Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.23
Hawaii, January 19, 1974
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Pradyumna: (leads chanting,
etc.)
yadvamba te bhuri-bharavatara-
krtavatarasya harer dharitri
antarhitasya smarati visrsta
karmani nirvana-vilambitani
Translation: "O mother earth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari incarnated Himself as Lord Sri Krsna just to unload your heavy burden. All His activities here are transcendental, and they cement the path of liberation. You are now bereft of His presence. You are probably now thinking of those activities and feeling sorry in their absence."
Prabhupada: So Dharmaraja is suggesting so many things why mother earth in the shape of a cow was morose. He was suggesting so many. So one of the suggestion is that "Krsna was present. Now He's not present. Therefore you are so morose." So Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
[Bg. 4.7]
Krsna incarnates when there is discrepancies in the matter of discharging religious principles. Just like, when there is discrepancy in the discharge of law and order, the government takes special measure, what is called, that? A special law?
Devotees: Martial law.
Prabhupada: Not martial. There is another word. Martial law is also one of the emergency law. So anyway, the nature's arrangement is like that. Just like children, they're allowed to play, but under certain condition. So we all, we are all children of God, Krsna. So we have come hear to enjoy, to lord it over the material nature. That is the tendency. So Krsna has given us the facility. Just like in the beach, there are many young men who are playing in the sea with surf, but still, the government has watch over it. Government's duty is that they may not be drowned.
So here it is risky. We have come here to enjoy. Actually, we are not meant for enjoying. We are meant for serving. Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, jivera svarupa haya -- nitya-krsna-dasa: [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109] "Our real identity is to serve, to remain under the protection..." We are always under the protection, this way or that way, but we are thinking falsely that we are free. We are not free. Krsna is taking care of us. He has allowed us, "All right, you have come here. Try to satisfy yourself, but there are certain rules and regulations." If you break those rules and regulations, for your interest Krsna takes measures.
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
[Bg. 4.7]
So here Krsna came, and this incident took place after disappearance of Krsna. Kali-yuga entered after disappearance of Krsna. Pariksit Maharaja was also very vigilant. The Pandavas, they left their kingdom because they could understand that Kali-yuga has already entered. So bhuri-bharavatara-
This material world is devi-dhama, under the... You have seen the picture of Durga. So material nature is also devi, devi-dhama. And mahesa-dhama. Above this, there is mahesa-dhama, the region of Lord Siva. Devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu. Then the Vaikunthas. And the topmost is krsna-dhama. That dhama, or that universal system, that is very, very big, many times. This material universe is considered one fourth creation. It is one... Ekamsena sthito jagat. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, "This material world is one fourth creation of God." And the three-fourth creation is the spiritual world. Just imagine. This material world, this universe, which you are seeing, the big sky, dome, this is one universe. That is also stated. We get all this information from Vedic literature. This universe is only one single universe, and there are so many planets, stars. These are all stated in the Brahma-samhita. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Jagad-anda-koti. Jagad-anda means universe, and koti means millions, 100,000 one hundred times.
So yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Jagad-anda means this one universe, and anda... Anda means egg. Therefore it is called jagad-anda, "egglike, round." We are within the egg. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. There are millions of eggslike clustered together. This is material world. Millions, not one. And each universe... Kotisu vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam. In each universe there are millions and trillions of stars and planets. Kotisu vibhuti-bhinnam. And each one of them is different from the other. Just like you are going to, trying to go to the moon planet, but you cannot stay there because the atmosphere is different. Everything is there. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisu vasudhadi [Bs. 5.40]. Vasudha means planets. This is also called vasudha, this planet. So just imagine what insignificant this vasudha in comparison to the whole material world. There are millions of universes, and in each and every universe there are millions and trillions of the stars and planets. This is the whole creation of material world. And taking them together, this is one-fourth creation of God. The three-fourths creation is the spiritual world, and in that spiritual world, the topmost planet is called Goloka Vrndavana. That is the place of Krsna.
So Krsna comes down from there; therefore, avatara: "comes down." Therefore He's called avatara. Or any Visnu incarnation who comes down, they come down from the higher planetary system. Therefore it is called avatara. Incarnation means avatara who comes down from higher position. Therefore, here it is said, krtavatarasya hareh. Hareh, "of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Hari, hari means "who takes away all your miserable conditions." Hari, haran, harati. Harati means take away. He comes here just to give you benediction, to save you from all kinds of miseries. Therefore His name is Hari. Yasyaham anugrhnami, er, yasya aham anugrhnami, anugrhnami... I forget now. Krsna says that "When I shows to somebody special favor, I take away all his possessions." That is special favor.
This question was asked by Yudhisthira Maharaja, no, Pariksit Maharaja to Sukadeva Gosvami. Yasyaham anugrhnami, harisye dhanam. Because here in this material world, the more we possess material wealth, it is our bondage. Aham mameti [SB 5.5.8]. Because our bondage is we are entrapped here by material opulences. Material opulences are not very good for spiritual advancement. Just the Western people, they are materially advanced. They possess... They do not possess, but their energy is utilized for converting things from one shape to another, that much, the energy being wasted. It is good credit for you, materially, that you have so nice cars, nice skyscraper buildings, and so many nice things you have created. That is good credit -- good credit materially. Spiritually, it is not good credit. Spiritually, it is waste of energy, waste of energy. Because however nicely you have made all these material facilities, amenities, you cannot stay here. You cannot... You have got a certain amount of energy. So that energy is meant for some other purpose. So your energy not being utilized for the real purpose of life, if you utilize it for increasing your so-called material happiness... Actually, they have not become happy. Otherwise, why so many young boys and girls, they are disappointed? Because this kind of advancement will not make us happy. That is a fact. Therefore, if you waste your energy for things which are not wanted, then you are not advancing, you are being defeated. That they do not know.
That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jato yavan na jijnasata atma-tattvam. Parabhava. Parabhava means defeat. Tavat, "so long." All activities of the materialistic person are simply defeat. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jatah. Abodha. Abodha means fools, rascals, ignorant, born foolish rascals, ignorant. We are all born foolish. So if we are not properly educated, then we remain fools and rascals, and the activities of fools and rascals, this is simply waste of time. Because... What is called? Busy rascals, busy rascal. If a rascal is busy, that means he's simply spoiling the energy. Just like monkey. Monkey is very busy. Of course, according to Mr. Darwin, they are coming from monkey. So monkey's business is simply waste of time. He's very busy. You'll find always busy. So the busy fool is dangerous. There are four classes of men: lazy intelligent, busy intelligent, lazy fool and busy fool. (laughter) So first-class man is lazy intelligent. Just like you'll see the high court judges. They're very lazy and most intelligent. That is first-class man. They are doing everything very soberly. And the next class: busy intelligent. Intelligence should be used very soberly. And the third class: lazy fool -- lazy, at the same time, fool. And the fourth class: busy fool. Busy fool is very dangerous. So all these people, they're busy. Even in this country, everywhere, all over the world, not this country or that country. They have discovered this horseless carriage -- very busy. "Ons, ons," (imitates cars' noise) this way this way, this way. But actually, they are not intelligent. Busy fool. Therefore they are creating problems after problems. That's a fact. They are so busy, but because they are fools, therefore they are creating problems. This is fact. Even the animals, lower than the human beings, they have no problem.
What is the problem? First of all, we have got some physical necessities. So ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna. Our physical necessity is that we want to eat. That is necessary to maintain this body, ahara. Nidra, rest. We must have some rest also. So ahara-nidra-bhaya. Bhaya means being, to become afraid of. That is material nature. We are always afraid of. Therefore we have military strength. Your country is very busy in that way, how to protect. Everyone should be, protection. We also sleep at night, closing the door because we are afraid of burglars and others, so many dangers. So that is also required, to take protection from enemies. Ahara-nidra-bhaya, and maithuna, and sexual intercourse. These are physical necessities. So these physical necessities, if you study, they, amongst the animals, they have no problem. But as yesterday we were talking, in the human society, they have created problem. Nobody knows where to eat. These hotels means, increase of number of hotels means that people have no place to live. They have no fixed place to live. Today in this hotel, the next day, another hotel. The so many restaurants means people have no fixed place where to eat. The solution... In India still, because they are not so materially advanced, even the poorest man has got some certain fixed up place, his cottage, he has got his wife, he has got his child, and he works, whatever he can do. He lives peacefully still, in the village, although he hasn't got very gorgeous dress and motorcar. But he's peaceful. You'll find still. And sometimes, say, about ten years ago, I was in Ahmedabad. I saw one poor man, he was pulling cart, hand cart. What is called?
Devotees: Rickshaw.
Prabhupada: No, not rickshwa. For carrying loads...?
Devotees: Wheelbarrow.
Prabhupada: Anyway, we call thela, in India. So the thela, in that cart there was sufficient load. So one side of the thela there was the wife, and the other side was the husband, and they had a little child, and that child was put up on the load. You see? And they were pulling. That means the husband and wife, working as God has given them to work. So they're working, taking care of the child. So after earning money, they'll go home. They have got a little cottage, and the wife will cook, the husband will eat, and they're peaceful. They're peaceful. It doesn't matter whether first-class eating, second-class... It doesn't matter. But still, they have got a home, and there they live peacefully. The wife cooks for the husband, and the husband eats, and the child is also taken care. It is not killed. There is peaceful. Peacefulness there is.
But here, the advanced civilization, the mother is killing the child, abortion. You see? Still, it is called advancement. Mother's duty is to take care of the child, motherly affection. Woman is meant for that. And now the problem is the mother doesn't want children. You see? And to avoid children, they are killing. Regularly they are killing. So what is the use of this civilization? Because you are becoming implicated in sinful activities, and therefore you'll have to be punished. You cannot escape the punishment of God as you can escape the punishment of the state. No. You have no right to kill even an ant without any purpose, without any sanction. So they do not know.
Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, bharam udvahato vimudhan. Prahlada Maharaja, great devotee, so he was offered by Nrsimhadeva benediction, "My dear Prahlada, you have suffered so much for Me from your father's side. He has chastised you in so many ways because you are My devotee. Now your father is killed. That is finished. Now you take whatever benediction you want from Me." Prahlada Maharaja said, "My Lord, I have no problem, so why shall I ask You for anything? I have no problem." Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyah: "Everyone has got problem in this material world. They're trying to overcome the problem. But I have no problem." Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-
So that Prahlada Maharaja said, that "I have no problem." That is pure devotee. "Then... But you seem to be very unhappy. Why?" "Yes, still, I am unhappy." What is that? Soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan: [SB 7.9.43] "I am unhappy for these rascals, these rascals. These rascals, they have created a huge mode of civilization for temporary happiness, temporary happiness." That is not happiness. Maya-sukhaya. Maya, illusion. Just like you have created these skyscraper buildings. That's nice, very nice. Very good boy. Now, is there any guarantee that you shall be able to live here? Have you made any arrangement? Eh? Where is that arrangement? Just like, if you earn millions of dollars, but to keep that money, you keep in a safe custody, in a bank, so that you're assured that your money is safe and you'll be able to use it. Similarly, you have created this material civilization, very advancement. That is all right. But whether you have made any security arrangement that you'll be able to enjoy them? Is there any arrangement? Eh? This requires little brain. Because at any moment we may be kicked out of the situation. There is no guarantee. At any moment. Suppose with hard labor you create something for living. Everyone wants at old age to live very peacefully, comfortably. There must be some good bank balance, a very nice house. But where is that guarantee? That they do not understand. Therefore they are called abodha-jatah. If after creating so many things for material enjoyment, if you are kicked out... But therefore they do not accept the next birth. Because it is very horrible. Because if they understand that "I have done all these things by sinful activities, these material..., and I'll have to suffer in my next life...," they'll, they'll not do.
But therefore they do not believe next birth or soul. They try to forget it. This kind of forgetfulness means... I have already given several times. The rabbit, when they find some hunter, they close their eyes, yes, as if the hunter has gone away. But that is not the fact. That is his foolishness. Simply by closing the eyes, he's thinking, "Now I am safe." So these materialistic persons, denying the next birth, denying sinful activities, denying God, they're closing their eyes, that "There is no danger. Let us go on doing all this nonsense." But that will not save. That will not save. [break] He's seeing everything. He's seeing everything, not as a policeman but as a friend, that He is recording that "You want to do it? All right, I'll give you this facility. I'll give you facility." Because within the mind you are creating so many ideas for enjoyment, Krsna is noting, "Yes, you'll have it. You'll have it. Just wait. Next life, next life, next life." In this way we are going. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. We are placing our program... Because His name is anumanta. Without His sanction, you cannot have anything. Just like I am moving this hand. It is by His sanction. As soon as He stops His sanction, immediately paralyzed. And still, we are proud, "I have got my hand. I have got my eyes." What is the use of your eyes? Unless God helps you to see, what is the value of your eyes? Practically you see. Unless there is sunshine, what is the value of your eyes? So but still, are so fool, we are thinking, "Can you show me God?" And what power you have got to see. First of all consider. Then you'll see God. You cannot see even what, ordinary things, what to question of seeing God.
So this is called foolishness. He does not consider that "I am seeing under certain conditions, and if still..., I am so much proud of possessing my eyes." This is called foolishness, abodha-jatah. And In the Upanisads it is said that "When God sees, you can see." So your seeing is subordinate to the seeing power of God. Just like yac caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam. When the God sees by His eyes, the sun, then you can see. As soon as the sun is not there, then where is your power of seeing? So why you are so much proud of seeing? No. That is not possible. In every respect, we are simply dependent on the mercy of God. So why not become directly dependent? That is intelligence. That is intelligence.
Therefore it is said, abodha-jata. These rascals, who have no sense what is what, to understand, the atheist class of men, abodha-jata, whatever they are doing, their so-called scientific advancement, material advancement, that is all their defeat, defeat, simply being defeated, simply creating problems. Even those problems are not existing in the society of birds and bees. You'll see. There may be big fire, but the birds are dancing in the street. They have no problem. Because they are living under condition as they have been offered by God. Similarly, if we also live God conscious... Atma-tattvam. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jato yavan na jijnasata atma-tattvam. Your only business is to inquire about the soul, about the spirit soul. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is the Vedanta-sutra. This human life is meant for only inquiring about the soul. That is the only business. And besides this, whatever you are doing, you are simply being defeated, abodha-jata, because you are all fools and rascals. And so long we'll make program how to become happy materially, your mind being absorbed in material things, not in the spiritual matter, you'll have to accept another body. This is your problem.
So Krsna comes, His avatara comes, His incarnation, to... Because we are very thickly, intimately, related, we are sons, we are part and parcel of Krsna, therefore He... Just like your father is always anxious to see you happy. If you are doing something wrong, he's more anxious than yourself. He knows that you are... A child is going to capture fire. The father, parents says, "No, my dear child, don't touch it. It is harmful." That is the duty, natural. So this, in this material world, we have come here, we are sons of God, part and parcel of God, and doing all nonsense. So Krsna is not happy; therefore He comes, avatara, avatara. He comes, "My dear child, why you are doing this?" And He advises, sarva-dharman parityajya: [Bg. 18.66] "Give up all this nonsense business. Come to Me. I shall give you protection." But we are so foolish rascal that we are prepared to become servant of the most abominable activities of our senses, but we are not prepared to surrender to Krsna and become His servant.
Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.
Sudama: Any questions?
Devotee (1): Prabhupada, when we're chanting on the street and the people walk by and hear us chant or we give them prasadam or they give a small donation, to what extent is the benefit they receive? They can go on walking by and hearing us chant.
Prabhupada: The benefit is... Just like the bank sometimes gives you a box, "Whatever little money you save, put it in this." And when it is filled up, it becomes a big amount. Similarly, these people, abodha-jata, rascals, if they little appreciate, "Oh, these people are nice," that is one asset. This is called ajnata-sukrti, accumulation of the result of pious activities. And when one is fully pious, at that time, he can understand what is God. So we are helping them, by and by, to advance in the matter of understanding God. This is our propaganda.
Bali-mardana: I believe I've heard you said in other lectures that a person who takes prasadam, even a plant or a..., any kind of living entity who takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human form of life. Is that correct?
Prabhupada: No, if he's devotee, then he'll come. But this taking of prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he believes that "This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God," if he understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as ordinary food, "All right, these people are distributing, prasa... Let me take it. It is very tasteful," that will give him chance to accept prasadam next, next, next... In this way, one day he'll come to the point that "This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff." Then he'll... There is guarantee. Because only the devotee can appreciate that "This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff. It is Krsna's remnant of..." Therefore, he understands Krsna. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. In truth, when he understands, then his life is guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice.
Sudama: Any more questions? Srila Prabhupada, you spoke about having a taste for hearing the kirtana or being engaged in the kirtana. Now, what is my position if I am chanting Hare Krsna mantra and I'm living in the association of the devotees, or I'm taking prasada, but I have no..., I lose a taste or I have no desire, but for lack of having anything else to do, I remain. So what is my position? How...?
Prabhupada: That is Krsna's grace, that you have no anything to do. You have to do it. (Laughter) That's a grace of Krsna. Yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih. Krsna has taken away everything. You have no other alternative than to remain here. (laughter) That is Krsna's special grace. And those who are thinking that "We can do something else besides Krsna," they are foolish. They are lost. Yes. But Krsna is so kind upon you that He has placed in a certain circumstances that you cannot go out. That is very good fortune. Yes.
Devotee (2): Prabhupada, how can one know whether he'll be going back home to Godhead in this life?
Prabhupada: Yes, believe in Krsna. He gives His word. Janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. Krsna says, "Anyone who understands Me in truth," tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9], "he doesn't accept any more material body; he comes to Me." That's it. The guarantee is there. So you try to understand Krsna. If you do not understand anything more, if you simply accept it without any hypocrisy, that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He'll protect me. Let me serve His lotus feet as far as possible," this much qualification is sufficient. But if you have got still doubt about Krsna, then you try to understand Krsna. Be without any doubt that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then your everything is guaranteed. Tattvatah. Therefore Krsna says, yo janati tattvatah. Where is Bhagavad-gita? Here? Eh? You should keep all these books ready for reference.
janma karma ca me divyam
yo janati tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti kaunteya
[Bg. 4.9]
This very fact. So we are spreading this Krsna consciousness movement just to make people... Yes? Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah.
Pradyumna: (reads Sanskrit) "One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna."
Prabhupada: Purport?
Pradyumna: "The Lord's descent from His transcendental abode is already explained in the sixth verse. One who can understand the truth of the appearance of the Personality of Godhead is already liberated from material bondage..."
Prabhupada: He's already liberated. If one understands this fact, that why God comes, if he is fully aware of the fact, he's already liberated, immediately. Go on.
Pradyumna: "... and therefore he returns to the..."
Prabhupada: Because without being liberated, one cannot understand God as He is. It is not possible. Because he has no perfect vision. Liberated means perfect knowledge, perfect vision. That is liberation. Yes?
Pradyumna: "Therefore he returns to the kingdom of God immediately after quitting this present material body..."
Prabhupada: Yes, immediately after giving up this body. The example is given in the sastras that if, when you walk... Just like the steps, like this. So this step is secure, the another step, when you feel it is secure, then you get up, get up this step. This is our practical experience. Similarly, unless our next birth is fixed up, we do not leave this body. At the time of death, by superior authority, what body I'm going to take next, that has to be decided. Then, when it is decided, if he takes little... Because that is for the most sinful person. And for the devotee, it is already decided. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9] -- immediately transferred to the spiritual world. Immediately. There is no question of decision; it is already decided. Krsna's decision. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9]. Therefore it is said, "A devotee..." Jivo va maro va: "A devotee, either you live or die, the same thing." Why? "You are living, you are serving Krsna. When you die, you go to serve Krsna. That's all." Jivo va maro va. Therefore they are called jivan-mukta. The same thing which he will do after death, he's doing the same thing here. Therefore he is jivan-mukta, liberated even in this material existence. Jivan-muktah sa ucyate. Iha yasya harer dasye: "One who is always thinking how to serve Krsna," jivan-muktah sa ucyate, "he's jivan-mukta." He's already mukta, liberated. Just like in government service there is civil service or administrative service. As soon as you are, you have passed your examination of the civil service, the civil post is ready, immediately. There is no delay; it is already there. Simply you go and take your seat. So what is that examination? Just try to understand what is Krsna. That's all. If you can understand this very fact... So you understand or not understand, if you have firm faith, if you take Krsna, "Yes, Krsna is the Supreme Personality," then your examination is passed. Just like fire. You understand what is fire or not understand, but if you catch fire, it will act. When you take fire, you do not try to understand what is the chemical composition of fire. Anyone who understands the chemical composition of fire, then takes to fire, that man, and a child who does not know what is the chemical composition, catches the action is the same. If you want to understand Krsna through philosophy, science and everything that we have got, that is also the same thing, and if anyone blindly accepts Krsna, the same thing. It doesn't matter. Because Krsna is Krsna. Yes?
Devotee (3): Prabhupada, you said that devotees, after becoming fully pious, have to take another birth in the material world and in somewhere where Krsna is performing His pastimes, before going back to Vaikuntha?
Prabhupada: There is no difference, because you approach Krsna. Tyaktva deham punar..., mam eti. "He comes to Me." Krsna, when He's there... Just like Krsna was on this planet. To live with Krsna and to go to Goloka Vrndavana and to live with Krsna, there is no difference.
Devotee (3): Is this birth we have now considered in Krsna's pastimes? This sankirtana movement is part of Lord Caitanya's pastimes?
Prabhupada: I do not follow.
Satsvarupa: Is this life, this present life, is this also being within Krsna's pastimes, because Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement is Krsna's pastimes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. If you actually remain with sankirtana, that means you are with Krsna. Therefore He's called jivan-muktah sa ucyate. He's liberated even in this body. He's liberated. Because Krsna and Krsna's name is not different. Absolute. Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya... If you have understood that Krsna's name and Krsna are the same thing, that, you are always living with Krsna, if you have understood this... Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Krsna is not different. Krsna's book, Krsna's words, Krsna's name, Krsna's fame, Krsna's glory, Krsna's entourage -- everything in relationship with Krsna -- that is Krsna. But if you have got that perfect knowledge, then you are living with Krsna, always. You are already in the Vaikuntha.
Sudama: Srila Prabhupada, then if I have Krsna's name and I understand that it is Krsna, then can I take it and go to the forest?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Sudama: Can I take Krsna's name and go to the forest and be...
Prabhupada: No, you can go to the forest. That is your interest. But if you try to distribute Krsna's name, that is more, I mean, valuable work. Because if you go to the forest, you take interest of yourself. But Krsna wants that you take interest for others also. That is greater service. Just like a soldier, he's also patriot, and another man is patriot. But the soldier who goes to fight forward for the state, his service is greater than this man. Because he has to face so many dangers for the country. Therefore during time of war, the government takes care of the soldiers first and the civilians, their eating, their supply is controlled. But the soldier's supply is never controlled because he is giving good, better service to the state. So you can go to the forest for your own interest. That is also good. But better work is to push forward Krsna's name. That is better service.
Krsna-caitanya: Srila Prabhupada, does that please you more?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Krsna-caitanya: Does that please you more?
Prabhupada: Yes, that will please Krsna. I have already... Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]. Those who are in the preaching work, they are very much recognized by Krsna. He says, "Nobody is dearer than him, one who is preaching, engaged in the preaching." You see in the Bhagavad-gita. So those who have stopped preaching work and easy-going imitation, that is not very good. Because how far he's advanced? Because he goes to the forest and he'll think of woman and money, what is the use? By his action, it will be proved. The same way, taking rest, sleeping, and doing everything whimsically. So Krsna knows everything. How can you cheat Krsna, by so-called forest-going? Because your enemy, your senses have gone with you. So how you can get out by going to the forest? Because your real enemies are your senses. So the enemies, you cannot escape. They'll force you again to these material activities. So what is the use of going to the forest? It is simply show, make show. It has no value. Chant Hare Krsna. (end)
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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