The vilification of sadhus is considered to be the greatest offence to the Holy Name

Chant_Hare_Krsna · October 31, 2004

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"The vilification of sadhus is considered to be the greatest offence to the Holy Name. As the glory of the Holy Name Krishna is expanded through the sadhus, who are fully devoted to the chanting of the Holy Name, how Nama-prabhu can tolerate the vilification of such sadhus?' In the Gita Sri Krishna has emphatically assured that a sincere soul who wants eternal benefit, can never be condemned to adversity.

Bhagavan said partha naiveha namutra vinaSas tasya vidyate

na hi kalyana-krt kaScid durgatim tata gacchati

Bhagavad Gita, 6/40

Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has analysed the significance of this verse as follows: "O Arjuna, an aspirant who practices Yoga, whether in this world or in the higher worlds, will never be ruined. In fact, a true worshipper of the practice of yoga, which bestows eternal welfare, will never be condemned to distress. The fundamental point is this. Human beings are classified into two groups, Avaidha, meaning unjust and disapproved by authentic scriptures, and Vaidha, meaning just. Those persons who are only after sense-gratification and are not controlled by any regulation are like unregulated beasts. Uncontrolled persons, whether they are civilized or uncivilized, stupid or learned, weak or strong, always act like the beasts. There is no possibility of getting any benefit by their actions. Regulated human beings are of three categories, karmi, jnani and bhakta. Karmis can be classified into two groups, sakam-karmi and niskam-karmi. The group of sakam-karmis are hankering after very insignificant pleasures, i.e., they are desirous of non-eternal enjoyments. They may attain heaven or worldly ameliorations, but all these pleasures are non-eternal. Therefore, that which is considered beneficial for them cannot be attained. After getting deliverance from worldly bondage, eternal bliss is the ultimate object to be attained by human beings. When that eternal bliss is not the objective of our endeavor, then that endeavor is fruitless.

kama, prema,do"hakara vibhinna laksana

lauha ara hema yaiche svarupe vilaksana

atmendriya-priti-vaichatare bali kama'

krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare prema' nama

ataeva kama-preme bahuta antara

kamaandha-tamah, premanirmala bhaskara

Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi, 4/164-165, 171

Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has written in his commentary Amrit-pravaha Bhasya: "Desire with the purpose of one's own enjoyments is called kama. Desire for manpower, desire for a son, desire for wealth and the like, such desires are prescribed in the Vedas. All these definitely denote popular religious custom such as modesty, patience, salvation and the like. Fulfilment of one's own pleasure, love for one's own family members, disciplinary guidance of family members, scolding and reverence mixed with awe and submission surely these desires emerge out of impetus for fulfillment of one's own apparent non-eternal interest. But actually all the desires originating from the conception of the real self, devoted to the knowledge that I am eternal servant of Krishna', can be accepted as desire for the propitiation of Sri Krishna. All other desires emerging out of the misconception of self, posing I am the enjoyer of the fruits of my own actions' are born out of lust.

Self-interest is the criterion of conditioned souls to determine what is dear and what is not dear. For the reason of a wrong criterion of self-interest, conditioned souls are burning in the forest fire of this material world. Clashing is inevitable where there are many centers of interest. There will be no clashing provided that love for the Absolute Reality Sri Krishna becomes the centre of interest. This will also bestow positive good, namely a love-relation to all living-beings. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught this cultivation of pure love for Sri Krishna and love for all in relation to Him. This is the real teaching of the Vedas. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami has indicated it very clearly in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 20/124:-

veda-Sastra kahesambandha', abhidheya', prayojana' krsna'prapya sambandha, bhakti'praptyera sadhana abhidheya-nama bhakti', prema'prayojana purusartha-Siromani prema maha-dhana

"The Vedas have taught three themes: Sambandha (Relation), Abhidheya (Means) and Prayojan (End). Our relation with Krishna is that he is the Ultimate Object to be attained. The means for attaining the object is bhakti, and the ultimate end is pure transcendental divine lovethe highest objective and highest wealth." Sriman Mahaprabhu has instructed in the third verse of his teachings of Siksastakam to chant the Holy Name of Hari after achieving four qualities:

trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna

amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

Excerpt from commentary of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur Sanmodan Bhasya'

niraparadhena harinama krtam visyaviraktijanita dainyam nirmatsaratala" krta daya, mithyabhimana Sunyata sarvesam yathayogya sammanana caitani laksnani Utterance of Harinam without offences will be possible after acquiring these four qualities: humbleness due to indifference to material objects, compassion devoid of envy, thoroughly void of false ego and giving due respect to all. Being adorned with these four qualities, utterance of Holy Name of Krishna will bestow the highest objective. This is the teaching of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur has given his exposition in his commentary of Siksastaka: "The consideration of the third verse of Siksastaka is important for bestowing knowledge, so that we cannot commit offence and there is no apprehension of Namabhas (glow of the Holy Name) while doing Harinam. One whose mind is not inclined to Sri Krishna and is frenzied for worldly enjoyments, can never realize his insignificance. One who has the vanity of the enjoyer-ego cannot be humble. Also, there cannot be endurance in him who has the vanity of being the enjoyer. An enjoyer is never capable of giving up his material ego and desire for worldly name and fame. An enjoyer of the objects of sense-organs can never have the willingness to give respect to another enjoyer of this world. Only a Vaishnava who has dedicated his life for worship of Krishna is humbler than blade of grass, more forbearing than tree, indifferent for his own name and fame, yet always eager to give respect to others." Srila Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad, with unwavering firmness, has used the word never' to indicate that a person who has misconception of self can never be adorned with the aforesaid four qualities. The teachings of Siksastaka written by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are to be practiced by sincere votaries for their eternal welfare and not for only giving instructions to others. A person who is sincerely practicing in his own life will automatically inspire others through his example.