If you are a jñānī, a philosopher, speculating what is the truth, so the truth is . . . ultimate truth is Kṛṣṇa. So if from the very beginning you try to search out by your philosophical knowledge or if you try to prove the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa by your philosophical speculation, that is perfection. That is your perfection. Otherwise it is simply laboring, waste of time.
Śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8). If you cannot go forward up to Kṛṣṇa by your philosophical and scientific research, then all the labor you have taken, that is almost simply waste of time. The limit of knowledge, the limit of scientific research, will be confirmed when you have surrendered to God.
- bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
- jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
- vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
- sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ
- (BG 7.19)
That mahātmā who knows Kṛṣṇa is the supreme cause . . . govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. So our conclusion is that there, that He is the Supreme, Govinda. So we bow down. Yes. Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. We give all respects to others, but so far our surrendering process is concerned, that is to Kṛṣṇa. Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. Under the direction of Lord Brahmā.
So therefore here it is said that janma guhyaṁ bhagavato ya etat prayato naraḥ. Just like we are here, in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we don't claim that we have become perfect. That is not our . . . we cannot become perfect. Or at least, we have not become perfect. But prayataḥ, we are trying to be perfect. Prayataḥ. Prayataḥ means endeavoring, endeavoring for understanding God.
So therefore here it is said, janma guhyaṁ bhagavato ya etat prayato naraḥ. Any person who endeavors for understanding Kṛṣṇa through the relative śāstras and devotional service, then what is the result? When? Sāyaṁ prātaḥ. Two times at least, in the evening and in the morning. So if we sleep in the morning, snoring, then how we can understand? It is recommended here, sāyaṁ prātaḥ. Tri-sandhyā. Tri-sandhyā means three times. We initiate . . . we . . . they promise that three times they will chant gāyatrī-mantra, but I do not know what they are doing.
So these are the recommendation in the śāstra. If we don't follow, then we must fall down. There is no doubt about it. But if we follow the regulative principles, as they are enjoined in the śāstra . . . sādhu-guru-śāstra. Śāstra will say the same thing as guru advises. Sādhu-guru.
A saintly person also will say the same thing. Just like here, Sūta Gosvāmī, he is saintly person. He is advising, sāyaṁ prātaḥ, "Morning and evening you should try to understand the science of God," Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, topics, chanting. So these are the process. Sāyaṁ prātar gṛṇan bhaktyā.
Now, this is the most important word, bhaktyā. Because without bhakti . . . the real process is bhakti. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti (BG 18.55), Bhagavad-gītā says. Here also, it is said that "Don't read just like a academic scholar." No. That will not benefit you. It will benefit you, but it will take long, long time. Because without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Everywhere you will find that.
Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patram (BG 9.26), a little flower, little leaf. Suppose I am very poor man. I cannot arrange for purī and rasagullā for Kṛṣṇa. Then what my offering will be? No, there is no opportunity for offering Kṛṣṇa? No.
Kṛṣṇa says: "You can offer Me a little flower, a little leaf, a little water." That's all. Who cannot secure it? Any part of the world, anywhere, a person can offer to Kṛṣṇa, "Sir, I have no means. I have secured these things." Now, Kṛṣṇa says: "Yes, that's all right." Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati (BG 9.26). "This bhakta, one who offers Me in devotion and love." That is the main ingredient.
And a nondevotee cannot offer anything Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not poor. Kṛṣṇa has not come here He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your purī and rasagullā. No. (laughter) (laughs) Don't think like that. But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has come before you to accept whatever you can offer with devotion. That is the point. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati, tad aham aśnāmi. "I eat," Kṛṣṇa says. Kṛṣṇa is a liar? He's God, He says that, "I eat." You cannot say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat. Kṛṣṇa says: "I eat." Who are you to say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat?
Sometimes this atheist class, the rascal class, they say that, "You are offering food. Why? Kṛṣṇa is not eating. It is there." No. Kṛṣṇa eats. But His eating is not like your eating. That is the difference. Pūrṇam, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣ . . . (Īśo Invocation). He will eat everything and it will keep everything. If I give . . . I am given a plate, I eat everything, then remains nothing. But when Kṛṣṇa eats, He eats everything and remains everything. Therefore it is prasādam. Therefore it is prasādam.