Hare Krsna,
There are many practical applications from this lesson (SB 10.20.9-20).
SB 10.20.9: The frogs, who had all along been lying silent, suddenly began croaking when they heard the rumbling of the rain clouds, in the same way that brāhmaṇa students, who perform their morning duties in silence begin reciting their lessons when called by their teacher.
Similarly, the devotees start strictly following the regulative principles and chanting of the Holy Name by the order of the spiritual master. Everyone is sleeping in the darkness of Kaliyuga, but when there is a great Ācārya like Srila Prabhupada, by his calling only, everyone takes to the study of the Vedas to acquire actual knowledge and executive of devotional service.
“During the rainy season, many small ponds, lakes and rivulets become filled with water; otherwise the rest of the year they remain dry. Similarly, materialistic persons are dry, but sometimes, when they are in a so-called opulent position, with a home or children or a little bank balance, they appear to be flourishing, but immediately afterwards they become dry again, like the small rivulets and ponds.” (Krsna; Chapter 19)
This teaches us that we should not take pride in accumulating material wealth and piety as they are temporary. Real wealth lies in cultivating Krsna consciousness and pure love for Krsna. This ocean of Krsna prema is endless unlike the ocean of material happiness which is no more than a drop of water in the endless ocean of bhakti rasa.
“According to the Vedic injunction, eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains this creation; therefore, He arranges for a supply of whatever is required for all living entities. When there is population increase, it is the business of the Supreme Lord to feed them. “(Krsna; Chapter 19)
This teaches us that we should not overly concern ourselves with bodily needs—such as food, clothing, and shelter—since these are provided by the Supreme Lord’s arrangement. The modern capitalist and consumerist mindset, however, cunningly brainwashes us into believing that resources are scarce, prompting us to hoard.
“In the rainy season, when the rivers swell and rush to the oceans and seas, they appear to agitate the ocean. High mountains, however, although splashed by torrents of rain, do not change; so a person who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if put into difficulties, is not embarrassed because a person who is spiritually advanced accepts any adverse condition of life as the mercy of the Lord, and thus he is completely eligible to enter into the spiritual kingdom.” (Krsna; Chapter 19)
Mountains can teach us a lot about tolerance through their steadfastness and endurance. They stand tall and unmoved in the face of storms, weathering harsh conditions over time without breaking down. Similarly, tolerance involves standing firm amidst challenges, conflicts, or differing viewpoints without being easily shaken or losing composure. Mountains show us the importance of patience, resilience, and accepting the ebbs and flows of life, just as they do with the seasons, allowing us to grow stronger through adversity while maintaining our peace and stability. It is important for devotees practicing Krsna consciousness to be steadfast like a mountain because challenges will inevitably come during the course of our bhakti.
“During the rainy season the roads, not being cleansed, became covered with grass and debris and were thus difficult to make out. These roads were like religious scriptures that brāhmaṇas no longer study and that thus become corrupted and covered over with the passage of time.” (SB 10.19.16)
Very instructive lesson for all of us. A devotee who is not accustomed to studying the scriptures (and especially Srila Prabhupada books) will eventually fall into the trap of maya. Similarly, the scriptures will also become neglected and corrupted when no longer studied by the devotees. It may reach a point where the scriptures will be hidden from human access as it happened with many scriptures in the past. I am very grateful we have a platform for studying and discussing Srila Prabhupada books, and advance in Krsna consciousness.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 