Pradyumna: (leads chanting)

dravya-yajïäs tapo-yajïä
yoga-yajïäs tathäpare
svädhäya-jïäna-yajïäç ca
yatayaù saàçita-vratäù

Translation: "There are others who, enlightened by sacrificing their material possessions in severe austerities, take strict vows and practice the yoga of eightfold mysticism, and others study the Vedas for the advancement of transcendental knowledge."

Prabhupäda: You can read the purport also.

Pradyumna: "These sacrifices may be fitted into various divisions. There are persons who are sacrificing their possessions in the form of various kinds of charities. In India, the rich mercantile community or princely orders open various kinds of charitable institutions like dharma-çälä, anna-kñetra, atithi-çälä, anäthalaya, vidyäpéöha, etc... In other countries too, there are many hospitals, old age homes and similar charitable foundations meant for distributing food, education and medical treatment free to the poor. All these charitable activities are called dravyamaya-yajïa. There are others who, for higher elevation in life or for promotion to higher planets within the universe, voluntarily accept many kinds of austerities such as cändräyaëa and cäturmäsya. These processes entail severe vows for conducting life under certain rigid rules. For example, under the cäturmäsya vow the candidate does not shave for fours months during they year, July to October, and does not eat certain foods, does not eat twice in a day and does not leave home. Such sacrifices of the comforts of life is called tapomaya-yajïa. There are still others who engage themselves in different kinds of mystic yogas like the Pataïjali system for merging into the existence of the Absolute, or haöha-yoga or añöäìga-yoga, for particular perfections. And some travel to all the sanctified places of pilgrimage. All these practices are called yoga-yajïa, sacrifice for a certain type of perfection in the material world. there are others who engage themselves in the studies of different Vedic literatures, specifically the Upaniñads and Vedänta-sütras, or the Säìkhya philosophy. All of these are called svädhyäya-yajïa, or engagement in the sacrifice of studies. All these yogis are faithfully engaged in different types of sacrifice and are seeking a higher status of life. Kåñëa consciousness is, however, different from these because it is the direct service of the Supreme Lord. Kåñëa consciousness cannot be attained by any one of the above-mentioned types of sacrifices but can be attained only by the mercy of the Lord and His bona fide devotee. Therefore, Kåñëa consciousness is transcendental."

Prabhupäda:

dravya-yajïäs tapo-yajïä
yoga-yajïäs tathäpare
svädhyäya-jïäna-yajïäç ca
yatayaù saàçita-vratäù

So charity, or sacrificing your possession for the benefit of others, this is also yajïa. But they are called karma-käëòa yajïa, fruitive activities. By such performance of yajïa, one can elevate his material position.

Just like feeding the poor. It is also yajïa. But the same thing, if it is dovetailed in consciousness, that becomes perfect. People are very much inclined to feed the poor with sumptuous food, but it can be done in a little different way, that the foodstuff offered to Viñëu, prasäda, that distribution foodstuff is better than ordinary distribution of foodstuff. Ordinarily, that is puëya, pious activities, but when it is connection with Kåñëa, this is called yajïa. Dravya-yajïa. To distribute food and cloth, that is called dravya-yajïa, but yajïa can be said when it is done, dovetailing the activities with Kåñëa consciousness. That is yajïa. Yajïa means Viñëu. Yajïärthe karmaëo 'nyatra loko 'yaà karma-bandhanaù [Bg. 3.9]. So our the Kåñëa consciousness movement, we are also distributing food in our about one hundred branches all over the world. But not directly, but through nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe yuktaà vairägyam ucyate.

If we simply act piously, that is good, but it is not perfect. Suppose I execute many pious activities in my life. Then due to my pious activities, I will get birth in good family. Janmaiçvarya-çruta-çréù. I may get my birth in good family, high family. That is called janma. Then aiçvarya, opulence, wealth; çré, beautiful body; and education also. I have several times explained that to become highly educated, that is also due to previous pious activities. To be highly rich, that is also due to previous pious activities. But Narottama däsa Öhäkura says that Karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa, kebala biñera bhäëòa. Karma-käëòa vicära, fruitive activities for getting better position of life, better body... [break] ...though I get my birth in a good family, there is still risk of degradation. Because sometimes we get our birth in rich family and due to opulence we are associated with bad company. Then we begin to act sinfully. That means again degradation. Therefore the Vaiñëava philosophy does not very much approve even pious activities. What to speak of impious activities, they do not approve pious activities also.

They are simply after Kåñëa consciousness, simply interested in the service of Kåñëa. That is real yajïa. Because in the Bhagavad-gétä it is said that those who are engaged in devotional service... To hear, devotional service... I have explained several times. To hear about Kåñëa. Simply by hearing Kåñëa, if we simply try to understand Kåñëa, that is also better than dravyamaya-yajïa, dravya, in charity. But because we cannot devote ourself... Pure devotional service means çravaëaà kértanam. Just like Haridäsa Öhäkura, he was simply engaged in çravaëaà kértanam. He was chanting three hundred thousand times Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra. We cannot imitate that. That is not possible. But pure devotional service is like that.

Just like our Gosvämés, the Six Gosvämés in Våndävana, how they executed devotional service is described by Çréniväsa Äcärya,

kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartana-parau premämåtämbho-nidhé
dhérädhéra-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau püjitau
çré-caitanya-kåpä-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhärävahantärakau
vande rüpa-sanätanau raghu-yugau çré-jéva-gopälakau

Kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartana-parau. They always engaged them in chanting Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra. Utkértana, very loudly. Kåñëotkértana. Utkértanam. Kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartanau-parau, dancing also. Just like here the boys, they are chanting and dancing. This is very good, following the footsteps of the Gosvämés.

Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, He was also engaged in chanting and dancing. That is a... His dancing description is there in the Caitanya-caritämåta during the Ratha-yäträ festival. So chanting, dancing, chanting of the holy name, and in ecstasy dancing, that is also yajïa. That is the most perfectional yajïa. Yajïaiù saìkértana-präyaiù. This is called saìkértana-yajïa. Bahubhir militvä gäyantéti saìkértanam.

Saìkértana means when we combine together, many persons, and chant and dance. that is called saìkértana-yajïa. So those who are engaged in the saìkértana-yajïa, they are also performing yajïa. That is better than dravyamaya-yajïa, dravya-yajïa. Dravya-yajïa, charity. Suppose one man has no money. Then his life is spoiled? No. In any condition we can execute this yajïa, saìkértana-yajïa. There is no need of money. Ahaituky apratihatä. This saìkértana-yajïa is so nice that it cannot be checked by any material condition. If one is interested, he can perform saìkértana-yajïa or the bhakti-yoga system, çravaëaà kértanam, in any condition of life.

In the Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, there is a story... Not story. Fact. It is described there that one brähmaëa-he was a great devotee-he wanted to offer very brilliant service, arcanä, in the temple worship. But he had no money. But some day he was sitting in a Bhägavata class and he heard that Kåñëa can be worshipped even within the mind. So he took this opportunity because he was thinking since a long time how to worship Kåñëa very gorgeously, but he had no money.

So he, when he got this point, that one can worship Kåñëa within the mind, so after taking bath in the Godävaré River, he was sitting underneath a tree and within his mind he was constructing very gorgeous siàhäsana, throne, bedecked with jewels and keeping the Deity on the throne, he was bathing the Deity with water of Ganges, Yamunä, Godävaré, Narmadä, Käveré. Then he was dressing the Deity very nicely, then offering worship with flower, garland.

Then he was cooking very nicely, and he was cooking paramänna, sweet rice. So he wanted to taste it, whether it was very hot. Because paramänna is taken cold. Paramänna is no taken very hot. So he put his finger on the paramänna and his finger burned down. Then his meditation broken, because there was nothing. Simply within his mind he was doing everything. So... But he saw that his finger was burned. So he was astonished.

In this way, Näräyaëa from Vaikuëöha, He was smiling. Lakñméjé asked, "Why you are smiling?" "One of My devotee is worshipping like this. So send My men to bring him immediately to Vaikuëöha."

So the bhakti-yoga is so nice that even if you have no means to offer the Deity gorgeous worship, you can do it within the mind. That is also possible. Therefore it is said that ahaituky apratihatä. In any position of life you can engage yourself in bhakti-yoga system. Çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù smaraëaà päda-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]. But the prime or the topmost perfection of bhakti-yoga is çravaëaà kértanam, çravaëaà kértanam, fully absorbed in the thought of Kåñëa. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gétä also. Yoginäm api sarveñäà mad-gatenäntar-ätmanä [Bg. 6.47]. This is the simplest process. You have to practice always thinking of Kåñëa. That is also, Kåñëa says, man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäà namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Mad-yäjé. Now, suppose if you have nothing to offer. Still, you can, man-manäù, by thinking of Kåñëa, by thinking of all materials for worshiping, testing them, sitting in one place, you can go on. That is called man-manäù, thinking, thinking of. You can offer Kåñëa, as I described, so many things.

But Kåñëa wants to see how much you are devoted to Him. Dravya-yajïa. Kåñëa is not hungry that you have to offer something, very nice foodstuff. That, you must do that. But if you have no such thing in possession, you can do it within the mind. But not that you have got everything to offer... You can offer Kåñëa very nice foodstuff. In that case if you think that "I can do it in mind," that is cheating. That will not be done. But in case you have nothing to offer materially, but still, you can offer in the mind. That is called vitta-sartha.[?]

Actually we have seen in many places, a rich man has got Deity. The other day we went to a place. The Deity is there, but Deity is not worshipped. Deity is not offered anything. That is not good. That man is very rich man. According to his position, one must offer prepared foodstuff, distribute prasädam, not that... Generally, the impersonalists, they do so. There are many big, big temples, big, big Deities, but the Deity is offered a little elaichianna.[?] That is not good. If you establish Deity, you must worship to the best capacity of your possession. That is Deity worship.

But if one hasn't got to offer anything, he can offer everything within the mind. This facility is there. Therefore it is apratihatä, it cannot be checked, apratihatä. Because bhakti can be executed practically also within the mind. It cannot be checked. But if you have got something to offer to Kåñëa, don't think that "I shall offer in my mind. "That is... Kåñëa is also very intelligent, that "He is cheating Me." Kåñëa wants how much you are sacrificing in devotion, bhaktyä. Kåñëa is not after your goods. That is explained in the Bhagavad, tad ahaà bhakty-upahåtam açnämi. Patraà puñpaà phalaà toyam. Kåñëa is prepared to accept from you even a little leaf, patram, even a little flower, patraà puñpaà phalam, a little fruit. Anyone can secure these. Even if you cannot secure, if you are so poor or unable, you can offer Kåñëa everything within the mind.

But if you are in possession, then that will not be successful. Then it be cheating. That is called mithya-sartha.[?]

According to one's means, ye yathä mäm, according to one's position, they should worship Kåñëa, maybe without any dravya or with dravya. Yajïa is performed. Dravya-yajïäs tapo-yajïäù. The svädhyäya. The Gosvämés, they also used to perform svädhyäya-yajïa. That is also mentioned. Nänä-çästra-vicäraëaika-nipuëau sad-dharma-saàsthäpakau. They were studying all Vedic literature, all Vedic literature. That is called svädhyäya-yajïa, to read Vedic literature, to understand Vedic literature, to act according to the direction of the Vedic literature. This is called svädhyäya-yajïa. Svädhyäya-yajïa, jïäna-yajïa.

By reading Vedic literature, you enlighten yourself with knowledge. So this is also yajïa. There are so many... Kåñëa is available in so many ways, according to your position. It is not that He is conditioned. He is not conditioned. Therefore it is called ahaituky apratihatä. The svädhyäya-yajïa. The Gosvämés, they were not only dancing and chanting. That was also part of their business. Kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartana-parau. But they were also good scholars. Nänä-çästra-vicäraëaika-nipuëau sad-dharma-saàsthäpakau.

Just like in our Kåñëa consciousness movement, we are trying to publish our books in different languages. Already we have got in European and American, English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, Chinese. This is required. Nänä-çästra-vicäraëaika-nipuëau sad-dharma. Because people are misled. So they should be given opportunity to study, to understand what is God consciousness, what is Kåñëa consciousness. So through the çästras. That is also required.

Nänä-çästra-vicäraëaika-nipuëau sad-dharma... The Gosvämés practically demonstrated in their life everything. Caitanya Mahäprabhu taught them. They were the first disciples of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Rüpa Gosvämé was given lesson for ten days continually at Allahabad, Prayäga, Daçäçvamedha-ghäöa. As a result of his instruction, he first wrote this Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, which we have translated into English, Nectar of Devotion. Similarly, Sanätana Gosvämé was given instruction for two months at Benares, Väräëasé.

So bhakti is not that it is something sentiment, without any basic principle of knowledge. No. It is fully based on Vedic knowledge. Bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä. Çruta means Veda. Bhakti after studying the Vedic knowledge-that is perfect bhakti. Vedänta-sütra.

Therefore Caitanya Mahäprabhu, He talked on Vedänta-sütra at Benares. And because the Mäyävädé sannyäsés, they were criticizing Caitanya Mahäprabhu that "He is sentimental sannyäsé, devotee, He does not study Vedänta-sütra..." The Lord was criticized like that. So some of His devotees requested that "We know that You do not mix with the Mäyävädé sannyäsés, but they are criticizing You. If you kindly meet them..." So Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu met all the Väräëasé Mäyävädé sannyäsés. Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté, he had sixty thousand disciples. So they asked. Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté asked Caitanya Mahäprabhu that "You are a sannyäsé. So you do not study Vedänta-sütra. It is the," I meant to say, "vow of the sannyäsés that they must." Vedänta-sütra is the crucial point of sampradäya. One sampradäya must give his commentation on the Vedänta-sütra. Otherwise he is not a bona fide sampradäya. So especially in the Çaìkara sampradäya, they are very much fond of studying Säìkhya philosophy and Vedänta-sütra.

So Caitanya Mahäprabhu, when He went to Väräëasé, He was simply dancing and chanting Hare Kåñëa mantra. So people began to criticize. Not people, this sannyäsé-sampradäya. So His devotees, they became little sorry that "Our Lord is being criticized." Therefore He accepted their invitation, and there was Vedänta talk with Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté, and Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu became victorious, and they became all disciples. These are statement in the Caitanya-caritämåta.

So it is not that those who are bhaktas, they... That is also complete, chanting and dancing Kåñëa. Kåñëotkértana-gäna-nartana-parau. There is direct process. But if somebody wants to understand this Kåñëa consciousness philosophy through Vedänta philosophy, through Upaniñads, so they are prepared, they are prepared. Therefore we are publishing so many books. We are discussing Vedänta philosophy, Upaniñad, all the Vedic literatures. The Çrémad-Bhägavatam is the essence of all Vedic literature.

It is stated, nigama-kalpa-taror galitaà phalam idam [SB 1.1.3]. Nigama. Nigama means Vedic literature. Kalpa-taru. Kalpa-taru means desire tree. Desire tree... We have got experience; from the mango tree we get mango, and from coconut tree we get coconut. But desire tree means whatever you want, you can get. Even you can get purés and halavä from the tree. that is called desire tree. So the Vedic literature is called nigama-kalpa-taru. Nigama, Vedic literature, desire tree, kalpa-taru, taru, kalpa-taru. In the Vedic literature every knowledge is there. Veda means knowledge, perfect knowledge, either material or spiritual. The Vedas are there for the benefit of the human society.

Because the living entity has come here in this material world to enjoy, so direction is there, "All right, you have come here to enjoy. So you enjoy materially under direction. Then gradually you become spiritual and then take liberation." That is the purpose. Karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa. Jïäna-käëòa is the path of liberation. Then upäsanä-käëòa.

So it is not that devotees are sentimental. It is not that. Bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä. Bhakti devotional service, after complete Vedic literature understanding... But bhakti is nice thing that if one takes to bhakti directly, he understands Vedic version automatically.

väsudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaù prayojitaù
janayaty äçu vairägyaà
jïänaà ca yad ahaitukam
[SB 1.2.7]

This is Kåñëa's mercy. Even one is illiterate, if he sincerely takes to bhakti-yoga, so Vedic philosophical conclusion automatically awakens.

yasya deve parä bhaktir
yathä deve tathä gurau
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù
prakäçante mahätmanaù

"Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed." (Çvetäçvatara Upaniñad 6.23)

ataù çré-kåñëa-nämädi
na bhaved grähyam indriyaiù
sevonmukhe hi jihvädau
svayam eva sphuraty adaù

"No one can understand Kåñëa as He is by the blunt material senses. But He reveals Himself to the devotees, being pleased with them for their transcendental loving service unto Him." (Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu 1.2.234)

bhaktyä mäm abhijänäti
yävän yaç cäsmi tattvataù
tato mäà tattvato jïätvä
viçate tad-anantaram

"One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." (Bg. 18.55)

These are Vedic instructions. One must have full faith in the words of the spiritual master and similar faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the real knowledge of ätmä and Paramätmä and the distinction between matter and spirit will be automatically revealed. This ätma-tattva, or spiritual knowledge, will be revealed within the core of a devotee's heart because of his having taken shelter of the lotus feet of a mahäjana such as Prahläda Mahäräja.6.23]

These are the statement, and actually... Just like these boys. These boys, they were not educated in Vedic literature, never. But how they have taken to this Kåñëa consciousness? This is the magic of Kåñëa consciousness. It is not dependant on studying of Vedas, but if you take seriously to Kåñëa consciousness, the Vedic knowledge is automatically awakened.

yasya deve parä bhaktir
yathä deve tathä gurau
tasyaite kathitä hy arthäù
prakäçante mahätmanaù

"Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed." (Çvetäçvatara Upaniñad 6.23)

ataù çré-kåñëa-nämädi
na bhaved grähyam indriyaiù
sevonmukhe hi jihvädau
svayam eva sphuraty adaù

"No one can understand Kåñëa as He is by the blunt material senses. But He reveals Himself to the devotees, being pleased with them for their transcendental loving service unto Him." (Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu 1.2.234)

bhaktyä mäm abhijänäti
yävän yaç cäsmi tattvataù
tato mäà tattvato jïätvä
viçate tad-anantaram

"One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." (Bg. 18.55)

These are Vedic instructions. One must have full faith in the words of the spiritual master and similar faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the real knowledge of ätmä and Paramätmä and the distinction between matter and spirit will be automatically revealed. This ätma-tattva, or spiritual knowledge, will be revealed within the core of a devotee's heart because of his having taken shelter of the lotus feet of a mahäjana such as Prahläda Mahäräja.<6.23]

This is the secret. If one has unflinching faith in Kåñëa and unflinching faith to his spiritual master, then automatically the Vedic knowledge becomes awakened.

This is a fact, you can see. They never knew what is Vedic life, Vedic knowledge, but how they have become so nice perfect devotee? That unflinching faith. That is required. Viçväse milaya vastu tarke bahu-rüpa.[?] And that viçväsa, that is explained, viçväsa, faith, in the Caitanya-caritämåta, viçväsa-çabde, viçväsa sudåòha niçcaya, kåñëe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kåta. Çraddhä-çabde viçväsa sudåòha niçcaya. This is statement of Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé. He said, çraddhä. Because to become a devotee, the begin is çraddhä faith.

Just like you all ladies and gentlemen, you are coming. It is the çraddhä, "Let us hear something, what they are speaking about Kåñëa." This is the beginning. So this çraddhä, as it grows and becomes firmly fixed up, that is devotion. Çraddhä means, devotion means, gradually making the çraddhä more and more fixed up. Ädau çraddhä. Ädau çraddhä tataù sädhu-saìga. First of all çraddhä, faith. Then association with the devotee. Atha bhajana-kriyä tato 'nartha-nivåttiù syät tato niñöhä rucis tataù, athäsaktis tato bhävaù. Bhäva. So we have to come to the stage of bhäva. Budhä bhäva-samanvitäù. Kåñëa says,

ahaà sarvasya prabhavo
mattaù sarvaà pravartate
iti matvä bhajante mäà
budhä bhäva-samanvitäù
[Bg. 10.8]

So this bhäva, the ecstatic stage of devotional service, one has to reach. That is the perfection, or that, the priority stage of love of Godhead.