Hare Krsna,
It is encouraging to hear that when one is in a Vaikuntha planet, even if by chance one commits an offense, he is protected by the Lord. I do not accept that any devotee can commit an offense in the spiritual world. This is because in spiritual world (Vaikuntha), everything is suddha-sattva or pure goodness. There cannot be any lust, anger, greed, offense, envy, etc. This episode of the offenses committed by the four Kumaras and Jaya/Vijaya against each other is another inconceivable pastime of the Lord to prove that the personal form of the Lord is more confidential, complete, and full of bliss as compared to the impersonal conception of the Lord.
This pastime also shows the Lord’s love and care for His devotees such as Jaya and Vijaya.
“By mistake the doormen held the sages from entering Vaikuṇṭhaloka, but because they were engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, their annihilation was not expected by advanced devotees. The Lord’s presence on the spot was very pleasing to the hearts of the devotees. The Lord understood that the trouble was due to His lotus feet not being seen by the sages, and therefore He wanted to please them by personally going there. The Lord is so merciful that even if there is some impediment for the devotee, He Himself manages matters in such a way that the devotee is not bereft of having audience at His lotus feet.” (SB 3.16.2 P)
I can recollect several examples where the Lord came to help His devotees even if He was not summoned directly. Draupadi’s protection by Krsna during the gambling match is a case in point. When she was being disrobed by Dushasana, Lord Krsna protected her even though He was not personally present in the gambling match. The Lord extended an unlimited length of saree to protect Draupadi’s chastity and honor.
Another example is the beautiful pastime of Lord Nrsimhadeva and little Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja was tortured by his atheist father, Hirankasipu, for worshipping the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Hiranyakasipu tried various means to have Prahlada killed such as throwing him in a snake pit, throwing him from a mountain, have him sit on a burning pyre, poisoning, and various other means. But the merciful Lord appeared from the pillars to protect His dear devotee Prahlada.
One of my favorite pastimes from Srimad Bhagavatam is the protection of the elephant Gajendra from a crocodile. This story is about elephant Gajendra who was King Indradyumna in his past life and was cursed by Agastya rishi to become an elephant. Once, Gajendra, the leader of the elephants frolicked in a lake near Trikuta Mountain with his female elephants. A crocodile in the lake caught Gajendra’s leg. Gajendra struggled for many years to free himself. Finally, he prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. Gajendra offered a lotus flower to Lord Vishnu and offered many prayers. Pleased with Gajendra’s prayers, Lord Visnu appeared on the back of Garuda. Lord Visnu, immediately cut the crocodile’s head with His disc and pulled Gajendra out of the lake. Gajendra then received a spiritual body and returned back to Godhead. The interesting thing about this pastime is that when Gajendra was offering praying to the Lord, he did not know exactly who the Supreme Personality of Godhead is. He just remembered the prayer from his past life. By the Lord’s extraordinary mercy, he remembered the prayer at the right time. Even though Gajendra offered the prayer without knowing who the Supreme Lord was, the Lord nevertheless appeared instantly to protect Gajendra.
Gajendra Moksham (the liberation of Gajendra) is one of the most famous exploits of Lord Vishnu in Srimad Bhagavatam. A recitation of this episode early in the morning has great immortal powers like the recitation of the sacred hymn Sri Vishnu Sahasranama. There is no disaster from which, the mighty and the compassionate Lord would not protect the devotees, that with faith and devotion remember His feet as their refuge.
At the end of Gajendra’s prayers to the Lord, the Lord gave a benediction to everyone.
“”My dear devotee, unto those who rise from bed at the end of night and offer Me the prayers offered by you, I give an eternal residence in the spiritual world at the end of their lives.” (8.4.25)
The verses SB 8.3.2 through 29 are Gajendra’s prayers of surrender to Lord Vishnu and are worth memorizing.
“The conclusion is that if one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness with all seriousness, he is to be understood as already purified, and Kṛṣṇa is ready to give him protection by all means. The Lord assures herein that He is ready to give protection to His devotee even if there is need to cut off part of His own body.” (SB 3.16.6 P)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 