Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that the volume of atonement should be according to the gravity of the offense. Just like when a man is diseased, he goes to a physician. He prescribes different type of medicine to the different type of patient according to the gravity of the disease. But there are many rascals, they say that any medicine we take, that's all right. No.
That's not all right. You have to take the medicine through the physician, not independently. In your country there is law that you cannot purchase from the drug shop any medicine without being prescribed by the medical man. Is it not? So the prescription should be taken from the experienced physician to cure the disease.
So in this age, Kali-yuga . . . it is called Kali-yuga. Kali-yuga means the age of quarrel and misunderstanding. This is the age. For nothing there is misunderstanding and quarrel and fight and war. For nothing. So in this age the medicine for delivering the conditioned soul from miserable, materialistic way of life is prescribed in the śāstras. What is that?
Harer nāma, simply chanting of the holy name of Hari, Hare Kṛṣṇa. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam (CC Adi 17.21): "In this age, simply this harer nāma," kevalam, only. There is no other alternative. Therefore in the next line it is stressed, nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā: "There is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative."
So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based on authority. We are prescribing the right medicine, and it is becoming very effective also. That is the proof. If you say that "How I can understand that this medicine is very effective?" Yes, it is effective.
By chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, any part of the world, although they do not know the meaning, they chant and they join, and they become rectified, and they become bright-faces. That is the verdict. So therefore we appeal to everyone, irrespective of any caste-creed consideration, please come, join this movement and be happy.