Srila Prabhupada Quote Of The Day

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder~Acharya of the Krsna Consciousness Movement

April 28, 1970
Los Angeles
Letter to Citsukhananda

"Regarding your first question, who is the speaker of Isopanisad? The speaker is the Vedas personified. In the Vedic age a disciple heard from the Spiritual Master messages which were coming down in disciplic succession, so a disciple, whatever he heard from his bona fide Spiritual Master, would recite.

The Vedic mantras are known as Sruti, to hear from authoritative source and then repeat it, chanting. So there is no question of who wrote it, it is said that no human being has compiled them. Later on, before the beginning of Kali Yuga, all Vedic mantras were written in books, most of them were done by Srila Vyasadeva Mahamuni and his different disciples."

Submitted by Nityananda Rama dasa

Quotes From Srila Prabhupada Regarding Farms

Now... We have come to the open field. How it is nice. And so long we were passing through that congested areas -- hellish, simply hellish. And now here is open space. How it is nice.

Hari-sauri: To enter into a city is so imposing on your consciousness.

Prabhupada: Up to that point, simply rubbish, all papers thrown here and there. People are living in... Now see here, how it is open and pleasing. Organize this farm project. Farm. (background talking)

Hari-sauri: He's just saying that in the West one requires a great deal of capital. To start a farm, to get the land, you need a lot of money because land is very expensive. And also we have to use modern farming techniques because we have so few men to run the farms.

Prabhupada: No, you show example. People will do automatically. When the people find it is very nice, they will take.

Hari-sauri: Should we try to make an effort to have our householders go and live on the farms, a special effort? If it's ready to do that?

Prabhupada: Why householders? Everyone. Hare Krsna.(japa)

Ramesvara: In America there is a very big emphasis on getting people to join us by moving into our temples. The temple presidents are very eager to get as many people to move in as possible, but in the long run most people cannot come up to the standard.

Prabhupada: Therefore I am [advocating] farms.

Ramesvara: So they have to be encouraged to have a little bit of Krsna consciousness in their own home, make their home a temple.

Prabhupada: No, let them go to the farm, New Vrindaban.

Ramesvara: Many people... Most people in the world, they are grhamedhis, and they cannot give it up so easily.

Prabhupada: "No, you remain...Come here with your wife, children. You remain grhamedhi."

Jagadisa: New Vrindaban is very austere. If we build little bungalows with modern convenience...

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Jagadisa: There has to be some modern convenience.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Then we shall do that.

Ramesvara: But for many people who live in the cities, they have their jobs already. They don't want to give it up...

Say, in America, most people live in the cities, and they already have their job, and they are set in their ways.

Prabhupada: But you said that there is unemployment also.

Ramesvara: To a certain extent. But there are still 250,000,000 people. So most of them...

Prabhupada: So those who are unemployed, let them come to us. We shall give them employment.

Ramesvara: Yes. But for the mass population...

Prabhupada: Well, gradually you will increase and...

Ramesvara: We have to give them something that they can do in their home.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Ramesvara: Because it is impractical to think that they will give up everything and move into the temple.

Prabhupada: No, those who are unemployed, let them come. We shall give them employment.

Jagadisa: On the farm.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Ramesvara: For those who are unemployed, that's attractive.

Jagadisa: But for those who are already employed...

Ramesvara: But most people have jobs.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Ramesvara: Many people already have their jobs and their families.

Prabhupada: All right, let them not come, but those who are unemployed, let them come.

Ramesvara: But what...? For those people who already have their jobs, instead of...

Prabhupada: That job... They will be very soon jobless. Don't worry. (laughs) They will come. They will be obliged to come. Now they have got job, but as the days are advancing in Kali-yuga, they'll be jobless.

Hari-sauri: So we can expect that material conditions are going to become very much worse than this.

Prabhupada: They may come or not. We don't care for it. Let us establish an ideal society. That is the...

Jagadisa: If someone who is well-off wants to become a devotee, shall we encourage him to give up all of his material well-being or shall we ask him to instead put a temple in his house and encourage him how to make his house into a temple and make his whole family Krsna conscious?

Prabhupada: And what is your material well-being? Everyone is going hundred miles for well-being. Is that well-being? Either they may go by motorcar or by train... And as soon as there is -- what is called? -- bottle-neck, they become very much disturbed: "How to go to the office?" Where is well-being?

Ramesvara: Say, the Christian religion... The Christian religion has millions of followers.

Prabhupada: But what is the meaning of these followers? They do not understand anything. Simply by rubber-stamp they are follower.

Ramesvara: But if we can get a mass following, it is only possible by preaching to them little bit at a time.

Prabhupada: Yes. By your ideal life, ideal teaching, you'll get. This Christian or any religion, what is the use of that? It's not at all religion. It's simply rubber-stamp...

Ramesvara: Many people think that if you become a Hare Krsna you have to shave your head.

Prabhupada: That is very good.

Ramesvara: But it scares them and it keeps them from joining us.

Prabhupada: No, you save so much barbers' expenses. (laughter)

Hari-sauri: So much inconvenience for washing.

Ramesvara: These are misunderstandings that confuse people.

Prabhupada: The whole life is misunderstanding, material life.

Ramesvara: But we want them to chant Hare Krsna. That's the main thing.

Prabhupada: Why they are envious of us? When we live very nicely, they are envious that "These people do not do anything, and they are living so nicely."

Ramesvara: They will not be so envious if they see that people who dress in Western style and keep their families and keep their jobs are also chanting Hare Krsna.

Prabhupada: We say...We say that, that we simply say, that "You change your consciousness."

Ramesvara: Not change your dress, but change your consciousness.

Prabhupada: No, we never said. If you prefer that kind of dress, costly, you prefer it, but we are simplified.

Ramesvara: It's our choice.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hari-sauri: As a person becomes more purified, then he'll simplify himself anyway. And if he really cultivates a desire to...

Prabhupada: Now, nowadays coat-pant is very costly. If you can spend your money, costly dress, we have no objection. Then you have to earn more; you have to work more. Therefore we are simplified.

Ramesvara: Ultimately, it is the best thing.

Prabhupada: If they want to come in that dress, come in. If you want, come in.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Localized economics -- a revolutionary social concept...back to the land, back to freedom...education made simple...give everyone a higher taste...how to get good leaders...farms are the future
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Mahamsa: And this is a very nice thing he said, Prabhupada. He said that "We want to improve things in the countryside to an extent that people from the cities start running to the villages."

Prabhupada: Yes. That I want. I... Everywhere I go and say, how these rascals...? So much land is lying, and these rascals are not developing. And they are making... What is that? Coal stone. Coal. They are interested with these bricks and stones, not green vegetables. Such a rascal government. Give them facility. We know how to do it. Annad bhavanti bhutani parjanyad anna-sambhavah, yajnad bhavati parjanyah [Bg. 3.14]. Let them engage in kirtana. There will be more water for gardening, and it will be moist, and then produce fodder for the animals and food for you. And animal gives you milk. That is Vrndavana life. And they are absorbed in this so-called opulence. Krsna has taken birth. They are bringing so many nice, pleasant foodstuff, very well-dressed and ornamented. These are description. In the morning we were reading. How they were happy, the inhabitants of Vrndavana with Krsna and living and cows. That I want to introduce. At any cost do it and... Don't bother about big, big buildings. It is not required. Useless waste of time. Produce. Make the whole field green. See that. Then whole economic question solved. Then you eat sumptuous. Eat sumptuously. The animal is happy. The animal even does not give milk; let them eat and pass stool and urine. That is welcome. After all, eating, they will pass stool. So that is beneficial, not that simple milk is beneficial. Even the stool is beneficial. Therefore I am asking so much here and..., "Farm, farm, farm, farm..." That is not my program-Krsna's program. Annad bhavanti bhutani [Bg. 3.14]. Produce greenness everywhere, everywhere. Vrndavana. It is not this motorcar civilization. If it has taken in his brain, then it is to be understood that he can do this plan. He'll be able. Somebody said that he is eager to see me. Hm?

Mahamsa: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Yes.

Mahamsa: Caitya-guru was saying.

Prabhupada: Caitya-guru?

Indian devotee (1): Actually I was wondering that I should go and conduct him, 'cause last time, when he met our devotees, when he mentioned that he was very eager to have your darsana in Bombay, then you were not feeling well. So you were unable to see him.

Prabhupada: But if he can come to see me... This program he's taking. The whole world will be happy.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Conversation Pieces -- May 27, 1977, Vrndavana
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business, that requires so many other things. But if you take to agriculture you can do it immediately. Krsi-go-raksya. That... We are going to do that. Krsi... This is beginning, family life, maintenance, body and soul together. This is the beginning. Business is there when there is excess. Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam [Bg. 18.44]. First of all you take care of the cows and engage yourself in agricultural products. Then when there is excess production, you trade, get some money for other purposes. But you... Agriculture means you work for producing food. That is wanted. Why immediately go to trade? Trade is required when there is excess product. Everything is there. Krsi-go-raksya. And the krsi you can produce independently. You simply work. You have got your hands and legs. You till the ground and throw some seed, and it will come. One kilo seeds, you'll get one hundred mounds. Then, when the product is excess, you trade. Everything is there. If you produce food grain, you'll eat nicely and you'll be strong. You'll be able to work more. Our point is take Krsna's instruction. Everything will be perfect. Not that Krsna is advising immediately sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. For that stage you are not prepared. That I know. But in your present stage what you'll do, that is perfect.

Giriraja: You mean I should leave everything and start a farm?

Prabhupada: Where is the question of leaving? Agriculture... You take to agriculture -- that means you leave everything?

Giriraja: Well, what I have now.

Prabhupada: And what you have got? You are asking that "I require now food." That means you have nothing. You have no food even.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- January 3, 1977, Bombay
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Yasomatinandana: And that was in the middle of the desert. Not desert, in the middle of like jungle, you know.
Prabhupada: That I want.
Yasomatinandana: It's fifteen minutes away from the...
Prabhupada: We don't want any profit. We don't want any profit. You produce. You eat. You chant. Organize. Don't go outside.
Yasomatinandana: Don't go to the cities.
Prabhupada: No. Be man of character. No illicit sex, no intoxication. Vaisnava. Eat sufficiently, dress sufficiently. Live very comfortably. Whatever profit is there, it should be invested again for books. That's... Because we are investing money, our land... Therefore we are not profited. Beneficiary, you. It is a cooperative society. You produce your needs, live comfortably, chant Hare Krsna. Our only interest is that you are taking interest in Krsna consciousness, working. Otherwise we don't want to exploit you. That is not... If there is no sufficient, you can... We help you manage it. You manage your own affair. We give you direction. Live happily, chant. This should be... Will not they agree?
Yasomatinandana: Yes, they will very much agree.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yasomatinandana: They already like our program of chanting and dancing.
Prabhupada: That's all.
Yasomatinandana: Very much they love it. People come from distant villages in groups.
Prabhupada: Yes. Make them... In Gujarat it is very good. So you show an example that other camp will...
Yasomatinandana: This year we are taking some cash crops just to develop the farm.
Prabhupada: That's all right.
Yasomatinandana: But then, once we have developed, then we can have rice and wheat and then distribute free prasada to everyone. Because every inch of the land is cultivatable.
Prabhupada: I have given so much for... Try to repay.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- July 27-28, 1977, Vrndavana
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"Lord Krsna as Govinda is more inclined to the br�anas and the cows, indicating thereby that human prosperity depends more on these two items, namely brahminical culture and cow protection. Lord Krsna is never satisfied where these are lacking."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.21)
"The cow should be protected, milk should be drawn from the cows, and this milk should be prepared in various ways. One should take ample milk, and thus one can prolong one's life, develop his brain, execute devotional service, and ultimately attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is essential to get food grains and water by digging the earth, it is also essential to give protection to the cows and take nectarean milk from their milk bags."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 8.16.12)

Prabhupada: "Yes. Whatever it may be... We should be satisfied locally by our food, by our cloth, by our milk. That's all. Let the whole world go to hell. We don't care. If you want to save yourself also, you do this. Here is an example. If you want artificial life, city life, and hellish life, you do. But we shall live like this. This is the ideal life."
(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, January 21, 1977, Bhubaneswar)

Srila Prabhupada on simple living and high thinking

Prabhupada: In India also, British period, they used to, that, but Indian people are little clever. They would come from the village to the city alone, not with family. They earn money and send to the family. And whenever they like, they go away. They’re not dependent. And if you bring family, you have to work. That system is still going on. The village men, they come but they do not bring their family. Family remains in the village. He earns, he lives some way or other and sends money there, and the wife who is intelligent. He (she) accumulates the money and when there is enough money he (she) purchases land, investment. So… In after few years, when they have got enough land, they do not come back. They produce their own necessities. Very nice. Hare Krishna. As soon as they are self-sufficient from the land they no more work. That’s a good idea. Remain in the village with family. (Room Conversation — January 4, 1977, Bombay : 770104rc.bom)
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Prabhupada: Industry means to exploit the work of others and give them one dollar and make profit ten dollars. This is industry, at the cost of others some capitalist gaining huge profit. This is industry. “And let them live in a hellish condition, go to hell. Never mind. You work in the factory, and we make profit.” The Communist is trying to take over the industry and get the whole profit. (laughs) That’s all. The condition remains the same–hellish. But… What is called…? Complacent, he’s satisfied that “I am getting the profit.” All foolish. The Iran is also imitating European method of exploiting. They’re bringing men from village.

In India also, British period, they used to, that, but Indian people are little clever. They would come from the village to the city alone, not with family. They earn money and send to the family. And whenever they like, they go away. They’re not dependent.
And if you bring family, you have to work. That system is still going on. The village men, they come but they do not bring their family. Family remains in the village. He earns, he lives some way or other and sends money there, and the wife who is intelligent. He (she) accumulates the money and when there is enough money he (she) purchases land, investment.
So… In after few years, when they have got enough land, they do not come back. They produce their own necessities. Very nice. Hare Krishna. As soon as they are self-sufficient from the land they no more work. That’s a good idea. Remain in the village with family. (Room Conversation — January 4, 1977, Bombay : 770104rc.bom)
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Conversation on Train to Allahabad — January 11, 1977, India : 770111tt.ida:
Hari-sauri: To enter into a city is so imposing on your consciousness
Prabhupada: Up to that point, simply rubbish, all papers thrown here and there. People are living in… Now see here, how it is open and pleasing. Organize this farm project. Farm. (background talking)…
Prabhupada: No, you show example. People will do automatically. When the people find it is very nice, they will take.
Hari-sauri: Should we try to make an effort to have our householders go and live on the farms, a special effort? If it’s ready to do that?
Prabhupada: Why householders? Everyone. Hare Krishna. (japa)
Jagadisa: But for those who are already employed…
Ramesvara: But most people have jobs.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Ramesvara: Many people already have their jobs and their families.
Prabhupada: All right, let them not come, but those who are unemployed, let them come.
Ramesvara: But what…? For those people who already have their jobs, instead of…
Prabhupada: That job… They will be very soon jobless. Don’t worry. (laughs) They will come. They will be obliged to come. Now they have got job, but as the days are advancing in Kali-yuga, they’ll be jobless.
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750514mw.per Conversations 380932/530501
Prabhupada: The solution is there. They won’t take it. Solution is there, that everyone produce your own food. There is so much land; utilize it. The solution is there. No. They want to sit down on the table, chair, in a very nice compartment, and making solution. They won’t go.

Amogha: He was saying that your solution was too simple. He said that people will not accept it because it is too simple.

Prabhupada: That is his ignorance. They will say it is primitive. That is the only solution. According to the Vedic system, you cannot use anything which you cannot produce. Suppose this we are using, but according the Vedic system we should not use it because I cannot produce it. Then the whole solution is there. Nobody will manufacture this because there will be no customer. If I refuse this use of this machine, thinking that “I cannot produce it; I should not use it,” then where is the customer? The so-called industry will automatically stop, and he has to go to the village outlying.

Paramahamsa: Some of the orthodox hippies have this philosophy, and they reject all machines and things that they cannot make themselves.

Prabhupada: That is natural. That is natural. It is good. But they are not led by good leader. Otherwise next alternative is this, that you have to give up this artificial way of civilization. Now this land is vacant. We can produce so much food grains if it is utilized. Fruits, flower, vegetables, grains–we can produce.
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770104rc.bom Conversations 460260/530501
Prabhupada: That should be stressed. First business is the neighboring village people, they should come, chant and take prasada. And gradually, when they become interested, then they come, live with us, work with us. In this way they should be induced, bare living and chanting.

Jagadisa: As in Hyderabad.

Prabhupada: Yes. Then our movement is success. Our only motive is how people become interested in Krishna consciousness. We have no other motive. No economic problem… Economic problem is… What is economic problem? We produce our own food and cloth, barely, and spiritual life… On the farm it is easier. And if they are dispatched to the city for livelihood, there are big, big roads and big, big cars and big, big anxieties. Then wine, meat, and so on, so on…, suicide, their spiritual life finished. These rascals are protesting. They have no ideas of spiritual life. They think this is life, to be merry, enjoy and drink. “Eat. Drink. Be merry.” How they are committing suicide, they do not know. Nature’s law is very stringent. They are foolish rascal. There is no education for them. Still, if we try, many men will be saved. So write very elaborately how to do this. Increase. And in your country, we increase this farm project.

One Good Quality in Kali-Yuga

Prabhupada:

dvapare bhagavan syamah
pita-vasa nijayudhah
sri-vatsadibhir ankais ca
laksanair upalaksitah

namas te vasudevaya
namah sankarsanaya ca
pradyumnayaniruddhaya
tubhyam bhagavate namah

These are some of the mantras for offering respect to Krsna. This mantra, you may particularly note down:

namas te vasudevaya
namah sankarsanaya ca
pradyumnayaniruddhaya
tubhyam bhagavate namah
ei mantre dvapare kare krsnarcana
'krsna-nama-sankirtana'-kali-yugera dharma

So in the Dvapara-yuga, this was the process, krsnarcana, worshiping Krsna, and in the Kali-yuga, this pita, this yellowish-colored incarnation of Krsna, Lord Caitanya, He's to be worshiped by this sankirtana movement. Sankirtanair yajnair. This is also called sacrifice, this sankirtana yajna. There are different kinds of yajna. This is called nama-yajna, sacrifice of the holy name of the Supreme Lord.

dharma pravartana kare vrajendra-nandana
preme gaya nace loka kare sankirtana

The process is that the Lord chants and He dances Himself, and people follows similarly. Just like we are painting the picture: the Lord is dancing and everyone is following. And that following can be continued even up to date. God is always there. It is not that Caitanya is not present here. He's always present, and, whenever there is sankirtana, there is this kirtana by the devotees, sincere devotees, it is said that Lord Caitanya is there, present. Tatra tisthami narada yatra gayanti mad-bhaktah. Suddha-bhakta, those who are pure devotees. Pure devotees means without any material desire. Those who are pure devotees, those who are determined to go back to Godhead, to Krsna, they are called pure devotees. They have lost all interest for any material enjoyment. They are now determined. They are called pure devotees. So this sankirtana movement creates pure devotees, who gradually loses all interest in the material enjoyment.

Now this verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, as I've already explained to you, that is also cited here:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
[SB 11.5.32]

That Personality, incarnation of God, who is yellowish color and is accompanied by His associates, confidential associates, He is worshiped by this process of sankirtana in this age of Kali.

ara tin-yuge dhyanadite yei phala haya
kali-yuge krsna-name sei phala paya

Ara tina-yuge means this is Kali-yuga, and there are, there were other three yugas: the Satya-yuga, the Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga. There are different processes of realizing God. So Lord Caitanya says, "In other three yugas, what was achieved by meditation, by sacrifice, by temple worship, now that can be achieved in this age by sankirtana. Kalau..."

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-bandhah param vrajet
[SB 12.3.51]

This is a sloka, verse, from Srimad-Bhagavatam in connection with conversation with Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Gosvami, and, when the description of this Kali-yuga was given, Maharaja Pariksit became very sorry that, because he was a pious king, he was thinking always of the welfare of the citizens. So when he heard about the description of the Kali-yuga, he was very much disturbed in his mind. Although he was going to die, still he was so compassionate: "Oh, in the age of Kali, the people will suffer so much."

So, when he was so sorry, so Sukadeva Gosvami encouraged him, "Maharaja, don't be sorry. There is very nice process in the Kali-yuga. In the midst of so many difficulties of this age, there is one boon, and that boon is one can become liberated from this material entanglement altogether simply by chanting this Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama..." Kirtanad eva krsnasya. It was especially mentioned, kirtanad eva krsnasya [SB 12.3.51], simply by chanting Hare Krsna, one can become... This is the greatest boon in this age. Although there are so many difficulties, full of miseries, increase in the greatest volume... The world is, material world is miserable. Just like cold season, this winter season, today we are feeling most inconvenienced. Similarly, this material world is always miserable. But still, in this age it is most miserable, in this age of Kali. But the boon is, the first-class boon is that even there are so many miserable conditions, in the midst of all those disadvantages, one can become free from all contamination simply by krsna..., kirtanad eva krsnasya. Simply by this.

krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
[SB 12.3.52]

What was achieved in the Satya-yuga by meditation, what was achieved by offering sacrifices in Treta-yuga, and what was achieved in the Dvapara-yuga by worship, that can be achieved in this age by sankirtana yajna.

dhyayan krte yajan yajnais
tretayam dvapare 'rcayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam

A similar passage... The two above passages, they are quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Another passage is quoted from Padma Purana. Padma Purana, there are eighteen puranas, puranam. Six puranas are in the modes of goodness, and six puranas are in the modes of passion, and six puranas are in the modes of ignorance -- for different people. Just like in a best institution, there are different classes, different kinds of books of learning, gradual process. Similarly, this Vedic culture is so nice, they don't give one class of literature for all. No. There are so many different literatures because there are so many varieties of people. How can you convince you, convince all classes of people by one literature? No. That is not possible. Now the people are here in your country, they are losing interest in religion because the Bible was given to a certain class of people long, long years before. So people are far advanced in scientific knowledge. So that does not appeal. So they're all... We should always remember that there are always different classes of men, and for different classes... The aim is all the same that, see, "Two plus two equal to four." Nothing. But different classes of men there are. So different class of arithmetic, higher mathematics, middle mathematics, lower mathematics. The mathematical, mathematical principle is the same, "Two plus two...," "One to three to nine." There is no other figure.

So similarly, there are eighteen puranas. Those who are in the modes of passion, those who are in the modes of ignorance, they should also have some chance. For them, oh, "You go and you worship this demigod." Because we are, every one of us, hankering for material acquisition. The disease is that we are simply thinking of... Idam adya maya labdham. "Today I have got so much material possession, and next day I shall have so much, and next day I shall have so much. And next day and next day...," and when next day I shall go away -- that's all. Finish. This is material disease. They're always hankering after. So there are different hankerings, there are different persons. So, the demigods, "All right, you worship. You want this thing, you want a beautiful wife? All right, you worship Uma. You want to be very learned man? All right, you worship this Devi-Sarasvati. Oh, you want to be, get out of your disease? All right, you worship the sun-god." So in this way, there are recommendations.

But in the Bhagavata, after all these recommendations, the Bhagavata concludes,

akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta paramam purusa
[SB 2.3.10]

If you have got any desire, still, you go to Krsna. You worship. Krsna recommends. Catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtino 'rjuna. Even if you go to Krsna for asking something material profit, still it is better. Don't go to other demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajante anya devatah [Bg. 7.20]. The foolish persons, they do not know that the demigods, they cannot offer any benediction. They cannot offer. They are not fool. Just like here in this institution, although you are free, you very kindly ask me, "Swamiji, can I take this fruit?" Why? This is etiquette. Similarly, the demigods, they are not fools. Suppose one man worships a demigod and asks some benefit. Oh, demigod will ask the Lord, Supreme Lord. Or, in another sense, the demigods also do not know, because they are also living entities like us. But isvarah sarva-bhutanam [Bg. 18.61]. Krsna is so kind that this person, this particular man, is wanting something, "All right, give him. Give him." Krsna is... This is freedom. There is no argument, "Oh, why Krsna has arranged like this?" He arranges out of His causeless mercy. He can say, He can stop asking the individual soul. But He does not do that. Why He shall do? Then there is no meaning of independence. "All right, you want it? I have arranged it. Take it. Take." So He asks the demigod, "All right, he's asking from you? Give him. Give." So this is going on.

So therefore there are different kinds of literature because there are different kinds of people. But the ultimate literature is, the substance of all Vedic literature is the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Krsne sva-dhama upagate dharma-jnanadibhih saha. It is..., there is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. When Krsna was present He personally gave this Bhagavad-gita and all knowledge. So many people took knowledge. There is another gita, Uddhava-gita. That was spoken to Uddhava. That is in Bhagavata; this is in Mahabharata, Bhagavad-gita. So there is a question by the Saunaka Rsi that, after departure of Krsna, wherefrom knowledge should be searched? So they recommended this Srimad-Bhagavatam. So in the Padma Purana also there is similar passages. In Bhagavatam also, there are similar passages. In all Vedic literature, the same thing is there. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. The last target and the last goal, ultimate goal, is Krsna. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Bhagavata says, akamah sarva-kamo va [SB 2.3.10]. Even if you are this materially desiring, still, you should go to Krsna. And Krsna also confirms, bhajate mam ananya bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30]. Api cet su-duracaro. One should not ask God. But still, if one asks, he's accepted, because he has come to the point, Krsna. That is his good qualification. He's in Krsna consciousness. So all faults there may be, but when one becomes Krsna conscious, everything is nice. Just like there are so mu..., so much snowfall. As soon as there is rise of sun, everything finished. Everything finished. Krsna surya sama. Only we have to wait when the sunrise will be there. Then all these disturbances will be at once cleared.

So we have to take to krsna-surya and everything will be cleared.

kalim sabhajayanty arya
guna-jnah sara-bhaginah
yatra sankirtanenaiva
sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate

Sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate. There are nice verse. You see? Here it is said, yatra sankirtanenaiva. This Kali-yuga, this age of Kali, we are condemning so much. But even the demigods, they, I mean to say, highly eulogize this Kali-yuga. Why? Why? Oh, here is a great opportunity. Simply by chanting Hare Krsna, yatra sankirtanena. Yatra means in this Kali-yuga, simply by this sankirtana movement, simply by chanting, sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate, all interest is served. Your material interest, your spiritual interest -- every interest will be served. Lord Caitanya also said, iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe tomara. Just... Even if you are materially desiring something, that also will be fulfilled by simply chanting Hare Krsna. It is such a nice thing. This is... Therefore we call maha-mantra. All...

purvavat likhi yabe gunavatara-gana
asankhya sankhya tanra, na haya ganana
cari-yugavatare ei ta' ganana
suni' bhangi kari' tanre puche sanatana

Now here is a very trick. Sanatana Gosvami, he was politician. He was minister. Now when Lord Caitanya was describing about the incarnations, especially of the incarnation of the Kali-yuga, now he's asking, Sanatana Gosvami is asking to Lord Caitanya,

raja-mantri-sanatana-buddhye brhaspati
prabhura krpate puche asankoca-mati

He's asking very frankly because he's very intelligent. He was minister.

'ati ksudra jiva muni nica, nicacara
kemane janiba kalite kon avatara?'

"My dear Sir, Lord Caitanya, I am the lowest of the lowest. I am very fool number one. So I may inquire from You that how can I understand that this is the incarnation of this age, Kali-yuga?"

prabhu kahe -- anyavatara sastra-dvare jani
kalite avatara taiche sastra-vakye mani

"Oh, why you are in confusion? As other incarnation are to be understood from the indication of the sastras, similarly, we have to understand from the indication of the sastra who is incarnation." Sarvajna munira vakya-sastra-'paramana'.

Now sastra, the scripture, is the most first-class evidence, sarvajna munira va..., sarvajna... Because sastras are written not by ordinary person. Not by Rabindranath Tagore, a sex play. (?) No. (laughs) Sastras are written by liberated persons. Therefore sastra, scripture, have got so many advantages and so much respect. So therefore Lord said: sarvajna munira vakya-sastra-'paramana'. Sastra paramana. Just like (we) see in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, four hundred thousands of years after there will be avatara, Kalki, and His father's name, His birthplace, is already mentioned there. This is called sastra. Five thousand years before Bhagavata was written, and there is indication that in such and such age, in such and such province, in such and such family, Lord Buddha will appear. That is written there. And five thousand years before, ago, the, the symptoms of Kali-yuga is already written there. And we are experiencing.

In the Bhagavata you'll find, svikara eva hy udhvahe: "In the Kali-yuga, marriage will be performed simply by agreement." Just see. Another... Lavanyam kesa-dharanam: "People will think by keeping long hairs they will be very beautiful." It is stated in Bhagavata. They'll look very beautiful. Lavanyam kesa-dharanam. It is written there if you see. It is not story. Svikara eva hy udvahe. Dampatye ratim eva hi: "And husband and wife relation means sex. That's all." If the husband has got sex power, then there will be no divorce. These are all written there. Simply sex life, husband and wife relationship. Simply sex life. Vipratve sutram eva hi: "And one will be considered a brahmana simply by this thread." These are all written there. A two-cent-worth thread, you get it..., "Oh, you have got thread. Oh, you are a brahmana." That's all. This is going on in India. Two-paisa-worth brahmana. He has all the qualification of less than a candala, but, because he has got this nonsense thread, he's considered a brahmana. So these things are all mentioned. And we have to believe it also that, in the last stage of the Kali-yuga, nobody will understand what is God, what is religion. And there will be no supply of these grains. Now we are getting all these grains. But, as you are, as you are thinking grain is not meant for human being, they are meant for animals, all right, God will stop completely. Then you'll have to live only on the seeds and animal flesh. That is also mentioned. There will be no milk. There will be no sugar. There will be no grain. These things are mentioned. Therefore sastra, it is called sastra. Sarvajna. Sarvajna means the sastra is written by persons who know, who knows the, I mean to say, past, present and future. Everything is clear. Therefore we have got so much respect for scripture. The foolish people say, "Oh, it is also written by man. Why shall I...?" Yes, it is written by man. That's all right. But he's not a man like you. He's liberated man. There are different kinds of men. So don't think all men are like you, all men are like you fools.

So here it is said, sarvajna munira vakya-sastra-'paramana.' Therefore... Tasmat sastra pramana ante. In the Bhagavad-gita also, that everything should act, should be acted in terms of the sastra. Just like when you go to post something, you are, you are directed by the postal guide. Sastra pramana only. So Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as Krsna has given stress upon the evidence, on the scripture, similarly, Lord Caitanya also is giving stress. The question is very interesting. The question is how one should accept a person or a body as incarnation. Lord Caitanya says that through sastra, by the evidence of sastra. So many fools, they are presenting themselves as incarnation. An intelligent person should see whether this fool is mentioned in the sastra. He's presenting himself as incarnation. Whether his activities are, his characteristics is mentioned in the sastra? Then accept. Otherwise, don't accept. This will be discussed more.

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.337-353
New York, December 25, 1966