hare krishna

Very interesting - I've only ever read extracts from Arnold's version, but I see it is available online, so I might have a closer look when I have time.

I have read several versions over the years, the foremost (excepting Bhagavad Gita As It Is) are those by Sri Aurobindo (definitely not for beginners this one), Swami Prabhavananda & Christopher Isherwood, with excellent intro by Aldous Huxley, and Paramhansa Yogananda's translation. Also looked at the Penguin edition trans. Juan Muscaro, and Maharishi Maehesh Yogi's version of the first few chapters.

 

i would like to read Swami Prabhavananda's and Christopher Isherwood's now knowing that they have a version being that i just read Madame Blavatsky's Baboon this past winter... funny about Maharishi's version is that i notice in the book store's that he only got as far as the first six chapters...guess he got tired...Yogananda's version i see in my local metaphysical bookstore and i'm thinking of taking the leap...

 

How can one interpret God? They're all cheaters. They add things up, what will it bring to you? Poetic style, yeah you said it yourself. Very beautiful, loving, nice, peaceful MAYA!

Srila Prabhupada says:

So our process is to receive the perfect knowledge from the perfect source and distribute it. We don't manufacture knowledge. Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, as it is. The Bhagavad-gita is already perfect. Why shall I interpret with my imperfect senses? This is cheating. But people want to to cheated. Vancita-vancaka-sampradaya. The whole world is full of cheaters and cheated. Because we want to be cheated, there are so many cheaters. They don't want real thing. Here is the real thing, Bhagavad-gita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead speaking personally about Himself. Why should we interpret? Does it mean that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme authority, left something unexplained to be interpreted later on by some rascals? No. But the rascals dare; they interpret. That is cheating. That is another fault. There are 640-45 editions of Bhagavad-gita. Simply cheating. Amongst them, there are big, big scholars. Not scholars. All rascals, but they cheat. They pose themselves as scholars and people want to be cheated, so they take their words. So they cannot understand Krsna. Cheated. They take the shelter of the cheaters. Therefore they are cheated

 

ChiefCowPie...thank you for those stories about Srila Prabhupada...I just got a chance to read them...and they were really wonderful


Thank you again

 

Two points I'd like to make here. First, if people look at other translations of the Gita, they can then decide on an informed basis if they agree that Srila Prabhupadas version is the best and clearest.
Secondly, Bhakti yoga is one branch of Vedic Philosophy, there are others. Some of the points that arise from other translations are not covered in Srila Prabhupadas version, and it is interesting to me anyway to see what other sages have to say.
Of course, for Srila Prabhupadas devotees there will only ever be one version of the Gita.

 

"First, if people look at other translations of the Gita, they can then decide on an informed basis if they agree that Srila Prabhupadas version is the best and clearest."

Why should somebody else's translation decide whether Prabhupada's books are the best? simply, you're saying -they're greater authorities. You think that more is better, but that's not very wise. Let's see, there's a verse in Bhagavadgita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada, which has been changed by speculants, maybe you read the "adjusted" version. Check out what a huge difference it is from an original Swami's version. I repeat this has been presented as Swami's Bhagavadgita(!):


Bg 10.34 Original Version "...One need not read many books on different subject matters; the ability to remember a few and quote them when necessary is another opulence."

Revised & Enlarged Version "...And the ability not only to read many books on different subject matters but to understand them and apply them when necessary is intelligence (medha), another opulence."

Anyway, I told you, first accept, then try to understand not otherwise. You will never understand Krishna if you 're gonna look for a flaw in Prabhupada. He was a pure devotee. I know that from some materialistic, scientific point of view it's not sufficient, but that's the truth. If you're looking for a flaw, you make offences. haribol! good luck.

 

So we are receiving knowledge through the acaryas. Krsna spoke to Arjuna, Arjuna spoke to Vyasadeva. Arjuna actually did not speak to Vyasadeva, but Vyasadeva heard it, Krsna speaking, and he noted down in his book Mahabharata. This Bhagavad-gita is found in Mahabharata. So we accept the authorities of Vyasa. And from Vyasa, Madhvacarya; from Madhvacarya, so many disciplic succession, up to Madhavendra Puri. Then Madhavendra Puri to Isvara Puri; from Isvara Puri to Lord Caitanyadeva; from Lord Caitanyadeva to six Gosvamis; from six Gosvamis to Krsnadasa Kaviraja; from him, Srinivasa Acarya; from him, Visvanatha Cakravarti; from him, Jagannatha dasa Babaji; then Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji; Bhaktivinoda Thakura; my spiritual master. The same thing, we are preaching. That is Krsna consciousness movement. It is nothing new. It is coming down from the original speaker, Krsna, by disciplic succession. So we are reading this Bhagavad-gita. Not that I have manufactured some book and I am preaching. No. I am preaching Bhagavad-gita. The same Bhagavad-gita as it was first spoken forty millions of years ago to the sun-god and again it was repeated five thousand years ago to Arjuna. The same thing is coming down by disciplic succession, and the same thing is presented before you. There is no change.
So the authority says,

​

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]

So we request simply people that you accept this authoritative knowledge and try to assimilate it by your intelligence. It is not that you stop your argument and intelligence, simply blindly accept something. No. We are human beings, we have got intelligence. We are not animals that we shall be forced to accept something. No. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. In this Bhagavad-gita you'll find. You try to understand, tad viddhi. Viddhi means try to understand. Pranipata. Pranipatena means surrendering, not by challenge. A student should be very submissive to the spiritual master. Otherwise, he will be, I mean to say, bewildered. Submissive reception. Our process is...

​

tasmad gurum prapadyeta
jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare ca nisnatam
brahmany upasamasrayam
[SB 11.3.21]

This is the injunction, Vedic. If you want to know things which is beyond your conception, beyond your sense perception, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. What is the symptom of bona fide spiritual master? Everyone wants to become spiritual master. So that is also stated. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. One who has taken complete bath in the ocean of the Vedic literature, sabde pare ca nisnatam. Just like if you take bath, you become refreshed. If you take nice bath, you feel refreshed. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. Without refreshness, one cannot understand this sublime subject matter. And the guru, or the spiritual master, should be refreshed by taking bath in the ocean of Vedic knowledge. And what is the result? Sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam. By, after such cleanliness, he has taken shelter of the Supreme Absolute Truth, without any material desires. He has no more any material desires; he's simply interested in Krsna, or the Absolute Truth. These are the symptoms of guru, or spiritual master.

You can read the entire lecture:
http://www.prabhupadavani.org/web/text/051.html

 

Beauty is one of the opulences of the Absolute...that which is beautiful is of God or in Truipurari Swami's words..."aesthetic Vedanta"..because Sir Edwin Arnold has captured the poetry of the Gita, he has captured its essence

 

I'm not saying anything against Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita here, and I am not saying that others are greater authorities on Bhakti Yoga in general, or Gaudiya Vaishnavism in particular. Prabhupada is the representative of all this, and I don't deny it. However, in the Gita itself Sri Krishna mentions different paths of yoga, and different schools of philosophy. It isn't that reading these other versions of the Gita has turned me against Srila Prabhupada, or made me value his work less. But it has helped to clarify for me certain areas that Sril Prabhupada, lets say, passes over. And helped me on the spiritual path.

Chief Cowpie is right when he says that the essence of poetry and beauty is Divine, All these great qualities come from the Lord, they are his vibhutis.

 

Krishna is Purusa, the Supreme Enjoyer. We are not the ones, who should enjoy His beauty. Or let me put it this way -we are only servants, Krishna is not our servant. Other paths than bhakti joga are like to take stairway instead of elevator. Bhakti includes all of them. They're totally ok, but why not to serve Krishna directly?? Here and now? If you knew Prabhupada, you'd know that he said a zillion times that these other types of yoga are very hard to perform in this age. Why, Arjuna himself was unabe to perform them, what to aspeak about people in this age full hypocrisy???

 

sleeping jiva, your definition of krishna's servant seems really close to being krishna's slave...bhakti is not at all a slave thing...its about devotion...love... its about choice and free expression... yes, we very much do enjoy krishna...we take pleasure in hearing of his pastimes and chanting his name and looking upon his form

 

Yes... I think that bhakti is about love and devotion...I read the entire site you had posted about Krishna Dasi and her time with Prabhupada...if you want to see the meaning of bhakti...that will reveal it...from all parties involved in the stories...

Thank you again for that site ChiefCowPie...I stayed up all night reading it...and I think I walked away from it better than I came...even more full of thoughts of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna

 

CHief: yeah, we should be slaves, total devotion. We should be slaves to Krishna, why not? The only choice yu have is to be a slave to maya or Krishna. That is your free choice. There's no other. Yeah I agree with free expression -you can serve Krishna in many ways, but certainly not by your made-up things, for example by illicit sex life -lol. Or by meat eating, or by hazard, or by intoxication -you cannot serve Krishna in those ways -that is not devotional service, that is service to maya.

BBB: Here's the particular verse from Bhagavadgita, which tells about different yoga-systems:




Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga

TEXT 33
​

arjuna uvaca
yo 'yam yogas tvaya proktah
samyena madhusudana
etasyaham na pasyami
cancalatvat sthitim sthiram
​

SYNONYMS
​

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; yah--the system; ayam--this; yogah--mysticism; tvaya--by You; proktah--described; samyena--generally; madhu-sudana--O killer of the demon Madhu; etasya--of this; aham--I; na--do not; pasyami--see; cancalatvat--due to being restless; sthitim--situation; sthiram--stable.

TRANSLATION
​

Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.

PURPORT
​

The system of mysticism described by Lord Krsna to Arjuna beginning with the words sucau dese and ending with yogi paramah is here being rejected by Arjuna out of a feeling of inability. It is not possible for an ordinary man to leave home and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles to practice yoga in this age of Kali. The present age is characterized by a bitter struggle for a life of short duration. People are not serious about self-realization even by simple, practical means, and what to speak of this difficult yoga system, which regulates the mode of living, the manner of sitting, selection of place, and detachment of the mind from material engagements. As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossible to follow this system of yoga, even though he was favorably endowed in many ways. He belonged to the royal family and was highly elevated in terms of numerous qualities; he was a great warrior, he had great longevity, and, above all, he was the most intimate friend of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities than we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of yoga. In fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any time. Therefore this system must be considered generally impossible in this age of Kali. Of course it may be possible for some very few, rare men, but for the people in general it is an impossible proposal. If this were so five thousand years ago, then what of the present day? Those who are imitating this yoga system in different so-called schools and societies, although complacent, are certainly wasting their time. They are completely in ignorance of the desired goal.

 

Don't you see Sleeping Jiva that it is the beauty and grace of God that attracts the conditioned soul? If this finds expression through poetry, or any other art form, that is a form of service to the Lord.
Many great Devotees have expressed their love and devotion to Krishna through verse! These pictures I have been posting - they are human productions - would you say we are not supposed to enjoy such images? We are parts and parcels of Krishna, therefore if the capacity to enjoy is there in Him, it is also present in us, although to a lesser degree.

 

Chapter 10. The Opulence of the Absolute
​

TEXT 41
​

yad yad vibhutimat sattvam
srimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvam
mama tejo-'msa-sambhavam
​

SYNONYMS
​

yat yat--whatever; vibhuti--opulences; mat--having; sattvam--existence; sri-mat--beautiful; urjitam--glorious; eva--certainly; va--or; tat tat--all those; eva--certainly; avagaccha--you must know; tvam--you; mama--My; tejah--splendor; amsa--partly; sambhavam--born of.

TRANSLATION
​

Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.

PURPORT
​

Any glorious or beautiful existence should be understood to be but a fragmental manifestation of Krsna's opulence, whether it be in the spiritual or material world. Anything extraordinarily opulent should be considered to represent Krsna's opulence.

 

Of course, man! If Krishna is the only goal, it's ok. I was just saying that if you're using Krishna's beauty for your own egotistical purposes, you shouldn't use Krishna. Krishna shouldn't be your servant. Go ahead post more pictures, that's cool! haribol!

 

Mira Bai​

By ​

Sri Swami Sivananda



Mira is regarded as an incarnation of Radha. She was born in Samvat 1557 or 1499 A.D. in the village Kurkhi, near Merta, a small state in Marwar, Rajasthan. Mira was the daughter of Ratan Singh Ranthor and the grand-daughter of Dudaji of Merta. The Ranthors of Merta were great devotees of Vishnu. Mira Bai was brought up amidst Vaishnava influence, which moulded her life in the path of devotion towards Lord Krishna. She learnt to worship Sri Krishna from her childhood. When she was four years of age, she manifested religious tendencies. Once there was a marriage procession in front of her residence. The bridegroom was nicely dressed. Mira, who was only a child, saw the bridegroom and said to her mother innocently, "Dear mother, who is my bridegroom?". Mira’s mother smiled, and half in jest and half in earnest, pointed towards the image of Sri Krishna and said, "My dear Mira, Lord Krishna—this beautiful image—is your bridegroom".

Child Mira began to love the idol of Krishna very much. She spent much of her time in bathing and dressing the image. She worshipped the image. She slept with the image. She danced about the image in ecstasy. She sang beautiful songs in front of the image. She used to talk to the idol.

Mira’s father arranged for her marriage with Rana Kumbha of Chitore, in Mewar. Mira was a very dutiful wife. She obeyed her husband’s commands implicitly. After her household duties were over, she would go to the temple of Lord Krishna, worship, sing and dance before the image daily. The little image would get up, embrace Mira, play on the flute and talk to her. Rana’s mother and other ladies of the house did not like the ways of Mira, as they were worldly-minded and jealous. They were all annoyed with her. Mira’s mother-in-law forced her to worship Durga and admonished her often. But Mira stood adamant. She said, "I have already given up my life to my beloved Lord Krishna". Mira’s sister-in-law Udabai formed a conspiracy and began to defame the innocent Mira. She informed Rana Kumbha that Mira was in secret love with others, that she with her own eyes had witnessed Mira in the temple with her lovers, and that she would show him the persons if he would accompany her one night. She further added that Mira, by her conduct, had brought a great slur on the reputation of the Rana family of Chitore. Rana Kumbha was very much enraged. He straightaway ran with sword in hand towards the inner apartments of Mira. Fortunately, Mira was not in her room. A kind relative of the Rana checked him and said, "Look here Rana! Do not be in haste. You will repent later on. Consider well. Enquire into the matter very carefully. Find out the truth. Mira is a great devotional lady. What you have heard now may be a wild rumour only. Out of sheer jealousy some ladies might have concocted a cock-and-bull story against Mira to ruin her. Be cool now". Rana Kumbha agreed to the wise counsel of his relative. The Rana’s sister took him to the temple at dead of night. Rana Kumbha broke open the door, rushed inside and found Mira alone in her ecstatic mood talking to the idol.

The Rana said to Mira, "Mira, with whom are you talking now? Show me this lover of yours". Mira replied, "There sits He—my Lord—the Nanichora who has stolen my heart". She fainted. There was a wild rumour that Mira was mixing very freely with Sadhus. She, no doubt, had great regard for Sadhus and mixed freely with them. Mira never cared a bit for the meaningless scandals. She stood unruffled.

Mira was persecuted in various ways by the Rana and his relatives. She got the same treatment which Prahlad got from his father Hiranyakasipu. Hari shielded Prahlad. Here, Sri Krishna always stood by the side of Mira. Once the Rana sent a cobra in a basket to Mira with the message that it contained a garland of flowers. Mira took her bath and sat for worship. After finishing her meditation, she opened the basket and found inside a lovely idol of Sri Krishna and a garland of flowers. Then the Rana sent her a cup of poison with the message that it was nectar. Mira offered it to Lord Krishna and took it as His Prasad. It was real nectar to her. Then the Rana sent a bed of nails for Mira to sleep on. Mira finished her worship and slept on the bed of nails. Lo! The bed of nails was transformed into a bed of roses.

When Mira was thus tortured by her husband’s relatives, she sent a letter to Tulsidasji and asked the advice of the saint. She wrote thus: "All my relatives trouble me, because I move amongst Sadhus. I cannot carry on my devotional practices in the house. I have made Giridhar Gopal my friend from my very childhood. I am strongly attached to Him. I cannot break that attachment now".

Tulsidasji sent a reply: "Abandon those who do not worship Rama and Sita as if they are your enemies, even though they are your dearest relatives. Prahlad abandoned his father; Vibhishana left his brother Ravana; Bharata deserted his mother; Bali forsook even his Guru; the Gopis, the women of Vraja, disowned their husbands in order to attain the Lord. Their lives were all the happier for having done so. The opinion of holy saints is that the relation with God and love of God alone is true and eternal; all other relationships are unreal and temporary".

Once Akbar and his court musician Tansen came in disguise to Chitore to hear Mira’s devotional and inspiring songs. Both entered the temple and listened to Mira’s soul-stirring songs to their heart’s content. Akbar was really moved. Before he departed, he touched the holy feet of Mira and placed a necklace of emeralds in front of the idol as a present. Somehow the news reached the Rana that Akbar had entered the temple in disguise, touched the feet of Mira and even presented her a necklace. The Rana became furious. He told Mira, "Drown yourself in the river and never show your face to the world in future. You have brought great disgrace on my family".

Mira obeyed the words of her husband. She proceeded to the river to drown herself. The names of the Lord "Govind, Giridhari, Gopal were always on her lips. She sang and danced in ecstasy on her way to the river. When she raised her feet from the ground, a hand from behind grasped her. She turned behind and saw her beloved Krishna. She fainted. After a few minutes she opened her eyes. Lord Krishna smiled and spoke to her these words: "My dear Mira, your life with this mortal husband is over now. You are absolutely free. Be cheerful. You are Mine. Immediately proceed to the bowers of Vraja and the avenues of Brindavan. Seek Me there, my child. Be quick". He then disappeared.

Mira obeyed the divine call immediately. She walked barefoot on the hot sandy beds of Rajasthan. On her way, she was received by many ladies, children and devotees with great hospitality. She reached Brindavan. She found out her Flute-bearer there. She went about Brindavan begging for her food and worshipped in the Govinda Mandir which has since become famous and is now a place of pilgrimage. Her devotees of Chitore came to Brindavan to see Mira. Rana Kumbha came to Mira in the disguise of a mendicant, revealed himself and repented for his previous wrongs and cruel deeds. Mira at once prostrated before her husband.

 

continued..

Jiva Gosain was the head of the Vaishnavites in Brindavan. Mira wanted to have Darshan of Jiva Gosain. He declined to see her. He sent word to Mira that he would not allow any woman in his presence. Mira Bai retorted: "Everybody in Brindavan is a woman. Only Giridhar Gopal is Purusha. Today only I have come to know that there is another Purusha besides Krishna in Brindavan". Jiva Gosain was put to shame. He thought that Mira was a great devotional lady. He at once went to see Mira and paid her due respects.
Mira’s fame spread far and wide. So many princesses and queens have come and gone. So many Ranis, Kumaris and Maharanis have appeared on the stage of this world and vanished. How is it that the queen of Chitore alone is still remembered? Is this on account of her beauty? Is this on account of her poetic skill? No. It is on account of her renunciation, one-pointed devotion to Lord Krishna and God-realisation. She came face to face with Krishna. She conversed with Krishna. She ate with Krishna—her Beloved. She drank the Krishna-prema-rasa. She has sung from the core of her heart the music of her soul, the music of her Beloved, her unique spiritual experiences. And she has sung songs of surrender and Prem.

Mira had the beautiful cosmic vision. She saw Krishna in the tree, in the stone, in the creeper, in the flower, in the bird, in all beings—in everything. As long as there is the name of Krishna, there will be the name of Mira also.

It is extremely difficult to find a parallel to this wonderful personality—Mira—a saint, a philosopher, a poet and a sage. She was a versatile genius and a magnanimous soul. Her life has a singular charm, with extraordinary beauty and marvel. She was a princess, but she abandoned the pleasures and luxuries incident to her high station, and chose instead, a life of poverty, austerity, Tyaga, Titiksha and Vairagya. Though she was a delicate young lady, she entered the perilous journey on the spiritual path amidst various difficulties. She underwent various ordeals with undaunted courage and intrepidity. She stood adamant in her resolve. She had a gigantic will.

Mira’s songs infuse faith, courage, devotion and love of God in the minds of the readers. They inspire the aspirants to take to the path of devotion and they produce in them a marvellous thrill and a melting of the heart.

Mira’s earthly life was full of troubles and difficulties. She was persecuted. She was tormented and yet she kept up an undaunted spirit and a balanced mind all through, by the strength of her devotion and the grace of her beloved Krishna. Though she was a princess, she begged alms and lived sometimes on water alone. She led a life of perfect renunciation and self-surrender.

Mira had Raganuga or Ragatmika Bhakti. She never cared for public criticism and the injunctions of the Shastras. She danced in the streets. She did no ritualistic worship. She had spontaneous love for Lord Krishna. She did not practise Sadhana-bhakti. From her very childhood she poured forth her love on Lord Krishna. Krishna was her husband, father, mother, friend, relative and Guru. Krishna was her Prananath. Mira had finished the preliminary modes of worship in her previous birth.

Mira was fearless in her nature, simple in her habits, joyous in her disposition, amiable in her deportment, graceful in her behaviour and elegant in her demeanour. She immersed herself in the love of Giridhar Gopal. The name of Giridhar Gopal was always on her lips. Even in her dreams, she lived and had her being in Sri Krishna.

In her divine intoxication, Mira danced in public places. She had no sex-idea. Her exalted state could not be adequately described in words. She was sunk in the ocean of Prem. She had no consciousness of her body and surroundings. Who could gauge the depth of her devotion? Who could understand her internal Premamaya state of Maha-bhava? Who could measure the capacity of her large heart?

Mira wafted the fragrance of devotion far and wide. Those who came in contact with her were affected by her strong current of Prem. Mira was like Lord Gauranga. She was an embodiment of love and innocence. Her heart was the temple of devotion. Her face was the lotus-flower of Prem. There was kindness in her look, love in her talk, joy in her discourses, power in her speech and fervour in her songs. What a marvellous lady! What a wonderful personality! What a charming figure!

Mira’s mystic songs act as a soothing balm to the wounded hearts and tired nerves of those who toil in this world with the heavy burden of life. The sweet music of her songs exerts a benign influence on the hearers, removes discord and disharmony, and lulls them to sleep. Mira’s language of love is so powerful that even a downright atheist will be moved by her devotional songs.

Mira acted her part well on the stage of the world. She taught the world the way to love God. She rowed her boat dexterously in a stormy sea of family troubles and difficulties and reached the other shore of supreme peace and absolute fearlessness—the kingdom of supreme love. She belonged to the gentle fair sex and yet how undaunted in spirit and how courageous she was! Though she was young, she bore the persecutions silently. She endured the piercing taunts and sarcastic criticisms of the world bravely. She has left an indelible impression on the world and her name will be handed down to posterity.

From Brindavan, Mira proceeded to Dwaraka. There she was absorbed in the image of Lord Krishna at the temple of Ranchod.

 

Mirabai ki jaya!!!!!!!!!!

but He often chooses to be as Krishna delights in the service of His pure devotees

 

That is an absolutely marvolous story. Thank you very much for it.