Prabhupada, Vrindavana, November 3, 1972: […] Suppose if for my pious activities I get good birth, janmaisvarya-sruta-sri. By pious activities, we get birth in good family, janma; aisvarya, we get sufficient riches, wealthy family, wealthy parents; janmaisvarya-sruta, good education; and sri, beauty.
These are the result of pious activities. But to take birth in the family of a king or very rich man, the sufferings of taking birth is the same. As the poor man suffers within the womb of his mother, similarly the rich man also suffers within the womb of his mother.
The sufferings of taking birth is equal to the poor man and rich man. There is no difference. When there is disease, fever, it is not it is less painful to the rich man and very painful to the poor man. The pain is the same. So actually, so long there is material existence, the so-called suffering and enjoying, they’re on the same level. There is no difference.
But if we take to Krishna consciousness, as Krishna assures, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami, “I shall get you relieved, released from all kinds of sinful activities.” That is real auspiciousness. Means when Krishna takes charge, He gradually educates the devotee buddhi-yogam, in devotion service, so that he may go back home, back to Godhead, Krishna. That is real auspicity.
In the material world, so-called auspicity, to become very rich, to become very educated, to become very beautiful, high parentage, they are also, in material consideration, they are auspicity, undoubtedly. But they are also adulterated with so many sufferings, threefold miseries: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. So actually such position is not auspicity.
Real auspicity is go back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore it is said, pure devotional service… Pure devotional service means without any material motive. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [BRS 1.1.11].
So pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness. All-auspiciousness means go back to home, back to Godhead. So if we stick to pure devotional service, follow the rules and regulations, chant sixteen rounds, be engaged always in the service of the Lord, then ultimate gain is that tyaktva deham punar naiti mam eti kaunteya. (reads:) “Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure.”
Transcendental pleasure and material pleasure, there is difference. Material pleasure means sense gratification, and transcendental pleasure means satisfaction of Krishna. A devotee is satisfied seeing Krishna is pleased. That is their satisfaction—through Krishna. Material pleasure means direct sense perception, and spiritual pleasure means by, through Krishna.
If Krishna is satisfied, then the devotee is satisfied. Just like a tree, the leaves and twigs become satisfied through the root of the tree. So Krishna is the root. Krishna is the origin of everything. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. So transcendental pleasure mean feeling of pleasure through Krishna.
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