True understanding of God is exact science requiring sincere practice, not sentimental whimsy or cheap spiritual shortcuts.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.20 — August 23, 1972, Los Angeles 720823SB-LOS ANGELES [45:41 Minutes] SB-01.02.20_720823SB-LOS ANGELES [Govindam prayers playing]
Prabhupāda: [sings Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava] [prema-dhvani] Thank you very much.
Devotees: All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to Śrī Guru and Gauranga. [devotees offer obeisances]
Prabhupāda: Hmm. Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
Text number 20. [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ bhagavat-tattva-vijñānaṁ mukta-saṅgasya jāyate [SB 1.2.20] Prabhupāda: Now ladies. Ladies. [ladies chant] That's all.
Now read the word meaning. Pradyumna: [leads chanting of synonyms] evam—thus; prasanna—enlivened; manasaḥ—of the mind; bhagavat-bhakti—the devotional service of the Lord; yogataḥ—by contact of; bhagavat—regarding the Personality of Godhead; tattva—knowledge; vijñānam—scientific; mukta—liberated; saṅgasya—of the association; jāyate—becomes effective. [12:34] Translation: "Thus established in the mode of goodness, the man rejuvenated by loving service to the Lord gains liberation from material association, mukti, and comes to know scientifically of the Personality of Godhead." Prabhupāda: Hm. So bhagavat-tattva-vijñānam. Vijñāna means science.
It is not concoction, speculation; it is a science. Just like mathematic is a science: "Two plus two equal to four." You cannot make two plus two equal to five according to your whims. No. Anywhere you go, it doesn't matter, because it is science, so either in America or in India or in England, everyone will accept, "Two plus two equal to four." That is science.