Accept Krishna's direct words as they are, not through the distorting lens of false interpretation and philosophical speculation.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.108–109 — April 15, 1967, New York 670415CC-NEW YORK [27:09 Minutes] Prabhupāda: ...Vedic literature, it is scriptures. It is compiled by the Lord Himself. Religion means the regulation of the Supreme Lord. That's all.
Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam [SB 6.3.19]. [Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great ṛṣis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyādharas and Cāraṇas.] Just like for proper execution of this material world there are certain rules and regulation of the king, of the state, similarly, to execute properly the supreme will of the Supreme Lord there are certain rules and regulation. That is called religion. This is the meaning of religion.
Religion does not mean that "My religion says this," "Your religion says this," "Your religion says this." Religious means whether you are properly executing the will of the Supreme. That's all. This is religion. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam [SB 6.3.19]. The nonsense rascals, they cannot manufacture religion.
Religion cannot... Just like ordinary citizens, they cannot make laws for the state. Suppose if you make a law. Who will care for your law?
Don't take advantage of the innocent people and make your own religion and make a group and try to exploit them. This is all nonsense. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam. Dharma means the regulation of the Supreme. So we have to know.
That is religion. So any religion which is directing to obey the Supreme Lord, that is bona fide. And anything minus, or "Not to Kṛṣṇa but to me," this is a nonsense rascaldom. You see? So before studying Vedānta, we should understand this fact.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu is therefore stressing on this point, that there is no cheating, there is no mistake, there is no illusion, there is no imperfectness. Then we can make progress. If we are doubtful: "Oh, Bhagavad-gītā is spoken by some Kṛṣṇa, somebody. He was learned man, philosopher.