Room Conversation
New Delhi
2 Nov

Prabhupada: ...for others it is said. For Krsna, it is mercy. The gopis came with lust. They became purified with Krsna's association. Gopis actually, superficially, externally, they are, means, nitya-siddha, ever-liberated expansion of Krsna's energy, internal energy. But apparently, they left their father, husband and came to Krsna. So that is, from Vedic principle, it is wrong. One young girl cannot go to other young man, giving up the protection of father, brother, and... So they did it. So they, according to Vedic principle, it is sinful. But because it was related with Krsna, they became purified. That means any way, if one comes in contact with Krsna, he becomes purified. Even though he's sinful. That is Krsna's... That is the benefit of Krsna consciousness. Sun is never infected. Rather, the infected area becomes sterilized by the sunshine. This is the process. That is explained. Tejiyasam na dosaya [SB 10.33.29]. One who is very powerful, he has no fault. So how your temperature is going on?

Syamasundara: Everything is getting very nicely improved.

Prabhupada: That's nice.

Syamasundara: You've got some cold?

Brahmananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: I got everything, still, I haven't got anything. (laughter) So you can invite the neighboring people. We can hold an evening class or morning class. I'll give you one matter for... [break] This is a nice place. If you invite the neighboring..., they may come and take advantage.

Syamasundara: It looks like an American neighborhood.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Syamasundara: It looks like an American neighborhood.

Prabhupada: Yes. It is very nice place. So you are also helping Tejas?

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: That's nice.

Syamasundara: Tomorrow morning I'm meeting with Indira Gandhi...

Prabhupada: Oh!

Syamasundara: ...and the American ambassador.

Prabhupada: If Indira Gandhi comes one day...

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: ...that will be very nice.

Syamasundara: We're thinking if we can get either one of those two, then everyone else will come very easily. They'll give money, everything.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. It is very nice. Indira Gandhi knows our movement. Is it not? Yes, she knows.

Syamasundara: Yes. I approached her that you are the great, the greatest emissary of Krsna, of Indian culture outside of India. So...

Prabhupada: That is a fact. But these rascals do not appreciate it. Others are appreciating.

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: The foreign countries, they're appreciating, "Here is real Indian culture." They should also appreciate by the result.

Syamasundara: Yes, that's the point.

Prabhupada: By the result, not theoretical.

Syamasundara: No. So we were showing pictures and books.

Prabhupada: Hmm. Every sane man should appreciate. When European and American young men, who are after material sense gratification, they're taking sannyasa, it is not joke. They should appreciate it. In an age where material sense enjoyment is very prominent, and they give up everything for Krsna, and they're going far away from their comfortable position... Just like Brahmananda has gone to Africa. So what for? Unless they appreciate Krsna consciousness, how they take up this job? This is practical. There is no question of theoretical.

Brahmananda: You said that last night when you spoke that about we are actually siddhas.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Brahmananda: We are not...

Prabhupada: That I wanted to prove... (laughs)

Brahmananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: ...that these boys are siddhas. Others, they do not know what is siddhi.

Brahmananda: They have not even left family connection, you said.

Prabhupada: (laughs) That I... That Mr. Kokoor...

Brahmananda: Yeah.

Prabhupada: ...talking high talks. Simply high words will not do.

Syamasundara: I think, I think it will be good, though, if we flatter Mrs. Gandhi also, a little flattery.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Syamasundara: Let her think that we are praising her leadership of the country.

Prabhupada: No. Yes, flatter that "You can say that you'll be glorified when India will be glorified. So this culture will glorify India."

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: "And Prabhupada has introduced."

Syamasundara: It is now already...

Prabhupada: "So you should cooperate with us."

Syamasundara: Yeah.

Prabhupada: "This is India's original culture, Krsna culture." And ninety-percent of the people, they are Krsna devotees, of India. There is no doubt about it.

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: So... And this has got the potency of being spread all over the world. All over the world.

Syamasundara: Hm. Yes.

Prabhupada: Some news has come out in Jugantar that Queen Elizabeth is reading our Bhagavad-gita.

Syamasundara: That was from that time David Wynne gave her that Bhagavad-gita.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Syamasundara: ...to read while she was sitting for him for the sculpture.

Prabhupada: So it has come to her attention.

Syamasundara: I think he has told that story to several people and the word has spread.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Brahmananda: Where did you hear it from?

Prabhupada: Anyway, that, our, our architect, that...

Brahmananda: Surabhi. Oh, Mr. Lahiri.

Prabhupada: He has seen in the Jugantar Press.

Syamasundara: It was in the newspaper here in India. (laughter) She did! She read it one day for three hours, four hours.

Brahmananda: You're kidding!

Prabhupada: And the latest report is that Bhagavad-gita is selling fifteen thousand copies per month in London. Who told me? Thirty-thousand copies sold in two months.

Syamasundara: It was MacMillan's biggest selling book in England.

Prabhupada: Yes. That also you can inform her. And present her one copy.

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes. One copy of Bhagavata.

Syamasundara: I gave her one copy of...

Prabhupada: Who arranged this meeting?

Syamasundara: Well, we did. We just went.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Syamasundara: And with the American Ambassador, we have left him today one copy of Bhagavad-gita.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Syamasundara: And tomorrow we can...

Prabhupada: You can refer that Mr., what is his, last ambassador?

Syamasundara: Keath, Keating.

Prabhupada: Keating.

Syamasundara: Yes, I already have given him one copy...

Prabhupada: He knows us very well.

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: Where is that...? He gave us some letter?

Syamasundara: We gave already that copy to the ambassador.

Prabhupada: He liked this movement.

Syamasundara: Also I gave the papers...

Prabhupada: And "We are American. You can ask about this movement."

Syamasundara: Yes, I said that also. I said, "Because most of your disciples are American, and you are an American practically..."

Prabhupada: Yes. Ah. "So you can test us. You can test us."

Syamasundara: Also politically speaking, now it is time Mrs., Mrs. Gandhi is being criticized now by Hindus because she took sides with these Arabs during this war.

Prabhupada: Hm. She is very highly criticized.

Syamasundara: So she needs to get some political benefit from associating with Hindus during some functions just now.

Prabhupada: Yes. That will counteract.

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Syamasundara: "And also he needs that association with India leaders. Because America is..."

Prabhupada: Yes. If she comes, then we shall have to give a nice speech so that she may be convinced.

Syamasundara: Yes. Very flatter... I think, I think we should flatter her completely.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Syamasundara: No controversy. And this...

Prabhupada: No, that, "If you become Krsna conscious, naturally everything will be correct." Just like Yudhisṭhira Maharaja was Krsna conscious. And can, you can read the portion during the reign of Yudhisṭhira Maharaja, how nature was helping. Kamam vavarsa. You keep one set of books here. Kamam vavarsa parjanyaḥ; [SB 1.10.4]. "Due to Maharaja Yudhisṭhira's being Krsna conscious, everything was going on nicely. So by the grace of Krsna, you are on the post of Yudhisṭhira Maharaja. So if you take standard, it will be good for everyone. And so far secular state is concerned, we are actually secular. In this movement, all classes of men are here."

Syamasundara: I think, Srila Prabhupada, you'll have to preach to her. Because she won't listen to... If I can just get her to agree to be the chief guest.

Prabhupada: And accept the book. That is all right.

Syamasundara: That's all I can do.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Syamasundara: If you preach to her, she'll listen.

Prabhupada: Yes. yes.

Syamasundara: But she won't listen if I preach to her.

Prabhupada: No, no, no. That is not possible. That I know. You simply try to...

Syamasundara: Induce her to come.

Prabhupada: Yes, to join us at least one day.

Syamasundara: Yes.

Prabhupada: And accept the book, read it, at least the introductory portion, preface portion.

Syamasundara: I can show her politically how it would be advantageous for her to come. That much I can do.

Prabhupada: I, I... I don't think you should advise him, her...

Syamasundara: I mean I don't need to really.

Prabhupada: ...about politics.

Syamasundara: She knows it. She knows that you... And also this American ambassador could use some favorable publicity.

Prabhupada: No, this Bhagavad-gita contains everything—politics, sociology, religion, philosophy. So this culture should be spread; this India's culture, original culture, should be spread. And we are endeavoring that. And it is becoming successful.

Syamasundara: Also we are meeting the Minister of Defence, Jagjivana Rama. And Dr. Karan Singh is coming back on Monday. He's been out. And Kumar Shankara Diksit tomorrow morning also, the Minister of...

Prabhupada: Kumar Shankara Diksit.

Syamasundara: ...Home Affairs. Minister of Home Affairs.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Syamasundara: Big post.

Prabhupada: Well, these politicians are politicians. Anyway, we...

Syamasundara: At least, if they come, everything will be successful.

Prabhupada: Indira, simply Indira Gandhi comes, it will be tremendous success.

Syamasundara: Yes. Crowds will come. People will donate money for the pandala.

Prabhupada: So when the pandala will be erected?

Tejas: It will begin on the fourth, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: It will begin on the fourth.

Prabhupada: That place is nice, but it is not as public as the L.I.C.

Tejas: We need some... For that reason, we need some very good chief guest and some good publicity.

Prabhupada: Yes, yes.

Syamasundara: We arranged some newspaper publicity today. So... And he's arranged banners and posters and... Enough people will come.

Prabhupada: You have got some fruits?

Syamasundara: Mostly, I think they'll come because they remember before, when you were here... [break] (end)