138 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

austerities to get control of the government, and when they attain control,
they flourish by giving themselves generous salaries. This also is like the
flourishing of the earth in the rainy season. Actually, one should undergo
severe austerities and penances only to achieve spiritual happiness. In the
Srimad-Bhadgavatam it is recommended that tapasa or penance should be
accepted for realizing the Supreme Lord. By accepting austerity in devo-
tional service, one regains his spiritual life, and as soon as one regains his
spiritual life, he enjoys unlimited spiritual bliss. But if someone undertakes
austerities and penances for some material gain, it is stated in the Bhagavad-
gita that the results are temporary and that they are desired by persons of
less intelligence.

During the rainy season, in the evening, there are many glowworms
visible about the tops of trees, hither and thither, and they glitter just like
lights. But the luminaries of the sky, the stars and the moons, are not
visible. Similarly, in the age of Kali, persons who are atheists or miscreants
become very prominently visible, whereas persons who are actually fol-
lowing the Vedic principles for spiritual emancipation are practically
obscured. This age, Kaliyuga, is compared to the cloudy season of the
living entities. In this age, real knowledge is covered by the influence of
material advancement of civilization. The cheap mental speculators,
atheists and manufacturers of so-called religious principles become promi-
nent like the slowworms, whereas persons strictly following the Vedic
principles or scriptural injunctions become covered by the clouds of this
age. People should learn to take advantage of the actual luminaries of the
sky, the sun, moon, and stars, instead of the slowworm’s light. Actually,
the gslowworm cannot give any light in the darkness of night. As clouds
sometimes clear, even in the rainy season, and sometimes the moon, stars
and sun become visible, so even in this Kaliyuga there are sometimes
advantages. The Vedic movement of Lord Caitanya’s—the distribution of
chanting the Hare Krsna mantra—is heard in this way. People seriously
anxious to find real life should take advantage of this movement instead
of looking toward the light of mental speculators and atheists.

After the first rainfall, when there is a thundering sound in the clouds,
all the frogs begin to croak, like students suddenly engaged in reading their
studies. Students are generally supposed to rise early in the morning. They
do not usually arise of their own accord, however, but only when there is
a bell sounded in the temple or in the cultural institution. By the order of
the spiritual master they immediately rise, and after finishing their morning
duties, they sit down to study the Vedas or chant Vedic mantras. Everyone
is sleeping in the darkness of Kaliyuga, but when there is a great acarya, by
