Vaisnavism is not Cowardism

Pradyumna: "Translation: There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very powerful Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these warriors are great chariot fighters."

asmakam tu visista ye
tan nibodha dvijottama
nayaka mama sainyasya
samjnartham tan bravimi te
 [Bg. 1.7]

"Translation: O best of the brahmanas, for your information, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force."

Prabhupada: So formerly, five thousand years ago, the same system, military -- ordinary soldiers, then the captain, then the commander, the commander-in-chief -- as there are gradations in the modern age, the same thing was there. But maha-ratha, they had good qualification. Maha-ratha means alone he could fight with many other charioteers. They are called ati-ratha, maha-ratha. There are different grades of fighters.

So, so far Pandavas are concerned, their son. Saubhadra... Saubhadra means Abhimanyu, Subhadra's son. Because he was Subhadra's son, his name was Saubhadra. Draupadi's sons, they are called Draupadeya. In Sanskrit, just like bhagini, sister, bhagini, her son is called bhagineya, nephews. So there is link. As soon as we speak Saubhadra, that means Subhadra's son.

Subhadra's son, he was only sixteen years old at that time. He was married with Uttara, the daughter of Maharaja Virata. So they were all maha-rathas, ordinary, not ordinary fighters. This Abhimanyu was killed by conspiracy by seven commander-in-chief. Bhisma, Karna, Dronacarya, Asvatthama, they all surrounded him, and they did not allow him to come out. They were very experienced commanders. So this is ksatriya spirit. He was simply a boy, sixteen years old and he had to be killed by the combined efforts of very, very, big commander-in-chiefs. He was so great fighter, Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu-vada (?). So Saubhadra, Draupadi... Similarly, Draupadi's sons also there. Sarva eva maha-rathah. Maha-ratha means one who could fight with one thousand chariots on the other side. They were called maha-rathah.

Then Duryodhana, first of all he pointed out the military strength of the opposite side. This is intelligence. One should take calculation of the opposing elements or the enemy's side. In fighting the first thing is to take estimation of the enemy's side, how much they are strong, how they have arranged. Then one should calculate how to counteract, how to fight with them, this is intelligence. Without taking any calculation of the other side, if you are not prepared, then how you can become victorious? This is sane proposal, that is, upayan cintayet prajno apayan ca cintayet.. A prajna, an intelligent man, not only think of the bright side on this business, or this fight, or this any..., so many things we have to deal with. Simply we should not calculate the brighter side. There is darker side also.

We should always think, "If there is some thief, if there is some rogue, they cheat us, then what precaution I am going to take?" This is intelligence. If I simply calculate that "In this business I will make so much profit." In the meantime, somebody comes and cheats me and go away, then... Therefore upayan cintayet prajna apayan ca cintayet. Darker side also should be thought of. That is intelligence. Just like they are doing. After calculating the darker side -- enemy means darker side -- they can defeat me at any moment. That is darker side.

So after calculating their strength, then Duryodhana is speaking about his own strength, asmakam tu visista ye. Visista, not to speak of the ordinary soldiers. They're visista. Visista means who are specifically to be mentioned, high officers. Asmakam tu visista ye tan nibodha dvijottama. He was in commander-in-chief. For eighteen days there was fight, and one after another, a commander-in-chief was killed. And sixty-four crores of men were killed in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. And the battle was finished within eighteen days, not lingering for some years. No. Fight to the best capacity and finish the business.

So everyone, both the sides, Pandava's side and Kaurava's side, all were killed. This Saubhadra, Draupadeya, everyone was killed. And the other side also. Only the five brothers they remained, and the one grandchild who was in the womb of the mother, he remained. Otherwise everyone was finished within eighteen days. Such a great fight it was. And people from all parts of the world, they joined the Battle of Kuruksetra.

Somebody was criticizing me that "Swamiji, you are introducing this Hare Krsna movement. People are becoming coward. They simply chant Hare Krsna." So I replied that "You will see the power of Hare Krsna movement in due course of time." He required... Because there were two battles in India: the battle between Ravana and Rama, Rama-Ravana, the battle of Ramayana; and another battle was Battle of Kuruksetra. And in these two battles the hero was Vaisnava and Visnu. In the Rama-Ravana battle Lord Ramacandra was there and His devotee Hanuman, Vajrangaji. Similarly, in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Krsna was there and His devotee Arjuna was there. So Vaisnavas, they do not simply chant Hare Krsna. If there is need, they can fight under the guidance of Visnu and become victorious. A Vaisnava's one qualification is... Out of the twenty-six qualifications, one qualification is daksa, expert. If there is need of fighting, they can fight like very expert. That is also needed. Krsna consciousness does not mean one-sided.

Krsna as all-pervading, the Krsna consciousness movement also should be all-pervading. It should touch everything, even politics, sociology, everything, if required. That is the aim. Because Krsna's mission is: yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg. 4.7], paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. There is two mission: not only to give protection to the devotees, but also to kill the demons. To kill the demons, that is one side. So the devotees of Krsna should be trained up both ways: not only to give protection to the devotees, to give them encouragement, but if need be, they should be prepared to kill the demons.

That is Vaisnavism. It is not cowardism. It is not cowardism. When need be. Generally, a Vaisnava is non-violent. Just like Arjuna. In the beginning he was non-violent, Vaisnava. He said, "Krsna, what is the use of this fighting? Let them enjoy." So by nature he was non-violent, but he was induced by Krsna to become violent, that "Your non-violence will not help. You become violent. You kill them. I want." So if Krsna wants we shall be prepared to become violent also.

And Krsna, that is open secret, that paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. Two business of Krsna, two side. So those who are devotees of Krsna, they should be trained up both ways, they should be prepared. But generally, there is no question of becoming violent, unnecessarily. As the modern politicians, unnecessarily they declare war, a Vaisnava does not do so. No, unnecessarily, there is no need of war.

When it was completely impossible to settle up the things between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, then Krsna said, "All right, then there must be fight." When Duryodhana declined to spare even a portion of land holding the sucyagra, the point of a needle... he refused that "I cannot spare even so much land which can hold the point of a needle." Then the war was declared. There is no question of settlement. Otherwise, Krsna requested that "These five Pandavas, they are ksatriyas. They cannot become merchant or brahmana. Brahmana's profession is pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigrahah. Brahmana can take charity from others.

A sannyasi can take charity from others. Not a ksatriya or a grhastha. No. That is not allowed. "So they are ksatriyas; they cannot take the professions of a brahmana, neither they can take the profession of a mercantile man, business man. They must have some land so that rule over, take taxation. And that is their living means.

So spare only five villages to these five brothers and settle up." But Duryodhana replied, "No, Sir. What to speak of five villages, we cannot spare even so much land which can hold the point of needle." Then the war was declared. So Vaisnava, they are non-violent. But if need be, they can become violent for Krsna's sake. This is the Battle of Kuruksetra. So any more? Or end here? All right, end here. Chant Hare Krsna.

Everything (Even Dictatorship) Can Be Utilized for Krishna

atra sura mahesvasa
bhimarjuna-sama yudhi
yuyudhano viratas ca
drupadas ca maha-rathah
 [Bg. 1.4]

Translation: "Here in this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna; there are also great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada."

Prabhupada: So all these heroes are mentioned not only in this verse, in several other verses also. So people may ask that "By mentioning these great fighters, what spiritual progress we make? Because we are meant for chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra, so by chanting the names of these great fighters, what do we gain?" The question may be raised there. But the thing is that nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe, whenever there is connection with Krishna, which also becomes Krishna.

This is a subtle form of philosophical understanding. Nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe. If there is relationship with Krishna... Therefore the sahajiyas, they do not read Bhagavad-gita. They say, "We have nothing to do with Bhagavad-gita." They jump over to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, Krishna's rasa-lila, as if Krishna is connected with rasa-lila and not with this lila. They make distinction. Krishna's this fighting lila, pastimes, and the rasa-lila pastime, they are all the same because Krishna is the center. Krishna being center, whatever in connection with Krishna is there, that becomes also Krishna. This is the idea.

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

This is the instruction of Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.

So just like we, in propagating Krishna consciousness, we have to deal with money or persons who are not Krishna conscious, outsider. We have to deal with them. But when we go to outsider or when we deal with money, there is relationship with Krishna, Krishna-sambandha. So Rupa Gosvami has distinguished the...

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

Prapancika means material. So prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah. Everything has got connection with Krishna because ultimately everything is Krishna's energy. The material world is also manifestation of Krishna's energy. Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4]. You'll find. Material world means these five elements, gross and subtle. Earth, water, air, fire, sky, these are gross. And mind, intelligence, and ego, these are subtle. These elements, material elements, Krishna say, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These material elements, they are separated, but they are My energy.

They are My energy." The same example. Just like cloud. Cloud is created by the sun. It is sun's energy which creates the cloud. You know. By temperature the sea water is evaporated, forms into gas. That is cloud. So cloud is created by the energy of the sun, but when there is cloud you cannot see the sun. Sun is covered. Similarly, material energy is Krishna's energy. But when you become covered by this material energy, you do not see Krishna. This is the position.

So we have to use our intelligence. That is described by Srila Rupa Gosvami: prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah, mumuksubhih parityagah. Mumuksu, especially the Mayavadis, who are after liberation, to merge into the existence of the Supreme, mumuksu, moksa, they, Mayavada, they say, "Everything is maya." Brahma satyam jagan mithya: "This world is false; only Brahman is reality." But we say that why the jagat, the world should be false if it is coming from the reality? We do not agree with them.

We do not accept that this world is false. No. We can say, "It is temporary manifestation." But it is not false. Why it is false? We are living in this house. If somebody, some rascal, says, "It is false," why false? We are utilizing this house. We are utilizing this microphone. We are utilizing the dictaphone. Why it is false? There is sambandha. There is relationship with Krishna. Anything material, made of earth, water, fire, air, they are Krishna's energies. Therefore there is direct relationship with Krishna. And if Krishna is reality, why His energy should be false? No. We must know how to utilize it.

So similarly, in this battlefield, Krishna is there, and all the living entities... Some of them are soldiers, some of them are commander-in-chiefs, some of them this, that. Or the chariot or the ground -- everything Krishna's energy. So if we remember that everything is manifestation of Krishna's energy, there is no question of materialism. It is all spiritual energy. So nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe. So we have to use them for Krishna. Here all of of them have gathered. This is another Krishna's energy. Krishna appears, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. He wanted to kill all the demons. That is another side of his business. As one side, paritranaya sadhunam, to give protection to the devotees, the other side is to vanquish all the demons. Just like if you want to grow paddy on the field, so first of all you have to destroy all the unwanted weeds. Then you grow the seeds; it will come out nicely.

So these two things are required. Destruction and construction. Both the things are Krishna's activities or different energies. So you cannot accept one thing, giving up the other side. We have to understand that both sides, they are working as different manifestation of Krishna's energy. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. In the Vedas it is said that the Absolute has got multi-energies. So one energy is working in one way, another energy is working in another way. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate, sva-bhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Just like here also, when we do something, we require varieties of energies to make that thing perfect. So everything, Krishna, Krishna's, this material world or spiritual world, everything is working in order, under different energies.

So these, I mean to say, warriors' name-mentioning, we should not neglect. Krishna wanted to gather all the demoniac power in that Battlefield of Kuruksetra and kill them. That was His plan. So there is a plan of Krishna. Nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe. We should not be attached to things as there, but we should try to understand that there is relationship with Krishna. And as soon as there is relationship with Krishna, we shall properly utilize it. That is Krishna consciousness.

As soon as we understand that there is relationship with Krishna, nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe... Everything can be utilized for Krishna. Krishna is not a stereotyped, stagnant block. Krishna is a dynamic force. Therefore everything can be dovetailed in the service of Krishna. Simply one should learn the art under proper guidance how to utilize. Then that will be perfect form of Krishna consciousness. Read next verse.

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

dhrstaketus cekitanah
kasirajas ca viryavan
purujit kuntibhojas ca
saibyas ca nara-pungavah

Translation: "There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya."
Prabhupada: Practically in the Battle of Kuruksetra great personalities, warriors, from all parts of the world they came and joined. Some of them joined with this party and others joined with the other party. So far we have studied... just like Saibya, he belonged to Sibya. So all these personalities, we did not get their full description, it would enhance the pages. But these big personalities, we have got their information. There is a book, The Personalities of Mahabharata. Bhagavad-gita is part of Mahabharata. Mahabharata means greater India. Maha means greater, and bharata means India.

So this whole planet was Bharata-varsa. There was only one flag. The whole planet was being ruled by one king. That is the king of this Hastinapura. The fight is that, that who would be the king, Maharaja Yudhisthira or Duryodhana. But a king... It is not a democratic; it is monarchy. So Krishna is deciding, "No, Duryodhana is unfit. Maharaja Yudhisthira is fit." This is Krishna's desire. Therefore this fight is there. Kuruksetra. Krishna wanted to wipe out all unwanted demons from the face of the world and enthrone Maharaja Yudhisthira because he is the exact representative of Krishna.

So monarchy or dictatorship is welcome. Now the Communists, they want dictatorship. That is welcome, provided that particular dictator is trained like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Not that simply by votes of some rascal population one becomes dictatorship, another rascal comes. Another big rascal comes. Just like in the Communist country the Stalin was their dictator. And in the historical record it is said that he is the greatest criminal in the history of the world. Greatest criminal.

He would not tolerate anyone going against him. As soon as he finds that "This man is going against me," immediately call him, "Now here is poison and here is resignation." Or kill him. "You take poison or I shall kill you." This was his policy. In this way he killed so many enemies. He not only killed the Czar family. So his business was killing. Not that kind of dictatorship wanted. Dictatorship wanted that by his direction the citizens will be so happy that even they will not have any anxiety. Adhayo vyadhayah (?).

We have read the other day in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are three kinds of miserable conditions of life, bhutatma-hetav ah. The cause... They are caused by three principles: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Daiva-bhutatma-hetavah. These are all described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Daiva means controlled by the higher demigods. Just like famine or earthquake. This is not under your control. At any time the earthquake, there may be. There may be famine. There may be pestilence. There may be natural disturbance, flood. This is called daiva, controlled by higher demigods. Just like Indra wanted to overflood Vrndavana being angry upon the residents of the... Krishna saved, Giridhari.

He became Giridhari. So these disturbances are there. Adhyatmika, adhibhautika. But the king or the dictator should be so perfect and he will guide the citizens in such a way that they will not feel all these disturbances. That kind of dictatorship wanted. He will direct in such a way that even this natural adhyatmika, adhibhautika... Adhibhautika means "You are envious of me, I am envious of you." So there is always cold war, struggle. This should be stopped. There should not be unnatural heat or unnatural cold, excessive heat. People will feel in all respects happy.

If that condition can be brought in, like Maharaja Yudhisthira or his forefathers, or even his grandson. After Maharaja Yudhisthira, there was no kingdom of Maharaja Yud..., of the son of Yudhisthira or Arjuna. All died in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. Only one grandson was in the womb of his mother, posthumous child. He was saved only. So up to that point, Maharaja Pariksit, the whole planet was very nicely governed by dictatorship. So we can bring in such dictatorship, provided that dictator is perfectly Krishna conscious. Under his guidance, everything... Because he knows how to conduct kingdom, how to make everyone happy. Nirbandhah Krishna-sambandhe.

So here is another list of fighters. But the real purpose of this battlefield is to bring all the fighters, big fighters of the world, together. And under Krishna's guidance they would be all killed. Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. When Arjuna was declining to fight, Krishna ultimately said, "My dear Arjuna, you fight or not fight, it doesn't matter. These people are not going back home. It is already settled up. You simply become, take the credit that you have fought and killed. It is al... They are already killed. Because that is My plan." Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. They are already killed.

So this battlefield, because Krishna wanted to kill them, and the result was -- you will find in the Bhagavad-gita, they all attained svarupa. Anyone who was killed, who died in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, in the presence of Krishna, they all attained their original, constitutional position, spiritual form. They all went back to home, back to Godhead, everyone. Therefore Krishna is Absolute. Either His killing or His protecting, it is all the same. You don't think that Krishna is killing.

No. If anyone is killed by Krishna, he immediately gets liberation: the liberation for which great great saintly persons, sages, they undergo severe austerities for life after life, simply by being killed, he gets that. So by becoming Krishna's enemy, one gets this benefit. Just think over if you become Krishna's friend, what is the benefit. That is Krishna consciousness. The Mayavadis they are after liberation. So this liberation is granted even to the enemies of Krishna. They are also enemies. The Mayavadis, they are also enemies. Krsne aparadhi. They are offender to Krishna because they do not accept the form of Krishna. Therefore they are offender. So everything studied in relationship with Krishna, that is perfect knowledge, and that is described in the Bhagavad-gita. So it is not that like sahajiyas that we are interested in Krishna's rasa dance, not with this fighting in the Battlefields of Kuruksetra. This is sahajiya-bhava. This is not wanted. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna