Everything (Even Dictatorship) Can Be Utilized for Krishna

73/07/10 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.4-5

download  Players

 

Take a test

---

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc):

atra sura mahesvasa
bhimarjuna-sama yudhi
yuyudhano viratas ca
drupadas ca maha-rathah
 [Bg. 1.4]

Translation: "Here in this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna; there are also great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada."

Prabhupada: So all these heroes are mentioned not only in this verse, in several other verses also. So people may ask that "By mentioning these great fighter, what spiritual progress we make? Because we are meant for chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra, so by chanting the names of these great fighters, what do we gain?" The question may be raised there. But the thing is that nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe, whenever there is connection with Krsna, that also becomes Krsna. This is a subtle form of philosophical understanding. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. If there is relationship with Krsna... Therefore the sahajiyas, they do not read Bhagavad-gita. They say, "We have nothing to do with Bhagavad-gita." They jump over to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, Krsna's rasa-lila, as if Krsna is connected with rasa-lila and not with this lila. They make distinction. Krsna's this fighting lila, pastimes, and the rasa-lila pastime, they are all the same because Krsna is the center. Krsna being center, whatever in connection with Krsna is there, that becomes also Krsna. This is the idea.

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

This is the instruction of Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.

So just like we, in propagating Krsna consciousness, we have to deal with money or persons who are not Krsna conscious, outsider. We have to deal with them. But when we go to outsider or when we deal with money, there is relationship with Krsna, krsna-sambandha. So Rupa Gosvami has distinguished the...

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

Prapancika means material. So prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah. Everything has got connection with Krsna because ultimately everything is Krsna's energy. The material world is also manifestation of Krsna's energy. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. You'll find. Material world means these five elements, gross and subtle. Earth, water, air, fire, sky, these are gross. And mind, intelligence, and ego, these are subtle. These elements, material elements, Krsna says, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These material elements, they are separated, but they are My energy. They are My energy." The same example. Just like cloud. Cloud is created by the sun. It is sun's energy which creates the cloud. You know. By temperature the sea water is evaporated, forms into gas. That is cloud. So cloud is created by the energy of the sun, but when there is cloud you cannot see the sun. Sun is covered. Similarly, material energy is Krsna's energy. But when you become covered by this material energy, you do not see Krsna. This is the position.

So we have to use our intelligence. That is described by Srila Rupa Gosvami: prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah, mumuksubhih parityagah. Mumuksu, especially the Mayavadis, who are after liberation, to merge into the existence of the Supreme, mumuksu, moksa, they, Mayavada, they say, "Everything is maya." Brahma satyam jagan mithya: "This world is false; only Brahman is reality." But we say that why the jagat, the world should be false if it is coming from the reality? We do not agree with them. We do not accept that this world is false. No. We can say, "It is temporary manifestation." But it is not false. Why it is false? We are living in this house. If somebody, some rascal, says, "It is false," why false? We are utilizing this house. We are utilizing this microphone. We are utilizing the dictaphone. Why it is false? There is sambandha. There is relationship with Krsna. Anything material, made of earth, water, fire, air, they are Krsna's energies. Therefore there is direct relationship with Krsna. And if Krsna is reality, why His energy should be false? No. We must know how to utilize it.

So similarly, in this battlefield, Krsna is there, and all the living entities... Some of them are soldiers, some of them are commander-in-chiefs, some of them this, that. Or the chariot or the ground -- everything Krsna's energy. So if we remember that everything is manifestation of Krsna's energy, there is no question of materialism. It is all spiritual energy. So nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. So we have to use them for Krsna. Here all of of them have gathered. This is another Krsna's energy. Krsna appears, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. He wanted to kill all the demons. That is another side of his business. As one side, paritranaya sadhunam, to give protection to the devotees, the other side is to vanquish all the demons. Just like if you want to grow paddy on the field, so first of all you have to destroy all the unwanted weeds. Then you grow the seeds; it will come out nicely. So these two things are required. Destruction and construction. Both the things are Krsna's activities or different energies. So you cannot accept one thing, giving up the other side. We have to understand that both sides, they are working as different manifestation of Krsna's energy. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. In the Vedas it is said that the Absolute has got multi-energies. So one energy is working in one way, another energy is working in another way. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate, sva-bhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Just like here also, when we do something, we require varieties of energies to make that thing perfect. So everything, Krsna, Krsna's, this material world or spiritual world, everything is working in order, under different energies.

So these, I mean to say, warriors' name-mentioning, we should not neglect. Krsna wanted to gather all the demoniac power in that Battlefield of Kuruksetra and kill them. That was His plan. So there is a plan of Krsna. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. We should not be attached to things as there, but we should try to understand that there is relationship with Krsna. And as soon as there is relationship with Krsna, we shall properly utilize it. That is Krsna consciousness. As soon as we understand that there is relationship with Krsna, nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe... Everything can be utilized for Krsna. Krsna is not a stereotyped, stagnant block. Krsna is a dynamic force. Therefore everything can be dovetailed in the service of Krsna. Simply one should learn the art under proper guidance how to utilize. Then that will be perfect form of Krsna consciousness. Read next verse.

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

dhrstaketus cekitanah
kasirajas ca viryavan
purujit kuntibhojas ca
saibyas ca nara-pungavah

Translation: "There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya."
Prabhupada: Practically in the Battle of Kuruksetra great personalities, warriors, from all parts of the world they came and joined. Some of them joined with this party and others joined with the other party. So far we have studied... just like Saibya, he belonged to Sibya. So all these personalities, we did not get their full description, it would enhance the pages. But these big personalities, we have got their information. There is a book, The Personalities of Mahabharata. Bhagavad-gita is part of Mahabharata. Mahabharata means greater India. Maha means greater, and bharata means India. So this whole planet was Bharata-varsa. There was only one flag. The whole planet was being ruled by one king. That is the king of this Hastinapura. The fight is that, that who would be the king, Maharaja Yudhisthira or Duryodhana. But a king... It is not a democratic; it is monarchy. So Krsna is deciding, "No, Duryodhana is unfit. Maharaja Yudhisthira is fit." This is Krsna's desire. Therefore this fight is there. Kuruksetra. Krsna wanted to wipe out all unwanted demons from the face of the world and enthrone Maharaja Yudhisthira because he is the exact representative of Krsna.

So monarchy or dictatorship is welcome. Now the Communists, they want dictatorship. That is welcome, provided that particular dictator is trained like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Not that simply by votes of some rascal population one becomes dictatorship, another rascal comes. Another big rascal comes. Just like in the Communist country the Stalin was their dictator. And in the historical record it is said that he is the greatest criminal in the history of the world. Greatest criminal. He would not tolerate anyone going against him. As soon as he finds that "This man is going against me," immediately call him, "Now here is poison and here is resignation." Or kill him. "You take poison or I shall kill you." This was his policy. In this way he killed so many enemies. He not only killed the Czar family. So his business was killing. Not that kind of dictatorship wanted. Dictatorship wanted that by his direction the citizens will be so happy that even they will not have any anxiety. Adhayo vyadhayah (?).

We have read the other day in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are three kinds of miserable conditions of life, bhutatma-hetav ah. The cause... They are caused by three principles: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Daiva-bhutatma-hetavah. These are all described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Daiva means controlled by the higher demigods. Just like famine or earthquake. This is not under your control. At any time the earthquake, there may be. There may be famine. There may be pestilence. There may be natural disturbance, flood. This is called daiva, controlled by higher demigods. Just like Indra wanted to overflood Vrndavana being angry upon the residents of the... Krsna saved, Giridhari. He became Giridhari. So these disturbances are there. Adhyatmika, adhibhautika. But the king or the dictator should be so perfect and he will guide the citizens in such a way that they will not feel all these disturbances. That kind of dictatorship wanted. He will direct in such a way that even this natural adhyatmika, adhibhautika... Adhibhautika means "You are envious of me, I am envious of you." So there is always cold war, struggle. This should be stopped. There should not be unnatural heat or unnatural cold, excessive heat. People will feel in all respects happy.

If that condition can be brought in, like Maharaja Yudhisthira or his forefathers, or even his grandson. After Maharaja Yudhisthira, there was no kingdom of Maharaja Yud..., of the son of Yudhisthira or Arjuna. All died in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. Only one grandson was in the womb of his mother, posthumous child. He was saved only. So up to that point, Maharaja Pariksit, the whole planet was very nicely governed by dictatorship. So we can bring in such dictatorship, provided that dictator is perfectly Krsna conscious. Under his guidance, everything... Because he knows how to conduct kingdom, how to make everyone happy. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. So here is another list of fighters. But the real purpose of this battlefield is to bring all the fighters, big fighters of the world, together. And under Krsna's guidance they would be all killed. Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. When Arjuna was declining to fight, Krsna ultimately said, "My dear Arjuna, you fight or not fight, it doesn't matter. These people are not going back home. It is already settled up. You simply become, take the credit that you have fought and killed. It is al... They are already killed. Because that is My plan." Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. They are already killed.

So this battlefield, because Krsna wanted to kill them, and the result was -- you will find in the Bhagavad-gita, they all attained svarupa. Anyone who was killed, who died in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, in the presence of Krsna, they all attained their original, constitutional position, spiritual form. They all went back to home, back to Godhead, everyone. Therefore Krsna is Absolute. Either His killing or His protecting, it is all the same. You don't think that Krsna is killing. No. If anyone is killed by Krsna, he immediately gets liberation: the liberation for which great great saintly persons, sages, they undergo severe austerities for life after life, simply by being killed, he gets that. So by becoming Krsna's enemy, one gets this benefit. Just think over if you become Krsna's friend, what is the benefit. That is Krsna consciousness. The Mayavadis they are after liberation. So this liberation is granted even to the enemies of Krsna. They are also enemies. The Mayavadis, they are also enemies. Krsne aparadhi. They are offender to Krsna because they do not accept the form of Krsna. Therefore they are offender. So everything studied in relationship with Krsna, that is perfect knowledge, and that is described in the Bhagavad-gita. So it is not that like sahajiyas that we are interested in Krsna's rasa dance, not with this fighting in the Battlefields of Kuruksetra. This is sahajiya-bhava. This is not wanted. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Make Everyone A Devotee

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.20
Los Angeles, July 10, 1974

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Nitai: (leads chanting, etc.)

padair nyunam socasi maika-padam
atmanam va vrsalair bhoksyamanam
aho suradin hrta-yajna-bhagan
praja uta svin maghavaty avarsati

"I have lost my three legs and am now standing on one leg only. Are you lamenting for my state of existence? Or are you in great anxiety because henceforward the unlawful meat-eaters will exploit you? Or are you in a sorry plight because the demigods are now bereft of their share of sacrificial offerings because no sacrifices are being performed at present? Or are you grieving for living beings because of their sufferings due to famine and drought?"

Prabhupada: These are the symptoms of this Kali-yuga. The first thing is that "I have lost my three legs, now standing on one leg only." At the present moment in the Kali-yuga practically there is no religion. So the bull is the representative of religious ceremony, so he is saying that "Now I have lost my three legs. I am standing, only one leg."

So in the Satya-yuga people were very religious, full, four parts full. In the Dvapara-yuga, then one part was missing, only three parts. Then Treta-yuga. Satya, Treta, then Dvapara. But in the Kali-yuga the one part of religiosity, that is also diminishing. This is one of the symptoms. And another symptom: "Or are you in great anxiety because henceforward the unlawful meat-eaters will exploit you?" The unlawful meat-eaters, they will eat cows and bulls. This is predicted in this verse. The Srimad-Bhagavatam was written five thousand years ago. So at that time the prediction is there that in the Kali-yuga the meat-eaters will be unlawful and they will especially eat cows and bulls.

So what is the unlawful and lawful? Lawful means so those who eat meat under the religious regulation. Just like lawful sex. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said dharma aviruddhah kamo 'smi. Sex life, which is not illicit, according to the regulative principle of Vedic literature, that kind of sex life, Krsna says, "I am that." That means that is pious, that is not sinful. Illicit sex life is sinful, but, I mean to say, marriage, that is also one of the function of religiosity. Just like we perform marriage ceremony under fire sacrifice, mantra. So that is legalized. Similarly, meat-eating also... First of all, the first-class men, second-class men and third-class men, means the brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya, they were not interested in meat-eating. Only the fourth-class men and fifth-class men, they were allowed or they were eating meat. Nobody is allowed. But the first-class, second-class men, they have got sense. They voluntarily give up. But the third-class fourth-class, fifth-class men, they do not. Up to fourth-class, they also abide. From the fifth-class men -- they are called pancama -- they are very irregular. They don't care for any rules and regulation or any sastra, scripture. They do whatever they like, fifth class. So what is legal meat-eating? Legal meat-eating is that you sacrifice one animal before the goddess, deity Kali, Goddess Kali, and there are so many rules and regulation. Under regulative principle one was allowed to eat meat. Not that maintain big, big slaughterhouse and purchase from the butcher shop and eat meat. This is illegal.

Now, sometimes, in..., the Christians, they say the Lord Jesus Christ sometimes ate fish. Is not that? But... Might have done so. One thing is Christ is powerful. Under certain circumstances, even if he had eaten some fish, that is not fault for him. Tejiyasam na dosaya. In the sastra (it) says, those who are very powerful, if they sometimes do something which is prohibited for common man, that is special case. But even if you accept that Christ ate fish, "Therefore we shall eat meat and maintain big, big slaughterhouse, although in the Bible it is clearly said ‘Thou shalt not kill,' " this is not Christianity. This is against, violating the rules and regulation of Christianity. Factually, one should not kill. But under some pressure or under certain condition, if it is needed, that is another thing. But generally, one should not kill.

So here it is mentioned that "Or are you in great anxiety because henceforward..." Henceforward means from that time the Kali-yuga has begun. Since these four principles of unlawful activities -- illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication -- is freely allowed, that is Kali-yuga. So in this age, in this Kali-yuga, it is very, very difficult for persons who are interested in self-realization to remain free from sinful activities. It is very, very difficult. Maya, or the influence of nature, in this age especially, it is very, very strong, and majority of people are therefore addicted to this sinful life: illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. But those who are interested in the matter of self-realization, they should voluntarily give up these sinful activities. Then, "Their sacrifices will be stopped. Demigods, they will not get their share."

This is another... Formerly, people used to offer big, big sacrifices. Tons of grains, tons of ghee was being offered in the fire sacrifice, and there was no want. There was no want. If you perform rituals according to the Vedic system, there will be no want. Just like taxpayer, if they avoid tax-paying, then the... This is a crude example. Then the government will have no money to manage the state very nicely. One should not avoid tax-paying. Similarly, as it is enjoined in the Vedic literature, yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih. Yajnarthe karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. Everyone is working very hard. That is called karma-jivana. Karmis. Karmis, jnanis, yogis and bhaktas. There are four classes of men. Karmis means those who are working day and night very hard for getting some material benefit so that he can enjoy sense pleasure. These are called karmis. The karmis also, not only they want to enjoy in this life... Next life also they want to go to the heavenly planet.

Just like this morning we were talking, that dead body in Egypt and some other places. They keep the body so their body will go to the heavenly planet and he will enjoy. But clearly it is the bodily concept of life. The sane man will see that "The body is lying there. When he has gone to the heavenly planet?" If he accepts that the body is there, then something has gone to the heavenly planet. Then you will have to accept soul. Otherwise, how you can say that he has gone to heaven or some...? No. If you mean "he" means this body, the body is in the coffin, so how it has gone to heaven? Then you have to accept that the living entity who was within the body, he has gone to heaven. That is reasonable. So that means you have to accept next birth. So if you think that he has gone to heaven, then he may go to hell also. Because if the soul is departed from the body, now according to his karma... That is right philosophy. That is Vedic philosophy. Krsna says, dehantara-praptih. Tatha dehantara-praptih. You have to change this body. As you have changed already several times, similarly, after death you will also get another body. So this is a fact, that soul is there, and soul is changing the body, and therefore the question of hell and heaven or something else may come. This is sane. Not that the body is going to the heaven. No, no. This is foolishness. Anyone can, any man with common sense can understand, "Where the body has gone? It is rotting here."

So yajna is required. Human life is meant for performing yajna. Karma, yajnah karma-samudbhavah. In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said. Karma... Karma means activity. There must be activity. It is not that because we are interested in self-realization, in the elevation of the soul to the spiritual world, that does not mean we shall be idle and lazy. No. You cannot be idle and lazy because if you become idle and lazy, you cannot even maintain your body. That is advised in Bhagavad-gita. You have to become busy and active. That is required. Even if you want to go to heaven, then also you have to become busy and active. If you want to go back to home, back to Godhead, that also will require your business and activity. And if you want to remain here in this material world, that also required. Activity you cannot stop, but we have to consider the quality of activity. Quality of activity is bhakti. You have to work. You cannot remain inactive or lazy. You have to work. So Krsna advises in the Bhagavad-gita that "Work for Me." That is intelligence. Yat karosi yaj juhosi yad asnasi yat tapasyasi kurusva tad mad-arpanam. This is life. Yat karosi, whatever you do. Everyone has to do something. Krsna says, "Yes, you have to work. But work for Me." Just like Arjuna was advised. He is a military man. He used to fight. His occupation is, when there there is danger he must fight. A ksatriya, ksatriya's business is that. So Arjuna was advised that "You fight for Me, not for your sense gratification." That kind of fight and war is not allowed. Only for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord you can fight.

So any field of activities, if we act for Krsna, that is called yajna. Yajna means to act for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the supreme authority. Just like a good citizen. A good citizen means who is acting exactly to the regulative laws. He is good citizen. Even in ordinary driving car, if you exactly follow the rules and regulation of traffic transaction, if you stop when there is red light, if you start when there is green light, you don't go to the left, if you follow these rules and regulation, then there is no question of your being a criminal. But as soon as you do not follow, immediately you are criminal. You will get a ticket. Therefore the regulative life means... That is religious life, when you execute your occupational duty just according to the law. There are state laws and there are laws also. So actually, we should perform the divine laws. State law is subordinate. That is legal. Otherwise illegal. But unfortunately, the whole state at the present moment, they are also illegal. Therefore what about the citizens? They are also illegal. And because both of them illegal, these illegal, illegitimate acts are being done, so many slaughterhouses are maintained, and people are eating meat illegally and becoming subjected to the sinful life. That is warned here. So read the purport.

Nitai: "With the progress of the age of Kali, four things particularly, namely, the duration of life, mercy, the power of recollection, and moral or religious principles will gradually diminish."

Prabhupada: This is the symptom of Kali-yuga. We have got our practical experience. When I first came in New York, one boy, Nelson, he told me that "Here, even in your front, somebody is being killed. Nobody will take care." I was surprised, how is that? Is that a fact? You say yes?

Devotees: Yes.

Prabhupada: Ah, just see. So that is predicted, that the moral or religious principle will gradually diminish. With the progress of this age Kali, four things particularly, namely duration of life, duration of life. Everyone knows. The actually standard of duration of life in this age is hundred years. But no. Who is living hundred years? Gradually decreasing. And it will decrease so much, as I have several times said, that when at the end of Kali-yuga or in the middle of Kali-yuga, the duration of life will be twenty to thirty years. Now it is sixty, seventy or fifty or... It is going on. But gradually, it will diminish. That is stated here.

And the memory, memory also reduced. Formerly, people were so sharp in memory that once heard from the spiritual master, he will remember. He will not forget. There was no need of books. Book is required because our memory is now, the power of recollection, is very poor. Just like one who cannot memorize, he has to take note down. Formerly, five thousand years ago, there was no need of books. The students will go to the spiritual master or teacher and... Therefore it is called sruti. The Vedic language is called sruti. Sruti means hearing. It is not reading. Simply, pious students will hear from the right source. Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Simply by hearing, they will understand everything. They will never forget. But in the Kali-yuga it is not possible. Therefore Vyasadeva, the whole Vedic understanding, knowledge, he recorded into books. Otherwise before that there was no need of books. The power of recollection will diminish. And mercy. Mercy will reduce. Even in your, in somebody's, in our front, somebody is killed. Nobody will try to help him. What to speak of others, when there is difficulty. Or there are so many. People should cooperate.

There was a very good example of our Krsna conscious men in Melbourne. That was published. There was a fire in one building, and they were, I mean to say, stranded. They were crying. So our girls went there and saved them. Nobody came. Therefore it is said, yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah. If one is God conscious, Krsna conscious, then other material good qualities will automatically develop. These girls in our Melbourne temple, they were not asked by me or their president, "You go and save them," but out of their good will they went and saved them, and some of the girls jumped from three story and they captured in this, what is called, canopy. So it was published and very much appreciated by the public. So the idea is that one cannot be merciful unless he is a devotee. The so-called mercifulness showed by the philanthropists, humanitarians, that is all false. They are humanitarian, but they maintain slaughterhouse. What is this humanitarian? It does not appeal to you that animals are being killed? So the real fact is that without becoming a devotee of Krsna or God, nobody can be qualified with good attributes. It is not possible. Therefore sastra says that "Make people devotee." Then automatically, all the good qualities will come in. Next.

Nitai: "Since dharma, or the principles of religion, will be lost in the proportion of three out of four, the symbolic bull was standing on one leg only. When three-fourths of the population of the whole world become irreligious, the situation is converted into hell for the animals. In the age of Kali godless civilizations will create so many so-called religious societies in which the Personality of Godhead will be directly or indirectly defied. And thus faithless societies of man will make the world uninhabitable for the saner section of people. There are gradations of human beings in terms of the proportionate faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The first-class faithful men are the Vaisnavas and the brahmanas, then the ksatriyas, then the vaisyas, then the sudras, then the mlecchas, the yavanas and at last the candalas. The gradation of human instincts begins from the mlecchas, and the candala state of life is the last word in the human degradation. All the above terms mentioned in the Vedic literatures are never meant for any particular community or birth. They are different qualifications of human beings in general. There is no question of birthright or community. One can acquire the respective qualifications by one's own efforts, and thus the son of a Vaisnava can become a mleccha or the son of a candala can become more than a brahmana, all in terms of their association and intimate relation with the Supreme Lord."

Prabhupada: Yes. So if we qualify ourself as Vaisnava and devotee, then all other good qualities will automatically manifest in the body. That is the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement, that you accept this movement... For example... There are many examples. This is also one practical example. In your state the government has spent millions and millions of dollars to stop the intoxication habit, but it was failure. But as soon as the same person comes to Krsna consciousness camp, he immediately gives up. This is practical. And there cannot be any comparison of the qualities of our students with any religious institution or any school, college. You cannot have. Because they are devotee. As soon as you become devotee, all good qualities... Therefore if the government takes this movement seriously, they make everyone a devotee, then everything will be solved. There will be no need of criminal court or jail or... Everything will be finished. Or, what is called, liquor house and slaughterhouse and manufacturing cigarette and advertising them two sides of the road. Although (chuckles) it is written there it is dangerous, still it is highly advertised and people smoke. These contradiction things are going on on account of godlessness.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.20 -- Los Angeles, July 10, 1974

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"Everything (Even Dictatorship) Can Be Utilized for Krishna"

"Everything (Even Dictatorship)
Can Be Utilized for Krishna"

73/07/10 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.4-5


Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc):

atra sura mahesvasa
bhimarjuna-sama yudhi
yuyudhano viratas ca
drupadas ca maha-rathah
[Bg. 1.4]

Translation: "Here in this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna; there are also great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada."

Prabhupada: So all these heroes are mentioned not only in this verse, in several other verses also. So people may ask that "By mentioning these great fighter, what spiritual progress we make? Because we are meant for chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra, so by chanting the names of these great fighters, what do we gain?" The question may be raised there. But the thing is that nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe, whenever there is connection with Krsna, that also becomes Krsna. This is a subtle form of philosophical understanding. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. If there is relationship with Krsna... Therefore the sahajiyas, they do not read Bhagavad-gita. They say, "We have nothing to do with Bhagavad-gita." They jump over to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, Krsna's rasa-lila, as if Krsna is connected with rasa-lila and not with this lila. They make distinction. Krsna's this fighting lila, pastimes, and the rasa-lila pastime, they are all the same because Krsna is the center. Krsna being center, whatever in connection with Krsna is there, that becomes also Krsna. This is the idea.

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

This is the instruction of Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.

So just like we, in propagating Krsna consciousness, we have to deal with money or persons who are not Krsna conscious, outsider. We have to deal with them. But when we go to outsider or when we deal with money, there is relationship with Krsna, krsna-sambandha. So Rupa Gosvami has distinguished the...

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

Prapancika means material. So prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah. Everything has got connection with Krsna because ultimately everything is Krsna's energy. The material world is also manifestation of Krsna's energy. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. You'll find. Material world means these five elements, gross and subtle. Earth, water, air, fire, sky, these are gross. And mind, intelligence, and ego, these are subtle. These elements, material elements, Krsna says, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These material elements, they are separated, but they are My energy. They are My energy." The same example. Just like cloud. Cloud is created by the sun. It is sun's energy which creates the cloud. You know. By temperature the sea water is evaporated, forms into gas. That is cloud. So cloud is created by the energy of the sun, but when there is cloud you cannot see the sun. Sun is covered. Similarly, material energy is Krsna's energy. But when you become covered by this material energy, you do not see Krsna. This is the position.

So we have to use our intelligence. That is described by Srila Rupa Gosvami: prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah, mumuksubhih parityagah. Mumuksu, especially the Mayavadis, who are after liberation, to merge into the existence of the Supreme, mumuksu, moksa, they, Mayavada, they say, "Everything is maya." Brahma satyam jagan mithya: "This world is false; only Brahman is reality." But we say that why the jagat, the world should be false if it is coming from the reality? We do not agree with them. We do not accept that this world is false. No. We can say, "It is temporary manifestation." But it is not false. Why it is false? We are living in this house. If somebody, some rascal, says, "It is false," why false? We are utilizing this house. We are utilizing this microphone. We are utilizing the dictaphone. Why it is false? There is sambandha. There is relationship with Krsna. Anything material, made of earth, water, fire, air, they are Krsna's energies. Therefore there is direct relationship with Krsna. And if Krsna is reality, why His energy should be false? No. We must know how to utilize it.

So similarly, in this battlefield, Krsna is there, and all the living entities... Some of them are soldiers, some of them are commander-in-chiefs, some of them this, that. Or the chariot or the ground -- everything Krsna's energy. So if we remember that everything is manifestation of Krsna's energy, there is no question of materialism. It is all spiritual energy. So nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. So we have to use them for Krsna. Here all of of them have gathered. This is another Krsna's energy. Krsna appears, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. He wanted to kill all the demons. That is another side of his business. As one side, paritranaya sadhunam, to give protection to the devotees, the other side is to vanquish all the demons. Just like if you want to grow paddy on the field, so first of all you have to destroy all the unwanted weeds. Then you grow the seeds; it will come out nicely. So these two things are required. Destruction and construction. Both the things are Krsna's activities or different energies. So you cannot accept one thing, giving up the other side. We have to understand that both sides, they are working as different manifestation of Krsna's energy. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. In the Vedas it is said that the Absolute has got multi-energies. So one energy is working in one way, another energy is working in another way. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate, sva-bhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Just like here also, when we do something, we require varieties of energies to make that thing perfect. So everything, Krsna, Krsna's, this material world or spiritual world, everything is working in order, under different energies.

So these, I mean to say, warriors' name-mentioning, we should not neglect. Krsna wanted to gather all the demoniac power in that Battlefield of Kuruksetra and kill them. That was His plan. So there is a plan of Krsna. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. We should not be attached to things as there, but we should try to understand that there is relationship with Krsna. And as soon as there is relationship with Krsna, we shall properly utilize it. That is Krsna consciousness. As soon as we understand that there is relationship with Krsna, nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe... Everything can be utilized for Krsna. Krsna is not a stereotyped, stagnant block. Krsna is a dynamic force. Therefore everything can be dovetailed in the service of Krsna. Simply one should learn the art under proper guidance how to utilize. Then that will be perfect form of Krsna consciousness. Read next verse.

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

dhrstaketus cekitanah
kasirajas ca viryavan
purujit kuntibhojas ca
saibyas ca nara-pungavah

Translation: "There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya."
Prabhupada: Practically in the Battle of Kuruksetra great personalities, warriors, from all parts of the world they came and joined. Some of them joined with this party and others joined with the other party. So far we have studied... just like Saibya, he belonged to Sibya. So all these personalities, we did not get their full description, it would enhance the pages. But these big personalities, we have got their information. There is a book, The Personalities of Mahabharata. Bhagavad-gita is part of Mahabharata. Mahabharata means greater India. Maha means greater, and bharata means India. So this whole planet was Bharata-varsa. There was only one flag. The whole planet was being ruled by one king. That is the king of this Hastinapura. The fight is that, that who would be the king, Maharaja Yudhisthira or Duryodhana. But a king... It is not a democratic; it is monarchy. So Krsna is deciding, "No, Duryodhana is unfit. Maharaja Yudhisthira is fit." This is Krsna's desire. Therefore this fight is there. Kuruksetra. Krsna wanted to wipe out all unwanted demons from the face of the world and enthrone Maharaja Yudhisthira because he is the exact representative of Krsna.

So monarchy or dictatorship is welcome. Now the Communists, they want dictatorship. That is welcome, provided that particular dictator is trained like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Not that simply by votes of some rascal population one becomes dictatorship, another rascal comes. Another big rascal comes. Just like in the Communist country the Stalin was their dictator. And in the historical record it is said that he is the greatest criminal in the history of the world. Greatest criminal. He would not tolerate anyone going against him. As soon as he finds that "This man is going against me," immediately call him, "Now here is poison and here is resignation." Or kill him. "You take poison or I shall kill you." This was his policy. In this way he killed so many enemies. He not only killed the Czar family. So his business was killing. Not that kind of dictatorship wanted. Dictatorship wanted that by his direction the citizens will be so happy that even they will not have any anxiety. Adhayo vyadhayah (?).

We have read the other day in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are three kinds of miserable conditions of life, bhutatma-hetav ah. The cause... They are caused by three principles: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Daiva-bhutatma-hetavah. These are all described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Daiva means controlled by the higher demigods. Just like famine or earthquake. This is not under your control. At any time the earthquake, there may be. There may be famine. There may be pestilence. There may be natural disturbance, flood. This is called daiva, controlled by higher demigods. Just like Indra wanted to overflood Vrndavana being angry upon the residents of the... Krsna saved, Giridhari. He became Giridhari. So these disturbances are there. Adhyatmika, adhibhautika. But the king or the dictator should be so perfect and he will guide the citizens in such a way that they will not feel all these disturbances. That kind of dictatorship wanted. He will direct in such a way that even this natural adhyatmika, adhibhautika... Adhibhautika means "You are envious of me, I am envious of you." So there is always cold war, struggle. This should be stopped. There should not be unnatural heat or unnatural cold, excessive heat. People will feel in all respects happy.

If that condition can be brought in, like Maharaja Yudhisthira or his forefathers, or even his grandson. After Maharaja Yudhisthira, there was no kingdom of Maharaja Yud..., of the son of Yudhisthira or Arjuna. All died in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. Only one grandson was in the womb of his mother, posthumous child. He was saved only. So up to that point, Maharaja Pariksit, the whole planet was very nicely governed by dictatorship. So we can bring in such dictatorship, provided that dictator is perfectly Krsna conscious. Under his guidance, everything... Because he knows how to conduct kingdom, how to make everyone happy. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. So here is another list of fighters. But the real purpose of this battlefield is to bring all the fighters, big fighters of the world, together. And under Krsna's guidance they would be all killed. Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. When Arjuna was declining to fight, Krsna ultimately said, "My dear Arjuna, you fight or not fight, it doesn't matter. These people are not going back home. It is already settled up. You simply become, take the credit that you have fought and killed. It is al... They are already killed. Because that is My plan." Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. They are already killed.

So this battlefield, because Krsna wanted to kill them, and the result was -- you will find in the Bhagavad-gita, they all attained svarupa. Anyone who was killed, who died in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, in the presence of Krsna, they all attained their original, constitutional position, spiritual form. They all went back to home, back to Godhead, everyone. Therefore Krsna is Absolute. Either His killing or His protecting, it is all the same. You don't think that Krsna is killing. No. If anyone is killed by Krsna, he immediately gets liberation: the liberation for which great great saintly persons, sages, they undergo severe austerities for life after life, simply by being killed, he gets that. So by becoming Krsna's enemy, one gets this benefit. Just think over if you become Krsna's friend, what is the benefit. That is Krsna consciousness. The Mayavadis they are after liberation. So this liberation is granted even to the enemies of Krsna. They are also enemies. The Mayavadis, they are also enemies. Krsne aparadhi. They are offender to Krsna because they do not accept the form of Krsna. Therefore they are offender. So everything studied in relationship with Krsna, that is perfect knowledge, and that is described in the Bhagavad-gita. So it is not that like sahajiyas that we are interested in Krsna's rasa dance, not with this fighting in the Battlefields of Kuruksetra. This is sahajiya-bhava. This is not wanted. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973