Opposing Natures Of Demons And Devotees

2017-12-10
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.05.48 - Opposing Natures Of Demons And Devotees (download mp3)
by Sridama Sakha Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretreee.com

SB 11.5.48

vairena yam nrpatayah sisupala-paundra-

 salvadayo gati-vilasa-vilokanadyaih

dhyayanta akrta-dhiyah sayanasanadau

 tat-samyam apur anurakta-dhiyam punah kim

Translation:

Inimical kings like Sisupala, Paundraka and Salva were always thinking about Lord Krsna. Even while they were lying down, sitting or engaging in other activities, they enviously meditated upon the bodily movements of the Lord, His sporting pastimes, His loving glances upon His devotees, and other attractive features displayed by the Lord. Being thus always absorbed in Krsna, they achieved spiritual liberation in the Lord’s own abode. What then can be said of the benedictions offered to those who constantly fix their minds on Lord Krsna in a favorable, loving mood?

Purport:

On the eve of the disappearance of Lord Krsna from this world, Vasudeva became filled with lamentation thinking that he had not properly utilized the opportunity of the Lord’s personal presence to become perfectly Krsna conscious. However, Narada Muni assured Sri Vasudeva that the glories of Vasudeva and his good wife Devaki were chanted throughout the universe because even the demigods worshiped the exalted status of the Lord’s own parents. Vasudeva was not only concerned about his own spiritual position, but he also lamented for the Yadu dynasty, which had left the world in an apparently inauspicious way, being cursed by great brahmanas such as Narada and dying in a fratricidal war. Although the members of the Yadu dynasty were personal associates of the Lord, their disappearance from the earth was apparently inauspicious, and therefore Vasudeva was concerned about their eventual destination. So Narada here assures Vasudeva that even the demons who opposed Krsna, such as Sisupala, Paundraka and Salva, achieved promotion to the Lord’s own abode because of their constant absorption in thinking of Krsna. Therefore what to speak of the exalted members of the Yadu dynasty who actually loved Krsna more than anything (anurakta-dhiyam punah kim)? Similarly, it is stated in the Garuda Purana:

ajñaninah sura-varam samadhiksipanto

 yam papino ’pi sisupala-suyodhanadyah

muktim gatah smarana-matra-vidhuta-papah

 kah samsayah parama-bhaktimatam jananam

“Even foolish sinners like Sisupala and Duryodhana who showered abuse upon the Lord were cleansed of all sins simply by remembering Lord Krsna. Somehow or other their minds were absorbed in the Lord, and thus they attained liberation. What doubt then is there about the destination of those who are overwhelmed with devotional feelings for the Lord?”

Vasudeva was also feeling anxiety because on the one hand he was aware that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but at the same time he treated the Lord as his beloved son. In the relationship between the father and son, sometimes the father must chastise the son and restrict him in various ways. In this way Vasudeva was feeling that undoubtedly he had offended the Lord in his attempt to train Lord Krsna as his son. However, Lord Krsna is actually pleased when a pure devotee becomes absorbed in parental love for Him and thus devotedly tries to care for Him just as loving parents care for a small child. Krsna reciprocates the intense devotional feelings of such devotees by actually appearing before them as a young boy and acting just like their son.

As mentioned in this verse, the demons actually chastised Krsna with feelings of enmity. Nevertheless, such demons attained liberation due to their absorption in Krsna. Therefore, what to speak of the destination of Vasudeva, who chastised Krsna due to his overwhelming parental love for Him? The conclusion is that the devotees of the Lord should never consider Vasudeva and Devaki to be ordinary, conditioned souls. Their relationship with Lord Krsna is completely on the transcendental platform of vatsalya-rasa, or parental love for the Personality of Godhead. It has nothing to do with the parental love of the material world, which is based on a mood of sense gratification, since the parents see their children as objects of material enjoyment.