When one offends a Vaisnava..--22 Aug 2024 (C.E.538)

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The Ultimate Self Realization Course

"Godhead is light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no nescience."

Krishna

When One Offends a Vaisnava

In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Fifth Canto, Chapter 10, Text 24 Srila Prabhupada writes:

"When one commits an offense at the feet of a Vaisnava, one must immediately apologize to such a personality so that his spiritual advancement may not be hampered."

Also in this connection Srila Prabhupada has written in purport to verse 17 of the same chapter:

"When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was instructing Rūpa Gosvāmī at the Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa in Prayāga, He pointed out very clearly the seriousness of offending a Vaiṣṇava. He compared the vaiṣṇava-aparādha to hātī mātā, a mad elephant. When a mad elephant enters a garden, it spoils all the fruits and flowers. Similarly, if one offends a Vaiṣṇava, he spoils all his spiritual assets. Offending a brāhmaṇa is very dangerous, and this was known to Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa. He therefore frankly admitted his fault. There are many dangerous things—thunderbolts, fire, Yamarāja's punishment, the punishment of Lord Śiva's trident, and so forth—but none is considered as serious as offending a brāhmaṇa like Jaḍa Bharata. Therefore Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa immediately descended from his palanquin and fell flat before the lotus feet of the brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharata just to be excused."

Also Srila Prabhupada has written to his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Third Canto, Chapter 15, Text 39:

"To commit an offense against a devotee is very dangerous in devotional service. Lord Caitanya therefore said that an offense to a devotee is just like a mad elephant run loose; when a mad elephant enters a garden, it tramples all the plants."

So just see how careful we must be in our association with devotees.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

P.S. To err is human, to forgive is divine.

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Questions and Answers

Dear Guru Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I am planning to read some basic books written by Srila Prabhupada. What books do you recommend for a beginner in Krishna Consciousness? Should I read the original books or the new editions? Could you please suggest a website which has all the books in epub format?

Hari bol
your servant
Apoorva Raj

Answer

From: ISKCON Austin, Texas USA

My Dear Apoorva,

Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The best book for starting off is the Bhagavad-gita. You can read the original or the new edition, whichever one you have or can easily get.

You can get Bhagavad-gita in epub
format by clicking here:

I hope this meets you in the best of health.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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