Hare Krsna,
My meditation topic has been on Bhavauṣadhāt which means “from the universal remedy.” This word reminded me of a famous verse from Mukunda Mala Stotra sung by King Kulasekhara.
Vyamoha-prasamausadham muni-mano-vrtti-pravrtty-ausadham
daityendrarti-karausadham tri-bhuvane sanjivanaikausadham
bhaktatyanta-hitausadham bhava-bhaya-pradhvamsanaikausadham
sreyak-prapti-karausadham piba manah sri-krsna-divyausadham
Translation: O mind, please drink the transcendental medicine of Sri Krsna’s glories. It is the perfect medicine for curing the disease of bewilderment, for inspiring sages to engage their minds in meditation, and for tormenting the mighty Daitya demons. It alone is the medicine for restoring the three worlds to life and for bestowing unlimited blessings on the Supreme Lord’s devotees. Indeed, it is the only medicine that can destroy one’s fear of material existence and lead one to the attainment of the supreme good.
As you see in the Sanskrit verse, the word ‘ausadham’ is repeated eight times. It says that the glories of Lord Krsna are the best medicine for curing the disease of bewilderment, great object of meditation for the sages, tormenting the demons, restoring the real life of the three worlds. It bestows unlimited blessings, destroys fear and leads to the highest goal.
This verse is similar to the first verse of Sri Siksastakam where it is mentioned that the chanting of the Holy Name also bestows the highest benefit.
“Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.”
Bhava means “material ocean of repeated birth and death.” Ausadham means “medicine.” The medicine of Krsna-katha. The glories of Krsna-katha can easily help the conditioned suffering souls to cross over the ocean of repeated birth and death. It’s a bit inconceivable to think that hearing the glories of Krsna can relieve us from all material sufferings. However, on pondering deeply, we can see that a simple medication can relieve us from pain and sickness even though we may not exactly know the ingredients of the medicine or how exactly it works within the body. Therefore, if a material medication can cure us, why would the spiritual medicine of Krsna-katha? The process of bhakti yoga is fully transcendental and inconceivable to a large extent.
An example can explain this point better. Before coming to Krsna consciousness, we had lots of bad habits and vices. We used to drink tea and coffee, consume fish and meat, and drink alcohol. We had little control over our tongue and mind. Lust, anger, and greed tormented us. However, by chanting the Holy Name, we gradually gave up these bad habits. This means that the Holy Name acts as a perfect medicine. Something that we struggled to give up came very easily with the Holy Name. Inconceivably the transcendental sound enters through the hole of the ears into our heart and purifies us.
In essence, chanting the holy name and glorifying the Supreme Lord are the universal remedy for all the miseries of materialistic life. The transcendental sound vibration of Lord Hari acts equally on everyone – those who are liberated, those who are trying to be liberated, and those entangled in sense gratification.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 