Vedic culture does not mean to become a big dog. No. That is not Vedic culture. In the śāstra it is said that śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ (SB 2.3.19). Puruṣaḥ paśuḥ. In this material world, without any spiritual knowledge if one is adored, it is just like the small animals in the jungle is praising the big animal, the lion. The lion is an animal and the small rabbit or other animals, they are also animals. So the rabbits are very much afraid of lion. That is a fact. And they worship the . . . This morning we were discussing one story, how a rabbit entangled one lion and saved his life. So here in this material world, similarly, the small animal may be afraid of the big animal, but the big animal or small animal, they are animals. They are animals. Therefore Bhāgavata says the small animal may eulogize the big animal; that does not mean the big animal is of any importance. He is animal, that's all. Similarly, our position is that we do not go . . . We may not go to the big animal, but we may go to. . . like Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then we will be benefited. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, if we approach Caitanya Mahāprabhu . . . That is caitanya, living, supreme living being.
Therefore our request is that for your enlightenment of life you do not approach a big animal. You approach Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Being. Then you will be benefited. There is no use. And who is animal? Even if he is two-legged, but still, if he remains an animal . . . Who? Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke (SB 10.84.13). One who is thinking of this body as identified with the self, he is animal. Anyone, it doesn't matter. We do not speak of any particular man, but any person who does not know his real identification . . . As Sanātana Gosvāmī inquired, ke āmi. He is . . . He was the prime minister, but still, he did not know what he is.