
We often hear elders or parents shouting, “Don’t waste water”. Today, let us see what they really mean and why we should conserve water.
When water from the tap is left unattended, water goes into the drain. This means that, so much quantity of water is no longer consumable by human beings or animals readily. This water is still present in the water cycle but is not ready for consumption. This is what elders mean when they say, “Don’t waste water”, “Use bucket for bath instead of shower” etc.
What does Krishna tell about Water in Bhagavad Gita?
In Bhagavad Gita 7.8, Krishna says,
raso ’ham apsu kaunteya
prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ
praṇavaḥ sarva-vedeṣu
śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu
Translation: O son of Kunti, I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable oṁ in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.
So, whenever we drink water we have to remember that, it is Lord Krishna who is the “taste of water”.
In science, they say that water is “tasteless”. That taste of water which does not belong to 6 tastes that we know of, is Lord Krishna.
Hence, when we see water, we should remember Krishna. This is one of the ways to remember Krishna. And once we know that Krishna is present in water (also, everywhere) we will give water the due respect and will not waste it!
So this is the way we conserve water and other natural resources. By remembering that they are provided by Krishna and that Krishna is present in them, we don’t waste water and other natural resources.
For example, electricity. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that there is no electricity in His abode, Goloka Vrindavan. The light required there, comes from Him only.
Electricity is another resource obtained mostly from water (hydraulic power). At home or office, when we leave a room, we should remember to switch off the fans, lights and a/c of the room. This is the simplest way in which we can conserve these resources.
Food is another such thing which we as human beings tend to waste. When we offer food (sattvik food) to Krishna, it becomes prasadam. We should fill our plate to the extent we can eat and try to finish our food in the plate completely. Krishna talks about food in the mode of goodness, passion and ignorance in detail in Bhagavad Gita.
Use of Solar power should also be increased where possible. Most parts of India receive good sunlight during some months of the year. This energy of the sun is Krishna Himself. This energy can be used for electricity to power lights, run geysers etc.
Let us also understand this sloka further. So, Krishna says that the light of Sun and Moon is coming from Him. The Brahman effulgence is the light of Krishna which provides light to both, Sun and Moon.
He is the syllable “Om” in the Vedic mantras. This indicates that He is present in the Vedic mantras and wherever it is chanted. We must realize that oṁ-kāra is the sound representation of Krishna.
He is sound in ether. He is the talent or ability present in man.
Wherever we see that a person is able to do something we must remember Krishna.
In fact, Krishna explains that all the pancha bhutas (5 basic elements) and false ego, mind and intelligence, totally these 8 are Lord Krishna’s energies. BG 7.4,
bhūmir āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ
khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca
ahaṅkāra itīyaṁ me
bhinnā prakṛtir aṣṭadhā
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego – all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.
In BG 3.14, Krishna explains another cycle involving water:
annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ
Translation: All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties.
Krishna says that Food (and Water) is required by all living beings. This is produced from rains. And rains are produced when sacrifice or yajna is performed.
Ultimately, we have to depend on the production of the field (crop yield) and not on the production of big factories. The field production is due to sufficient rain from the sky, and such rains are controlled by devatas like Indra, sun, moon, etc., and they are all working on behalf of the Lord.
The sacrifice recommended in the age of Kali is Sankirtan Yajna (the congregational chanting of the holy names of Lord Hari).
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Click to read the linked story about water (Radha Kund appearance).