“Therefore, a person should worship work [karma] itself, in accordance with their own nature and their own work. That by which one may live easily is indeed their deity.” (Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.24.18)

Download as podcast episode (right click and save)

तस्मात्सम्पूजयेत्कर्म स्वभावस्थ: स्वकर्मकृत्
अञ्जसा येन वर्तेत तदेवास्य हि दैवतम्

tasmāt sampūjayet karma
svabhāva-sthaḥ sva-karma-kṛt
anjasā yena varteta
tad evāsya hi daivatam

“Listen, don’t quote me on the exact words used. I cannot tell you the verse number, either, but I know that it is from the last chapter. Of Bhagavad-gita, that is, where Krishna concludes the conversation with Arjuna. To me, this is a point of controversy, as it applies to the tactics employed by followers in the line of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the golden avatara. Krishna sort of blesses what has just taken place. He knows that the event is not ordinary. Arjuna is the most fortunate person to have heard what Krishna said. A person can worship Krishna simply by accessing this conversation. They worship by use of their intelligence.

“That part is not up for debate. There is a stipulation Krishna makes, though. He says that the conversation should not be shared with non-devotees. Those who are not austere, who are into sense-gratification, will not get anything from the presentation. This makes sense to me. Why would you waste your time speaking to an unreceptive audience? Why even approach someone who is inimical?

इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन
न चाश‍ुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति

idaṁ te nātapaskāya
nābhaktāya kadācana
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṁ
na ca māṁ yo ’bhyasūyati

“This confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.67)

“Of course, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada will say that some devotees are more merciful, in that they take the risk of sharing the message with others. This is to bring others to the standard of Krishna consciousness. Setting aside the particulars for a moment, have you ever considered the angle of appreciation? As in, some people do not appreciate anything! Not what their parents do for them. Not what their teachers have taught. Not the sacrifices of life paid by soldiers and police.

“These people are only interested in taking. They are the worst in society, if you ask me. You will often find such behavior in the children of the wealthy. These kids grew up with everything provided for them. They never had to suffer austerity precisely because there was no suffering for them. Anyway, not to get sidetracked, but how do you teach the principles of sanatana-dharma to someone who does not appreciate even nature itself? Do you get what I am saying?”

This is why the acharyas within the Vaishnava tradition place so much emphasis on approaching God directly. Worship God the person. Do not waste time asking favors of other devas. Even if you are full of impurities, unclean in your habits, the lowest of the low within society, approach God the person. You can do that through the holy name. Say those names as a way to connect, in what is known as bhakti-yoga: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

अकाम: सर्वकामो वा मोक्षकाम उदारधी:
तीव्रेण भक्तियोगेन यजेत पुरुषं परम्

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param

“A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.3.10)

The result is that you receive assistance. The person who is otherwise neutral, who rests inside the heart as an impartial observer, takes the initiative to bring you towards transcendence. A wonderful example in this regard is the inaugural Govardhana Puja, which took place in the rural community of Vrindavana. This time, it was God Himself, as the adorable Krishna, who guided the people towards something most beneficial for them.

The people of the area had a tendency towards appreciation. They were not misers. They were not scholars of high repute, either. They lived simply. They worked. They worshiped. They were attentive to their duties, even the religious ones. Therefore, it was no surprise to find them preparing for a yajna in honor of Indra, who is the king of heaven. This was like paying a tax to a municipal office, who managed the utility of rainfall. There was no ill will. It was not like the people were begrudgingly following.

Krishna had a different idea in mind. He leaned on the tendency towards appreciation. Krishna had to convince His father, Nanda Maharaja, who was also the leader of the community. The appeal had to be based on appreciation. Krishna could not simply bring down the position of Indra and fail to provide an alternative. Astonishingly, Krishna spoke like an advocate of karma-mimamsa. This is the philosophy which places karma as the highest force in the universe. Karma is everything. Karma is action and consequence. If we fall down, it is because of actions we took or failed to follow through on. The same for when we rise.

Krishna said that instead of worshiping Indra, the puja should go towards work. This would be in accordance with a person’s nature, svabhava, and the work assigned to them, svakarma. In whatever way a person could live easily, without straining themselves, that should be considered their deity, daivatam. Since the nearby Govardhana Hill was integral to conducting the work of the community of vaishyas, the worship of that hill made sense. Better to worship something that people knew would help them in their karma than to look to the heavens.

Of course, this is a kind of limiting philosophy. We can even say that it is false or invalid. For karma to operate, there has to be a mechanism. For a mechanism to exist, there must be a creator and a maintainer. Krishna is that maintainer, but not only for karma. He is the maintainer of the entire universe.

न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्
भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावन:

na ca mat-sthāni bhūtāni
paśya me yogam aiśvaram
bhūta-bhṛn na ca bhūta-stho
mamātmā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

“And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.5)

Since the people were devotees of Krishna, they received help. They were guided towards the more beneficial activity of worshiping Govardhana. This was later confirmed through the worship, when Krishna assumed the identity of the hill and spoke to the people. He advised them to make a habit of the worship, to repeat the same year after year.

In Closing:

Broadcasting message clear,
That to repeat every year.

Worship of appreciation the same,
That hill of Govardhana the name.

First convincing in whatever way,
Even false philosophy to say.

But the people pure already,
To listen to Krishna ready.

Categories: questions

Tags: bhakti, dailyprompt, govardhana, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, yoga