Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.31.12
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionKṛṣṇa Is Beyond the Influence of Death
“Lord Kṛṣṇa brought the son of His guru back from the planet of the lord of death in the boy’s selfsame body, and as the ultimate giver of protection He saved you also when you were burned by the brahmāstra of Aśvatthāmā. He conquered in battle even Lord Śiva, who deals death to the agents of death, and He sent the hunter Jarā directly to Vaikuṇṭha in his human body. How could such a personality be unable to protect His own Self?”
What the purport teaches
- Śukadeva Gosvāmī gives clear examples to ease the distress caused by hearing of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s departure. These show that the Lord is far beyond the influence of death.
- Kṛṣṇa restored His spiritual master’s son, saved Parīkṣit Mahārāja from the brahmāstra, defeated Lord Śiva and sent Jarā to Vaikuṇṭha in his human body.
- Death is an insignificant expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s external potency. It cannot act upon the Lord Himself.
Try this today
Reread one example of Kṛṣṇa’s protection and spend a moment remembering His power to give shelter.
Ask yourself
How do these examples help you understand that Kṛṣṇa’s departure was not forced by death?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.