Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure)
by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja | 2010 | 179,005 words
This page relates ‘Family Duties’ of the book dealing with life and teachings of Srila Gurudeva, otherwise known as Shri Shrimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. Srila Gurudeva is a learned and scholar whose teachings primarily concern the spiritual beauties of Bhakti—devotional service and the qualities and pastimes of Shri Krishna.
Family Duties
Śrīla Gurudeva was a loving and respectful son. Considering his own situation, he confided in Narottamānanda Prabhu. “I am indebted to my parents. What will be their condition if I give up everything and only perform bhajana? Who will take care of them?”
Narottamānanda Prabhu replied, “You can still serve your parents if you do bhajana. Besides, whoever dedicates his life for bhajana of
Bhagavān is not indebted to anyone.” “How is this?” Śrīla Gurudeva asked.
Narottamānanda Prabhu replied, “One who is qualified to chant the holy name of Bhagavān gives up all fruitive activities.”
He then quoted a śloka from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41):
देवर्षि-भूताप्त-नृणां पितॄणां न किङ्करो नायम् ऋणी च राजन्
सर्वात्मना यः शरणं शरण्यं गतो मुकुन्दं परिहृत्य कर्तम्devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṃ pitṝṇāṃ na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan
sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇyaṃ gato mukundaṃ parihṛtya kartamOne who has taken complete shelter of Bhagavān Mukunda, who is affectionate towards the surrendered, is not indebted to the demigods, to his forefathers, to ordinary living entities, or to relatives and guests. He is not subordinate to anyone other than Mukunda, nor is he their servant.
Śrīla Gurudeva explains this verse as follows in his Bhajanarahasya-vṛtti:
The performance of the śrāddha ceremony and other material activities meant to absolve one’s debts to the forefathers, as presented in the karma-kāṇḍa section of the Vedas, is not for devotees surrendered to Bhagavān. The only injunction for these devotees is to worship Bhagavān, offer bhagavat-prasāda to the forefathers and accept bhagavat-prasāda with friends and relatives. The ultimate purport of the entire Bhagavad-gītā is that Bhagavān will liberate from all sins those who have surrendered unto Him and given up their reliance on all other dharmas.
When a person acquires the qualification for exclusive devotion, he is not obliged to follow the rules of the jñāna- and karma-śāstras, for he will attain all perfection simply by cultivating bhakti. Therefore, one should understand that Bhagavān’s promise in Bhagavad-gītā (9.31), “na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati—My devotee never perishes,” is placed above all.[1]
Narottamānanda Prabhu presented an allegory so that Śrīla Gurudeva could understand this clearly:
“Suppose a man has an attentive, obedient servant in his house and one day the servant borrows 1,000 rupees from him. A few days later, the man is visited by a gentleman to whom he happens to owe 100,000 rupees, and he engages his servant in tending to the guest and pleasing him. Later, the guest says to his host, ‘I like your servant very much. Would you please give him to me?” By giving his servant to the gentleman, the 1,000 rupees owed by the servant is nullified, as is the 100,000 rupees owed by the man to his guest. In the same way, although we are indebted to our parents, demigods, saintly persons and so many others, if we serve the Supreme Bhagavān whole-heartedly, then all debts will be repaid, and all will ultimately be happy.”