An argumentative guest brought the program to a close. "I have one question. Swamiji, you accept Krsna as the Supreme Glory .."
Prabhupada clarified his point. "I do not accept. The whole Vedas accept."
The man stumbled on. "But in our Hindu religion, there are gods and goddesses. There are so many."
"Yes. Yes. That is for material purpose. Those who are after material benefits, they can worship different demigods. That is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita. That is the point. You are reading Bhagavad-gita. You should note all these things. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah yajanti anya-devatah. Those who are bewildered or lost of intelligence, they go to worship other demigods.
"So those who are interested in spiritual salvation, they need not worship other demigods, but those who are interested for material profit, they can worship demigods .. Just to have immediate result of material profit, the Vedas recommend: 'Alright, you worship this demigod, that demigod.' So our concern is that we don't want any material profit. We want Krsna. Therefore we do not require to worship demigods."
The man was determined to argue at all costs. "But why not Visnu?"
"Visnu and Krsna, the same. Visnu and Krsna are the same. Krsna is visnu-tattva."
"Rama and ..."
"Rama also. We worship Rama also. Rama, visnu-tattva."
Finally the man finally got out what he was really trying to say. "Because they are the incarnation of Visnu. The person himself is the reincarnation of Visnu."
Prabhupada was irritated with the man's foolish suggestion. "That is your conclusion! But Krsna said: mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate. So if we believe Bhagavad-gita, then Krsna is the Supreme. That's all."
Prabhupada asked for kirtana and the program came to an end.
----
Back in his room, Prabhupada relaxed, sipping hot milk. His adoring disciples sat peacefully before him. He seemed pleased with the program. "You know," he said with a smile, "I was like a lion." He laughed, and the devotees laughed with him. "I was like a lion with that man. I would not tolerate his nonsense. I am like a lion when I am preaching, and I am like a rose at home."
This endeared him even more to his disciples. They were proud of Srila Prabhupada. His eyes were moist as he glanced affectionately at the various framed ISKCON Press posters that adorned the walls: Lord Brahma coming to steal the cowherd boys; Radha and Krsna in the groves of Vrndavana; King Indra and the surabhi cow; and Gopala Krsna.
Prabhupada looked at the young boys and girls before him. "So, you want to be with Krsna? You can play with Krsna like this." He indicated with his hand the picture of Krsna taking lunch with his cowherd boyfriends. "You can play with Krsna, you can go with Krsna, you can be with Krsna."
Srila Prabhupada had once described such pictures as "windows into the spiritual world". He spoke on, describing Krsna's various pastimes as depicted in the paintings. The devotees knew this was a special time to be with Prabhupada. Remembrance of these rare moments would stay with them and strengthen their resolve to become Krsna conscious. It was clear that Prabhupada was seeing more than they. But one thing was certain: while they were seeing paintings, Srila Prabhupada was personally seeing, face-to-face, the beautiful form of Krsna.
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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hare krsna........