undara dasa: But if the spirit has great power, and the body has limited power, how is it that this limited power is able to hold onto the great power, to capture it and keep it?
Srila Prabhupada: The material energy is Krsna's energy, and each and every energy of Krsna is as great as Krsna. Therefore Krsna says in Bhagavad- gita:
daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it." (Bg. 7.14)
Syamasundara dasa: In other words, it is sometimes stronger than the spiritual energy?
Srila Prabhupada: When you come in contact with the material energy without a specific purpose, it is stronger. Krsna's representative comes into the material energy in order to preach. Although he is within the material energy, he is not under its control. But if you come in contact with material energy without serving Krsna's purpose, you suffer. For instance, in a jail there are many superintendents and government officials. There are also prisoners. However, their conditions differ. We cannot say that because they are all in jail that they are all suffering in the same way. The superintendent is there because he is serving the government's purpose. Therefore he is not subject to the laws of the jail. When you are in the service of Krsna, you are no longer under the laws of maya. You are liberated.
Syamasundara dasa: So the prisoners who have forgotten their real service have been weakened?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because they have disobeyed and have forgotten their subordinate position. They want to be independent of the state, and therefore they have been put into jail.
Syamasundara dasa: Then for them, the material energy is stronger.Srila Prabhupada:
Yes. It is stronger for them. Those who are conditioned and are serving the material energy cannot escape through their own endeavor. They are dependent on the mercy of Krsna and His representatives.