1. Purport (Full Text)

Men who are bewildered by false ego and the illusory energy of the Lord become atheistic and demoniac. In such a bewildered condition, all their hopes for liberation, their endeavors for fruitive activity, and their culture of knowledge are baffled. The so-called liberation of the impersonalists and the fruitive work of the materialists are useless because of their disobedience to the Supreme Lord. In spite of their high endeavors, they are sure to be defeated because they do not approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are many devotees who assume themselves to be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service but at heart do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, as the Absolute Truth. For them, the fruit of devotional service – going back to Godhead – will never be tasted. Similarly, those who are engaged in fruitive pious activities and who are ultimately hoping to be liberated from this material entanglement will never be successful either, because they deride the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. In other words, persons who mock Kṛṣṇa are to be understood to be demonic or atheistic. As described in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā, such demonic miscreants never surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore their mental speculations to arrive at the Absolute Truth bring them to the false conclusion that the ordinary living entity and Kṛṣṇa are one and the same. With such a false conviction, they think that the body of any human being is now simply covered by material nature and that as soon as one is liberated from this material body there is no difference between God and himself. This attempt to become one with Kṛṣṇa will be baffled because of delusion. Such atheistic and demoniac cultivation of spiritual knowledge is always futile. That is the indication of this verse. For such persons, cultivation of the knowledge in the Vedic literature, like the Vedānta-sūtra and the Upaniṣads, is always baffled.

It is a great offense, therefore, to consider Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be an ordinary man. Those who do so are certainly deluded because they cannot understand the eternal form of Kṛṣṇa. The Bṛhad-viṣṇu-smṛti clearly states:

yo vetti bhautikaṁ dehaṁ
kṛṣṇasya paramātmanaḥ
sa sarvasmād bahiṣ-kāryaḥ
śrauta-smārta-vidhānataḥ
mukhaṁ tasyāvalokyāpi
sa-celaṁ snānam ācaret

“One who considers the body of Kṛṣṇa to be material should be driven out from all rituals and activities of the śruti and the smṛti. And if one by chance sees his face, one should at once take bath in the Ganges to rid himself of infection.” People jeer at Kṛṣṇa because they are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their destiny is certainly to take birth after birth in the species of atheistic and demoniac life. Perpetually, their real knowledge will remain under delusion, and gradually they will regress to the darkest region of creation.

Aim

To show that although Lord Kṛṣṇa appears in a humanlike form, His body is transcendental and full of knowledge and bliss, and only the non-envious can recognize Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

3. Objectives

1. To understand why bewildered persons adopt demonic and atheistic views.
2. To recognize how false ego and illusory energy mislead people away from Krishna.
3. To explain why the efforts for liberation, knowledge, and material prosperity of such persons are all defeated.
4. To understand why disobedience to the Supreme Lord nullifies all human endeavors.
5. To realize that only surrender to Krishna leads to true success and liberation.

Answers to Objectives

1. To understand why bewildered persons adopt demonic and atheistic views.
Such persons are deluded by the false ego and the external energy of the Lord. When one forgets his eternal dependence on Krishna, he begins to think himself independent and powerful. This illusion gives rise to demonic and atheistic philosophies, where people deny the Supreme Lord and rely only on their limited intelligence and material achievements.

2. To recognize how false ego and illusory energy mislead people away from Krishna.
The false ego makes one believe he is the doer, the enjoyer, and the controller. Maya, Krishna’s illusory energy, reinforces this deception by showing temporary material success. As a result, the bewildered soul forgets Krishna’s supremacy and becomes trapped in material pursuits and false philosophies.

3. To explain why the efforts for liberation, knowledge, and material prosperity of such persons are all defeated.
Because these efforts are performed in forgetfulness of Krishna, they lack spiritual foundation. The impersonalists strive for liberation without surrender, the jnanis cultivate knowledge without devotion, and the karmis act for material gain without offering results to Krishna. Hence, all their endeavors end in frustration and defeat.

4. To understand why disobedience to the Supreme Lord nullifies all human endeavors.
Disobedience severs the living entity’s connection with the source of all success—Krishna. When a person refuses to follow the will of the Lord, even his greatest achievements remain temporary and meaningless. True progress comes only through humility and obedience to the Supreme Lord’s direction.

5. To realize that only surrender to Krishna leads to true success and liberation.
Unlike the bewildered souls, devotees act in harmony with Krishna’s will. Their knowledge, work, and spiritual efforts are all centered on pleasing Him. Therefore, their endeavors are perfect and successful, leading to eternal liberation and pure love of God.

Key points

1. Bewilderment arises from false ego and Krishna’s illusory energy.
2. Atheistic and demonic views are symptoms of spiritual ignorance.
3. All efforts for liberation, knowledge, or material success without Krishna fail.
4. Disobedience to the Lord leads to defeat, however grand one’s attempt may be.
5. Only surrender to Krishna brings true success and liberation.

Application in Life

1. See Kṛṣṇa’s form as divine – Understand that His humanlike form is transcendental, not ordinary.
2. Do engage knowledge, work, and resources in Krishna’s service → Then all actions become spiritually perfect.
3. Do avoid pride and atheistic ideas → This keeps the heart pure and connected to the Lord.
4. Do surrender to Krishna through chanting, devotion, and obedience → This ensures success in both material and spiritual life.
5. Do study Bhagavad-gita and follow Prabhupada’s teachings → This removes bewilderment and establishes faith in Krishna.

Simple Takeaway

1. Bewildered by false ego, people become atheistic and fail in all their pursuits.
2. True knowledge and success come only through surrender to Krishna.
3. Without devotion, even the highest efforts end in defeat, but with Krishna, every act becomes perfect.