BG-text-007
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From: krsnajoe
To: jayakesava@...
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2005 4:27 PM
Subject: Todays Bhagavad-Gita class by Srila Pprabhupada 73/07/12 London,
Bhagavad-gita 1.10 "Vaisnavism is not Cowardism"



"Vaisnavism is not Cowardism"
73/07/12 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.10
listen




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Pradyumna: "Translation: There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very
powerful Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these
warriors are great chariot fighters."

asmakam tu visista ye
tan nibodha dvijottama
nayaka mama sainyasya
samjnartham tan bravimi te
[Bg. 1.7]

"Translation: O best of the brahmanas, for your information, let me tell
you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force."

Prabhupada: So formerly, five thousand years ago, the same system,
military -- ordinary soldiers, then the captain, then the commander, the
commander-in-chief -- as there are gradations in the modern age, the same thing
was there. But maha-ratha, they had good qualification. Maha-ratha means alone
he could fight with many other charioteers. They are called ati-ratha,
maha-ratha. There are different grades of fighters.

So, so far Pandavas are concerned, their son. Saubhadra... Saubhadra means
Abhimanyu, Subhadra's son. Because he was Subhadra's son, his name was
Saubhadra. Draupadi's sons, they are called Draupadeya. In Sanskrit, just like
bhagini, sister, bhagini, her son is called bhagineya, nephews. So there is
link. As soon as we speak Saubhadra, that means Subhadra's son. Subhadra's son,
he was only sixteen years old at that time. He was married with Uttara, the
daughter of Maharaja Virata. So they were all maha-rathas, ordinary, not
ordinary fighters. This Abhimanyu was killed by conspiracy by seven
commander-in-chief. Bhisma, Karna, Dronacarya, Asvatthama, they all surrounded
him, and they did not allow him to come out. They were very experienced
commanders. So this is ksatriya spirit. He was simply a boy, sixteen years old
and he had to be killed by the combined efforts of very, very, big
commander-in-chiefs. He was so great fighter, Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu-vada (?). So
Saubhadra, Draupadi... Similarly, Draupadi's sons also there. Sarva eva
maha-rathah. Maha-ratha means one who could fight with one thousand chariots on
the other side. They were called maha-rathah.

Then Duryodhana, first of all he pointed out the military strength of the
opposite side. This is intelligence. One should take calculation of the opposing
elements or the enemy's side. In fighting the first thing is to take estimation
of the enemy's side, how much they are strong, how they have arranged. Then one
should calculate how to counteract, how to fight with them, this is
intelligence. Without taking any calculation of the other side, if you are not
prepared, then how you can become victorious? This is sane proposal, that is,
upayan cintayet prajno apayan ca cintayet.. A prajna, an intelligent man, not
only think of the bright side on this business, or this fight, or this any...,
so many things we have to deal with. Simply we should not calculate the brighter
side. There is darker side also. We should always think, "If there is some
thief, if there is some rogue, they cheat us, then what precaution I am going to
take?" This is intelligence. If I simply calculate that "In this business I will
make so much profit." In the meantime, somebody comes and cheats me and go away,
then... Therefore upayan cintayet prajna apayan ca cintayet. Darker side also
should be thought of. That is intelligence. Just like they are doing. After
calculating the darker side -- enemy means darker side -- they can defeat me at
any moment. That is darker side.

So after calculating their strength, then Duryodhana is speaking about his
own strength, asmakam tu visista ye. Visista, not to speak of the ordinary
soldiers. They're visista. Visista means who are specifically to be mentioned,
high officers. Asmakam tu visista ye tan nibodha dvijottama. He was in
commander-in-chief. For eighteen days there was fight, and one after another, a
commander-in-chief was killed. And sixty-four crores of men were killed in the
Battlefield of Kuruksetra. And the battle was finished within eighteen days, not
lingering for some years. No. Fight to the best capacity and finish the
business.

So everyone, both the sides, Pandava's side and Kaurava's side, all were
killed. This Saubhadra, Draupadeya, everyone was killed. And the other side
also. Only the five brothers they remained, and the one grandchild who was in
the womb of the mother, he remained. Otherwise everyone was finished within
eighteen days. Such a great fight it was. And people from all parts of the
world, they joined the Battle of Kuruksetra.

Somebody was criticizing me that "Swamiji, you are introducing this Hare
Krsna movement. People are becoming coward. They simply chant Hare Krsna." So I
replied that "You will see the power of Hare Krsna movement in due course of
time." He required... Because there were two battles in India: the battle
between Ravana and Rama, Rama-Ravana, the battle of Ramayana; and another battle
was Battle of Kuruksetra. And in these two battles the hero was Vaisnava and
Visnu. In the Rama-Ravana battle Lord Ramacandra was there and His devotee
Hanuman, Vajrangaji. Similarly, in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Krsna was
there and His devotee Arjuna was there. So Vaisnavas, they do not simply chant
Hare Krsna. If there is need, they can fight under the guidance of Visnu and
become victorious. A Vaisnava's one qualification is... Out of the twenty-six
qualifications, one qualification is daksa, expert. If there is need of
fighting, they can fight like very expert. That is also needed. Krsna
consciousness does not mean one-sided. Krsna as all-pervading, the Krsna
consciousness movement also should be all-pervading. It should touch everything,
even politics, sociology, everything, if required. That is the aim. Because
Krsna's mission is: yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg. 4.7],
paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. There is two mission: not
only to give protection to the devotees, but also to kill the demons. To kill
the demons, that is one side. So the devotees of Krsna should be trained up both
ways: not only to give protection to the devotees, to give them encouragement,
but if need be, they should be prepared to kill the demons. That is Vaisnavism.
It is not cowardism. It is not cowardism. When need be. Generally, a Vaisnava is
non-violent. Just like Arjuna. In the beginning he was non-violent, Vaisnava. He
said, "Krsna, what is the use of this fighting? Let them enjoy." So by nature he
was non-violent, but he was induced by Krsna to become violent, that "Your
non-violence will not help. You become violent. You kill them. I want." So if
Krsna wants we shall be prepared to become violent also. And Krsna, that is open
secret, that paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. Two business
of Krsna, two side. So those who are devotees of Krsna, they should be trained
up both ways, they should be prepared. But generally, there is no question of
becoming violent, unnecessarily. As the modern politicians, unnecessarily they
declare war, a Vaisnava does not do so. No, unnecessarily, there is no need of
war. When it was completely impossible to settle up the things between the
Pandavas and the Kauravas, then Krsna said, "All right, then there must be
fight." When Duryodhana declined to spare even a portion of land holding the
sucyagra, the point of a needle... he refused that "I cannot spare even so much
land which can hold the point of a needle." Then the war was declared. There is
no question of settlement. Otherwise, Krsna requested that "These five Pandavas,
they are ksatriyas. They cannot become merchant or brahmana. Brahmana's
profession is pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigrahah. Brahmana can take
charity from others. A sannyasi can take charity from others. Not a ksatriya or
a grhastha. No. That is not allowed. "So they are ksatriyas; they cannot take
the professions of a brahmana, neither they can take the profession of a
mercantile man, business man. They must have some land so that rule over, take
taxation. And that is their living means.

So spare only five villages to these five brothers and settle up." But
Duryodhana replied, "No, Sir. What to speak of five villages, we cannot spare
even so much land which can hold the point of needle." Then the war was
declared. So Vaisnava, they are non-violent. But if need be, they can become
violent for Krsna's sake. This is the Battle of Kuruksetra. So any more? Or end
here? All right, end here. Chant Hare Krsna. (End)



Please Look at Wonders of Krsna ---
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Your servant Jaya Kesava
Dasa


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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.



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