Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.1.38.

Skandham-6.


Chapter-1.


Slokam-38.  (  The blessed messengers of Lord Vishnu, the Vishnudutas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamaraja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of  irreligion. )



Sri-vishnuduta   ucuh


yuyam     vai    dharma-rajasya     yadi    nirdesa-karinah,


bruta    dharmasya    nas    tattvam     yac    cadharmasya    lakshanam.





Sri-vishnudutah    ucuh   =   the blessed messengers of Lord Vishnu spoke;

yuyam   =   all of you; 

vai   =   indeed; 

dharma-rajasya   =   of King Yamaraja, who knows the religious principles; 

yadi   =   if; 

nirdesa-karinah   =   order carriers; 

bruta   =   just speak; 

dharmasya   =   of religious principles; 

nah   =   unto us; 

tattvam   =   the truth; 

yat   =   that which; 

ca   =   also; 

adharmasya   =   of impious activities; 

lakshanam   =   symptoms.



This inquiry by the Vishnudutas to the Yamadutas is most important. A servant must know the instructions of his master. The servants of Yamaraja claimed to be carrying out his orders, and therefore the Vishnudutas very intelligently asked them to explain the symptoms of religious and irreligious principles. A Vaishnava knows these principles perfectly well because he is well acquainted with the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

The Supreme Lord says, "sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja": [Bg. 18.66] “Give up all other varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.” 

Therefore surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the actual principle of religion. Those who have surrendered to the principles of material nature instead of to Krishna are all impious, regardless of their material position. Unaware of the principles of religion, they do not surrender to Krishna, and therefore they are considered sinful rascals, the lowest of men, and fools bereft of all knowledge.


 As Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita - (7.15):


na   mam    dushkrtino    mudhah     prapadyante    naradhamah,


mayayapahrta-jnana      asuram      bhavam     asritah.



“Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.” 

One who has not surrendered to Krishna does not know the true principle of religion; otherwise he would have surrendered.


The question posed by the Vishnudutas was very suitable. One who represents someone else must fully know that person’s mission. The devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement must therefore be fully aware of the mission of Krishna and Lord Caitanya; otherwise they will be considered foolish. All devotees, especially preachers, must know the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness so as not to be embarrassed and insulted when they preach.

To be continued ...