24 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI
world is present in Srimad-Bhagavatam. It includes literature, poetry,
astronomy, philosophy, religion, and love of Godhead. Srimad-bhaga-
vatam pramanam amalam. If one simply reads Srimad-Bhagavatam, he
gains the topmost education, for if one studies Srimad-Bhdagavatam he
will be well versed in every subject matter. Even if one does not under-
stand a single word of the mantras of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the vibrations
themselves have such power that simply by chanting one will be purified.
Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. The word punya
means ‘‘pious,” sravana means ‘‘hearing,”’ and kirtana means ‘‘chant-
ing.’’ One who chants or hears the verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam be-
comes pious automatically. To become pious one generally has to
endeavor a great deal, but if one simply hears the verses of Srimad-
Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita one becomes pious automatically. There-
fore it is a rigid principle in every temple of our Krsna consciousness
movement that there must be a daily class for hearing and chanting. Our
movement is meant for training spiritual leaders, but without hearing
and chanting it is impossible to become a leader. Of course, in the ma-
terial world it is possible, but not in the spiritual world.
mali hafia sei bija kare dropana
Sravana-kirtana-jale karaye secana
(Cc. Madhya 19.152)

Hearing and chanting waters the seed of devotional service, which
develops one’s original consciousness.

So here, in these prayers, Kuntidevi, a great devotee, is giving us an
opportunity to become Krsna conscious simply by concentrating our
mind on pankaja, the lotus flower. Panka means ‘‘mud,”’ and ja means
“‘generate.”’ Although the lotus flower is generated from mud, it is a
most important flower, and Krsna likes it very much. Kuntidevi
therefore describes all the parts of Krsna’s body with reference to lotus
flowers, so that as soon as one sees a lotus flower one will immediately
think of Krsna: ‘‘Oh, Krsna’s navel is just like a lotus, and from Krsna’s
navel grew the stem of the lotus upon which Brahma, the creator of this
universe, was born. This universe includes so many planets, seas, moun-
tains, and cities with motorcars and other paraphernalia, but the entire
universe began from that lotus.”’

Namah pankaja-maline. From Krsna comes the wonderful lotus flower
that contains the seed of the entire universe. But He is not the source of
only one such flower. Krsna is not so poor that He simply produces one
lotus flower and then is finished. No. Just as there may be a garland with
