In the afternoon the king and many local village leaders came for darsana. They discussed the need to educate the people in spiritual values. Prabhupada again brought up the point that growing cash crops such as tobacco was senseless. He informed them that he was prepared to travel to every village to preach Bhagavad-gita, perform kirtana, and distribute prasadam, if they were willing to organize it. The evening program began late but was well attended. From 8:00-9:30 p.m. thousands of people poured into the grounds and enjoyed bhajanas until Prabhupada began his lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.7: “Those who are demonic do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them.”
Once more he spoke in English, his strong, clear voice amplified above the clamor, and Jasomatinandana translated into Gujarati. He explained that one’s birth or upbringing are inconsequential Krishna consciousness is for anyone who wants to take it. “According to varnasrama-dharma, the brahmanas are called suci, means ‘pure.’ But this suci the opposite word is muci. So there is a Bengali Vaishnava poet. He says that suci haya muci haya yadi krishna tyaje/ muci haya suci haya yadi krishna-bhaje.’ The purport is that if somebody takes to Krishna consciousness, even he is born in the family of muci, then he becomes suci. And if a person is born in the brahmana family or kshatriya family but he does not take to Krishna consciousness, then he becomes a muci. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye ‘pi syuh papa-yonayah. Papa-yoni means muci, less than the sudras. If he takes to Krishna consciousness, te ‘pi yanti param gatim, he is also eligible to go back to home, back to Godhead. So even a muci or a papa-yoni born in the low-grade family, if he takes to Krishna consciousness, he becomes a devata. This is also confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam [2.4.18] by Sukadeva Gosvami, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye ‘nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah sudhyanti tasmai prabhavishnave namah. “So it doesn’t matter where we are born. If we take to Krishna consciousness, then he becomes a suci, purified, and he is eligible to go back to home, to back to Godhead.”
Later in the lecture Prabhupada again displayed his determination to challenge the atheistic scientists, whom he described as asuric. “Their main proposal is that there is no creator, God. The modern scientists, philosophers, Western people, they don’t accept that God is the creator of everything. And their theory of creation is the chemical composition. They think that chemical combination is the cause of life. So the asuras’ theory of creation is a chance theory, but we don’t accept. We are preaching against them, writing books against them. We are challenging this atheistic theory of creation. The Krishna consciousness movement is against the asuras. Krishna also comes down to kill the asuras. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca dushkritam. Asuras cannot flourish by their atheistic theory. Unless one comes to Krishna consciousness, he has to be put into the different types of asuric yoni [lower species] to suffer in this material world.” Srila Prabhupada summarized by explaining how easy it is to become Krishna conscious, urging everyone to adopt the universal panacea given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. “To take to this Krishna consciousness is made very easy during this Kali-yuga. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Kalau, in this age, if you take to Krishna consciousness, simply chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna mantra, then you become devata. This is our program. So our only request is to you, that in whatever position you are it doesn’t require to be changed simply take to Krishna consciousness. Chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and gradually you’ll become devata. That is the recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir. ‘Remain in your place but be Krishna conscious.’ It is not difficult at all. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.”
The crowd was clearly impressed. I doubt anyone had ever spoken so directly and forcefully to them, yet they appreciated it. Even though it was very late, most of the audience stayed after Prabhupada left to see a film depicting Krishna consciousness around the world.
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa
