Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

avajananti maṁ muḍha
manuṣiṁ tanum asritam
paraṁ bhavam ajananto
mama bhuta-mahesvaram
[Bg. 9.11]

Translation: "Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be."

Prabhupada: So Krṣṇa is not an ordinary man. Therefore Krṣṇa warns this. Avajananti maṁ muḍhaḥ; [Bg. 9.11]. Muḍha rascals. To accept God as man and to accept man as God, this is rascaldom. Rascaldom means to accept a man as God and to accept God as man. This is rascaldom. Avajananti maṁ muḍhaḥ;. We can understand who is an intelligent man and who is a rascal by this criterion. In another place Krṣṇa says, na maṁ duṣkrtino muḍhaḥ; prapadyante naradhamaḥ;: [Bg. 7.15] "Muḍhaḥ;, rascals, they do not surrender unto Me." Krṣṇa is canvassing... Especially in India He appeared. He is canvassing, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. He is canvassing. But the muḍhas, they will not accept it. Avajananti maṁ muḍhaḥ;. "Oh. Why shall I accept Krṣṇa? I have got my own God. I manufacture my God." So we have got very short-cut criterion to understand a rascal and intelligent man. What is that? If he is a devotee of Krṣṇa, then he is intelligent man. If he is not, then he's rascal. That's all.

"No, he does not accept Krṣṇa as God, but he has many other gods." Especially in our Hindu society, they say, the Mayavada philosophers, they say that everyone is God. How everyone can be God? If everyone is God, then what is the significance of God? Even not demigods... In sastra it says, yas tu narayaṇaṁ devaṁ brahma-rudradi-daivataiḥ; [Cc. Madhya 18.116]. Not to speak of ordinary demigods, but big, big demigods, just like Brahma, Lord Siva... Even Viṣṇu. Of course, Krṣṇa is viṣṇu-tattva. Krṣṇa is not in the category of jiva-tattva. There are jiva-tattvas, there are sakti-tattvas, there are viṣṇu-tattvas. People do not know it. Therefore in the next line it is said, paraṁ bhavam ajanantaḥ;. They do not know what is viṣṇu-tattva, what is jiva-tattva, what is sakti-tattva, how things are working. Paraṁ bhavam ajanantaḥ; [Bg. 9.11]. Mama bhuta-mahesvaram: "I am the Supreme Person."

In another place Krṣṇa says, mattaḥ; parataraṁ nanyat: [Bg. 7.7] "There is no more superior personality than Me." This is... These are the facts. In the Brahma-saṁhita it is said, isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;: [Bs. 5.1] "Krṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." You can become God, I can become God, He can become God, but Supreme God is Krṣṇa. If we accept that we are all gods... But still, there is distinction. Here is male god, here is female god, here is child god, here is an educated god, here is a foolish god. If we are all gods, then we have to qualify these gods in this way. There are differentiations from one god to another. That means one god is superior than another god. That you have to accept. So in this way, if you go on making progress, who is the best God, then you come to Krṣṇa. Isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ; [Bs. 5.1]. Sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ;. So the param, paraṁ brahma, impersonal they say. No. Vigraha, person, just like you and me, person. But they cannot imagine how a person can become so powerful, as in the previous verse it is said, mayadhyakṣeṇa prakrtiḥ; suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. A person is directing.

Just like we direct, a big businessman, he is sitting in his room alone, but he is directing the whole factory, whole business, everything. That is being done. Although Krṣṇa is in Goloka Vrndavana, He has nothing to do... Why God has something to do? Then what kind of God He is? Here we see practically a big man, a big minister, a big prime minister or president, he is also sitting, giving direction. He has nothing to do. Similarly, Krṣṇa also, He has nothing to do. Krṣṇa is enjoying. Just like you see Krṣṇa's form, He is enjoying with Srimati Radharaṇi. He has nothing to do. That is confirmed in the Vedic literature: na tasya karyaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate. Why God should be busy doing something?

So paraṁ bhavam ajanantaḥ;. They do not know what is God. Although God is appearing before them. We have got the name of God, the fame of God, the pastimes of God, the demonstration of His different energies of God. Everything is there. Still, we are searching after God, and unfortunately we are manufacturing a man-god. Therefore we are muḍhas. Avajananti maṁ muḍhaḥ; [Bg. 9.11]. Here is God, accepted by all acaryas. Not that by sentiment. There are acaryas in India. Actually, practically, our whole civilization is guided by the acaryas. Acaryavan puruṣo veda. We have to accept acarya.

In India, our culture, Vedic culture, depending on acaryas. Even we differ, we Vaiṣṇavas... There are Vaiṣṇava acaryas, and there is Mayavadi acaryas. So Saṅkaracarya, he is Mayavadi, impersonalist; still, he accepts Krṣṇa, (as) the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sa bhagavan svayaṁ krṣṇaḥ; devaki-nandanaḥ;. He has written in his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita. He accepts. Narayaṇaḥ; paraḥ; avyaktat, sa bhagavan narayaṇaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;. He has accepted. And what to speak of Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya and other acaryas. Latest acarya Krṣṇa, er, Sri Krṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years... These acaryas are thousands of years ago, they appeared. Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared near about five hundred years ago. He accepted Krṣṇa—the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And we are followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Acaryavan puruṣo veda: "One who is acaryavan, one who is following acarya, he knows things as they are." Acaryavan puruṣo veda.

So unless we become acaryavan... That is the Vedic instruction. Tad-vijñanarthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. We cannot understand God, what is God. We cannot make research (because) we do not know what are the symptoms of God, although everything is described in the sastras. Here also, in the Bhagavad-gita, the indications are there. Mattaḥ; parataraṁ nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. "There is nobody superior than Me." So this is the shortcut definition of God. Just try to find out a person... God is also a person, but He is the most superior person. Nityo nityanaṁ cetanas cetananam (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). He is the chief amongst the living beings. Nityo nityanam. He is the wisest of all wise men. Cetanas cetananam. What is the difference between God and us? The difference is that He is the maintainer and we are not maintainer. This is the difference.

We are not maintainer. Nobody can say... One can say that "I am God," but nobody can say that "I am maintaining everyone." No, that is not possible. These are the simple definition of God given in the Vedic literature. Eko yo bahunaṁ vidadhati kaman. We have necessities of life, but who is supplying the necessities of life? That eka, that one person, eka. So it is a great science, to understand God. It is not an ordinary thing simply by speculation or by so-called meditation you become God. God is God always. You cannot become God if you are not God. Krṣṇa... Krṣṇa was God when He was three months old on the lap of His mother. Krṣṇa was God when He was four months old. Krṣṇa was God when He was seven years old. Now we are chanting, jaya radha-madhava kuñja-bihari gopi-jana-ballabha giri-bara-dhari. Krṣṇa was gopi-jana-ballabha. He was always meant for pleasing the gopis, but that does not mean that he was not God. Giri-bara-dhari. When gopis were in danger, incessant rain in Vrndavana, He immediately lifted the whole Govardhana Parvata. Immediately showed: "Here is, I am. I am God. I can give you protection." Giri-bara-dhari. One side, gopi-jana-ballabha, just like ordinary boy He is pleasing the gopis by His joking behavior, but that does not mean He is not God. So one imitates the joking behavior of Krṣṇa, but one cannot imitate lifting the Govardhana Hill. That is not possible.

Therefore those who are muḍhas, they deride at Krṣṇa. They cannot believe how a person can become the supreme authority. Otherwise one who knows the... Budha bhava-samanvitaḥ;.

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ; sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matva bhajante maṁ
budha bhava-samanvitaḥ;
[Bg. 10.8]

Those who are budhas, they are Krṣṇa conscious. They are devotees of Krṣṇa. Krṣṇa ye bhaje sei baḍa catura. Without being very, very intelligent, nobody can become Krṣṇa conscious, devotee of Krṣṇa. These muḍhas cannot become. It is not possible. If you want to remain a muḍha, then you can not understand. When your muḍhatvam, your "unwisdom" will go... How it will go? Bahunaṁ janmanam ante jñanavan maṁ prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. If you cultivate knowledge, spiritual knowledge for many, many births, bahunaṁ janma. Because you will not accept Krṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by saying by Krṣṇa. Krṣṇa says, "Yes, I am the Supreme Personality of Godhead." If you don't believe it, then you have to cultivate knowledge for many, many births. You have to take birth and cultivate spiritual knowledge, again die, again come, again come, again take birth. This will go on continuously. Bahunaṁ janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. And if you are fortunate enough to become wise enough, then you will understand, vasudevaḥ; sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhaḥ;: [Bg. 7.19] "Oh, Vasudeva, Krṣṇa is everything." That is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaḥ; prayojitaḥ;
janayaty asu vairagyaṁ
jñanaṁ ca yad ahaitukam
[SB 1.2.7]

If you become devotee of Vasudeva, bhaja vasudevam, then very quickly you will become jñanavan. First of all, one becomes jñanavan; then he surrenders to Vasudeva. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is one process. Another process is you become a devotee of Vasudeva, then jñana, vairagya, will automatically come. You'll... Because the human life, the perfection of human life is to accept jñana and vairagya. That is perfection. In our Vedic civilization, this is the process, perfection. There are different stages of life. Brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. So what is the sannyasa law? Sannyasa means perfection. Jñana and vairagya. Who can take sannyasa, renounced order, unless he has got full knowledge? As Saṅkaracarya explains, brahma satyaṁ jagan mithya. Unless one understands fully that "Our these material engagements, they are simply waste of time." He can attain perfection knowledge. Jñana-vairagya-yuktaya [SB 1.2.12]. Unless there is perfection of knowledge, jñana, there cannot be vairagya. And unless there is vairagya, unless you become detestful of this material existence, there is no question of liberation. Jñana-vairagya-yuktaya.

So this jñana and vairagya can be achieved simply by becoming a devotee of Vasudeva. That is the verdict of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ; prayojitaḥ;, janayaty asu vairagyam [SB 1.2.7]. Asu vairagya, very soon. Just like these boys, these American, these European boys, they are young men. Now they have taken sannyasa and dedicated their life for service of Krṣṇa. They are vairagya. They are coming from opulent nation, very rich men, rich nation. Their parents are very rich. There is no scarcity of food. There is no scarcity of money. There is no scarcity of women in the western countries. But they have left everything. Simply boys. They are all within thirty. How much a young man may have propensities for enjoying this material way of life! And when there is facilities. But how they have taken to it? This is the proof.

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaḥ; prayojitaḥ;
janayaty asu vairagyaṁ
jñanaṁ ca yad ahaitukam
[SB 1.2.7]

This is proof. So actually if we want jñana and knowledge... because human life is meant for jñana and knowledge. Human life is not meant for living like animals, cats and dogs. Cats and dogs cannot be elevated to the platform of jñana and vairagya. That is not possible. A human being can be elevated by education, by culture, to the platform of jñana and vairagya. That is the ultimate goal. Sri Narottama dasa Ṭhakura sings therefore,

hari hari bifale, janama goṅainu,
manuṣya-janama paiya, radha-krṣṇa na bhajiya
janiya suniya biṣa khainu

This is jñana, regretting "My dear Lord, I got this very opportune moment to possess this human form of life, manuṣya-janama paiya, but my duty was to worship Radha-Krṣṇa." That is the highest perfection of worshiping. Ramya kecid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargabhir ya kalpita. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended, "The upasana, the worship which was invented by the gopis to worship Radha and Krṣṇa, ramya kecid upasana, there is no more perfect upasana." So this radha-krṣṇa-upasana is the perfection of upasana. Even it is better than viṣṇu-upasana. In the material way of life viṣṇu-upasana has been recommended as the highest. Aradhananaṁ paraṁ devi viṣṇor aradhanaṁ param. It is the statement of Lord Siva to Parvati, that "Of all aradhana, viṣṇu-aradhanam is the best."

aradhananaṁ sarveṣaṁ
viṣṇor aradhanaṁ param
tasmat parataraṁ devi
tadiyanaṁ samarcanam

Tasmat parataram. "Even better than viṣṇu-aradhana is to worship the Vaiṣṇavas." Mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika [SB 11.19.21]. Krṣṇa has said also that "Anyone who is worshiping My devotee, pure devotee, that is better worship than one who is worshiping Me directly."

So Sri Narottama dasa Ṭhakura says that "I got this opportunity of human life, but instead of worshiping Radha-Krṣṇa, I have worshiped so many things." Somebody is worshiping his body, somebody is worshiping his mind, somebody is worshiping his country, somebody is worshiping his something else, something else, or somebody is worshiping some other demigods also. But that is not recommended in the sastra, at least in the Bhagavad-gita. Kamais tais tair hrta-jñanaḥ; yajanty anya-devataḥ; [Bg. 7.20]. There are worshipers of other demigods, but they have been described in the Bhagavad-gita as hrta-jñanaḥ;. Hrta-jñanaḥ;. Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Ṭhakura comments, naṣṭa buddhayaḥ;, "one who has lost his intelligence." These are the verdict of the sastra. Therefore one who has taken only to Krṣṇa worship sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam [Bg. 18.66], only Krṣṇa, he is intelligent. And one who is not intelligent, muḍha, he does not take to Krṣṇa. This is straight meaning of Bhagavad-gita. You can make your own meaning, but if you want to understand Bhagavad-gita as it is, this is the meaning. You cannot accept the worship even of big, big demigods. What to speak of minor demigods, even big demigods just like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva... You can worship. Vaiṣṇava is ready to give respect even to the ant. And why not Lord Siva? And why not Lord Brahma or any other demigods? They offer. But they offer in which way? As servant of Krṣṇa.

Just like in the Brahma-saṁhita, there is: srṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani vibharti durga [Bs. 5.44]. This is worship of Durga. A Vaiṣṇava, Brahma, is offering respect to Mother Durga. So similarly, a Vaiṣṇava never disrespects any demigod. Why demigods? They are so exalted. They do not disrespect even an ant. Trṇad api sunicena taror api sahiṣṇuna, amanina manadena. A Vaiṣṇava should be ready to give respect to anyone, all living entities, because all living entities are part and parcel of Krṣṇa. They should offer respect to everyone. Just like this finger is my part and parcel of the body. If you respect my body and kill my, cut my finger, shall I be happy? No. Therefore Vaiṣṇava knows this, that "Even a small ant, he is the part and parcel of Krṣṇa. So if I kill this ant, Krṣṇa will be unhappy. Krṣṇa will be unhappy."

There was a vyadha. In the Padma Puraṇa, this story is there. He was habituated to kill animals. Vyadha, you know, hunter. So he was killing so many animals half-dead. So Narada Muni was passing through that forest, he was very much aggrieved, "Who is this rascal, killing these animals half, and they are flapping out of painful condition? Let me see this rascal." So he searched out this vyadha, hunter. The vyadha was very busy in his hunting. So he thought... Because, after all, Narada Muni is a Vaiṣṇava, after seeing him personally his heart was immediately little clarified. So he offered respect: "Sir, you have come here for some tigerskin or deerskin. I shall give you, but don't disturb (me) in my business. Please let me do my business."

So Narada Muni said, "All right, you do your business, but one thing I request: 'Why you are not killing these animals all at a time? Why you are killing half? It is great sin.' " Then it stuck to his brain. "Sin? What is this sin?" Then he described the effects of sin. Then he said, "I have been taught by my father to do this business. So if I do not do this business how shall I live?" So Narada Muni said, "If I guarantee your living, would you give up this business, this profession?" "Why not? If I get my living means, then I can give up." So it was agreed that he will give up his business of hunting. And Narada Muni said that "I will give you all the necessities of your life. Come on." So it is a long story. I am making short cut.

So Narada Muni asked him that "You sit down on this bank of Ganges and here is the tulasi plant. You worship it, and I will send your food. Don't be worried." So next morning it was declared in the village, "That heinous hunter has become a Vaiṣṇava." So people, generally, they are inquisitive. They came to see. It is the custom when you go to see a saintly person, you take some fruits or flowers or some rice or some aṭa. So huge stack of rice and aṭa and fruits and flowers also. They were surprised: "Why Narada Muni is sending so much? We are simply husband and wife." In this way they become Vaiṣṇava. And after some time Narada Muni with his friend Parvata Muni, he wanted to see his devotee. So he asked Parvata Muni that "My dear friend, will you come with me. I shall show my devotee who was formerly a hunter." So Parvata Muni knew that "You can play wonderful. So let me see this devotee." So when Narada Muni was coming, this devotee was going to receive the spiritual master. This is the custom, to receive the spiritual master from distant place with all honor by bowing down. But he was jumping. He was jumping. So when he came near, the Parvata Muni first of all asked him, "My dear son, you are great devotee, but while coming here why you are jumping?" He said that "On the ground there are so many ants, sir. So I do not want to kill these ants."

This is the effect of devotional service. The same man who was taking pleasure by killing one animal half-dead, he is not prepared to kill even an ant. This is called bhakti. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcana sarvair guṇais tatra samasate suraḥ; [SB 5.18.12]. If one becomes a devotee of the Lord, akiñcana-bhakti, then sarvair guṇaiḥ;, all good qualities will come out automatically. Because every living entity is part and parcel of God. God is all-good. Therefore every living entity, potentially, constitutionally, he is also good. As God is good, we are also good. But due to our material association, we have become bad. So if we revive our old position, Krṣṇa consciousness, then automatically we shall become all-good. This is Krṣṇa consciousness movement.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended therefore, ceto-darpaṇa-marjanaṁ bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapaṇam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. If you want to see, the to stop this blazing fire of material existence, then you have to spread this Krṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. And the practical effect, you can see, what is already done, how they have become. Our limit, there are limitation, we cannot accept anyone and everyone as disciple. Unless he agrees tacitly to give up some preliminary principles. Just like illicit sex life. Anyone who comes to me to become my disciple, the first condition is no illicit sex life, no intoxication, up to drinking or smoking or even drinking tea and coffee and chewing pan. These are also intoxicants. So one cannot take all these things. No intoxication. No illicit sex. Unless you have got connection with woman by marriage tie, there cannot be any sex life. These are the pillars of sinful life. Yatra papas catur-vidha. Striya-suna-pana-dyutaḥ; yatra papas catur-vidha. If you actually want to make progress in spiritual life, you must accept at least these four principles. This is tapasya. Tapasa brahmacaryeṇa tyagena, sauca, satya-saucabhyam [SB 6.1.13]. These are the tests, the prescription.

So to become purified, one must be purified of this material existence. Then he can understand what is God. Then he can serve God. With these material senses it is not possible to serve God. That is not possible. Ataḥ; sri-krṣṇa-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ; [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. These indriyas, the present indriyas, contaminated by material existence... You cannot understand by simply hearing about God. Therefore you have to purify yourself. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. This is the definition given by Narada Muni, how one can become a devotee, how one can be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. This is the formula. What is that? Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam, first condition: One has to give up all designation. "I am Indian," "I am American," "I am brahmaṇa," "I am sudra," "I am this," "I am that." These are all designations of the body, but we are not this body. So if we can give up this bodily designation, that is called sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam. Then one has to become purified on the standard of devotional service.

Unless one is engaged in devotional service, there is no question of purification. Then you'll fall down. These are the statements in the sastras. Aruhya krcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ; patanty adhaḥ; [SB 10.2.32]. You can elevate yourself to the Brahman effulgence, brahma-jñana, aruhya krcchreṇa, with tapasya, with severe austerities. But if you cannot understand Krṣṇa, if you do not take shelter of the lotus feet of Krṣṇa, then you'll again fall down. Aruhya krcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ; patanty adhaḥ; anadrta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ; [SB 10.2.32]. So a devotee, if you become a devotee, you'll never fall down. Krṣṇa will give you protection. Krṣṇa says, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktaḥ; praṇasyati [Bg. 9.31]. He will give you protection. Otherwise you are helpless. You can fall down at any moment. But if you take shelter of Krṣṇa... So there are so many facilities for perfection of life. Simply by accepting Krṣṇa, mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja. If you do not do that, then you are a muḍha, rascal. Avajananti maṁ muḍha manuṣiṁ tanum asritam, paraṁ bhavam aja... [Bg. 9.11]. "How much powerful is Krṣṇa; what He can do for me," without knowing this, we do not surrender to Krṣṇa.

Therefore it is necessity to assemble like this to understand Krṣṇa. This Krṣṇa consciousness movement is there all over the world just to help the people to understand real God, Krṣṇa. This is the purpose of Krṣṇa consciousness movement. Because people are suffering, they are all muḍhas. They do not understand Krṣṇa or they deride Krṣṇa. Therefore they will, he will go on suffering. Tan ahaṁ dviṣataḥ; kruran kṣipamy ajasram andha-yoniṣu [Bg. 16.19]. Those who are envious of Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa says, "I put them eternally in the hellish condition of life." So if you want to save yourself from the hellish condition of life, you must take to Krṣṇa consciousness and surrender unto Him. Thank you very much. Hare Krṣṇa. (end)

661127BG.NY