Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 20.313-317

Worshipping Hari Elevates to Nirguna Liberation

📅 December 22, 1966 📍 New York ⏱ 23 min
Worshiping Krishna elevates the devotee beyond material nature into eternal transcendental existence.
Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca

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Prabhupāda: harir hi nirguṇaḥ sākṣāt puruṣaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ sa sarva-dṛg upadraṣṭā taṃ bhajan nirguṇo bhavet [Cc Madhya 20.313] [Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is situated beyond the range of material nature; therefore He is the supreme transcendental person. He can see everything inside and outside; therefore He is the supreme overseer of all living entities. If someone takes shelter at His lotus feet and worships Him, he also attains a transcendental position.] Nirguṇo bhavet. The liberation from material bondage is called nirguṇa.

Nirguṇa means the three qualities, three modes of material nature, is nullified. As soon as we are transcendental to the three modes of material nature, that is called liberation. So just like there is injunction in the Vedic literature: to live in the city is rājasika; to live in the forest is sattvika, goodness. Sattvika quality means to live in goodness is to live in a forest.

Therefore formerly, all the sages and saints, they used to live in a forest. Still there are many transcendentalist, they live in the forest, because forest is considered to be situation in goodness. Similarly, those who live in cities and villages, in society, human society, that is rājasika. And those who live in the liquor shop and similar, gambling shop and other, they are called tamasika. So this goodness, passion and ignorance, the division.

And how to nirguṇa? When you live in a temple of Kṛṣṇa, that is nirguṇa. That is transcendental. So if you live in a society like this, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then you are nirguṇa.

You are above the qualities. It is far better than to live in the forest or in the city. Those who are in touch with the supreme nirguṇa... Nirguṇa means transcendental to the material modes of nature.

So nirguṇo bhavet. Sa sarva-dṛg. Harir hi nirguṇaḥ sākṣāt. Nirguṇa means only Viṣṇu is nirguṇa, above the transcendental, above these material modes of nature. It is accepted by all the authorities.

Even Śaìkarācārya, he says, nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ avyaktāt. Avyakta. So far this material nature, manifested and nonmanifested, what we see, this is manifested. And then it is...

Krishna ConsciousnessLiberationDevotional ServiceMayaBhaktiSurrender
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