Lecture [Partially Recorded]

Prabhupāda: ...it is taken, orphans are very much forlorn. But in the presence of parents also, many children are suffering. And [in] the presence of good medicine, good physician, many people are dying. It is not guaranteed. Suppose one is diseased, suffering. If you engage good, qualified physician, good medicine, and therefore there is guarantee of cure? No. There is no guarantee. The medical practitioners say, "We cannot guarantee. We are trying our best. That's all." Similarly, when a person is drowning in the water, if you send a good boat to save him, that is also not guaranteed.

In this way if we study, that we are completely dependent on something else. Our process of making ourself independent... We may manufacture so many things for our independence, but śāstra says unless there is protection from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, these methods and processes will not save us. Tāvat tanu-bhṛtāṁ tvad-upekṣitānām. If Kṛṣṅa does not [sic] like, does not wish that "These children will suffer in spite of good parents," so that suffering nobody can check. "This man must drown in spite of very nice, good boat and ship"—nobody can check. "This man must die in spite of good physician and medicine"—he must die.

Therefore our first relief, guaranteed relief, is this shelter of Kṛṣṅa. If we take shelter of Kṛṣṅa, even there is some deficiencies in the matter of protecting us, Kṛṣṅa will save. Therefore we should depend on Kṛṣṅa. That is called śaraṅāgati, surrender, to believe that "Kṛṣṅa will give us protection." Without Kṛṣṅa's protection, no other protection is valid. There is no guarantee. So in every way we shall surrender to Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa also guarantees, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi [Bg 18.66].

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

Our sufferings are due to our sinful activities. So Kṛṣṅa gives guarantee that ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi: "I shall save you from all kinds of sinful reaction."

So śaraṅāgati, surrender to Kṛṣṅa, is our only business. This Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is trying to teach people to..., not to declare independence, which is not possible, not to try to make this world happy without Kṛṣṅa. That is not possible. That is our propaganda. Whatever you do, you take shelter of Kṛṣṅa, or God. "Kṛṣṅa" is the most explicit term for God. God may have many names. Kṛṣṅa is the perfect name.

God has no name; some philosophers say like that. "No name" means that His name is understood by His different action. Just like Kṛṣṅa is sometimes called Yaśodā-nandana. Because He has accepted Mother Yaśodā, to become her son, therefore Kṛṣṅa's name is Yaśodā-nandana. Kṛṣṅa's name is Pārtha-sārathi. Why? Because Kṛṣṅa has accepted to become a chariot driver of Arjuna. Pārtha means Arjuna, and sārathi means chariot driver. So Kṛṣṅa's name became Pārtha-sārathi. Kṛṣṅa used to steal butter from the stock of His mother's butter stock; therefore Kṛṣṅa's name is Mākhana-cora. So in this way Kṛṣṅa's name are varieties.

Kṛṣṅa has unlimited number of activities, and according to such activity He has got unlimited names. But the primary name which is applicable in all circumstances is "Kṛṣṅa." Kṛṣṅa means "all-attractive." Kṛṣṅa attracts everyone. Otherwise, how you're attracted? If Kṛṣṅa is not all-attractive... From the beginning of your life you never heard of Kṛṣṅa, neither you knew about Kṛṣṅa. Why you are attracted? Huh? So Kṛṣṅa is all-attractive. That is the perfect name of God, "Kṛṣṅa." Otherwise, Kṛṣṅa has got many names, sahasra name, thousands of names. This name is...

[aside:] Just, time is up? Or...

So kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28].

[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]

According to Vedic literature, Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, svayam. Svayam means original. Kṛṣṅa has many extension, incarnation. We are also Kṛṣṅa's extension. We are, all living entities, we are also Kṛṣṅa's extension. We are called vibhinnāṁśa, separated extension. Separated extension means just like this finger is the part of your body, but when it is separated from the body some..., for reason... The finger's name is "finger," but it is separated; it is no longer used for the whole body.

Similarly, the conditioned souls, we... We have come to this material world being conditioned by the laws of material nature; therefore our so-called independence is bogus. There is no independence. We are completely under the grip of material nature, so therefore we are separated. When we are again joined with Kṛṣṅa, then we are one with Kṛṣṅa.

Just like this finger is one with this body; although it is called finger, but it is the same. The importance of the finger is as good as the whole body. Similarly, when we shall join again with Kṛṣṅa, then we become as good as Kṛṣṅa, advaya-jñāna, Absolute. Just yesterday, day before yesterday, I was explaining, aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti [Bs 5.32].

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.]

Every part, every limb of Kṛṣṅa has got the potency of acting like other limb. We can see only with our eyes, but Kṛṣṅa can eat also with His eyes. Therefore Absolute.

So Kṛṣṅa's part and parcel, also one with Kṛṣṅa. In the spiritual world there is no two. All one, one unit. This will take time to understand. Theoretically we can understand. And here, in this material world, we are all separated. Therefore, just like if electric bulbs are separated from the powerhouse practically it has no value, similarly, so long we are separated from Kṛṣṅa, we have no value. Sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ [SB 11.5.3].

[Any members of the four varṅas and four āśramas who fail to worship the Personality of Godhead, the source of their own creation, or who intentionally disrespect Him will fall down from their position into a hellish state of life.]

Sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ. Sthānāt means from the right position one falls down.

So by Kṛṣṅa consciousness, by reviving your Kṛṣṅa consciousness, by engaging yourself in Kṛṣṅa's service, you'll revive your original position. That is called liberation. Now we are not liberated; we are dependent on so many laws, so many conditions, although we are very much proud and puffed-up, independent. Who is independent? Nobody is independent. It is not possible to become independent. It is simply false pride, independent.

So don't try to become independent. Please try to become dependent on Kṛṣṅa. That will make your life successful.

Thank you. Hare Kṛṣṅa. [end]