Prabhupāda: . . . Vedic literature, it is scriptures. It is compiled by the Lord Himself. Religion means the regulation of the Supreme Lord. That's all. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19). Just like for proper execution of this material world there are certain rules and regulation of the king, of the state, similarly, to execute properly the supreme will of the Supreme Lord there are certain rules and regulation. That is called religion. This is the meaning of religion. Religion does not mean that "My religion says this," "Your religion says this," "Your religion says this." Religious means whether you are properly executing the will of the Supreme. That's all. This is religion. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19).
The nonsense rascals, they cannot manufacture religion. Religion cannot . . . just like ordinary citizens, they cannot make laws for the state. Suppose if you make a law. Who will care for your law? Don't take advantage of the innocent people and make your own religion and make a group and try to exploit them. This is all nonsense.
Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam. Dharma means the regulation of the Supreme. So we have to know. That is religion. So any religion which is directing to obey the Supreme Lord, that is bona fide. And anything minus, or "Not to Kṛṣṇa but to me," this is a nonsense rascaldom. You see?
So before studying Vedānta, we should understand this fact. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is therefore stressing on this point, that there is no cheating, there is no mistake, there is no illusion, there is no imperfectness. Then we can make progress. If we are doubtful: "Oh, Bhagavad-gītā is spoken by some Kṛṣṇa, somebody. He was learned man, philosopher. So I can point out my own point . . ." No. Not like that. So:
- upaniṣat-sahita sūtra kahe yei tattva
- mukhya-vṛttye sei artha parama mahattva
- (CC Adi 7.108)
This is . . . Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that all the Upaniṣads, all the Vedic literature, Vedānta-sūtra, they, they are composed in that way. Therefore, mukhya-vṛttye sei artha parama mahattva: "Therefore, if you take directly the meaning, that is the superexcellence of your understanding." Directly. Don't try to foolishly interpret. Just like in the Bhagavad-gītā the first verse is:
- dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre
- samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
- māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva
- kim akurvata sañjaya
- (BG 1.1)
"My dear Sañjaya, my sons, māmakāḥ, my sons and Pāṇḍava, the sons of my younger brother, Pāṇḍu, they assembled in the battlefield which is also a pilgrimage. Then what did they do?" This is the simple. But the nonsense rascals, they are eschewing some meaning, "Oh, kuru-kṣetra means 'body,' and dharma-kṣetra means this or this . . . Pāṇḍava means 'the five senses.' " So many nonsensical . . . even Gandhi has done this. What Gandhi is? Gandhi's nothing. You see? So they are . . . these rascals are doing and misleading persons.
I've recently written one written to Dr. Radhakrishnan that "You are going to retire. Now join this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement. You have written your Bhagavad-gītā, and you don't believe Kṛṣṇa as Supreme Lord, God. Therefore by reading your Bhagavad-gītā people have become godless. So you better rectify your mistake.
Now join this." I've written state letter to Dr. Radhakrishnan. "So if you want to, I mean to say, compensate the greatest sin you have committed in your Bhagavad-gītā, then you join this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement and rectify yourself." "Not to Kṛṣṇa." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu does not approve this. Kṛṣṇa says:
- man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
- mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
- mam evaiṣyasi
- kaunteya asaṁśayaḥ
- (BG 18.65)
"O My dear Arjuna, you just surrender unto Me. You worship Me. You offer your obeisances unto Me. You always think of Me." This is straight. The straight meaning, "Me," Kṛṣṇa is saying. Therefore we should offer our respect to Kṛṣṇa. We should worship Kṛṣṇa. We shall think of Kṛṣṇa. We shall chant of Kṛṣṇa. This is the straight meaning. But the commentator says: "Oh, not to Kṛṣṇa." Just see. "Not to Kṛṣṇa."
So this nonsensical commentation is . . . Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, mukhya-vṛttye. Mukhya-vṛttye, directly as you understand it. If I say: "My dear such and such, give me a glass of water," now you interpret, "Oh, Swāmījī wants water. Oh, he has taken water. Let me supply this or that," interpretation. What is the use of interpreting? I'm asking for water. Give me water. Call a spade a spade.
This should be the . . . this should be the understanding of Vedānta. Because all foolish nonsense—they are interpreting, "Such-and-such person's commentation of Vedānta-sūtra." Because they were trying to manifest and expose their thinking power that, "I think that this should be like this." What nonsense you are? What you can think? You think as it is.