Two Incidents From Childhood That Give A Sense of Krishna's Protection

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.6-7)

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ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि
मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्-पराः
अनन्येनैव योगेन
मां ध्यायन्त उपासते
तेषाम् अहं समुद्धर्ता
मृत्यु-संसार-सागरात्
भवामि न चिरात् पार्थ
मय्य् आवेशित-चेतसाम्

ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi
mayi sannyasya mat-parāḥ
ananyenaiva yogena
māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate
teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt
bhavāmi na cirāt pārtha
mayy āveśita-cetasām

1. Gliding through the water

“I don’t remember exactly how old I was. Maybe three or four. I could have been two, even. There was a pool inside of the community in which we lived. I’m assuming my parents took me and my older brother there one time for leisure. Go in the pool, have some fun, get out of the house. That sort of thing.

“Well, I was deathly afraid of the water. Not only did I not want to go in, but I started crying. I was not going to listen to anyone, no matter how much they told me it was safe to proceed. My father was there, and I remember him chastising me. I don’t think he liked seeing such behavior in a male child.

“Eventually, he picked me up by force and took me with him into the water. Though I was so young at the time, I still remember the feeling to this day. It was exhilarating. It was like being on a boat. My father was such a good swimmer, and I felt totally protected. I have never felt anything close since then. To me, that time in the water embodies the relationship between father and son.”

2. Falling off the bike

“I think I was six years old. Back in those times, children regularly roamed the neighborhood. There wasn’t as much apprehension as there is today. I took the bike out by myself, and I had only learned to ride recently.

“I certainly remember this much: I decided to try a stunt and ride the bike along the curb of the sidewalk. What a terrible idea. I failed to stay in a straight line and the bike crashed to the ground, taking me along with it.

“I actually got knocked unconscious. The only time in my life that has happened. I think a neighbor saw me lying there in the street and brought me home. When I woke up, the first person I remember seeing was my father.

“I remember the attention and care he was applying to my nose, which had been completely scraped off. No yelling. No chastising. Just peace and calm. He wasn’t even saying much. I felt completely protected, as if I had nothing to worry about.”

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada often remarks that a person in the material world should have nothing to worry about, precisely because their eternal father is the richest person in the world. Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, possesses the opulence of wealth to the highest degree.

Moreover, God is the greatest protector. The jiva souls run into trouble when they forget the relationship to Him. When they think they can become ultimate protector, in absence of God, they eventually run into frustration and defeat.

Shri Krishna promises in Bhagavad-gita that He is the swift-deliverer from the ocean of birth and death for His devotees. We are swimming without any rescue, stuck in this vast ocean, not knowing how to get out. Through remembering Him, who is always our well-wisher, who always has our best interests at heart, we will be protected: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Not well in pool faring,
That water easily scaring.

My father by force taking,
And exhilarating ride making.

With Shri Krishna similar so,
When of His protection to know.

That in this world never alone,
Greatest well-wisher ever known.