, according to qualification, they may do different types of Bhakti. So in Satya Yuga, they meditate on the Supreme Lord. In Treta Yuga, they do homas for the Supreme Lord. In Dwapara Yuga, they do worship of the deity form of the Lord. In Kali Yuga, they do Nama Sankirtan. So those are all types of Bhakti. In the meantime, people also do other processes. They may be qualified for Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Astanga Yoga. But in our particular Kali Yuga, they are not qualified for Karma Yoga [Laughs], Jnana Yoga or astanga Yoga [Laughs]. So the only hope is Nama Sankirtan [Laughs]. For people with faith and for people without faith.
5.) Thank you Maharaj. In Nama Sankirtan, so Japa and Kirtan. Is there any such thing like which is superior out of the two?
So the japa is considered to be part of the Kirtan, since it is another type of kirtan, but because its for the self, it’s not for the public and it is a little bit restricted. So the loud Kirtan is for preaching. And the Japa is limited to personal development.
6.) Hare Krishna Maharaj. In your session you said that by Nama sankirtan may be the other aspects of Dharma can be established. So, usually there is the discussion of establishing Varnashrama. Prabhupada also in the previous chapter in some purports Prabhupada was talking about how Varnashrama is so important. So is it that once devotees start Nama Sankirtan, then probably to facilitate the devotee community, there is establishment of Varnashrama or probably farm communities so that devotees can continue to practice largely free from the distractions of the modern world?
Well, we do have a little problem in the sense that Bhakti itself is beyond Varna and ashrama. And therefore, to classify a person as a Sudra devotee or a Brahmana devotee is an aparadha. So how to institute varna’s aspect of the Varnashrama system among devotees becomes a little bit complex. Of course, as I mentioned, we cannot really institute Varnashrama as they had in previous Yugas because there is no king. An ordinary king its not possible. You have to have an empowered representative of the Lord.
So how do devotees implement Varnashrama? How do we define what it is for devotees? So that itself is a problem. Now, in the original Varnashrama system, according to qualification, then people do different things. Not only occupation, but even religious duties, spiritual duties, social duties are all different for different people. So how do we implement that for devotees? We see that Kshatriyas can drink liquor, kill animals and do all sorts of things so what…we are not going to do that obviously. So, how much we institute you know Kshatriya dharma most of it, we have to say no no no to most of it [Laughs]. And even for the brahmanas, then the brahmanas are bound to do tarpanas and Sandhya vandanas and all these things as well as study the Vedas but devotees aren’t going to do that. So therefore, it has to be quite a different way. When we say that, it has to be quite different from Varnashrama as indicated by Manu quite different. Probably the only thing that can be done is take some aspects that are favorable for bhakti. But other than that, I think it’s impossible to do.
7.) In Kali Yuga Dharma, Hare Krishna mantra is prescribed. In this regard, please explain this science on how transcendental sound vibration transforms Jiva from Maya conscious to Krishna consciousness.
Well, any form of bhakti does that. Because bhakti itself is nirguna. There’s no maya in bhakti. So even unconscious chanting of the holy name by Ajamila destroys all of his karmas. How is it that bhakti destroys all of these impurities? Because it’s also non-different from Krishna. So Krishna can destroy maya. But he only does that for people who become devotees. So all types of bhakti are very powerful to destroy maya, but nama sankirtana especially is the most powerful. So we often say the name is non-different from the form of Krishna and simply by uttering the name Krishna, we can realize Krishna and worship Krishna. And destroying all the effects of maya and karma etc. are side effects. So in the first canto here in relation to Narada Muni, it’s described that when we begin the bhakti and hearing about the Lord etc. Then Krishna manifests in the heart and destroys all anarthas. So bhakti has power because it is non-material.
8.) Hare Krishna Maharaj. I heard in some lecture bhakti performed in sattva guna, rajo guna and tamo guna. When bhakti to beyond these gunas, can we classify the performer in three gunas? Please explain.
In the teachings of Kapila, we have an explanation or description of bhakti in the different gunas. And they give material results. So we are not recommended to do this type of bhakti. Our recommendation is pure bhakti. And we do that bhakti in sadhana, and then in bhava and prema. So we do that pure bhakti even in sadhana, even though we still have anarthas. So in other words we do have gunas still affecting us because we are not absolutely pure.
But our bhakti is executed according to scriptures. And it is devoid of other desires. So in other words when we practice our bhakti, we are not asking for material benefits or liberation. So even though we still do have material desires and we may be affected by the gunas, if we practice this pure bhakti, then that will eventually turn into bhava and prema. So the process of destroying the influence of the gunas is called anartha nivrutti. That takes place by the process of bhakti itself and not by other processes. So by the practice of pure bhakti beyond the gunas, we destroy all the gunas.
9.) Can we consider that the golden age has been established with the advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Please explain.
In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana it explains that after 5000 years of Kali Yuga, then there will be a period where there will be an increase of dharma and bhakti etc. for about 10,000 years. So that more or less coincides with the appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That particular description does not mention Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally or in detail, but we can infer that.
Devotees : Grantharaj Srimad Bhagavatham Ki Jai!!! HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj Ki Jai!!!