300 The Nectar of Devotion

Kalindi replied, “He is Lord Siva.”

Then Jambavati enquired, “‘Who is the person offering prayers?”

Kalindi replied, ‘He is Lord Brahma.”

Jambavati then asked, “Who is that person who has fallen on the
ground and is offering respect to Krsna?”

Kalindi replied, ‘“‘He is Indra, the King of heaven.”

Jambavati next inquired, “Who is this person who has come with
the demigods and is laughing with them?”

Kalindi replied, “He is my elder brother, Yamaraja, the superin-
tendent of death.”

This conversation offers a description of all the demigods, in-
cluding Yamaraja, who are engaged in services appointed by the
Lord. They are called adhikrta-devata, or demigods appointed to par-
ticular types of departmental service.

One resident of Vrndavana once told Lord Krsna, “My dear Krsna,
O pleasure of Vrndavana! Being afraid of this material existence, we
have taken shelter of You, for You can completely protect us! We
are well aware of Your greatness. As such, we have given up our de-
sire for liberation and have taken complete shelter under Your lotus
feet. Since we have heard about Your ever-increasing transcendental
love, we have voluntarily engaged ourselves in Your transcendental
service.” This statement is by a devotee who is under the protection
and shelter of Lord Krsna.

Upon being chastised by Krsna’s constant kicking on his head,
Kaliya, the black snake of the Yamuna, came to his senses and ad-
mitted, ““My dear Lord, I have been so offensive unto You, but still
You are so kind that You have marked my head with the impression
of Your lotus feet.’’ This also is an instance of one’s taking shelter
under the lotus feet of Krsna.

In the Aparadha-bhajijana a pure devotee expresses his feelings:
“My dear Lord, I am ashamed to admit before You that I have car-
ried out the orders of my masters named lust, anger, avarice, illusion
and envy. Sometimes I have carried out their orders in a way most
abominable. Yet in spite of my serving them so faithfully, they are
neither satisfied nor are they kind enough to give me relief from their
service. They are not even ashamed of taking service from me in that
