Prabhupāda: He (Ravana) is not a devotee of the Lord. So anyone . . . that is our criterion. Anyone who is not a devotee, whatever he may be . . . he may be very, very big or so-called saintly, but according to the description of the śāstras, na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). We shall calculate in that way. As soon as we . . .
Indian man (3): He was devotee of Lord Śiva. Otherwise why Lord Śiva gives him whatever he wants?
Prabhupāda: Lord Śiva is Lord Śiva. He is very powerful demigod. He can give. He has got the power. But in spite of being favored by Lord Śiva, in spite of his becoming the great devotee of Lord Śiva, why he is described as rākṣasa? That is the point. So therefore if I say Rāvaṇa a rākṣasa, according to the śāstra, another devotee may be angry. So what can I do? It is stated in the śāstra, rākṣasa. Similarly, in the śāstra it is stated that na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ: "If one is not surrendered to Kṛṣṇa he is duṣkṛtina, the most sinful; mūḍhā, rascal; naradhāma, lowest of the mankind; māyayā apahṛta-jñāna." These things are there. But if we quote the śāstra that, "This man has not surrendered to the Supreme Lord, therefore he is a rascal," then what is wrong with us? It may be very strong word, but it is stated in the śāstra. Just like about Rāvaṇa, it is stated that he is a rākṣasa. So it may be very insulting and strong word, but this is the statement of the śāstra. And if one quotes from the śāstra, what is wrong on his part?