Excerpt from lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.1, Delhi, Nov 28, 1975

You can go to the higher planetary system. The higher planetary system begins from the sun. That is another subject matter. But so far we get information from Srimad-Bhagavatam... we were talking about these things, that whether the moon is the first planet or the sun is the first planet. So far we understand from Vedic literature, the moon is the second planet. The sun is the first planet. If we consider like that, then moon is beyond the sun planet. The estimation is there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: 1,600,000 miles above the sun the moon is situated. Now, if we take consideration of the sun planet situated 93,000,000 miles from earth, then add 1,600,000 miles again, it comes to 95,000,000 miles away from the earthly planet. And how you can reach there in four days—95,000,000 miles away? If we apply our common sense, then it appears they have never gone to the moon planet. It is all bogus propaganda. It is not possible.

So shastra-chakshushat: our knowledge should be through the shastra. That is practical. Our process of knowledge is this: we get knowledge from shastra like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedic knowledge. We do not claim to be very big scientists. That is not possible. But we get knowledge from the best scientific man or person, the Personality of Godhead, Krishna, Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, Devala, later on the acharyas—Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Shankaracharya, Chaitanya.

Our process of knowledge is not any speculation: "It may be," "Perhaps." No. We don't accept this knowledge. "It may be," "Perhaps"—these are all foolishness. That means one who has no perfect knowledge, he will say, "It may be," "Perhaps." One who has definite knowledge, why he will say, "It may be"? It must be. That is knowledge. Just like we get knowledge from the shastra, jalaja nava-lakshani: "There are nine hundred thousand species or forms of life in the water." So we have not gone into the water, but we get from the authorities (Padma Purana), and we accept it. So our process of knowledge... You may say that "You have not practically experimented," but what you have experimented? You also hear from others. You believe that they have gone to moon planet. You have not gone. You have heard from somebody in the newspaper, that's all. That is your authority. So if you can believe in the newspaper, then I cannot believe in the shastras?

So it is a different source of knowledge, but one takes one source, another takes another source. Our source of knowledge is Krishna or Krishna's disciples. That is our disciplic succession, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarshayo viduh [Bhagavad-gita 4.2]. This is the source of knowledge, avaroha-pantha, knowledge coming from higher authorities. Just like Rishabhadeva is giving knowledge to His sons. That is natural. Sons take advice from the father. That is the beginning of knowledge. If a little child asks the father, "My dear father, what is this machine?" The father says, "My dear child, this is called microphone." So when the child says, after hearing from the father, that "It is microphone," that is perfect knowledge. The child may be a innocent child. He does not know. He is not a scientist. But when, after hearing from the authority, father, if he says, "It is microphone," that statement is correct. There is no mistake. Similarly, we may be fools and rascals. That's all right. But we receive knowledge from Krishna.

Not possible to overcome Nature's laws

PRABHUPADA: Nature is acting by Krishna's indication. So nature will punish you. As soon as you violate nature's law, you'll be punished, automatically. Suppose if you, you are not hungry, you have no appetite, bit if you by force if you eat, then you'll increase the disease. Because you have violated. There is no appetite, still you are eating. So you must suffer. If you have infected some disease, so you must suffer from that disease. That nature's law is working. Krishna hasn't got to take any direct action. Nature, maya, is there. As soon as you violate the laws of Krishna you'll be punished automatically. You cannot avoid it. Daivi hy esha gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Cannot avoid. Therefore those who are trying to overcome the laws of nature, that is the so-called modern scientists' endeavor. That is foolishness, rascaldom. They cannot do it. It is not possible.

Just like we are here, we are given this planet to live, and there is this moon planet, we can see. And these rascals try to go there so many ways. They were refused, "No, you cannot go." Live there, go. It is practical. We see the moon planet is there, we have got machine, we can go, but [nature refuses] "You cannot go." This is laws of nature. [laughter] This is laws of nature. This is practically proof. But they are so rascal, fool, they are going to another planet. They do not think with the one planet we have already failed [laughter]. They are called punah punash charvita-charvananam [Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.30]—chewing the chewed. They are being baffled every step, and still they are trying to overcome the laws of nature. This is their foolishness. Maya is so strong upon them that their so-called scientific knowledge is useless. In 1958, I wrote in that book Easy Journey to Other Planets that this moon planet is simply childish and waste of time. And actually it has proved.

So I was not a scientist, neither I am a scientist. How did I say? I said on the strength of the version in the Vedic literature that it is not possible. You cannot... We are conditioned. We are conditioned to remain in a certain condition, certain atmosphere. We cannot surpass that. Just like we are animals of the land. We cannot go to the water. And the aquatics, fishes, they are animals of the water, they cannot live on the land. Why these rascals are trying to overcome the laws of nature? How foolish rascals they are, just imagine. Any child can understand, but these rascals cannot understand. Their challenge is that "We are trying to overcome the laws." Is it not? That is their challenge. Therefore they are rascals. They are attempting in something which they cannot perform. Therefore they are rascals. Mudha [fools]. So better to take to Krishna consciousness. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam—that will make your live successful. Why should you imitate these rascals? Hmm? What is your saying, what do you think? We say they are rascals, what do you think?

YOGESVARA: They are all rascals.

PRABHUPADA: That's right. [laughter] Anyone protest against this? [laughter] He'll be another rascal. Don't try to overcome the laws of nature. That is not possible. You have been given this land, this planet. Live here. Grow your food, chant Hare Krishna and live peacefully. Why should we go to the moon planet? [laughter]

But there is process. If you want to go, there is process. Not this that by force I can go there by machine. That is not possible, that is not possible. That is foolishness. Just like I am Indian. If I want to come to France, I must take visa, I must have the passport and so on, so on. By force, I want to enter, no. So we have got experience that by force we cannot do anything. You must be competent to go anywhere, provided you qualify yourself. Yanti deva-vrata devan pitrin yanti pitri-vratah [Bg. 9.25]. You can go, but not in that way, that because you have got a tiny machine you can go. That is not possible. That is useless. It is not possible.