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Distress has three causes: (1) ppam sin, (2) bja material desires, and (3)
avidy ignorance, the root cause.
rla Rpa Gosvm will explain that devotional service is the best means of obtaining
relief from distress, because it is the only process that can counteract all three causes.
A disease caught early is curable, but is far more difficult to counteract if allowed to become chronic. Similarly,
sinful reactions are more difficult to counteract once they become manifest. Devotional service, however, can remove
even manifest sinful reactions and the suffering they bring.
Ppam
Devahti explains that by practicing devotional service even
sinful
action
someone born in the lowest family of dog-eaters becomes qualified
to perform the highest brahminical sacrifices. 1 The behavior of those
Aprrabdha Prrabdha
born into degraded families disqualifies them from performing Vedic
unmanifest reaction manifest reaction
sacrifices. Devahti points out that even slight engagement in
devotional service can counteract the disqualifications incurred by a
low birth.
One's birth is a tangible result of karma a manifest reaction (prarabdha-papam). Thus Devahti's statement is
stric evidence that devotional service can counteract prarabdha-papam.
Unmanifest Sinful Reactions (Aprarabdha-Papam)
Devotional service is like a blazing fire, able to consume limitless amounts of unmanifest sinful reactions. rla
Prabhupda says, ...as the blazing fire can burn any amount of fuel to ashes, so devotional service to the Lord in
Ka consciousness can burn up all the fuel of sinful activities.
How Unmanifest Reactions Cause Suffering.
Previously, we said that sinful activity causes two types of reaction: manifest and unmanifest. We will further clarify
this statement.
A sinful action generates two types of unmanifest
reactions. One type creates direct physical or emotional
suffering. The other type creates indirect suffering by
increasing one's sinful proclivities.
Ppa
Sinful Action
Aprrabdha (1)
unmanifest reaction
Prrabdha
direct physical or
emotional suffering
Aprrabdha (2)
unmanifest reaction
Kam
indirect suffering - by
increased sinful proclivity
In The Nectar of Devotion (page 6), rla Prabhupda denotes the four stages with the following terminology: aprrabdha the
effect which is not yet fructified, ka almost ready to produce seed, or the effect of seed, bja The effect which is
almost mature, and prrabdha The effect which is already mature.
The following illustration may help clarify the subtle distinctions between these four stages:
As a result of some sinful act, a man is destined to become a thief and suffer
punishment. However, this reaction is not immediately felt it is stored for a
future birth (this is the stage of aprrabdha). In his next life, the reaction begins
Aprrabdha
to manifest as an almost unnoticed proclivity towards dishonesty and cheating
unm anifest reactions (this is the stage of kam). This proclivity gradually intensifies and eventually
manifests an explicit desire to steal (this is the stage of bja). Finally, this desire
Ka
causes the man to commit theft and undergo the consequential suffering (this is
sinful inclination
the stage of prrabdha).
Ppam
sinful action
Bja
sinful desire
Prrabdha
m anifest reaction rla Rpa Gosvm described the first cause of suffering (ppa) in all its
He quotes the Visnuduttas (SB 6.2.17), who explain that many processes can
neutralize the reactions of sinful activities, but only devotional service can uproot sinful desire which is the cause
of sinful activity.
rla Prabhupda elaborates by citing Ajmila. In spite of his strict performance of brahminical duties, sinful
desires remained in Ajmila's heart and caused him to succumb to sinful life. Later, the simple devotional service of
chanting "Nryaa" uprooted all his calamities, although he was in the midst of sinful activities.
Vedic rituals like charity and austerity can neutralize sinful reactions, but they cannot neutralize sinful desire. rla
Prabhupda gives two illustrations: (1) a person may be cured of venereal disease by some painful medical treatment,
but because sex desire remains in his heart he again implicates himself in suffering; (2) an elephant may carefully
bathe in a lake, but upon returning to the land immediately covers himself again with dirt.
Devotional service can uproot even sinful desire, and is therefore the best method for attaining relief from suffering
Avidy Ignorance
The root cause of suffering is avidy ignorance of one's true identity as Ka's eternal servant. In ignorance, one
acts as an enjoyer and suffers the concomitant reactions. rla Prabhupda says, As long as one is ignorant about
his identity, he is sure to act wrongly and thereby become entangled in material contamination
Uprooting ignorance is the best way to uproot suffering. Only devotional service can uproot all ignorance.
rlaRpa Gosvm authenticates this by quoting Padma Pura and rmad-Bhgavatam (Fourth Canto).
rla Prabhupda's summarizes the quotation from Padma Pura, Pure devotional service in Ka consciousness
is the highest enlightenment, and when such enlightenment is there, it is just like a blazing forest fire, killing all the
inauspicious snakes of desire (page 8). In this quotation, rla Prabhupda expresses the Sanskrit word avidyam as
"desire." One usually translates avidyam as ignorance. Accordingly, rla Prabhupda clarifies, Similarly, the
blazing fire of Ka consciousness is so strong that the snakes of ignorance are immediately killed (page 8).
Conclusion
Devotional service eradicates sinful reactions, nullifies sinful desires, counteracts material proclivities, and most
importantly uproots ignorance. Therefore it is the only efficient and effective way to achieve permanent relief
from all suffering.
Avidy
IGNORANCE
Bja
sinful desire
Ka
sinful disposition
Ppam
sinful action
Aprrabdha
unmanifest reaction
Prrabdha
manifest reaction
The devotees, who are always engaged in the service of the toes of the lotus feet of the Lord, can very easily
overcome hard-knotted desires for fruitive activities. Because this is very difficult, the nondevoteesthe jns
and yogsalthough trying to stop the waves of sense gratification, cannot do so. Therefore you are advised to
engage in the devotional service of Ka, the son of Vasudeva.
pdme ca
ktnuytr-vidybhir hari-bhaktir anuttam |
avidy nirdahaty u dva-jvleva pannagm ||1.1.26||
Padma Pura says the following:
As the forest fire burns up the female snake demon, supreme devotion to the Lord quickly burns up avidy
completely by the knowledge (vidy) which accompanies it.