Because the superior energy is controlling the material energy—or trying to con . . . not controlling, but trying to control. That is called struggle for existence. Actually, we cannot control the material energy, but we are trying. That endeavor, to try to control over this material energy, is called struggle for existence. Actually, we shall not be controller. We shall not be able to control. That is explained. Therefore, in the material world, we are trying to solve one problem, but we are getting new problem. In the Western countries we see it very easily: man manufactured the horseless carriage, motorcar, to go very swiftly, but now it is problem is where to park and how to drive the motorcar. In America I have seen, they are increasing different paths, one after another, one upon another, one after another. Still, the problem is not solved. Still somewhere you'll find bottleneck, so many accidents. So we cannot actually solve the material problems. That is not possible. Material energy is so strong. Sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā (Bs. 5.44). You cannot control over. Because real controller is Kṛṣṇa. We are simply trying to control over the material energy. That will be . . . never be successful. This is knowledge.
Kṛṣṇa says therefore, daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā (BG 7.14). Mama māyā duratyayā: it is very difficult. But without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, forgetting Kṛṣṇa, we are trying to control over the material energy. That is explained by a Vaiṣṇava poet, very simple language:
kṛṣṇa bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare pāśate māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare (Prema-vivarta) As soon as we forget Kṛṣṇa, the supreme controller, and we want to control over the material energy, bhoga vāñchā kare . . . bhoga means control. "I shall control this market. I shall be the head of the market." Everyone is trying that. So kṛṣṇa-bhuliya. He does not know the real controller is Kṛṣṇa. So kṛṣṇa-bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare. This bhoga vāñchā, on account of this bhoga vāñchā, he becomes subjected to the condition offered by this material nature. Therefore it is said:
daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te (BG 7.14) So in the Bhagavad-gītā is . . . everything is explained. Either you study in . . . comparing in the modern scientific and philosophical ways, or as you accept it as it is, the conclusion is the same—Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller. That will be explained later verses.
Therefore if you are sensible, if you are actually wise, I mean, if you are actually advanced in knowledge, then you should surrender to Kṛṣṇa. This is the conclusion. We have to surrender. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante (BG 7.19). You have to (be) controlled. You cannot be independent. The more you become independent, you become more and more entangled. Yajñārthe karma . . . karmaṇi, anyatra karma-bandhanaḥ. If you don't act for Yajña, Yajña-puruṣa, Kṛṣṇa, then you'll be entangled. So the best thing is if we become wise. Wise means . . . Kṛṣṇa says that, "This is your position. You have to surrender unto Me. You did not surrender unto Me; therefore you are suffering so much in this material world."
Today is Kṛṣṇa's birthday. He descends to give us instruction. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām (BG 4.8). Kṛṣṇa advents Himself . . . yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata (BG 4.7). This is dharmasya glāniḥ. What is that? When we forget Kṛṣṇa and try to become the master of the world. This is dharmasya glāniḥ. When we want to become master of Kṛṣṇa, that is dharmasya glāniḥ. So Kṛṣṇa advents Himself. This is . . . today is the auspicious day of Kṛṣṇa's adventing to kill Kaṁsa and to release Vasudeva. This is Kṛṣṇa. Yadā yadā hi dharmasya . . . paritrāṇāya sādhūnām. Vasudeva, His father, was arrested, put into the prison house. To release him from the prison house, and to kill the Kaṁsa, duṣkṛtina, rākṣasa . . . the rākṣasika philosophy is, "How to kill Kṛṣṇa. How to become godless." Kaṁsa was planning to kill Kṛṣṇa. That is . . . Kaṁsa, or the demons, that is plan. But Kṛṣṇa comes to kill the demons and protect the devotee. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām (BG 4.8). But He is kind to both the demons and the devotees. By . . . anyone who is killed by Kṛṣṇa, he also gets liberation. And what to speak of the devotee.
So on this advent day of Kṛṣṇa we shall seek protection at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Then we shall be able to cross over this illusory energy, ocean of illusory energy.
samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām (SB 10.14.58) So Kṛṣṇa is adventing today. There is stotra by the demigods. We should read how Kṛṣṇa protects the demigods or the devotees. We should seek protection of Kṛṣṇa. This world is so dangerous. It is said, padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām. Every step there is danger. But if we take shelter—samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ—if we take shelter of the lotus feet of Murāri, under whose lotus feet the whole mahat-tattva, cosmic manifestation, is resting, then this big ocean of birth and death, we can cross very easily. Vatsa-padam. Vatsa-padam means the impression by the hoof of a calf and the water contained in it. The whole ocean becomes like a spot, a small spot, created by the impression of the hoof. That is called vatsa-padaṁ.