179 The Nectar of Devotion

risen. In other words, although Magadhendra was able to imprison
so many kings, upon the appearance of Krsna they were all released.
Krsna did this out of His sincere compassion for the kings.

Krsna’s compassion was also exhibited when Grandfather Bhisma
was lying on the bed of arrows which had been shot through his body.
While lying in this position, Bhisma was very anxious to see Krsna,
and thus Krsna appeared there. Upon seeing the pitiable condition of
Bhisma, Krsna began speaking with tears in His eyes. Not only was
He shedding tears, but He also forgot Himself in His compassion.
Therefore, instead of offering obeisances to Krsna directly, devotees
offer obeisances to His compassionate nature. Actually, because
Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is very difficult to
approach Him. But the devotees, taking advantage of His compassion-
ate nature, which is represented by Radharani, always pray to
Radharani for Krsna’s compassion.

33. Respectful

A person who shows adequate respect to a spiritual master, a
brahmana and an old person is to be understood as being respectful.

When superior persons assembled before Krsna, Krsna first of all
offered respect to His spiritual master, then to His father and then to
His elder brother, Balarama. In this way Lord Krsna, the lotus-eyed,
was completely happy and pure at heart in all of His dealings.

34. Gentle

Any person who neither becomes impudent nor exhibits a puffed-
up nature is called gentle.

The example of Krsna’s gentle behavior was manifested when He
was coming to the arena of the raja-siiya sacrifice arranged by
Maharaj Yudhisthira, Krsna’s older cousin. Maharaj Yudhisthira knew
that Krsna was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he was
attempting to get down from his chariot to receive Krsna. But before
Yudhisthira could get down, Lord Krsna got down from His own
chariot and immediately fell at the feet of the King. Even though
