London, July 12, 1973

Pradyumna: " Translation: Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhé ñ ma, whereas the strength of the Pä ë ò avas, carefully protected by Bhé ma, is limited." [Bg. 1.10]

Prabhupä da: So Duryodhana is very proud of his strength, military strength, because he was empowered, he could gather. And over and above that, Bhé ñ ma is the commander-in-chief. He is giving protection. And on the other side, the Pä ë ò avas, 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 Bhé ma. Duryodhana always considered Bhé ma as a fool. Therefore he is very much confident that " Our side is being protected by Bhé ñ ma, and the other side, although Bhé ma is very strong, but he has no brain very much." So he was very hopeful of victory.

But in the previous verse he said, anye ca bahavaù ç ü rä mad-arthe tyakta-jé vitä ù [Bg. 1.9]. Tyakta-jé vitä ù means " They have come to lay down their life for me." This is a foretelling because actually, whoever joined the Battlefield of Kurukñ etra, none of them returned. Tyakta-jé vitä ù. So it is already concluded that although Duryodhana is very much proud of his military strength protected by Bhé ñ ma, still, tyakta-jé vitä ù, they would surely die. This is the conclusion. Nä nä -ç astra-praharaë ä ù sarve yuddha-viç ä radä ù. No, not a single person inexperienced was there. Yuddha-viç ä radä ù. Viç ä rada means very expert, fighting. Still, they would have to lay down their life because it is Kå ñ ë a'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 demoniac. 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 Kå ñ ë a appeared, there were many kings. Although they were under the ruling of the Pä ë ò avas, still, Hastinä pura, still they were fighting. That is natural. If one has no Kå ñ ë a consciousness, then his strength and opulence would be misused. And if one is Kå ñ ë a conscious, then he would use his strength and opulence very properly. So these kings were meant for giving protection to the citizens, to train them to the Vedic conception of life. But they were not doing that. Therefore they were demons.

Although they were kñ atriyas, still... Kñ atriyas are meant for representing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Actually, Kå ñ ë a is the proprietor. Sarva-loka-maheç varam. Sarva-loka-maheç varam, suhå daà sarva-bhü tä nä à jï ä tvä mä à ç ä ntim å cchati [Bg. 5.29]. So He is the proprietor. Sarva-loka. Sarva-loka means all the planets, all the universes. Because they are created by Kå ñ ë a, by Kå ñ ë a's bodily effulgence, brahmajyoti. So they are created by Kå ñ ë a's. Just like from the sunshine these planets are created, similarly from brahmajyoti, innumerable universes are created.

yasya prabhä prabhavato jagad-aë ò a-koö i-

koö iñ v aç eñ a-vasudhä di-vibhü ti-bhinnam

tad brahma niñ kalam anantam aç eñ a-bhü taà

govindam ä di-puruñ aà tam ahaà bhajä mi

[Bs. 5.40]

So it is all creation of Kå ñ ë a. Ahaà sarvasya prabhavo mattaù sarvaà pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. Everything has come out from Kå ñ ë a'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 nä rä yaë a ä sé t: " Before the creation only there was Nä rä yaë a." In the Catuù -ç loki Bhä gavata also it is said, aham evä sam evä gre [SB 2.9.33/34/35/36]. So before creation there was Kå ñ ë a. When we speak of Kå ñ ë a, it does not mean Kå ñ ë a was alone. Kå ñ ë a means with His form, with His pastimes, 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 nä rä yaë a ä sé t, " Before creation there was only Nä rä yaë a." So Nä rä yaë a with His paraphernalia, with His expansion... Nä rä yaë a has expansion in the spiritual world, vaikuë ö ha jagat, innumerable Vaikuë ö ha 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, Vaikuë ö ha planets or kuë ö ha planets... Here in this material world, kuë ö ha planets. Kuë ö ha means anxiety. Here, in any planet you go, the anxiety will be there. This is material. Sadä samudvigna-dhiyä m asad-grahä t [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-gé tä 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 Kå ñ ë a consciousness movement can solve it. These rascals may understand this fact, that this Kå ñ ë a consciousness movement is not a sentiment, so-called religious movement. It is a scientific movement to solve all the problems of life. This is Kå ñ ë a consciousness.

So in the Bhagavad-gé tä it is said, tyaktvä dehaà punar janma naiti mä m eti [Bg. 4.9]. Punar janma naiti. If you can avoid next birth... Next birth means to accept another material body. Tathä dehä ntara-prä ptiù, tathä dehä ntara-prä ptiù [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 scientists, great philosophers, great politicians. Real knowledge they haven't got. So try to give them real knowledge. Tathä dehä ntara-prä ptiù. This is the crucial point, dehä ntara-prä ptiù. 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 må tyu, death also. And between janma and må tyu, birth and death, there is disease and old age. So Kå ñ ë a says that tyaktvä dehaà punar janma naiti: [Bg. 4.9] " One can avoid accepting another material body." How? Janma karma me divyaà yo jä nä ti tattvataù. Simply try to understand Kå ñ ë a, what is Kå ñ ë a, why Kå ñ ë a appears, why Kå ñ ë a takes part in politics, why Kå ñ ë a... so many, Kå ñ ë a's activities.

So this is... Our Kå ñ ë a consciousness movement means: try to understand Kå ñ ë a. Simply if you try to understand... You cannot understand Kå ñ ë a fully. That is not possible. Kå ñ ë a is unlimited. But to our limited knowledge, whatever is possible, that is stated in the Bhagavad-gé tä. As far as we can understand about Kå ñ ë a, if we simply understand Kå ñ ë a, His transcendental nature, His transcendental activities, divyam... Janma karma me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. Divyam means transcendental. It is not ordinary. Tattvataù, in truth, in fact. Then you become free from this janma-må tyu-jarä -vyä dhi [Bg. 13.9]. Very easy thing.

Therefore try to understand Kå ñ ë a. How you will understand Kå ñ ë a? Kå ñ ë a is so great. Sevonmukhe hi jihvä dau svayam eva sphuraty adaù. Ataù ç ré -kå ñ ë a-nä mä di na bhaved grä hyam indriyaiù [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. You cannot understand Kå ñ ë a 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 Kå ñ ë a consciousness, always thinking of Kå ñ ë a, all your senses will be purified. This is the process. Sevonmukhe hi jihvä dau. 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. By utilizing the tongue, one can become perfect. Yes. This is the process. If by the tongue you chant Hare Kå ñ ë a mantra, and by the tongue you taste prasä dam, 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 Kå ñ ë a. This is one item. And another item—engage the tongue, always chanting Hare Kå ñ ë a. You become perfect. Is it very difficult task? Anyone can do. Hare Kå ñ ë a mahä -mantra, anyone can chant. And nice prasä dam, 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 Kå ñ ë a, take prasä dam. So you can introduce this process all over the world. Give them chance to chant Hare Kå ñ ë a mantra. But it is difficult also. There was a cartoon? That one...?

Haà sadü ta: Hayagré va...?

Prabhupä da: 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 prasä dam. This should be...

Just like the other day we held the festival, Ratha-yä trä. Chant and take prasä dam. That's all. Organize this all over the world. They will be saved. They will understand Kå ñ ë a. Sevonmukhe hi jihvä dau svayam... [Brs. 1.2.234]. Kå ñ ë a will appear. Kå ñ ë a... You cannot see Kå ñ ë a. That is not possible. You cannot order Kå ñ ë a, " 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 Mahä rä ja. Dhruva Mahä rä ja was meditating, and within six months, he saw Kå ñ ë a, face to face. So everyone can see. Everyone will be able, provided we utilize the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvä dau. Jihvä dau. Jihvä dau 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 Kå ñ ë a's service.

Therefore Bhaktivinoda Ö hä kura says, ç aré ra abidyä -jä l, joò endriya tä he kä l: " This body is material body and the senses are our greatest enemies, " joò endriya tä he kä l. " So out of all the senses, " tä 'ra madhye jihwä 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.

Prabhupä da: 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, tä 'ra madhye jihwä ati lobhamoy sudurmati. Lobhamoy, it is very greedy. And sudurmati, it 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, channa. What do you call curd? 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 preparations. 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. Prakå teù kriyamä ë ä ni guë aiù karmä ë i sarvaç aù [Bg. 3.27]. Prakå ti, 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 Kå ñ ë a, if you become Kå ñ ë a conscious, Kå ñ ë a will take care of you, and you will be saved. Thank you very much. Hare Kå ñ ë a. (end)