January 2, 1976 : Madras
Satsvarupa: A few gentlemen accompanying us on the walk told Prabhupada how much they appreciated his practical explanations of spiritual life, although they admitted that sometimes they were difficult to accept. One of them commented candidly, "Two and two will always be four. But we people don't agree so far." Prabhupada smiled. "Yes. You want five." They burst out laughing. "We want five, correct"
He told them a short story about a grocer's son who was doing business on his father's behalf. He was giving change of four rupees instead of the correct amount, five. So the customer said, "Why you are giving me four rupees?" The boy pleaded innocence, "No, I do not know what is the exchange." So the customer then said, "No, it is six rupees." To which the anxious boy replied, "No, my father will be angry!" Amidst loud laughing Prabhupada explained, "It means he knows perfectly well what is five rupees, but he is innocent when he was giving four rupees. And when the customer wanted six rupees, 'No, my father will be angry!'"
He used the anecdote to illustrate the mentality of men who want to comment on the Gita and other works without accepting the real meaning, adding distortions to suit their own purpose. "They have created havoc by misinterpreting Bhagavad-gita, all people," he said. "According to their wish, 'Five rupees note means four rupees.' By imagination. They have created havoc all over the world. Otherwise everything is there. If we take Krishna's instruction, then the whole world becomes immediately happy. But they will not take it. They will manufacture their own: two plus two equal to five or three, not exactly four."
He told them a short story about a grocer's son who was doing business on his father's behalf. He was giving change of four rupees instead of the correct amount, five. So the customer said, "Why you are giving me four rupees?" The boy pleaded innocence, "No, I do not know what is the exchange." So the customer then said, "No, it is six rupees." To which the anxious boy replied, "No, my father will be angry!" Amidst loud laughing Prabhupada explained, "It means he knows perfectly well what is five rupees, but he is innocent when he was giving four rupees. And when the customer wanted six rupees, 'No, my father will be angry!'"
He used the anecdote to illustrate the mentality of men who want to comment on the Gita and other works without accepting the real meaning, adding distortions to suit their own purpose. "They have created havoc by misinterpreting Bhagavad-gita, all people," he said. "According to their wish, 'Five rupees note means four rupees.' By imagination. They have created havoc all over the world. Otherwise everything is there. If we take Krishna's instruction, then the whole world becomes immediately happy. But they will not take it. They will manufacture their own: two plus two equal to five or three, not exactly four."
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 1 - Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
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