Prabhupāda: But this movement is not five hundred years old. It is coming since very, very long time. As we have advertised, bhāgavata-dharma. This is part of bhāgavata-dharma. Bhāgavata-dharma was explained by Prahlāda Mahārāja, a great devotee of Lord Nṛsiṁha-deva, Nārāyaṇa, some millions of years ago. His father was Hiraṇyakaśipu, atheist. He did not believe in God. But by the grace of Nārada Muni, his son, from the very womb of his mother, he was initiated in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and after his birth he became a great devotee.
And when he was only five years old he was preaching this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement amongst his class fellows. He was little boy, king's son. He had no opportunity to go out of the palace. Still, he took the opportunity of speaking something about this bhāgavata-dharma amongst his class fellows. So he was canvassing his class fellows, "Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." The bhāgavata-dharma is called . . .
- etāvaj janma-sāphalyaṁ
- dehinām iha dehiṣu
- prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā
- śreya-ācaraṇaṁ sadā
- (SB 10.22.35)
Bhāgavata-dharma, execution of bhāgavata-dharma . . . there are different types of dharma. Dharma means the codes of God, the laws of God—real dharma, or religion. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19). Dharma means the codes, the laws, which is given by God. This is the simple definition of God, er, of dharma. (child screaming)
(aside) It is disturbing. This child is . . . (pause)
Devotee: If the children are noisy, they can go outside and . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: So "religion," this English word, is not sufficient translation of the word dharma. Religion . . . according to English language, religion means a kind of faith. You may believe in some faith. Somebody believes in Hindu religion, others may believe in Christian religion. One may become a Christian from Hindu, or from a Hindu to Christian. Generally, we find these changes. But a dharma does not mean like that. Dharma means which you cannot change. It is the constitutional part of your life.
So Bhāgavata says, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra (SB 1.1.2). Dharma, the so-called religion, kaitava, which is cheating. Kaitava means cheating. Dharmaḥ projjhita. Projjhita means prakṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa ujjhita: thrown away, kicked away. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satām. So there are different kinds of dharmas, faith. But what is real dharma, real religion? Real religion is, as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19). Real religion is the codes which is given by God.
Just like you may have some by-laws in your office or in your home, but there is state law. That you cannot, I mean to say, disobey, state law. Just like in your country the state law is that, "Keep to the left." In America the state law is "Keep to the right." So here we have to obey. If you drive your car, keep to the left. You cannot disobey. You cannot say: "I am American. I go in my country on the right. Why shall I drive on the left?" No. Because it is the state laws you must obey. Similarly, dharma is such a thing that you cannot disobey. You must obey, because it is the codes given by God. If you are so much respectful to the laws of the state, how much respectful you should be to obey the laws given by God.