In this material world, every one of us, we come here ignorant, like animals, no knowledge. There are so many varieties of living entities. Gradually, by evolution, we come to the human form of life. When our consciousness is developed, we can understand higher knowledge. And that is called Veda. So Veda does not mean it is meant for the cats and dogs. Veda means knowledge, this knowledge, is meant for the human. Vedic . . . therefore Indian civilization, based on Vedic knowledge, is estimated so high, perfect. Perfect scheme system of human society, based on Vedic civilization. Everything is correctly visioned. The ideas are given by persons who are above material contamination, mukta-puruṣa.
Mukta-puruṣa means one who is not affected by the material incompetency. There are material incompetencies. We commit mistake. We are illusioned. Our senses are imperfect. And sometimes—sometimes, not; always—we want to cheat. These are the defects of material knowledge. And one who is above these material incompetencies, he's called mukta-puruṣa. So one has to become mukta-puruṣa. That is called Vedic knowledge, and that is called Vedānta. Vedānta-sūtra. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. So Vedānta means the . . . the ultimate platform of acquiring knowledge, up to this. So that "up to this" is Kṛṣṇa, that if you talk of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then you talk of all the Vedas. Sarva-śruti-mano-haraḥ (SB 1.10.20). You talk of Vedic knowledge, but if you simply talk of Vedic knowledge, it becomes dry, speculative. But if you talk of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's līlā, Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, then it becomes simultaneously discussion of Vedic knowledge, at the same time very beautiful. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is described here, uttama-śloka. Kṛṣṇa is never described by ordinary verses. Uttama-śloka. Uttama-śloka means . . . uttama means also liberated. Ut. Ut means transcendental, one who has crossed, ud-gata. Ut. Ut means one who has gone the other side. Tama. Tama means this darkness.
This world, this material world . . . just like it is dark now. Therefore the country or the part of the world which is always covered by darkness . . . already there is darkness, and if again that country does not get the facility of sunshine, it is considered that that country is condemned. It is śāstric injunction. Any country which does not get the full facility of sunshine, it is to be considered condemned. I think I remarked this long ago, when I first came, in the television. They asked me in London that, "What is your conception of hell?" And "This is hell, London." Not conception; practically. Always dark, moist, drizzly. No sunshine. Cloudy, misty. Simply big, big building. That's all. So there must be clear sunshine.