Text 31] Prayers by Queen Kunti 411
PURPORT

Here is another explanation of the bewilderment created by the pastimes
of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is the Supreme in all circum-
stances, as already explained. Here is a specific example of the Lord’s being
the Supreme and at the same time a plaything in the presence of His pure
devotee. The Lord’s pure devotee renders service unto the Lord out of
unalloyed love only, and while discharging such devotional service the
pure devotee forgets the position of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme
Lord also accepts the loving service of His devotees more relishably when
the service is rendered spontaneously out of pure affection without any-
thing of reverential admiration. Generally the Lord is worshiped by the
devotees in reverential attitude, but the Lord is meticulously pleased when
the devotee, out of pure affection and love, considers the Lord to be less
important than himself. The Lord’s pastimes in the original abode of
Goloka Vrndavana are exchanged in that spirit. The friends of Krsna
consider Ilim one of them. They do not consider Him to be of reverential
importance. The parents of the Lord (who are all pure devotees) consider
Him a child only. The Lord accepts chastisements of the parents more
cheerfully than the prayers of the Vedic hymns. Similarly, He accepts the
reproaches of His fiancees more palatably than the Vedic hymns. Lord
Krsna, when He was present in this material world to manifest His eternal
pastimes in the transcendental realm of Goloka Vrndavana for an attrac-
tion of the people in general, displayed a unique picture of subordination
before His foster mother Yasoda. The Lord, in His natural childish playful
activities, used to spoil the stocked butter of mother Yasoda by breaking
the pots and distributing the contents to His friends and playmates,
including the celebrated monkeys of Vrndavana who took advantage of
the Lord’s munificence. Mother Yasoda saw this, and out of her pure love
she wanted to make a show of punishment for her transcendental child.
She took a rope and threatened the Lord that she would tie Him up, as is
generally done in the ordinary household. Seeing the rope in the hands of
mother Yasoda, the Lord bowed down Ilis head and began to weep just
like a child, and tears rolled down His cheeks, washing off the black
ointment smeared about His beautiful eyes. This picture of the Lord is
adored by Kuntidevi because she is conscious of the Lord’s supreme
position. He is feared often by fear personified, yet He is afraid of His
mother, who wanted to punish Him just in an ordinary manner. Kunti
was conscious of the exalted position of Krsna, whereas Yasoda was not.
