0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,097 MW VRN 1975-12-04 Want to Imitate Rama 1 00:00:13,098 --> 00:00:16,084 ANNOUNCER: The following is a morning walk conversation, 2 00:00:16,085 --> 00:00:21,384 with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 3 00:00:21,385 --> 00:00:44,961 recorded on the 4th of December, 1975, in Vṛndāvana, India. 4 00:00:44,962 --> 00:00:53,802 PRABHUPĀDA: These four principles will make so many bogus bābās as useless. 5 00:00:53,803 --> 00:00:57,342 Simply if you follow these four principles. [break] 6 00:00:57,343 --> 00:01:00,417 AKṢAYĀNANDA: …said that Rāmacandra ate meat. 7 00:01:00,418 --> 00:01:03,540 Some people have said to me… 8 00:01:03,541 --> 00:01:11,360 Rāmacandra can eat you and the whole universe. 9 00:01:11,361 --> 00:01:13,391 Can you do that? 10 00:01:13,392 --> 00:01:15,127 By imit… 11 00:01:15,128 --> 00:01:24,271 Even Rāmacandra used to eat meat, so you can simply imitate for meat-eating. 12 00:01:24,272 --> 00:01:29,682 But why don’t you imitate how to construct a bridge over the ocean? 13 00:01:29,683 --> 00:01:37,000 Why don’t you say that Rāmacandra constructed a bridge on the ocean? 14 00:01:37,001 --> 00:01:39,031 Can you do that? 15 00:01:39,032 --> 00:01:39,726 No. 16 00:01:39,727 --> 00:01:44,590 Then you are rascal. 17 00:01:44,591 --> 00:01:47,541 But in the Bhagavad-gītā it says, yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas [Bg 3.21]. 18 00:01:47,542 --> 00:01:50,807 Whatever the great men do, you must follow in their footsteps. 19 00:01:50,808 --> 00:01:51,997 Yes. 20 00:01:51,998 --> 00:01:57,772 By their instruction; not by their activities. 21 00:01:57,773 --> 00:02:01,334 You should follow the instruction. 22 00:02:01,335 --> 00:02:03,012 Not the activities. 23 00:02:03,013 --> 00:02:08,521 Has Kṛṣṇa said anything that “You also act rāsa-līlā like Me?” 24 00:02:08,522 --> 00:02:09,769 - No. - Has said? 25 00:02:09,770 --> 00:02:11,813 - Never. - Then how you can? 26 00:02:11,814 --> 00:02:19,999 These rascals, these Māyāvādīs, they play rāsa-līlā. [break] 27 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,621 …ācarati śreṣṭhas means… 28 00:02:23,622 --> 00:02:30,849 That śreṣṭha is ordinary person, but not Bhagavān. 29 00:02:30,850 --> 00:02:33,784 Bhagavān can act any way. 30 00:02:33,785 --> 00:02:35,613 I still… 31 00:02:35,614 --> 00:02:38,064 Bhagavān has never instructed you that, 32 00:02:38,065 --> 00:02:44,621 “You imitate Me in raising the Govardhana Hill.” 33 00:02:44,622 --> 00:02:54,170 Has He said like that, that “You also raise the Govardhana Hill like Me”? [break] 34 00:02:54,171 --> 00:02:55,260 …orders. 35 00:02:55,261 --> 00:02:58,636 man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ… [Bg. 18.65] 36 00:02:58,637 --> 00:03:00,191 That is for you. 37 00:03:00,192 --> 00:03:02,957 Always think of Him. 38 00:03:02,958 --> 00:03:06,890 Always become His devotee. 39 00:03:06,891 --> 00:03:08,688 Worship Him. 40 00:03:08,689 --> 00:03:10,747 Offer your obeisances. 41 00:03:10,748 --> 00:03:12,164 That’s all. 42 00:03:12,165 --> 00:03:21,179 That is for you. 43 00:03:21,180 --> 00:03:25,201 Yasodamayi was asking Kṛṣṇa, 44 00:03:25,202 --> 00:03:32,202 “My dear Kṛṣṇa, can you bring the slipper of Your father?” 45 00:03:32,203 --> 00:03:34,562 He could not; even the small child. 46 00:03:34,563 --> 00:03:39,463 Still, with great difficulty He could raise that. 47 00:03:39,464 --> 00:03:44,654 But the person who can raise the Govardhana Hill, 48 00:03:44,655 --> 00:03:48,850 He was feeling difficulty to raise the slipper? 49 00:03:48,851 --> 00:03:51,251 Why? 50 00:03:51,252 --> 00:03:56,441 If at that time He becomes like Govardhana—Giridhārī… 51 00:03:56,442 --> 00:03:57,263 Huh? 52 00:03:57,264 --> 00:04:01,993 Then the līlā between father and son will be damaged. 53 00:04:01,994 --> 00:04:05,521 He plays just like a child. 54 00:04:05,522 --> 00:04:08,427 Although He can raise even in that age, to hill… 55 00:04:08,428 --> 00:04:13,010 Raise the hill. 56 00:04:13,011 --> 00:04:16,569 One should understand Kṛṣṇa. 57 00:04:16,570 --> 00:04:20,554 Everyone compares Him with ordinary man: 58 00:04:20,555 --> 00:04:24,743 “Kṛṣṇa has done this, then I shall do.” 59 00:04:24,744 --> 00:04:28,762 Kṛṣṇa has done so many other things; why don’t you do it? 60 00:04:28,763 --> 00:04:31,486 This rascal… 61 00:04:31,487 --> 00:04:36,232 Anyone who imitates Kṛṣṇa on the plea that, 62 00:04:36,233 --> 00:04:39,620 Kṛṣṇa has played this, therefore he shall do. 63 00:04:39,621 --> 00:04:42,695 He can do anything. 64 00:04:42,696 --> 00:04:47,669 He can eat meat and He can eat the whole universe. 65 00:04:47,670 --> 00:04:55,876 That was shown to His mother: “Mother, you are angry because I have eaten dirt. 66 00:04:55,877 --> 00:04:59,672 Now see within My mouth the whole universe is in. 67 00:04:59,673 --> 00:05:04,365 What is the question of dirt and sea and ocean? 68 00:05:04,366 --> 00:05:08,575 I can eat everything.” [break] 69 00:05:08,576 --> 00:05:11,841 …sam na doṣāya [SB 10.33.29]; just like this sun. 70 00:05:11,842 --> 00:05:15,050 It dry up this urine. 71 00:05:15,051 --> 00:05:16,578 It is not infected. 72 00:05:16,579 --> 00:05:19,868 But you lick up this urine? 73 00:05:19,869 --> 00:05:23,986 Let us see how powerful you are. 74 00:05:23,987 --> 00:05:26,997 tejīyasāṁ na doṣāya [SB 10.33.29] 75 00:05:26,998 --> 00:05:30,915 Who is powerful, he can do anything and everything, whatever he likes. 76 00:05:30,916 --> 00:05:35,933 You cannot do that. [break] 77 00:05:35,934 --> 00:05:36,903 …example. 78 00:05:36,904 --> 00:05:41,588 This urine, within an hour it will be dried up. 79 00:05:41,589 --> 00:05:42,638 How it is dried up? 80 00:05:42,639 --> 00:05:44,072 Due to the sun. 81 00:05:44,073 --> 00:05:47,482 But the sun is not polluted. 82 00:05:47,483 --> 00:05:58,381 But you try to dry up and see the result. 83 00:05:58,382 --> 00:06:01,751 HARI−ŚAURI: Śrīla Prabhupāda, wasn’t it Lord Rāmacandra’s purpose 84 00:06:01,752 --> 00:06:06,897 to actually display by His activity how a perfect human being should act? 85 00:06:06,898 --> 00:06:08,574 Who said that? 86 00:06:08,575 --> 00:06:13,558 Well, umm… I understood that that verse, yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas [Bg 3.21]: 87 00:06:13,559 --> 00:06:19,755 That was referring to Lord Rāmacandra. 88 00:06:19,756 --> 00:06:25,633 Everyone is referred, but whatever Rāmacandra says, you should do that. 89 00:06:25,634 --> 00:06:28,577 You should not imitate. 90 00:06:28,578 --> 00:06:34,634 There are two words: following and imitating. 91 00:06:34,635 --> 00:06:37,118 Imitation is not good. 92 00:06:37,119 --> 00:06:40,946 Following is good. 93 00:06:40,947 --> 00:06:42,904 Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas… [Bg 3.21]; you can… 94 00:06:42,905 --> 00:06:49,557 That I have already explained: Can you construct a bridge on the ocean? 95 00:06:49,558 --> 00:06:54,571 You are claiming, yad yad ācarati; can you do this? 96 00:06:54,572 --> 00:06:57,006 Then why do you say like that? 97 00:06:57,007 --> 00:06:58,594 You cannot imitate. 98 00:06:58,595 --> 00:07:01,181 You can follow only. 99 00:07:01,182 --> 00:07:06,206 “Because Rāmacandra ate meat, so I am eating meat. 100 00:07:06,207 --> 00:07:08,654 I become Ramcandra.” 101 00:07:08,655 --> 00:07:16,843 And why don’t you construct a bridge on the ocean? 102 00:07:16,844 --> 00:07:24,010 So actually, perfect kings… Perfect kings, they may have eaten meat? 103 00:07:24,011 --> 00:07:25,501 Perfect kings… 104 00:07:25,502 --> 00:07:28,802 No, perfect king must follow the Vedic injunction. 105 00:07:28,803 --> 00:07:30,712 They would never eat meat, 106 00:07:30,713 --> 00:07:34,402 - even though they are kṣatriyas. - No, kṣatriyas are allowed. 107 00:07:34,403 --> 00:07:39,547 - That is by hunting; not otherwise. - Yeah. 108 00:07:39,548 --> 00:07:42,977 Or yajña. 109 00:07:42,978 --> 00:07:47,277 Everything is there in the śāstra. [break] 110 00:07:47,278 --> 00:07:52,737 …candra, even He was eating meat: He… 111 00:07:52,738 --> 00:07:59,470 Is there any instance in the temple Rāmacandra is offered meat? 112 00:07:59,471 --> 00:08:05,503 Then why do you claim, “Rāmacandra used to eat meat, therefore I shall eat”? 113 00:08:05,504 --> 00:08:08,512 All rascals. 114 00:08:08,513 --> 00:08:13,792 Kṛṣṇa, He ate fire, khāṇḍava-dāna. 115 00:08:13,793 --> 00:08:17,196 But what He asked you to offer? 116 00:08:17,197 --> 00:08:20,460 Does He says that “You offer Me fire”? 117 00:08:20,461 --> 00:08:25,624 He says, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ, yo me bhaktyā pray… [Bg. 9.26]. 118 00:08:25,625 --> 00:08:29,515 Does He say that “You give Me fire; I shall eat”? 119 00:08:29,516 --> 00:08:33,642 You mean He eats fire in His representation as the fire-god? 120 00:08:33,643 --> 00:08:34,697 No representation. 121 00:08:34,698 --> 00:08:37,345 - As He is. - Ah. 122 00:08:37,346 --> 00:08:38,923 He never assumed as fire-god. 123 00:08:38,924 --> 00:08:41,278 He was boy and playing… 124 00:08:41,279 --> 00:08:44,170 - The forest fire. - And there was for… fire and He ate it. 125 00:08:44,171 --> 00:08:47,538 That is God. 126 00:08:47,539 --> 00:08:50,035 Not that He became a fire-god. 127 00:08:50,036 --> 00:08:52,776 What is fire-god? 128 00:08:52,777 --> 00:08:59,294 Thousands of fire-gods are staying on the nail of His feet. 129 00:08:59,295 --> 00:09:08,671 Why He should become a fire-god? 130 00:09:08,672 --> 00:09:13,123 Mahat-padam [SB 10.14.58]; Kṛṣṇa’s another name is mahat-padam. 131 00:09:13,124 --> 00:09:22,383 The whole energy of material world is on His feet. 132 00:09:22,384 --> 00:09:31,171 samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ [SB 10.14.58] 133 00:09:31,172 --> 00:09:34,140 - So they attend maṅgala-arati? GUṆĀRṆAVA: Yeah. 134 00:09:34,141 --> 00:09:36,198 - Huh? - Yeah. 135 00:09:36,199 --> 00:09:36,839 - They do? - Yeah. 136 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:45,616 DEVOTEE: Yes, they do. - Very good. [break] 137 00:09:45,617 --> 00:09:53,523 …them; there are cycles. 138 00:09:53,524 --> 00:09:58,003 The cycles are more dangerous than the motor car. 139 00:09:58,004 --> 00:09:59,457 HANSADUTTA: Because you can’t hear them. 140 00:09:59,458 --> 00:10:04,131 No, no, hear… Gives you death. 141 00:10:04,132 --> 00:10:06,127 You see? 142 00:10:06,128 --> 00:10:10,717 From the behind. 143 00:10:10,718 --> 00:10:14,355 Hare Kṛṣṇa. [break] 144 00:10:14,356 --> 00:10:18,846 …and God; they do like that. 145 00:10:18,847 --> 00:10:20,315 They give this example: 146 00:10:20,316 --> 00:10:25,670 “In such and such yajña, ṛṣis were eating meat. 147 00:10:25,671 --> 00:10:28,013 Therefore we shall eat meat.” 148 00:10:28,014 --> 00:10:35,692 In the Rāmakrishna Mission— sannyāsīs—they say like that. 149 00:10:35,693 --> 00:10:35,694 Subtitles by Pratyatoṣa Dāsa, Causelessmercy.com