"Birth And Death -- Transcending The Danger" 73/10/25 Bombay, Bhagavad-gita 13.26

Pradyumna: Translation: "Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death."

Prabhupada: So again Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is stressing on the point, how to avoid death. This is the whole scheme of Vedic knowledge, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9], but people have no knowledge. They have become just like animals. Animal, you take them to the slaughterhouse, they cannot do anything. They are becoming slaughtered. So people at the present moment, they are also being slaughtered by the laws of nature. But they do not know. As the animals do not know how to protect. They do not know. The animal thinks that "What can be done? I must be slaughtered." So the present civilization, also given to the laws of nature, being carried away by the waves of nature, and subjected to the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. No scientist can stop it. But still, they are very much proud of advancement. They do not know the real problem and how to solve it, but still, they are very much proud. Actual problem is this.

So even they do not know, they can hear. Just we are opening centers all over the world -- why? Just to give them the chance to hear. To hear. If people only come to these centers, these centers of spiritual knowledge, Krsna consciousness movement, hear the Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any so-called scholastic interpretation, all rascal, as it is, then they also can derive the benefit, so much so that they can also stop their repetition of birth, death, and old age. It is so nice thing.

Anye. Anye means general public, not very important men. Anye. Anye tu evam ajanantah. They do not know, because they are like animals, what is ksetra... Krsna is discussing in this chapter, what is ksetra, what is ksetra-jna, what is knowledge, what is knowable, what is prakrti, what is purusa. Who is studying all these things? There is not institution, no school, college, university, to study these things. They have medical college. Ksetra means this body. Idam sariram ksetram ity abhidhiyate. So they have little knowledge about this anatomical, physiological, condition of this body, but they do not know the ksetra-jna. Ksetra-jna they do not know.

They may know something, but Krsna says, ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam yaj jnanam tad matam mama. Unless you know the ksetra and ksetra-jna both, then your knowledge is imperfect. The medical man, very experienced medical man, attending a man on the deathbed, oxygen gas, injection, everything is supplied, but the man dies. And when he dies, the medical man says, "We cannot say what has happened. We have tried our best with the modern medical appliances, but we do not know what has happened." Therefore their knowledge is imperfect. They cannot say. They do not know that there is the soul, ksetra-jna, who has now left this body. Therefore it is nothing but a lump of matter.

Then purusa-prakrti. Prakrti is this material nature. Purusa, the living entity. The inferior purusa and the superior purusa. Anumanta upadrasta, the Supersoul, He is overlooking the activities of the jiva soul, and according to his karma, He is giving a different type of body, ksetra. Again he is working. Again he is creating another situation. This vast knowledge is unknown to the modern educational department. But here it is in the Bhagavad-gita. They can take advantage of it. But the fools and rascals will not take advantage. They will remain like animals in the ignorance, like cats and dogs. That is their business. So anyway, how to enlighten these cats and dogs? That is described here by Krsna. Anye. Anye tu evam ajanantah. General people, cats and dogs... I am not speaking cats and dogs. The sastra says. The sastra says,

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
[SB 10.84.13]

Go means cow, and kharah means ass. Anyone who is in this bodily concept of life, "I am this," "I am Indian," "I am American," "I am brahmana," "I am sudra," "I am fat," "I am thin," "I am white," "I am black," "I am male," "I am female," so many bodily concept of life -- the sastra says all of them are no better than the cows and the asses. Sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13]. Yasyatma-buddhih. This body is a bag made of tri-dhatus, kapha, pitta, vayu. Or a bag of flesh and blood and bones. I am not this. Aham brahmasmi. I am spirit soul. That is knowledge. But people have no such knowledge. Therefore they are called, according to sastra, go-kharah. Go means cows, animal, and kharah means ass. Sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13]. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape.

So generally people, at least at the modern age, they do not know. They have no information. Big, big professors. I have several times, I mean to say, repeatedly spoken to you that one professor Kotovsky in Moscow, he says... He is a big man of Indology, and he said, "Swamiji, after this body is annihilated, there is nothing. Everything is finished." This is their knowledge. Go-kharah, all go-kharah. We take immediately that here is another go-kharah, cow or ass, although he is posing himself as a big professor of Indology. Go-kharah. And the Bhagavad-gita also says, anye, "all common men." Or one who does not know. Anye tu evam ajanantah. They do not know what is this body, what is the occupier of the body, what is the purusa, what is the uttama-purusa, or the purusottama, or what is the field of activities, what is this prakrti, nature, how it is working. They do not know anything. Sa eva go-kharah [SB 10.84.13].

So for the go-kharas, these two-handed and two hands, two legs, go-kharas, for them this Krsna consciousness movement is being pushed on. So that the go-kharas may kindly come and hear Bhagavad-gita and see how the Deity is being worshiped, how Krsna is recognized as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By seeing only, by sitting only, by hearing only, they'll come. This is the chance. It is not idol worship, nonsensical. It is worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally. But one has to learn the art and the science about it. Therefore we are opening all over the world different centers so that these go-kharas can take advantage of this movement.

Otherwise why in this old age...? What is the use of fighting with Mr. Nair and take this land? Because we are anxious to open centers; people, the go-khara people may come and take advantage of it. That is our mission. We don't want that they remain go-kharas and lose the chance of this human body. Our mission is very big. The best welfare work. Other welfare activities, they keep them as go-khara, and promises all sorts of big, big promises. No, we do not say.

Our mission is to enlighten him, that he is not this body, he is spirit soul, there is Supersoul. Both the soul and the Supersoul are living in this body. The Supersoul is observing and the living entity is working. According to his work, he is getting the result, a different type of body. In this way, repeatedly he is taking birth and repeatedly he is dying. So one has to stop this repetition of birth and death. That is the perfection of life. That is the perfection. But they do not know how to stop this repetition, neither they do know that death can be avoided.

In the sastra [it] says, gurur na sa syat sva-jano na sa syat pita na sa syat. In this way, na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. A guru should not become a guru, a father should not become a father, a mother should not become a mother, nobody should become relatives, kinsmen, if one cannot save his son, his disciple, his friend, from the imminent danger of birth and death. The society should be like that. Everyone should be eager to save his friend, to save his son, to save his disciple from the imminent danger of birth and death. But they have no... Neither they do know how to stop it, neither they are interested. But that is the real problem, how to stop. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9].

So here Krsna said, anye tu ajanantah srutva, simply by hearing. If you hear from a realized person -- of course, interestedly, seriously -- then you can get benefit, srutva. Srutva anyebhya upasate. Just like it is very natural. Just like these children, they do not understand, or the children's father. Anyone. They do not understand. But if they come here and simply hear. The children, they are also chanting Hare Krsna, they are offering obeisances, they are offering a lamp, they are playing some instrument, all these things will never go in vain. It is being accounted. This is called ajnata-sukrti. By doing this, doing this, doing this repeatedly, one day becomes a great devotee. It doesn't require studying all the Vedic literatures. Simply if one is accustomed to this practice of devotional service and hears the vibration, Hare Krsna mantra... Simply by hearing.

It is said, srutva anyebhya upasate. These are upasana. You know or do not know, when you offer obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is immediately taken to your credit. "Oh, this living entity has now offered some respect." Immediately. It is so nice. And then, by hearing, heari...

Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was discussing with Ramananda Raya about this process of advancing in the spiritual life, so Ramananda Raya first proposed varnasrama -dharma.

varnasramacaravata
purusena parah puman
visnur aradhyate pantha
nanyat tat-tosa-karanam
[Cc. Madhya 8.58]

The varnasrama system, Vedic system, that is the beginning of human life. Those who are not in the jurisdiction of varna and asrama -- four varnas, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, and four asramas, brahmacari, grhastha, vana -- one who does not follow these principles, they are not considered as human being. They are animals, go-kharah. So real human life begins, accepting these principles of varna-asrama. So Ramananda Raya proposed that actual human life... Because human life is meant for realization of God. That is the only necessity, not to increase a type of civilization how instead of eating simple thing, how you can eat beef. That is not advancement of civilization. That is animalism. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etat pasu... What is that advancement? A flesh is eaten by tigers, dogs. So if you have learned how to eat flesh, does it mean that you advance in civilization? It is the business of tigers and dogs. The dog civilization.

So they are interested in advancing dog civilization, cat civilization, tiger civilization. Not human civilization. Human civilization is

varnasramacaravata
purusena parah puman
visnur aradhyate pantha
nanyat tat-tosa-karanam
[Cc. Madhya 8.58]

Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. The human civilization is how to advance to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu. Na te viduh. These rascals, they do not know.

Durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah. These rascals are interested to adjust things materially. That's all. Durasaya. It is called durasaya, which hope will never be fulfilled. Therefore it is called durasaya. The bahir-artha-maninah, external energy. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah [SB 7.5.31]. Andhah, blind leaders, they are leading other blind men. They do not know. They are under the stringent laws of material nature. What their program will fulfilled? Just like see, so many plans are being made, but the result is rice is selling at six rupees kilo. This is the result. The poor man... They are making so many plans, increasing wallet[?], [fault?] material comforts, but the poor man is still poor man. As I have several times told you, fifty years ago when I came to Bombay, I saw there are person care of foot path. Still there are under care of footpath.

So you cannot improve in that way. But you can improve the position of the living entities by giving them this knowledge, this Krsna consciousness knowledge, "What I am, what is this material world, or this nature, why I am suffering." The Bhagavata says therefore, tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah [SB 1.5.18]. You have many, many lives, bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. You have many species of life. But what you could not get in those lives you can get it now. Manusam. Durlabham manusam janma tad apy arthadam. In this human form of life, you can make the solution of the problems of this janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9].

Therefore Krsna says, te 'pi. Te 'pi means those who are sincere and seriously hearing about this Krsna consciousness message. Te 'pi. Simply by sitting down. You haven't got to study Sanskrit. To become, by becoming a Sanskrit scholar, that is good but it is not necessary also. Simply you have to hear the message. Te 'pi ca atitaranti, transcend, ca, they also. Simply by hearing.

So as I told you, Ramananda Raya, the discussion between Ramananda Raya and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Ramananda Raya proposed different steps of spiritual advancement, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Yes, this is good, but this is external. It is not very effective." Even sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], that also Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "It is also not effect." It is not effective for these go-kharas. Otherwise it is effective. But in the beginning, they cannot. Otherwise in the Bhagavad-gita it is plainly said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam [Bg. 18.66]. Who is taking it? Nobody is taking it. Therefore it is not effective for the go-kharas. It is effective for one who is actually human being, but they are not human being. They are all rascals, go-kharas. Therefore it is not effective.

If you instruct a dog, "My dear dog, please surrender to Krsna," will he do that? So similarly, human being who does not surrender, he is no better than the dog. What is the difference between dog and this human being, go-kharas? The cats, the dogs, they cannot do it. And if you human beings, they cannot do also, then what is the difference? Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etat pasubhir naranam. Simply eating, sleeping, sex life and defending. These are common things of the cats and dogs and the human beings. The human being is specially benefited when he surrenders to Krsna. Otherwise he is cat and dog.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew that these cats and dogs, they are so degraded, they cannot understand what is the meaning of surrendering to Krsna. They cannot understand. Therefore He said, eho bahya, age kaha ara: "This is external. Please speak more, something effective." So when Ramananda Raya said, jnane prayasam udapasya namanta... This is a statement given by Brahma. Jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva san-mukharitam vartam, bhavadiya-vartam, sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir ye prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyam.

When he proposed this verse, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Yes, this is nice. This is nice." What is that meaning? Jnane prayasam udapasya. Because you are no better than an animal, so what is the value of your speculative knowledge? Jnane prayasam. Don't endeavor in this speculative way. Jnane prayasam udapasya. Give it up. Namanta eva. Just become namra humble, humble and meek. Lord Jesus Christ also said, "The Kingdom of God is for the humble and meek."

So namanta eva san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam. Just try to hear the message of God from realized soul. San-mukharitam bhavadiya-var... Simply hear. Then sthane sthitah, you remain in your position. It doesn't matter what you are. You remain in... Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. Kindly give aural reception to the words, authoritative words, of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, like that. Then... God is called ajita. Nobody can conquer. Krsna is... Another name is Ajita. He becomes jita, conquered, simply by hearing from him. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. There are many such verses in Bhagavata also.

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
[SB 1.2.17]

When you begin to hear about Krsna, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah, so Krsna is within your heart. He immediately becomes alert. Oh, this man, this human being, is now hearing." Srnvatam sva..., punya-sravana-kirtanah. If you simply hear, even if you do not understand what it is being spoken...

Just like the children. They do not understand anything, but they are hearing. They are sitting. They are hearing. Or some woman, they do not understand I am speaking in English. But because they are hearing, it is punya-sravana-kirtanah, they are acquiring it piety. Acquiring. This is called ajnata-sukrti, piety acquired without knowledge, ajnata-sukrti. Punya-sravana-kirtanah. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. Sravana-kirtana. One is hearing and one is chanting. Both of them becoming pious. Punya-sravana-kirtanah. Hrdy antah-sthah... And the more you become pious in this way, then all the dirty things within your heart will be cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12].

Therefore Krsna here says, te 'pi ca atitaranti eva mrtyum. He can also conquer over mrtyu. What to conquer over mrtyu, he can conquer over Ajita, who is never conquered by anyone. Ajita jito 'py asi.

So these things are there. We should take advantage of the sastras, Vedic knowledge. It is India's property. Everything was cultivated in India, but because andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31], our rascal leaders, they are leading these andhas, they are not interested. They are not interested. They are now interested how to eat meat and drink wine. Very horrible condition of India. Those who are responsible persons, they should take note of it and try to spread Krsna consciousness movement as far as possible. That will be beneficial for all the people in general and the preachers preachers also. This is our movement. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 13.26 -- Bombay, October 25, 1973