Natural Law - The Supervision of the Supreme Lord
The material universe appears to operate through independent, mechanical processes, leading many to believe there is no supreme controller. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that all natural laws are strictly guided by the intelligence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no living entity can escape their jurisdiction without returning to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Supreme Superintendent
Mundane scientists study the mechanics of the universe but remain entirely ignorant of the operator. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that behind every seemingly automatic natural law is the supreme intelligence and direct supervision of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who ensures that the cosmic manifestation operates with perfect punctuality.
- Behind all the jugglery of the natural laws is a great living being, who is a person like the mechanical engineer in the powerhouse. It is by His intelligence that the entire cosmic creation moves in a systematic way.
- It is foolish also to think that natural laws are ultimately powerful. Material nature's law works under the direction of the Lord, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. The Lord says there that natural laws work under His supervision.
- It is only under the superintendence of God that all the natural laws are conducted.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, says in Bhagavad-gita that the natural laws being enacted are correct in all activities because of His superintendence.
The Cycle of Exploitation
The baseline law of the material world is survival of the fittest. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that in the lower species, the absolute rule of nature is that the strong devour the weak; however, observing this brutal exploitation should awaken the intelligent human being to the miseries of material existence.
- Exploitation of the weaker living being by the stronger is the natural law of existence; there is always an attempt to devour the weak in different kingdoms of living beings.
- Just try to understand how this weaker section is serving this stronger section. Jivo jivasya jivanam. One living entity is the food for another living entity, by nature's law. So the conclusion is that we must render service to the strong.
- Even in the animal kingdom there are different kinds of animals, they do not touch meat-eating even. They do not touch. Every . . . every animal has to live by destroying or killing another animal. That is nature's law. Jivo jivasya jivanam.
- As soon as it becomes overburdened, there must be a war, pestilence, famine, epidemic and finish. This is natural. Overburdened. Nature's law.
The Standard for Civilized Humans
While animals are forced by instinct to kill for survival, human beings are endowed with higher intelligence to transcend this violence. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a truly civilized man adheres to the higher codes of natural law by minimizing violence and gratefully accepting only the harmless quota of food allotted by the Lord.
- We are eating every, anything. Any moving animals we can eat - bird, beast, goats, cows, horse, ass, whatever is available. - Yes, you can eat. But that is the natural law for the animals and uncivilized man, not for the civilized man.
- Man should simply take the milk and let the cows live, and thus following nature's law, man will be happy. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha: (ISO 1) one should take whatever God (Krsna) allots to him and thus live comfortably.
- By the law of the Supreme Lord, all living beings, in whatever shape they may be, are the sons of the Lord, and no one has any right to kill another animal, unless it is so ordered by the codes of natural law.
- We have to commit violence; that is a natural law. We should not, however, commit violence extravagantly, but only as much as ordered by the Lord.
Transcending Material Laws
No one can bribe or overpower the stringent laws of material nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that whether one is a prime minister or a street dog, everyone is tightly bound by the laws of death and transmigration; true freedom is found exclusively in reviving one's eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
- Foolish leaders may have some respect from the people at the end of life, but that does not mean that such leaders will be immune to the natural laws under which everyone is tightly bound by the hands and feet.
- In this life you are prime minister, and next life, you are preparing to become a dog, so what is the use of becoming prime minister? You could not save yourself. Nature's law will go on.
- Saner people with some knowledge of natural law will not agree that man can live forever within this material world.
- To stop death, to stop birth, is not possible unless one comes to Krsna consciousness. Unless one does not come to the position of loving Krsna, there's no question of freedom. That is the nature's law. We have forgotten Krsna.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Vedic scriptures thoroughly dismantle the atheistic illusion that the universe operates through blind, purposeless natural laws. Every mechanical function of material nature is meticulously supervised by the supreme intelligence of the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa. While the lower species are tightly bound by the brutal instinct of jīvo jīvasya jīvanam—where the strong devour the weak—civilized human beings are expected to rise above this animalistic exploitation. By adhering to the higher spiritual laws of īśāvāsyam, humanity must learn to live peacefully on the quota allotted by the Lord, strictly avoiding extravagant violence and the unnecessary slaughter of innocent animals. When human society defiantly attempts to exploit the earth and lord it over material nature, the stringent laws of karma react with devastating precision, delivering war, famine, and inevitable death. No amount of worldly prestige or political power can grant immunity from these natural laws. Ultimately, the only way to break free from the punishing cycle of birth and death is to completely surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa, thereby transcending the jurisdiction of material nature and returning to the eternal, spiritual realm.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Natural Law. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.