Prabhupada: Tamala? Where is Tamala?

Madhudvisa: (indistinct)

Prabhupada: Oh, I see. And what happened to the case?

Visnujana: Their bondsman? The case?

Prabhupada: No.

Jaya-gopala: I was allowed to preach in court.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Jaya-gopala: I preached to the whole court. And I had a lady judge, she let me. So she suspended my sentence.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Jaya-gopala: She suspended the sentence and took the (indistinct) and (indistinct).

Prabhupada: Oh. So she has suspended.

Jaya-gopala: Yes.

Prabhupada: Oh. All right. Where is that book, Bhagavad-gita? You must have the book in your hand, everyone. (laughter)

Sudama: Our copies came today.

Prabhupada: Which copy? Ah...

Sudama: Each of us will have a copy now.

Prabhupada: Back to Godhead?

Sudama: Bhagavad-gita.

Prabhupada: Ah, Bhagavad-gita, that's all right. So everyone, you must possess a copy. So, read it. Where you stopped last time. Second chapter.

Devotee: "For one who has taken his birth, death is certain, and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament [Bg. 2.27]." Purport.

Prabhupada: Purport. Read on.

Devotee: "According to logicians, one has to take birth according to one's activities of life. After finishing one term of activities, one has to die to take birth for the next. In this way the cycle of birth and death is revolving, one after the other, without liberation. This cycle of birth and death does not, however, support unnecessary murder, slaughter and war unnecessarily. But at the same time, violence and war are inevitable factors in human society for keeping law and order. The Battle of Kuruksetra, being the will of the Supreme, was an inevitable event, and to fight for the right cause is the duty of a ksatriya. Why should he be afraid of or aggrieved at the death of his relatives since he was discharging his proper duty? He did not deserve to break the law, thereby becoming subjected to the reactions of sinful acts, of which he was so afraid. By ceasing from the discharge of his proper duty, he would not be able to stop the death of his relatives, and he would be degraded on account of his selection of the wrong path of action." 28: "All created beings are unmanifest in their beginnings, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again when they are annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation [Bg. 2.28]?" 29.

Prabhupada: This another theory, that voidism, that before our, this manifested life, there was void, and after this manifestation is over, still there will be void. Because according to voidism, everything is manifested originally void. So Krsna puts forward this argument that before this manifested form of life there was void, and after this manifested life, there will be void, according to the void philosophy. Then where is the cause of lamentation? There is no cause of lamentation. It was void and it is going to be void. So where is the cause of lamentation? But actually that is... Originally, it was not void. That is a Bhagavad-gita and Vaisnava theory. Just like Krsna said that there was "No such time when we did not exist." That means not there was... There was no void. There was life. And in future also, there will be life. But accepting the theory of voidism, this manifested body is combination of matter. Originally, void means the matters, elementary matters, were not combined. Just like here is an open land. Now, if you combine some bricks and stones and wood, it will appear a big skyscraper building. And if you dismantle, then again it becomes a vacant land. Similarly, in the beginning it was vacant land, and after finishing this body it will be vacant land. So where is the cause of lamentation? For argument's sake, Krsna is putting this reason. Yes. Go on.

Devotee: "Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, do not understand him at all [Bg. 2.29]."

Prabhupada: Hear about the soul, (for) the general people, it is amazing. Still, in the modern society, which is so proud of scientific advancement, so far soul is concerned, it is amazement. Nobody understands, still. And those who are hearing about the existence of soul, some of us also in amazement. It is a mysterious thing. And even after hearing... Just like some student. There are many students, they are reading Bhagavad-gita, which confirms from the very beginning the existence of soul, but still, Bhagavad-gita they are reading daily, they cannot understand what is soul. Amazement.

Devotee: 30: "O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature [Bg. 2.30]."

Prabhupada: Now, after putting forward all definitions and arguments from different angles of vision, of different philosophers, thesis, now Krsna concludes, "My dear Arjuna, take it for certain that the soul within is eternal." So because we are in Krsna consciousness, even if we do not understand what is the constitutional position of the soul, here, because Krsna says, we should accept it. This is called parampara. Evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2], disciplic succession. What does He say? Yes. The same verse repeat.

Devotee: 30: "O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body..."

Prabhupada: "He who dwells in the body." He began this instruction that deha, dehithe body and the proprietor of the body or the resident of the body. Just like this hall, and we are a resident of this hall. We are different. We are not this hall. This lecture room, we are within this lecture room, but that does not mean that we are or I am or you are this lecture room. Similarly the soul dwells in this body. The body is changing but the soul is not changing. That was the beginning of conversation with Arjuna after his surrendering unto Krsna as disciple. And again He concludes in that way, that the soul... "Take it from Me, because you have accepted Me as your spiritual master." This is the significance. If you accept somebody as spiritual master, you have to accept whatever he says. Otherwise there is no need. But if you cannot understand, you can inquire sincerely. That is not barred. But you have to accept. So Krsna says, conclusion, what is that? That "Within this body..." What is that?

Devotee: "He who dwells in the body is eternal..."

Prabhupada: "He who dwells within this body is eternal." Then?

Devotee: "...and can never be slain."

Prabhupada: "And can never be slain." Because it is already described that soul cannot be burned, soul cannot be moistened, soul cannot be dried up, soul cannot be killed, soul cannot be cut into pieces. So many things. Just opposite of matter. Any material thing you take, even stone, iron, it can be burned, it can be cut into pieces, it can dry up, and so many things, all applicable to the matter. But so far the spirit soul is concerned, it is just the opposite. Therefore the conclusion is there, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. Even after this body is annihilated the soul remains eternal. Just like if somebody comes and drives us out of this room, that does not mean that I am finished. I shall go and take shelter of another room. Similarly, when the soul, when the body is killed or annihilated by nature or by force, the soul takes shelter of another body. That is the conclusion. Go on.

Devotee: 31: "Considering your specific duty as a ksatriya you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles, and so there is no need for hesitation [Bg. 2.31]."

Prabhupada: So here fighting is a matter of duty. That is the ksatriya spirit. Fighting is not killing. Because people have no idea what is the soul, therefore they think that stopping war will help us in peaceful condition of the society. There are so many troubles so long this body is there. War is one of the items. Even war is stopped, there is no question that people will live forever. No. That is not the law of nature. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. This life, the problem is how to stop our contact with this material body That is the problem. Not that these general people, they are thinking, "If war, there is no war, then we shall be very happy." How you'll stop your war with maya? Maya has declared war with you, or you have declared war with maya. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. The maya, the material nature is enforcing, "Why you are closing this door?" "Oh, because it is very cold outside." Who is forcing? Immediately there will be cold, immediately there will be fog, immediately there will be excessive heat, immediately there may be earthquake. How you can stop it? So they simply think... Just like innocent child, they are concerned with the immediate problem. But sane man is concerned with the ultimate problem. So our ultimate problem is not this war. The ultimate problem is repetition of birth and death. That is ultimate problem, how to stop this. That is the problem. So Krsna says that "This is useless lamentation, that you do not wish to fight. It is the concluded fact that even your grandfather or relatives die, they will continue as soul. You have to execute your duty. You cannot deviate from your duty." Go on.

Devotee: 32: "O Partha, happy are the ksatriyas to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets [Bg. 2.32]." 33.

Prabhupada: Now why the ksatriyas... It is said in the sastra if a ksatriya dies in the fight, then he is promoted to the heavenly kingdom to take birth because he is fighting for the right cause so he is promoted. As in this world also, if you fight for some right cause, you are rewarded. Even after your death, your memory is commemorated. Just like in your country so many brave soldiers, leaders, they have died, but you have honored them by keeping their statues because they fought and died for right cause, whatever we think, right or wrong. So the ksatriyas, this is the Vedic injunction, who dies for the right cause, he is promoted to the heavenly planet. Now Krsna says "Now it is a great opportunity for you. Suppose either you or your grandfather, the opposite party, die in this fight, so your promotion to heavenly planet is sure. And if you gain, then you get the kingdom. Both ways it is profitable for you." Go on.

Devotee: 33: "If however you do not fight this religious war, then you will certainly incur sins for neglecting your duties and thus lose your reputation as a fighter [Bg. 2.33]."

Prabhupada: And on the other hand, if you don't fight, then... You are known as a great warrior, a great soldier. If you go away, people will say against your reputation: "Oh, Arjuna has become a coward. He has fled away from the fight." So it is better to die than to have bad reputation. That is another argument. Yes.

Devotee: 34: "People will always speak of your infamy, and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death [Bg. 2.34]."

Prabhupada: "Now, you are so much honored as Arjuna the great fighter, Dhananjaya, and if you leave, you go away from this fighting and leave and people will say, 'Oh, Arjuna has become coward. He did not fight,' then what is the use of your living in such a way? Better die. Fight and die. That is good for you." Yes.

Devotee: 35: "The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you a coward [Bg. 2.35]." 36: "Your enemies will..."

Prabhupada: A ksatriya... It is the custom of the ksatriya that if they are wounded on the back side, he is considered a coward, but if he is wounded on the chest, he is accepted as real ksatriya. That means he has fought face to face. That is the injunction of military art in Vedic injunction.

Devotee: "Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you [Bg. 2.36]?" 37: "O son of Kunti, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore get up and fight with determination [Bg. 2.37]." 38: "Do thou fight for the sake of fighting without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain [Bg. 2.38]."

Prabhupada: This is duty. One has to execute duty without any consideration of loss and gain. That is duty, observing duty. Just see. "You are ksatriya. There is necessity of this fighting. So you should not consider whether you are gaining or losing. It is your duty to fight." Go on.

Devotee: "And by so doing you shall never incur sin."

Prabhupada: Yes. If you execute your duty nicely, there is no question of sin. To execute duty is piety. Yes.

Devotee: Purport: "Lord Krsna now directly says that Arjuna should fight for the sake of fighting because Krsna desires the battle. There is no consideration of happiness or distress, profit or gain."

Prabhupada: This is Krsna consciousness. Krsna says... Actually this happened... This is the Krsna consciousness. One should not think of personal loss or gain. "Krsna desires it, so I have to do it," that's all. There is no personal consideration. That is real Krsna consciousness. "Krsna, You are asking me to do this. I do not like to do this. You give me some other work." That is not Krsna consciousness. There is no, I mean to say, yes or no. As Krsna says. What Krsna says? Krsna says the essence of Bhagavad-gita that "A person who preaches this sublime message of Bhagavad-gita, he is My dearmost friend in the human society." This is the open order of Krsna. Lord Caitanya says,

Devotee: "...victory or defeat in the activities of Krsna consciousness. That everything should be performed for the sake of Krsna is transcendental consciousness, so there is no reaction from material activities."

Prabhupada: And if you do that, then there is no reaction. Yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra loko yam. And if you do on your account, there will be reaction. Either you do good work or bad work, there will be reaction. If you do good work, you'll get good result, and if you do bad work, you will get bad result. That's all right. But within this material world... Suppose if you do pious activities. So what is the result of pious activities? According to sastra, the effect of pious activity is that you can get birth in a very respectable, aristocratic family, you can get very nice wealthy position, you can become very beautiful, and you can become very learned. These are the four principles of pious activities, according to sastra. And if you do just the opposite, you take your birth in abominable family or in lower, degraded animal species of life, no education, no beauty, no knowledge. There are so many things. So if you have to believe sastra, these are the effects of bad and good works. Now for a person who is in Krsna consciousness, he is not concerned with aristocratic family or abominable family. He wants to stop birth. So suppose one gets birth in aristocratic family or very nice family, what is the gain there? You have to live ten months within the womb of your mother in suffocated condition, either you take your birth in aristocratic family or in abominable family, either in human mother's womb or animal mother's womb. That does not make any difference.

Devotee: "Anyone who acts for his sense gratification, either in goodness or in passion, is liable to the reaction, good or bad."

Prabhupada: Yes. That is explained. Yes.

Devotee: "Anyone who has completely surrendered himself to the activities of Krsna consciousness is no longer obliged to anyone, nor is he a debtor to anyone as we are in the ordinary course of activities. It is said, 'Anyone who has completely surrendered unto Krsna, Mukunda, giving up all other duties, is no longer a debtor, nor is he obliged to anyone, not the demigods nor the sages nor the people in general, nor kinsmen, nor humanity, nor forefathers.' That is the indirect hint given by Krsna to Arjuna in this verse, and the matter will be more clearly explained in the following verses."

Prabhupada: That's all. So? There is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,

Silavati: I understand that it is an offense to wear red or blue in the Krsna temple. Why is this true?

Prabhupada: What is that?

Devotee: She says that it is an offense to wear red or blue in the temple.

Prabhupada: Blue?

Devotee: Red or blue. She wants to know why this is.

Prabhupada: I do not follow.

Madhudvisa: Why is it an offense to wear red or blue clothing in the Krsna temple? That's what she thinks.

Prabhupada: Oh. (laughs) Because it is red and blue. Is that all right?

Silavati: Because the temple red and blue?

Prabhupada: You see, you have to accept the Vedic injunction as it is. There is some meaning which may not be explained immediately, but because it is so enjoined, we have to accept it. Just like the conchshell. The conchshell is the bone of an animal. Now in the Vedas it is said that if you touch the bone of an animal or human being, you have to take bath immediately to purify yourself. Now, this conchshell is also a bone of an animal. Now, it is kept in the Deities' room. Now, if you say, "The bone of an animal is impure. How it is that it is kept in the Deities' room?" So actually it is being done. Why it is being done? Because it is injunction of the Vedas. Similarly, all such injunctions we have to accept, but there is meaning. There is meaning, and that may not be understood immediately. That doesn't matter. So if, instead of red garment, if you take this saffron, what is harm to you? So you should accept the injunction.

Nara-narayana: I am yet not so clear to understand why it is so important to Arjuna that Krsna should say to Arjuna that it is so important, the reputation. Because in Arjuna's own heart he knows that he is being kind, or that he is in confusion because of his kindness. Does this make a difference, the opinion that one's fellow ksatriya would have of him?

Prabhupada: Arjuna was reputed as a great warrior. So he should remain a great warrior. A warrior's business is not to stop fighting on the plea of becoming kind. If you have gone to the warfield and if you practice nonviolence there, this is useless. Why should you go? There is a Bengali proverb that naste bose gunthanam(?), that... In India, the girls, they cover their head. That is the system of married girl's shyness. So it is said that one girl is on the stage for dancing. Now while she is to dance, she's covering the head. What is the use of covering the head? You have come to dance, you dance. Similarly, in the warfield, you have gone there to fight. Where is the question of becoming nonviolent? So things should be done according to the time and atmosphere. In the warfield, there is no question of nonviolence. The war is arranged for committing violence. Where is the question of preaching there nonviolence?

Devotee: I don't know how to exactly word this. It seems like... I didn't quite understand the explanation, but it seems that although the battlefield is arranged for this war, there was almost a test for his principles and for him to renounce his place in the ksatriya class. This is where I get confused in the Gita. It seems like this is a very noble thing for him to renounce his place in the caste. I'm not clear here.

Prabhupada: Renounce what?

Devotee: To renounce his place as a warrior and to go off into the woods and be a mendicant or whatever he wanted to do.

Prabhupada: Who said?

Devotee: Arjuna.

Prabhupada: So that is his cowardice. That is being condemned by Krsna, that "It is not your business to give up fighting and go away from the warfield and go to the forest for meditation. It is not your business."

Devotee: How did that war differ from other wars?

Prabhupada: It is... Sometimes knife is pierced in your body by a surgeon, and in another occasion, another man pierces a knife to stab you. Do you think both knife piercing is the same?

Devotee: No.

Prabhupada: Similarly.

Devotee: But a man charges at you on a horse with a lance or something in a war, this...

Prabhupada: No, first of all try to understand this, that piercing the knife in the body is not always bad. Similarly, war or fighting is not always bad, provided it is done for right cause. That should be understood. So when the director is Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, is directing, so there is no cause of stopping it. He has His plan, He knows. We cannot judge. So He's the Supreme. So that war is necessary because it is desired by the Supreme Lord. To maintain the laws of the world, as to maintain the laws and order of a state, there is violence department, the police department, the military department. Why? The government can stop it. "Oh, this is unnecessary expenditure." No. That is necessity for maintenance of the state. Similarly, war is sometimes necessary for maintenance of the order of the world. But people have misused. That is a different thing. But here, in this battlefield of Kuruksetra, there is no question of misuse. Because it is under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no such question of misusing. War is necessary, but that does not mean it should be misused. There are so many instances. Just like sex life is necessary for generating for progeny. But that is being misused for sense gratification. That is another thing. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that "sex life in religious principle." Religious principle means, according to Vedic injunction, putra te kriyate bharya, putra pinda prayojanam. There is necessity of a bona fide son in the family, and to beget a bona fide son, there is necessity of accepting wife. So acceptance of such wife and sex life in that connection is not abominable. But to keep some friend and enjoy sex life for sense gratification, that is abominable. But the function is the same. Somebody may say, "Oh, this is also sex life, that is also sex life." But there is much difference. Similarly, apparently, a thing may appear to be the same, but it has got great significance. That is to be judged by higher authorities. That higher authority, supreme authority, is there, Krsna Himself.

Jaya-gopala: There are six things such as anger, lust, false pride, envy. What are the other two? I've heard...

Prabhupada: Illusion and enviousness. Kama, krodha, lust, lust, anger, lust is also. Kama krodha lobha moha matsarya and mada. Mada means illusion, matsarya. First thing is kamalust; second krodhaanger; thirdgreediness. Kama krodha lobha mohaillusion; madamadness. Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada... matsaryaenviousness. These are six. So anything more?

Jaya-gopala: What is meant by madness?

Prabhupada: Just as don't you see all these people of the world, they are mad? What they are doing? They whole day the cars going on this side, that side. What is the aim of life? They're mad. Simply wasting petroleum, that's all. What they're doing? Huh? Suppose a cat and dog goes this side and that side, yow, yow, yow, and he goes some motorcars. What is the difference? There is no difference because the aim of the life is the same. Therefore they are mad. That is explained. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti [SB 5.5.4]. Nunam pramattah, pramattah means mad. Prakrsta rupena mata, sufficiently mad. And why? Kurute vikarma. They're acting which they should not act. They're acting in a way in which they should not have done. So what is the aim of their acting? Indriya-pritaya, simply for sense gratification. That's all.

Devotee: We see it every day.

Prabhupada: Yes. There is no difficulty to find out a madman. Any man you find out, he's a madman. And that is medical version also. That is medical version. In India, there was a case. A man was murdered, and the criminal lawyer pleaded that he was in madness. So the expert medical practitioner was invited and he was asked to examine whether this man is in madness. So he said that "So far my experience goes, I have studied, every man is a madman, more or less." Every man in the material concept of life is a madman because he does not know his identification. Therefore he's a madman. Pisaci paile yena mati-cchana haya. Just like a ghostly-haunted man. His father is standing before him and he's calling the father by ill names, because he's ghostly-haunted. Similarly, a living entity who is entrapped by this material energy, illusion, he's a madman. And the whole treatment is to get out of this disease of madness, misidentification, misconception of life. So it is not difficult to find out a madman. Any man is a madman. Yes?

Madhudvisa: Prabhupada? What is the position of Lord Siva?

Prabhupada: Lord Siva is a demigod, but he is higher than all other demigods. He's higher than Lord Brahma also. But he's not the Supreme Lord. Just like there are different gradations. That is not difficult to understand. In society also, there are different gradations. Similarly, the living entities, there are different gradations. So all the living entities, they are, some of them are situated in higher planets, some of them are situated in lower planets, some of them are situated in high-grade life, in low-grade life. So the demigods are also, they are living entities, but they are enjoying better standard of life due to their acts of piety. But Lord Siva is not amongst the living entities. He's above the living entities but he is counted as one of the demigods. But his position is better than Lord Brahma even. Brahma is to be the highest living entity within the universe, and Lord Siva's position is higher than Lord Brahma.

Madhudvisa: Does Lord Siva have a wife, like, a consort?

Prabhupada: Yes. Parvati. Sati. Everyone has got wife. Yes. Sakti.

Devotee: Is Lord Siva a devotee of Lord Krsna?

Prabhupada: Yes. Everyone is devotee. Only the madmen, they are not devotees. Any sane man is devotee of... Sanity means become devotee. That is sanity. And one who is not devotee is insane, insanity. So how you can expect that Lord Siva is not devotee? He's not insane. We are, the material, the ordinary living entities, in the lower grades of life, they are all insane. What is that? Yes?

Dayananda: Lord Siva's relationship with Durgadoes he have a relationship with Durga?

Prabhupada: Yes. Durga is the material energy. So Lord Siva is directly connected with the material energy. Therefore he's less than Lord Visnu. Visnu is not directly related with the material energy. The example is given in the Brahma-samhita. Just like milk, as soon as in touch with something sour, it becomes yogurt. The yogurt is nothing but milk, but in connection with some sour material, it is yogurt. So yogurt is milk, but it is not milk also. Your child requires milk. You cannot give yogurt. Nobody can argue, "Oh, yogurt is milk preparation, why not give?" No. It will be not beneficial for him. Similarly, if you want release from this material world, you have to take to Visnu, no other demigod. If you want strength, then you have to drink milk, not yogurt. Yogurt, at times you can eat for some taste or some particular purpose. The milk is general drinking. Just take the statistics, how many bottles of milk are sold in the store and how many bottles of yogurt is sold. The yogurt and milk is the same thing. Why they'll demand milk and not the yogurt? Is that right? Yes. But nobody can put argument, "Oh, why do you take milk? Take the yogurt." No. Yes?

Revatinandana: Is it all right that Lord Siva's picture is in the new calendar that's come out?

Prabhupada: Lord Siva is devotee, why not? Hare Krsna. Chant Hare Krsna. (pausePrabhupada chants japa as devotees prepare for kirtana) (To devotee:) So your case is dismissed?

Jaya-gopala: Yes.

Prabhupada: Ah, that money is returned?

Jaya-gopala: It will be at the end of the month. (kirtana) (end)