This is the injunction of the śāstra, that in the Satya-yuga, when people were said to live for one hundred thousands of years, at that time yogic principle, meditation, was possible. And in the Tretā-yuga, the performance of big, big sacrifices was possible, because things were available, there were yājñika brahmins. In this age, practically there is no yājñika-brāhmin who can perform yajña. No competent brāhmin. Therefore performance of sacrifices is not possible.
The only performance of sacrifice is this, as we are performing—Hare Kṛṣṇa festival. That is stated: yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ. Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana. In this age, Kali-yuga, no other sacrifices are . . . is possible. Only sacrifice . . . this is sacrifice, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana, just like we are doing, in a small scale. But it can be done in larger scale. But people are not interested. People are not interested. They have lost all brain.
Su-medhasaḥ, and alpa-medhasaḥ. These two words, two words are used in the śāstras. Alpa-medhasaḥ. Medhā means brain substance. So those who are alpa-medhasaḥ, they, means less brain substance. Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām (BG 7.23). Alpa-medhasaḥ, less intelligent, less brain substance, they worship different demigods. Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante anya-devatāḥ (BG 7.20).
The anya-devatās are there, but who are attracted to worship other demigods? Those who are lusty. Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ. These are the statements in the Bhagavad-gītā, you know. Those who are lusty, and, being lusty, they have lost their senses. Hṛta-jñānāḥ. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, he says, hṛta-jñānāḥ naṣṭa-buddhayaḥ. No intelligence. Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante 'nya-devatāḥ (BG 7.20). Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām.
So in this age, this is simply waste of time. If you actually interested in spiritual advancement of life, if you divert your attention in so-called worship of this demigod, that demigod, this demigod, then you'll simply waste your time. There will be no advancement. And even you become perfect in worshiping the demigods, then what will be your profit? The profit will be yānti deva-vratā devān (BG 9.25): you can go to the planets where the demigods live.
But the planets and this material world, everything will be annihilated. Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣām (BG 7.23). Suppose you are promoted to the Brahmaloka. That is also antavat. It will be finished, because by the end of Brahmā's duration of life, everything within this universe will be finished. Therefore antavat. That is not permanent. But if you manage to go back to home, back to Godhead, then yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama (BG 15.6). Then that is perfect life.
So anyone who is not interested in perfect life, they'll be allured by this so-called demigod worship. Antavat tu phalam. But those who are intelligent . . . these are the activities of the alpa-medhasaḥ. But one who is su-medhasaḥ, su-medhaḥ, one who has got good brain substance, for him, in this age it is recommended, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ.
- kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
- sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
- yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
- yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ
- (SB 11.5.32)
Kṛṣṇa-varṇam. Kṛṣṇa Himself. Kṛṣṇa, or kṛṣṇaṁ varṇayati. The one, the incarnation of God, who will chant always "Kṛṣṇa," that is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore kṛṣṇaṁ varṇayati, iti kṛṣṇa-varṇam. Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣā akṛṣṇam. Tviṣā, by complexion, He's akṛṣṇa, "not kṛṣṇa," "not black." Kṛṣṇa appeared blackish. Not blackish as we imagine. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya. Kṛṣṇa, although He's blackish, He is attractive more than millions of Cupids. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi (Bs. 5.30).
So anyway, Kṛṣṇa appears in four colors—red, black, yellow and white—in different ages. So in this age, Kali-yuga, Kṛṣṇa appears as Caitanya Mahāprabhu, yellow color. Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣā akṛṣṇam. Akṛṣṇa may be red. Akṛṣṇa may be white. But this akṛṣṇa means pīta, yellow. Because other akṛṣṇa, red and white, was in the Satya-yuga and Tretā-yuga. Therefore here kṛṣṇa means the yellow.