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[[Category:1966 - Lectures]]
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[[Category:Lectures - Bhagavad-gita As It Is]]
[[Category:BG Lectures - Chapter 04|0419-22]]
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Prabhupāda: So this is the process of ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [[CC Antya 20.12]] , to cleanse the material dust from the mirror of our mind. The whole process is to dust out the dirty things which we have accumulated by our material association and therefore to revive our spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. From Bhagavad-gītā we are studying about the process of life by which we can revive our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is no need of external help for reviving Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You have got Kṛṣṇa consciousness dormant in yourself. It is the quality of the self. So the, we have simply to invoke by this process.
<div class="code">660805BG.NY - August 05, 1966</div>


Kṛṣṇa-bhakti nitya-siddha sādhya kabhu naya. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness is an eternal fact. It is nothing that by this organization we are imposing upon you something extra. No. It is within you. It is within every living entity. Any living entity—never mind whether he is human being or animal... When Lord Caitanya was singing this Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, He was passing through jungles, forests, and the tigers, the elephants, the stags, and all, I mean to, forest animals, they joined. They joined. It is such a thing. Of course, it depends on the pure-hearted chanting. As we become... This is the process. As we become advanced in this chanting method, similarly, our heart becomes freed from all the dirty things of material contact. So even the animals can be captivated by this chanting, what to speak of human beings.


So in our practical life Kṛṣṇa advises how to invoke this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He says,
<mp3player>https://s3.amazonaws.com/vanipedia/full/1966/660805BG-NEW_YORK.mp3</mp3player>


<div class="lec_verse">
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ<br />
kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ<br />
jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ<br />
tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ</div>


'''Prabhupāda:'''


(loud conversation going on in background) Ask them to stop. Why do they come and talk nonsense?
:''yasya sarve samārambhāḥ''
:''kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ''
:''jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ''
:''tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ''
:([[BG 4.19 (1972)|BG 4.19]])


Yasya sarve samārambhāḥ. You are not forbidden to execute your duties. We are not after stopping the general process of material activities. That is not our mission. The whole thing is that we have to act everything in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Just like... It is very easy to understand. Everybody has got some vocation of his life. But what is their consciousness? Their consciousness is that "I am engaged in this business, I am engaged in this service, because I have to maintain my family," "I have to maintain myself," or "I have to satisfy the government," or "I have to satisfy somebody else." This is our consciousness. Nobody is free from such consciousness.
:''tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ''
:''nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ''
:''karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi''
:''naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ''
:([[BG 4.20 (1972)|BG 4.20]])


Everybody must have some consciousness. Without consciousness, nothing can be done. One who has no consciousness, he cannot do anything nicely. If his consciousness is disturbed, then his work cannot be... Just like a madman. A madman cannot do anything nicely because his consciousness is disturbed. So we, similarly, if we change the process only, that "I am, to satisfy Kṛṣṇa..." Just like we are doing everything, with that idea, to satisfy somebody else, or at least myself, for my satisfaction. This process has to be changed to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That should be done. This process has to be changed into Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says, yasya sarve samārambhāḥ.  
Now, how one can work without any lust? This process is being described by Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna. In our last meeting we have discussed the previous verse, that we have to . . . we may begin any gorgeous task—it doesn't matter—but we have to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not for sense gratification. That will make us free from the interaction of the activities. So long we are attached to work for sense gratification, so long we shall be under the obligation of reaction.


(aside:) Those who want to come, we can invite them. Come inside.
Now, if we want to get out of the reaction of material activities, then this is the formula given by Śrī Kṛṣṇa: ''kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ''. ''Kāma'' means one's sense gratification, "I want to do this thing for my sense gratification." That is materialism. But if I want to do something which will be satisfactory, which will be satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa, that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This very simple thing we are discussing in a different way. And this Kṛṣṇa consciousness is attained by ''jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam''.


Yasya sarve samārambhāḥ: "Whatever activities you may do, do it," but kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ, kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ: "don't be carried away by kāma." Kāma means for your own satisfaction, kāma. The word, Sanskrit word kāma, is used for lust, for desire, for sense satisfaction. So Lord Kṛṣṇa recommends that, "Don't do it for satisfaction of your senses, for satisfaction of your lust, or for satisfaction of your desires." That is the whole thing. Whole teaching of Bhagavad-gītā is based on this principle.
(aside) Yes?


The whole instruction to Arjuna is that Arjuna wanted to satisfy his senses, his senses. He wanted that, that by not fighting with the opposite party, who were composed of his relatives, brothers and brother-in-laws and father-in-laws and so many relatives. So he did not want to fight. And therefore this instruction of Bhagavad-gītā was needed by Kṛṣṇa. The whole basic principle is this. Now, that was Kṛṣṇa's, Arjuna's own satisfaction of the senses. Arjuna did not want to fight. Materially, it appears very nice that he is giving up his claim of kingdom for satisfying his relatives. Oh, he's very good man. But Kṛṣṇa did not approve it. Why? Because the basic principle was Arjuna decided to satisfy his own senses. Externally it appeared very nice. But anything which is done for the satisfaction of his own senses, that is kāma, kāma, lust, desire.
'''Devotee:''' If you look from this angle, the tape is broken.


Here it is prescribed that you can do anything. There is no harm. Whatever your business, or vocation, occupation, you are engaged, that has not to be changed. That has not to be changed. Simply your consciousness has to be changed. That's all. Kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ. How? How that consciousness can be changed? Now, jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam. That consciousness, transferring the present self-interested consciousness to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, requires knowledge. Requires knowledge. And what is that knowledge? That knowledge is that, "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. I'm not different from Kṛṣṇa. I am part and parcel. I am the superior energy of Kṛṣṇa." That is knowledge.
'''Prabhupāda:''' No.


Knowledge means to understand something. How this tape recorder is manufactured, if we get some knowledge, technical knowledge, that is not knowledge. That is a, of course, to have some, our occupation executed. That knowledge is temporary knowledge. But real knowledge is... This is real knowledge. The real knowledge is that when one understands convincingly that "I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa." Kṛṣṇa, or God. When we say Kṛṣṇa, you should understand the Supreme Lord, the Absolute Truth. Kṛṣṇa is the technical word which is meant for indicating the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the whole, the whole pleasure, the whole attraction. These are the meaning of Kṛṣṇa.
'''Keith:''' No. Just the ends of the . . . (indistinct)


So we are all part and parcel of the supreme pleasure, and our pleasure... Just like my hand. This is my hand. Now, this my hand can take pleasure when it is attached with my body. My hand can take pleasure when it serves my body. It does not take pleasure by serving your body.
'''Prabhupāda:''' Just like a fire burns everything, similarly, when we act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, after attainment of full knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then just like fire burns everything, similarly, the reaction of our activities will be burned. ''Jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam''. This verse we have already discussed. And the next verse is further explanation of this verse. ''Tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ'' ([[BG 4.20 (1972)|BG 4.20]]).


(aside:) This is a formality.[?] Sit here.
Now, whatever we do, we desire some fruit out of it. Anything we do, we expect some result out of it. Sometimes the result may be bad or sometimes the result may be very good. But a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not be attached either to the good result or bad result, because even if I want good result, that is my attachment. And of course, if there is bad result, we haven't got any attachment, but sometimes we lament. That is our attachment. That is our attachment. So one has to transcend both from the good result and the bad result.


So therefore, because I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, my pleasure, my happiness, is dependent by serving Kṛṣṇa just like my senses are satisfied when they are used for my purpose, not for your purpose. This is the whole, I mean to say, philosophy. I cannot be satisfied by serving you. I can be satisfied by serving me. So that me, I do not know. That is Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa. So when we begin to serve Kṛṣṇa, because we are part and parcel... Always remember, the part and parcel, we are. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ [[BG 15.7]] . In the Fifteenth Chapter you'll find, "All these living entities, they are My eternal part and parcels. Now they are detached. Now they are detached. By material contact, they are detached." So we have to... The whole process is that we have to attach again. Now we are detached. Now we have to attach again. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
How it can be done? It can be done. Just like if you are working on account of some big firm. Suppose you are a salesman. You are working on behalf of that big firm. Now, suppose if you make one million dollars' profit, you have no attachment for that, because you know that "This profit goes to the proprietor." You have no attachment. Similarly, if there is some loss, you also know that "I have nothing to do with the loss. It goes to the proprietor."


That Kṛṣṇa consciousness is within you because you are originally, eternally the part and parcel of the Supreme. Artificially, I am trying to forget it. I am trying to live independently. That is not possible. We are not independent. If we want to live independently, that means we voluntarily become dependent on the influence of material nature. That's all. Actually, we are not independent. If I think I am independent of Kṛṣṇa, then I am dependent on the influence of material nature.
Similarly, if we work on account of Kṛṣṇa, then I shall be able to give up the attachment for the result of the work. ''Tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ''. ''Nitya-tṛpta'', always satisfied: "Either there is good result or there is bad result, it doesn't matter. I shall remain satisfied in the sense that I am working under the direction of Kṛṣṇa, so I have nothing to think of the result." ''Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana'' ([[BG 2.47 (1972)|BG 2.47]]).


Just like, if I think that I am independent of government regulations, then I become dependent of the police force. My dependence is neither in this way or that way. So that is our mistaken. Everyone is trying to be, become independent. That is called māyā. That is called māyā, or illusion. Nobody can be independent. Individually, community-wise, society-wise, or nation-wise, you can extend even universal-wise—nobody can be independent. We are dependent. And this is called knowledge. When you come to the sense, that "I am dependent; I am not independent," this is called knowledge.
Just like Arjuna. Arjuna did not like to fight with his relatives, with his grandfather, but because Kṛṣṇa wanted it, he fought, and he was satisfied. Because the principle was that "Kṛṣṇa wants it, and Kṛṣṇa is satisfied. Although I do not like to fight, but Kṛṣṇa is satisfied—therefore I have to fight." This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. ''Nitya-tṛpta''. He is not dissatisfied: "Oh, I have to fight against my relatives, my grandfather, my teacher."


Now we are misguided. Jñānāgni-dagdha karmāṇam. In other place, you'll find, Kṛṣṇa says,
''Nirāśraya''. ''Nirāśraya'' means he is not under the obligation of any good result or bad result. ''Nirāśraya''. "In this way, if we engage ourself in any activity," ''karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi'', "if one is engaged in such a spirit of neutrality, simply for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, then the result will be," ''karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi'', "although he is engaged in every sort of work," ''naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ'', "he is free from that work. He is free from the result or reaction of such work." So this is the process, that we, we have simply to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and by doing so, the reaction of such work will not affect me.


<div class="lec_verse">
:''nirāśīr yata-cittātmā''
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ<br />
:''tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ''
sarva-loka-maheśvaram<br />
:''śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma''
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ<br />
:''kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam''
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati<br />
:([[BG 4.21 (1972)|BG 4.21]])
[[BG 5.29]] </div>


''Kilbiṣam''. ''Kilbiṣam'' means sin. We are materially so much entangled that even if we do not want to commit any sin, consciously or unconsciously we are obliged to commit some sort of sins. We are in such a circumstances.


Now, people are planning for peace in the world, but they do not know how to formulate that peace formula. You know. The United Nations are trying for the last twenty years or more than that for peace, but there is no peace actually in the world. The war is going on because they do not know.
Say, for example, just like animal killing. Animal killing, according to Buddhist philosophy, or even according to Hindu philosophy, animal killing is a sort of sin. Now, suppose I am not inclined to kill animals or I do not kill animals; I avoid it. But intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes we have to kill animals. How is that?


The formula is in the Bhagavad-gītā. The Bhagavad-gītā says that bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram [[BG 5.29]] . "I am the proprietor of everything. Whatever you are doing, I am the ultimate beneficiary. I have to take the result." Just like a laborer works in a factory, but who is the proprietor? The ultimate proprietor is the, the proprietor is the ultimate owner of the... So everything, whatever we do... Jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam. Now, we are thinking that "This thing I am doing, I am the proprietor of this thing." That is a misconception. When we understand that everything, whatever we are doing, the ultimate proprietor is Kṛṣṇa, that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam.  
Now, suppose we are walking on the street. There are many ants who are being killed by the pressure of our legs—unintentionally. Now, suppose . . . of course, here you have got gas oven, but at India they have got ordinary country oven, and that is washed daily. And sometimes in the oven some small germs and flies they take shelter. But when you fire the oven, they die. So that is unintentional. Sometimes we kill . . . the jug of water, and within the . . . underneath the jug of water there are many, I mean to say, small germs and flies—they take shelter. But when you take the jug, they are killed.


So we can have simply... Just like in office. In office so many people are working. Hundreds of people are working. Everyone is conscious that "Whatever we are acting, whatever profit we are making, that belongs to the proprietor." Then there is peace. As soon as the cashier thinks, "Oh, I have got so much money. I am the proprietor," then whole trouble begins. This consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness... If we understand that "I am a very rich man. I have got so much bank balance. I can use it for my sense gratification," that is kāma. That is kāma-rāga. But if we understand that "Whatever I have got, it belongs to Kṛṣṇa," then I am liberated person. I am liberated person. This is Kṛṣṇa... You, you'll have the same money under your custody. It doesn't matter. But as soon as you think that "I am the proprietor of this wealth," then you are under the influence of māyā. And as soon as you think that "Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor of all these things," then you are free.
In this way there are so many processes, unintentionally or intentionally we have to kill. But they are taken into account; they are also sin. According to strict Vedic literature, if you kill even a bug, oh, you are sinful. You cannot kill even a bug. These are mentioned in the scriptures. Now, how we can avoid? How we can avoid? That is this . . . I do not like to kill, but sometimes unintentionally they are killed. Therefore, according to Vedic literature, there are five kinds of ''yajña'' performed to get oneself free from this unintentional killing of animals.


So kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ, jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ: "One who thinks like that, one who is situated in that consciousness," paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ, "he is learned, and he is actually a man of knowledge." This is the whole process. Tam āhuḥ. Tam, he is known as the paṇḍita. Paṇḍita means one who knows things as it is, not to take a thing wrongly. So that consciousness has to be invoked, not only individually, but also community-wise, society-wise, nation-wise, all over the world. Then there will be peace. If you want real peace.
Now, here Kṛṣṇa says that ''śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam''. If you make your principle of life that, "I have to work simply for maintaining my body and soul together . . . ''sārīram''. ''Śarīram'' means body. Because I have to execute, I have to understand, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but without this body, how can I understand or culture Kṛṣṇa consciousness? So my body must be maintained. And if I want to maintain my body, intentionally or unintentionally I have to commit so many sins. Take, for example, those who are vegetarians. They may think that, "We are not killing animals." No. They are also committing sins, because vegetables, they have also got life.


<div class="lec_verse">
So the nature's law is that to keep up your body you have to kill another body. Never mind it is vegetable or, I mean to say, animal or some fish or something else. You see? ''Jīvo jīvasya jīvanam'' ([[SB 1.13.47]]): "One living entity is the subsistence, life-giving subsistence, for another living being." That is the nature's law. You'll find, ''ahastāni sahastānām''. The everything has been very nicely discussed in Vedic literature. They have discussed all the points.
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ<br />
sarva-loka-maheśvaram<br />
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ<br />
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati<br />
[[BG 5.29]] </div>


''Ahastāni sahastānām'': "Those who have got hands, they are eating," I mean to say, "living entities who have no hand." That means we are human being, we have got hands, and we are eating animals. They have got only legs, they have no hands. So ''sahastānām ahastāni'': "Those who have got hands, they are eating the animals which have no hand." And ''apadāni catuṣ-padām'': "Those who have no legs, they are being eaten by the four-legged." Just as a cow eating grass. So grass cannot move. It has life, but it cannot move.


We are just trying to be philanthropic, altruistic. And we are trying to become friend of my countrymen, of my society, of my family, but that is a wrong conception. Real friend is Kṛṣṇa. I can work on His behalf. How I can work? You try. If you actually want to do something good to your family, then you try to make all the members of your family Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then your life will be successful. If you want to make them otherwise, without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then you will be serving, not serving, you will be rendering them disservice. Because any knowledge will not help your wife or children. Any knowledge, any amount of knowledge, will not help his real problem. What is his real problem we do not know. The real problem is... That we do not know. The real problem is janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi [[BG 13.9]] .  
So, ''apadānam sa padāni, nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra''. ''Nunam'', "those who are weak, they are being eaten by the . . . just like we find lizard. In your country you don't find lizard. In India we have got many lizard in the wall. They are eating small ants. ''Nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra''. And in the snake, snake kingdom, you will find the small snakes are being (eaten) by the big snakes. Similarly, in seawater also, you will find small fishes are being eaten by the big fishes. And the same law is applicable in human society. A big nation is trying to swallow up a small nation. You see? This is going on. This is nature's law. Nature's law. You cannot avoid it.


The Bhāgavata says, pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt: "One should not try to become father. One should not try to become mother." Why? Na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum: "One who is unable to save his children from the grip of material nature." That should be Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If you are a responsible father, then, if you are completely in knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then your duty will be that "These creatures, these innocent creatures now, who are playing in my, at my home as my children, as my boys, now this life should be the last installment of his transmigration from one body to another. I shall train these boys in such a way that after this body he will have no more to go into the cycle of birth and death." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
But there are . . . those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious. They . . . it is said that ''śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam'' ([[BG 4.21 (1972)|BG 4.21]]): "Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are not entangled in these sinful acts." How? They are also maintaining their body. So when they are maintaining their body, they have to commit sins. They have to eat other animals or vegetables, never mind. So how they are not committing sins? These are very intelligent questions.


That means you have to make yourself expert. Then you can help your children also. Then you can help your nation also. Then you can help your society also. If you are yourself ignorant, then andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās te 'pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ [[SB 7.5.31]] .  
But there is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he does not eat anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa. Just like you take the remnants of your master. Just the servant takes the remnants after the master eats. In India the process is that husband and wife, that after the husband eats, the remnants are taken by the wife. The wife does not eat along with the husband. That is the old system. Now it is being changed. The husband and wife, they do not . . . the husband is supplied by the wife all kinds of good dishes, and when the husband is satisfied, some foodstuff is left, and that is taken by the wife.


Just like a person who is, I mean, tightly bound-up, hands and feet. Suppose we are sitting here, some people, twenty-five gentlemen, ladies, and all our hands are tightly bound-up by some rope, and if I want to make you free, although my hand is also tightly bound-up, is it possible? No. At least my hand should be free. Then I can open, I can untie, your bindings by the rope. So unless one is free man... And what is that freedom? One who is Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is free man. And nobody is free man.
So similarly, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, he does not take anything, does not accept anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. Because his life is full of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And Kṛṣṇa says in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', you will find . . . suppose if you want to take things which has been eaten by Kṛṣṇa, then you have to ask Kṛṣṇa, "What do You desire to eat, Sir?"


<div class="lec_verse">
Suppose if you want me to feed, give me some foodstuff, naturally you ask me, "Swāmījī, what sort of foodstuff you'll like?" I have got experience here in your country. I was invited in Butler, here also, by some churches, and they wanted to give me some food. So they asked me, "Swāmījī, what do you desire to eat?" So I told them, "I eat . . . I am strictly vegetarian. I shall accept fruits, vege . . . fruits and milk. That's all." Similarly, if anyone invites somebody, it is natural that the guest is asked what sort of foodstuff he would like.
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī<br />
mama māyā duratyayā<br />
mām eva ye prapadyante<br />
māyām etāṁ taranti te<br />
[[BG 7.14]] </div>


Similarly, Kṛṣṇa, if you want to offer something Kṛṣṇa, you must know what sort of foodstuff He wants. How you will know? Kṛṣṇa is not just present in your front. How you will know that Kṛṣṇa wants this foodstuff? Oh, that is stated in the ''Bhagavad-gītā''. Just like you can understand what government expects from me, you can know from the law books, from the civil court, similarly, what Kṛṣṇa wants, it is stated in the ''Bhagavad-gītā''. Kṛṣṇa says:


Everyone is under the spell of material influence. Nobody's free.
:''patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ''
:''yo me bhaktyā prayacchati''
:''tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam''
:''aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ''
:([[BG 9.26 (1972)|BG 9.26]])


And one who is, who has surrendered unto Kṛṣṇa, one who has taken Kṛṣṇa consciousness, māyā has nothing to do. Māyā cannot touch. Just like when... If you come in front of the sunlight, there is no question of darkness. There is no question of darkness if you place yourself in light, sunlight, not this artificial light. This artificial light may be extinguished at any time, but sunlight is not like that. So Kṛṣṇa is just like sunlight. As soon as you come in front of sun, oh, there is no darkness. So there is no ignorance. So there is no māyā. Māyā means illusion.
Now, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, He is not hungry. He is not hungry that I shall supply Him foodstuff, and therefore He will be maintained. It is not like that. But still, Kṛṣṇa says that ''patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati'': "Any devotee, if he offers Me ''patram . . . patram'' means leaf. ''Puṣpam'' means flower. ''Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalam''. ''Phalam'' means fruit. ''Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam''. ''Toyam'' means milk or water. Generally, it is meant water.


So jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ. In this way, we have to become budha. Budha means learned, learned. And you'll find in the Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā that the Lord says who is budha. And what are the symptoms of budha. Budha means learned. What are the symptoms? What are the symptoms of mahātmā , great soul? And what are the symptoms of budha? That is described in Bhagavad-gītā. It is said that
Now, just see. To satisfy Kṛṣṇa is not very difficult thing. Even the poorest man in the world, he can satisfy Kṛṣṇa by these four items. Anyone can secure from any part of the world. It doesn't matter that because Kṛṣṇa was, I mean to say, Kṛṣṇa appeared in India, therefore He wanted Indian food. No. ''Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam''. Leaf and flower and fruit and water, oh, that is available in America, that is available in Czechoslovakia and Greenland—everywhere.


<div class="lec_verse">
So this is the universal form of satisfying Kṛṣṇa. Anyone—it doesn't matter however poor he is—he can satisfy Kṛṣṇa. You do not require, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I have invited Him, so I must arrange very nice foodstuff." Of course, if you have got means to supply very nice foodstuff, you must. Otherwise you will be understood that you are miser. If for your own eating you prepare very nice dishes, and because Kṛṣṇa says: "I will be satisfied with leaf and fruits," so you supply Kṛṣṇa, "All right, Sir. You take leaf and fruit. And for me, I shall take these palatable dishes," no. Kṛṣṇa is very, I mean to say, intelligent also. He is more intelligent than . . . then you are cheating Him. It is for the, I mean to say, poorest man. If you have got means . . .
ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo<br />
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate<br />
iti matvā bhajante māṁ<br />
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ<br />
[[BG 10.8]] </div>


In India there are many thousands of Kṛṣṇa temple all over India, especially in Vṛndāvana. I have several times told you that Vṛndāvana is the city, only fifty . . . fifty thousand people—not even one hundred thousand—fifty thousand people within a small city. But there are five thousand temples, five thousand, all Kṛṣṇa temples. Now, in each and every temple you will find how nice foodstuff. According to the capacity of the temple owner, oh, very, I mean to say, costly foodstuffs are being offered. And those foodstuff is distributed amongst the poor class of men.


Budha, this word, the very word, again is used, budha. So budha, one who is learned, one who is actually in sense, he's not nonsense, he's called budha.  
Now, at the present moment, after the, we have got ''sva-rājya'', or independence, the government has interfered with this sort of service. They say that, "This is waste of money. Why you are offering?" They are becoming atheist. But this is not waste of money. At the cost of the rich men, the ''prasādam'' was being distributed to the poor class of man at a nominal cost. You see? Now, poor man, they go to hotel. But if they take ''prasādam'' at . . . in a temple, oh, the far better quality foodstuff is supplied to him only at nominal cost. In a hotel, what will be charged one dollar, he can have it in the temple for ten cents. So this is still maintained.


So budha, what are the symptoms? The symptoms of budha is that ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ: he knows that Kṛṣṇa is the fountainhead of all emanations, everything, whatever we find, everything. Anything, whatever you see.
In our childhood, when I was a boy of eight or ten years, sometimes I used to accompany my father. My father was a great devotee. He would take ''prasādam'' from the temple. So I have got experience that we paid for two dishes, four annas. Four annas means, according to modern exchange, it is five cent only, five cent according to your exchange value. For five cent we were, very nice ''prasādam'' we can get. Two persons, we are fed. Still there is a place which is called ''Nāthadvāra''. ''Nāthadvāra'', if you pay there two annas, you will get worth ''prasādam'', two dollars' worth. So this system is going on still.


Now, take for example, take for example the material world. The most prominent thing is, I mean to say, unity between man and woman. Now, one can inquire, "Wherefrom this attraction comes between male and female?" Not only the human society, but also in animal society, in the bird society, in any society, every living be... This is a fact. So somebody criticizes, but those who do not know Kṛṣṇa, that Kṛṣṇa had so many girlfriends. So they are... Some people are criticize. But one does not know that where we get this idea of having girlfriends unless the tendency is in Kṛṣṇa? Because you can have nothing here unless that is in Kṛṣṇa. But here it is perverted. It is polluted. And Kṛṣṇa, it is pure consciousness, pure spiritual. That is the difference.
So if one has got sufficient means, he should supply Kṛṣṇa to his best capacity. But when Kṛṣṇa wants that, "You give Me . . . He says . . . this is the lowest common factor. ''Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam'' ([[BG 9.26 (1972)|BG 9.26]]). Anyone, any poor man in any part of the country, they can supply Kṛṣṇa and take the ''prasādam''. So that by taking that ''prasādam'', you become free from the, I mean to say, responsibility of being sinful. That is the point. That you will find in ''Bhagavad-gītā'', that ''yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ'' ([[BG 3.13 (1972)|BG 3.13]]): "If you take the remnants after offering Kṛṣṇa, that foodstuff makes you free from all kinds of sins."


So one who does not know, they want to avoid something. Nothing is, I mean to, can be, can exist in this material world unless it is in Kṛṣṇa. Janmādy asya yataḥ [[SB 1.1.1]] . So these things have to be studied very scientifically and from books like Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and when he is perfectly learned, then his symptom is that he becomes a, a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate [[SB 1.1.1]] : "I am the source, fountainhead," Kṛṣṇa says. "I am the source and fountainhead like, of everything. One who understands this science, then he takes to Kṛṣṇa." How? Now, budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ, with full knowledge, and he becomes a devotee of Kṛṣṇa.
So anyone—it doesn't matter what he is—he can prepare foodstuff either family-wise or . . . just like I am here, single. I am cooking my foodstuff, and I am offering my food Kṛṣṇa, and I am taking, and as far as possible, some of the remnants is distributed to the devotees. So this process we can adopt, everyone, because we have to maintain this body. So if we do not take ''kṛṣṇa-prasāda'', then I become responsible for all kinds of sins. But if we take, accept, ''kṛṣṇa-prasāda'', then I have no responsibility, because Kṛṣṇa is taking.


Similarly, so far mahātmā... Mahātmā is a Sanskrit word which is used for great soul. That is also described in the Bhagavad-gītā.  
Just like Arjuna is fighting. Arjuna was afraid of sinful acts by killing his kinsmen and, I mean to say, grandfather. But when he understood that "I am fighting on Kṛṣṇa's account, so I am free . . . ''sārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan na āpnoti kilbiṣam''. If you simply don't try to increase your artificial demands for maintaining this body . . . you have every right to live, and everyone has got right to live, not only myself. Even the ant has got the right to live. But in human society, by our so-called civilization, we give all protection to the human society but we don't give any protection to the animal society. Because it is due to want of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.


<div class="lec_verse">
When we shall be Kṛṣṇa conscious, then naturally we shall feel for every living entity, because we shall know . . . because in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' it is stated, ''mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ'' ([[BG 15.7 (1972)|BG 15.7]]): "All these living entities, they are all My fragments." They are parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. Under circumstances, some of them have become lower animals, some of them have become big men, some of them become higher demigods, some of them become small germs. It doesn't matter. But they are all parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. So a person who is under Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he cannot make any injustice to any living entity. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha<br />
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ<br />
bhajanty ananya-manaso<br />
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam<br />
[[BG 9.13]] </div>


Therefore, one who has dedicated his life for acting on account of Kṛṣṇa, under Kṛṣṇa consciousness, ''nirāśīr yata-cittātmā'', he has no other hope except, save and except, to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. ''Nirāśīr yata-cittātmā tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ'': "He doesn't like to make, exploit, the resources of the material nature." Whatever is obtained easily, as gift of nature, he accepts, and he maintains his body and soul together for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction, and he eats everything which is offered to Kṛṣṇa. Then he is freed from all kinds of sinful reaction. Then, by the next ''śloka'', it is more nicely explained.


Mahātmā. Who is a mahātmā? Who is a great soul? Great soul is he who is under the influence of the superior nature.
:''yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo''
:''dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ''
:''samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca''
:''kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate''
:([[BG 4.22 (1972)|BG 4.22]])


There are two kinds of nature: superior nature and inferior nature. Now we are under the influence of this inferior, material nature. And that, by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we shall be transferred into the superior nature. Just try to understand: a person in the prison, a person outside the prison. The government's influence is in both the places, outside the prison and inside the prison. But outside the prison, the government's rules and regulation is superior. And inside, that is inferior. So influence is there. Similarly, either in the material world or in the spiritual world, wherever you, you are, your position is marginal. You can transfer yourself either in this, under the influence of this inferior nature, or you can transfer yourself under the influence of superior nature. Your position is marginal.
Now, the process of life described here, ''yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ'': "One should be satisfied with things which comes very easily." We should not try for anything too much to obtain it. No. We shall be satisfied. Whatever comes automatically or by the will of Kṛṣṇa, we may be satisfied in that way. ''Yadṛcchā-lābha''. For gaining something, we should not be too much endeavoring. Then I shall be deviated from Kṛṣṇa consciousness.


Now, you are given... Because Kṛṣṇa is full independent, and because you are also part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, therefore you have got the quality of independence, to make your choice whether to be under the influence of this inferior nature or to become under the influence of superior nature. But because we do not know what is that superior nature, therefore we have no other alternative than to remain in this inferior nature. This is the whole position.
There are six formulas which can deviate us from Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and there are six formulas which can encourage us, which can enhance, advance us in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And what are they? Now, first of all let me state what are "against" principles, against Kṛṣṇa consciousness, against the principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. What are they?


Because in the world there are many philosophies. They are informing that "There is no other nature. This nature, which we have experienced, it is troublesome. Make an end of it and become void." Oh, you cannot be void because you are living entity and eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre [[BG 2.20]] . Your change of body does not mean that you are finished. No. You are continuing. Vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni. Because I change my dress, that does not mean that I am finished. So I am eternal. If I have to finish the... If I have to get rid, out of the influence of material nature, then I have to seek: "Where is my place?" If we know or do not know, then we prefer: "All right, whatever it may be, inferior or superior, let us remain here and rot." So Bhagavad-gītā gives you information of the superior nature: yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama [[BG 2.20]] , na tad bhāsayate sūryo na candro na pāvakaḥ.
:''atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca''
:''prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ''
:''laulyaṁ jana-saṅgaś ca''
:''ṣaḍbhir bhaktir pranaśyati''
:([[NOI 2|Upadeśāmṛta 2]])


So we have to become Kṛṣṇa conscious by scrutinizing, studying, this authoritative book, Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, without having fashionable interpretation, as it is. What Kṛṣṇa says, He says for all the time. It does not change.
''Ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati''. ''Vinaśyati'' means is lost. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is lost. How? By these six processes. What are the six processes? ''Atyāhāra''. ''Atyāhāra'' means to eat more than what you require, and ''atyāhāra'' means to accumulate wealth more than what you require.


Just like the verse which we are just now discussing, He says that "It does not matter in whatever occupation you are. Simply you have to change your consciousness. You are now guided by the consciousness of self-interest, of sense gratification." Self-interest. Not exactly self-interest because we do not know what is our self-interest. Rather sense interest, not self-interest, but sense interest. Whatever we are doing, we are doing for satisfying the senses. This consciousness has to be changed. We have to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That consciousness has to be invoked and then our life will be successful. Thank you very much. If there is any question, you can put. Yes.
The whole trouble of the world is that nobody is satisfied. If he's a poor man, if he thinks, "Oh, my income is $100. If I get $400 per month, then I will be very happy." But when he gets $400, he expects, "Oh, if I get $1,000, then I shall be happy." In this way it is going on. Nobody is satisfied. But here it is said, ''yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ''. That automatically comes. As we make progress in the matter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then our demand for more enjoyment, more accumulation of wealth, diminishes. That is the symptom of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. ''Yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ''.


Mr. Goldsmith: It's not dedicated to Kṛṣṇa?
So ''atyāhāra''. ''Atyāhāra'' means to acquire more than we need. We . . . because we have to maintain this body and soul together, then we must earn something or acquire something to keep my health and body fit. That is all right. But we should not try unnecessarily for accumulating more. Suppose if I am satisfied by some grains and vegetables and fruits and milk, if my health is properly kept, why should I eat more than that, simply for satisfying the palate, my tongue? Oh, no. We should not do that. ''Yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ''. So ''atyāhāra'', ''atyāhāra'', to accept more than what we need, that is against Kṛṣṇa consciousness.


Prabhupāda: Yes.
And ''prayāsa''. ''Prayāsa'' means we have to acquire something, but if it requires a heavy work, heavy, I mean to say, endeavor, we should avoid it. We should avoid it. ''Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpaḥ'' ([[NOI 2|Upadeśāmṛta 2]]). ''Prajalpa'' means for nothing talking nonsense. People are accustomed to talk so many things unnecessarily just in clubs, amongst friends' circle, which has no benefit either spiritually or materially. So that sort of talking should be avoided.


Mr. Goldsmith: The work is not dedicated to Kṛṣṇa.
''Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ''. ''Niyamāgraha'' means to stick to the rules, regulation. Suppose in your faith or in my faith there are certain rules and regulation to be observed. But if I go to some other place where the rules and regulation cannot be strictly observed, and if I want to observe such rules and regulation, then my main business is suffering. So we should not stick to the rules and regulation. We should see to the business.


Prabhupāda: Yes.
Just like I am an Indian ''sannyāsī''. I have come to your country, at your country. Oh, there are many rules and regulation in India which is different from your rules and regulation. But if I follow, if I stick to rules and regulation of Indian conception, then it is impossible to remain here. So I have to propagate this mission, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so I am not so much attached to the rules and regulation, but I am attached to the preaching work.


Mr. Goldsmith: How, specifically, how can you do this?
So therefore, ''niyamāgraha''. ''Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ''. This four . . . this ''niyamāgraha'', is also against Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And ''niyamāgraha'' also: and when you are in a quite convenient position, if you do not observe the rules and regulation, that is also against Kṛṣṇa consciousness. ''Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ''.


Prabhupāda: Yes. Now, this consciousness, "How can I do it?", this is also Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that one is ready. (laughs) Now, just like anything which we do or act, we take some consultation. Just like you are a lawyer, and anything has to be done lawfully, we have to take your consultation because you are expert. Similarly, you have to take consultation from the person who is Kṛṣṇa conscious. It is simple thing.
And ''laulyam''. ''Laulyam'' means greediness. That is against Kṛṣṇa consciousness. ''Laulyam'', and ''jana-saṅgaś ca''. ''Jana-saṅgaś ca'' means to associate with persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We should avoid. We should avoid association of persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If we make more association with persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then it will go against me.


Mr. Goldsmith: Well, first of all, if you want to find peace, don't you have to believe that war is wrong, any kind of war?
So these are six "against" rules. Similarly, there are six favorable rules. What are they?


Prabhupāda: Yes.
:''utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād''
:''tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt''
:''sato vṛtteḥ sādhu-saṅge''
:''ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati''
:([[NOI 3|Upadeśāmṛta 3]])


Mr. Goldsmith: The Bhagavad-gītā teaches that there is a good war and a bad war.
''Prasidhyati'' means it flourishes, the cause is advanced. How? ''Utsāhāt''. We should be very much enthusiastic: "Oh, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so nice. We have heard about Kṛṣṇa consciousness so nice things. It is so beneficial for successful human mission, so I must have it. I must execute this Kṛṣṇa consciousness." This is called ''utsāhāt'', to become energetic. Not lethargetic but energetic. You see? So ''utsāhād dhairyāt''. ''Dhairyāt'' means with patience. Suppose I have begun immediately. So if there are so many impediments I am not immediately successful, oh, that does not matter. I must be patient.


Prabhupāda: Yes.
''Utsāhād dhairyān niścayāt''. ''Niścayāt'' means with confidence. Confidence. Because Kṛṣṇa says this is this, so I must have confidence. So "Kṛṣṇa says like this, so it is sure to be successful." I must have that confidence. ''Utsāhād dhairyān niścayāt'', and ''tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt'': and you have to do, you have to act accordingly, as Kṛṣṇa says. If you do not act, then . . . so ''tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt sato vṛtteḥ'', and your profession should be very honest. ''Sato vṛtteḥ''.


Mr. Goldsmith: And a little bit like, later on, the Crusades.
And ''sādhu-saṅge'', and you should associate. Just like the "against" rule is to associate with persons who are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, similarly, ''sādhu-saṅge''. ''Sādhu-saṅga'' ([[CC Madhya 22.83]]) means . . .


Prabhupāda: Yes.
''Sādhu'' means who are culturing the Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They are called ''sādhu''. You will find in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', ''api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ'' ([[BG 9.30 (1972)|BG 9.30]]). About ''sādhu'' I have explained several time. So ''sādhu-saṅga'', we have to make association with persons who are spiritually interested and who are trying to culture Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That association.


Mr. Goldsmith: It was a holy war, and it was looked on as a good war and existed for a good purpose.
So these six things will elevate me to the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and the other six formulas, they will go against me. So, ''yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ'' means that my principle should be how to excel, how to become successful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life. And so far other things are required for maintaining my body, I shall be satisfied whatever easily comes by the will of the Supreme Lord I should accept. I should not make much endeavor for artificial fulfilment of our desires of the senses.


Prabhupāda: Yes.
So, ''yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ dvandvātīta''. ''Dvandvātīta'' means he should avoid quarreling. Because this world is full of—especially this age—people are seeking how to quarrel. You see? So we have to avoid quarrel. You see? ''Dvandvātīta vimatsaraḥ'': and we should not be envious. Sometimes we are faced with persons who are envious to us, but we should not be envious. Just like the best example is Lord Jesus Christ. His enemies who crucified him, they are envious of Jesus Christ.


Mr. Goldsmith: Kṛṣṇa believed that it was all right to kill the enemies of Arjuna because it was a righteous war.
But Lord Jesus Christ, he was not envious to them. When he was being crucified, he prayed God, "O Lord, they do not know what they are doing. Please excuse them." Just see how much, I mean to say, noble he was. ''Vimatsaraḥ''. He was not envious to anyone, even to his enemy. So Kṛṣṇa consciousness teaches us that they are not envious even to the enemies.


Prabhupāda: Yes.
So ''vimatsaraḥ samaḥ''. ''Samaḥ'' means equal to everyone. ''Siddhāv siddhau'' . . . ''asiddhau''. Now, suppose that . . . we do not expect . . . in Kṛṣṇa consciousness it does not matter. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was fighting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but his only beloved son, I mean to say, Abhimanyu, he was killed there. He was killed there. But because they are fighting, there maybe . . . some, some party men, some of my party men, they must be killed. I cannot expect, in fighting, that I shall be simply victorious and the other party will be killed. No.


Mr. Goldsmith: Now, if you have a philosophy like that, can you find peace?
So that was a great shock to Kṛṣṇa . . . er, Arjuna. He was the only son, and he was sixteen years old, and he had a young wife. And . . . just see. But he, he was steady even at the death of his only son. ''Siddhāv asiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate'' ([[BG 4.22 (1972)|BG 4.22]]). In this way if we make progress, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then we are free from any reaction of the modes. This is the whole point.


Prabhupāda: What do you mean by peace then?
Now if you have any question about this. (break) (end)
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Absence of war.
 
Prabhupāda: Not necessarily. Not necessarily. Absence of war is not peace. Just think over. Suppose now there is no war. Do you think that everybody is in peace? Ask any individual person that "Are you in peace? Are you in peace of mind or peace of..." No war is not only the cause. There are many other causes which disturbs our peace. War is one of the causes. So simply if you stop war that does not mean peace is guaranteed. No. War is one of the disturbing things of peace. But there are many other disturbing things, many, incalculable, which will disturb you. You see? So we have to take relief from all disturbing position. War is one of the items. And that can be done when you are Kṛṣṇa conscious.
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Well, how can it be done if you're Kṛṣṇa conscious and Kṛṣṇa Himself was a proponent of war?
 
Prabhupāda: You are speaking of war. The war has nothing to do...
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Well, the Bhagavad-gītā starts out with a war.
 
Prabhupāda: Yes, but... That's all right, but that war was a necessary thing. You cannot, I mean to say, completely eradicate war from the social life. Just like government maintains the law and order force. There is necessity. Why the government maintains so much police force and military force? There is necessity.
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Well, if you believe, if you believe that it's necessary...
 
Prabhupāda: When the... Yes.
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Then that's the end of the discussion because if you believe it's necessary, then Kṛṣṇa believes it's necessary.
 
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Then...
 
Prabhupāda: Everything is necessary, but whole... Our position is that, so far our material existence is concerned, that there are so many things that... But one thing, or the four things, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi, that we are under the entanglement of repeated birth, death, diseases and old age, these four things does not depend on war or peace. Suppose there is no war. Can you get free from diseases? Suppose there is no war. Can you get free from death? Suppose there is no war. Can you become, remain a young man all the time? No. Your problem is these four things. You have to solve that thing. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam [[BG 13.9]] . Bhagavad-gītā says that this war or no war, that is no question. So long the human society will be there, there will be sometimes fighting, sometimes peace, sometimes... That is another thing.
 
The whole problem is that a learned man sees that "My problem is that I don't want to die. Why there is death? I don't want to be old man. Why I, there is old age?" These are... These are the problems. Real problem, these are the problems. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam. A learned man, a man of real knowledge, he should see that "I am..." Not only war. Suppose there will be excessive heat. Oh, I am so much disturbed. There is no peace. Oh, there is excessive snowfall, cold. Oh, I am disturbed. So there are so many disturbances. So we have to get free from all disturbances. Because I do not want it, my nature does not tolerate these things, but I have been forced to tolerate.
 
That is your problem. That can be solved by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We are talking the wholesale solution, not a particular thing. There are so many disturbing things, especially they are under the headings of these four principles: janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam [[BG 13.9]] . So... Mad-dhāma gatvā. Just the other day we discussed the śloka, that tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya: [[BG 13.9]] "Now, one who becomes Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then the result will be that just after quitting this body, he comes to Me, no more coming to this material world." So long you'll be in the material world... Material world means so long we'll have this material body, we'll have to face so many disturbances. War is one of them. Suppose there is, perpetually, there is no war. Do you mean to say there will be perpetual peace? No. There are so many other things. At once, if there is some upheaval in the Atlantic Ocean, the whole thing is swallowed up, your beautiful New York City will be no more there. There are so many natural disturbances. What to speak of war, what you have...
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Bhagavad-gītā speaks of war. It started out with a war.
 
Prabhupāda: No, what... Bhagavad-gītā says... Bhagavad-gītā does not say that stop war. Bhagavad-gītā says stop your repeated birth and death. Bhagavad-gītā is not concerned with the war principle. The war will remain so long the human society is there. How can you stop it?
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Well, some people don't believe that it's necessary.
 
Prabhupāda: Some people, they foolishly believe. Because, so long the human society will continue, there is no history that there was no war in the history. So war there will be.
 
Mr. Goldsmith: Well there's never been in history that everyone has accepted Kṛṣṇa either, and yet you...
 
Prabhupāda: No, you do not think that... Of course, when you are Kṛṣṇa conscious, when you are not in this material world, then there is no question of war also. My point is that war is not only the only disturbing principle. There are many other disturbing principles. So we have to make a wholesale solution of all principles. That is the point.
 
Kīrtanānanda: War is only a symptom.
 
Prabhupāda: Yes. War is also one of the... Just like a man diseased, he eats something, sometimes say, "Oh, doctor, I am feeling some headache." "Oh, all right, take some, this pill." Just like I see advertisement, "Oh, you are feeling strain? Take this pill." "You are feeling this? Oh, take this pill." Just like Post Office. Just like Post Office. All letters should be given to the post box, and it will go in different places. So doctor is prescribing like that. But a real doctor he'll see what is the disease there. And if that disease is cured, then he'll have no headache, no leg, pain leg, no, nothing of the sort.
 
So if we... Kṛṣṇa says, tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya: [[BG 4.9]] "If you become Kṛṣṇa conscious, the result will be that after finishing this term of your body..." We have got different terms of body. "So this term of body, you come unto Me." Yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama [[BG 4.9]] . So our problem is that. We are not going to adjust here. Here any kind of, any amount of adjustment will not make us happy. That is a fact. Because this place is like that. So we have to completely get free from this repeated birth and death of the material world and go back to home, back to Godhead and live peacefully with eternal life, knowledge and bliss. That is the whole thing Bhagavad-gītā is teaching. Kṛṣṇa's business is not to stop war or this or that. Any other question? (end)
 
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Latest revision as of 03:50, 25 August 2023

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada



660805BG.NY - August 05, 1966



Prabhupāda:

yasya sarve samārambhāḥ
kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ
jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ
tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ
(BG 4.19)
tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ
nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ
karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi
naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ
(BG 4.20)

Now, how one can work without any lust? This process is being described by Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna. In our last meeting we have discussed the previous verse, that we have to . . . we may begin any gorgeous task—it doesn't matter—but we have to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not for sense gratification. That will make us free from the interaction of the activities. So long we are attached to work for sense gratification, so long we shall be under the obligation of reaction.

Now, if we want to get out of the reaction of material activities, then this is the formula given by Śrī Kṛṣṇa: kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ. Kāma means one's sense gratification, "I want to do this thing for my sense gratification." That is materialism. But if I want to do something which will be satisfactory, which will be satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa, that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This very simple thing we are discussing in a different way. And this Kṛṣṇa consciousness is attained by jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam.

(aside) Yes?

Devotee: If you look from this angle, the tape is broken.

Prabhupāda: No.

Keith: No. Just the ends of the . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: Just like a fire burns everything, similarly, when we act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, after attainment of full knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then just like fire burns everything, similarly, the reaction of our activities will be burned. Jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇam. This verse we have already discussed. And the next verse is further explanation of this verse. Tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ (BG 4.20).

Now, whatever we do, we desire some fruit out of it. Anything we do, we expect some result out of it. Sometimes the result may be bad or sometimes the result may be very good. But a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not be attached either to the good result or bad result, because even if I want good result, that is my attachment. And of course, if there is bad result, we haven't got any attachment, but sometimes we lament. That is our attachment. That is our attachment. So one has to transcend both from the good result and the bad result.

How it can be done? It can be done. Just like if you are working on account of some big firm. Suppose you are a salesman. You are working on behalf of that big firm. Now, suppose if you make one million dollars' profit, you have no attachment for that, because you know that "This profit goes to the proprietor." You have no attachment. Similarly, if there is some loss, you also know that "I have nothing to do with the loss. It goes to the proprietor."

Similarly, if we work on account of Kṛṣṇa, then I shall be able to give up the attachment for the result of the work. Tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ. Nitya-tṛpta, always satisfied: "Either there is good result or there is bad result, it doesn't matter. I shall remain satisfied in the sense that I am working under the direction of Kṛṣṇa, so I have nothing to think of the result." Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana (BG 2.47).

Just like Arjuna. Arjuna did not like to fight with his relatives, with his grandfather, but because Kṛṣṇa wanted it, he fought, and he was satisfied. Because the principle was that "Kṛṣṇa wants it, and Kṛṣṇa is satisfied. Although I do not like to fight, but Kṛṣṇa is satisfied—therefore I have to fight." This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Nitya-tṛpta. He is not dissatisfied: "Oh, I have to fight against my relatives, my grandfather, my teacher."

Nirāśraya. Nirāśraya means he is not under the obligation of any good result or bad result. Nirāśraya. "In this way, if we engage ourself in any activity," karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi, "if one is engaged in such a spirit of neutrality, simply for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, then the result will be," karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi, "although he is engaged in every sort of work," naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ, "he is free from that work. He is free from the result or reaction of such work." So this is the process, that we, we have simply to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and by doing so, the reaction of such work will not affect me.

nirāśīr yata-cittātmā
tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ
śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma
kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam
(BG 4.21)

Kilbiṣam. Kilbiṣam means sin. We are materially so much entangled that even if we do not want to commit any sin, consciously or unconsciously we are obliged to commit some sort of sins. We are in such a circumstances.

Say, for example, just like animal killing. Animal killing, according to Buddhist philosophy, or even according to Hindu philosophy, animal killing is a sort of sin. Now, suppose I am not inclined to kill animals or I do not kill animals; I avoid it. But intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes we have to kill animals. How is that?

Now, suppose we are walking on the street. There are many ants who are being killed by the pressure of our legs—unintentionally. Now, suppose . . . of course, here you have got gas oven, but at India they have got ordinary country oven, and that is washed daily. And sometimes in the oven some small germs and flies they take shelter. But when you fire the oven, they die. So that is unintentional. Sometimes we kill . . . the jug of water, and within the . . . underneath the jug of water there are many, I mean to say, small germs and flies—they take shelter. But when you take the jug, they are killed.

In this way there are so many processes, unintentionally or intentionally we have to kill. But they are taken into account; they are also sin. According to strict Vedic literature, if you kill even a bug, oh, you are sinful. You cannot kill even a bug. These are mentioned in the scriptures. Now, how we can avoid? How we can avoid? That is this . . . I do not like to kill, but sometimes unintentionally they are killed. Therefore, according to Vedic literature, there are five kinds of yajña performed to get oneself free from this unintentional killing of animals.

Now, here Kṛṣṇa says that śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam. If you make your principle of life that, "I have to work simply for maintaining my body and soul together . . . sārīram. Śarīram means body. Because I have to execute, I have to understand, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but without this body, how can I understand or culture Kṛṣṇa consciousness? So my body must be maintained. And if I want to maintain my body, intentionally or unintentionally I have to commit so many sins. Take, for example, those who are vegetarians. They may think that, "We are not killing animals." No. They are also committing sins, because vegetables, they have also got life.

So the nature's law is that to keep up your body you have to kill another body. Never mind it is vegetable or, I mean to say, animal or some fish or something else. You see? Jīvo jīvasya jīvanam (SB 1.13.47): "One living entity is the subsistence, life-giving subsistence, for another living being." That is the nature's law. You'll find, ahastāni sahastānām. The everything has been very nicely discussed in Vedic literature. They have discussed all the points.

Ahastāni sahastānām: "Those who have got hands, they are eating," I mean to say, "living entities who have no hand." That means we are human being, we have got hands, and we are eating animals. They have got only legs, they have no hands. So sahastānām ahastāni: "Those who have got hands, they are eating the animals which have no hand." And apadāni catuṣ-padām: "Those who have no legs, they are being eaten by the four-legged." Just as a cow eating grass. So grass cannot move. It has life, but it cannot move.

So, apadānam sa padāni, nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra. Nunam, "those who are weak, they are being eaten by the . . . just like we find lizard. In your country you don't find lizard. In India we have got many lizard in the wall. They are eating small ants. Nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra. And in the snake, snake kingdom, you will find the small snakes are being (eaten) by the big snakes. Similarly, in seawater also, you will find small fishes are being eaten by the big fishes. And the same law is applicable in human society. A big nation is trying to swallow up a small nation. You see? This is going on. This is nature's law. Nature's law. You cannot avoid it.

But there are . . . those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious. They . . . it is said that śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam (BG 4.21): "Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are not entangled in these sinful acts." How? They are also maintaining their body. So when they are maintaining their body, they have to commit sins. They have to eat other animals or vegetables, never mind. So how they are not committing sins? These are very intelligent questions.

But there is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he does not eat anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa. Just like you take the remnants of your master. Just the servant takes the remnants after the master eats. In India the process is that husband and wife, that after the husband eats, the remnants are taken by the wife. The wife does not eat along with the husband. That is the old system. Now it is being changed. The husband and wife, they do not . . . the husband is supplied by the wife all kinds of good dishes, and when the husband is satisfied, some foodstuff is left, and that is taken by the wife.

So similarly, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, he does not take anything, does not accept anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. Because his life is full of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, you will find . . . suppose if you want to take things which has been eaten by Kṛṣṇa, then you have to ask Kṛṣṇa, "What do You desire to eat, Sir?"

Suppose if you want me to feed, give me some foodstuff, naturally you ask me, "Swāmījī, what sort of foodstuff you'll like?" I have got experience here in your country. I was invited in Butler, here also, by some churches, and they wanted to give me some food. So they asked me, "Swāmījī, what do you desire to eat?" So I told them, "I eat . . . I am strictly vegetarian. I shall accept fruits, vege . . . fruits and milk. That's all." Similarly, if anyone invites somebody, it is natural that the guest is asked what sort of foodstuff he would like.

Similarly, Kṛṣṇa, if you want to offer something Kṛṣṇa, you must know what sort of foodstuff He wants. How you will know? Kṛṣṇa is not just present in your front. How you will know that Kṛṣṇa wants this foodstuff? Oh, that is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Just like you can understand what government expects from me, you can know from the law books, from the civil court, similarly, what Kṛṣṇa wants, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Kṛṣṇa says:

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
(BG 9.26)

Now, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, He is not hungry. He is not hungry that I shall supply Him foodstuff, and therefore He will be maintained. It is not like that. But still, Kṛṣṇa says that patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati: "Any devotee, if he offers Me patram . . . patram means leaf. Puṣpam means flower. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalam. Phalam means fruit. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam. Toyam means milk or water. Generally, it is meant water.

Now, just see. To satisfy Kṛṣṇa is not very difficult thing. Even the poorest man in the world, he can satisfy Kṛṣṇa by these four items. Anyone can secure from any part of the world. It doesn't matter that because Kṛṣṇa was, I mean to say, Kṛṣṇa appeared in India, therefore He wanted Indian food. No. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam. Leaf and flower and fruit and water, oh, that is available in America, that is available in Czechoslovakia and Greenland—everywhere.

So this is the universal form of satisfying Kṛṣṇa. Anyone—it doesn't matter however poor he is—he can satisfy Kṛṣṇa. You do not require, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I have invited Him, so I must arrange very nice foodstuff." Of course, if you have got means to supply very nice foodstuff, you must. Otherwise you will be understood that you are miser. If for your own eating you prepare very nice dishes, and because Kṛṣṇa says: "I will be satisfied with leaf and fruits," so you supply Kṛṣṇa, "All right, Sir. You take leaf and fruit. And for me, I shall take these palatable dishes," no. Kṛṣṇa is very, I mean to say, intelligent also. He is more intelligent than . . . then you are cheating Him. It is for the, I mean to say, poorest man. If you have got means . . .

In India there are many thousands of Kṛṣṇa temple all over India, especially in Vṛndāvana. I have several times told you that Vṛndāvana is the city, only fifty . . . fifty thousand people—not even one hundred thousand—fifty thousand people within a small city. But there are five thousand temples, five thousand, all Kṛṣṇa temples. Now, in each and every temple you will find how nice foodstuff. According to the capacity of the temple owner, oh, very, I mean to say, costly foodstuffs are being offered. And those foodstuff is distributed amongst the poor class of men.

Now, at the present moment, after the, we have got sva-rājya, or independence, the government has interfered with this sort of service. They say that, "This is waste of money. Why you are offering?" They are becoming atheist. But this is not waste of money. At the cost of the rich men, the prasādam was being distributed to the poor class of man at a nominal cost. You see? Now, poor man, they go to hotel. But if they take prasādam at . . . in a temple, oh, the far better quality foodstuff is supplied to him only at nominal cost. In a hotel, what will be charged one dollar, he can have it in the temple for ten cents. So this is still maintained.

In our childhood, when I was a boy of eight or ten years, sometimes I used to accompany my father. My father was a great devotee. He would take prasādam from the temple. So I have got experience that we paid for two dishes, four annas. Four annas means, according to modern exchange, it is five cent only, five cent according to your exchange value. For five cent we were, very nice prasādam we can get. Two persons, we are fed. Still there is a place which is called Nāthadvāra. Nāthadvāra, if you pay there two annas, you will get worth prasādam, two dollars' worth. So this system is going on still.

So if one has got sufficient means, he should supply Kṛṣṇa to his best capacity. But when Kṛṣṇa wants that, "You give Me . . . He says . . . this is the lowest common factor. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam (BG 9.26). Anyone, any poor man in any part of the country, they can supply Kṛṣṇa and take the prasādam. So that by taking that prasādam, you become free from the, I mean to say, responsibility of being sinful. That is the point. That you will find in Bhagavad-gītā, that yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ (BG 3.13): "If you take the remnants after offering Kṛṣṇa, that foodstuff makes you free from all kinds of sins."

So anyone—it doesn't matter what he is—he can prepare foodstuff either family-wise or . . . just like I am here, single. I am cooking my foodstuff, and I am offering my food Kṛṣṇa, and I am taking, and as far as possible, some of the remnants is distributed to the devotees. So this process we can adopt, everyone, because we have to maintain this body. So if we do not take kṛṣṇa-prasāda, then I become responsible for all kinds of sins. But if we take, accept, kṛṣṇa-prasāda, then I have no responsibility, because Kṛṣṇa is taking.

Just like Arjuna is fighting. Arjuna was afraid of sinful acts by killing his kinsmen and, I mean to say, grandfather. But when he understood that "I am fighting on Kṛṣṇa's account, so I am free . . . sārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan na āpnoti kilbiṣam. If you simply don't try to increase your artificial demands for maintaining this body . . . you have every right to live, and everyone has got right to live, not only myself. Even the ant has got the right to live. But in human society, by our so-called civilization, we give all protection to the human society but we don't give any protection to the animal society. Because it is due to want of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

When we shall be Kṛṣṇa conscious, then naturally we shall feel for every living entity, because we shall know . . . because in the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ (BG 15.7): "All these living entities, they are all My fragments." They are parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. Under circumstances, some of them have become lower animals, some of them have become big men, some of them become higher demigods, some of them become small germs. It doesn't matter. But they are all parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. So a person who is under Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he cannot make any injustice to any living entity. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Therefore, one who has dedicated his life for acting on account of Kṛṣṇa, under Kṛṣṇa consciousness, nirāśīr yata-cittātmā, he has no other hope except, save and except, to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Nirāśīr yata-cittātmā tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ: "He doesn't like to make, exploit, the resources of the material nature." Whatever is obtained easily, as gift of nature, he accepts, and he maintains his body and soul together for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction, and he eats everything which is offered to Kṛṣṇa. Then he is freed from all kinds of sinful reaction. Then, by the next śloka, it is more nicely explained.

yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo
dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ
samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca
kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate
(BG 4.22)

Now, the process of life described here, yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ: "One should be satisfied with things which comes very easily." We should not try for anything too much to obtain it. No. We shall be satisfied. Whatever comes automatically or by the will of Kṛṣṇa, we may be satisfied in that way. Yadṛcchā-lābha. For gaining something, we should not be too much endeavoring. Then I shall be deviated from Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

There are six formulas which can deviate us from Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and there are six formulas which can encourage us, which can enhance, advance us in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And what are they? Now, first of all let me state what are "against" principles, against Kṛṣṇa consciousness, against the principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. What are they?

atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca
prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ
laulyaṁ jana-saṅgaś ca
ṣaḍbhir bhaktir pranaśyati
(Upadeśāmṛta 2)

Ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati. Vinaśyati means is lost. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is lost. How? By these six processes. What are the six processes? Atyāhāra. Atyāhāra means to eat more than what you require, and atyāhāra means to accumulate wealth more than what you require.

The whole trouble of the world is that nobody is satisfied. If he's a poor man, if he thinks, "Oh, my income is $100. If I get $400 per month, then I will be very happy." But when he gets $400, he expects, "Oh, if I get $1,000, then I shall be happy." In this way it is going on. Nobody is satisfied. But here it is said, yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ. That automatically comes. As we make progress in the matter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then our demand for more enjoyment, more accumulation of wealth, diminishes. That is the symptom of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ.

So atyāhāra. Atyāhāra means to acquire more than we need. We . . . because we have to maintain this body and soul together, then we must earn something or acquire something to keep my health and body fit. That is all right. But we should not try unnecessarily for accumulating more. Suppose if I am satisfied by some grains and vegetables and fruits and milk, if my health is properly kept, why should I eat more than that, simply for satisfying the palate, my tongue? Oh, no. We should not do that. Yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ. So atyāhāra, atyāhāra, to accept more than what we need, that is against Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

And prayāsa. Prayāsa means we have to acquire something, but if it requires a heavy work, heavy, I mean to say, endeavor, we should avoid it. We should avoid it. Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpaḥ (Upadeśāmṛta 2). Prajalpa means for nothing talking nonsense. People are accustomed to talk so many things unnecessarily just in clubs, amongst friends' circle, which has no benefit either spiritually or materially. So that sort of talking should be avoided.

Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ. Niyamāgraha means to stick to the rules, regulation. Suppose in your faith or in my faith there are certain rules and regulation to be observed. But if I go to some other place where the rules and regulation cannot be strictly observed, and if I want to observe such rules and regulation, then my main business is suffering. So we should not stick to the rules and regulation. We should see to the business.

Just like I am an Indian sannyāsī. I have come to your country, at your country. Oh, there are many rules and regulation in India which is different from your rules and regulation. But if I follow, if I stick to rules and regulation of Indian conception, then it is impossible to remain here. So I have to propagate this mission, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so I am not so much attached to the rules and regulation, but I am attached to the preaching work.

So therefore, niyamāgraha. Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ. This four . . . this niyamāgraha, is also against Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And niyamāgraha also: and when you are in a quite convenient position, if you do not observe the rules and regulation, that is also against Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ.

And laulyam. Laulyam means greediness. That is against Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Laulyam, and jana-saṅgaś ca. Jana-saṅgaś ca means to associate with persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We should avoid. We should avoid association of persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If we make more association with persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then it will go against me.

So these are six "against" rules. Similarly, there are six favorable rules. What are they?

utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
sato vṛtteḥ sādhu-saṅge
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati
(Upadeśāmṛta 3)

Prasidhyati means it flourishes, the cause is advanced. How? Utsāhāt. We should be very much enthusiastic: "Oh, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so nice. We have heard about Kṛṣṇa consciousness so nice things. It is so beneficial for successful human mission, so I must have it. I must execute this Kṛṣṇa consciousness." This is called utsāhāt, to become energetic. Not lethargetic but energetic. You see? So utsāhād dhairyāt. Dhairyāt means with patience. Suppose I have begun immediately. So if there are so many impediments I am not immediately successful, oh, that does not matter. I must be patient.

Utsāhād dhairyān niścayāt. Niścayāt means with confidence. Confidence. Because Kṛṣṇa says this is this, so I must have confidence. So "Kṛṣṇa says like this, so it is sure to be successful." I must have that confidence. Utsāhād dhairyān niścayāt, and tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt: and you have to do, you have to act accordingly, as Kṛṣṇa says. If you do not act, then . . . so tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt sato vṛtteḥ, and your profession should be very honest. Sato vṛtteḥ.

And sādhu-saṅge, and you should associate. Just like the "against" rule is to associate with persons who are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, similarly, sādhu-saṅge. Sādhu-saṅga (CC Madhya 22.83) means . . .

Sādhu means who are culturing the Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They are called sādhu. You will find in the Bhagavad-gītā, api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). About sādhu I have explained several time. So sādhu-saṅga, we have to make association with persons who are spiritually interested and who are trying to culture Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That association.

So these six things will elevate me to the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and the other six formulas, they will go against me. So, yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ means that my principle should be how to excel, how to become successful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life. And so far other things are required for maintaining my body, I shall be satisfied whatever easily comes by the will of the Supreme Lord I should accept. I should not make much endeavor for artificial fulfilment of our desires of the senses.

So, yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ dvandvātīta. Dvandvātīta means he should avoid quarreling. Because this world is full of—especially this age—people are seeking how to quarrel. You see? So we have to avoid quarrel. You see? Dvandvātīta vimatsaraḥ: and we should not be envious. Sometimes we are faced with persons who are envious to us, but we should not be envious. Just like the best example is Lord Jesus Christ. His enemies who crucified him, they are envious of Jesus Christ.

But Lord Jesus Christ, he was not envious to them. When he was being crucified, he prayed God, "O Lord, they do not know what they are doing. Please excuse them." Just see how much, I mean to say, noble he was. Vimatsaraḥ. He was not envious to anyone, even to his enemy. So Kṛṣṇa consciousness teaches us that they are not envious even to the enemies.

So vimatsaraḥ samaḥ. Samaḥ means equal to everyone. Siddhāv siddhau . . . asiddhau. Now, suppose that . . . we do not expect . . . in Kṛṣṇa consciousness it does not matter. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was fighting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but his only beloved son, I mean to say, Abhimanyu, he was killed there. He was killed there. But because they are fighting, there maybe . . . some, some party men, some of my party men, they must be killed. I cannot expect, in fighting, that I shall be simply victorious and the other party will be killed. No.

So that was a great shock to Kṛṣṇa . . . er, Arjuna. He was the only son, and he was sixteen years old, and he had a young wife. And . . . just see. But he, he was steady even at the death of his only son. Siddhāv asiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate (BG 4.22). In this way if we make progress, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then we are free from any reaction of the modes. This is the whole point.

Now if you have any question about this. (break) (end)