"Again Become a Mouse"

Much Obliged
excerpt from lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.20, Los Angeles, November 30, 1973

Having something not the same as wanting it

Wolf by Degrees A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Whatever we want to enjoy. He has given us full facility within this material world. But because we do not know what is actual enjoyment, therefore the so-called enjoyment is turning to be distressed condition. Just like a child, if he's given full freedom, "All right, my dear child, whatever you like to do." So he cannot stay in one kind of engagement. Sometimes this, sometimes that, sometimes this, sometimes that. He's not happy. But if he follows the instruction of the parents, "My dear child, you do like this, you eat like," then he's happy. If he takes the freedom in his own hand, it is not possible to become happy. more

So this is the instance, that we may be very powerful so long Krishna keeps us powerful. We are not independently powerful, even in the case of Arjuna. We are very much proud of our janmaishvarya-shruta-shrih [SB 1.8.26]. The material world, everyone is very much proud of his birth, riches, education and beauty. Beauty. These four things are obtained as result of pious activities. And as a result of impious activities, the opposite number. Not birth in a very nice family or nation, no wealth, poverty, no education and no beauty. But one should know that these assets, material assets... Just like you American people. You have got nice assets. You are born of a very respectful nation-American nations are still honored all over the world. So that's a good opportunity for you. Janma [birth]. You are born in... Every American is... In comparison to India, every American is rich man, because any ordinary man earns here at least four thousand, five thousand rupees. And in India, even the high-court judge, he cannot earn so. Utmost four thousand. So you should be conscious that by the grace of Krishna, you have got all these things. There is no poverty, there is no scarcity, there is good chance of education, and you are wealthy, beautiful, everything. Janmaishvarya-shruta-shrih. But if you do not become Krishna conscious, if you misuse these assets, then again punar mushiko bhava.

You know the story, punar mushiko bhava? Anyone knows? Punar mushiko bhava means "Again you become a mouse." [laughter]

A mouse came to a saintly person: "Sir, I am very much troubled."

"What is that?"

People generally go to saintly persons for some material profit. That is the nature, animalistic nature. Why you should go to a saintly person for some material benefit? No. You go there to learn what is God. That is real business. Anyway, saintly persons sometimes receive.

"So what do you want?"

Just like Lord Shiva, his devotees are all like that mouse, want something.

"Sir, this cat troubles me very much."

"So what you want?"

"Let me become a cat."

"All right, you become a cat."

So he became a cat. Then after few days, he came back.

"Sir, still I am in trouble."

"What is that?" "The dogs, [laughter] they trouble us very much."

"So what you want?"

"Now I want to become a dog."

"All right, you become."

Then after few days... One after..., there is nature's arrangement. One is weak, one is strong. That is nature's arrangement. So after all, he wanted to become a tiger. So by the grace of the saintly person, he became a tiger. And when he became a tiger, he was staring on the saintly person like, oh... So the saintly person asked him, "You want to eat me?"

"Yes."

"Oh, then you may again become a mouse. [laughter] If by my grace, by my favor, you have become tiger, so I will again condemn you to become a mouse."

So you American people, you have become tiger now, Nixon tiger. But if you don't behave obligely, if you don't feel obliged, if the tiger feels obliged that "By the grace of the saintly person, I have come to the stage of becoming a tiger, I must be very much obliged to him..." But instead of becoming obliged, if you want to eat, then again become a mouse. If the saintly person has got the power to make you from mouse to tiger, then he can convert you again from tiger to mouse. You must always remember this. So by the grace of God, Krishna, you have become so powerful nation, rich, beautiful, educated. By grace of Krishna you have become, but if you forget Krishna, then you are again going to be mouse. Remember that. Nobody will care for you. Just like Englishmen. Englishmen, they established the British Empire, great, powerful, most powerful nation in the world. Now they are not so. Because they misused their power. So you get power, opulence, by the grace of Lord, Krishna. And if you misuse it, then you become again... That is happening. That is the nature's law. Nature's law.