Sevonmukhe Hi Jihvādau – The Tongue as the Beginning of Devotional Service
While we often associate service with the work of our hands or the movement of our legs, the Vedic science of bhakti identifies the tongue as the actual starting point of spiritual life. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that our current material senses are "blunt" and incapable of perceiving the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, there is a specific methodology—sevonmukhe hi jihvādau—whereby the Lord reveals Himself through the tongue. By engaging this "greatest enemy" in the service of the Lord, the practitioner subdues the material propensities and paves the way for a direct, personal encounter with Kṛṣṇa.
The Principle of Jihvādau: Beginning with the Tongue
The phrase sevonmukhe hi jihvādau, cited from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.234), is a foundational pillar of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. It teaches that God-realization is not a result of "taxing the senses" through scholarship or mental speculation. Instead, it is a matter of the Lord revealing Himself to a soul who has adopted a sincere service attitude. Jihvādau specifically means "beginning with the tongue." Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that although we have many senses—eyes, ears, and touch—spiritual life must begin with the control and engagement of the tongue.
- Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Jihvadau. Jihvadau means "Beginning with the tongue." We have got senses, all senses - eyes, ears, touch - so many senses. But begin with the sense, tongue. Try to control the tongue and engage in Krsna's service.
- How to understand Krsna? That is recommended, sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. You have to engage your tongue first of all in the service of the Lord. The Krsna realization begins from the tongue.
- If you simply speculate, tax your senses to understand Krsna by so-called scholarship, that will not help you. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. You engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then He'll reveal.
Twofold Function of the Tongue
The engagement of the tongue in devotional service is simple yet profound. Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies two primary functions: vibrating the transcendental sound of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and tasting the sanctified remnants of food offered to Kṛṣṇa (prasādam). By chanting the Lord's names and accepting only prasādam, spiritual life "immediately begins." This dual engagement is so powerful that even a non-devotee who takes to these practices will gradually become a devotee, as the process purifies the heart and allows the Lord to manifest Himself.
- Devotional service begins from jihva, tongue. This tongue means can be utilized in devotional service in two ways, namely by chanting the holy name of God and by tasting prasadam.
- So if you engage your tongue for vibrating this transcendental sound, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare - Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and do not take anything except prasadam of Krsna, then your spiritual life immediately begins.
- Devotee or not devotee, by eating krsna-prasadam, he'll gradually become devotee. As yesterday I explained that krsna-bhakti begins from the tongue, If you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then Lord manifests.
Controlling the Greatest Enemy
Bhaktivinoda Thākura, a great ācārya, warns that the tongue is extremely difficult to control and is often the "greatest enemy." Many people are lead toward undesirable outcomes simply because they cannot regulate what they say or what they eat. Therefore, the first step in the bhakti-mārga (path of devotion) is to strictly follow the regulative principles by controlling the tongue. When the tongue is controlled through service, the other senses—which are led by the tongue—naturally become purified and easy to manage.
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, "It is very, very difficult to control the tongue." Therefore the tongue should be engaged in service of the Lord, beginning from the tongue.
- In the bhakti-marga, the path of devotional service, one must strictly follow the regulative principles by first controlling the tongue.
- Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau: (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234) when one utilizes the tongue in the service of the Lord, the other senses can become purified.
Perfection and Revelation
The result of properly engaging the tongue is the direct revelation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as Emperor Ambarīṣa attained perfect success by engaging his tongue in tasting Kṛṣṇa's food, any practitioner who remains mature in their service will eventually see Kṛṣṇa "eye to eye." Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that God is not exposed to non-devotees; He only reveals His form, His qualities, and His kingdom to those whose tongues are dedicated to kīrtanam and prasādam. This is not "blind faith," but a factual occurrence for those who follow the authorized process.
- Emperor Ambarisa adopted all the nine items (of devotion), and he attained perfect success. It was he who engaged his tongue in tasting the food offered to the Lord, his legs in visiting the temple of the Lord.
- We cannot see Krsna with our material eyes, nor hear about Him with material ears, nor touch Him with our hands; but if we engage our tongue in His service, He will reveal Himself, saying - Here I am.
- Feel separation of Krsna just like Radharani, as Lord Caitanya teaches us, and engage your tongue in the service of the Lord; then, one day, when you are mature, you'll see Krsna eye to eye.
- You cannot understand God by your present senses, kingdom of God. "But if you engage your service, beginning with the tongue, then God reveals." "God reveals" means He reveals His kingdom, He Himself.
Conclusion
The gateway to spiritual life is far closer than we might imagine; it begins with the tongue. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings on sevonmukhe hi jihvādau provide a practical and universal roadmap to God-realization. By subduing the unruly tongue through the dual service of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and honoring prasādam, the practitioner transcends material bluntness and attracts the mercy of the Lord. This active dedication transforms a potential "enemy" into a transcendental instrument, leading the devotee out of the clutches of māyā and into the direct, blissful presence of Kṛṣṇa.
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 Engaging Our Tongue in Devotional Service to God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.