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[IDT_2001-10-05 _Thorns & Pebbles_ on_ the_ path_ of_ Grihastha_ Ashrama_SB_5.14.18]
kvacid grhrama-karma-codanti-bhara-
girim ruruksamno loka-vyasana-karsita-
manh kantaka-arkar-ksetrampraviann iva sdati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Translation
In household life, one is ordered to execute
many yajnas and fruitive activities, especially
the Vivaha yajna, the marriage ceremony for sons
and daughters and the sacred thread ceremony.
These are all duties of a Grihastha. They are
very extensive and troublesome to execute. They
are compared to one big hill, which one must
cross when one is attached to material
activities. A person desiring to cross over
these ritualistic ceremonies certainly feels
pains, like the piercing of thorns and pebbles
endured by one attempting to climb a hill. Thus
the conditioned soul suffers unlimitedly.
Lecture begins
Teachings of Srimad Bhagavatam and Glorious
Grihasthas of the past:
Today we are reading from Srimad Bhagavatam
canto 5 chapter 14 entitled the forest of
enjoyment. In this segment of Srimad Bhagavatam,
the Sanskrit shlokas of Srimad Bhagavatam are
composed in such a way that it is very difficult
to sing together. Today, we are reading text no.
18.
In this forest of enjoyment, Sukhdev Goswami is
speaking his sublime realization, about the
cumbersome entanglements that come upon one in
this material world, when one enters into the
family life. Of course, if we see Srimad
Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupads purports from a
holistic perception of what he says in different
times and different circumstances, then we gain
a balanced understanding of Srila Prabhupads
spirit because in fact Srimad Bhagavatam is
mainly composed of stories of Grihasthas, who
are mahabhagavatas, who are pure devotees, who
showed by their example, absolute surrender to
the supreme personality of Godhead. Parikshit
Maharaj was a Grihastha. The Pandavas, his
forefathers were also Grihasthas. Dhruva
Maharaj, he totally renounced everything. By the
order of the Lord he became a Grihastha. Prahlad
Maharaj, a completely surrendered soul, he was a
child; its not that he needed purification from
the Grihastha ashram. He was a Mahabhagavata,
when he was 5 years old, but for the sake of
executing his duty he married. Durvs Muni was
a renunciate. Ambarish Maharaj was a Grihastha
and we know that story quiet well. Ambarish
Maharaj was in a more elevated spiritual
position than Durvs Muni. There are so many
examples in this way, of the glorious
opportunity that the Grihastha ashram has for
people who are aspiring for self realization.
Kashyapa Muni was a Grihastha, Kardama Muni
became a Grihastha. Vsudeva and Devaki, Nanda
and Yashoda, so many Grihasthas in Srimad
Bhagavatam, all were in the perfect stage of
Krishna consciousness. However, we do find in
each and every one of these cases, that their
ashram did create so many difficulties- Yajnas
to perform, social obligations, family
responsibilities, so many difficulties, many
disturbances. Priyavrata, he was a brahmacr;
but for the sake of duty he agreed to get
married against his will, but for a higher
purpose, he surrendered to Krishnas will. So
many difficulties came upon him, but they did
not obstruct him from attaining the supreme
perfection of life. So yes, Srimad Bhagavatam
teaches, how, even while during the
complications, the implications and the
obstructions of Grihastha life, one can
certainly achieve the ultimate goal of surrender
unto Krishna. There are innumerable examples
historically of how this has been achieved.
ato gha-ketra-sutpta-vittair
Quotes
1. It is a sacred religious activity to obey
your parents.
2. By the mercy of Krishna, one gets Guru and
by the mercy of Guru, one gets Krishna.
3. Grihastha life is meant for tapasya.
4. Grihastha life is focused around devotional
service to the supreme personality of
Godhead.
5. If one is in Grihastha ashram, one must be
responsible.
6. According to the Vedic system, the
grihasthas are especially, meant to
financially maintain the sadhus in their
preaching.
7. The difficulties of brahmacr life provide
the opportunity for exclusive time dedicated
to the service of Guru and Krishna, no
distraction. Such a benediction!
8. The essence of marriage is that we are
trying to create an environment in which two
people are taking lifelong vows to live
together with sanctified relationship in the
service of God.
9. Essence of marriage is the lifelong vows
taken of lifelong commitment to each other,
before God.
10. Two people are becoming like one in spirit
in the service of God and in the
faithfulness to God. That is the essence of
marriage.