980 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 23

There are many fools who claim that worship of Krsna began only about
five thousand years ago, after the appearance of Lord Krsna in India, but
this is not a fact. Prthu Maharaja worshiped Krsna millions of years ago,
for Prthu happened to be a descendant of the family of Maharaja Dhruva,
who reigned for 36,000 years during the Satya-yuga age. Unless his
total life span was 100,000 years, how could Dhruva Maharaja reign
over the world for 36,000 years? The point is that Krsna worship
existed at the beginning of creation and has continued to exist through-
out Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga and Dvapara-yuga, and now it is continuing
in Kali-yuga. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, Krsna not only appears in
this millennium of Brahma’s life, but in every millennium. Therefore
worship of Krsna is conducted in all millenniums. It is not that Krsna
worship began only when Krsna appeared on this planet five thou-
sand years ago. This is a foolish conclusion that is not substantiated by
Vedic literatures.

Also of significance in this verse are the words Griradhayisuh krspam
acarat tapa uttamam. Maharaja Prthu underwent severe types of austerities
for the express purpose of worshiping Krsna. Krsna is so kind, especially in
this age, that He appears in the transcendental vibration of His holy name.
As is said in the Nadrada-pajicaratra, dradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim. If
Krsna is worshiped, if He is the goal of advancement, there is no need for
one to execute severe types of tapasya, because one has already reached his
destination. If, after executing all types of tapasya, one cannot reach Krsna,
all his tapasya has no value, for without Krsna all austerity is simply wasted
labor. Srama eva hi kevalam (Bhag. 1.2.8). We should therefore not be dis-
couraged just because we cannot go to the forest and practice severe austeri-
ties. Our life is so short that we must strictly adhere to the principles laid
down by the Vaisnava a@ca@ryas and peacefully execute Krsna consciousness.
There is no need to become despondent. Narottama dasa Thakura recom-
mends: dnande bala hari, bhaja vrndavana, sri-guru-vaisnava-pade majatya
mana. For a transcendental blissful life, chant the Hare Krsna mantra, come
worship the holy place of Vrndavana, and always engage in the service of
the Lord, of the spiritual master, and of the Vaisnavas. This Krsna con-
sciousness movement is therefore very safe and easy. We have only to exe-
cute the order of the Lord and fully surrender unto Him. We have only to
execute the order of the spiritual master, preach Krsna consciousness and
follow in the path of the Vaisnavas. The spiritual master represents both
Lord Krsna and the Vaisnavas; therefore by following the instructions of
the spiritual master and by chanting Hare Krsna, everything will be all right.
