1. Chapter 21: Instructions of Påthu Chapter 21: Instructions of Mahäräja Påthu 2.

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Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Instructions of Instructions of Mahäräja PåthuPåthu

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Påthu Mahäräja prepares to Påthu Mahäräja prepares to perform a sacrifice (21.1-13)perform a sacrifice (21.1-13)

The King entered his city which was very beautifully decorated with natural opulence. Be worshiped by everyone, he performed many glorious activities in ruling the world. Thus attained universal reputation and the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. King Påthu lived very opulently between Ganges and Yamunä as an unrivaled king ruling all continents. No one could disobey his orders but the saints, the brähmaëas, and the Vaiñëavas. King Påthu performed a great sacrifice attended by important people from all over the universe.

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Påthu Mahäräja instructs Påthu Mahäräja instructs his citizens (21.14-44)his citizens (21.14-44)

Mahäräja Påthu explained the duties of a king are to protect and employ the citizens for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. Failing to do this, a king is degraded. He advised his citizens to execute their duties properly in varëa and äçrama and to always think of the Supreme Lord within their hearts. So doing, they would protect their own interests and would bestow mercy upon their king for his future welfare. Once having taken shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet, a devotee never returns to this material existence of three-fold miseries. (Contd)

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Påthu Mahäräja instructs Påthu Mahäräja instructs his citizens (Contd)his citizens (Contd)

Mahäräja Påthu glorifies the spiritually enlightened brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas, requesting his citizens to engage in their service, which cleanses the heart and is so auspicious that even the Lord Himself takes pleasure in it. He prays to take the dust from the brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas feet upon his head till the end of life. He instructs the citizens to avoid offending brähmaëas and Vaiñëavas .

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Påthu Mahäräja’s Påthu Mahäräja’s instructions to his citizens instructions to his citizens

in four parts (21.14-44)in four parts (21.14-44)1) Perform your duties prescribed

according to varëäçrama-dharma (14-26)

2) Perform prescribed varëäçrama duties for Lord Viñëu’s pleasure (27-33)

3) The goal of prescribed varëäçrama duties (34-36)

4) Becoming fixed in devotional service by serving the brähmanas and Vaiñëavas (37-44)

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1) Perform your duties prescribed according to varëäçrama-dharma (14-

26)Påthu Mahäräja provides his

own example as a ksatriya kingHumbly requests his citizens to

discharge their prescribed duties not only for their own welfare, but for his sake

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2) Perform prescribed varëäçrama duties for Lord

Viñëu’s pleasure (27-33) Basic principles of the Vedic system—the Lord is

the Supreme Controller Laws of karma: According to our past deeds,

either rewards or miseries depending upon pious (karma) or sinful (vikarma) acts, respectively

Atheistic men do not accept Vedic authority, rather they subscribe to their own efforts subject to chance—disorder or chaos and disharmony

Difference in outcomes between those of devotees and atheistic men (Contd)

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2) Perform prescribed varëäçrama duties for Lord Viñëu’s pleasure

(27-33; Contd) Chance as free will that Krsna grants, but not random

rather it is ordered by the Lord How Vedic actions help one making spiritual

advancement? Vedas originate from the infallible Lord—if the orders

followed, even with material desires (karma-kända)—gradual purification, despite contaminated with the 3 modes—comes to devotional platform, or freedom from the 3 modes—very important: even little endeavor—results are transcendental, or bhakti

All that is required is sincerity, or without duplicity, frank and open-minded

If not followed, like his father, king Vena—condemnation because Vedic sacrifices are meant for pleasure of the Lord

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3) The goal of prescribed varëäçrama duties (34-36)

For the pleasure of the Supreme Lord, Krsna Krsna does not need our service, rather it is

meant for our own purification, despite material desires in the beginning

Prescribed duties according to particular body, specific combination of the 3 modes, or material consciousness that the body dictates the soul

The goal is to move the individual soul to deeper surrender to Krsna, and thus ultimately to the transcendental state, which is bhakti.

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4) Becoming fixed in devotional service by serving brähmanas

and Vaiñëavas (37-44) What causes the seed of bhakti to appear? How does it sprout and gradually grow into pure devotional

service? The answers lie in the role of brähmanas (material mode of

goodness) and Vaiñëavas (the topmost brähmanas because transcendental)

It is only by their mercy, one attains taste for hearing krsna-kathä because of their qualities such as tolerance, austerities, knowledge, and education—higher than ksatriyta

Even the Lord considers them so dear and Himself serves them Therefore, devotees must always guard against

commitment of Vaiñëava-aparadha, or offense at their lotus feet

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The citizens, demigods, and The citizens, demigods, and residents of Pitåloka reply (45-residents of Pitåloka reply (45-

52)52) Expressing their good will, the demigods, the

denizens of Pitåloka, the brähmaëas and the saintly persons congratulated the King. They explained that the sinful Vena was delivered by his son, Mahäräja Påthu. All the saintly brähmaëas blessed Påthu Mahäräja with a long life. They said because of his affection, mercy, and great character, Påthu easily performed his occupational duty of ruling the citizens. Situated in pure goodness, he perfectly represented God. He is glorified by his own prowess and maintained the entire world by introducing brahminical culture, protecting everyone as an ideal kñatriya.

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Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Påthu Påthu

Mahäräja’s Mahäräja’s Meeting with Meeting with

the Four the Four KumärasKumäras

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The arrival of the Four Kumäras The arrival of the Four Kumäras (22.1-17)(22.1-17)

While the citizens praised Påthu Mahäräja, the four effulgent Kumäras descended from the sky, and the King and his officers worshiped them with great respect. Påthu Mahäräja took the water from their foot bath on his hair. Påthu glorifies the Kumäras as the best of the brähmaëas, experienced in liberation and in celibacy, although appearing as small children. He praises them as being traveling manifestations of the Lord for the purpose of elevating the Lord’s parts and parcel living entities.

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Påthu Mahäräja’s two Påthu Mahäräja’s two questions to Kumärasquestions to Kumäras

1) How can those entangled in material existence due to their karmas, such as householders, whose only aim is sense gratification, be blessed with good fortune? (22.13)

2) How can they make rapid spiritual advancement? (22.15)

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Sanat Kumära’s answers Sanat Kumära’s answers in brief in brief

1) Material entanglement = the 3 modes of material nature = bodily concept of life = sense gratification is their only aim. How these people can be helped? Simultaneous detachment from the bodily concept of life and increased attachment for Krsna, who is transcendental Bhakti, or devotional service leads to relief from the modes fixed in spiritual life

2) Hearing and chanting about the glories of the Lord increased attachment for the Lord bodily detachment transcendental state rapid progress in spiritual advancement

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Sanat Kumära’s Sanat Kumära’s Instructions Instructions (22.18-40)(22.18-40)

Sanat-kumära instructs Mahäräja Sanat-kumära instructs Mahäräja Påthu in jïäna and vijïänaPåthu in jïäna and vijïäna

The process of advancement in spiritual life (18-23)

Further details about the path of spiritual advancement (24-31)

Conclusions: Take shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet (32-40)

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Påthu Mahäräja Påthu Mahäräja responds, and the four responds, and the four Kumäras depart (41-48)Kumäras depart (41-48)

Mahäräja Påthu offered all his possessions to the Kumäras, even though everything already belonged to them because they represent the Lord. The four Kumäras became very pleased and appeared in the sky, praising the character of the King.

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Påthu Mahäräja’s actions Påthu Mahäräja’s actions as king (49-63)as king (49-63)

Mahäräja Påthu executed his duties as perfectly as possible, his only aim to satisfy the Absolute Truth. He always thought of himself as the servant of the Lord, who possesses everything. Since he was never inclined to utilize his opulence for the gratification of his senses, he remained unattached. (Contd)

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Påthu Mahäräja’s actions Påthu Mahäräja’s actions as king (49-63; Contd)as king (49-63; Contd)

By his wife, Arci, Påthu Mahäräja also begot five sons, named Vijitäçva, Dhümrakeça, Haryakña, Draviëa and Våka. Påthu Mahäräja continued to rule the planet and used to please the various citizens in all respects by his words, mentality, works and gentle behavior. Påthu Mahäräja’s sweet reputation was celebrated throughout the universe and all ladies and saintly persons heard his glories. He exactly represented Lord Rämacandra, the ideal king.

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Discussion PointsDiscussion PointsPersonal Application (PeA)Personal Application (PeA) If If one eats in a place which is very sinful, he

shares in sinful reactions (21.24) How to ask questions to a saintly person? (22.13-How to ask questions to a saintly person? (22.13-

15, 18-19)15, 18-19)Preaching Application (PrA)Preaching Application (PrA) The relevance for ISKCON, and society in general, The relevance for ISKCON, and society in general,

ofof Mahäräja Påthu’s instructions on Mahäräja Påthu’s instructions on varëäçrama-dharma (21.12, 37-44, 50, 52; 22.43-47) (21.12, 37-44, 50, 52; 22.43-47)

SP’s Mood & Mission (M&M)SP’s Mood & Mission (M&M) Lord makes a prediction and fulfills it through

some of His devotees (22.42)