Bhagavad-gītā 1.8–10 – July 12, 1973, London

Before creation there was only Narayana

Pradyumna: [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupada and devotees repeat]

[break] [leads chanting of synonyms to Bg 1.10]

aparyaptam-immeasurable; tat-that; asmakam-of ours; balam-strength; bhisma-by Grandfather Bhisma; abhiraksitam-perfectly protected; paryaptam-limited; tu-but; idam-all these; etesam-of the Panḍavas; balam-strength; bhima-by Bhima; abhiraksitam-carefully protected.

[02:51]

Translation: "Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhisma, whereas the strength of the Panḍavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited."

Prabhupada: Hm. So Duryodhana is very proud of his strength, military strength. Because he was empowered, he could gather. And over and above that, Bhisma is the commander-in-chief. He is giving protection. And on the other side, the Panḍavas, they are not empowered. Somehow or other, they gathered some soldiers from relatives. Therefore their strength was limited in consideration of the other party. And that is, being protected by Bhima. Duryodhana always considered Bhima as a fool. Therefore he is very much confident that "Our side is being protected by Bhisma, and the other side, although Bhima is very strong, but he has no brain very much." So he was very hopeful of victory.

But in the previous verse he says, anye ca bahavaḥ sūra mad-arthe tyakta-jivitaḥ. Tyakta-jivitaḥ means "They have come to lay down their life for me." This is a foretelling, because actually, whoever joined the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, none of them returned. Tyakta-jivitaḥ. So it is already concluded that although Duryodhana is very much proud of his military strength, protected by Bhisma, still, tyakta-jivitaḥ, they would surely die.

This is the conclusion. Nana-sastra-praharanaḥ sarve yuddha-visaradaḥ. No..., not a single person inexperienced was there. Yuddha-visaradaḥ. Visarada means very expert fighting. Still, they would have to lay down their life, because it is Krsna's plan that all these fighting men, they were not ruling properly according to the tenets of Vedic injunctions. Therefore they were demons. Military strength for self-aggrandizement is demonic. Military strength is required to rule over the kingdom, but not to misuse them for aggression to others' country or others' kingdom. That was not allowed.

So when Krsna appeared, there were many kings. Although they were under the ruling of the Panḍavas, still, Hastinapura, still they were fighting. That is natural. If one has no Krsna consciousness, then his strength and opulence would be misused. And if one is Krsna conscious, then he would use his strength and opulence very properly. So these kings were meant for giving protection to the citizen, to train them to the Vedic conception of life. But they were not doing that. Therefore they were demons.

Although they were ksatriyas, still... Ksatriyas are meant for representing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Actually, Krsna is the proprietor. Sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Sarva-loka-mahesvaram, suhrdam sarva-bhūtanam jnatva mam santim rcchati [Bg 5.29]. So He is the proprietor. Sarva-loka. Sarva-loka means all the planets, all the universes. Because they are created by Krsna, by Krsna's bodily effulgence, brahma-jyoti. So they are created by Krsna's... Just like from the sunshine these planets are created, similarly from brahma-jyoti, innumerable universes are created.

So it is all creation of Krsna. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvam pravartate [Bg 10.8]. Everything has come out from Krsna's body, external, therefore He is the proprietor. If I have created something, then I am the proprietor. It is very easy to understand. In the Vedas also it is said, eko narayana asit: "Before the creation only there was Narayana." In the catuḥ-sloki Bhagavata also it is said, aham evasam evagre [SB 2.9.33/34/35/36].

So before creation there was Krsna. When we speak of Krsna, it does not mean Krsna was alone. Krsna means with His form, with His pastime, with His paraphernalia, with His entourage, everything. When we speak of king, it does not mean king is alone. As soon as we speak of king, we must understand the king, king's kingdom, king's secretaries, king's ministers, king's queen, king's palace, so many things.

Similarly, when the Vedas says that eko narayana asit, "Before creation there was only Narayana," so Narayana with His paraphernalia, with His expansion. Narayana has expansion in the spiritual world, vaikuntha jagat, innumerable Vaikuntha planets. You have seen the picture. Innumerable. We have given only twenty-four names, but there are innumerable.

So actually, either in this material world or in the spiritual world, all planets, Vaikuntha planets or kuntha planets... Here in this material world, kuntha planets. Kuntha means anxiety. Here, in any planet you go, the anxiety will be there. This is material. Sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat [SB 7.5.5]. Why anxiety? Because we have accepted something asat, which will not stay. But we are eternal. We want to stay. Our natural position is eternity, so we don't want this temporary body. Therefore we try to save the body as much as possible. But it will not be saved, because we have accepted something nonsense, which is not compatible with our existence.

The modern civilization, they do not know it. They think it that death is natural sequence; it cannot be avoided. No. It can be avoided. It can be avoided. But these rascals, they do not know how to avoid it, although it is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita how you can avoid death. Birth, death, old age and disease, these are the problems. But they do not know how to solve these problems. They are simply engaged in some temporary business.

And they are fighting, they are making plans, they are making diplomacy. But in the real problem they do not touch, neither they know how to solve it. But this Krsna consciousness movement can solve it. These rascal may understand this fact, that this Krsna consciousness movement is not a sentiment, so-called religious movement. It is a scientific movement to solve all the problems of life. This is Krsna consciousness.

So in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg 4.9]. Punar janma naiti. If you can avoid next birth... Next birth means to accept another material body. Tatha dehantara-praptiḥ, tatha dehantara-praptiḥ [Bg 2.13].

After giving up this body, we have to accept another body. These rascals, they do not understand it. So many defects in the modern civilization, full of ignorance, and still, they are passing as great scientist, great philosopher, great politicians. Real knowledge they haven't got. So try to give them real knowledge. Tatha dehantara-praptiḥ. This is the crucial point, dehantara-praptiḥ. One has to accept another body.

So if you can find out a means so that you do not accept another body, then you are safe. Because as soon as you accept another body, janma, birth, then where there is janma, there is mrtyu, death, also. And between janma and mrtyu, birth and death, there is disease and old age. So Krsna says that tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg 4.9]: "One can avoid accepting another material body." How? Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvataḥ. Simply try to understand Krsna, what is Krsna, why Krsna appears, why Krsna takes part in politics, why Krsna..., so many, Krsna's activities.

So this is... Our Krsna consciousness movement means: try to understand Krsna. Simply if you try to understand... You cannot understand Krsna fully. That is not possible. Krsna is unlimited. But to our limited knowledge, whatever is possible, that is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. As far as we can understand about Krsna, if we simply understand Krsna, His transcendental nature, His transcendental activities, divyam... Janma karma me divyam [Bg 4.9]. Divyam means transcendental. It is not ordinary. Tattvataḥ, in truth, in fact. Then you become free from this janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg 13.9]. Very easy thing.

Therefore try to understand Krsna. How you will understand Krsna? Krsna is so great. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. Ataḥ sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Cc Madhya 17.136]. You cannot understand Krsna by these blunt material senses. That is not possible. You have to purify it. You have to purify it. Tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc Madhya 19.170]. Simply by Krsna consciousness, always thinking of Krsna, all your senses will be purified. This is the process. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. And you can begin service with your tongue.

Now, this is also very surprising. By utilizing our tongue, we can become perfect. This is also unknown to the modern science. So utilizing the tongue, one can become perfect. Yes. This is the process. If by the tongue you chant Hare Krsna mantra, and by the tongue you taste prasadam, you will be perfect, simply by executing these two things. Do not accept anything, do not allow the tongue to touch anything which is not offered to Krsna. This is one item. And another item-engage the tongue always chanting Hare Krsna. You become perfect. Is it very difficult task? Anyone can do. Hare Krsna maha-mantra, anyone can chant. And nice prasadam, anyone can take. And actually, it is happening so. How these European, American boys and girls, they are advancing, they are realizing? Simply by that process, tongue: chant Hare Krsna, take prasadam.

So you can introduce this process all over the world. Give them chance to chant Hare Krsna mantra. But it is difficult also. There was a cartoon? That one...?

Hamsadūta: Hayagriva?

Prabhupada: No, no, that one old lady is requesting her husband, "Chant, chant, chant," and the husband is replying, "Can't, can't, can't." [laughter]. There was a cartoon. So we are requesting everyone, "Please chant," and they are replying, "Can't." Still, they will not chant. This is the difficulty. Otherwise, we can deliver all the people on this earth back to home, back to Godhead, simply by this process: chant and take prasadam. This should be...

Just like the other day we held the festival, Ratha-yatra. Chant and take prasadam. That's all. Organize this all over the world. They will be saved. They will understand Krsna. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam... [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234].

Krsna will appear. Krsna... You cannot see Krsna. That is not possible. You cannot order Krsna, "Please come, I will see You." No. When He is pleased with your service, He will come: "Yes, I am here. See Me." That is the history. Just like Dhruva Maharaja. Dhruva Maharaja was meditating, and within six months he saw Krsna face to face. So everyone can see.

Everyone will be able, provided we utilize the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Jihvadau. Jihvadau means "beginning with the tongue." We have got senses, all senses-eyes, ears, touch-so many senses. But begin with the sense, tongue. Try to control the tongue and engage in Krsna's service.

Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, sarira abidya-jal, joḍendriya tahe kal [Prasada-sevaya 1]: "This body is material body, and the senses are our greatest enemies," joḍendriya tahe kal. "So out of all the senses," ta'ra madhye jihwa ati lobhamoy sudurmati, "of all the senses, the tongue is formidable." It is sudurmati, it has no limit to taste. I have seen in Japan, twenty miles away they are coming to taste some fried birds in the hotel. You see. They have got bus. The hotel has got their own bus, and they bring customers from the city and they are coming after office hours just to taste some jungle birds, fried. There is a hotel.

Devotee: Wild duck.

Prabhupada: Maybe. Whatever it may be. You have tasted? [laughter] So the tongue is so formidable enemy, simply for tasting, they will commit so many sinful activities. They will commit so many abominable actions simply for tongue. And that is a straight line: tongue, then belly, then genital. So if you can control the tongue, the other things will be controlled. Therefore, ta'ra madhye jihwa ati lobhamoy sudurmati. Lobhamoy: it is very greedy. And sudurmati: it is very difficult to control.

Just see. Simply for tongue, so many slaughterhouses are being maintained. I have seen. Those who are meat-eaters... I have seen in the airplane, a small piece of meat they are eating; not very much. But for these small pieces, so many population, huge quantity of slaughterhouse is being maintained. They cannot give up that small piece of meat. What is the difficulty? They can make... The same thing can be made by milk, milk product, chana. What do you call curd?

Devotee: Cheese.

Prabhupada: Cheese. You prepare cheese and fry it. You'll get the same taste. But let the animal live, take its milk, and prepare so many milk preparation. But these rascals will not do. You kill simply for this tongue. It is so strong, this tongue. They cannot give up this, I mean to say, formidable tongue. He is demanding, "You must give me meat." So they are obliged. And for this obligation, they are committing so much sinful activities, abominable activities, and becoming bound up by the laws of nature to accept a body within the 8,400,000 species of life, and becoming the worm in the stool.

They do not know how the material law is working. Prakrteḥ kriyamanani gunaiḥ karmani sarvasaḥ [Bg 3.27]. Prakrti, nature, is so strong. It is acting very nicely. So we have to become very careful. That carefulness you cannot do any other way, especially in this age. Simply if you surrender to Krsna, if you become Krsna conscious, Krsna will take care of you, and you will be saved.

Thank you very much. [end]