01. INTRODUCTION
– 02 –
‘PADAM
PADAM YAT VIPADAM’
Danger at every
step – Characteristic feature of the Materialistic world
‘Bhayam asritah’ - indicates that the materialistic way of
life is always fearful because at every step there is danger. Materialistic
life is full of anxieties and fear (bhayam). Similarly, accepting the reading
bhavam asritah, the word bhavam refers to unnecessary trouble and problems. For
want of Krsna consciousness, one is put into bhavam, being perpetually embarrassed
by birth, death, old age and disease. Thus one is surely full of anxieties.
-
SB 7.6.5
This material world is described as padam padam yad vipadam
[SB 10.14.58], which means that at every step there is danger. A fool wrongly thinks
that he is happy in this material world, but in fact he is not, for one who
thinks that way is only illusioned. At every step, at every moment, there is
danger. In modern civilization one thinks that if he has a nice home and a nice
car his life is perfect. In the Western countries, especially in America, it is
very nice to possess a good car, but as soon as one is on the road, there is
danger because at any moment an accident may take place and one will be killed.
The record actually shows that so many people die in such accidents. Therefore
if we actually think that this material world is a very happy place, this is
our ignorance. Real knowledge is that this material world is full of danger. We
may struggle for existence as far as our intelligence allows and may try to
take care of ourselves, but unless the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna,
ultimately saves us from danger, our attempts will be useless.
-
SB 8.2.32
This is a FACT IN OUR FACE, which none of us can deny.
Whether we like it or not this is the nature of the material world. It has been
made like that by the Lord.
So what is the solution? How do I get out of this precarious
condition that my karma has placed me in? The following conversation between
Prabhupada and Syamasundara gives it away
‘Prabhupada: Padam padam yat vipadam na tesam.
samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesam
[SB 10.14.58]
Syamasundara: And the purport?
Prabhupada: And the purport is, one who has taken shelter of
the lotus feet of Krsna, for him, this ocean of nescience, bhavasamudra,
because just like a small pit foot created by the cow's hoof.
Devotee: Footprint.
Prabhupada: And this place wherein there is step by step
danger, this is not God's place. That Krsna also says. As soon as he
understands Krsna, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. He immediately
becomes eligible to transfer to the spiritual world.
Syamasundara: So actually, we're removing people from danger,
from evil, by making them Krsna conscious.
Prabhupada: Certainly.
Syamasundara: So this is a welfare activity.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. This is best welfare activity in the
world. What others can do in comparison to this?
So please chant ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare’ and Be
anxiety-free and Happy.
Ys in
service of Srila Prabhupada
JANAKA DASA
(Dr Jagadeesh
TG)
Coordinator
‘Facing Life's Challenges - The Bhagavad Gita way’
9341833122
‘Suhrdam sarva bhutanam
; I am the friend of all living entities’ – Lord Krishna (BG 5.29).
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