BG 2.13-17, Nov 29, 1968 LA

Madhudviṣa: Prabhupāda, when you say we must be honest in our dealings… If we have an advantage to…, to take advantage of somebody else for Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is this permissible? Like if we have a chance to take advantage of somebody, like, to get money from them, not by stealing but by means. [Prabhupāda chuckles] Is this permissible?

Prabhupāda: Yes, but that is not by your discretion. You have to consult your spiritual master. Just like what Kṛṣṇa says Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, “Yudhiṣṭhira, My dear brother Yudhiṣṭhira, you go and tell,” I mean to say, “Droṇācārya that ‘Your son is dead.’ ” Because this gentleman would not die unless he hears the message of the death of his son. So he was not dying. 

So Yudhiṣṭhira was commissioned to speak this lie, that “You go and say that ‘Your son is dead.’ ” And he says that “I never spoke lie. I cannot do that.” Now here the order is coming from Kṛṣṇa; therefore he should have executed the order immediately. Although speaking lie for common man is sin, but because it is in relationship with Kṛṣṇa, it is not sin. 

So that telling lie should not be taken risk of at one’s own discretion. It must be ordered by Kṛṣṇa or by His representative. Telling lie is always sinful. That’s all right. But if Kṛṣṇa says “Tell lie,” it is not sinful. That is the secret. You can violate the laws only on the direct order of Kṛṣṇa or His representative. That’s all. That is common sense. 

Just like a political person is engaged to kill somebody under superior order. And if he can kill, he is rewarded, he is given high post. But the same man, if he kills by his own discretion, he’ll be hanged. So serving greater purpose, supreme purpose, absolute purpose, there is no question of such piety or sinful. But in the ordinary field, there must be “This is pious, this is sinful.” So that discretion should not be taken by oneself, but it should be consulted.

Jaya-gopāla: If one can engage one who is demonic in service by telling a lie…

Prabhupāda: General principle is that if you can engage anyone in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is good. That is good. That is also said in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta… Yena tena prakāreṇa manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.4]. 

If your aim is to engage him in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, if you do something which is not very straight, that is allowed. [laughter] Because you are doing very good to him. Suppose a man is drunkard. So suppose if you say, “Oh, all right. I’ll give you a very nice bottle of whiskey at cheap price. Give me fifteen dollars.” 

And if you take fifteen dollars and engage it [in] Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that cheating is allowed. [laughter] Because that fifteen dollars he’ll take and drink. So you have by some way taken away that fifteen dollars and engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So that you have done good to him. 

So therefore it requires little intelligence and discretion. [laughter] But that does not mean you shall cheat fifteen dollars from anyone. But there is no cheating, because anyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is a drunkard. He is drunkard, he is illusioned under material spell. You see? You see? The greatest drunkard, everyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious. 

Therefore any way, if you can induce him to spend something of his hard-earned money in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is very good to him. Yes. This is called ajñāta-sukṛti. He does not know, but he is advanced one step to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He does not know. Anybody who is contributing even a farthing to you, he is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is so nice thing. 

Yes.

Young man: I had something come up once. Is it all right to cheat the government?

Prabhupāda: Oh, we don’t care for anyone. You see? [laughter] We are on the supreme government. [laughs] But don’t take the risk. No, that should be not our policy. But the basic principle is that if some way or other you can engage a materialistic person’s money into Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is good for him. It is good for him. You may take some tactics; that doesn’t matter. But not… We cannot take anything for our personal consideration.