Karandhara: "Now the next question will automatically be made as to why the Lord influences the living entity to such consciousness and forgetfulness. The answer is that the Lord clearly wishes that every living entity be engaged in his pure consciousness as the part and parcel of the Lord, and thus be engaged in the loving service of the Lord as he is constitutionally made. But because the living entity is partially independent also, he may not be willing to serve the Lord, but may try to become independent, as the Lord is. The whole nondevotee class of living entities are all desirous of becoming equally as powerful as the Lord, although they are not fit to become so. The living entities are . . ."
Prabhupāda: They will never be God, but we see so many persons, by the influence of the illusory energy they think, "I am God. I am God," "I shall become God by pressing my nose like this, doing this." So this is going on. They will never be able. That is not possible. Otherwise, there is no meaning of "God." If everyone can become God, then there is no meaning of God. But by influence of . . . just like karmīs are saying, "I shall become millionaire," "I shall become trillionaire," "I shall become head of the state," "I shall become prime minister." This struggle, this is another struggle: "I shall become God." This is another struggle. But it is illusion. It is illusion.
So Kṛṣṇa gives them opportunity, some yogic success. Just like in India there is a rascal, he makes like that, and there is immediately some gold. And people become after him: "Oh, he is God. He is God. He is God." By producing a little gold, he becomes God. Another yogī, he gives immediately two rasagullā. So by producing two rasagullā, four annas' worth, he becomes God. You see? This is illusion. These rascals, they do not know that "What is this rasagullā, two rasagullā? I can purchase from the market for four annas. So he is becoming God by four annas?" But they have no sense. "Oh, he is God. He can produce rasagullā." Rasagullā I can produce in our kitchen. But they are so rascal: "Oh, wonderful."
So the yogic siddhis . . . so Kṛṣṇa gives him some power of yogic siddhi and he thinks that, "I have become God," and some flatterers, they also think, "Oh, you are God." The same dream. And as soon as death comes, everything finished—your godhood and everything finished. Now becomes doghood, come to the stage of doghood. Again, another dream: "I am dog." First of all "I am God," then next thing, "I am dog." This is going on.
Therefore Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said, keno māyār bośe jāccho bhese' (Gītāvalī): "Why you are being washed away by the waves of māyā? Just fix up. Stand up." Jīv kṛṣṇa-dās ei viśwās korle to ār duḥkho nāi. You simply remain fixed up on this standpoint, that "I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa." Then there is no more dream. And if you allow yourself to be washed away, Kṛṣṇa gives you facility, "All right, come on. Be washed away."