Hare Krsna,
Krsna declares in BG 4.8: “To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.”
Although the chapter is titled “Delivering the Wives of the Brāhmaṇas Performing Sacrifices,” Krsna is not only delivering the wives of the ritualistic brahmanas but also delivering the brahmanas in an indirect way. Citing the example of Mahārāja Prahlāda, Srila Prabhupada mentions in SB 1.19.2 that the family members of a devotee also share the effects of a devotee’s service unto the Lord. Mahārāja Prahlāda saved his demon father by his personal devotional service. Therefore, why should the brahmanas be deprived of the effects of their wives’ pure bhakti?
By His divine arrangement, Krsna engages the wives of the brahmanas in serving Him, Balarama and Their cowherd friends with food. After years or lifetimes of performing bhakti, the wives have finally reached the stage where they are able to feed the Lord and His associates directly. This is the perfection of their bhakti. And this is Krsna’s direct benediction on them.
“Requested in this way by Their friends, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma immediately showed compassion on certain wives of brāhmaṇas who were performing sacrifices. These wives were great devotees of the Lord, and Kṛṣṇa took this opportunity to bless them.” (Kṛṣṇa Book, 1-12)
On the other hand, the brahmanas are not Vaiṣṇavas. They are too engrossed in Vedic ritualistic sacrifices. They cannot even chant the names of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. They are very busy in chanting the Vedic hymns, although the purpose of Vedic knowledge is to find Krsna. (Kṛṣṇa Book, 1-12) In other words, the brahmanas are in “deep slumber of forgetfulness” of the Supreme Lord and His Holy Names. Therefore, Krsna sends His direct associates (the cowherd boys) to revive the brahmanas’ memory. Just as Lord Caitanya sent His direct associates such Lord Nityananda. Sri Advaita Acarya, Srila Haridas Thakura to go door to door and preach the Holy Names to the householders in Navadvipa, so too Krsna instructed His cowherd friends to preach the Holy Name to the brahmanas on the pretext of asking for some food. Just as most-merciful Lord Caitanya engaged Lord Nityananda to deliver Jagai-Madhai, so too Krsna has instructed His cowherd friends to invoke the name and blessings of Lord Balarama to preach to the brahmanas.
Kṛṣṇa said, “You should ask for rice, calling out Our names. Though those brahmanas are supposed to be intelligent, they must be woken from their deep slumber of forgetfulness by calling out Our names. You should call out Baladeva’s name first because those materialistic brahmanas will think that Balarama, being a ksatriya, is a worthy recipient of charity, whereas I, being a mere vaisya, am certainly unworthy. Even if they give a little, it is acceptable.” (Sārārtha-darśini; SB 10.23.4)
Krsna and Balarama being vaisya and ksatriya respectively are just material designations and varnasrama dharma. Both are transcendental to all material designations. They are the Supreme Lord Themselves.
In this way, Krsna is engaging the power of His Holy Name and the mercy of Lord Balarama (or Lord Nityananda in Gaura-lila) to benedict the forgetful living entities and awaken them to Krsna consciousness. In this way, Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama are re-establishing the principles of religion (yuga-dharma of Kali-yuga – Nama Sankirtana).
“When the brāhmaṇas did not respond to the cowherd boys’ initial request, the boys addressed them with a touch of sarcasm: “Of course you know the highest principles of religion, so what can we tell you about dharma and adharma?” The phrase dharma-vittamāḥ (best knowers of dharma) can also be taken as dharma-vi-tamaḥ, which means the ritualistic brahmanas were actually totally ignorant of religious principles.” (Sārārtha-darśini; SB 10.23.7)
Although the cowherd boys spoke with sarcasm, what they said is indeed true. The brahmanas were totally ignorant of religious principles. They are ignorant that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that there is no difference between Him and His Holy Name.
Thus, I can realize that Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, through this pastime in Dvapara yuga, have given an indication of what is to follow in the next yuga (Kali-yuga) – the propagation of the congregational chanting of the Holy Name all over the world.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 