Prabhupāda: (japa) (break) ...at least one verse of Bhāgavata, every one of you, and try to understand scrutinizingly, life will be successful. At least one verse.
Bali Mardana: Every day?
Prabhupāda: Every day. Why I am taking so much trouble? Everything enlightened.
Bali Mardana: I was reading yesterday about the talks between Uddhava and Maitreya and Kṛṣṇa, and it described that previously Uddhava was one of the eight Vasus who desired to associate with the Lord.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Bali Mardana: What is exactly the position of the Vasus?
Prabhupāda: Vasus, they are demigods. Before appearance of Kṛṣṇa, some of the exalted demigods were ordered to come and arrange for His arrival. So Uddhava arrived, and many others arrived. They were coming from heavenly planets.
Bali Mardana: Bhīṣmadeva was also one of the Vasus previously.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Aṣṭa-vasu.
Bali Mardana: In Bhīṣmadeva's instructions, while he was dying, one of the questions that he was asked is "Which is more powerful, action or destiny, karma?" He replied that they are both very powerful, but of the two, action was more powerful.
Prabhupāda: Time. Reaction. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa... What is that bird? (tropical—sounding bird in background) Bird, or something else?
Bali Mardana: Bird.
Prabhupāda: That sound? (break) ...our philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness if they actually want to be happy. This is a fact. Not sentimentally, but scientifically, philosophically. Let them... Let the biggest scientists, biggest philosopher, come and understand.