Only topics connected to Krishna consciousness merit a devotee's attention and can deliver genuine spiritual happiness.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.5 — January 2, 1974, Los Angeles 740102SB-LOS ANGELES [47:21 Minutes] SB-01.16.05_740102SB-LOS ANGELES Prabhupāda: Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.
Prabhupāda: [Chants jaya rādhā-mādhava] [prema-dhvani] Hare Kṛṣṇa. Cite. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa. [05:42] Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
[Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, etc.] śaunaka uvāca kasya hetor nijagrāha kaliṁ digvijaye nṛpaḥ nṛdeva-cihna-dhṛk śūdra ko 'sau gāṁ yaḥ padāhanat tat kathyatāṁ mahā-bhāga yadi kṛṣṇa-kathāśrayam [SB 1.16.5] [break] [leads chanting of synonyms] [break] [10:41] Translation: "Śaunaka Ṛṣi inquired: Why did Mahārāja Parīkṣit simply punish him, since he was the lowest of the śūdras, having dressed as a king and harmed a cow with his leg? Please describe all these incidences as they relate to the topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa." Prabhupāda: So here is..., the basic principle is yadi kṛṣṇa-kathāśrayam. Devotees are interested to discuss something if it is helping us how we can become more and more attached to Kṛṣṇa. That is the...
Otherwise, we are not interested in the matter of general principles of morality, social culture, ethics. They are required, but because this material world means it is a contaminated world, infected world, so here in this material world, so-called morality or immorality is the same because it is infected. Just try to understand. If there is an epidemic, infection, so in that condition, first of all what is the necessity?
First thing is to disinfect the epidemic. In the infected area you cannot derive any benefit by discussing morality or immorality. The man is dying out of infection. So to a immediately dying person, who is sure to die due to infection, what is the use of giving him instruction of morality or immorality?
He's going to die. Similarly, in this world they have invented so many things—philanthropism, altruism, nationalism, this "ism," that "ism"—but without Kṛṣṇa. It is the same position. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness he's going to hell, however moral he may be, however pious he may be, so-called. If he does not know Kṛṣṇa, it has no meaning.