50 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI
Krsna, see Krsna, read of Krsna, work for Krsna, and somehow or other
remain in Krsna consciousness, we benefit in such a way that we shall be
saved from taking birth again in the material world. That is true benefit.
But if we become a little comfortable because of other, materialistic
engagements and we forget Krsna and have to take birth again, then what
is our benefit? We should be very careful about this. We should act
in such a way that our Krsna consciousness can under no circumstances
be disturbed, even if there is heavy suffering. That is the instruction of
Kuntidevi.

Before winning the Battle of Kuruksetra, all the Pandavas were put
into many dangers, as already described in the previous verses. They
were given poison, they were put into a house of lac that was later set
afire, and sometimes they were even confronted with great man-eating
demons. They lost their kingdom, they lost their wife, they lost their
prestige, and they were exiled to the forest. But throughout all those
dangers, Krsna was there. When the Kauravas were trying to strip
Draupadi naked, Krsna was there supplying cloth to protect her honor.
Krsna was always there.

Therefore, when the Pandavas went to see their grandfather,
Bhismadeva, on his deathbed, Bhismadeva began to cry. ‘‘These boys,
my grandsons, are all very pious,”’ he said. ‘Maharaja Yudhisthira, the
oldest of the brothers, is the most pious person. He is even called Dhar-
maraja, the king of religion. Bhima and Arjuna are both devotees, and
they are such powerful heroes that they can kill thousands of men. Their
wife, Draupadi, is directly the goddess of fortune, and it has been en-
joined that wherever she is, there will be no scarcity of food. Thus they all
form a wonderful combination, and moreover, Lord Krsna is always with
them. But still they are suffering.’’ Thus he began to cry, saying, ‘‘I do
not know what is Krsna’s arrangement, because such pious devotees are
also suffering.”’

Therefore, we should not think, ‘‘Because I have become a devotee,
there will be no danger or suffering.” Prahlada Maharaja suffered greatly,
and so did other devotees like the Pandavas and Haridasa Thakura. But
we should not be disturbed by such sufferings. We must have firm faith,
firm conviction, knowing, ‘‘Krsna is present, and He will give me protec-
tion.’’ Don’t try to take the benefit of any shelter other than Krsna. Al-
ways take to Krsna.

In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna says, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah
pranasyati: ‘‘My dear Arjuna, you may declare to the world that My devo-
tee is never vanquished.’’ Now,.one may ask, why did Krsna advise Ar-
