Deliverance of the Demon Bhaumasura 3l
planet, the fragrance of the flower also came down, and the celestial
swans also migrated to this earth in search of its fragrance and honey.

King Indra’s behavior toward Krsna was not very much appreciated
by great sages like Sukadeva Gosvami. Out of His causeless mercy, Krsna
had gone to the heavenly kingdom, Amaravati, to present King Indra with
his mother’s earrings, which had been lost to Bhaumasura, and Indra had
been very glad to receive them. But when a flower plant from the heavenly
kingdom was taken by Krsna, Indra offered to fight with Him. This was
self-interest on the part of Indra. He offered his prayer, tipping down his
head to the lotus feet of Krsna, but as soon as his purpose was served, he
became a different creature. That is the way of the dealings of materialistic
men. Materialistic men are always interested in their own profit. For this
purpose they can offer any kind of respect to anyone, but when their
personal interest is over, they are no longer friends. This selfish nature is
not only found among the richer class of men on this planet, but is present
even in personalities like Indra and other demigods. Too much wealth
makes a man selfish. A selfish man is not prepared to take to Krsna
consciousness and is condemned by great devotees like Sukadeva Gosvami.
In other words, possession of too many worldly riches is a disqualification
for advancement in Krsna consciousness.

After defeating Indra, Krsna arranged to marry the 16,100 girls brought
from the custody of Bhaumasura. By expanding Himself in 16,100 forms,
He simultaneously married them all in different palaces in one auspicious
moment. He thus established the truth that Krsna and no one else is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is nothing impossible, for Krsna
is the Supreme Personality of Godhead; He is all-powerful, omnipresent
and imperishable, and as such there is nothing wonderful in this pastime.
All the palaces of the more than 16,000 queens of Krsna were full with
suitable gardens, furniture and other paraphernalia, of which there is no
parallel in this world. There is no exaggeration in. this story from Srimad-
Bhagavatam. The queens of Krsna were all expansions of the goddess of
fortune, Laksmiji. Krsna used to live with them in different palaces, and
He treated them in exactly the same way as an ordinary man treats his
wife.

We should always remember that the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Krsna was playing exactly like a human being; although He showed His
extraordinary opulences by simultaneously marrying more than 16,000
wives in more than 16,000 palaces, He behaved with them just like an
ordinary man, and He strictly followed the relationship between husband
and wife required in ordinary homes. Therefore, it is very difficult to
