Prabhupada-vani

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Prabhupada: Yes, somebody read.

Devotee: “Thus far I have declared to you the analytical knowledge of sankhya philosophy. Now listen to the knowledge of yoga, whereby one works without fruitive result.”

Prabhupada: Which one this is reading? Second Chapter?

Devotee: Yes. Text 39.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Devotee: “O son of Prtha, when you act by such intelligence you can free yourself from the bondage of works [Bg. 2.39].” Verse 40:” In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear [Bg. 2.40].” Purport: “Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification is the highest transcendental quality of work. Even a small beginning of such activity finds no impediment, nor can that small beginning be lost at any stage. Any work begun…”

Prabhupada: Is the purport going on?

Devotee: Yes. “Any work begun on the material plane has to be done nicely till the end, otherwise the whole attempt becomes a failure. But any work begun in Krsna consciousness has a permanent effect, even though not finished. The performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even if his work in Krsna consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Krsna consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity, without one-hundred-percent success there is no profit. There is a nice verse in this connection in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. It says if someone gives up his occupational duty and works in Krsna consciousness and then again falls down on account of not being complete in such activities, still what loss is there on his part? And what can one gain if one performs his material activities very perfectly? Or, as the Christians say, ‘What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world yet suffers the loss of his eternal soul?’ Material activities and the results of such actions will end with the body, but work in Krsna consciousness will carry a person again to Krsna consciousness, even after the loss of this body. At least one is sure to have a chance in the next life of being born into human society, either in the family of a great cultured brahmana or else a rich aristocratic family that will give the man a further chance for elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in Krsna consciousness.”

Prabhupada: So the reference of Srimad-Bhagavatam… Attention diverted. (aside:) Yes. Yes. Keep it open. Let them come. Yes. There is a verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam in connection with instruction of Narada Muni to Vyasadeva. And Vyasadeva was disciple of Narada Muni, and Vyasadeva compiled so many Vedic literatures, Mahabharata, Puranas, Vedanta-sutra, Upanisads, various types of… Not types. Practically the same Vedas, divided into departmental knowledge for understanding of the common people. Just like Mahabharata. Mahabharata is the history of India. Maha means great, and bharata means India. And you see, Mahabharata is the history of two royal families fighting in the Battle of Kuruksetra and politics and diplomacy. This is the subject matter of Mahabharata. Of course, there are many nice instructions. So this Mahabharata was especially made for the less intelligent class of men. Stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Stri means woman, and sudra means ordinary, labor class of men. Stri, sudra, and dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu means, dvija means higher class, twice-born. Sudra means once-born and dvija means twice-born. That means first birth by the father and mother, and the second birth by the Vedic knowledge mother, and spiritual master father. This is called second birth, according to Vedic reformatory procedures. So dvija, dvija-bandhu means a person born in the higher family who are by tradition very cultured, but a son born in that family is not cultured. He is just like sudra, once-born. He has no cultural birth. So they are called dvija-bandhu. (tapping sound—child playing) (aside:) You have to take him. Dvija-bandhu means born in high family, but has no quality, higher qualities. They are called dvija-bandhu.

So for these classes of men, Mahabharata was composed by Vyasadeva. In this way he compiled so many literatures, but he was not happy. So Narada Muni, his spiritual master, advised him to describe the activities of the Lord. That is Srimad-Bhagavatam. In that connection he says that some way or other, if somebody becomes in connection with Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness, and acts in that spirit, that is never lost. The action of Krsna conscious activities will never be lost. That is the purport of this verse. Just like I am doing very large-scale business in my present body. I am earning… Just like Rockefeller, Ford, in your country. In our country also, Birla. There are many big industrialists earning money like anything, hoarding money. But this money, this acquisition or educational qualification… Suppose in this life you become a great scientist, a great scholar, M.A., Ph.D, D.A.C., LL.D., so many titles, and very good opulence, or very good beautiful body, so many material… These are material acquisitions, to get birth in high family, to become highly educated, highly educated, to become very rich, these are material acquisitions. But Srimad-Bhagavata says that all these acquisitions will be finished as soon as the body is finished. The people, they do not know it. They are thinking that “Whatever I am acquiring in this body, that will go with me, or I shall be happy with these acquisitions.” That is called illusion, maya. Because they have no knowledge that “I am spirit soul. I am changing this position of different bodies.” Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya [Bg. 2.22]. Just like we change our dresses. This knowledge is lacking in the present civilization. They want to make permanent settlement here, but forget that “Any moment, I shall be kicked out of this situation. I shall have to accept another situation.” That is the lack of education in the modern civilization. They are accepting something temporary as permanent settlement. This is called illusion.

So in this verse Krsna advises Arjuna, “My dear Arjuna, these Krsna consciousness activities, even if you achieve one percent result… What is that result? Bhakti. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. This Krsna consciousness, or bhakti, devotional service, means to develop attachment for Krsna and in the same proportion develop detachment for material sense gratification. Two things cannot go on. Just like here is a glass containing water. If you want to put milk in this glass, then you have to throw away the water. If you think that “I shall keep half water, half milk,” that can be done, but both of them becomes diluted or polluted. If you want to keep milk, then you have to throw out the water, and if you want to keep water, then you cannot keep milk. Similarly, bhakti paresanubhavah. This is the test. If you become Krsna conscious, if you are improving in spiritual life, proportionately you’ll be detached from materialistic way of life. That is the test. Simply thinking that “I am meditating so much, I am making very good advance,” is not. You have to test. The test is that your… Improvement of spiritual life means that you become detached to the materialistic way of life. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. The example is… This is one example. Another example is just like if you are hungry. Actually, every man is hungry for spiritual happiness. Therefore they are not satisfied. They are trying to gratify their senses in so many ways, but still they are not satisfied, because actually he is hungry. Just like this child crying. Mother is offering something, but he’s still crying. That means he is asking something which the mother cannot understand. Similarly, the dissatisfaction of the modern world means that actually everyone is hankering after spiritual happiness. But nobody is offering. And even if it is offered, they cannot understand. They do not take it. This is the position.

So here in this verse, Krsna says that some way or other if you begin your activities in Krsna consciousness, even one percent, not cent percent, it will never be destroyed. All other things, whatever you acquire in this present life, with the end of this body everything is finished. Your education, your degree, your opulence, your skyscraper building, your bank balance—everything will remain where you kept and you have to go, even leaving this body also. You have to go alone and to accept another body. But if you cultivate spiritual consciousness or Krsna consciousness, that will go with you. And if you have finished in this life, say, ten percent, then next life you begin eleven percent. The best thing is that why not finish cent percent in this life? Why should we indulge in materialistic way of life, sense gratification? That we have tried in many lives. This is human form of life, and there were many other lives also. We have been in the water, aquatics; we have been in the vegetable kingdom; we have been animals; we have been worms. So many. This is the highest boon. Labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante. After many, many births, millions of births, here is another form of body, human form of body, and especially in the civilized society, in well-to-do society. So just try to utilize it. How to utilize it to… The consciousness, the present consciousness, polluted consciousness should be rectified to Krsna consciousness. Tat-paratvena nirmalam. Nirmalam means purified. If you can purify your consciousness in touch with Krsna or God, that is your success. And if you can execute even certain percentage, that is your permanent asset. It will go with you. Next life also you’ll get chance. This is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita. So every sane man, every intelligent man should take advantage of this Krsna consciousness movement, and whatever percentage he can achieve, he should try for it. Yes.

Devotee: Verse 41. “Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched. Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to the heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing wrong in this [Bg. 2.41-3].”

Prabhupada: In the Vedas there are many allurements for elevating oneself to higher standard of life. Just like in this life also the father says, “My dear boy, if you become highly educated, then you’ll get a very nice job, you’ll get good salary, and you’ll have nice apartment, and nice wife, children.” Just like these are allurements for enticing one in this materialistic way of life, similarly there are many allurements in the Vedic literatures. People are also, I mean to say, allured to execute such thing, that if you make such and such pious activities, then you get elevated to such and such higher planets and you get such and such high standard of life. These are explained there. But Krsna says that don’t be misled by these allurements. He will explain also later on. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah. Just like people are trying to go to the moon planet. They are trying to go to the moon planet by some airplane or sputnik. Similarly, in the Vedic literature the travel to moon planet is also stated, that if you act in this way, then you get promotion to get your life in the moon planet. There you shall live for ten thousands of years, and you will have soma-rasa beverages, and you’ll… So many promises. But Krsna says that “Don’t be allured.” They are fact. They are not false statement. Actually they are facts, that if you act in such and such way, you can enter in higher planetary system and you have higher standard of life. But this Bhagavad-gita proposition is that don’t try to live within this material world anywhere. Anywhere.

There is Vedic instruction also. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya. Don’t remain within this darkness. This material world is darkness. Therefore there is need of sunlight, need of moonlight. Just like just now, night. What is this night? Night means this is the real appearance of this material world. It is dark. And when the sunlight will be visible, we shall think that it is daytime. But actually it is dark. But there is another nature. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Paras tasmat tu bhavo ’nyah [Bg. 8.20]. Another spiritual nature where there is always illumination. Jyoti. Jyoti means illumination. So Vedic injunction is that don’t stay within this dark material world. Just come to the illuminated world. Jyotir gamaya. The same thing Krsna also advises, that don’t be allured to stay in any nice planet of this universe. Come out of it. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. “That is My eternal abode, or the best abode, where going you’ll never come back again.” So what is that? Go on.

Devotee: Verse 44: “In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Lord does not take place.”

Prabhupada: Yes. Here is very important thing. The exact Sanskrit word is,

bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam
tayapahrta-cetasam
vyavasayatmika buddhih
samadhau na vidhiyate [Bg. 2.44]

In the beginning it has been said that you make your determination that “In this life I shall execute Krsna consciousness in such a way that after leaving this body I enter into the spiritual world and go directly to Goloka Vrndavana, Krsnaloka.” This is called vyavasayatmika buddhih. Niscayatmika means determination. But He says that persons who are attached, bhoga, material enjoyment, aisvarya, material opulence: bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam [Bg. 2.44]. Those who are too much attached to material enjoyment and material sense gratification, material opulence, tayapahrta-cetasam, and those who have become bewildered or mad after it, tayapahrta-cetasam, vyavasayatmika buddhih, they cannot have such determination. They will fail to have such determination. Therefore, according to Vedic civilization, there is voluntary renunciation. Just like Maharaja Bharata, he was the emperor of the world, and at the age of twenty-four years he gave up everything. Maharaja Bharata is a very… Long, long ago he appeared. But Lord Buddha, he was also princely order, and he was young man. He also gave up everything, his father’s kingdom, everything. That you know because Lord Buddha is known at the present moment.

So this renunciation is recommended. If we simply remain in material opulence and enjoyment, that will be our disqualification for entering into the kingdom of God. Too much attachment, too much increasing of material civilization means that next life is very much dark. Bhogaisvarya. God. Too much attachment, too much increasing of material civilization means that next life is very much dark. Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam [Bg. 2.44]. Just like the other day I was explaining, raja-putra ciram jiva. “Oh, the son of royal order, you live forever. Because you do not know, next life is very dark for you. Because you do not cultivate any Krsna consciousness. You have got money, and you are enjoying sense enjoyment, and as soon as this body will be finished, no more your control. Then you are completely under the control of material nature, and you’ll have to accept a body as you have done in this life, because this life is preparation for the next life.” You have got very concrete example. Just like President Kennedy. He was young man, very rich man, and he got the president post with great endeavor, spending so much money. He had his wife and children. But in one moment everything finished. Everything finished.

So we do not know that we are standing on a tottering platform. So however nice arrangement we may make, this will be finished in one moment. That is, we are missing. We are simply sticking to a false platform that “This will save me, this will save me.” No. Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that jada-bidya jato mayara vaibhava. This material advancement of civilization, very nice, very dazzling. Just like when we pass on the street or road of your American cities, it looks so nice. So many lights and so many night-illuminating signboards. But we should always remember that this nice situation is not permanent settlement. Any moment I’ll have to give up everything. Everything. So therefore, if one becomes attached to this false platform, illuminating, so-called illuminating, false platform, then his determination to go back to Godhead will not be very much intense. That is being explained. So bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam. What is the English translation? Yes.

Devotee: “In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment…”

Prabhupada: Yes. Minds of those who are too much attached to the sense enjoyment. And?

Devotee: “…and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Lord does not take place.”

Prabhupada: Yes. They cannot take. Therefore we have to voluntarily accept simple life. Simple life. Just like we are sitting here on the floor. According to your American standard of life, this is not good. Therefore no very rich class of men or high class of men, they do not come to this because we have no sitting place. But actually, what is the difference? If you sit down on the floor or if you sit on a very nice comfortable couch, after all, you are sitting. But to secure a very nice couch, you have to waste your time so much. Your valuable time which you could use for cultivating Krsna consciousness, you’ll have to waste for securing a comfortable seat of couch. This is called material civilization. That’s all. You are extending the comforts of life, but you do not know that this life is temporary. How long you shall live in this comfort? Your real thing is spirit soul which is eternal. That is also the instruction of Lord Jesus, that after gaining everything, if you lose your own soul, what is the gain? Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam [Bg. 2.44]. Therefore this is another kind of disqualification for advancing in spiritual consciousness, if one becomes too much attached to these material comforts of life. Therefore according to Vedic civilization, a boy is trained to become brahmacari. Brahmacari. Brahmacari means complete celibacy. No sex life, no amusement. Because just to train him not to be attracted by this material sense enjoyment. Then he’ll be able to grasp what is spiritual life. Therefore restriction. But if from the very childhood, in the school, college, the boys and girls are allowed to enjoy sex life, then it is very difficult to understand or to enter into spiritual life. Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam. If we teach our children simply for sense enjoyment, how they can be spiritually advanced? The result will be confusion. Therefore in your country the hippies are there—confusion. They have been brought up in material sense enjoyment very nicely, but still, there is confusion, frustration, because he’s hankering after something better. So that is spiritual happiness. That is Krsna consciousness. So one has to understand this point and voluntarily he has to accept this Krsna consciousness movement, and then he’ll find happiness. This is sure. Those who have taken to it, just ask them, just argue with them, and see actually. This is happiness. Yes.

Devotee: Purport: “Samadhi means fixed mind. The Vedic dictionary, the Nirukti, says ‘When the mind is fixed for understanding the self, this is called samadhi.’ Samadhi is never possible for persons interested in material sense enjoyment, nor for those who are bewildered by such…”

Prabhupada: Samadhi. The yoga process is to achieve the stage of samadhi. That means the mind being fixed upon the Supreme. But if our mind is… Nature of mind is always agitated, and if we artificially give impetus to the mind to be more agitated, then where is the question of samadhi? There is no question of samadhi. They’ll never be able to concentrate the mind. That is not possible. So in this age no process will be successful. Simply this process, this chanting Hare Krsna. Anyone, it doesn’t matter, in whatever condition he is, as soon as he’ll hear Hare Krsna, he’ll immediately join. His mind will be attracted immediately. Simplest process. Vibration. There is no question of time to practice some breathing exercise, some sitting posture, because these things are not possible in this age. Simply we invite you to come here and simply join this chanting Hare Krsna, and very quickly you’ll be spiritually advanced. This is a fact. Otherwise there is no second alternative. Go on.

Devotee: “Samadhi is never possible for persons interested in material sense enjoyment nor for those who are bewildered by such temporary things. They are more or less condemned by the process of material energy.” Verse 45: “The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna.”

Prabhupada: Yes. Traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna [Bg. 2.45]. The exact verse is like that. The whole material world is working under three modes of material nature. The modes of goodness, modes of passion, and modes of ignorance. Those who are acting in the modes of goodness, they are being elevated to higher standard of life. Those who are acting in the modes of passion, they’ll remain in the same position as they are now, and those acting in the modes of ignorance, darkness, without any knowledge, they are being degraded in lower grades of life. This is material world. But Krsna is advising Arjuna that either goodness or passion or ignorance, after all, they are activities of this material world. You have to come above, transcend this position of goodness also. So goodness is not qualification for spiritual advancement, but it is helping. If a man is very good man, then it is helping to spiritual life. But that is not the cause. Here the Krsna consciousness movement, this chanting, is directly offering spiritual life. Even one is not in goodness, even one is in the darkest part of the quality of ignorance, still, he can be immediately elevated to the spiritual platform, which is recommended by Krsna, that you have come to the platform above the modes of goodness. So this Krsna consciousness movement is directly offering the spiritual platform which is above the mode of goodness. The quality of goodness will (be) automatically there. Any person who is in Krsna consciousness, his quality of goodness, namely, he does not indulge in illicit sex life, he does not smoke even or take tea or coffee even, he does not eat any forbidden foodstuff, neither he takes part in unnecessary gambling. So good character is immediately there. That is the test. How one is spiritually advanced will be tested how he has acquired all the good qualities. Not that a yogi talking with a cigarette in hand. There is a picture. (laughs) In our Back to Godhead somebody was talking with our representative. He cannot give up smoking even for a moment, chain smoker, and claiming, “I am God, I am spiritually advanced,” (laughs) and so many nonsense thing. You see. He’s being kicked up by material energy in so many ways, and still he’s claiming, “Oh, everyone is God, I am God.” God is so cheap thing, you see. And they are satisfied. “I am God.” That’s all. So this bluffing, these cheating things are going on. And because we are unable to cheat and bluff, nobody cooperates with us. They want to be cheated and bluffed. That is the business. Yes. Go on.

Devotee: “Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.”

Prabhupada: To establish yourself. “Yourself” means you are part and parcel of the Supreme. So just like my hand. Some way or other, if my hand becomes paralyzed, it is not working. And as soon as it is established with this body, then it will work. The nerves and veins will at once work. Similarly, established in self. Because I am part and parcel of the Supreme Self, so my establishment with the Supreme Self means I will be active for Krsna. This is the simple philosophy. As soon as I am active in Krsna consciousness, that means I am established in the self. The same example. This finger, when it is diseased… Just like I am moving my finger very nicely. Because it is established with the whole body. But when it is detached or someway or other diseased, “Oh, I am feeling pain. I am not well.” That is the diseased condition. So any person, any living entity, who is not engaged in Krsna consciousness activities, he’s detached. So one has to (be) reestablished. That is Krsna consciousness movement. That is also explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Muktir hitva anyatha rupam sva-rupena vyavasthitih. Mukti means liberation. What is the liberation? Liberation means, Bhagavata explains, hitva anyatha rupam. Anyatha rupam means a different identification. When one gives up the different identification and is established in his own real identity, that is called mukti. Now our identification is that “I am matter; therefore I am this body; therefore I belong to this country; therefore I am American; therefore I am this, I am that, I am that.” You see? This is our diseased condition. So mukti means one has to be released from this wrong identification. And after giving up wrong identification, what is my real identification? Oh, I am, aham brahmasmi, I am the part and parcel of the Supreme. That’s it. So if anyone is reestablished in his original constitutional position as part and parcel of the Supreme and engages his energy in that way, he is liberated. This is the definition of liberation. So it is also advised here?

Devotee: Verse 46.

Prabhupada: No, 45.

Devotee: “The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety.”

Prabhupada: Yes. As soon as we are… This world is of duality. Duality means you cannot understand one thing without understanding the other. Just like light. You have no conception of light without the conception of darkness. This is called duality. Good—unless you have experienced bad, you cannot understand good. Father—unless there is a son, there is no meaning of father. Husband—unless there is wife, there is no meaning of husband. This is called duality. This world is duality. So we have to rise above this dual world and enter into the absolute world. Then there will be happiness. That’s all right. Thank you. So any questions?

Guest: Uh, I heard it said that you have perfect enlightenment. If this is true, I’d like to know what does that mean?

Prabhupada: That is Krsna consciousness.

Guest: Well, is everybody who is a devotee of Krsna, initiated, do they all have perfect enlightenment?

Prabhupada: Yes. That I just now explained. That is liberation. I am identified just now with this matter. “I am this body, I belong to this country, I belong to this world.” This is illusion. And as soon as I can understand that I belong to none of these, I belong to Krsna, that is enlightenment. Simply changing the understanding. It is not very difficult. But it is difficult one who cannot understand. That is another thing. But if one can understand this fact, then he’s immediately enlightened. Just like this light, it is now enlightened. There is illumination. And as soon as the switch is off, immediately darkness. And switch is on, immediately light. So it is not very difficult to understand what is enlightenment. Enlightened means aham brahmasmi. I do not belong to this material world. I belong to the Supreme Spirit. That conviction makes you enlightened. So anyone who has got this conviction, he’s enlightened. This is not very difficult.

Guest: Although all of the initiates, everybody who has been initiated into Krsna consciousness…

Prabhupada: So initiation means the beginning. The very word initiation means if you are engaged in some work, just in the beginning, that is called initiation. Initiation is not the end. Initiation means you agree to enter into the world of enlightenment. And if you make progress, then more you make progress, more you become enlightened. Initiation means the beginning. This is the dictionary word meaning, initiation. What is that meaning, Hayagriva? Is that…?

Hayagriva: Yes. Beginning.

Prabhupada: Beginning. If you begin, agree to execute Krsna consciousness, that is called initiation.

Guest: How many other people are there on this planet who have made as much spiritual progress as you have?

Prabhupada: Many. But not many, but there are many also. There is no statistics in my possession. But… The formula is that what is the use of taking statistics how many there are? Why don’t you become one of them? (laughter) Why you are wasting time in that way? These are not very intellectual questions. You just try to become enlightened. What is use of who is enlightened or not. You try to be enlightened. That’s all. You are going somewhere, purchasing the plane ticket. Do you ask, “How many tickets you have sold?” Huh? What is the use of? You just purchase your ticket and get on the airplane and go. (laughter) Don’t waste your valuable time in that way. If you are serious, just purchase ticket and get on the airplane and pass on. That’s all. (pause) All right. Chant Hare Krsna. (devotees offer obeisances) Syama dasi, tomorrow morning, while Govinda dasi will come, you will come in my apartment. Yes, chant. (Prabhupada leads kirtana) (end)

Listen

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

Translation: “Thus far I have declared to you the analytical knowledge of sankhya philosophy. Now listen to the knowledge of yoga whereby one works without fruitive result. O son of Prtha, when you act by such intelligence, you can free yourself from the bondage of works.”

Prabhupada:

esa te ’bhihita sankhye
buddhir yoge tv imam srnu
buddhya yukto yaya partha
karma-bandham prahasyasi [Bg. 2.39]

Karma-bandham. You act something, and there is reaction. That is called karma-bandha. We can understand very easily. Whatever you act, there is reaction. Good act or bad act… There are two things. So if while in this body we act piously, then our future is very good. If we act impiously, then our future is not very good. So actually we should act piously, not impiously. That is human life. We should know what kind of action we should do. In the Sixteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita you’ll find pravrttim ca nivrttim ca na vidur asura-janah: “Those who are asuras, they do not know what kind of action should be done and what kind of action should not be done.” Not that “Anything I like at my whims…” That is not… At least for human being, he should not do. Even in the state laws, if you act whimsically, whatever you like, you’ll be liable to so many difficulties, and what to speak of spiritual life?

So Krsna has described so far… Sankhya yoga means analytical study of the soul and the body. He has very nicely… So this analytical study of the soul and body means so far, He has described the activities of the body. That is sankhya yoga. Just like a medical man has got full analysis—not full, to a portion—of this body, the anatomy, the physiology. They have studied how the veins are working, how different secretions are transforming into blood, how the heart is working. This is called analytical study. So esa te abhihita sankhye.

So far the body is concerned, that is now fully analyzed. Now buddhir yoge tv imam, another department of knowledge, buddhi-yoga. Buddhi-yoga means spiritual life. That is buddhi-yoga. Just like you’ll find in the Tenth Chapter. Krsna says to Arjuna, buddhi-yogam dadami tam. When there is talk between the spirit, supreme spirit, Krsna and the individual spirit, subordinate spirit, the living entity… Krsna is the Supreme Being, and we are subordinate being. So these people at the present moment, they do not know. But we have to take instruction from Vedas. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). The Supreme Being, He is eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. He is supplying the necessities of life, kaman, whatever we require. There are so many things for birds, beasts, human being, different types of fruits, flowers, milk. Everything is being supplied by Krsna. Therefore He’s Supreme Being. How He can be supreme? Just like in a family the father is considered to be supreme. Why? Because he takes care of the whole family, he is supreme. Similarly, the Supreme Person, Krsna, He takes care of the whole creation, material and spiritual, innumerable universes, and therefore He’s sup… So when we act according to the direction of the Supreme… Because we are subordinate. This is our position. A subordinate position is that he must act according to the direction of the master or the supreme. That is natural. Everyone is acting like that. So that is called buddhi-yoga. When you act according to the direction of the Supreme, Krsna, or His representative, that is called buddhi-yoga. That is real… Buddhi means intelligence, and yoga means linking, connecting. In the Tenth Chapter you’ll find,

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te [Bg. 10.10]

There is the buddhi-yoga, one word, and here is also the buddhi-yoga. So what is that buddhi-yoga? Krsna says, tesam satata-yuktanam: “Persons who are twenty-four-hours engaged,” satata… Satata means always. Engaged. What kind of engagement? Bhajatam priti-purvakam. This engagement means always trying to render some service to the Lord. How? Priti-purvakam: “with love and faith.” Not that “Oh, I have to do it? All right, let me do.” No. “Oh, I have to do it? Let me do it nicely.” Unless there is love, you cannot do it nicely, any matter. In the material world also, unless you have got some attachment for something, you cannot act it very nicely. Just like a musician. Because one has got a good attachment for music, he tries to perform it very perfectly. So love is the basis. Similarly, when you serve Krsna, if you have no love for Krsna, you cannot serve Him very nicely. And Krsna also does not accept your service if it is not done in great love and affection. That is the basic principle. Krsna does not require your service. He is self-sufficient. He has got many servants anywhere and everywhere. So Krsna does not require our service. It is our interest. If we render service to Krsna, then we become happy. That is the profit. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10].

Just like you’ll find in another verse Krsna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. Yo me bhaktya prayacchati: “Anyone who offers Me in love and faith a little flower, a little water, a little fruit,” patram puspam phalam toyam… Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. This is the real point. Krsna, the Supreme Person who is giving all the necessities of all the living entities… He is actually the provider, maintainer of everyone. So why He is asking a little fruit, flower and water from you? Is He hungry? No. Yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Just to induce you again to love Krsna. That is the point. Because your, this material condition is bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19], subjected to birth, death, old age, disease, and so many other material conditions. You have fallen in this condition because you have forgotten Krsna. Just like last night so many people came to discuss with us, but they are not interested in talking of Krsna. They are interested how their sense gratification will be disturbed by starting this temple. That is their concern. Here we have come to preach about Krsna. They did not ask anything about Krsna, “What is this philosophy? What is this Krsna’s philosophy?” No. They are simply interested in their own sense gratification. That’s all. How their sense gratification will be disturbed—they are concerned in that way. This is the position of the material world. Everyone is simply interested in sense gratification. That’s all. There is no question of asking “What is God? What I am? What is this world?” Actually, these should be the questions of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. They should be engaged always in inquiring about the Supreme Being, the Absolute Truth. That is their only business. But you see the whole world. They are simply busy how to satisfy their senses. This is the cause of fall down.

krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare (Prema-vivarta)

There are many quotations. Because we have forgotten Krsna, therefore we are now under the clutches of maya.

So we have forgotten Krsna, we are suffering, but because we are part and parcel of Krsna, Krsna comes to canvass that “Why you are suffering? You just surrender unto Me. I’ll give you all protection.” No, they’ll not take. They’ll not take. Therefore, when one is trained up to, how to surrender to Krsna, that is called devotional service, practice, practicing. And when, actually, one is very sincere to serve Krsna… Krsna is within everyone’s heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. So He can understand whether you are sincerely serving or with some motive you are serving. Even with a motive you serve Krsna, it will never go in vain. Krsna is so kind. Just like Putana. Putana wanted to serve Krsna by feeding Krsna with her breast, but the purpose was the breast was poison, so Krsna would suck the milk and He would die. There is a different motive. But still, Krsna is so kind that He thought that “This rascal Putana, she wanted to kill Me, but she does not know that I am not a person to be killed, but still, although the motive was to kill Me, but she has served Me to suck her breast. I have drunk her milk. So she is My mother. So she is My mother. Never mind she came with a motive.”

So this is the Krsna consciousness benefit. Of course, we should not have any more… Kamsa. Kamsa, just like. He was simply thinking of Krsna. He was Krsna conscious fully, always thinking of Krsna. But the motive was to kill. So still, Kamsa got liberation because he was constantly thinking of Krsna. But ac… That is not bhakti. Bhakti is the same thinking of Krsna—favorably. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. That is bhakti. To think of Krsna as enemy, that is not required. One may think, but a devotee, how can he think of Krsna as enemy? He thinks of Krsna as friend, as son, as master, as lover. A devotee thinks like that, whereas a demon or an enemy of Krsna, he’s always thinking of… This is the difference between demon and devotee. Demon is thinking how to wipe out, how to banish Krsna, how to kill Krsna. They don’t want Krsna. That is demonic. So therefore they do not know that a demonic person is always suffering. That is due to his forgetfulness of Krsna. But because he is demon, he is continuing the business. Therefore they do not know… Na te viduh… They… That is also… Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Pravrttim ca nivrttim ca na vidur asura-janah. Asura-jana, those who are asuras, they do not know what to do and what not to do. Therefore one has to learn how to live, what to know, what to forget. Every… Every educational or progressive method has got do’s and do not’s. So the asuras, they do not know what they should do and what they should not do. That is asura. And a devotee, he knows what to do and what not to do. There is no illicit sex. That is “do not.” But there is “do” also, that “If you want sex life, then get yourself married according to religious principle and get a wife and beget nice children.” That is “do.” And “No illicit sex,” that is “do not.” Side by side. “You do not take intoxicants”—that is “do not.” But “You take Krsna prasadam and be intoxicated with Krsna’s love”—that is “do.” Similarly, “You do not indulge in gambling, but you indulge in gambling.” What is that gambling? That gambling is “Dedicate your life to Krsna and see the result.” That is also gambling. That is also gambling, because everyone is engaged in his own business, but if he’s advised, “You give up this business. You take to this Krsna business,” that is also gambling because he does not know what will happen.

So everything has “do” and “do not.” So we have to give up this “do not” and accept the “do,” positive and negative. Then… Therefore, in the Tenth Chapter it is said, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. By some way or other, who has become engaged in devotional service twenty-four hours, satata—satata means twenty-four hours—satata-yuktanam, with faith—“Now I am engaged in Krsna’s service. Krsna will be… Actually He’ll be merciful upon me. He’ll deliver me from this miserable condition of material life”—tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam… [Bg. 10.10]. So Krsna is within. You cannot deceive Krsna. That is not possible. Krsna is the Supreme. If you are deceiver, Krsna is also the supreme deceiver. And if you are lover, then Krsna is the supreme lover. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. You deal with Krsna. As you deal, He’ll also… He reciprocates. That is Krsna.

So Krsna is describing now buddhi-yoga. Buddhi-yoga means bhakti-yoga. This, this word, buddhi-yoga… Buddhi means intelligence. One who is very intelligent, he can take to Krsna consciousness. Therefore bhakti-yoga’s another name is buddhi-yoga. Buddhi-yoga. Because buddhi-yoga… There are many verses in the Bhagavad-gita, you’ll find. Just like Krsna says,

bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]

Krsna says, “After many, many births’ endeavor…” Because everyone is trying to be happy. That is the struggle for existence. Why this struggle? To become happy. So sometimes they are karmis, sometimes they are jnanis, sometimes they are yogis, sometimes… As soon as they become bhakta, that is success. But so long he is not bhakta but otherwise, karmis, jnanis… Generally they are divided: karmis, jnanis, yogis… Therefore Rupa Gosvami has said,

bhukti-mukti-sprha yavat
pisaci hrdi vartate
tavad bhakti-sukhasyatra
katham abhyudayo bhavet

“So long in one’s heart there is a pisaci…” Pisaci means, what is called, a witch. Yes. The witch is there, pisaci. What is that pisaci? Bhukti-mukti-siddhi. Bhukti means karmi, to, one who wants to enjoy this material world by working. That is called bhukti. Bhokta. “I want to enjoy.” Everyone is trying that. Struggle for existence. Everyone is trying to… “I want to enjoy this material world to the fullest extent.” So their struggle going on, competition. That is called bhukti. And another? Mukti. Mukti means those who are disappointed. Disappointed must be because nobody can be happy here with this karmi plan. That is not possible. So he will be disappointed. But disappointed when? After many, many births’ struggle for existence, he’ll be disappointed. That’s a fact. Therefore Krsna says, bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. He continues to be, become karmi and sometimes jnani, sometimes yogi, to become happy, but he’ll be confused. He’ll be defeated. Nature is so strong. Therefore Krsna says, bahunam janmanam ante: “After many, many births of this struggle”—sometimes karmi, sometimes jnani, sometimes yogi, sometimes something else—”when one comes to be really wise,” jnanavan mam prapadyate, “he surrenders unto Me.” How he surrenders? Blindly? No. Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. He at that time understands that “Krsna is everything.” Therefore… That is a big mahatma. Sa mahatma sudurlabhah: “It is very difficult to find out such a great person.” Therefore intelligent person, if he sees… Dekhe sekhara(?). If I understand that “This person has surrendered to Krsna after many, many births. If that is the ultimate goal, why not myself surrender immediately?” That is buddhi-yoga. “If one has to come to this point for perfection of life, why not my life be perfected in this life? Why I shall wait for many, many births?” And that is buddhi-yoga, intelligent yoga. Krsna yei bhaje, sei bada catura. Unless one is exceptionally intelligent, he cannot take to Krsna consciousness. This is buddhi-yoga.

Therefore Krsna has described in sankhya-yoga that “This is your duty. You are ksatriya. You have… Why you are rejecting fighting?” In this way, in so many ways… “The soul is immortal, the body is perishable, so your grandfather or your kinsmen, they’ll not die.” So this is analytical study from the material point of view. And as soon as one comes to the point of serving Krsna with love, without any understanding… Just like fire. Fire, you accept it. Without studying fire, analytical, if you touch fire, it will act. It will act. It doesn’t require to study fire, how, what is the composition of fire. This is knowledge, of course. But if you… Just like gopis in Vrndavana. They did not study what is Krsna. They did not care even to study. But they wanted to love Krsna. That is their only qualification. They were ordinary village girls. Similarly, the cowherds boy. They were tending cows. They had no Vedanta knowledge or any higher education, not very nicely cultured gentlemen, village cowherds boy, cowherds girl, but they did not know any other business than to love Krsna. That is perfection. Jnana-sunya, without any knowledge. They did not know. They… They saw Narayana: “Oh, here is Narayana. All right. I offer you…” But there is no love. Love is for Krsna. Even Narayana, four-handed Narayana, there is no love for. They have got respect. You can offer respect to anyone, even you have no love. But love is different thing. That was… That is the typical examples in Vrndavana. That is the ultimate goal of buddhi-yoga.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (End)

Listen

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

avacya-vadams ca bahun
vadisyanti tavahitah
nindantas tava samarthyam
tato duhkhataram nu kim [Bg. 2.36]

hato va prapsyasi svargam
jitva va bhoksyase mahim
tasmad uttistha kaunteya
yuddhaya krta niscayah [Bg. 2.37]

Pradyumna: Translation: “Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you?”

Prabhupada: Niscayah, “uncertainly”?

Pradyumna: Should be “certainly.” Translation: “O son of Kunti, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the heavenly kingdom.”

Prabhupada: You are noting down the mistakes and…? Noting down the mistakes, yes.

Pradyumna: Note down, yes. “Therefore get up and fight with determination.”

Prabhupada: So Arjuna’s position is very precarious. There is a Bengali proverb naste bose bhunkata.(?) A girl, he, she is very famous dancing girl. So it is the system… As we have introduced, the girls and ladies, they have their veil, gunthana. It is called gunthana in Indian language. So a dancing girl, when she was on the stage, she saw that so many of her relatives are there as visitors. So she began to draw the veil. So this is not required. You are a dancing girl. Now you have to dance. You cannot be shy. You must freely dance. That is your duty. So Arjuna, some rascal has killed some man giving the reason that killing is not sinful because in the Bhagavad-gita it is stated there. Yes. Apparently, to the rascals it appears like that, that Krsna is encouraging Arjuna to fight. And he says there is no sin. But the rascal does not see under what condition he is advising. Sva-dharmam api caveksya. The sva-dharma, the principle is a ksatriya’s duty to fight, is to kill in fight. If you are in fight, you become sympathetic, then the same example: the dancing girl, when on the stage, if she is shy, it is like that. Why she should be shy? She must dance freely. That will be credit. So in the warfield, you cannot be compassionate. That is not required. In so many ways. Ahimsa arjava, these are good qualities. In the thirteen chapter, Krsna has described ahimsa, nonviolence. Nonviolence is generally accepted. And actually Arjuna was nonviolent. He was not a coward, therefore he was refusing to fight. No. As a Vaisnava, naturally he is nonviolent. He does not like to kill anyone, and especially his own family men. He was taking a little compassion. Not that he was a coward.

So Krsna is encouraging, inducing Arjuna to observe the duty. You cannot deviate from duty. That was the point. When there is fight, you must fight regularly, and kill the enemies. That is your credit. When you are fighting with the enemies, if you become compassionate, “How shall I kill?” that is cowardice. Therefore Krsna concludes here: hato va prapsyasi svargam jitva va bhoksyase mahim. There are two alternatives. For a fighter, for a ksatriya, to fight in the battle, either gain victory of die. No via media. Fight to the last point if you are able, then become victorious. Or die. No stoppage. All this fighting were meant like that. According to the Vedic culture, the ksatriyas… Not the brahmanas. The brahmanas are not encouraged to fight or kill. No. They should remain always nonviolent. Even there is required violence, a brahmana will not kill personally. He will bring the matter to the ksatriya, royal order. Just like Visvamitra. Visvamitra was being disturbed by some demons in the forest. They used to live in the forest. So Visvamitra was able to kill such demon, many demons, by his will. But he did not do so. He went to Maharaja Dasaratha, father of Lord Ramacandra, to request him that “Give your sons Rama and Laksmana. I will take them with me. They will kill that demon.” The killing is there, but the brahmana is not going to kill personally. Or the vaisya is not meant for killing, neither the sudras. Only the ksatriyas. The ksatriyas should be so trained up. Just like in USA there is some trouble in recruiting soldiers, because… Why the difficulty is? The difficulty is the training is like sudras. The young men are trained up like sudras, how they can fight? Therefore they are afraid. They try to avoid fighting. Because there is no division. Everyone, in this age, everyone is sudra. How you can expect a sudra will be encouraged to fight? That is not possible. Therefore real social structure should be four divisions, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. Brahmana, fully engaged for enlightenment of the people, knowledge, spiritual knowledge. They are meant for that. They will cultivate that knowledge personally, pathana pathana, and make students. Brahminical class. Similarly ksatriya. They should be trained up in politics, in fighting, not to flee away from fighting. These are the training of the ksatriyas. Similarly, vaisyas, they should be trained up how to cultivate, grow foodgrains, how to give protection to the cows. And sudras are meant for simply serving these higher class, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. That is the program.

So Krsna is encouraging Arjuna because he is a ksatriya. Sva-dharmam api caveksya. It is his duty. The rascals should not take example that: “Krsna encouraged killing. Therefore everyone should kill. There is no sin.” Without understanding. This is the difficulty. The rascals they do not understand what is Bhagavad-gita. They interpret for their favorable condition. That’s all. Here is Bhagavad-gita. They do not read the whole thing from acarya—misunderstand. Bhagavad-gita is not encouraging violence. That is not the Bhagavad-gita’s purpose. But a ksatriya, when there is fight, dharma-yuddha, yuddha dharma… What is that, before we…? Sukhinah ksatriyah partha labhante yuddham idrsam. A ksatriya becomes very satisfied to get such fighting opportunity, yuddham idrsam, yadrcchaya copapannam svarga-dvaram apavrtam, labhante yuddham idrsam. And another place,

sva-dharmam api caveksya
na vikampitum arhasi
dharmyaddhi yuddhac chreyo ’nyat
ksatriyasya na vidyate

Dharmyaddhi-yuddha. There are two kinds of of fighting. Dharma-yuddha. Dharma-yuddha means right, righteous fighting, and adharma-yuddha means political. That is… One politician, he wants to keep his position, he engages the people in fighting, declares war. That is another thing. But when right thing, violence is required. So Arjuna… Krsna is encouraging Arjuna in dharma-yuddha, not unnecessarily killing in the slaughterhouse. Do not misunderstand Krsna. The rascals, they misunderstand. By killing, by his whims, he gives the evidence of… Another rascal, although he is learned professor, he says that because this man has killed on the basis of Bhagavad-gita, therefore Krsna is immoral. Just see. This is going on. Without understanding Bhagavad-gita, even a so-called learned scholar also talking of Krsna as immoral. He has encouraged killing. Just see. Such envious persons. And he is teaching Bhagavad-gita. This is going on.

So this is not the fact. The fact is that there must be in the society, four classes of men. Because sometimes violence is required. Just like why government is maintaining the police force, the military force? It is required for keeping law and order. So violence is bad. That’s all right. But sometimes it is required. Just like poison. Poison is bad, but sometimes it is required for administering medicine. Even poison is administered. When one’s heart is… According to Ayur-vedic system, when the man’s heart is almost to fail, at that time, poison is given. So the heart becomes again agitated. In the medical science also. So poison is poison, but sometimes it requires as medicine administration. Similarly, violence, killing is bad. But there is circumstances where violence is righteous, religious. Therefore Krsna says dharmyaddhi-yuddha.

So it is the ksatriya. Ksatriya means who gives protection the citizens from being hurt by the irreligious person. That is called ksatriya. Ksat. Ksat means injury, and tra means deliver. Just like Maharaja Pariksit. When he saw that a black man Kali was going to kill a cow, so he was going to inflict injury to the cow, and immediately Maharaja Pariksit took his sword, that to give protection to the cow from the injury of black man. So that violence required. Tit for tat. One who is going to commit violence unnecessarily, the king, government, should immediately take the sword and kill that person. That is government’s duty. Had it been Vedic culture prevailing now, all these persons who are unnecessarily killing the cows in the slaughterhouse, they would have been killed by the king. “You have done so sinful.” So that kind of killing is pious. To give protection innocent citizen or animals from being injured by the rascals, the government or the king should take his sword and kill immediately. This kind of killing is there in the Bhagavad-gita. Not that general killing. You can capriciously kill anyone and give the evidence, “Oh, it is Bhagavad-gita. It is there.” How… See how rascals, they are interpreting. Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, without interpreting in a rascal’s way.

So Krsna says in two ways that “If you don’t fight, then your enemies will blaspheme you.” Avacya-vadams ca vadisyanti bahun. “They’ll concoct, manufacture some blasphemy against you. You are becoming very much sorry to fight with your kinsmen. Undoubtedly you are very sorry. But if you are blasphemed, defamed by your enemies, better, before getting that, you better die in the fight. And dying, by dying, you are not loser. Because hato va prapsyasi svargam. Even if you die, don’t think that you are loser, because immediately you are promoted to the heavenly planets. Because you are fighting for the right cause, it becomes punyavan, righteous. The heavenly planet is meant for righteous persons. So by dying, by your death is this righteous fighting, you’ll be promoted to the heavenly planets. So both ways you will be profited.” Hato va prapsyasi svargam and jitva va bhoksyase mahim. “And if you become victorious, then you enjoy the kingdom. So both ways you are profited. There is no loss on your part. Tasmat, therefore uttistha kaunteya yuddhaya krta niscayah. Krta niscayah. Definitely decide it that: ‘I must fight. Fighting must be there.’ Yuddhaya. For matter of fighting, uttistha, get up. Why are you sitting like coward?” Encouraging.

hato va prapsyasi svargam
jitva va bhoksyase mahim
tasmad uttistha kaunteya
yuddhaya krta niscayah

That’s all right. We can read another verse. There is little time.

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

[break]

Prabhupada:

sukha-duhkhe same krtva
labhalabhau jayajayau
tato yuddhaya yujyasva
naivam papam avapsyasi

Here, in this material world, when you work, there are two things, either loss or gain. Either happiness or distress, sukha-duhkha. Loss or gain, victory or… what is called the opposite?

Devotee: Defeat.

Prabhupada: Defeat. Because it is the world of duality. There must be something dual, black-white, darkness-light, sukha, happiness-distress, father-son. There must be. This is called relative world. One thing, if you understand one thing, you must know the other thing, opposite. Otherwise, it has no meaning. In the absolute world, there is no such thing, opposite elements. So here, Krsna is suggesting about the absolute duty, labhalabhau. When there is loss or gain, you are the same. Generally, when there is gain, we are very jubilant. And when there is loss, we become morose. But here, Krsna is teaching that “You remain in one position, either it is loss or gain. Either it is victory or defeat. Either it is happiness or distress.” This is brahma-bhuta [SB 4.30.20]. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. A devotee is always prasannatma, because his happiness is to serve Krsna. His only business is to see Krsna happy, that’s all. This is devotion. There may be loss or gain, there may be victory or defeat, there may be distress or happiness, it doesn’t matter. He’s not affected with this duality. That is being taught now. Real Bhagavad-gita begins here. Krsna is teaching. In the last also… This will go on in different languages up to the end of the Bhagavad-gita. Mam ekam saranam vraja. That’s all. Samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. Bhagavata also confirms this. You do not look after whether it is loss or gain, but you have to see whether Krsna is satisfied. That’s all. That is your only business. That is your only business. That is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha
varnasrama-vibhagasah
svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]

Hari-tosanam. The real perfection of life is whether by your actions, Krsna is satisfied. That is perfection. You don’t consider of your personal victory, defeat, loss or gain, or distress or happiness. Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung that: “When I work very difficult task for Krsna, that difficult task becomes very happiness for me. That difficult task becomes very happiness for me.” That is the standard of happiness. In the material world, there is duality. In the absolute world, there is simply happiness. There is nothing else. Just like when Krsna is going to Mathura, all the gopis become very, very distressed, crying. But we cannot understand what is the happiness of that distress. That we cannot understand from this material point of view. That is greatest happiness. When the gopis were crying in separation from Krsna, that is greater happiness than meeting Krsna, than meeting Krsna. This is Krsna philosophy. That is now beginning.

sukha-duhkhe same krtva
labhalabhau jayajayau
tato yuddhaya yujyasva
naivam papam avapsyasi

Thank you very much. (end)