Srila Prabhupada speaks – “So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, that is the aim of life.”

Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada speaks – “So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya.Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, that is the aim of life.

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Srila Prabhupada speaks – “So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, that is the aim of life.”

So that attitude should be maintained because here it is said, tvām akiñcana-gocaram [SB 1.8.26]. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu also, he said that niṣkiñcanasya. Here it is called akiñcana. And the same thing in different way, niṣkiñcana. Akiñcana.”A” means negation, and “na” means negation. Niṣkiñcana. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, that is the aim of life. That is the purpose of human form of life. So for him, he should always remain niṣkiñcana. Niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. So therefore Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī, he remained niṣkiñcana. And his disciple, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, he also remained niṣkiñcana although he possessed so many temples, because nothing was for his personal…, but for Kṛṣṇa.

So one may question that “Your Guru Mahārāja was sitting on the ground in a municipal lavatory…” Because he did not like that “Anybody should disturb me,” he was sitting by the side of municipal lavatory. Because so many people will come for darśana and āśīrvāda, he did not like it. He did not like to be disturbed by these āśīrvāda. You see? They will not take any spiritual instruction. They are thinking that “Here is a saintly person, and he’ll bless me. So I have got now one thousand. I’ll take ten thousand.” That’s all. Therefore, they come. They do not come to take any spiritual instruction. Therefore, it is botheration. It is botheration. So Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja did not like this botheration. He was sitting by the side of a municipal lavatory so that “These rascals will not come out of the bad smell and will not disturb me.” You see? So Mahārāja Mahīndrānandī, he was one of the… He had organized one saṅkīrtana festival. So he came to Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja and to invite him. So after many requests, Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja said, “Mahārāja, you have got many tenants. You are Mahārāja. Why you are trying to make me your tenant? Because you are rich man, you also want… As your tenants carries your order, so you also want me. So why you are…?” “No, sir, no. You are my lord. Whatever you say, I shall carry out.” “Will you carry out?” “Why not?” So, he said that “Don’t go home. Sit down here. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” He fled away. (laughter) You see. So he was very humorous also, Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī, that “If you are so obedient, then I ask you, ‘Don’t go home. Better give up your dress and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa here.’ “

So, he was akiñcana. So similarly, … Just like Rāmānanda Rāya. He was gṛhastha, very opulent, governor. He is also akiñcana because nothing was possessed by personal; everything for Jagannātha. This is distinction. On one side, Rūpa Gosvāmī, and one side, Rāmānanda Rāya. And Rāmānanda Rāya is the most confidential devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, although he’s a gṛhastha, because he is akiñcana, as akiñcana as Rūpa Gosvāmī. So we have to become akiñcana. Akiñcana. Then we shall realize Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, it is said, akiñcana-gocaram: “You are understandable only by a person who does not possess so-called material opulence.” So we should always remember that whatever we are trying for material…, it is all for Kṛṣṇa, nothing for us. So that people may… Big, gorgeous temple means people will be attracted to come here, and we’ll distribute Kṛṣṇa’s prasādam. The aim is some way or other to turn them to convert them into Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then you remain akiñcana. And if we think that “We have got now very big house. We shall live comfortably and sleep comfortably,” then na gocaram, then Kṛṣṇa will not be realized. Then that comfort will be realized only, not Kṛṣṇa. Akiñcana-gocaram. We should always remember this.

This is… Kuntī devī is saying, tvām akiñcana-gocaram [SB 1.8.26]. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu said also, niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, if one is interested, he should not desire anything material possession. Material… Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. Niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajano… And Bhagavad-bhajana, why required? Now, pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya. We are rotting in this material world. We have to cross over the nescience ocean, and go to Vaikuṇṭha. That is bhagavad-bhajana. Bhagavad-bhajana does not mean to increase our material possessions. That is dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣa [SB 4.8.41]. These are material things. People become religious to increase their economic condition better, dharma artha, generally. They want to… Just like there are so many so-called saintly persons. They advertise that “If you give me one, I shall give you ten.” Magic, gold manufacturing, or some cloth and they get more… People are after them. But akiñcana. We have nothing to give. So they do not come to us.

So Kṛṣṇa is akiñcana-gocaram. We should always remember that, that if we desire to be materially happy, and if we think, “Some material possession and prestige in the society and becoming a learned scholar… I shall be getting more and more adoration from the society. I’ll be a big man,” then Kṛṣṇa will be finished. Kṛṣṇa will be finished. Kṛṣṇa is akiñcana-gocara. That is the instruction of this verse. Naivārhaty abhidhātum. These persons, janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir edhamāna [SB 1.8.26], increasing material opulence, they does not, they do not deserve approaching Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will be approached by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura when he says, tomā bine ke āche āmāra: “I have no other alternative than to take shelter at the lotus feet of Your Lordship. Please give me…” We should always remember this. Then we shall be able to make progress in spiritual life.

Thank you very much. (end)

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/sb/1/8/26/mayapura/october/06/1974

Some key points:

  • So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, that is the aim of life. That is the purpose of human form of life. 
  • So therefore Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī, he remained niṣkiñcana. And his disciple, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, he also remained niṣkiñcana although he possessed so many temples, because nothing was for his personal…, but for Kṛṣṇa.
  • a, he did not like it. He did not like to be disturbed by these āśīrvāda. You see? They will not take any spiritual instruction. 
  • They are thinking that “Here is a saintly person, and he’ll bless me. So I have got now one thousand. I’ll take ten thousand.” That’s all. Therefore, they come. They do not come to take any spiritual instruction. 
  • Just like Rāmānanda Rāya. He was gṛhastha, very opulent, governor. He is also akiñcana because nothing was possessed by personal; everything for Jagannātha. This is distinction. 
  • On one side, Rūpa Gosvāmī, and one side, Rāmānanda Rāya. And Rāmānanda Rāya is the most confidential devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, although he’s a gṛhastha, because he is akiñcana, as akiñcana as Rūpa Gosvāmī. So we have to become akiñcana. Akiñcana. 
  • Then we shall realize Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, it is said, akiñcana-gocaram: “You are understandable only by a person who does not possess so-called material opulence.”
  • And if we think that “We have got now very big house. We shall live comfortably and sleep comfortably,” then na gocaram, then Kṛṣṇa will not be realized. Then that comfort will be realized only, not Kṛṣṇa.
  • Bhagavad-bhajana does not mean to increase our material possessions. 
  • That is dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣa [SB 4.8.41]. These are material things.
  • People become religious to increase their economic condition better, dharma artha, generally. They want to… Just like there are so many so-called saintly persons. 
  • They advertise that “If you give me one, I shall give you ten.” Magic, gold manufacturing, or some cloth and they get more… People are after them. But akiñcana. We have nothing to give. So they do not come to us.
  • We should always remember that, that if we desire to be materially happy, and if we think, “Some material possession and prestige in the society and becoming a learned scholar… I shall be getting more and more adoration from the society. I’ll be a big man,” then Kṛṣṇa will be finished. Kṛṣṇa will be finished. Kṛṣṇa is akiñcana-gocara.
  • Kṛṣṇa will be approached by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura when he says, tomā bine ke āche āmāra: “I have no other alternative than to take shelter at the lotus feet of Your Lordship. Please give me…” We should always remember this. Then we shall be able to make progress in spiritual life.