Qualities of Krsna Further Explained 182

Bhisma was remembering how Krsna had been kind to him on the
battlefield. Krsna had promised that in the Battle of Kuruksetra He
would not even touch a weapon to help either side; He would remain
neutral. Although Krsna was Arjuna’s charioteer, He had promised
that He would not help Arjuna by using any weapons. But one day
Bhisma, in order to nullify Krsna’s promise, exhibited his fighting
spirit so magnificently against Arjuna that Krsna was obliged to get
down from His chariot. Taking up a broken chariot wheel, He ran
toward Grandfather Bhisma as a lion runs toward an elephant to kill
it. Grandfather Bhisma remembered this scene, and He later praised
Krsna for His glorious favoritism towards His devotee, Arjuna, even at
the risk of breaking His own promise.

40. Controlled by Love

Krsna becomes obliged to the loving spirit of the devotee and not
exactly to the service rendered. No one can serve Krsna completely.
He is so complete and self-sufficient that He has no need of any ser-
vice from the devotee. It is the devotee’s attitude of love and affection
for Krsna that makes Him obliged. A very nice example of this obliga-
tory behavior was manifested when Sudama Vipra went to Krgsna’s
palace. Sudama Vipra had been a class friend of Krsna’s, and due to
his poverty he was induced by his wife to see Krsna to request some
aid. When Sudama Vipra reached Krgna’s palace, Krsna received him
very well, and both He and His wife washed the feet of Sudama
Vipra, showing respect to the brahmana. Remembering His loving
affairs with Sudama in their childhood, Krsna began to shed tears
while receiving him.

Another instance of Krsna’s obligation to His devotee is described
in the Tenth Canto, 9th Chapter, 14th verse, of Srimad-Bhagavatam
where Sukadeva Gosvami tells King Pariksit: ‘““My dear King, when
Mother Yasoda was perspiring, tired of trying to bind Krsna up with
rope, Krsna agreed to allow her to bind Him.” Krsna, as a child, was
disturbing His mother by His naughty activities, and she wanted to
bind Him up. Mother Yagoda brought some rope from the house and
tried to tie up the child, but she could not tie a knot due to the short-
