Rape in holy places Why do terrible things, like the rape of a lady devotee, happen in Vrndavana? Someone asked me to share my consideration about violence in holy places. How come horrible things happen in … Read More
Of course, kshatriyas are allowed to kill some animals and then eat their flesh, after offering it in sacrifice. However, it is understood that such regulation is actually meant to curb the extravagant violence of foolish … Read More
Puranjana Vijitashva became the emperor of the world, and he appointed his four younger brothers as governors of the different directions. At the time when Indra had invisibly stolen King Prithu’s sacrificial horse, Vijitashva had … Read More
Prema Dhvani (Jaya Dhvani) Jaya-nitya-lila-pravishta om Vishnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacharya ashtottara-shata Shri Srimad His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Prabhupada ki jaya. Jaya om Vishnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacharya ashtottara-shata Shri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja … Read More
CHAPTER FIVE Nārada’s Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva Text 1: Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus the sage amongst the gods [Nārada], comfortably seated and apparently smiling, addressed the ṛṣi amongst the brāhmaṇas [Vedavyāsa]. Text 2: Addressing Vyāsadeva, … Read More
The Navagraha The word Navagraha means “nine planets” (nava= nine, graha=planets). They are: Surya: the Sun Chandra: the Moon Mangala: Mars Budha: Mercury Brihaspati: Jupiter Sukra: Venus Sani: Saturn Rahu: A dark planet Ketu: A dark … Read More
Mithuna Sankranti Today is Mithuna Sankranti, which means that the Sun entered into the celestial area of Mithuna (Gemini). According to the calendar I have, it happened at 8:05 of Caribbean time. Mithuna is the third … Read More
Marks on Radha Krishna’ Soles Question Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to You and Srila Prabhupada The Srimad-Bhagavatam talks about Krsna having marks on His feet. Does Krsna really have these … Read More
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.4.32 तस्यैवं खिलमात्मानं मन्यमानस्य खिद्यत: । कृष्णस्य नारदोऽभ्यागादाश्रमं प्रागुदाहृतम् ॥ ३२ ॥ tasyaivaṁ khilam ātmānaṁ manyamānasya khidyataḥ kṛṣṇasya nārado ’bhyāgād āśramaṁ prāg udāhṛtam Synonyms tasya — his; evam — thus; khilam — inferior; ātmānam — … Read More
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.4.28-29 धृतव्रतेन हि मया छन्दांसि गुरवोऽग्नय: । मानिता निर्व्यलीकेन गृहीतं चानुशासनम् ॥ २८ ॥ भारतव्यपदेशेन ह्याम्नायार्थश्च प्रदर्शित: । दृश्यते यत्र धर्मादि स्त्रीशूद्रादिभिरप्युत ॥ २९ ॥ dhṛta-vratena hi mayā chandāṁsi guravo ’gnayaḥ mānitā nirvyalīkena gṛhītaṁ cānuśāsanam … Read More
ŚB 1.4.24 त एव वेदा दुर्मेधैर्धार्यन्ते पुरुषैर्यथा । एवं चकार भगवान् व्यास: कृपणवत्सल: ॥ २४ ॥ ta eva vedā durmedhair dhāryante puruṣair yathā evaṁ cakāra bhagavān vyāsaḥ kṛpaṇa-vatsalaḥ Synonyms te — that; eva — certainly; vedāḥ … Read More
Important Devotional Services Question In addition to chanting the Maha Mantra, is there another service among the many that you recommend as very favorable to offer to Sri Krishna? Answer Sri Prahlada Maharaja mentions nine … Read More
Different Types of Commentaries Sutra A sutra is an aggregation of short formula-like assertions. Bhasya A bhasya is an explanation, a commentary made to to unpack and weave together. Varttika A varttika is a sub-commentary on … Read More
ŚB 1.4.19 चातुर्होत्रं कर्म शुद्धं प्रजानां वीक्ष्य वैदिकम् । व्यदधाद्यज्ञसन्तत्यै वेदमेकं चतुर्विधम् ॥ १९ ॥ cātur-hotraṁ karma śuddhaṁ prajānāṁ vīkṣya vaidikam vyadadhād yajña-santatyai vedam ekaṁ catur-vidham Synonyms cātuḥ — four; hotram — sacrificial fires; karma śuddham … Read More
ŚB 1.4.17-18 भौतिकानां च भावानां शक्तिह्रासं च तत्कृतम् । अश्रद्दधानान्नि:सत्त्वान्दुर्मेधान् ह्रसितायुष: ॥ १७ ॥ दुर्भगांश्च जनान् वीक्ष्य मुनिर्दिव्येन चक्षुषा । सर्ववर्णाश्रमाणां यद्दध्यौ हितममोघदृक् ॥ १८ ॥ bhautikānāṁ ca bhāvānāṁ śakti-hrāsaṁ ca tat-kṛtam aśraddadhānān niḥsattvān durmedhān hrasitāyuṣaḥ … Read More
Devala, Son of Pratyusa Devala, the son of Pratyusa, was a famous Muni and one of the Astavasus (Eight Vasu). (Maha-bharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 66, Verse 26). Devala Muni was a protagonist in the well-known story … Read More
ŚB 1.4.23 त एत ऋषयो वेदं स्वं स्वं व्यस्यन्ननेकधा । शिष्यै: प्रशिष्यैस्तच्छिष्यैर्वेदास्ते शाखिनोऽभवन् ॥ २३ ॥ ta eta ṛṣayo vedaṁ svaṁ svaṁ vyasyann anekadhā śiṣyaiḥ praśiṣyais tac-chiṣyair vedās te śākhino ’bhavan Synonyms te — they; ete … Read More
ŚB 1.4.16 परावरज्ञ: स ऋषि: कालेनाव्यक्तरंहसा । युगधर्मव्यतिकरं प्राप्तं भुवि युगे युगे ॥ १६ ॥ parāvara-jñaḥ sa ṛṣiḥ kālenāvyakta-raṁhasā yuga-dharma-vyatikaraṁ prāptaṁ bhuvi yuge yuge Synonyms para–avara — past and future; jñaḥ — one who knows; saḥ … Read More
Devala, Brother of Dhaumya Devala was a sage and a very erudite scholar in the Vedas. He was the elder brother of Dhaumya Maharsi (Better known as Ayodha Dhaumya), and was present at the sarpa-satra (serpent … Read More
Devala (Astavakra) First story Devala was a disciple of Vyasadeva. In the Maha-bharata, Adi Parva, we see that he is mentioned along with Asita, Vaisampayana, Sumantu, and Jaimini. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana contains the following story … Read More
