Text 23] Questions by the Sages 81

those who want to utilize this life for self-realization. The people are so
busy with sense gratification that they completely forget about self-
realization. Out of madness they frankly say that there is no need for self-
realization because they do not realize that this brief life is but a moment
on our great journey towards self-realization. The whole system of edu-
cation is geared to sense gratification, and if a learned man thinks it over,
he sees that the children of this age are being intentionally sent to the
slaughterhouses of so-called education. Learned men, therefore, must be
cautious of this dangerous age, and if they at all want to cross over the
dangerous ocean of Kali, they must follow the footsteps of the sages of
Naimisaranya and accept Sri Sita Gosvami or his bona fide representative
as the captain of the ship. The ship is the message of Lord Sri Krsna in the
shape of Bhagavad-gita or the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

TEXT 23

ae aat sat wey Tae |
sai TATA wa: Teal TA RIN

brihi yogesvare krsne
brahmanye dharma-varmani

svam kastham adhunopete
dharmah kam saranarm gatah

brihi—please tell; yoga-igsvare—the Lord of all mystic powers; krsne—
Lord Krsna; brahmanye—the Absolute Truth; dharma—religion; varmani—
protector; sxam—own; kastham—abode; adhuna—nowadays; upete—having
gone away; dharmah—religion; kam—unto whom; saranam—shelter; gatah
—gone.

TRANSLATION

Now that Sri Krsna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic
powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us by whom religious
principles are presently protected.

PURPORT

Essentially religion is the prescribed codes enunciated by the Personality
of Godhead Himself. Whenever there is gross misuse or neglect of the
