Nectar of Devotion
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twenty-four
Further Traits of Sri Krsna
After describing the different opulences of Krsna, Srila Rupa Gosvami tries to further describe the transcendental beauties and qualities of the Lord as decorated, enjoying, pleasing, dependable, steady and predominating. He is also described as a meticulous dresser and a magnanimous personality. These are generally considered to be the qualities of great personalities.
Decorated
It is said that a person is great if he is decorated with the qualities of being very merciful toward the unfortunate, very powerful, superior, chivalrous, enthusiastic, expert and truthful. These decorations were manifested in the character of Krsna during His govardhana-lila. At that time the whole tract of land in Vrndavana was being disturbed by the rains sent by Indra, as described elsewhere. At first Krsna thought, “Let Me retaliate against this vengeance of Indra by destroying his heavenly kingdom,” but later on, when He thought of the insignificance of the King of heaven, Krsna changed His mind and felt merciful toward Indra. No one is able to tolerate the wrath of Krsna, so instead of retaliating against Indra, He simply showed His compassion for His friends in Vrndavana by lifting the whole of Govardhana Hill to protect them.
Enjoying
When a person is seen to be always happy and is accustomed to speak smilingly, he is considered to be in the mode of enjoyment. This trait was found in Krsna when He appeared at the sacrificial arena of King Kamsa. It is described that the lotus-eyed Krsna entered among the wrestlers without being impolite to them, glanced over them with determination and seemed to them just like an elephant attacking some plants. Even while speaking to them, Krsna was still smiling, and in this way He stood valiantly upon the wrestling dais.
Pleasing
When one’s characteristics are very sweet and desirable, his personality is called pleasing. An example of Krsna’s pleasing nature is thus described in Srimad-Bhagavatam: “One day while Krsna was awaiting the arrival of Srimati Radharani by the bank of the Yamuna, He began to make a garland of kadamba flowers. In the meantime, Srimati Radharani appeared there, and at that time Murari [Krsna], the enemy of Mura, glanced over Radharani very sweetly.”
Dependable
Any person who is reliable in all circumstances is called dependable. In this connection Rupa Gosvami says that even the demons were relying upon the dependability of Krsna, because they were confident that Krsna would never attack them without due cause. Therefore, with faith and confidence, they used to live with their doors wide open. And the demigods, although afraid of the demons, were confident of the protection of Krsna. Therefore, even in the midst of danger they were engaged in sportive activities. Persons who had never undergone the reformatory ritualistic ceremonies of the Vedas were confident that Krsna would accept only faith and devotion, and so they were engaged in Krsna consciousness and were freed from all anxieties. In other words, all kinds of men, from the demigods down to the uncultured, can rely on the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Steady
A person who is not disturbed even in a situation of reverses is called steady. This steadiness was observed in Krsna in connection with His chastising the demon known as Bana. The Bana demon had many hands, and Krsna was cutting off these hands one after another. This Bana was a great devotee of Lord Siva and the goddess Durga. Thus, when Bana was being chastised, Lord Siva and Durga became very furious at Krsna. But Krsna did not care for them.
Predominating
A person who can affect the mind of everyone is called predominating. As far as Krsna’s predomination is concerned, in the Tenth Canto, Forty-third Chapter, verse 17, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Krsna is described thus by Sukadeva Gosvami to King Pariksit: “My dear King, Krsna is a thunderbolt to the wrestlers; to the common man He is the most beautiful human being; to the young girls He is just like Cupid; to the cowherd men and women He is the most intimate relative; to the impious kings He is the supreme ruler; to His parents, Nanda and Yasoda, He is just a baby; to Kamsa, the King of Bhoja, He is death personified; to the dull and stupid He is just like a stone; to the yogis He is the Supreme Absolute Truth; and to the Vrsnis He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In such a predominating position, Krsna appeared in that arena along with His older brother, Balarama.” When Krsna, the reservoir of all mellows, was present in the arena of Kamsa, He appeared differently to the different persons who were related to Him in different mellows. It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that He appears to every person according to one’s relationship with Him.
Sometimes learned scholars describe “predominating” to mean a person intolerant of being neglected. This peculiarity in Krsna was visible when Kamsa was insulting Maharaja Nanda. Vasudeva was asking Krsna’s assistance in killing Kamsa, and Krsna was glancing over Kamsa with longing eyes, just like a prostitute, and was just preparing to jump at the King.
Meticulous Dresser
A person who is very fond of dressing himself is called lalita, or a meticulous dresser. This characteristic was found in Krsna in two ways: sometimes He used to decorate Srimati Radharani with various marks, and sometimes, when He was preparing to kill demons like Aristasura, He would take care to arrange His belt very nicely.
Magnanimous
Persons who can give themselves to anyone are called magnanimous. No one could be more magnanimous than Krsna, because He is always prepared to give Himself completely to His devotee. Even to one who is not a devotee, Krsna in His form of Lord Caitanya is prepared to give Himself and to grant deliverance.
Although Krsna is independent of everyone, out of His causeless mercy He is dependent upon Garga Rsi for religious instruction; for learning the military art He is dependent upon Satyaki; and for good counsel He is dependent upon His friend Uddhava.