Srila Gurudeva: We should never have any doubt in Krsna. During His manifest pastimes, Kamsa and Jarasandha, and also Duryodhana and his party, had so many doubts about Him. They thought He had a bad character: "He was playing with gopis, and even those gopis who were married came to Him—dancing and singing alone in the night. Besides this, He told so many false things to His mother and others." These demoniac persons demanded to know, “Why has He done this?” They criticized Krsna because they had no devotion, and therefore they could not realize Him.
Just as Duryodhana and others could not understand Krsna’s activities, many persons do not understand the activities of Srila Svami Maharaja, who preached all over the world and distributed the holy name. He extended himself to lakhs and lakhs of persons who were drunkards and hippies. They were always with ladies—always, always—and lakhs and lakhs were turned toward bhakti. We should know very clearly that those who misunderstand and find fault with his activities are not devotees. They were never devotees.
Krsna can lift Govardhana and He can take the whole universe in His hand. He can eat poison and He can swallow fire—and He did this many times. He took so much poison when He was in Kaliya-hrada, and then He played with the gopis. If you want to criticize Him for playing with the gopis, then you should also be able to swallow fire. First, we will put some fire in your mouth, and then you should eat some poison. After that, you should lift Giriraja Govardhana. Not Govardhana—only 500 pounds of anything. You should take 5,000 pounds on your head. Then you can play with any lady, and then I will say that you are okay.
Considering all these points we can understand that Prabhupada did not do anything improper. He was sarvajna, and he wanted to do good for all. It was not the fault of Prabhupada; it was the fault of their bad karma of past births and also this birth. We should realize this. We should not have any doubt in Srila Svami Maharaja or any pure devotee; or in Krsna, in Rama, or in anyone like Them. We should try to develop our Krsna consciousness, and then we will realize all these things. We should try to learn a lesson from this. We may think, “Prabhupada did this, and I will also do like him.” Don’t do this; otherwise, you will go to hell. You are not Prabhupada. First, be like Sankara, and then swallow poison. Otherwise, if you are not Siva and you are still taking poison, you will be finished at once—without a single moment’s delay. Do not think you can imitate your Prabhupada. Be very careful. Don’t take all this weight upon yourself. These things are for pure devotees, powerful acaryas, and for Krsna.