Two Rules To Remember Relating To God's Creation

“Bhagavan means He who possesses these six opulences in full: all riches, all strength, all influence, all wisdom, all beauty, all renunciation.” (Vishnu Purana, 6.5.47)

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ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य
वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः
ज्ञान-वैराग्ययश् चैव
षण्णां भग इतीङ्गना

aiśvaryasya samagrasya
vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayaś caiva
ṣaṇṇāṁ bhaga itīṅganā

The government has built a new park. Smack dab in the middle of a bustling urban area, this is much needed. Finally, some greenery to meet the needs of the eyes. Moods will hopefully perk up. Ponds, bridges you can walk on, sanctuaries for different wildlife, a designated trail, and even recreational areas.

Since there is a managing authority, there are new rules accompanying the opening of the park. The place will be open only during certain times each day. To use certain facilities, a permit will be required. Local residents get higher priority. There is time set aside for cleanup, maintenance, and the like.

If we think of the entire creation as operating under a similar model, there are certain rules to remember, as expressed by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

1. The properties made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be utilized by all living entities

The entire creation is much more intricate, complex and vast than a place created by the parks and recreation department of the government. The proprietor is the original person. One Sanskrit word to describe Him is Bhagavan. This is more descriptive than the general Ishvara. God as Ishvara is the great controller, but this doesn’t really describe anything about Him. Ishvara says that He has potency, but what about identifying Him, connecting with Him, visiting Him, pleasing Him, and the like?

The word Bhagavan says that God is a person, purusha, who possesses different opulences, bhaga, simultaneously and to the fullest extent. Not a single one is missing. Whereas the engineering student graduating from the prestigious institution may not be as skilled in manual labor, the apparently contradictory nature of certain features is absent in Bhagavan.

He is responsible for this entire universe through His different energies and agents of managerial authority. Bhagavan simply glances over the unmanifest substance, pradhana, and suddenly distinctions out of the Brahman energy begin to appear.

There is a person assigned the task of using those elements to create the different universes and what will go in them. This is a distinct individual, a spirit soul, working with the material elements. The population consists of other individual spirit souls, who then temporarily reside in different forms crafted by the creator.

This amazing creation belongs to Bhagavan, and every living being has a right to use that property. Though the human species is the most intelligent, this does not give them the right to hoard. They may take more than they need from the local supermarket during a time of crisis, but this is not the intended or desired behavior.

2. Nobody can encroach upon the right of other living entities

Every living entity has a right to live. If this right gets violated, there are consequences, just as if someone enters the park illegally at a time when they are not allowed. The smarter human being may think that they are getting away with crimes, that no one will notice their violations, but every appropriate consequence manifests when the time is right.

अवश्यं लभते जन्तुः फलं पापस्य कर्मणः।
घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमाः पुष्पमिवार्तवम्।।

avaśyaṃ labhate jantuḥ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ।
ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam।।

“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 lower species may not necessarily respect the right to life of others, but nature has allowed these species to survive in a certain way. For this reason, there is no concept of karma or sinful reaction for them. Only the human species is under this jurisdiction.

The most intelligent are the stewards, to watch over the less intelligent. Such understanding comes naturally to someone who is intimately connected with Bhagavan, which can occur through the yoga process. Bhakti-yoga is synonymous with sanatana-dharma, the eternal way of living for the living being. Through deep love and affection for the Supreme Lord, the living experience within the vast creation can be an enjoyable one for every living being involved.

In Closing:

By Brahma the creating work done,
But from Vishnu everything has come.

So each species carrying the right,
To enjoy nature, water and light.

What authority for me to interfere?
Better of my own hurdles to clear.

Of walking sanatana-dharma’s line,
And creating devotional state of mind.

Five Advancements Of Modern Society I Am Proud Of

“The Lord can be served by any ingredient, even the most common commodity - a flower, a leaf, a fruit or a little water, which are available in any part of the universe and without cost - and thus the Lord is served universally by the universal entities. He can be served simply by hearing, He can be served simply by chanting or reading about His activities, He can be served simply by adoring Him and accepting Him.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.36 Purport)

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1. Abundance of food and water

“There are the discount warehouse stores. A shopping club. For a nominal yearly fee, you can enter and purchase items in bulk. Enough toilet paper to last you a year. Plastic utensils in supply that you will never have to take the real ones out of your kitchen drawer.

“There are also the more traditional outlets. The supermarket. Fresh produce. A frozen food section. A place you can visit once or twice a week to get everything you need to feed your family.

“As a last resort, there is the convenience store. Recently ran out of milk? Need a loaf of bread and nothing else? Drive a few hundred feet and you’ll be able to pick up such items, along with filling up the gasoline tank in the automobile. Who wouldn’t love this kind of living?”

2. Medical treatment

“In the latest pandemic, as declared by the authorities who are supposed to be experts in these things, there is an increased need for testing. One nice feature that our country has is the drive-through test. No need to visit a hospital and possibly infect others or catch something from the many sick patients.

“Drive up to a parking lot of a store somewhere and get tested quickly. Who wouldn’t love that? Safe and effective; at least that is what they tell us. I sure do love this country.”

3. Ordering food through an app

“The tyrants in the government have virtually shut down the entire civilization. The seasonal viruses kill way more people every year, but supposedly this one is different. I don’t buy it. The entire thing seems political to me. Destroy the economy so that people will blame whoever is in power at the moment.

“The latest ridiculous move has been to shut down all of the restaurants. Oh, but in this supposedly free country, we are still allowed to order take-out. Thankfully, there is the smartphone and its many applications. We can get our food delivered without having to talk to anyone. The application is based off intelligence, so it transmits our order without errors. Whether we receive the items with the same accuracy is another story.”

4. Interstate highway system

“Want to escape to a different state? A place where they haven’t shut down civilization yet? Airplane travel is too risky, if you ask me. They are on the verge of shutting down domestic flights. As if they can actually contain the spread of disease through these means. People, healthy and sick, carry so many viruses all the time. There is nothing new about the present situation involving needless panic and hysteria.

“At least we have the highways. Those haven’t been shut down yet. We can drive to another state. It won’t take days, like it does in other countries. Our highway system is rather advanced. As long as there is enough gas in the tank, with a properly functioning car or truck, you should be able to make it to your destination.”

5. Telecommuting

“The schools are closed for two weeks. Businesses have to adapt. The parents can’t be at the office and leave their children at home, by themselves. In the modern world there is something known as telecommuting. Most of the work at my business is done through the computer anyway.

“Just shift places. Have the computer at home, sitting on a desk, instead of at the place of business. Now there is flexibility to hopefully manage through this crisis and whatever new ones the government creates in the future.”

…

It is understandable for a person to be proud of where they live, to compare and contrast to people in other parts of the world. Yet every advancement is actually rooted in one person. He is the source of both the material and spiritual worlds.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो
मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते
इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां
बुधा भाव-समन्विताः

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.8)

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that a person must understand that all properties and commodities are due to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That single source is ultimately responsible. If there is appreciation, it should fall at His feet first.

As these commodities are because of Him, the Supreme Lord can be served by any one of them. If a person appreciates the app on their smartphone and immediately thinks of the intelligent mind of Shri Krishna, they are serving Him, in a way. They are honoring God without having to step foot in a house of worship.

The appreciation can be for something as basic as a flower, which has very little cost. Offer a flower, a leaf or some fruit to Bhagavan and make advancement in the purification of consciousness. At any time and at any place I have the opportunity to appreciate that great benefactor of humankind, and that mindset will do me the most good.

In Closing:

Even in pandemic’s state,
Not long for food to wait.

Or on toilet paper to hoard,
Large purchase for future secured.

If of advancements wondering aloud,
From the single source should be proud.

That Shri Krishna providing to me,
The original most benevolent is He.

Has Every Person Seen God

“A true yogi observes Me in all beings, and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.29)

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सर्व-भूत-स्थम् आत्मानं
सर्व-भूतानि चात्मनि
ईक्षते योग-युक्तात्मा
सर्वत्र सम-दर्शनः

sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānaṁ
sarva-bhūtāni cātmani
īkṣate yoga-yuktātmā
sarvatra sama-darśanaḥ

“I know that in the Vedic tradition a natural tendency after learning of the qualities, features and kindness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to try to search for Him. Gain a meeting. Face-to-face. The Sanskrit word is darshana.

“I also know the teachings of His Divine Grace Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura that encourages the reverse. That is to say instead of actively searching after God, work in such a way that He will notice you. Follow pious behavior. Be kind to others. Learn of the difference between spirit and matter. Exhibit true compassion by explaining the same to anyone who is in illusion.

“The idea is that one day a person will surely see God, as He will notice their devotional efforts. The question I have relates to the present condition. Have we already seen Him? Does that apply to every person? In other words, are we desperately searching for a vision that we have already received or can receive at any moment of the day?”

It is interesting to see that the Sanskrit word for time also applies to death. Just one word, and it can have either meaning. Kala is time, which is the powerful agent of change. When the news media reports the latest accurate death toll from a particular pandemic, they attribute the loss of life to a specific disease.

“That brings the death toll to such and such in this country. Worldwide the number is this. The mortality rate is such and such. Be safe out there. Wash your hands and practice social distancing.”

In truth, every death can be attributed to one source: kala. Time has worked its magic. It was already hard at work prior to death, noted especially in the transformations of old age and disease. As soon as a person takes birth, the countdown clock starts. On the other side, when the time fully elapses, death awaits.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्माद् अपरिहार्ये ऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmād aparihārye 'rthe
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

“For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.27)

Kala is one face of the Almighty. The staunch atheist will receive the vision at the end, when quitting the body. This was the case for the powerful Daitya king named Hiranyakashipu. He refused to believe, despite the logical case presented by his son, Prahlada. At last, it was the kala in its most gruesome form, an angry and attacking Narasimha, proving the existence of Divinity.

Every person has already seen kala. As this birth is the renewal of a cycle just completed, there was death prior. That death is one vision of the Supreme Lord. We do not remember the incident, but memory is not an accepted basis for absolutely establishing truth.

श्री-भगवान् उवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि
जन्मानि तव चार्जुन
तान्य् अहं वेद सर्वाणि
न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
bahūni me vyatītāni
janmāni tava cārjuna
tāny ahaṁ veda sarvāṇi
na tvaṁ vettha parantapa

“The Blessed Lord said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!” (Bhagavad-gita, 4.5)

The wise person sees Bhagavan everywhere and in every time period. In the Bhagavad-gita, there is confirmation, where Shri Krishna explains how the yogi sees Him everywhere. Though Krishna is a distinct person, who at that moment was seated on the chariot of the bow-warrior Arjuna, the Supreme Lord is inside of every person.

When I look at the cat, I can see the presence of God. The same applies when viewing the dog, the elephant, the wise scholar, the state administrator, or the bird flying in the sky. As everyone already sees Krishna all the time, there should be no urgency for a special meeting.

Rather, appreciate His presence, serve Him with love, and spend the duration of this lifetime in bliss through activities like chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Already seeing through time,
And witnessing activities of mine.

As soul of existence in the cat,
In dog, mouse and also the bat.

Vaishnava eagerly in devotion set,
Not so much for vision to get.

Since Krishna already all-around,
Seen clearly also through sound.

Three Features In Krishna Juxtaposed With Us

“As the Lord's desire is infallible because He is achyuta, similarly the desires of the devotees in the transcendental service of the Lord are also achyuta, infallible. This is very difficult, however, for the layman to understand without knowledge of the mystery of devotional service, as it is very difficult to know the potency of touchstone.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.35 Purport)

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1. As man is fallible, God is infallible, or achyuta.

To err is human. We make mistakes. This is one of the four defects built into the human existence. Imperfect senses, a tendency to cheat, and being easily illusioned. For instance, society goes into a panic when a certain virus spreads throughout the world. Businesses shut down, governments declare emergencies, and everyone is told to stay away from the public.

Yet other viruses, which have much higher fatality rates, do not cause any type of panic. They appear year after year, leaving the same destruction, but no one is concerned to the same degree. This is an indication of illusion, where the vision is not properly applied.

The Supreme Lord lacks these defects. He is infallible. The Sanskrit word is achyuta. If He were to have any imperfections, then there would be no God. Nature itself would be considered the highest deity, but nature is a collection of matter that cannot function without the presence of an animating force inside. This force is known as spirit, and God is the Supreme Spirit, or Paramatma.

2. As we have a beginning in terms of this birth, He is without one, or anadi.

The Sanskrit word is adi. This is for analyzing a specific situation juxtaposed with another. The sun was shining bright this morning, but right now it is cloudy outside. The first situation was before the current one. Before and after, or past, present and future.

Adi is the beginning in terms of time. For this lifetime, every person has one. They most likely don’t remember it. They take it on the authority of their parents that there was time spent in the womb followed by the event known as birth.

Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is without a beginning. Therefore, He is anadi. We are actually similar, in a sense. We have no beginning and no end. The adi is with respect to this lifetime, but as spirit soul, we were someplace before, as well.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतो ऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

“For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.20)

Krishna can give a definition to His anadi feature. That is to say He can recall exactly where He was at every point in time in the past. We can barely remember what we did yesterday. This is another indication of our fallibility.

3. As jara [old age] is one of the miseries affecting this existence, He is always fresh and new in the transcendental form [nava-yauvanam].

In this temporary existence, one of the miseries we suffer is old age. Nothing can be done to reverse. I am a certain age right now, and there is no way to return to my childhood body. I can remember the time period, but everything was different in comparison to today. I am compelled to follow the dictates of nature, prakriti, which gets manipulated by kala, time.

Shri Krishna is nava-yauvanam. The body is always fresh and new. Time works at His direction, after all. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, more than one hundred years had elapsed since His visible arrival in this world from the womb of mother Devaki. Yet Krishna did not appear any older than a teenager.

That eternally youthful existence extends to the devotional practices done in His honor. It is for this reason that a person can daily chant the holy names in full transcendental bliss: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Right now tired and old,
Of impending crisis told.

For a better time to yearn,
Like to childhood to return.

But by powerful nature commanding,
Whereas Krishna differently standing.

Oldest person but age not to grow,
Appearance fresh and new ever so.

Five Things Paramatma Witnesses

"The Vedas, like the Mundaka Upanishad, as well as the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Krishna) is simply watching His friend. Of these two birds—although they are the same in quality—one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend." (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22 Purport)

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1. That time I crossed the road even though the traffic sign said to wait

“The technical name for the violation is ‘Jaywalking.’ Police can give you a citation. It is rare, for sure, but not unheard of. The objective is to keep everyone safe. The motorists are travelling at a considerably faster speed than the pedestrians. It takes just a split second of error in judgment for catastrophic damage to result.

“They taught us as youngsters to look both ways before crossing the road. Most importantly, if there is a sign, obey it. Well, many times I have not. The sign said to wait, but I noticed that the road was mostly empty. Therefore, I proceeded. No harm done, as no one was around to see it.”

2. That time I fudged my expenses on the yearly tax return

“In our country, it’s an honor system. For most people, the taxes get removed automatically throughout the year, with every paycheck. Then at the beginning of the following year, you file a return, detailing your earnings, your expenses, and your possible deductions.

“A few times I have fudged my expenses. That cell phone for my wife, I didn’t really use it for business purposes. That new laptop computer was mostly for my own enjoyment, but I claimed it as a business expense. If asked, I could probably make a satisfactory justification.

“That’s the thing. I will have to be asked. The tax authorities will have to perform an audit; otherwise they won’t really know if I was honest in every aspect of my return.”

3. When I helped that destitute person and didn’t tell anyone

“They were down on their luck. They needed financial assistance. They say that charity begins at home, but usually you give to an organization, who then passes on the money or goods to those in need. This was a direct offering. I went straight to the source. They know who helped them and so do I.

“But no one else knows. I would rather not advertise. A person I respect once said that it is not charity if you tell people about it. I really liked that. I don’t care if I get criticism or praise. To me, it was the right thing to do.”

4. When I cried after my favorite player lost the big match

“Embarrassing, for sure. It is sports, after all. There is no significant impact, unless you have money on the line. That was not the case with me. I do not gamble. From seeing this player on television for so long, an attachment developed. I want them to do well. I wish them all the best.

“On this day, they suffered a terrible defeat. Victory was within reach. It was in their grasp, only to slip away. Now everyone is criticizing them. I am quite upset about the entire thing. It makes no difference to me, really. This player has no idea who I am and I will likely never meet them. Just between you and me, I shed a few tears at the outcome.”

5. When I yelled at my child for no good reason

“They are so young, they have no idea what they are doing. Right and wrong has to be taught. Then they will learn. I am the adult. They are so happy to be in my association. Why did I have to yell at them? It was really uncalled for. They have forgotten already. They are so forgiving in that way. No one else knows about the incident, but I certainly cannot forget.”

…

From Vedic teachings we learn that there is an all-pervading witness. He lies within the heart, and thus cannot be known through direct sense perception. He does have a form, however, and this witness is an expansion of the original person, the soul of the universe.

In this expansion known as Paramatma, He simply witnesses. He does not interfere. The analogy is to two birds sitting on a tree. One is enjoying fruit, while the other simply observes. The first bird is me. I am involved in this way and that. Acceptance and rejection, bhoga and tyaga. The reactions apply to me only.

The second bird is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. He witnesses everything but does not interfere directly. He is as much inside of the saintly person as He is inside the worst sinner we can imagine. Without Paramatma’s sanction, no result would manifest.

I can take full advantage of this feature by always engaging in devotional activities. Whether others know or not, Paramatma will always see. He breaks from His position in neutrality and helps those who are devoted to Him, always ensuring that they can continue in their blissful activities, such as chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Like sitting on tree birds two,
Individual soul and Paramatma too.

Enjoying and suffering of mine,
And He neutral like sitting behind.

But for devotion stance dropping,
My dedicated efforts propping.

So that unveiling to see,
The all-attractive one is He.

Four Qualities Krishna Heard About Rukmini

“Krishna had also heard of Rukmini. She was the reservoir of all transcendental qualities: intelligence, liberal-mindedness, exquisite beauty and righteous behavior. Krishna therefore decided that she was fit to be His wife.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 51)

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1. Intelligence

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes her as the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. This is befitting, considering that Rukmini Devi is the goddess of fortune. As the Supreme Lord Narayana descends on occasion, whenever He sees fit, and rescues saintly people from the harassment they endure from the fools and rascals, so Lakshmi Devi, the eternal consort of the Almighty, is known to accompany her husband for such descents.

परित्राणाय साधूनां
विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
धर्म-संस्थापनार्थाय
सम्भवामि युगे युगे

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

“In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.8)

A person who is devoted to God in thought, word and deed is the most intelligent. In truth, mundane knowledge, of scholarship and high intellect relating to manipulating the material elements should have the ultimate objective of pleasing Narayana, who is the source of men.

Without meeting that goal, the highly credentialed scientist is really no different than the infant who crawls on the ground, clad in diapers. The intelligence gifted to the human being is put to the same use, though it seems otherwise.

Already proven through her relationship to Narayana, Rukmini Devi additionally exhibits great intelligence through her failure to fall into despair upon reaching difficult times. She is the daughter of King Bhishmaka of Vidarbha, and though everyone agrees Shri Krishna from Dvaraka is the suitable husband, her brother makes a different arrangement.

Rukmini will not settle for the marriage to Shishupala, who is a bad person. She uses her intelligence to find a way for Krishna to arrive on the day of the marriage and take her away, showing everyone in attendance who the proper prince is to protect her for life.

Rukmini is even smart enough to get her plan delivered to Krishna in secret, so that no one else will find out. She is already devoted to Him, and she gives Him an idea on how that devotion will continue to manifest in the best possible way moving forward.

2. Liberal-mindedness

There is a commonly used derisive word to describe an adult-aged woman who is spoiled: princess. The idea is to say that the woman gets whatever she wants, whenever she wants, without having to work for it. Either her parents or her husband take care of everything. She simply has to complain or ask for something in a strong way and soon the wish will be granted.

Rukmini Devi is an actual princess. She comes from a respectable family, so she would be expected to have some feelings of superiority. But she is extremely liberal-minded. She does not look down at others, especially those who may not be so wealthy.

She is particularly respectful of the brahmanas. In her childhood she hears from a visiting Narada Muni on the opulences belonging to Krishna, the king of Dvaraka. After marriage she hospitably welcomes the visiting Sudama Vipra, who happens to be very poor. She rewards his years of dedicated devotion by transforming his meager dwelling into a palace, without his asking.

3. Exquisite beauty

Another name for Rukmini is Ruchiranana. This describes a face that expands like a lotus-flower. There is never-ending beauty. This is a perfect match for the Supreme Lord. Gazing upon both of them never gets old or tiring. They have beauty to a degree to refresh the spirits of the person who has vowed to serve them for lifetime after lifetime.

4. Righteous behavior

Krishna is her husband. Rukmini could ask Him for anything. It is His duty to protect her. Yet Rukmini never interferes with her husband’s work. She dreads the morning time, when she knows that her husband will have to soon arise and start his day with the chanting of the Gayatri mantra.

She sees one of Krishna’s other wives asking for a special flower that can only be found in the heavenly region. Krishna retrieves an entire tree of that flower for her, at great expense. But Rukmini is not envious. She does not ask for a similar gift. This is something Narada Muni witnesses and takes note of.

Shri Krishna heard of all of these qualities in Rukmini prior to marriage, and He decided that she would be fit to be His wife. The occasion of their marriage is further proof of the teaching of His Divine Grace Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who advises devotees to work in ways that Krishna will see them, instead of being so eager to have the direct vision of God manifest immediately before them.

In Closing:

Face like lotus-flower expanding,
And full intelligence commanding.

Righteous behavior showing,
Of Krishna’s glories knowing.

So for marriage a perfect fit,
Carried away on chariot to sit.

Rukmini for Shri Krishna meant,
To live together in Dvaraka went.

How Did Rukmini Hear About Krishna

“Many saintly persons and sages like Narada Muni and others used to visit the palace of King Bhishmaka. Naturally Rukmini had a chance to talk with them, and in this way she obtained information about Krishna. She was informed about the six opulences of Krishna, and simply by hearing about Him, she desired to surrender herself to His lotus feet and become His wife.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 51)

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Friend1: The marriage to Rukmini is one of my favorite events from Krishna-lila.

Friend2: Really? When someone refers to the Divine pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the two-handed youth who enchanted the world with His flute playing and all-attractive vision, people tend to think of the childhood years in Vrindavana.

Friend1: Where Krishna playfully entered the homes of the neighbors and stole their butter. Breaking and entering. Elaborate plots devised with His friends, who were around the same age.

Friend2: Or Krishna dealing with the many asuras sent to Vrindavana by Kamsa, the king of Mathura.

Friend1: Putana, Trinavarta, Dhenuka, and so on. Yes, the marriage with Rukmini was in a different phase of life. This took place in the kingdom of Vidarbha and also Dvaraka.

Friend2: Legend has it that the official marriage took place somewhere in between, on their way back to Dvaraka, which is the underwater city of gates. Krishna had Vishvakarma create it so that the members of the Yadu dynasty could have a place to live in peace.

Friend1: Building a wall. A city with closed borders. No funds from Congress necessary (smiling).

Friend2: Rukmini is the goddess of fortune. It makes sense that she would be the chief queen in Dvaraka.

Friend1: The story is amazing. It is illustrative of several wonderful, meaningful concepts.

Friend2: Such as?

Friend1: I will give you my favorite. The idea of not needing to see God to believe in Him. More than just belief, she was totally surrendered. She did not have a personal meeting. She was not standing on a rooftop one day and happened to see the all-attractive one, Shyamasundara, walking by.

Friend2: You are correct. Hearing is more important in this regard. Simply accept the descriptions of Vedic literature through the ears, from an authorized source. Reading is the same as hearing, as the visual of the words translates to sounds within the mind.

Friend1: What was the source for Rukmini? How was she able to hear about Krishna? That source would have to be considered a very important person. A great benefactor whose impact is beyond anyone’s comprehension.

Friend2: Narada Muni. Shrimad Bhagavatam says that the great travelling preacher of the glories of God the person visited the home of King Bhishmaka, who is Rukmini’s father. This is the proper etiquette. Householders should invite saintly people to their home to hear transcendental topics.

Friend1: Wow, so there was no schooling involved, right? I know during that time period the girls typically did not have formal education.

Friend2: You can think of it like homeschooling. Learning by imitating others. You don’t necessarily need to take any tests. Hear what the best teachers have to say. Just see the impact Narada made.

Friend1: I know. It’s amazing. No one can doubt Rukmini’s intelligence, either. She made up her mind to marry Krishna. She would not be denied. She devised a terrific plan and also found a way to relay her ideas to Krishna.

Friend2: Who was miles away in Dvaraka. Saintly people take it as their utmost duty to rescue others in the same way, to ensure that they do not remain in darkness. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada devised a way to mass produce transcendental literature of the Vedic tradition for this reason. Let as many as possible hear what has been missing for so long: a genuine description of God the person, the one to whom any conscious and sober person would be attracted.

In Closing:

Not by royal wealth distracted,
To Krishna immediately attracted.

After Narada Muni to kingdom came,
And described one of Krishna name.

Who over Dvaraka presided,
While Rukmini in Vidarbha resided.

By sound only for plan inspired,
Proving that visual not required.