342 The Nectar of Devotion

affinity and attachment. An example of sthayi was exhibited when
Arjuna* told Akrira: “My dear son of Gandini, please ask Krsna
when I shall be able to embrace Him in my arms.”

When there is full knowledge of Krsna’s superiority and yet in
dealings with Him on friendly terms respectfulness is completely ab-
sent, that stage is called affection. There is one brilliant example of
this affection. When the demigods, headed by Lord Siva, were offer-
ing respectful prayers to Krsna, describing the glorious opulences of
the Lord, Arjuna* stood before Him with his hand on His shoulders
and brushed the dust from His peacock feather.

When the Pandavas were banished by Duryodhana and forced to
live incognito in the forest, no one could trace out where they were
staying. At that time, the great sage Narada met Lord Krsna and said,
“My dear Mukunda, although You are the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, the all-powerful person, by making friendship with You the
Pandavas have become bereft of their legitimate right to the kingdom
of the world—and, moreover, they are now living in the forest incog-
nito. Sometimes they must work as ordinary laborers in someone
else’s house. These symptoms appear to be very inauspicious materi-
ally, but the beauty is that the Pandavas have not lost their faith and
love for You, in spite of all these tribulations. In fact, they are always
thinking of You and chanting Your name in ecstatic friendship.”

Another example of acute affection for Krsna is given in the 10th
Canto, 15th Chapter, 15th verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the pas-
turing ground Krsna felt a little tired and wanted to take rest, so He
laid down on the ground. At that time, many cowherd boys assem-
bled there and with great affection began to sing suitable songs so.
that Krsna would rest very nicely.

There is a nice example of the friendship between Krsna and
Arjuna on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. When the fighting was going
on, Asgvatthama, the son of Dronacarya, unceremoniously attacked
Krsna, although according to the prevailing rules of chivalry one’s
chariot driver should never be attacked by the enemy. But Asvatthama
* This Arjuna, living in Vrndavana, is different from the friend of the same name
to whom Bhagavad-gita was spoken.
