Three Cases That Prove The Existence Of An Overseer And Permitter

“Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.23)

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Upadrashta and anumanta. The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, who is also known as Bhagavan, reveals that He witnesses everything. The truth is told to the disciple named Arjuna, part of a conversation that is famously known as the Bhagavad-gita.

The living entity thinks they are the doer, that they are solely responsible for the results to actions. Otherwise, why would any person put in the effort? Unless the pitcher throws the ball in the bottom of the ninth inning, the game cannot be won. His team is leading, but that only reports on a temporary situation. The final outcome has yet to arrive, and to reach the destination some effort is required.

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

The results seen from repeated actions of the same variety create a kind of illusion. There is actually the hand of the Divine working in the background, which is proven through real-life test cases.

1. Getting up in the morning

Sure, during the winter months it’s a little more difficult. Wake up too early and it is still dark outside. It is bitterly cold, arctic-like conditions. The bed is more inviting, as underneath the blanket are warmth and comfort.

Nevertheless, work has to be done. Inevitably, the decision is made to get up out of bed and start the day. The individual makes the choice to act, and it is indeed a choice. The issue is that not every person sees the outcome. Just because I want to get up doesn’t mean that I will be able to.

There is a sanctioning force that remains relatively unseen. Yet there is clear evidence in the negative cases, the situations where the person making the choice does not see a successful outcome. Some aspect of nature has interfered, gotten in their way of doing something as basic as rising out of bed.

2. Understanding science

Introductory biology courses at the college level tend to be large. There are many students seeking a degree in medicine, and this is the first step. The reality is that so many will not make it to the next level. The course is large and difficult for a reason; to test who is actually serious about advancing and who possesses the necessary intelligence to one day have an occupation in the sciences.

If there were no Bhagavan in the background, then every person in the class would get a passing grade simply by putting in the effort. Yet not everyone succeeds. Not everyone has the work ethic to study a sufficient amount. Not everyone can understand the complex subject matter. The variety is due to the body type and also the Supersoul, who witnesses everything.

3. The sinner’s fruit

The bad guys got away with it. They killed innocent people in the forest, without subsequent repercussions. It’s not fair. Sinful life is actually pretty easy. Wait for someone else to do the work and then take the fruits of that work from them. Use lethal violence to both frighten and coerce.

In the case of the sages in the Dandaka forest, there was something holding them back. The rules of their institution prohibited them from using violence. They had the ability to protect using curses, but that would deplete their hard-earned store of pious credits.

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

The bad guys would get their punishment, but at the appropriate time. Shri Krishna witnessed everything as Supersoul, and in the manifest form of Shri Rama He delivered the consequences, which were ghastly. The punishment fit the crime, and so the bad guys who thought they were safe actually weren’t.

If He witnesses impious deeds, the Supersoul must see the good, as well. Therefore every call made to Him in earnest is worthwhile. There is no wasted effort in devotion, and so the saintly class stays connected to Him through prayers and songs including the holy names, like the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Despite work of day to dread,

Decision to get out of bed.

But not everyone outcome to see,

By higher forces inhibited to be.

Not every student in the class,

To earn grade sufficient to pass.

Overseer and permitter in background it means,

The sanctioning witness unseen.

Three Times Shri Rama Politely Declined Service Offered To Him

“My dear beautiful wife, what you have said is befitting the occasion and also indicative of the greatness of your family heritage. You are dearer to Me than My life, for you are My companion in the performance of religious duties.” (Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 10.21)

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He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, after all. What can any person really do for Him? Lying down in rest, in His personal form of Lord Vishnu, just through inhaling and exhaling, the universes come into existence, maintain state for some time, and then eventually dissolve. The symbolism to the reality should not be missed. Through an act otherwise considered involuntary, Vishnu does work that has bewildered the entire world since before anyone can remember.

Empowered by destiny, sometimes the influence of bad characters is too much for even those entrusted with protection of the innocent to handle. Divine intervention is required, and the man upstairs does not disappoint. He descends to earth whenever and wherever there is such a need, and He plays the role of greatest protector.

As Shri Rama, Bhagavan is so beloved that others are eager to offer service to Him. He proves His capabilities many times, yet still others do not sit back. They would rather accept suffering than see the person beloved by so many have to take great effort on their behalf. The Supreme Lord is so kind that He sometimes even declines offers, as the sentiment alone is enough to win His favor.

1. Lakshmana wanting to stage a coup

Take over the throne by force. If every person enlisted in the royal army were assigned to the task of protection, if family members objected, if it was the greatest sin to carry forward, Lakshmana still had no reservations. Rama was being wronged. It was the eldest son who succeeded the father on the throne; that was tradition and righteous. The next king of Ayodhya should be Rama and no one else.

The elder brother appreciated the sentiments of the younger. Lakshmana was a loyal protector, though typically the eldest is the one offering the protection. There was no need for violence, as there were other purposes to fulfill by leaving the kingdom and roaming the forest.

2. Guha’s kind hospitality

One person Rama met subsequently in the forest was Guha. He was the chief of the Nishada tribe, which is considered lower on the scale of possible human births. They were too uncivilized to live in the city, but Rama did not discriminate. He knew the pure devotion in Guha’s heart.

So when offered the kindest hospitality, Rama accepted the sentiment. There were stipulations to living in the forest, though. The wife Sita and the younger brother Lakshmana were accompanying, but Rama was to live like an ascetic. He could not accept high class food or royal-style transportation while serving out the exile punishment.

3. Sita’s words of warning

Though mild-mannered and gentle, sometimes the wife Sita would assertively speak. She thought that perhaps Rama was inviting unnecessary violence by roaming the forest while carrying weapons. Doing the wrong thing would incur sin, and the wife was only looking out for the husband’s welfare.

Shri Rama kindly accepted her well-meaning words. He did not chastise her, though dharma was on His side. The weapons were required, as the sages living in the forest were regularly being attacked and eaten away by wicked night-rangers, appearing in disguise. The weapons were there for defense only; Rama would not attack without cause.

Despite dealing with someone of such great stature, in these cases there is a noticeable lack of fear. There is potential to become very close in a relationship with the Supreme Lord, surpassing awe and reverence. Though denied in their requests, there was an inherent lack of fear in making them. More than someone to be worried about for their ability to retaliate, God is someone to be known and held close by in the heart, as He is already the best well-wishing friend.

In Closing:

No need for forever fearing,

God of pastimes endearing.

Like from wife advice hearing,

That from weapons sin nearing.

Lakshmana war with family to wage,

Guha’s hospitality in forest stage.

Shri Rama declining but sentiments to accept,

He of kindness and dharma to protect.

Fulfillment Of A Prophecy Told Many Years Before

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the shelter of the complete creation and from whose lotus navel the whole creation is manifested, immediately knocked the crown from the head of Kamsa and grabbed his long hair in His hand. He then dragged Kamsa from his seat to the wrestling dais and threw him down. Then Krishna at once straddled his chest and began to strike him over and over again. Simply from the strokes of His fist, Kamsa lost his vital force.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 43)

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Kamsa had a choice. A privilege not every person is fortunate enough to receive, the king of Mathura knew his fate. A voice from the sky, appearing out of nowhere, informed Kamsa that his death would arrive through the eighth child of his sister Devaki, who had just married Vasudeva.

In fact, it was on the way to escorting the new couple home that the voice gave the warning. A wise person understands that death is inevitable. What goes up must come down. That which started must at some point wind down and come to a complete stop.

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.13)

The full spectrum of changes, from start to finish, is known as a lifetime. The effects are on the body only; the individual within is unchanged. They are identified as spirit soul. It is a spark of the spiritual energy known as Brahman, and the same kind of spark animates every kind of living thing.

Kamsa now knew the means of death, but instead of accepting his fate he tried to nullify it. The thinking went that if the instrument of death would be a child born from a specific womb, why not get rid of that person altogether? Not considering that this was his own sister and that killing an innocent person went against morality in any way it was defined, the wicked ruler was ready to carry out his plan.

Some timely intervention by Vasudeva saved Devaki, for the time being. Later on the plans changed slightly. Kamsa started killing the children. Each one as it took birth got thrown against stone. Infanticide, really no different than the modern-day practice of abortion, was used to help cancel destiny.

Despite the best brainpower applied, even with the most well-laid plans, the Supreme Lord is always one step ahead. No one can outsmart Him; not even a demigod. They have more power at their disposal; power greater than what Kamsa possessed.

Lord Indra, the king of heaven, tried to take out Krishna through a devastating rainstorm. Brahma, the creator, attempted to bewilder the child of Devaki by stealing His friends and cows. Kamsa, too, used the help of asuras possessing mystical powers. They came as a whirlwind, a poison-giving witch, a giant bull, and other such deadly forces.

Each aggressor met defeat at the hands of Krishna. Indra and Brahma were spared severe punishment, since they are ultimately on the side of good. After every asura was defeated, eventually the time came for Kamsa to see death in person.

On the pretense of competing in a wrestling match, Shri Krishna arrived in Mathura. He made His way towards where Kamsa was seated, and in a single swift, but powerful blow with the fist the words from that voice in the sky proved truthful.

Death is the guaranteed end for every person, so Kamsa’s was a special case. He was informed beforehand and he also saw the hand of the Divine right at the time of quitting the body. This was a unique kind of mercy reserved for the wickedest characters, who are actually devotees sent from the spiritual world.

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

The pastimes are instructive, as they reveal that no matter how much man may try, they cannot thwart the Divine will. Better to be on the side of good than evil. The bad guys may rise to prominence for a time, but the difficult and painful crash to the bottom, the just reward for their sinful deeds, will occur when appropriate.

In Closing:

To nature of deeds proportionate,

And arriving at time appropriate.

Like with King Kamsa the case,

Who tried destiny to erase.

Death from within family to come,

Eighth child of sister the one.

From Krishna with punch delivering,

Fortunate all things considering.

A Terrible Revenge Of The Gods

“When the cowherd men of Vrindavana, under instruction of Krishna, stopped offering sacrifice to the heavenly King, Indra, the whole tract of land known as Vraja was threatened with being washed away by constant heavy rains for seven days. Lord Krishna, out of His causeless mercy upon the inhabitants of Vraja, held up the hill known as Govardhana with one hand only, although He was only seven years old. He did this to protect the animals from the onslaught of water.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.7.32)

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The avid golfer who is not quite good enough to play professionally gives a warning. Never get too confident. Even if you have a few good days on the course, where it seems like you have finally figured out the game, maintain your humility. Otherwise the golf gods will come bearing down on you. The punishment will be swift, and the frustration of the past will quickly return.

In Vrindavana many years ago the people were wise, despite living very simply. They understood that something can’t come from nothing. Even if there were this small chunk of energy existing at the beginning of creation, someone had to put it there. Additionally, it had to exist somewhere. There had to be a location, and until someone knows for sure, that time and place will always be a mystery.

The people of this community attributed the origin to the Almighty. Bhagavan and Vishnu were a few Sanskrit names used to describe Him. The residents also acknowledged the presence of deputies. These were god-like figures, but not the Supreme Lord Himself. Living piously, those protectors of cows and the pious way of living didn’t want to needlessly offend any person in power.

In steps the young and adorable son of the king. Nanda Maharaja was blessed to have Krishna appear in his life. Everyone felt like the boy was their own, that He was sent from above to provide delight on a daily basis. Leading the community as usual, Nanda had everyone prepare for the annual Indra-yajna.

This was a sacrifice to the god of heaven, who had the distinction of being responsible for the rain. Sure, the laws of science say that certain elements combine to create rainfall. There is the sun using its powers to pick up moisture from the oceans. Then clouds form, eventually reaching the point where the water is returned back to the earth.

Understanding all of this, the people considered there was intelligence behind the workings of nature. Rain didn’t occur just randomly. This was a kind of misery, sourced in the devas, adhidaivika. If Indra were pleased, then clouds would be directed to target the fields that needed water for producing grains. What would be the harm in spending a little time each year to pay honor to someone with such an important role?

Nanda’s child had a different idea. Why not worship the nearby Govardhana Hill instead? Nanda wasn’t going to reject the idea outright. The people could do both. Krishna was so persuasive that the decision was reached to shift gears. No Indra-yajna this year. There was something going on behind the scenes. Krishna knew what He was doing.

The initial result was auspicious. Everyone had a good time worshiping the hill together. They brought an astounding number of food items. The hill even spoke to them afterwards, advising that the same worship should be conducted annually going forward.

As things were winding down, the situation changed. An ominous looking cloud appeared overhead, followed by devastating rain. Not your typical thunderstorm, the flash-flooding was so severe that it threatened to wash everyone away.

The initial thought was that this was the terrible revenge of the gods, and more specifically Indra. That inclination proved to be accurate. The king of heaven was indeed upset at being skipped over, especially due to the influence of Krishna. Something like the car dealer coming after you with a hammer for deciding to not purchase your next vehicle from them, Indra gave no respect to prior loyalty. Just one perceived offense was enough to earn his wrath.

No problem for Krishna, though. All along He had a higher purpose in mind. The literal meaning was validated through Krishna lifting up the just worshiped Govardhana, holding it high in the air. That massive piece of land served as the world’s largest umbrella. Crisis averted. The people safe and secure. The threat of danger from following His advice, but ultimately no harm.

Indra eventually relented, then apologizing for what he tried to do. The revenge of the gods was not enough to overcome the mercy of Krishna, who is the Almighty Himself. Those who seek His shelter have their devotion protected, even when all signs point in the other direction.

In Closing:

Signs pointing in other direction,

Where now to get protection?

Indra his vengeful wrath sending,

Because of skipped puja offending.

A terrible revenge crisis to avert,

When towards worshiped hill to revert.

There Krishna lifting high into air,

Saving all from flooding’s scare.

How Are The Disc And The Club Beautiful

“The four arms of Lord Vishnu have different purposes. The hands holding a lotus flower and conchshell are meant for the devotees, whereas the other two hands, holding a disc and mace, or club, are meant for the demons. Actually all of the Lord's arms are auspicious, whether they are holding conchshells and flowers or clubs and discs.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.24.45-46 Purport)

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Friend1: You ever run into people who are frightened by the picture of Narasimhadeva?

Friend2: Which picture?

Friend1: You know. Where He is bifurcating Hiranyakashipu.

Friend2: Yes, definitely. Who wouldn’t be a little taken aback? You’re in a temple. Everyone is supposed to be peaceful. It’s kind of a serious atmosphere. There is an altar, which is a designated place of worship. Amongst the items placed on top is this picture of a half-man/half-lion tearing apart some guy on his lap.

Friend1: With blood and guts spilling out. The lion-figure looks pretty upset, too.

Friend2: And if you look carefully enough, on the side is this diminutive figure. It’s a small boy offering a garland. You come to find out later that the boy is the son of the guy whose guts are spilling out.

Friend1: The garland is being offered to the killer, too.

Friend2: It’s amazing, if you think about it. So much to ponder from a single image. This is a good starter today. I must give you credit.

Friend1: I would think the first aspect to study is the initial reaction. Well, more specifically the dichotomy in reactions.

Friend2: One side is terrified, taken aback, frightened, what have you. The other side thinks the image is so beautiful that it needs to be worshiped on an altar.

Friend1: What is the explanation?

Friend2: To the side that is frightened?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: Immerse yourself in bhakti-yoga. Then you will understand.

Friend1: Come on. We can do better than that, no?

Friend2: It’s sort of like the initial response when people see the death penalty about to be applied. They don’t see the initial violence. There is no video of that. The images of the crime scene aren’t repeatedly shown on television.

Friend1: The impending punishment is the only thing on the mind, not the original crime.

Friend2: Yeah, and so look at this case in the same way. You don’t see the images of the heinous crimes committed by Hiranyakashipu. You don’t see him throwing Prahlada off a cliff or into a pit of snakes. You don’t see Prahlada being attacked.

Friend1: I guess that’s because the boy survived. No blood and guts.

Friend2: Because they didn’t spill. Bhagavan protected Prahlada. That’s the reason for the anger in that lion form. Hiranyakashipu deserved to be bifurcated and more. Prahlada offered the garland because he knew who was protecting him. The same person could have protected the father, were he on the side of piety.

Friend1: Okay, so that explains the justification for the act. I have a better understanding of the story leading to the incident depicted in the picture. Still, why should it be worshiped? Why not focus on something peaceful, like a lotus flower or a conchshell? The two items in Lord Vishnu’s hands.

Friend2: Vishnu has four hands. He is the same Narasimhadeva, the person worshiped by Prahlada. Vishnu holds items in His other two hands, also.

Friend1: The disc and the club.

Friend2: Yes, and are those not beautiful?

Friend1: Some would say they imply violence.

Friend2: But they are worshiped all the same. Just see. To the devotee both sides are equally beautiful. Narasimhadeva killing is just as fit for worship as the image of child Krishna with His hand in a pot of butter.

Friend1: Okay, but why?

Friend2: Because the sides of peace and punishment are equally as auspicious. I’m sure you meet some people who are into guns.

Friend1: Like owning them or shooting them?

Friend2: Either. They aren’t necessarily violent people. They understand the purpose of the gun in that context. It is beautiful to them because it protects against bad guys. Protection is required for a society to remain peaceful.

Friend1: So the disc and the club are like the gun? They are weapons meant to maintain order.

Friend2: To annihilate the miscreants. Vishnu doesn’t attack innocent people. He normally doesn’t intervene at all. This is because karma delivers justice fairly, properly, and at the appropriate time. Vishnu enters the picture for special cases. He protects the devotion of the devotees, which was the reason for the Narasimha appearance.

In Closing:

Attendees into temple room filling,

See gruesome photo of guts spilling.

Lion-figure from torso apart tearing,

Victim’s son giving garland for wearing.

Like Vishnu two hands for each,

Peace and lesson for demons to teach.

For devotees all auspicious the same,

Fitting entire picture into frame.

Three Ways Hiranyakashipu Tried To Deprogram Prahlada

“Hiranyakashipu advised his assistants: My dear demons, give complete protection to this boy at the guru-kula where he is instructed, so that his intelligence will not be further influenced by Vaishnavas who may go there in disguise.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.7)

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Meat eating is normal. It’s what everyone else does. Gambling? Perhaps every now and then. You certainly don’t want to get addicted. The same goes for intoxication. Nothing wrong with enjoying an adult beverage here and there, like when celebrating a special occasion.

Sex life? How else are people supposed to enjoy? Do it responsibly, so that you don’t have to kill the child in the womb afterwards, but there is no harm in indulging a little too much. The main emphasis is to follow the religion inherited from the parents. Not that strictly, either, just acknowledge. There used to be rules and regulations, going to church and the like, but the aim now is to avoid eternal damnation.

It’s not surprising for a person growing up in such an environment to meet opposition when they take up bhakti-yoga, devotional service. The four regulative principles alone are foreign, as upon first glance they seem like torture. Then there are the related practices of chanting a mantra with Sanskrit words, worshiping a statue in a temple, and reading books that constantly focus on birth and death.

Wary parents of atheistic inclinations or those entrenched in blind faith might take extreme measures to change the behavior of their children, to move them away from worshiping a deity of a bluish complexion, who is always smiling and carrying a flute. They may try what is called “deprogramming,” which is a sort of brainwashing technique. Force the person out of devotional service and back into material life.

From the Shrimad Bhagavatam we learn that the practice isn’t an invention of the modern day. A powerful king once tried this with his own son.

1. Sending to school

Hiranyakashipu really had no religion. He had used elements of dharma to ascend to power, but that was more a business transaction. Worship a specific personality, ask for stuff, get what you want, and then move on. The only distinction in this case was that Hiranyakashipu asked for the world and basically got it.

He didn’t worship an ordinary person, either. Lord Brahma is the creator. Known as Vidhata, he takes the three base ingredients of goodness, passion and ignorance and creates the different species we see. There are many we haven’t seen, either, and the Vedas cap the total number at 8,400,000.

Hiranyakashipu became the most feared ruler as a result of Brahma’s grace. There was a son, named Prahlada, who was to follow in the father’s footsteps. Let there be a dynasty of atheistic rulers, known in this case as Daityas, who are one of the aforementioned species. Their distinction is that they are asuras, or bad guys. It’s in their blood to be antagonistic towards the concept of God and devotion to Him.

The problem here was that somehow Prahlada was a devotee from birth, and a pure one at that. Not just worshiping the personal God from time to time, to ask for stuff, Prahlada cast aside interest in material advancement right away. He was prepared to make the human birth worthwhile, to no more swim in the ocean of birth and death.

Hiranyakashipu’s first effort could be called programming; the deprogramming would come later. Prahlada went to school. He was to learn statecraft. He was to become expert in the four principal means of diplomacy.

2. Telling the teachers to try again

The father one day asked what Prahlada had learned. Specifically, he wanted to know what was the best subject. Prahlada gave a reply that had nothing to do with what was taught in school. The boy focused on the need to make the human birth successful and how going to the forest was superior to material accumulation. There a person can better meditate on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.

The father viewed Vishnu as the mortal enemy. Vishnu is the personal side to the Divine, a way to go beyond the abstract, to no more have to speculate as to the features and nature of the being who is the origin of everything. So angered by the response, Hiranyakashipu demanded that the teachers go and make the boy’s mind right. He essentially gave the order to deprogram.

3. The threat of lethal punishment

The irony was that not only did the instruction from the teachers not work, Prahlada became a sort of teacher himself. During recess the other schoolchildren would gather around and listen to Prahlada give a discourse on the science of self-realization. The boy had learned while within the womb, from the celebrated Narada Muni. He retained the knowledge upon taking birth, and he wasn’t shy in sharing it with others.

Hiranyakashipu again asked what was learned, and this time Prahlada described the nine processes of devotional service. Deprogramming from the teachers obviously hadn’t worked. The next resort was lethal punishment. Not really a threat, but more a way to get rid of the nuisance. Physically remove the problem. There was just one source of devotion to Vishnu in the kingdom, and killing Prahlada would remedy the situation.

Just as Vishnu is without death, so the devotion of His most cherished servants remains intact. Prahlada could not be killed. The programming and deprogramming efforts were thwarted, all by some words of wisdom delivered to the boy before he was even born. The great physical strength of the atheistic father was no match for the meditation in devotion of the young son.

In Closing:

Plan of lethal force to apply,

But failure no matter how much to try.

The boy who from Narada Muni received,

Within womb after parents to conceive.

Program first and then later again to try,

On family teachers the king to rely.

No success whatever the case,

Devotion no teacher could erase.

No Liability In The Court Of Divine Opinion

“Lord Brahma said: O son of Kashyapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.3.17)

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Friend1: Let’s talk about the issue of liability today.

Friend2: Sure.

Friend1: You know how if something goes wrong with an automobile that leads to an accident, there can be a lawsuit afterwards?

Friend2: By wrong, you mean a malfunction? Something faulty in the construction?

Friend1: Yeah, where they should have issued a recall, but they didn’t.

Friend2: Oh, sure. You can have a lot of people join in. The class action lawsuit. The people injured can sue for damages.

Friend1: Pain and suffering.

Friend2: Right. The bill adds up pretty quick.

Friend1: And there is similar stuff with other industries.

Friend2: The tobacco case is one of the more famous ones.

Friend1: Now I don’t want to argue the merits and demerits. Who knows if these companies really should be liable.

Friend2: There is the counterargument that the customers knew the risks going in. NFL players knew they weren’t going to be sitting at a chessboard. Violent contact was expected, so on what grounds can they complain after the fact?

Friend1: Yeah, the whole concussion thing. Anyway, let me transition to spiritual life. Specifically, let’s look at demigod worship.

Friend2: Your favorite topic.

Friend1: We have the two notable instances of Ravana and Hiranyakashipu.

Friend2: Notable for what?

Friend1: Many things, but in this case let’s focus on death and destruction.

Friend2: Oh, there was certainly a lot of that.

Friend1: In Ravana’s case, he sent his men to go out and eat people. They wouldn’t just kill. And the targets were the most innocent adults in society, living in the least threatening areas.

Friend2: The sages residing in the tapo-vanas, the forests conducive for austerity and penance.

Friend1: Ravana’s men would attack right at the time of sacrifice. This is one of the reasons the sage Vishvamitra sent for Shri Rama as a bodyguard. Though only a youth, the Supreme Lord in the incarnation form was a perfect protector.

Friend2: It’s funny to hear Maricha describe the ability, which he witnessed firsthand. In fact, Maricha had a boon from Lord Brahma, too, I believe. Ravana’s most trusted advisor became powerful in a way similar to his boss.

Friend1: I guess you read my mind. That is exactly where I was going with this.

Friend2: Of course. You want to know if the demigods are liable for the destruction caused by the use of their boons.

Friend1: Precisely. Ravana and Hiranyakashipu wouldn’t have been able to terrorize were it not for Brahma, the creator. He more or less gave them whatever they asked for.

Friend2: You ask if he is liable, but you already know the answer.

Friend1: He is not. The demigods are just playing their role. They are not to make character judgments. Dealing with them is like doing business. I get that, but we see that certain businesses have become liable.

Friend2: That is in the court of public opinion, which is flawed. Moreover, many companies are not liable. We know that terrorists use smartphones to carry out their work. The manufacturer is not charged in the subsequent crimes.

Friend1: Are you telling me that Brahma and others can’t tell who they are dealing with? They live in the mode of goodness, which includes intelligence. Why not say “no” to the bad characters?

Friend2: Like I said, that is not part of their duties. The material world is compared to a prison for a reason. You can rise to the top. The illusion of forgetting God can reach the apex. The potential is there. Rule the world. Have sufficient food and beverage. No worries about having to work. No fear from enemies. Still, there is no peace. There is another factor to consider.

Friend1: What is that?

Friend2: If you want to sue Brahma for damages, you should give him praise, as well. His boons allowed two powerful figures to create such dangerous conditions that the Supreme Lord Himself had to step in. That is to say these boons paved the way for the Divine appearance, which the devotees delight in.

Friend1: That is true.

Friend2: Only the Supreme Lord understands the complete picture. There is plenty of blame to go around, otherwise. The sun is complicit in every activity conducted in the world. So is the rain. The earth is the field for both pious and sinful activities. The Divine opinion is what matters most, and His attention is won particularly through devotional acts, like chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

How boon-giver from liability released,

Since due to him power increased?

Since true to role only he gave,

Situation bad enough for God to save.

Then worthy also of praises,

In Ravana and Hiranyakashipu cases.

Mattering in Divine opinion’s court,

Krishna’s vision both long and short.