Qualities of Sri Krsna 168
expert. About the expertise of Krsna there is a statement in the Tenth
Canto, 59th Chapter, 13th verse, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, wherein
Sukadeva Gosvami tells Maharaj Pariksit: ““O best of the Kurus, Sri
Krsna cut into pieces all the different weapons used by different
fighters.” Formerly, fighting was done by releasing different kinds of
arrows. One party would release a certain arrow, and the other party
had to defeat it by counteracting it with another arrow. For ex-
ample, one party might release an arrow which would cause water to
pour from the sky, and to counteract this, the opposing party would
have to release an arrow which could immediately turn the water into
clouds. So from this statement it appears that Krsna was very
expert in counteracting the enemy’s arrows. Similarly, at the rasa
dance, each and every gopi requested that Krsna individually become
her partner, and Krsna immediately expanded Himself into so many
Krsnas in order to be coupled with each and every gopi. The result
was that each gopi found Krsna by her side.

17. Grateful

Any person who is conscious of his friend’s beneficent activities
and never forgets his service is called grateful. In the Mahabharata,
Krsna says, “When I was away from Draupadi, she cried with the
words, ‘Hey, Govinda!’ This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and
that indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart.” This statement
by Krsna gives evidence of how one can please the Supreme Lord
simply by addressing Him: “‘Hey, Krsna! Hey, Govinda!”

The maha-mantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) is also simply
an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone who is constant-
ly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can imagine how
much the Supreme Lord is obliged. It is impossible for the Lord to
ever forget such a devotee. It is clearly stated in this verse that anyone
who addresses the Lord immediately attracts the attention of the
Lord, who always remains obliged to him.

Another instance of Krsna’s feeling of obligation is stated in con-
nection with His dealings with Jambavan. When the Lord was present
