Srila Prabhupada
Śrīla Prabhupāda Audio
Hear the original words of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Just like in the Brahma-saṁhitā, we are giving respect to all the demigods. We are giving respect to Lord Śiva, we are giving respect to Durgā, we are giving respect to Gaṇeśa, we are giving respect to the sun-god. They are very big demigods, Lord Śiva or Durgā, Gaṇeśa and Brahmā and . . .
We don't disrespect. We give respect even to the ant, why not to Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā? They should have their due respect. But that does not mean we consider them as the Supreme Lord. That is the mistake of the karmīs and the impersonalists. No. We know that nobody can be greater than or equal to Kṛṣṇa, or viṣṇu-tattva, Nārāyaṇa.
(690524 - Lecture SB 01.05.08-9 - New Vrindaban, USA)
Śrīla Prabhupāda Audio
Hear the original words of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
If you can love Kṛṣṇa, then you will get pleasure. Otherwise, there is no pleasure. You will be frustrated. This is a fact. If you take it, it is nice. If you don't take it, then that is your misfortune.
So Lord Caitanya taught this love of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore one of His first disciples, Rūpa Gosvāmī, when he first met Lord Caitanya at Prayag, Allahabad, he offered his respects by composing one verse in Sanskrit:
namo mahā-vadānyāya
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ
(CC Madhya 19.53)
He said: "My dear Lord Caitanya, You are the most magnanimous personality in this world, most munificent, charitable. You are giving the most nice thing. What is that? Kṛṣṇa-prema, love of Kṛṣṇa." There are many charitable institution and foundation, they are giving charities to many institution and many function. But here Lord Caitanya's charity, giving free the love of Kṛṣṇa, that was very much appreciated by Rūpa Gosvāmī, and therefore he said, namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te, kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne. And this love of Kṛṣṇa cannot be bestowed by anyone else except Kṛṣṇa Himself.
(661225 - Lecture CC Madhya 20.334–341 - New York)
Śrīla Prabhupāda Audio
Hear the original words of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
So, śrī-kṛṣṇa-śravaṇādhi-prāyeṇa parama-praśna kṛta eṣa tu varīyan (SB 2.1.1). Śukadeva Gosvāmī is congratulating Mahārāja Parīkṣit that, "You have raised the question of Kṛṣṇa, understanding Kṛṣṇa. It is very welcome." Yaḥ praśno 'pi śrotavyAdiṣu paraṁ: "Such kind of question is the topmost question. Topmost question. There is no more better question than this." In other words, when you become inquisitive to understand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then that very questions will elevate you to the highest perfectional stage.
(680620 - Lecture SB 01.04.25 - Montreal)