Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.13

Devas Serve While Asuras Disturb, Holy Name Saves All from Maya

📅 February 20, 1976 📍 Mayapur ⏱ 21 min
The holy name of Krishna saves all from maya's chaos by transforming even the fallen into pure devotees of God.
Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca

Transcript Preview

Anantarām Śāstrījī: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] [chants verse, with Prabhupāda and devotees repeating] [break] sarve hy amī vidhi-karās tava sattva-dhāmno brahmādayo vayam iveśa na codvijantaḥ kṣemāya bhūtaya utātma-sukhāya cāsya vikrīḍitaṁ bhagavato rucirāvatāraiḥ [SB 7.9.13] [01:46] Dayānanda: Translation: "O my Lordship, all the demigods headed by Lord Brahma, they are all Your sincere servants, situated in transcendental position, and they are not like us, my father, the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, the demon. Your appearance in this fearful form is Your pastime for Your own personal pleasure, and such incarnation is always for the good and protection of the universe." Prabhupāda: "Like my father"? Udvijantaḥ is not described here, the meaning of udvijantaḥ? Dayānanda: "Udvijantaḥ—on account of Your fearful appearance they are all afraid." Prabhupāda: Udvijantaḥ, [Transl. what is the meaning?] Śāstrījī: [Transl. Udvijantaḥ means disturbance.] Prabhupāda: "disturbing," huh? It has to be corrected. sarve hy amī vidhi-karās tava sattva-dhāmno... sarve hy amī vidhi-karās tava sattva-dhāmno brahmādayo vayam iveśa na codvijantaḥ kṣemāya bhūtaya utātma-sukhāya cāsya vikrīḍitaṁ bhagavato rucirāvatāraiḥ [SB 7.9.13] So, distinction between deva and asura. Brahmādayaḥ, beginning from Brahmā... Lord Brahmā is the supreme prajā-pati.

From him, marīcy-ādi, ṛṣayaḥ, all great ṛṣis, they were born. Then, from them, other demigods—Indra, Candra, Varuṇa... So these devas, they are not like the asuras, disturbing elements. That is the difference between the asura and deva.

The asura will create a situation which is very, very disturbing to the whole human society. And when there are so many asuras, disturbing elements, at that time the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes down, descends, in His incarnation. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām [Bg 4.8]. So Prahlāda Mahārāja, trying to pacify the Lord, that "This, Your incarnation, is for the benefit of Your servants, vidhi-karāḥ." Vidhi-karāḥ means servant. Vidhi-kṛt.

Vidhi means law and order, and one who executes the law and order, they are called vidhi-karā. So all the demigods, they are appointed by the Supreme Lord to execute the law and order. Because this material world is a chaotic condition, therefore there is necessity of law and order. In the spiritual world there is no such thing.

In spiritual world everyone knows that "The Lord is our master, and we are all servants." That is spiritual world. And material world means that "Why there should be one master? We are all master. Why you are searching after one God?

Don't you see? All we are gods, loitering in the street, especially the poor god, daridra-nārāyaṇa." This is all material conception. Lord is one, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says, declares, in the Bhagavad-gītā, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya [Bg 7.7]: "There is no more superior authority than Me." In many places...

Asamordhva. [Cc Ādi 4.242] Asama: nobody can be equal with God, neither anybody can be higher than Him. That is God. So God is one.

Krishna ConsciousnessChantingDevotional ServiceMayaSurrenderImpersonalism
← All Srila Prabhupada lectures