47 / Compassion and Anger
Compassion

When the ecstasy of devotional service produces some kind of
lamentation in connection with Krsna, it is called devotional service
in compassion. The impetus of this devotional service is Krsna’s tran-
scendental quality, form and activities. In this ecstasy of devotional
service there are sometimes symptoms like regret, heavy breathing,
crying, falling on the ground and beating upon one’s chest. Some-
times symptoms like laziness, frustration, defamation, humility, anxi-
ety, moroseness, eagerness, restlessness, madness, death, forgetfulness,
disease and illusion are also visible. When in the heart of a devotee
there is expectation of some mishap to Krsna it is called devotional
service in bereavement. Such bereavement is another symptom of
this devotional service in compassion.

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, 16th Chapter, 13th verse,
there is the following description. When Krsna was chastising the
Kaliyanaga in the Yamuna, the big snake wrapped his coils all over
Krsna’s body, and upon seeing Krsna in this situation, all His dear
cowherd friends became greatly disturbed. Out of bereavement, dis-
tress and fearfulness, they became bewildered and began to fall on
the ground. Because the cowherd boys were under the illusion that
Krsna could be in some mishap, their symptoms are not at all aston-
ishing; they had dedicated their friendship, their possessions, their
desires and their very selves to Krsna.

When Krsna entered the Yamuna River, which had become very
poisonous from the presence of Kaliya, Mother Yasoda feared all
kinds of mishaps, and she was breathing hotly. Tears from her eyes

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