Q. I am very unclear and confused. Bhagavan Shri Krishna says that all that is happening is predestined and nothing moves without His sanction. Then He says in BG 4.7 ‘Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself.’

A. Our present material position has been determined by our past activities. This does not mean that we are like programmed robots without any free will. Within our present circumstances, we have some freedom – just as a tethered cow can move in a small circle. Depending on how we choose to act now, in accordance with the Supreme Lord’s laws or against His laws, we can get greater facilities or we can bind ourselves further or we can get totally liberated by fully surrendering to Him.