Category:Young Brahmanas
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda narrates the beautiful, historic pastime of Sākṣī-gopāla (the Witness Gopāla) to illustrate the power of pure devotion. The story centers around a poor, uneducated young brāhmaṇa who faithfully served a wealthy, aristocratic elderly brāhmaṇa on pilgrimage to Vṛndāvana. Impressed by this service, the old man promised his young daughter in marriage before the Gopāla Deity. When the old man's family later fiercely objected and his atheistic son tried to cheat the young brāhmaṇa out of the agreement, the young man returned to Vṛndāvana to ask the Lord to be his witness. Because the young brāhmaṇa had pure faith that the arcā-vigraha is non-different from Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Deity spoke to him, walked behind him to his home village, and personally testified to protect the religious principles of His devotees.
- Pure Service Attitude: The young brāhmaṇa did not serve the elderly brāhmaṇa for material gain or sense gratification, but simply to please a senior Vaiṣṇava, which naturally attracted the mercy of the Lord.
- The Sacred Promise: A promise made before the Supreme Personality of Godhead is absolute, and the young brāhmaṇa accepted the Lord as the ultimate witness to the marital agreement.
- Atheistic Opposition: Worldly prestige and aristocratic pride caused the elderly brāhmaṇa's family, particularly his atheistic son, to employ word jugglery to break the sacred vow.
- Absolute Faith in the Deity: Because of his advanced spiritual realization, the young brāhmaṇa knew the arcā-vigraha was not a mere statue of stone, but the Supreme Lord Himself who can speak and walk.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Sākṣī-gopāla Protects the Young Brāhmaṇa.
Pages in category "Young Brahmanas"
The following 61 pages are in this category, out of 61 total.
A
- After some time, the brahmana youth became very anxious. "He has promised to marry his daughter to me, and he made that promise before the Deity. Now he is not coming to fulfill it." He then went to see the old man to remind him of his promise
- After staying in Vrndavana for some time, they (old and young brahmanas) finally returned home, and the old man informed his eldest son that his young sister was to be married to the poor brahmana youth
- After the meeting, the young brahmana started for Vrndavana. Upon arriving there, he first offered his respectful obeisances to the Deity and then narrated everything in full detail
- After the young brahmana submitted this statement, the elderly brahmana remained silent. Taking this opportunity, his son immediately came out with a stick to strike the younger man
- After these talks, the two brahmanas started for home. As usual, the young brahmana accompanied the elderly brahmana as if the older brahmana were a guru (spiritual master) and rendered him service in various ways
- All the people of the village then called for the elderly brahmana and brought him to their meeting place. The young brahmana then began to speak before them as follows
- Although the young brahmana described himself as having no claims to aristocracy and being an uneducated common man, still he had one good qualification
- At that time the young brahmana said, "My dear gentlemen, please hear. Just to gain victory in an argument, this man is lying"
H
- He (son of the elderly brahmana) was saying (to his father) - Following this principle (not lying directly but like a diplomat), simply say that you do not remember anything and are completely unaware of the statements given by the young brahmana
- He (son of the elderly brahmana) was saying (to his father) - If you make the background like that (not lying directly but like a diplomat), I shall know how to fill in the argument and defeat him (the young brahmana) by word jugglery
- He (the brahmana youth) saw the statue standing still. Because he looked back, it would go no further. He immediately ran into the town and told the people to come out and see Krsna who had come as a witness
- He (the brahmana youth) was not thinking that the Gopala was a mere statue or image, but he considered Him to be God Himself. Suddenly the Deity spoke to him - How do you think that I can go with you? I am a statue. I can't go anywhere
- He (the young brahmana) believed that the Supreme Personality of Godhead was the topmost authority, he accepted the words of Lord Krsna without hesitation, and he had firm faith in the Lord’s consistency
- He (young brahmana) asked the elderly brahmana why he was proposing something unprecedented (asambhava). It was unheard of for an aristocratic person to offer his daughter to a person who was both uneducated and poor
- He (young brahmana) wanted only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the older brahmana, who was also a Vaisnava and very much devoted to the Lord
- He said, "My Lord, You are the protector of brahminical culture, and You are also very merciful. Therefore, kindly show Your great mercy by protecting the religious principles of us two brahmanas"
- Hearing the emphatic statement of the younger brahmana, some atheists in the meeting began to cut jokes. However, someone else said, "After all, the Lord is merciful, and if He likes, He can come"
- His (young brahmana's) only concern was that the elderly brahmana had promised something, and if Gopala did not bear witness to that transaction, then the older brahmana would incur a spiritual blemish
I
- If you simply say, 'I do not remember,' I shall take care of the rest. By argument, I shall defeat the young brahmana
- In essence, he (son of the elderly brahmana) was saying (to his father) - I shall save you from having to give your daughter to him (the young brahmana). In this way, our aristocracy will be saved. You have nothing to worry about
- In the presence of all the townspeople, Lord Gopala bore witness that the elderly brahmana had offered his daughter in charity to the young brahmana
- In this (CC Madhya 5.24) regard, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that the younger brahmana rendered service to the older one with the purpose of pleasing Krsna. It was not a matter of ordinary worldly dealings
- In this way (elder son accusing brahmana youth) there was much noise, and people began to gather. The youth could understand that the old man was still agreeable but that the family was making it difficult for him
- Indeed, the young brahmana always rendered service to the older one, and the old man, being very satisfied with his service, was pleased with him
- It (CC Madhya 5.89) was not for that reason that the young brahmana went to Vrndavana to ask the Supreme Personality of Godhead to act as a witness
- It was not at all the intention of the young brahmana to get the daughter of the elderly brahmana in marriage and thus enjoy material happiness and sense gratification
T
- Taking this opportunity, the elderly brahmana immediately confirmed that this was really true. He said, "If Gopala personally comes here to serve as a witness, I shall surely give my daughter to the young brahmana"
- The brahmana youth returned to Vrndavana and began to pray to Gopala Krsna. "Dear Lord, You must come with me." He was such a staunch devotee that he spoke to Krsna just as one would speak to a friend
- The dealings between a devotee and the Lord are very simple. The young brahmana said to the Lord - You know everything, but if You do not bear witness, You will be involved in sinful activities
- The Deity said, "I will follow you, and you will know that I am following by the jingle of My leg bangles." The youth agreed, and in this way they left Vrndavana to go to the other town
- The elder son came out & began to accuse the brahmana youth. - You have plundered my father in the place of pilgrimage. You gave him some intoxicant & took all his money, & now you are saying, he has promised to offer you my youngest sister. You rascal
- The elderly brahmana belonged to an aristocratic family and was learned and wealthy. The young brahmana belonged to an ordinary family and was uneducated. But these mundane qualifications do not concern a nitya-siddha engaged in the service of the Lord
- The elderly brahmana considered how to get out of this situation (described in CC Madhya 5.16-78) and still offer his daughter to the young brahmana. His son, an atheist and a very cunning fellow, was thinking of how to stop the marriage
- The elderly brahmana said, "If I do not give my daughter to the young brahmana, he will call Sri Gopalaji as a witness. Thus he will take my daughter by force, and in that case my religious principles will become meaningless"
- The father and son were thinking in a contradictory way, yet Krsna created a situation wherein they agreed. They both agreed that if the Gopala Deity would come and serve as a witness, the daughter would be given to the young brahmana
- The next day, the elderly brahmana was thinking deeply about this matter when the young brahmana came to his house
- The young brahmana came to him and offered respectful obeisances. Then, very humbly folding his hands, he spoke as follows
- The young brahmana continued, "My dear Sir, You are very merciful and You know everything. Therefore, kindly be a witness in this case. A person who knows things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful activities"
- The young brahmana replied, "My dear sir, even if You appear there as a four-handed Visnu Deity, still, none of those people will believe in Your words"
- The young brahmana said, "You have a wife and sons, and you have a large circle of relatives and friends"
- The young brahmana then said, "Will all you gentlemen present please hear me? This elderly brahmana is certainly truthful and is following religious principles"
- The young brahmana then went to the town and informed all the people about Gopala's arrival. Hearing this, the people were struck with wonder
- The young brahmana took this opportunity to speak: "Please write this down on paper in black and white so that you may not again change your word of honor"
- The young brahmana walked and walked in this way until he eventually arrived in his own country. When he neared his own village, he began to think as follows
- The young brahmana wanted protection and help from the Deity. The young brahmana was thus a pure Vaisnava, and he had no desire for sense gratification
- The younger brahmana replied, "If you have decided to give your young daughter to me, then say so before the Gopala Deity"
- The younger brahmana replied, "My dear sir, please hear me. You are saying something very unusual. Such a thing never happens"
- Then the younger brahmana addressed the Deity, saying, "My dear Lord, You are my witness. I shall call for You to testify if it is necessary later on"
- This is an instance of a marriage negotiation between an elderly brahmana & a youthful one. The elderly brahmana was certainly willing to give his daughter in charity to the young brahmana, but his son & relatives became impediments to this transaction
- Thus I (the young brahmana) have called upon a great personality in this transaction. I have asked the Supreme Godhead (Saksi-gopala) to be my witness. The entire world accepts the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
W
- Well, if a statue can speak, he can also walk, - the boy (brahmana youth) replied. "All right then," the Deity said finally. - I shall go with you, but on one condition. In no case shall you look back to see Me
- When the trip was nearly over, just as they were about to enter his home village, the youth could no longer hear the sound of the bangles, and he began to fear. "Oh, where is Krsna?" Unable to contain himself any longer, he looked back
- While Gopala followed the young brahmana, the tinkling sound of His ankle bells could be heard. The brahmana became very pleased, and he cooked first-class rice for Gopala to eat