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Chapter 8: Prayers of Queen Kunti and Pariksit Saved 

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In chapter 7, we heard how Krsna protected Arjuna from the brahmästra thrown by Açvatthämä and then the Lord solved his dilemma: What to do with this heinous murderer, Açvatthämä? Should he be killed or be spared because Drauni (kill him, do not kill him). In this chapter we see further evidence of how Krsna deals with His devotees in a personal way and also how the devotees exclusively depend on His protection and mercy, especially from Kuntidevi’s prayer.

Chapter 8 Contd  From

the mentality of the devotees, who are eligible to going back to Godhead, as expressed through their louts mouths, we get a glimpse– and thus it is a great beacon for us because it reveals Krsna’s personality—teaches us how to mold our own KC.  Thus we should be very attentive in hearing SB.  The Pändavas were more fortunate than Prahläda because Krsna not only protected them, but actually lived with

Chapter 8: Themes  Lord

Krsna and the sages pacify the kurus, who were experiencing extreme grief for their losses in the war, citing stringent laws of the Almighty and their reactions upon the living beings (1-6).  Uttarä’s prayer to Krsna to save the life of Pariksit in her womb from the scorching heat of another brahmästra thrown by Açvatthämä. Krsna personally saves both Pariksit and the

Chapter 8: Themes (Contd) Kuntidevi’

prayers (18-43) Upon Krsna preparing to leave, but Yudhisthira Maharaja implored Him lovingly to stay (44-45) Yudhisthira Maharaja’s lamentation (46-52)

Verse 3  Grief

has to be experienced and shared—philosophy must come later.  Does Krsna experience material grief? – Sat-cit-änanda – The Lord has to descend to the material world to experience suffering (exs: Lord Räma, Jesus, etc.)  Does

He lack compassion?

Stringent Laws of the Almighty (4)  Non-devotees

are subjected to the laws of action, but the devotees are under personal care of Krsna. Why? – – – –

Unalloyed bhakti ahaituki……. Avasya raksibe krsna visväsa pälanam Give 1’s life for Krsna Always serving Krsna

 Krsna’s

reciprocation is proportionate to the devotees’ degree of surrender. (Contd)

Stringent Laws of the Almighty (4)

 Why

do even the devotees have to suffer? – Krsna has certain overall plan and desire – Nature of the material world (duhkhälayam açäsvatam) – Even Krsna’s own parents (Devaki and Vasudeva) had to suffer

 Stringent

because of the time factor, which is imperceptible

Stringent Laws of the Almighty (4) Krsna is mysterious and His relationships with His devotees are also very mysterious Both the material and spiritual worlds function according to His desire and care Even the Lord is surprised how things turn out Is that possible? Isn’t He omniscient? If He knew everything, how can He enjoy? If He does not know everything, how

Suffering in the spiritual life (Sri Madhvendra Puri Dasa)

 Is

the spiritual life full of bliss or is it filled with suffering?  Is the suffering on the path of devotional service accidental, or is it necessary, or is it just the inevitable result of our past activities, or is it the Lord’s special mercy? Scriptures give ample substantiation to each of these statements.  Devotees needs to learn how to take suffering in a proper mood, conducive

Suffering in the spiritual life

(Sri Madhvendra Puri Dasa)

 Devotee

accepts everything that is happening with him as the Lord’s dealings with him.  SP presents a very insightful commentary on Pändavas’ suffering in the purport to SB 1.9.19: “Tribulations imposed upon the devotees by the Lord constitute another exchange of transcendental bhäva between the Lord and the devotees. The Lord says “I put My devotee into difficulty, and

Suffering in the spiritual life

(Sri Madhvendra Puri Dasa)

 Placing

the devotee into material troubles necessitates delivering him from the illusory material relations.  “…Tribulations offered by the Lord to His devotee are different from the tribulations resulting from vicious action.”  If a devotee is fully mature and expert in using everything in Lord’s service, he may be given all the facilities for his service. But before that one should not

Suffering in the spiritual life

(Sri Madhvendra Puri Dasa)  So, suffering is always a part of our material existence, but in devotee’s life it serves higher purpose.  We must accept sufferings as means of purification, sent by Lord Himself. For one who has taken shelter in descriptions of Lord Sri Krsna’s glories, suffering

Verses 10-17  SP

said that many brahmästras were actually thrown at the Pändavas.  No time this time even less than in the case of Arjuna with Açvatthämä  Only the persons to whom the brahmästra is hurled at can see it coming.  Why Krsna gave Himself to the Pändavas? Because they have

Krsna as bhakta-vatsala aiçvarya-mädhurya-käruëye svarüpapürëatä bhakta-vätsalya, ätma-paryanta vadänyatä “Kåñëa’s

transcendental qualities of opulence, sweetness and mercy are perfect and full. As far as Kåñëa’s affectionate leaning toward His devotees is concerned, He is so magnanimous that He can

Verses 10-17  Uttarä

was protected from outside with Sudarçana, which eliminated the number of brahmästras  From inside her womb, Krsna protected Pariksit by covering the embryo with His personal energy. – How did it look from inside? (SB 1.12.711)  Actually

the 1st body of Pariksit was burnt by the weapon. The Lord gave 2nd body to him within the womb (SB

Kuntidevi’ prayers (1843)

Who’s Kuntidevi? Her prayers in 26 verses (1843) Krsna, the original person and His wonders (18-22) Recognition of how Krsna protected the Pändavas from their dangerous encounters

Kuntidevi’ prayers (Contd)

Krsna, the property of the impoverished (26-28) Krsna’s bewildering pastimes (29-31) Different opinions about why Krsna, the unborn appears to take birth (32-36) Full surrender and cutting ties of affection (37-43)

Who Is Kuntidevi?  Kuntidevi

is the daughter of Çurasena, the chief of the glorious Yadu dynasty, the father of Vasudeva, who is in turn the father of Lord Krsna, and that makes her Krsna’s aunt.  In her childhood, she was given in adoption to Çurasena’s childless cousin and close friend Kuntibhoja— hence the name “Kunti.”  As a host in the her step-father’s home, she pleased sage Durväsa by

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Who Is Kuntidevi? (Contd)

After Kunti married King Pändu of the Kuru dynasty, the couple could not conceive because the sage Kindam’s curse. There Kunti’s special benediction enabled her to conceive (at her husband’s request), along with the other queen Mädri, the Pändavas as their sons by union with the demigods. She along with her sons and their common wife Draupadi underwent series of calamities by Duryodhana and Krnsa protected them in every instance. She was a great devotee with incredible

Her prayers in 26 verses (18-43)

 Considered

as a philosophical, theological, and literary masterpiece.  Important enough for SP to gave further explanations in a series of lectures on these prayers in Los Angeles in 1973—Teachings of Queen Kunti.  Very sweet and wonderful and carry deep meanings.

Krsna, the original person and His wonders (18-22) Verse 18  The original person—tvädyam—and the controller--içvaram  Beyond the senses—prakrteh-param  Existing both within and w/out everything and everyone—antar bahir avasthitam – All-pervading and in the hearts of all living entities as the Supersoul – Krsna sitting on the chariot in front of Kuntidevi and at the same time she observed him entering in Uttarä’s womb to save the embryo of Pariksit from the brahmästra weapon of Açvatthämä (Contd)

Krsna, the original person and His wonders (Contd) (18-22) – And yet invisible—alaksyam sarvabhutanäm

What makes Him the invisible? (19) – Mäyä-javanikäcchannam—covered by the deluding curtain of mäyä – Ajnä—to those who are foolish and ignorant— mudha-drçä – Two reasons why the mudhas cannot see Krsna?  Poor fund of knowledge/stubborn obstinacy & their imperfect senses  Adhoksja—beyond the range of material conception and senses (transcendental) simultaneously all-pervasive & localized SB

Krsna, the original person and His wonders (Contd) (18-22)  Verse 20 – Paramhamsänam muninäm amal ätmanäm—of the advanced transcendentalists and the great philosophers or mental speculators whose minds are competent to discern between spirit and matter – Katham paçyema hi striyah—how can then we women know You perfectly?  Displaying great humility while playing

Sincerity of Purpose (20) 

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Although Kuntidevi explains how the Lord is unapproachable materially, her heartfelt prayers indirectly indicate the method of understanding the Lord. Although the Lord will not come under the control of knowledge, He can be known by His mercy. The Lord’s mercy can be attracted by our sincerity of purpose. A devotee’s sincerity is his desire to serve Krsna without motive. Kuntidevi’s exclusive dependence on the Lord thus makes her the object of the Lord’s mercy and demonstrates the way in which the Lord can

Krsna, the original person and His wonders (Contd) (18-22) 

Verse 21 – Primary (in relationship with His devotees) verses secondary (related to the material creation) names of Krsna

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The lotus verse 22 – Comparison with lotus indicate Krsna’s capacity to bring happiness to the living entities (Srila Jiva Goswami) – Analogy of the lotus: Panka (muddy water)-aja (born from) and yet remains untouched. Similarly, Krsna comes in the material world, but remains transcendental to the modes – “Soothing atmosphere in the temple of worship to

Recognition of how Krsna protected the Pändavas from their dangerous encounters (23-25)  Release

of both Devaki and Kunti from their distresses—Kuntidevi was shown more favor because she was a widow (23)  Protection from a poisoned cake, from a great fire, from cannibals, from the vicious assembly, from sufferings during exile in the forest, and from the battle where great generals fought. Finally, saved from the

Recognition of how Krsna protected the Pändavas from their dangerous encounters (Contd) (23-25)

 “Let

there be more calamities because that means seeing Krsna again and again and thus no more repeated births & deaths” (25)—vipadaù santu täù çaçvat  vipadaù—calamities; santu—let there be; täù—all; çaçvat— again and again – Devotees understand the nature of the material world full of calamities, but the spirit soul is transcendental and thus accept them.

Krsna, the property of the impoverished (26-28) 

The 4 principles of material advancement are disqualifications for progress on the path of spiritual advancement—decreasing the fever of illusion (26) – High parentage—janma, good wealth—aiçvarya, high education—çruta and attractive beauty— çrébhir – Should not use these 4 as independent shelter, they will fail on us

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The Lord and the devotees are reciprocally the properties of each other and therefore

Krsna, the property of the impoverished (Contd) (26-28)

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namo ’kiïcana-vittäya  namaù—all obeisances unto You; akiïcana-vittäya— unto the property of the materially impoverished (part of 1st para) nivåtta-guëa-våttaye  nivåtta— completely transcendental to the actions of the material modes; guëa—material modes; våttaye—affection (3rd and 4th para) ätmärämäya çäntäya kaivalya-pataye namaù  ätma-ärämäya—one who is selfsatisfied; çäntäya—the most gentle; kaivalya-pataye—unto the master of the

Krsna, the property of the impoverished (Contd) (26-28)

 Wonderful

how Kuntidevi prays for more calamities to get Krsna’s association.  What is valuable to them is not the protection as such but always be in the Lord’s association. How wonderful must be this association? 

What we are seeing here? (Bhurijana Prabhu)  Chapters

7-11  Theme (how Krsna deals with His devotees)  Understanding of the interactions of the rasas will help us to appreciate krsna-liläs  We should look for service--keeping our consciousness.  Do not look for difficulties, depend on Krsna all the time, and devotee does not try to put his effort into mitigating miseries of the material

The touch of superior energy (28)  Another

name of the Paramätmä feature of the Lord is käla, or eternal time.  Käla offers the conditioned soul both happiness and miseries. It is all predestined by eternal time. As we have miseries uncalled-for, so we may have happiness also w/out being asked (SB 1.5.18).  Form is limited by space and time, but Krsna, while having a personal

Krsna’s bewildering pastimes (29-31)

 samaà

carantaà sarvatra (29) the SPG being = & merciful to all His parts & parcels descends by His free will to evoke surrender that will make us receptive to His mercy (Jiva Goswami).  What does that mean that He descends by His free will? – No one is forcing Him even though He comes on schedule, no one is forcing Him to follow the schedule, freely chooses to

What does that mean that He descends by His free will? –

Performs liläs that are so wonderful that we (jivas) we will surrender to Him – What is the result of that surrender? Makes one receptive to Krsna’s mercy. – Did you notice when you are not surrendered? turning our back on Krsna, not receptive to our mercy, channel of His

Krsna’s bewildering pastimes (29-31) (Contd)  Not only bewildering, but also

apparently contradictory— inconceivable to the limited thinking power of the human being (30).  He is unborn and yet appears to take birth  All-pervading Supersoul in every living entities, and yet He appears in various species of life forms  Verse 31 speaks the most sublime truth  that krsna is conquered by

Krsna’s bewildering pastimes (29-31) (Contd)

 How

more expanded is this concept of god here? the parents of the lord (who are all pure devotees) consider him a child only. the lord accepts the chastisements of the parents more cheerfully than the prayers of the Vedic hymns. Similarly, he accepts the reproaches of his fiancees more palatably than the Vedic hymns (Vraja-bhäva). This picture of the lord

Krsna’s bewildering pastimes (Contd)  mamat(29-31) ä—intimacy  complete

manifestation of Krsna—Paramésvara under the control of His devotee (mother Yaçodä) deep science of KC (aisvarya-jnäna is completely forgotten.  Kunté was conscious of the exalted position of Krsna, whereas Yaçodä was not. Therefore Yaçodä’s position was more

Different opinions about why Krsna, the unborn appears to take birth (32-36)

 Just

as sandalwood made the Malayan hills famous, similarly Krsna made the yadus famous by appearing in their family (32).  Due to the full-hearted prayers of Devaki and Vasudeva  get rid of asuras’ overburdening the earth (33).  Some say that the lord appeared because of the prayers of Brahmäjé

Different opinions about why Krsna, the unborn appears to take birth (32-36) (Contd)

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Krsna’s advent, out of His causeless mercy, rejuvenate navadhä- bhakti—How? Jivas under nescience are suffering in the material existence. However, the practice of any of the 9-fold ds, releases the jivas from their material sufferings due to mäyä’s illusory influence (35). There are different transcendental activities of the Lord, and each and every one of them is competent to bestow the desired result, provided the hearing

Full surrender and cutting ties of affection (37-43) 

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Now, Kunti will reveal her mind, what she fears  emphasis is on how much we ought to depend on Krsna? What does it mean? The Päëòavas are most fortunate because with all good luck they were entirely dependent on the mercy of the lord (37). Dependent on the mercy of the lord  only way out—accept His mercy whatever form it comes Separation is so deep & intolerable

Full surrender and cutting ties of affection (37-43) (Contd)  Why

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Krsna is leaving (38)?

– See His friends in Dvärakä – mission is over – wants to  Kunti’s attachment to Him. Dependence on Krsna = essence of surrender Most praised possession  imprints of lotus feet of Krsna (39). Whatever Krsna touches becomes beautiful. Whatever beautiful devoid of Krsna becomes hollow (40).

Full surrender and cutting ties of affection (37-43) (Contd) Why is she asking Krsna to cut ties of affection (41-43)?  Nothing in existence, collectively & individually therefore, sever my tie of affection for my kinsmen, the Päëòavas and the Våñëis  Both the families required the lord’s help because both were dependent devotees of the lord. Which side would she take? (41).

Upon Krsna preparing to leave, but Yudhisthira Maharaja implored Him lovingly to stay (44-45) 

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Kunti did not ask Him to stay because she is caught between the two families. Krsna has not revealed His intention. täà bäòham accepted the prayers premëä räjïä niväritaù Yudhisthira stopped Krsna with prema (45) “He is fully independent in all His dealings, but He voluntarily accepts obligations by the loving affection of His pure devotees.” (45p)

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Yudhisthira Maharaja’s lamentation (46-52)

“The pious King Yudhisthira was mortified because of the mass massacre of human beings in the Battle of Kuruksetra, especially on his account (640 million people were killed)” (46). Yudhisthira’s speaking & lamentation was orchestrated by Krsna just like Arjuna. Vyas & others knew that their preaching would not work, yet they did it to follow Krsna’s order (Srila Jiva Goswami) Why Krsna arranged that this way? So we can hear the philosophy through Bhésma (4647).

Yudhisthira Maharaja’s lamentation (46-52) (Contd) 

Krsna causes His own failure to pacify Yudhisthira. What is Krsna up to? – He desired that the King hear instructions from the dying Bhéñmadeva, who was another great devotee of the Lord. Wanted to glorify and immortalize the position of Bhéñma as mahäjana. – The Lord wanted that at the last stage of his material existence the great warrior Bhéñmadeva see Him personally and see his beloved grandchildren, King Yudhiñöhira, etc., now situated on the throne, and thus pass away

Yudhisthira’s lamentation Contd – Bhéñma witnessed everything (all ordeals of the Pändavas), Krsna wanted Bhéñma to be pacified at death by bringing the Pändavas in their rightful position. – Wanted to personally appear for Bhéñma’s demise even though he is on the other side