{"id":57694,"date":"2020-09-24T00:29:47","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T04:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/?p=57694"},"modified":"2023-09-24T00:30:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T04:30:56","slug":"nectar-of-devotion-chapter-forty-reverential-devotion-of-sons-and-other-subordinates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/nectar-of-devotion-chapter-forty-reverential-devotion-of-sons-and-other-subordinates\/","title":{"rendered":"Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER FORTY: – Reverential Devotion of Sons and Other Subordinates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CHAPTER FORTY<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Reverential Devotion of Sons and Other Subordinates<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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True reverential devotion is exhibited by persons who think themselves subordinate to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and by persons who think themselves sons of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. The best examples of this subordination are S\u0101ra\u1e47a, Gada and Subhadr\u0101. They were all members of the Yadu dynasty, and they always used to think themselves protected by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Similarly, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s sons, such as Pradyumna, C\u0101rude\u1e63\u1e47a and S\u0101mba, felt the same way. K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a had many sons in Dv\u0101rak\u0101. He begot ten sons by each of His 16,108 queens, and all of these sons, headed by Pradyumna, C\u0101rude\u1e63\u1e47a and S\u0101mba, used to think themselves always protected by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. When K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s sons dined with Him, they would sometimes open their mouths for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a to feed them. Sometimes when K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a would pat one of His sons, the son would sit on K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s lap, and while K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a was blessing the son\u2019s head by smelling it, the others would shed tears, thinking how many pious activities he must have performed in his previous life. Out of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s many sons, Pradyumna, a son of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s chief queen, Rukmi\u1e47\u012b, is considered the leader. Pradyumna\u2019s bodily features resemble K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s exactly. Pure devotees of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a glorify Pradyumna because he is so fortunate: like father, like son.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There is a description in the Hari-va\u1e41\u015ba<\/em> of Pradyumna\u2019s activities when he kidnapped Prabh\u0101vat\u012b. Pradyumna addressed Prabh\u0101vat\u012b at that time and said, \u201cMy dear Prabh\u0101vat\u012b, just look at the head of our family, \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. He is Vi\u1e63\u1e47u Himself, the supreme driver of Garu\u1e0da, and He is our supreme master. Because we have become so proud and confident of His protecting us, we sometimes do not even care about fighting with Tripur\u0101ri [Lord \u015aiva].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There are two kinds of devotees engaged in devotional service with awe and veneration\u00a0\u2013 the Lord\u2019s subordinates and His sons. The servitors in the abode of Dv\u0101rak\u0101 always worship K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as the most respectable and revered Personality of Godhead. They are captivated by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a because of His superexcellent opulences. The members who always thought themselves protected by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a could readily convert their conviction into practical demonstration, because it was sometimes found that the sons of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a acted very unlawfully in various places but were nonetheless given full protection by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and Balar\u0101ma.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Even Balar\u0101ma, the elder brother of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, sometimes unknowingly offered respect to Him. Once when K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a came before Lord Balar\u0101ma, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a was anxious to offer His respects to His elder brother, but at that time Balar\u0101ma\u2019s club was lowered down upon K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s lotus feet. In other words, the club in Balar\u0101ma\u2019s hand offered its own respects to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. These feelings of subordination, as explained above, are sometimes manifested as anubh\u0101va.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When demigods from the heavenly planets came to \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, all of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s sons followed them, and Lord Brahm\u0101 sprinkled water from his kama\u1e47\u1e0dalu<\/em> upon them. When the demigods came before K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the sons, instead of sitting on golden chairs, sat down on the floor, which was covered with deerskin.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Sometimes the behavior of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s sons appears similar to the behavior of His personal servants. For example, the sons used to offer their obeisances, they were silent, submissive and gentle, and they were always ready to carry out K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s orders, even at the risk of life. When present before K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, they bowed down on the ground. They were very silent and steady, and they used to restrain coughing and laughing before the Lord. Also, they never discussed K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s pastimes in conjugal love. In other words, devotees who are engaged in reverential devotional service should not discuss the conjugal love affairs of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. No one should claim his eternal relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a unless he is liberated. In the conditioned state of life, the devotees have to execute the prescribed duties as recommended in the codes of devotional service. When one is mature in devotional service and is a realized soul, he can know his own eternal relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. One should not artificially try to establish some relationship. In the premature stage it is sometimes found that a lusty, conditioned person will artificially try to establish some relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in conjugal love. The result of this is that one becomes pr\u0101k\u1e5bta-sahajiy\u0101,<\/em> or one who takes everything very cheaply. Although such persons may be very anxious to establish a relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in conjugal love, their conditioned life in the material world is still most abominable. A person who has actually established his relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a can no longer act on the material plane, and his personal character cannot be criticized.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When Cupid came on one occasion to visit Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, some devotee addressed him thus: \u201cMy dear Cupid, because you have been so fortunate as to have placed your eyesight on the lotus feet of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the drops of perspiration on your body have become frozen, and they resemble ka\u1e47\u1e6dak\u012b<\/em> fruits [a kind of small fruit found in thorny bushes].\u201d These are signs of ecstasy and veneration for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the princes of the Yadu dynasty heard the vibration of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s P\u0101\u00f1cajanya conch shell, the hairs on their bodies immediately stood up in ecstatic jubilation. It seemed at that time that all the hairs on the bodies of the princes were dancing in ecstasy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In addition to jubilation, there are sometimes symptoms of disappointment. Pradyumna once addressed S\u0101mba with these words: \u201cMy dear S\u0101mba, you are such a glorified personality! I have seen that once when you were playing on the ground, your body became covered with dust; yet our father, Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, still took you up on His lap. But I am so unfortunate that I could never get such love from our father!\u201d This statement is an example of disappointment in love.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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To regard K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as one\u2019s superior is called reverential feeling, and when, in addition to this, a devotee feels that K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is his protector, his transcendental love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is increased, and his combined feelings are called reverential devotion. When this steady reverential devotion increases further, it is called love of Godhead in reverential devotion. Attraction and affection are two prominent symptoms of this stage. In this reverential devotional attitude, Pradyumna never talked to his father in a loud voice. In fact, he never so much as unlocked the lips of his mouth, nor did he ever show his face filled with tears. He would always glance only at the lotus feet of his father.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There is another example of steady and fixed love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the instance of Arjuna\u2019s informing Him of the death of Arjuna\u2019s son, Abhimanyu, who was also the nephew of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Abhimanyu was the son of Subhadr\u0101, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s younger sister. He was killed at the Battle of Kuruk\u1e63etra by the combined efforts of all the commanders in King Duryodhana\u2019s army\u00a0\u2013 namely, Kar\u1e47a, A\u015bvatth\u0101m\u0101, Jayadratha, Bh\u012b\u1e63ma, K\u1e5bp\u0101c\u0101rya and Dro\u1e47\u0101c\u0101rya. In order to assure K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a that there was no change of love on Subhadr\u0101\u2019s part, Arjuna informed Him, \u201cAlthough Abhimanyu was killed almost in Your presence, Subhadr\u0101\u2019s love for You is not agitated at all, nor has it even slightly changed its original color.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The affection that K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a has for His devotees was expressed by Him when He asked Pradyumna not to feel so bashful before Him. He addressed Pradyumna thus: \u201cMy dear boy, just give up your feeling of inferiority, and do not hang your neck. Just talk with Me in a clear voice and do not shed tears. You may look straight at Me, and you may place your hands on My body without any hesitation. There is no need of exhibiting so much reverence before your father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pradyumna\u2019s attachment for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a was always exhibited by his action. Whenever he was ordered by his father to execute something, he would immediately execute the order, taking the task as nectarean even though it may have been poison. Similarly, whenever he would find something to be disapproved of by his father, he would immediately reject it as poison, even though it may have been nectarean.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pradyumna\u2019s attachment in anxiety for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a was expressed when he said to his wife Rati, \u201cThe enemy, \u015aambara, is already killed. Now I am very anxious to see my father, who is my spiritual master and who always carries the conch shell known as P\u0101\u00f1cajanya.\u201d Pradyumna felt great separation from K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a when He was absent from Dv\u0101rak\u0101 at the Battlefield of Kuruk\u1e63etra. He said, \u201cSince my father has left Dv\u0101rak\u0101, I do not take much pleasure in practicing fighting, nor am I interested in any kind of sporting pastimes. And what need is there to speak of these things? I do not even wish to stay at Dv\u0101rak\u0101 in the absence of my father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When Pradyumna came back home after killing \u015aambar\u0101sura and saw his father, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, before him, he at once became so overjoyed that he himself could not understand his joy on that occasion. This is an instance of success in separation. A similar satisfaction was observed when K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a returned from the Battlefield of Kuruk\u1e63etra to His home at Dv\u0101rak\u0101. All of His sons were so overjoyed that out of ecstasy they repeatedly made many mistakes. These mistakes were a sign of complete satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Every day Pradyumna looked over K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s lotus feet with tears in his eyes. These signs of reverential devotion on the part of Pradyumna may be described in the same way they have been described in the cases of other devotees.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0     CHAPTER FORTY Reverential Devotion of Sons and Other Subordinates True reverential devotion is exhibited by persons who think themselves subordinate to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and by persons who think themselves sons of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. The best … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-03 17:54:42","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57694\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}