Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bombay, November 4, 1970, (new98)

Prabhupada: Srimad-Bhagavatam, pancama-skanda, Fifth Canto. There are twelve Cantos, skandas or divisions, of the Srimad- Bhagavatam. Srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam yad vaisnavanam priyam. Srimad Bhagavatam is amalam puranam. Amalam means spotless. There are eighteen Puranas. Six Puranas for the sattvic people, those who are in the modes of goodness. There are three qualities of the material nature: sattva-guna, rajo- guna, tamo-guna. The living entities, or the jivatmas, they are in this material world for sense gratification. Anyone, beginning from Lord Brahma down to the small ant or microscopic insect, everyone, every living entity, has come here in this material world for gratifying their senses.

The Prema-vivarta, an authorized book by one of the disciples of Lord Caitanya, he says—it is in Bengali—

krsna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare pasate maya tare japatiya dhare

As soon as we desire to enjoy… Because constitutionally we are not enjoyers; we are enjoyed. We are not predominators, but we are predominated. That is our position. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa: [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109] our real position is to remain eternal servant of Krsna. This is our real position. But because we have got little independence… Because we are part and parcel of Krsna, Krsna is supremely independent, abhijnah svarat. Description of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: janmady asya yato anvayad itaratas ca arthesu abhijnah svarat [Bhag. 1.1.1]. Svarat means fully independent. Krsna is fully independent. But because we are part and parcel of Krsna, we are minutely possessing almost, not all, all the qualities of Krsna in proportionately in minute quantity. Just like the particle of gold is also gold. That is nothing else but gold. But the value of that particle is different from the gold mine. Our relationship with Krsna is like that. Krsna is just like the gold mine, and I and you, just like gold earring. The gold earring or gold finger ring or any golden ornament, that is gold, undoubtedly, but (it) is not as big as the gold mine. That is the difference between God and ourself. That is the difference. Qualitatively we are one, being part and parcel of the Supreme Absolute Truth, but quantitatively we are different. Therefore simultaneously, we are one and different. This is called acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. Acintya, we cannot conceive in our present status of life that one thing can be equal and different from another. But if we think over it little soberly, we can understand. This is the example. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. So amsa, particle, that is also sanatanah. Not that, as the Mayavadi philosophers say, that because we are now under illusion, therefore we are thinking as different; otherwise, God and we are the same.

This Vaisnava philosophy, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda-tattva… There are other Vaisnava philosophers also: visuddhadvaita, dvaitadvaita, advaita, like that. So many philosophies are there. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the lastest acarya, who appeared five thousand years ago…, uh, five hundred years ago, I’m sorry, He preached this acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. Means that jiva, simultaneously one and different; one in quality and different in quantity. This is very reasonable. And it is confirmed in the Vedas, Upanisads. Just like in Kathopanisad it is said, nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. So Krsna is the supreme nitya, eternal, and we are also eternal. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. We are eternal, and Krsna is also eternal. That is qualitatively one. Krsna is cetana, living force; we are also living force. So in that way we are one in quality. But His living force and our living force—different in quality. His creative power, my creative power, your creative power, they are different. You can create a few skyscraper buildings, but Krsna has created millions and trillions of universes. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah [Bs. 5.48]. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Jagadanda-koti. We are simply experiencing one jagad-anda, or universe, but there are jagad-anda-koti: there are millions and trillions of universes. Ekamsena sthito jagat.

athava bahunaitena kim jnatena tavarjuna vistabhyaham idam krtsnam ekamsena sthito jagat

Krsna, when He was inquired about His opulence, about His potencies, vibhuti, Krsna explained that “I am like this, I am like this, I am like this.” But He concluded that “How much I shall describe, try to understand this.”

athava bahunaiten kim jnatena tavarjuna vistabhyaham idam krtsnam ekamsena sthito jagat

“This whole material manifestation, cosmic manifestation, is maintained by one of My plenary portions, Paramatma.” That is also confirmed in the Brahma-samhita:

eko ’py asau racayitum jagad-anda-koti yac chaktir asti jagad-anda-caya yad-antah andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

So Krsna, by His one plenary portion as Paramatma… The Absolute Truth is realized in three ways: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [Bhag. 1.2.11]

So Krsna, by His Paramatma feature, He is all-pervading. He is in all universes. He is all, everywhere, in the heart of all living entities. ˆsvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati. And He is also within the atom: andantara-stham paramanu-cayantara-stham. Anor aniyam mahato mahiyan. This is Krsna. So one has to understand Krsna perfectly.

So, for preliminary study of Krsna, there is Bhagavad-gita, how to understand Krsna. And next… Bhagavad-gita is the A-B-C-D, primary entrance to the understanding of spiritual life. This is A-B- C-D. But people are so fallen that they cannot understand even A-B- C-D, what to speak of becoming graduate or postgraduate. In this age people are so fallen. This Mahabharata… Mahabharata was given by Vyasadeva for the less intelligent class of men. Stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Sruti means Vedas. Vyasadeva considered that stri, woman; sudra, the fourth-class men; stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam… Dvija-bandhu means those who are born in higher class society, brahmana-ksatriya-vaisya, but they are not qualified. They are simply proud of getting birth in higher family. They are called dvija-bandhu. They are equal to women and the sudra. Stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Trayi means the Vedas. Karma-kanda jnana-kanda upasana-kanda. There are three methods in understanding Vedas. And their language, their process is very difficult. Therefore Vyasadeva, considering the immediate inauguration of Kali-yuga… Because Vyasadeva appeared at the end of Dvapara-yuga. So before writing these Vedas, Vyasadeva, by Vyasadeva, there was no written scripture. Therefore these Vedas are called srutis. People learn it simply by hearing, sruti. Srotam, srotriyam. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet srotriyam brahma-nistham [MU 1.2.12]. Srotriyam means the guru must be expert, who has heard from his bona fide spiritual master, srotriyam. Not saukram. Saukram means generation by semina, and srotriyam, generation by hearing from the bona fide spiritual master. Srotriyam brahma-nistham. After hearing, one must be firmly fixed up in brahma-jnana. Brahma-nistham. This is called srotriyam.

So dvija-bandhu means who has not perfected his knowledge by hearing from the bona fide source. He is called dvija-bandhu. And the sudras have no facility, neither the woman has got the facility to go to the gurukula and become a brahmacari and remain there and learn the Vedic literature. Because women were not allowed; neither could follow. It is not discrimination. It is actual fact, by nature. There may be some exceptions, but by nature it is so fixed up. So for them this Mahabharata, greater history or history of greater India, Mahabharata… This Bharata, Bharata means this planet, not this small land now we are occupying. No. This whole planet is called Bharata-varsa, since the time of Maharaja Bharata. He was the emperor of the whole world. Formerly, we understand from history that the king of Hastinapura was the emperor of the whole world— up to Maharaja Pariksit five thousand years ago. After that it became separated on account of depreciation of the Vedic culture. They could not control. Just like we could not control Pakistan. They have gone away. Pakistan, twenty years ago it was India, but they have left you. The Mussulmans, they left you because you could not control them. That is your fault. And the fault is depreciation of the Vedic culture. In the Vedic culture there is no such thing that once one has become fallen he cannot be reclaimed. He can be reclaimed. It doesn’t matter however fallen he is. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita Krsna said, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah. Papa-yoni. According to Vedic culture, the lower class of people… Lower class of people means one who cannot be educated to the Vedic culture. He is called lower class. Otherwise, the Vedic culture is open for everyone. So Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah. Never mind, papa-yoni. He can reclaim. Striyah sudra tatha vaisyas te ’pi yanti param gatim. So suppose these Muhammadans or others in India… These Muhammadans did not come from any other part of the world. They were lower class and they, after Aurangzeb’s propaganda about gezeer(?) tax, some of them, or more of them, they became Mussulman. This is the historical fact. So why they were not reclaimed again? Reclaimed. Of course, some of the sannyasis, they tried to reclaim, but that was not the proper way. Therefore it was failure. The proper way of reclaiming all the fallen souls: by Krsna consciousness movement. Krsna says, mam hi partha vyapasritya. One has to be educated to take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. Mam hi partha vyapasritya. Not otherwise. You cannot propogate suddhi movement by otherwise. You have to reclaim everyone to the Vedic platform by making him Vaisnava, because when one becomes Vaisnava he becomes transcendental.

That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: mam ca vyabhicarini-bhakti-yogena yah sevate. Avyabhicarini bhakti-yogena. Bhakti-yoga, the process of devotional service, if one is engaged avyabhicarini, without any adulteration… Real bhakti-yoga means,

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama [BRS 1.1.11]

This is real bhakti. There cannot be any motive behind bhakti-yoga. Anyabhilasita-sunyam and jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Madhya 19.167] And transcendental to the position of philosophical speculation and fruitive activities. Jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Just simply to serve Krsna favorably. Anukula, that is bhakti. So this bhakti is called avyabhicarini bhakti, without any adulteration. Without any mutilation, perfect bhakti. So by that bhakti,

mam ca ya vyabhicarini bhakti-yogena sevate sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]

That person who is engaged in pure devotional service, he transcends all the qualities of material nature.

Our defect is… Just like I have already explained, that we are gold because we are part and parcel of Krsna. Krsna’s the big gold; we are simply a small particle of gold. That is the difference. But gold is always valuable, may be a small particle or big. So our position is transcendental. Our position is not material, but we have been captured by the material nature because we wanted to disobey the orders of Krsna. Krsna-bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha… And because we disobeyed or we did not like to serve Krsna, therefore we have been sent into this material world. Iccha-dvesa-samutthena sarge yanti parantapa. Iccha. “Why shall I serve Krsna? Why shall I not become Krsna? Let me become God.” That is still going on. Even big, big advanced, spiritually, sannyasis, they are thinking that “I am Krsna. I am Krsna. Why shall I go to serve Krsna? This is slave mentality. Just become Krsna. I am Krsna. Now I am in maya, I am not Krsna. But as soon as my maya is over, then I’ll become Krsna.” Then the question is, “If you are Krsna, why maya covered you? Then maya is greater than Krsna.”

So these questions they cannot answer, that “Why you have been fallen?” No. The real explanation is that because we are little Krsna… Just like the father and the little child. If there is fight, the father may come out victorious. The child may become overwhelmed. Similarly, we are also Krsna, a small particle of Krsna, but some way or other, when we come in touch with this material world we contact either of the three modes of material nature, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, and according to our association with the particular type of nature, we get a different type of body. Karanam guna-sango ’sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu. Why there are different types of living entities, different types of bodies? That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Karanam, the cause, the reason, is guna-sangah asya. Guna-sangasya. So we are gold, but some gold has fallen in the mud, some gold has fallen in the water, some gold has fallen on the grass. These are examples. They are very much nicely explained in the Vedic literature. Sometimes the living entity is considered as the spark of fire. You have seen the sparks of fire. So the fire, original fire, is never covered by maya, or darkness. But the small particle of fire, which are called sparks, they, as soon as come out of the fire, they are extinguished, no more, I mean to say, sparking. So this is our position. Although we are part and parcel of Krsna, sanatana, eternally… Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7] Because on account of our material mind… Material mind means the mind is absorbed in the thought of enjoying this material world. This is the beginning of our material disease. Manah sasthani indriyani. Then according to the mind we develop different senses, and we are trying to enjoy this material world in different type of body. That is our material disease. Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7].

Therefore the whole Vedic literature is meant for reminding us about our original position. That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta. Anadi bahirmukha jiva krsna bhuli gela. We have forgotten Krsna. Anadi. Anadi means we do not know when we did forgot, but we have forgotten our relationship. Anadi bahirmukha jiva krsna bhuli, ataeva krsna veda-purana karila. These Vedas and the Puranas, they are meant for reminding us, to give us information that “You are not this material body. You are not Indian, you are not American, you are not brahmana, you are not sudra. You are eternally part and parcel of Krsna. So your business is to serve Krsna.” This is the purpose of all Vedic literature. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. So the Bhagavad-gita is giving us directly information about our relationship with Krsna, Krsna personally giving information, that what is His position and what is our position, what is our relationship with Him, and what is the ultimate goal of life. These are called, in Sanskrit language, sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Sambandha means we must know what is our relationship with God, Krsna. That is called sambandha. Everyone is speaking about God. That is human nature. Any civilized form of human society has some sort of religious principle to understand God. That is a fact. So in the human form of life, that is the main question. This is called brahma-jijnasa: “What is my relationship with God? What I am? Why I am suffering in this material world? Is there any solution?” This is the business of human form of life. Not to imitate the animals how to eat nicely, how to live nicely, how to have sexual intercourse nicely, and how to defend. These are animal propensities. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etat pasubhir naranam. The animals are also doing the same business, whole day and night. Therefore Bhagavata says, nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [Bhag. 5.5.1]. This human form of life is not meant for to work so hard like hogs and dogs, simply for sense gratification. The aim is only sense gratification. In the modern civilization they have no other aim. They do not know what is God, what is my relationship with God, what is the ultimate goal of life, how shall I work in this material world. These questions are rejected. It is very abominable condition of the human society. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is very important to enlivening the whole human society to his real position, constitutional position. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109].

mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]

So, long, long ago there was an atheist king, Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyakasipu. And his son happened to be a Vaisnava, Prahlada. So Prahlada, from the beginning of his life he was a Vaisnava, although born of an atheist father, Hiranyakasipu. So we shall try to explain the life of Prahlada Maharaja while reading Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam, there are twelve cantos, out of which we are just trying to explain in the Fifth Canto. Not Fifth Canto, Seventh Canto, Fifth Chapter, Prahlada Maharaja’s upakhyana. So Prahlada Maharaja, his father Hiranyakasipu was so powerful king that he became by force, demonic force, he become pratically the ruler of the all planets. There are different planetary systems within this universe. So this demon Hiranyakasipu, some way or other, he achieved great prowess and he conquered over all the planets. Even the demigods, they were under the subjugation of Hiranyakasipu.

So his son Prahlada, from the very beginning of life, because he got instruction from Narada Muni within the belly of his mother… This is the story. When the demigods conquered over this Hiranyakasipu, they captured his wife, Kayadhu. At that time the wife of Hiranyakasipu was pregnant and Prahlada Maharaja was there. So because the woman was pregnant, the demigods were taking her away. On the way, Narada Mahamuni met the demigods, Indra. So he inquired, “What you are doing? You are dragging a woman? Oh, this is not good.” So they explained that “We have nothing to do with this woman. Because within the womb of this woman there is a son of Hiranyakasipu. He is also a demon. Therefore as soon as she gives birth to the child, we shall kill him. This is our program.” Narada Muni said, “No. This child is not demon. This child is a great devotee, maha-bhagavata, so you cannot do that.” So they accepted the word of Narada Muni and they offered obeisances, “Oh, here is a Vaisnava.” This is demigod. Although they were carrying out, thinking of the child as a demon, but when they heard from Narada Muni that “This child is not a demon; he’s a great devotee,” immediately they offered respect, and they circumambulated the mother of Prahlada Maharaja, and they went away. And the lady was taken care of, Narada Muni. And Narada Muni instructed the mother. Because as soon as you meet some saintly person, his business is to instruct you about spiritual matters.

So Hiranyakasipu’s wife was situated in the house, in the asrama of Narada Muni, and she wanted protection, that “Until my husband comes back, kindly give me protection so that my child may not take birth.” So Narada Muni gave her benediction, “Yes, even it is mature, unless your husband comes back, you’ll not deliver the child.” So he instructed, and the instruction was so powerful. Spiritual instruction is not conditioned by the material nature. Ahaituky apratihata. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma samprasidati [SB 1.2.6]

This instruction of bhakti is so powerful that even a child can receive it in any condition of life. We have seen, when our sankirtana is performed, especially the children, they immediately imitate because they cannot vibrate, the small children, but they give claps. This sankirtana movement is so perfect that there is no question of any material condition. In any condition Krsna consciousness can be aroused, provided it is in touch with a Krsna conscious bona fide spiritual master. So this child, Prahlada Maharaja, from within the womb of his mother he learned spiritual instruction, and he became Krsna conscious. Therefore from his birth he was chanting this Hare Krsna mantra. And his father was very, very much unhappy: “What kind of child is born? He’s Krsna conscious.” Because he was very much against Visnu. Because Lord Visnu killed his brother Hiranyaksa, so Hiranyakasipu always considered Visnu as the enemy. So he did not like that his son Prahlada Maharaja should become a Vaisnava. Vaisnava means visnu asya devata iti vaisnava, one who has taken, accepted, Lord Visnu. That is the Vedic instruction, to take shelter of Lord Visnu. Om tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. This is Rg mantra, Rg Veda mantra. Visnum paramam padam. Those who are surayah, suri, or devata, they are always aiming at the lotus feet of Visnu. Tad visnoh paramam padam. That is the highest perfection of life. Other demigods, they are not our goal of life. That is also condemned in the Bhagavad-gita: kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante ’nya-devata [Bg. 7.20]. Anya devata. Who are the worshipers of the anya-devata, other demigods? Those who are lost of their senses. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah. These are the statements. In the Bhagavata also it is said, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31] People, generally, they do not know that their goal of life should be to take shelter of Visnu. Visnu-tattva and Krsna-tattva, the same thing.

ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.39]

So our aim of life should be how to understand Visnu-tattva, Krsna. Krsna is the origin of Visnu-tattva. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7] He is the origin. Janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. Aham sarvasya prabhavah mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. These are things. Aham adir hi devanam, Maharsinam ca sarvasah [Bg. 10.2]. These are there.

So Prahlada Maharaja, by the grace of Narada Muni, he became a great devotee and… From the beginning of his life. This is another advantage. If you become a devotee of the Lord, then your next life is guaranteed as human being. Yoga-bhrastah ’bhijayate. Sucinam srimatam gehe bhrastah ’bhijayate. One who is a devotee but could not finish the devotional function in one life, he is given chance, another, another chance to take birth in a very good family. Good family means sucinam srimatam gehe. Either in the family of a very highly elevated brahmana, sucinam, or srimatam, or very rich family. Brahmana or vaisya family or ksatriya family. So either brahmana family or ksatriya family or vaisya family, it doesn’t matter—a human being. So yoga bhrastah ’bhijayate. Let us begin our life in Krsna consciousness in this life. It doesn’t matter if we cannot finish. But whatever we can finish, that is our eternal asset. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Even if we slightly touch only Krsna consciousness, then mahato bhayat. Just like Ajamila, he was saved.

So these are the instructions of Vedic literature. Especially in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavatam. The Bhagavatam, it is derived from the word bhagavat-sabda. Bhagavat-sabda means Bhagavan. And Bhagavata means those who are in connection with Bhagavata, Bhagavan. So this Srimad-Bhagavatam means it is in connection with the Supreme Lord and His devotees. A devotee is called bhagavata and the book about Bhagavan, that is also Bhagavata. There are two kinds of bhagavatam: the living bhagavatam is the devotee, and the representation Bhagavatam is this Bhagavatam grantha. There is no difference. Absolute means there is no difference. Krsna is absolute. Therefore either this grantha-bhagavatam or the devotee bhagavata, or Krsna, they are all one. That is absolute conception. Advaya-jnana. We should not distinguish a devotee from Bhagavan. We shall not distinguish Bhagavatam from Bhagavan. When we read Bhagavad-gita… Practically every one of us read. We should not think that Bhagavad-gita is different from Krsna. Bhagavad-gita is as good as Krsna. It is not ordinary book. Ordinary book is different from the author. But this Bhagavad-gita is Bhagavan Himself.

atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah [BRS. 1.2.234]

nama-cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah purnah suddho nitya mukto abhinnatvan nama-naminoh

So Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam or Krsna’s name, Krsna’s form, Krsna’s pastime—anything about Krsna—they’re one. Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Abhinnatvat, that is not separated. Therefore, by chanting this Hare Krsna maha-mantra you directly contact with Krsna. Abhinnatvan nama-naminoh. Krsna is the naminoh, and Hare Krsna mantra is His name. But they are abhinna. Otherwise how this Hare Krsna movement is being so quickly appreciated all over the world? Because there is no difference between chanting of Hare Krsna mantra and meeting Krsna eye to eye, face to face. There is no difference. Simply one has to realize. The more you become purified by chanting this Hare Krsna mantra, you see Krsna face to face. People are asking, “Can you show me God?” You can see God. Simply prepare your eyes. Simply prepare your ears. You will (see) by hearing. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]

So this is a very scientific movement, authorized, practical. You chant Hare Krsna mantra and you’ll realize that gradually you are advancing to meet Krsna face to face. That is possible. Chant Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. [break]… difficulty or some deficiency in the whole structure. And that deficiency can be fulfilled, can be satisfied by making people Krsna conscious. This is the movement. So we have got ample literature. Not only Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam. Others, there are hundreds of literature. And we have already published about twenty books like this. So we shall request all the life members… They have got our books. Those who are not life members, I would request them to become life members, and we give you more than your money, books’ worth. We want that everyone, every scholar, every thoughtful man, should read these books, Bhagavad-gita As It Is. We are… These books are very much welcomed in the Western countries. I have got report… Just now I have received from Los Angeles. The report is that within the three days of Christmas holidays we have sold one lakh worth of books. Within three days. So our books are being very much welcomed in the Western countries. Especially the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. So this movement is a very important movement. It is not a fanaticism. It is based on science, philosophy, and authority, and Vedic principles. And all these students, they are following strictly the Vedic principles. They do not indulge in illicit sex life, meat- eating, intoxication, up to drinking of coffee, tea and smoking. They have given up. This is Vedic principles. And they do not take part in gambling. They regular chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, sixteen rounds. In this way we are training. Not only we are training these young boys, but we are training their sons and children. We have got a very nice school in Dallas, Texas. From the very beginning they are being taught about Krsna consciousness— how to rise early in the morning, how to take part in the mangala-arati, how to take prasadam. They’re teaching. They’re learning Sanskrit and English especially, a little geography, mathematics. We have started a school. So do not take this movement very insignificantly. Try to understand this movement with all your intelligence. As Caitanya-caritamrta author says, caitanyera dayara katha karaha vicara. Vicara. Just put your judgment, try to understand with logic and try to understand with philosophy. Not as a fanatic. Vicara. Vicara karile citte paibe camatkara. And if you rightly judge this movement, you’ll find it very sublime.

So we have got four branches now in India, out of 102 branches all over the world. But especially this movement is easier for the Indians because by birth they are imbibed with the Krsna consciousness idea. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

bharata-bhumite manusya janma haila yara janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara [Cc. Adi 9.41]

So Indians are meant for welfare activities for the whole world. And how they will do? Not by begging, “Give me rice, give me milk powder, give me money, give me this.” No. If you spread this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world, then you will be respectful. People will like it. They are very hungry for this Krsna consciousness. So I am struggling alone. I require many Indians to join and spread this movement all over the world.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)