Prajalpa from Bhaktyaloka

Some points that hit me while reading this essay written by Sri Bhakti Vinoda Thakur.

Talking with one another is called jalpana or prajalpa. Nowadays in this world godlessness is so prominent that conversing with others means godless talk. Therefore it is not profitable for a practicing devotee to engage in jalpana.

In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, as quoted from the Skanda Purana, it is said:

sa mrgyah sreyasam hetuh
panthah santapa-varjitah
anavapta-sramam purve
yena santah pratisthire
TRANSLATION One should strictly follow the easy path that the previous mahajanas have accepted. That path bestows great auspiciousness and is devoid of all misery.
Our mahajanas path is that which was shown by Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Prahlada Maharaja, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new puffed-up devotees. All the mahajanas have respected that prajalpa which nourishes devotion to Hari. We will discuss this in the appropriate place.

Godless prajalpas are impediments to devotional service. They are of many types. Useless talks, arguments, gossip, debates, fault-finding in others, speaking falsehoods, blaspheming devotees, and worldly talk are all called prajalpa.

Useless talk is extremely detrimental. Practicing devotees should discuss topics of Lord Hari in the association of other devotees and remember Haris name, form, qualities, and pastimes in a secluded place without uselessly wasting time.

Speech in the form of blaspheming sadhus is the source of great inauspiciousness. If one wants to attain devotion to Lord Hari, then he should make a vow like this: In this life I will never blaspheme sadhus. Devotees are sadhus. By blaspheming them, all ones virtues are destroyed.

By blaspheming the supremely pure Lord Mahadeva, Prajapati Daksa, the best of ascetics, met with severe inauspiciousness. As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.4.46):

ayuh sriyam yaso dharmam
lokan asisa eva
hanti sreyamsi sarvani
pumso mahad-atikramah
TRANSLATION My dear King, when a man persecutes great souls, all his benedictions of longevity, beauty, fame, religion, blessings, and promotion to higher planets will be destroyed.
The conclusion of this essay is this: Whatever prajalpa is not favorable for devotional service should be carefully given up by Vaisnavas who are cultivating bhakti. Amongst these instructions, the instruction to tolerate the urge to speak mentioned in the first

vaco vegam is only a conditional urge. By giving up prajalpa, the urge to speak is permanently regulated. In order to pass ones life without sin, one should not speak anything more than whatever little is necessary. One need discuss only whatever is auspicious for oneself and others.

If one wants to discuss topics of others, it will simply be useless speech. Therefore in the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.28.2) Lord Krsna instructed Uddhava as follows:

para-svabhava-karmani
yah prasamsati nindati
sa asu bhrasyate svarthad
asaty abhinivesatah
TRANSLATION Whoever indulges in praising or criticizing the qualities and behavior of others will quickly become deviated from his own best interest by his entanglement in illusory dualities.

Talking without reason about other people is extremely adverse to devotional service. Many people talk about others to establish their own reputation. Being envious, some people are accustomed to discuss others character.

The minds of those who are busy in such topics can never be fixed on the lotus feet of Krsna. Talking about others should be rejected in all respects.