Bhakti on the Battlefield

Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.12
Vrndavana, September 11, 1976

Sometimes a class of devotees known as sahajiya, they say that "What we have got to do with the narration of Kuruksetra battle?" They immediately jump to the krsna-lila, directly with the gopis. And Krsna's activities in other field, they think it is useless. But that is not the fact. Anywhere Krsna is acting, that is transcendental -- the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, historical references, description, so superficially it appears that what a devotee has got to do with this battlefield? But battlefield or no battlefield, wherever there is Krsna, that is transcendental. This has to be understood. Otherwise, Sukadeva Gosvami, why he should indulge in describing how Uttara's pregnancy was saved by Krsna, how the brahmastra was thrown by Asvatthama? So Sukadeva Gosvami is liberated person. Why he should indulge in these material things? No. Those who are advanced, they know that Krsna's dancing with the gopis, that lila and Krsna's playing as the leader of the battlefield of Kuruksetra is the same. It is all transcendental. One should not make any distinction between the two. Samstham ca pandu-putranam vaksye krsna-kathodayam. Pandu-putranam, the pandu-putras, or the Pandavas, son of Pandu, they're all devotees. Even their political affairs, because there is connection with Krsna, it is krsna-katha.


Directly taking shelter of Krsna or to take shelter of a pure devotee who is under the shelter of Krsna. Mad-asrayah. So if one takes shelter of a pure devotee... Just like electricity: the powerhouse is far away, but the power is coming. Suppose your body is electrified, and if I touch, then my body immediately becomes electrified. And if somebody touches me, then other's body. This is electric. Similarly, one who is pure devotee, he's authorized by Krsna, he's electrified. So if one takes shelter of a pure devotee, then he becomes purified.

Now this material nature is nothing but machine. It is not God. Those who are with poor fund of knowledge, they are taking directly this material nature as working. No. Material nature has no power to act. It is dull. It is Krsna's direction. So in everywhere there is Krsna's direction. One who has got the eyes to see, for him, krsna-kathodayam. Direction is there actually. But because we cannot conceive how in this plan the direction of the Supreme Lord is there so that a nice flower is coming with so beautiful feature. But direction is there we should know. In ordinarily we say sometimes that "Not a blade of grass moves without the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." So everything is going on under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Don't think that it is taking automatically. There is no such thing as automatical. But the direction is so quick, so sufficient and so perfect. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Automatically, immediately. There are so many machines we have. Just like the computer. There is machine working, but it is so minute that simply by pushing one button, so many things immediately done. This is a material machine, manufactured by a human being. And how much perfect the machine of Krsna will be, just imagine.

So a devotee whatever he sees, he remembers Krsna.
sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti
sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti

One has to become advanced devotee to understand how Krsna's direction is going on. They can understand. Don't think that things are taking place automatically. Therefore even in reverse condition a devotee does not see that "This thing is happening without direction of Krsna." Even if he is in an adverse condition, he does not feel any pain, because he knows that "This adverse condition is also under the direction of Krsna. So I am fully surrendered to Krsna. Why I shall take this adverse position as not mercy of Krsna? It is also mercy of Krsna." Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam. A devotee is not disturbed by adverse condition. He takes that this is a gift of Krsna. Tat te anukampam. "It is Krsna's mercy. Although I am put into difficulty, it is Krsna's mercy."

So anyone who takes in that way, mukti-pade sa daya-bhak: his going back to home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed. Because he takes everything as Krsna's mercy. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja was so much chastised by his father. You know how he was put into difficulty so many ways. But he was taking, "This is Krsna's mercy." He did not take otherwise. So in this way wherever... Everywhere there is Krsna's hand, so what to speak of this battlefield or any other thing. So we should not take otherwise, that "This the best part and this is the lowest part." No. Wherever there is Krsna directly. Krsna is everywhere, but we cannot see. But at least in Mahabharata, in Srimad-Bhagavatam, in Krsna's dealing with the Pandavas, the Krsna's hand is there. That is Krsna's desire. [break] ...it is not like that. One who is advanced, one who is actually in knowledge, they will take krsna-kathodayam. Wherever Krsna's katha is there, it is as good as any other.