173 The Nectar of Devotion

If by chance the spiritual master forgets to call a disciple to partake
of the prasadam, it is enjoined in the scriptures that the student
should fast on that day rather than accept food on his own initiative.
There are many such strictures. Sometimes, also, Krsna went to the
forest to collect dry wood for fuel.

25. Forgiving

A person who can tolerate all kinds of offenses from the opposite
party is known to be forgiving.

Lord Krgsna’s forgiving quality is described in the Mahabharata in
connection with His forbidding the killing of Sigupala. King Sigupala
was the monarch of the Cedi Kingdom, and although he happened to
be a cousin of Krsna’s, he was always envious of Him. Whenever they
would meet, Sisupala would try to insult Krsna and call Him ill names
as much as possible. In the arena of the raja-sitya sacrifice of Maharaj
Yushisthira, when Sigupala began to call Lord Krsna ill names, Krsna
did not care and remained silent. Some of the people at the arena
were prepared to kill Sigupala, but Krsna restricted them. He was so
forgiving. It is said that when there is a thundering sound in the
clouds, the mighty lion immediately replies with his thundering roar.
But the lion doesn’t care when all the foolish jackals begin to make
their less important sounds.

Sri Yamunacarya praises Krsna’s power of forgiveness with the
following statement: “‘My dear Lord Ramacandra, You are so merci-
ful to have excused the crow’s clawing on the nipples of Janaki sim-
ply because of his bowing down before You.” Once Indra, the King
of heaven, assumed the form of a crow and attacked Sita (Janaki),
Lord Ramacandra’s wife, by striking her on the breast. This was
certainly an insult to the universal mother, Sita, and Lord Rama-
candra was immediately prepared to kill the crow. But because later
on the crow bowed down before the Lord, He excused his offense.
Sri Yamundacarya further says in his prayer that the forgiving power
of Lord Krsna is even greater than that of Lord Ramacandra, because
Sigupala was always in the habit of insulting Kysna—not only in one
lifetime, but continually throughout three lives. Still, Krsna was so
