Śukrācārya, a Priest of Routine Rituals

From the Eighth Canto, Twentieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe.” Text 14

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Śukrācārya, being inspired by the Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Mahārāja, who was so magnanimous and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master’s instructions, he wanted to disobey his order.

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The difference between the behavior of Bali Mahārāja and that of his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, was that Bali Mahārāja had already developed love of Godhead, whereas Śukrācārya, being merely a priest of routine rituals, had not. Thus Śukrācārya was never inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to develop in devotional service. As stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”

Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaiṣṇavas are never concerned with ritualistic smārta-brāhmaṇas. Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī has therefore compiled Hari-bhakti-vilāsa to guide the Vaiṣṇavas, who never follow the smārta-viddhi. Although the Supreme Lord is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, unless one is a Vaiṣṇava, unless one is engaged in devotional service, one does not get sound advice by which to return home, back to Godhead. Such instructions are meant only for devotees. Therefore in this verse the word daiva-prahitaḥ, “being inspired by the Supreme Lord,” is important. Śukrācārya should have encouraged Bali Mahārāja to give everything to Lord Viṣṇu. This would have been a sign of love for the Supreme Lord. But he did not do so. On the contrary, he wanted to punish his devoted disciple by cursing him.

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Comments

  1. Pamho agtacbsp, a bhakti yogi only can become a perfect devotee by surrender everything to LORD VISNU AS BALI MAHARAJ DID BUT SUKRACHARYA WITH ALL HIS VISION AS A CLEVER THINKER DID NOT GET SAVED BECAUSE A SMARTA BRAHMANA IS STILL ON HIS OWN AND ALTHOUGH HE RECOGNISED VISNU INSTEAD OF SURRENDER TO HIM WANT TO SAVE WHAT HE STOLE TO HIM THEREFORE BALI MAHARAJ REJECTED HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER ISANA THAT’S ANOTHER NAME OF SUKRACHARYA WHO HAD NOT BHAKTI THEREFORE LOST EVERYTHING, SRI KRSNA NEVER GIVE THE BRAIN TO UNDERSTAND HIM TO THE SMARTA BRAHMANA AND SCM IS WITH US NOT WITH THE SMARTA BRAHMANA THEREFORE GIVE MORE MERCY TO A SUDRA THEN A SMARTA BRAHMANA BECAUSE HE IS THE BEST PATITA PAVANA THE SAVIOUR OF THE FALLEN.SCM KI JAY SRILA PRABHUPADA KI JAY ys haribol

  2. Bg.10.37 KRSNA SAY AMONG GREAT THINKERS I’M USANA WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME OF SUKRACHARYA, agtacbsp ys haribol

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