“The Personality of Godhead heard the appealing voices of His friends, and casting a pleasing glance over them, He began to answer. By speaking through His eyes, He impressed His friends that there was no cause for fear. Then Krishna, the supreme mystic, the powerful Personality of Godhead, immediately swallowed up all the flames of the fire. The cows and boys were thus saved from imminent danger.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 19)

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1. After dealing with Kaliya

It was a harrowing experience for most of the parties involved. You had the aggressor, who was accidentally causing trouble in the Yamuna River. What could he really do? It was in his nature. He was hiding there from the eagle carrier known as Garuda. Kaliya was a serpent with many hoods. He was a poisonous serpent, and so his presence was causing issues with anyone who associated with the sacred Yamuna River, who is actually a goddess.

As He is known to do for those close to Him, Krishna fearlessly entered the scene. To tackle the problem head-on, He leaped into the water from a tree. What could a small boy really do against a powerful serpent? Would not the poison itself be a detriment? Things did not look good when Kaliya had Krishna bound. How was Krishna going to free Himself?

Next thing you know, it is Krishna playfully dancing on the hoods of Kaliya. Not only is the serpent in trouble, but his wives are now worried. They pacify Krishna with kind prayers. Krishna is pleased with those words. He relents and then leaves a parting gift. The marks on the head of Kaliya will be a sign of protection. Garuda will see those marks and understand them as the footprints of Krishna, to whom he is devoted. Therefore, Kaliya will be safe.

“Brahmanas are considered to be the spiritual masters of society. They offered their blessings to Krishna and the family on account of Krishna’s release. They also asked Maharaja Nanda to give them some charity on that occasion. Being so pleased by Krishna’s return, Maharaja Nanda began to give many cows and much gold in charity to the brahmanas. While Nanda Maharaja was thus engaged, mother Yashoda simply embraced Krishna and made Him sit on her lap while she shed tears continually.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 17)

With the crisis averted, it was all smiles. The parents, Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda, were relieved. The brahmanas of the community congratulated the parents, requesting gifts in charity, a move befitting the joyous nature of the conclusion to the affair. Everything was going well, until it wasn’t. The people decided to stay outside that night, taking rest on the riverbank. That is when a fire suddenly appeared. It threatened everyone directly this time. There was no other option than to take shelter of Krishna. The people followed their inclination, and once again Krishna saved the day. He simply devoured the fire.

2. After dealing with Pralambasura

Another time, Krishna and His brother Balarama were playing with their friends in the forest. They decided upon a game where the losers would have to carry the winners on their backs. It so happened that an asura appeared there in the false guise of a cowherd boy. He happened to then carry Balarama in accordance with the rules of the game. The problem was that this was actually Pralambasura, who carried not only Balarama but ill-intent. He ended up carrying Balarama far away, such that they were separated from the rest of the group.

Balarama realized what was happening and then proceeded to kill the demon. This created a loud sound, where the cowherd boys and Krishna finally learned what had happened. Happy that everything was back to normal, the next issue was that some of the animals under the care of the cowherd boys happened to drift away. They ended up being caught in a forest fire. The fire grew in intensity, such that the cowherd boys felt it was an emergency. They did what they were known to do. It was their second nature. They looked to Krishna and Balarama to save them. Krishna then did just that by devouring the forest fire.

…

These events give a glimpse into the life in liberation. It is not that an existence ends upon the completion of the cycle of birth and death. Mukti is a wonderful reward, but when the means of attainment is bhakti, the life of devotion continues. There is variety. There is interaction. There are highs and lows and ups and downs, but with a key distinction. Krishna is there to provide protection. He oversees everything, such that even when there is danger there is nothing to fear.

Otherwise, we might take extreme measures to protect ourselves. We carry around a fire extinguisher. We have a flame retardant blanket tucked away in the back of the vehicle. We carry a concealed weapon in order to defend against potential aggressors. We think we can handle any emergency in this way, but sometimes there is nothing that can be done. A wise person reaches out to the one who controls everything, in full surrender, such that the eventual rescue is guaranteed.

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि
मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्-पराः
अनन्येनैव योगेन
मां ध्यायन्त उपासते
तेषाम् अहं समुद्धर्ता
मृत्यु-संसार-सागरात्
भवामि न चिरात् पार्थ
मय्य् आवेशित-चेतसाम्

ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi
mayi sannyasya mat-parāḥ
ananyenaiva yogena
māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate
teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt
bhavāmi na cirāt pārtha
mayy āveśita-cetasām

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.6-7)

In Closing:

A blanket against the ice,
No need to think twice.

For extinguisher to reach,
Prepared for situation each.

But life in liberation consider,
How dearest friend to deliver.

Surrounded by fire when,
Krishna to devour then.

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Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, krishna lila, poem, poems, poetry