Most Unfortunate Souls
In a world that equates fortune with wealth and status, Śrīla Prabhupāda offers a sobering counter-perspective. He defines the "most unfortunate" souls not as the poor or the downtrodden, but as those who, despite having the human form of life, fail to utilize it for self-realization. Using the Sanskrit term manda-bhāgyāḥ, he diagnoses the spiritual malady of the modern age: a population that is materially advanced but spiritually bankrupt, drifting without purpose and disturbed by constant anxieties.
Symptom of Age
Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the current age, Kali-yuga, as a time of widespread misfortune. He explains that people are generally short-lived, lazy, and misguided. The primary symptom of this "most unfortunate" condition is a lack of interest in the ultimate goal of life. Even in wealthy countries, he observes thousands of men wandering without aim, disturbed by political and social upheavals. This aimlessness is the hallmark of misfortune, as it indicates a waste of the precious human opportunity.
- People in general are short-living and very slow to understand self-realization or spiritual life; they are mostly unfortunate, and therefore if someone is a little bit interested in self-realization he is likely to be misguided by so many frauds.
- Because we are so advanced, there are so many hundreds and thousands of men, there is no fixed purpose of life. Even in your rich country we see such men without any purpose, without any aim of life. So they are called manda-bhagyah, most unfortunate.
- Even people have no idea what he's going to eat tomorrow. Actually, these things are coming. Manda-bhagya, most unfortunate. And upadrutah, always disturbed by many natural disturbances, health disturbances, political disturbances. This is the position.
Distaste for Holy Name
The specific clinical sign of this spiritual misfortune is an aversion to the holy name of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda states simply: "If it is difficult to chant then it should be understood that we are most unfortunate." The process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is described as easy and accessible, yet many find it burdensome. Similarly, the preference for reading volumes of newspapers over the Bhagavad-gītā is cited as the "most unfortunate situation," where the soul chooses temporary information over eternal wisdom.
- Just sit down together, the family members, and chant Hare Krsna. It is very easy. Nobody can say it is very difficult. And if it is difficult to chant then it should be understood that we are most unfortunate.
- The most unfortunate situation is that the karmis will agree to hear a bunch of newspaper which is ten times more in volume than Bhagavad Gita, but if they are requested to read Bhagavad Gita, they will not agree.
- If somehow or other a man misses the spiritual opportunity afforded by his human form of life and falls down again into the evolutionary cycle, he must be considered most unfortunate.
Irony of Perception
There is a fascinating inversion in how fortune is perceived. The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu considered his son Prahlāda to be "most unfortunate" because Prahlāda was not interested in imperial power. Hiraṇyakaśipu thought himself fortunate due to his control over the universe. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out the irony: Hiraṇyakaśipu was the one bound by illusion, while Prahlāda was liberated. This highlights that materialists often pity the devotee, unaware that they themselves are the ones to be pitied.
- Prahlada Maharaja has here (in SB 7.8.12) been addressed by his father as "the most unfortunate." Hiranyakasipu thought himself extremely fortunate because he possessed the property of the universe.
- O most unfortunate Prahlada, you have always described a supreme being other than me, a supreme being who is above everything, who is the controller of everyone, and who is all-pervading. But where is He?
- Sometimes we may think we are very fortunate, just as President Nixon was thinking, "I am very fortunate. I have become the president of the United States." Then he soon realized that he was most unfortunate. Actually this is the situation for everyone.
Humility of Exalted
Interestingly, the term "most unfortunate" is also used by the most exalted devotees to describe themselves. Bhīṣmadeva, Kāliya (after surrender), and even the gopīs sometimes speak of their misfortune. In their case, this is not due to a lack of devotion, but due to extreme humility or the intense pain of separation from Kṛṣṇa. They feel unworthy of the Lord's mercy, a sentiment that actually proves their high qualification.
- Bhisma said, "My dear Krpacarya, just see the wonderful causeless mercy of Lord Krsna! I am most unfortunate. I have no qualifications."
- Kaliya continued, "I did not know Your actual position, and out of ignorance I have committed such horrible offenses. Please save me. I am a most unfortunate, foolish creature. Please be merciful to me."
- Bharata Maharaja considered himself most unfortunate, for due to the animal's absence, there was nothing auspicious for him in the presence of the sun.
Conclusion
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is presented as the cure for this universal misfortune. Śrīla Prabhupāda declares that the mission is to give the "most unfortunate" the chance to become fortunate. By taking to the process of chanting and hearing, anyone—regardless of their past—can reverse their destiny. The only true misfortune is to remain asleep to this opportunity while the clock of life ticks away.
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 Most Unfortunate. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.