Pañca-draviḍa: Prabhupāda, who is that prostitute the gopīs refer to...?
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Pañca-draviḍa: In the Kṛṣṇa book the gopīs say that "The great prostitute," I forget the name, "Pimba," or something, "says that..."
Prabhupāda: Kubjā, Kubjā, Kubjā.
Satsvarūpa: Disappointment.
Prabhupāda: Kubjā.
Devotee: Kubjā?
Pañca-draviḍa: Yeah, she said.... That prostitute has said "Disappointment is the greatest pleasure."
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: "Gives rise to the highest pleasure."
Pañca-draviḍa: The gopīs refer to that when they...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Pañca-draviḍa: Who was that prostitute?
Prabhupāda: Why you are asking me? (laughter) As if I have to keep account of prostitute. (laughter) What is this nonsense? There was a big educationist, Visacandra Vidyasagara(?). So.... So to show compassion to the prostitutes, at night in a.... In India I have seen in our childhood, prostitute, they stand on the road. And in Paris I have seen.
Haṁsadūta: Yeah, everywhere.
Prabhupāda: Everywhere, they.... So, so they're standing—no customer at two o'clock. It is very cold. So Vidyasagara will take compassion: "All right, you take two rupees. Go home. Sleep." And that is in Vidyasagara's life, compassionate to the prostitute. By giving her two rupees, will she change her profession? But this learned man, he thought like that, that "She is standing in the severe cold. All right, let me.... Let me.... Let me give her two rupees. Then go home. Don't take so much..." He's Vidyasagara. The vidyā-sāgara means "ocean of education." And Haridāsa Ṭhākura—a prostitute came for three nights and converted her to a devotee. That's it. That is real compassion, not that "Take two rupees and go home." No. Turn her. That is real compassion, to turn everyone to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. That is the greatest welfare activity in the world. Otherwise there cannot be any peace or prosperity. Where is Tamāla Kṛṣṇa?
Dhṛṣṭadyumna: Śrīla Prabhupāda, he had a cold, and he's lying down.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Why cold?
Lokanātha: In Bhāgavatam, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are mentioning that prostitute is needed in the society.
Prabhupāda: Yes, for the rascals. Otherwise they will pollute the innocent girls. The innocent girls.... That is the policy of the Western civilization, that "Let the karmīs enjoy new, new girls and be energetic to produce machine." This is the European civilization, American civilization. Because the karmīs, unless they have sufficient sex intercourse, they cannot work, so this is the policy: "Let all the girls remain open." They.... "Let them use and produce atomic bomb. Show your brain." The.... Just like the marriage.... According to Vedic civilization, marriage is allowed to the karmīs. It is not that marriage allowed to the sannyāsī or brahmacārī. The karmīs require sex. Therefore.... Why marriage is allowed to the gṛhastha? Why not to the brahmacārī, vānaprastha or sannyāsī? Why it is not recommended? Because the karmīs require that enlivenment. Therefore they are allowed to marry. So in the European civilization it is only karmīs. There is no question of brahmacārī, vānaprastha or sannyāsa. There is no such idea. Therefore they want new, new girls. And that they have kept, this artificial law.
Pañca-draviḍa: Outlawing prostitution.
Prabhupāda: Yes. And no prostitution. And no prostitution, what means? That means there is prostitutes in the society.
Pañca-draviḍa: Everybody's a prostitute.
Prabhupāda: Now, the Vedic civilization is "All right, you are not satisfied, one woman, don't pollute the innocent girls or in the home. Go to the prostitute." Still, in big, big cities, there is a quarter, prostitute quarter, still. They are professional prostitutes.