Krsna-katha

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The process of Krsna consciousness is infinitely more powerful than any

material considerations, which is encouraging for us. We can directly appeal

to the omniscient, omnipotent, all-merciful Personality of Godhead Krsna,

through His Divine grace, and quickly overcome any disadvantages (cf. Gita

18.58). Of course, to do this requires absolute humility, which is not

different from pure love of God. Thus Srila Rupa Goswami prays (Cc,

Madhyalila, 23.29):

 

“‘O my Lord, I do not have any love for You, nor am I qualified for discharging

devotional service by chanting and hearing. Nor do I possess the mystic power

of a Vaisnava, knowledge or pious activities. Nor do I belong to a very

high-caste family. On the whole, I do not possess anything. Still, O beloved

of the gopis, because You bestow Your mercy on the most fallen, I have an

unbreakable hope that is constantly in my heart. That hope is always giving me

pain.’"

 

Similarly again, in his purport on Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.11.26, Srila Prabhupada

cites another song by Srila Rupa Gosvami:

 

"O my Lord Krsna, I beg to offer my prayers unto You. My mind is like the bee,

and it is after some honey. Kindly, therefore, give my bee-mind a place at Your

lotus feet, which are the resources for all transcendental honey. I know that

even big demigods like Brahma do not see the rays of the nails of Your lotus

feet, even though they are engaged in deep meditation for years together.

Still, O infallible one, my ambition is such, for You are very merciful to your

surrendered devotees. O Madhava, I know also that I have no genuine devotion

for the service of Your lotus feet, but because Your Lordship is inconceivably

powerful, You can do what is impossible to be done. Your lotus feet can deride

even the nectar of the heavenly kingdom, and therefore I am very much attracted

by them. O supreme eternal, please, therefore, let my mind be fixed at Your

lotus feet so that eternally I may be able to relish the taste of Your

transcendental service."

 

Finally, Srila Rupa Gosvami prays in full surrender (ibid., purport, 2.4.3-4):

 

"O Lord of the poor, do what you like with me, give me either mercy or

punishment, but in this world I have none to look to except Your Lordship. The

cataka bird always prays for the cloud, regardless of whether it showers rains

or throws a thunderbolt."

 

It is well known that even if it is faced with dehydration, the cataka bird

will never touch anything except the raindrops falling directly from the

raincloud. Similarly, a devotee is in only interested in the mercy Krsna

showers upon him through His Divine grace, the bonafide spiritual master, who

distributes whatever mercy-rain he culls from the ocean of

auspiciousness(karunya-ghanaghanatvam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya), Lord

Krsna.

 

Mukunda Datta dasa