The Correct Approach to Lord Sri Krishna

June 24, 2005

Hare Krishna,

THE CORRECT APPROACH TO LORD SRI KRISHNA.

Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita “Bahuni me” i.e., “several births have passed away for you and for me. I remember all those but you do not remember”. Sometimes the ‘Sadhana’ of a particular devotee may be less during this birth. Sri Krishna shows lot of grace on such a devotee . The reason for this is the penance done by that devotee during the previous births. Even that devotee forgot that penance for Krishna done by him . The other devotees who are doing lot of penance to Krishna in this birth could become surprised about that devotee’s good fortune. These devotees do not know that their penance done in this birth is very less compared to the penance of that particular devotee done in his previous births. The wealth of a person should not be decided by looking into his current account

only. His fixed deposits, which are the fruits of the penance of his previous birth, should also be taken into account. Only Lord Krishna can see these fixed deposits but not by the people.

Vivekananda came to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa for the first time. Paramahamsa took him into a room and placed a sweet in his mouth and wept with folded hands. Vivekananda could not understand this and was confused. Paramahamsa is the incarnation of Sri Krishna. Vivekananda is the incarnation of Arjuna and he does not remember his previous births. But Paramahamsa remembers all the previous births. The other disciples of Paramahamsa could not understand this and they became jealous of Vivekananda.

Once Satyabhama hit the forehead of Sri Krishna by her left leg. Krishna pressed her feet stating that the foot might have been pained. This looked very odd for all the other devotees, doubting that Krishna became the slave of Satyabhama’s beauty. Any external beauty in this world cannot attract Lord Krishna. Only the internal beauty attracts him, which is the sacrifice and love. Satyabhama is the incarnation of goddess Earth. She was bearing the violence of all the demons that were strengthened by the boons of Brahma. Like this she tolerated Brahma indirectly. She is tolerating the feet of all the living beings. She is another form of tolerance. Even though Lord Krishna killed

her son Narakasura, She kept silent. In fact she helped Him in that war. She crossed the wheel of ‘Anahatha’, which is connected, to the children. Nobody can have more tolerance than the Goddess Earth. Sri Krishna knows all this background.

Without eligibility, Krishna will never give anything to anybody at any time. But the devotee must put the first step towards Lord Krishna. The necessity is for the devotee. Veda says ‘Aptakamsya’ i.e., “God (Krishna) has attained everything and there is nothing which He has to achieve”. You have come near the sea with a pot. You should put a step into the water and make an effort to fill your pot. Then the sea moves the water into the pot. Therefore the human effort is necessary while dealing with Sri Krishna, the Supreme Godhead. When Lord Krishna is worshiped in the human form, He is bound by the manners of humanity. The

properties of human body co-exist. The electric wire is having both the qualities of wire and electricity. Giving shock is the property of electricity. Being thin and lean is the property of the wire. The property of the wire is clearly seen by the naked wire. Similarly the properties of the human body of Lord Krishna are clearly seen by the people. As people misunderstand the electric wire as a common wire without electricity, the human body of Krishna is also misunderstood as an ordinary man. As the current is not seen, the divinity in the human form is also not seen. But whenever a necessity arises the electricity becomes intensive in the wire and heat is radiated out. Similarly the divinity in the human form exposes its divine qualities like Jnana, Love, Bliss and Miracles whenever necessary.

Sudama was initially shy to approach Krishna who was his classmate even though he was suffering with acute poverty. Krishna also kept silent, though He was ready to give as usual infinite wealth to His devotee. But Sudama did not put even one step towards Dwaraka City to meet Krishna in person. Sudama was chanting Krishna’s names and worshiping His deity. Yet, Sudama’s poverty was not removed because he had not surrendered totally to Sri Krishna.

Unless he surrendered totally at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna and did Karma Phala Tyaga by offering some rice, Lord Krishna would not respond. At Sudama’s level the offering of that handful rice to Krishna is the best sacrifice. Similarly Sri Krishna gave infinite wealth to His devotee who has taken refuge at His lotus feet. When Sudama went to Krishna, Sudama did not ask

Krishna to remove his poverty. He was prepared to undergo the result of his sins in the previous births. At the same time, he did the highest sacrifice of that handful rice. His family is starving and if that handful rice is cooked at least a little food can be given to his children. But he offered it to the Lord. He did not ask anything in return and also did not even think in his mind to ask for . Similarly a devotee should not ask or even think in his mind about the removal of his difficulties by Sri Krishna. He should be always prepared to undergo the results of his past sins. He should surrender himself totally and unconditionally at the lotus feet of Krishna. Lord Sri Krishna , the Supreme God, for sure will remove all his difficulties, at the most appropriate time.

Lord Krishna sees only the quantity of love in His devotee and not the things he is offering to Him. The squirrel rolled in the sand particles and showered them into sea with full faith and so Lord Rama patted it. Monkeys were placing big stones in the sea to construct Varadhi. But they were not patted since their faith was disturbed. Both the stones and sand particles were drowning in the water. The squirrel did not stop putting the sand particles but

the monkeys stopped putting the big stones. So Lord Rama does not view what you have surrendered. The Lord only views the spirit with which you surrendered. So, surrender to Sri Krishna, what you have with full faith and love. Whatever sin may be present with the fruit, which you have surrendered to the Lord, due to your sacrifice, such offer becomes a most pious deed. Kannappa offered to the Lord , flesh obtained by hunting. That is the greatest sin and the most offensive act. There is no greater sin than killing harmless animals. “Ahimsa Paramodharmah” i.e., the greatest sin is to kill innocent harmless beings. Kannappa attained the same salvation of Sabari who offered pious fruits. The real dharma is to please Lord Sri Krishna. In fact the Supreme God Sri Krishna , created everything, created us and is present with us in every minute of every life as our highest well-wisher. Nobody should be dearer to us than Lord Sri Krishna. Sudama went back home without asking for anything from the Lord. Sudama wanted to beg Krishna in his heart of hearts. That is not Nishkama Yoga. He was caught by the influence of prestige. While going home to his place, he was suffering thinking about his poverty. Lord Krishna also kept silent. But, He being an ocean of kindness, Krishna came down. Here the victor is Lord Krishna. Sudama, due to his prestige, was defeated. Krishna defeated His own principle and so came out of it. Sudama gave importance to the manners of the external human body and could not understand

Lord Sri Krishna as the ultimate ocean of Love.

Veda says three qualities of the Supreme Godhead Sri Krishna :

1 Jnana (Satyam, Jnanam, Anantam Brahma)

2 Love (Rasovai Sah).

3 Bliss(Anando Brahma).

If one quality is present, the other two must also co-exist. When Sri Krishna takes the all-purifying ‘syamasundara’ human form, these three are transmitted out. These three are the current in the metallic wire. It is like the heat coming out of the fire covered by ash. If the ash is absent we cannot tolerate the heat. Ash controls the heat to the extent of our tolerance i.e., the human body works like the

ash. Even devatas like Indra cannot see the inner form. If the inner form is exhibited or comes out, the entire Universe disappears. Therefore, only through the human form one can worship or enjoy the essence of Lord Sri Krishna. No body can establish a direct bond with Krishna, because, when Krishna appears the devotee

also disappears along with the Universe. So as an ordinary human being , you cannot practically attain Sri Krishna except through His ‘syamasundara’ form.

Jnana, Ananda and Bliss cannot be easily obtained from Nirguna Brahman. Therefore for human beings, Sagauna Brahman (Sri Krishna with attributes ) is the preferred source. If you neglect the ‘syamasundara’ human form of Sri Krishna , you cannot get human birth, and you will therefore be put to permanent loss.

Veda says the same “IHACHEDA VEDEET ADHA SATYA MASTI NACHE DIHAA VEDEET MAHATEE VINASHTIH”.

Please Chant :

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

And Be Happy.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!!!

Narayana Das

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Note – The above is excerpts of a discourse.