You have to change your body. Next body you can get a cat's body or dog's body, a tree's body or a demigod's body or a Brahma's body or a Indra's body, Indian body, American body, serpent body, insect body, bird's body, aquatic, any, any... There is no guarantee.

Your Next Body Determined by Higher Authorities

Who gives the permission?

upadrashtanumanta cha
bharta bhokta maheshvarah
paramatmeti chapy ukto
dehe 'smin purushah parah [Bhagavad-gita 13.23]

Translation: "Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul."

PRABHUPADA: So there are two purushas [enjoyers]. One purusha is already explained. Purushah prakriti-stho hi bhunkte prakriti-jan gunan [Bg. 13.22]. So one purusha, the living entity, atma, and another purusha is Paramatma [the Supreme Lord, residing in the heart of every living entity, also known as Supersoul]. Sometimes the Mayavadi philosophers, they do not distinguish between atma and Paramatma. But here it is distinctly explained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that one purusha is enjoying the fruits of his activities, prakriti-sthah. Being influenced by the quality of the prakriti, material nature, he is taking birth in different types and species of life. And another purusha is there who is upadrashta. Upadrashta means He is overseer. He is simply seeing how the other purusha is working. And according to his karma, work, He is giving the result. He is the witness. If the living entity purusha is working piously, then he is getting a different type of body. Janmaishvarya-shruta-shri [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.26]. A nice body, born in rich man's family or brahmana's family, scholar's family, opulence, beauty, beautiful body, and very good education — these distinctions are there because the paramatma-purusha is observing the activities of the jivatma-purusha. And according to his karma, according to his desire, He is giving a different type of body.

Another place it is said, ishvarah sarva-bhutanam hrid-deshe 'rjuna tishthati [Bg. 18.61]. "That Supreme Personality of Godhead as Paramatma, Antaryami, is situated in everyone's heart." Bhramayan sarva-bhutani yantrarudhani mayaya: [Bg. 18.61] "And He is directing maya [mother nature] to give him a particular type of body, and he is moving with that body." Yantra [machine]. Just like if you get a car, according to the price, you can get car. You can get a Rolls Royce car, Chevrolet car, Cadillac car or a Ford car or Ambassador car or a Jeep. So as you can pay for it, you get a different type of car, and you can travel, similarly, according to your karma, good and bad, you are getting a type of body. There are 8 million 400 thousand species of body. You can get one of them and suffer and enjoy. Tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. You have to change your body. Next body you can get a cat's body or dog's body, a tree's body or a demigod's body or a Brahma's body or a Indra's body, Indian body, American body, serpent body, insect body, bird's body, aquatic, any, any... There is no guarantee. That will be awarded to you according to your karma. Unfortunately, they do not know it. Just like animals. The animals do not know how to get a better body.

ashitim chaturash chaiva
lakshams tañ jiva-jatishu
bhramadbhih purusham prapyam
manushyam janma-paryayat

This is statement in the Padma Purana. Janma-paryayat, by evolution, we come to this human form of body, and in this human form of body, we have got the chance to develop Krishna consciousness. And if we do not do that, then we are losing the opportunity, missing the opportunity.

Next body I shall get according to my karma. But if you become Krishna conscious in this body, in this human form of body, and if you try to understand what is Krishna, then tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9], then after giving up this body, you do not accept another material body. This is Krishna consciousness movement. We are trying to educate men to become Krishna conscious so that he may not have to accept another material body.

So the other body, which is described here, Paramatma... We are atma, and He is Paramatma. We are ishvara; He is Parameshvara. We are not Parameshvara. We are Brahman, He is Parabrahman. This "param" word is used. But sometimes men with little intelligence, they cannot distinguish between Paramatma and atma, Parameshvara and ishvara. Here another word is used, bhokta maheshvarah. We are not bhokta. We are trying to become bhokta, or enjoyer, but we are becoming baffled. It is not possible. We cannot become bhokta. We can become being enjoyed, predominated, not the predominator. Just like one thing is enjoyed and the other is enjoyer. The Supreme Lord, He is the enjoyer. Bhoktaram yajña-tapasam sarva-loka-maheshvaram [Bg. 5.29]. The same word again, maheshvara. Maha ishvara. Maha means great. Ishvara means controller. So we can control a few men, but Maheshvara means He controls all living entities. Nityo nityanam chetanash chetananam (Katha Upanishad 2.2.13). We may be very proud of controlling a factory, a few thousands of workers, but we are not Maheshvara. The Maheshvara is Krishna, Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is in His Paramatma feature, is situated in every body.

So Paramatma, there are two souls. Kshetra-jña. Kshetra-jña. The Arjuna's questions, I think, in this chapter. Kshetra-jñam chapi mam viddhi sarva-kshetreshu bharata [Bg. 13.3]. Krishna says that "I am also kshetra-jña." The body is kshetra, and the soul is kshetra-jña, one who knows about the body. Just like you have got your body, I have got my body. And I know it is my body, you know it is your body. Just like your apartment, your living room. Similarly, there is another partner. That is Krishna, Paramatma. Kshetra-jñam capi mam viddhi. I can take care of my body. I am the owner of this body. But Krishna is the owner of all bodies. Just like the landlord and the tenant — the tenant is the occupier and the landlord is the owner — similarly, I am the occupier of this body, and Krishna, Paramatma, He is the owner of this body. This is knowledge. I am not the owner of this body.

Therefore Krishna's another name is Hrishikesha. Hrishika means the senses. We are claiming, "This is my hand," but this is not my hand. This is Krishna's hand. The same thing. The tenant may occupy the room, but he is not the owner of the room. Owner is different person. Similarly, we may occupy this body or any body, but we are not owner of this body. As soon as we know that "I am not owner of this body, I am the occupier of the body," that is knowledge. We are falsely claiming that "We are owner of the body." We are not owner of the body. I cannot therefore repair anything. If any part of my limb of my body goes wrong, I do not know how to repair it. But Krishna can do it because He is the owner, Hrishikesha. Hrishikesha. Hrishikena hrishikesha-sevanam bhaktir uchyate [Chaitanya-charitamrita Madhya 19.170]. You have to pay to the owner. Similarly, we have to serve Krishna for occupying this body. That is devotion. Yajñarthe karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. Because it is also explained, sarvatah pani-padam tat. Sarvatah pani-padam tat means everywhere the Supreme Lord has got His hands and legs. So what is that? How He has got hands and legs? Your hands, my hands, they are hands of Krishna. Therefore it should be used for Krishna. Just like your hand. We are claiming, "This is my hand." This hand is used for my service. Suppose If you want to eat something, you use your hand for eating, but for other's eating, you don't use your hand. He uses his own hand. This is an example. So all these hands and legs belong to Krishna. It should be used for Krishna. That is called bhakti. Hrishikena hrishikesha-sevanam bhaktir uchyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170].

If you don't use, then that is against the laws of nature. So upadrashta anumanta. Krishna, the Supersoul, is anumanta. Anumanta means without His permission you cannot do anything. You cannot do anything. Because everything belongs to Krishna, how you can use something without permission? So anumanta. And upadrashta. Just like father and son, little child. He wants to do something and wants permission from the father or the mother. And he gives. In our childhood I remember that even for going to the privy I wanted permission of my mother, "Can I go?" That is nature. That is nature. Mother is not restricting me; still, I am asking the permission of mother. "Can I go? Can I go?" I remember it. This is natural. Similarly, we cannot do anything without the permission of the Supersoul within the heart. Sarvasya chaham hridi sannivishto mattah smritir jñanam apohanam cha [Bg. 15.15]. Without permission. Therefore He is anumanta.

So when we do something wrong, how Krishna, as Paramatma, gives permission? This question may be raised. But He gives permission when I do something wrong. Because I cannot do anything without His permission. But He gives me permission as a... Karanam guna-sango 'sya. That is already explained.

purushah prakriti-stho hi
bhunkte prakriti-jan gunan
karanam guna-sango 'sya
sad-asad-janma-yonishu [Bg. 13.22]

He can give you permission, but the enjoyment and suffering will have to be taken by you. You insist permission, "I want to do this." And without permission, you cannot do it. Therefore Krishna gives you permission, "All right, you do it, but at your risk." Krishna does not want that you should do it, but you want to do it. Therefore He gives permission.

He wants sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam [Bg. 18.66]. That is His demand. But your demand is different, that "I shall not surrender, Sir. I want to do this." "All right, you do it at your own risk." But if you follow the instruction of Krishna, then He takes charge of you. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami. So you do papa [sinful activities] or punya [meritorious activities], you enjoy the effect, but when you follow the instruction of Krishna, there is no such papa or punya. It is transcendental. Brahman. That is called Brahman. And above the gunas [modes of material nature — goodness, passion, ignorance]. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate. Mam cha yo 'vyabhicharena bhakti-yogena sevate [Bg. 14.26]. Krishna says, "Anyone who is engaged in rendering service unto Me," bhakti-yogena, sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate, he is not affected by the activities. He is immune from the result of all activities." Many places it is said. Yajñarthe karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9].

If you want to do for your satisfaction, Krishna will give you permission, but you will have to enjoy or suffer the effects. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. It is very simple to understand. So therefore Krishna is called anumanta, "giving permission," "Yes, you can take. You can do it." Anumanta upadrashta.

And so far our activities are concerned... This is also explained in the Upanishads, that there are two birds in this tree body. One is observing and other is enjoying. So the observing bird is the Paramatma, Krishna. He is upadrashta. He is simply seeing your activities, how you are doing, and giving you the effect. And anumanta. Krishna does not want it. What you are doing now, Krishna does not want it. But because you wanted persistently to do it, so He gives permission because without His permission, you cannot do it. This is the conclusion. Upadrashta anumanta, bharta. He is the maintainer. You cannot get anything without His mercy. There may be ample supply of necessities of life by the grace of Krishna, and there may be scarcity.

So they are now complaining about overpopulation. There is no question of overpopulation. Krishna is quite competent, able to maintain everyone. But as you become godless, as you become disobedient to the laws of God, there will be restriction. You cannot have full supply of necessities of life. That time has already come. All these rascals, godless rascals, they are now suffering.

The only remedy is to become devotee. He is bharta. He can maintain many millions. There is no question of overpopulation. He can maintain. Bharta. But nature will not supply. Nature will restrict supply if you become godless. Therefore nature is very strong, strict. Daivi hy esha gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. He'll restrict supply. So in this Kali-yuga people are degrading, and the supply also will be reduced. There will be no supply of milk, there will be no supply of sugar. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There will be no supply of rice, no supply of wheat. Now you can get black market, white market, but time is coming when there will be no supply, completely. You will be forced to eat this beef. Now it is opening, beef shop, big, big beef shop. This time has already come, gradually, and it will be increasing. Unless you take to Krishna consciousness. Kirtanad eva krishnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. Kaler dosha-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah. This Kali-yuga is suffering. So you cannot get comfortable life in this Kali-yuga being godless. Because Kali-yuga means godless. Mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah [SB 1.1.10]. So therefore everyone should take to Krishna consciousness to save himself from the onslaught of Kali-yuga, which will increase day by day.