01: Open Book Exam: Unit 15 HG Ranchor
Charan Das
Date of Submission: 23 February 2022 Total Words:
1483 Total Page: 02
Q 01. Draw one general principle each from the behavior of Dakña and Saté, giving at
least one reference
each from Chapters 2 to 4. How can you personally apply these principles in your
practice of Kåñëa
consciousness?
Answer:
1. Anger is so detrimental that even a great personality like Dakña, out of anger, left the arena where Brahmä was
presiding and all the great sages and pious and saintly persons were assembled. All of them requested him not
to leave, but, infuriated, he left, thinking that the auspicious place was not fit for him. Puffed up by his exalted
position, he thought that no one was greater than he in argument. It appears that all the members of the
assembly, including Lord Brahmä, requested him not to be angry and leave their company, but in spite of all
these requests, he left. That is the effect of cruel anger. In Bhagavad-gétä, therefore, it is advised that one who
desires to make tangible advancement in spiritual consciousness must avoid three things—lust, anger and the
mode of passion. Actually we can see that lust, anger and passion make a man crazy, even though he be as great
as Dakña. The very name Dakña suggests that he was expert in all material activities, but still, because of his
aversion towards such a saintly personality as Çiva, he was attacked by these three enemies—anger, lust and
passion. Lord Caitanya, therefore, advised that one be very careful not to offend Vaiñëavas. He compared
offenses toward a Vaiñëava to a mad elephant. As a mad elephant can do anything horrible, so when a person
offends a Vaiñëava he can perform any abominable action. SB 4.2.19
So I always try to be servent of servent. I avoid conflict situations & never react instantly on provoking
situations. I always keep my conscious on spiritual platform by reading & hearing Shrimad Bhagavatam.
2. According to the Vedic conception of family life, the husband gives half his body to his wife, and the wife gives
half of her body to her husband. In other words, a husband without a wife or a wife without a husband is
incomplete. Vedic marital relationship existed between Lord Çiva and Saté, but sometimes, due to weakness, a
woman becomes very much attracted by the members of her father's house, and this happened to Saté. In this
verse it is specifically mentioned that she wanted to leave such a great husband as Çiva because of her womanly
weakness. In other words, womanly weakness exists even in the relationship between husband and wife.
Generally, separation between husband and wife is due to womanly behavior; divorce takes place due to
womanly weakness. The best course for a woman is to abide by the orders of her husband. That makes family
life very peaceful. Sometimes there may be misunderstandings between husband and wife, as found even in
such an elevated family relationship as that of Saté and Lord Çiva, but a wife should not leave her husband's
protection because of such a misunderstanding. If she does so, it is understood to be due to her womanly
weakness. SB 4.4.3
Whenever there is deilema in my life I concerned with authority. I always try to follow them. By this we will be
saved from my problems in life. We only make wrong decisions because of independent decisions. Just by taking
shelter of Hari, Guru & Vaishnavas we will be saved from great danger.
Q 05. Select three statements from Chapters 6 and 7 that reflect Çréla Prabhupäda’s
mood and mission.
How important are these concepts for ISKCON’s overall mission?
1. Another significant point is that Lord Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is described here as
Térthapäda. Tértha means "sanctified place," and päda means "the lotus feet of the Lord." People go to a
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Bhakti Vaibhav OBA: Unit 15 RanchorCharan Das
sanctified place to free themselves from all sinful reactions. In other words, those who are devoted to the
lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, automatically become sanctified. The Lord's lotus
feet are called tértha-päda because under their protection there are hundreds and thousands of saintly
persons who sanctify the sacred places of pilgrimage. Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura, a great äcärya of the
Gauòéya Vaiñëava-sampradäya, advises us not to travel to different places of pilgrimage. Undoubtedly it is
troublesome to go from one place to another, but one who is intelligent can take shelter of the lotus feet of
Govinda and thereby be automatically sanctified as the result of his pilgrimage. Anyone who is fixed in the
service of the lotus feet of Govinda is called tértha-päda; he does not need to travel on various pilgrimages,
for he can enjoy all the benefits of such travel simply by engaging in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord.
Such a pure devotee, who has implicit faith in the lotus feet of the Lord, can create sacred places in any part
of the world where he decides to remain. Térthé-kurvanti térthäni (SB 1.13.10). The places are sanctified
due to the presence of pure devotees; any place automatically becomes a place of pilgrimage if either the
Lord or His pure devotee remains or resides there. In other words, such a pure devotee, who is engaged one
hundred percent in the service of the Lord, can remain anywhere in the universe, and that part of the
universe immediately becomes a sacred place where he can peacefully render service to the Lord as the
Lord desires. SB 4.6.26
Shrila Prabhupad uses to say all my temples are vaikuntas & all ISKCON devotees are pure devotees. So we
need not to find god & Vaishnavas outside of ISKCON. Prabhupad gave all. Just we need to understand &
serve in this institute heartly.
2. The Vedic system of varëa and äçrama is never to be neglected, for these divisions are created by the
Supreme Lord Himself for the upkeep of social and religious order in human society. The brähmaëas, as the
intelligent class of men in society, must vow to steadily respect this regulative principle. The tendency in this
age of Kali to make a classless society and not observe the principles of varëa and äçrama is a manifestation
of an impossible dream. Destruction of the social and spiritual orders will not bring fulfillment of the idea of
a classless society. One should strictly observe the principles of varëa and äçrama for the satisfaction of the
creator, for it is stated in the Bhagavad-gétä by Lord Kåñëa that the four orders of the social system—
brähmaëas, kñatriyas, vaiçyas and çüdras—are His creation. They should act according to the regulative
principles of this institution and satisfy the Lord, just as different parts of the body all engage in the service
of the whole. The whole is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His viräö-rüpa, or universal form. The
brähmaëas, kñatriyas, vaiçyas and çüdras are respectively the mouth, arms, abdomen and legs of the
universal form of the Lord. As long as they are engaged in the service of the complete whole, their position
is secure, otherwise they fall down from their respective positions and become degraded SB 4.6.44
ISKCON became successful because all devotees are engaged according to their propensities. So they are
satisfied & performing nicely. Initially one can act according to his propensities but later he should
completely surrender to Guru & serve as per benefit of mission.
3. The purport of this verse is that when a devotee is in a calamitous condition he takes it as a benediction of
the Supreme Lord and takes responsibility himself for his past misdeeds. In such a condition, he offers still
more devotional service and is not disturbed. One who lives in such a disposition of mind, engaged in
devotional service, is the most eligible candidate for promotion to the spiritual world. In other words, such a
devotee's claim for promotion to the spiritual world is assured in all circumstances. SB 4.6.45
Devotees in ISKCON should tolerate one another & co-operate for the mission of institution. Different
devotees may have different opinion but aim should be to please Guru & Krishna. Unity is strength. By
working together we achieve the goal.
4. It is said that the beauty of a tapasvé, or saintly person, is forgiveness. There are many instances in the
spiritual history of the world in which many saintly persons, although unnecessarily harassed, did not take
action, although they could have done so. 4.6.48
ISKCON is preaching movement. So we should be tolerant & forgive like Nityanand prabhu. Else we can’t
preach. Most of the people in this world are envious so they commit offences when we go for preaching. So
we should be forgiving towards them. Then only we can preach to them.
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