Prabhupāda: So this instruction of Ṛṣabhadeva is very, very important (SB 5.5.1). Try to understand. Our this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a protest to the modern way of civilization. The leaders of the modern society, they want that people should be engaged in working like dogs and hogs and asses—they should not understand what is the value of life, what is the object of life. Let them always remain intoxicated and sense gratification, and produce more product for sense enjoyment.
This is modern civilization. All these factories . . . I understand that in this country the farmers are taxed so heavily that they are forced to work in the factory. This is a policy of the government leaders to engage people. If anyone wants to live peacefully, save time for developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then the leaders of the society or the government will not allow him to do so. This is the position.
So you are all fortunate, or you are so kind, that you have joined this movement despite all these obstacles in this country. Not in this; all over the world. So don't be disappointed. Go on preaching this philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There are many innocent people; they do not know what to do. There are four . . . for a preacher, there must be vigilance. A preacher will see four things—God, a devotee of God, innocent person, and envious, jealous person. So a preacher should deal with these four items differently. So far God is concerned, we shall try to increase our love for God. This is one business. How? That is this arcanā-vidhi, to always be cautious, to offer foodstuff, early to rise, offer maṅgala-ārātrika, keep the temple very cleansed, yourself also.
Without being cleansed, without become brāhmaṇa—śaucam, śamo damaḥ śaucam . . . we should always remember. When you come to the temple, don't think that, "Here is a picture of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa." They are not picture. You should know that personally They are present. You'll realize the personal presence by the quality of your devotional service. If your devotional service quality is not first class, then it will take time to realize that here is personally Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or the ācāryas are present here. It is a question of realization. The more you strictly follow the regulative principles, chant sixteen rounds regularly, the more you'll realize.
Because God, Kṛṣṇa, is omnipotent. He can accept your service. He can bless you even from the picture. That is God's potency. If you think that this is just like ordinary picture . . . ye yathā māṁ prapadyante (BG 4.11). You know the story of Sākṣi-gopāla, the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. The atheist, he is thinking that, "Here is a stone statue." And the devotee is thinking that, "Here is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." It is the question of quality of advancement. The story, I may recite, that two brāhmaṇas, one young and one old, went to Vṛndāvana. So the younger brāhmaṇa, young man, he served this old man on the way. It is the duty still, in India, if there is any old man . . . it is now decreasing. And if there is young man, the young man is always ready to help the old man. So at Vṛndāvana, after reaching, the young man and the old man, the old man felt very much obliged . . .
(hammering sound) (aside) Why this sound?
Devotee: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Huh? Felt obliged to the young man, and he said: "My dear boy, you have served me so nicely. Without your help, I could not come. So I have got some obligation to you. I want to reward you."
(aside) Stop that sound.
Hamsaduta: Tell them to stop that noise.
Prabhupāda: So the young man said: "Sir, why you are thinking like that? It is my duty. You are just like my father—whatever service possible, I have given you. There is no question of rewarding me." Actually, that is not service. If we serve somebody and with expectation of some reward, that is not service, that is business.
So the old man said: "No, I feel myself." So he said that, "My youngest daughter I'll give you." So he said: "Sir, don't say like that, because you are rich man, I am poor man." Because in India, still, the father, parents, they arrange for marriage. So they want equal status. If the father of the girl is rich man, then he must find out a son-in-law who is coming also from rich family. If he's educated, he wants a son-in-law who must be educated. So this young man was neither very much educated nor at all rich. But this old man was aristocrat, rich man, and educated—complete different.
So the young man said that, "Why you are promising like this? You do not know you are talking before the Deity. You should not talk like that. Because it will not be possible. Even though you agree, your sons, your wife will not agree. So it will be failure, and you are talking before the Deity. You should be careful." So the old man insisted, "No, maybe they protest, but it is my daughter. I shall give you. Who can protest? I promise." So the young man said: "Now, it is up to you, but you are promising before the Deity. Mind that."
So in this way, when they returned home, one day the old man, before his wife and son, said: "My dear son, my dear wife, this girl should be offered to that young man." He was same village. "What is this? How this daughter can be offered to such poor man? He's not very educated." The old man said: "No, it doesn't matter. I have promised." The boy, his eldest son, said: "No, no, it cannot be." And the wife said that, "If you give my daughter to that boy, then I shall commit suicide." He was perplexed. Now what to do? So he was thinking and praying to Kṛṣṇa, "Sir, I have promised before You. You kindly help me so that they may not commit suicide and I may also offer my daughter to that boy. You have to arrange for that." And Kṛṣṇa has got such contradictory duties. (laughter) He has to protect the thief, as well as the man where theft is done. You see. Because everyone is praying, "Sir, my things may not be stolen." And the thief is also praying, "Please give me some opportunity so that I can steal." (laughter) And Kṛṣṇa has to satisfy both.