Kṛṣṇa consciousness, matir na kṛṣṇe. People are very much reluctant to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Why? Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā. By others' instruction . . . Just like we are trying to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world, parataḥ svato. Svato means personally, by personal endeavor—just I am reading Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other Vedic literature. So, matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā. Mitho vā. Mitho vā means "by conference." Nowadays it is a very popular thing to hold conferences. So one cannot become Kṛṣṇa conscious either by his personal endeavor or by advice of some other men or by holding big, big conferences. Why? Gṛha-vratānām: because his real aim of life is that "I shall remain in this house." Gṛha-vratānām. Gṛha means household life, gṛha means this body, gṛha means this universe. There are so many gṛhas, big and small.
So here it is said, tato yateta kuśalaḥ kṣemāya bhavam āśritaḥ. Bhavam. This material world is called bhavaḥ. And those who are within this material world, they are called bhava-rogī, means diseased, in the bhava disease. Bhava means "you become." Bhava. So here in this material world is . . . to become, bhava. I have already taken birth in some family, I have already become something, bhava, but I'll have to die. Then finish? No, bhava. Again bhava. Again bhava. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19), bhū-dhātu. So bhava, bhū, so bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate. This is the nature, material nature. So those who are bhavam āśritaḥ . . . Those who have taken shelter of this material world for repeatedly taking birth and death and suffering old age and disease, they are called bhavam āśritaḥ. So for the bhavam āśritaḥ, those who are suffering in this disease, there are other, bhavauṣadhi, bhavauṣadhi.
- nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād
- bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt
- ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt
- virajyeta pumān vinā paśughnāt
- (SB 10.1.4)
Vinā paśughnāt. Paśughnāt means the slayer, killer of animals, or killer of himself. Paśughnāt. So paśu means "life." So they are killing. So this civilization is a killing civilization. Because the human being has got the opportunity for get out of this bhavam-āśritaḥ, this material world where he has to take birth and death, accept birth and death again and again. So this is an opportunity to get out of it. But they are not being properly educated. They are being forced to accept this chronic disease and suffer perpetually. This is the modern civilization.
But Vedic civilization is not like that. Vedic civilization is how to rescue him from this disease, bhava-roga. Bhava-roga . . . to cure this bhava-roga, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has also prescribed, and it is since the creation, Vedic knowledge is that bhavauṣadhi. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād (SB 10.1.4). This chanting of the holy name of the Lord is called nivṛtta tarṣair upagīyamānād. This chanting can be performed by nivṛtta tarṣair, one who has ceased from all kinds of tṛṣṇa, or desire: sarvopādhi vinirmuktam (CC Madhya 19.170) or anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11). One who has become free from all kinds of material desires, for them, this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is possible, is very successful. But still, those who are not free from these material desires, it is recommended by Parīkṣit Mahārāja nivṛtta-tarṣair. Actually this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra should be done by the liberated person. But still, those who are not liberated, bhavam-āśritaḥ, for them it is bhavauṣadhi: the disease, medicine of this disease. Nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhi chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt (SB 10.1.4). It is very pleasing to the ear and the mind. Chrotra, chrotra means ear, and mano means mind. Even one is not liberated, still, it is so pleasing to the ear and the mind. Bhavauṣadhac chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt. Such a nice thing. What is that? Uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt. Uttamaśloka means the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is prayed by selected poems. Uttama, transcendental poetry, transcendental songs. He's worshiped by transcendental vibration of sound. Ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt pumān virajyeta vinā paśughnāt. Who keeps himself aloof from this transcendental vibration of sound? Vinā paśughnāt: simply the person who is animal killer. Therefore, meat-eating is so dangerous for a devotee. Because one who is animal killer, he'll never be attracted. Therefore we prescribe that no animal killing. Meat-eater means other things will follow. Illicit sex will follow and drinking will follow. Because you cannot digest meat by water; you must drink. That is the fact. It is so heavy that unless . . . Therefore, madhyamanusa, they are four relatives. If you eat meat, then you have to drink, otherwise, you'll not be able to digest. Then your intestine will be digested, the wine is so strong. Therefore the drunkard must take. In India we have seen—everywhere—this wine and meat, they are together, because you have to digest.