Bhakti yoga alone transcends material nature; true civilization means Krishna consciousness, not bogus renunciation.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Bhagavad-gītā 2.7 — August 7, 1973, London 730807BG-LONDON [39:37 Minutes] Bg-02.07_730807BG-LONDON Pradyumna: [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvam dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam [Bg. 2.7] [break] [01:16] Translation: "Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition, I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me." Prabhupāda: Hmm.
This is very important verse in Bhagavad-gītā. It is a turning point of life. Kārpaṇya-doṣa. Miserly.
Doṣa means fault When one does not act according to his position, that is fault, and that is called miserly. So everyone has got his natural propensities, svabhāva. Yasya hi svabhāvasya tasyāso duratikramaḥ. Svabhāva, natural propensities.
It is a common example, it is given, that yasya hi yaḥ svabhāvasya tasyāso duratikramaḥ. One..., habit is the second nature. One who has, who is habituated, or one whose nature, characteristic in some way, it is very difficult to change. The example is given: śvā yadi kriyate rājā saḥ kiṁ na so uparhanam.
If you make a dog a king, does it mean that he'll not lick up shoes? Yes, dog's nature is to lick up shoes. So even if you dress him like a king and let him sit down on a throne, still, as soon as he'll see one shoe, he'll jump over and lick it. This is called svabhāva.
Kārpaṇya-doṣa. So in the animal life it is not possible to change one's nature, which is given by the material energy, prakṛti. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni [Bg. 3.27]. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya... Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-sangaḥ asya sad-asad-janma-yoniṣu [Bg. 13.22].
Why? All living entities are part and parcel of God. Therefore originally the characteristic of the living entity is as good as God. Simply it is a question of quantity.