Open Book Assessment

Canto1 Unit 5 Chapters 14 to 19

IMPORTANT NOTE: Keep your responses to the following to within
200 words (2-3 paragraphs)
Personal Application
Choose one of the following two questions:
• Discuss a devotee’s attitude toward suffering, with reference to the response of
Dharma (17.18). How can you personally apply these principles?
• Draw general principles from, and explain the personal relevance of, the example of
Mahäräja Parékñit’s attitude in response to being cursed (18.2, 48, 19.2-4).
Preaching Application
Choose one of the following two questions:
• Draw lessons, applicable for preaching, from Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira retirement (15.37-
40)
• Describe the connection between brahminical culture and cow protection (16.4,
16.18). How is this relevant for ISKCON?
Mood & Mission
• Explain how the age of Kali was able to enter with reference to 15.32-37 & 18.32-37
• Summarize Prabhupäda’s guidelines to defeat the Kali, and bring about peace and
harmony in human society, with reference to Chapter 17

NOTE: THIS NEW SYSTEM HAS TO BE FOLLOWED IN

THE FOLLOWING WAY
• Answer the above given questions at your home, with an open book and in your own
language
• You answer these questions based on your own self-study, and may not strictly be
based on the pattern of our given notes
• How to answer – Just like, in our notes, we have derived certain main principles and
their associated lessons from the purports,
o You should read the asked section from your book,
o And without referring to the notes, find out the main principles and their
associated lessons from the purports or find out whatever is asked in the
concerned question,
o NOTE : Also explain it with some elaboration from your own life or current
scenario
• SUBMIT THE WRITTEN ANSWERS WITHIN A WEEK AFTER WE FINNISH
CHAPTER 19th (SO,EVERYTIME, YOU HAVE SEVERAL WEEKS TO DEAL WITH
THIS)
• THIS IS A PART OF SERIOUS EVALUATION (to be included for certification)
• SUCH QUESTIONS WILL BE GIVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH UNIT TO
BE FINNISHED IN 2-3 WEEKS AS YOUR HOMEWORK

Bhakti Vaibhav Canto 1 Chapter 14 Page 1

 1.14 The Disappearance of Lord Kåñëa

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR MEMORIZATION

1. List some of the inauspicious omens noticed by Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja. (2-5, 12-20)
2. Why was Arjuna sent to Dvärakä? (6-8)
3. What example does Prabhupäda give for the necessity of having the Lord's sanction in
achieving success? (9)
4. When a man's eyes, arms and thighs all quiver constantly, what one must know? (11)
5. Why is Balaräma mentioned as "the protector of the devotees"? (29)
6. How many family members did Lord Krsna have in Dvärakä? (31)
7. What two necessities are required for a society to prosper? (34)
8. Why didn't Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja inquire about Lord Krsna's welfare? (34)
9. What general principles can be drawn from the Yadu’s assembly house in Dvärakä?
(38)
10. List some of Yudhiñöhira’s suggested reasons for Arjuna's dejection. (40-43)
11. Which citizens are given special protection by the state? (41)
12. What is uttama and adhama? (42)
13. Explain why Karëa was killed even by crooked means. (42)
14. The neglect of what prescribed duty of a householder is unpardonable? (43)

ANALOGIES:

1.14.1: Therefore, during the personal presence of the Lord on the earth, all paraphernalia for
our peace and prosperity, especially religion and knowledge, were in full display because of
the Lord's presence, just as there is a full flood of light in the presence of the glowing sun.

1.14.33: This dependence of the liberated soul is constitutional, for the liberated souls are
like sparks of a fire that are able to exhibit the glow of fire along with the fire and not
independently.

1.14.34: A society devoid of cow protection and brahminical culture is not under the direct
protection of the Lord, just as the prisoners in the jails are not under the protection of the
king but under the protection of a severe agent of the king.

1.14.38: A forgetful, conditioned soul is fearful. But a liberated soul is never fearful, just as a
small child completely dependent on the mercy of his father is never fearful of anyone.

The Disappearance of Lord Kåñëa Page 2

 1.14 CHAPTER BREAKDOWN
Verses 1-21
Maharaja Yudhiñöhira sent Arjuna to Dvärakä to meet his friends and to learn from the
Personality of Godhead Kåñëa of His future program of work. Seven months has past and his
return to Hastinäpura is over due. Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira, after noticing inauspicious signs,
reveals to Bhémasena his fears that Lord Krsna, upon whom the Päëòavas, completely
depend, has departed from this earth. King Yudhiñöhira describes the omens he has seen to
Bhémasena and concludes that Krsna's footprints will no longer grace this earth.

Verses 22-44
Arjuna returns from Dvärakä, and King Yudhiñöhira, in anxiety, questions him about the
welfare of the Yadus. Maharaja Yudhiñöhira's questions turn to Arjuna's dejected countenance,
and King Yudhiñöhira concludes that the only possible cause could be that Lord Krsna has
disappeared.

Discussion Topics

• Any successful man should feel grateful to the Lord for all he has achieved.” (9)
• Transcendental affection of the Lord, does not develop unless one has developed the
qualities of a brähmaëa. (34)

• The apparent departure of Lord Krsna from this world. (8)

• The difference between the viñëu-tattva and jéva-tattva (32-33)

• The powerful sun is there to distribute light in the shape of Çrémad-Bhägavatam. (2-5)

• Inauspicious omens noticed by Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja (12-20)

• …Children, the cow, the diseased person, the woman and the old man specifically
require the protection of the state or a kñatriya king (41)

• Contemporary relevance of duties of a kñatriya in relation to Arjuna’s dejection (40-

42)

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 Chapter 14
The Disappearance of Lord Kåñëa

1) Arjuna went to Dvärakä for two reasons – To see the Lord and other friends, and also to
hear about His next program of work
• Why next program – Because scheduled mission of the Lord as per Bg.4.7&4.8 (yadä
yadä hi…) was now over
• Why Arjuna was interested – Because of being an eternal companion, like all Päëòavas

Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira suspects the disappearance of Kåñëa for following

reasons(Texts 2-10)
2)
2a. Arjuna did not return for few months
2b. Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira experienced fearful inauspicious omens
• Kåñëa is ad infinitum, more powerful than millions of suns; thus His presence is the
source of all peace and prosperity
o Just like sun’s presence gives all productivity in material world
o Absence of Kåñëa is evident by fearful discrepancies

3)
3a. Reverses in external atmosphere – Direction of eternal time had changed and there were
disruptions in seasonal regularities
• One season atmosphere being manifested in other season

3b. Reverses in internal atmosphere – Increase in greed, anger and deceitfulness, people
were adopting foul means of livelihood
Lesson 3a – When civilization is disconnected from the loving relationship of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, symptoms like changes of seasonal regulations, foul means of
livelihood, greed, anger and fraudulence becomes rampant
• Foul means of livelihood means deviation from one’s occupational duty and declaring
other’s duty to be one’s own
• Cause of greed – No higher objective in life and to consider this earthly life as all in all

Lesson 3b – Ignorance is the cause for all these anomalies in human society, and to
remove this ignorance, especially in this age of degradation, the powerful sun is there to
distribute light in the shape of Çrémad-Bhägavatam

The Disappearance of Lord Kåñëa Page 4

4)
4a) Cheating in all ordinary transactions
• Cheating is the most prominent of four defects of conditioned souls
• Causes of cheating propensity in conditioned state
o Desire to Lord it over material nature
o Also lack of satisfaction, even if he becomes the so-called Lord

Link 4a to 4b –
Dissatisfaction in spite of trying hard to lord over, leads to disharmonies relationships

4b) Misunderstandings and disharmony between close relations

Lesson 4 - The world of hypocrisy can be checked only by counteraction through
devotional service to the Lord and nothing else

5) Symptoms created astonishment – Maharaja Yudhisthira and others were astonished and
perturbed with such in human symptoms, rampant as never before

6-7) Maharaja Yudhisthira relates his feelings to Bhémasena , about Arjuna’s not returning
and some suspected misfortune

8) Reflects on Närada’s prediction – “Has the time of Kåñëa’s disappearance arrived?”

• All the different functions of Kåñëa declared in Bg (4.7,4.8,3.24,3.21, etc) are
performed by His different plenary expansions, although they are equally powerful
• Lord Kåñëa Himself functions in a different sphere of transcendental exchange with
different grades of devotees and manifests these pastimes, once on a day of Brahma
• Lord’s descent as self-same Kåñëa, is accompanied by all plenary portions, by action of
yoga-mäyä
• Lord is kaivalya - His body and self are non-different
o Lord’s leaving body means He left again His plenary portions in the respective
dhämas (transcendental abodes), as He left His viräö-rüpa in the material world
o Maharaja Yudhisthira’s lamentation was for loss of a great friend, but not for
His loosing body as mudhas think

9) Recalls and acknowledges Lord’s grace – Maharaja Yudhisthira gives all credit for his
personal success to the causeless mercy of the Lord
• All material prosperity ultimately depends on Lord’s grace, and not just one’s hard
labor or even by unfair means
o e.g., All medical treatments depend on Lord’s grace ultimately
Lesson 9 -  Therefore the conclusion is that God's sanction is the immediate cause for all
happenings, good or bad. Any successful man should feel grateful to the Lord for all he has
achieved

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10) Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira points out to his brother, the impending unavoidable threefold
miseries
• Material advancement of civilization means advancement of the reactions of three fold
miseries, which cannot be counteracted by man-made science
• Why unavoidable? – Because they are caused by the mäyä-sakti under the direction of
the Lord (Ref Bg.7.14)
• Asuras are the ones who try to counteract by man-made plan
Lesson 10 - Therefore our constant touch with the Lord by devotional service can give us
relief without our being disturbed in the discharge of our human duties

Further bad omens experienced (Texts 11-20)

11) Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira experienced symptoms which indicated undesirable happenings
– Constant quivering of eyes, arms and thighs (Left side of the body) and thus heart
palpitations due to fear
• Material existence is full of undesirables, which are under the full grip of three modes,
and compared to forest in the fire (takes place without being set)
• Only way to get red -- mercy of Lord
Lesson 11 - Such miseries can be removed only by the mercy of the Lord, who sends His
bona fide representatives to enlighten human beings and thus save them from all
calamities

12-20) Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira notices bad omens – (Note: We have categorized the omens
for the ease of study. This categorization is not based on the book, and not follows the serial
no. of the verses)
Animals –
• She-jackal cries at the rising sun and vomits fire
• ‘Dogs barks at me fearlessly’
• Cows –
o Useful animals like cows are passing me on my left side
o The calves do not suck the teats of the cows, nor do the cows give milk. They
are standing, crying, tears in their eyes, and the bulls take no pleasure in the
pasturing grounds
• Lower animals like the asses are circumambulating me
• My horses appear to weep upon seeing me
Birds –
• This pigeon is like a messenger of death
• The shrieks of the owls and their rival crows make my heart tremble
Changes in material elements –
• Just see how the smoke encircles the sky
• It appears that the earth and mountains are throbbing

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 • Just hear the cloudless thunder and see the bolts from the blue
• The wind blows violently, blasting dust everywhere and creating darkness
• Clouds are raining everywhere with bloody disasters
• Rivers, tributaries, ponds, reservoirs and the mind are all perturbed
• Butter no longer ignites fire
Illuminaries –
• The rays of the sun are declining
• The stars appear to be fighting amongst themselves
Others –
• Confused living entities appear to be ablaze and weeping
• The Deities seem to be crying in the temple, lamenting and perspiring. They seem
about to leave
• All the cities, villages, towns, gardens, mines and hermitages are now devoid of beauty
and bereft of all happiness

Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira’s suspects are supplemented by Arjuna’s appearance

(Texts 21-24)
21) Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira finally suspects Lord’s disappearance – As apparent by the listed
signs above

22-23) Arjuna came back from Dvärakä and exhibited expressions of dejection – Head
was down and eyes full of tears

24) Arjuna’s pale looks supported the doubts – They reminded Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira of
Närada’s prediction and thus Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira raised indirect questions (from text 25th
onwards)

Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira makes indirect inquiries to Arjuna (Texts 25-33)

25-28) Inquired about the welfare of all the members of Yadu and others dynasties, and
all other relatives
• Also about Çürasena and Vasudeva and his brother (26)
• Devaké, other wives , their sons and daughter-in law (27)
• Ugrasena (father of Kaàsa)
• Also Hådéka and son Kåtavarmä
• Akrüra,Jayanta, Gada, Säraëa &Çatrujit
• Inquiry about Ugrasena is there because Arjuna might have visited the city of Mathurä,
on way to Hastinäpura (Dvärakä to Delhi)

29) Asks about the welfare of Balaräma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the
protector of devotees

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 • Balaräma as Supreme Personality of Godhead – Because He is Viñëu-tattva, immediate
expansion of Çré Kåñëa(Prakäça-vigraha)
• Balaräma as protector of devotees – Manifests as spiritual master, and is the mercy
incarnation of Lord to deliver fallen souls, e.g as Nityänanda Prabhu, His mercy
delivered Jagäi and Mädhäi

30) Asks about well-being of Pradyumna and Aniruddha

• They are also Viñëu-tattvas
• At Dvärakä, Vasudeva is engaged in His transcendental pastimes along with His
plenary expansions, namely Saìkarñaëa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha

31) Inquires about well-being of all the chieftain sons of Çré Kåñëa– Suñeëa, Cärudeñëa,
Sämba the son of Jämbavaté, and Åñabha
• Lord’s family members
o Lord has (16.108 x 10) =1,61,080 sons
o Each son had 10 sons, so total aggregate was approximately 16,10,800 family
members
• Why only some names mentioned – Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira mentioned only name of
chieftains, because impossible to remember all names
Lesson 31 – It is better to refrain from comparing the Lord's position to ours, and it
becomes a simple truth as soon as we understand at least a partial calculation of the Lord's
transcendental position

32-33) Inquires about Çrutadeva , Uddhava and others Nanda, Sunanda and other leaders
of liberated souls – “Are they doing well and do they remember us”. They are always
protected by Lord Balaräma and Kåñëa
• Constant companions of Lord, like Uddhava and Päëòavas are all liberated souls –
They descend with the Lord to assist in the mission, again and again (Ref Bg 4.8)
o Lord remembers all the births but jévas forgot, because of being taöasthä çakti
• Jéva-tattvas are infinitesimal potential particles who require Lord’s protection at all the
times
• Analogy : Liberated soul as sparks of fire, exhibit glow by the quality of dependence

Lesson 32-33a – The liberated souls never, therefore, think themselves as free as the Lord
or as powerful as the Lord, but they always seek the protection of the Lord in all
circumstances, both in the material world and in the spiritual world

Lesson 32-33b – Thus those who give up the protection of the Lord and become so-called
lords themselves, out of spiritual ignorance, come back again to this material world, even
after prolonged tapasya of the severest type

The Disappearance of Lord Kåñëa Page 8


Link 33 to 34
Knowing Kåñëa as all-perfect in Himself, Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira refrained from asking about
His welfare, and thus simply inquired about His residential palace in Dvärakä Puré, pious
men there and their pious acts

Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira directly inquires and glorifies about Kåñëa and His
influences(Texts 34-38)
34) Now starts inquiry about Kåñëa – Addressing Kåñëa in following ways, He asks whether
Kåñëa is enjoying His assembly at Dvärakä
• Adressed as ‘Bhagavän’ – Full of all opulence, No one is greater than or equal to Him
• As ‘Govinda’ – Pleasure of Cows and senses
Lesson 34a – Those who have purified their senses by the devotional service of the Lord
can render unto Him real service and thereby derive transcendental pleasure out of such
purified senses
• As brahmaëya – Lord is the protector of cows and Brahmanical culture
o Analogy: Without these two, society is like prisoners in the jail who are not
under the direct protection of king but under the severe custody of the agent of
king
Lesson 34b – Without cow protection and cultivation of the brahminical qualities in
human society, at least for a section of the members of society, no human civilization can
prosper at any length
• Importance of cultivating brahminical qualities – Those who are less than a brähmaëa
by qualification cannot establish any relation with the Lord, just as fire cannot be
kindled from the raw earth unless there is wood, although there is a relation between
wood and the earth
• As bhakta-vatsala – Affectionate towards His devotees

35) Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira compares Yadu dynasty to the milk ocean of Viñëu, where Viñëu
lie on the bed of Ananta – Similarly Kåñëa and Balaräma lives in ocean of Yadu dynasty
• Viñëu’s planet is in the northern top of each universe

36) Residents are Dvärakä are compared to residents of Vaikuëöhalokas, who are called
Mahä-pauruñikas
• Each spiritual planet is many times bigger than the biggest material universe
• Mahä-pauruñikas are those directly engaged in Lord’s service
o They live in full youth fullness, bliss and knowledge, without any misery or
influence of time or Birth, old age, diseases and death
o Dvärakä residents are called, because they are so happy with the Lord

Bhakti Vaibhav Canto 1 Chapter 14 Page 9

37) Queens of Dvärakä enjoyed the prerogatives of demigods – Simply on the strength of
administering comforts at Lord’s lotus feet, thus by their high quality of devotional service
• Study Satyabhämä life story in purport

38) Great heroes of Yadus remained fearless by protection of Lord’s arms – Thus could
win over Sudharmä assembly of demigods
• Pure devotees supply the best for the Lord, and in return they are offered full
protection (Para 1)
• Fear is caused by forgetfulness of reality of eternal relation with the Lord e.g Analogy
of tiger in a dream (Para 2)

Lesson 38a – Those who are directly servitors of the Lord are protected by the Lord from
all fearfulness, and they also enjoy the best of things, even if they are forcibly accumulated

Lesson 38b – A forgetful, conditioned soul is fearful. But a liberated soul is never fearful,
just as a small child completely dependent on the mercy of his father is never fearful of
anyone (Analogy)

Link 38 to 39 –
Inquires Arjuna from viewpoint of his personal welfare (Text 39-44)

Inquiries based on Arjuna’s activities and personal welfare (Texts 39-44)

39)
39a. Arjuna’s health – Seeing the loss of bodily luster, Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira inquired about
Arjuna’s health

39b. Disrespect – Whether he was being disrespected and neglected because of long stay at
Dvärakä

40)
40a. Improperly addressed – Whether being addressed with unfriendly words or threatened

40b. Due charity – Whether not being able to give charity when asked?
Lesson 40b –  It is the duty of the possessor of wealth to give in charity in consideration of
the person, place and time

40c. Unfulfilled promise – Whether not able to keep his promise?

Lesson 40c – One should not fail to keep his promise to give in charity

The Disappearance of Lord Kåñëa Page 10

41) Shelter – Whether failed to give protection to brähmaëas, children, cows, women and
the diseased
Lesson 41 – If such living beings do not get protection by the kñatriya, or the royal order,
or by the state, it is certainly shameful for the kñatriya or the state
42)
42a. Contact with women – Whether contacted a woman of impeachable character, or have
you not properly treated a deserving woman?
• Criteria for contacts between man and woman
o Concept of adhama and uttama contacts between man and woman example of
‘Uttama’ category—  Bhéma with Hiòimbé, Paräçara with Satyavaté, Vyäsadeva to
beget Päëòu and Dhåtaräñöra
o Carry out such contacts according to regulative principles, not to disturb social
consecration or not to produce unwanted population

42b. Combating opponents – Whether being defeated by someone inferior or equal

• Two mutually opposite examples quoted – Arjuna with Bhéñmadeva and Arjuna with
Karëa
o Arjuna was defeated by Bhéñmadeva, and Lord Kåñëa saved him from the
danger. This was not an insult for Arjuna because Bhéñmadeva was far superior
to Arjuna in all ways, namely age, respect and strength
o But Karëa was equal to Arjuna, and therefore Arjuna was in crisis when
fighting with Karëa. It was felt by Arjuna, and therefore Karëa was killed even
by crooked means
43)
43a. Sharing food – “Whether not taken care of old man and boys, who deserve to dine with
you”
Lesson 43a – It is the duty of a householder to feed first of all the children, the old
members of the family, the brähmaëas and the invalids. Also should find, if any unknown
hungry man on the road by calling out thrice, before taking one’s own meal. The neglect of
this prescribed duty of a householder, especially in the matter of the old men and children,
is unpardonable

43b. Unpardonable mistake – Whether committed some unpardonable mistake, which is

considered to be abominable?

44) Loosing Kåñëa’s association – Finally Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira discloses his heart and
could see no other reason for Arjuna’s dejection, than disappearance of most intimate friend
Kåñëa
• Such was already suspected based on world’s situation (Texts 2-21)
----------------------------END OF CHAPTER 14-----------------------------

Bhakti Vaibhav Canto 1 Chapter 14 Page 11