0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,759 SB 1-08-50 LA 1973-05-12 When to Be Nonviolent - Violent 1 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:07,402 ANNOUNCER: The following is a class on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 2 00:00:07,403 --> 00:00:12,130 1st canto, 8th chapter, text number 50, 3 00:00:12,131 --> 00:00:18,873 given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 4 00:00:18,874 --> 00:00:26,709 recorded on May 12th, 1973, in Los Angeles. 5 00:00:26,710 --> 00:00:28,169 PRADYUMNA: Translation: 6 00:00:28,170 --> 00:00:32,479 “There is no sin for a king who kills for the right cause, 7 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:35,279 who is engaged in maintaining his citizens. 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:45,760 But this injunction is not applicable to me.” 9 00:00:45,761 --> 00:00:49,000 PRABHUPĀDA: Explain. 10 00:00:49,001 --> 00:00:52,251 nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale 11 00:00:52,252 --> 00:00:55,371 śrīmate bhaktivedānta- svāmin iti nāmine 12 00:00:55,372 --> 00:00:59,500 namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe 13 00:00:59,501 --> 00:01:05,301 nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi- pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe 14 00:01:05,302 --> 00:01:08,490 The first part of this verse, the first half of this verse, 15 00:01:08,491 --> 00:01:14,120 naino rājñaḥ prajā-bhartur dharma- yuddhe vadho dviṣām iti [SB 1.8.50] 16 00:01:14,121 --> 00:01:22,690 this is a statement or an injunction of śāstra, that for, that the killing, 17 00:01:22,691 --> 00:01:28,960 or the vadha, dviṣām, of the enemies, dharma-yuddhe, 18 00:01:28,961 --> 00:01:35,460 in a religious fight, rājñaḥ prajā- bhartur [SB 1.8.50] of a king 19 00:01:35,461 --> 00:01:38,990 who is maintaining his citizens; he has to maintain his citizens. 20 00:01:38,991 --> 00:01:42,940 So if there is some danger, then he has to eliminate the enemy. 21 00:01:42,941 --> 00:01:44,620 na enaḥ (no sin) [SB 1.8.50] 22 00:01:44,621 --> 00:01:47,440 What is religious fight? 23 00:01:47,441 --> 00:01:56,620 Religious fight means you have got right to kill your aggressor. 24 00:01:56,621 --> 00:02:05,620 If somebody takes your property, if somebody sets fire in your house, 25 00:02:05,621 --> 00:02:12,820 if somebody kidnaps your wife, or somebody is trying to kill you, 26 00:02:12,821 --> 00:02:16,200 they are called aggressor. 27 00:02:16,201 --> 00:02:21,811 So aggressor should be killed immediately. 28 00:02:21,812 --> 00:02:30,181 It is not that somebody has become an aggressor, and if I say, 29 00:02:30,182 --> 00:02:39,281 “Now I have become a Vaiṣṇava, I’ll not be violent; I shall tolerate. 30 00:02:39,282 --> 00:02:49,341 Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught us to be tolerant like the tree or the grass. 31 00:02:49,342 --> 00:02:52,291 So I shall become tolerant; let him do.” 32 00:02:52,292 --> 00:02:55,511 Just like Gandhi used to say. 33 00:02:55,512 --> 00:03:04,609 Somebody questioned him that “If somebody comes and violates 34 00:03:04,610 --> 00:03:09,361 the chastity of your daughter in your presence, what will you do?” 35 00:03:09,362 --> 00:03:14,961 He said, “I shall remain nonviolent.” 36 00:03:14,962 --> 00:03:20,651 But that is not śāstric injunction. 37 00:03:20,652 --> 00:03:24,381 This is foolishness. 38 00:03:24,382 --> 00:03:32,561 If somebody is aggressor, he must be killed immediately. 39 00:03:32,562 --> 00:03:35,581 Dharma-yuddha. 40 00:03:35,582 --> 00:03:42,211 Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja is thinking that “Although there was fight, 41 00:03:42,212 --> 00:03:53,781 the fight was between our own men, my brother, my nephews, my grandfather. 42 00:03:53,782 --> 00:03:55,661 So they are family members. 43 00:03:55,662 --> 00:03:59,082 I have killed them for my kingdom.” 44 00:03:59,083 --> 00:04:05,232 He is thinking in that way; he is a pious man. 45 00:04:05,233 --> 00:04:08,352 Violence is required. 46 00:04:08,353 --> 00:04:10,762 We don’t say nonviolence. 47 00:04:10,763 --> 00:04:18,272 Just as Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He gave us the instruction, 48 00:04:18,273 --> 00:04:23,470 tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā [Cc. 17.31]: 49 00:04:23,471 --> 00:04:34,212 “One should be tolerant, forbearing like the tree, like the grass.” 50 00:04:34,213 --> 00:04:40,982 Amāninā mānadena: “One should give respect to others. 51 00:04:40,983 --> 00:04:43,562 In this way one should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.” 52 00:04:43,563 --> 00:04:52,792 Because in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, there will be so many aggressors. 53 00:04:52,793 --> 00:04:55,732 The nature is so cruel. 54 00:04:55,733 --> 00:05:01,022 Just like Prahlāda Mahārāja, a five-years-old boy. 55 00:05:01,023 --> 00:05:05,632 His only fault was that he was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, 56 00:05:05,633 --> 00:05:12,492 and the father was aggressor, giving him trouble so many ways. 57 00:05:12,493 --> 00:05:15,162 So we must be prepared. 58 00:05:15,163 --> 00:05:20,282 Therefore as there is danger… 59 00:05:20,283 --> 00:05:29,773 Suppose Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught us that “Be tolerant,” 60 00:05:29,774 --> 00:05:36,323 but not that where violence is required we should be tolerant; no. 61 00:05:36,324 --> 00:05:43,253 Just like while Nityānanda Prabhu was injured by Jagāi and Mādhāi, 62 00:05:43,254 --> 00:05:47,313 He wanted to immediately kill him. 63 00:05:47,314 --> 00:05:48,893 Similarly, 64 00:05:48,894 --> 00:05:55,473 nonviolence does not mean that in right causes also you will remain nonviolent. 65 00:05:55,474 --> 00:05:58,143 No. 66 00:05:58,144 --> 00:06:01,323 You do not attack anybody unnecessarily. 67 00:06:01,324 --> 00:06:08,663 You do not kill unnecessarily animal even, not even an ant. 68 00:06:08,664 --> 00:06:12,653 You should be nonviolent by your nature. 69 00:06:12,654 --> 00:06:22,093 But when there is aggression, there are enemies, the śāstra says, dharma-yuddha. 70 00:06:22,094 --> 00:06:26,533 That is dharma-yuddha. 71 00:06:26,534 --> 00:06:30,453 prajā-bhartur dharma-yuddhe vadho dviṣām [SB 1.8.50] 72 00:06:30,454 --> 00:06:35,033 Dviṣām, envious. 73 00:06:35,034 --> 00:06:38,643 So they must be killed. 74 00:06:38,644 --> 00:06:45,913 But Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja was thinking in terms of fight between the family, 75 00:06:45,914 --> 00:06:50,793 their friends, their nephews, their grandfather. 76 00:06:50,794 --> 00:06:55,883 So he was thinking himself as culprit. 77 00:06:55,884 --> 00:06:59,976 But in dharma-yuddha… 78 00:06:59,977 --> 00:07:09,944 The Pāṇḍavas, they tried to settle the issue. 79 00:07:09,945 --> 00:07:15,374 Actually, the kingdom belonged to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. 80 00:07:15,375 --> 00:07:20,344 It was inheritance from his father, Pāṇḍu. 81 00:07:20,345 --> 00:07:26,014 But some way or other, they were cheated by the Kurus. 82 00:07:26,015 --> 00:07:27,664 They were sent to the forest. 83 00:07:27,665 --> 00:07:32,984 In the meantime they grabbed everything. 84 00:07:32,985 --> 00:07:35,824 And when they came back, so asked, 85 00:07:35,825 --> 00:07:43,244 “Give us some…, our ruling power,” so they would not give. 86 00:07:43,245 --> 00:07:49,584 “No; without fight, we shall not give.” 87 00:07:49,585 --> 00:07:58,024 So the Pāṇḍavas, even Kṛṣṇa tried their best to settle up the issue, 88 00:07:58,025 --> 00:08:01,274 but there was no settlement. 89 00:08:01,275 --> 00:08:03,964 So at that time, war was declared. 90 00:08:03,965 --> 00:08:06,454 That is dharma-yuddha. 91 00:08:06,455 --> 00:08:12,174 They tried to settle up the fight, but it was not possible. 92 00:08:12,175 --> 00:08:21,334 When it is not possible, then the last resort is to take to fighting. 93 00:08:21,335 --> 00:08:22,494 That is dharma-yuddha. 94 00:08:22,495 --> 00:08:28,015 The battlefield… It is therefore called dharma-kṣetra. 95 00:08:28,016 --> 00:08:33,055 dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre [Bg. 1.1] 96 00:08:33,056 --> 00:08:36,005 That fight was right. 97 00:08:36,006 --> 00:08:44,185 And especially when Kṛṣṇa was present, it is already dharma-kṣetra. 98 00:08:44,186 --> 00:08:48,125 Wherever… Just like this is temple. 99 00:08:48,126 --> 00:08:51,335 Similar houses are there, many. 100 00:08:51,336 --> 00:08:52,975 Why it is temple? 101 00:08:52,976 --> 00:08:55,985 Because Kṛṣṇa is there. 102 00:08:55,986 --> 00:09:01,045 Therefore it is called dharma-kṣetra, temple. 103 00:09:01,046 --> 00:09:03,065 What is the difference between temple? 104 00:09:03,066 --> 00:09:07,835 In other houses there may be big hall like this. 105 00:09:07,836 --> 00:09:11,955 There may be many men eating, sleeping. 106 00:09:11,956 --> 00:09:14,105 That is not temple. 107 00:09:14,106 --> 00:09:20,135 Where actually God is there, that is called temple. 108 00:09:20,136 --> 00:09:29,565 Similarly, although battle of Kurukṣetra was a fighting place, 109 00:09:29,566 --> 00:09:36,715 because Kṛṣṇa was there, therefore it is dharma-kṣetra. 110 00:09:36,716 --> 00:09:43,505 Wherever Kṛṣṇa is there, that is dharma-kṣetra. 111 00:09:43,506 --> 00:09:49,725 tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ [Padma Purana] 112 00:09:49,726 --> 00:09:59,766 So those who are bhaktas, they can make every place a pilgrimage, 113 00:09:59,767 --> 00:10:04,933 because they can sing the glories of the Lord, 114 00:10:04,934 --> 00:10:08,596 and they can bring the Lord in that place. 115 00:10:08,597 --> 00:10:15,276 So it doesn’t matter whether if he is here or there, in America or India. 116 00:10:15,277 --> 00:10:20,156 Wherever Kṛṣṇa is there, that is dharma-kṣetra. 117 00:10:20,157 --> 00:10:27,086 dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ [Bg. 1.1] 118 00:10:27,087 --> 00:10:33,296 So that fight was quite sanctioned by the śāstra. 119 00:10:33,297 --> 00:10:38,186 It is not the Pāṇḍavas did wrong, no. 120 00:10:38,187 --> 00:10:40,746 They did right thing. 121 00:10:40,747 --> 00:10:46,806 But Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, being too cautious, too religious, 122 00:10:46,807 --> 00:10:54,356 he is thinking that “I did not carry out the injunction of the śāstra, 123 00:10:54,357 --> 00:10:59,176 that fighting is meant for the enemies, not for the friends. 124 00:10:59,177 --> 00:11:04,096 So I have fought with my friends, with my relatives, with my brothers. 125 00:11:04,097 --> 00:11:09,346 Therefore I am most abominable.” 126 00:11:09,347 --> 00:11:11,636 That is the nature of the Vaiṣṇava. 127 00:11:11,637 --> 00:11:19,886 They always think of themselves as very humble, meek. 128 00:11:19,887 --> 00:11:23,942 That is the tṛṇād api… Personally, one should remain 129 00:11:23,943 --> 00:11:28,894 very humble and meek, but that does not mean, 130 00:11:28,895 --> 00:11:36,197 that when there is… For a kṣatriya, to kill the enemies, 131 00:11:36,198 --> 00:11:37,636 that is dharma-yuddha. 132 00:11:37,637 --> 00:11:42,176 That is religious. 133 00:11:42,177 --> 00:11:46,356 Therefore there was section—kṣatriya section, 134 00:11:46,357 --> 00:11:51,847 the brāhmaṇa section, the vaiśya section— 135 00:11:51,848 --> 00:11:57,397 [indistinct] …everyone is engaged in his own occupational duty. 136 00:11:57,398 --> 00:12:02,427 So other section, brāhmaṇa, vaiśya, śūdras, 137 00:12:02,428 --> 00:12:11,667 if they are in difficulty, they should lodge complaint to the king. 138 00:12:11,668 --> 00:12:17,607 Just like in these days also, suppose one is wrong-doer. 139 00:12:17,608 --> 00:12:20,517 He has done wrong to me. 140 00:12:20,518 --> 00:12:24,277 I cannot take directly to punish him; no. 141 00:12:24,278 --> 00:12:26,387 That you cannot do. 142 00:12:26,388 --> 00:12:32,019 You have to lodge the complaint to the government agent, 143 00:12:32,020 --> 00:12:38,797 and if required, government can kill him, sanction, “Kill this man. 144 00:12:38,798 --> 00:12:41,117 He is a murderer.” 145 00:12:41,118 --> 00:12:44,957 So the sanction should come from there. 146 00:12:44,958 --> 00:12:50,227 Similarly, these divisions, very scientific. 147 00:12:50,228 --> 00:12:57,767 Killing business is for the kṣatriya, not for the brāhmaṇas. 148 00:12:57,768 --> 00:13:03,487 Kṣatriya, he can kill; there is no sin for him. 149 00:13:03,488 --> 00:13:06,807 The brāhmaṇas are not going to kill. 150 00:13:06,808 --> 00:13:16,207 So this system—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra—very scientific system. 151 00:13:16,208 --> 00:13:21,198 cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ [Bg. 4.13] 152 00:13:21,199 --> 00:13:24,938 But now everything is lost. 153 00:13:24,939 --> 00:13:33,308 But to make people happy, the Vedic culture is the most perfect. 154 00:13:33,309 --> 00:13:37,028 The kṣatriyas are meant for fighting. 155 00:13:37,029 --> 00:13:42,238 Kṣatriyas are meant for ruling, punishing. 156 00:13:42,239 --> 00:13:45,668 These are meant for the kṣatriyas. 157 00:13:45,669 --> 00:13:50,028 They are exacting taxes. 158 00:13:50,029 --> 00:13:55,348 That is their means of livelihood. 159 00:13:55,349 --> 00:14:00,378 The government can levy tax for expenditure. 160 00:14:00,379 --> 00:14:04,618 You cannot levy tax. 161 00:14:04,619 --> 00:14:09,208 So there are living means of everyone. 162 00:14:09,209 --> 00:14:13,444 For brāhmaṇa, the living means: 163 00:14:13,445 --> 00:14:19,748 paṭhana pāṭhana yajana yājana dāna pratigraha [Padma Purāṇa] 164 00:14:19,749 --> 00:14:29,288 Brāhmaṇa is meant for teaching others and become himself a learned scholar. 165 00:14:29,289 --> 00:14:31,058 That is brāhmaṇa business. 166 00:14:31,059 --> 00:14:34,988 paṭhana pāṭhana yajana yājana [Padma Purāṇa] 167 00:14:34,989 --> 00:14:43,048 He should be a great worshiper of Viṣṇu, and he should teach others also. 168 00:14:43,049 --> 00:14:49,308 Just like we are not only worshiping Kṛṣṇa in our temple, 169 00:14:49,309 --> 00:14:52,408 but we are making propaganda. 170 00:14:52,409 --> 00:14:56,399 This is brāhmaṇa’s business. 171 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:01,396 But if the government calls all our students to the draft board, 172 00:15:01,397 --> 00:15:05,559 “Come on, fight,” that is nonsense. 173 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:13,459 Of course, they have got clauses not to disturb the ministerial class. 174 00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:16,739 That exception is there. 175 00:15:16,740 --> 00:15:26,111 Many of our students was excused from being called by the draft board, 176 00:15:26,112 --> 00:15:35,099 on the ground that they have adopted the religious, ministerial order. 177 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:41,309 That rule is prevalent everywhere, at all times. 178 00:15:41,310 --> 00:15:47,843 So at the present moment the society is chaos because 179 00:15:47,844 --> 00:15:55,739 there is no proper training for the particular class of man. 180 00:15:55,740 --> 00:16:01,632 A brāhmaṇa should be trained up, a kṣatriya should be trained up, 181 00:16:01,633 --> 00:16:06,652 a vaiśya should be trained up, a śūdra should be trained up, 182 00:16:06,653 --> 00:16:11,012 cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ [Bg. 4.13] 183 00:16:11,013 --> 00:16:15,229 according to quality. 184 00:16:15,230 --> 00:16:27,430 Why Vedic culture has failed in India, it is simply remaining in name? 185 00:16:27,431 --> 00:16:34,012 Because everyone claims to become brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, 186 00:16:34,013 --> 00:16:40,330 by birth only, no qualification. 187 00:16:40,331 --> 00:16:44,550 The brāhmaṇa has no qualification of a brāhmaṇa, 188 00:16:44,551 --> 00:16:49,040 and because he is born of a brāhmaṇa father or brāhmaṇa family he is claiming, 189 00:16:49,041 --> 00:16:50,980 “I am brāhmaṇa.” 190 00:16:50,981 --> 00:16:55,010 This is not śāstra’s sanction. 191 00:16:55,011 --> 00:17:03,770 So just see, here is a kṣatriya, ideal kṣatriya, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. 192 00:17:03,771 --> 00:17:06,950 How he is lamenting. 193 00:17:06,951 --> 00:17:11,170 He has done right thing; still, he is conscious 194 00:17:11,171 --> 00:17:16,030 that he has killed his family members, bandhu. 195 00:17:16,031 --> 00:17:24,926 Bandhu bandhaya, relatives. 196 00:17:24,927 --> 00:17:24,928 Subtitles by Gopī Kāntā Dāsa, Causelessmercy.com Sponsored by Jitarati Dāsa & Pratyatoṣa Dāsa