# Crows and Swans *On the difference between crowlike and swanlike persons* --- ### Where There Is Kṛṣṇa-kathā > This is possible when we associate, *saṅgaḥ... Saṅgaḥ* means association. Whose association? *Pada-yugālaya-haṁsa.* One who is... Because Kṛṣṇa's feet is compared as lotus—"lotus feet," we say—so where there is lotus, there is *haṁsa,* swan, swan, you'll find. That is the difference between the crows and the swan. Crows gather in a place, filthy place, where all rotten things are kept. The crows come there. Where all rotten things are there, all the crows will come. But when there is lotus, the crows will not go there; the *haṁsa,* swan, they'll go there. Even in the bird society there are classes: crow society, swan society, pigeon society, sparrow society. Everyone has got society. But one society is different from another society. Similarly, where there is *kṛṣṇa-kathā,* the crowslike men will not come. Where there is cinema, where there is prostitute dance, where there is drinking, the crowslike men will gather. *Tad vāyasa-tīrtham. Tad vāyasa... Vāyasa* means crows. — [[spoken/1976/760225sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.18, Māyāpur, February 25, 1976]] --- ### Literature Without Glorification of the Lord > So, *na tad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo pragṛṇīta karhicit, tad vāyasaṁ tīrtham.* Any literature very nicely written, just like Shakespeare writing or some other, big, big mundane writers, their writing, it is very nicely written, grammatically very correct, and metaphorically very nicely meant... *Na tad vacaś citra-padam. Citra-padam* means very artistically written. There are literatures very artistical—*na tad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo pragṛṇīta na karhicit—*but there is no glorification of the Lord, simply literary presentation, such kind of literature is described, *tad vāyasa-tīrtham:* "This kind of literature is preferred by the class of men who are like crows." Crows. But the Vedic literature, which is sung by Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva or a devotee, even that is broken language presented, *tad gṛṇanti śṛṇvanti sādhavaḥ:* "They'll be accepted by saintly person. They'll sing it and they'll accept it." That is the secret of success. — [[spoken/1976/760225sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.18, Māyāpur, February 25, 1976]] --- ### Rejected by Saintly Persons > If your literature is exactly following the *mahājano yena sa gataḥ,* then it will be liked by highly advanced saintly person. And if it is a presentation of mundane literary career... Therefore that gentleman has rejected even Aurobindo and Dr... Others he has rejected: "They are useless." Other commentation on *Bhāgavata,* he has... But he has rejected even Aurobindo and Dr. Radhakrishnan. Dr. Radhakrishnan is well known as a big philosopher, and Aurobindo, he's also known as great speculator, but he rejected. Yes, they should be rejected because it is *vāyasa-tīrtha.* What is the use, jugglery of words? It has no fact; all imaginary. All imaginary. — [[spoken/1976/760225sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.18, Māyāpur, February 25, 1976]] --- ### Birds of a Feather > There is a saying, "Birds of a feather flock together." The crows don't come there where *kṛṣṇa-kathā* is going on, neither the swans go where the crows are keeping. So there are two classes of men in this world: crow class and swan class. Those who are interested in kṛṣṇa-kathā, they are swan class. — [[spoken/1976/760225sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.18, Māyāpur, February 25, 1976]] --- ### Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Swanlike Men > *Paramo nirmatsarāṇām*. This *Śrīmad-Bhāgavata* is the prime literature, transcendental literature, and it is for whom? *Nirmatsarāṇām,* one who is not envious. *Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇām* [SB 1.1.2]. So *Śrīmad-Bhāgavata* is for the swanlike men, not for the crows. Crows will not take it. Even they take it, they will not understand it. — [[spoken/1976/760225sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.18, Māyāpur, February 25, 1976]] --- *5 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on crows and swans*