Prabhupāda: Apart from all other Vedic literatures, set aside, the gist of all Vedic knowledge, Bhagavad-gītā, there is. And still, people are kept into darkness. How much lamentable. Still, big, big leaders, at least, they want to preach Bhagavad-gītā—without Kṛṣṇa. They have set aside lakhs of rupees for preaching Bhagavad-gītā, but condition is if you preach without Kṛṣṇa. Just see. Bhagavad-gītā, in every page it is written śrī-bhagavān uvāca. Not even it is said kṛṣṇaḥ uvāca. Because some rascal may take Kṛṣṇa as ordinary human being, therefore Vyāsadeva has specifically said. People know it, kṛṣṇaḥ uvāca, but he says śrī-bhagavān uvāca. The bhagavān word. People may not mistake that Kṛṣṇa is somebody else. And they want to banish Kṛṣṇa from Bhagavad-gītā. Even Gandhi did it. So you explain Bhagavad-gītā as it is there in Ahmedabad?
Yaśomatīnandana: Yes.
Prabhupāda: They like it?
Yaśomatīnandana: Yes. Many young people are very attracted.
Prabhupāda: Yes, when real thing will be presented, it will act.
Yaśomatīnandana: Many people frankly admit that they had a very vague idea of religion. It is not so . . .
Prabhupāda: Not many; all of them. They do not know what is religion. Therefore there are so many rascal religionists. And Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam begins, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra (SB 1.1.2): all cheating type of religions kicked out from here. This is beginning. And Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has translated,
- pṛthivīte yāha kichu dharma-nāme cale
- bhāgavata kahe tāhā paripūrṇa chale
Whatever is going on throughout the whole world as religion, Bhāgavata is condemning them as simply cheating. Very clear translation. Cale and chale. Chale means cheating.
Kartikeya Mahadevia: Chalka-path.
Prabhupāda: Chalka-path. So whatever is going on in the name of religion, simply cheating. Because religion means dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19). Religion means the laws given by God. That is religion. But they do not know who is God and what is the law. And God is coming personally, giving the laws: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). They'll not take it. In the absence they'll say: "We have not seen God. We do not know who is God." And when He comes, they don't take. They are misguided by the leaders. Bhagavad-gītā without Kṛṣṇa. That's all. Take Bhagavad-gītā, but don't touch Kṛṣṇa. Untouchable. Take the egg and cut the throat of the chicken; it is expensive. Take only the hind part; you'll get the egg. And mouth is expensive, cut it. Ardha-kukkuṭī-nyāya (CC Adi 5.176). Very intelligent, that this part is expensive and this part is productive. Keep this part and cut. So as soon as in Bhagavad-gītā we say you have to become devotee of Kṛṣṇa—no, cut. That part, cut. And Kṛṣṇa said, karmaṇy evādhikāras te, and work like ass day and night. "Ah, yes, we'll do."
Yaśomatīnandana: That is the most favorite slogan of everybody.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Because they're asses. Asses, they want . . . even in Tehran, I saw the ass. This is Indian civilization. Loaded.