Hare Kṛṣṇa,
A careful study of this pastime highlights several instructive lessons for our spiritual lives.
- Everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. It is the īśāvāsyam principle as stated in Sri Isopanisad Mantra 1: Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.
Śaṅkhacūḍa was so puffed up over his material opulence that he falsely thought that (a) the valuable jewel belonged to him, and (b) the young girls of Vraja are meant for his enjoyment. Exactly how a material conditioned person thinks!
Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport of this mantra, “The root of sin is deliberate disobedience to the laws of nature through disregarding the proprietorship of the Lord. Disobeying the laws of nature or the order of the Lord brings ruin to a human being. Conversely, one who is sober, who knows the laws of nature, and who is not influenced by unnecessary attachment or aversion is sure to be recognized by the Lord and thus become eligible to go back to Godhead, back to the eternal home.”
- Lord Balarāma is the protector of the devotees.
SB 10.34.30: Lord Govinda chased the demon wherever he ran, eager to take his crest jewel. Meanwhile Lord Balarāma stayed with the women to protect them.
It is instructive to note that Lord Kṛṣṇa entrusted the protection of the women to Lord Balarāma. This beautifully illustrates Lord Balarāma’s role as the original protector and well-wisher of the Lord’s devotees, always ensuring their safety and welfare in the execution of the Lord’s pastimes.
“Śrī Rāma, or Balarāma, is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. Baladeva acts as the spiritual master of all devotees, and by His causeless mercy the fallen souls are delivered. Śrī Baladeva appeared as Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu during the advent of Lord Caitanya, and the great Lord Nityānanda Prabhu exhibited His causeless mercy by delivering a pair of extremely fallen souls, namely Jagāi and Mādhāi. Therefore it is particularly mentioned herein that Balarāma is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. By His divine grace only one can approach the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and thus Śrī Balarāma is the mercy incarnation of the Lord, manifested as the spiritual master, the savior of the pure devotees.” (SB 1.14.28-29, Translation and Purport)
Therefore, seeing Lord Balarāma’s role as the protector of the Lord’s associates, we should always pray for the shelter of Lord Balarāma and Nityānanda Prabhu, whose mercy protects us from both external difficulties and internal obstacles on the path back to Kṛṣṇa.
- Approaching Kṛṣṇa Through Guru and Rādhārāṇī
There is a profound lesson in the way Lord Kṛṣṇa first offered it to His elder brother, Lord Balarāma, who then presented it to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. This beautifully illustrates the proper etiquette of approaching and serving Lord Kṛṣṇa through the authorized disciplic succession. Just as we offer our service and devotion to our spiritual master, who in turn offers them to his spiritual master, in this way our offerings gradually ascend through the paramparā and ultimately reach the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The spiritual master acts as a transparent via media, never claiming anything for himself, but faithfully conveying the disciple’s offerings, prayers, and service to the Supreme Lord. Thus, by pleasing the spiritual master, one naturally pleases Kṛṣṇa, who accepts such offerings made through His pure devotee.
“The spiritual master is the representative of God. Whatever you offer to the spiritual master, it goes to God. Just like the tax collector. He collects taxes, but it goes to the government. The spiritual master does not take anything for himself. Whatever you give, that is carried to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.“ (Srila Prabhupada lecture on Lecture on BG 2.17 Mexico, February 17, 1975)
Similarly, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, being the crest jewel of all devotees, mercifully recommends and offers our service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas always aspire to perform devotional service under her guidance and shelter.
“Rādhārāṇī is very dear to Kṛṣṇa, and if we approach Kṛṣṇa through the mercy of Rādhārāṇī, we can easily attain Him. If Rādhārāṇī recommends a devotee, Kṛṣṇa immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be. Consequently in Vṛndāvana we find that devotees chant Rādhārāṇī’s name more often than Kṛṣṇa’s. Wherever we go in India we will find devotees calling, “Jaya Rādhe.” We should be more interested in worshiping Rādhārāṇī, for however fallen we may be, if somehow or other we can please Her, we can very easily understand Kṛṣṇa.” (Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, 5)
Thus, Lord Balarāma’s presentation of the effulgent jewel to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the dearmost recipient of Kṛṣṇa’s love, teaches a profound lesson in devotional etiquette. As sādhakas, we should likewise offer our prayers, service, and very lives through the shelter of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and the guru-paramparā, by whose mercy our offerings reach Lord Kṛṣṇa. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!