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The innovative ways in which devotees have been trying to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books during the lockdown.

MARKANDEYA RSI TEMPTED BY CUPID AND HIS FOLLOWERS

Markandeya Rsi, a great devotional mystic, resided in a hermitage on the northern side of the Himalaya Mountains. Observing that the sage was becoming very powerful by performing severe penances and austerities, the demigod Indra became fearful of his growing mystic potency. To ruin the sage’s spiritual practice, Lord Indra sent Cupid, beautiful celestial singers, dancing girls, the season of spring, and a sandalwood-scented breeze from the Malaya Hills, along with greed and intoxication personified. Cupid, the master of many heavenly women, went to Markandeya’s hermitage carrying his bow and arrows. He was followed by groups of Gandharvas playing musical instruments and singing. The women danced before the sage, and the celestial singers sang to the charming accompaniment of drums, cymbals, and vinas.
While greed personified, spring, and the other servants of Indra all tried to agitate Markandeya’s mind, Cupid drew his five-headed arrow and fixed it upon his bow. The Apsara Puñjikasthali made a show of playing with a number of toy balls. Her waist seemed weighed down by her heavy breasts, and the wreath of flowers in her hair became disheveled. As she ran about after the balls, glancing here and there, the belt of her thin garment loosened, and suddenly the wind blew her clothes away. Cupid, thinking he had conquered the sage, then shot his arrow.
But all these attempts to seduce Markandeya Rsi proved futile, just like the useless endeavors of an atheist. In the midst of all these disturbing influences, Markandeya remained fixed in his meditation, defeating Cupid and his associates by burning them with his mystic potency. Though the followers of Lord Indra had impudently attacked the saintly Markandeya , he did not succumb to any influence of false ego. For great souls, such tolerance is not at all surprising.
The mighty King Indra was astonished when he heard of the mystic prowess of the exalted sage Markandeya and saw how Cupid and his associates had become powerless in his presence.

PAINTING BY JADURANI - DEVI DASI (1982)

A similar rasa-līlā was going on. You know that story? Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was magistrate, and one person in Orissa, he declared himself that "I am Viṣṇu," and in the village he was enticing young women and girls to dance at night.

Traverse Beyond the kitchen and the plate, as you cook a delectable meal for the Birthday Boy, Lord Sri Krishna with Radhavallabha Das in 60 minutes.

Join us to learn and hear the lessons Lord Balaram's Appearance and Pastimes can teach us in our own lives. We are delighted to host HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami to celebrate Balaram Jayanti.

Sunday August 2, at 12EST 11CST 9PST on the Children at Home Show by Gopi Gita Schomaker, we invite her sister, Her Grace Gaura Mani Devi, Grammy-nominated kirtaniya and personal mentor to thousands of devotees worldwide. In preparation for Lord Balaram's Appearance Day, they speak about the importance of enhancing relationships between brothers and sisters, and avoiding rivalry with practical tips that can be used immediately.

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The post The Monk’s Podcast 44 with Bhakti Purushottam Maharaj – ISKCON Tribal Care appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Srila Prabhupada

What if there was one simple solution for all your problems? Something so easy that even a child could do it? Something which costs nothing, is available to everyone and ultimately ends all suffering? Well, before you decide to follow the standard dictum that if it sounds too good to be true then it most likely is, ask yourself a couple of questions. Firstly, do you know who you really are? I don’t mean a man, woman, black, white, John, Jill or Javed—no, I’m talking about the real you, beyond your temporary and changeable labels. If you don’t know then how can you make yourself happy? If you are trying to satisfy something that is not you then it’s no surprise that you might be finding it difficult. The spiritual teaching Bhagavad Gita therefore starts with this fundamental spiritual truth—’know thyself’—famously echoed by the Ancient Greek oracle at Delphi. The Gita describes the self as an eternal being quite distinct from its temporal covering. Throughout all bodily changes, growing from a baby to old age, the one unchanging and abiding principle is you, the person within. We are all aware of the continuity of our existence as individuals. We remember our childhood and know that we are still the same person. With a little careful thought we can realise that we are merely observing the changes around us, including those of our own body, but we are not changing.

The next question is how did I end up in this condition of misery, stuck in a body and forced to accept pain and death? And this is where we approach our solution. Ending suffering requires that we find out and negate its original cause. Here again the Gita offers guidance. After establishing that we are undying spiritual beings, it describes how we are parts of a much greater whole, a supreme spirit. Somehow, we have forgotten this truth and think that we are independent, even though we are obliged to accept so many unwanted impositions outside of our control. But, says the Gita, this is not our natural state. This too we can ascertain with just a little thought. Why are we constantly endeavouring for happiness, for peace and tranquillity? Surely that must be our natural condition. Like a fish out of water, which flaps around trying to get back in, we too are striving to return to our natural position of unending joy. The Gita makes it clear that we are not meant to suffer.

We have simply forgotten who we really are. Like a rich man’s son with amnesia who needlessly wanders around in poverty, we are forgetting the great treasure of happiness that is ours by right when we reconnect with the Supreme. How exactly we ended up in this state is perhaps mystifying, but according to the Buddha it is pointless asking that question right now. He said that if you are struck by an arrow the first thing to do is remove it, not run around trying to find out who fired it. First save yourself. Then you can find the answers. In any event, we can see the problem we face. Thinking we are the material body, we rush about in a vain attempt to secure bodily comfort and happiness. This has dire consequences. The Gita explains that as long as we strive for material happiness we remain bound up in the body, obliged to accept material misery. You can’t have one without the other. And here we come to the very crux of the problem. We are pleasure seeking by nature, meant to be always happy, so how can we give up the endeavour to satisfy our bodily senses if it is the only enjoyment we know?

The Gita helps us by pointing out the illusory nature of worldly happiness. As pure spiritual beings we have nothing to do with this material world. We are like persons suffering and enjoying a dream, while all the time lying asleep in bed. Although experiencing feelings in relation to the dream, those experiences are unreal. Similarly, falsely identifying with our material body, we think that bodily experiences are happening to us, but they are not. We are not material beings.

The author C.S.Lewis said that the proof we are not of this world is that nothing in this world can ever satisfy us. This is true. We must always seek newer and newer bodily pleasures. The answer then must be to find that pleasure which does satisfy us, which means it must be spiritual, just like us. Which brings us to our simple solution, reconnecting with the Supreme, who the Gita explains is a person, or in other words, God. As such, he has a name, in fact many, but not like us. Our names are temporary labels that apply only to the body we inhabit. God’s names are eternal, like him, and describe his eternal attributes. For example, he is called Krishna, which means all attractive, that is to say possessing all the qualities that attract us—beauty, power, knowledge, opulence, fame and detachment—in unlimited quantity. Connecting with him means awakening our eternal loving relationship. This is what we have forgotten, and as a result are languishing in material existence, suffering endless misery. We have only to  chant his name and we immediately begin to reconnect with him. This can be done anywhere, at any time, by anyone, even a child. All it requires is the will to do so.

My spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada, said ‘just give it a try’. You’ve tried everything else and are still not satisfied, so see if this works. How long must we keep endeavouring for material success before we realise it’s not making us happy? George Harrison, who became Prabhupada’s student, said ‘I want to be successful, not rich and famous.’ And another star, Jim Carrey, said ‘I think everyone should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of to see that it is not the answer.’ They’re right, dream happiness is not real, and thankfully neither is dream suffering.

So give it a try and see what happens. Sril Prabhupada taught us to chant a mantra comprised of several Sanskrit names of God. It goes like this: ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ You’ve probably seen Prabhupada’s followers chanting it on the streets, so hopefully now you have a better idea why. It’s all about awakening from the dream into a world of unimaginable, everlasting spiritual bliss. What are you waiting for?

Krishna Dharma (for more information please visit https://www.krishnawisdom.com/)

As the appearance of Lord Balarama purpose is to prepare the grounds for auspicious appearance of Lord Krishna, similarly Balarama Jayanthi marks the beginning another exciting festival month that will Sri Balaram Jayanthi Darshan Gallery and Abhisheka at Rajapur As the appearance of Lord Balarama purpose is to prepare the grounds for auspicious appearance of […]

The post Sri Balaram Jayanthi Celebrations appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sandbanks P.P., Ontario

Resembled Balarama

It was dusk and it was rainy. Gyan, our driver, was smooth in his operation behind the wheel. In fact, the day went marvellously well, despite sporadic rain. It began early, at nine a.m., the start of our adventurous day. The most dark, ominous clouds—low hanging—cut off some of those high-rises as we exited Toronto via Scarborough. Freaky.

By the time we reached today’s first destination, Tyendinaga, which is officially Mohawk territory, the skies, though not clear, held off with the downpour. It was there that Gyan safely brought David, Krishna Chandra and I to the home of two sets of twins—two Canadian young men and two young Malaysian women. They are, both sets, identical and hence for me are confusing. Great folks nevertheless.

Unique about their homestead is their sincere effort at a farming initiative. Last year they asked me to plant an apple tree so we made a bit of a ritual by incorporating mantras. Since then they have endeavoured at gardening parsley, coriander, bok choy, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and the list goes on. The place has become bountiful.

One of my reasons for our visit was to offer encouragement to these daring souls for this natural, organic method of life. Secondly, I wanted to offer a break to David and K.C. from their daily routine, although devotional; a change from usual operations. It’s necessary. The whole bunch of us, including Paul from Mexico and Mohammed from Lebanon, took to the water of Sandbanks Provincial Park, luckily, between rain showers.

Then, on our return, going down the Don Valley Parkway, at dusk, with Gyan behind the wheel, a small white Ferrari was in front with red lights on a dark bumper; somehow he resembled Balarama.

May the Source be with you!

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What happened when the chief immigration officer refused to grant a visa to Srila Prabhupada on the basis of him being sick and unable to personally come to the office to submit the request?

Gage Park, Brampton

That Pretty, White Gazebo

The Greater Toronto Area has entered into its third phase of lifting restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. At Gage Park in Brampton, Stephen Philips and I could see how the public there was taking advantage of trees, grass, benches, flowers and the gazebo. I remember that gazebo. At eighteen years of age, a friend, Ron Casier, and I hitchhiked from Chatham, a good 300 kilometres through country roads, for an experience, and reached as far east as this gazebo. We took a nap at the shelter. It’s still in its spot. Memory lane indeed. Our trip included visiting family in the farmland near London. I recall my second cousin, Agatha, seeing us come up her country laneway.

“Who are those hippies?” She pondered, while in some state of fear.

Anyway, I’m back to the same gazebo. It’s pretty and white. Steven and I were waiting for a third person, Savyasachin, to sit down on the grass for a good read of the script, “Rolling the Dice.” We have put the script to the side for about fifteen years but it was worth pulling out of the files, since we are preparing for filming a production sometime over the coming months.

Three central characters are highlighted in this drama. Two brothers, Vidura, who is wise, along with his eldest brother, the blind king, Dhritarastra. Finally there’s the personification of offense in the form of the character, Duryodhana. Krishna plays a minor role as far as presence on the stage is concerned, however, he is like the gazebo of the story—the shelter.

May the source be with you!

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Once when mother earth was overburdened by hundreds of thousands of military phalanxes of various conceited demons dressed like kings, she approached Lord Brahma for relief. Mother earth assumed the form of a cow. Very much distressed, with tears in her eyes, she appeared before Lord Brahma and told him about her misfortune. Thereafter Lord Brahma went with mother earth, Lord Siva, and all the other demigods to the shore of the ocean of milk. There the demigods worshiped Lord Visnu, the master of the universe, the supreme God of all gods, who provides for everyone and diminishes everyone's suffering. With great attention they worshiped Him by reciting the Vedic mantras known as the Purusa-sukta.

With his passport and sponsorship papers, Bhaktivedanta Swami went to Bombay, not to sell books or raise funds for printing; he wanted a ticket for America. Again he tried approaching Sumati Morarji. He showed his sponsorship papers to her secretary, Mr. Choksi, who was impressed and who went to Mrs. Morarji on his behalf. “The Swami from Vrindavana is back,” he told her. “He has published his book on your donation. He has a sponsor, and he wants to go to America. He wants you to send him on a Scindia ship.” Mrs. Morarji said no, the Swamiji was too old to go to the United States and expect to accomplish anything. As Mr. Choksi conveyed to him Mrs. Morarji’s words, Bhaktivedanta Swami listened disapprovingly. She wanted him to stay in India and complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Why go to the States? Finish the job here.

Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in
supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krishna appears, Sri Baladeva
appears as Krishna’s brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger.

In his vaibhava-prakasa feature, Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Balarama. The
Balarama feature is as good as Krishna Himself, the only difference being that
the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. These two
Lords, Krishna and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the
Creator and His Creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and
control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval supreme.

Yogamaya transferred Ananta Sesa (Balarama) from the womb of Devaki to the
womb of Rohini. Seven months later during the most auspicious moment in
Sravana month, Rohini, just like a lioness gave birth to Lord Balarama feeling
all happiness. His complexion was just like a white lotus flower and He looked
like the full moon. His eyes were brilliant like lightning flashes and his
hair was the color of a new cloud yet brilliant like the sun.

Such extraordinary beauty prevailed because He was none other than the Lord
Sankarsana. Astrologers said that He would have long arms and kill
Pralambasura; that He would have a younger brother and kill many other demons.
They said He is Dhenupal, the protector of cows an the killer of Dhenekasura.
The brahmanas under Vasudeva’s order performed the jata karma samskara
ceremony.

Though He was extremely beautiful, everyone was extremely anxious
because He was mute and inactive. No one could get Him to make a sound or
move. Once when Yasoda was pregnant, she picked Him up and carefully placed
Him on her lap next to her heart where Krishna was residing, Balarama
immediately began to laugh and play like a blissful child. But when Yasoda
would set Him down, again he would become inactive. He remained in this
condition until the appearance of His younger brother (Krishna). 

This year, I celebrated Lord Balarama’s appearance celebration at New Govardhan.

By HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj - HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu - HG Sruti Kirti Prabhu.

A recent downpour of rain at the farm has seen the dams fill up and at last our wetlands have returned. The wetlands are the home of many bird species including pelicans, black swans, ducks, ibis and grebe.

The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection. So the cows also should be given full protection. Srila Prabhupada did not make distinctions between Indian cows (Desi) and western cows. Continue reading "Krishna, Cows and Humanity (video)
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Transcription :

The Monks podcast with Braja Bihari Prabhu- How to disagree without being disagreeable

Summary of the podcast @1.34.07:

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu: We discussed about this topic on how to disagree without being disagreeable. You started with your journey of how you started exploring conflict resolution, and then you created structures which are across the world now. Devotees can access these in various ways, i.e. the website. And then we discussed whether devotees have more conflicts or less than others? So, there were some common factors:

1. Information
2. Relationships
3. Structures and values.

But beyond that, it is our own identity. Our investment in our identity that can cause conflicts, especially in religion faith-based organizations like ours. I think that and values were the main part of our remaining discussion. So, it is amazing, you quoted Prabhupada saying that we should appreciate people even who are not devotees and then what to speak of devotees. And that appreciation or that broad-mindedness, it can come if we learn to see others as devotees, not just see them and reduce them to the position that is problematic for us. You also talk about “I” messages, which is more about expressing vulnerability rather than expressing judgment about the other person. If we focus on the fact that we all have the same ultimate purpose, then we can minimize differences.

Sometimes, because we emphasize philosophy, so, we reduce people to philosophical categories, seeing them as multifaceted beings. Prabhupada has given many examples of him being philosophical, by having differences, but being culturally friendly. Then you also made this point that the resolution can be based on three ways:

1. Power- based,
2. Rights- based
3. Interest- based

Most resolutions are power- based. So, when a call for cooperation seems to be like a deference to authority, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if it is operational.

We talked also a little bit about social media and how it can unnecessarily spread negative vibrations. But there is a means by which devotees can express their grievances and have things addressed.

And toward the end, we talked about how we have created space for devotees by provisions like; different devotees can have different outreach centres in the same city. So that means we appreciate each other but we try to have space for ourselves. And in that way, we can have unity in diversity like a like a set of flowers in a flower vase.
So, this was a very illuminating discussion. Any concluding words you want to say?

Braja Bihari Prabhu: “No, but just what you just did summarize is one of the best ways to have a good rapport with other devotees. Because it shows that you were respectful enough to listen. And when you summarize like that, it’s also if you’re having a dialogue or you know debate, it’s great to summarize the other person’s points before you make your own because the person will feel much more ‘Oh yes, he’s understood me’. “

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu: “Okay”.

Braja Bihari Prabhu: So, it’s very good for relationships and also for clear thinking. So, thank you so much for doing that. You did so wonderfully.”

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu:“Thank you so much prabhu, very much Prabhu. wonderful to have you here.”

Braja Bihari Prabhu: “Thank you for having me prabhu, Hare Krishna. All glories to Prabhupada.”

End of transcription.

The post The Monk’s Podcast 43 with Braja Bihari Prabhu – How to disagree without being disagreeable appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Toronto’s Vaisnava Care Team present to you a two-day online seminar!

Come learn the art of caring for devotees faced with: an acute illness, a long-term chronic illness or those in need of end-of-life care. These sessions will be facilitated by none other than Sangita devi dasi whose seminars from some years ago were well attended and appreciated. We were hoping to have an in-person deep-dive on this very important topic but due to the lockdown, we are going to hear from her virtually.

The details for this are as follows- 

Days? Aug 15 and 16 (Sat-Sun) 

Timings? 9:30AM-1:30 PM EDT

Student workbook will be sent to registered participants only. Please RSVP by sending an email to Lalithapriya devi dasi at lalitha_gs@yahoo.com

Sangita devi dasi (Susan Pattinson, RN, Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse) has been a practitioner of the bhakti tradition for close to five decades. In 2000, she co-founded the non-profit organization Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. (Counselling, Assistance, Resource, and Education for the terminally ill and Their Family). She has written seven articles on hospice care that were published in various nursing journals and is the author of the book, “The Final Journey–Complete Hospice Care for Departing Vaishnavas”, a hands-on text on the care of terminally ill loved ones. For fifteen years she has travelled throughout North America and India giving hospice seminars and workshops and is acknowledged as being the international pioneer for end-of-life care in the ISKCON Krishna Consciousness movement.

Take a look at ISKCON Mayapur in 2020. We walk around TOVP and Prabhupada Samadhi

Welcome to another Sacred India Wisdom Tree message from Jagattarini. This week's message is entitled: Memory Boxes

For ten years, we have printed Srila Prabhupada Tributes and sent a free copy to each devotee who wrote for it. But this year, the pandemic that struck made us uncertain about whether our printers could provide the book on schedule, or even if we could deliver the physical books to all contributors. And so, for the first time, we have produced the book in electronic form only. Continue reading "Download your copy of the 2020 Tributes today
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When His elder brother, fatigued from playing, would lie down with His head upon the lap of a cowherd boy, Lord Krsna would help Him relax by personally massaging His feet and offering other services. Sometimes, as the cowherd boys danced, sang, moved about, and playfully fought one another, Krsna and Balarama, standing nearby hand in hand, would glorify Their friends’ activities and laugh. Sometimes Lord Krsna grew tired from fighting and lay down at the base of a tree, resting upon a bed made of soft twigs and buds and using the lap of a cowherd friend as His pillow. Some of the cowherd boys, who were all great souls, would then massage His lotus feet, and others would expertly fan the Supreme Lord. Other boys would sing enchanting songs appropriate to the occasion, and their hearts would melt out of love for the Lord.

Krsna and His brother Balarama passed the childhood age known as kaumara and stepped into the age of pauganda, from the sixth year up to the tenth. At that time all the cowherd men conferred and agreed to give those boys who had passed their fifth-year charge of the cows in the pasturing ground. Given charge of the cows, Krsna and Balarama traversed Vrndavana, purifying the land with Their footprints.

Sacinandana Swami recalls a near-death experience he had at the sacred mountain of Govardhan, where he had been protected by the same deity whom he had turned towards.

Read More...

All the gopi friends of Yasoda and Rohini enjoyed the naughty childish activities of Krsna and Balarama in Vrndavana. In order to enjoy further transcendental bliss, they all assembled and went to mother Yasoda to lodge complaints against the restless boys. They said, “Dear Yasoda, why don’t you restrict your naughty Krsna? He comes to our houses with Balarama every morning and evening, and before the milking of the cows They free the calves, and the calves drink all the cows’ milk. So when we go to milk the cows, we find no milk, and we have to return with empty pots. If we warn Krsna and Balarama not to do this, They simply smile charmingly. We cannot do anything.

Samba, the darling son of Jambavati, kidnapped Duryodhana’s daughter Laksmana from her svayamvara assembly, in which she was to choose her husband. In response, the Kauravas joined forces to arrest him. After Samba resisted them single-handedly for some time, six warriors of the Kaurava party deprived him of his chariot, broke his bow to pieces, seized him, bound him, and brought both him and Laksmana back to Hastinapura.
When King Ugrasena heard of Samba’s capture, he called upon the Yadavas to retaliate. Angered, they prepared to fight, but Lord Balarama pacified them, hoping to avoid a quarrel between the Kuru and Yadu dynasties. The Lord set off for Hastinapura, together with several brahmanas and Yadava elders.

When WTRF came to do an interview for a piece about New Vrindaban on channel 7’s “Discover West Virginia” program, I had no idea this would be Kirtan the baby peacock’s debut into stardom. After all, it was meant to be a general documentary, and at the end of the interview, I had just casually mentioned Kirtan’s story... It all started one day when we were sitting at home chanting japa, and we heard a strange banging, or rather scratching, at the front door. We tried to ignore it, hoping whatever it was would go away, but it didn’t. Finally, overcome by its sheer determination and my own curiosity, I opened the door. To my great surprise, a white peahen was standing there looking at me imploringly and then motioning her head towards a single large egg in the middle of my doormat. Continue reading "A Star is Born
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Today is the appearance day of Lord Balarama, the Personality of Godhead who is the first expansion of Lord Krishna, the original Personality of Godhead. As Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita (4.7):

yada yada hi dharmasya
  glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
  tadatmanam srjamy aham

“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.” Lord Krishna says, srjamy aham: “I manifest Myself.” He doesn’t take birth like an ordinary human being, but He manifests Himself in His original spiritual form.

For what purpose?

paritranaya sadhunam
  vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
  sambhavami yuge yuge

“To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” (Gita 4.8) He manifests Himself to protect the devotees, annihilate the demons, and reestablish the principles of religion.

In every sphere of activity in the material world there is deterioration; everything in the material world declines. A new house, for example, is very nice, but it gradually deteriorates, and eventually, when too old, it has to be rebuilt. In the same way, our performance of spiritual duties deteriorates, whether we are individuals, families, communities, or a society. And so the Lord comes repeatedly to reestablish religious practice. He appears in order to establish religious principles (dharma), but over time religious practice declines, and so He manifests Himself again and again. We all know how prone we are to allow our practice to deteriorate. Thus, on auspicious occasions like today, Lord Balarama’s appearance day, we can pray to the Lord to manifest Himself and help us to become reestablished in our religious principles and practice.

I shall read from Srimad-Bhagavatam specifically about the appearance of Lord Balarama. What Lord Krishna said in the two verses quoted from the Bhagavad-gita is explained elaborately in Srimad-Bhagavatam, wherein it is stated that when the earth was overburdened by demonic rulers who had amassed large military forces armed with deadly weapons to wage war for personal gain, Lord Brahma, the chief of the demigods in this universe, approached the shore of the ocean of milk. There, accompanied by Lord Shiva and other celestial beings, he worshipped Lord Vishnu, the supreme God of all gods. In response, Lord Vishnu imparted some instructions, which Lord Brahma in turn conveyed to the demigods. He told them that very soon the Lord would appear on earth to diminish the burden of the world and that the demigods, to assist Him, should take birth in the Yadu dynasty. Lord Brahma further stated that Lord Balarama, who is also known as Sankarsana, would precede the Lord and serve Him in every respect:

vasudeva-kalanantah
  sahasra-vadanah svarat
agrato bhavita devo
  hareh priya-cikirsaya

“The foremost manifestation of Krsna is Sankarsana, who is known as Ananta. He is the origin of all incarnations within this material world. Previous to the appearance of Lord Krsna, this original Sankarsana will appear as Baladeva, just to please the Supreme Lord Krsna in His transcendental pastimes.” (SB 10.1.24)

Lord Brahma told them as well that Yogamaya, the personal potency of the Lord, would also appear and assist the Lord in His mission.

Many of you may know the history that immediately preceded the appearance of Krishna and Balarama. Vasudeva, a great devotee in the Yadu dynasty, wedded Devaki, another pure devotee. After their marriage, Vasudeva mounted his chariot with his newly wedded wife to return home, and Devaki’s brother Kamsa, to please his sister, took the reins of the horses to drive the chariot. Along the way, Kamsa heard a voice from an invisible source, which told him, “You fool, the eighth child of the woman you are carrying will kill you!” Kamsa, a great demon, became enraged and was ready to kill his own sister on the day of her marriage. But Vasudeva intervened and appealed to Kamsa to desist. He said, “How could a qualified person like you kill a woman—your own sister—on the occasion of her marriage? One day you will die, and in your next life you will have to suffer the reactions to your present activities.” But Kamsa was so shameless and cruel that he persisted, and Vasudeva, to save his wife from imminent death, told him, “You have nothing to fear from Devaki, according to the omen. It is her son that will kill you. So I promise to deliver all her sons, who are the cause of your fear, into your hands.” Kamsa, having faith in Vasudeva’s word, was pacified. Still, he imprisoned Vasudeva and Devaki. And year after year, as their children were born, Vasudeva very dutifully delivered them to Kamsa, who mercilessly killed them.

Now we shall read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Ten, Chapter Two: “Prayers by the Demigods.”

TEXT 7

gaccha devi vrajam bhadre
  gopa-gobhir alankrtam
rohini vasudevasya
  bharyaste nanda-gokule
anyas ca kamsa-samvigna
  vivaresu vasanti hi

TRANSLATION

The Lord ordered Yogamaya: O My potency, who are worshipable for the entire world and whose nature is to bestow good fortune upon all living entities, go to Vraja, where there live many cowherd men and their wives. In that very beautiful land, where many cows reside, Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva, is living at the home of Nanda Maharaja. Other wives of Vasudeva are also living there incognito because of fear of Kamsa. Please go there.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Nanda-gokula, the residence of King Nanda, was itself very beautiful, but when Yogamaya was ordered to go there and encourage the devotees with fearlessness, it became even more beautiful and safe. Because Yogamaya had the ability to create such an atmosphere, the Lord ordered her to go to Nanda-gokula.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

King Kamsa was such a demon that he was performing all sorts of atrocities, and Vasudeva was afraid for the safety of his wives. In Vedic culture the kshatriyas in particular were allowed to marry more than one wife. Now that idea seems a bit foreign or odd, but it had its purpose in Vedic civilization. The kshatriyas then were powerful; they could maintain many wives. But, as predicted in Srimad-Bhagavatam, as the present age of Kali progresses, or deteriorates, a husband will have to struggle just to maintain one wife, one family, and if he is somehow able to do so nicely, he is considered a great success in life.

Previously, people were more qualified. They were more opulent. The kshatriyas could have more than one wife, though Lord Ramacandra took eka-patni-vrata, a vow to accept only one wife—Sitadevi. Vasudeva had more than one wife, but he was responsible. He didn’t want any harm to befall any of them, and he arranged for their protection. Vasudeva and Devaki had relatives, who were also family friends, in Gokula—Nanda and Yasoda. And so Vasudeva placed one of his wives, Rohini, under the care of Nanda and Yasoda. And after Balarama had entered the womb of Devaki, Lord Krishna ordered Yogamaya to transfer Him from the womb of Devaki into the womb of Rohini.

TEXT 8

devakya jathare garbham
  sesakhyam dhama mamakam
tat sannikrsya rohinya
  udare sannivesaya

TRANSLATION

Within the womb of Devaki is My partial plenary expansion known as Sankarsana or Sesa. Without difficulty, transfer Him into the womb of Rohini.

PURPORT

The first plenary expansion of Krsna is Baladeva, also known as Sesa. The Sesa incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead supports the entire universe, and the eternal mother of this incarnation is Mother Rohini. “Because I am going into the womb of Devaki,” the Lord told Yogamaya, “the Sesa incarnation has already gone there and made suitable arrangements so that I may live there. Now He should enter the womb of Rohini, His eternal mother.”

In this connection, one may ask how the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always situated transcendentally, could enter the womb of Devaki, which had previously been entered by the six asuras, the sad-garbhas. Does this mean that the sad-garbhasuras were equal to the transcendental body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? The following answer is given by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

COMMENT

As promised, Vasudeva delivered the first six sons of Devaki to Kamsa, who killed them one after another. They were actually the six asuras who, because of events from their past life, had taken birth in Devaki’s womb to be killed by Kamsa. So, Krishna is going to enter the womb of Devaki. The question is, does that mean He is on the same level as these asuras who took birth from her womb and were killed by Kamsa? Visvanatha Cakravarti explains:

PURPORT (continued)

The entire creation, as well as its individual parts, is an expansion of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, even though the Lord enters the material world, He does not do so. This is explained by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gita (9.4–5):

maya tatam idam sarvam
  jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
  na caham tesv avasthitah

na ca mat-sthani bhutani
  pasya me yogam aisvaram
bhuta-bhrn na ca bhuta-stho
  mamatma bhuta-bhavanah

COMMENT

The idea is that the Lord is everywhere within His creation but at the same time is not there. This appears to be contradictory. The contradiction is resolved, however, when we understand that the Lord in His original form as Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan is not in the material creation; He remains aloof, in His divine abode, enjoying sublime pastimes with His loving devotees. Still, by His expansion as the Supersoul, the Paramatma, He pervades His creation.

PURPORT (continued)

A pure devotee is always transcendentally situated because of executing nine different processes of bhakti-yoga. Thus situated in devotional service, a devotee, although in the material world, is not in the material world. Yet a devotee always fears, “Because I am associated with the material world, so many contaminations affect me.” Therefore he is always alert in fear, which gradually diminishes his material association.

COMMENT

As stated earlier, Yogamaya appeared in Gokula to create fearlessness—freedom from fear of the attacks of demons. Yet a pure devotee is always afraid of material contamination. Srila Prabhupada once gave a class at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in which he told the audience, “The difference between you and me is that you can fall down but I cannot fall down.” Later, after the class, Srila Prabhupada was praying in front of the Deities, and one disciple asked him, “What were you praying?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “I was praying that I may never fall down.” The disciple said, “But in your talk you said that you can never fall down.” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, because I am always praying never to fall down, therefore I can never fall down.” So, we should always be afraid of the material energy (maya), of being deluded by maya and being diverted from the true path of Krishna consciousness.

PURPORT (continued)

Symbolically, Mother Devaki’s constant fear of Kamsa was purifying her. A pure devotee should always fear material association, and in this way all the asuras of material association will be killed, as the sad-garbhasuras were killed by Kamsa.

COMMENT

Especially devotees in the grihastha-ashrama may have to associate with the material energy, to earn money to maintain their families. Like it or not, they may have to associate with materialistic people. And there is always a danger that by their associating with materialistic people, their consciousness will be affected. So they should be afraid of material association. Of course, circumstantially we have to interact with such people, and we may do so as people normally interact in the workplace. But internally we should be conscious that if we associate with them too much, in the wrong way, it can affect us, and we can become weakened in our determination to progress in Krishna consciousness. We may start to compromise in different ways, which will weaken us even more.

PURPORT (concluded)

It is said that from the mind, Marici appears. In other words, Marici is an incarnation of the mind. Marici has six sons: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, and envy). The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in pure devotional service. This is confirmed in the Vedas: bhaktir evainam darsayati. Only bhakti can bring one in contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared from the womb of Devaki, and therefore Devaki symbolically represents bhakti, and Kamsa symbolically represents material fear. When a pure devotee always fears material association, his real position of bhakti is manifested, and he naturally becomes uninterested in material enjoyment. When the six sons of Marici are killed by such fear and one is freed from material contamination, within the womb of bhakti the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears. Thus the seventh pregnancy of Devaki signifies the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After the six sons Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya are killed, the Sesa incarnation creates a suitable situation for the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, when one awakens his natural Krsna consciousness, Lord Krsna appears. This is the explanation given by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

COMMENT

There are different stages of advancement in devotional service, and when one is completely purified, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is revealed within the heart. That purified stage is called vasudeva, or suddha-sattva. It is the same name as that of Krishna’s father, Vasudeva, because Krishna first appeared in the purified mind of Vasudeva and then from the mind of Vasudeva He was transferred into the purified mind—and womb—of Devaki.

So, it is possible that the Lord will manifest Himself to a devotee who is sincere in the practice of devotional service. And before He manifests Himself fully, as He did for Vasudeva and Devaki, and for Nanda and Yasoda, He manifests Himself as the holy name (as we all experience when we try to chant offenselessly); as holy scripture—Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavad-gita, or Sri Caitanya-caritamrta; as the holy dhama—Sri Vrindavan, Mayapur, or Puri; as the Deity; and in the hearts, and words, of His pure devotees.

TEXT 9

athaham amsa-bhagena
  devakyah putratam subhe
prapsyami tvam yasodayam
  nanda-patnyam bhavisyasi

TRANSLATION

O all-auspicious Yogamaya, I shall then appear with My full six opulences as the son of Devaki, and you will appear as the daughter of Mother Yasoda, the queen of Maharaja Nanda.

COMMENT

This is the history. Balarama, or Sesa, first entered the womb of Devaki as her seventh son, but by the arrangement of Krishna, through the agency of Yogamaya, He was transferred to the womb of Rohini in Gokula. And thus it appeared that Devaki had a miscarriage. But it is Sesa’s service to arrange for Krishna’s comfort, and so He entered her womb first and created a favorable situation in which Lord Krishna could reside. We always see pictures of Lord Vishnu with Sesa, who acts as the Lord’s umbrella and throne. Sesa expands Himself in so many ways to facilitate the pleasure and comfort of the Lord.

After being transferred to the womb of Rohini, His eternal mother, Balarama took birth in Gokula. His stay within the womb of Devaki was just a temporary arrangement to create a favorable situation for Krishna. Then Krishna Himself entered the womb of Devaki through the mind of Vasudeva and took birth.

For the duration of Their infancy, childhood, and youth, Krishna and Balarama enjoyed together in Gokula, in Vraja. Then, when They were about the age of sixteen, They went to Mathura to participate in a wrestling match arranged by Kamsa. Ultimately Krishna killed Kamsa. Krishna and Balarama did not return to Vrindavan then. They had many pastimes in Mathura and Dvaraka. Because They had not yet received a proper, formal education, Vasudeva and Devaki arranged for Them to study under a guru, Sandipani Muni, from whom They learned sixty-four different arts and sciences. And then They went on to rule Mathura and, finally, Dvaraka.

It is, one could say, a peculiar situation that Krishna was actually the son of Vasudeva and Devaki but was raised by Nanda and Yasoda and never really spent time with His original parents until many years later. And then He was separated from the parents who had raised Him, and He didn’t see them again for many, many years.

After Krishna and Balarama left Vrindavan, the Vraja-vasis were plunged into an ocean of separation. Their only business was crying for Krishna and Balarama. Of course, their crying was not like our material crying. Theirs was transcendental ecstasy. And in that separation, they were experiencing association. Still, they were separated, and many years later, when Krishna was living in royal opulence in Dvaraka, He went to Kurukshetra for a solar eclipse, to perform sacrifices and give in charity, as advised in shastra.

At Kurukshetra there was a great reunion, not only between Krishna and Balarama and Their friends from Vrindavan, but also between Vasudeva and Devaki and Nanda and Yasoda, and between Krishna’s various wives and Draupadi. Their meetings and interactions with each other are very instructive for us—how devotees relate to each other, how they think, and how they feel.

Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Ten, Chapter Eighty-Two: “Krsna Meets the Inhabitants of Vrndavana.”

TEXTS 31–32

When Nanda Maharaja learned that the Yadus had arrived, led by Krsna, he immediately went to see them. The cowherds accompanied him, their various possessions loaded on their wagons.

Seeing Nanda, the Vrsnis were delighted and stood up like dead bodies coming back to life. Having felt much distress at not seeing him for so long, they held him in a tight embrace.

COMMENT

The Vrsnis from Dvaraka returned to life when they saw Nanda, and they embraced him affectionately.

TEXTS 33–38

Vasudeva embraced Nanda Maharaja with great joy. Beside himself with ecstatic love, Vasudeva remembered the troubles Kamsa had caused him, forcing him to leave his sons in Gokula for Their safety.

O hero of the Kurus, Krsna and Balarama embraced Their foster parents and bowed down to them, but Their throats were so choked up with tears of love that the two Lords could say nothing.

Raising their two sons onto their laps and holding Them in their arms, Nanda and saintly Mother Yasoda forgot their sorrows.

Then Rohini and Devaki both embraced the Queen of Vraja, remembering the faithful friendship she had shown them. Their throats choking with tears, they addressed her as follows.

[Rohini and Devaki said:] What woman could forget the unceasing friendship you and Nanda have shown us, dear Queen of Vraja? There is no way to repay you in this world, even with the wealth of Indra.

Before these two boys had ever seen Their real parents, you acted as Their parents and gave Them all affectionate care, training, nourishment, and protection. They were never afraid, good lady, because you protected Them just as eyelids protect the eyes. Indeed, saintly persons like you never discriminate between outsiders and their own kin.

PURPORT

As Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti explains, Krsna and Balarama had not seen Their parents for two reasons: because of Their exile in Vraja, and also because They are never actually born and therefore have no parents.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti also describes what Devaki thought before speaking this verse: “Alas, because for so long these two sons of mine had you, Yasoda, as Their guardian and mother, and because They were immersed in such a vast ocean of ecstatic loving dealings with you, now that you are once more before Them They are too distracted to even notice me. Also, you are behaving as if insane and blind with love for Them, showing millions of times more maternal affection than I possess. Thus you simply keep staring at us, your friends, without recognizing us. So let me bring you back to reality on the pretext of some affectionate words.”

COMMENT

There are many points here. The first is how much Devaki appreciated Mother Yasoda for taking care of her son Krishna. Before Krishna had even seen His real parents, Yasoda and Nanda had acted as His and Balarama’s parents and cared for Them, taught Them, nourished Them, and protected Them. And thus Devaki’s sons never had any fear. And she praises Yasoda for being a saintly person who never discriminates between outsiders and her own kin. Of course, on another level Krishna is the Supersoul; He is the most intimate friend and the supreme lovable object for everyone. But in terms of the pastimes, Yasoda did not discriminate that Krishna was not her own son; she and Nanda raised Him as if He were their own.

Also, Devaki was completely free from envy. She saw that Krishna (with Balarama) was so overwhelmed with love that He forgot everything. He just rushed into the arms of Mother Yasoda. And Devaki not only admitted but actually appreciated that Yasoda had more love for Krishna than even she had.

These are some of the qualities that devotees develop in Krishna consciousness. They appreciate the service of others, and they are not envious. They are happy to acknowledge when others have more love for Krishna than they do, or render better service to Krishna than they do. And they are full of love. It is described here that when the Vrsnis saw Nanda and Yasoda—even though they had the association of Krishna in Dvaraka and were with Him in Kurukshetra—they felt as if their lives had come back to them. They had so much love and affection for them, and they were most grateful to them for their service to Krishna.

PURPORT (concluded)

Then, when Devaki failed to get any response from Yasoda even after addressing her, Rohini said, “My dear Devaki, it’s impossible just now to rouse her out of this ecstatic trance. We are crying in the wilderness, and her two sons are no less bound up in the ropes of affection for her than she is for Them.

COMMENT

Yasoda had lost consciousness of everything other than her sons, Krishna and Balarama. And again, Yasoda did not discriminate, that “Krishna is my son, but Balarama is Rohini’s.” Nor did Rohini discriminate that “Balarama is my son, but Krishna is Yasoda’s.” Both mothers were mothers to both sons, and both sons saw both as Their mothers.

This type of love develops with Krishna consciousness, but it is also something that we are meant to cultivate. In Srila Prabhupada’s last days, in Vrindavan, His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami exclaimed, “Srila Prabhupada, your disciples love you so much.” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate with each other.” Many authorities, both spiritual and mundane, have commented that love is not just a sentiment but is also a process. Srila Prabhupada said that if we really love him—if we want to show our love for him—we will cooperate with each other for his pleasure, which ultimately means Krishna’s pleasure (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado).

By the family of Vasudeva and Devaki and the family of Nanda and Yasoda cooperating for the service of Lord Balarama, the two families were brought together. And that was one of Lord Balarama’s purposes, as foretold by Gargamuni:

        garga uvaca
ayam hi rohini-putro
  ramayan suhrdo gunaih
akhyasyate rama iti
  baladhikyad balam viduh
yadunam aprthag-bhavat
  sankarsanam usanty api

“Gargamuni said: This child, the son of Rohini, will give all happiness to His relatives and friends by His transcendental qualities. Therefore He will be known as Rama. And because He will manifest extraordinary bodily strength, He will also be known as Bala. Moreover, because He unites two families—Vasudeva’s family and the family of Nanda Maharaja—He will be known as Sankarsana.”(SB 10.8.12)

In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains: “Baladeva was actually the son of Devaki, but He was transferred from Devaki’s womb to that of Rohini. This fact was not disclosed. According to a statement in the Hari-vamsa:

pratyuvaca tato ramah
  sarvams tan abhitah sthitan
yadavesv api sarvesu
  bhavanto mama vallabhah

Gargamuni did disclose to Nanda Maharaja that Balarama would be known as Sankarsana because of uniting two families—the yadu-vamsa and the vamsa of Nanda Maharaja—one of which was known as kshatriya and the other as vaishya. Both families had the same original forefather, the only difference being that Nanda Maharaja was born of a vaishya wife whereas Vasudeva was born of a kshatriya wife. Later, Nanda Maharaja married a vaishya wife, and Vasudeva married a kshatriya wife. So although the families of Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva both came from the same father, they were divided as kshatriya and vaishya. Now Baladeva united them, and therefore He was known as Sankarsana.”

By Krishna consciousness, by cooperating to serve the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, different individuals, families, castes, and communities can all be united.

Even Balarama considers Himself to be a servant of Lord Krishna. Balarama is the first expansion of Krishna and is the original spiritual master, and He too has the sentiment that He is a servant of Krishna. In fact, every conscious being is imbued with the sentiment of being a servant of Krishna. Balarama, and all of Krishna’s expansions—Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Karanodakasayi Vishnu, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, Ksirodakasayi Vishnu—all have the sentiment of being servants of Krishna.

ekale isvara krsna, ara saba bhrtya
yare yaiche nacaya, se taiche kare nrtya

“Lord Krsna alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. They dance as He makes them do so.” (Cc Adi 5.142)

apanake bhrtya kari’ krsne prabhu jane
krsnera kalara kala apanake mane

“[Balarama] considers Himself a servant and knows Krsna to be His master. Thus He regards Himself as a fragment of His plenary portion.” (Cc Adi 5.137)

It was stated in the beginning that Balarama, or Sankarsana, would appear prior to Krishna in order to serve Krishna and please Him in every respect.

vasudeva-kalanantah
  sahasra-vadanah svarat
agrato bhavita devo
  hareh priya-cikirsaya

“The foremost manifestation of Krsna is Sankarsana, who is known as Ananta. He is the origin of all incarnations within this material world. Previous to the appearance of Lord Krsna, this original Sankarsana will appear as Baladeva, just to please the Supreme Lord Krsna in His transcendental pastimes.” (SB 10.1.24)

And that is the duty of the spiritual master—to serve and please the Supreme Lord. Once, Srila Prabhupada asked some disciples, “What is the duty of the spiritual master?” And then he gave the answer: “The duty of the spiritual master is to serve Krishna. And the duty of the disciples is to assist the spiritual master.” Balarama is the original spiritual master because, as Krishna’s first expansion, He is the first servant of Krishna, and He is the first instructor about Krishna. The spiritual master is considered to be the representative of Lord Balarama, or Nityananda Prabhu.

So, Srila Prabhupada said, “Your love for me will be shown by how you cooperate.” In other words, love is not just a sentiment but is expressed through practical activity. Further, it is evoked by practical activity; loving sentiment is increased by devotional service. The word cooperate consists of co-, which means “together,” “jointly”; and operate, which means to “perform a function,” to “exert power or influence.” So cooperate means that together we perform some function. And we see the perfect example of cooperation in Vrindavan. Nanda and Yasoda and Rohini cooperated to raise Krishna and Balarama. In a broader sense, they cooperated with Vasudeva and Devaki to raise Them. And there was no envy.

Srila Prabhupada gave the example of the different parts of the body, which cooperate for the sake of the whole, to serve the stomach. If the different parts try to enjoy independent of the stomach, they won’t be able to. They will fail—and suffer. Srila Prabhupada gave the example that if there is a nice rasagulla and one’s hand thinks, “Why should I give all the food to the stomach? I will enjoy myself,” and then tries to enjoy directly, it won’t be able to. The food is meant to be given to the stomach, and when it goes to the stomach, all the different parts of the body benefit.

Srila Prabhupada elaborated on this analogy by saying that once, the different parts of the body went on strike, thinking, “We do all the work, and the stomach gets all the food. Why should we work for the sake of the stomach?” So they decided to go on strike. As a result, all the parts of the body suffered. They became weak. Then they had another meeting and decided, “We were better off when we were serving the stomach.” So they went back to serving the stomach.

Krishna is the focus of all devotional service. That is the meaning of bhakti—to serve and please Krishna. And the medium for that service is the spiritual master, who represents Lord Balarama, or Lord Nityananda. So, Srila Prabhupada said, “Your love for me will be shown by how you cooperate.” That means we work together, co-operate. We perform the same function, but together, for the pleasure of guru and Krishna. And in that service there is no envy. There is only appreciation and gratitude. Each devotee thinks, “You’ve helped me so much by doing this.” That consciousness develops naturally from bhakti, but at the same time we have to practice; we are in the stage of sadhana-bhakti, devotional service in practice. When we practice cooperation, serving the other devotees and appreciating their service, bhakti develops, and ultimately Krishna manifests Himself. Krishna and all of His associates are revealed to us in that state of pure devotion.

Hare Krishna.

Are there any questions or comments?

Bhakta Adam: What does it mean when you say that Krishna and Balarama took birth from the womb? What is the childbirth process of Krishna? Does He simply appear and His mother thinks that she has gone through childbirth? Because I remember that Mother Yasoda—it says in Krsna book—Mother Yasoda was so tired from the labor of childbirth that she fell asleep and could not remember whether she had given birth to a male or a female child.

Giriraj Swami: Krishna is always everywhere, so He is already in the womb. He is in the heart of every living entity, in every atom, in the space between the atoms. He is everywhere. So He is already in the womb in His Paramatma feature, which is not different from His original feature as Krishna. The Paramatma is an expansion of His original feature. And when the time came, the original Krishna entered the purified mind, or heart, of Vasudeva, and from there He was transferred to the purified heart of Devaki. He was transferred to her womb—took up residence in her womb—where Sankarsana had already made all the arrangements. Then, after a facsimile of labor and childbirth, Krishna emerged.

But there is a difference between Mathura and Vraja. In Mathura, Krishna appeared with four hands, holding the symbols of Vishnu, fully decorated with ornaments. And He explained His divine identity to His parents, who praised and worshipped Him with awe and reverence. And then He transformed Himself into the form of a natural human child—into His original form as Krishna.

In the loving service of Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha, the devotees are always aware of His supreme opulence as God. In Mathura, the mood is mixed. Vasudeva and Devaki had some awareness that Krishna was God—He manifested Himself in His four-armed form to show them that He was God—but they also had a mood of parental affection. Devaki’s motherly affection overtook her awareness of the Lord’s opulence, and she thought, “Oh, if Kamsa finds Krishna, he will kill Him.” So she requested the Lord to withdraw His four-handed form, to become invisible to Kamsa. Then Vasudeva carried the baby Krishna out of Kamsa’s prison, crossed the Yamuna, and came to Gokula, where Yasoda had given birth. She gave birth not only to a baby girl, Yogamaya, but also to a son, who was the original Krishna. But as you said, because she was so exhausted by the labor of childbirth, she was unable to understand what kind of child had been born to her—a boy or a girl or twins. Also, because of her pure affection for Krishna, she did not understand that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, when Vasudeva came with Krishna from Mathura, that Krishna was absorbed into the original Krishna who had been born to Yasoda. And in place of Krishna, Vasudeva took Yogamaya back to Mathura.

In Vrindavan, the pastimes are all humanlike, nara-lila. And the Bhagavatam says that Nanda Maharaja performed the birth (jata-karma) ceremony for Krishna. Srila Prabhupada explains, “The jata-karma ceremony can take place when the umbilical cord, connecting the child and the placenta, is cut. . . . In this regard, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura desires to prove with evidence from many sastras that Krsna actually took birth as the son of Yasoda before the birth of Yogamaya, who is therefore described as the Lord’s younger sister. Even though there may be doubts about the cutting of the umbilical cord, and even though it is possible that this was not done, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears, such events are regarded as factual.” (SB 10.5.1–2 purport) The manifestation of nara-lila is so perfect and complete that even to that detail Krishna appeared to have taken birth like an ordinary child. But He never was an ordinary child, and He never had a material body.

In relation to His birth in Mathura, the Bhagavatam describes that when Vasudeva transferred the Supreme Lord to the heart of Devaki, she became beautiful, “just as the east becomes beautiful by carrying the rising moon.” Later, the Bhagavatam states that “the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, appeared from the heart of Devaki in the dense darkness of night, like the full moon rising on the eastern horizon.”

The moon and the sun always exist. The sun comes above the horizon at a certain point, which we call sunrise, but it always exists. It just comes into our vision at a certain time. Similarly, Krishna always exists, but He appeared from the heart, or the womb, of Devaki like the moon appears on the eastern horizon. But Krishna is always there. He always exists.

Urvasi dasi: Maharaja, a devotee should always be aware and careful of maya and contact with the material world, but then again, it is said that a devotee is fearless. How do you get to that point where you can count on Krishna’s mercy and be fearless? It is so dangerous in this material world, and maya is so strong. So, how can we actually feel that we have Krishna’s mercy, so we can be fearless?

Giriraj Swami: The only thing a devotee really fears is forgetfulness of Krishna—maya. If we are always conscious of Krishna and our relationship with Him, we will not be afraid of anything else, because we know that we are not this body, that we are part and parcel of Krishna, that our real relationship is with Him, and that we are under His personal care and protection. If Krishna wants us to stay longer in this body, we will, and if Krishna wants us to leave this body, we will. We are not afraid, because we know we are under Krishna’s shelter.

Once, during the war between India and Pakistan in 1971, a reporter asked Srila Prabhupada, “Suppose a hundred pure, saintly, Krishna conscious people are meditating or discussing together, and someone comes and drops a bomb . . .” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “Those who are Krishna conscious are not afraid of a bomb. When they see a bomb coming, they think that Krishna desired the bomb to come. A Krishna conscious person is never afraid of anything. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat. (SB 11.2.37) One who has the conception that something can exist outside of Krishna is afraid. But one who knows that everything is coming from Krishna has no reason to be afraid. The bomb is coming, and the devotee says, ‘Ah, Krishna is coming.’ That is the vision of the devotee. He thinks, ‘Krishna wants to kill me with a bomb. That’s all right. I will be killed.’ That is Krishna consciousness.”

Still, another time, in a different situation, someone asked Srila Prabhupada, “What if some evil person came to attack you, to kill you. Would you protect yourself?” And Prabhupada replied, “Yes. Why should I let some rascal harm Krishna’s devotee?” But that is different. That is not out of fear. That is in the mood of service, to protect Krishna’s devotee. Srila Prabhupada was not identifying with the body but was seeing himself as Krishna’s devotee who had service to do for Krishna, so he wanted to protect Krishna’s devotee from harm—for Krishna’s service. But personally, he was not afraid. The only thing a devotee fears is forgetting Krishna.

And a devotee is always satisfied; he does not want anything but devotional service. He is satisfied with devotional service but never complacent—“Now I have done enough service.” He always wants to do more and better service. But he is satisfied in the sense that he wants nothing but devotional service, and he always has service. No one can take devotional service from him, because it is ahaituky apratihata. It has no cause, and it has no impediment. It cannot be interrupted.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
  yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
  yayatma suprasidati

“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (SB 1.2.6) So, the devotee is satisfied with devotional service, and he always has service. No one can take that away from him. But he is never complacent: “Oh, I have done enough now. Let me eat and sleep.” He always wants to do more service and better service.

So, a devotee is not afraid of anything material, because he has Krishna—but he is afraid of losing Krishna due to his own weakness. He always feels himself to be weak and dependent on the strength that comes from superior authorities such as Balarama. The Upanishads state, nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah. One cannot attain the platform of self-realization without spiritual strength, which comes from Balarama. Bala means “strength”—spiritual strength, which comes from Lord Balarama, Lord Nityananda, who is represented by the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada and the parampara. So, we feel dependent on superior authorities, but we are not afraid of anything material, because we know that the only thing that really matters to us is devotional service and that nothing material can take devotional service away from us. We have nothing to lose, because we can’t lose devotional service, and we have nothing to gain, because we don’t want anything but devotional service. So why should we be afraid? We have nothing to lose or to gain from anyone.

The Bhagavad-gita (6.20–23) says that upon achieving Krishna consciousness one thinks that there is no greater gain and even in the midst of the greatest calamity one is not shaken.

yatroparamate cittam
  niruddham yoga-sevaya
yatra caivatmanatmanam
  pasyann atmani tusyati

 sukham atyantikam yat tad
  buddhi-grahyam atindriyam
vetti yatra na caivayam
  sthitas calati tattvatah

 yam labdhva caparam labham
  manyate nadhikam tatah
yasmin sthito na duhkhena
  gurunapi vicalyate

 tam vidyad duhkha-samyoga-
  viyogam yoga-samjnitam

“In the stage of perfection called trance, or samadhi, one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one’s ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.”

The pure devotee is fixed in consciousness because he has what he wants— Krishna—and no matter what happens externally, no one can take Krishna from him. Queen Kunti prayed to Lord Krishna for calamities because in the midst of all her difficulties Krishna was with her and her sons. In terms of lila, Krishna was with them in Hastinapura, but when the calamities were over and Maharaja Yudhisthira was installed on the throne, Krishna was ready to leave. So, Kunti prayed, “When we were in difficulty, You were with us, but now that we are happily situated in our kingdom, You are leaving us.” So she prayed, “Let the calamities come again and again. I would rather have all the calamities and have You with us than be situated in material opulence and comfort and lose You.” She concluded:

vipadah santu tah sasvat
  tatra tatra jagad-guro
bhavato darsanam yat syad
  apunar bhava-darsanam

“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.” (SB 1.8.25)

Sometimes being in material difficulty can serve as an impetus to Krishna consciousness. And a devotee may fear being in too comfortable a position lest he forget Krishna, lose his Krishna consciousness. That is the only fear.

Urvasi dasi: It is an interesting thing, because in my own life, when I examine it, I feel like I am in constant fear of being distracted from Krishna. It is always check and balance, check and balance. I am afraid of my mind going away and being distracted. And yet then when I think about it, I am really not afraid of anything in the material world, because I know that everything that comes into my life is Krishna. For some reason it is being brought into my life. So, it is an interesting thing, being full of fear and having no fear.

Giriraj Swami: Indeed. There is a nice verse by King Rahugana of the Sindh province. He was puffed up because he was the king, and he had forced a great devotee, a paramahamsa who had hidden his exalted position, Jada Bharata, to carry his palanquin. And when he felt that Jada Bharata was not carrying it properly, he abused, reviled, him like anything. But Jada Bharata was unaffected. Jada Bharata didn’t want to step on any insects on the way, and because he was always trying to sidestep the ants, the king was jostled inside the palanquin. So he sarcastically criticized Jada Bharata, who was actually young and strong, by saying, “You seem to be very old and weak. You can’t carry the palanquin properly.” Yet however the king tried to insult him, Jada Bharata, being completely free from bodily identification, remained undisturbed.

Eventually Jada Bharata enlightened the king with transcendental knowledge. He told him, “I am not the body; I am the soul. I am not fat or thin or weak or strong or any of the things that you said about the body, because I am the soul and have nothing to do with the body. And so I remain peaceful.” After receiving sublime spiritual instructions from his carrier, the king realized that Jada Bharata was a great paramahamsa. He descended from his palanquin and fell at Jada Bharata’s feet, desiring to be freed from his offenses against the great saint. And King Rahugana said,

naham visanke sura-raja-vajran
  na tryaksa-sulan na yamasya dandat
nagny-arka-somanila-vittapastrac
  chanke bhrsam brahma-kulavamanat

“My dear sir, I am not at all afraid of the thunderbolt of King Indra, nor am I afraid of the serpentine, piercing trident of Lord Siva. I do not care about the punishment of Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, nor am I afraid of fire, scorching sun, moon, wind, or the weapons of Kuvera. Yet I am afraid of offending a brahmana. I am very much afraid of this.” (SB 5.10.17)

So, we are not afraid of any external, material force, but we are afraid of losing our Krishna consciousness. And the quickest way to lose it is to offend a devotee. It is that same idea: we are not afraid of any material danger, but we are afraid of maya—afraid of committing offenses, especially vaisnava-aparadha, that will take us away from Krishna, from loving service to Krishna and His devotees.

Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama ki jaya!
Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai ki jaya!
Sri Giriraja Govardhana ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Sri guru-parampara ki jaya!

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Lord Balarama’s appearance day, October 16, 2008, Ventura, California]

Giriraj Swami spoke with devotees from Bangalore over Zoom.

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