Bhagavad-gita 3.25 Prabhupada: saktah karmany avidvamso yatha kurvanti bharata kuryad vidvams tathasaktas cikirsur loka-sangraham There are two classes of men: vidvan, learned, and the fools, not learned, known as the fool. Human being, they are, of course, very intelligent than the animals. But amongst themselves there are more intelligent, less intelligent. On the whole, they are more intelligent than the animals. So far intelligence is concerned, in the matter of considering eating, sleeping, sex, and defense, that is equal either in the animal or in the human being. It doesn’t require any education. Even the dog knows how to use sex life. It doesn’t require a Freud’s philosophy. But the rascal human society, they are thinking that “Here is a big philosopher. He is writing about sex.” This is going on. Eating, simply eating… Here is land. You work little, get your food grains produced and you can sumptuously eat. But it doesn’t require a scientific slaughterhouse for bringing big, big cows and live in the city at the cost of the lives of the poor animals. This is misuse of intelligence. This is not intelligence. Therefore a devotee who is actually intelligent, they should show the way how our intelligence can be utilized. That is explained here, saktah karmany avidvamsah. Avidvamsah, fools, men with poor fund of knowledge, they have discovered so many lines of activities, simply foolishness. So modern civilization, the so-called advancement of civilization, is, I mean to say, planned by the avidvamsah, men with poor fund of knowledge. They are not advancement of civilization. Therefore they do not believe in the transmigration of the soul. They do not believe, avoid the major issue and they are planning. In this life they will live for fifty or sixty years, making big, big plans, saktah, being materially attached, saktah karmani, and discovering new, new methods of engagement. Avidvamsah. They do not know how to engage one brain and talent. That we have discussed the other day, that pravrttim ca nivrttim ca na vidur asura janah. In which way we have to engage our brain and talent they do not know. That is the difference between a devata and an asura. Asura does not know. Asura thinks that he will live forever and let him prepare big, big plans for material comforts. This is asuric civilization. He’ll not be allowed to stay here. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. It is the place for suffering so that we can understand our position. But these fools, they do not take the suffering into consideration. They are making plans for more suffering. This is foolish civilization. They cannot… The so-called scientists, they are talking in jugglery of words, advancement. And as we were discussing this morning, any intelligent can ask, “So what you have solved? What kind of solution you have made of this problem of birth, death, old age and disease? Have you solved this problem?” That they will not say, “Yes.” “Yes, we are trying after millions of years it may be possible.” That is also… “It may be that we shall live forever.” They say like that. Now, who is going to live for millions of years to see, to confirm your proposal? Everyone will be finished within fifty, sixty years. You will be… You rascal, you also will be finished. And who is going to see your resultant action? So this is going on. Therefore it is the duty of the intelligent person to show the way of living. saktah karmany avidvamso yatha kurvanti bharata kuryad vidvams tathasaktas cikirsur loka-sangraham Just like we are, taken to Krsna consciousness, the plowing or producing foodstuff because our business is that we can go anywhere, ask or begging a half capati or one-fourth capati. In four or five houses we can collect. Especially in India still, they will be glad. If a sannyasi goes to a householder house and asks, “Give me something, a little bit of capati,” they will immediately give. So there is no need of making a big plan of agricultural activities. We have no need, but still, we have to do that. That is, it is said, kuryat: “He must do it.” Kuryat, this word is used that “You must.” I can say that “What is the necessity of my big agricultural program? I can go anywhere, ask a little capati.” No, we have to do it. Why? Kuryad vidvams tatha asaktah. A learned person, they’ll do that, but asakta, no attachment. The karmis, they do… Even nonsense things, they are very much attached to it. But one who is vidvan, he shall do exactly like that, but the difference is no asakti, no attachment. Kuryad vidvams tatha asaktah. Why? Cikirsur loka-sangraham: So that others may follow that “You… Why you are making big, big plan of big, big factories? You take to this process for your economic problem solved.” Krsna advises, krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. This is the agriculture, cow protection, trade. No industry. Krsna never says industry, trade. Trade means… Suppose here we are attempting to grow food stuff. So after eating for ourselves, if there is excess, then we can take this food grains or anything which we have produced to a place where there is need. That is called trade. Trade in exchange also. There is exchange. That is also trade. So that is recommended by Krsna, and because we are Krsna conscious, we must abide by the order of Krsna, krsi-go-raksya-vani… Not for all, but a class of men, they are in the third category. The first category is the brahmana, the man in knowledge. He knows what is the value of life, how life should be directed this way and that way. They know, themselves, and they give guidance to the other who have no such knowledge. Therefore brahmana is the guru of all other classes of men, ksatriyas, vaisyas. Just like our position is brahmana, but we are anasakta. Without any attachment we shall try to give them the direction how one can live very peacefully and save time for Krsna consciousness. That is stated here. Kuryad vidvams tatha asaktas cikirsur loka-sangraham. The idea is how to direct common men to live peacefully and become Krsna conscious. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Hyderabad, December 17, 1976