Text 25] Yamaraja Instructs His Messengers 173

been dulled; madhu-puspitayam—in the flowery Vedic language
describing the results of ritualistic performances; vaitanike—in the
performances mentioned in the Vedas; mahati—very great; karmani—
fruitive activities; yujyamanah—being engaged.

TRANSLATION

Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajiavalkya, Jaimini and other
compilers of the religious scriptures cannot know the secret, con-
fidential religious system of the twelve mahajanas. They cannot
understand the transcendental value of performing devotional ser-
vice or chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Because their minds are
attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas—
especially the Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Rg Veda—their intelli-
gence has become dull. Thus they are busy collecting the
ingredients for ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary
benefits, such as elevation to Svargaloka for material happiness.
They are not attracted to the sankirtana movement; instead, they
are interested in dharma, artha, kama and moksa.

PURPORT

Since one may easily achieve the highest success by chanting the holy
name of the Lord, one may ask why there are so many Vedic ritualistic
ceremonies and why people are attracted to them. This verse answers
that question. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (15.15), vedais ca sarvair
aham eva vedyah: the real purpose of studying the Vedas is to approach
the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. Unfortunately, unintelligent people
bewildered by the grandeur of Vedic yajrias want to see gorgeous
sacrifices performed. They want Vedic mantras chanted and huge
amounts of money spent for such ceremonies. Sometimes we have to ob-
serve the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies to please such unintelligent men.
Recently, when we established a large Krsna-Balarama temple in
Vrndavana, we were obliged to have Vedic ceremonies enacted by
braéhmanas because the inhabitants of Vrndavana, especially the smarta-
braéhmanas, would not accept Europeans and Americans as bona fide
braéhmanas. Thus we had to engage brahmanas to perform costly yajnas.
