"Karma-yoga- Becoming God's Yes Man"

"Karma-yoga- Becoming God's Yes Man"

66/05/23 New York, Bhagavad-gita 3.13-16


Prabhupada:

yajna-sistasinah santo
mucyante sarva-kilbisaih
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ye pacanty atma-karanat
[Bg. 3.13]

This verse we were discussing last meeting, that we should eat after offering sacrifice. Lord Krsna says that things which are eatable, we receive by the grace of the Lord. We should acknowledge it. We should not be forgetful, that our eatables, which come to us, they can be manufactured by our sweet will. No. The arrangement is so nice in the administration of nature that we shall get all our necessities of life by the grace of God, and our duty is to advance ourself in the right knowledge of our spiritual existence without unnecessarily engaging ourself for sense gratification. That is the difference between human civilization and animal life.

The beginning of our Bhagavad-gita lesson is based on that we are spirit consciousness. We are not this body. And the whole function of the human society is to be enlightened in that spiritual consciousness of life instead of wasting time in sense gratification like the animals who are concerned with eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating. That is the background of our, this discussion, that we are different from the ordinary animals.

So the common factor of animal life and human life is these four principles of bodily demands, namely that we require to eat, and we require to sleep, we require some defensive measures for protecting ourself from the enemies, and we require some extent of sense gratification. That is the needs of my body. They are not the needs of my self as I am, spirit soul.

Now, if I want to get rid of this bodily encagement or the threefold miseries of material existence, then I must put myself under treatment. Just like a diseased man goes to a physician for treatment to get out of, get relief from the sufferings of the disease, similarly, our material existence consisting of threefold miseries and birth, death, old age, and diseases... If we are actually conscious for our happiness, we must make a permanent solution of these miseries. That is the mission of human life. So for making that mission fulfilled, we have got developed consciousness than the animals. That developed consciousness should not be misused only for the animal propensities of life. That is the whole thing.

And therefore Lord Krsna says that in order to reach to that stage of perfection, you should work. Your work should not be stopped. We have already discussed this point, that niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyayo hy akarmanah, that "Your prescribed duty should be prosecuted nicely. Go on. Don't stop it, but work for the life of karma-yoga. Karma-yoga. Ordinary work is called karma. Ordinary work is karma. And when it is added with yoga, that means spiritualized work. Yoga. Yoga means spiritual perfection or linking up with the Supreme.

So karma and karma-yoga, there is gulf of difference. Karma means ordinary work. I work whole day; I get some remuneration and enjoy for my sense gratification. That is called karma, in this life or that life or next life. Somebody, they make charities and other pious acts so that in their next life they get good parentage, good education, opulence, so that they can also enjoy life. There are others also who make more advanced karma to get himself promoted in other planetary system. Just like moon planet, or Svargaloka, heavenly planet. There are many planets in which the standard of life is far, far comfortable than here. So these are not required.

To get yourself promoted in higher standard of life, from C-class prisoner to become A-class prisoner, that is not required. Bhagavad-gita does not teach us that you improve your life in the respect that you are now C-class prisoner; you become A-class prisoner. No. You should not remain a prisoner. You should get yourself this prison life. This material life is prison life. Just like in prison house we are forced to undergo some sort of miseries. We may agree or not agree; we have to undergo. In prison life you cannot deny. The state agents are there. He prescribes some work; you must do it. If you say, "No, I cannot do it. I am not accustomed to do it, no." Then you'll be again more punished.

Similarly, this is our prison life. This material existence is our prison life. And prakrti, nature, is the forceful agent. She is always enforcing us to do, to act. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. So this is going on. Now, if you want to get rid of this imprisonment, then you should begin this karma-yoga, karma plus yoga. Yoga means in connection with the Supreme. That connection with the Supreme begins with this formula, yajna, sacrifice.

What you are going to sacrifice? What you have got? Everything is given by God. Anything which you possess... You have not brought anything with your birth. You have come naked from the womb of your mother. And when you shall die, you shall go naked. So whatever you possess, that is given to you for proper use. We should understand that. The whole resources of material nature, they are under your control for making proper use. You can live comfortably. You can eat comfortably. You can live peacefully without any creating animosities or quarrel with your neighbors and prosecute your spiritual life so that you get rid of this material existence. That is the whole program of material nature. But misusing our developed consciousness, we are trying to misuse the resources of material nature in a different way for aggravating the sense gratification. That is the whole mistake. So Krsna says that "Whatever mistakes you have done, I don't mind. But you act in this way." Yajnarthe: "You work."

Suppose you have misused your developed consciousness in so many ways and you are now entrapped. Suppose you have started a very complicated industry. Now, if I say that "This complicated industry is not required by you. You simply require some fruits and grains to eat. Why you are engaging yourself into this complicated and dangerous form of earning your livelihood? Stop it." No, that is not possible. That is not possible. Now you are entangled. You cannot stop. Sri Krsna says that "Don't stop your work, but by the result of your work, you try to make sacrifice for the cause of the Supreme. Then your entanglement will be automatically loosened." The whole energy which you apply in your industry, if the result is offered to Krsna, that means that energy is utilized for Krsna, not for that industry, but for Krsna. That is the thing.

Just like Arjuna. What was he? He was a military man. He was not a sage. He was not a learned brahmana. He was ordinary, royal family, belonging to a royal family, kingly order, and a householder, family man, having children, wife, and a military man. But what...? How Arjuna became the greatest devotee of Lord. The Lord certifies, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me: "My dear Arjuna, you are my very dear friend as well as a great devotee." Now, what is the reason? He was not a sannyasi. He was not a Vedantist. He was not a philosopher, nothing of the sort. Still, you will find in the Fourth Chapter, Lord says, "Oh, my dear Arjuna, you are very dear to Me, and you are My great devotee."

Now, if a person becomes very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then what else he wants more? How he became so? He became by this karma-yoga. Karma-yoga. He was a military man, and the problem was before him, whether to fight with his kinsmen or not. That was his problem. Now, mind that. He was fighting man in the beginning, before hearing the Bhagavad-gita, and he remained a fighting man after hearing Bhagavad-gita. Similarly, suppose you are engaged in some particular type of work before hearing this Bhagavad-gita. And after hearing, understanding Bhagavad-gita, you will have to remain in the same position, not that after hearing this Bhagavad-gita, as you are kindly coming here, you will have to take a dress like me and give up your family connection and become a mendicant like me. No, no. It is not meant like that. You have to change your mentality. That's all.

What is that mentality? That mentality is that you are working for your sense gratification, and you have to change your mentality for gratifying the sense of the Supreme Lord. That's all. We are working... Ordinary work means for, working for our own sense gratification. "I want to eat this," so I eat. I purchase from the market. "Oh, this is very nice thing, very palatable to my tongue. Oh, purchase it. I shall eat it." Now, when you become conversant with the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, you have to think whether this thing is palatable to the tongue of Krsna. That's all. Now you are thinking, "Let me purchase from the store this nice thing. It is very palatable to my taste." And when you actually become a learned scholar of Bhagavad-gita, at that time you will have to think whether this thing will be palatable to Krsna. That's all. The whole thing is there. When you learn that thing, when you want to please Krsna and not yourself, then you become an expert spiritualist. That's all. So it is not very difficult thing. Very easy. Simply we have to learn how to reach that stage of life.

You haven't got to change anything. The same thing, example, that Arjuna was a military man, a householder, a family man, before hearing Bhagavad-gita, and he remained the same family man, the same military man, but he became a great devotee of the Lord. That technique we have to learn. That technique is that Arjuna, in the beginning, he did not like to fight because he wanted to gratify his senses. He thought that "I shall be happy if I do not fight with my kinsmen because in the fighting my kinsmen will die and I shall be sorry. So what is the use of fighting like this?" That means the whole thing, whole program, is according to his own sense gratification. He did not know that this war field, this battle of Kuruksetra, was organized by Sri Krsna to kill all unwanted men of the world at that time, all unwanted men of that world. That was His plan. Now, this was disclosed to Arjuna. In the Eleventh Chapter you will find that "My dear Arjuna, I have given you all kinds of instruction to induce you to fight in this battle. But know you perfectly well that either you fight or do not fight, I do not mind. All these men who have assembled here, they are not going back home. They will be killed here. It is already settled. It is already settled. Now if you want to take the credit, you can apply your hands for fighting. That's all."

So anything that is going on in this world, it is under the supreme supervision of the Lord. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. In every... There is a philosopher's saying, "Not a blade of grass moves without the will of God." It is actually the fact. Everything... Now, we have to dovetail ourself with that plan of the Supreme Lord. That is called karma-yoga. That is called karma-yoga. So Arjuna understood it, and he dovetailed himself with the supreme will of the Lord. And when he was inquired, "Whether you are going or fight or not? What you have settled after hearing Bhagavad-gita?" he said, "Yes Krsna. My illusion is now removed by Your grace, and I have decided to fight. That's all."

Now, that agreement of fighting and in the beginning of Bhagavad-gita, not to fight, that is the difference. In the beginning he was not in agreement with Krsna. He made so many arguments with Krsna against fighting. And at the end, he agreed. "Yes," he said. He became a yes man. So we have to become a yes man to the Supreme Lord. That's all. That is the perfection of our spiritual life. Now we are all "no men." God says this, I say "no." Stubborn. I say, "no." Now simply we have to say "yes". That's all. In everything we say, "no" at the present. Present formation of our existence is to say "no." Anything godly, we say "no." We shudder even by the name of God. We have come to a certain stage of our civilized life, that we want to banish God altogether. Not only saying "no," but we now prepare to agree to the point that there is no existence of God. So how much foolish we are becoming day by day in the name of advancement of civilization. You see?

So we should correct this. Now, we shall try to understand our position and try to say "Yes, there is God, and I am servant of God." That's all. You have to learn that thing only. No more we have to say that there is no God. We may say there is no God, but that does not mean that there is no God. You see? Just like an upstart. He says that "I don't believe in the government. There is no government. I am all in all." So that madman say like that, that does not mean that there is no existence of government. He is a madman who says like that. So that sort of, I mean to say, madness, we should give up. We should be submissive.

There is God. The only example -- several times I have cited -- that existence of God can be perceived with very simple... What is that? Just like you can perceive your existence in this body by the consciousness... You have got consciousness. That point we have discussed several times. That consciousness is the symptom of your existence in this body. So long that consciousness is there, this bodily function is going on very nicely.

Now, you are eating. You do not know how your foodstuff is going to the stomach, how it is being transformed into different kinds of secretion, how it is being transferred from the stomach to the heart, how that secretion becoming red, and that red blood is again circulated from the brain to the toe. These nice machinery work is going on within your body. This physiological condition is present in your body. You are taking your foodstuff. The necessary juice, vitamins, are taken by the stomach. It is distributed, and the exhaustion of your body is supplemented, and the unnecessary things evacuated by stool, urine. The nice thing is going on. Now, as soon as this consciousness is stopped, will this function go any more? No. You will find the same brain is there; the same heart is there; the same stomach is there by dissection of the body. You will see the same veins. Everything is there complete. But only thing is wanting -- that consciousness. Therefore everything is stopped. This is a common factor. Everyone can know it.

Similarly, the whole cosmic manifestation which is present before you, so nicely going on, don't you think there is a consciousness behind it? How can you deny that there is no consciousness in the matter of sun rising, moon rising, seasonal changes, and so many planets floating in the air? So many wonderful things are being done in the material nature. Do you think it is without being done, consciousness? No. There is also consciousness. Just like for the management of your own body, due to the consciousness everything is being well done, similarly, everything that you see very nicely well done in the material nature, that is also being done by superior consciousness. This is human reasoning. How can you deny it? Can you deny it? I don't think any sane man can deny it.

Similarly, as your consciousness is a symptom of your presence, you are spirit soul, similarly, the supreme consciousness is the symptom of the supreme soul, or God, the supreme God. This is the position. Now, as consciousness, we are part and parcel of the supreme consciousness. Therefore, the whole business of our life is to dovetail our activities with the supreme plan. That is called karma-yoga. That is called karma-yoga. Eko bahu syat.

In the Vedic literature you will find that God has expanded Himself into many, just like the father expands himself into many children. The children is nothing but expansions of the body of the father. Similarly, we, all living entities, spiritual parts or living souls, we are also expansion of the supreme spirit. Now, the reason is, why the supreme spirit soul expanded himself into so many? What is the purpose? We have to understand. Now you can take the example. What is the purpose of father's expanding himself into children? A father takes the responsibility of maintaining the children. Why? Why he takes such, I mean, a grave responsibility, a family man. That "why" is answered -- just to have happy and enjoyable life. That's all.

Similarly, God has expanded into so many living entities because He wants enjoyment. He wants enjoyment. Because you will find in the Vedic literature that the nature of God is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. Anandamayo 'bhyasat: (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12)"By nature He is enjoying." So we must understand that God has expanded Himself into so many living entities just for His enjoyment. Now, we are meant for... Just like sons, children are meant for satisfying the father, similarly this is a common sense affair, that we living entities, we are meant for satisfying the Supreme. That satisfaction of the Supreme can be done by performance of yajna. That is the beginning.

So here it is prescribed that yajnarthat karmanah anyatra. That is... We have discussed. Yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih [Bg. 3.13]. If we perform sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Supreme, then the result will be that we shall be free from all reaction of our sinful life. And if we do not do that, bhunjate te tv agham papa ye pacanty atma-karanat. Atma-karanat means simply for his own sense gratification.

Now, that yajna, I have... Several times before you I have explained. Asnati. Asnati means one who eats. So our yajna begins from the eating, because eating is the first item of the necessity of our life. Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating. Now, eating is essential. So here in the Bhagavad-gita openly speaks that just control your eating process in the yajna. Just begin your karma-yoga from the eating formula. Then, gradually, other things will develop.

Because our senses... There are so many senses. We have got the eyes, the ear, the nose, the tongue, the hand, the leg, and so many. We have got ten, ten senses, sensory organs and working organs. So these organs there are. Out of all the organs, the tongue is the most uncontrollable organ, tongue. When we eat... Perhaps those devotees who eat with us, we chant this, that sarira abidya-jal jodendriya tahe kal: "This body is the encagement of our nescience, of our ignorance. And in that body the senses are our greatest enemies. Out of that, the tongue is the most powerful enemy." Ta'ra madhye jihwa ati lobhamoy sudurmati. Lobhamoy sudurmati. Because tongue is always hankering after palatable things, and it is making me bound up in so many reactions of my life... That is the secret.

Therefore, in the Bhagavad-gita, in the beginning, the karma-yoga begins with the tongue. Yajna-sistasinah santah. We have to eat. Now, we have to control the tongue first. How we can control the tongue? By offering sacrifice. By offering, we have to take foodstuff for maintaining our body. Now, if we offer the foodstuff, preparing to the Lord, that is called yajna. Yajna is not very difficult thing. You are preparing foodstuff for eating at your home. You have simply to prepare that foodstuff in a nice way so that you can offer to Krsna. That's all. Your process of eating or your process of securing ingredients for eating, or your cooking, nothing is stopped. Only, only thing is required that instead of cooking for yourself for the satisfaction of your tongue, you please cook it for satisfaction of Krsna. And take the prasadam afterwards.

Now, take for example the other day we had some feasting. We cooked it nicely and offered Krsna, and then you took. What was the difficulty there? Was there any difficulty? So many gentlemen, you are present here who partook of that prasadam. How nicely it was prepared and how we enjoyed. So is yajna a very difficult thing? So it is not at all difficult. Simply we have to adopt the principles. That's all. And if we adopt that principle... Here it is clearly said that yajna-sistasinah santah. Santa means these things are arranged by pious men and devotees of the Lord. Ordinary men, they don't care: "What is this nonsense yajna? Let us go to the hotel and take to our palatable things." You see? That is another thing. But those who are serious about solving the problems of life, let them take to this yajna principle. Is it very difficult? Not at all. It is rather pleasurable.

What do you think. Mr. Green? You were also present that day. Did you not like?

Green: Oh, yes.

Prabhupada: So yajna is not difficult. Now, if by doing that yajna, if we become free from all reactions, then why should we not do it? Why should we not do it? There is no difficulty. There is no question of difficulty. Rather, it is a thing of pleasure, ananda. The whole thing is ananda. Ananda means pleasure. Enjoyment. Spiritual life does not mean that void of enjoyment, no. It is full of enjoyment. We are seeking after enjoyment, but that enjoyment is hampered by our material existence. We do not know. We are trying to squeezing out the senses and trying to have material pleasure. This is nonsense because we do not know what is spiritual life. Spiritual life means unlimited, unlimited pleasure.

There is a verse describing about Rama. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, we chant. Now, what is the meaning of Rama? That is described.

ramante yogino 'nante
satyanande cid-atmani
iti rama-padenasau
param brahmabhidhiyate
[Cc. Madhya 9.29]

Rama means ramana. Ramana means enjoyment. So yoginah.

Now, mind that, karma-yogi. Those who are yogis, those who are trying to get spiritual life, regain their spiritual vitality, they are called yogis. There are different kinds of yogis: karma-yogi, jnana-yogi, dhyana-yogi, raja-yogi. The highest of all of them is the bhakti-yogi or the bhakta.

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
[Bg. 6.47]

You will find it. The highest yogi is he who is only Krsna conscious. Simply his life is full of Krsna consciousness. He is always trying to satisfy Krsna. That's all. And to satisfy Krsna is the easiest thing. Is the easiest thing of all yogic process. You haven't got to show your gymnastic power. No. Simply prepare your good foodstuff, offer to Krsna, chant Hare Krsna and enjoy life. Yoginam api sarvesam. He is the best yogi. Best yogi. That is, You will find it. So begin it. What is the difficulty there?

So far the techniques are required, we are present. The books are there. The literature are there. The authorities are there. Simply we have to agree. "Yes." Yes man. Simply you have to agree, "Yes," henceforward we shall become karma-yogi. Then, from that very point, your life begins. Karma-yoga. The yes man. Mind that, that instead of saying no to Krsna... Just like Arjuna said no in the beginning: "No, sir. I am not going to fight. You don't try to induce me, my dear Krsna." He argued so many things with Krsna. Then, at the last moment, he said, "Yes. I shall fight." So from "no man" to "yes man," that's all. So we have to agree. We are now "no men." We say everything about God, "no." Now we have to learn "yes."

So you become yes man and begin this karma-yoga, beginning from your life of eating because eating you require. Without eating, you cannot exist. Therefore, Bhagavad-gita teaches you that you begin your karma-yoga from the point of eating.

yajna-sistasinah santo
mucyante sarva-kilbisaih
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ye pacanty atma-karanat
[Bg. 3.13]

Now, people may say, "Why shall we bother myself abut this yajna principle?" No. You have to bother yourself in the yajna principle if you actually want to be happy. The next sloka explains like this:

annad bhavanti bhutani
parjanyad anna-sambhavah
yajnad bhavati parjanyo
yajnah karma-samudbhavah
[Bg. 3.14]

That... Now, why you should have to perform yajna? That is obligatory, not that you are very kind to prepare your foodstuff and offering to Krsna. It is very kind. No. It is for your interest. It is for your interest. Why? Now, annad bhavanti bhutani. You have to eat. Can you say that "Without eating, I shall continue my life?" No. That is not possible. You have to eat.

Annad bhavanti bhutani. If you want to exist, if you want to maintain your body and soul together, then you have to take anna. Anna means foodstuff, or anna means grains, natural food. Generally, anna means foodstuff, and another technical meaning of anna -- anna means grains, which is produced from the land for eating of the human being. For human being, so many things are produced from the land: the grains, the fruits, the vegetables, so many things. They are meant for human being. The grains are not meant for the tigers. The grains are meant for the human being. The fruits are meant for the dogs. The fruits are meant for the human being. The milk. The milk is produced by the cow, but it is not meant for the cow. It is meant for the human being. If you offer the milk, 30 pounds of milk, after milking the cow, and if you offer to the cow, it will refuse. It will refuse, "I don't want it." Give it dry grass? Oh, it will be very glad. It will be very glad. So everything is organized by the nature.

Now, there are so many scientists. They are discovering vitamin value from foodstuff. Now, what is the vitamin value in the dry grass? Can any scientist say that this is the vitamin value in dry grass? If there is no vitamin value in dry grass, how the cow is producing so much milk, who is full of vitamins A and D? How, from dry grass, vitamins coming out? Nowadays the physician prescribes some artificial vitamins for maintaining your body. Now, what is the vitamin there in the dry grass so that the cow is eating dry grass and giving you nice milk full of vitamins A and D, essential for your life? So these are all wrong theories, that "This contains this vitamin. This contains this." Let them go on. But natural foodstuff which is meant for human being, they are full of vitamins already there by nature's law, by God's wish. So annad bhavanti bhutani [Bg. 3.14].

You will be surprised. When I was family man, I had a servant who was only twenty-two years old. Oh, he was too stout and strong. You see? So one day I asked him that... His name was Buddhu. So I asked him, "Buddhu, what do you take that you are very stout and strong?" He said, "My dear sir, I take only these corns." Corns. You know corns? A corns and it is powdered. The powdered portions used to make bread, and the grain portion he used to cook as rice, and he was taking that. That's all.

Green: Cornmeal?

Prabhupada: Corn.

Devotees: Meal. Cornmeal.

Prabhupada: Cornmeal, yes. And he was very stout and strong. He was deriving all the vitamins. Because he was poor man, he could not eat any butter or milk or any other things, meat also no, nothing of the sort. He was simply eating... He was drawing, at that time, only twenty-two rupees from me. Twenty-two rupees means... According to your American exchange, it comes to five dollars, five dollars a month, his income. And what he could spend? So he was taking the cheap food. But he was very strong and stout. So whole idea is that these grains, these grains are meant for human being. Coarse grain or fine grain, there are so many varieties of grain, varieties of rice, varieties of dal, according... Now, the fine rice, the basmati rice... The laborer class... In India, of course, we have got this distinction. They are not satisfied for, with this white rice. They want coarse grain for satisfaction. While gentleman class, they cannot eat coarse grain. They want finer grain. So all these varieties of grains and vegetables and everything is there by nature's arrangement, by God's arrangement.

Here it is said annad bhavanti bhutani [Bg. 3.14]. Now, your body depends on the foodstuff supplied by nature. Annad bhavanti bhutani parjanyad anna-sambhavah. And these grains are produced by rains, parjanya. Parjanya means regular rainfall from the sky by the arrangement of God. It is not your arrangement. Rainfall is not your arrangement. It is supernatural arrangement. If there is regular rainfall, then it can produce all the necessities of our life.

I think, Carl, you were reading from the Bhagavad-gita about Maharaja Yudhisthira's reign, during his kingdom how rainfall was regular, and the necessities of human being were being produced. So here is the same thing. Annat. Anna, the grains. Grains are our life's subsistence, human being. Annad bhavanti bhutani. And grains are produced by regular rainfall. Parjanyad anna-sambhavah. Parjanya means rainfall. And yajnad bhavati parjanyah: [Bg. 3.14] "And rainfall is produced when you offer yajna, sacrifice, to the Lord." Regular rainfall will be possible when people are engaged in the yajna. Otherwise, nature will control rainfall. For want of rain, all your arrangement -- mechanical arrangement, tractors, and all these things -- will all fail if there is rainfall, there is no rainfall. So control of the rainfall is not in your hand. It is in supernatural power. So here it is said that rainfall is made possible by offering yajna, by sacrifice. Parjanyat... Or yajnad bhavati parjanyo yajnah karma-samudbhavah: [Bg. 3.14] "And yajna is prescribed according to the Vedic rituals."

Now, just see the link. Living entities, they can develop by eating grains. Grains are produced by rainfall. Rainfall is made possible by offering sacrifice. And the process of sacrifice is given in authoritative scriptures like Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavata, and Vedic literature, what is the process. So because the beginning is from the Brahman -- Brahman means Veda, transcendental sound -- therefore, if we work according to the direction of this Bhagavad-gita or Vedas, then the whole thing becomes, I mean to, spiritualized. Whole thing becomes spiritualized. Because... Karma-yajna... Yajnah karma-samudbhavah. Karma...

And if your karma is regulated by the direction of Krsna, just like Arjuna regulated his karma, his warfare, by the direction of Krsna, then by regulation of karma, you perform yajna, sacrifice, and from, for your performance of yajna, sacrifice, there is regulated rainfall, and from regulated rainfall there is sufficient production of grains and foodstuff, and from your sufficient foodstuff, you can grow yourself, body, maintain your body very nicely. The whole program is like that. Annad bhavanti,

annad bhavanti bhutani
parjanyad anna-sambhavah
yajnad bhavati parjanyo
yajnah karma-samudbhavah
[Bg. 3.14]

Karma brahmodbhavam viddhi. And the nature of our karma, how we should work, that is directed. That is directed in Vedic literature, just like Bhagavad-gita, just like Arjuna was directed. Now,

karma brahmodbhavam viddhi
brahmaksara-samudbhavam
tasmat sarva-gatam brahma
nityam yajne pratisthitam
[Bg. 3.15]

"Therefore, my dear Arjuna, if you begin your life by performance of yajna, then that means at once your life becomes spiritualized. At once your life becomes spiritualized, that what you want."

evam pravartitam cakram
nanuvartayatiha yah
aghayur indriyaramo
mogham partha sa jivati
[Bg. 3.16]

Now, here is injunction that "That is the circle." That is the circle, that how to work. That injunction is there.

Now, why your, or this work? Any work. Suppose you will drive a motor car. That is a sort of work in the street. There is injunction that "You should drive on the right. You should stop your car when there is red light. You should not proceed an inch." So, so many regulations, even for your driving car, anything... Anything of your life -- you want to do -- there are directions, proper directions from the authorities. And why not for your spiritual life? Why not for?

For spiritual life you can do anything and everything, whatever you like, what you manufacture in your own brain? No. How can you do it? In every field of your work, in practical life, you have got some direction, that "You have to act in this direction." Suppose you are working, running on a factory. Oh, there are so many factory laws. Anywhere you go, there are direction from the superior authorities.

So is there no direction for your spiritual realization of life? Yes, there is. We have to abide by that. Therefore Lord says, evam pravartitam cakram: "This is a circle, circle, that in Vedic literature, Vedic scripture, they give you direction how to work." And by working you perform yajna. By performing yajna, you have got regular rainfalls. By regular rainfalls, you get production of grains. And by production of grains, you eat and live happily. So this is a circle. This is a circle. So Lord says, Lord Krsna says, evam pravartitam cakram. Cakram means circle. This is a circle.

Nanuvartayatiha yah: "One who does not follow this circle of activity," aghayuh, "he is simply spoiling his life. He is is simply "aghayuh." Aghayuh means "His duration of life, his duration of very valuable human form of life, he is simply wasting." Why? Indriyaramah: "Simply for sense gratification like the cats and dogs and hogs." Aghayur indriyaramo mogham partha sa jivati: "His life is now doomed. His life is now doomed." So this is the injunction of Lord Krsna. Evam pravartitam cakram nanuvartayatiha yah: "Anyone who does not follow this circle of activities, then it is to be understood that he is spoiling his valuable human life, and his life is doomed." Hare Krsna. Now if there is any question you can ask. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 3.13-16 -- New York, May 23, 1966

"There Is No Overpopulation"

"There Is No Overpopulation"

68/12/27 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 3.11-19


Tamala Krsna: "The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you. Thus nourishing one another there will reign general prosperity for all [Bg. 3.11]."

Prabhupada: Yes. This is very important point. The godless society, they are thinking that everything is being done by nature. Nature is there, but there is a controller of nature. Just like this electricity. Electricity is natural power but there is a powerhouse and there is a resident engineer. Similarly, everything supplied by nature, water supply, heat supply, air, so there is a controller and he is called demigod. They are all appointed servants by the Supreme Lord. It is simply foolishness that nature is working automatically. This is rascaldom. They do not know. The so-called scientists who are thinking that everything is going on automatically.

Yes, it is going on automat... Just like the government affairs are going on automatically. A child can say that everything is going on automatically, but a person who knows the government, the constitution, he knows how departmental managements are going on. That is the difference between the so-called foolish person and one who knows the things. One who knows the things, he knows that everything is controlled by a person. That person is called demigod.

So we have to satisfy. Therefore the yajna, sacrifice, is recommend. So that is mentioned here, that "Demigods, being pleased by sacrifices..." Just like to the income tax officer if you pay regularly your income tax then there is no trouble. Everything will go on. Otherwise, the state will enforce to exact income tax. So we are receiving heat from the sun. Similarly, we are receiving rains. Don't you think that we have to pay some tax? That is required. That is enjoined in the Vedic literature. You must. Therefore so many sacrifices are recommended. If you do not offer those sacrifices, then there will be irregularity of rain, irregularity of heat, excessive heat, excessive cold, and people will suffer. This is the process. They do not know it. Read it, purport.

Tamala Krsna: Purport: "The demigods are empowered administrators of material..."

Prabhupada: Yes. "The demigods are empowered administrators of material affairs." How can you deny the existence of demigod? Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "The supply of air, light, water, and all other benedictions for maintenance of the body and soul of every living entity are entrusted to the demigods who are innumerable assistants in different parts of the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Prabhupada: Just like my body. Different limbs are working and helping me. I want to go somewhere. The limbs, or the part which is called leg, they will carry me. Similarly, by the supreme order of Krsna, all these demigods are acting just like my different parts of the body are acting. Yes. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Their pleasures and displeasures are dependent on the performance of yajnas by human beings. Some of the yajnas are meant for satisfying the particular demigods, but even in so doing Lord Visnu is worshiped in all yajnas as the chief."

Prabhupada: Just like if you obey the department, say, the police department. You are obeying the police department means you are obeying the government. Nobody can manufacture a police department and force you to obey. Because it is one of the important department of government, therefore as soon as there is police handcuff you have to stop. You may be very rich man, millionaire, but you have to obey the orders of the police, otherwise you will be prosecuted. And wherefrom. That man is an ordinary man; simply he stops you. Why do you stop? Because you obey the government.

Similarly, all obeisances offered to the demigods, they are meant for giving obeisances to the Supreme Lord. That is the beginning. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "It is stated also in the Bhagavad-gita that Krsna Himself is the beneficiary of all kinds of yajnas."

Prabhupada: Yes. Taxes. Treasury department collecting taxes. That is not the tax officer of the treasurer is collecting for his personal self. He is collecting for the government. Similarly, these demigods accepting these different kinds of sacrifices, they are on account of the Supreme Lord. Therefore ultimately you have to satisfy the Supreme Lord.

So in this age it is very difficult to satisfy all the demigods differently. People are so much harassed. The best thing is to satisfy directly the Supreme Lord. And what is that simple method? Just chant Hare Krsna. Because we are so fallen in this age, the simple chanting of glorification of the Lord will be equal to performances of all kinds of sacrifices. That is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah [SB 11.5.32]. Those who are...

Because each kind of sacrifice, they are very costly affairs. It is not possible in this age. Tons of butter or ghee wanted to arrange for a sacrifice. It is very difficult to find out a pound of butter in a house. And where is the question of tons? Of course, in your country still, butter is available, but in India practically butter is finished. So in one day the whole world will not see any more butter or rice or wheat. Everything will be finished because with the advancement of the age of Kali everything will deteriorate so badly that all supplies will be stopped practically. At that time people will live just like animals.

So this is the only means, Krsna consciousness. In this age, simply, in whatever condition you may be, you can simply sit down and chant. There is no expense, there is no loss. Simply chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, and all demigods and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, everyone will be satisfied. You'll have no difficulty. This is the program of Krsna consciousness. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam [Bg. 5.29]. Therefore ultimate satisfaction of the Lord is the chief purpose of all yajnas. When these sacrifices are perfectly performed, naturally the demigods in charge of the different departments of supply are pleased and there is no scarcity in the flow of natural products."

Prabhupada: Yes. Because after all, however tractor, machine, or farm arrangement you may make, unless there is supply of heat and water, it is all useless. You cannot produce grains just like wheat or rice or pulses[?] in your factory or by your will, defying the nature's law. Oh, that you cannot do. Real, your life is in the hands of the demigods. If they stop supply, sunshine, if they stop supply, water supply, how you can produce? Therefore you have to satisfy them. People have practically forgotten their duty.

(indistinct) ...and regulations, there is no scarcity. The modern theory -- the population has increased -- this is a nonsense theory. If there is production is sufficient, where is the question of population increasing? Let population increase. The supplier will give you. In the Vedic literature we find, eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. That Supreme Lord is supplying everyone food. Why do you think of human society? What is the human society? Out of 8,400,000 forms of life there are only 400,000 forms of human life. And 8,000,000 forms they are lower animals, birds, beasts, aquatics. Who is supplying their foodstuff? Everyone is sumptuously fed by the grace of God.

Why not you? You are suffering because you are disobeying, therefore you are suffering. That you should know, only the suffering population theory, this theory, that theory, only in the human society because they are regularly defying the existence of God -- science, science, science. Now there are so many suffering people. Why your science cannot provide them food? So this is wrong theory. You have to satisfy the supreme supplier. Then you'll get sufficient production and you'll be happy. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Performance of yajnas has many side benefits, ultimately leading to liberation from the material bondage. By performance of sacrifice, all activities become purified as is stated in the Vedas."

Prabhupada: Yes. When you perform... Just like we are performing here sacrifice of sankirtana. Everything you will find here purified. In this temple, you go corner to corner, you'll find everything sanctified, purified. Why? Because we are, this sacrifice of sankirtana is being performed. So as soon as you take up the process of sacrifice, automatically, everything will be hygienic, purified, health, wealth, everything, complete. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "As will be explained in the following verse, by performance of yajnas, the eatables become sanctified, and by eating sanctified foodstuffs one's very existence becomes purified."

Prabhupada: Yes. Even George Bernard Shaw he has written, "You are what you eat." Your body is purified or impurified according to the foodstuff you eat. Therefore we forbid, "Don't eat this, don't eat that." You have got sufficient food, grains, milk, butter, and fruits, sufficient. Why should you eat meat? That is not sanctified. But this is nature's product, offered to Krsna, and you eat, and you become healthy and sanctified in mind, in body. Then you can understand Krsna consciousness. You can make progress in that way. If your body is not sanctified, if it is impure, how can you understand the pure consciousness, or Krsna consciousness? Therefore we have to follow these principles, regulations. Yes. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "By the purification of existence, the finer tissues in the memory become sanctified, and, memory being sanctified, one can think of the path of liberation."

Prabhupada: Just like in our contaminated state we become diseased. What is disease? As soon as you contaminate or infected by some impure thing you become diseased. Similarly, our this disease, material disease, birth, death, old age, they are some kind of disease. Otherwise, I am spirit soul, I am pure, as pure as God because I am part and parcel of God. Due to my impurities of this material body I am suffering. So if you purify your existence then you get the quality in complete pureness of God. You become happy. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12), sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1], you become jolly. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. As soon as you purify yourself and become identified with the existence of God, immediately you become joyful, no anxiety. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. So you have to purify your existence. If you keep your body impurified, then how you can relish the purified consciousness? So you have to do it. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "All these together lead to Krsna consciousness, the great necessity of present-day society."

Twelve: "In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajna supply all needs to man. But he who enjoys these gifts without offering the demigods in return is certainly a thief [Bg. 3.12]."

Prabhupada: Yes. Just see, a strong word is used. Suppose if there is mention, there is recommendation that you should perform surya-yajna. Surya means the sun. The sun is supplying you so much heat, warmth, and don't you want to give him some tax or satisfy him by sacrifices? So that is our duty. If you are receiving from me so many things and if you do not at least acknowledge your gratitude, then you are a thief. We are receiving so many benefits through the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and if we do not acknowledge even, "God is great, He is so kind, in spite of our so many faults He's supplying us nice foodstuff, nice everything," so how much ungrateful the human society has become, just imagine. And they want peace and prosperity. Nonsense. Where is peace and prosperity? You must suffer. You must suffer. That is your due. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: Thirteen: "The devotees of the Lord are released from all sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice."

Prabhupada: Yes. Devotees how much they are grateful, krsna-prasada. "Krsna, You have sent so nice fruit, nice flower. First of all You enjoy [Bg. 3.13]." Oh, God is very satisfied. Just like a boy, "My dear father, this sweetmeat is very nice. You take." Father knows that sweetmeat was purchased by him. Where the boy can get the sweetmeat? But because the son is offering to the father in love and affection, father says, "Oh, you have give me. It is very nice." Therefore we cannot offer any Krsna. Krsna is self-sufficient. He does not require your offering of this foodstuff, that food. But if you offer with affection and love He accepts. And as soon as Krsna accepts, your life is sanctified immediately.

Therefore we should eat krsna-prasada, nothing more. Not in the hotel, not in the restaurant. Simply krsna-prasada. That will keep me purified always. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin."

Prabhupada: Yes. Simply you have nice foodstuff, palatable dishes. You can prepare palatable dishes for Krsna. There are hundreds and thousands of preparation. But as soon as you prepare for yourself or you try to satisfy your tongue, then you are bound up by the laws of nature. Anything. Because that is sinful. Sinful. If you do not acknowledge, if you do not acknowledge the authority, if you do not feel your gratitude for the supplier, then you are a thief. Especially it is mentioned. "It is thief." I am taking your things, I am eating, but I am not feeling any gratitude for you, then I am a thief. Yes. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: Fourteen: "All living bodies subsist on food grains. Food grains are produced from rains. Rains come from performance of sacrifice and sacrifice is born of man's work [Bg. 3.14]."

Prabhupada: This is a cycle. Cycle. We are living on food grains. We cannot live on meat-eating. It is not possible. However a great meat-eater may be he must have some grains some vegetables. That is his life. Yes. Therefore grains, vegetables, they are actually our food. Now, I am living and getting energy by eating grains and vegetables and how my energy should be utilized? It should be utilized for the purpose from where I am getting energy. I am getting energy from the Supreme Lord by supply of this foodstuff; therefore my energy should be utilized for the service of the Supreme Lord.

That is called sacrifice. So I should be strong enough to offer sacrifice to the Lord. By sacrifice, the demigods, the Lord will be pleased and there will be sufficient rain. There will be again production. Again you will eat. Again you will get strength. Again you will offer sankirtana. This cycle. This cycle must go on. This cycle. You get from the Supreme Lord supply by His natural ways. You get strength. And your strength should be utilized not for sense gratification. "Because I am now very stout and strong, oh, let me enjoy senses." Then you are sinful. And if you use your strength for satisfying the Supreme Lord then your energy is properly utilized. This is the way.

Tamala Krsna: Fifteen: "Activity, karma, arises from the Vedas and the Vedas spring from the Supreme Godhead. Therefore the all-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in acts of sacrifice [Bg. 3.15]."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Purport: "Yajnartha-karma, or the necessity for work for the satisfaction..."

Prabhupada: Yajnartha-karma. Yajna means "sacrifice," artha, "for the purpose of," and karma, "fruitive activity." Everyone is engaged in some activity, but what shall be the purpose of such activity? Yajnartha. Yajnartha means simply to satisfy Lord Visnu or Krsna. That should be the purpose. Yajnartha-karma, yes.

Tamala Krsna: "We have to work for the satisfaction of the yajna-purusa, Visnu, then we must find the direction of work in Brahman, or the transcendental Vedas. The Vedas are therefore codes of working directions. Anything performed..."

Prabhupada: Just like you get license to do some business. Why? The government gives you license to do some business. That means if you want to do business you must satisfy the government. You cannot do whimsically. You cannot do. This is Veda. One who is law-abiding subject. Similarly, anyone who is following the codes of Vedas or scriptures he is actually working. Otherwise, persons who are violating, he is becoming implicated, criminals. Similarly, if we defy the rules and regulation of Vedas or scripture, then we are being implicated, the criminals for being punished. Therefore work should be yajnartha, for the satisfaction of Visnu or the supreme government. That should be the mode of work. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Anything performed without the direction of the Vedas is called vikarma."

Prabhupada: Vikarma.

Tamala Krsna: "Vikarma or unauthorized work or sinful work. Therefore one should always take direction from the Vedas..."

Prabhupada: Yes. The same example as I always cite, that your direction is "Keep to the right." Then if you don't keep to the right, if you go to the left, then it is vikarma, your driving is unlawful. You are immediately... Similarly, as soon as you perform vikarma... Karma, vikarma, akarma, there are three kinds of work. So vikarma means against the rules. So as soon as we act against the rules, immediately we are bound up by the criminal codes. Therefore if we work for the supreme government, Krsna, simply for His satisfaction, there is no vikarma, there is no criminality. There is no criminality. Because ultimately the Supreme Lord is to be satisfied. So if you work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord you are not subjected to any criminal law. You are free. That is liberation. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "As one has to work in ordinary life by the direction of the state, similarly one has to work under the direction of the supreme state of the Lord. Such instructions in the Vedas are directly manifested from the breathing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is said all the four Vedas, namely the Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda, are emanations from the breathing of the great Personality of Godhead. The Lord, being potent, can speak by His breathing air, as it is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita."

Prabhupada: Yes. We should not think how it is that Lord gave His laws through breathing. Because with breathing we cannot speak anything. That means I am calculating the strength of God with my capacity. The Brahma-samhita says no. Angani yasya sakalendriya vrttimanti. The every part, or every limb, of the body of Krsna, the Supreme Personality, can act of other limb. Just like I can see through the eyes only. But Krsna can see through His finger also. That is His omnipotency. Omnipotency means every limb has got the potency of all other limbs. That is called omnipotency. We speak of omnipotency, but we do not know the meaning of omnipotency. This is omnipotency, that by His glance God created this world by His glance. Sa iksata sa asrjata. These are Vedic hymns. So we can say that how is that, simply God saw and there was creation? Yes. That is omnipotency. Why do you think in terms of your capacity? That is materialism. As soon as you think of God in my capacity, that is materialism. You have to accept as it is said in the Vedas. Then you understand what is God. Otherwise you cannot. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "The Lord, being potent, can speak by breathing air as is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita, for the Lord has omnipotence to perform through each of His senses the actions of all other senses. In other words, the Lord can speak through His breathing and He can impregnate by His eyes. It is said that He glanced over the material nature and thus fathered all the living entities. So after impregnating the conditioned souls into the womb of the material nature, He gave His direction in the Vedic wisdom as to how such conditioned souls can return home, back to Godhead. We should always remember that the conditioned souls in material nature are all eager for material enjoyment, and the Vedic directions are so made that one can satisfy one's perverted desires, then return to Godhead, having finished his so-called enjoyment. It is a chance for the conditioned souls to attain liberation. Therefore the conditioned souls must try to follow the process of yajna by becoming Krsna conscious. Those who have not followed Vedic injunctions may adopt the principles of Krsna consciousness and that will take the place of performance of Vedic yajnas or karmas."

Sixteen: "My dear Arjuna, a man who does not follow this prescribed Vedic system of sacrifice certainly leads a life of sin. For a person delighting only in the senses lives in vain [Bg. 3.16]." Purport...

Prabhupada: Yes, this is very important. Read purport. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "The Mammonist philosophy of work very hard and enjoy sense gratification is condemned herewith by the Lord. For those who want to enjoy this material world, the above-mentioned cycle of sacrifices is absolutely necessary. One who does not follow such regulations is living a very risky life, being condemned more and more. By nature's law this human form of life is specifically meant for self-realization in either of the three ways -- namely karma-yoga, jnana-yoga or bhakti-yoga. There is no necessity of rigidly following the performances of the prescribed yajnas. Such transcendentalists are above vice and virtue, but those who are engaged in sense gratification require purification by the above-mentioned cycle of yajna performances. There are different kinds of activities. Those who are not Krsna conscious are certainly engaged in sensory consciousness and therefore they need to execute pious work. The yajna system is planned in such a way that the sensory conscious persons may satisfy their desires without becoming entangled in the reactions to such sense gratifying work. The prosperity of the world depends not on our own efforts but on the background arrangement of the Supreme Lord, directly carried out by the demigods. Therefore these sacrifices are directly aimed at the particular demigod mentioned in the Vedas. Indirectly, it is the practice of Krsna consciousness because when one masters the performance of yajnas one is sure to become Krsna conscious. If having performed yajnas one does not become Krsna conscious such principles are counted as only moral codes. One should not, of course, limit his progress to the point of moral codes, but should transcend them to attain Krsna consciousness."

Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness is transcendental. Moral codes, they are up to material perfection. Of course, one who has not attained material perfection, he cannot attain to Krsna consciousness. Just like one who has not passed his graduation in the university, he cannot take up law course. That is law in India. But one who has taken to the law course, it is to be understood that he has passed his graduation in the college. Similarly, one who has taken Krsna consciousness in seriousness, then it is to be understood that he has performed all kinds of sacrifices. That is the result.

But one who is not Krsna consciousness, he must abide by the rules of sacrifices. But in this age it is very difficult to follow all the rules and regulations of sacrifices. Therefore it is the greatest gift of Lord Caitanya that you come directly to Krsna consciousness, everything will be done. So Krsna consciousness is so nice. Immediately you rise to the transcendental platform simply by chanting Hare Krsna. Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Seventeen: "One who is, however, taking pleasure in the self, who is illumined in the self, who rejoices in and is satisfied with the self only, fully satiated, for him there is no duty [Bg. 3.17]."

Prabhupada: Here it is plainly said by Lord Krsna, "the self, one who is taking pleasure in self." How we can take pleasure in self? As soon as we engage ourself with the Supreme Self. That is enjoyment. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). The Supreme Lord is joyful. Just like if you mix with a joyful society or joyful person, then automatically you become joyful. There is no necessity of becoming joyful separately. That association will make you joyful. If you mix with a society criminal, automatically you become criminal. There is no necessity of learning criminality separately. By association, you'll do that.

Similarly, if you associate with the supreme joyful, Krsna, automatically you become joyful. This is Krsna consciousness. Automatically. There is no necessity separately how to become joyful. Simply by association. Therefore here it is said that "One who rejoices in." That rejoice is by association with the Supreme. "And is satisfied with the self only." With self. My self, what I am? My identity is that I am eternal servant of God. So as soon as I engage myself in the service of God, that is my self-realization. And if I enjoy in that self-realization, then I have no other duty. Finished, I have finished all duty, all sacrifice, everything complete.

Tamala Krsna: Purport: "A person who is fully Krsna conscious and by his acts in Krsna consciousness is fully satisfied, no longer has anything to perform as his duty. Due to his becoming Krsna conscious all the dirty things within are instantly cleansed, ordinarily an effect of many, many thousands of yajna performances. By such clearing of consciousness one becomes fully confident of his eternal position in relationship with the Supreme. His duty thus becomes self-illuminated by the grace of the Lord and therefore he no longer has anything to do in terms of the Vedic injunctions. Such a Krsna conscious person is no longer interested in material activities and no longer takes pleasure in material arrangements like wine, women and similar infatuations."

Eighteen: "A self-realized man has no purpose to fulfill in the discharge of his prescribed duties, nor has he any reason not to perform such work. Nor has he any need to depend on any other living being [Bg. 3.18]."

Nineteen: "Therefore without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme [Bg. 3.19]."

Purport: "This Supreme is the Personality of Godhead for the devotees and liberation for the impersonalist. A person acting for Krsna or in Krsna consciousness, under proper guidance and without attachment to the result of the work is certainly making progress towards the supreme goal of life. Indirectly Arjuna is told that he should fight the battle of Kuruksetra without attachment in the interest of Krsna because Krsna wanted him to fight. To be a good man or a nonviolent man is also a personal attachment, but to act on behalf of the Supreme..."

Prabhupada: Yes, to be good man, this consciousness is, "I am very good man." Or to bad man, "I am very bad man." But if you become Krsna conscious, "I am neither good man or bad man. I am Krsna's man." That's all. Finished. Finished. All business. "I am Krsna's man." That's all. If Krsna wants to kill you, I'll kill you. If Krsna says you do that, I'll do that. That's all. So I am Krsna's man. So he's immediately transcendental to all goodness or badness.

All right. Stop here. Any question? Yes?

Virabhadra: When it says "duty," does that mean you don't have to do anything at all?

Prabhupada: If Krsna orders we shall do, but not purposely at your whims. There is nothing wrong for a Krsna conscious person. But what we think materially wrong, if it is ordered by Krsna, we shall do it. For Krsna there is no wrong. Just like the government orders somebody to be hanged. That means kills. So that does not mean the government becomes condemned. But if I kill, I immediately become condemned. The government is still pure because for higher purpose the government can order somebody to be hanged and somebody to be rewarded. Everything is justice.

Similarly, when Krsna says, "You do this," we have no consideration whether material calculation, it is good or bad. That's all. But we cannot do on our own account. Then it is implication. That is the technique. Don't think that "We are now Krsna conscious, we are Krsna's persons, we can do anything." Just like if a policeman thinks that "I am government man. I can do anything, whatever I like." That is wrong. He cannot do that. But if Krsna orders, then you can do. Yes.

Guest: Krsna tells Arjuna he can go to the sun planet in the Gita. Why does He say that? I can't remember where. I remember reading that Krsna told Arjuna he can go to the sun planet by worshiping Him. Why does He say that?

Prabhupada: If I say that you can go to Santa Fe, what is the harm? What is the wrong there?

Guest: You can go to the sun planet by worshiping...

Prabhupada: Anywhere, if Krsna says that you can go to the sun planet, what is wrong there?

Guest: Well, I thought you'd go to Krsna, along with Krsna.

Prabhupada: And if Krsna desires that he should go to sun planet then he'll go. What is wrong there? There is nothing wrong. You have to act what Krsna says. It doesn't matter what He says. You should not select Krsna's order according to your choice. You should accept Krsna's order by Krsna's choice. If Krsna says you go to hell, "Yes, I am going to hell." That's all. Svargapavarga-narakesv api tulyartha-darsinah. For a Krsna conscious person there is no distinction that this is hell, this is heaven.

Just like we have come here to preach Krsna consciousness. We have no distinction between Los Angeles and Vrndavana. Wherever I am, I am in Krsna consciousness, that is Vrndavana. That's all. I don't live in Los Angeles or anywhere. I live in Krsna consciousness, I preach Krsna consciousness, therefore I live in Krsna. So your principle should be like that. You be fully in Krsna consciousness, you forget all other things. Krsna is all-pervading, therefore your living is all-pervading. Is that all right?

So any other question?

Guest: You said that as the age of Kali-yuga progresses there'll be no more butter.

Prabhupada: Yes, it has already begun. You are killing cows, the source of butter. Now, time will come, there will be no more cows. Misusing. And then where you will get butter? You cannot manufacture in your factory a cow or butter.

Guest: We can take care of cows, can't we?

Prabhupada: You should. Otherwise you are ungrateful. You are drinking milk, you are taking so much butter, milk product, and as gratitude you are killing cows? You should be ashamed. Even if you have no human feelings. You suck the breast of your mother and kill? Is that humanity?

So this will be, in due course, the milk supply will be stopped. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There will be no more milk supply at the end of this Kali-yuga. Three, four things will be stopped -- grains, sugar, and milk will be stopped. And fruits will not be... Without any pulp. It will be simply seed. Just like in mango there is seed and pulp. In future you'll simply have seed, no pulp. So you'll eat mango simply by tasting the seed. There will be no more mango pulp. These are stated in the Bhagavatam.

So people are so foolish that they are continually committing sinful activities. Therefore yajna is recommended. But they cannot perform yajna also. The only alternative is to take to Krsna consciousness to save you from all risky life. Yes.

Revatinandana: So when... When they say they have a surplus of grains now, they are burning these great mounds of grains, this means that in the future there will be no grains for this country to eat?

Prabhupada: Yes. As soon as you make misuse, the supply will be stopped. After all, the supply is not in your control. You cannot manufacture all these things. You can kill thousands of cows daily, but you cannot generate even one ant. And you are very much proud of your science. You see. Just produce one ant in the laboratory, moving, with independence. And you are killing so many animals? Why? So how long this will go on? Everything will be stopped.

Just like a child. Mother is giving good, nice foodstuff, and he's spoiling. So what the mother will do? "All right. From tomorrow you'll not get." That is natural.

Jaya Gopala: Is it true that Krsna has all these things in each planet simply because of the presence of a pure devotee?

Prabhupada: No. Krsna appears not in consideration of this planet, but just like there is a headquarter of the governor or some government officer in the particular place. Similarly, when Krsna appears in this universe, He comes in this planet in that Mathura-Vrndavana. Therefore it is called so sanctified. Whenever He appears, He appears there. And that Vrndavana happens to be situated within this planet. So this planet is very fortunate in that sense. Yes. Yes?

Guest: When the people realize there's no more butter will they get attached to other things or will they realize the mistake they made?

Prabhupada: What is that?

Guest: When people realize, when there's no more butter will people realize they've made a mistake or will they get attached to something else?

Prabhupada: A sinful, sinful man never realizes his mistake. Therefore he's miscreant. You ask any miscreant, any criminal, "So you have done wrong," he'll be angry. Upadeso hi murkhanam prakopaya na santaye. So the miscreants and sinful, they cannot realize unless they are in good association and blessed. So therefore good association required. We are giving chance, this temple is open to give people good association. "Please come, try to understand." If one is fortunate he understands, he takes to this principle and thus becomes, I mean to say, purified gradually.

Therefore in this age Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended that you do not require to change your position. You simply try to hear about Krsna from the rightful source. That's all. Then everything will be all right gradually. Everyone of us are mistaken or whatever you may call, but Krsna is so kind that He gives His book, Bhagavad-gita, He sends His representative, He comes Himself as Lord Caitanya to deliver us. He sends Lord Jesus Christ. So so many arrangement, but we don't take advantage. We are so fool and sinful. But still, the propaganda will go on.

Just like father, however misguided a son may be, whenever the father gets a chance, he says, "My dear son, you don't do this. It is not good. You do this." So that is the duty of the father. Similarly, we are bent upon continuing our sinful activities but there is sufficient arrangement by Krsna to instruct us and to lead us back to Godhead, back to home.

Guest: How do you account for the fact that man sometimes takes animals and feeds them and protects them, whereas otherwise these animals might have died of starvation or exposure or something?

Prabhupada: Why you are anxious about the animals being starvation? You take care of yourself. You don't be philanthropic, "Oh, they'll starve. Let me eat." What is this philanthropy? Krsna is supplying food. If he dies out of starvation, it is Krsna's responsibility. Nobody dies of starvation. That is a false theory. Have you seen any animal dying of starvation? Have you got any experience? Have you seen any bird died of starvation? There is no question of starvation in the kingdom of God. We are manufacturing these theories for our own satisfaction, sense satisfaction. There is no question of starvation in the law of God. Elephant eats hundred pounds at a time. Who is supplying foodstuff? There are millions of elephants in the African jungle, in Indian jungles. They require one hundred pounds at a time to eat. Who is supplying food? So there is no question of starvation in the kingdom of God. Starvation is for the so-called civilized men.

Yes?

Guest: If man wasn't meant to eat meat, why in nature do the other animals kill to eat?

Prabhupada: Are you other animal?

Guest: Well, we're all animals.

Prabhupada: You count amongst the animals? You classify yourself with the animals?

Guest: Well, we're all animals.

Prabhupada: No, not all. You may be, but we are not. Do you like to be classified with the animals?

Guest: You don't?

Prabhupada: No, no. Do you like yourself, do you like to be...

Guest: I don't feel that I'm better than the animals, no.

Prabhupada: Why? Why are you talking then?

Guest: Because I have respect for all of God's creatures.

Prabhupada: Why you have come here? You respect for all and you kill animals?

Guest: I didn't say that I kill animals.

Prabhupada: Then why do you say that? What is your question?

Guest: I said why, if man is not meant to eat meat, that in nature the animals eat meat? They eat each other.

Prabhupada: What is the question? I cannot...

Tamala Krsna: He's saying if man is not meant to eat meat, then why is it that some animals eat meat? He's saying that we are animals also. Now, we're not meant to eat meat, but other animals are permitted to.

Prabhupada: Other animals, they [eat] meat, but they follow the nature's law. They don't eat grain.

Guest: We don't follow nature's...?

Prabhupada: No. You don't follow.

Just like a tiger. A tiger eats meat, but tiger does not come to eat grains and fruits. But you eat meat and grains, fruits, milk, whatever you can get you eat. Why? Is that natural? Tiger will never come to claim on the grains, "Oh, you have got so much grain. Give me." No. Even there are hundreds bags of grains, you don't care, but he'll pounce upon a... That is his natural instinct.
But why do you take grains, fruits, milk, meat, and whatever you get. What is this? You are neither animal or human being. Misusing your humanity. You should think that what is eatable for me? A tiger may eat meat. It is a tiger. But I am not tiger. I am human being. And if I have got sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables, and other things, God has given, why should I go to kill a poor animal?

This is humanity. You are animal plus human. If you forget your humanity, then you are animal. So we are not simply animal. We are animal plus humanity. If we increase our quality of humanity, then our life is perfect. But if we remain in animality, then our life is imperfect. So we have to increase our human consciousness. That is Krsna consciousness. That is Krsna conscious.

What is the purpose of eating? To live. If you can live very peacefully, very nicely, with good health, by eating so many varieties of foodstuff given by Krsna, why should I kill an animal? This is humanity. Why should I imitate an animal? Then what is the difference between animal and human being? If you have no discretion, if you have no consciousness.

Besides that, scientifically, your teeth is meant for eating vegetables. The tiger has teeth for eating meat. Nature has made it like that. It has to kill another... Therefore he has got nails, he has got teeth, he has got strength. But you have no such strength. You cannot kill a cow like that, pouncing like tiger. You have to make slaughterhouse and sit down at your home. Somebody may slaughter, and you can eat very nicely. What is this? You do like tiger. Pounce upon a cow and eat. (laughter) You cannot do that. You cannot do that.

Guest: What you're saying, then, you believe that nature's perfect.

Prabhupada: Nature's law. That is... A tiger is made by nature's law in that way; therefore he can do that. You cannot do it. Your nature is different. You have got discrimination, you have got conscience, you are claiming civilized, human being. So you should utilize these things. That is Krsna consciousness, perfect consciousness. So human life is meant for raising oneself to the perfection of consciousness, and that is Krsna conscious. We cannot remain in tiger consciousness. That is not humanity. Yes.
Tamala Krsna: Have we fallen from higher to lower or do we come from the very bottom of plant then to animal?

Prabhupada: Yes. Naturally fallen from higher to lower. Then you make progress, again come to this human being. This is a via media with good consciousness. If you utilize your good consciousness then you go still higher, you go to God. But if you don't use your higher consciousness then again go to down. This is going on, cycle of birth and death. This human form of life is meant for self-realization, God realization. If you don't use properly our this life for God consciousness or Krsna consciousness and go back to the kingdom of God, then we have to suffer again in the 8,400,000 species of life cycle, one after another. That is our choice.

So the best choice is to take to Krsna consciousness or God consciousness and your life is perfect. Don't be misguided. Take to God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, and your life... Then it will be proper use of this human form of life. Otherwise, if we indulge in meat-eating like tiger, I may get life like a tiger next life, but where is the use?

Suppose if I become a very strong tiger in my next life, is that very good promotion? Do you know the life of tiger? They cannot eat even daily. They pounce upon one animal and keep it secretly and they eat for a month the decomposed flesh. Because it is not possible to get chance, kill an animal. God will not give such chance. You see? It is natural. In the jungle wherever there is a tiger, all animals will go away. They will also try to protect themselves, self-protection. So rarely, when he's too hungry, then God gives him a chance to pounce upon another animal. A tiger cannot get to many palatable dishes daily. Oh. It is in human form of life. If we misuse, then we are... You see? We have got all facilities and if we misuse it, then go to the tiger life. Be very strong with pouncing capacity. That's all. All right. Chant Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 3.11-19 -- Los Angeles, December 27, 1968

"Yajna Means Work For Visnu"

66/05/20 New York, Bhagavad-gita 3.8-13


Prabhupada: So we were discussing that everybody should work.

niyatam kuru karma tvam
karma jyayo hy akarmanah
sarira-yatrapi ca te
na prasiddhyed akarmanah
[Bg. 3.8]

yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra
loko 'yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah samacara
[Bg. 3.9]

Now, this is the formula of spiritual realization, that we should not stop our working capacity, the prescribed duties in which we are engaged. That is not to be stopped. If we stop work and spiritual realization, for spiritual realization, we leave this world and go to the jungle or Himalaya and sit down there for meditation for spiritual realization, oh, how many people will be ready to do this thing? No. This is not for mass people. Lord Sri Krsna is prescribing something practical which can be adopted by every one and all, without any distinction. This point we have already discussed in the last day's meeting, that whatever you may be, it doesn't matter. You can realize the highest perfection of life, provided you work under the regulation of yajna. Yajnarthat karma. There is no harm working, but the work should be done for the Supreme Lord, Yajna. Yajna means Visnu. Because according to laws of nature, any work you do, it has got some reaction and we are bound up by those reactions. The Vedas also says, karmana baddhyate jantuh, karmana baddhyate jantuh, that "All living entities, they are bound up in the material encagement on account of their different kinds of karma, or work." But here is the point, that you shall not be bound up by the reaction of your karma if you act it on behalf of Yajna, or Visnu, or the Supreme Lord. That is the secret. Yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra. Anyatra.

If you do not work for that supreme perfect, then you will be bound up and your, this encagement of body will continue. This encagement of body will continue if you work on your own responsibility and not for the supreme purpose of the Supreme Lord, Yajna, or Visnu. That is the secret. Yajna means yajno vai visnuh. It is sruti. Sruti means the Vedic literature, the Vedic hymns. They prove it, "Yajna means Visnu." Visnuh tu sartham karma samacara.(?) Therefore we have to work for the satisfaction of Visnu. That is called Yajna.

saha-yajnah prajah srstva
purovaca prajapatih
anena prasavisyadhvam
esa vo 'stv ista-kama-dhuk
[Bg. 3.10]

The proof of the sacrifice, yajna, is mentioned in the Vedic scripture. After the creation, it was so announced that "If you want to be happy, you must perform sacrifices." Sacrifices.

The Vedic literature is created for guidance of the conditioned souls. Every living being who is in this material world is conditioned by the laws of material nature. And it is a chance, this creation, and especially this human body, is a chance to get rid of this material entanglement. And the chance is open by acting for the satisfaction of Visnu. Saha-yajnah prajah srstva. Prajah. Prajah means the living entities, after being created, they were advised that "You perform yajna, or sacrifice, for the satisfaction of Visnu. That will..." Anena, "By this," prasavisyadhvam, "you increase your enlightenment." Prasavisyadhvam. "And whatever you want, that will be satisfied by this yajna." Devan yajna. That sacrifice.

devan bhavayatanena
te deva bhavayantu vah
parasparam bhavayantah
sreyah param avapsyatha
[Bg. 3.11]

Now, yajna is practically... According to the Vedic rituals, yajna, or sacrifice, is offered to different devas, demigods. There are hundreds and thousands of demigods mentioned in the Vedic literatures, and the whole portion is called upasana-kanda. Upasana-kanda means worshiping different demigods. But what are these demigods? The demigods are just like different parts of the whole body of the Supreme Lord. They are, so to say, just like the government of the king. There is one king, but there are many state officers. Just you can imagine that if for management of a city like New York you have got so many departments... As soon as we go to this chambers, we get so many departments: criminal department, civil department, and so many departments. So for management of these universal affairs, there are different departments also, so far we can get information from the Vedic literature. And each department there is a particular director. And Brahma is considered to be supreme director of this universe. So this yajna, sacrifice, by Vedic rituals, they are indicated to pay different taxes to different demigods. But the Supreme Lord is above all. Therefore if one performs sacrifice for the Supreme Lord, he is immune from other obligations. That is also mentioned.

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan
sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
[SB 11.5.41]

Now, as soon as a living being is born in this material world, he has got many obligations. He has got obligation to the different demigods. Why obligation? Now, because just like the sun is also one of the demigods. He is supplying you light, so you have got some obligation. Don't you have any obligation? If you have got obligation to the electric powerhouse for supplying this light, which you are enjoying now, have you got no obligation to the sun who is supplying so much profusely light? Yes, you have got. The Vedic literature confirms it that you are indebted to the sun. Similarly, you are indebted to the moon. Similarly, you are indebted to air. And so many things we are taking advantage of the supernatural power. So we are actually indebted. Similarly, we are indebted to the rsis, great sages, because they have left behind them all this Vedic knowledge. You are taking advantage. Just like this Bhagavad-gita, or any scripture, any book of knowledge.

So we are indebted. Deva, rsi and bhuta. Bhuta means ordinary, general living beings in our dealings. Suppose if I go to consult some lawyer, I have to pay. If I want to consult some medical practitioner, I have to pay. So this is obligation. This is no mercy; this is obligation. Similarly, we are obliged in so many respects -- to the supernatural power, to the sages, to the ordinary living beings, and to the animals also. Because we are drinking milk from the cows, so we are indebted. But instead of paying our indebtedness, we are killing. You see? These are all reactions. We are creating reactions. If you don't pay bill for the electricity for a many long time, your electricity will be cut off. Your telephone will be cut off. But we must be conscious of our indebtedness to so many things.

Devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam [SB 11.5.41]. Pitrnam means the family in which you have taken your birth. You are indebted to the forefathers. Therefore, according to Vedic rites, in certain time you have to offer respects to your forefathers. Sraddha ceremony. During the month of October there is a general sraddha ceremony in India. So we are indebted to the forefathers. Devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam [SB 11.5.41].

So we are in so many ways indebted. Our obligations are there. But sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam, na rni na kinkarah. The Bhagavata says, "If somebody fully surrenders unto the Supreme, Mukunda..." Mukunda means one who can offer you liberation from this material bondage. He is Mukunda. So if one surrenders fully unto Krsna -- Krsna is Mukunda -- then he is no longer any more indebted to all these obligations. He is immune. At one stroke he becomes liquidated from all obligation. And in the Bhagavad-gita you will find this statement confirmed in the last portion of Bhagavad-gita. The Lord says that aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: "If you surrender unto Me..." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. The Lord says that "You have not do. You have to do nothing. You simply surrender unto Me." Sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. "You have got so many obligations; it is right. But it is impossible for you." Of course, there are systems how to liquidate your obligation. But especially in this age, oh, who is going to satisfy the demigods? Who is going to satisfy the forefathers? Who is going to satisfy the so many obligation with ordinary living being? Nobody is going. But if you don't satisfy your indebtedness, then there will be reaction. But if you surrender unto the Supreme Lord, you will be protected from all reaction. Therefore it is very easy. By one installment we become free from all obligation. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyah [Bg. 18.66].

Papebhyah. Papebhyah means the reaction of sins. Now, if I don't repay my indebtedness to the persons to whom I am obliged, then I have become sinner. I am sinner. Just like I owe to you $100 or $1,000. I don't pay you. So then I become a culprit in the consideration of the state law. I have to pay you. Similarly, all indebtedness has to be liquidated. If you are unable to liquidate, then you will be a sinner. But you can save yourself from the reaction of all sins if you surrender unto the Supreme Lord. Sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartam. You have got some duties, but if you give up all your duties and simply surrender unto the Supreme Lord, then you are liquidated at once. This is the version of Bhagavata and this is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, that "If you surrender unto Me, giving up all your other obligation, then I shall give you all protection." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66]. Now, if I am protected from the reaction of my sinful acts, but it does not mean that I shall surrender unto the Supreme Lord at the same time continue to act sinfully, no, not that. Or if I am obliged to continue, the God, or the Supreme Lord will protect me. That is the version. Therefore everyone should act yajna. Yajna means work to satisfy the Supreme Lord. That is called yajna. If we do not do that, then we shall be obliged. Otherwise... "Otherwise" means the act which is done for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, that is immune from all reaction, but anything which is not done for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, that will oblige me in so many bondage of obligation, and I will have to repay that after many, many continuation of this repetition of births and deaths. That is the secret of life. So,

devan bhavayatanena
te deva bhavayantu vah
parasparam bhavayantah
sreyah param avapsyatha
[Bg. 3.11]

And if you live your life for sacrifice, sacrifice of yajna, then you will never be unhappy. You'll never be in want. We become unhappy for want of things which we require. This is practical. This is practical. Anyone... You will be surprised.

I have taken practical information. In 1942 there was a manufactured famine in Bengal by the manipulation of the then government. It is for the first time we experienced that India... In our childhood, when we were children, at that time the first-class rice was selling three dollars for 82 pounds. Can you imagine? Three dollars. Not three dollars, I mean to say, dollar is exchange. Say, for less than one dollar, three-fourth dollar. Three rupees. Three rupees. The exchange of dollar and rupees is: five rupees make one dollar. Now, it was selling at 3.8. So about, I mean to, 75 cent. 75 cent for 82 pounds of best rice. I have seen it in my experiencing of life. When I was a boy in India it was selling. Can you imagine that? But that rice all of a sudden rose in 1940, ten dollars. Now, just imagine if something, the price of something, is raised from 75 cent to ten dollars, how difficult it becomes for the public, for general mass of people. So so many people were in difficulty, and so many people died for want of food, diseases, famine, because when there is want of food... But you will be surprised... I inquired in 1942. Persons who were in our line, I mean to say, engaged in devotional service... I also purchased at the same time. I had... In my family life at that time, I had some responsibility: my self, my wife, my five children, servant, and so many, about ten people. And I was purchasing rice. So anyway, management was going on. But so many people died. But you will be surprised. Those who were in some way or other in touch with the devotional service, I inquired from them individually, and I was satisfied that they were not in difficulty even in that famine circumstances. Even from the villages I inquired that "Were you in difficulty?" They replied, "No, we have no difficulty. Some way or other, we are managing." So this is practical. Anyone who is engaged in the devotional service, whose life is dedicated for service of the Supreme, you will see practically that there will be no want, there will be no unhappiness. This is a fact. This is a fact. So

devan bhavayatanena
te deva bhavayantu vah
parasparam bhavayantah
sreyah param avapsyatha
[Bg. 3.11]

This Vedic injunction is also like that, that "You do sacrifice for the Supreme. Then you will never be unhappy. You will never be in want." Now, mind that, that the work is not stopped. The work in which you are engaged, that is not stopped. We have discussed in the previous verse that niyatam kuru karma tvam. The work which is entrusted to you, or the work in which you are now engaged, that is not to be undone. You work as you are doing. But you engage your, the result of your work or life for the matter of sacrificing for the Supreme Lord.

There is a very good example in the life of the Gosvamis, whom we daily pray, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. These six Gosvamis, they were very important men of their age five hundred years before. These Rupa and Sanatana, they were great politicians, ministers, of the then Mohammedan government in Bengal. In Bengal at that time the Pathans were ruling. Before the Moguls came, there were Pathans ruling. For one thousand years the Mohammedans invaded India, from 1000 A.D. up to 1947, till the end of the British period. India was under subjugation by so many foreigners: Mohammedans, Greeks, and so many others. Lastly, the Mohammedans ruled for eight hundred years. And the Britishers ruled for two hundred years. So now they have got independence, India. So at that time the Bengal was being ruled by the Mohammedans, Pathans, and their entrusted ministers were these Rupa and Sanatana. They were converted into practically Mohammedan. Hindu society was very strict at that time. Still they are very strict. Anyone serving a foreigner, he becomes at once ostracized. He is at once, I mean to say, rejected from the social intercourse. So these brothers, Rupa and Sanatana, because they accepted Mohammedan rulers' service as minister, they were outcasted from the... They were actually brahmanas by caste.

Some way or other, these Rupa and Sanatana contacted Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and they retired from their service and joined. And after all, they became the most important leaders of this movement, Rupa and Sanatana. Now, this Rupa and Sanatana, when they retired from their service, they brought home gold coins. At that time there was no currency notes. Actual value gold coins were in... Now, that gold coins was about two and a half ounce weight. Just like imagine what is the value now, whatever it may be. That means the estimation is some millions of rupees they brought home after their retirement. And they divided the money in this way: 50% for God... Whatever they accumulated, they set aside 50% for God or God's service. God means God's service. God is not want of your money. (chuckles) He is quite competent to earn money. He doesn't require anything. But if we give, it is our interest. It is our interest. So he set aside 50% of his accumulated money for God, 25% for the relatives, family members, and 25% he kept in some village banker or the original bankers, for emergency.

So that was the system. We can see from great sages and acaryas that whatever we earn... According to Bhagavad-gita, it is said, yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra. Whatever you earn, yat karosi yaj juhosi. The result of your work should be offered to the Supreme. Now, if it is not possible to offer the whole thing to the Supreme, so at least one should offer 50% of his income for God's purpose. That is the example we get from these acaryas. So 50% for God, 25%... Of course, the relatives, they expect something from the father or the chief of the family, some, I mean to say, gift. They expect something. But according to these acarya rulings, the gift was only 25%, not that whatever money I have got, I leave to my family and go singlehanded to God. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. If God asks you, "What you have sacrificed for Me? You have come to Me." "No Sir. I have sacrificed everything for my family. For my family." That is not good. That is not yajna. Yajna means... Now, if you cannot spare your money separately for God's service, then you can engage yourself in God's service and expend the money for God's service. Don't offer your money in other's hand, but you spend yourself for God's cause. That will make you perfect. Yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra. That is explained in the next sloka.

istan bhogan hi vo deva
dasyante yajna-bhavitah
tair dattan apradayaibhyo
yo bhunkte stena eva sah
[Bg. 3.12]

Now, istan bhogan, whatever you have got for your subsistence, you should know it is given by God. Now, say for example these grains. The grains, they are given to you by God for eating. You cannot manufacture grain in your factory. You have manufactured or set up so many factories for manufacturing tools, machinery, motor cars, and so many other things for your comfort. But there is not a single factory in the whole world which can manufacture wheats, rice, grains, or vegetables, or something like that. So we should consider it that these foodstuff which we eat daily, they are produced by God's mercy, or they are given by God, istan bhogan hi vo devah, God or God's agent, whatever it may be.

Tair dattan. And if you take from... Even you produce, even you produce from your land, that is also God's mercy, because for agriculture, for example, if there is no rain, you cannot produce anything. Now, rain, you have no control over rain. We shall come to that point in the next sloka. But if you perform yajnas rightly, you'll have got, you will have sufficient rains to produce everything. Maharaja Yudhisthira's reign, his kingdom, his government was conducted in that way. Profusely, the nature was producing profusely. How profusely he was benefited by nature's gift, that is stated in the Bhagavata. I shall recite that, I mean to say, verse before you and explain to you next. So istan bhogan hi vo deva dasyante yajna-bhavitah. If you perform this sacrifice, then your necessities will be supplied profusely by the agents of the Supreme Lord. So mind that always, that we are not going to be idle. We shall go on with our work, as we are doing. But at the same time, we must perform yajnas, or sacrifice for the Supreme. Then we'll have sufficient for our necessities. And now, after having sufficient of our necessities, if we don't acknowledge or don't give the taxes of obligation, feel our obligation, then, He said, tair dattan apradayaibhyah.

Now, God or God's agent is supplying you so many things, and if you do not acknowledge or repay by sacrifice, then what is your position? Yo bhunkte. "One who enjoys," stena eva sah, "he is a thief." He is a thief, therefore, punishable. As a thief is punishable by the state law, similarly, one who takes advantage of these natural facilities and do not acknowledge it and do not offer sacrifice to the Supreme, then he is considered to be a thief. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita, stena eva sah. So yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih. So, we are becoming debtors and debtors life after life in this way, and the only way to liquidate our so many debts is to perform yajna.

Now, there are different rituals of yajna. If we want to perform such yajnas for sacrificing clarified butter, grains, there are different, so many kinds of yajnas. It is not possible in this age. For this age, the particular type of sacrifice which is recommended, we had some sample of it yesterday in our, this loft. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. In this age it is very difficult to perform all those rituals. First thing, it is very difficult to obtain all the ingredients for sacrificing method. And people are not very well to do. They cannot secure also.

The symptoms of the people of this age is also described, prayenalpayusah sabhya kalav asmin yuge janah. Prayena, in this age people are generally short living. They are not living for more than sixty or seventy years. Formerly they were living more than hundred years. Gradually their duration of life is decreasing. And it is stated also that it will decrease to such an extent that any man who is living from twenty to thirty years, he will be considered a very old man. That is also stated in the Bhagavata. Of course, that has not yet come, but it will come in this age. So the symptoms of the people of this age are described, that people are of very short life.

Prayenalpayusah sabhya kalav asmin yuge janah mandah. And they are very lazy and slow. Slow and lazy means that they do not know that this life is meant for spiritual realization. So they are very lazy -- "All right, spiritual realization we shall see later on. Let us enjoy life. That's all." So this is a great disqualification of the human being, that they are not wake up for spiritual realization, lazy, mandah. And manda-bhagyah. Mandah sumanda-matayah.

And if somebody is at all interested for some spiritual enlightenment, then, unfortunately, mandah sumanda-matayah, they adopt some spiritual method which is not recognized. Spiritual realization with relationship with God is no spiritual realization. The whole spiritual realization means one must understand his relationship with the Supreme Lord. But generally in this age they want to avoid the conception of God, and at the same time, they want to be spiritually advanced. Therefore they are called sumanda-matayah, a, I mean to say, a very degraded form of spiritual realization, without conception of God. Sumanda-matayah, mandah, lazy, and if they are at all interested in some spiritual realization process, they try to avoid the conception of God.

Sumanda-matayah and manda-bhagyah. Manda-bhagyah means unfortunate. People of this age, mostly they are not very fortunate. In any part of the world, they are not very fortunate. They do not get things, desirable things, very easily. Our desirable things are four things for living purposes: ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. Eating, sleeping, and defense, and mating. These are our generally, so far our body is concerned. So these things are also not easily available. So mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya upadrutah [SB 1.1.10].

And at the same time, in spite of all these disqualifications, they are always disturbed in mind. Why disturbed? Now, they are... Roga-sokadibhih, for some lamentation and for some disease. So this is the condition of the people of this age, and it is very difficult for them to follow the system of sacrifice which was being performed in the older days.

Now, for them, in this age, Lord Caitanya recommended this sacrifice, this sankirtana-yajna which we are trying to perform here. Sankirtana. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. Now, those who have got better brain, they will adopt this process of sankirtana-yajna for satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. That will be helpful for the men of this age. That is recommended in Bhagavatam.

Now, either you adopt this yajna or that yajna, according to your capacity, but you must have to perform yajna. Without yajna, you cannot be happy.

yajna-sistasinah santo
mucyante sarva-kilbisaih
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ye pacanty atma-karanat
[Bg. 3.13]

Now, pacanty atma-karanat means cooking. The cooking is the most important business of our life. Cooking... Nobody... A human being... We are not cats and dogs, and every human being has to cook things for eating. Now, this eating process... The Lord says that one who takes the eatables after the sacrifice, then he becomes free from all kinds of sinful reactions. And one who cooks for himself, for enjoyment, then he eats all kinds of sins, all kinds of sins. Yajna-sistasinah santah. Santa. Santa means saints and sages. They do not take anything without offering yajna. At least, whenever you take something, if you offer the same thing to the Lord -- "My Lord, it is by Your grace I have got this eatable. You kindly accept it and I shall take the remnants" -- this is yajna. This is also yajna.

Just yesterday we prepared some food cooperatively and offered to Lord and performed sankirtana, and we took it. This is the simplest process of performing yajna. Because we require food, so this was done here in this loft as a matter of example. But you can do it in your home also because you are cooking for your children, for yourself, for your wife, for family members. Now, if you cook nicely things which are to be offered to the Lord... Of course, we must be careful to prepare foodstuff, because we are going to offer to the Lord, and we must offer things which is acceptable by the Lord, at least. Of course, Lord can accept anything and everything. He is quite competent because He's all-powerful, almighty. But still, in the Bhagavad-gita it is said -- the Lord says -- patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: [Bg. 9.26] "Anyone who gives Me these four things: patram, puspam, phalam, toyam... That means grains, vegetables, and flowers, fruits, all these things. Anyone who offers Me, I take that, offers with, tad aham bhakty-upahrtam, with devotion." Not that God is hungry, and therefore He is hankering after your offering of foodstuff. Not that. He is quite competent. He has got many things to eat. It is practically His things we are eating. So, but still, if we prepare foodstuff in that way and offer to the Supreme Lord, then, after offering, if we take, then we become free from all sinful reactions.

That is stated here, yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante. Mucyante means he becomes liberated, freed from. What is that? Sarva-kilbisaih: "All kinds of sinful reaction." That's all. [break]

They must be eating only sins, only sins. So we have to suffer the sinful reaction also. Ye pacanty atma-karanat.

Now, the thing is... Now, it is very easy, work. You are going to the store. Just like yesterday, or day before yesterday, Mr. Carl and Mr. Paul went to some store: "Oh, tomorrow it will be yajna." So the things were purchased with the purpose of performing. The same thing, we are purchasing from the store, but we are thinking, "I shall eat." That... If you transfer that epithet only, that "This is... We are purchasing things for God's eating," so there is no loss on your part, but you perform yajna. You perform yajna. This practice has to be done. Yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih. If you practice this simple thing, then you become free from all sinful reaction. And if you don't do this, then what happens? Now, bhunjate te tv agham papah. One who does not do this, he eats only sinful reaction, and he has to pay for that. He has to suffer for that. Pacanty atma-karanat. He has no relation with the Yajna or Visnu, but he thinks that "I shall eat."

So the beginning of the process of yajna in this age can be very easily done by everyone, either he is family man or single man or anyone. Everyone has to cook for himself. Now, that cooking may be done for the Supreme Lord. And after cooking the foodstuff, offer it to the Supreme Lord and perform this yajna, sankirtana,

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

[My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.]

Then you become free from all sinful... After all, whatever we are doing, we are committing some sort of, even unknowingly, even unknowingly.

There are recommendation in these Vedas, panca-yajna. Panca-yajna means that unknowingly we are killing many living entities. Suppose we are... When we are walking on the street there are many ants who are being killed on the pressure of our shoes. So that is also counted as sin. In God's kingdom, in God's, I mean to say, state. Just like here you have to pay by your life if you kill one man. If you commit a murder, you have to repay this murdering sin by your own life. That is, of course, imperfect law, man-made law. Similarly, in God's law also, if you kill any living entity, you have to suffer for that, because in the God's eye there is no question of man or animal or ant or fly or something like that. Every living entity is the son of God. Now, suppose your father has got five sons. One of them is worthless, is doing nothing. And if the other son says, "My dear father, this son, your youngest son, or this son, is worthless. He is doing nothing. Let us kill him," will your father agree? Because he is worthless, will your father agree? No, he will say, "No, no, no. You have nothing to do. He is not harming you. He is eating my, my subsistence. I am paying for his subsistence. Why you should kill him?" So similarly, in this material nature, all these living entities in different forms, they have come for material enjoyment and everything is being supplied by the Supreme Lord. We have no right to kill them. We have no right. According to God's law, if one is conscious... The same thing: Just like the father will never agree to kill a worthless child by the competent boy... No.

So consciously or unconsciously, we are committing. Suppose I am not willingly killing any animal, but unconsciously I am killing so many living entities by my walking, by my so many things. They are called panca-yajnas in the Vedic... So, and even if we do not kill animals, simply by eating vegetables, they are also life. It does not mean that vegetarians are not killing. They are also killing. The law is that a living entity lives by killing other living entities. That is the law. Those who have got hands, they are killing those who have got legs. Just like man is killing animal. The animal is eating the grass, those who have no legs. So this is the law. But our thing is that we have to offer yajna. Killing of animal does not mean that if a man kills a cow or goat for eating, he is killing, and those who are vegetarian, they are not killing. They are also killing. A vegetable has also got life. So it is not the question of killing. It is the question of offering yajna. It is the question of offering yajna.

Even animal eaters and flesh eaters, they have also some process for offering yajna. In the Vedic process, even the flesh eaters, they are also prescribed that "You can perform yajna like this." That yajna must be there. Yajna must be there. But so far we are concerned who are going to have Krsna consciousness, we have to take the instruction of Krsna as He says in the Bhagavad-gita. He says that patram puspam phalam toyam [Bg. 9.26]. He is asking foodstuff prepared from vegetable kingdom. Therefore we have to prepare things from vegetable kingdom nicely and very palatably and offer Krsna and then take it. This yajna will make us free from all kinds of sins and our life will be sublime. Thank you very much. Any question? (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 3.8-13 -- New York, May 20, 1966