So Ṛṣabhadeva says: "My dear boys, the sense gratification process after hard work day and night is available in the hog's life. That is not a very important thing. This human form of life is meant for different purpose." And that purpose he explains that, tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattva śuddhyed yasmād brahma-saukhyaṁ tv anantam (SB 5.5.1). "This human form of life is meant for austerity and penance."
You will find in the history of Vedic literature, there were many, many exalted emperors and kings, they also gave to the . . . led to the practice of austerity and penance. Dhruva Mahārāja, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja—they were all kings. They were called rājarṣi. Rājarṣi means although they were king, most opulent, still, they were great sages.
So the same thing is advised, that those persons who have got good opportunity of the spiritual . . . human form of life, with facility for economic welfare, with facility for living very nicely, everything—the opportunity should be used for better life. Ye tapo divyam. Tapasya, austerity, a little penance. Just like our students, they are practicing . . .
(break)
Devotee: Turn it over? That's the end of the tape.
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Devotee: On the other side? (devotees chant japa)
(break)
Prabhupāda: That is also explained, tapo divyaṁ yena śuddhyet sattvam (SB 5.5.1). Sattvam means pure existence. I am existing in this body, this material body, but if you take to this austerity process, it is not very troublesome, at all troublesome. It is pleasure. You can ask our students who are practicing it. They are very much pleased to practice this. So it is not troublesome; it is pleasing.
So tapo divyaṁ yena śuddhyet sattvam. Your existence will be purified. And as soon as your existence is purified . . . the difference between animal life and human life is that human life, existence, is more purified. He has got better consciousness than the animal. Similarly, if you more purify your existence, you (are) gradually elevated to the spiritual existence, which is completely pure life.
So Ṛṣabhadeva advises, "My dear boys, you don't spoil your life simply for sense gratification, but voluntarily accept some austerity and penances so that your existence will be purified. And when you get your purified existence . . . you are seeking after happiness. Whatever happiness you are inclined in this material world, that is only limited. But if you purify your existence and some way or other be promoted to your spiritual existence, then . . ." brahma-saukhyaṁ tv anantam. Brahman. Brahman means the greatest.
As I told you from the Vedānta-sūtra, athāto brahma jijñāsā, so what is the Brahman life, so there is Brahman pleasure also. In the Brahman pleasure there is also dancing, there are young girls, young boys—everything. These are only reflections. Whatever we are finding in this material world—the last evening we explained—that it is that perverted reflection of the spiritual world.
So if you want unlimited happiness, unlimited knowledge and eternal life, you should not spoil your this very nice opportunity simply for sense gratification, but just add to accept this life of austerity to promote yourself to the spiritual life. Then you will get unlimited happiness, unlimited life, unlimited pleasure. That is the sum and substance of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
We have got literature and magazines in this respect, publishing. We have got our Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Nectar of Devotion, Easy Journey to Other Planets. So I request you that this movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, especially in your country, is meant for giving a finishing touch to your present position. Don't take it otherwise. You are all educated students and girls and boys.
I request you, try to understand what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and take it very seriously. You will be happy, and because people of other countries, they are following your progress, so if you take this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement seriously and rightly, the whole face of the world will be changed. It will be turned into spiritual world.
Of course, we do not expect that everyone will accept this philosophy, but even one percent of the population of the whole world accepts this . . . yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas lokas tad anuvartate (BG 3.21). In the Bhagavad-gītā it says that if some principal man accepts some theory and some philosophy, others follow.
So we have got our center here. I request you all student to try to understand this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and purify yourself. And the purificatory process is very simple—we are simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
So my request, my fervent request to you all, that you are very nicely placed. Please try to understand this philosophy. Make your life very happy in this life or in the next life, so that people of the world will be happy by following your example.
Thank you very much.