Acting in Knowledge of Krṣṇa
75
people, and they will think we are fools. If I say to a rich man, “You are not the proprietor. Krṣṇa is the proprietor, so whatever money you have, spend it for Krṣṇa,” he will be angry.
upadeśo hi mūrkhāṇāmi prakopāya na śāntaye
“If you instruct a rascal, he’ll be angry.” Therefore we go as beggars: “My dear sir, you are a very nice man. I am a  san-nyāsī  beggar, so I want to construct a temple. Can you spare some money?” So he will think, “Oh, here is a beggar. Give him some money.” [ They laugh. ] But if I say, “Dear sir, you have millions of dollars at your disposal. That is Krṣṇa’s money. Give it to me. I am Krṣṇa’s servant.” Oh, he’ll . . . [ Everyone laughs. ] He will not be very satisfied. Rather, if I go as a beggar, he will give me something. And if I tell him the truth, he will not give me a farthing. [ They laugh. ] We convince him as beggars. We are not beggars. We are Krṣṇa’s servants. We don’t want anything from anyone. Because we know Krṣṇa will provide everything. 
  BOB:  Oh-h . . .
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  This is knowledge. For instance, a child will sometimes take something important, so we have to flatter him. “Oh, you are so nice. Please take these lozenges and give me that paper. It is nothing; it is paper.” And he will say, “Oh, yes. Take. That’s nice.” Two-paise lozenges—very nice and sweet. So we have to do that. Why? Because a man will go to hell by taking Krṣṇa’s money. So some way or other, take some money from him and engage him in the Krṣṇa consciousness movement.
BOB:  And then he may not go to hell?
ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA:  Yes. You save him from going to hell.