Prabhupada: Prahlada Maharaja says brahmadayaḥ; sura-gana munayo 'tha siddhaḥ; [SB 7.9.8]. Brahmadayaḥ;, amongst the demigods the head is Lord Brahma, brahma adayaḥ;. Adi-kavi, Brahma is known as adi-kavi, the first living creature within this universe. Because when this universe was created, the first living being visible was Brahma. Then from Brahma, Lord Siva appeared. Brahma siva viriñcit(?). And Viṣṇu is the origin. From Viṣṇu's navel lotus flower, Brahma appeared; and from Brahma, Lord Siva appeared. Lord Siva's another name is Rudra. When Lord Brahma created the four Kumaras, Sanaka, Sanatana, Sananda, Sanat-kumara, so Brahma asked them, "My dear boys, you just marry and advance the progeny, create more sons and grandsons." They refused. They said, "My dear father, we are not going to marry. We shall remain brahmacari." So naturally, when father's disorder is disobeyed, he becomes angry. So Brahma became angry, and his eyes became red. At that time, from the red eyes the Rudra, Lord Siva, appeared. So he was asked to increase the progeny, and he begot many thousands of demons. Then he was stopped, no more you have progeny. Then Dakṣa and others, they were asked. Dakṣa Maharaja was very expert in giving birth. He was giving birth hundred children at a time. Therefore his name is Dakṣa, very expert in giving birth to children. So in this way, creation was there, sons and grandsons. Manu is also one of the sons of Brahma.

So brahmadayaḥ;, Brahma is adi, adi-kavi. He was instructed by Krṣṇa, tene brahma adi-kavaye. Lord Krṣṇa, He instructed Brahma to spread knowledge, Vedic knowledge, all over the universe. Tene. Tene means broadcasted, expanded. So tene brahma, brahma means sabda-brahma, Vedas. Hrda, one may question how Brahma was instructed. So that is also stated, hrda. Hrda means from within the heart. So, therefore, Krṣṇa is also caitya-guru, a guru, spiritual master, within the heart. Sarvasya cahaṁ hrdi sanniviṣṭhaḥ;. In the Bhagavad-gita, Krṣṇa says that "I am situated in everyone's heart." Sarvasya ca ahaṁ hrdi sanniviṣṭaḥ;. Sarvasya caham hrdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ; smrtir jñanam apohanaṁ ca [Bg. 15.15]. "From Me one can remember, one can forget." How is that? Krṣṇa helps one to remember and one helps..., He helps one to forget. That is also replied in the Bhagavad-gita, ye yatha maṁ prapadyante taṁs tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. If you want to forget Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa will give you facilities to forget Him forever. And if you want to remember Krṣṇa, He will give you facilities to remember Him.

That means Krṣṇa has given us little independence. Independence, because we are part and parcel of Krṣṇa, and Krṣṇa is fully independent, sva-raṭ. Janmady asya yataḥ; anvayad itaratas ca artheṣu abhijñaḥ; svaraṭ [SB 1.1.1]. He is fully independent. But we are, because we are part and parcel of Krṣṇa, we have got also little independence. That quality is there. Krṣṇa does not touch that independence quality. You can utilize it. You can use it properly, you can misuse it also. That is independence. Krṣṇa does not force that "You must do this." He can give you instruction. Just like Krṣṇa gives instruction, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Now it is my independence, I can give up everything, all other engagements, and I can simply surrender to Krṣṇa. And I cannot also, I may not. If I don't like, Krṣṇa does not interfere. Krṣṇa says, "Whatever you like, you do." Yathecchasi tatha kuru [Bg. 18.63]. That is, Krṣṇa says to Arjuna, "Now whatever you like you do." So this independence is always there.

Now when we misuse this independence... Our relationship with Krṣṇa (is) to serve. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krṣṇa-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Therefore Krṣṇa orders, "You surrender!" Just like we sometimes order our servants or subordinates, sons, disciples, "You do this! Don't talk!" So Krṣṇa can order that because He is the Supreme. Any superior personality can order like that. But unfortunately, we misuse. We don't carry out the order of the superior. That is misuse. So any subordinate who does not carry the order of the master, he is dangerous. He is dangerous. That is spoken by Canakya Pandita, bhrtyas cottara-dayakaḥ;. Bhrtyas cottara-dayakaḥ;. Bhrtyaḥ;, subordinate, servant, if he is giving reply. Canakya Paṇḍita, you know Caṇakya-sloka, he is a great politician as well as moral instructor. So he has said duṣṭa bharya, his wife is duṣṭa, polluted. Wife becomes polluted if she is attracted by somebody else more than her husband, she is called polluted. Duṣṭa bharya ṣaṭhaṁ mitram, and friend playing duplicity. Duṣṭa bharya saṭhaṁ mitraṁ bhrtyas cottara-dayakaḥ;, and servant replying to the order. Master says, "You do this first!" "Sir, we have got so many business, this and that, we shall do it." Oh, that is a dangerous thing.

duṣṭa-bharya saṭhaṁ mitraṁ
bhrtyas ca uttara-dayakaḥ;
sa-sarpe ca grhe vaso
mrtyur eva na saṁsayaḥ;

So these four things, unfaithful wife, a dupli..., a cheating friend, and servant disobeying order, and a snake within the room, all these things are causes or the..., will cause death at any time. At any time, they can do anything. There are many instances. So these moral instructions are very nice given by Canakya Paṇḍita. So all living entities who have disobeyed the order of Krṣṇa, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66], that is the principle. Every living entity must be obedient to Krṣṇa. But by misuse of his little independence, if he does not obey the orders of Krṣṇa, he immediately becomes arrested by maya.

krṣṇa bhuliya jiva bhoga vañcha kare
pasate maya tare japaṭiya dhare

Immediately. That is the law. daivi hi eṣa guṇamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. He has to obey. But if he disobeys the order of Krṣṇa, he must come down to the jurisdiction of maya to be forced to obey the orders of material nature.

So brahmadayaḥ;, everyone, everyone is servant of Krṣṇa. That is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta, ekale isvara krṣṇa. Isvara means controller, order giver, that is one. Ekale isvara krṣṇa ara saba bhrtya [Cc. Adi 5.142]. All others, they are... [break] ...it is said, siva-viriñci-nutaṁ saraṇyam bhrtyarti-ham, vande maha-puruṣa te caraṇaravindam [SB 11.5.33]. Siva-viriñci-nutaṁ. Brahma, viriñci means Brahma and sivaḥ; means Lord Siva. They also offer obeisances unto the lotus feet of Krṣṇa, Viṣṇu. Oṁ tad viṣṇoḥ; paramaṁ padam. That is Ṛg Veda mantra, that Viṣṇu is paraṁ padam, supreme. And Viṣṇu is partial expansion of Lord Krṣṇa. Maha-Viṣṇu, not ordinary Viṣṇu. There are different types of Viṣṇu also. Maha-Viṣṇu, from Maha-Viṣṇu there is Garbhodak... Maha-Viṣṇu is called Karaṇodakasayi Viṣṇu. And this Karaṇodakasayi Viṣṇu enters in every universe as Garbhodakasayi Viṣṇu. And this Garbhodakasayi Viṣṇu again expands as Kṣirodakasayi Viṣṇu. These are viṣṇu-tattvas. But this original Karaṇodakasayi Viṣṇu is plenary expansion of Krṣṇa. That is explained in the Brahma-saṁhita,

yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-bilaja jagad-aṇḍa-nathaḥ;
viṣṇur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseṣo
govindam adi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajami
[Bs. 5.48]

Viṣṇu, Maha-Viṣṇu, His description is given, yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-aṇḍa-nathaḥ;. Maha-Viṣṇu is so big, He is lying in the Causal Ocean, that many innumerable quantity of universes are coming out by His exhaling and in..., exhaling. And from the pores of His body, innumerable universes are coming. And the Brahma lives only during the exhaling and inhaling time, that's all. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-aṇḍa-nathaḥ;, viṣṇur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseṣo [Bs. 5.48]. This Maha-Viṣṇu is portion of the portion of Krṣṇa's expansion. Just like Krṣṇa says... This Maha-Viṣṇu and Garbhodakasayi Viṣṇu is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. When Krṣṇa... When Arjuna was asking Krṣṇa about His vibhuti, about His power. So He summarized, athava bahunaitena kim jñatena tavarjuna, "How much I shall explain about My power and energy?" Vistabhya aham ekamsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. Aham, "I enter in one of My plenary portion, that is Garbhodakasayi Viṣṇu, I maintain the whole material cosmic manifestation." Ekaṁsena sthito jagat.

So there are innumerable numberless universes. We cannot account for one universe even. We do not know how many planets and stars are there. When we are very much advanced in scientific knowledge, we are trying to go to the moon planet after spending millions and trillions of dollars. But still we could not fix up anything in the moon planet. That is the nearest planet. And what to speak of other planets. There are innumerable planets. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagadaṇḍa-koṭi-koṭiṣv aseṣa-vasudhadi vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. So these are the explanation. So the Brahma, you have one Brahma, there are innumerable Brahmas and innumerable Sivas and innumerable demigods, as many universes are there. Innumerable suns and moons and planet, innumerable. And all this taken together, that becomes one fourth of the whole creation of God. Ekaṁsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. The three-fourth portion of Krṣṇa's creation, God's creation, is in the Vaikuṇṭha jagat. Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktat sanatanaḥ; [Bg. 8.20]. There is another nature, that is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, which is permanent. Within this material nature, all these universes, they stay during the lifetime of Brahma; and as soon as Brahma dies, everything is finished. Such Brahma, such powerful Brahma, they also offer obeisances to Krṣṇa. Therefore, here it is said, brahmadayaḥ; sura-gaṇa. Brahmadayaḥ;, not only Brahma, but others. Brahma, Siva, and Indra, Candra, Varuna, so many. There are many crores of demigods, as many planets there are.

So they offered Nrsiṁhadeva their prayers to pacify Him, but they could not. Therefore, Prahlada Maharaja says that if brahmadayaḥ; sura-gaṇa siddhaḥ;. Here Sridhara Swami says munayo manana sila siddhyaḥ; jñanino 'pi (?). Manano sila, manano sila means speculator, philosophers. Muni means one who can think very deeply, manano sila. Those who can explain(expand?) by thinking, feeling, and willing and can write volumes of books. There are many you know in our country, they are called manano sila. They take pleasure by mental speculation, manano sila, and they are men of knowledge also, jñanino 'pi. (Sanskrit quotes from Sridhara Swami commentary) And what kind of...? These great sages and saintly persons, what is their qualification? They are situated in knowledge, in sattva-guṇa, in light. They are not in darkness. Although they are not in darkness, but without being in the platform of sattva-guṇa, nobody can become very intelligent person, philosopher, or mental speculator also. Their position is very high in the material calculation. So such persons, api, (Sanskrit quotes from Sridhara Swami commentary), they are also unable to satisfy.

Just like if a man becomes angry, so somebody tries to satisfy him. Just like somebody...sometimes our small child becomes angry and cries very loudly and the parents satisfy, "My dear boy, you are so nice, why you are crying? You can take this," just to pacify. Similarly, when Nrsiṁhadeva became very angry for killing, because He was angry because Hiraṇyakasipu teased his devotee, Prahlada, so much. Therefore, He was very, very angry. Vaiṣṇava aparadha. If anyone offends a Vaiṣṇava, a pure devotee of Krṣṇa, he is the greatest offender. Krṣṇa never excuses. That I explained yesterday. It is very... Vaiṣṇava aparadha is the greatest dangerous offense. Therefore, Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His teaching to Sri Rupa Goswami, He has especially, vaiṣṇava-aparadha hati mata, you are doing everything. He has compared Vaiṣṇava aparadha as mad elephant. He has very nicely metaphorically explained this. Just like you have a nice garden, very good garden, you are watering, you are giving protection, giving manure, everything. But if in that garden a mad elephant enters, then it will destroy everything, all your labor will go to hell immediately. It will destroy everything. Similarly, you may do anything very nicely; but if you commit offense at the feet of a pure Vaiṣṇava, then all your assets will be immediately vanquished. Vaiṣṇava aparadha. Because Krṣṇa is very angry. Tan ahaṁ dviṣataḥ; kruran kṣipamy ajasram yoniṣu [Bg. 16.19]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, Krṣṇa said, dviṣataḥ; kruran. Dviṣataḥ;, those who are envious upon Vaiṣṇava and Viṣṇu, the more dangerous position is to be envious of a Vaiṣṇava. Viṣṇu aparadha can be excused, God is very kind. But He never excuses Vaiṣṇava aparadha. That is His vow.

So because He was very angry, therefore, all the Brahmas and other demigods offered Him prayer, "Sir, be pacified, the demon is now killed, now You can become peaceful," but they could not satisfy. Hiraṇyakasipu after killing He was so roaring in anger. So Prahlada Maharaja was pushed on, "My dear Prahlada," all the Brahmas and other demigods, that "you pacify your master. We have failed." Prahlada Maharaja says that "When these big, big stalwart demigods have failed, they are situated in sattva-guṇa, in the modes of goodness, and they offered so nice prayers, they failed. What I can do? I am born of a father who is full of raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa." He, therefore, says that kiṁ toṣṭum arhati sa me harir ugra-jateḥ;. Ugra-jateḥ;, "I am born of ugra, strong, strong qualities." Not strong quality, what do you call? Pungent. These raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa is called pungent. Just like you take chili. Chili is tama-guṇa, that is the symptom of tama-guṇa. As soon as you chew, it becomes hot everything. You see? So ugra, ugra. And sattva-guṇa is sweetness. (indistinct) Therefore, ordinarily in India it is stated that a brahmaṇa is known who can eat more sweets. (laughter) Yes.

It is said that there was a king, he was giving shelter to all the brahmaṇas. He had a guest house. Guest house, so any brahmaṇa can stay there. So many non-brahmaṇas also were coming. So the order was that the brahmaṇa can stay there and there was a store, he can take his supplies from the store and eat and live there peacefully. And the storekeeper was submitting bill to the king that your guest has taken so many things, kindly pay. So he was paying. So he was testing by the bill. If he would see the bill contains more spices and chilis, he will ask immediately, "Drag this man, he is not a brahmaṇa." (laughter) "Drag this, he is not a brahmaṇa." So be careful, don't take much. I know you don't take much. But if you take too much chilis and spices, then you will be considered amongst the non-brahmaṇas. You can take more sweets. (laughter) So if the bill was submitted containing more sugar, then he would accept, "Yes, that man is brahmaṇa." (laughter) So these three guṇas means sweet, salt, and chili. Sattva-guṇa is sweet, and raja-guṇa is salt, and tama-guṇa is chili.

So here it is said that "All the siddhas, all these demigods, they are on the sattvaikatana-gatayo, they are all situated in the modes of goodness and they have offered their prayers but could not pacify the Lord, then what I can do? I am born of a person, ugra-jateḥ;, born of chili father." (laughter) "What I can do? Because I am born of a chili father." (laughter) Then he considers that gunair api, jam naradhituṁ na pipruḥ; tat purna saktai tyaktva sa harir me katham toṣṭum praptam arhati (?). Sa hareḥ;, "That Supreme Personality of Godhead, how He can be pacified by me?" Toṣṭum arhati. In other words, that God consciousness, Krṣṇa consciousness cannot be achieved by persons who are polluted by the chili quality and salt quality, or tama-guṇa and raja-guṇa, rajas tamaḥ;. Rajas tamo bhavaḥ; [SB 1.2.19]. If we are infected with... There are three qualities within this material world, sattva-guṇa, raja-guṇa, tama-guṇa. So generally people are infected with tama-guṇa and raja-guṇa. There are very few persons who are under the sattva-guṇa. But Krṣṇa says that one can overcome the influence of raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa by simply hearing about Krṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gita or from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. That is the recommendation.

The recommendation is srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ; [SB 1.2.17]. Srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;. Krṣṇa, as I already told you, Krṣṇa is situated in everyone's heart. So when people are anxious to hear about Krṣṇa, this is the only qualification. Just like you are so kind, you are anxious to hear about Krṣṇa because here there is no other business than Krṣṇa. All of you who have come here, it is due to your anxiousness to hear about Krṣṇa. Because our society's name is Krṣṇa Consciousness. When I registered this society, some friend suggested that "Why don't you make it God Consciousness?" I said "No. God means Krṣṇa." Isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇah [Bs. 5.1]. God means..., the Supreme God means Krṣṇa. Mattaḥ; parataraṁ nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. So Krṣṇa is the Supreme God. If we say God, it remains a vague thing. It is not clearly understood. Everyone can be God. God, this word can be applied to everyone. God means controller. So everyone can be controller. Therefore, we have distinctly mentioned Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa consciousness. So in our society, anyone who joins, that means he is interested in Krṣṇa, little. May not be very much. At least they come here out of inquisitiveness to hear what they speak about Krṣṇa, what do they do about Krṣṇa. But our everything is open. There is no secrecy. We worship Krṣṇa, we think of Krṣṇa, we work for Krṣṇa, we glorify Krṣṇa, we chant for Krṣṇa, we dedicate our life for Krṣṇa. That's all. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji maṁ namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam... This is our philosophy. We think of Krṣṇa, as Krṣṇa says, we are devotees of Krṣṇa, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktaḥ;, we worship Krṣṇa, mad-yaji, we offer our obeisance to Krṣṇa, maṁ namaskuru, this is our... Sarva-dharman parityajya, we have no other religion, we don't approve any other religion except Krṣṇa consciousness. This is our philosophy.

So anyone who comes to this Krṣṇa consciousness movement or contributes something for pushing on this movement, he becomes immediately benefited. Immediate. Because Krṣṇa, about Krṣṇa it is said srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ; [SB 1.2.17]. Krṣṇa is there within your heart. As soon as He sees that you are trying to do something for Krṣṇa, immediately he becomes favorably disposed upon you. Even if you don't get anything, you become pious, puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;. Even if you don't... Just like I am speaking in English. There are many audience here, they may not understand English. But even if you do not understand, because you are hearing, you are getting the result of pious activities. Puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;. It does not mean that you have to understand each and every word. Because you are allowing your ear to receive the sound vibration, you are being benefited. Puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;. Srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ;. So if you... Please, simply hear what is going on here. That is also beneficial, puṇya. Puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;. Simply hearing, chanting, you join with us chanting Hare Krṣṇa, you hear Hare Krṣṇa, then you become pious. Puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;. Krṣṇa is so nice. Bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam. Suta Gosvami said that the krṣṇa-samprasna, because you have inquired about Krṣṇa, so it is loka-maṅgalam, it is very much beneficial to the whole world. This saṅkirtana movement is like that. Anywhere we are going, we are making the whole atmosphere purified. It is not here in India, we have got branches all over the world. In Africa, even those black men, they are also. Because in the spiritual world, there is no such consideration the black, white. Because it is the spiritual platform. The spirit soul is neither black, neither white, neither yellow. This is dress. Just like within the dress we are everyone. The dress may be black, white, yellow, that does not matter.

So our this movement invites everyone, because it is Krṣṇa consciousness. Srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;. If you please come and hear about Krṣṇa, then Krṣṇa becomes favorably disposed that "Now this soul, this individual soul is now inclined to hear about Me." So He gives facilities. What is that facility? The facility is that within our heart there are so many dirty things. Therefore, we cannot understand Krṣṇa. So Krṣṇa helps in washing the dirty matter within our heart. Srṇvataṁ sva-kathaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanaḥ;, hrdy antaḥ; stho abhadraṇi [SB 1.2.17]. Abhadraṇi. Abhadraṇi means especially this raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa, this is abhadraṇi. And sattva-guṇa is bhadraṇi. Therefore, those who are on the platform of sattva-guṇa, goodness, they are gentlemen. Before coming to the platform of sattva-guṇa, nobody can be gentleman. Gentleman means cool-headed, who can understand things as they are. He is called gentleman. So this abhadraṇi, in this human society, because these abhadrani, raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa, has increased, practically we can say there is no gentlemen. There is no gentlemen. Because they cannot understand what is life, what is the value of life. Just like the animal cannot understand what is the value of life. Animals, they are generally in tama-guṇa, and some animals in raja-guṇa. Just like lion. Lion is raja-guṇa. And the hog and dog and others, they are in the tama-guṇa. So animals are in the raja-guṇa, tama-guṇa. So the formula is, Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives this formula that if you hear Hare Krṣṇa mantra, then ceto-darpaṇa-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], then Krṣṇa will help you in washing the abominable things, raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa. The raja-guṇa and tama-guṇa, if it is washed, then you become situated in sattva-guṇa. You are promoted. But if you are promoted directly to Krṣṇa consciousness, then you transcend all the three qualities, tama-guṇa, raja-guṇa, and sattva-guṇa. That is also stated by Krṣṇa, sa guṇan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. Who? Maṁ ca 'vyabhicariṇa bhakti-yogena yaḥ; sevate. Avyabhicareṇa, not mixed quality, pure. These boys, European and American boys, people admire because they have been given immediately lift to the position of transcendental life. Sa guṇan samatityaitan [Bg. 14.26]. They have been helped to jump over the transcendental platform. How? Viddhi-bhakti, avyabhicariṇi-bhakti. Avyabhicariṇi-bhakti. Vyabhicariṇi means some day I do something, some day I do not do that. That is called vyabhicariṇi, not fixed up. But if you follow regularly the rules and regulation, viddhi-bhakti, to rise early in the morning, to offer maṅgala-arati, then read granthas, chant Hare Krṣṇa, then dress the Deity, then again offer something, in this way that there is regular routine work, that is called viddhi-bhakti. Viddhi, viddhi means he must, he cannot neglect it. Just like your legislative assembly is called Vidhansabha(?). Vidhansabha means whatever is enacted there, you must follow. That is the state order. Similarly, there are rules and regulation which one must follow. Then viddhi-bhakti. As soon as he accepts these rules and regulation and offers Krṣṇa service under that rules and regulation, immediately he is in the transcendental platform, immediately.

Sa guṇan samatityaitan [Bg. 14.26]. Etan means all these three qualities, tama-guṇa, raja-guṇa, and sattva-guṇa. Sattva-guṇa is good so far material consideration is there, but that is not perfect. Because from sattva-guṇa, if you are not very strict... Just like we have seen. Sattva-guṇa means the quality of brahmaṇa. Now the brahminical qualification is now fallen. They are not so very strict following the brahminical principles. So there is chance of falling down. But if you keep yourself on the transcendental platform, aprakrti, that is, beyond the material world, then there is no falldown. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. Falldown there is, if you are neglectful, but generally there is no chance of falldown. Sa guṇan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. So you have to situate yourself in the Brahman platform. Brahman platform means pure, uncontaminated by the material qualities. That is called Brahman platform. Brahma-bhutaḥ; prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. There are many such statements.

So this is Brahman platform. The brahma-jñani, impersonalist, they think simply by coming to the Brahman platform, business is finished now. Ahaṁ brahmasmi. No. Ahaṁ brahmasmi is there, but what is the duty of the Brahman? That they do not know. Just like again I say the same example. Just like you are going to the moon planet. The so-called aeronautics, they are going, "Now we have come to moon planet." That's nice, but stay there. Unless you stay there, it is useless. It is useless. Actually, they could not stay there. Why they come back? Why they come back? That is either false or they have no qualification to stay there. So who cannot stay in the Brahman platform? The nondevotee. That is stated. Aruhya krcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ; patanty adhaḥ; [SB 10.2.32]. Just like as you go to the moon planet but if you cannot stay there, you must have to come down again to this planet; similarly, one may rise up to the Brahman platform, paraṁ-pada, which is called paraṁ-pada, but if you cannot stay there, then again you fall down. Just like many so-called sannyasis, they rise to the brahma-pada, ahaṁ brahmasmi, but because they cannot stay there, they come down again to this material world and they are busy for opening hospitals, schools, and philanthropism. My wife, you have left already all this nonsense, you say that this world is mithya, brahma satyaṁ jagan mithya. So if you have ascended to the brahma-pada, why you come down again to the mithya-pada? That means you have no taste. Actually you have not arrived, the same thing. You are going, the so-called advertisement, "I am going to the moon planet," but because you cannot stay there, you come down. So we have to stay there, brahma-pada. That brahma-pada staying means devotional service. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. So brahma-pada, you can rise up. But if you do not engage yourself in the service of Bhagavan, then again you come down. aruhya krcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ; patanty adho 'nadrta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ; [SB 10.2.32]. Because they could not engage their service to the lotus feet of Krṣṇa, therefore, these so-called sannyasis again come down to this material platform and engage their service to the mithya. Because they rejected this world, mithya. Why they come down again to this mithya platform-politics, sociology, humanity—if this is mithya? But our philosophy is not that... We don't say that this world is mithya. Why shall I say? It is creation of Krṣṇa. If Krṣṇa is truth, His creation is also truth. We employ everything to the service of Krṣṇa. Therefore, anyone who is engaged in the service of the Lord is always situated in the transcendental platform. They will never come down. Because it is so sweet, it is so nice, they will never agree. Any student of this institution, if you ask him, if you try to cheat him that you give up this idol worship, come down, go and worship the poor, the leper, and this and that, so many things, they will not. They will not. They will not come down. They will engage themselves always in the service of the Lord.

Although the atheist class of men may think that they are engaged in idol worship, it is not idol. Those who are atheist, they may see idol, stone. But those who are devotees, they see sakṣad brajendranandana hari. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He entered the Jagannatha temple, as soon as He saw Jagannatha, immediately fainted, "Oh, my Lord, here You are." So it is a question of vision. Somebody is going to Jagannatha temple, he is seeing a wooden carved statue, that's all. And he is surprised, "Why for this wooden carved statue so many people are coming?" Because they are not devotee, they cannot understand. But one devotee, thousands and millions of devotees are going every year. Are they going to worship an idol? So this is the difference between the devotee and the nondevotee. A devotee knows that everything belongs to Krṣṇa and everything is the manifestation of Krṣṇa's energy. Therefore, they want to employ everything to the service of the Lord, and they remain always blissful, transcendental. Thank you very much. Hare Krṣṇa. [break]

Guest (1): Some yogis harness energies and claim to use these energies to benefit humanity. Is there any value in their work? Is there any real consequence?

Prabhupada: Yes, that I have already explained that they employ their energies but if they do not reach the ultimate goal, Krṣṇa, they fall down. There is chance of falling down. Because Krṣṇa is the ultimate goal. So they are employing their energies, that's all right, but they have to employ their energies more and more to approach Krṣṇa. If you do not approach Krṣṇa, then they fall down. Aruhya krcchreṇa, if they simply... Just like the same example, just like sunshine. Sunshine is also sun. But if you simply try to remain in the sunshine and don't go to the sun planet or any other planet, then again you come back. So the energy employed for realizing the Absolute Truth is good. But if he does not approach or if he is unable to approach the Supreme, then he will fall down.

Guest (1): Is any knowledge other than ultimate knowledge of the Supreme of any value at all?

Prabhupada: Any knowledge, there are so many subject matter of knowledge in the material world.

Guest (1): Is this material knowledge of any value?

Prabhupada: No. Material is valuable so far your material existence is concerned. That is also not valuable. Because if you try to protect this body by all kinds of knowledge, but it will not stay. And after giving up your this body, you have to accept another body. Then what is the value of material knowledge? This time you may have this human form of body, next time you may not have. Then what is the value of material knowledge? Because you cannot change the order of transmigration of the soul from one body to another. That you have to accept according to your karma. So, therefore, material knowledge will not help me. Therefore they struggle so. You are under the grip of natural laws, daivi hy eṣa guṇamayi [Bg. 7.14]. Natural, nature's law are very stringent. You cannot interfere with the... Prakrteḥ; kriyamaṇani guṇaiḥ; karmaṇi sarvasaḥ; [Bg. 3.27]. The prakrti, the nature, material nature is so strong that you cannot interfere with her business, that is not possible. So your material knowledge will not help you, unless you have got Krṣṇa consciousness knowledge. You can, anyone can understand. Suppose if I want to protect this body with all hygienic principles, soaps and pumice and injection and medicine and so many things, does it mean that you shall live? Can you overcome the laws of nature? No, that is not possible. Can you overcome the laws of nature that you will not fall sick? No, that you cannot. Can you make any material laws or scientific knowledge that you will not become old? No. You cannot stop death, you cannot stop birth, you cannot stop old age, you cannot stop disease. So what is the value of your material knowledge? And these are the troubles. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duḥ;kha-doṣanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. Any intelligent man will see that what is the value of my material knowledge? I have to die. I have to be victim of disease and old age. Then what is the value? The best thing is that so long this material body is there, you have got the opportunity to develop your Krṣṇa consciousness, do that. That will save you from all dangers. Otherwise, nothing will save you. Simply srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8], simply waste of time. Chant Hare Krṣṇa. (end)

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