Text 29] Divinity and Divine Service 125

good learned brahmanas or in the families of rich merchants in order to
execute the unfinished task of Vasudeva realization. If such fortunate
bradhmanas and sons of rich men properly utilize the chance, they can
easily realize Vasudeva by good association with saintly persons. Unfor-
tunately, such preferential persons are captivated again by material wealth
and honor and practically forget the aim of life.

This is also so for the culture of knowledge. According to Bhagavad-gita
there are eighteen items in culturing knowledge. And by such culture of
knowledge one becomes gradually prideless, devoid of vanity, nonviolent,
forbearing, simple, devoted to the great spiritual master and self-controlled.
By culture of knowledge one becomes unattached to hearth and home and
becomes conscious of the miseries due to death, birth, old age and disease.
And all culture of knowledge culminates in devotional service to the
Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. Therefore, Vasudeva is the ultimate aim
in culturing all different branches of knowledge. Culture of knowledge
leading one to the transcendental plane of meeting Vasudeva is real
knowledge. Physical knowledge in its various branches is condemned in the
Bhagavad-gita as ajfidna, or the opposite of real knowledge. The ultimate
aim of physical knowledge is to satisfy the senses, which means prolonga-
tion of the term of material existence and thereby continuance of the
threefold miseries. So prolonging the miserable life of material existence
is nescience. But the same physical knowledge leading to the way of
spiritual understanding helps one to end the miserable life of physical
existence and to begin the life of spiritual existence on the plane of
Vasudeva.

The same applies to all kinds of austerities. Tapasya means voluntary
acceptance of bodily pains to achieve some higher end of life. Ravana and
Hiranyakagipu underwent a severe type of bodily torture to achieve the
end of sense gratification. Sometimes modern politicians also undergo
severe types of austerities to achieve some political end. This is not actually
tapasya. One should accept voluntary bodily inconvenience for the sake of
knowing Vasudeva because that is the way of real austerities. Otherwise all
forms of austerities are classified as modes of passion and ignorance.
Passion and ignorance cannot end the miseries of life. Only the mode of
goodness can mitigate the threefold-miseries of life. Vasudeva and Devaki,
the so-called father and mother of Lord Krsna, underwent penances to get
Vasudeva as their son. Lord Sri Krsna is the father of all living beings
(Bg. 14.4). Therefore He is the original living being of all other living
beings. He is the original eternal enjoyer amongst all other enjoyers.
Therefore no one can be His begetting father, as the ignorant may think.
