Text 10]
Brahmā's Prayers for Creative Energy
345
svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ 
    kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ 
    prahlādo janako bhīṣmo 
    balir vaiyāsakir vayam 
 
    dvādaśaite vijānīmo 
    dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ bhaṭāḥ 
    guhyaṁ viśuddhaṁ durbodhaṁ 
    yaṁ jñātvāmṛtam aśnute (Bhāg. 6.3.19-21)
“The principles of religion are initiated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one else, including the sages and demigods, can manufacture any such principles. Since even great sages and demigods are unauthorized to inaugurate such principles of religion, what to speak of others—the so-called mystics, demons, human beings, Vidyādharas and Cāraṇas living in the lower planets? Twelve personalities—Brahmā, Nārada, Lord Śiva, Kumāra, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Janaka Mahārāja, Bhīṣma, Bali, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Yamarāja—are agents of the Lord authorized to speak and propagate the principles of religion.”
The principles of religion are not open to any ordinary living entity. They are just to bring the human being onto the platform of morality. Nonviolence, etc., are necessary for misguided persons because unless one is moral and nonviolent one cannot understand the principles of religion. It is very difficult to understand what is actually religion even if one is situated in the principles of morality and nonviolence. It is very confidential because as soon as one is conversant with the real principles of religion, he is at once liberated to the eternal life of bliss and knowledge. Therefore, one who is not situated in the principles of devotional service to the Lord should not pose himself as a religious leader of the innocent public. The  Īśopaniṣad  emphatically forbids this nonsense in the following mantra:
andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśanti ye 'sambhūtim upāsate 
    tato bhūya iva te tamo ya u sambhūtyāṁ ratāḥ 
    ( Īśopaniṣad  12)
“A person in ignorance of the principles of religion who therefore does nothing in the matter of religion is far better than a person who misguides others in the name of religion without reference to the factual religious principles of devotional service.” Such so-called leaders of religion are sure to be condemned by Brahmā and other great authorities.