Text

San Francisco, February 15, 1967

Purport

Prabhupada: ...Vedic literature, it is scriptures. It is compiled by the Lord Himself. Religion means the regulation of the Supreme Lord. That's all. DharmaṠtu sakṣad bhagavat-praṇitam [SB 6.3.19]. Just like for proper execution of this material world there are certain rules and regulations of the king, of the state, similarly, to execute properly the supreme will of the Supreme Lord there are certain rules and regulations. That is called religion. This is the meaning of religion. Religion does not mean that "My religion says this. Your religion says this. Your religion says this." Religion means whether you are properly executing the will of the Supreme. That's all. This is religion. DharmaṠtu sakṣad bhagavat-praṇitam [SB 6.3.19]. The nonsense rascals, they cannot manufacture religion. Religion cannot be... Just like ordinary citizens, they cannot make laws for the state. Suppose if you make a law. Who will care for your law? Don't take advantage of the innocent people and make your own religion and make a group and try to exploit them. This is all nonsense. DharmaṠtu sakṣad bhagavat-praṇitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma means the regulation of the Supreme. So we have to know. That is religion. So any religion which is directing to obey the Supreme Lord, that is bona fide. And anything minus or "Not to Krṣṇa but to me," this is a nonsense rascaldom. You see. So before studying Vedanta, we should understand this fact. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore stressing on this point, that there is no cheating, there is no mistake, there is no illusion, there is no imperfectness. Then we can make progress. If we are doubtful: "Oh, Bhagavad-gita is spoken by some Krṣṇa, somebody. He was learned man, philosopher. So I can point out my own point..." No. Not like that.

So,

upaniá¹£at-sahita sutra kahe yei tattva
mukhya-vrttye sei artha parama mahattva

This is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that all the Upaniá¹£ads, all the Vedic literature, Vedanta-sutra, they, they are composed in that way. Therefore mukhya-vrttye sei artha parama mahattva: "Therefore, if you take directly the meaning, that is the superexcellence of your understanding." Directly. Don't try to foolishly interpret. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita the first verse is,

dharma-ká¹£etre kuru-ká¹£etre
samaveta yuyutsavaḥ;
mamakaḥ; paṇá¸avas caiva
kim akurvata sañjaya
[Bg. 1.1]

"My dear Sañjaya, my sons, mamakaḥ;, my sons and Paṇá¸ava, the sons of my younger brother, Paṇá¸u, they assembled in the battlefield which is also a pilgrimage. Then what did they do?" This is the simple... But the nonsense rascals, they are eschewing some meaning, "Oh, kuru-ká¹£etra means 'body,' and dharma-ká¹£etra means this and this... Paṇá¸ava means 'the five senses.' " So many nonsensical... Even Gandhi has done this. What Gandhi? Gandhi's nothing. You see? So they are, these rascals are doing and misleading persons. I've recently written one written to Dr. Radhakrishnan that "You are going to retire. Now join this Krṣṇa conscious movement. You have written your Bhagavad-gita, and you don't believe Krṣṇa as Supreme Lord, God. Therefore by reading your Bhagavad-gita people have become godless. So you better rectify your mistake. Now join this." I've written state letter to Dr. Radhakrishnan. "So if you want to, I mean to say, compensate the greatest sin you have committed in your Bhagavad-gita, then you join this Krṣṇa conscious movement and rectify yourself." "Not to Krṣṇa."

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not approve this. Krṣṇa says,

man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji maá¹ namaskuru
mam evaiá¹£yasi
kaunteya asaá¹sayaḥ;
[Bg. 18.65]

"O My dear Arjuna, you just surrender unto Me. You worship Me. You offer your obeisances unto Me. You always think of Me." This is straight. The straight meaning, "Me," Krṣṇa is saying. Therefore we should offer our respect to Krṣṇa. We should worship Krṣṇa. We should think of Krṣṇa. We shall chant of Krṣṇa. This is the straight meaning. But the commentator says, "Oh, not to Krṣṇa." Just see. "Not to Krṣṇa." So this nonsensical commentation is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, mukhya-vrttye. Mukhya-vrttye, directly, as you understand it. If I say, "My dear such and such, give me a glass of water," now you interpret, "Oh, Swamiji wants water. Oh, he has taken water. Let me supply this or that, interpretation," what is the use of interpreting? I'm asking for water. Give me water. Call a spade a spade. This should be the... This should be the understanding of Vedanta. Because all foolish nonsense, they are interpreting... "Such and such person's commentation of Vedanta-sutra." Because they were trying to manifest and expose their thinking power, that "I think that this should be like this." What nonsense you are? What you can think? You think as it is. This is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu says. Don't think otherwise. As it is. In the Upaniṣads, isavasyam idaṠsarvam: "Everything belongs to God." Believe it as belongs to God. Don't interpret. Then you'll understand Vedas. Isavasyam idaṠsarvaṠyat kiñcit jagatyaṠjagat: [Iso mantra 1] "Anything, any minute thing in this material world, everything belongs to that Supreme Lord." Who can deny it? Why do you interpret? Tena tyaktena bhuñjitha: "So you enjoy as He orders you."

You are not forbidden to enjoy. Just like we say that illicit sex relation not ordered, not allowed. You should take it because it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Dharmaviruddho kamo 'smi aham: "The sex desire which is sanctioned by religion, that is I am." That is Krṣṇa. Sex desire to fulfill—it does not mean that like cat, we are free. What is this freedom? That freedom has cats and dogs. They are so free that on the road they have sexual intercourse. You have not so much freedom. You have to find out a parlor, er, apartment. So do you want that is freedom? This is not freedom. This is, I mean to say, going to hell. This is not freedom. Therefore Vedic literatures enjoins that if you want sex life, then you become householder. You marry a nice girl, and then you have got very good responsibility. This, this concession, sex life, is allowed so that you have to serve the all others. That is the responsibility. Now there are four divisions of social order—brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. The brahmacari does not, I mean to say, earn anything. They depend on the society. Sannyasi—depend on the society. Vanaprastha—depend on the society. Only the householder who is living with wife and children, he has got the whole responsibility to provide these brahmacari, vanaprastha and sannyasa. You see. In India still, if a brahmacari, if a sannyasi goes to a householder, immediately offers something. So they do not want more, but they want little for their maintenance of this body and soul together. It is the duty of the householder. So unless one becomes responsible householder, how he'll execute his responsibility? If he thinks, "Oh, what is the use of keeping a cow when the milk is available in the market? Oh, sex life is so cheap. Why shall I take the responsibility of marrying?" This is going on. This is going on. Just like cats and dogs. So the cats and dogs cannot understand Vedanta philosophy. First condition. It is not meant for the cats and dogs. It is meant for human beings. So we should be human being first of all. Then we shall try to understand... Our life is so wretched that it is less than cats and dogs, and we try to understand Vedanta philosophy. It is not possible.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says mukhya-vrttye, direct meaning, as it is said. That is beauty of understanding. Janmady asya yataḥ;: [SB 1.1.1] "The supreme source from which everything emanating, that is Brahman." What is the interpretation? There is no interpretation. Supreme... There must be some supreme source. That is quite philosophical and logical, that I have my... This bodily existence has a source, my father. My father has a source, his father. His father... Go on. There must be one supreme source. That is God. Simple to understand. Is it very difficult to understand? The supreme cause, He is God. Therefore Krṣṇa is described in Brahma-saá¹hita, sarva-karaṇa-karaṇam [Bs. 5.1]. Karaṇa means "cause," and sarva means "all." There are cause, cause, cause and effect, cause and effect, cause and eff... When you reach to the supreme cause, He's Krṣṇa. He is Krṣṇa. And Krṣṇa confirms it in the Bhagavad-gita, ahaá¹ sarvasya prabhavaḥ;. Have you got Bhagavad-gita?

ahaá¹ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ; sarvaṠpravartate
iti matva bhajante mam..
[Bg. 10.8].

In the Tenth Chapter you'll find this word, ahaṠsarvasya prabhavaḥ;. So things should be accepted as they are. (aside:) Have you got it?

Satsvarupa: Yes.

Prabhupada: Read it.

Satsvarupa: "I am the origin of all. From Me all proceeds. Knowing this, the wise worship Me, endowed with conviction."

Prabhupada: You see. He's the origin of everything. Now, if somebody says, "Oh, what's the commentation there?" What is that commentation? Is there any commentation or simply translation?

Satsvarupa: Shall I read that?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Satsvarupa: Read the commentation?

Prabhupada: No, that particular verse, ahaá¹ sarvasya... Is there any commentation?

Satsvarupa: Yes, there is.

Prabhupada: What is that?

Satsvarupa: "The teacher speaks now as the Lord. As..."

Prabhupada: "Teacher." Still, he'll not say "Krṣṇa." Krṣṇa-phobia. (laughter) You see? He's always thinking, "If I say 'Krṣṇa,' oh, then I'll be in trouble." This is the demonic tendency, and that is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita: na maá¹ prapadyante muá¸haḥ; duá¹£krtino naradhamaḥ; [Bg. 7.15]. The rascals and the lowest of the mankind, naradhama, and the asses and the, I mean, the nonsense—muá¸ha—means ass, simply work for others. He has no self-interest. Ass. So muá¸ha. Na maá¹ prapadyante muá¸haḥ;. "A person who is as rascal as an ass," muá¸haḥ;, na maá¹ prapadyante muá¸haḥ; duá¹£krtina, "and always engaged in sinful activities, and the lowest of the mankind and demon, he does not," I mean to say, "surrender unto Me, accept Me." Oh, there are many educated persons... Just like Dr. Radhakrishnan, he also says, he also, "Not to Krṣṇa." Then what about his education? Oh, that is also replied, mayayapahrta-jñana. "Oh, he's educated—so-called. The maya has plundered his all knowledge." That means although... He's an educated fool. There are educated rascals. They have got some university degrees, but actually they are rascal, less than an ass. So that is also described: mayaya apahrta-jñana. They have acquired some knowledge undoubtedly, but the essence of the knowledge is taken away by maya. Essence of the knowledge. Just like I give you milk, but I churn it. I take the butter out, and I give you milk. It is just like that. If milk is administered, taking out the butter, that is also a cheating, because milk means to take fat. Fat we require. For our proper maintenance of the body, we require fat. So milk-drinking means eating fat. So if the fat is already taken away, what is this milk?

So similarly, knowledge means to, athato brahma jijñasa, to understand Brahman. Krṣṇa says, ahaṠsarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ; sarvaṠpravartate [Bg. 10.8]: "I am the origin of everything, and everything emanates from Me." Iti matva bhajante mam, budha. Budha means one who is in the topmost platform of knowledge. That is called budha. Therefore Lord Buddha is called Buddha. Budha means one who is in the topmost platform of knowledge. He's called budha. Budh-dhatu. Budh-dhatu means to know, to understand, or to have knowledge. So budha. Budha means one who is actually buddha, or budha, he worships Krṣṇa because he knows perfectly well that He is the origin of everything. Sarva-karaṇa-karaṇam [Bs. 5.1].

isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ;
anadir adir govindaḥ;
sarva-karaṇa-karaṇam
[Bs. 5.1]

There are so many isvaras, controller, but Paramesvara, or the Supreme Lord, supreme controller, is Krṣṇa. Isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ; [Bs. 5.1]. People may misunderstand, "Oh, Krṣṇa, we have seen Him. He's a historical person. How He can be the supreme controller? He's just like a man. He's a man like us." No. He's sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ; [Bs. 5.1]. He's not like a man like you. His form is spiritual, blissful, eternal. "How it is eternal? We have known that He is born." That Krṣṇa says, janma karma me divyaṠyo janati tattvataḥ;: [Bg. 4.9] "How I am born, what are My activities, if anyone knows..." Then what he becomes? Oh, tyaktva dehaṠpunar: "He becomes immediately liberated."

So He's not so easy to understand. "Oh, Krṣṇa is born in Mathura. His father is Vasudeva. Oh, He..." No. He's unborn. He's unborn, but I am seeing that He's born. Just like sun is unborn. I am seeing that at five o'clock sun is born in the eastern side of New York City. This is my foolishness. Sun is never born. He's always there. It is my imperfectness that I am seeing that sun is born this hour. Similarly, Krṣṇa is never born. Krṣṇa is just like sun. So as they are, if we want to understand... Acintyaḥ; khalu ye bhava na taá¹s tarkeṇa yojayet: "Things which are beyond your conception," avaá¹… manasa gocaraḥ;, "beyond your expression, beyond your knowledge, don't apply your so-called argument and reason." That is Vedanta study. If, if you do not understand, put question to your spiritual master, try to understand, but as a matter of fact, you should know, "What is stated here, that is all right. It is due to my imperfectness of knowledge I cannot just now understand it. Let me ask my spiritual master and let me understand it properly." But a thing as it is, that is all right. We must take it. Mukhya-vrttye. Mukhya means "as it is." Isavasyam idaá¹ sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. What commentation you can give? If the Vedas says, Isopaniá¹£ad, that "Everything belongs to God," how can you deny it? What is your argument? What is your...? You cannot deny it. Similarly, all these Vedic sutras, Upaniá¹£ad, Vedanta, anything should be understood...

gauna-vrttye yeba bhaá¹£ya karila acarya
tahara sravaṇe nasa haya sarva karya

Now Caitanya Mahaprabhu is directly challenging Prakasananda Sarasvati. Prakasananda Sarasvati belonged to the Saṅkara-sampradaya, Saṅkara school of thought. Now Caitanya Mahaprabhu is directly challenging that gauna-vrttye yeba bhaṣya karila acarya. Acarya means Saṅkaracarya. Saṅkaracarya has made a commentary which is called Sariraka-bhaṣya of Vedanta-sutra. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says this Sariraka-bhaṣya, gauna-vrttye, indirectly... Just like we are accustomed to do: "I think the meaning should be like this," grammatical or this way or that way, jugglery of words. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly accuses Saṅkaracarya that the commentary which he has made indirectly, if we read that commentary or if we hear that commentary, then tahara sravaṇe nasa haya sarva karya, then anyone who is hearing or trying to understand the Sariraka-bhaṣya, he is going to hell. He's not only wasting his time, but he's going to hell. Sarva nasa. Sarva nasa means "all auspicity lost." Why? Why lost? Lost because as soon as you indulge in the reading of the Saṅkara-bhaṣya, the whole program is you have to think that "I am God." So if I am God, then who is else God, that I have to worship? That means the prospect of devotional service, or Krṣṇa consciousness, is killed forever. Such rascal will never be able to come to Krṣṇa consciousness. Therefore he says, haya sarva nasa. He is being murdered, you see, because he never will come. He'll always think, "I am God." Just like... Who was speaking? Yes, yes, Nikhilananda. He has discussed in that Vivekananda's speech that man is God. But somebody asks, "Why he has become dog?" "Oh," he says, "I do not know." So God says, "I do not know." He's such a God. And that is clearly written. Have you got that book? God, God, God... The followers of Saṅkaracarya say that "I am God. There is no other God. Every one of us God." Then why you have become dog? "Oh, that I do not know." Is that God's, I mean to say, answer? If I ask if you are God, if I answer you, "Why you are dog?" you say, "I do not know," so are you God? God does not know? Well, God description is there in Parasara-sutra that He is full of all knowledge. That is God. And God says, "I do not know"? How he is...? What kind of God he is? That is clearly stated here. Why you have become dog? "I do not know. But I am God." He knows, "I am God," but he does not know why he has become dog. That is his knowledge. You'll find so many fallacies like this. How do you know that you are God? "That also I do not know." What is this? Is this any argument?

But God definition is that,

aisvaryasya samagrasya
viryasya yasasaḥ; sriyaḥ;
jñana-vairagyayos caiva
ṣaṇṇam bhaga itiṅgaṇa
(Viṣṇu Puraṇa 6.5.47)

Means Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is, is, He has got complete aisvarya, wealth, He has got complete fame, He has got complete knowledge, He has got complete beauty, and He has got complete renunciation. By these six complete, I mean..., opulences, the God is there. So if you find somebody, that He's full in six opulences... So we find Krṣṇa. If you find in the history... Whole history of the world till now, you won't find any other person more than Krṣṇa. Therefore He is God. Therefore He is God. Find out from the history if anybody is more than Krṣṇa.

So this is, these are the definition, these are the knowledge. We have to follow these. Then we become perfect. Don't try to follow the rascals and nonsense. Then you'll go to hell.

Thank you very much. Any question? (end)

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