Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.
Whenever Lord Krishna performs any pastime, He does it for multiple reasons. In Damodar lila we find that Lord breaks the butter pot, feeds the monkeys, allows Yashoda Mata to tie Him by ropes of love and also delivers the sons of Kubera, Nalakuvera and Manigriva who were cursed by Narada Muni and were thus standing as Arjuna trees for so many years. Lord Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavatam verse 10.10.25:
devarṣir me priyatamo yad imau dhanadātmajau
tat tathā sādhayiṣyāmi yad gītaṁ tan mahātmanā
Although these two young men are the sons of the very rich Kuvera and I have nothing to do with them, Devarshi Narada is My very dear and affectionate devotee, and therefore because he wanted Me to come face to face with them, I must do so for their deliverance.
To see Krishna face to face or to be touched by Supreme Lord is not possible for ordinary souls like us who are intoxicated in materialistic way of life. The sons of Kuvera were so much intoxicated that they did not even bother to pay respect to Narada Muni, who is a very dear devotee of the Lord. The Lord actually tolerates any offence done to Him. But He never tolerates any offence done to His devotees. Thats why Lord Krishna is saying in the above verse that He had the least thought of either giving darshan or liberation for the sons of Kuvera. So simply to keep the promise of His dear devotee Narada, Lord delivered them.
Few days ago a senior devotee was sharing an incident about how city-authorities were catching street dogs to ensure public safety. There were few dogs which were roaming around them. But they were not being captured. So when the devotee went and inquired as to why they were not capturing the dogs, they replied that few people had requested that they were taking care of the dogs and hence those dogs need not be captured. He related how just like those dogs were saved by the mercy of those people, we are saved by the mercy of our spiritual masters. Even though we are filled with so many anarthas, Guru mercifully gives us a chance to perform devotional service and reach Supreme Lord, by initiating us. But if we remain complacent and lazy, even after initiation, then we will continue to remain like street dogs and will always be prone to attacks of maya.
In his wonderful purport to the above verse Srila Prabhupada writes, "If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very easily successful. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has therefore recommended: vaishnava thaakura tomaara kukkura bhuliyaa jaanaha more, krsna se tomaara krsna dite paara. One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee. Krishna is in the hand of a devotee. adurlabham aatma-bhaktau. Thus without the favor of a devotee, one cannot directly approach Krishna, what to speak of engaging in His service."
Just like how dogs are faithful and loyal to their masters, we should also be truthful and loyal to our Guru and sincerely follow his instructions. That is the only hope for us to be delivered from the dark world of neiscence.
I pray at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudev and Srila Prabhupada that I always remember their causeless mercy and remain loyal and grateful to them.
Thank you very much,
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.
Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.