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Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead: v. 1
Book by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
383 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1970
23 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
813 books716 followersHis Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (अभय चरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद)was born as Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta, India.
He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
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July 11, 2023
A PARAPHRASE OF A HINDU SCRIPTURE, WITH COMMENTARY
This book contains an introduction written by George Harrison (of the Beatles), in which he says, “Everybody is looking for KRSNA. Some don’t realize that they are, but they are. KRSNA is GOD, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was, or ever will be… Through all ages, great SAINTS have remained as living proof that this non-temporary, permanent state of GOD CONSCIOUSNESS can be revived in all living Souls. Each soul is potentially divine… YOGA … is the process by which we purify out consciousness, stop further pollution, and arrive at the state of Perfection, full KNOWLEDGE, full BLISS. If there’s a God, I want to see Him. It’s pointless to believe in something without proof, and KRSNA Consciousness and meditation are methods where you can actually obtain GOD perception. You can actually see God, and hear Him, play with Him… There are many yogic paths… SWAMI BHAKTIVEDANTA is… a BHAKTI Yogi following the path of DEVOTION. By serving God through each thought, word, and DEED, and by chanting of HIS Holy Names, the devotee quickly develops God-consciousness… I request that you take advantage of this book KRSNA, and enter into its understanding. I also request that you make an appointment to meet your God now, through the self-liberating process of YOGA (UNION) and GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.”
Prabhupada wrote in the Preface to this 1970 book, “Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead…. Because he conforms in exact detail to descriptions of the Supreme Being, the Godhead… We have seen many rich persons, many famous persons, many beautiful persons, many learned and scholarly persons, and persons in the renounced order of life unattached to material possessions. But we have never seen any one person who is unlimitedly and simultaneously wealthy, powerful, famous, beautiful, wise and unattached, like Krsna, in the history of humanity. Krsna… is an historical person who appeared on this earth 5,000 years ago. He stayed on this earth for 125 years and played exactly like a human being, but His activities were unparalleled.” (Pg. xi-xii)
He continues, “the Vedic histories, the Puranas and Mahabharata, relate human histories which extend millions and billions of years ago… Because [Krsna] is the possessor of unlimited knowledge.. [he] has a memory that is boundless. Krsna’s knowledge is so perfect that He remembers all the incidences of His appearances some millions and billions of years in the past…Nowadays it is the fashion of the atheistic class of men who try to become God by following some mystic process. Generally the atheists claim to be God by dint of their imagination or their meditational prowess. Krsna is not that kind of God. He does not become God by manufacturing some mystic process of mediation, nor… by undergoing the severe austerities of the mystic yogic exercises… He never BECOMES God because He is the Godhead in all circumstances.” (Pg. xii-xiii)
He explains, “The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krsna consciousness. We have inaugurated the Krsna consciousness movement so that everyone can satisfy his propensity for loving others simply by directing his love towards Krsna. The whole world is very much anxious to satisfy the dormant propensity of love for others, but … various methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism, nationalism, and whatever else … are all useless … because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Krsna… people can only be happy by loving Krsna… The Krsna consciousness movement is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age. It is a very simple method which has actually been carried out during the last four years in the Western countries, and there is no doubt that this movement can satisfy the dormant loving propensities of humanity.” (Pg. xiii-xiv)
He observes, “Liberated souls have no interest in materialistic activities. The impersonalist theory that after liberation one becomes inactive and needs hear nothing does not prove that a liberated person is actually inactive. A living soul cannot be inactive. He is either active in the conditioned state or in the liberated state… Those who are actually liberated and in full knowledge take to hearing the activities of Krsna; such engagement is pure spiritual activity.” (Pg. xx)
He states, “Lotus feet indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are impersonalists do not recognize the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore their object of mediation is something impersonal. The demigods express their mature verdict that persons who are interested in meditating on something void or impersonal cannot cross over the ocean of nescience.” (Pg. 17)
He notes, “In the material world we possess riches and wealth in many ways, but sometimes not in very honest and pious ways, because that is the nature of accumulating wealth. According to Vedic injunction, therefore, such wealth should be purified by giving cows and gold in charity to the brahmanas. A newborn child is also purified by giving grains in charity to the brahmanas. In this material world it is to be understood that we are always living in a contaminated state. We therefore have to purify the duration of our lives, our possession of wealth and ourselves.” (Pg. 37)
He says, “a considerate man in the life of poverty does not wish others to be also put into that condition. Generally it is seen that one who has risen from a poverty-stricken life and becomes wealthy creates some charitable institution… so that other poverty-stricken men might be benefited… To remain in the poverty-stricken condition is a kind of austerity. According to Vedic culture, therefore, the brahmanas… keep themselves in a poverty-stricken condition to save themselves from the false prestige of material opulence.” (Pg. 69)
He suggests, “The symptoms of the rainy season may be compared to the symptoms of the living entities who are covered by the three modes of material nature. The unlimited sky is like the Supreme Brahman, and the tiny living entities are like the covered sky, or Brahman covered by the three modes of material nature. Originally, everyone is part and parcel of Brahman. The Supreme Brahman, or the unlimited sky, can never be covered by a cloud, but a portion of it can be covered.” (Pg. 136)
He comments, “Krsna has declared in the Bhagavad-gita that the worshippers of the demigods are not very intelligent. He has also declared that one has to give up all kinds of worship and simply concentrate on Krsna consciousness… those who are engaged in Krsna consciousness have no need to worship any demigod, even if it is found that the demigod had become angry. Krsna gives his devotees all protection and they should completely depend on His mercy.” (Pg. 173)
He states, “before being favored by Krsna, a person is always under the modes of material nature, however elevated he may be materially… Any materially elevated person can be condemned to an abominable species of life if he is not careful. It is a misconception that after reaching the human body one is never degraded… A Krsna conscious person knows that he is always the servant of the servant of Krsna; he is most significant, and whatever good he does is by the grace of Krsna and the spiritual master.” (Pg. 227)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying the Krishna consciousness movement.
This book contains an introduction written by George Harrison (of the Beatles), in which he says, “Everybody is looking for KRSNA. Some don’t realize that they are, but they are. KRSNA is GOD, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was, or ever will be… Through all ages, great SAINTS have remained as living proof that this non-temporary, permanent state of GOD CONSCIOUSNESS can be revived in all living Souls. Each soul is potentially divine… YOGA … is the process by which we purify out consciousness, stop further pollution, and arrive at the state of Perfection, full KNOWLEDGE, full BLISS. If there’s a God, I want to see Him. It’s pointless to believe in something without proof, and KRSNA Consciousness and meditation are methods where you can actually obtain GOD perception. You can actually see God, and hear Him, play with Him… There are many yogic paths… SWAMI BHAKTIVEDANTA is… a BHAKTI Yogi following the path of DEVOTION. By serving God through each thought, word, and DEED, and by chanting of HIS Holy Names, the devotee quickly develops God-consciousness… I request that you take advantage of this book KRSNA, and enter into its understanding. I also request that you make an appointment to meet your God now, through the self-liberating process of YOGA (UNION) and GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.”
Prabhupada wrote in the Preface to this 1970 book, “Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead…. Because he conforms in exact detail to descriptions of the Supreme Being, the Godhead… We have seen many rich persons, many famous persons, many beautiful persons, many learned and scholarly persons, and persons in the renounced order of life unattached to material possessions. But we have never seen any one person who is unlimitedly and simultaneously wealthy, powerful, famous, beautiful, wise and unattached, like Krsna, in the history of humanity. Krsna… is an historical person who appeared on this earth 5,000 years ago. He stayed on this earth for 125 years and played exactly like a human being, but His activities were unparalleled.” (Pg. xi-xii)
He continues, “the Vedic histories, the Puranas and Mahabharata, relate human histories which extend millions and billions of years ago… Because [Krsna] is the possessor of unlimited knowledge.. [he] has a memory that is boundless. Krsna’s knowledge is so perfect that He remembers all the incidences of His appearances some millions and billions of years in the past…Nowadays it is the fashion of the atheistic class of men who try to become God by following some mystic process. Generally the atheists claim to be God by dint of their imagination or their meditational prowess. Krsna is not that kind of God. He does not become God by manufacturing some mystic process of mediation, nor… by undergoing the severe austerities of the mystic yogic exercises… He never BECOMES God because He is the Godhead in all circumstances.” (Pg. xii-xiii)
He explains, “The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krsna consciousness. We have inaugurated the Krsna consciousness movement so that everyone can satisfy his propensity for loving others simply by directing his love towards Krsna. The whole world is very much anxious to satisfy the dormant propensity of love for others, but … various methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism, nationalism, and whatever else … are all useless … because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Krsna… people can only be happy by loving Krsna… The Krsna consciousness movement is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age. It is a very simple method which has actually been carried out during the last four years in the Western countries, and there is no doubt that this movement can satisfy the dormant loving propensities of humanity.” (Pg. xiii-xiv)
He observes, “Liberated souls have no interest in materialistic activities. The impersonalist theory that after liberation one becomes inactive and needs hear nothing does not prove that a liberated person is actually inactive. A living soul cannot be inactive. He is either active in the conditioned state or in the liberated state… Those who are actually liberated and in full knowledge take to hearing the activities of Krsna; such engagement is pure spiritual activity.” (Pg. xx)
He states, “Lotus feet indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are impersonalists do not recognize the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore their object of mediation is something impersonal. The demigods express their mature verdict that persons who are interested in meditating on something void or impersonal cannot cross over the ocean of nescience.” (Pg. 17)
He notes, “In the material world we possess riches and wealth in many ways, but sometimes not in very honest and pious ways, because that is the nature of accumulating wealth. According to Vedic injunction, therefore, such wealth should be purified by giving cows and gold in charity to the brahmanas. A newborn child is also purified by giving grains in charity to the brahmanas. In this material world it is to be understood that we are always living in a contaminated state. We therefore have to purify the duration of our lives, our possession of wealth and ourselves.” (Pg. 37)
He says, “a considerate man in the life of poverty does not wish others to be also put into that condition. Generally it is seen that one who has risen from a poverty-stricken life and becomes wealthy creates some charitable institution… so that other poverty-stricken men might be benefited… To remain in the poverty-stricken condition is a kind of austerity. According to Vedic culture, therefore, the brahmanas… keep themselves in a poverty-stricken condition to save themselves from the false prestige of material opulence.” (Pg. 69)
He suggests, “The symptoms of the rainy season may be compared to the symptoms of the living entities who are covered by the three modes of material nature. The unlimited sky is like the Supreme Brahman, and the tiny living entities are like the covered sky, or Brahman covered by the three modes of material nature. Originally, everyone is part and parcel of Brahman. The Supreme Brahman, or the unlimited sky, can never be covered by a cloud, but a portion of it can be covered.” (Pg. 136)
He comments, “Krsna has declared in the Bhagavad-gita that the worshippers of the demigods are not very intelligent. He has also declared that one has to give up all kinds of worship and simply concentrate on Krsna consciousness… those who are engaged in Krsna consciousness have no need to worship any demigod, even if it is found that the demigod had become angry. Krsna gives his devotees all protection and they should completely depend on His mercy.” (Pg. 173)
He states, “before being favored by Krsna, a person is always under the modes of material nature, however elevated he may be materially… Any materially elevated person can be condemned to an abominable species of life if he is not careful. It is a misconception that after reaching the human body one is never degraded… A Krsna conscious person knows that he is always the servant of the servant of Krsna; he is most significant, and whatever good he does is by the grace of Krsna and the spiritual master.” (Pg. 227)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying the Krishna consciousness movement.
May 3, 2020
This is my 3rd outing with this great book! But first time reading the original 2 volume print of 1970.
Volume starts with Advent of Lord Krishna. Goes on to describe His childhood pastimes in Vrindavan, adolescent pastimes in Mathura and culminates Him marrying Rukmini while settling in Dwaraka.
With a good balance of story-telling and explanation of deep philosophical purports, A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada is truly amazing!
Volume starts with Advent of Lord Krishna. Goes on to describe His childhood pastimes in Vrindavan, adolescent pastimes in Mathura and culminates Him marrying Rukmini while settling in Dwaraka.
With a good balance of story-telling and explanation of deep philosophical purports, A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada is truly amazing!
May 4, 2023
I love mythology so it was very interesting for me
January 31, 2015
In the time 3500 B.C, there came an avatar of Lord Vishnu who brought upon theories, practices and principles set forth to transform and promote the lives of human beings. He restored order in the form of blessings; he undertook the responsibility of getting rid of demoniac presences from the surface of our planet and he delivered the most absolute and confidential transcendental knowledge through a prevailing discourse known as the Bhagavad-Gita. Lord Krishna, the splendid avatar of Lord Vishnu blessed both evil and good by reinstating spiritual, social and political order in the lives of those forming part of the Yadu and Kuru kingdoms (or, Yadu dynasty and Kuru dynasty.) Descending as an avatar of Lord Vishnu, while demonstrating truthful and magnificent supremacy in the form of Lord Krishna, is not a naturally everyday occurrence which any living entity would witness for whichever predictable and obvious causes. As such, The Lord presented himself in the embodiment of Kṛṣṇa in order to reinforce measures which mankind needed to take when dealing with the then reigning tyranny and deceptions.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada hereby relates all about Lord Krishna with every minute details and every single fractional event in the latter’s life brought forward with spiritual grandeur and splendour. This book about the Lord is the veridical truth which depicts the purpose of his birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood—his pastimes and his actions as it is dictated in the Holy Scriptures. The many killings of demons by Lord Krishna, his adventures and misadventures, his encounters and deliverances, his daily activities and pastimes being portrayed in the written masterpiece, Kṛṣṇa: THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD sheds enlightening and clear knowledge about the Lord. The book describes very concisely and precisely the cause underlying his incarnation. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada illuminates the glowing adventures of the Supreme Being while stressing his purpose on our planet earth. The swami has a specific objective in mind when he examines each and every daily encounters of Lord Krishna during the latter’s time spent among fellow humans. His devotees and close ones who are all part and parcel of his expanded self, develop a special spiritual attachment for him; as such, they were blessed with his divine presences and by the marked footsteps of his on the several pathways of Mathurā, Vṛndāvana, Gokula, Hastināpura, Ānarta, Sauvīra, Rājasthān, Kurukṣetra, Indraprastha and many other soils of India.
The genealogy of the Lord’s family circle and the extent of his kingship is described thoroughly by Swami Prabhupada. His participation in the battle of Kurukṣetra by leading the role of the charioteer of Arjuna (descendant of King Bharata,) is conclusively analyzed as being the ultimate cause of his incarnation as Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thereupon, the latter conveys the Bhagavad-Gita to the former. The prayers offered to the Lord are superseded by brief explanations of the objective behind his divine presences. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has hereby combed through all minor events that required Lord Kṛṣṇa’s input into the several incidents to which the latter had access. Kṛṣṇa: THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD is a book of great valour which hails Lord Krishna as the owner of and guide to the absolute truth. I gave it five stars/5 */ five */ *****.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada hereby relates all about Lord Krishna with every minute details and every single fractional event in the latter’s life brought forward with spiritual grandeur and splendour. This book about the Lord is the veridical truth which depicts the purpose of his birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood—his pastimes and his actions as it is dictated in the Holy Scriptures. The many killings of demons by Lord Krishna, his adventures and misadventures, his encounters and deliverances, his daily activities and pastimes being portrayed in the written masterpiece, Kṛṣṇa: THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD sheds enlightening and clear knowledge about the Lord. The book describes very concisely and precisely the cause underlying his incarnation. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada illuminates the glowing adventures of the Supreme Being while stressing his purpose on our planet earth. The swami has a specific objective in mind when he examines each and every daily encounters of Lord Krishna during the latter’s time spent among fellow humans. His devotees and close ones who are all part and parcel of his expanded self, develop a special spiritual attachment for him; as such, they were blessed with his divine presences and by the marked footsteps of his on the several pathways of Mathurā, Vṛndāvana, Gokula, Hastināpura, Ānarta, Sauvīra, Rājasthān, Kurukṣetra, Indraprastha and many other soils of India.
The genealogy of the Lord’s family circle and the extent of his kingship is described thoroughly by Swami Prabhupada. His participation in the battle of Kurukṣetra by leading the role of the charioteer of Arjuna (descendant of King Bharata,) is conclusively analyzed as being the ultimate cause of his incarnation as Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thereupon, the latter conveys the Bhagavad-Gita to the former. The prayers offered to the Lord are superseded by brief explanations of the objective behind his divine presences. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has hereby combed through all minor events that required Lord Kṛṣṇa’s input into the several incidents to which the latter had access. Kṛṣṇa: THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD is a book of great valour which hails Lord Krishna as the owner of and guide to the absolute truth. I gave it five stars/5 */ five */ *****.
February 21, 2017
4,5
Non do cinque stelline per due motivi:
- alcune parti sono ripetitive
- com'è possibile che venga nominata la Bhagavad Gita quando Krishna è ancora fanciullo? La battaglia di Kurukshetra avviene quando lui è già grande quindi come facevano a conoscere la Bhagavad Gita e i suoi insegnamenti se i fatti non erano ancora avvenuti? Un conto se ne avesse parlato il narratore, ma viene nominata da alcuni personaggi. L'unica spiegazione è che potrebbe essere un errore dell'autore che non è stato capace di suddividere in modo chiaro voce narrante e discorsi dei personaggi.
Non do cinque stelline per due motivi:
- alcune parti sono ripetitive
- com'è possibile che venga nominata la Bhagavad Gita quando Krishna è ancora fanciullo? La battaglia di Kurukshetra avviene quando lui è già grande quindi come facevano a conoscere la Bhagavad Gita e i suoi insegnamenti se i fatti non erano ancora avvenuti? Un conto se ne avesse parlato il narratore, ma viene nominata da alcuni personaggi. L'unica spiegazione è che potrebbe essere un errore dell'autore che non è stato capace di suddividere in modo chiaro voce narrante e discorsi dei personaggi.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews