Revatīnandana: ". . . one who is deviated from the transcendental path. Arjuna is inquisitive to know the results of deviation from the path of self-realization."
Prabhupāda: Yes, this is very important question, that one may begin practicing any sort of yoga, either the eightfold yoga system or the jñāna-yoga system—means speculating philosophically—and the bhakti-yoga system, devotional service. But if one fails to complete the yoga system, what is the result? That is very important question, and it is put by Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa will answer it. (break)
Revatīnandana: "By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attached to the yogic principles, even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist, striving for yoga, stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Revatīnandana: But when the yogī . . ."
Prabhupāda: No, let me explain this. "By virtue of divine consciousness." We are preparing this consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, divine consciousness. And the consciousness will go. Just like the flavor, the aroma, of a rose flower is carried by the air, and if the air passes through us we also experience the rose flavor. Similarly, when we die, this material body is finished. "Dust thou art, dust thou beist." This is made of five elements: earth, water, air, fire, ether.
So the . . . so far earthly materials are concerned, that is mixed up. Somebody burns this body, somebody buries or somebody throws it for being eaten by the animals. The three system in the human society . . . just like in India, Hindus, they burn the body. So the body comes transformed into ashes—means earth. Ash means earth. Those who are burying the bodies of their forefathers, the body turns into dust, as the Christian Bible says, "Dust thou art."
This body is dust and again turn into dust. And those who are throwing for being eaten by the animals and birds, vultures . . . just like in India you have got the community, Parsee community, they do not burn, neither they bury. They throw, and the vultures immediately comes and eat. Then the body turns into stool. So either it will turn into ashes or into dust or into stool. This beautiful body, which you are soaping so nicely, it will turn into three stages: stool, ashes or dust.
So the finer elements means mind, intelligence and ego. That is altogether it is called consciousness. That will carry you, the spirit soul, small particle of spirit. That will be carried by these three finer elements: mind, intelligence and ego. And according to the . . . just like the flavor, if it is rose flavor, aroma, you enjoy, "Oh, it is very nice." But it is filthy flavor, passing through stool or any other filthy place, oh, you say: "Oh, it is very bad smell."
So this consciousness will carry you either in a stool smell or rose flavor according to your work, as you make your consciousness. So if you make your consciousness, train your consciousness, into Kṛṣṇa, then it will carry you to Kṛṣṇa. This is not very difficult to understand. You cannot see the air, but you can experience by smelling: "Oh, the air is passing through like this." Similarly, these different kinds of body are developed according to the consciousness.
So if you have trained up your consciousness to the yogic principle, then you get a body, similar body. You get good chance, you get good parents, good family, where you'll be allowed to practice this system, and automatically you'll get chance again to revive your same consciousness in which you left your previous body. That is explained here, "by virtue of divine consciousness."
Therefore our present duty is how to make the consciousness divine. That should be our business. If you want divine life, if you want spiritual elevation back to Godhead, back to home—that means eternal life, blissful life full of knowledge—then we have to train ourselves in divine consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That you can very easily do by association. Saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ (BG 2.62).
If you keep divine association, then your consciousness is made divine. And if you keep hellish association, demonic association, then your consciousness is trained up in that way.
So we have to train our consciousness divine. That is the duty of human form of life. If we make our consciousness divine, then we are preparing for next divine life. As there are different grades of life, so human form of life is a chance to make your next life completely divine. Completely divine means eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. So automatically by divine consciousness you try to contact with persons who are developing divine consciousness. So this is explained in this verse.
Go on.
Revatīnandana: "But when the yogī engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress, being washed of all contaminations, then ultimately, after many, many births of practice, he attains the supreme goal."
Prabhupāda: Yes. So it is a question of practice. Just like a child born, he does not know how to smoke, how to drink, but by association he becomes a drunkard, a smoker, intoxication. By association. So it is the question of association only. Saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ (BG 2.62). If the association is good, our career is being spoiled, because we are not keeping good association. So this is explained here, that "But when the yogī engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress."
Just like in business also, there are so many association, corporation, because by becoming member of that corporation, the particular type of business flourishes. They have got exchange. They can make exchange, bill of exchange, stock exchange. So association is so important.
So if we become serious for developing divine consciousness, then this is the only association. We have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Here, simply the method how one can become divine conscious, that is taught. So this is a good chance. We invite everyone to join, and the process is very simple, simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and you'll feel. There is no difficult process.
The children also can take part, and actually they are taking part. We don't require any previous qualification, that you must have passed your master of degree examination or this or that. Whatever you are, you simply come and join this association and you become Kṛṣṇa conscious. This is the advantage of this Society. It is clear. Please try to understand.