Radhanath Swami explains the science of Aparadhs

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Published on October 12, 2014 by

“At a higher level of bhakti, we don’t commit offences because it is worse then suffering, it’s worse than death itself to displease Krishna by offending those he loves.” – Radhanath Swami

For Lord Chaitanya it was the only time of his life he went… So he was so close, he was right at Govardhan, and he yearned to see Gopal. But still in this mood of being the servant of the servant of the servant, he would not risk going by committing an offence.

Now, there are different ways of looking at committing offence. One is – if I commit an offence then I will have to suffer. That’s a very low level; but there are many much more lower levels, so at least we should go to that low level.

“But on a higher level, it is not about whether we suffer or not. It displeases Krishna when we make an offence; it is not properly expressing our love for Krishna when we make an offence.” – Radhanath Swami

There is that story of Govinda. When Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing and dancing and dancing in Jagannath’s temple for so many hours and hours and hours with his devotees… and he wouldn’t stop dancing. The kirtan went on from early morning till afternoon. And finally, Nityanand Prabhu got the kirtan leaders to stop. “Everybody is tired; everyone is hungry. Please stop.”

So on this day, Lord Chaitanya was laying on the doorway, and his feet were inside. So Govinda couldn’t get in. He said, “My Lord, please! If you can slightly move, so I can get in, so that I can massage your legs.” Lord Chaitanya in the role of a devotee, said, “I am too tired. I cannot move.” Govinda didn’t know what to do. He said, “Please, please just move slightly so that I can get in to massage your legs. I want to massage your legs.”

“I cannot move.”

Few minutes passed.

“My Lord! Please move your legs… please slightly… just a little, so that I can get in.”

The Lord became abrupt. “Do it or don’t do it. Do whatever is in your mind. I just cannot move.”  Then he went to sleep.

What did Govinda do? He put Lord Chaitnya’s outer cloth on his (Lord Chaitanya’s) body, and then he stepped over his body to go in the room, and massaged his legs. How many of you are willing to step over Lord Chaitanya’s body? Hare Krishna!

About a half hour later, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu awoke. And Govinda was still there, massaging his legs. And Lord Chaitanya said, “What are you doing?”

“I am massaging your legs.”

“But it is the custom that after you massage my legs, you go and take Prasad. Have you taken Prasad yet? You couldn’t have taken Prasad if you are still here. Why dint you go to take Prasad yet?”

Govinda didn’t say anything. But Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami tells us what was in his mind.  He didn’t say a word; he was silent when Lord Chaitanya asked him that question. What was he thinking? “To please you and serve you my Lord, I am willing to endure the reactions of unlimited offences. But for my own purpose, I am deeply fearful of even committing the slightest tinge of an offense to anyone.”

So in this sense, for the service of Krishna, one doesn’t mind suffering. Srila Prabhuapad went on the Jaladuta when he was seventy years old – sixty nine… then he turned seventy near Cochin in the Arabian Sea.  All that heart attacks and sea sickness! But he was willing to suffer anything to serve and please his Guru and Krishna. So you see, at a higher level of bhakti, we don’t commit offences because it is worse then suffering, it’s worse than death itself to displease Krishna by offending those he loves.  Krishna told Durvasa muni after he offended Ambarish maharaj, “Because I am in the heart of my devotee, if you offend my devotee, you are offending me. That I take even more seriously.”

Narottama Das Thakur prays in one wonderful song, “If one offends Krishna, one can rectify it by chanting his holy names. But if one offends Krishna’s devotees, it is very difficult, because of how Krishna loves his devotee!”

Radhanath Swami

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23 Comments

  • Piyush Singh 9 years ago

    A beautiful insight on offences. How important it is to be careful in all our dealings with Vaishnavas and avoid offences. The Govinda incident very beautifully presents the aspect of a sincere intent that should be cultivated by all the practicing devotees. Many thanks to HH Radhanath Swami for this much needed guidance.

    Reply
  • Satya Kama Das 9 years ago

    H.H. Radhanath Maharaj has given very nice insight on offences.

    Reply
  • Pradeep Kumar 9 years ago

    Thank you very much Radhanath Swami Maharaj for explaining the importance of not commiting offense with so many examples and pastimes of lord.

    Reply
  • CS Sandeep S. Shinde 9 years ago

    Thank you very much for explaining the science of aparadha.

    Reply
  • NSP 9 years ago

    Wonderful explanation by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj on the science of Aparadh!

    Reply
  • biswajit 9 years ago

    Wonderful explanation

    Reply
  • Kalpana Kulkarni 9 years ago

    We have to be so careful not to offend Krsna’s devotees as the reaction to those offences are more than those done to Krsna.

    Reply
  • amit 9 years ago

    Thank you for
    sharing such an important lesson.

    Reply
  • Sumit Sharma 9 years ago

    Jai gurudev!

    Reply
  • CS Sandeep S. Shinde 9 years ago

    Thank you very much for sharing about Apradhas.

    Reply
  • anashree 9 years ago

    Very nice article. It tells us what consciousness one should have for not committing an aparadh. We should not commit aparadh not because we will suffer the reaction but because we should not displease Krishna.

    Reply
    • Piyush Singh 9 years ago

      A very apt comment. Thanks.

      Reply
  • CS Sandeep Shinde 9 years ago

    May Lord Krishna protects us from Aparadhas. Thank you very much for sharing.

    Reply
  • Vinay Malani 9 years ago

    Vaishnava apraadh is something which God never forgives us for. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for warning us in this regards.

    Reply
  • Pankaj 9 years ago

    Very inspiring lecture by Radhanath Swami.

    Reply
  • Arun 9 years ago

    Amazing explanation of offense by maharaj. Really helpful in devotee’s personel life..

    Reply
  • vivekanand 9 years ago

    Thanks for explaining a deep meaning and encouraging explaination how one should avoid vaishnav aparadh.
    The example of govinda shows beautiful inside regarding aparadh.
    Maharaj showing us path and perfect devotion not to displease krishna by doing aparadh against devotees.

    Hare krishna

    Reply
  • dharmendra vaishya 9 years ago

    Yes very true one need to be very conscious while dealing with vaishnavas some time situation make us to do this vaishnav apprad but one need to understand that it is just a test and one need to tolerate it and in some time, situation will come in control.

    Reply
    • George Martin 9 years ago

      trying to understand such higher levels and depths of bhakti needs a good guide like Radhanath Swami. He explains such an important point of not offending a devotee by quoting this – If one offends Krishna, one can rectify it by chanting his holy names. But if one offends Krishna’s devotees, it is very difficult, because of how Krishna loves his devotee!’

      Reply
  • Manu samhita 9 years ago

    Another inspiring lecture from HH Radhanath swami. Thank you very much Maharaj.

    Reply
  • Kalpana Kulkarni 9 years ago

    We really have to be very careful not to commit any apradhs to a devotee of the Lord as it has very serious consequences.

    Reply
  • Guest 9 years ago

    trying to understand such higher levels and depths of bhakti needs a good guide like Radhanath Swami. He explains such an important point of not offending a devotee by quoting this – If one offends Krishna, one can rectify it by chanting his holy names. But if one offends Krishna’s devotees, it is very difficult, because of how Krishna loves his devotee!

    Reply
  • Kalpana Kulkarni 9 years ago

    Good warning for all of us to avoid committing offences against devotees.

    Reply