The atheist class, they do not approach. They say: "Why shall I approach God? I shall create my wealth. By advancement of science I shall be happy." They are duṣkṛtinaḥ, most sinful, one who says like that, that "For my prosperity, I shall depend on my own strength, my own knowledge." They are duṣkṛtinaḥ. But one who thinks that "My prosperity depends on the mercy of God," they're pious. They're pious. Because, after all, without sanction of God, nothing can be achieved. That's a fact. Tāvad tanur idaṁ tanūpekṣitānām. That is also statement of . . . that we have discovered so many counteracting methods for diminishing our distressed condition, but if it is not sanctioned by God, these counteracting proposition will fail.
The example is . . . just like you have discovered nice medicine, very qualified physician. That's all right. But when a man is sick, ask the physician, "Can you guarantee the life of this patient?" He will never say: "No, I can do so." "I cannot do that. I try my best, that's all." That means the sanction is in the hand of God. "I am simply instrument. If God does not like that you should live, then all my medicines, all my scientific knowledge, medical knowledge, will fail." The ultimate sanction is Kṛṣṇa's. That, the foolish person, they do not know. They are . . . they are, therefore, they are called mūḍha, rascals. That whatever you are doing, that is very good, but, ultimately, if it is not sanctioned by God, by Kṛṣṇa, this will be all failure. They do not know that. Therefore they are mūḍhas. And a devotee knows that "Whatever intelligence I have got—I may try to become happy—if Kṛṣṇa does not sanction, I will never be happy." This is the distinction between devotee and nondevotee.