Hare Krsna,
Meditation on this pastime brought me to think about the past and present condition of the jivas (conditioned living entities) who are struggling in this material world. At several places of this lesson where the calves wandered too far and the cowherd boys stolen, I was drawing parallel to the fate of the jivas.
For example:
SB 10.13.12: O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, while the cowherd boys, who knew nothing within the core of their hearts but Kṛṣṇa, were thus engaged in eating their lunch in the forest, the calves went far away, deep into the forest, being allured by green grass.
Like the calves, we, jivas, have also gone far away from Krsna (and His abode) being allured by the green grass of the material world.
SB 10.13.13-14: When Kṛṣṇa saw that His friends the cowherd boys were frightened, He, the fierce controller even of fear itself, said, just to mitigate their fear, “My dear friends, do not stop eating. I shall bring your calves back to this spot by personally going after them Myself. Let Me go and search for the calves.”
I am sure Krsna always contemplates, “How shall I bring these lost jivas back to the spiritual world – their eternal home? How will they turn towards Me?”
Kṛṣṇa assured His friends, “Don’t be afraid. I am going personally to search for your calves.” This was Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy. (SB 10.13.14 Purport)
To reclaim the lost jivas, sometimes Krsna personally appears or sends His bonafide agents. Krsna appeared as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who gave us the Holy Name by chanting which we can gradually realize our eternal spiritual identity (that we are the eternal servants of the Lord) and revive our original Krsna consciousness.
This can be understood from the later statement: kṛṣṇa maya hatatmanam, “the cowherd boys were bewildered by Kṛṣṇa’s maya…Thus when Brahma desired to steal the boys and calves, yogamaya hid the real boys and calves and mahamaya instantly produced exact replicas for Brahma to steal.” (Srila Visvanath Chakravarty Thakura’s commentary on SB 10.12.15)
Were we also bewildered and kidnapped by Krsna’s other maya – Mahamaya? Or was it misuse of our freewill that we left Krsna and opted to serve maya?
Now that we are stuck in this material world suffering the repeated cycle of birth, death, old age and disease and the three-fold material miseries, we have naturally become extremely fearful of material existence. In such a situation, does everything look hopeless and bleak? Is there any way out of this material entanglement?
The simple answer is THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE. Srila Prabhupada reassures us repeatedly (in this lesson and in his other writings and lectures) that in the presence of Kṛṣṇa’s friendship, a devotee cannot have any fear. Krsna is the supreme controller and is also feared by fear personified. Our fear arises because of our forgetfulness of Krsna. But if we always remember our supreme father and eternal friend Krsna, this material world appears less dangerous. Therefore, I find Srila Prabhupada’s instruction very comforting, “Everyone, therefore, should take shelter of the Supreme Person, who is the source of fearlessness, and thus be secure.” (SB 10.13.13 Purport)
While we are taking a step closer to fully taking shelter of Krsna’s lotus feet each day, we must be aware that we should not try to become another Brahma – trying to test Krsna’s supremacy, control and energy. As much as we should respect Krsna’s controllership, we must also respect Krsna various energies – mainly Mahamaya who always somehow manages to bewilder us and keep us entangled in this material world. Brahma thought he managed to fool Krsna by stealing His cowherd friends. Little did he realize that he instead had been fooled by Krsna’s maya. Perfect example of a hunter becoming the hunted. Since even Brahma could not fully understand Krsna, we, who are so infinitesimal even compared to Brahma, should not try to pull that stunt. As they say, don’t try this at home. We must all take lessons from Krsna and His devotees. Therein lies our security, safety and true identity.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 