Krishna the Lion and the Lamb

Perception of God and scripture

0:02Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa is lion to the demons, and He's a lamb to the devotees. [laughter] Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. So the atheist, they say that "We have not seen Kṛṣṇa." Yes.

0:24You'll see Kṛṣṇa as lion when He'll ultimately come and capture you,* "Ow!"* [laughter] That is death. Atheists will see Kṛṣṇa as death, and theists, devotees see Kṛṣṇa as lover. That's it. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

0:54Nama om bhagavate vāsudevāya. [aside:] You sit down properly, back side. Yes. ISO 0.2ईशोपनिषद्ॐ पूर्णं अदः पूर्णं इदंपूर्णात् पूर्णं उदच्यतेपूर्णस्य पूर्णं आदायपूर्णं एव अवशिष्यतेoṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁpūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyatepūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāyapūrṇam evāvaśiṣyateThe Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.[Īśo Invocation]

1:42ISO 1ईशावास्यं इदं सर्वंयत् किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथामा गृधः कस्य स्वित् धनम् || 1 ||īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁyat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagattena tyaktena bhuñjīthāmā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanamEverything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.ISO 2कुर्वन्न् एव इह कर्माणिजिजीविषेत् शतं समाःएवं त्वयि न अन्यथा इतो अस्तिन कर्म लिप्यते नरे || 2 ||kurvann eveha karmāṇijijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥevaṁ tvayi nānyatheto 'stina karma lipyate nareOne may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.

2:25ISO 3असुर्या नाम ते लोकाअन्धेन तमसा आवृताःताम् ते प्रेत्य अभिगच्छन्तिये के च आत्म हनो जनाः || 3 ||asuryā nāma te lokāandhena tamasāvṛtāḥtāṁs te pretyābhigacchantiye ke cātma-hano janāḥThe killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.ISO 4अनेजत् एकं मनसो जवीयोन एनत् देवा आप्नुवन् पूर्वम् अर्षत्तत् धावतो अन्यन् अत्येति तिष्ठत्तस्मिन् अपो मातरिश्वा दधाति || 4 ||anejad ekaṁ manaso javīyonainad devā āpnuvan pūrvam arṣattad dhāvato 'nyān atyeti tiṣṭhattasminn apo mātariśvā dadhātiAlthough fixed in His abode, the Personality of Godhead is swifter than the mind and can overcome all others running. The powerful demigods cannot approach Him. Although in one place, He controls those who supply the air and rain. He surpasses all in excellence.

2:46ISO 5तत् एजति तत् न एजतितत् दूरे तत् व अन्तिकेतत् अन्तर अस्य सर्वस्यतत् उ सर्वस्य अस्य बाह्यतः || 5 ||tad ejati tan naijatitad dūre tad v antiketad antar asya sarvasyatad u sarvasyāsya bāhyataḥThe Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but He is very near as well. He is within everything, and yet He is outside of everything.ISO 6यः तु सर्वाणि भूतानिआत्मनि एव अनुपश्यतिसर्व भूतेषु च आत्मनंततो न विजुगुप्सते || 6 ||yas tu sarvāṇi bhūtānyātmany evānupaśyatisarva-bhūteṣu cātmānaṁtato na vijugupsateHe who sees systematically everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything or any being.

3:12ISO 7यस्मिन् सर्वाणि भूतानिआत्म एव अभूत् विजानतःतत्र को मोहः कः शोकःएकत्वं अनुपष्यतः || 7 ||yasmin sarvāṇi bhūtānyātmaivābhūd vijānataḥtatra ko mohaḥ kaḥ śokaekatvam anupaśyataḥOne who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for him?

3:21ISO 8स पर्यगात् शुक्रम् अकायम् अव्रणम्अस्नाविरं शुद्दं अपाप विद्धंकविः मानिसी परिभूः स्वयंभूःयथा तथ्यतो अर्थान् व्यदधात् शाश्वतीभ्यः समाभ्यः || 8 ||sa paryagāc chukram akāyam avraṇamasnāviram śuddham apāpa-viddhamkavir manīṣī paribhūḥ svayambhūryāthātathyato 'rthān vyadadhāc chāśvatībhyaḥ samābhyaḥSuch a person must factually know the greatest of all, the Personality of Godhead, who is unembodied, omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure and uncontaminated, the self-sufficient philosopher who has been fulfilling everyone's desire since time immemorial.

3:39ISO 9अन्धं तमः प्रविशन्तिये अविद्याम् उपासतेततो भूय इव ते तमोय उ विद्यायां रताः || 9 ||andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśantiye 'vidyām upāsatetato bhūya iva te tamoya u vidyāyām ratāḥThose who engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter into the darkest region of ignorance. Worse still are those engaged in the culture of so-called knowledge.ISO 10अन्यत् एव आहुः विद्ययाअन्यत् आहुः अविद्ययाइति शुश्रुम धीराणांये नः तत् विचचक्षिरे || 10 ||anyad evāhur vidyayā-nyad āhur avidyayāiti śuśruma dhīrāṇāṁye nas tad vicacakṣireThe wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of knowledge and that a different result is obtained from the culture of nescience.

Purpose of the human form

4:05Hmm. Anyone can explain the third verse? Kurvann eveha karmāṇi jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ. Who will explain, please stand up. Nobody? [laughs] How is that? Huh? Yes?

4:47Devotee (1): This explains that the human form of life is meant for realizing our spiritual nature, our nature as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. [indistinct] material servants.

4:51It explains that those who do not cultivate this kind of knowledge, they simply live like the animals, like the swine. [indistinct] without caring for the spiritual nature.

5:03They are known as ātma-han, killers of the soul, and they will enter into the planets of the [indistinct].

5:12Prabhupāda: No, I wanted that's true*, kurvann eva.* That is true, yes. That's all right. So anyone will explain this, ISO 2कुर्वन्न् एव इह कर्माणिजिजीविषेत् शतं समाःएवं त्वयि न अन्यथा इतो अस्तिन कर्म लिप्यते नरे || 2 ||kurvann eveha karmāṇijijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥevaṁ tvayi nānyatheto 'stina karma lipyate nareOne may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.

5:34So you should try to read the explanation, these word meanings. So kurvann eveha karmāṇi jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ. Samāḥ means years. You can live hundreds of years if you understand the philosophy of life.

5:59Otherwise, what is the use of living? The trees are also living for five hundred years, for thousands years. There is one tree in San Francisco... What is that wood?

6:13Devotee (2): Redwood.

6:14Prabhupāda: Redwood. No. There is some wood, I forget. Crossing bridge. Anyway, they told me that this tree is standing for seven thousand years. So the trees are also living, and you are also living. You are trying to live.

6:37Whenever there is question of death, you resist. That means you do not want to die. That is natural sequence. So here it is said that why should you live?

6:55Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, ke lāgi āche, āchi..., that "Why I am living? I could not achieve love of Godhead. Then what is the use of my living?" He's lamenting.

7:15Narottama dāsa kena na lāgilā māriyā. Kena bā āchaye prāṇa ki sukha lāgiyā [Song 41: Ākṣepa]. He said, "Why I am living? What is the purpose of my living?

7:29What is the ultimate happiness?" Better I would have died, because I could not attain love of Godhead.” That is real life.

Developing love for the divine

7:41We should not try to live if we do not develop love of Godhead. Otherwise, the trees are also living; what is the difference? You are, what... How many years you can live? Say utmost hundred years, that's all.

8:02But the tree is living for seven thousand years, five thousand years. You cannot compete even with the tree, so far living is concerned.

8:14So here it is said, kurvann eveha karmāṇi: one may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on doing work in that way. Which way? * īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam* [Īśo mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God.

8:33Our this society, Kṛṣṇa conscious society, we are not dismantling society. No. Not like Māyāvādī. Māyāvādī says this is…, this world, this material world is false.

8:52Brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā. “Let us give it up just like we give up stool, urine, and don’t aspire after it.” Similarly, the Māyāvādīs says, “Give it up just like you leave your stool and urine, and take to brahma.” But our philosophy is not like that.

9:15Our philosophy, we have created a Kṛṣṇa conscious society. We are having wives, children, brother, sister, father, mother. That is society. So we have got everything here.

9:37In which way we are lacking, that there is no father, there is no mother, there is no husband, there is no wife, there is no children? No, it is not negation. How these children are coming to receive?

9:54Just like in an ordinary family when the grandfather comes, little children takes pleasure, and the grandfather takes pleasure. Here the same thing is there; we are not denying.

10:08I do not say, “Oh I am a sannyāsī. Oh, you do not send these children to me. I have left my children. Why another children would come and bother me?” [laughter] No! [laughter] It is not like that.

10:29We are changing the face of the society: Kṛṣṇa conscious society. Kṛṣṇera saṁsāra koro chāḍi anācāra [Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura]. Our propaganda is that let us become the member of Kṛṣṇa’s family. That is our program.

10:52And if we enter into Kṛṣṇa’s family… Just like Kṛṣṇa is enjoying with His consort. So there is nothing negation; everything is there.

11:03Kṛṣṇa is eating, Kṛṣṇa is enjoying, Kṛṣṇa is dancing, Kṛṣṇa is offering His *prasādam—*reciprocation. Nothing is denied. If we live in Kṛṣṇa consciousness then we can live for hundreds, thousands, or any number of years.

Eternality and escaping rebirth

11:24Actually we do not die. What is death and birth? That is of this body. So we are eternal; Kṛṣṇa is eternal. Our purpose is how to get out of this atmosphere where I have to repeatedly accept one body and then again quit it.

11:50And that I do not know what sort of body I am going to get next. There are 8,400,000’s of bodies, and if I get a body like that tree, red tree, standing, stand up for thou…, seven thousands of years, would you like it?

12:10But māyā is so strong that even that life, the tree, is standing seven thousand of years happily, and it is growing nicely.

12:22But those who are outside the atmosphere, they’re, “Oh, what is horrible life!” Tree is also living entity, standing for seven thousands of years, so he becomes shocked. That is human life.

12:41We should be shocked seeing so many varieties of life, abominable life. And here is a chance, this human form of life, that you can get out of this shocking atmosphere.

12:59So this verse instructs us that if you realize that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, or God, everything should be employed in the service of the Lord.

13:15I am Lord’s..., I am part and parcel of the Lord; therefore my energy should be utilized in the service of the Lord. If you develop this consciousness, then you can live.

13:32ISO 2कुर्वन्न् एव इह कर्माणिजिजीविषेत् शतं समाःएवं त्वयि न अन्यथा इतो अस्तिन कर्म लिप्यते नरे || 2 ||kurvann eveha karmāṇijijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥevaṁ tvayi nānyatheto 'stina karma lipyate nareOne may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.

13:38If you live like that, na lipyate nare karmani. Otherwise, every work has got some reaction if you don’t work for Kṛṣṇa.

Action and the laws of nature

13:53That is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gitā: BG 3.9यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥९॥yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatraloko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥtad-arthaṁ karma kaunteyamukta-saṅgaḥ samācaraWork done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.Yajña-arthāt: only for Kṛṣṇa.

14:01Kṛṣṇa's another name is Yajña, Yajñeśvara*.* So yajñeśvara means… Yajña means we offer sacrifice. And who is accepting? Kṛṣṇa. Our sacrifice should go to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa also explains in the Bhagavad...,

14:26BG 9.27यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् ।यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ॥२७॥yat karoṣi yad aśnāsiyaj juhoṣi dadāsi yatyat tapasyasi kaunteyatat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇamWhatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me.

14:26Kṛṣṇa has... The karmis, they are working. But Kṛṣṇa says, “All right, you do.” *Yat karoṣi: “*Whatever you are doing, you just do it for Me, and give the result to Me.” That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You can work.

14:49You can have very big factory, working—but give the result to Kṛṣṇa. Then your, that factory-running is also as good as we are running this temple, because ultimately the profit is going to Kṛṣṇa.

15:10Why we are working for this temple, employing our energy? For Kṛṣṇa. So any field of activities, if you utilize it for Kṛṣṇa, that is wanted. In that way you can do.

15:34Jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ [Īśo mantra 2]. Otherwise, you'll be entangled; you'll be responsible. Because when you work intentionally or unintentionally, we are committing so many sinful activities.

15:48Take, for example, that we are not in favor of animal killing; but when we walk on the street, unintentionally we are killing so many animals. You cannot get out of this entanglement.

16:09When you are drinking water, you are killing so many animals. When we are exhaling, inhaling, we are killing so many, water. When we are igniting fire, so many animals are killed. So we cannot avoid it.

16:27So if you do not devote your life for Kṛṣṇa’s service, you’ll be responsible for all these minor killings also—intentionally or unintentionally. Ignorance is not excused.

16:45If you drive unintentionally to the left side of the road, you are immediately prosecuted. You cannot say, “Oh, I was little inattentive.” No. That is not.

17:02The law of state is so strict; and how much the law of God is strict you should understand. Don't take it trifle. His agents are very… BG 7.14दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया ।मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ॥१४॥daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayīmama māyā duratyayāmām eva ye prapadyantemāyām etāṁ taranti teThis divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.

17:22You can avoid the vigilance of police, but you cannot avoid the vigilance of God. The day is witness, the night is witness, the air is witness, the sun is witness, the moon is witness.

17:37How we can avoid the sinful activities? Therefore if you want to save yourself, then you have to take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Otherwise you are doomed.

17:50Devotees: Oh!

18:54Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.

21:02Devotee: Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya! [devotees offer obeisances]

24:13Prabhupāda: Chant begin. [kīrtana] [Prabhupāda plays gong] [prema-dhvani] Thank you very much. [end]