Hare Krsna,
Going through the demigods’s prayers from verse 26 to 33, I can see how their mood towards the Supreme Lord changes. In the first part of the prayers, they glorified the Supreme Lord’s opulence and power. They prayed that Krsna is the cause of all causes – that He is always truthful to His perfect vows, He is the Supreme Absolute Truth, He is present in all three phases of cosmic manifestation; He is the truth of all truths, and so on. They, therefore, fully surrender unto Him. (SB 10.2.26). The demigods next compared the material body to a tree on which the two birds are the soul and the Supersoul (27). They prayed that Krsna is the original source of this universe, its maintainer, and its shelter after annihilation. Those whose minds are covered by maya cannot see Him unlike the devotees. Thus, the demigods’ prayers are acknowledgement of the Supreme Lord Krsna’s supreme position.
In the next part of the prayers (verse 29-33), the demigods glorify the Lord’s supreme merciful nature. They pray that Krsna is the supreme protector. He incarnates in this world in different forms such as Kurma, Varaha, Rama, etc. to bring all good fortune to all living entities, please the pious devotees and annihilate the non-devotees.
SB 10.2.29: O Lord, You are always in full knowledge, and to bring all good fortune to all living entities, You appear in different incarnations, all of them transcendental to the material creation. When You appear in these incarnations, You are pleasing to the pious and religious devotees, but for nondevotees You are the annihilator.
Next the demigods pray that Krsna is so merciful to the suffering living entities that He provides His lotus feet as the boat to cross the material ocean. By meditating on His name, form, qualities and pastimes, one boards the boat of His lotus feet to cross the material ocean. By this simple process, one can cross the material ocean easily just as one steps over a calf’s footprint.
SB 10.2.30: O lotus-eyed Lord, by concentrating one’s meditation on Your lotus feet, which are the reservoir of all existence, and by accepting those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross the ocean of nescience, one follows in the footsteps of mahājanas [great saints, sages and devotees]. By this simple process, one can cross the ocean of nescience as easily as one steps over the hoofprint of a calf.
Not only Krsna but also the acaryas who have surrendered fully to Him are equally merciful to us. They not only cross the material ocean by using the lotus feet of the Lord as a boat, they also leave behind the process (or boat) for us to cross over.
The devotees definitely seek the Lord’s shelter, but what about those who have accepted different processes to attain salvation. The sad answer is that they fall down from their position because they have no regard for the Lord’s lotus feet. This is basically the fate of those who lack devotion.
But what if a devotee falls down? The demigods assure us here that even those devotees may sometimes fall down, they do not fall like non-devotees. Even if they fall from bhakti but remain firmly attached to His lotus feet, Krsna will protect them. Thus, they can fearlessly surpass all opponents and obstacles, and continue to make further progress in bhakti.
There is a similar assurance by Krsna in BG 9.30 and 9.31:
“Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated. He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.”
Though Bharata, Indradymna and Citraketu fell to the bodies of a deer, elephant and demon respectively, they – (i) remained faithful to the Lord, (ii) they thought that their fall has been arranged by the Lord for their own benefit, (iii) their prema for the Lord increased a hundred fold.
This is why I find verse 33 to be extremely hope giving.
SB 10.2.33: “O Mādhava, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord of the goddess of fortune, if devotees completely in love with You sometimes fall from the path of devotion, they do not fall like nondevotees, for You still protect them. Thus they fearlessly traverse the heads of their opponents and continue to progress in devotional service.”
As long as we faithfully chant the mahamantra (the Holy Name of the Lord), sincerely follow the regulative principles, associate with Srila Prabhupada through his books and stay in the association of good devotees, there is hope of rescue even if we fall down accidentally. The demigods are mercifully praying to the Lord for our deliverance, the Lord Himself wants to take us out of this suffering material world, and the acaryas are there to guide and provide us shelter. What then is there to be hopeless about? All we need is faith and surrender unto the lotus feet of Krsna.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 