Prakṛti means to be controlled by the puruṣa. This is to be understood. Prakṛti is never controller. The puruṣa is controller. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām. So jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat (BG 7.5). It is parā-prakṛti, superior energy, because it is trying to control over the material energy. Every one of us, we are trying to control over the material energy. The big stone, big hill, they . . . that is material energy; but the spiritual energy, a human being, is breaking the hill by dynamite. Therefore it is superior energy. It is also energy, but superior energy, because the . . . it can control even the biggest mountain. Nowadays, by scientific advancement, they are making so many tunnel within the big, big mountain. Big, big ocean, they are making tunnel. They are drilling oil. Controlling. Therefore superior energy. But that does not mean they have become God. That is mistake. God is different. God is Kṛṣṇa, the supreme controller. He's controller of the material energy and the superior energy. This should be the conclusion. Jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat (BG 7.5).
And the . . . because . . . that will be explained in the next verse. Because the superior energy is controlling the material energy—or trying to con . . . not controlling, but trying to control. That is called struggle for existence. Actually, we cannot control the material energy, but we are trying. That endeavor, to try to control over this material energy, is called struggle for existence. Actually, we shall not be controller. We shall not be able to control. That is explained. Therefore, in the material world, we are trying to solve one problem, but we are getting new problem. In the Western countries we see it very easily: man manufactured the horseless carriage, motorcar, to go very swiftly, but now it is problem is where to park and how to drive the motorcar. In America I have seen, they are increasing different paths, one after another, one upon another, one after another. Still, the problem is not solved. Still somewhere you'll find bottleneck, so many accidents. So we cannot actually solve the material problems. That is not possible. Material energy is so strong. Sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā (Bs. 5.44). You cannot control over. Because real controller is Kṛṣṇa. We are simply trying to control over the material energy. That will be . . . never be successful. This is knowledge.
Kṛṣṇa says therefore, daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā (BG 7.14). Mama māyā duratyayā: it is very difficult. But without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, forgetting Kṛṣṇa, we are trying to control over the material energy. That is explained by a Vaiṣṇava poet, very simple language:
- kṛṣṇa bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare
- pāśate māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare
- (Prema-vivarta)
As soon as we forget Kṛṣṇa, the supreme controller, and we want to control over the material energy, bhoga vāñchā kare . . . bhoga means control. "I shall control this market. I shall be the head of the market." Everyone is trying that. So kṛṣṇa-bhuliya. He does not know the real controller is Kṛṣṇa. So kṛṣṇa-bhuliya jīva bhoga vāñchā kare. This bhoga vāñchā, on account of this bhoga vāñchā, he becomes subjected to the condition offered by this material nature.