“Sometimes mother Yashoda used to ask Krishna to bring her a wooden plank for sitting. Although the wooden plank was too heavy to be carried by a child, still somehow or other Krishna would bring it to His mother. Sometimes while worshiping Narayana, His father would ask Him to bring his wooden slippers, and Krishna, with great difficulty, would put the slippers on His head and bring them to His father. When He was asked to lift some heavy article and was unable to lift it, He would simply move His arms. In this way, daily, at every moment, He was the reservoir of all pleasure to His parents.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 11)

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“Have you ever considered how lonely some people are due to no fault of their own? It is because of their interests. Those interests correspond to their level of intelligence. I will give you an example. If I see life in a certain way, if I can point out the potential pitfalls before following through on a particular action, this foresight does not always benefit me. This is because my intelligence is spoiling the fun for someone else. They would rather remain in the dark. They do not want someone nagging them, even if the helper is entirely correct in their prognostication.

“You know what I mean, right? Like with children in school. Some gravitate towards athletics. They love to play games. Some people have different interests, like the arts. They want to act in a dramatic production. They want to play music. Some people like video games. Okay, but what about the scholars? What about the philosophers? These people want to discuss higher topics, such as the meaning to life, the cruelty of guaranteed death, and perhaps ethics. They want to find a way to remain moral and righteous, while still living within the world.

“These people have it the worst, if you ask me. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for them to find peers? I mention all of this because we see that in the movements of the avatara, there is not much time spent with scholars. I am talking particularly about Krishna-lila. Krishna is Bhagavan, after all. He has the greatest intelligence. He never had to acquire it. He reveals glimpses of that intelligence, on occasion, such as during confidential discussions with Arjuna and Uddhava.

“Nevertheless, Krishna is more commonly known for His play in the rural areas of Gokula and Vrindavana. Krishna plays with His friends, male and female. He delights the adults. He behaves like a dependent. He proceeds with naughty behavior such that Yashoda, the mother, has to punish Him. The mothers of the community ask Krishna to dance, and He obliges. He fits in with everyone else, but He is also not like anyone else. Why wouldn’t someone that intelligent choose to spend their time with scholars, instead?”

The people in those areas have no pretensions. They are not puffed up due to their intelligence. They do not feel that they are better than anyone else. They do not find it beneath them to get their hands dirty, both figuratively and literally. They love their cows. They love their land. They appreciate the devas, the gods in the sky, for providing the essentials for the continuation of life. If ever these people should land into trouble, they look to Vishnu to protect them. They feel that the names of Vishnu are powerful enough to guard different areas of their dependents, including Krishna.

“’My dear Krishna, may the Lord who is known as Maniman protect Your thighs; may Lord Vishnu who is known as Yajna protect Your legs; may Lord Achyuta protect Your arms; may Lord Hayagriva protect Your abdomen; may Lord Keshava protect Your heart; may Lord Vishnu protect Your arms; may Lord Urukrama protect Your face; may Lord Ishvara protect Your head; may Lord Chakradhara protect Your front; may Lord Gadadhara protect Your back; may Lord Madhusudana who carries a bow in His hand protect Your eyesight; may Lord Vishnu with His conchshell protect Your left side; may the Personality of Godhead Upendra protect You from above, and may Lord Tarkshya protect You from below the earth; may Lord Haladhara protect You from all sides; may the Personality of Godhead known as Hrishikesha protect all Your senses; may Lord Narayana protect Your breath; and may the Lord of Shvetadvipa, Narayana, protect Your heart; may Lord Yogeshvara protect Your mind; may Lord Prishnigarbha protect Your intelligence, and may the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect Your soul. While You are playing, may Lord Govinda protect You from all sides, and when You are sleeping, may Lord Madhava protect You from all danger; when You are working may the Lord of Vaikuntha protect You from falling down; when You are sitting, may the Lord of Vaikuntha give You all protection; and while You are eating, may the Lord of all sacrifices give You all protection.’ Thus mother Yashoda began to chant different names of Vishnu to protect the child Krishna’s different bodily parts.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 6)

Another aspect to consider is the purpose of intelligence. Knowledge lives in ether, in a sense. It is theoretical, only. The value of that knowledge depends on how it is utilized. If the people of Gokula live simply and always think of God, in a pure way, then what more do they need? What additional knowledge is required? What is elevation to the post of scholar going to do for them?

If members of that community, the simple folk, should ever be praised for their high standard of work, in displaying signs of the topmost yogi, they are not interested. They would rather be with Krishna. They would rather spend time with Him than receive some official commendation. They are not worshiping for any purpose. They worship because that is what defines their existence. It is no wonder, then, that the Supreme Lord loves them so much.

“When Uddhava said that he had a message from Krishna, the gopis were more interested in hearing the message than in hearing about their exalted position. They did not very much like being praised for their high position. They showed their anxiety to hear the message which Uddhava had brought from Krishna.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 46)

In Closing:

Hint of pretension not a touch,
Why Krishna loving them so much.

Not as great scholars known,
But highest devotion shown.

Such that as dependent or friend to treat,
Slippers to fetch or in wrestling defeat.

Then is it any wonder at all?
That Gokula favorite place to call.

Categories: questions

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