Dipping Into Ocean Of Love Of Krishna

18 Nov 68, Los Angeles

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Prabhupada:

krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi
dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau
sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

 

This is a prayer offering obeisances to the Six Gosvamis, direct disciples of Lord Caitanya. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau. The Six Gosvamis' names are Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami... Vande rupa-sanatana raghu-yugau. And there are two Raghus. One Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and one Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami. According to whole Vedic system, there are four castes, brahmana, ksatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras. So this Raghunatha dasa Gosvami belong to the... Of course, a Vaisnava is never sudra, but in social standard they belonged to the ksatriya or sudra. Therefore he is named as dasa Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. So the Six Gosvamis... (child making noises) Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. So Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, and two Raghunatha Gosvami, and three, four, and then Jiva Gosvami and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. Six Gosvamis. Practically, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left behind Him that eight slokas, Siksastaka, which you have seen. I have translated in my first volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam. On the basis of those eight verses, the Gosvamis wrote literatures, volumes of books. From Vrndavana they were dispatched after the disappearance of... The Gosvamis, they left so many books handwritten, that when they were dispatched it was a full cartload, a big cartload, you see. Just imagine how many books they wrote. They were great scholars, and many varieties of books of bhakti school, Krsna consciousness, they wrote. So these Gosvamis were engaged, krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana, chanting and dancing. Kirtana means chanting, and nartana means dancing. Krsnotkirtana, utkirtana. Utkirtana means very loudly, not softly.

So this loud kirtana was inaugurated by Lord Caitanya. So this disturbance, this complaint, was current even in His own time. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was introducing this kirtana system, so many brahmanas of Navadvipa, they complained to the Muhammadan magistrate -- at that time the government was Muhammadan government, Pathan -- to the Kazi that "This boy..." Caitanya Mahaprabhu was that time seventeen years, eighteen-years-old boy, but He was very popular by introducing this sankirtana, Hare Krsna chanting and dancing. And He said that simply by chanting and dancing, as we are saying, one will achieve the highest perfectional stage. So the brahmanas were working as priest, they thought that their business will not go on. They prescribed so many ritualistic performances, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was saying simply by chanting one can achieve the highest perfection. So they were disturbed, and they lodged complaint to the then magistrate, Kazi. Maulana Chand Kazi, his name was Maulana Chand Kazi. You know, when a Muhammadan is learned and religious he gets the title Maulana. So that magistrate, Chand Kazi, was very learned scholar, not only in Muhammadan scriptures, but he was a great scholar Hindu scripture also. Just like in British period in India, there were many responsible English officers, just like high-court judge, civil service. They were very vastly learned in Sanskrit. One Mr. Woodruff, Justice Woodruff, Englishman in Calcutta high-court, oh, he was a very great scholar, Sanskrit scholar, and he translated all the tantric sastras. So scholarly people are always there. It doesn't matter. They do not belong to any class of men. Scholars are scholars, saintly persons are saintly persons.

So this Chand Kazi was a great scholar, and the brahmanas lodged complaint that "This boy Nimai Pandita..." Caitanya Mahaprabhu was known at that time "Nimai Pandita." His mother's given name was Nimai. And because He was also very great scholar, in sixteen years old he defeated many scholars. One scholar came from Kashmir. He was, his name was Kesava Kasmiri, he defeated all scholars of India. But when he came to Navadvipa he was defeated by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a great scholar. He was scholar in logic especially, nyaya. So He was known as Nimai Pandita. Pandita means learned scholar. Especially brahmanas are called pandita because generally the brahmanas are expected to be great scholars. So unfortunately, later on the pandita title was there, but some of them were great fools. Perhaps you know, our late Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru... Perhaps you've heard his name, Nehru. He came to your country I think during President Eisenhower's time, and in some meeting some American gentlemen or boys, I do not know, they asked him to explain some of the verses from Bhagavad-gita. And he, I mean to say, admitted that he was not a scholar in Bhagavad-gita. So, but his title was there, pandita. Generally, the brahmanas are given this title pandita on account of their scholarship in Vedic literature. So Nimai Pandita, Nimai Pandita. Yes. So complaint was lodged against Him, and He disobeyed the order of the Kazi, civil disobedience, and there was a great incident. Then the Kazi became His admirer, follower. That is a long story.

So the Gosvamis, six Gosvamis, they picked up Lord Caitanya's eight verses and they wrote so many books. (door opens) The Gosvamis are coming. (laughs) Hare Krsna. So these Gosvamis were chanting and dancing, krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau. So we are creating the descendants of Gosvamis here in the Western countries. You are also chanting and dancing, following the footprints of the Gosvamis, krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. And they were chanting and dancing, not dry. Premamrtambho-nidhi, dipped into the ocean of love of Krsna. You cannot chant and dance for a long time unless you are dipped into the ocean of love of Krsna. That is the specific qualification of the dancer and chanter. If you ask somebody to chant and dance for one hour, he'll get tired. But this chanting and dancing is so nice that these Gosvamis, they can go on chanting and dancing for twenty-four hours. Premamrtambho-nidhi. Because they were dipped into the ocean of love of Krsna. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau. Dhira, dhira means gentle, and adhira means ruffians, not gentle. So they were affectionate and popular both to the gentle as well as ruffians, these Gosvamis. Everyone liked them. Krsna consciousness is so nice that unless one is a staunch atheist, everyone will like this Krsna conscious movement. As an evidence, people are receiving these boys who are chanting and dancing. Out of their love they are contributing something, they are purchasing magazines. So this is sympathy, sign of love. So they are not, of course, very big business magnate or politicians; they are common men. But it is appealing to the common people. There is no doubt about it.

So these Gosvamis were also very popular amongst all classes of men. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau. Because they were also benefactor. They were doing something which is beneficial to the mass of people. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau. Nirmatsarau means not envious. We are not envious to anyone. Yesterday I received one letter from Rayarama. He wanted my permission to make some propaganda in our magazine Back to Godhead against animal slaughter, butchery. So I replied that why should we be against a class of men who are known in the society as butcher? Actually, everyone is butcher. Actually, so-called gentlemen who are, I mean to say, supporting these butchers, they are also butchers. According to Manu-samhita, there are eight kinds of butchers. The man who is killing the animal, the man who is ordering to kill the animal, the man who is skinning the animal, the man who is purchasing the meat, the man who is cooking, the man who is eating, they are called all butchers. Just like if there is a murder case and there is a conspiracy, so it is not the man who has directly killed some person, he is arrested, but everyone who is in the conspiracy, they are all arrested. That is the common law. So in that sense everyone is butcher. Besides that, because a person is killing some cow or some animal, we are calling butcher, but mostly they are killing their soul. Anyone who is unconscious, who is ignorant of his spiritual identity, identifying himself with this body and misusing this opportunity of human form of life simply for animal sense gratification, they are also butchers. If killing of some living entity is butchery, then how great a butcher is he who is killing himself? He is killing an animal, but he is killing himself. Atma-ha. Atma-ha, self-killing, out of ignorance. Everyone is in ignorance. Any sinful activity is done out of ignorance. So ignorance is no excuse. The butcher is killing animal because he does not know what is the effect of this killing. Similarly, persons who do not know what is the value of this human form of life and simply spoiling it just like animals, they are also butchering themselves.

There is a nice instructive verse in Sanskrit. One saintly person was giving his blessings to different kinds of persons. So he first of all saw one boy, he was a prince, son of a king. So he blessed him, raja-putra. "My dear prince," ciram jiva, "you live forever." Then he saw one brahmacari, a disciple of a spiritual master, he said, ma jiva muni-putraka: "Oh, you are the disciple of a saintly person. You do not live. You die immediately." Raja-putra ciram jiva. "Oh, the prince, son of a king, you live forever; and you are a brahmacari, muni-putra, a son of a saintly person, so you die immediately." Then there was a saintly person, and he said to the saintly... He offered his blessings to the saintly person, jiva va mara va sadhoh. Sadhoh means saintly person, sadhu. "My dear saintly person, either you live or you die as you like." And there was a butcher. He told for the butcher, ma jiva ma mara iti: "You neither live nor die." So what is the significance of these four kinds of blessings? The significance is that he blessed the raja-putra, royal prince, to live forever because whatever enjoyment he's having, this is for this life. Next life is very horrible for him, next life. Just like generally in the opulent countries like America and other European countries, they are materially very opulent, they do not care for anything. They do anything, whatever they like, because they are very much proud of their material opulence. But they do not care what they are going to be next life, you see. Therefore so long they live, that is good for them. As soon as they die, they are going to the darkest region of the hell. Therefore the prince, the king's son, was blessed, "You live forever," and so far the brahmacari, brahmacari or the son of a muni, he is undergoing penance, austerities, fasting, not very comfortable life. So he was blessed that "You die immediately." Because by his pious activities he has elevated himself so high that as soon as he dies, he goes to Vaikuntha, kingdom of God. Therefore the sooner he dies is better. So muni-putra, ma jiva muni-putraka. And so far saintly person, sadhu, he said, jiva va mara va. A saintly person, "Either you live or die, the same thing. Because you are serving Krsna in this life, and as soon as you die, you will serve Krsna directly. So it is all the same." And so far the butcher is concerned, he said, ma jiva ma mara: "You don't die, don't live." "Don't live" means, "You are living in such a wretched condition, killing every day. Horrible life. Your living is horrible, and if you die, you are going to the darkest region of the hellish condition. So both life, living or dying, it is very horrible for you. So you don't live, don't die." (laughs) So that is the blessing to the butcher, "Don't live, don't die." Living condition is also horrible, and after death it is also horrible. But unfortunately, every one of us is committing butchery without understanding self-realization, what is self, "What I am." Therefore Vedanta-sutra says, "Try to understand yourself." Athato brahma jijnasa. This human form of life is meant for searching out, understanding, inquiring, about Brahman. We are all Brahmans. Because we are part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, therefore we are all Brahman. So if we do not inquire what is Brahman, then that is suicide. In the human form of life, if you do not make inquiries what is brahma, athato brahma jijnasa... Jijnasa means inquiry. This is the first aphorism in the Vedanta-sutra, that atha. Atha means thus. Atah, atah means hereafter. "Hereafter" means that we have passed through 8,400,000 of species of life; now we have got civilized form of human body; now it is the time to inquire what I am, what is God, what is my relationship with God.

So in every human society there is such inquiry and there is some answer also. So cultivating this knowledge, Krsna consciousness or God consciousness, is essential. If we do not take to these inquiries, simply if we engage ourself in the animal propensities... Because this material body is animal body, but the consciousness is developed. In the animal body or in the lower than animal body -- just like trees and plants, they are also living entities -- the consciousness is not developed. If you cut a tree, because the consciousness is not developed, it does not protest. But it feels the pain. That is scientifically proved by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. It feels. But the feeling is not so strong. But if you kill one animal, it protests because the consciousness is developed. Similarly if you kill a man, that protest is still vehement because the consciousness is still more advanced. So in this way, in different forms of life, we are developing different types of consciousness. Just like this child, because it has got a certain type of body, its consciousness is not so developed. But when this body will be grown up, when this girl will be young, then her consciousness also will be different. Not will be, it will develop. Similarly, our consciousness should develop. The perfection, the ultimate goal, the limit of development is Krsna consciousness. The consciousness is developing one after another in different bodies, but Krsna consciousness means that is the ultimate development. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. This is the definition how consciousness reaches its perfection. Bahunam janmanam ante. That perfection is reached after many, many births. Just like aquatics, plants, trees, reptiles, birds, beasts, then uncivilized human form of body, then civilized form of body, and especially the Vedic style of body. That is considered to be the highest perfectional body. And Vedic perfectional stage also achieves the highest goal when it is Krsna conscious.

Therefore Krsna consciousness is the highest goal of life. We should always remember. And Bhagavad-gita says bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. After many, many births of evolution, one after another, one after another, one after another -- that evolution is going, every moment -- so when one is perfectly wise, bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan. Jnanavan means perfectly wise. Jnana means knowledge, and van means one who has. The Sanskrit word van... Just like bhagavan. Bhaga means opulence, and van means one who has. So Bhagavan means one who has got six kinds of opulences in full. Every Sanskrit word has got its root meaning. It is not... Just like Krsna. Krsna has got His root meaning. Krsna, "the greatest." Krs, and na means negation. There are different meanings, but this is one of the meanings. Another Krsna meaning is "all-attractive." So God is great. That very idea is perfectly expressed in the word Krsna. So bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan [Bg. 7.19]. Jnanavan means who has attained, who has possessed, who is in possession of highest wisdom. That is Krsna consciousness. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate.

And what is Krsna consciousness? Krsna says, "One who surrenders unto Me. One who comes to Me and surrenders, 'My dear Krsna, I now understand that You are my eternal protector, You are my eternal friend, You are my eternal maintainer. I forgot You; now I understand. So I come to You and surrender. Please give me protection.' " This is called saranagati. So he is wisest man, and he continues to serve Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. So bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. What is that mam? If Krsna says, "unto Me." So "unto Me," Krsna is everything. Because He is the Supreme Lord, therefore He is everything. But what sort of? Vasudeva. That form of Krsna, Vasudeva. Vasudeva means the son of Vasudeva. That means the Krsna of Srimad-Bhagavatam who appeared Himself as the son of Vasudeva, Vasudeva. Son of Vasudeva is known as Vasudeva. Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. And Vasudeva is all-pervasive. Whatever we see, whatever we experience, that is expansion of Vasudeva's energy. So one who understands... In the Ninth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita also it is said, maya tatam idam sarvam: [Bg. 9.4] "Everything, whatever you see, I am there. It is My expansion." maya tatam idam. Tatam means expanded. "I have been expanded everywhere." Just like this watch, this is also Krsna. This is also Krsna. The Mayavada philosophy, they misunderstand that if Krsna has expanded to become this watch, to become this pot, to become this light, to become this room, to become this cloth, then Krsna is finished. No more Krsna. That is impersonalism. But that is not the fact. Krsna exists. That is also confirmed by the Vedas. Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate [Iso Invocation]. The Absolute Truth is so perfect that if perfectly taken from the perfect, everything is taken, still He's there. Just like this is a watch. If you take its hands, if you take its glass, if you take its machine, then what remains there? Nothing. It becomes zero. But Krsna is so full and complete, if you take millions of Krsna from Krsna, then Krsna is still there. That is Krsna's omnipotency. God is omnipotent. They do not understand what is this omnipotency. They say some words, "almighty," "omnipotent," but they do not understand what is this omnipotence. Just like even from material example we can see that the sun planet diffusing... I do not know how much temperature, what is the degree of that temperature, diffusing for millions and millions of years. Still, the temperature is the same. If it is possible to a material thing which is an insignificant creation of God, if the sun is so much omnipotent... Not omnipotent. The sun's light or the sunshine is from, derived from Krsna's spiritual potency. But we can see that it is so much potent that diffusing sunshine for millions of years. There is no decrease of temperature. So vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19] means Vasudeva expands Himself in so many universes, so many planets, so many paraphernalia, still, He is in Goloka Vrndavana. That is stated in the Brahma-samhita. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma bhuto [Bs. 5.37]. He is enjoying in His planet Goloka Vrndavana, and still, He is all-pervasive. maya tatam idam sarvam jagat avyakta-murtina [Bg. 9.4].

So when one comes to this understanding that Krsna, Vasudeva, He keeps Himself intact although He is all-pervasive... Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. Mahatma means great soul. Just like you have heard the name of Mahatma Gandhi in our country, but the definition of mahatma in Bhagavad-gita is different. A mahatma is not a politician. A mahatma is not for the Indians and not for the Americans or any certain limited circle. Mahatma is not like that. Of course, the Indian people awarded the title "Mahatma" Gandhi, but mahatma means a different... Mahatma's definition is given in the Bhagavad-gita. There it is stated, mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. A mahatma is under the shelter of the internal potency of God. There are two kinds of potencies. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita. You should read Bhagavad-gita very carefully. You'll understand everything. Apara and para. These are stated. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca... bhinna me prakrtir astadha [Bg. 7.4]. The Lord said, material world, what is this material world? This material world is composition of earth, water, air, fire, ether. And this is gross element, gross ingredients. But there are finer, subtle ingredients, mind, intelligence, ego. So these eight gross and fine elements which is the material world, that is expressed in the Bhagavad-gita that bhinna me prakrti astadha, "These eight kinds of prakrti, nature, is my separated inferior energy." Apareyam, this is inferior. They are inferior. Itas tv anya me prakrtim para. Besides these eight elements, there is another prakrti, another nature, which is superior. And what is that? We can see earth, water, fire, air, and, of course, mind we can feel, intelligence we can feel, ego also we can feel. There is feeling, although we cannot see because they are subtle. And what about the other? That is expressed in the Bhagavad-gita, jiva bhutam maha-baho [Bg. 7.5], "My dear Arjuna, they are these living entity." Some of the nonsense philosophers, they are identifying the soul with the mind, with intelligence, with ego, but they are all material. The soul is different. So this is daivi prakrti, spiritual nature. The material nature and spiritual nature.

So mahatma means, mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. Mahatmas, those who are mahatma, they take shelter of the spiritual nature, and those who are duratma or ksudratma... Maha means great, and just opposite to maha means, opposite to maha is ksudra, small. Just like somebody is very liberal and somebody is very miser. So mahatma is broad, broader-minded, broader soul, whose soul has become broader. How you can become broader? If you dovetail yourself with the supreme broadest, then you become broader. Otherwise you become smaller. So this is the difference between mahatma and ksudratma. People are generally, they are doing something for his own body, something for his society, something for his family, something for his country. So you can expand your activities, but unless you expand your activities to Krsna consciousness, you become the smaller. So,

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty-ananya manaso
(jnatva bhutadim avyayam)
 [Bg. 9.13]

So mahatma means Krsna conscious, who is unalloyedly attached to the loving transcendental service of Krsna. Bhajanti mam ananya manaso, this is the definition of mahatma. Anyone who is cent percent engaged in the service of Krsna, he is mahatma. Not by stamping, that "You are mahatma, I am mahatma." No. This is the definition of mahatma. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. Daivi prakrti means they are no more interested with this material world. They are interested with the spiritual energy. Because we are spiritual energy. We are... The same energy, we are seeking after the same energy. Just like water can mix with water. Oil cannot mix with water. If you put a drop of oil with water, the oil will remain separate. But if you put a drop of water with water, immediately mixes. Similarly we are spirit soul. As soon as we are in the spiritual world, in spiritual activities, then we are one. There is no discordance. There is no opposing elements. But so long we exist in the material world, everything opposing. Everything opposing. Therefore it is struggle. Struggle for existence. Suppose if you are thrown into the sea, however expert swimmer you may be, it is struggle. It is struggle for existence. But if you are on the land, there is no such struggle. You live natural life. Similarly, mahatma, those who have become broader by Krsna consciousness, by surrendering unto Krsna after many, many births... Bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. Ante means after. Janma means birth. And fully understanding that everything is Krsna, everything is display of Krsna's energy.

So Krsna and Krsna's energy, there are two things. So we are praying, Hare Krsna. Hare means we are praying to the energy, the internal energy, the spiritual energy, Radharani. Hare. We are praying "Hare, O the energy of Krsna, and Krsna." Krsna is always with energy. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Krsna, or the Supreme Lord, has many multifarious energies. Whatever we are seeing, it is all manifestation of His energy. So we are praying both to the energy. We are praying to the material energy also -- material energy also, perverted reflection of the spiritual energy. Actually, there is no material energy. Everything is spiritual. But when the spiritual energy is covered by ignorance... Just like when the sky is covered by cloud it becomes dark. Similarly, spiritual energy, when it is covered by material energy... The cloud has no separate existence. It is also creation of the sunshine. Similarly, the material energy has also no separate existence. It is also creation of Krsna, but it appears and disappears. The spiritual energy remains. So when we dovetail ourself with the spiritual energy, then we become perfect. That is our perfection. So Krsna consciousness is dovetailing ourself with the spiritual energy and thus become perfect. And this human form of life is meant for that purpose.

So we are following the six Gosvamis. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. Always chanting and dancing and chanting... What is chanting? Not any slogan, but Krsna, Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. This is chanting. Chanting does not mean that you chant like some parrot, no. Chanting Krsna. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. Kirtanam, chanting, and sravanam, hearing, what? There are so many subject matters of chanting and hearing. No. Krsna or Visnu. So chanting and hearing, this was inaugurated by Lord Caitanya and followed by the six Gosvamis, and we are also following in the footprints of the six Gosvamis. Therefore we should offer our respectful obeisances, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva gopalakau. We offer our respectful obeisances to Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, and to Raghunatha Gosvami and Jiva Gosvami and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances) Come on. Where you have been, Vamanadeva?

Vamanadeva: I'm working. I have a job.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Vamanadeva: ...making furniture, working with wood. I'm learning a lot so I can make nice thrones.

Prabhupada: (laughs) That's all right. So any question?

Woman:  Is there anyone similar to Joan of Arc in the Srimad-Bhagavatam?

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Woman: Are you familiar with Joan of Arc? She was a saint.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Woman: Is there any person in the Srimad-Bhagavatam similar to her?

Prabhupada: You want to see Joan of Arc in Srimad-Bhagavatam? Why don't you take Joan of Arc of Srimad-Bhagavatam? Any activities of devotees, that is Srimad-Bhagavatam. What do you mean by Bhagavatam? Bhagavatam, Bhagavatam, Bhagav, this word comes from Bhagavan. Bhagavata, Bhagavad-sabda. The word is Bhagavata. And pertaining to Bhagavata is Bhagavata. So Bhagavata can be expanded to any unlimited. So anything in relationship with God, that is Bhagavatam. So if Joan of Arc, she was in relationship with God, she is also Bhagavatam. You should expand Bhagavatam in that way. Yes.

Madhudvisa: Recently it said in the newspaper where the scientists were sending a sputnik around the moon. I have read in your Easy Journey to Other Planets that no matter how many endeavors they make, they will never reach these other planets. Is this...?

Prabhupada: Yes. This is not the process of reaching. This is childish. That also I have made statement, this is childish. You cannot go to the moon planet in that way. It is not possible. They'll simply create story, but they'll never be successful.

Tamala Krsna:  Will we know Krsna as well by thinking always how can we spread this Krsna consciousness? Is this the... be good to know Krsna as much as if you study thoroughly the Vedas?

Prabhupada: Yes. Siddhanta boliya citte na kara alasa. You have to understand the science of Krsna. There are so many books. The Gosvamis were doing that. In the next verse... I have explained one verse. The next verse is nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. They were very much expert in studying very scrutinizingly all Vedic literatures. So, of course, reading or hearing. You may not have time to read, but try to read. If you have no time, you are hearing. We are publishing, we are publishing literature, books. I am trying to speak to you. That is also understanding, studying Krsna science. Rather, hearing is better reception. If you hear... That Vedas are therefore known as sruti. Sruti means it is received through hearing. Real process is hearing. And this age, Kali-yuga, people cannot study so much. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was called by Prakasananda Sarasvati, He presented Himself that "What can I understand, Vedanta-sutra? I am a fool. Therefore My spiritual master has ordered Me to simply chant." So this chanting will help you. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau [SU 6.23]. Simply by studying, becoming bookworm, you cannot advance. The real secret is... That is stated in the Vedas. Unflinching faith in God and spiritual master. Then things will be revealed from within. How much strength we have got to study all these books? But Vedas says, yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. If one has got unflinching faith in God and similar faith in the spiritual master, tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah, to him only the Vedic knowledge becomes revealed. And this is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. Lord Krsna says, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam: [Bg. 10.10] "Those who are engaged in My service with love and affection, buddhi-yogam dadami tam, I personally give him intelligence, yena mam upayanti te, by which he can come to Me." In another place, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, tesam evanukampartham: [Bg. 10.11] "In order to show these devotees special favor, tesam evanukampartham aham ajnana-jam tamah nasayamy, I personally dissipate their darkness within the heart." Everything, the mind is full of darkness; therefore we are conditioned. So Krsna, from within He drives away the darkness of ignorance. Aham ajnana-jam tamah nasayamy. Aham ajnana-jam tamah nasayamy atma-bhava, just like that.

So He is within you. If you are sincere to Him and to the instruction, following, then everything will come out automatically even if you don't read. This is the special significance of Krsna consciousness, that we want simply sincere soul; then everything is there. You study or no study. But for preaching work, studying required. If you are..., because you have to meet so many opposing elements, so if you can give some reference from books of authority. But even if you don't give references, you can speak logically, you can place arguments logically. So Krsna will help, Krsna is within you. Don't think that Krsna is without. He's without and within, both. That is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. When Krsna was standing before Kunti and He also entered within the womb of Uttara to save Pariksit Maharaja, so Kunti said that "I see that You are within and without. Still, You are unseen." God is within and without, but the rascals cannot see. They say, "Where is God? Can you show me?" But He is always everywhere, within and without. So one has to train himself how to see. That is described in the Brahma-samhita, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena [Bs. 5.38]. One has to anoint the eyes with love of God. Then he can see. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Santah, saintly person. Sant. Just like your San Francisco, the Sant (Saint) is Sanskrit word, santah. The saint word is Sanskrit word. Santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Those who are saints, sants, they always see God within and without. They have got eyes to see. What is that special eyes? That is love of God, that's all.

Visnujana: Lord Jesus Christ said that if you would see God, your eye must be single. Was he referring to that same statement that love of God is that single eye?

Prabhupada: That means your one eye will be lost? What do you mean by that?

Visnujana: Just he stated it that...

Prabhupada: No, what do you understand by that? Your eyes will be single, is that the...? Then what do you mean? What do you understand by this statement?

Visnujana: I understand that your attention would be one-pointed on God.

Prabhupada: That's it! That's it. When you actually see God, you cannot see anything except God. That is God-seeing. That is stated in Caitanya-caritamrta, sthavor jangam dekhe na dekhe tava murti. A highly-elevated devotee, first-class devotee, he sees trees or the animals are moving, nonmoving, so many varieties, but he does not see their form. Everywhere he sees Krsna. That is a fact. Krsna says that sarva-yonisu kaunteya sambhavanti murtayayah yah [Bg. 14.4]. There are millions of varieties of forms of life, but I am the seed-giving father. So a devotee sees, "Oh, here is a son of Krsna. Here is a son of Krsna. Here is a son of Krsna. Here is a son of Krsna." So if you love somebody, as soon as you see his son, you immediately remember who's son he is. Therefore he sees the tree but immediately remembers, "Oh, it is Krsna's." He sees a dog; he immediately sees Krsna, "Oh, he is Krsna's." He sees a watch; he immediately sees, "It is Krsna's." Therefore he is single-eyed, Krsna. That's all. He has no other, any other vision. Everything Krsna's. Therefore he wants to take everything towards Krsna, "Please come to Krsna consciousness. You are missing. You are Krsna's. Why you are identifying with this nonsense? Why you are thinking American, American, Indian, or this or that? You are Krsna's. Come to Krsna." This is our propaganda. We want to give eyes to the people. They are blind and their leaders are blind. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnoh [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know what is their ultimate goal of life, this Krsna, God. So what Lord Jesus Christ says, it is right. So have sankirtana. Or any other question? Hare Krsna. (kirtana-Prema-dhvani) (aside:) Stop it. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Six Gosvamis Lecture,  Sri Sri Sad-govamy-astaka -- Los Angeles, November 18, 1968

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Nobody's Servant but Krishna's

Nobody's Servant but Krishna's

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.18
Bombay, November 18, 1974

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Nitai: (leads chanting, etc.) Translation: "In that position of self-realization, by practice of knowledge and renunciation in devotional service, one sees everything in the right perspective; he becomes indifferent to material existence, and the material influence acts less powerfully upon him."

Prabhupada:

jnana-vairagya-yuktena
bhakti-yuktena catmana
paripasyaty udasinam
prakrtim ca hataujasam
 [SB 3.25.18]

The conditioned state of life means influence of material nature. When we are very much influenced by the material nature... We have already discussed: guna. Karanam guna-sango 'sya [Bg. 13.22]. Material nature means the three gunas, three material qualities: ignorance, passion and goodness. Goodness is better than the other two qualities, ignorance and passion. But mostly, especially in this age, they are conducted or influenced by the modes of ignorance and passion. People do not know what is the aim of life. Just like they are called sudras. Sudras means they do not know what is the aim of life. Just like animal. Animal does not know what is the aim of life. That is ignorance. And passion is power, creative power, or working for sense gratification. That is called passion. And goodness means knowledge. One can see what is what.

So we have discussed in the last verse how one becomes liberated.

tada purusa atmanam
kevalam prakrteh param
nirantaram svayam-jyotir
animanam akhanditam

Animanam, anu. We are minute particle of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. We are not Krsna, but Krsna's part, minute part. That minute part also we have discussed -- one ten-thousandth part of the upper portion of the hair. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. So when we realize this, that "I am not God, but I am godly. I have got the quality of God..." I have given the example also: just like the sea and the drop of water of the sea. So chemically, the drop of water of the sea is the same quality. There is no change of taste or other chemical composition. Similarly, we should understand fully that we are simply qualitatively one with God, but quantitatively, God is great and we are very minute particle. This is self-realization. Therefore part and parcel. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. The all living entities, Krsna says, "They are My part and parcel."

Part and parcel, we have several times explained. Just like in my body there are different parts, but the business of the part is to satisfy the central point, stomach. The leg is working, the hand is working, the eyes, the ears, everyone is working. Why working? To satisfy the stomach. The Hindi, there is a pe kaste, sat.(?) So similarly, we should work for Krsna. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna, therefore we should work for Krsna. I can repeat the same story again: udarendriyanam. The indriyas, the different parts of the body, because they were working hard, and the stomach within the abdomen, he's simply eating, so they went on strike: "We shall no more work. This part is only simply..., this man is simply eating, and we are working. We shall not work." They stopped work. The indriyas, they stopped work. So gradually they became weak. So when next meeting, they saw that "We have become weak," therefore again decided that "Let us supply food to the stomach."This is sense.

 

dharmasya glanih. When the society forgets Krsna and stops Krsna's service, that is called dharmasya glanih. Real dharma means the characteristic. Dharma does not mean some rules and regulations. So just like sugar. Sugar, the characteristic of sugar is to become sweet. The characteristic of chili means to become hot. If sugar becomes hot and chili becomes sweet, then nobody cares for it. Similarly, our characteristic is to serve Krsna. And when we serve anything other than Krsna, that is our diseased condition of life. Just like this hand is meant for picking up something eatable and put it into the mouth. If it is unable to do it, then it is diseased. If the fingers and hands cannot pick up nice foodstuff and put into the mouth, then it is diseased condition. Similarly, when we are unable to serve Krsna, or we do not serve Krsna, we serve... Serving we are. That is a fact. We cannot become master. Nobody... Can anyone say that he is master? He's not serving anyone? Everyone is serving. That's a fact. Either you are serving your family or society or country or office or so many service. If anyone hasn't got to serve anything, then he picks up a master, a cat and dog, and serves him. Because service is my nature. But we are missing where to put the service. That is Krsna. That is, that is Krsna.

So when we understand that we are missing... We are serving, but we are having no pleasure. Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesah. We are serving... Instead of serving Krsna, I am serving my lusty desires. Kama-lobhadi. If I go to serve any office, I am not going to serve that particular person, proprietor of the office, but I require some money. Therefore I am serving. So I am serving the money, not the person. Therefore it is said, kama-lobha. Lobha. We serve the... Service must be... Krsna is the master. Ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya [Cc. Adi 5.142]. Only master is Krsna, and anyone -- all demigods or man or animal or trees or -- anything, they are all servants. This is the position. And when one realizes this position, that "I am eternal servant of Krsna, particle, part and parcel of Krsna. My duty is to serve Krsna," then it is called self-realization. Not that aham brahmasmi, "I become Bhagavan." How you become Bhagavan? If you are Bhagavan, if you are actually the supreme powerful, then why you are in miserable condition under maya? Does Bhagavan come under maya? No. Krsna says, mama maya. Maya is the maidservant of Krsna. And we are servant of maya. So how we can become maya, uh, Bhagavan? This is common sense. Had I been Bhagavan, then why I have become servant of maya?

Therefore we are engaged in the service of maya in so many phases and different names. Somebody's serving country, somebody's serving society, somebody's serving family, office, this, that, so many. This is maya's service. Now, when we come to our senses, that "I am..., so long I was engaged in maya's service. Now I have to engage myself in Krsna's service," that is self-realization. That is described here that jnana-vairagya-yuktena. [SB 3.25.18] Jnana-vairagya. This is knowledge, that "I am servant of Krsna. I am nobody's servant." This is jnana. Because I am in illusion, I am, for nothing, without any benefit, I am serving so many... Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesah. Kama-lobha. I am serving this kama, lobha, moha, matsarya, but without any benefit, without any pleasure. So when we come to this stage, to know, that is called jnanam. And as soon as you become jnani, actually in knowledge, then what is the next step? Vairagya. "No more I am serving anyone. I shall serve only Krsna. That's all." This is called vairagya. Jnana-vairagya.

Therefore in the Bhagavata it is said,

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
 [SB 1.2.7]

If one is engaged in the service of Vasudeva, Krsna, this knowledge also comes. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. After many, many births, if one is actually jnani, seeking after knowledge, then he comes to this conclusion. What is this? Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. This is mahatma, not anyone who is defying Krsna and he's trying to become Krsna. He's not mahatma; he's duratma. Mahatma means, vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. And knowing this, mam prapadyate. That is mahatma. Don't mistake mahatma, who is mahatma. What is the symptom of mahatma?

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
 [Bg. 9.13]

He's mahatma. You cannot manufacture mahatma. This is the qualification of mahatma: vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19], who knows that Krsna is everything. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. He is mahatma. And his business is mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim... [Bg. 9.13]. He is under the daivi-prakrti. There are two kinds of prakrtis: para-prakrti and apara-prakrti. Apara-prakrti means this material world, and daivi-prakrti is the spiritual world. So immediately, as soon as he understands this philosophy of life, that "I am uselessly serving this material world or the society, friendship, country and so on, so on, without serving Krsna," that is called jnana, knowledge. And as soon as one comes to this knowledge, that knowledge is, that position is called brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20] stage. Brahman realization.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. As soon as one comes to this platform of knowledge, then he becomes prasannatma. "Oh, why I am serving these nonsense? I forgot that I am a spirit soul, minute particle of Krsna. My business is to serve Krsna." Just like... I have already explained. Part and parcel means serving the whole. That is called part and parcel. Any example you can take. In office there are so many workers, but they are working for satisfaction of the whole. Similarly, the whole is Krsna. Anything, we individually or anything, they are meant for Krsna's satisfaction. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Upanisads. Isavasyam idam sarvam. Anyone who has understood that everything belongs to Krsna, Isa... Isa means Krsna. Isa or isvara. There are so many isvaras or isa, but Isvara, real Isvara, is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. And Krsna also says in the Bhagavad-gita, mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. There are many isvaras, or isas. That is all right, but "Nobody is greater than Me." That is Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. So this is jnana. So as soon as one comes to this conclusion, that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am Krsna's part and parcel. I have got the same quality as Krsna has got, but He is Prabhu, I am servant. He is master, and I am servant," this is perfect knowledge. Then jnana-vairagya-yuktena bhakti-yuktena [SB 3.25.18].

So bhakti means when one has attained real jnanam. Without real jnanam, nobody can become bhakta. The foolish person says that bhakti's meant for ajnani, or less intelligent. No. Bhakti is meant for the most intelligent person. Because bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. You become experienced, very, very experienced, after many, many years. So it is not many, many years, but many, many births, one actually becomes jnani. And what is that jnana? Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. That is jnanam. So long you cannot understand Krsna, or Vasudeva, you should understand yourself that you are still fool. You may advertise yourself as very jnani, but you are fool. That is the shastric conclusion. Because if you are actually jnani, then you should have surrendered to Krsna. That is also stated in another place in the Bhagavad... Mayaya apahrta-jnanah.

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
 [Bg. 7.15]

Who does not surrender to Krsna? These classes of men. What is that? Duskrtinah, always acting sinful activities. Because those who are sinful, they cannot understand Krsna. Bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. Or yesam anta-gatam papam. One who is completely free from papa, he can surrender to Krsna. He can be engaged in devotional service.

So to become free from papa, sinful life, one may say that "It will take many years..." Because yesam anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam. Unless we act piously, it is not possible to become free from impious, or sinful, life. But there is very simple process. What is that process? Krsna says that process:

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
 [Bg. 18.66]

Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. If you simply surrender to Krsna, sarva-dharman... Sarva... There are many dharmas, or many activities or function. Some of them are pious; some of them are impious. There are two kinds. So Krsna says, "You give up, pious and impious, both." That is sarva-dharman. Because we are acting piously and impiously. So you can give up both pious activities and impious activities. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was thinking that "Fighting with my brother, it is impious." So Krsna was insisting that "You must fight." So how Arjuna could take impious activities? Because Krsna's service is above these pious and impious activities. That is called sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. Just like the gopis. The gopis went to Krsna at mid..., midnight, by simply hearing the flute of Krsna. So young girl, going to Krsna at midnight, this is impious activities. According to sastra, according to moral, it is impious activities. But because it was done for Krsna, it is understood as the most pious. Recommends. Who recommends? Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was sannyasi. He was very, very strict. And no woman could come near Him to offer respects. He was very strict about woman. And now, He's saying, ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita: "What can be more wonderful process of worship than as it was conceived by the gopis?" The six Gosvamis also: gopi-bhava-rasamrtabdhi-lahari-kallola-magnau muhur vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. So, so although it looks apparently that gopis went to Krsna to dance with Him, that is not very moral, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends that is the highest method of worshiping Krsna.

So this requires jnanam. Therefore this is called transcendental knowledge, how serving Krsna, one becomes transcendental to all these pious and impious activities. That requires knowledge.

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
 [Bg. 14.26]

Pious and impious... Piety or impiety, they are within these material gunas, qualities, good and bad. And Krsna's service is transcendental, above good and bad. So that is called real knowledge, and if one is fortunate enough to understand this knowledge, then immediately he becomes detached to these material pious and impious activities. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. That is called vairagya. Jnana-vairagya. Bhakti-yuktena. Without bhakti, there cannot be jnana and vairagya. Actually, the human life is meant for jnana and vairagya, for two things. Otherwise, we remain animal. The animal cannot attain any jnana, neither animal can attain any vairagya. That is animal qualification. But a human being, he has the opportunity to come to the stage of jnana and vairagya.

Jnana means to understand that "I am not this material body. I do not belong to this material body. I am a spirit soul. I am part and parcel of Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Spirit, and I belong to the spiritual world. Therefore my business is to finish this material world business and go back to home, back to Godhead." This is jnana, knowledge. Therefore we have to understand Krsna. If we have to go somewhere, we must know where we are going. Because we are serving here. Now, another program has to be made to serve Krsna and live there in the spiritual world. So we have to understand Krsna very nicely. That... And if you can understand Krsna... Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. To understand Krsna in truth, that is not very easy task. That is very, very difficult task. Even the muktas cannot understand Krsna. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Siddhi means mukti, liberation. Kascid yatati. Who is trying for liberation? Nobody's trying. But still, there are somebodies who are trying for liberation. So Krsna says, yatatam api siddhanam [Bg. 7.3]. After being liberated, those who are trying to understand Krsna, some of them can understand Krsna in truth, tattvatah. Therefore you have to understand Krsna tattvatah, what is Krsna.

So if you can understand Krsna... Janma karma me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. Krsna says that "If you can understand Me, how I come here, how I come, I play the part of a human being and teach the whole world, Bhagavad-gita, what is My mission, why I come, everything, where is My residence, what is My father's name..." People are searching after God, but God is canvassing, "Please understand Me. Here I am." But people will not understand. So what God will help you? How can He help you? He says everything. Now, "I come from My Vaikuntha, or spiritual world." Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, tadatmanam srjamy aham [Bg. 4.7]. "At that time I come. And I teach. And what do I teach? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]." This is dharma. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma means the law given by God. That is dharma. You cannot make Hindu dharma, just like you cannot make any law. This is... Suppose the government is there. Now, you cannot say that "We Hindus, we have made this law," "We Muslim, we have made this law," "We Parsees, we have made this law." No. What all law is given by the government you have to accept, either you are Hindu, Muslim, or Christian and Hin... It doesn't matter. Therefore dharma means to accept the law of God. Not that you manufacture something. Therefore in the Bhagavata it is said, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra [SB 1.1.2]. All cheating type of dharma is rejected, kicked out. Because real dharma is what is given by God. And what God says? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam... [Bg. 18.66]. This is real dharma. This is real dharma.

So we have to learn this, what Krsna says. We have to understand Krsna by tattva, by truth. Then we become liberated. That is called jnana-vairagya. And as soon as you become learned scholar about Krsna, then you become immediately detached to this material world, and... Jnana-vairagya-yuktena bhakti-yuktena [SB 3.25.18]. Then real bhakti begins. That is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita:

brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
 [Bg. 18.54]

Bhakti begins there, where jnana-vairagya is complete. Not that foolish person... But one can say that "In our society there are not many very learned scholars." No, there are learned scholars. But even there are fool... Just like the children. A child, he also chants and dances, so he will attain this jnana and vairagya. The other day I was asking the boy. He's not very learned scholar. So I asked him, "What is Krsna?" He immediately said, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead." That is jnana-vairagya result. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. He was already got the knowledge. What you have to learn it, after many, many births, a child, a boy, has already learned it. Here is the boy. He said, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead." Then what is that? Similarly, instead of endeavoring jnana and vairagya artificially, you accept what Krsna says. Immediately you become jnani and vairagi. Immediately.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that even a child can be on the highest position of jnana and vairagya -- if he takes the word of Krsna by association, good association. Sangat sanjayate kamah. So this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for giving chance to people to take the advantage of association of jnani and vairagi. Not fools and rascals, but jnani and vairagi. Jnana-vairagya-yuktaya [SB 1.2.12] Bhakti-yuktena ca atmana [SB 3.25.18]. Then, what is the result? Paripasyaty udasinam prakrtim, prakrtim ca hataujasam. Now prakrti has no more any influence. No more attraction for cinema. No. No more attraction for cigarette. You see practically. These are young men from Europe and America. Because they have taken to Krsna consciousness, they have no more any attraction for meat-eating, cigarette or cinema. No. This is called vairagya. How they attained this vairagya? Only for this bhakti. Bhakti-yuktena.

So the real purpose of life is to attain jnana and vairagya. This is the meant for human life. Because we are suffering in this material condition on account of ignorance, no jnana. I am not this body, but I am thinking "I am this body," "I am American." I am not actually so. I am thinking "American," "I am Engli...," "Pakistani," "I am Hindustani." And fighting. This whole world is going on on this ajnana. Because I am not this body. But the whole world is being conducted this ajnana. And there is no vairagya. Very much attached. The so-called family, society, love and... Everything will be finished as soon as this body is finished. No more love, no more family, no more attraction. So this is going on -- ajnana and attachment. Moha, illusion. Ato grha-ksetra-sutapta-vittair janasya moho 'yam aham mameti [SB 5.5.8].

So this aham mameti, this is ajnana. So when one is jnani, then this influence of material nature, aham mameti [SB 5.5.8], will be reduced to nil. That is, it is said, prakrtim ca hataujasam. "Now no more prakrti can disillusion me that I am this body, and in bodily relation everything is mine." This ajnana, ignorance, is immediately mitigated, and he becomes free. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. "Then I do not belong to all these things. Why I am falsely inclined to all these things? So it will come, how?" This bhakti-yuktena. If you take to bhakti-yoga, these things automatically...

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
 [SB 1.2.7]

How he became so powerful jnani? It is very difficult to understand, how a small boy, and he's saying Krsna, the Supreme Personalty of Godhead? Not only he -- even a small child. There is another small child, only five years old. He goes to preach, "You know what is Krsna?" And somebody says, "No, I do not know." "The Supreme Personality of Godhead." Anyway she has learned, that is jnana. But that is a fact. I may not know to analyze what is fire, but my father has said, "This is fire. Don't touch it. It will burn." So that's all right. He may be child, but he has got the real knowledge. Similarly, by hearing process, sruta-parampara... Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. If you go through the process of disciplic succession, hearing from the authorities, you may be fool, I may be fool, but because I am hearing from the authority, my knowledge is perfect. My knowledge is perfect. Just like I may be imperfect. I don't say that I am perfect. But I am speaking to the whole world, "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." The same thing. As the child says, as the boys says, I am also saying the same thing. But it is becoming effective because this is the fact. This is the fact. I don't make any miracles or create any gold or this or that. No. These boys and girls, they are captivated to me not by miracles, but by chanting Hare Krsna. Because this is the fact.

So Krsna consciousness is not very difficult thing. You try to understand Krsna.

janma karma me divyam
yo janati tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti...
 [Bg. 4.9]

This will be the effect. If you simply try to understand Krsna by this Krsna consciousness movement,... You can understand by chanting only Hare Krsna mantra, but if you think yourself that you are very learned scholar, scientist and philosopher, we have got dozens of books like this. You can read. And try to understand Krsna. Simply by understanding Krsna, you'll be successful in your life.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.18 -- Bombay, November 18, 1974

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

"We Are All Servants"

"We Are All Servants"

72/11/18 Hyderabad, Bhagavad-gita 2.13



Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.)

Prabhupada:

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
[Bg. 2.13]

The Second Chapter is the summary study of the Bhagavad-gita. The First Chapter is the preparatory study of Bhagavad-gita, and the Second Chapter is the summary study of the contents of Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita means the song sung by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bhagavata. From the word bhagavata, we speak Bhagavan. Bhagavan, here, in the Bhagavad-gita you'll find everywhere: sri bhagavan uvaca. So it is the science of understanding God. Yad vijnana-samanvitam. Jnanam te pravaksyami yad vijnana-samanvitam. It is a vijnana. Vijnana means science. As everything is understood thoroughly through a scientific process, similarly, if you want to know the science of God, then you have to adopt the process by which one can understand God. That process is described in the Bhagavad-gita: bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg. 18.55]. Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He says, "If anyone wants to understand Me, then he has to take the process of devotional service," not by the speculative process or by fruitive activities, or by yogic process, mystic yogic process. It is clearly stated. Not only in Bhagavad-gita. In all other Vedic scripture.

athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-
prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi
janati tattvam bhagavan-mahimno
na canya eko 'pi ciram vicinvan

One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His mercy only. Athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-prasada-lesanugrhita eva hi. Anyone who has received a small particle of the prasadam, mercy of the Lord, he can understand the Lord. Nobody can understand the Lord perfectly. It is not possible because the Lord is unlimited. We have got our senses very limited. Our senses are not only limited, but also imperfect. We commit illusion. We try to cheat. So many defects are there. Therefore simply by exercising our senses it is not possible to understand God.

So to know God, "God is very good, God is great," that is another thing. The science of God... Just like Bhagavad-gita, by studying Bhagavad-gita, we know not only "God is great," but we see what kind of God He is, what is His form. Sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. We have heard in the sastras that

isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
[Bs. 5.1]

Now that isvara, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, how He appears sac-ci d-ananda-vigraha? Those who are present, of course, they saw the sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, but because not all of them were devotees, they could not understand Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Because He appeared just like a human being, so mudhas... Mudhas means less intelligent, or, in plain word, asses. Mudha means ass. So this class of men could not understand Krsna, that He's the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the defect of the mudhas. They may be very great scholars, academic scholar, but in the matter of understanding God, they're mudhas, asses. Why? Mayaya apahrta-jnana asuram bhavam asritah [Bg. 7.15]. At the present moment, people are mostly asuram bhavam asritah. Asuri, asuri bhava means to defy God: "There is no God. God is dead. I am God. You are God. So many Gods are loitering in the street. Why you are finding out God?" These are so many statements. So God has become so cheap. There are so many incarnations of God, especially in India. It is a breeding ground of Gods, so many. So that is, means they do not know what is God. Mudha. They think God is so cheap thing. But from the sastra we understand, from Bhagavad-gita we understand... When Krsna was asked by Arjuna, "How You are controlling the whole cosmology, Your vibhuti, Your power, energies?" So Krsna explained, and the, at last, He concluded,

athava bahunaitena
kim jnatena tavarjuna
vistabhyaham idam krtsnam
ekamsena sthito jagat
[Bg. 10.42]

"The whole cosmology, material world, is just sustained by My partial manifestation of energies." Ekamsena. This material cosmology, material manifestation, is one fourth demonstration of God's energy. The three-fourths manifestation of His energy is the spiritual world. Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktat sanatanah [Bg. 8.20]. There is another nature which is spiritual nature, para, superior. The spiritual nature is described as para. Para means beyond this apara. There are two energies working, material nature and spiritual nature. Material nature, it is described in the Bhagavad-gita: bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva bhinna me prakrtir astadha [Bg. 7.4]. These eight types of material nature -- earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence and ego -- these are material nature. Bhinna prakrtir astadha. They are separated energies. Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtim param. Beyond this. These are inferior, apara. And beyond this apara-prakrti, there is another, superior prakrti. What is that? Jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat [Bg. 7.5]. That is the living entity.

So living entity, living being, is energy of the Supreme Lord. Energy. Just like the sun and the sunshine. Sunshine is the energy of the sun globe. Similarly, we living entities, we are also energies of the Supreme Lord. What is this sunshine? It is a combination of a very small shining particles, molecular. That is sunshine. It looks like one homogeneous thing, but they are small particles. That is scientific understanding. Similarly, we are also a small particle of the Supreme Lord. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. We are a small particle. How much small? What is the magnitude? That is also described in the sastra. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca, jiva-bhago sa vijneyah sa anantyaya kalpate [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. There is dimension of the living entity -- one ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair. So it is very difficult with our, these material eyes. We are very much proud of our eyes. But here is the indication from the sastra, the length and breadth of the living soul. Now, you find out, with your eyes, your microscope. That is not possible. Because they cannot find out, they say, nirakara. Nirakara. In one sense, it can be supported that we cannot ascertain the forms of the soul. And what, how we can ascertain the form of the Lord? Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan.

So spiritual education means, spiritual enlightenment means, first of all, we must try to understand the jiva. Because jiva is the small particle of the Lord. So that we can understand the quality of the Lord. Just like if you test a small particle of gold, then you can understand the composition of gold. If you test a little drop of water from the ocean, you can analyze the chemical composition of the sea. Similarly, if you can analyze the characteristics of the living entity, then you can at least understand what is God, what is the characteristics of God. Therefore the beginning of spiritual education is to understand one's self, this self-realization. How to realize self? We have to take knowledge from others. Knowledge means..., to acquire knowledge, to learn from the teacher. So here is the supreme teacher, Krsna. Krsna is accepted as the supreme teacher by everyone, by all the great sages formerly, like Vyasadeva, Narada, Devala, Asita. All other great sages. And recently, in the modern age, by our acaryas, Sri Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Ramanuja, yes, Sankaracarya, Visnusvami. All these great sages, great acaryas, they came from your South India. So you are fortunate in that sense. So we have to follow the acaryas. All these acaryas accept Krsna, the Supreme Lord. All these acaryas. And later, lately, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years ago, He also accepted that Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. That is the acceptance in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Similarly, Lord Brahma also accepted Krsna:

isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
[Bs. 5.1]

So we have got so many evidences. So we have to accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is no doubt about it. But why people do not accept? Why are so many big, big scholars and big, big scientists, why they do not accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead? That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, how these people do not accept. The statement is there:

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
[Bg. 7.15]

Those who are duskrtina, sinful, duskrtina... Krti means meritorious, and dus means..., means miscreants, meritorious for mischief-making. We, everyone has got merit. The mischief-maker, he has also got merit, but one who uses his merit for mischief-making... Just like a great rogue, a thief. When he steals, he requires brain. So he's applying his brain, how to steal tactfully, how to become a great rogue tactfully. How to become a smuggler... They require also brain. So the brain is being misused for mischievous activities. They are called miscreants, duskrtina. So those who are duskrtina... Na mam prapadyante, na mam duskrtino mudhah [Bg. 7.15]. One class is duskrtina and the other class is mudha. Mudha means less intelligence, or no intelligence. na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. And naradhama means the lowest of the mankind. And mayaya apahrta-jnanah, those whose knowledge have been taken by maya, asuram bhavam asritah. These classes of men do not surrender unto Krsna. We are not manufacturing these words. These words are in the Bhagavad-gita. If we study Bhagavad-gita, we have to accept the statements, Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita means the speeches which is delivered, or the song which is sung by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is to preach all over the world that krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. You are searching after God. You are taxing your brain so much. But in spite of taxing your brain, you say sometimes that "There is no God," or "God is dead," or "Everyone is God," and so on, so on. But our proposition is that why you are taxing your brain? Here is God. Here is God, Krsna. By authorities, by Vedic version, by His activities. If we read life of Krsna, we can see that He's Krsna, God, from the very beginning of His birth. God is not manufactured by some mystic power. God is God, and dog is dog. A dog cannot become God; God cannot become dog. That is the difference.

So Krsna was God from the very beginning. As soon as Krsna took birth, He appeared in four-handed Visnu-murti. But when He was prayed by His mother to become an ordinary child, He became an ordinary child with two hands. So that is God, from the very beginning. Not that, by attaining some mystic power, one can become God. You can have some power, godly... You have already power. Because we are, every one of us is a part and parcel of God. Therefore godly qualities are there. But you cannot become cent percent God. That is not possible. That is not possible. There, they..., they have been analyzed. All the demigods and living entities, they have been analyzed by great stalwart people, and it has been found that Krsna is cent percent God. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. All others... There are many other gods. Then gods means not the Supreme God. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. We are speaking of the paramah isvarah, or Paramesvara. There are two words: isvara, paramesvara; atma, paramatma. That param is God. We are Brahman; Parabrahman. So Parabrahman, Paramatma, Paramesvara, all these are applicable to Krsna. Just like Arjuna, after hearing Bhagavad-gita, he admitted, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan, purusam sasvatam adyam [Bg. 10.12]. That is the position of Krsna. Adi-purusam. Govindam adi-purusam. Krsna also says, in the Bhagavad-gita, aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2]. Devanam, Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara... Then, after Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara, there are other demigods, Indra, Candra, Varuna, so many. So Krsna says, aham adir hi devanam. Aham sarvasya prabhavah. He's the origin of everything. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. "Everything emanates from Me." In the Vedanta-sutra also the Absolute Truth is described as janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The Absolute Truth is that from whom everything emanates.

So here is Krsna. From sastric evidences, by His opulences, by His power... Because Bhagavan means full of six opulences. Aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah (Visnu Purana 6.5.47). He must be the richest. He must be the strongest. He must be the most famous. He must be the most beautiful. He must be the great renouncer. In this way, that is the definition of God. So that definition is confirmed by Lord Brahma: isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. Isvara means controller. Unless one is powerful, how he can control? So every one of us is little, a small controller. Somebody controls in his office. Somebody controls in his family life. Somebody controls a few factories. There are controllers. But nobody can say that "I am the supreme controller." That is not possible. The supreme controller is Krsna.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means we are trying link up our connection with the supreme controller. We do not wish to become the controller. We want to be controlled -- but by the supreme controller, not by others. That is our proposition. Just like generally, one who is in service, he hankers after government service. Because it is natural conclusion that "If I have to serve somebody, why a petty merchant? Why not take government service?" So that is our proposition, that we have to serve. The... We cannot do but serve. Any one of us. That is our constitutional position. Any one of us, we are sitting here, we are servant. Every one of us is servant. So our proposition is that you are servant in any case. Why not become servant of God? That is our proposition. That is Krsna consciousness movement.

So kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesah. We are servant of our senses, kama-krodha-moha-matsarya, all these. By, dictated by our lusty desires, we do anything which is abominable. Tesam kati na katidha palita durnidesah. So we are servant, everyone. Therefore, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Our real constitutional position is that we are eternal servant of God, Krsna. That is our position. But in this material condition of life, every one of us is trying to become the master. That is the struggle for existence. Everyone is trying: "I shall become the master. I shall become the Supreme." But our position is servant. So this is called illusion. I am not master. I am servant. But I am trying to become master artificially. That is struggle for existence. And mukti means, liberation means, when you give up this wrong idea that "I am master," and try to become the servant of the Supreme. That is called liberation. Liberation does not mean that after liberation we'll have a big, gigantic form or so many hands, so many legs. Liberation means to become liberated from the wrong consciousness. That is liberation. The wrong consciousness is that "I am master." So we have to change this consciousness. That is Krsna consciousness movement. One has to understand thoroughly that he's not master. He's servant. He's completely dependent on the supreme will. If we do not surrender unto the supreme will, then we have to surrender unto the will of maya. We have to remain a servant. If we don't..., reject service, or servitude of the Supreme Lord, then we have to become the servant of the senses. That is maya. Actually, that is going on. The whole world is serving different types of senses. Senses are one, the same, but they have got different desires. So they are servant of different desires.

Now the Krsna consciousness movement is... It is not manufactured by us. We get it from Bhagavad-gita: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Krsna says that "You give up all these nonsense desires. You surrender unto Me." That is the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita. We are dictated by different types of desires, which is dictated by maya, and we want to become master falsely. This is called illusion. This is called maya. Actually, you are not master. How we can become master? Because we may be very scientifically advanced. We may manufacture very wonderful machine and weapon, but after all, we are subjected to the rules of maya: janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. You cannot get out of these four principles of maya's machinery janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. Therefore the sane man, who is actually learned, he surrenders to Krsna. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. Actually when one becomes wise, he surrenders to Krsna. Jnanavan mam prapadyate. Otherwise, who is Krsna? "I am as good as Krsna. I am God." That is maya. That is not actually knowledge. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, ye 'nye 'ravindaksa vimukta-maninah. They are thinking that they have become liberated, become Narayana, or God. Maninah, they are thinking like that. Actually, they are not, because they're subjected to the rules of the material nature. They cannot get out of these clutches. Who can get out of these clutches? Mam eva ye prapadyante. Krsna says, "Anyone who surrenders unto Me..."

daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]

So therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is very pious movement, the most, the most glorious welfare activities. And we are preaching this movement all over the world. Just to place Krsna... Our only ambition is that to place Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is our proposition. We don't want to become Krsna, but we want to become the most obedient servant of Krsna. That is our proposition. So we invite everyone, from all parts of the world, and they are coming, they are joining. So in India Krsna appeared. India has got a special advantage to understand Krsna, and the Indians neglect it. That's a great misfortune, but we request everyone to join this movement, study the philosophy and become happy. That is our proposition. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break]

Indian: ...gavad-gita that the atma and jivatma is the same vision, and Brahman or Parabrahman is the same. And in knowledge of soul truth, the atma is the part and parcel of the Paramatma, that is the Supreme Lord, and this contradiction in this, I think, that how the atma and Paramatma is both one? Containing both, if the atma is part and parcel of the Paramatma, and when they, the atma and the great and Paramatma, is different. Because is contradiction in the understanding may accept what the Vedas say and what Bhagavad-gita say? Is there any difference between the Vedas and Bhagavad-gita? Are we following Vedas, or are we following Bhagavad-gita? Because the Bhagavad-gita is only song of Lord Krsna; the Vedas are the pure knowledge of Parabrahman.

Prabhupada: So why you are going away? You hear. You hear. Vedas... The... In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: [Bg. 15.15] "All the Vedas and Vedantas, they are meant for understanding Krsna." If by studying Vedas and Vedanta you cannot understand Krsna, then it is srama eva hi kevalam. It is simply labor. That is the adjustment of Bhagavad-gita and all other Vedic literature. Vedas means... Veda means knowledge, and anta means ultimate. That is called Vedanta. So ultimate knowledge is to know God. You may not accept Krsna. Although all the acaryas... I have already mentioned. Even Sankaracarya, he also accept Krsna: sa bhagavan svayam krsna. So the Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, they have all accepted Krsna: the ultimate knowledge of Vedic understanding. Many acaryas, they have written notes on Vedanta, targeting Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So we have to follow the footprints of the great stalwart acaryas. Acaryopasanam. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. If we follow the footprints of the acaryas, then we find there is no distinction between Vedanta and Bhagavad-gita. Vedanta, you might be referring to the Vedanta-sutra of Sankaracarya, but all the acaryas, the have written notes on Vedanta. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the original comment on Vedanta. Srimad-Bhagavatam begins with the Vedanta-sutra: janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. So Vedanta does not mean godlessness. Vedanta means to know God. That is real study of Vedanta.

Syamasundara: He wanted to know what is the difference between Paramatma and atma.

Prabhupada: Paramatma and atma, it is not very difficult to know. Just like you are father and you have got many children at home. So they, because they are children, they are, I mean to say, as ingredients, you and your children are the same, but still, you are superior, and the children are dependent. Your children are not different from you, but still, you are superior and they are inferior or junior. So qualitatively one, but quantitatively different. So quantitatively different -- atma, Paramatma; and qualitatively one -- atma is spirit, Paramatma is spirit. It is called acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, simultaneously one and different. One in quality, different in quantity. You can create. You are also qualitatively one with God. You have got creative power. Just like we are creating this flying machine, sputniks. That is also flying in the sky, and the Paramatma has created the millions of planets floating in the sky. So you have got the creative power, but you cannot create like that, Paramatma. That is the difference. Can you?

Indian: My question was very simple.

Prabhupada: Yes. The answer is also very simple. Paramatma is great. You are small. That's all.

Indian: But whether the, our atma is the part and parcel of the atma, Paramatma.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Indian: Paramatma is entirely different from the atma and...

Prabhupada: That I will explain. In quality, you are one. Because a particle of gold is also gold. But the gold mine is not equal to the gold earring. That is mistake.

Indian: They say atma is the Paramatma.

Various Indians: Not, not, the... Not the whole.

Prabhupada: Not the... One is great. Another is small. That is the difference. Quality is the same.

Indian: That means Paramatma and the atma...

Prabhupada: Quality same.

Indian: Quality same

Prabhupada: Quantity different.

Indian: But the atma, it is functioning in the body.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Indian: Is, according to the Paramatma, it is entirely different from the Paramatma.

Prabhupada: According to the Paramatma.

Indian: Every, our action is according to the Paramatma.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Indian: So why do you abuse one person to other person?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian: Why a person,...

Prabhupada: Yes?

Indian: ...to abuse other person, he says many things...

Prabhupada: But you should remember that you are in quality Paramatma. So Paramatma has got supreme independence. You have got little independence also. You, when you misuse that little independence, you create havoc.

Indian: Who is responsible for the creation of this...?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian: Who is responsible for the creation of this material...?

Prabhupada: Well, responsible... Just like father creates children. But if he becomes a thief, does it, does it mean the father is responsible? What is your idea?

Indian: The children. (?)

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian: The children... But He's the big father. (?)

Prabhupada: Father creates children, but a child becomes a rogue. Does it mean the father creates a rogue?

Indian: No, the thievery is on account of bad...

Prabhupada: That is, that is the... Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. You are independent. You can associate with different qualities of nature, and then your character is spoiled. That is your independence. Here God's instruction is sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66]. You do not abide by that. You create your own independence. Therefore you suffer. Father says, "My dear boy, do like this. You'll be happy." But he does in a different way. Who is responsible, the father or the son?

Indian: Supposing... If independence is equal in...

Prabhupada: If you, if you work according to the instruction of God, then you'll be happy. That is our proposition.

Indian: No, my question is..., difference between the service to the human being and the service to...

Prabhupada: Just like if you water on the leaf, and if you water on the root, which is better?

Indian: The root.

Prabhupada: That's it. But if you water the leaf, means you waste your time. Because by watering the leaf, you cannot make the tree living. Similarly, the sastra says that water on the root. Yatha taror mula-nisecanena trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhah [SB 4.31.14]. If you water the root, automatically the branches, the twigs, the leaves, they become invigorated. But if you water the leaf, you simply you think that you are doing service, but you are doing nothing. Chant Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13 -- Hyderabad, November 18, 1972