Prabhupāda: Through. Nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam (SB 1.2.4). Yes.
Gargamuni: Oh, that's his master.
Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. Naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ. Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning. And vyāsam, and then Vyāsadeva, who is the master of Vedic literature. One after another. This is . . . vyāsaṁ tato jayaṁ udīrayet.
Then he is . . . he was questioned by the audience that "What is the most important religion in this age?" That was their question. "There are many types of religious principle, so what is the best one for this age?" So he is replying that question. Munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo 'haṁ bhavadbhir loka-maṇgalam (SB 1.2.5).
"You have put very nice question, because you have put the question that 'What is the best religion for the people of this age?' " Yat-kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśno yenātmā suprasīdati. "And you have . . . you are very much anxious to understand the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It is very nice. By this discussion everyone will become actually peaceful and satisfied."
So the answer, "What is the best religious principle?" he is answering. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje (SB 1.2.6)
"My dear brahmins . . ." in that meeting all the audience were great learned sages and brahmins. So he is addressing them. "That is the best form of religion which, performing, one becomes elevated to devotional service of the Lord." Not religious formalities. One has to test by the result. Phalena paricīyate.
You are Christian, I am Hindu, or he is Muhammadan. That's all right. You are very good, I am very good, he is very good. But what is the result of your following religion? Have you attained love of God? Simply I go to church, I go to temple, and I do all kinds of nonsense, I have love . . . no love for God, I have love for my māyā, and I go simply . . ." that is useless.
Religious principle means . . . it doesn't matter whether you are Hindu or Christian or Muslim or anything. It doesn't matter. Just see Bhāgavata. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo (SB 1.2.6). "That sort of religion is nice, best, by which you can develop love of Godhead." It doesn't mention that "This religion is best," "That religion is best." That religion is best which helps someone, the religionist, to develop love of God, Godhead.
Just see. If you put to test all kinds of religion in this formula of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you'll understand which religion is best. You haven't got to ask anybody. Simply by testing how much one has developed love of Godhead, how much one has learned to love Kṛṣṇa, or God. If, following any type of religion, if you get this result, then you have performed your religious principle very nicely. This is the answer.
And what kind of love? Ahaitukī, without any cause. "Oh, I love God because I want something from Him." Generally, as they love God, distress, they want something. "My dear Lord, I am very unhappy. Please help me." That is also good. That is not bad. That is accepted in Bhagavad-gītā. But that is not pure love. Pure love means there is no reason. "Why I am loving Kṛṣṇa? Oh, there is no reason. I love Kṛṣṇa. I want Kṛṣṇa." This is love.
Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu says . . . you have got this translation in my first book, that . . . that Advaita has quoted that śloka in his sermon that, "Whatever You do, You are my Lord. I don't mind whether You put me into distress or You put me into happiness, or if You don't help me in realizing You. It doesn't matter. Still I love You. Whether I am going to hell or heaven, it doesn't matter. But I love You." Just like Cowper said: "England, with all thy fault, I love you." This is love. This is material, crude.