Bhāgavata-dharma is eternal surrender to God, not temporary faith; cherish the rare human birth.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Lecture — July 12, 1972, London 720712LE-LONDON [47:18 Minutes] Lecture_720712LE-LONDON Prabhupāda: I thank you very much for your participating in this saṅkīrtana movement. This movement was started by Lord Caitanya five hundred years ago in India, West Bengal. [noise of someone speaking in background] [aside:] What is that sound? That sound cannot be stopped? Haṁsadūta: [indistinct, questions someone else] That's the speaker system, Prabhupāda. Prabhupāda: But this movement is not five hundred years old.
It is coming since very, very long time. As we have advertised, bhāgavata-dharma. This is part of bhāgavata-dharma. Bhāgavata-dharma was explained by Prahlāda Mahārāja, a great devotee of Lord Nṛsiṁha-deva, Nārāyaṇa, some millions of years ago.
His father was Hiraṇyakaśipu, atheist. He did not believe in God. But by the grace of Nārada Muni, his son, from the very womb of his mother, he was initiated in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and after his birth he became a great devotee. And when he was only five years old he was preaching this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement amongst his class fellows. He was little boy, king's son.
He had no opportunity to go out of the palace. Still, he took the opportunity of speaking something about this bhāgavata-dharma amongst his class fellows. So he was canvassing his class fellows, "Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." The bhāgavata-dharma is called... etāvaj janma-sāphalyaṁ dehinām iha dehiṣu prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya-ācaraṇaṁ sadā [SB 10.22.35] Bhāgavata-dharma, execution of bhāgavata-dharma... There are different types of dharma.
Dharma means the codes of God, the laws of God—real dharma, or religion. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma means the codes, the laws, which is given by God. This is the simple definition of God, er, of dharma.
[child screaming] [aside:] It is disturbing. This child is... [pause] Devotee: If the children are noisy, they can go outside and [indistinct]. Prabhupāda: So "religion," this English word, is not sufficient translation of the word dharma. Religion...
According to English language, religion means a kind of faith. You may believe in some faith. Somebody believes in Hindu religion; others may believe in Christian religion. One may become a Christian from Hindu, or from a Hindu to Christian.