A2 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

mother Rohini, who were entrusted to the care of Nanda Maharaja.
Vasudeva also reminded Nanda Maharaja that Balarama did not know His
real father. “He knows you as His father. And now you have another child,
Krsna, and I think you are taking very nice care for both of Them.” It is
also significant that Vasudeva inquired about the welfare of Nanda
Maharaja’s animals. The animals, and especially the cows, were protected
exactly in the manner of one’s children. Vasudeva was a ksatriya, and
Nanda Maharaja was a vaisya. It is the duty of the ksatriya to give protec-
tion to the citizens of mankind, and it is the duty of the vaisyas to give
protection to the cows. The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as
the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection, so the cows
also should be given full protection.

Vasudeva continued to say that the maintenance of religious principles,
economic development and the satisfactory execution of meeting the
demands of the senses depend on cooperation among relatives, nations and
all humanity. Therefore, it is everyone’s duty to see that his fellow citizens
and the cows are not put into difficulty. One should see to the peace and
comfort of his fellow man and the animals. The development of religious
principles, economic development and sense gratification can then be
achieved without difficulty. Vasudeva expressed his sorrow due to not
being able to give protection to his own sons born of Devaki. He was
thinking that religious principles, economic development and the satisfac-
tion of his senses were therefore all lost.

On hearing this, Nanda Maharaja replied, ““My dear Vasudeva, I know
that you are very much aggrieved because the cruel king Karnsa has killed all
your sons born of Devaki. Although the last child was a daughter, Kamsa
could not kill her, and she has entered into the celestial planets. My dear
friend, do not be aggrieved; we are all being controlled by our past unseen
activities. Everyone is subjected to his past deeds, and one who is conver-
sant with the philosophy of karma and its reaction is a man in knowledge.
Such a person will not be aggrieved at any incident, happy or miserable.”

Vasudeva then replied, ‘““My dear Nanda, if you have already paid the
government taxes, then return soon to your place, because I think that
there may be some disturbances in Gokula.”

After the friendly conversation between Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva,
Vasudeva returned to his home. The cowherd men headed by Nanda
Maharaja, who had come to Mathura to pay their taxes, also returned.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Fifth Chapter of Krsna,
“Meeting of Nanda and Vasudeva.”
