Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Does someone . . . Does Kṛṣṇa punish people who do not serve Him purely? Or do the people punish themselves when they do not serve Him purely?
Prabhupāda: By nature's . . . Nature is acting by Kṛṣṇa's indication. So nature will punish you. As soon as you violate nature's law you'll be punished, automatically. Suppose if you, you are not hungry, you have no appetite, but if you by force if you eat, then you'll increase the disease, because you have violated. There is no appetite, still you are eating. So you must suffer. If you have infected some disease, so you must suffer from that disease. That nature's law is working. Kṛṣṇa hasn't got to take any direct action. Nature, māyā, is there. As soon as you violate the laws of Kṛṣṇa you'll be punished, automatically. You cannot avoid it. Daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā (BG 7.14). Cannot avoid. Therefore those who are trying to overcome the laws of nature, that is the so-called modern scientists' endeavor. That is foolishness, rascaldom. They cannot do it. It is not possible.
Just like we are here, we are given this planet to live, and there is this moon planet, we can see. And these rascals try to go there so many ways. They are refused: "No, you cannot go." Live there, go. It is practical. We see the moon planet is there, we have got machine, we can go, but you cannot go. This is laws of nature. (laughter) This is laws of nature. This is practically proof. But they are so rascal, fool, they are going to another planet. They do not think, "With the one planet we have already failed." (laughter) They are called punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām (SB 7.5.30)—chewing the chewed. They are being baffled every step, and still they are trying to overcome the laws of nature. That is their foolishness. Narādhama. Māyayāpahṛta-jñāna. Māyā is so strong upon them that their so-called scientific knowledge is useless. In 1958, when I wrote that book Easy Journey to Other Planets, I write in that book, those who have read it, that this moon planet excursion is simply childish and waste of time. And actually it has proved. So I was not a scientist, neither I am a scientist. How did I say? I said on the strength of the version in the Vedic literature that it is not possible.
You cannot . . . We are conditioned. We are conditioned to remain in a certain condition, certain atmosphere. We cannot surpass that. Just like we are animals of the land. We cannot go to the water. And the aquatics, fishes, they are animals of the water; they cannot live on the land. Why these rascals are trying to overcome the laws of nature? How foolish rascals they are, just imagine. Any child can understand, but these rascals cannot understand. Their challenge is that "We are trying to overcome the laws." Is it not? That is their challenge. Therefore they are rascals. Narādhama, māyayāpahṛta-jñāna. They are attempting in something which they cannot perform; therefore they are rascals. Mūḍha. So better, to become more and more mūḍha, better to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī mām. That will make your live successful. Why should you imitate these rascals? Hmm? What is your saying? What do you think? We say they are rascals. What do you think?
Yogeśvara: They are all rascals.