Narādhama - The Lowest of Mankind Bereft of Spiritual Consciousness
The term narādhama is a profound and sobering classification given by Lord Kṛṣṇa to describe individuals who neglect the prime duty of human life. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that having achieved the highly evolved human form, which is specifically designed for self-realization and returning to Godhead, a narādhama squanders this rare chance on temporary, materialistic pursuits.
The Definition of Narādhama
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the word nara means human being, and adhama means the lowest. A narādhama is considered the lowest of mankind because they willfully ignore the opportunity to understand their eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, choosing instead to remain bound to the miseries of material existence.
- Another class of duskrtina, or miscreant, is called the naradhama, or the lowest of mankind. Nara means human being, and adhama means the lowest.
- Human life is the best opportunity for the culture of spiritual knowledge, and a human being who does not take advantage of this opportunity is called a naradhama, the lowest of human beings.
- Naradhama means this life, human life, is an opportunity to understand how things are going on. But they do not take advantage.
- Whoever loses this chance (of reviving the lost consciousness of his eternal relation with the Supreme Truth, the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, who is all-powerful) is classified as a naradhama.
The Four Classes of Miscreants
In the Bhagavad-gītā (7.15), Lord Kṛṣṇa outlines the distinction between devotees and nondevotees by categorizing those who do not surrender to Him into four distinct groups. Among the sinful (duṣkṛtina), the foolish (mūḍha), and the illusioned (māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ), the narādhama stands out as the one who is lowest on the human scale due to their rejection of God.
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.15), the distinction between Vaisnava and avaisnava is enunciated: Anyone who is not surrendered to Krsna is a most sinful person - duskrti, a rascal - mudha, and the lowest of men - naradhama.
- The nondevotees have been described in Bhagavad-gita as duskrtinah (miscreants), mudhah (asses or rascals), naradhamah (lowest of mankind) and mayayapahrta-jnanah - those who have lost their knowledge to the power of the illusory energy.
- Another category mentioned in this verse (BG. 7.15) is mudha, fool number one. The naradhama is one who is low in the human scale, and mayayapahrta jnana refers to one whose knowledge is carried away by maya, or illusion.
The Uselessness of Godless Education
Modern society often equates academic and scientific advancement with success. However, if philosophers, scientists, or economists use their education to defy God, they are considered narādhamas. Their so-called knowledge is completely nullified by the illusory energy (māyā) because it fails to grasp the Absolute Truth.
- One may ask whether scientists, philosophers, economists and mathematicians are also naradhamas, the lowest of men, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead replies that they are because they have no actual knowledge.
- Mayayapahrta-jnana: his (naradhamah's) so-called education has no value, because his real knowledge has been taken away.
- When the whole population becomes naradhama, naturally all their so-called education is made null and void by the all-powerful energy of physical nature.
The Misuse of the Human Form
The human body is an invaluable vessel designed to cross the ocean of material suffering. A narādhama is heavily criticized because, despite having suffered through millions of lower species, they finally achieve a human form only to waste it on sense gratification, further embarrassing themselves in material bondage.
- All these materialists are described in Bhagavad-gita as naradhamas. They have attained the human form in order to get released from material bondage, but instead of doing so, they become further embarrassed amid the miserable material conditions.
- If in this human life the soul makes no attempt to alleviate his situation, even after learning how horribly he has suffered in millions of previous lifetimes, then such a person is certainly a miserable miser and naradhama.
- This human life was given to him for understanding Krsna, and he is wasting in other way. Therefore naradhamah. "But they are so educated, university degree . . ." Mayayapahrta-jnanah: "Their knowledge has no meaning. It is taken away by maya."
Widespread Degradation in Modern Society
In the current age, the strict reformatory processes (saṁskāras) meant to elevate human consciousness are largely ignored. As a result, the majority of the population engages in sinful activities like illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication, and gambling, effectively turning a civilized society into a civilization of narādhamas.
- No process (of reformatory ceremonies) is strictly followed now in any part of the world, and therefore 99.9 percent of the population is naradhama.
- The civilized human beings are those who have regulated principles of social, political and religious life. Those who are socially and politically developed, but who have no religious principles, must be considered naradhamas.
- Now, duskrtina, always committing sinful life. What is sinful life? Illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication, and gambling. Because they are addicted to these things they are duskrtina and naradhama, lowest of the mankind.
Deliverance Through Causeless Mercy
Even though a narādhama is condemned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is still hope. Such degraded persons can be rescued and transformed into saintly devotees (sādhus) solely by the causeless mercy of a pure vaiṣṇava and by chanting the holy names of the Lord.
- The naradhama who is condemned by the Personality of Godhead can again revive his spiritual consciousness only by the mercy of a devotee.
- Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is the incarnation of Godhead as divine master, delivered the typical naradhamas, the brothers Jagai and Madhai, and showed how the mercy of a real devotee is bestowed upon the lowest of mankind.
- The so-called sadhu, they are not sadhu. Sadhu means bhajate mam ananya-bhak. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah, bhajate mam ananya-bhak (BG 9.30). So by chanting this Hare Krsna mantra, even the lowest of the mankind, naradhama, he can become a sadhu.
- I (Prabhupada) am always very much pleased with your humble attitude, and a Vaisnava devotee of Lord Caitanya always thinks himself as naradhama, the lowest of mankind; although he is narottama, the best of the mankind.
Conclusion
The designation of narādhama serves as a powerful warning against the misuse of the human form of life. While modern society heavily emphasizes material advancement and secular education, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that without God consciousness, all such endeavors are useless, rendering the faithless individual the lowest of mankind. By neglecting their spiritual duties, the narādhamas remain trapped in the miseries of material existence, losing the rare opportunity to return back to Godhead. However, the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is fundamentally optimistic. Through the supreme compassion of Lord Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, and the pure devotees in the disciplic succession, even the most fallen narādhama can be elevated to the highest perfection of life simply by receiving their mercy and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Naradhama. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.