Krishna Saves His Devotees: Stories of Protection in Srimad Bhagavatam

SB 1.8.1 - 16 Krishna again saves His devotees

Offering obeisances n r ya a namask tya nara caiva narottamam dev sarasvat vy sa tato jayam ud rayet Before reciting this r mad-Bh gavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, N r ya a, unto Nara-n r ya a i, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvat , the goddess of learning, and unto r la Vy sadeva, the author. SB 1.2.4

naa-pryev abhadreu nitya bh gavata-sevay bhagavaty uttama- loke bhaktir bhavati nai hik By regular attendance in classes on the Bh gavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. SB1.2.18

SB 1.8.1 s ta uv ca atha te samparet n m sv n m udakam icchat m d tum sakr s n ga g y m puraskr tya yayuh striyah SYNONYMS s tah uv ca S ta said; atha thus; te the P n d avas; samparet n m of the dead; sv n m of the relatives; udakam water; icchat m willing to have; d tum to deliver; sa-kr s n h along with Draupad ; ga g y m on the Ganges; puraskr tya putting in the front; yayuh went; striyah the women. TRANSLATION S ta Gosv m said: Thereafter the P n d avas, desiring to deliver water to the dead relatives who had desired it, went to the Ganges with Draupad . The ladies walked in front.

SB 1.8.2 te nin yodakam sarve vilapya ca bhr am punah plut hari-p d bja- rajah -p ta-sarij-jale SYNONYMS te all of them; nin ya having offered; udakam water; sarve every one of them; vilapya having lamented; ca and; bhr am sufficiently; punah again; plut h took bath;hari-p d bja the lotus feet of the Lord; rajah dust; p ta purified; sarit of the Ganges; jale in the water. TRANSLATION Having lamented over them and sufficiently offered Ganges water, they bathed in the Ganges, whose water is sanctified due to being mixed with the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord.

SB 1.8.3 tatr s nam kuru-patim dhr tar s t ram sah nujam g ndh r m putra- ok rt m pr th m kr s n m ca m dhavah SYNONYMS tatra there; s nam sitting; kuru-patim the King of the Kurus; dhr tar s t ram Dhr tar s t ra; saha-anujam with his younger brothers; g ndh r m G ndh r ; putra son; oka-art m overtaken by bereavement; pr th m Kunt ; kr s n m Draupad ; ca also; m dhavah Lord r Kr s n a. TRANSLATION There sat the King of the Kurus, Mah r ja Yudhis t hira, along with his younger brothers and Dhr tar s t ra, G ndh r , Kunt and Draupad , all overwhelmed with grief. Lord Kr s n a was also there.

Tragic Battle of Kurukshetra Everyone related to one another It was tragic for everyone involved The Lord was equally sympathetic to all Culture of offering prayers to the departed Lord s sweet exchanges with His devotees Devotees reveal their minds to the Lord First lamentation, before the heart becomes open to hear

SB 1.8.4 s ntvay m sa munibhir hata-bandh uc rpit n bh tes u k lasya gatim dar ayan na pratikriy m SYNONYMS s ntvay m sa pacified; munibhih along with the munis present there; hata- bandh n those who lost their friends and relatives; uc rpit n all shocked and affected; bh tes u unto the living beings; k lasya of the supreme law of the Almighty; gatim reactions; dar ayan demonstrated; na no; pratikriy m remedial measures. TRANSLATION Citing the stringent laws of the Almighty and their reactions upon living beings, Lord r Kr s n a and the munis began to pacify those who were shocked and affected.

SB 1.8.4 Time Stringent laws of the Almighty Our Eternal Subjugation Stringent Law of God Dharma Religion Laws given by God Religious person Who follows laws given by God Happiness only through following the laws Both material and spiritual In the material world Our duty In the spiritual world Spontaneous loving transcendental service We cant see In the material conditioned state Neither ourselves nor the Lord for want of spiritual vision

Material Affection Stems from this lack of vision Misconception of Mine stems from misconception of I Therefore Krishna starts Bhagavad Gita with explanation of our real identity as the eternal soul So real pacification for those in grief Based on spiritual knowledge Takes place by association of devotees Not everyone can take it Sometimes just be there and help out in regular chores

SB 1.8.5 s dhayitv j ta- atroh svam r jyam kitavair hr tam gh tayitv sato r j ah kaca-spar a-ks at yus ah SYNONYMS s dhayitv having executed; aj ta- atroh of one who has no enemy; svam r jyam own kingdom; kitavaih by the clever (Duryodhana and party); hr tam usurped; gh tayitv having killed;asatah the unscrupulous; r j ah of the queen's; kaca bunch of hair; spar a roughly handled; ks ata decreased; yus ah by the duration of life. TRANSLATION The clever Duryodhana and his party cunningly usurped the kingdom of Yudhis t hira, who had no enemy. By the grace of the Lord, the recovery was executed, and the unscrupulous kings who joined with Duryodhana were killed by Him. Others also died, their duration of life having decreased for their rough handling of the hair of Queen Draupad .

5 categories of beings to be protected. Each bring great value Brahmanas maintain the institution of varn a and rama, the most scientific culture for attainment of spiritual life Head of the spiritual body Speak, Think, Lead, Eat on behalf of the Lord Purpose of ISKCON To bring some brahmanas into the society Cows maintains the most miraculous form of food, i.e., milk for maintaining the finer tissues of the brain for understanding higher aims of life. Women maintains the chastity of society, by which we can get a good generation for peace, tranquillity and progress of life Children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberty from material bondage Begins with Garbha Daan Sanskar Elderly gives them a chance to prepare themselves for better life after death.

Complete outlook based upon factors leading to successful humanity Ultimate goal Going back to Godhead As against the civilization of polished cats and dogs Ultimate goal Nothing or Sense Gratification Even insulting prohibited, what about killing One loses duration of life by insulting a chaste woman

SB 1.8.6 y jayitv vamedhais tam tribhir uttama-kalpakaih tad-ya ah p vanam diks u ata-manyor iv tanot SYNONYMS y jayitv by performing; a vamedhaih yaj a in which a horse is sacrificed; tam him (King Yudhis t hira); tribhih three; uttama best; kalpakaih supplied with proper ingredients and performed by able priests; tat that; ya ah fame; p vanam virtuous; diks u all directions; ata-manyoh Indra, who performed one hundred such sacrifices; iva like; atanot spread. TRANSLATION Lord r Kr s n a caused three well-performed A vamedha-yaj as [horse sacrifices] to be conducted by Mah r ja Yudhis t hira and thus caused his virtuous fame to be glorified in all directions, like that of Indra, who had performed one hundred such sacrifices.

Devotee of Krishna is greater than any materialist doing the most charitable work. Brings greater material and spiritual benefit Association with the Lord or Lord s devotee is the greatest opulence Is Krishna partial to His devotees? Krishna is equal to everyone (Equal opportunity organization..) Example of Sun Bu t the devotee is most receptive to His mercy Devotee represents cent-percent full fledged mercy of the Lord So he is most glorified

SB 1.8.7 mantrya p n d u-putr m ca aineyoddhava-sam yutah dvaip yan dibhir vipraih p jitaih pratip jitah SYNONYMS mantrya inviting; p n d u-putr n all the sons of P n d u; ca also; aineya S tyaki; uddhava Uddhava; sam yutah accompanied; dvaip yana- dibhih by the r s is like Vedavy sa; vipraih by the br hman as; p jitaih being worshiped; pratip jitah the Lord also reciprocated equally. TRANSLATION Lord r Kr s n a then prepared for His departure. He invited the sons of P n d u, after having been worshiped by the br hman as, headed by r la Vy sadeva. The Lord also reciprocated greetings.

Ksatriya worshipped by Brahmanas? Brahmanas knew His position as the Supreme Lord Lord reciprocated the greetings Catur Varnam Maya Sristam Yad Yad Acharati Shresthas

SB 1.8.8 gantum kr tamatir brahman dv rak m ratham sthitah upalebhe 'bhidh vant m uttar m bhaya-vihval m SYNONYMS gantum just desiring to start; kr tamatih having decided; brahman O br hman a; dv rak m towards Dv rak ; ratham on the chariot; sthitah seated; upalebhe saw; abhidh vant m coming hurriedly; uttar m Uttar ; bhaya-vihval m being afraid. TRANSLATION As soon as He seated Himself on the chariot to start for Dv rak , He saw Uttar hurrying toward Him in fear.

All members of Pandu dynasty fully dependent on the Lord Lord especially looks after His devotee Though He protects everyone Father is more attentive to the little son who is exclusively dependent on the father Srila Prabhupada Maya cannot touch me Praying to little deities to protect me from Maya Not just instructed us to chant Hare Krishna, but always chanted Hare Krishna Whatever Krishna said is Good, everything else Bad. Bas, our confusion is finished I will see Krishna in the bomb HG Harivilas Prabhu s example of a selfless servant

SB 1.8.9 uttarov ca p hi p hi mah -yogin deva-deva jagat-pate n nyam tvad abhayam pa ye yatra mr tyuh parasparam SYNONYMS uttar uv ca Uttar said; p hi p hi protect, protect; mah -yogin the greatest mystic; deva-deva the worshipable of the worshiped; jagat- pate O Lord of the universe; na not; anyam anyone else; tvat than You; abhayam fearlessness; pa ye do I see; yatra where there is; mr tyuh death; parasparam in the world of duality. TRANSLATION Uttar said: O Lord of lords, Lord of the universe! You are the greatest of mystics. Please protect me, for there is no one else who can save me from the clutches of death in this world of duality.

Other than the Lord, no one can be devoid of fear Lord is the only shelter of fearlessness for the surrendered soul Krishna is their only shelter, their master Fear Of illusion, duality, of forgetting Krishna Because duality covers our remembrance of Krishna Protection not just physical but from the world of duality Features of Duality Dual existence of matter and spirit Fear, Death, Enviousness, Everyone trying to be the master Protection from the sea of duality all around us By being in mode of service Through spiritual conception Death is inevitable HG Stoka Krishna Prabhu

SB 1.8.10 abhidravati m m a aras tapt yaso vibho k mam dahatu m m n tha m me garbho nip tyat m SYNONYMS abhidravati coming towards; m m me; a O Lord; arah the arrow; tapta fiery; ayasah iron; vibho O great one; k mam desire; dahatu let it burn; m m me; n tha Oprotector; m not; me my; garbhah embryo; nip tyat m be aborted. TRANSLATION O my Lord, You are all-powerful. A fiery iron arrow is coming towards me fast. My Lord, let it burn me personally, if You so desire, but please do not let it burn and abort my embryo. Please do me this favor, my Lord.

Devotee asks Krishna for favors, but not for themselves But for my service Mother was responsible for her child (one of the 5 beings to be protected) Not ashamed to take Krishna s shelter How could Asvatthama throw Brahmastras even after all he suffered? He lost his power and effulgence, but not his knowledge or memory Nor his hatred for the Pandavas However, he was later given the benediction to become one of the seven great sages in the next Manavantara Everything was Krishna s pastime They proceed according to His desire and simply for His pleasure Participants in those pastimes are suitably empowered to play their respective roles

SB 1.8.11 s ta uv ca upadh rya vacas tasy bhagav n bhakta-vatsalah ap n d avam idam kartum draun er astram abudhyata SYNONYMS s tah uv ca S ta Gosv m said; upadh rya by hearing her patiently; vacah words; tasy h her; bhagav n the Personality of Godhead; bhakta-vatsalah He who is very much affectionate towards His devotees; ap n d avam without the existence of the P n d avas' descendants; idam this; kartum to do it; draun eh of the son of Dron c rya; astram weapon; abudhyata understood. TRANSLATION S ta Gosv m said: Having patiently heard her words, Lord r Kr s n a, who is always very affectionate to His devotees, could at once understand that A vatth m , the son of Dron c rya, had thrown the brahm stra to finish the last life in the P n d ava family.

Bhakti Vatsalah Most prominent feature of Krishna Only devotees come to know it Non-devotees don t know it, because they are envious Lord wants to protect the devotees, because that is for everyone s good Lord wanted the Pandavas to rule the world, because they are ideal family of devotees

SB 1.8.12 tarhy ev tha muni- res t ha p n d av h pa ca s yak n tmano 'bhimukh n d pt n laks y str n y up daduh SYNONYMS tarhi then; eva also; atha therefore; muni- res t ha O chief amongst the munis; p n d av h all the sons of P n d u; pa ca five; s yak n weapons; tmanah own selves; abhimukh n towards; d pt n glaring; laks ya seeing it; astr n i weapons; up daduh took up. TRANSLATION O foremost among the great thinkers [munis] [ aunaka], seeing the glaring brahm stra proceeding towards them, the P n d avas took up their five respective weapons.

2 Brahmastras were shot One to kill all the five Pandavas Another to kill Maharaj Parikshit Purpose - To kill all remaining members of Pandava dynasty

SB 1.8.13 vyasanam v ks ya tat tes m ananya-vis ay tman m sudar anena sv stren a sv n m raks m vyadh d vibhuh SYNONYMS vyasanam great danger; v ks ya having observed; tat that; tes m their; ananya no other; vis aya means; tman m thus inclined; sudar anena by the wheel of r Kr s n a; sva-astren a by the weapon; sv n m of His own devotees; raks m protection; vyadh t did it; vibhuh the Almighty. TRANSLATION The almighty Personality of Godhead, r Kr s n a, having observed that a great danger was befalling His unalloyed devotees, who were fully surrendered souls, at once took up His Sudar ana disc to protect them.

Brahmastra More powerful than nuclear bombs More radiation and heat Product of a subtler science Sound of a mantra Accurate Kills the target, spares the innocent Pandavas knew nothing but the Lord That is their qualification Lord broke his vow to protect His devotees Nothing else is more important for the Lord (Bhakta Vatsalah)

SB 1.8.14 antah sthah sarva-bh t n m tm yoge varo harih sva-m yay vr n od garbham vair t y h kuru-tantave SYNONYMS antah sthah being within; sarva all; bh t n m of the living beings; tm soul; yoga- varah the Lord of all mysticism; harih the Supreme Lord; sva-m yay by the personal energy; vr n ot covered; garbham embryo; vair t y h of Uttar ; kuru-tantave for the progeny of Mah r ja Kuru. TRANSLATION The Lord of supreme mysticism, r Kr s n a, resides within everyone's heart as the Param tm . As such, just to protect the progeny of the Kuru dynasty, He He covered the embryo of Uttar by His personal energy.

SB 1.12.7: O son of Bhr gu [ aunaka], when the child Par ks it, the great fighter, was in the womb of his mother, Uttar , and was suffering from the burning heat of the brahm stra [thrown byA vatth m ], he could observe the Supreme Lord coming to him. SB 1.12.8: He [the Lord] was only thumb high, but He was all transcendental. He had a very beautiful, blackish, infallible body, and He wore a dress of lightning yellow and a helmet of blazing gold. Thus He was seen by the child. SB 1.12.9: The Lord was enriched with four hands, earrings of molten gold and eyes blood red with fury. As He loitered about, His club constantly encircled Him like a shooting star. SB 1.12.10: The Lord was thus engaged in vanquishing the radiation of the brahm stra, just as the sun evaporates a drop of dew. He was observed by the child, who thought about who He was.

Krishna Supreme Mystic Mystics known for doing things which defy the laws of nature Manipulating subtle laws of nature which seem to defy gross laws of nature Another mysticism Simultaneously residing in the heart of every living entity Within every atom Maharaj Parikshit s embryonic body was burnt by the Brahmastra A second body was given by the Lord

SB 1.8.15 yadyapy astram brahma- iras tv amogham c pratikriyam vais n avam teja s dya sama myad bhr g dvaha SYNONYMS yadyapi although; astram weapon; brahma- irah supreme; tu but; amogham without check; ca and; apratikriyam not to be counteracted; vais n avam in relation with Vis n u; tejah strength; s dya being confronted with; sama myat was neutralized; bhr gu-udvaha O glory of the family of Bhr gu. TRANSLATION O aunaka, although the supreme brahm stra weapon released by A vatth m was irresistible and without check or counteraction, it was neutralized and foiled when confronted by the strength ofVis n u [Lord Kr s n a].

Brahmastra cant be checked or counteracted But Krishna checks it Classic question Can God create something so heavy He cant lift it? Yes He can, and then He will lift it Devotee in shelter of His internal potency (which can counteract anything) A position of fearlessness Only thing to fear Forgetting Krishna By chanting HKMM and constant remembrance, Krishna admits us into His spiritual realm

SB 1.8.16 m mam sth hy etad caryam sarv caryamaye 'cyute ya idam m yay devy sr jaty avati hanty ajah SYNONYMS m do not; mam sth h think; hi certainly; etat all these; caryam wonderful; sarva all; carya-maye in the all-mysterious; acyute the infallible; yah one who; idam this (creation); m yay by His energy; devy transcendental; sr jati creates; avati maintains; hanti annihilates; ajah unborn. TRANSLATION O br hman as, do not think this to be especially wonderful in the activities of the mysterious and infallible Personality of Godhead. By His own transcendental energy, He maintains and annihilates all material things, although He Himself is unborn.

He is unborn But everything is created, maintained, destroyed by Him He is unstoppable He can create, maintain, destroy anything as and when He wishes There is no Satan! Equally powerful entity to God Other religions are Satanic! Only evil is man s usage of free will To the degree that the free will is rewarded Anything can be retracted at any time by God Everything is just a spark of my splendor!

Summary Krishna s sweet exchanges with His devotees Pacifying ones in grief Through vision of transcendental knowledge given by devotees Or just be there. Help out. 5 categories of beings to be protected Lord s protection Lord is equal to all Especially looks after one who is fully dependent upon Him Lord s most prominent feature Bhakta Vatsalah From the world of duality (Fear, death, envy) Devotee is greater than any materialist Because he is the best recipient of His mercy My Daddy is the Best! There is no Satan!

References: Srila Prabhupada s purports on these verses HG Bhurijana Prabhu sbook: Unveiling His Lotus Feet ISKCONDESIRETREE HH Romapada Swami Maharaj s lecture 1.8.1-16 HG Bhurijana Prabhu s lecture 1.8.1-16 HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj s lecture 1.8.6