How Not To Be Jealous Of God

“O Lakshmana, do you rule this earth with Me. You are like My second self, so this glorious opportunity has been presented to you as well. O Saumitra, do you enjoy all the pleasures you desire and the fruits of the regal life. My life and this kingdom I covet for your sake alone.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 4.43-44)

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लक्ष्मणेमां मया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम्।
द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वामियं श्रीरुपस्थिता।।
सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान्राज्यफलानि च।
जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये।।

lakṣmaṇemāṃ mayā sārdhaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ vasundharām।
dvitīyaṃ me’ntarātmānaṃ tvāmiyaṃ śrīrupasthitā।।
saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogāṃtsvamiṣṭānrājyaphalāni ca।
jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvadarthamabhikāmaye।।

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gives two apparently conflicting pieces of information regarding our history. Not relating to how and when the nation was founded. Not limited to the time spent in this particular birth. Rather, trace out the origin of the jiva, who is the conditioned spirit soul.

The soul spins on something like a wheel of suffering, samsara-chakra. The timeline extends to the highest proportion. This means that the suffering is beyond the present birth. There can be different species that we inhabit. Perhaps we were once a tree, a dog, an elephant, or an ant.

The swami says that to trace out the exact history of one’s travels is not a valuable use of time. We should know that since we are alive today, there was some moment in the past where we turned away from the Divine. This is the initial cause; the catalyst. The origin of the jiva’s experience with material nature is enviousness of God.

The question may be raised about the difficulty with shedding envy. If I hear of the accomplishments of my friend’s child, I can’t help but envy to a degree. I instantly make comparisons with my own child. Perhaps I have not done as good a job in parenting. Maybe the spouse and I are falling behind everyone else.

If I am envious of friends and family, I will surely be so towards the person who has everything. He is known as Bhagavan since He possesses every opulence simultaneously and to the highest degree. In other words, He would be the best parent in the world. He would make more money than me in a salary competition. His wife is the most beautiful woman in the world, as seen with the daughter of King Janaka, Sita Devi.

Fortunately, from Bhagavan’s own words we get advice on how to purify. In His incarnation of Shri Rama, He one time heard news of an impending transfer of power. The father, King Dasharatha, was handing control over the kingdom of Ayodhya to Rama, his eldest son.

Rama immediately went to one of His younger brothers with the news. Rama told Lakshmana that the honor was to be shared. The eldest brother only wanted the kingdom if Lakshmana could enjoy it, as well. In other words, His happiness should mean happiness for everyone closely associated with Him.

I can take pleasure from the brotherly affection in the kingdom of Ayodhya. I may not be doing so well in life, but I am so proud that Shri Rama has the most devoted wife in Sita Devi. I am without good and loyal friends, but Rama has Hanuman always standing by.

They are my friends, too. They are my well-wishers, and I will never forget the happiness and joy they bring to me. I will stay devoted to them and seek only their pleasure for the rest of my life, and subsequent births, if I am so fortunate.

In Closing:

Living this life only for You,
Since your family my friends too.

And given to me so much,
Forever indebted as such.

Rama with Lakshmana sharing,
Since brother loving and caring.

And Hanuman always at the ready,
Image on reliance steady.

Five Kinds Of Renunciation I Might Boast About

“O Lakshmana, do you rule this earth with Me. You are like My second self, so this glorious opportunity has been presented to you as well. O Saumitra, do you enjoy all the pleasures you desire and the fruits of the regal life. My life and this kingdom I covet for your sake alone.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 4.43-44)

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लक्ष्मणेमां मया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम्।
द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वामियं श्रीरुपस्थिता।।
सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान्राज्यफलानि च।
जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये।।

lakṣmaṇemāṃ mayā sārdhaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ vasundharām।
dvitīyaṃ me’ntarātmānaṃ tvāmiyaṃ śrīrupasthitā।।
saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogāṃtsvamiṣṭānrājyaphalāni ca।
jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvadarthamabhikāmaye।।

You have this feeling deep inside that boasting isn’t the right way to go. Even if you possess an ability considered unique or superior to what is expected, it is better to keep things to yourself. Others will only become envious or feel inferior when running the inevitable comparison.

Conversations do take place, and there is only so much you can suppress in open dialogue. This means that you are bound to share certain accomplishments in renunciation with your friends and family, particularly if the subject matter turns in that direction.

1. I am not afraid of a virus

“Listen, I take this seriously. Don’t get me wrong. I am not minimizing the threat. But yes, I have been moving out and about. The government has mandated a lockdown, but I am not participating. I don’t believe they have the people’s best interests in mind. Call me a cynic, but my judgment is based on past experience.

“Another thing I will tell you is that I have informally documented every time I have gotten sick. The cold, the flu, the sniffles, body aches, fever, lingering cough – whatever it is I remember exactly when I got it. I know for certain that there were always external factors at play. Perhaps I went for a run in the evening. I started eating more healthy, and thus made my body really cold inside. Sometimes it was after strenuous travel, where I did not get enough sleep.

“What I am trying to say is that viruses are all around us, all the time. That is the mentality with which I operate. So this latest one doesn’t scare me. I probably came in contact with it already and nothing happened, as is the case with the majority of the population.”

2. I don’t watch television

“What have I been watching on television, you ask. Especially considering the circumstances in the world right now, you would expect me to be binging on my favorite television shows, movies, or classic matches in sports.

“The truth is I haven’t been watching television. We own one, but I barely turn it on. The day gets filled with work and family obligations. I am more at peace going outside and taking a walk, where I will certainly not wear a useless mask and act like sheep to the government.”

3. I don’t need a big house

“Every person I speak with who owns a home, they are always complaining about something wrong that they have to fix. Raccoons in the attic. Bunnies nesting on the side of the house. A broken water heater. A central air conditioning system that needs replacing.

“I don’t ever want such a headache. I don’t need a big house. I could live in a closet, if I had to. I value other things in life, such as experiences and the ability to travel here and there. The size of the home is not everything, and I am certainly not in a competition with others to see who has the most expensive property.”

4. I don’t care what food I eat

“Listen, I appreciate that you enjoy cooking and finding new recipes online. The shows on the food channel are interesting, sometimes, but I just don’t put much value into what I eat. Give me something simple and I will be happy. If the meal isn’t up to standard, I will not complain. I can’t really give a critique because sometimes when a dish is prepared improperly it actually tastes better. Who am I to judge?”

5. I don’t care about a kingdom

One Sanskrit word for renunciation is vairagya. This is a negation on the word for attachment. Someone who lacks attachment has vairagya, and it is a kind of opulence. Opulences, or bhaga, are desirable, and the word is important to know since it helps to explain the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

He is Bhagavan since He possesses every bhaga simultaneously and to the fullest degree. This would naturally include vairagya. He is the most renounced, and we can try to measure that feature.

It is easier to not covet much if you have never had much to begin with. For instance, someone who grew up on a farm doesn’t really miss having a television in their apartment when moving to the city. A person who has separated from their spouse after years together in discord feels a kind of accomplishment that the celibate student would never understand.

From the pastimes of Shri Rama we see that Bhagavan has renunciation tested with the most desirable object: a kingdom. He tells Lakshmana directly that the kingdom is only desired for the benefit of the younger brothers. Lakshmana is one of those younger brothers, and Rama offers to share the kingdom with Him.

This extends to the spiritual kingdom of Vaikuntha. The devoted souls can share in the pleasure of residence in that realm. The lone qualification for entry is desire in service. If I want to live in Vaikuntha, with Shri Rama and family, I will eventually get there. Representatives like Shri Hanuman will shepherd the application process and also allow me in when the time is right.

In Closing:

Hanuman allowing me in,
When that destination to win.

Supreme Lord willing to share,
Place in spiritual kingdom where.

Like when imminent king becoming,
Immediately to Lakshmana coming.

And the offer to him also befalling,
This opulence of renunciation calling.

Five Things I Can Ask For From God

“O Lakshmana, do you rule this earth with Me. You are like My second self, so this glorious opportunity has been presented to you as well. O Saumitra, do you enjoy all the pleasures you desire and the fruits of the regal life. My life and this kingdom I covet for your sake alone.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 4.43-44)

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लक्ष्मणेमां मया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम्।
द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वामियं श्रीरुपस्थिता।।
सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान्राज्यफलानि च।
जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये।।

lakṣmaṇemāṃ mayā sārdhaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ vasundharām।
dvitīyaṃ me’ntarātmānaṃ tvāmiyaṃ śrīrupasthitā।।
saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogāṃtsvamiṣṭānrājyaphalāni ca।
jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvadarthamabhikāmaye।।

1. Open up the playgrounds again

“It’s been way too long. I learned years ago just how devious politicians can be, but this time they were guided by so-called experts from science and medicine. In the beginning, they told us it would last only two weeks. This had to be done in order to spare the hospital system; a move to eventually save lives.

“Well, it has been almost two months now. They keep extending the deadline, two weeks at a time. It is really criminal, if you ask me. If they told everyone in the beginning that they had to stay home for several months, no one would have accepted.

“I am desperate to go to a playground or exercise facility. It is part of my overall health. And isn’t health what we are concerned with, here? I need my children to go outside and play. It is child abuse to keep them locked up. I hope that the man upstairs can perform a miracle.”

2. Let me go back to work

“How am I supposed to feed my family? The government is still collecting taxes during this time. As the schools are closed, aren’t we entitled to a refund? These are thieves of the highest degree. I don’t think they are concerned with anyone’s safety or wellbeing.

“I know that the leaders in society are supposed to be like gods among men. Nara-deva is the term in Sanskrit. To me, the people in charge today are asuras. They are the worst demons, and from studying history I know that only the Supreme Lord can deal with them adequately.”

3. Help me find a house I can afford

“When the neighbors upstairs move about in the apartment, it sounds like they are stomping. I worry that the ground will break through. These people must be dinosaurs or something. I have never heard anything like this.

“I would love to move to a different place, but housing prices are insane. God, I hope that you can help me out. By some miracle make a home affordable enough that we can take possession. I think that would make our lives much more peaceful.”

4. Guide me on dealing with allergies

“This is the worst time of the year. While others are excited over the full departure of the dreaded cold of winter, I am not eagerly anticipating the allergic reactions I have to pollen, grass, and trees. Sometimes it gets to be unbearable, to the point I must take prescription medication, which has its own severe side effects.

“As God is the controller of the material nature, I know He can help me out. He can lessen the intensity of the miseries faced in this world, as He did when protecting the residents of Vrindavana from a devastating rainstorm instigated by Indra, the king of heaven.”

5. Give me a kingdom

“The Supreme Lord is known to be a kingmaker. As Shri Rama, He installed Sugriva on the throne in Kishkindha. He personally transferred the power in Lanka from Ravana to Vibhishana. The younger brother Bharata was king for a while, only after Rama’s sanction of the scheme. Wouldn’t it be great if He could pass on the same honor to me?”

…

From Shri Rama’s pastimes we see that He is willing to share anything with His devotees. When the honor of becoming the new king of Ayodhya arrived at His feet, He was ready to share with His younger brother Lakshmana.

Rama is an avatara of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Lakshmana is the embodiment of the guru. One is God the person and the other is God in the form of a worshiping servant. A notable attribute in Lakshmana is that he does not ask anything from Rama. He could have become the new king, but he would rather all the glory go to the eldest brother.

The mentality of the guru is to give generously. He shares the wisdom of the ages with anyone who is sincerely interested in advancing the condition of the consciousness. He understands the temporary nature of the material world and how asking for this small benefit and that is not the best use of the acknowledgment and belief in a higher power.

Service is the way to transcendence, and the more pure the mentality, the more bliss will arrive in the process. This can be experienced right now, today, through the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

So many desires granting,
But guru’s only for chanting.

So that mired by hate instead,
Continued Divine love to spread.

From Ramayana poem to see,
That Rama kingmaker is He.

But the service propensity preferred,
Like Lakshmana great honor deferred.

Through Wind And Rain

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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There is the common folklore of the mother rescuing her child in an emergency situation through an amazing display of strength. Something like lifting up an automobile to prevent injury. Dashing through traffic to yank a toddler back to safety. Hearing a sound from one hundred feet away, alerting her to potential danger.

The idea is that the strong attachment and affection facilitate the breaking of barriers. The individual inside is so powerful that they give potency to an otherwise dull and lifeless collection of elements. A person would find it interesting to learn that the animating spark is so tiny in size that it wouldn’t register under microscopic vision.

Take the tip of a piece of hair and then try to divide it into ten thousand parts. One of those fragments represents the individual soul, jivatma. Yet the same kind of soul powers both the ant and the elephant. The grass growing in front of the house is as much life as the cow providing milk to its calf.

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्िचदेन
माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः।
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः श्रृणोति
श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्िचत्।।

āścaryavatpaśyati kaśicadena
māścaryavadvadati tathaiva cānyaḥ।
āścaryavaccainamanyaḥ śrṛṇoti
śrutvāpyenaṃ veda na caiva kaśicat।।

“Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.29)

The soul is amazing, as described in Bhagavad-gita. The only real limitations are from the body itself. Something like the driver behind the wheel capable of going very fast, but held back by the engine and overall construction of the vehicle.

With the help of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the individual is able to transcend those boundaries. An ideal example in this regard is the father Vasudeva, whose heroic journey in the middle of the night is documented in the sacred text called Bhagavata Purana.

It was amazing enough that he escaped from the prison cell. King Kamsa was the perpetrator. Imagine being convicted for something you never did. Your only crime was to be the subject of a prediction announced by an uninvited voice from the sky.

“This man, right here. Look at him. His eighth child will be your doom. That’s all I have to tell you. Have a nice day.”

Kamsa was forewarned, and he eventually took drastic measures as an attempt to deny destiny. He placed his sister Devaki in a prison cell, along with her husband Vasudeva. Whenever a child was born to them, Kamsa made sure to kill it immediately, in plain sight.

It was amazing that the eighth child survived long enough to reveal His true identity to the parents. This was the same Narayana who eternally resides in Vaikuntha. God had appeared as the couple’s child. He was on a mission to correct many wrongs, targeting especially the wicked Kamsa.

Vasudeva received the instruction to transport Krishna to the nearby town of Gokula. After conquering the obstacles of the dark of night and a carefully guarded prison environment, he ran into one of nature’s most trusted blockades.

A raging river, in the middle of the night, during a rainstorm. How was Vasudeva going to cross the Yamuna? He could try to swim for it, but he had child in arm. Krishna was with Him, and His safety was the primary concern.

Just as Shri Rama had previously crossed the boundary of the vast ocean to reach Lanka, Vasudeva received passage. He was allowed to cross the river, and Krishna was protected from the rain by a loving Anantadeva, who used His many hoods to create an umbrella.

From this incident we see that any person can succeed in life’s most important mission of returning to the spiritual consciousness. Shri Krishna will provide the assistance; if we are willing to accept it and take advantage. He sends His representative to remove the darkness of ignorance, shining the light of transcendence through the medium of sacred sound: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

When to Yamuna’s banks came,
After battling wind and rain.

A greater obstacle to clear,
Of failure now the fear.

Since Shri Krishna protecting,
But suddenly Ananta projecting.

His hoods for an umbrella to use,
Helped father with no time to lose.

Four Sayings To Describe A Situation Of Weakness

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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1. Desperate times call for desperate measures

“I couldn’t believe that fight on television last night. I thought I had seen it all, until this one. To give you a background, the odds-makers had this one fighter heavily favored. They were the champion and this challenger did not have many accomplishments to his name. I’m not even sure why they would schedule such a mismatch. Maybe they needed to fill airtime.

“Anyway, I still watched and I am glad that I did. The fight went according to expectation, at least for the beginning. The favorite was pulverizing the underdog, except there was no quit. The weaker opponent would not give up. I kept waiting for the fight to be called.

“Then something interesting happened. The underdog secretly landed what is called a low-blow. This is an illegal punch. The referee missed it, so they could not issue a violation. The favorite was now greatly damaged. They could not fight the same way. In the end, the match resulted in a draw. The entire sports world is stunned by the outcome.”

2. Beggars can’t be choosers

“I don’t understand this economy. People are ready, willing and able to work. They have been locked down in their homes for way too long. This is the equivalent of putting the entire population under house arrest.

“The justification is protection from a deadly disease, which is highly contagious. I don’t doubt the seriousness of the virus, but I don’t see how this remedial measure will work. Say that one person doesn’t see anyone for an entire month. Then they step foot outside just once, come into contact with another person, and then get the disease. Now that entire time at home went to waste.

“You can’t keep everyone locked down forever. That is not sustainable and neither will viruses vanish just like that. But I am in the minority in thinking on this issue. No one is listening to me. Now I am about to lose my business. I have no choice but to sell, to whoever will come and make an offer. I have been turned into a beggar, through no fault of my own.”

3. A blind uncle is better than no uncle

“During my childhood, so many elderly family members would pass through our home. By passing through, I mean they lived with us for a certain period of time. By elderly, I mean they were a generation or more above. Uncles, aunts, and grandparents. With large families on both the mother and father’s sides, you can imagine how busy our house was.

“But I did not mind. It was nice to see new people. My friends in school were a little envious, too. They never had anyone staying with them. Granted, some of these uncles were a little kooky. They were kind of annoying to be around, after a while, but I was still glad to meet them. This confirms the Bengali proverb often invoked by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada about it being better to have a blind uncle than no uncle at all.”

4. Any port in the storm

This saying refers to the lack of choices in a bad weather situation. Vasudeva faced this predicament a long time ago. He had just become a father again, except this time it looked like the child would live. King Kamsa failed to immediately kill this child, as no one was aware of its birth. This was the eighth child to mother Devaki destined to be the end of Kamsa.

The plan was to take baby Krishna to the nearby town of Gokula. Just a few obstacles in the father’s way, and they were quite formidable. The jail cell had kept Vasudeva and Devaki locked up, against their will. The darkness of night would make it difficult to see.

Vasudeva did manage to escape, and then he came upon the Yamuna River. How do you cross such a body of water by yourself, while carrying an infant? The falling rain made matters worse. You can’t expose a child to the elements that way. The rain will be detrimental to their health.

Any port in this storm would do, but fortunately Krishna is the best recourse. Anantadeva immediately arrived on the scene to provide an umbrella for the child. The Yamuna River agreed to allow safe passage, in the same way that Shri Rama was previously allowed to cross the great ocean to reach Lanka.

The acharyas advise in favor of approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the fulfillment of any desire. Whether in desperation or a position of strength, His shelter is the most meaningful. He will purify any ulterior motives which may be present. He removes the impurities, and what remains is His association, which is the most valuable.

In Closing:

Devaki and Vasudeva without a voice,
Held in prison against their choice.

Kamsa at that time standing tall,
But destined for perilous fall.

With Shri Krishna guiding the way,
Even when river keeping at bay.

Father allowed passage through,
Best resort that savior who.

Any Port In A Storm

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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These are sayings with a similar meaning. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” “Beggars can’t be choosers.” His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada would quote a Bengali proverb, “A blind uncle is better than no uncle.”

With “any port in a storm,” the idea is that when a person is in trouble, they will take any rescue avenue presented to them. There is no time to conduct an assessment on the option, to compare values, features, shortcomings, and the like.

It is a storm, after all. Find relief, first. That is the top priority. Once the storm passes, continue onward. Don’t risk further damage. Don’t put the entire operation at risk. Why needlessly place yourself in jeopardy when there is at least one way to gain relief?

Within Krishna’s lila, there is the storm faced by the father named Vasudeva. His newborn was already talking, though only minutes old. The surprise was explained through the vision of Narayana, who is opulently adorned.

This is the vision of God the person, in His role of all-pervading maintainer. He is worshiped by those in the mode of goodness, who are knowledgeable and seeking advancement of the consciousness. Deep down everyone understands that Narayana is the source of men, that there is an Almighty responsible for the entire creation, but the acknowledgment may not be forthcoming.

King Kamsa was in the category of vehemently denying. He would not accept Vishnu’s authority. There was the warning from Narada Muni that Vishnu had killed Kamsa in a previous birth. Destiny was set to repeat, but Kamsa thought he could thwart that fateful collision of time and place.

Vasudeva and his wife Devaki found themselves caught in the middle of the struggle. They were imprisoned and forced to give up each one of their children, with Kamsa anticipating the arrival of the eighth.

When Krishna did appear, there was nothing Kamsa could do. After revealing Himself to be Narayana to His parents, Krishna asked to be transferred to the nearby town of Gokula. The mission was to be conducted in secret, so that no one would be aware.

Vasudeva managed to escape the prison in the dead of night, child in toe. He ran into an issue at the Yamuna River. Rain falling and no other option, he proceeded forward. The difference here was that Krishna is not any old port. He is neither a last resort nor an undesired consolation.

नेहाभिक्रम-नाशो ऽस्ति
प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते
स्व्-अल्पम् अप्य् अस्य धर्मस्य
त्रायते महतो भयात्

nehābhikrama-nāśo ‘sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.40)

He is actually the best option for any person, under any circumstance. Whether in great distress or peaceful contentedness, His shelter is solid. It provides both relief and hope. It protects against the greatest type of fear, and in Vasudeva’s case it enabled safe passage across a sacred river.

In Closing:

To Kamsa time approaching near,
Moment of attention clear.

Yet sleeping to be found,
Along with the entire town.

Vasudeva escaping prison then,
But obstacle at Yamuna when.

His child the problem to erase,
Best port in storm’s case.

You’ll Need More Than A Prison Cell

“While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krishna in the falling rain, Lord Shesha in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 3)

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The neighbor’s dog is too much to handle. The owners are well-aware of the problem. A moment of freedom equates to instant disaster. Sometimes it takes only a split second of distraction. The attention of the owner goes elsewhere and the dog breaks free. Off to the races, chasing the mailman, a neighborhood jogger, or another dog.

Trying to calm the situation is not easy. The neighbor has apologized many times for its dog’s behavior, but people’s patience has run dry. The mailman treads lightly. Everyone is on edge. There is no other choice but to keep the dog tied up the entire day. That only solves half the problem, as the dog keeps barking whenever it thinks it sees someone.

The neighbors have created boundary walls. What used to be shared backyard space is now carefully divided. They have to protect themselves from danger, and that one dog is a menace to the entire community.

This is a common remedial measure. If there are intruders, erect boundary walls and locking mechanisms as a way to prevent undesired entry. A wild animal is bound up to protect others. The criminals in society get sent to jail, which will hopefully keep everyone else safer.

In Mathura, King Kamsa thought along similar lines. The difference was that the two notable people put in jail had done nothing wrong. They were not a threat to anyone. They were relatives, in fact. Devaki and Vasudeva had the misfortune of hearing a voice from the sky, which warned Kamsa that Devaki’s eighth child would be his doom.

The king could not risk losing everything. The power of a king is one of the most desirable achievements in a material existence. You get whatever you want, whenever you want it. Your word is final. No one to overrule you. Even if people incline towards disobedience, they have no choice but to accept your authority.

The lone exception is the Supreme Lord. The asuras of the world refuse to acknowledge His existence, though deep down they know. They understand that this world did not emerge from a random collision of chemicals or that the miracle of life is attributed only to a nameless and identity-less nature.

That eighth child was to be someone special. Daivam, destiny, would not be denied, despite the strongest measures employed by Kamsa. The prison cell with guards was not enough to keep Vasudeva bound up. When Shri Krishna was born, the father was easily able to escape, baby in hand.

The ignorance of maya overtook everyone else. The locks opened and the guards were asleep. No one noticed Vasudeva escape and cross the Yamuna River, during a rainstorm. It was as if Krishna’s splendor, tejas, vanquished the darkness.

But it wasn’t for everyone. Only Vasudeva and Devaki noticed His appearance. Only they saw the vision He displayed of the four-handed Narayana, who was known to the devotees to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the same light, whatever boundaries and barriers there are for finding the truth, connection with the Divine, genuine yoga, can turn the impossible into possible. The dumb will speak eloquently, the lame will move with aplomb, and the disheartened will forever be in good spirits. This is due to Krishna’s grace, which is invited through chanting His names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Mailman and neighbors to hound,
So that dog now kept bound.

Neighbors a fence to erect,
Due to intrusion to expect.

Kamsa similar measures taking,
But Krishna those shackles breaking.

Father Vasudeva to cross at night,
Success through son’s might.