This theory of overpopulation is nonsense. It is also nonsense. There cannot be overpopulation. But there is restriction, by nature. Nature will restrict production of food if there are demons.

Overpopulation a myth

Overpopulation is not the cause of shortages

PRABHUPADA: Nityo nityanam. So every living entity is nitya [eternal], as Krishna is nitya. He is singular number; we are plural number. That is the difference. We are many; Krishna is one. There cannot be many Krishnas. But there are many living entities. So what is the difference between the singular number? That is also stated here: eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. This one singular number is supplying all the necessities of this plural number. Is it not fact? We are very much disturbed over population. That is all nonsense. Krishna is quite able, if there is overpopulation... There cannot be overpopulation, because there are already ananta living entities, what to speaking of overpopulation? It is already there, you cannot count. There is no question of... There is already overpopulation [the living entities are eternal - never born, never annihilated - their numbers do not increase or decrease]. And they can be provided by Krishna. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. Krishna is not limited; He is also unlimited. He can provide unlimited living entities. There is no scarcity of food. So this theory of overpopulation is nonsense. It is also nonsense. There cannot be overpopulation.

But there is restriction, by nature. Nature will restrict production of food if there are demons. Nature will not provide the demons. You'll find in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Fourth Canto, nature is quite prepared to supply all the foods, but as soon as there are number of demons, [nature restricts]—because the whole plan is to correct. Just like the criminals are sent to the prison house for being corrected so that they may not again commit criminals. That is the purpose of the prison house. Similarly, we are all criminals who are in this material world. The purpose is to be corrected. We wanted to imitate Krishna, to become Krishna, and therefore we violated the orders of Krishna, and that criminality means material life.

krishna-bahirmukha haña bhoga vañcha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare (Prema-vivarta)

This is maya [illusion], this material world, maya. This body is false, maya. So we have to accept this body because we wanted to enjoy. So enjoy, you enjoy with this body, particular body. Either human's body, or dog's body, or cat's body, or demigod's body, you get as you desire. You get a material body and enjoy. This is material life.

So Krishna, although you are in the material life, Krishna is providing all necessities of life. Duly, there is seasonal changes. You get seasonal fruits, flowers, grains, and all necessities. You'll be still given chance, especially to the human being, that you get all supplies, necessities. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. All necessities. But again you revive your consciousness, Krishna consciousness. That is the plan. But if you do not revive your Krishna consciousness, if you simply enjoy the senses, then there will be restriction of supply. This is the law. That is the restriction of supply. Therefore, there will be no rain. And if there is no rain, what factory will do, you rascal? You can manufacture scissors and knives and buckets of plastic, but you cannot prepare rice and wheat. That is not possible, sir. That will depend on rain. So immediately rains will be restricted. Now you all chew all these kankar (?). What is this kankar? These stone particles?

DEVOTEE: Pebbles?

PRABHUPADA: What are called these? In Hindi, it is called kankar, Indian.

REVATINANDANA: Pebbles?

PRABHUPADA: Pebbles, big. Small. Sand, sand. Yes. So you can eat that. When there is no rain... That is also eatable. The peacocks, they eat. The pigeons, they eat. Yes, the, they can eat. You have seen? They're eating. So everything is there eatable. So there is no question of overpopulation. Overpopulation is already there, anantyaya kalpate.

Then why do you call overpopulation? When there is already fire, why do you say there will be fire? It is already there. So, but, the restriction, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. That eka, that One, Krishna, He orders. He does not order actually. Just like, not every time the police has to be ordered by the superior authority to punish the criminal. They know how to punish. So the nature knows how to punish these criminals. Therefore, the scientists are finding now shortage of petrol, shortage of this, shortage... What to do? What to do? This is the position. Otherwise, there is no question of overpopulation. The supply is restricted. That is the problem. Eko yo bahunam. Because He supplies all the necessities, the supply will be restricted. As we become more and more sinful and without Krishna consciousness, they will be put into difficulties, they will be dying within the womb, they will be killed, within the womb, there will be war, there will be pestilence, there will be famine, there will be earthquake. In so many ways, we have to die. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. Again, take birth, this business will go on. And ultimately, when the whole universe is annihilated, then again we take shelter in the body of Maha-Vishnu and live for... in that way, without any body, for many millions of years. Again, there is creation, and then again given chance. "All right, take another chance. Be Krishna conscious."

So this is material creation. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. As we have got this body, we have got the chance, now to become Krishna conscious, and if we miss, then I do not know where I am going next life. But I am not going to die, that's a fact. That will be explained in the next verse. I am not going to die. So we existed in the past, we are now existing at present, and we shall continue to exist in the future. This is the position. But how we shall exist? What kind of body, either demigod's body or dog's body or tree's body or fish's body, that will depend on my work. Or we go back to home, back to Godhead, and get the spiritual body like Krishna. Everything is possible. So it is our business to see what kind of body we shall get next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. Actually, if we become Krishna conscious, then after giving up this body, we are no more going to accept any material body. Because spiritual body is already there. That is eternal. The spirit soul, the spiritual body, that is never vanquished. It was existing in the past, it is existing now, and it will continue to exist in the future.