146 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI

that if one takes shelter of the petal boat of the lotus feet of Krsna, the
great ocean of birth and death becomes as insignificant as the water con-
tained in the hoofprint of a calf. In India during the rainy season the roads
become muddy, and when the cows and calves walk they create holes in
which water collects. But of course one can easily jump over a dozen of
such puddles at any time. Similarly, although for others the world of birth
and death is like a great ocean, for a devotee it is like such a puddle
(bhavambudhir vatsa-padam) , and he can jump over it very easily. In this
way the devotee attains param padam, the supreme abode. Then what
about this material world? Padam padam yad vipadam: this is a place not
for devotees but for people who are suffering. Therefore Kuntidevi sug-
gests, ‘“‘This Krsna consciousness is the medicine for your suffering.
Take it and be happy.”’
