We tend to take insignificant problems seriously and significant problems lightly
aparyaptam tad asmakam balam Bhisma bhiraksitam paryaptam tvidam etesam balam bhimabhiraksitam
"Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhisma , whereas the strength of the Pandavas , carefully protected by Bhima, is limited."
(Bhagavad-gita 1.10)
So Duryodhana is very proud of his military strength, because he was empowered, he could gather such massive armies. And over and above that, Bhisma was the commander- in-chief. On the other side, the Pandavas were not so empowered. Their strength was limited in comparison to the Kauravas, and it was protected by Bhima, who was far inferior than Bhisma . Duryodhana always considered Bhima as a fool. He was very much confident: "Our side is being protected by Bhisma , and the other side, although Bhima is very strong, but he has no brain." So he was very hopeful of victory.
But in the previous verse he said, anye ca bahavah sura mad-arthe tyakta-jivitah [Gita 1.9]. tyakta-jivitah means "they have come to lay down their lives for me." This is a foretelling because whoever joined the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, none of them returned. Tyakta-jivitah. Although Duryodhanawas very proud of his military strength, still they were sure to die. This is the conclusion. Nana-sastra-praharanau sarveyuddha-visaradau. Visarada means expert in fighting. They would all die because it was Krishna's plan that all these fighting men, who were not ruling properly according to the tenets of Vedic injunctions that they should die. 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.
When Krishna appeared, there were many such kings. If one has no Krishna consciousness, then his strength and opulence would be misused. And if one is Krishna conscious, then he would use his strength and opulence properly. All these kings were meant to give protection to the citizens, to train them to the Vedic conception of life. But they were not doing that. Therefore they were demons.
Know the Real Proprietor
Ksatriyas are meant to represent the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Actually, Krishna is sarvaloka- mahesvaram, the proprietor of all the planets, all the universes, because they are created by Krishna , by Krishna's bodily effulgence, brahmajyoti. Just like from the sunshine these planets are created, similarly from brahmajyoti, innumerable universes are created.
yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti- kotisv asesa-vasudhadi vibhuti-bhinnam tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Brahma-samhita 5.40]
So it is all creation of Krishna . Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Gita 10.8]. Everything has come out of Krishna's body, 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 narayana asit: "Before the creation only there was Narayana." In the catur-sloki Bhagavata also it is said, aham evasam evagre [Bhagavatam 2.9.33-36]. So before creation there was Krishna . When we speak of Krishna , it does not mean Krishna was alone. Krishna means His form, His pastimes, His paraphernalia, His entourage, everything. When we speak of a king, it does not mean the 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 narayana asit, "Before creation there was only Narayana." So Narayana means His paraphernalia, with His expansion. Narayana has expansion in the spiritual world, vaikuntha jagat, the place of innumerable Vaikuntha planets. We have given only twenty-four names, but there are innumerable.
Kuntha and Vaikuntha
In this material world, all planets are kuntha planets. Kuntha means anxiety. Anywhere you go, there will be anxiety. Sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat [Bhagavatam 7.5.5]. Why anxiety? Because we have accepted something asat, that 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 cannot be saved. We have accepted something nonsense, which is not compatible with our existence. The modern civilization does not know it. They think that death is a natural sequence that cannot be avoided. But death can be avoided. But these rascals do not know how to avoid it, although this science is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. 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. They do not touch the real problem, nor do they know how to solve it. But this Krishna consciousness movement can solve it. These rascals must understand that this Krishna consciousness movement is not a sentiment, so-called religious movement. It is a scientific movement to solve all the problems of life. This is Krishna consciousness.
In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mameti [Gita 4.9]. Next birth means to accept another material body. Tatha dehantara-praptim [Gita 2.13]. After giving up this body, we have to accept another body. The rascals do not understand it. The modern civilization is full of ignorance, and still the leaders are passing as great scientists, philosophers, and politicians. They haven't got real knowledge. So try to give them real knowledge. This is the crucial point, dehantara-praptiù. One has to accept another body. So if you can find out a means by which you do not accept another body, then you are safe. Because as soon as you accept another body, there is death also. And between janma and matyu, birth and death, there is disease and old age. So Krishna says one can avoid accepting another material body. How? Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah. Simply try to understand Krishna , what is Krishna , why Krishna appears, why Krishna takes part in politics – so many, Krishna's activities.
Our Krishna consciousness movement means trying to understand Krishna . You cannot understand Krishna fully, because Krishna is unlimited. But if we try to understand as far as we can, then you become free from this janmamatyu- jara-vyadhi [Bg. 13.9]. Very easy thing.
Tongue – the Gateway to Liberation
Therefore try to understand Krishna . How will you understand Krishna ? Krishna is so great. sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam hrsikena hrsikesa- sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. You cannot understand Krishna by these blunt material senses. You have to purify them. Tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Simply by Krishna consciousness, by always thinking of Krishna , all your senses will be purified. Sevon mukhe hi jihvadau. And you can begin service with your tongue.
By utilizing our tongue, we can become perfect. This is also unknown to the modern science. If you chant Hare Krishna mantra and taste prasada, you will be perfect. Do not accept anything else, do not allow the tongue to touch anything that is not offered to Krishna . And engage the tongue in always chanting Hare Krishna . You become perfect. Is it a very difficult task? Anyone can do. Anyone can chant the Hare Krishna and anyone can take nice prasada. How are these European and American boys and girls advancing? Simply by this process: chant Hare Krishna , and take prasada. So you can introduce this process all over the world. Give them a chance to chant Hare Krishna mantra.
I saw a cartoon where an old lady is requesting her husband, "Chant, chant, chant," and the husband is replying, "Can't can't, can't." (laughter). 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 home, back to Godhead, simply by this process. Chant and take prasada.
The other day we held the Rathayatra festival. Chant and take prasada – that's all. Organize this all over the world. They will be saved. They will understand Krishna . Krishna will appear. You cannot order Krishna , "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.
Dhruva Maharaja was meditating, and within six months he saw Krishna face to face. So everyone can see. Everyone will be able to see, provided we utilize the tongue. Sevon mukhe hi jihvadau. Jihvadau means "beginning with the tongue." We have got eyes, ears, touch, and so many other senses. But begin with the tongue. Try to control the tongue and engage in Krishna's service.
Tongue – the Gateway to Hell
Therefore Bhaktivinoda thakura says, sarira abidya-jal, jodendriya tahekal: "This body is material body and the senses are our greatest enemies," Jodendriya tahekal. "So out of all the senses," ta'ra madhye jihva ati lobha moy sudurmati, "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. Simply for tasting, they will commit so many sinful activities. Tongue, belly, and genital – they form a straight line. So if you can control the tongue, the other things will be controlled.
Simply for tongue, so many slaughterhouses are being maintained. They will eat just a small piece of meat, but for these small pieces, so many slaughterhouses are being maintained. They cannot give up that small piece of meat. What is the difficulty? The same thing can be made using 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. The tongue is so strong. It is demanding, "You must give me meat." So they are obliged. And for this obligation, they are committing so many sinful 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. prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Gita 3.27]. prakrteh , nature, is so strong. It is acting very nicely. So we have to become very careful. If you surrender to Krishna , if you become Krishna conscious, Krishna will take care of you, and you will be saved.
Thank you very much. Hare Krishna .