48 / Dread and Ghastliness
Dreadl
In ecstatic love for Krṣṇa in dread, there are two causes of fear: either Krṣṇa Himself or some dreadful situation for Krṣṇa. When a devotee feels himself to be an offender at Krṣṇa’s lotus feet, at that time Krṣṇa Himself becomes the objective of dreadful ecstatic love. And when out of ecstatic love friends and well-wishers of Krṣṇa apprehend some danger for Him, that situation becomes the object of their dread.
When R̥kṣarāj was in front of Kṛṣṇa fighting and suddenly realized that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa addressed him thus: “My dear R̥kṣarāj, why is your face so dry? Please do not feel threatened by Me. There is no need for your heart to tremble like this. Please calm yourself down. I have no anger toward you. You can, however, become as angry as you like with Me—to expand your service in fighting with Me and to increase My sporting attitude.” In this dreadful situation in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Himself is the object of dread.
There is another instance of a dreadful situation with Krṣṇa as the object as follows: After being sufficiently chastised by child Krṣṇa in the Yamunā River, the Kāliya snake began to address the Lord, “O killer of the Mura demon, I have acquired many mystic powers by my austerity and penances, but before You I am nothing, I am most insignificant. Therefore, please be kind upon a poor soul like me, and don’t be angry with me. I did not know Your actual position, and out of ignorance I have committed such horrible offenses. Please
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