(10/15) Only One Question

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata, preaching programme,
16 January 2021, part 10
Translated from Bengali

When Sukadev Goswami finally appeared from his mother’s womb, he immediately ran away to the forest. Vyasadev ran after him, calling out, ‘Sukadev! Listen! Listen! Wait!’ Sukadev did not hear or see anything except the Lord. He did not even have the eyes to see anything. Eventually, he roamed to the Himalayas.

It is cold in the mountains, so girls bathe in the mountains without clothes (because it is hard to dry clothes in the cold weather and rain). At that time, Sukadev was already sixteen years old, but when some bathing girls saw him, they did not feel shy – it did not even cross their minds that Sukadev was a youth and they had to cover themselves with some clothes. However, when they saw Vyasadev, a very old man, coming behind Sukadev, they immediately put on some clothes. You can understand how great Sukadev’s glory is. That is why Sivji Maharaj said, ‘Aham vedmi, Suka vetti, Vyasa vetti na vetti va. I know it [the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam], Sukadev Goswami knows it, but Vyasadev may or may not know it.’ This Sukadev Goswami roamed forests and hills without seeing anyone or anything.

In the meantime, another event took place. Pariksit Maharaj was cursed by a brahman: according to the curse, he had to die in seven days. He received an advance notice, but we are not as fortunate – who of us will get an advance notice that we will die even in seven minutes? There is no such guarantee for us. However, Pariksit Maharaj has got this kind of guarantee that he would die in seven days. He has got this opportunity and he took advantage of it. Many sages came from all sampradayas and religions and started giving him advice what to do based on their conception. Suddenly, Sukadev Goswami, a stark naked sixteen-year-old boy, appeared at that assembly of sages.

When Sukadev came, he did not see anyone – so many great sages were sitting at the assembly, but he did not see anyone, did not offer his obeisance to anyone. Even his own father, Vyasadev, and his grandfather, Parasara Muni, who were the greatest scholars of the day, were present there, but Sukadev did not see them. When Sukadev came, all the sages said to King Pariksit, ‘Our joint opinion is that we will agree with whatever Sukadev instructs.’ When Pariksit Maharaj offered a seat to Sukadev, Sukadev saw Pariksit and began to speak to him. Beside them was seated Suta Goswami, who had a special gift of memory – he could remember everything he heard. Suta Goswami heard what Sukadev Goswami had told Pariksit Maharaj and later retold everything to 60,000 sages at Naimisaranya.

‘What is your question?’ Sukadev Goswami asked Pariksit Maharaj.

‘Tell me, how can I get benefit?’ Pariksit Maharaj asked.

‘What you have asked is the right question!’ Sukadev replied. ‘There is only one question, and the answer is also only one.’

Those who ask too many questions are under the influence of the illusory environment. The question is only one, ‘How can I get benefit?’ As Sukadev explained the answer to this question, the entire Srimad Bhagavatam came out. If you put all Bhagavatam books together (with the commentary), they weight forty kilograms! Such a great scripture came out of that seven-day-long conversation!

This is how Srimad Bhagavatam appeared.

There is no need to ask many questions. The only question is how you can get benefit, and the answer to this question is also one – service to the Lord. If you serve the Supreme Lord, you will get benefit.

— : • : —

{ 2001  |   2002  |   2003  |   2005  |   2009  |   2010  |   2011  |   2012 }
{ 2013  |   2014  |   2015  |   2016  |   2017  |   2018  |   2019  |   2020  |   2021 }

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE LECTURE

Size: 58 Mb
Length: 120 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Where Does the Lord Stay?
2) Mahaprabhu's Advent and Gift
3) Coming Out of Maya
4) Make Yourself Qualified
5) Six Limbs of Surrender
6) Sincere and Deep Prayer
7) Lend Me Your Heart
8) Follow the Footsteps of Great Souls
9) Suspicion Leads to Suspension
10) Only One Question
11) We Are Neither Enjoyers, Nor Renouncers
12) False Ego's Folly
13) Be Sincere and Studious
14) Remembering Mahaprabhu's Sannyas
15) Way Out