Krishna Consciousness

Open air, regular bath and ample space in which to live are favorable for healthy vitality. Fresh produce from the earth like grains and vegetables, as well as fresh water and heat, is good for the upkeep of the gross body.

SB 2.10.31 P Bhagavatam Is the Answer to All Questions
The construction of the whole material world is prominently made by three elements, namely earth, water and fire. But the living force is produced by sky, air and water. So water is the common element in both the gross and subtle forms of all material creation, and it should be noted herewith that due to necessity, water, being most prominent in the material creation, is the principal element of all the five. This material body is thus an embodiment of the five elements, and the gross manifestation is perceived because of three, namely earth, water, and fire. Sensations of touch are perceived due to the thin layer on the skin, and bone is as good as hard stone. The breathing air of life is produced of sky, air and water, and therefore open air, regular bath and ample space in which to live are favorable for healthy vitality. Fresh produce from the earth like grains and vegetables, as well as fresh water and heat, is good for the upkeep of the gross body.

Here you see the eyes of God: the sun, the moon. Why don't you see it?

690926LE.LON                 Lectures 
So this sun example we have to understand, that to understand the sun there are three divisions. The first division is the sunlight or sunshine. The sunshine is all-pervading over the universe. It is not imagination. We get from Vedic information. It is said, yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti. This is brahmajyoti. Yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam. Savita, the sun-god, is called yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah. So the sun is described as the eye of the Supreme Lord. Just like we have got our eyes; we can see to some extent, three feet, four feet, or ten feet, or hundred feet. But the eyes of God is so powerful, He can see the whole universe. Yac-caksur esa savita. Savita means the sun. The sun is... So we have to study in this way. People say, "Can you show me God?" Yes, why not? You just try to see God. Here you see the eyes of the God: the sun, the moon. Why don't you see it? Yac-caksur esa savita. Just try to understand the one eye of God, then another eye, then try to understand other senses. But you cannot understand even one eye. What you will understand of God? In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya: "The taste in the water I am." Just try to understand. Prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh: "I am the shining in the sun and the moon. I am the sound in the sky." So this light, sound, these are scientific studies. Krsna says, Bhagavan says, that "I am the sound in the sky." So if you can practically study sound, light, nicely, scientifically, then you'll see Krsna also.

Unless there is sunlight, no living entity on any planet can see. Therefore the sun is considered to be the eye of the Supreme Lord.

SB 8.5.36  The Demigods Appeal to the Lord for Protection 
                                 TEXT

                yac-caksur asit taranir deva-yanam
                 trayimayo brahmana esa dhisnyam
                dvaram ca mukter amrtam ca mrtyuh
                 prasidatam nah sa maha-vibhutih

                             SYNONYMS

   yat--that which; caksuh--eye; asit--became; taranih--the sun-god; deva-yanam--the predominating deity for the path of deliverance for the demigods; trayi-mayah--for the sake of guidance in karma-kanda Vedic knowledge; brahmanah--of the supreme truth; esah--this; dhisnyam--the place for realization; dvaram ca--as well as the gateway; mukteh--for liberation; amrtam--the path of eternal life; ca--as well as; mrtyuh--the cause of death; prasidatam--may He be pleased; nah--upon us; sah--that Supreme Personality of Godhead; maha-vibhutih--the all-powerful.

                           TRANSLATION

   The sun-god marks the path of liberation, which is called arciradi-vartma. He is the chief source for understanding of the Vedas, he is the abode where the Absolute Truth can be worshiped, He is the gateway to liberation, and he is the source of eternal life as well as the cause of death. The sun-god is the eye of the Lord. May that Supreme Lord, who is supremely opulent, be pleased with us.

                             PURPORT

  The sun-god is considered to be the chief of the demigods. He is also considered to be the demigod who watches the northern side of the universe. He gives help for understanding the Vedas. As confirmed in Brahma-samhita (5.52):

               yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam
               raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah
               yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro
               govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 "The sun, full of infinite effulgence, is the king of all the planets and the image of the good soul. The sun is like the eye of the Supreme Lord. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, in pursuance of whose order the sun performs his journey, mounting the wheel of time." The sun is actually the eye of the Lord. In the Vedic mantras it is said that unless the Supreme Personality of Godhead sees, no one can see. Unless there is sunlight, no living entity on any planet can see. Therefore the sun is considered to be the eye of the Supreme Lord. That is confirmed here by the words yac-caksur asit and in the Brahma-samhita by the words yac-caksur esa savita. The word savita means the sun-god.

"Does God Exist?"

770129mw.bhu                             Conversations
Prthu-putra: ...but he's not writing books himself. It's all people. They hear his conferences, they collect all his conferences, and they write for him. He never wrote any books himself, Krishnamurti.
Hari-sauri: No, I read a book he wrote. (break) A friend recommended it to me. He said he was very exuberant. He said he'd found a book you could read and throw away at the end. So out of curiosity, I started to read...
Prabhupada: So why shall I take the trouble? I throw it immediately. (laughter)
Hari-sauri: I got the book, and I... There was one chapter called, "Does God Exist?" something like that. So I turned to that one first. And after I read the first paragraph, I threw the book out, (laughs) because he was saying, "Well, God exists if you believe He exists. And if you don't believe He exists, then He doesn't exist."
Prabhupada: So it depends on me. God's existence depends on me.
Hari-sauri: Yeah. So I thought, "Well, if he's leaving it up to me to decide..." I was buying the book to try and find some information. So what was the...? So I couldn't see the value in the thing.

He has come to teach, and he says, "There is no need of teacher. Teacher is within." Is he not a rascal?

750713r2.phi              Conversations
Sandy Nixon: The aim of many spiritual paths is to find the guru within.
Prabhupada: Within?
Sandy Nixon: The guru within. Is this different...?
Prabhupada: Who says that, to find guru within?
Sandy Nixon: Um...
Jayatirtha: Kirpal Singh, he's one person who says that.
Guru dasa: Krishnamurti says that also.
Prabhupada: So why does he come to teach? (laughter) This rascal, why does he come to teach? This is the answer. These things are spoken by rascals. He has come to teach, and he says, "Find out guru within." Then why you have come to teach? Because people are not intelligent, they cannot catch him. He talks all nonsense, and they hear, that's all.
Guru dasa: He also has written a book about "No books are needed." (laughter)
Prabhupada: So you can find out how rascal he is. Is it not? Do you admit or not? He writes book, and he says, "There is no need of books." He has come to teach, and he says, "There is no need of teacher. Teacher is within." Is he not a rascal?
Sandy Nixon: Well, they say... Those people...
Prabhupada: No, first of all you answer my question. If he says contradictory things, is he not a rascal?
Sandy Nixon: Well, he's contradicting himself.
Prabhupada: Therefore he is a rascal. He does not know how to defend him.
Sandy Nixon: Can the Vedas be taken symbolically as well as literally?
Prabhupada: As it is. We are presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is, not symbolically.

Krishnamurti : He's writing books, and he says, "There is no need of books."

740323mw.bom              Conversations
Dr. Patel: Krishnamurti, I read a couple of books. He said that nothing, everything...
Prabhupada: Does he say anything about Krsna?
Dr. Patel: Yes, he does say.
Prabhupada: What does he say?
Dr. Patel: He says the Krsna's all names are all, God is also His name. Because the God, it is Krsna.
Prabhupada: No, no. What does he say about personal Krsna? Does he know anything?
Bhagavata: He said, "You are your own guru," Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is...
Devotee: I have heard him.
Prabhupada: You see? Krsna says, tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet... Tad viddhi pranipatena. He says, "Everyone is guru." Just see. "Everyone is guru." Then why you are instructing? Why you are becoming guru?
Dr. Patel: He's not becoming guru of anybody.
Prabhupada: No, no. Why does he say that "You do this"? That is guru. Guru means one who orders. That is guru. That means you reject all other gurus... That means... He means to say that "You reject all other gurus. Accept me guru." That's all.
Guest (3): That is not... That is what he...
Prabhupada: That is competition.
Guest (3): All gurus are like that. All gurus are like that.
Bhava-bhuti:. He's writing many books saying "There's no need for books."
Prabhupada: Accha. Now see. He says, "There is no need of books." And he writes books, Krsna books.
Guest (3): Yes. Yes. What you have
Bhagavata: He said, Everything is within you. So you are your own guru and..."
Prabhupada: Just see.
Bhagavata: ...everything will be revealed to you."
Dr. Patel: It may be within him, all right. He must drag it out.
Prabhupada: No, no. Now, just see how he is making nonsense competition.
Guest (3): Vasarambhanam. (?)
Prabhupada: Vasarambhanam.
Dr. Patel: Vasarambhanam caro namadheyam (?). (break)
Prabhupada: He's writing books, and he says, "There is no need of books."

How do you explain the fact that Jesus said that "I am the way, the truth, and the light," and that "No man comes to the father but by me"?

740701LE.MEL                 Lectures
Madhudvisa: I think part of the question was this. One other man who comes from the East, Krishnamurti, he stresses that when you are speaking in the Western world, you should speak and present yourself as a Westerner, not as an Indian or not as you would speak in India. Instead of sitting on the raised dais, Vyasasana, and dressing in robes of a monk, Krishnamurti would say, "Dress in Western clothes and sit on a chair." The question was, "What is our opinion of this?"
Prabhupada: Actually a God conscious person is neither Westerner nor Easterner. So anywhere he goes, the devotees, as they receive him, they accept. These devotees, they have arranged the raised seat, so we have accepted this raised seat. If they wanted to sit down on the floor, I would have gladly accepted. I have no objection, this or that. But as the devotees receive and they give honor, that is good for them, because actually we should honor the Supreme Lord, God, and His representative. Nowadays it is different. Students and people are learning not to honor. But that is not actually the system. According to Vedic system, the representative of God must be honored as God. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Just like in India we had British rule. The governor general, he was viceroy. So he was given honor, as much honor we used to give to the king. So that is the etiquette. That is the system. It is not that the honor given to the viceroy exactly like to the king, he becomes a king. No. He is servant of God. But it is the duty of the citizen to honor the representative of the king as king. That is etiquette. That is our Vedic system.
Madhudvisa: Yes.
Woman: How do you explain the fact that Jesus said that "I am the way, the truth, and the light," and that "No man comes to the father but by me"?
Prabhupada: What is that? Hm?
Madhudvisa: She's asking how can we explain that Jesus said he is the only way?
Prabhupada: Yes, he is the only way. We also admit. Because he is the representative of God, so if you want to approach God, you must approach through His representative. That is His version. "I am the only representative of God," then you have to reach God through him, that is fact.

Their idea is that they want to blame God for their predicament, like a bad child "Well you made me do it."

760219mw.may              Conversations
Sudama: No, they become very embittered: "Why He permits us...? If He is all-loving God, why He permits us to suffer?
Prabhupada: No, He's not permit... He forbids, but you...
Acyutananda: You insist.
Prabhupada: ...that you have to understand, that you have got little independence. That... Actually they do not understand that.
Sudama: No. They're not satisfied.
Acyutananda: They don't...
Sudama: Then they say, "Why He give us independence, then?"
Prabhupada: Then... That is the distinction between you and the stone. Otherwise you would have remained as stone. Because you are moving, therefore He has given you the independence.
Guru-krpa: There is also a question in that same line. They say that in the spiritual world we say that everything is peaceful, there is no birth and death, there is no material conditions, so if the conditions in the spiritual world are so nice and everything is spiritually, everything is spiritual, how is it that one can become envious of Krsna in such conditions? This is a very...
Acyutananda: The original sin.
Sudama: Why we are envious,
Guru-krpa: How is it that, if everything is free from envy, free from bad material elements...
Prabhupada: Yes.
Guru-krpa: How is it that...
Prabhupada: That is independence. That is independence. In spite of all these things, because you have got little independence, you can violate.
Sudama: It is very hard thing to understand.
Prabhupada: No, it is not difficult. It is not difficult.
Acyutananda: It is not difficult. They don't want to understand.
Prabhupada: Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel.
Acyutananda: No, their idea is that they want to blame God for their predicament, like a bad child, you know, says, "Well you made me do it."
Prabhupada: Yes.
Sudama: "What can I do?"
Prabhupada: No, they say, "Why you gave me birth?" They say like that.
Sudama: Cursing almost. Almost.
Guru-krpa: Also the atheistic people sometimes argue, "What does your Krsna do for the suffering people?"
Prabhupada: Hm?
Guru-krpa: "What does He do? Why doesn't He come down and help the poor people? They are suffering."
Acyutananda: I tell them there's...
Guru-krpa: "Why doesn't He come and help them?"
Acyutananda: In Andhra, I said, "There's so much land where they're growing tobacco. You could grow food." But in the Gita, it says, "Once coming there, he never returns."
Prabhupada: But if he likes, he can return.
Acyutananda: He can return.
Prabhupada: That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown.
Prabhupada: This preaching work is a great fight, struggle.
Acyutananda: It is very struggle.
Prabhupada: So you are all soldiers. Even if you lay down your life by fighting, you are recognized by Krsna. Krsna will see that "This devotee has laid down his life," so He'll... He's... Asamsayam. Asamsayam. Mam evaisyasy asamsayam. So let us go on fighting. Even we die, what is that? We are going back to... Jivo va maro va. A Vaisnava, a sadhu, either he lives or dies, he is under the protection of Krsna. Jivo va maro va.

Sometimes people ask that "If God is so great, then why doesn't He just come and destroy all the evil?"

751002mw.mau              Conversations
Pusta Krsna: Sometimes people ask that "If God is so great, then why doesn't He just come and destroy all the evil?"
Prabhupada: Because you have to suffer. You are rascal. You must suffer. Therefore evil must be there.
Brahmananda: Why doesn't He force us to be good?
Prabhupada: Just like if the criminals and thieves say, "Why government has created this prisonhouse?" Is it very good argument? It is for you, rascal. You are criminal. You must suffer. Why it is to be abolished? Otherwise who will suffer? It is for your suffering.
Brahmananda: Why are we evil? Why doesn't God makes us good?
Prabhupada: Hm?
Brahmananda: Why are we evil?
Prabhupada: No, God says that "You become devotee of Me." You do not become. That is your fault. Therefore you must... Just like government does not say that you become criminal. Government says, "You become educated. You become high court judge, become big officer." Why you become criminal, pickpocket? Does government give any education for becoming pickpocket? Hm? Is there any institution how to steal, how to become pickpocket? (laughter) Then why do you become?

Christ says, "Thou shall not kill?--wholesale killing stop." And the Vedic literature is little liberal. It does not say, "Thou shall not kill," but, "You shall not kill at least cow."

750624gc.la               Conversations
Prabhupada: Yes. Because in the material world, for the maintenance of equilibrium of the society, sometimes killing is necessary. Just like fight, war. When the enemy has come to your country, you cannot sit idly; you must fight. But that does not mean that you are allowed to kill everyone as you like. That is a special circumstances when fighting must be there. Therefore the ksatriyas are required to give protection. Like the government is keeping military, police, soldiers, that does not mean government is after killing only. That department will be utilized when there is necessity, not that government is meant for killing. Government has other departments also. But this is also maintained. If there is necessity, it should be utilized. So Krsna, when He is on the battlefield, that was a necessity. He has got two business. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam. Those who are demons, those who are disturbing elements, they should be killed. And those who are honest and peaceful, they should be maintained. But because it is material world, the world of duality, there are good and evil, so you have to curb down the evil. Sometimes force is required. So that killing is not bad. When the enemy is aggressive and you are killing, that killing and poor animal who is supplying milk... You are drinking milk, your mother, and you are killing. This killing and that killing is not the same thing. According to Vedic civilization the cow is to be given special protection. Why it is recommended for the cow? It does not say of other animal. When animal killing is required according to Vedic civilization, those who are meat-eaters, they are allowed to kill some insignificant animal like deer, goat, pigs. It is for the animal eaters, not for all. But if one is bent upon... And there are persons, they want meat-eating. So for them these unimportant animals are recommended. But cow is very important animal. You get from its milk so many nutritious food. So apart from religious sentiment, from economic point of view, cow-killing is not good. And from moral point of view it is not good because you drink cow's milk, so cow is your mother. According to Vedic civilization, there are seven mothers.

                      adau-mata guroh patni
                      brahmani raja-patnika
                    dhenur dhatri tatha prthvi
                     sapta eta matarah smrtah

   Adau-mata, real mother, and guru-patni, the wife of guru or teacher, she is also mother 'cause teacher is father. Adau-mata guroh patni brahmani, the wife of a brahmana. She is mother. Adau-mata guroh patni brahm..., raja-patnika, the queen, the wife of the king. She is mother. And then cow is mother because you are drinking her milk. Adau-mata guroh patni brahmani raja-patnika, dhenur dhatri, nurse. Nurse is also mother because you suck the breast of the nurse. Therefore according to Vedic civilization, there are seven mothers. So you cannot kill your mother. That is not very good philosophy. And who can deny, "The cow is not mother"? Who has got this audacity? You are drinking milk in the very morning. Christ says, "Thou shall not kill?--wholesale killing stop." And the Vedic literature is little liberal. It does not say, "Thou shall not kill," but, "You shall not kill at least cow." But the wholesale stop is not possible. The Vedic wisdom knows that. But you shall not kill at least cow. That is civilization. And the Christians are maintaining thousands of slaughterhouse. Is that very good proposal?

Mother: I believe that there's God in everybody, but why are some people so evil?

750514rc.per              Conversations
Mother: I believe that there's God in everybody, but why are some people so evil?
Prabhupada: Because he does not care for the words of God.
Mother: But as I say, God is within all of us.
Prabhupada: Yes. God is there. God says that "You don't do like that." Sarva-dharman parityajya mam... "You just surrender to Me." But he will not do that.
Mother: And yet people can be so evil.
Prabhupada: Therefore God gives him chance, "All right, you enjoy as you like, and make your life risky. What can I do?"
Mother: But people know when they're doing evil, don't they?
Prabhupada: Just like you have got children. You say, according to your knowledge, every children, "My dear children, you do." But it is not necessarily that they will abide by your order. Similarly, God gives the instruction that "You give up all this. You simply surrender to Me. I shall take charge you." But he does not do that. He wants to live independently. Therefore he is suffering.
Mother: But there's so much evil in the world.
Prabhupada: Avil?
Ganesa: Evil.
Mother: Evil.
Prabhupada: Yes, this is evil. You don't try to carry out the orders of God, this is evil.
Mother: But what I'm trying to say is there's more evil in the world than goodness.
Prabhupada: Yes. Unless there is evil, why you are in this material world? You have accepted evil. Therefore you are in this material world. And if you accept God, the good, then you are in the spiritual world. You don't accept God; you want evil. Therefore you are in the material world. Just like in the jail, prison house, who are they? They are all criminals. Similarly, every one of us who are within this material world, they are all criminals because they have disobeyed the order of God. In different status only, but they are all criminals. Because every one of them is subjected to the rules of nature: birth, death, old age, and disease. So your child is very intelligent. She has taken to this. Now you can do also the same thing, both mother and daughter.

The United Nations, they have created a society for unity of the nations, but actually that is not unity. That is another way of encroaching upon others' property.

LOCKE.HAY                   John Locke                  Philosophy
Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha: everything belongs to God. Just like the father has got many sons and the father is the proprietor of the house. He gives one son, "This is your room," the other son, "This is your room." So the obedient son is satisfied what the father allows to him. Others, those who are not obedient, they want to disturb other brother  that "This room also belongs to me." That creates chaos and confusion in the world. The United Nations, they have created a society for unity of the nations, but actually that is not unity. That is another way of encroaching upon others' property. Therefore there is no peace, unless they accept God is the Supreme proprietor. And we must be satisfied with the allotment God has given to us. Then there is no trouble. But the trouble is that we are not satisfied with the allotment given to us. That allotment can be understood by language or similar culture. So why one should encroach upon others' property which is allotted by God? That creates disturbance. So this so-called modern civilized man, first of all they create disturbances, and then they want to make some adjustment. Of course, for the good of a certain people, if somebody encroaches... But they do not know what is good. They encroach upon others' property for their personal sense gratification. Otherwise, if for the good of the local people somebody, some (indistinct), just like the Aryans, they conquered over many islands or places, but that was for the good of them. Just like the Pandavas, they also ruled over, but the Pandavas were God conscious devotees and they made everyone enlightened in God consciousness. That kind of encroachment. Just like Lord Ramacandra went to Ceylon, or Lanka, and conquered over it, because Ravana was a demon. So He conquered, Lord Ramacandra conquered over the property of Ravana, and gave it to Vibhisana, but He did not take anything. Just like Krsna conducted, managed this Kuruksetra war personally, but the kingdom was given to Yudhisthira. He did not encroach. So this kind of encroachment is all right, that everyone should be Krsna conscious, everyone should be highly elevated in spiritual life. For spreading this civilization, encroaching on others' property is quite fit. But if one encroaches upon others' property for self-aggrandizement, for stealing for his own sense gratification, that is sinful.

We are dynamic forces, and God does not interfere with our dynamic force.

BERGSON.SYA               Henri Bergson                 Philosophy
Syamasundara: When science tries to investigate something, they assume that what they are investigating is static, that it is a constant, that it is not changing, that it's static, mechanical. But the life force, he (Bergson) says, is dynamic; it's always changing, unpredictable.
Prabhupada: Yes. Because it is living force, it must be dynamic. It is not a dead stone. Because it is living force, it must be dynamic. We are all living force, sitting here, we may sit down or we may go away. That nobody can check. Similarly, we are dynamic forces, and God does not interfere with our dynamic force. He allows us, "Do whatever you like." Because if He interferes with our independence, then we are no longer living entities; we become dead stones. So God does not interfere. He gives us full freedom. But at the same time He comes down and instructs us, "But why you are engaged in this foolish activity? Please come to Me, back to home, back to Godhead.

Although professing democracy, they want to be kings themselves. Thus they compete for votes by bad propaganda.

LoB 44   In the autumn season all the reservoirs of water are full of lotus flowers. There are also flowers that resemble the lotus but are of a different class. Among them is a flower called kumuda. When the sun rises, all the flowers but the kumuda blossom beautifully. Similarly, lotuslike men take pleasure in the advent of a responsible king, but men who are like the kumuda do not like the existence of a king.

  In this age of Kali the people want their own government, because the kings have become corrupt. Formerly it was not like that. The sons of kings were trained under the guidance of a good brahmana-acarya just as the Pandavas and the Kauravas were put under the instruction of the qualified brahmana professor Sri Dronacarya. Princes were rigidly trained in politics, economics, the military arts, ethics and morality, the sciences, and, above all, devotional service to the Lord. Only after such good training were the princes allowed to be enthroned. When such a prince became king, then too he was guided by the advice of good brahmanas. Even in the Middle Ages, Maharaja Candragupta was guided by the learned brahmana Canakya Pandita.
   In a monarchy, one man sufficiently trained was competent enough to conduct alone the business of the state. But in a democracy no one is trained like a prince; instead, politicians are voted to responsible posts of administration by diplomatic arrangements. In place of one king or supreme executive officer, in a democracy there are so many quasi-kings: the president, the ministers, the deputy ministers, the secretaries, the assistant secretaries, the private secretaries, and the undersecretaries. There are a number of parties--political, social, and communal--and there are party whips, party whims, and so on. But no one is well enough trained to look after the factual interests of the governed. In a so-called democratic government, corruption is even more rampant than in an autocracy or monarchy.
   Men who want to flourish in the guise of servants of the people do not want a good king at the head of the state. They are like the kumuda flowers, which do not take pleasure in the sunrise. The word ku means "bad," and mud means "pleasure." Persons who want to exploit the administrative power for their own self-interest do not like the presence of a good king. Although professing democracy, they want to be kings themselves. Thus they compete for votes by bad propaganda and take pleasure in having politics but no king. Thieves and dacoits also take no pleasure in the presence of a good king, but it is in the interest of the people to have a well-trained king as the head of the state.

At the present moment there are different parties in the democratic government, but everyone is busy trying to keep his post or trying to keep his political party in power. The politicians have very little time to think of the welfare of the citizens.

SB 4.12.10 P   Dhruva Maharaja Goes Back to Godhead                             

                                  TEXT

                       athayajata yajnesam
                       kratubhir bhuri-daksinaih
                       dravya-kriya-devatanam
                       karma karma-phala-pradam

                             SYNONYMS

   atha--thereafter; ayajata--he worshiped; yajna-isam--the master of sacrifices; kratubhih--by sacrificial ceremonies; bhuri--great; daksinaih--by charities; dravya-kriya-devatanam--of (sacrifices including various) paraphernalia, activities and demigods; karma--the objective; karma-phala--the result of activities; pradam--who awards.

                           TRANSLATION

   As long as he remained at home, Dhruva Maharaja performed many great ceremonial sacrifices in order to please the enjoyer of all sacrifices, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Prescribed ceremonial sacrifices are especially meant to please Lord Visnu, who is the objective of all such sacrifices and who awards the resultant benedictions.

                             PURPORT

   In Bhagavad-gita (3.9) it is said, yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah: one should act or work only in order to please the Supreme Lord, otherwise one becomes entangled in the resultant reactions. According to the four divisions of varna and asrama, ksatriyas and vaisyas are especially advised to perform great ceremonial sacrifices and to distribute their accumulated money very liberally. Dhruva Maharaja, as a king and ideal ksatriya, performed many such sacrifices, giving very liberally in charity. Ksatriyas and vaisyas are supposed to earn their money and accumulate great riches. Sometimes they do it by acting sinfully. Ksatriyas are meant to rule over a country; Dhruva Maharaja, for example, in the course of ruling, had to fight and kill many Yaksas. Such action is necessary for ksatriyas. A ksatriya should not be a coward, and he should not be nonviolent; to rule over the country he has to act violently.
   Ksatriyas and vaisyas are therefore especially advised to give in charity at least fifty percent of their accumulated wealth. In Bhagavad-gita it is recommended that even though one enters the renounced order of life, he still cannot give up the performance of yajna, dana and tapasya. They are never to be given up. Tapasya is meant for the renounced order of life; those who are retired from worldly activities should perform tapasya, penances and austerities. Those who are in the material world, the ksatriyas and vaisyas, must give charity. Brahmacaris, in the beginning of their lives, should perform different kinds of yajnas.
Dhruva Maharaja, as an ideal king, practically emptied his treasury by giving charity. A king is not meant simply to realize taxes from the citizens and accumulate wealth to spend in sense gratification. World monarchy has failed ever since kings began to satisfy their personal senses with the taxes accumulated from the citizens. Of course, whether the system is monarchy or democracy, the same corruption is still going on. At the present moment there are different parties in the democratic government, but everyone is busy trying to keep his post or trying to keep his political party in power. The politicians have very little time to think of the welfare of the citizens, whom they oppress with heavy taxes in the form of income tax, sales tax and many other taxes--people sometimes have eighty to ninety percent of their income taken away, and these taxes are lavishly spent for the high salaries drawn by the officers and rulers. Formerly, the taxes accumulated from the citizens were spent for performing great sacrifices as enjoined in the Vedic literature. At the present moment, however, almost all forms of sacrifice are not at all possible; therefore, it is recommended in the sastras that people should perform sankirtana-yajna. Any householder, regardless of his position, can perform this sankirtana-yajna without expenditure. All the family members can sit down together and simply clap their hands and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Somehow or other, everyone can manage to perform such a yajna and distribute prasada to the people in general. That is quite sufficient for this age of Kali. The Krsna consciousness movement is based on this principle: chant the Hare Krsna mantra at every moment, as much as possible, both inside and outside of the temples, and, as far as possible, distribute prasada. This process can be accelerated with the cooperation of state administrators and those who are producing the country's wealth. Simply by liberal distribution of prasada and sankirtana, the whole world can become peaceful and prosperous.
   Generally in all the material sacrifices recommended in the Vedic literature there are offerings to the demigods. This demigod worship is especially meant for less intelligent men. Actually, the result of such sacrifice goes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (5.29), bhoktaram yajna-tapasam: He is actually the enjoyer of all sacrifices. His name, therefore, is Yajna-purusa.
   Although Dhruva Maharaja was a great devotee and had nothing to do with these sacrifices, to set an example to his people he performed many sacrifices and gave all his wealth in charity. For as long as he lived as a householder, he never spent a farthing for his sense gratification. In this verse the word karma-phala-pradam is very significant. The Lord awards everyone different kinds of karma as the individual living entities desire; He is the Supersoul present within the heart of everyone, and He is so kind and liberal that He gives everyone full facilities to perform whatever acts one wants. Then the result of the action is also enjoyed by the living entity. If anyone wants to enjoy or lord it over material nature, the Lord gives him full facilities, but he becomes entangled in the resultant reactions. Similarly, if anyone wants to engage himself fully in devotional service, the Lord gives him full facilities, and the devotee enjoys the results. The Lord is therefore known as karma-phala-prada.