Text 1] Questions by the Sages 49
undergo severe austerities to acquire knowledge to become one with the
Lord. But ultimately they become dependent on some rich disciple who
supplies them with money to build monasteries and temples. Atheists like
Ravana or Hiranyakasipu had to undergo severe penances before they
could flout the authority of the Lord. But ultimately, they were rendered
helpless and could not save themselves when the Lord appeared before
them as cruel death. This is also the case with the modern atheists who
also dare to flout the authority of the Lord. Such atheists will be dealt
with similarly, for history repeats itself. Whenever men neglect the
authority of the Lord, nature and her laws are there to penalize them. This
is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita in the well-known verse: yada yada hi
dharmasya glanih. “Whenever there is a decline of dharma and a rise of
adharma, O Arjuna, then I incarnate Myself.” (Bg. 4.7)

That the Supreme Lord is all-perfect is confirmed in all Sruti mantras.
It is said in the Sruti mantras that the all-perfect Lord threw a glance over
matter and thus created all living beings. The living beings are parts and
parcels of the Lord, and He impregnates the vast material creation with
seeds of spiritual sparks, and thus the creative energies are set in motion to
enact so many wonderful creations. An atheist may argue that God is no
more expert than a watchmaker, but of course God is greater because He
can create machines in duplicate male and female forms. The male and
female forms of different types of machineries go on producing innumer-
able similar machines without God’s further attention. If a man could
manufacture such a set of machines that could produce other machines
without his attention, then he could approach the intelligence of God.
But that is not possible, for each machine has to be handled individually.
Therefore, no one can create as well as God. Another name for God is
asmaurdha, which means that no one is equal to or greater than Him.
Param satyam, or the Supreme Truth, is He who has no equal or superior.
This is confirmed in the Sruti mantras. It is said that before the creation of
the material universe there existed the Lord only, who is master of every-
one. That Lord instructed Brahma in Vedic knowledge. That Lord has to
be obeyed in all respects. Anyone who wants to get rid of the material
entanglement must surrender unto Him. This is also confirmed in
Bhagavad-gita.

Unless one surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, it is
certain that he will be bewildered. When an intelligent man surrenders
unto the lotus feet of Krsna and knows completely that Krsna is the cause
of all causes, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, then only can such an intelli-
gent man become a mahdatma or great soul. But such a great soul is rarely
