Tamala Krsna: "The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you. Thus nourishing one another there will reign general prosperity for all [Bg. 3.11]."

Prabhupada: Yes. This is very important point. The godless society, they are thinking that everything is being done by nature. Nature is there, but there is a controller of nature. Just like this electricity. Electricity is natural power but there is a powerhouse and there is a resident engineer. Similarly, everything supplied by nature, water supply, heat supply, air, so there is a controller and he is called demigod. They are all appointed servants by the Supreme Lord. It is simply foolishness that nature is working automatically. This is rascaldom. They do not know. The so-called scientists who are thinking that everything is going on automatically.

Tamala Krsna: Purport: "The demigods are empowered administrators of material..."

Prabhupada: Yes. "The demigods are empowered administrators of material affairs." How can you deny the existence of demigod? Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "The supply of air, light, water, and all other benedictions for maintenance of the body and soul of every living entity are entrusted to the demigods who are innumerable assistants in different parts of the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Prabhupada: Just like my body. Different limbs are working and helping me. I want to go somewhere. The limbs, or the part which is called leg, they will carry me. Similarly, by the supreme order of Krsna, all these demigods are acting just like my different parts of the body are acting. Yes. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Their pleasures and displeasures are dependent on the performance of yajnas by human beings. Some of the yajnas are meant for satisfying the particular demigods, but even in so doing Lord Visnu is worshiped in all yajnas as the chief."

Prabhupada: Just like if you obey the department, say, the police department. You are obeying the police department means you are obeying the government. Nobody can manufacture a police department and force you to obey. Because it is one of the important department of government, therefore as soon as there is police handcuff you have to stop. You may be very rich man, millionaire, but you have to obey the orders of the police, otherwise you will be prosecuted. And wherefrom. That man is an ordinary man; simply he stops you. Why do you stop? Because you obey the government.

Tamala Krsna: "It is stated also in the Bhagavad-gita that Krsna Himself is the beneficiary of all kinds of yajnas."

Prabhupada: Yes. Taxes. Treasury department collecting taxes. That is not the tax officer of the treasurer is collecting for his personal self. He is collecting for the government. Similarly, these demigods accepting these different kinds of sacrifices, they are on account of the Supreme Lord. Therefore ultimately you have to satisfy the Supreme Lord.

Tamala Krsna: "Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam [Bg. 5.29]. Therefore ultimate satisfaction of the Lord is the chief purpose of all yajnas. When these sacrifices are perfectly performed, naturally the demigods in charge of the different departments of supply are pleased and there is no scarcity in the flow of natural products."

Prabhupada: Yes. Because after all, however tractor, machine, or farm arrangement you may make, unless there is supply of heat and water, it is all useless. You cannot produce grains just like wheat or rice or pulses[?] in your factory or by your will, defying the nature's law. Oh, that you cannot do. Real, your life is in the hands of the demigods. If they stop supply, sunshine, if they stop supply, water supply, how you can produce? Therefore you have to satisfy them. People have practically forgotten their duty.

Tamala Krsna: "Performance of yajnas has many side benefits, ultimately leading to liberation from the material bondage. By performance of sacrifice, all activities become purified as is stated in the Vedas."

Prabhupada: Yes. When you perform... Just like we are performing here sacrifice of sankirtana. Everything you will find here purified. In this temple, you go corner to corner, you'll find everything sanctified, purified. Why? Because we are, this sacrifice of sankirtana is being performed. So as soon as you take up the process of sacrifice, automatically, everything will be hygienic, purified, health, wealth, everything, complete. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "As will be explained in the following verse, by performance of yajnas, the eatables become sanctified, and by eating sanctified foodstuffs one's very existence becomes purified."

Prabhupada: Yes. Even George Bernard Shaw he has written, "You are what you eat." Your body is purified or impurified according to the foodstuff you eat. Therefore we forbid, "Don't eat this, don't eat that." You have got sufficient food, grains, milk, butter, and fruits, sufficient. Why should you eat meat? That is not sanctified. But this is nature's product, offered to Krsna, and you eat, and you become healthy and sanctified in mind, in body. Then you can understand Krsna consciousness. You can make progress in that way. If your body is not sanctified, if it is impure, how can you understand the pure consciousness, or Krsna consciousness? Therefore we have to follow these principles, regulations. Yes. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "By the purification of existence, the finer tissues in the memory become sanctified, and, memory being sanctified, one can think of the path of liberation."

Prabhupada: Just like in our contaminated state we become diseased. What is disease? As soon as you contaminate or infected by some impure thing you become diseased. Similarly, our this disease, material disease, birth, death, old age, they are some kind of disease. Otherwise, I am spirit soul, I am pure, as pure as God because I am part and parcel of God. Due to my impurities of this material body I am suffering. So if you purify your existence then you get the quality in complete pureness of God. You become happy. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12), sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1], you become jolly. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. As soon as you purify yourself and become identified with the existence of God, immediately you become joyful, no anxiety. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. So you have to purify your existence. If you keep your body impurified, then how you can relish the purified consciousness? So you have to do it. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "All these together lead to Krsna consciousness, the great necessity of present-day society."

Prabhupada: Yes. Just see, a strong word is used. Suppose if there is mention, there is recommendation that you should perform surya-yajna. Surya means the sun. The sun is supplying you so much heat, warmth, and don't you want to give him some tax or satisfy him by sacrifices? So that is our duty. If you are receiving from me so many things and if you do not at least acknowledge your gratitude, then you are a thief. We are receiving so many benefits through the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and if we do not acknowledge even, "God is great, He is so kind, in spite of our so many faults He's supplying us nice foodstuff, nice everything," so how much ungrateful the human society has become, just imagine. And they want peace and prosperity. Nonsense. Where is peace and prosperity? You must suffer. You must suffer. That is your due. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: Thirteen: "The devotees of the Lord are released from all sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice."

Prabhupada: Yes. Devotees how much they are grateful, krsna-prasada. "Krsna, You have sent so nice fruit, nice flower. First of all You enjoy [Bg. 3.13]." Oh, God is very satisfied. Just like a boy, "My dear father, this sweetmeat is very nice. You take." Father knows that sweetmeat was purchased by him. Where the boy can get the sweetmeat? But because the son is offering to the father in love and affection, father says, "Oh, you have give me. It is very nice." Therefore we cannot offer any Krsna. Krsna is self-sufficient. He does not require your offering of this foodstuff, that food. But if you offer with affection and love He accepts. And as soon as Krsna accepts, your life is sanctified immediately.

Tamala Krsna: "Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin."

Prabhupada: Yes. Simply you have nice foodstuff, palatable dishes. You can prepare palatable dishes for Krsna. There are hundreds and thousands of preparation. But as soon as you prepare for yourself or you try to satisfy your tongue, then you are bound up by the laws of nature. Anything. Because that is sinful. Sinful. If you do not acknowledge, if you do not acknowledge the authority, if you do not feel your gratitude for the supplier, then you are a thief. Especially it is mentioned. "It is thief." I am taking your things, I am eating, but I am not feeling any gratitude for you, then I am a thief. Yes. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: Fourteen: "All living bodies subsist on food grains. Food grains are produced from rains. Rains come from performance of sacrifice and sacrifice is born of man's work [Bg. 3.14]."

Prabhupada: This is a cycle. Cycle. We are living on food grains. We cannot live on meat-eating. It is not possible. However a great meat-eater may be he must have some grains some vegetables. That is his life. Yes. Therefore grains, vegetables, they are actually our food. Now, I am living and getting energy by eating grains and vegetables and how my energy should be utilized? It should be utilized for the purpose from where I am getting energy. I am getting energy from the Supreme Lord by supply of this foodstuff; therefore my energy should be utilized for the service of the Supreme Lord.

Tamala Krsna: Fifteen: "Activity, karma, arises from the Vedas and the Vedas spring from the Supreme Godhead. Therefore the all-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in acts of sacrifice [Bg. 3.15]."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Purport: "Yajnartha-karma, or the necessity for work for the satisfaction..."

Prabhupada: Yajnartha-karma. Yajna means "sacrifice," artha, "for the purpose of," and karma, "fruitive activity." Everyone is engaged in some activity, but what shall be the purpose of such activity? Yajnartha. Yajnartha means simply to satisfy Lord Visnu or Krsna. That should be the purpose. Yajnartha-karma, yes.

Tamala Krsna: "We have to work for the satisfaction of the yajna-purusa, Visnu, then we must find the direction of work in Brahman, or the transcendental Vedas. The Vedas are therefore codes of working directions. Anything performed..."

Prabhupada: Just like you get license to do some business. Why? The government gives you license to do some business. That means if you want to do business you must satisfy the government. You cannot do whimsically. You cannot do. This is Veda. One who is law-abiding subject. Similarly, anyone who is following the codes of Vedas or scriptures he is actually working. Otherwise, persons who are violating, he is becoming implicated, criminals. Similarly, if we defy the rules and regulation of Vedas or scripture, then we are being implicated, the criminals for being punished. Therefore work should be yajnartha, for the satisfaction of Visnu or the supreme government. That should be the mode of work. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "Anything performed without the direction of the Vedas is called vikarma."

Prabhupada: Vikarma.

Tamala Krsna: "Vikarma or unauthorized work or sinful work. Therefore one should always take direction from the Vedas..."

Prabhupada: Yes. The same example as I always cite, that your direction is "Keep to the right." Then if you don't keep to the right, if you go to the left, then it is vikarma, your driving is unlawful. You are immediately... Similarly, as soon as you perform vikarma... Karma, vikarma, akarma, there are three kinds of work. So vikarma means against the rules. So as soon as we act against the rules, immediately we are bound up by the criminal codes. Therefore if we work for the supreme government, Krsna, simply for His satisfaction, there is no vikarma, there is no criminality. There is no criminality. Because ultimately the Supreme Lord is to be satisfied. So if you work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord you are not subjected to any criminal law. You are free. That is liberation. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "As one has to work in ordinary life by the direction of the state, similarly one has to work under the direction of the supreme state of the Lord. Such instructions in the Vedas are directly manifested from the breathing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is said all the four Vedas, namely the Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda, are emanations from the breathing of the great Personality of Godhead. The Lord, being potent, can speak by His breathing air, as it is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita."

Prabhupada: Yes. We should not think how it is that Lord gave His laws through breathing. Because with breathing we cannot speak anything. That means I am calculating the strength of God with my capacity. The Brahma-samhita says no. Angani yasya sakalendriya vrttimanti. The every part, or every limb, of the body of Krsna, the Supreme Personality, can act of other limb. Just like I can see through the eyes only. But Krsna can see through His finger also. That is His omnipotency. Omnipotency means every limb has got the potency of all other limbs. That is called omnipotency. We speak of omnipotency, but we do not know the meaning of omnipotency. This is omnipotency, that by His glance God created this world by His glance. Sa iksata sa asrjata. These are Vedic hymns. So we can say that how is that, simply God saw and there was creation? Yes. That is omnipotency. Why do you think in terms of your capacity? That is materialism. As soon as you think of God in my capacity, that is materialism. You have to accept as it is said in the Vedas. Then you understand what is God. Otherwise you cannot. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "The Lord, being potent, can speak by breathing air as is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita, for the Lord has omnipotence to perform through each of His senses the actions of all other senses. In other words, the Lord can speak through His breathing and He can impregnate by His eyes. It is said that He glanced over the material nature and thus fathered all the living entities. So after impregnating the conditioned souls into the womb of the material nature, He gave His direction in the Vedic wisdom as to how such conditioned souls can return home, back to Godhead. We should always remember that the conditioned souls in material nature are all eager for material enjoyment, and the Vedic directions are so made that one can satisfy one's perverted desires, then return to Godhead, having finished his so-called enjoyment. It is a chance for the conditioned souls to attain liberation. Therefore the conditioned souls must try to follow the process of yajna by becoming Krsna conscious. Those who have not followed Vedic injunctions may adopt the principles of Krsna consciousness and that will take the place of performance of Vedic yajnas or karmas."

Prabhupada: Yes, this is very important. Read purport. Go on.

Tamala Krsna: "The Mammonist philosophy of work very hard and enjoy sense gratification is condemned herewith by the Lord. For those who want to enjoy this material world, the above-mentioned cycle of sacrifices is absolutely necessary. One who does not follow such regulations is living a very risky life, being condemned more and more. By nature's law this human form of life is specifically meant for self-realization in either of the three waysnamely karma-yoga, jnana-yoga or bhakti-yoga. There is no necessity of rigidly following the performances of the prescribed yajnas. Such transcendentalists are above vice and virtue, but those who are engaged in sense gratification require purification by the above-mentioned cycle of yajna performances. There are different kinds of activities. Those who are not Krsna conscious are certainly engaged in sensory consciousness and therefore they need to execute pious work. The yajna system is planned in such a way that the sensory conscious persons may satisfy their desires without becoming entangled in the reactions to such sense gratifying work. The prosperity of the world depends not on our own efforts but on the background arrangement of the Supreme Lord, directly carried out by the demigods. Therefore these sacrifices are directly aimed at the particular demigod mentioned in the Vedas. Indirectly, it is the practice of Krsna consciousness because when one masters the performance of yajnas one is sure to become Krsna conscious. If having performed yajnas one does not become Krsna conscious such principles are counted as only moral codes. One should not, of course, limit his progress to the point of moral codes, but should transcend them to attain Krsna consciousness."

Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness is transcendental. Moral codes, they are up to material perfection. Of course, one who has not attained material perfection, he cannot attain to Krsna consciousness. Just like one who has not passed his graduation in the university, he cannot take up law course. That is law in India. But one who has taken to the law course, it is to be understood that he has passed his graduation in the college. Similarly, one who has taken Krsna consciousness in seriousness, then it is to be understood that he has performed all kinds of sacrifices. That is the result.

Tamala Krsna: Seventeen: "One who is, however, taking pleasure in the self, who is illumined in the self, who rejoices in and is satisfied with the self only, fully satiated, for him there is no duty [Bg. 3.17]."

Prabhupada: Here it is plainly said by Lord Krsna, "the self, one who is taking pleasure in self." How we can take pleasure in self? As soon as we engage ourself with the Supreme Self. That is enjoyment. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). The Supreme Lord is joyful. Just like if you mix with a joyful society or joyful person, then automatically you become joyful. There is no necessity of becoming joyful separately. That association will make you joyful. If you mix with a society criminal, automatically you become criminal. There is no necessity of learning criminality separately. By association, you'll do that.

Tamala Krsna: Purport: "A person who is fully Krsna conscious and by his acts in Krsna consciousness is fully satisfied, no longer has anything to perform as his duty. Due to his becoming Krsna conscious all the dirty things within are instantly cleansed, ordinarily an effect of many, many thousands of yajna performances. By such clearing of consciousness one becomes fully confident of his eternal position in relationship with the Supreme. His duty thus becomes self-illuminated by the grace of the Lord and therefore he no longer has anything to do in terms of the Vedic injunctions. Such a Krsna conscious person is no longer interested in material activities and no longer takes pleasure in material arrangements like wine, women and similar infatuations."

Prabhupada: Yes, to be good man, this consciousness is, "I am very good man." Or to bad man, "I am very bad man." But if you become Krsna conscious, "I am neither good man or bad man. I am Krsna's man." That's all. Finished. Finished. All business. "I am Krsna's man." That's all. If Krsna wants to kill you, I'll kill you. If Krsna says you do that, I'll do that. That's all. So I am Krsna's man. So he's immediately transcendental to all goodness or badness.

Virabhadra: When it says "duty," does that mean you don't have to do anything at all?

Prabhupada: If Krsna orders we shall do, but not purposely at your whims. There is nothing wrong for a Krsna conscious person. But what we think materially wrong, if it is ordered by Krsna, we shall do it. For Krsna there is no wrong. Just like the government orders somebody to be hanged. That means kills. So that does not mean the government becomes condemned. But if I kill, I immediately become condemned. The government is still pure because for higher purpose the government can order somebody to be hanged and somebody to be rewarded. Everything is justice.

Guest: Krsna tells Arjuna he can go to the sun planet in the Gita. Why does He say that? I can't remember where. I remember reading that Krsna told Arjuna he can go to the sun planet by worshiping Him. Why does He say that?

Prabhupada: If I say that you can go to Santa Fe, what is the harm? What is the wrong there?

Guest: You can go to the sun planet by worshiping...

Prabhupada: Anywhere, if Krsna says that you can go to the sun planet, what is wrong there?

Guest: Well, I thought you'd go to Krsna, along with Krsna.

Prabhupada: And if Krsna desires that he should go to sun planet then he'll go. What is wrong there? There is nothing wrong. You have to act what Krsna says. It doesn't matter what He says. You should not select Krsna's order according to your choice. You should accept Krsna's order by Krsna's choice. If Krsna says you go to hell, "Yes, I am going to hell." That's all. Svargapavarga-narakesv api tulyartha-darsinah. For a Krsna conscious person there is no distinction that this is hell, this is heaven.

Guest: You said that as the age of Kali-yuga progresses there'll be no more butter.

Prabhupada: Yes, it has already begun. You are killing cows, the source of butter. Now, time will come, there will be no more cows. Misusing. And then where you will get butter? You cannot manufacture in your factory a cow or butter.

Guest: We can take care of cows, can't we?

Prabhupada: You should. Otherwise you are ungrateful. You are drinking milk, you are taking so much butter, milk product, and as gratitude you are killing cows? You should be ashamed. Even if you have no human feelings. You suck the breast of your mother and kill? Is that humanity?

Revatinandana: So when... When they say they have a surplus of grains now, they are burning these great mounds of grains, this means that in the future there will be no grains for this country to eat?

Prabhupada: Yes. As soon as you make misuse, the supply will be stopped. After all, the supply is not in your control. You cannot manufacture all these things. You can kill thousands of cows daily, but you cannot generate even one ant. And you are very much proud of your science. You see. Just produce one ant in the laboratory, moving, with independence. And you are killing so many animals? Why? So how long this will go on? Everything will be stopped.

Jaya Gopala: Is it true that Krsna has all these things in each planet simply because of the presence of a pure devotee?

Prabhupada: No. Krsna appears not in consideration of this planet, but just like there is a headquarter of the governor or some government officer in the particular place. Similarly, when Krsna appears in this universe, He comes in this planet in that Mathura-Vrndavana. Therefore it is called so sanctified. Whenever He appears, He appears there. And that Vrndavana happens to be situated within this planet. So this planet is very fortunate in that sense. Yes. Yes?

Guest: When the people realize there's no more butter will they get attached to other things or will they realize the mistake they made?

Prabhupada: What is that?

Guest: When people realize, when there's no more butter will people realize they've made a mistake or will they get attached to something else?

Prabhupada: A sinful, sinful man never realizes his mistake. Therefore he's miscreant. You ask any miscreant, any criminal, "So you have done wrong," he'll be angry. Upadeso hi murkhanam prakopaya na santaye. So the miscreants and sinful, they cannot realize unless they are in good association and blessed. So therefore good association required. We are giving chance, this temple is open to give people good association. "Please come, try to understand." If one is fortunate he understands, he takes to this principle and thus becomes, I mean to say, purified gradually.

Guest: How do you account for the fact that man sometimes takes animals and feeds them and protects them, whereas otherwise these animals might have died of starvation or exposure or something?

Prabhupada: Why you are anxious about the animals being starvation? You take care of yourself. You don't be philanthropic, "Oh, they'll starve. Let me eat." What is this philanthropy? Krsna is supplying food. If he dies out of starvation, it is Krsna's responsibility. Nobody dies of starvation. That is a false theory. Have you seen any animal dying of starvation? Have you got any experience? Have you seen any bird died of starvation? There is no question of starvation in the kingdom of God. We are manufacturing these theories for our own satisfaction, sense satisfaction. There is no question of starvation in the law of God. Elephant eats hundred pounds at a time. Who is supplying foodstuff? There are millions of elephants in the African jungle, in Indian jungles. They require one hundred pounds at a time to eat. Who is supplying food? So there is no question of starvation in the kingdom of God. Starvation is for the so-called civilized men.

Guest: If man wasn't meant to eat meat, why in nature do the other animals kill to eat?

Prabhupada: Are you other animal?

Guest: Well, we're all animals.

Prabhupada: You count amongst the animals? You classify yourself with the animals?

Guest: Well, we're all animals.

Prabhupada: No, not all. You may be, but we are not. Do you like to be classified with the animals?

Guest: You don't?

Prabhupada: No, no. Do you like yourself, do you like to be...

Guest: I don't feel that I'm better than the animals, no.

Prabhupada: Why? Why are you talking then?

Guest: Because I have respect for all of God's creatures.

Prabhupada: Why you have come here? You respect for all and you kill animals?

Guest: I didn't say that I kill animals.

Prabhupada: Then why do you say that? What is your question?

Guest: I said why, if man is not meant to eat meat, that in nature the animals eat meat? They eat each other.

Prabhupada: What is the question? I cannot...

Tamala Krsna: He's saying if man is not meant to eat meat, then why is it that some animals eat meat? He's saying that we are animals also. Now, we're not meant to eat meat, but other animals are permitted to.

Prabhupada: Other animals, they [eat] meat, but they follow the nature's law. They don't eat grain.

Guest: We don't follow nature's...?

Prabhupada: No. You don't follow.

Guest: What you're saying, then, you believe that nature's perfect.

Prabhupada: Nature's law. That is... A tiger is made by nature's law in that way; therefore he can do that. You cannot do it. Your nature is different. You have got discrimination, you have got conscience, you are claiming civilized, human being. So you should utilize these things. That is Krsna consciousness, perfect consciousness. So human life is meant for raising oneself to the perfection of consciousness, and that is Krsna conscious. We cannot remain in tiger consciousness. That is not humanity. Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Have we fallen from higher to lower or do we come from the very bottom of plant then to animal?

Prabhupada: Yes. Naturally fallen from higher to lower. Then you make progress, again come to this human being. This is a via media with good consciousness. If you utilize your good consciousness then you go still higher, you go to God. But if you don't use your higher consciousness then again go to down. This is going on, cycle of birth and death. This human form of life is meant for self-realization, God realization. If you don't use properly our this life for God consciousness or Krsna consciousness and go back to the kingdom of God, then we have to suffer again in the 8,400,000 species of life cycle, one after another. That is our choice.