The document discusses the concept of yukta-vairāgya or proper renunciation as taught by the eighth guru, a serpent. It provides several stories as examples. The first story describes Srila Prabhupada using an airplane for preaching work. The second story describes a devotee offering an entire peach tree to Krishna. Additional stories illustrate using things or abilities in Krishna's service that may have been obtained through improper means, like using flowers given by a boy of a different faith or wealth collected by thieves. However, the document warns of dangers if the philosophy of yukta-vairāgya is not followed carefully.

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THE LESSON LEARNT BY THE AVADHUTA BRAHMANA
When a person living in a temporary material body tries to construct a happy home,
the result is fruitless and miserable. The snake, however, enters a home that has
been built by others and prospers happily.
PURPORT
The snake does not have the proclivity to build his own home, but rather lives in a
suitable place constructed by other creatures. Thus he does not entangle himself in
the labor of home building. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura points out that
although materialistic persons take unlimited pains to invent and mass-produce
electricity, automobiles, airplanes, etc., ultimately these things
aremeantfortheconvenienceoftheVaiñëavaswhoarepreaching
Kåñëa consciousness. The karmés will always go to such trouble, and the devotees
will always offer such laborious productions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
by engaging them in His loving service. The devotees, being concerned with the
ultimate perfection of life, do not personally struggle for material advancement.
On the other hand, there is no need for the devotees to artificially imitate the
austere life-style of ancient times. A devotee’s goal is simply to serve Kåñëa as
nicely as possible; therefore the devotees willingly accept beautiful mansions and all
types of material opulence, not with any personal attachment, but only so that these
things can be engaged in the loving service of the Lord.
If one engages such things with a desire to enjoy them, one falls down from the
platform of pure devotional service.
The Theme - Concept of using everything in
Krishna’s service.
THE LESSON LEARNT BY THE AVADHUTA BRAHMANA
The Avadhüta brähmaëa learnt from the serpent that a sage should
wander alone, should not live in any prearranged place, should be
always careful and grave, should not reveal his movements, should take
assistance from no one and should speak little.
Also the brahmana learnt to use everything in krishna’s service.
1/2 60 mins 120 mins
been built by others and prospers happily.
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SLOKA RECITATION
Let us learn a sloka from the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindu (1.2.255) which teaches
us something about the above theme.
Before teaching the present verse, the teacher should begin the class by
chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus with the children all together.
Chant the eighth verse of the 24 Gurus again. Tell the children we will learn
the eighth verse and also understand it.
Learn the eighth verse. (The teacher recites the sloka line by line and makes
the children repeat and memorize the Sloka)
anäsaktasya viñayän
yathärham upayuïjataù
nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe
yuktaà vairägyam ucyate
One should not imitate the activities of great personalities. One should be detached
from material enjoyment and should accept everything in connection with Kåñëa’s
service.
LESSONS FROM GURU – (DUDE)
The teacher can explain to the children, the lessons which this Earth guru
teaches us. The abbreviation “DUDE” makes it convenient for us to remember what
the guru wants to teach us.
The teacher can write down on the board the below abbreviation and ask the
children to note it down and learn it.
In this session, after explaining the meaning of “DUDE”, the teacher will be
able to narrate a maximum of four stories. The remaining stories can be continued
in the next class.
1.Everything can be used in Krsna’s service – it is only up to you to find the way to
use it
2.Dovetailing desires is an art – that is bhakti
3.Using things that may be earned by some wrong means in Krsna’s service
4.Dangers of yukta vairagya philosophy
Let us learn a sloka from the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindu (1.2.255) which teaches
us something about the above theme.
Before teaching the present verse, the teacher should begin the class by
chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus with the children all together.
Chant the eighth verse of the 24 Gurus again. Tell the children we will learn
the eighth verse and also understand it.
Learn the eighth verse. (The teacher recites the sloka line by line and makes

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Once Srila Prabhupada
arrived in an airport
after traveling in a jet plane.
As usual a crowd of devotees
enthusiastically chanting kirtan greeted
him. Then he spoke for some time. Then
a press reporter asked Srila Prabhupada
“If you claim yourself to be
renounced, why you travel by jet
planes?” Srila Prabhupada gave a
brilliant answer, he said, “But we
see everything has got Krishna
connection. Therefore we utilize it for
Krishna. Just like you’re talking about
Krishna, it is being recorded. So it is
useful for Krishna’s service. Why should
I give it up? Because the airplane is
there, therefore my preaching has been
easier. Every year I’m wandering
all over the world, twice, thrice.
Because if you use airplane and
are not ready to give it up, then why
shall I give it up? It is giving me facility
to preach my Krishna consciousness
movement, why shall I give it up? It is
mithyä. Just like some people, they do
not ride on car, but if by going in a car
I can go and preach, very swiftly, and
come back again, why shall I give up this
car? So our philosophy is not like that.
Nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe yuktaà
vairägyam ucyate. It is yukta-vairägya.
We have no attachment for all these
things. We are sitting in this palatial
building, that’s all right. But you
can talk things under the tree.
But if I sit down underneath a
tree nobody will come to me. (Everyone
laughs) So why shall I do that? This is
our philosophy.
anäsaktasya viñayän
yathärham upayuïjataù
nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe
yuktaà vairägyam ucyate
Yukta-vairägya. After all, you have to
practice vairägya. Not under attachment.
But in connection with Kåñëa,
nonattachment is required. Otherwise
this nonattachment will not stay.
This is the principle of yukta vairagya.
Neeti verse
Ayikta svaamino yuktam,
yuktam neechasya dooshanam
Amritam raahave mrityur,
visham shanker bhoosanam
Getting an able owner even
the worthless thing becomes
useful and adorable while a
worthless owner ruins the value of a
priceless thing. Lord Shiva made even
the deadly poison an ornament
of his throat while Rahu, the
demon got beheaded even
when he had sipped nectar.
If someone knows how to utilize
things of this world, then even the most
useless thing becomes most valuable
and if one does not know how to utilize
something then even the most valuable
thing becomes the most useful.
STORY 1
Once Srila Prabhupada
arrived in an airport
after traveling in a jet plane.
As usual a crowd of devotees
a press reporter asked Srila Prabhupada
building, that’s all right. But you
can talk things under the tree.
But if I sit down underneath a
worthless owner ruins the value of a
1. Everything can be used in Krsna’s service –
it is only up to you to find the way to use it
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Jayananda Prabhu once was
driving and distributing books
in a sankirtan bus party. Along
the way they passed by a peach orchard.
And the peaches were ripe. He stopped
the vehicle and jumped up
into one of the trees. After
offering the whole tree, he invited the
others to climb up and join him for a
peach feast.
His idea was not just that he wanted
to eat the fruits himself.
But he offered the whole
tree thinking that anyone
in future who passes this
side and happens to taste
the fruits of this tree would immediately
get Krsna Prasad and their life would be
transformed.
Thus Jayananda Prabhu was practically
demonstrating the example of yukta
vairagya.
STORY 2
STORY 3
Once a devotee was driving
in a car and the vehicle
stopped in a traffic signal.
Suddenly a boy belonging
to the Islamic faith offered
flowers to this devotee and told him
to offer to his God. The devotee
declined saying that he did not have
any money as he was a brahmacari.
Spontaneously, this boy though he
was of a different faith, he handed
over three strings of flowers to this
brahmacari and said, “This is for
your God from me.” This devotee
was taken aback by the reaction of
this boy and
decided that
the next day
he was going to use those flowers. He
dressed the deities and he tied one flower
string to the lotus feet of Krsna, he tied
another one to the hair of
Krsna and the last to
the arms of Krsna.
The same flower if
used in decorating the
hair of a woman,in
decorating some marriage party,
decorating some business function,
in welcoming the President of India
or in beautifying the form of Krsna;
the result may look same to the
eye, but to the soul the result is a
different destination.
By using this flower in serving Krsna this
devotee had assured a great destination
for this boy. This is the power of the
principle of yukta vairagya.
Suddenly a boy belonging
to the Islamic faith offered
another one to the hair of
The same flower if
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3. Using things that may be earned by some
wrong means in Krsna’s service
(E.g. Money coming out of bribes) should be used directly in Krsna‛s service.
2. Dovetailing desires is an art – that is bhakti
Hanumanji had an
ability and desire to fight.
He was angry; he used it in
Rama’s service. Vali had the
same ability and anger, but
he used it to serve his own
ego. Though both of them
were monkeys with the same
propensity, both used it to
serve different masters (Vali
his ego and Hanuman the
Lord) and naturally the results
were very different.
The difference is that the
anger of Hanumanji is even
now praised and emulated, but
the anger of Vali is disapproved
of and is not to be followed.
STORY 4
STORY 5
During a yatra two small
children were fighting with
each other and almost on
the verge of beating up each
other. When the leader who was a
sanyasi saw both of them fighting badly,
he approached them and told them,
don’t use your energy like this. And he
told them I will tell you how to use your
energy later, and he walked away.
Many days later during the same trip, a
thief was caught who had stolen many
costly things from the
devotees. And the devotees
were going to beat him up.
At that time this sanyasi saw this boy
standing in the crowd and he went up to
him and told him, now is the time to use
your energy.
By this he was indicating that the
propensity to fight and act violent by
also has a place, but not among devotees,
but among people who try to create
disturbance and nuisance in society.
InSouthIndia,thereisastoryofone
ofthealwarsoftheSriSampradaya
who is called Tirumangai alwar.
He constructed the Sri Rangam
temple for Ranganath. There
was an interesting way in
which he collected the
funds for this temple.
He made a gang of dacoits
who would loot all the rich
men and plunder their wealth.
With this immense wealth he
made the fabulous temple,
which we see in Sri
STORY 6
InSouthIndia,thereisastoryofone
ofthealwarsoftheSriSampradaya
who is called Tirumangai alwar.
He constructed the Sri Rangam
temple for Ranganath. There
was an interesting way in
which he collected the
funds for this temple.
He made a gang of dacoits
who would loot all the rich
men and plunder their wealth.
With this immense wealth he
made the fabulous temple,
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Rangam today.
Though he used wrong manner
to get the funds for the temple,
hesawtoitthatnotevenapenny
was used for his own sense gratification;
he used everything fully for the service
of the Lord.
On the other hand, even Ravana did
the same thing in one sense. He would
loot different kingdoms
and different planets. And
he would get the best
things in that planet for his
personal enjoyment. He
had the pushpak viman and
many beautiful girls and the best of all
opulences. But he used everything for
his own enjoyment.
Rupa Goswami was
worshipping the deities
of Radha Govindadev in
Vrindavan. He himself was
stayinginaverydilapidated
condition and would stay under a
different tree every night. But he had a
desire of giving elaborate worship for the
Lord. One day a rich merchant seeing
the love and devotion of
Rupa Goswami decided
to help him to build a
temple for the deities.
Though Rupa Goswami was not at all
interested in his own welfare, but he very
much wanted to provide all facilities for
the deities. Therefore he immediately
accepted the offer of this rich man.
Soon a huge temple was constructed for
Radha Govindadev and Rupa
Goswami performed elaborate
worship there. But for himself
he still continued to stay
under trees with minimum
needs. This is the concept of a devotee
using everything in Krishna’s service.
STORY 7
Lord. One day a rich merchant seeing
the love and devotion of

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The teacher should begin the second session of this Serpent Guru with the recitation
of slokas first.
SLOKA RECITATION
The teacher should begin the class by chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus
with the children all together.
Chant the second verse of the 24 Gurus again.
anäsaktasya viñayän
yathärham upayuïjataù
nirbandhaù kåñëa-sambandhe
yuktaà vairägyam ucyate
One should not imitate the activities of great personalities. One should be detached
from material enjoyment and should accept everything in connection with Kåñëa’s
service.
LESSONS FROM GURU – (DUDE)
Compromise principles in the name of dovetailing in Krsna’s service.
E.g. – Drinking coca cola and saying I am drinking to offer this to Krsna
Beware of Yukta Vairagya. Do not think we can use everything in Krishna
consciousness. If one is removing a thorn with another, one has to be extremely
careful. Else both the thorns may prick him.
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2/2 60 mins 120 mins
The teacher should begin the class by chanting all the verses of the 24 Gurus
Chant the second verse of the 24 Gurus again.
4. Dangers of yukta vairagya philosophy
1.Everything can be used in Krsna’s service – it is only up to you to find the
way to use it
2.Dovetailing desires is an art – that is bhakti
3.Using things that may be earned by some wrong means in Krsna’s service
4.Dangers of yukta vairagya philosophy
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STORY 8 - SRILA PRABHUPADA & 7 UP
Once Srila Prabhupada was traveling
from one city to another in the US and on
the flight Srila Prabhupada was feeling
a bit uneasy due to some gas in his
stomach. In the meantime an airhostess
came up to Srila Prabhupada
offering him a 7up. Prabhupada
had that small glass and it
immediately gave him some relief and
Prabhupada went on to have one or two
of those small glasses. So by the time the
flight landed and Prabhupada reached
the temple he went to his room he was
shocked to see some boxes of canned
7ups lying in the room.
On questioning the devotees it was
revealed that they were told some
devotees traveling with Prabhupada
that he liked it. Srila Prabhupada simply
rubbished the claim.
Devotees started having the drink
justifying that Prabhupada has
had it and till today we see this
happening.
So we must be careful in
implementing the principle of
yukta vairagya as sometimes it may
not be the way we think. It may be
that because we have a desire to enjoy
something, we justify our weaknesses.
immediately gave him some relief and
Does being a devotee means you cannot perform well in the world?
Does it mean that you cannot compete with everyone?
Name devotees who are competent in the material world as well as exemplary in
their devotional lives. Give five names of such devotees in the scriptures, mentioning
which field they are competent in and also which of their devotional qualities are
known. And also give five names of devotees in today’s world, mentioning which
field they are competent in and also which of their devotional qualities is known.
Devotees from scriptures:
1. Arjuna – Expert in archery, could defeat Indra, Shiva, etc and he was
known for his friendship with Krsna.
2. Narottama Das Thakur – Sanskrit Scholar and a prince – he is known
for his composition of devotional songs and for preaching to many people
like Chandra Rai, etc.
3. King Prataprudra – He was the king of Orissa but for the sake of
associating with Lord Caitanya he was ready to give up everything. And
as a king he used his position to spread Krishna Consciousness and assist
Lord Caitanya.

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4. Sivananda Sen – He was expert in management and would arrange travel and
accommodation and prasad for thousands of people to travel for months together.
He did this for years when devotees from Bengal would travel to Puri to meet Lord
Caitanya. He also was expert in accounts. Not only materially, but also he was
spiritually very profound and was loved by Lord Caitanya for his service attitude.
5. Rupa Goswami – Scholar in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Bengali and
many other languages. Was the finance minister of Nawab Hussain Shah.
Wrote many books about Krishna Consciousness, which are still the
guidebooks for our movement.
Devotees in today’s world:
1. Alfred Ford – Owner of the Ford Motors. Spiritually contributing for
the construction of the Mayapur vedic planetarium and serving in so many
other ways fulfilling the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
2. George Harrison – Most famous of the Beetles music group. Was a
follower of Srila Prabhupada and composed many albums glorifying
Krsna. Most devotees in Europe and US became devotees through his
music. Their first touch with Krsna was George Harrisson.
3. Bhakti Vinod Thakur – District Magistrate during the British times,
author of 100’s of books. Though he was great in his judgement, he
was even greater in his devotion. His songs are practically the vedic
scriptures. He is practically the first person to envision a worldwide
preaching movement.
4. Hrishikesh Mafatlal – Eminent industrialist, Chairman of the Mafatlal Industries.
Was the chairperson in the board of IIM Ahmedabad for more than 12 years? But
his contribution as a devotee is extremely great. In spite of his services and his
position he is completely down-to-earth.
5. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur – Scholar in several languages,
expert in astrology and astronomy, wrote the surya siddhanta and was
called the walking encyclopedia. Yet spiritually he had performed a 10
year vrata of chanting 1 crore names of Krsna (192 rounds a day for 10
years). He established 64 temples all over India. Sent his disciples to
preach all over the world.
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10. 92
Can devotees not use science and technology in Krsna’s service? What are the danger
and the caution for devotees?
- Thinking that science is supreme
- Caution – even the brain and the idea that scientists get is the creation of God
Conclusion
HOW IS IT RELEVANT IN MY LIFE?
Everything is a creation of God, so naturally everything can be used in His service.
It is only up to us to think carefully and use it. But at the same time there is a
tendency to justify things that are unacceptable using this concept of yukta vairagya.
Human mind always wants to do things, which it is not supposed to. Therefore
it is necessary that we discriminate everything using our intelligence and consult
seniors when there is confusion. For example, a man told a devotee that he also
offers everything to Krishna including wine. This is foolishness in the guise of yukta
vairagya. Basically the main point is discrimination while using this principle. Safest
way is to follow the footsteps of the acaryas and senior devotees who know what to
and what not to do.
Also a quick recap of the guru and his teachings.
GURU 8 - Serpent
How will you use the following in Krishna’s service?
2. If you get a 21” plasma T.V, will you accept
it?
___________________________
1. If your uncle gives you a farmhouse in a remote part of the
forest, how will you use it?
___________________________
3. If someone gives you a digital camera with high
zoom facility, what will you do with it?
___________________________