Prabhupāda: Yes, they might.
Bahulāśva: They might.
Prabhupāda: That is also very difficult.
Bahulāśva: I was trying to arrange a meeting between Your Divine Grace and this astronaut, Dr. Mitchell, and also this other famous scientist, Werner von Braun. But they are on the East Coast at this time, so they couldn't come. But they both wrote nice letters that they would like to meet you if they could be in California at the same time.
Revatīnandana: This von Braun is a big rocket scientist from the old days. He designed the V-2 missile in Germany during World War II, and then he designed the American missiles during the space program.
Prabhupāda: What benefit he has done?
Revatīnandana: Well, he's recently said... He retired, and he said now he thinks the only purpose of life is to research about God, to find out about God. He's very famous, so...
Prabhupāda: Just see. That is good. They have finished already science. Now if they do not come to God, then they are finished. They have nothing to say any more. Athāto brahma jijñāsā (Vedanta Sutra 1.1.1). That is Vedānta. Now they have finished all their so-called talent. Now they have to come to brahma-jijñāsā, inquiry about the Supreme. That is their concern now. Now they have cheated public and bluffed them—they are going to this, going to this—but they are all failures. Now they are anxious how to keep their position. That is the problem.
Bahulāśva: They get lots of money for their position, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda: Because if they are not employed by government with big, big salaries, who will care for them, scientists? Hundreds of scientists may wander or walk in the street. Who will recognize him unless he has got money? I have seen in India. So many scientists are loitering in the street without any employment. Who cares for them?
Dharmādhyakṣa: They will have to go on welfare, Prabhupāda, pretty soon.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But a saintly person, even he has no money, people care.
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. (break) ...Paṇḍita says, vidvat tvaṁ ca nṛpatvaṁ ca naiva tulyam kadācana: "A rich man, or a king, and a learned man, learned vidvān, they should not be compared. There is no comparison." Why? Sva-deśe pūjyate rājā: "A rich man or a king may be worshiped in his kingdom," vidvān sarvatra pūjyate, "and if a man is learned, he will be worshiped everywhere." Therefore, he says, "Never compare with rich man with learned man."
Bahulāśva: Therefore it's very important that all the devotees study your books so they become learned.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Anarthopasamaṁ sākṣād (SB 1.7.6). This is the learning only, to keep them saved from this illusory material energy. (break) ...means knowledge, and this Bhāgavatam is the essence cream of Vedas. Nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ idam (SB 1.1.3). Nigama means Vedas, and this is the galitaṁ phalaṁ, ripened fruit of the tree.