Human, Not Working Like Animal
Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.1
Bombay, December 25, 1976
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Prabhupada:
nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke
kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye
tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam
suddhyed yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam
[SB 5.5.1]
This verse we were discussing yesterday. Portion of the verse was explained, and portion of the verse we shall try to explain this night. Tapo divyam. Rsabhadeva says, "My dear sons, this body, human body, nayam deha, this body is not for wasting life, dogs and hogs." They are not wasting. They are in the gradual evolution process. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati. They are coming to the human form of body gradually, by nature's law. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. So long we are in the lower species of life, we are conducted by complete laws of nature, prakrteh kriya-gunaih karmani sarvasah, according to the different gunas.
There are three gunas; therefore the material nature is called guna-mayi. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Krsna says that this material energy... There are three different energies of the Supreme Lord. He has got multi-energies, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. We can see activities are going on, different varieties of activities in this world, but they have been summarized into three divisions: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So sattva-guna, rajo-guna... The animals, they are in the tamo-guna. Then gradually they are elevated by the evolutionary process to the rajo-guna, and then we are elevated to the sattva-guna. That is the brahminical qualification. And we have to surpass the sattva-guna also. Not that coming to the platform of sattva-guna we become perfect. No. There is chance of falling down from the sattva-guna. We have got practical experience in this age, Kali-yuga, many persons have fallen down from the platform of brahminical qualification. The brahminical qualification is the platform of sattva-guna: samo damo titiksava arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. This is the brahminical culture.
So if by coming to the platform of brahminical culture, one is sure, that is not possible. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Sometimes sattva-guna is overpowered by rajo-guna or rajo-guna is overpowered by tamo-guna or sattva-guna is overpowered by tamo-guna. In this way, topsy-turvy it is going on. That is material world. But if you want to become above the material platform, then you have to take to the platform of devotional service. That is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita:
mam ca avyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
[Bg. 14.26]
If you take to the platform of Krsna consciousness, then we can overcome the jurisdiction of the gunas. That is also advised by Lord Krsna to Arjuna: traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. This whole world is being conducted by the three gunas, and if you want to go above the three gunas, then you have to take to this platform, nistraigunya. Nirguna. Is called nirguna. Nirguna does not mean no quality. No. Nirguna means nirastah yatra, material qualities. Do not think, as some philosophers think like that, that after being brahma-bhutah, as it is stated, brahma-bhuyaya kalpate, then business is finished. No. Business is not finished.
That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
[Bg. 18.54]
When you come to this platform of transcendence, brahma-bhutah... Because we are going on under the wrong impression that "I am this body." This is the most fallen condition of the present human society. They are taking this body... Of course, this bodily conception of life there was even five thousand years ago, when the Battle of Kuruksetra took place. Arjuna was very much disturbed on the platform of this bodily conception of life, because he thought that he belonged to a particular family, and in that battle he was to fight with his family members. So he declined to fight. But Krsna, to raise him from that platform, He chastised him, that asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase: "My dear Arjuna, you are lamenting for a subject matter and at the same time you are talking just like a very learned man."
asocyan anvasocas tvam
prajna-vadams ca bhasase
gatasun agatasums ca
nanusocanti panditah
[Bg. 2.11]
That means indirectly He accused Arjuna that "You are not pandita. You're a fool because you are lamenting on the subject matter on which no pandita laments." So what is that? This bodily conception, agatasums ca. Gatasun agatasums ca. This body, dead or alive, is not the subject matter of study by learned scholars -- this is the beginning of Bhagavad-gita -- dead or alive.
So actually we are concerned at the present moment with the body -- either Indian, American, Hindu, Muslim, brahmana, ksatriya, they are all bodily conception of life. But sastra says that those who are on the bodily conception of life, they are no better than the animals.
yasyatma buddhih kunape tridhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
[SB 10.84.13]
If on the bodily conception of life we take leadership, then the position is sa eva go-kharah. Go means cows, animal, and kharah means ass. So he is no better than the animals go and kharah. So how he can take leadership? This is the difficulty at the present moment, that we take leadership of the society although we remain on the bodily conception of life. They cannot take leadership. So another place it is condemned: sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh [SB 2.3.19]. These are sastric injunction, that when we elect some leader without any spiritual knowledge, then what is the position? The position is that the elected person is also one of us. And what is our position? Our position is without spiritual knowledge, without being beyond the bodily conception of life, we are no better than sva-vid-varahostra-khara. Sva means dog, and vid-varaha means the stool-eater hogs, and ustra means camel and ass. Ass means gada, khara. Khara means ass. So this is a long definition. The summary is that without spiritual knowledge, with bodily conception of life, we are no better than the dogs, camels, and these hogs and asses. So we should not become like that. Therefore advises that tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyed [SB 5.5.1].
Now in the bodily conception of life we are so much contaminated that our existence is now polluted. Actually it is polluted, because Krsna says, na jayate na mriyate va kadacin na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. This is our position. Our position is we never take birth. We are not subjected to take birth because we are part and parcel of God, spirit soul. And na jayate na mriyate va: we do not die. How we are seeing... Every day we are dying. My father die, my brother die, my neighbor die. How is that? Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. This is our position. We do not die, even the body is destroyed. So where is that knowledge throughout the whole world? There is no such... There is no university, no school, no college to impart this knowledge, that na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20], this simple word. This is fact. And who is speaking? The Supreme Personality of Godhead. He accepted. Arjuna accepted. Arjuna listened to Krsna about Bhagavad-gita, and he understood that "Here is the Supreme Person." Not only that, he admitted that "Not that I'm Your friend." Just like it has become a fashion if I like somebody I make him God. Krsna is not that type of God, by meditation or by votes. He is God. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Just like when He was only three months old on the lap of His mother, the Putana came to kill Him. But He killed that Putana raksasi. He was that time also God, when three months old. And He had not to undergo the austerities of meditation. He had no time. So from the very beginning up to the time of His departure from this world, He is God. That is God. God is not manufactured. God is always God. Neither God falls down. Therefore Krsna is addressed in the Bhagavad-gita as Acyuta. Cyuta means falling down, and Krsna is acyuta.
So we are parts and parcel of Krsna. Krsna admits, mamaivamso jiva bhutah [Bg. 15.7], aham bija-pradah pita [Bg. 14.4]. We are sons of God, Krsna. Not that by imagination; God Himself says. And all sastra says that jiva is equal in quality with God. That's a fact. Then why we are subjected to this birth and death, old age and disease? That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita: janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-
mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
[Bg. 9.10]
So nature is producing our foodstuff, and He is the controller. And He is the father. So how there can be scarcity of food? This is a bogus propaganda: because the population is big therefore we cannot... This is our incapability. We cannot manage -- we accuse that overpopulation. But actually if you study sastra, if you accept Krsna as the father, the Supreme Lord, He is not a poor man. He knows. Vedaham samatitani [Bg. 7.26]. He knows past, present and future. So it is not that because there is overpopulation there is scarcity of food. No. That is not the cause. The cause is that as soon as people will become godless, the supply will be stopped. That time is coming. That time is coming. It is predicted in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that anavrsti and kara-piditah. People gradually being godless, they will be suffering from these three principles. There will be no more rainfall. Therefore last time when I was in Europe -- I do not know what has happened now -- there was scarcity of rain, and England was making plan to import water. So this is scientist's program. There is enough water in the sea, but they cannot use it. So that is hand of God. Unless God helps, Krsna helps, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram... [Bg. 9.10]. The vast ocean, although the water is there, you cannot use one drop. You are so controlled.
prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate
[Bg. 3.27]
Ahankara, our false egotism, we are suffering by the punishment offered by nature.
So the cause is godlessness. If we become godless, the prakrti will restrict supply -- so much so there will be anavrsti. How can control? Because you may be very great scientist, you may deny the existence of God, but when there is anavrsti you are looking up in the sky, "When there will be cloud? When there will be rain?" Then taking this plea, our government will tax for relief fund. That is all mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Anavrsti karo-pidita. People will be so much harassed. And acchina-dara-dravina giri-kananam. They will be so much harassed by these three principles -- no rainfall, scarcity of grains, and taxed heavily by the government... They will be so much harassed that acchinna-dara-dravina giri-kananam, they will be forced to leave home, that "Now it is hopeless. I cannot manage. Let me go to the forest." And there will be... Now we are getting rice or wheat or sugar. But these things will be completely stopped. Now we are getting milk powder, but there will be no milk. It is not my imagination. They are described in the symptoms of Kali-yuga, that the end of Kali-yuga these things will happen. That means more and more suffering. More and more become godless, more and more suffering will be inflicted by the laws of nature.
Therefore Rsabhadeva says here that tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyed [SB 5.5.1]. This human life is not meant for, I mean to say, spoiling by working hard like the animals, as we have said that, kastan kaman. Kastan kaman. We require something, some because we have got this body. Very easy solution is given by Lord Krsna: annad bhavanti bhutani [Bg. 3.14]. You produce foodgrains. Why you are going to produce tools and implements and... Of course, we do not condemn. But at the sacrifice of producing foodgrains, we simply open big, big tire factory. When I go to Delhi I see, from Vrndavana, hundreds and thousands persons are coming from the village on cycle to go to the tire factory, Goodyear tire factory. So now eat tire instead of getting food grains. So this is misdirected civilization. Krsna does not say that you produce tire tube. Krsna says annad bhavanti bhutani: "You produce anna." This is practical solution. We have therefore started in Europe and America farming. And they are very happy. In our latest Back to Godhead the description is published about our farm in France. We have got a very palatial building. We have named it New Mayapur. What is the place?
Hari-sauri: Chateau d'Oublaise.
Prabhupada: I cannot pronounce this French word. So anyway, our men, there are about three hundred men living there. Last time, four months, five months before I was there. It is very very nice place. We are getting our own fruits, own vegetables fresh, and we are getting fresh wheat and milk. It is so happy life.
So government is also advertising "Go to the village." Actually that is life. Go to the village. Mahatma Gandhi also wanted to organize this life, but unfortunately you have changed. Now we have got place in Hyderabad about six hundred acres of land. We are also trying here. We have already done in Mayapur. We are producing our own food, our own cloth, own milk, and we are chanting Hare Krsna. This is the simplest life. This life is meant for not working like hogs and dogs. That is the instruction. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. This is the business of the stool-eater hogs. But what is meant for human life? Tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyed [SB 5.5.1]. Just rectify your existence. You are not to die. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Why don't you take this formula seriously, that "I am not subject to die. I am not subjected to death. Why I am forced to take birth and die?" This one question, that is human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. Now this life is meant for... "I am Brahman. Now I must inquire about my identity, about my constitutional position, how I can become happy, why I am put into this tribulation." Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. Krsna says; I am not saying. This place, Krsna says, this is duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. But we are trying to mitigate our distresses by material adjustment. But Krsna says no, that is not possible. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Whatever plan you make, the nature will break it. You have to suffer here. Because you have preferred to come into this material world and want to become happy -- you do not know what is the way of happiness -- you must suffer. Krsna does not like, because you are His son, but it is a punishment under the control of the material nature.
So if we want to avoid this punishment, duhkhalayam, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-
samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri caranaravindam **
Guru means one who can deliver me from this duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. Maya... We are in the duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15], but under the influence of maya we are thinking we are living very very happily, or we not trying to solve the question. No. This kind of solution will not help you, because you have to die. Whatever you make solution, Krsna says, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham [Bg. 10.34]. If you don't agree to surrender to Krsna, "All right, make your arrangement. But at the time of death I shall come and take away everything whatever you have got." Mrtyuh sarva-haras caham. Then your bank balance, your skyscraper building, your country, your family, your good name -- everything will be taken away. And you have to accept another body, tatha dehantara-praptir. Now whatever assessment we're given in this life, everything will be taken away, and we'll be forced to accept one body which you cannot deny.
Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. According to your karma you have to accept another body because you are under the laws of material nature.
purusah prakrti 'stho hi
bhunkte prakrti-jan gunan
karanam guna-sango 'sya
sad-asad-janma-yonisu
[Bg. 13.22]
Purusah. This living entity, he's purusah. Factually he's not a purusah, he's a prakrti. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita,
apareyam itas tu viddhi
me prakrtim param
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
[Bg. 7.5]
This material world is matter, bhumir apo 'nalo-vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. They are described as prakrti, prakrti me bhinna astadha. And again He says that apareyam, "These are inferior prakrti." But there is a superior prakrti. Apareyam itas tv viddhi me prakrtim param. Who is that? Jiva-bhutam, the jivas, living entities.
So we are prakrti. We are trying to become purusah. Purusah means enjoyer. So our endeavor to become purusah... Everyone is trying to be purusah, enjoyer. And at last he wants to become the supreme purusah: "I want to become God." When everything is baffled then he wants to become God. So this purusah, when he's struggling, manah sastanindriyani prakrti sthani karsati, hard struggle for existence to become purusah, but he cannot become purusah. He's prakrti. He's enjoyed. He's predominated, and the predominator is Krsna. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. He is the enjoyer; we are enjoyed. We are not enjoyer. So that is mistake. That is our maya. We are not enjoyer. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives us the direction, jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna-dasa: [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109] don't try to become purusah, enjoyer, artificially. Better instead of serving your senses you become servant of the Supreme Lord. This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are trying to convince people that "Don't try to become master artificially. You'll never be successful. Just agree to become servant of Krsna." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66]. That is your perfection.
Thank you very much. (end)
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