In a lecture on Govardhana Puja, Srila Prabhupada quotes Sanskrit slokas from the Srimad Bhagavatam in which Krishna argues against the sacrifice to satisfy Indra. He said, “Now Krsna is giving reason just like an atheist. Just like an atheist. So sometimes GOD PREACHES ATHEISM [emphasis mine] to deflect worship of demigods, like Indra, to Himself..So, asti isvara kascit: Supposing there is some God..There is some God. Just see GOD IS PREACHING ATHEISM [emphasis mine]. He is God Himself, and He says, Supposing if there is some God. Supposing if there is some God, kascit phala-rupy anya-karmanam, and He gives the result of your work. The karma-mimamsa philosophers, they accept God in this way. Suppose there is God and He is to give us the result. So He is obliged. If we do nice work, He is obliged. So what is the use of flattering God? Let us do our duty nicely. Then He will be obliged. So Krsna is following that argument. Asti ced isvara kascit phala-rupy anya-karmanam, kartaran bhajate so pi: He also worships the worker. The worker has not to worship God. Because God gives you good result out of your good work; therefore, because you are doing good work, therefore God is worshiping you. Just see the argument. He says, kartaram bhajate so pi na hy akartuh prabhur: And one who does not do good work, even God does not like him. So there is no necessity of worshiping this heavenly god or any god, so let us have our duty done nicely. That will fetch us the desired result. kim indreneha bhutanam sva-sva-karmanuvartinam anisenanyatha kartum svabhava-vihitam nrnam So, therefore, there is no… Father, there is no necessity of satisfying this Indra. You are simply wasting your time. You are simply wasting your time.”