Room Conversation – February 21, 1977, Māyāpur

Prabhupada: ...and asura means tad-viparyaya, just the opposite. So anyone...

[break] ...Krsna, he's a demon. Visnu-bhakto bhaved daivaḥ. Daiva means devata. So there are two classes-daiva asura eva ca: one devata and one asura. One who is devotee, he is devata. One who is not devotee, he's asura. That's all-in different names. So our this movement is making the asuras to become devata. This is our movement. This is, therefore, the most prominent welfare activities within the human society. We are trying to make demon to become devata. And actually they are becoming. The demons are becoming devata. Is it not?

Devotees: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. [laughing]

Prabhupada: And the so-called education, they are making devata demons. We want to check it. The human being, he has got the opportunity. Human being is there to become a devata. Therefore the Vedic knowledge is there. Because he's coming from lower species of life, and they also admit they are coming from monkey. That's all right. But now make him man really. Where is that arrangement? You are keeping him monkey, jumping like monkey. That's all. So your, this so-called educational system, society, is good, or we are making the monkey to become to become devata, this is good? What they will say? You have come from monkey, and now we are making them devata. So this is a good process? Or you keep them as monkey, jumping like here and there, that is good? Athato brahma-jijnasa. That is the way to make a monkey to become a demigod, or devata. This is the Vedic injunction. "Now you should make him, this monkey, person coming from monkey, or a monkey, make him a devata." And Caitanya Mahaprabhu has simplified: "Chant Hare Krsna. You become devata. Bas." What do you want more? Actually that is becoming. Kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva .

Chant Hare Krsna, and from monkey you become a devata, demigod. What do you want more? Therefore He's maha-vadanyavatara, the most munificent incarnation, making monkey to devata simply by chanting. See practically. Hmm? Anyone protesting against this? [devotees laugh] There is mother of our Jayapataka Maharaja. She is attracted how the situation is nice. Now she wants to take instruction from her son as mother Devahūti took instruction from her son, Kapiladeva. So...

Jayapataka's mother: I have some questions for him already.

Prabhupada: Your son could not answer the questions?

Jayapataka's mother: I will see him this evening. [indistinct] I'll see him this evening.

Prabhupada: Yes, your son will be able to answer all questions. Like Devahūti, you can take instruction from your son. That is in the history. Son is instructing mother. Generally mother instructs the son, but there is history the son is instructing mother. Because here we make such relationship-mother, father, son, daughter, relative. Actually this is material nature made, in different bodies. Otherwise, real father is Krsna.

[devotees exclaim as lights go out]

This is the benefit of modern science, [laughter] [Prabhupada laughs] that in the evening you require light-there is no light in the evening. When you require, there is no light. Better depend on the natural oil. [pause]

Bhagavata: In Satya-yuga or Treta-yuga they would not drill for petrol to use to make electricity or to make these gas lamps, so by what means did they use to light the palaces and the kingdoms? What was the natural resource utilized for that purpose?

Prabhupada: This oil. You produce castor seed oil. You grow castor seed by agriculture.

Bhagavata: Grow cas...?

Prabhupada: Castor seed.

Bhagavata: Castor seed. Oh.

Prabhupada: Yes, and you get sufficient oil.

Bhagavata: And that was used, castor seed.

Prabhupada: Yes. Instead of one cand..., one lamp, hundred candlepower, if you want more light you just have hundred castor seed lamps. That's all. It will look beautiful, and there'll be light. You'll find it, if you bring one hundred castor seed lamps, it will look very nice, and the light is there. [end]