Introduction to Srimad Bhagavad Geeta by Swami Chidbhavananda Part 4

Life and Message of Sri Krishna Inseparable

Among the saviours of mankind there is an exemplary trait which is common to all. Their life embodies the message they bring to mankind. Their precept is primarily through their personal life. What they practice in varying situations counts for everything. Their conduct is the core of their teaching. There is a belief that Sri Krishna’s case does not come under this rule. The sponsors of this view contend that humanity will do well to emulate Sri Rama and Sri Krishna in two different ways. Imitate the life of the former but imbibe the instructions of the latter, dare not imitate the actions of Sri Krishna. This, in short, is their contention. But this idea is born of an imperfect understanding. Some Incarnations of God were obliged to wipe off the face of the earth thousands of wicked people. But this was an extraordinary deed under extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary actions are not uncommon even with ordinary people? Today we do witness pious individuals walking on fire unscathed. Occasionally an individual is found to bear the weight of an elephant on his body. These are out of the ordinary. It is not necessary that every man should be endowed with such unusual powers. But in these human beings endowed with exceptional powers there may be many other rare qualities which we may emulate with profit. Now the question is what particular aspect of Sri Krishna’s character defies imitation.

Many a puerile moralist holds that Sri Krishna’s relationship with innumerable (stands on an exclusive footing, and that no mortal dare copy it. In other words, he maintains that actions of this kind are sanctionable in a divine being like Sri Krishna but not in ordinary mortals like us. But this position of the pseudo-moralist arises from an imperfect understanding. There is not in this episode any trace of taint which the moralist would have us behold. Sri Krishna, the enchanter of the Gopis had just seen nine autumns when he had concluded his sports with the milkmaids of Brindavan. Is it ever possible for a boy of eight or nine to have any kind of conjugal relationship with thousands of women? Does the plan of nature admit of such a possibility? And it must be noted that those milk-maids proved themselves faithful to the core to their husbands. Those Gopis were inviting the entire lot in the township to go and join them in their mirth with the divine lad. Carnality has exclusiveness as its characteristic. This communion of the Gopis with Krishna is just the opposite of it.

And Sri Krishna is adored as Hrishikesa. The meaning of this appellation is that He is the lord of the senses. We, ordinary mortals, are slaves of the senses, whereas this Divine Being had complete sway over them. As long as one is body-bound and is prone to body-consciousness one cannot hope to taste supreme beatitude. This was the lesson that the boy Krishna had taught the Gopis. The goal of human life is to transcend body-consciousness. All through his earthly career Sri Krishna was delivering this message, poised in divinity. His victorious encounters with the wicked demons were extraordinary. In the midst of these deeds of valour He was ever established in His Supreme Self. More through living than by precept He was delivering the message of poise to the poiseless humanity.

Source: Srimad Bhagavad Geeta-Commentary by Swami Chidbhavananda