Hare Krsna,
Srila Prabhupada’s purport to verse 27 struck me. He writes that “a devotee desires only that he may execute devotional service undisturbed. Actually we see, however, that even during the presence of Kṛṣṇa, when Nanda Mahārāja and the other cowherd men had the Supreme Personality of Godhead in their presence, there were disturbances.”
There are two things we can learn from this.
Firstly, disturbances in life are inevitable. Devotees sometimes think that by coming to Krsna consciousness, all the disturbances in life will disappear. Far from truth! As long as we are in this material world (especially in Kali yuga), disturbances will be there. Sorrow and suffering are inevitable part of life. There are three kinds of distresses: adhyātmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Adhyātmika means distresses pertaining to this body and the mind. Adhidaivika means distresses offered by material nature. Adhibhautika is sufferings offered by other living entities. Distresses will always be there. Of course, as we try to become Krsna conscious, the severity of the distresses may be lessened by the mercy of the Supreme Lord and the power of the Holy Name. But some amount of distresses will always be there.
The question is not whether we can get rid of distresses and disturbances in life. As we can see in this pastime, even the Vrajavasis were subjected to great disturbances despite the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in their presence. The question is how we can deal with these disturbances. That’s where the second lesson comes in.
We can deal with distresses and disturbances by taking shelter of the Supreme Lord and exercising gratitude in life. The Vrajavasis were always reminded of the mercy of the Lord. After every disturbing incident (or demoniac attack) on Krsna, they expressed gratitude to the mercy of the various forms of the Lord for protecting Krsna. Read the number of times Upananda mentioned ‘by the mercy of the Supreme Lord.’
Text 24: The child Kṛṣṇa, simply by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was somehow or other rescued from the hands of the Rākṣasī Pūtanā, who was determined to kill Him. Then, again by the mercy of the Supreme Godhead, the handcart missed falling upon the child.
Text 25: Then again, the demon Tṛṇāvarta, in the form of a whirlwind, took the child away into the dangerous sky to kill Him, but the demon fell down onto a slab of stone. In that case also, by the mercy of Lord Viṣṇu or His associates, the child was saved.
Text 26: Even the other day, neither Kṛṣṇa nor any of His playmates died from the falling of the two trees, although the children were near the trees or even between them. This also is to be considered the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Despite all the disturbances, the Vrajavasis remained humble, grateful and surrendered to Lord Visnu (or His other forms). Similarly, we can also face all the distresses and miseries by always remembering the Supreme Lord.
Srila Prabhupada assures us: “The instruction we may derive from this is that we should not be disturbed by so-called disturbances. There have been so many disturbances to our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, but we cannot give up our forward march. On the contrary, people are receiving this movement very enthusiastically all over the world, and they are purchasing literature about Kṛṣṇa consciousness with redoubled energy. Thus there are both encouragements and disturbances. This was so even in Kṛṣṇa’s time.”
The power of the Holy Name is such that it can give us tremendous strength to deal with any situation in life. Krsna consciousness will not relieve us from distresses but will empower us to face them confidently. As long as we are sincerely hearing, chanting and remembering the Holy Name, qualities, forms, pastimes of Krsna and His pure devotees, rest assured we will be protected.
Krsna promises in BG 9.31: “He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.”
“Therefore, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare should be continued without stoppage. This will protect a devotee from all accidental fall-downs. He will thus remain perpetually free from all material contaminations.” (BG 9.31 Purport)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 