After the pastime of the lifting of the Govardhan Hill by the Lord - Indra realizes his mistake and offers his apology to the Lord.Indra reveals his mind to the Lord and the Lord reciprocates by revealing His intention.
The manner in which the Lord speaks is very very instructive and it underlines some of the many qualities the Lord posseses.
The Lord says the following three verses:
The Lord being self- satisfied only does this pastime to give pleasure to the devotees of Vraja and to correct Lord Indra.
The Lord is so merciful in how he accepts Lord Indra's words and also in how he offers his correction to Indra. Oh Lord! Please bless me so that I can learn from Your example and the example of Your devotees- please give me Your mercy so that I can behave at least in some measure of all that I have received from You and the devotees.Oh Lord please help me follow this example of Yours in my dealings with the devotees.
The manner in which the Lord speaks is very very instructive and it underlines some of the many qualities the Lord posseses.
The Lord says the following three verses:
SB 10.27.15: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Indra, it was out of mercy that I stopped the sacrifice meant for you. You were greatly intoxicated by your opulence as King of heaven, and I wanted you to always remember Me.
SB 10.27.16: A man blinded by intoxication with his power and opulence cannot see Me nearby with the rod of punishment in My hand. If I desire his real welfare, I drag him down from his materially fortunate position.
SB 10.27.17: Indra, you may now go. Execute My order and remain in your appointed position as King of heaven. But be sober, without false pride.
The Lord being self- satisfied only does this pastime to give pleasure to the devotees of Vraja and to correct Lord Indra.
Some of the following qualities of the Lord come to my limited mind.
- Forgiving(Ksamasila)
- HH Mahanidhi Swami writes in the Book "Art of Chanting Hare Krishna" under the chapter "The Holy Name and Krsna's qualities" for the quality - "Forgiving"
- Krsna perfectly exemplifies Srila Rupa Goswami's definition of a forgiving person "a person who tolerates all kinds of offenses of the opposite party"/ Certainly Brahma committed a grave offense by kidnapping Krsna's cows and boyfriends. What to speak of Indra, who tried to kill Indra's cows, destroy Vrindavana and annihilate Krsna's family. Yet Krsna tolerated their grievous offenses and compassionately forgave the two demigods.
- Lesson: HH Mahanidhi swami writes : "To preserve the purity of one's spiritual consciousness in the material world, which is full of agitating situations and disrespectful people, one must always remain tolerant. From momemnt to moment we must be ready to forgive and forget all kinds of offenses.
- Possessing Equilibrium (sama)
- The nectar of devotion defines a balanced person as "a person who is unaffected by attachment and envy is said to posses equilibrium". When Indra acted out of pride- Lord Krsna arranged the pastime of Lifting the Govardhan Hill - not out of a personal agenda an "angry retaliation" or a "show of superiority" or out of feeling disrespected. As we can read in verse SB 10.27.15 the Lord performed the pastime only out of compassion for Indra. He took the task of lifting the Govardhan Hill for 7 days just to correct His deviant son Indra.
- In many situations I react because I am personally hurt or feel disrespected or cheated- However learning from the Lord I must act only out of the mood of service to Guru and Krsna and not out of any other motivation. This will help me maintain equilibrium in service.
- Liberal (vinimayi)
- Krsna does not take away Indra's service in spite of such a gross offense of creating a situation that would have killed the Lord's dear devotees. Instead the Lord , just corrects Indra through this pastime and allows him to continue the service.
- The Lord says in SB 10.27.16 ".If I desire his real welfare, I drag him down from his materially fortunate position." One may feel why does the Lord say this when in the very next verse He tells Indra to continue his service as King of Heaven SB 10.27.17: "Indra, you may now go. Execute My order and remain in your appointed position as King of heaven. But be sober, without false pride."
- This shows the quality of the Lord being liberal- He teaches the lesson but still allows the devotees to continue their service to Him, He gives them a chance to change while continuing their service.
- Partial to His devotees
- In the various pastimes where demons attacked Krishna , Krishna killed them - even when their offense was relatively much smaller than the offense of Indra who attacked not only the Lord but all His devotees and the cows. However the Lord did not attack Indra at all and in fact He forgave him allowed him to continue the service as King of Heaven.
The Lord is so merciful in how he accepts Lord Indra's words and also in how he offers his correction to Indra. Oh Lord! Please bless me so that I can learn from Your example and the example of Your devotees- please give me Your mercy so that I can behave at least in some measure of all that I have received from You and the devotees.Oh Lord please help me follow this example of Yours in my dealings with the devotees.
