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ANNOUNCER: The following is a
class on the Bhagavad-gītā As It
Is, 4th chapter, text number 14,
given by His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda, recorded on August
6, 1974 in Vṛndāvana, India.

PRABHUPĀDA: So in another
place Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma
me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ.
Karma, every living entity is
bound up by the resultant action
of his own karma, but Kṛṣṇa is
not like that.

The, in the English constitutional
law it is said that “The King can
no, king can do no wrong.” King
can order punishment for the
criminal, but the king is never
criminal. King cannot be
punished. Your President Nixon is
fighting on this point. Although
people wants to impeach him,
he’s fighting on this point, that “I
am not wrong.” Actually, that
much facilities must be given to
the head executive. If he
becomes under the laws, then his
position is not exalted. The… That
is the principle of accepting in
the highest order of life.

So in the material condition, that
is not applicable perfectly, but so
far spiritual condition is
concerned, God must be given
full freedom. Otherwise there is
no meaning of God. If God is also
under the, under your laws…
Sometimes: “Why God has done
like this?” They inquire like that.
This question sometimes put.
“Why God has put us into this
condition?” These are foolish
questions. But the real
conception of God is that He is
free to do anything, whatever He
likes. You cannot say, “Why God
can… Will… God will do this, will
do not that.” No. That is not the
conception of God.

So here Kṛṣṇa says that na me
karma-phale spṛhā. He is
ātmārāma. Ātmārāma. Ātmārāma
means He is fully satisfied in
Himself. And He can create so
many things. He is creator. So
there is no question of desiring
something. He can do anything,
whatever He likes. But… That will
be explained.

He sets example. Just like in the
previous verse. We have already
discussed.

cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ
guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ tasya
kartāram api māṁ viddhy
akartāram avyayam [Bg. 4.13]

Although He has set up the
principle of varṇāśrama-dharma,
but He’s not within the
varṇāśrama-dharma. Just like
Kṛṣṇa takes the incarnation of
becoming a pig, but that does
not mean He is a pig. Ordinary
conception of pig we have got.
Or He takes the incarnation of a
fish, but that does not mean He’s
ordinary fish.

So similarly, He comes here as a
human being, as son of Nanda
Mahārāja, or husband of Rukmiṇī,
or son of Vasudeva, but actually,
He is nobody’s son. He is
everybody’s father. He is the
origin. Nobody can be cause of
His creation. This idea should be
understood. And if anyone
understands that Kṛṣṇa, or God,
is not under any rules and
regulation and laws of this
material world, then he
understands Kṛṣṇa perfectly.

Just like Kṛṣṇa performed the
rāsa dance. At the midnight
many young girls came by
hearing His flute, and He danced
with them. This is, from Vedic
standard, it is not very moral.
Because at dead of night, with
others’ wives or sisters or
daughters, to dance… Kṛṣṇa was
young. That is not very good
example from Vedic principles.
But He did it. So, so… And that is
the highest understanding of
Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Gopī-bhāva-rasāmṛtābdhi-laharī-
kallola-magnau muhuḥ. All the
Gosvāmīs, even Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu… He was a sannyāsī.
He was very strict about woman.
No woman could come near
Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As a
sannyāsī. But Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu recommended,
ramyā kācid upāsanā vraja-
vadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā: “There
is no better method of
worshiping Kṛṣṇa than the
method conceived by the gopīs.”

And the Gosvāmīs also… Śrīla
Rūpa Gosvāmī… Vande śrīla-
rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-
jīva-gopālakau. The Six Gosvāmīs,
they gave up their material
opulence. Tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-
maṇḍala-pati-śreṇīṁ sadā
tucchavat. They gave up their…
They were ministers of the
government, very exalted
position. Their associates were
most aristocratic persons. But he
gave up everything. Tyaktvā
tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-
śreṇīm. Maṇḍala-pati means
leaders of the society, big, big
men, zamindars or government
officers. So he gave up,
tucchavat, considering them
most insignificant. Tyaktvā
tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-
śreṇīṁ sadā tucchavat bhūtvā
dīna-gaṇeśakau karuṇayā. They
have, gave up their opulent
family. He was also belonging to
the aristocratic family. He gave
up. And became a mendicant,
beggar, madhukārī. They were
asking one cāpāṭi from one
gṛhastha. They would not accept
three or four or…, cāpāṭis at a
place. Only half, one, like that. All
in this way.

So so much in the renounced
order of life. But they lived—
how? Gopī-bhāva-rasāmṛtābdhi-
laharī-kallola-magnau muhuḥ.
They were always thinking of the
gopīs’ dealing with Kṛṣṇa. So
from this standpoint of view, the,
the dealings of the gopīs with
Kṛṣṇa, that is not these ordinary
human dealings. That is all
spiritual. Without understanding
the spiritual platform of Kṛṣṇa
and the gopīs… Nobody try to
understand it. Then they will be
misled. So… Therefore Kṛṣṇa says.
People may not be misled.
Sometimes He’s seen to be
acting against the social laws.
Therefore Kṛṣṇa warns, na māṁ
karmāṇi limpanti: “These social,
political or religious laws do not
apply to Me.” Na māṁ karmāṇi
limpanti.

This question was raised by
Parīkṣit Mahārāja when Śukadeva
Gosvāmī described the rāsa-līlā.
So that… “Kṛṣṇa appeared on this
material world, dharma-
saṁsthāpanārthāya, paritrāṇāya
sādhūnām, dharma-
saṁsthāpanārthāya. So why He
violated these rules of dharma?”
Violation because, according to
Vedic civilization, nobody can mix
with other’s wife or other woman.
Even in moral principle, as
Cāṇakya Paṇḍita said, mātṛvat
para-dāreṣu. “All women should
be treated just like mother.” Not
like the present society. Formerly,
every woman should be
addressed as “mother,” Mātājī.
And now they have invented
“Bahinjī.” No. Woman should be
addressed as “mother.” Mātṛvat
para-dāreṣu.

So this question was put forward
by Parīkṣit Mahārāja before
Śukadeva Gosvāmī, “How Kṛṣṇa
danced with others’ wives and
sisters, like that?” This is against
principle of dharma. So just to
clear the position of Kṛṣṇa…
Kṛṣṇa is personally said,
personally saying also, and this is
confirmed by Śukadeva Gosvāmī
that tejīyasāṁ na doṣāya. Kṛṣṇa
cannot be polluted.

Because by chanting Kṛṣṇa’s
name one becomes purified, how
Kṛṣṇa can be polluted? If, by
chanting… Ceto-darpaṇa-
mārjanam… paraṁ vijayate kṛṣṇa,
śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam [Cc. Antya
20.12] And in another place,
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-
saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet. Simply by
chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa,
one becomes freed from all sinful
activities. Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya.
Especially. Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ. He becomes free
from all contamination.

In material world we are simply
becoming contaminated.
Therefore karmāṇi limpanti. In
the… We are becoming
entangled by the reaction of our
karma. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur deha upapatti [SB 3.31.1]
By karma, the jantu, means living
entity, is getting different types
of body one after another, one
after another. In this way he’s
wandering 8,400,000 forms of
bodies. This is karma. Therefore
to the living entities, as we are…
We are bound up by the laws of
karma. But Kṛṣṇa is not like that.
Na māṁ karmāṇi limpanti.

This is to be understood. Unless
we understand Kṛṣṇa, that He is
not bound up by the material
laws, then we do not understand
Kṛṣṇa. And if anyone understands
it perfectly, then what is the
result? The result: iti māṁ yo
’bhijānāti karmabhir na sa
badhyate [Bg. 4.14]. If one
understands clearly that Kṛṣṇa is
not under any material laws, then
he also becomes not bound up
by any material laws. Simply by
knowing it. Karmāṇi nirdahati ca
bhakti-bhājām.

In the Brahma-sūtra it is said…
Brahma-saṁhitā. Yas tv indra-
gopam athavendram aho sva-
karma… Indra, indra-gopa, and
the King Indra, both are named
as indra. Yas tu indra-gopam
atha mahā-indra sva-karma-
phala-bhuk. Everyone is enjoying
the resultant action of his karma.
Yas tv indra-gopam athavendram
aho sva-karma-bandhānurūpa-
phala-bhājanam ātanoti [Bs.
5.54]. Everyone is enjoying or
suffering the resultant action of
his karma. Sva-karma-phala-
bhuk. But karmāṇi nirdahati kintu
ca bhakti-bhājām [Bs. 5.54]. But
one who is in the devotional
service, although he has to suffer
the resultant action of his past
karma, but that is reduced to the
minimum. Karmāṇi nirdahati. Or
practically no.

For whom? Bhakti-bhājām, those
who are devotees, who are
devotees. So who can understand
Kṛṣṇa is not under the laws of any
material nature? Only the
bhaktas. Bhaktas can understand.
Who can understand Kṛṣṇa?
Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg.
18.55]. Only the bhaktas can
understand Him. Therefore
Bhagavad-gītā was spoken to
Arjuna, bhakto ’si, “You are My
devotee.” So Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s name,
Kṛṣṇa’s form, Kṛṣṇa’s attributes,
Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, they can be
understood by the bhaktas only,
not the nondevotees.
Nondevotees cannot understand
that na māṁ karmāṇi…, this
process, that Kṛṣṇa is not bound
up by any material laws.

The example is given by
Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja
Parīkṣit: tejīyasāṁ na doṣāya.
Tejīyasām. Just like the sun. The
sun is evaporating the urine from
the street. But that does not
mean sun is infected. Although
sun is evaporating the urine, the
stool, or any contaminated
place… Rather, he is, sun is
sterilizing that process. This is
practical. If sunshine is anywhere,
even the most contaminated
place, the sun does not become
contaminated, but the place
becomes purified. Is it not a fact?

Similarly, Kṛṣṇa… Kṛṣṇa was very
beautiful. So gopīs became
attracted with Kṛṣṇa. As it is
natural, a young boy is attracted
with young woman or young girl
is attracted… That is natural.
Yuvatīnāṁ yathā yūnaḥ.(?) It is
natural. So the gopīs, they were
attracted by Kṛṣṇa’s beauty. And
therefore they went to Kṛṣṇa. But
the result was that the gopīs
became purified; Kṛṣṇa remained
uncontaminated. This is
understanding of Kṛṣṇa. Some
way or other, if one reaches
Kṛṣṇa, he becomes… Kamāt
krodhād bhayāt. Either by lusty
desire or by anger or bhayāt…
Just like Kaṁsa. Kaṁsa was
always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, that
“Kṛṣṇa is coming. So how shall I
kill Him? How shall I kill Him?”
Bhayāt, out of fear. So he also got
salvation. Kṛṣṇa killed him. He
got salvation. So gopīs
approached Kṛṣṇa out of lusty
desire, but they became purified.
Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu
says, ramyā kācid upāsanā vraja-
vadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā. So
even one approaches Kṛṣṇa with
impurity, he becomes purified.
Now, Kṛṣṇa does not become
impure. Don’t think like that.
Therefore Kṛṣṇa said,

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā
śaśvac-chāntiṁ nigacchati
kaunteya pratijānīhi na me
bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati

So somehow or other, approach
Kṛṣṇa. Then your life is perfect.
Kṛṣṇa does not become
imperfect. Kṛṣṇa is always… In the
Īśopaniṣad: apāpa-viddham.
Description of God is there.
Apāpa-viddham. That Kṛṣṇa, or
the Lord, is never contaminated
by any so-called… For Him, there
is nothing sinful. This is
understanding of Kṛṣṇa. Na māṁ
karmāṇi limpanti. Why He should
be? Therefore, if anyone
understands, studies Kṛṣṇa
perfectly, about His activities,
about His birth, about His name,
about His form, anything… He
has got everything like us. He has
got His form. He has got His
activities. He has got His
attributes. Everything is there. But
they’re all transcendental.

Therefore His name is sac-cid-
ānanda-vigrahaḥ. Īśvaraḥ
paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-
vigrahaḥ [Bs. 5.1]. His vigraha is
sac-cid-ānanda. His vigraha is not
like us. The Māyāvādīs, they
mistake. Therefore they imitate
Kṛṣṇa. The rascal Māyāvādīs, they
imitate Kṛṣṇa. “I am Kṛṣṇa. I can
play flute like Him. I become
Kṛṣṇa, by playing flute.” This is all
rascaldom. Kṛṣṇa’s vigraha is
different. You cannot imitate
Kṛṣṇa. Even you imitate, that does
not mean you become Kṛṣṇa.
This is rascaldom. Kṛṣṇa is not…
Na māṁ karmāṇi limpanti.
Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, this, janma
karma me divyam. That is all
transcendental. Kṛṣṇa’s body…
Just like sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha
[Bs. 5.1]. Kṛṣṇa’s body is eternal.
My body is not eternal. So how
can I imitate Kṛṣṇa? Kṛṣṇa’s body
is eternal, sat. Kṛṣṇa’s body is full
of knowledge. And I am full of
ignorance, my body. I do not
know. If there is some disease in
the finger. But…

Just like the other day. There was
some trouble. Now automatically,
the skin is being purified. So I do
not know how it is being done.
Therefore full of ignorance.

But Kṛṣṇa is not like that. Sat cit.
Cit means knowledge. He knows
everything. Not only Himself. He
knows everything. Vedāhaṁ
samatītāni. Kṛṣṇa says, “I know
everything.” In the Bhāgavatam it
is said, janmādy asya anvayād
itarataś ca artheṣu abhijñaḥ
[Bhāg. 1.1.1]. Kṛṣṇa knows
everything. But I do not know. I
do not know how many hairs are
here. And still I am claiming I am
Kṛṣṇa.

So do not compare Kṛṣṇa with
any human body. That is great
offense. To think of Kṛṣṇa as,
ordinary human being and as
equal, or a human being is Kṛṣṇa,
these are, two things are
offensive. Aparādha. Māyāvādī
haya kṛṣṇe aparādhī. That is the
statement of Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu. Māyāvādī, those
who think that “Kṛṣṇa is like us,”
Māyāvādīs, they are aparādhī,
they are offender to Kṛṣṇa. They
are punishable. They are
punishable, offender. Therefore
we should rightly understand
Kṛṣṇa.

His activities we should not
imitate. Kṛṣṇa’s activities are
worshipable. We cannot imitate
Kṛṣṇa’s activities. Janma karma
me… His activities are
transcendental. You cannot…
How you can imitate? Can you
imitate to lift a mountain as Kṛṣṇa
did? You can imitate falsely
Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā. That is very easy.
But can you imitate Kṛṣṇa to lift
up the mountain? Then how you
are Kṛṣṇa, equal with Kṛṣṇa? This
is all rascaldom. Kṛṣṇa is sac-cid-
ānanda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1], and you
have got this rotten material
body. Therefore cannot be
compared with Kṛṣṇa. This rotten
material body is subjected to the
material laws. But Kṛṣṇa is not
under the material laws. That is
real understanding of Kṛṣṇa.
Janma…

And if you really understand…
That is stated here. Iti māṁ yo
’bhijānāti. In this way, if one
understands Kṛṣṇa, karmabhir na
sa badhyate, he does not
become entangled with the
karma. In another place it is also
confirmed: janma karma me
divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ. If one
understands Kṛṣṇa’s activities,
Kṛṣṇa’s birth and Kṛṣṇa’s form,
Kṛṣṇa’s attributes, if one can
understand tattvataḥ, in truth,
not by mental speculation. In
truth, as it is, then what happens?
Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti
[Bg. 4.9]. He does not get any
more material body after leaving
this body.

So try to understand Kṛṣṇa on
this principle, as Kṛṣṇa says. Don’t
imagine, don’t speculate. Then
your life will be perfect.

Thank you very much.

DEVOTEES: JAYA! [BREAK]

JAGADĪŚA: …Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
there is one śloka which
describes that Mahārāja
Yudhiṣṭhira and his younger
brothers all attained the spiritual
world in the self-same body.
Does this mean that they had
their spiritual bodies while they
were on the earth?

PRABHUPĀDA: Yes, that is
possible. They went to heaven,
heavenly planet? No? No, where?
Where it is?

JAGADĪŚA: Bhāgavatam, they are,
you described that they were
going to the Kṛṣṇaloka planet.

PRABHUPĀDA: Hm. So that’s all
right. But not this body. With
their spiritual body. Yes.

BRAHMĀNANDA: In your lecture
you quoted Cāṇakya Paṇḍita that
a man must see every woman
other than his own wife as
mother. How should a woman
see other men?

PRABHUPĀDA: AS SON.
(LAUGHTER)

BRAHMĀNANDA: That was my
idea.

PRABHUPĀDA: Yes. If I see
woman as mother, she must see
me as son. That’s all. That is the
system. The brahmacārī, the
sannyāsī go to beg alms from
door to door. “Mother, give me
some bhikṣā, alms.” And it is the
duty of the gṛhastha to treat
brahmacārī and sannyāsī as their
son. As they maintain their
children with food, shelter, cloth,
similarly the brahmacārīs and
sannyāsīs, they are dependent on
the society. They should be
treated as the sons of the society.
And they must supply their
necessities, bare necessities. A
sannyāsī, brahmacārī, does not
want more than what they need.
They should not collect more
than what they need. Bhikṣā
nirvāhana. Not collect more and
enjoy at others’ cost. No. That is
not the business of sannyāsī.
They can collect so much as they
need. That’s all.

DEVOTEE: When you address a
woman, do you…

PRABHUPĀDA: HM?

DEVOTEE: When you address a
woman do you use the word
“Mātājī”? Is that the right, proper
word for her?

PRABHUPĀDA: Mātājī. Yes, very
good. “Mother.” All right. Chant.