# February 6 ## Spoken on February 6 *Lectures from this day: 7 recordings* --- **[1971: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.16–17](spoken/1971/710206sb.gor)** > Very nice verse. The Yamarāja says that "These *bhutāni viṣṇoḥ, viṣṇu-bhutāni,* the Vaiṣṇava, the Viṣṇudūtas, they are worshiped by the demigods. Anywhere they go, they are worshiped." They are worshipable, Vaiṣṇava. As God is worshipable, similarly, the Vaiṣṇava, or the God's servant, they are also worshipable. And Kṛṣṇa says, *mad bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā*. So, "Anyone who worships My devotee, he renders devotional service better than by worshiping Me directly." So therefore He says in another..., > Therefore, in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*, in the beginning it is said, *nirmatsarāṇāṁ satām. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇām* : "This is understandable by persons who are freed from this quality of enviousness." Here is a quality in the material world. Anyone who is here, he will be envious of his... *Para-utkarṣa-asahanam.* They cannot tolerate that his friend or his brother is very much, I mean to say, advancing either material or spiritual. They cannot tolerate. This is the society. --- **[1972: Room Conversation in Hindi](spoken/1972/720206r1.bom)** > The ultimate understanding of knowledge is *veda*, *veda* itself means knowledge. The person in knowledge is known as *veda vit*. So knowledge means, as said by the Lord in the *Bhagavad gita*, *vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ* those who study the vedas and the *Vedānta*, Kṛṣṇa says that their knowledge should conclude in *aham eva vedyam*, "to understand Me." What is Kṛṣṇa? This should be understood and if a person has no understanding of Kṛṣṇa then what is the use of studying the *vedas* and the Vedanta? Nothing, therefore Kṛṣṇa says *māyayāpahṛta-jñānā*, one may have undergone a lot of tribulation by studying the *veda* and Vedāntas but there is no essence in it because they failed to understand Kṛṣṇa. > So, just like the Supreme Lord says: *daivī sampad vimokṣāya*, what does *vimokṣa* mean? Our real identity is that we are the spirit soul the part and parcel of the Supersoul and liberation or mokṣa is to become situated in our constitutional position. Currently, our position is not constitutional, we are wandering within 84000000 species of life because of which sometimes we are demigods, hogs, sometimes we are asses, sometimes American, Indian, *Brahma* or a *śūdra*. None of this is a constitutional position. According to the body we receive we create a designation. --- **[1974: Bhagavad-gītā 3.9–14](spoken/1974/740206bg.vrn)** > So anyway, yajña must be performed. *Yajña, saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā* it is said, that you are born to perform *yajña*, especially the human beings. Not the lower animals; they cannot perform. So if you do not perform *yajña*, then whatever you are eating, you are eating the resultant action of your sinful activities. And therefore if you eat in the ordinary way... If you steal and eat nicely, that means you are creating your path clear for being arrested by the police someday and be punished. Everyone knows that. Similarly, if you simply eat the sinful activities, then what will be the result? You'll be punished. That is being done. People are not performing *yajña*. Nobody is performing *yajña*. That you can say that at the present moment to perform *yajña*, to secure pure ghee and grains, it is difficult job. Yes, that's right. Because in the Kali-yuga the big *yajñas*, which require lots of ghee and food grains to offer, that is not possible. Therefore it is recommended in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*, > But you can be saved from this black market sinful activities if you offer to Kṛṣṇa. Practical proposal. It is stated here. Now we have to secure food from black market; there is no denying. You cannot secure any good foodstuff from the ration shop. That is not possible. So either today or tomorrow, the whole world is going on in sinful activities. It is... Therefore they are called pañcasuna. *Pañcasuna-yajña. Pañcasuna* means five kinds of violence. When you take water, there are many small animals round the jug, and you kill them. When you, I mean to say, rub the spices on the mortar and pestle, you kill some germs or small ants and animals. When you set fire, you kill so many. When you walk on the street, you kill so many animals. So you cannot kill even an ant. If you kill consciously or unconsciously, you are responsible for the sinful activity. In God's kingdom you cannot say, "If I kill a small ant, what is the sin there?" No, it is all sinful, as much as if you kill one man, which is called murder. If man-made law is according to their whims, but God's law is not like that. It is equal to everyone. If you kill a human being or if you kill a small ant it is the same murdering charges against you. Therefore in the *śāstra* it is recommended *pañcasuna-yajña*. Because unconsciously we are killing so many animals; therefore the *pañcasuna-yajña* should be performed. --- **[1974: Room Conversation](spoken/1974/740206r1.vrn)** > And there is a Bengali verse, *janame janame sabe pitā mātā pāya* [*Prema-vivarta*]: to take care of oneself by the fathers, that is available in every life. Because the ant is also taking care. That is not human society, but he's still taking care. The tiger also taking care. The small cubs, they're loitering on the..., on the body of the lion, and he is feeling very nice. Even monkeys, I have seen. One monkey came in the window, and she had one small child, and somehow or other the child came inside my room. She, that outside monkey, became mad after it. So I had to take... [laughs] The affection is there. The ant, they're affectionate; the snake affectionate; the tiger affectionate; the man is affectionate. That is given. Otherwise, who will take care? So therefore the Vaiṣṇava *kavi* says, *janame janame sabe pitā mātā pāya:* in every life you'll get father and mother and their protection; *kṛṣṇe guru nahi mile bhaja hari ei:* but in every life you cannot get Kṛṣṇa and *guru* take care of. Because unless you get Kṛṣṇa and *guru,* then you are within the cycle of birth and death. And you get father and mother and their care, that is all right, but Kṛṣṇa*-guru* does not come in that way. That you have to search out. *Ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa brahmite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti...*. Because Kṛṣṇa-*guru* will give you the nucleus of devotional life. So *kṛṣṇa guru nahi mile bhaja hari ei* [*Prema-vivarta*]. > Best thing is that we should devote our life for awakening Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This human life is meant for that purpose. By nature's way, *prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ*, nature is bringing us. As soon as we become sinful, we are dropped down to suffer the sequence of sinful life in different varieties. Again, just like a man, criminal, is put into the jail, but when his term is finished, again he is made free. Similarly, the cycle of birth and death, *dehāntara-prāptiḥ, tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ*, one after another, is going on. So the animal life means reaction of sinful life, and upper class of life, demigods, means result of pious life. Two kinds of things are there, sinful and pious, through the cycle of birth is going on. But this human form of life or above human form of life, it is a chance for understanding the real value of life, and therefore for human beings there are guidances, these *Vedas, Purāṇas, Vedānta-sūtra.* It is meant for the human beings, not for the cats and dogs. *Anādi-bahirmukha jīva kṛṣṇa bhuli gela ataeva kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa kaila.* --- **[1975: Bhagavad-gītā 16.10](spoken/1975/750206bg.hon)** > Just like in your country I have seen the machine. In the beginning, when I came to your country, I saw some typewriter machine is throw in the garbage. Of course, in India they do not throw; they repair it. But here your repairing cost is very, very high; therefore you throw away. So the machine which is costly, but as it does not work, you throw away—it has no value—similarly, this is also machine. This body is also machine. That is described in the *Bhagavad-gītā, yantrārūḍhāni māyayā*. It is a machine given by *māyā,* the material energy. *Asat.* Just like the aeroplane is also a machine. It has no life, but the life is the pilot. So long the pilot is there, the machine is useful. If there is no pilot, it may stand in the airport for millions of years, it will not fly. Very practical. > So Kṛṣṇa doesn't want anything else. Kṛṣṇa does not say, "Give Me meat. Give Me eggs. Give Me fish." No. He says, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati.* So if you are devotee, you cannot take anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa... I should offer to Kṛṣṇa what He wants. Just like if you want to offer me something, so you inquire that "What shall I offer you? What do you like?" So similarly, if you invite Kṛṣṇa to live in your house or temple, then you should ask Kṛṣṇa, "Sir, what can I offer You?" The Kṛṣṇa said, *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati*.* Kṛṣṇa said that "You give Me *patram,* means vegetables, flowers, fruits, and *phalam,* fruits, and some liquid, water or milk." Kṛṣṇa does not say, "You give Me meat or egg or fish." No. Kṛṣṇa can eat everything, He's all-powerful, but He does not eat. Although He is all-powerful; He can eat everything. He can eat fire. That is another thing. But because we have to take *prasādam,* remnants of foodstuff, Kṛṣṇa, therefore He says, "Give Me this: food grains, milk, or fruits and flowers." Prepared or unprepared, it doesn't matter. Kṛṣṇa wants that. We... So far the Vaiṣṇava is concerned, sometimes they come forward to fight with us: "Why we should be vegetarian?" No, no, we have no quarrel with the nonvegetarian. Let them eat at their risk. But because we recommend, "You take Kṛṣṇa's *prasādam,*" therefore we must be satisfied with this *patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam*,* nothing more than that. --- **[1976: Morning Walk](spoken/1976/760206mw.may)** --- ## Letters on February 6 *Letters from this day: 12* --- **[1969: Letter to Dr. Chaudhuri](letters/1969/690206_dr._chaudhuri)** > You have written to say "Vaisnava tradition in India", and that is the real cultural standing of Vedic civilization. In the Rigveda you will find the mantra, *tad visnu paramam padam sada pasyanti suraya.* In the *Visnu Purana* also it is said, *visnu bhakti bhovet deva.* So Vedic civilization means the civilization of the *devas,* or the demigods, and the whole purpose is to understand Krishna. --- **[1971: Letter to Bali-Mardana](letters/1971/710206_bali-mardana)** > I am so glad to hear how you have secured a huge house until March 31st at no charge. --- **[1973: Letter to Danavir](letters/1973/730206_danavir)** > It is very nice that you are desiring to assist me in preaching the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world. We need so many preachers to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement and expand our activities. So you continue your engagements and when I come to Los Angeles it will be opportune time for discussion of this matter. --- **[1975: Letter to All Temple Presidents](letters/1975/750206_all_temple_presidents)** > Recently in Germany the government, police and church have started heavy persecution against our movement by arrests, investigation, and blocking our monies in the bank. --- **[1975: Letter to Audolomi](letters/1975/750206_audolomi)** > If your heart is weak, do not take part in so much active service. It will be better for you to chant more, read books, eat less—like that you can engage yourself. --- **[1975: Letter to Brahmananda](letters/1975/750206_brahmananda)** > I am coming to London via New York by the 2nd of March and you can meet me there. --- **[1975: Letter to Caru](letters/1975/750206_caru)** > From your letter, it appears that you need a change of activities. For the time being, keep yourself fixed in Krishna's service 24 hours and follow staunchly all of the regulated principles, such as chanting 16 rounds, rising early, attending arati and class, etc. --- **[1975: Letter to Radhavallabha](letters/1975/750206_radhavallabha)** > The sample that you sent me of the new design for the BBT logo is approved by me. For the sake of consistency, you can also use it on the cover jacket. --- **[1975: Letter to Sri Govinda](letters/1975/750206_sri_govinda)** > Concerning the woman's duty, if she gets married, that does not necessarily mean that she must give up any of her service in the temple or on sankirtana, but she must also see to it that her household duties are not neglected. Yes, I want to come there again this year for the Rathayatra festival and presently you can arrange that interview with Hugh Hefner, if it is possible to have it during that time. --- **[1976: Letter to Manager Central Bank Of India](letters/1976/760206_manager_central_bank_of_india)** > Please add Sriman Sridhar Swami as the co-signer in ISKCON's current account in your branch. The other co-signers are Purnaprajna das Adhikary and Syamlal das Brahmachary. --- **[1976: Letter to Ramesvara](letters/1976/760206_ramesvara)** > Regarding *Krsna Consciousness is Authorized,* the first thing you should do is arrange to have a few thousand sent to India immediately. I am organizing an office of book distribution under my direct supervision, and I shall post these books to officers, professors, lawyers, etc. --- **[1977: Letter to Parvati](letters/1977/770206_parvati)** > As I have already stated, if you are feeling inconvenience being the only woman devotee in Mombasa you may move. I have invited you to attend the Mayapur festival, but if you cannot wait then you can move at once to the Nairobi temple, or you may come to India and stay at Mayapur. ---