Pradyumna: (reading) "Impersonalists are very fond of merging into the Supreme, like rivers that come down and merge into the ocean. The ocean can be compared with liberation, and the rivers with all the different paths of liberation. The impersonalists are dwelling in the river water, which eventually comes to mix with the ocean. They have no information, however, that within the ocean, as within the river, there are innumerable aquatic living entities. The sharks who dwell in the ocean do not care for the rivers which are gliding down into it. The devotees eternally live in the ocean of devotional service, and they do not care for the rivers."

Prabhupada: This comparison that the rivers, it does matter from which way it is coming down to the sea, when they mix together, they become one. But if this comparison is taken, that the rivers merging into the sea, and when it mixes there is no separate existence of the river, but they do not see analogy. Analogy, according to law of analogy, the points of similarities must be one. Analogy is perfect when the points of similarities are there. Just like we say, "Your face is as beautiful as moon." That means the face, beauty of the face is as attractive as the moon is attractive. The points of similarity is there. We cannot say an ugly face, your face is like moon. That cannot be. That is not analogy because there is no points of similarity. That is the law of analogy. So similarly, if you make analogy that as the different rivers are, the water is coming down and mixing with the sea, then it becomes one, but there are other points. This is superficial vision. There is other points. The same water again becomes evaporated, and again thrown on the ground, and they again glide down as rivers. That is, this is a fact. But if you go deep into the water, just like the shark fishthe comparison is given therethe shark fish is never evaporated. The shark fish is within the water of the sea, and there is no question of evaporation. The water may be evaporated. So our point is, from sastra we can understand,

Pradyumna: "The devotees eternally live in the ocean of devotional service, and they do not care for the rivers."

Prabhupada: Just like the shark fish, they do not come into the river. That means those who are nitya-mukta, eternally liberated, they do not come into this material world. They do not come. There are two kinds of living entities, nitya-mukta, nitya baddha. Nitya-baddha, we are. Those who are in this material world, we are eternally conditioned. Eternally conditioned in this way, because I am changing my body, one after another. As I am desiring, I am getting my next body. This body I am creating, my next body, again when I shall get next body, I shall create another body. So this is going on. And because it is going on, when it has begun and when it is going to end, that you do not know. Therefore it is called nitya, eternal. Actually it is not eternal, but we do not know when I have begun my material existence. At least we can think that since this material, this term of material creation was there, I began my life. But no, that is not actual fact. The actual fact is, when there was no creation, I was submerged into the body of Narayana, Maha-Visnu. And when there is again creation, I come out. So when I was submerged into the body of Maha-Visnu, before that my activities began in this material world. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19].

Pradyumna: "Srila Rupa Gosvami prays to his spiritual master, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, for the protection of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 'The Ocean of the Pure Nectar of Devotional Service,' from the argumentative logicians who unnecessarily meddle in the science of service to the Lord."

Prabhupada: Yes. Logicians, nyaya, what is called?

Devotee: Mimamsa.

Prabhupada: Mimamsa. Mimamsa. Mimamsa jara (?). So Krsna is not subjected to this logic, mimamsa, grammar. No. Krsna is transcendental. Therefore, Sankaracarya says,

Pradyumna: "He compares their arguments and logic to volcanic eruptions in the midst of the ocean."

Prabhupada: Yes. Sometimes they create havoc. Because these Mayavadis, Krsna gives them intelligence. Because he wants to, he puts forward his logic to kill Krsna, or to forget Krsna. Krsna also gives his intelligence, "Yes, you talk like this so that you will forget forever." Yes. (laughter). "You talk like this." Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca, Krsna says. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca [Bg. 15.15]. Krsna can give you. If you actually want Krsna, He'll give you intelligence. Dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te. Krsna is very cunning also. This man is trying to forget Me, to mislead others. He is misleading himself, others cannot be mislead, for the time being, but he is misled for good. Tan aham dvisatah kruran ksipamy ajasram eva yonisu [Bg. 16.19]. These asuras, on account of their enviousness upon Krsna, to prove that there is no Krsna, there is no God, so these people are put into andha yoni. Andha yoni means in such, just like animals. They cannot understand about Krsna. Ksipamy andha yonisu. So that is Krsna's punishment, that "He wants to forget Me, he wants to kill Me. All right, he, let him be put into such birth that he may not know what is Krsna for many, many births." Yes, go on.

Pradyumna: "In the midst of the ocean, such volcanic eruptions can do very little harm, and similarly, those who are against devotional service to the Lord and who put forward many philosophical theses about the ultimate transcendental realization cannot disturb this great ocean of devotional service."

Prabhupada: That sometimes, everyone knows, there is volcanic eruption in the ocean. What does it harm to the ocean? It throws out some lava, some little island may come out, but what is the harm to the ocean? Similarly, these rascal may go on with their philosophy for killing Krsna. That does not hurt Krsna consciousness movement. It will go on. This ocean will never be disturbed by these so-called philosophies. This will never be disturbed. Go on.

Pradyumna: "The author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work."

Prabhupada: Yes. Every Vaisnava, that is Vaisnava's sadacara (?), humble. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. Although Vaisnava knows everything, still he presents himself very humble, lower that the straw, humbler than the tree. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna, amanina, they don't..., the devotee does not claim any so-called popular respect, false respect. They go on with their Krsna consciousness movement. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna, amanina, if anyone wants some honor, he gives everyone honor. For him, he does not want any honor. What honor he'll take? This material honor. Prahlada Maharaja, when he was offered benediction by Lord Nrsimhadeva, "You take any kind of benediction." So Prahlada Maharaja replied, "My dear Lord, I am born of a father, passionate, and I am always greedy about material opulence, naturally, because my father was like that. So You are offering benediction. I can ask from you any kind of material opulence. I know that. But, what I shall do all these material opulences. I've seen my father was so strong materially, that when he was angry even the demigods trembled. He was so powerful. Now everything is finished within a second by You. So what is the value of this material opulence? Why shall I ask you all these nonsense. Kindly engage me, kindly engage me in the service of Your servant, that I want." This is devotion. They don't want anything. Kindly engage me nijunkaman atma dase (?). That is the prayer. So the devotees, they do not want anything material. They are not captivated by so-called followers. No. Na dhanam na janam, janam means followers, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye [Cc. Antya 20.29, Siksastaka 4]. What is this false power? Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah. If one disciple is enlivened with Krsna consciousness, he can work as the moon. Otherwise so many foolish followers, what they'll do? Just like stars. Thousands and millions of stars, they cannot do anything. One moon is sufficient. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah. So this Krsna consciousness movement, it is not required that everyone will be follower. That is not possible, because it is very difficult. But still, if one follower, sincere follower is there, it will go on. It will go on. Nobody can stop it. Go on.

Pradyumna: "That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami. We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas."

Prabhupada: Yes, we should not be very much proud that "I have created wonderful." Why? What wonderful? What? I am not a magician that I can create wonderful. Sometimes people, they give me so much honor. "Swamiji, you have created wonderful." I do not feel that I have created wonderful. What I have done? I say that I, I do, I'm not a magician. I do not know how to create wonderful. I have simply Bhagavad-gita, presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, that's all. If there is any credit, this is only credit. Anyone can do it. The Bhagavad-gita is there, and anyone can present Bhagavad-gita as it is. So it will act wonderful. I am not a magician. I do not know the tricks of magics and the yoga-siddhi, I am creating (visual expression) like this. (laughter) I have no such power. Neither I do it. So I, my only credit is, I do not want to mix with this pure Bhagavad-gita teaching, any rascaldom, that's all. That is my credit. And whatever little miracle has been done, only on this principle. That's all. Go on.

Pradyumna: "...and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit..."

Prabhupada: Yes, the same thing. Our purpose should be to satisfy our predecessors.