207 The Nectar of Devotion
Steady

A person who is not disturbed even in a situation of reverses is
called steady. This steadiness was observed in Krsna in connection
with His killing the demon known as Bana. The Bana demon had
many hands, and Krsna was cutting off these hands one after another.
This Bana was a great devotee of Lord Siva and the goddess Durga.
Thus, when Bana was being killed, Lord Siva and Durga became very
furious at Krsna. But Krsna did not care for them.
Predominating

A person who can affect the mind of everyone is called predomi-
nating. As far as Krsna’s predomination is concerned, in the Tenth
Canto, 43rd Chapter, 14th verse, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Krsna is de-
scribed thus by gikadeva Gosvami to King Pariksit: ““My dear King,
Krsna is a thunderbolt to the wrestlers; to the common man He is the
most beautiful human being; to the young girls He is just like Cupid;
to the cowherd men and women He is the most intimate relative; to
the impious kings He is the supreme ruler; to His parents, Nanda and
Yagoda, He is just a baby; to Kamsa, the King of Bhoja, He is death
personified; to the dull and stupid He is just like a stone; to the yogis
He is the supreme absolute truth; and to the Vrsnis He is the Su-
preme Personality of Godhead. In such a predominating position
Krsna appeared in that arena along with His older brother Balarama.”
When Krsna, the reservoir of all mellows, was present in the arena of
Kamsa, He appeared differently to the different persons who were
related to Him in different mellows. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita
that He appears to every person according to one’s relationship with
Him.

Sometimes learned scholars describe ‘“‘predominating” to mean
a person intolerant of being neglected. This peculiarity in Krsna was
visible when Karhsa was insulting Maharaj Nanda, and Vasudeva ask-
ing Krsna’s assistance in killing Kamsa. Krsna was glancing over Kamsa
with longing eyes, just like a prostitute, and He was just preparing to
jump at the King.
