Sri Brahma-samhita, Lecture
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bombay, January 3, 1973

(devotees chant Brahma-samhita verses)

Devotees:govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **.

Prabhupada: Thank you. So Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. These verses, Brahma-samhita, it was composed by Lord Brahma. Therefore in the Vedic literature, this, this is called Samhita. Samhita means part of the Vedic literature. So Lord Brahma is describing about Krsna. There are some foolish question that “Krsna appeared five thousand years ago. How He became God?” Actually that is not the fact. In the Brahma-samhit a, Brahma is describing means from the very creation. Brahma is the first creature of this universe. So he has explained about Krsna by his experience, by his realization.

In the Vedanta-sutra, Krsna is described, janmady asya yatah: [Bhag. 1.1.1] the Supreme Person from whom everything has emanated. So that Krsna has confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, aham adir hi devanam. Devanam means in the beginning there was Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara. And Krsna is adi of these devas also. Aham adir hi devanam. Aham sarvasya prabhavo: “Everything has emanated from Me.”

aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah [Bg. 10.8]

So Krsna is the adi-purusa. In… Arjuna also confirms. After understanding Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna also confirms:

param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan purusam sasvatam adyam [Bg. 10.12]

Adyam: the original person. Just like in our genealogical table, in each family, there is a person who is the origin of the family—then his son, his son, his grandsons, great-grandson. In this way, family expands. Similarly, this creation is from Krsna. In the Catuh-sloki Bhagavata also, aham eva asam agre: “I, I was present before the creation.” Even Sankaracarya, who is impersonalist, he also says, narayanah paro avyaktad: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, He is beyond this material creation.” Narayanah parah avyaktad. Avyaktad anda-sambhavah. From the avyakta, nonmanifested material mahat-tattva, this material creation has been, become possible. Before the material creation, beyond the material creation, there is Krsna. Therefore in the Brahma-samhita, Lord Brahma is describing Krsna in each verse: govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. Govindam adi-purusam. He’s the original person.

Krsna also says, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti, asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7] There is no more para-tattva, superior source, except Krsna. This Krsna consciousness movement is therefore…, we are trying to place before the civilized human society that the adi-purusa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are searching after God. There are so many societies—theological society, theosophical society—they are searching after God. But here is God. Why don’t you take reference from the Vedic literature? God’s reference is there in the Vedic literatures, and God Himself appeared, and He explained Himself in the Bhagavad-gita. And God is accepted, not (only) now, even when Krsna was present, five thousand years ago, all great sages, saintly persons, great rsis, they also accepted. Narada, Devala, Vyasa. When Arjuna, in the Bhagavad-gita… It is explained in the Tenth Chapter. You know, all, Krsna as param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12] He, he is addressing Krsna as person, bhavan. This bhavan sabda, this word is used, “person,” not imperson. Bhavan. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan, purusam [Bg. 10.12] He’s not imperson. Purusam. Purusam means person. Not female also. Purusam means male. Purusam sasvatam. Sasvatam, original; adyam, the first. So in this way. And Arjuna has also given reference that all the great sages… At that time, Vyasadeva… Vyasadeva is still present. So “Vyasadeva accepts You, Narada accepts You, and Asita, Devala, big, big, great sages accepts You. You are personally speaking, and I have realized that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” This is Krsna. Krsna is not manufactured, as nowadays it has become a fashion to manufacture God by votes. No. God is never manufactured. God is God. Not by mystic power one becomes God or by so-called meditation or magical arts. No. God is God. Nobody can become God. Asamaurdhva. In the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna is described as asama urdhva prapitamaha ca [Bg. 11.39]. In the Eleventh Chapter, you’ll find these words. Because Brahma is considered… He’s called pitamaha, because the father of the father. If you search out the genealogical table of this universe, especially of the human society, then you go on searching. I am begotten by my father; my father is begotten by his father, his father, his father, his father—you go on. Then ultimately, if you have so much patience to make research, the, you can get from the sastras, you can get. So the original father of this universe is Lord Brahma; therefore he is addressed as Pitamaha. But the father of Brahma also, Brahma, is also there: Garbhodakasayi Visnu. The Garbhodakasayi Visnu is expansion of Karanodakasayi Visnu, the original Visnu, and Karanodakasayi Visnu is expansion of Sankarsana. Sankarsana is expansion of Narayana. Narayana is expansion of another Sankarsana, and that Sankarsana is expansion of Baladeva. And Baladeva is expansion of Krsna. You’ll find in the sastras. Therefore Krsna is the original person. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. It is not that some artist has manufactured a fashionable Krsna, and we worship that. No. Krsna’s the original person. We find it, description, in the Samhitas, in the Vedas, in the Rg Veda: om tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. And the explanation of Vedanta-sutra, Srimad-Bhagavatam, there it is explained: janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. Because Vedanta-sutra begins with this aphorism: janmady asya yatah.

So Srimad-Bhagavatam is the original explanation of Vedanta-sutra. So in the Vedanta-sutra, explanation of Vedanta-sutra, Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is said,

janmady asya yatah anvayat itaratas ca arthesu abhijnah tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye muhyanti yatra surayah [Bhag. 1.1.1]

These descriptions are there. So adi-kavi, adi-kavi means Brahma. Brahma, Adi-kavi. So tene brahma. Brahma means sabda-brahman, Vedic literature. So He instructed or imparted in the heart of Brahma. Because when the creation was there, Brahma was the only person, living entity, in the beginning. So the question may be that “How Brahma learned Vedic knowledge?” That is explained: tene brahma… Brahma. Brahma means Vedic literature. Sabda-brahman. The information, the description of God is also Brahman. Brahman is absolute. There is no difference between Brahman and the literature which is describing Brahman. The same thing: just like Bhagavad-gita and Krsna, there is no difference. Bhagavad-gita is also Krsna. Otherwise why this book is worshiped since so, for so long time, since five thousand years, unless the Bhagavad-gita is Krsna? There are so many literatures, books, are published nowadays. After one year, two years, three years—finished. Nobody cares for it. Nobody cares for it. Nobody reads for… Any literature you take in the history of the world, no literature can exist for five thousand years, repeatedly being read by many, many scholars, religionists and philosophers, all. Why? Because it is Krsna. Krsna… There is no difference between Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavan. Sabda-brahman. So Bhagavad-gita should not be taken as ordinary literature, that one can comment on it by so-called ABCD knowledge. No. That is not possible. The fools and rascals, they try to comment on the Bhagavad-gita by their ABCD scholarship. That is not possible. It is sabda-brahman. It will be revealed to the person who has devotion to Krsna. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve… These are the Vedic instructions.

yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah [SU 6.23]

They become revealed. Therefore Vedic literatures are called revealed. It is not that I can understand by your ABCD knowledge; I can purchase one Bhagavad-gita, and because I have grammatical knowledge, I can understand. No. Vedesu durlabha. In the Brahma-samhita it is said, vedesu durlabha. You go on studying all Vedic literature by your literary capacity or scholarship—durlabha. It is not possible. Vedesu durlabha. Therefore there are so many persons, they are trying to interpret Bhagavad-gita by their so-called scholarship, but nobody cares for them. They cannot turn even one person, a devotee of Krsna. This is a challenge. In your Bombay there are so many persons, they are explaining Bhagavad-gita for so many years, but they could not turn even a single person a pure devotee of Krsna. This is our challenge. But this Bhagavad-gita, now it is being explained as it is, and thousands and thousands of Europeans and Americans, whose forefathers or family never knew the name of Krsna, they are becoming devotees. This is the secret of success. But these foolish people, they do not know. They think that by interpreting Bhagavad-gita by their so-called rascaldom knowledge, they can reveal Bhagavad-gita. That is not possible. Naham prakasah yogamaya-samavrtah. Krsna is not exposed to these foolish and rascals. Krsna is never exposed. Naham prakasah sarvasya [Bg. 7.25] He’s not so cheap thing that He’ll be understood by these fools and rascals. It is not possible. Krsna says, naham prakasah sarvasya yogamaya-sama… [Bg. 7.25].

manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti mam tattvatah [Bg. 7.3]

So if we want to understand Krsna, then we have to follow. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2] Krsna says. And Krsna says, bhakto ’si priyo ’si rahasyam etad uttamam. Krsna says to Arjuna, “This science of God, Bhagavad-gita, krsna-tattva…” Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: yei krsna-tattva vetta sei guru haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128]. Guru does not become. Guru is not so cheap thing. One must know what is krsna-tattva. One must know what is Krsna. Krsna says also,

manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam kascid vetti mam tattvatah [Bg. 7.3]

Nobody knows Krsna. They may speculate by their so-called scholarship, ABCD knowledge, but Krsna, Krsna is not there. They cannot turn even a single man to become a Krsna devotee. That is not possible. They can be fool. That is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: sva-vid-varaha-ustra kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh. The, one who is not devotee, he is described as a pasuh, as an animal. And such animal is eulogized, glorified, by another animal. What are they? Now, dogs, camels, asses and hogs. Sva-vid-varaha-ustra kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh. These description is there. Therefore if we want to understand Krsna, we have to follow these mahajana. Just like Brahma. Brahma is the original. There are… Who is mahajana? Mahajana. In India, a mahajana is accepted who can give you loan, money. He’s called mahajana. Not that, that all. It is, it is a perverted word. But mahajana means a, one who is pure devotee of the Lord. Mahatma means who is pure devotee of the Lord. Sadhu means who is a devotee—not these street beggars. Sadhu. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi… [Bg. 9.30] Who are they? Sadhur eva sa mantavyah.

api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah… [Bg. 9.30]

He’s sadhu. Even if we find some discrepancies in the life of a devotee… Just like these European, Americans. They’re devotees. They are pure devotee of Krsna. How? They have no other desire. They simply want to satisfy their spiritual master and Krsna. Therefore they are pure devotees. They have no other business. They have sacrificed everything. They are coming from rich family, rich nation, educated, everything. There is no scarcity in their country. Everything’s complete. But still, for Krsna they have forsaken everything. That is pure devotion.

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

Those who are trying to catch up here something, catch up here something, they have been described by Caitanya Mahaprabhu as khara jati abata (?). Khara jati abata. The kha… One, one of the devotee of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Mukunda, he was very, mean, confidential devotee. His class friend also, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s. So he was going sometimes here, sometimes there, sometimes here, sometimes there. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very angry upon him, and gave him the title khara jati abata. Khara jati abata: “Don’t allow him to come here.” He became so strict. So he was very sorry. “Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said not to come in His meeting.” So he was asking other devotees that “I shall not be allowed?” So, “We can…, how we can allow you? Caitanya Mahaprabhu has forbidden.” “So will you ask if there will be any time so that I can again come back?” So some devotee inquired from Caitanya Mahaprabhu that “Mukunda is very sorry. You asked not to come. But he’s asking whether there will be any day in future when he’ll be allowed to come again.” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “After three thousands of births. After three thousands of births, he’ll be allowed to come in.” So when Mukunda inquired, “Did you inquire from Caitanya Mahaprabhu this question?” he said, “Yes, but He has said after your three thousands of repeated births, you’ll be allowed.” So he began to dance. He began to dance. “Oh, then I’ll be allowed some day. Never mind, three thousand births. Never mind three thousand births.” So when this, this, this was informed to Caitanya Mahaprabhu that “He’s dancing now because You have, You’ll allow him to come in after three thousands of births,” so Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very pleased and asked him to bring him immediately. (laughter)

So if we want to actually learn this… Just like there must be eka nistha. Bhajanti mam ananya-bhak. That is the qualification. [break] …Krsna. If you want to know Krsna, it is very easy. Don’t divert your attention to anything. “No, I, I worship this demigod, I worship that demigod, I…” Then your knowledge is gone. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajante anya-devatah [Bg. 7.20]. Anya-devatah: “other demigods.” Devatah is Krsna, but others, they’re demigods.

ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya yare yaiche nacaya se taiche kare nrtya

God is one, Krsna. Ekam evadvitiyam. All others, they are servants. This is our conclusion. This is sastric conclusion. Eka brahma dvitiya… Brahman cannot be two. Param brahman. Param brahma paramam bhavan. Therefore Arjuna has addressed Him as bhavan, “Yourself.” Not that “You have got many competitors.” Just like we are, we find nowadays, in one street another God; another God, in another street, another god; another street, or another city, there are so many Gods. No. God is one. Ekam eva advitiya. And that is Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.

So this is Krsna consciousness. So if we want to learn about Krsna, then we have to follow the path of mahajanas, great personalities. Just like Brahma is presenting Brahma-samhita, describing; Vyasadeva is presenting Srimad-Bhagavatam. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Bhagavan, Himself, is describing Himself in the Bhagavad-gita. So where is the difficulty to understand Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavan? We don’t find any difficulty. Where is the difficulty? The mahajana is there, the sastra is there, the guru is there, the Veda is there. And why should we make research after God? What is this nonsense? Everything is there. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15] The purpose of Vedas is to know Krsna. Janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. Athato brahma jijnasa, to inquire about Brahman. Brahman. So there is no need of searching out God. You can simply try to digest whatever is already there. The Bhagavad-gita is there. All the acaryas, they have accepted. They have written commentation on Bhagavad-gita with reference to the Vedic knowledge. The Absolute—krsnas tu bhagavan svayam—is accepted everywhere by all acaryas. Why you are searching after God? I do not know. So this Bhagavad-gita and this Brahma-samhita, and the description is about Krsna, and His abode:

advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam nava-yauvanam ca vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.33]

Advaita. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam. He has got ananta-rupam. There is no limit. He has got so many. Because each, in each and every brahmanda, there is Krsna avatara. Krsna avatara… Just like in this brahmanda there was Krsna avatara in, five thousand years ago, similarly Krsna avatara is going on just like… The same example, as I have given you many times, that the sun, sun, sun planet is there in the sky, but sun is visible when he is in our front. Otherwise sun is there. Similarly Krsna is always there, but when He descends, incarnates, He becomes visible to us, exactly like the sun. At the present moment, it is night. Sun is not visible. But in due course of time, say, after eight hours or ten hours, in the morning, the sun will be visible. Similarly there is scheduled time when Krsna becomes visible on this planet, on this universe. And there are, there are innumerable universes. They…, therefore He’s called nitya-lila. Nitya-lila means eternal pastimes. Krsna is born as Yasoda, Devaki-nandana. Immediately He begins to grow. But that birth is taking another planet, another universe. Just like six-thirty, sunshine… It is now visible on this planet, or on this city, but again six-thirty, again, in another city, six-thirty in another city, six-thirty another city. It is not very difficult to understand. That six-thirty’s continuing. That seven-thirty’s continuing. That eight-thirty’s continuing. Every minute and second is continuing. Simply you have to know where it is. You immediately try to know by phoning the other city, other, on the other country, you’ll know that this six- thirty, or seven-thirty or twelve-thirty or the set up or rising of the sun is continually going on, here or there. Similarly Krsna’s appearance, Krsna’s pastimes, everything is continually going on: sometimes in this universe, sometimes in another universe, sometimes another universe. In this way it is going on. Therefore Krsna’s lila is called nitya-lila. Nitya-lila, eternal. It is not for the time when Krsna appeared. That nitya-lila, as we have seen within this planet, Krsna, that will come again. Just like we saw the sun in the daytime. Now it is not visible, but in due course of time, again we shall see; next morning we shall see sun. Similarly, we shall see again Krsna, and that rotation takes place according to Vedic calculation after forty-three crores of years. That is the explanation we get from Vedic sastra.

So Krsna’s lila, it is not an invented, we are worshiping Krsna as something imaginary, some artistic picture. No. It is nitya-lila. Krsna is fact. Govindam adi-purusam. He’s adi. Advaitam acyutam adyam purana-purusam. Purana-purusam. The oldest man. Purana means oldest. Oldest, Purana-purusam. Purusam means person. Nava-yauvanam ca. But whenever you’ll see Krsna, He’s just a perfect young boy, nava-yauvanam ca. You’ll never see Krsna’s picture as He has become old, He has grown some big, big beard and… No. Krsna, you’ll never see. Krsna is just like a twenty-years-old young boy. Nava-yauvanam ca. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs. 5.33] He is not to be found in the Vedas. There is, but we miss. In the Rg Veda, in the Atharva Veda, Krsna is there. Vedesu durla… But the ordinary man cannot find. Just like the people, they’re reading Bhagavad-gita, but they do not understand Krsna. There are so many people; they are very proud of reading Bhagavad-gita daily, but they do not understand Krsna. The only thing is, they’re missing Krsna. Except Krsna, all rubbish thing they are talking. This is their vision. Because vedesu durlabha. For the rubbish person, rascal person, Krsna is durlabha. Adurlabha atma-bhaktau. But Krsna is available, Krsna has to be seen from the Krsna’s devotee. Not from others. Therefore Krsna said to Arjuna that “I am again explaining to you this Bhagavad-gita because bhakto ’si priyo ’si rahasyam hy etad uttamam. There is a very nice mystery in this Bhagavad-gita, and that will be understood by you because you are My devotee. You are My very dear.” So in order to understand Krsna, one has to first of all become a great devotee, dear friend of Krsna. Then he can understand. Otherwise, vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs. 5.33].

So this Brahma-samhita describes about Krsna. Brahma is mahajana. I’ve already told you: mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. So in the sastras, twelve mahajanas are accepted:

svayambhur naradah sambhuh kumarah kapilo manuh prahlado janako bhismo balir vaiyasakir vayam [SB 6.3.20]

This was explained by Yamaraja to his servants, that these are mahajanas. Who? Svayambhur, Brahma. Svayambhur naradah. And Sambhuh, Lord Siva. Svayambhur naradah sambhuh kumarah [SB 6.3.20] The Kumaras, the four Kumaras; Kapila, Kapiladeva, Lord Kapila. Manu, Svayambhuva Manu. In the Bhagavad-gita also, accepted this: imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam, vivasvan manave prahur [Bg. 4.1]. This Manu. So in this way, we have to approach the right person, evam parampara-praptam, who is coming in the line of Brahma, who is coming in the line of Lord Siva, in the line of Narada. In this way, we have to accept a guru from the disciplic succession which is called parampara, guru-parampara. Then we can understand what is Krsna. Otherwise not. Now so many people are explaining Bhagavad-gita. If you ask him, “Who is your guru?” he has no guru. He’s himself guru. So you, what he can understand Bhagavad-gita? It is not possible. So try to understand Bhagavad-gita from the bona fide person and follow the principles, rules and regulation, and chant Hare Krsna mantra. Your life will be successful.

Thank you very much. [break]

Your question is meant for persons who are too much bodily conscious. One who is thinking that “I am this body,” for him, this yoga system is prescribed, so that he can control the senses. Yoga indriya-samyamah. By controlling the senses… Because we are disturbed by our senses. So there is process, how to come to the platform of pranayama. You have to find out a secluded place, and you should sit down there alone in perpendicular stature, you cannot close your eyes fully, half, then you’ll have to see the tip of the nose. In this way, you have to concentrate your mind on Visnu or Krsna. This is pranayama. So… But actually when one becomes already attracted to Krsna by devotional service, then the pranayama process is already there. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita:

yoginam api sarvesam mad-gata antaratmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah [Bg. 6.47]

The real fact is to concentrate your mind upon Krsna.

So these boys, they have been trained up. This arotik, this arcana, this distribution of literature, reading Krsna books, hearing about Krsna—that means they are not allowed to think anything else except Krsna. That is perfection. They are… The pranayama process, you can do it for one hours, two hours or, say, one day, two days, but this, this pranayama process, who are always engaged in Krsna’s service, that is natural. You cannot think. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor. If you simply engage your mind on the lotus feet of Krsna, that is perpetual pranayama. Not for one hour, two hour, or a minute.

Indian man: But some yogis say that…

Prabhupada: Some yogi may say whatever he likes, but what Krsna says, we have to accept.

Indian man: In the, in the modern terminology, they say this, this technique of pranayama

Prabhupada: But the modern terminology, that is not, that is not a principle.

Indian man: No, but they say it is a rocket way to God.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian man: They say it is a rocket way to God, doing pranayama.

Prabhupada: What is it?

Tamala Krsna: A rocket, rocket ship way to God.

Indian man: Rocket.

Prabhupada: But we don’t find so long yogis and pranayama wallas know anything about God. We have tested so many. They remain the same rascal. I have seen it. They do not… Ask him, any yogis, “What do you know about God?” Ask him. You can ask. You are press reporter. You can ask, “What do you know about God? Describe Him.” So what is the rocket? Rocket means you should go immediately. But if you do not know, then what is the use of this rocket? If you do not know what is God, then what is the use of this rocket? Just like they are going to the rocket planet, moon planet. Now the American government stopped announcing this rascaldom. You know that? Yes. So if you actually have got rocket, then you must approach that you must know the thing. But simply waste your money and come back. So any sensible man will not allow this. This is good, pranayama. Rocket process, it may be. But we don’t think that it is rocket process at the present age. Because in the sastras it is said:

krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad dhari-kirtanat

Indian reporter: No. They compare it to rocket only because of the two stages that a rocket has to drop. They say by doing pranayama you’ll drop material stages, that you…

Prabhupada: That’s all right, but we have to see practically what he has become. Simply talking will not do.

Indian reporter: Talking. Talking won’t do.

Prabhupada: Yes. Simply talking will not do. That, that… Just, these boys, they did not practice pranayama system, but bring anyone who knows about God better than him. Bring anyone. Any yogis, bring, and talk with them. They are neophytes. They are simply practicing three or four years. And talk with them. And what he knows about, he knows it will be proved. That is not rocket system. This is rocket system: Hare Krsna mantra. (laughter) That is not possible. That he cannot find out a secluded place to practice yoga. Where is secluded place in the city? Whole day and night, these cars are going and there is huge sound. Where is secluded place? And, and it is recommended in Bhagavad-gita, secluded place and sacred place. And he should remain alone. Where is such yogi? Find out. Where is such yogi? He should remain alone, and in a secluded place and a sacred place. And he should not change his asana. Then he becomes a yogi. These are the preliminary things. But who is practicing these preliminary even? They cannot. Especially in the cities, there are so many yoga societies, but in the, it is stated that it should be practiced in a secluded place. So how it is possible in the city? So if you follow the instruction, it will be very difficult. It is very difficult.

Indian man: For a…

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Not only difficult for us, but five thousand years ago, Arjuna was talking with Krsna face to face. Such an exalted personality, and he was a ksatriya. He said, “Krsna, it is not possible to practice this.” He said. We have become more than Krsna, Arjuna? Do you think? He said. You’ll find in the Bhagavad-gita. Eh?

Indian man: Cancalam hi manah krsna

Prabhupada:

…krsna pramathi balavad drdham tasyaham nigraham manye vayor iva su-duskaram

“Oh, it is not possible.” He was frank enough gentleman. “Oh, this is not possible.” This is not possible. And these foolish persons, because they want to cheat others, they cheat themselves, they cheat others, they follow this system. It is not possible. It is not possible, frankly speaking. Do we think we are better than Arjuna?

Devotee: In Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna’s called Gudakesa, or one who has conquered sleep.

Prabhupada: So this yoga process is there, but it is very, very difficult. Very, very difficult, especially in this age. Therefore in the sastra it is said, krte yad dhyayato visnum. The dhyayato visnu, that is yoga system. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. Yoginah, being absorbed in meditation, they see. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa. Mind, being absorbed in the Supreme, they can see. Yam pasyanti yoginah. The yogi sees. That is samadhi. That is. Pranayama, of course, they controlling the breathing. So these things are very difficult in this age. Therefore sastra says,

harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21]

Three times. When we stress upon some important point, we say three times, “Do it, do it, do it!” It is like that. Kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. So yoga practice is approved process, but it requires long, long period, time, and the time is not at all suitable in this age. And persons are differently cultured. They are eating everything, they are drinking everything, smoking. And it is not possible. It is not possible. Simply childish. It is not possible. And you can see practically. Just like I have given the example. Bring any so-called yogi, mystic practitioner…

Indian reporter: As you, yourself have said: What is talking? What is lies?

Prabhupada: What is the use of that persons? Here, the mass of people take. All over the world. Suppose if there is some process, if, and one percent of the whole population, what is the use of such process? So that is very important thing. That is important process also, but it is not possible to be practiced by the present age. This is… [break] …become purified, you understand that Krsna is present on your tongue. [break] …waterpot, you put it in the water. So long it is not filled up, it will make some sound. And when it is filled up and goes down, down to hell, then there is no cut, cut, cut.

Indian reporter: Then, as you say…

Prabhupada: Eh? [break] … that your, this so-called talk will not help you. But that does not mean that in the spiritual life there is no talk. But Krsna, Krsna is spirit. So why He’s talking Bhagavad-gita? What is… What do you think of Krsna’s talking? [break] …nama cintamanih krsna. Nama cintamanih krsna, rasa-vigraha, caitanya-rasa-vigrahah.

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

This is nama. Abhinnatvad nama-naminoh. There is no difference between the name and the person. Here, in this material world, there is difference between the name and the thing. Just like if I want water, if I simply chant “Water, water, water…” Sometimes some rascals, these, give the example that if we chant “Coca-cola, Coca- cola, Coca-cola…” It is not like that. They do not know, and they, they, they dare to explain this nama. Such a rascal they are. They do not know what is name. Here is a description of the name: nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vi… This is caitanya. This is not dead stone. This body is dead stone. Caitanya means the living force. That is caitanya. So nama is caitanya.

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

This name is not ordinary name. This is absolute.

Indian reporter: How is that they say that in some of the mantras they are cakras and all that?

Prabhupada: Hmmh?

Indian reporter: Some of the mantras

Prabhupada: No, no. We have nothing to do with cakra. These cakras are concerned who are in the bodily concept of life. The bhaktas, they do not accept that “I am body.” The sata cakra is concerned with this body, not with the soul. Yes. So these, the yoga process is prescribed for them who are too much in con…, bodily concept of life. Otherwise, those who are spiritually advanced, they’re, they do not have to practice this yoga. This, simply name, if we follow… Actually, practically, you see… You practically see that all over the world, these boys, how they’re advancing simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. So this is fact. It is not imagination. How they’re advancing, how they’re becoming… Now, sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam, to make zero [Cc. Madhya 19.170] They’ve made everything zero. They don’t consider that Americans. Yes. They don’t consider that “I am this body. I have to eat flesh, meat and wine; therefore my body will be maintained.” They never think like that. This is mukti. Simply talking will not do practically. “I practice yoga and immediately my throat has become dry. Please give me cigarette. Please give me cigarette.” There are so many. I have seen.

Indian reporter: So they are not yogis.

Prabhupada: You will find, if you analyze, you’ll find so many. They’re, at least, they smoke ganja. There are so many yogis, I have seen, they smoke ganja. You have not seen? Ganja-smoker yogis?

Indian reporter: Yes.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Indian man (2): Number of them.

Prabhupada: Number of them. I do not know, how you have studied. So many rascals, smoking ganja and talking of yoga.

Devotee: Drinking tea.

Prabhupada: Taking tea. Taking tea, that is common affair. Big, big jug, tea.

Indian man: (indistinct)

Prabhupada: So see practically. Simply talking will not help. Practically see how this system is perfect. Thousands and thousands, not only one, two. If you travel all over the world and see our temples, you’ll find in each and every temple, two hundred, hundred and fifty, fifty—all devotees. All these boys and girls, nice. They, their countrymen, astonished. They ask them, “Are you American?” They ask them. How this transformation has come into existence?

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

It is nondifferent from Krsna. So by chanting Krsna means they are associating Krsna directly. There is no question of sata cakra, or this cakra. No. It is direct contact with Krsna. And if one is in direct contact with Krsna, what other method does he require? Everything is… Aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatha kim. If you are in direct touch with Krsna, then where is the necessity of other tapasya? Everything is finished. Your ultimate goal is obtained. And naradhito yadi haris tapasa tatha kim. And if you could not touch Krsna, then where is this nonsense, yoga and jnana? They’re useless. You could not touch Krsna. These things are… Aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatha kim, naradhito yadi haris tapasa tatha kim.

Indian reporter: That is why He’s called Yogesvara.

Prabhupada: Yes. If you are in touch with the Yogesvara, then your all austerities, penances, finished. Now you enjoy life with Yogesvara. That is the position of the devotees. Anandamaya.

ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah… [Bs. 5.37]

This is a great science. So we have described all this in our books. They are reading, and public is very much appreciating. All right. (end)