SB 11.07.25 – When the inner compass is on the outer map is no longer needed

Transcript

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Srimad Bhagavatam 11.7.25 avdhootam dvijam kanchich charantam akuto bhevam kavil nirikshitarunam yadu paprachy dharmavit so here Krishna is describing to Dhava the narration of a avdhoot brahmana’s conversation with the yadu king so avdhootam dvijam kanchich some brahmana avdhoota charantam akuto bhevam the king observed the charantam moving around fearlessly akuto bhevam kavil nirikshitarunam the king observed nirikshitarunam that this brahmana was young and appeared wise kavil yadu paprachy dharmavit so the king yadu who himself was dharmavit who was an expert in religious principles so he was paprachy inquired it takes one to know one so the king was dharmavit and citizens are citizens are often standing in crowds eager to have a big glimpse of the king and that’s how we see it is in with respect to sports stars or movie stars or other celebrities that people often are eagerly waiting to have just a slight glimpse of them and yet such a king who obviously would have been a celebrity in his times, what is that king doing? that king was observing and while observing he noticed a brahmana adhvijam, now naturally brahmanas are respected by the kings in spiritual culture but he observed that this was not just ordinary brahmana it was avadhutam so brahmanas are known by their astikyam, Krishna described, one of their qualities is faith in scripture so they follow scripture strictly but the avadhutas are those who have attained such an exalted stage of transcendence that the inner compass is so clear and strong that they don’t need an outer map normally if we want to go travel from one place to another we need a map to go along the to travel but if we find that at some particular time that we have got a clear road then we can move even steadily and fast sweetly now if there is no road and we have to go cross country then unless we know the terrain it is difficult to go if somebody knows a particular terrain like at the back of one’s hand then one doesn’t need a map one doesn’t even need a road one can just move to the destination similarly scripture is the is the map and the culture that is based on the scripture is like the road so the scripture and the culture help the spiritual traveler to move towards Krishna now for some travelers who are so well seasoned who know the territory so well that they can go without they can go cross country and they won’t get lost because they know the territory so well they will just reach the right destination so when we say that the avadhutas may not follow scripture that doesn’t mean that they are defiant of scripture nor does it mean that they are negligent of scripture it simply means that they have recognized the need they have come to understand by their inner connection with with Krishna they have developed a inner compass by which they just know the spiritual territory they just know how they should act in different situations and they do it according to their spiritual calling for the pleasure of Krishna so their actions the important point is all our actions are meant to take us closer to Krishna and our scripture and our culture are meant to take us closer to Krishna also but how can we go closer to Krishna only when we go closer to only when we follow scripture can we go closer to Krishna but for those who have closely connected with Krishna Krishna guides them from within and the important point in the actions of avadhutas is that it takes them closer to Krishna that they are already close to Krishna and whatever actions they do are done for the pleasure of Krishna and those actions take them closer to Krishna further so this kind of avadhutas for whom the inner compass is so strong that the outer map is no longer needed they are rare and further you observe tarunam that this was young naturally somebody is young somebody who has such a strong inner compass a special purpose and therefore dharma ved the scripture teaches many things and sometimes the essential message of scripture can get lost and even when we know the essential message it is always good to have that message refreshed by hearing from realized souls so we have to ask questions similarly when we are trying to take shelter of Krishna through chanting if we have that learning spirit then even when the mind wanders here and there we will know how to get the mind to return to Krishna and how to hold it closer to Krishna by which we can keep moving steadily towards Krishna through our process of prayer and meditation