202 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI

the path to apavarga, freedom from these tribulations, and when Krsna
shows this path, we should accept it. Krsna says very clearly, ‘‘Sur-
render unto Me. I shall give you apavarga.”’ Aham tvam sarva-pape-
bhyo moksayisyami: ‘‘I shall give you protection.”” And Krsna has the
power with which to fulfill this guarantee.

Kuntidevi addresses Krsna as Govinda because He is the giver. of
pleasure both to the cows and to the senses. Govindam adi-purusam tam
aham bhajami. Govinda, Krsna, is the ddi-purusa, the original person.
Aham ddir hi devanam (Bg. 10.2): He is the origin even of demigods like
Brahma, Visnu, and Siva. People should not think that Brahma, Visnu,
and Siva are the origin of everything. No. Krsna says, aham ddir hi
devanam: ‘‘I am the origin even of these demigods.”’ Therefore we re-
peatedly emphasize that we worship no one but the original person (go-
vindam @di-purusam tam aham bhajami).

When Kunti prays, go-dvija-surarti-hardvatara, she indicates that Go-
vinda, Krsna, descends to this world especially to protect the cows, the
brahmanas, and the devotees. The demoniac in this world are the greatest
enemies of the cows, for they maintain hundreds and thousands of
slaughterhouses. Although the innocent cows give milk, the most impor-
tant food, and although even after death the cows give their skin for
shoes, people are such rascals that they kill the cows, but still they want
to be happy in this world. How sinful they are.

Why is cow protection’so much advocated? Because the cow is the
most important animal. There is no injunction that one should not eat
the flesh of tigers or other such animals. In the Vedic culture those who
are meat-eaters are recommended to eat the flesh of goats, dogs, hogs, or
other lower animals, but never the flesh of cows, the most important
animals. While living, the cows give important service by giving milk,
and even after death they give service by making available their skin,
hooves, and horns, which may be used in many ways. Nonetheless, the
present human society is so ungrateful that they needlessly kill these in-
nocent cows. Therefore Krsna comes to punish them.

Krsna is worshiped with this prayer:

namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca

jagad-dhitaya krsnaya
govinddya namo namah

‘*My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the bra@hmanas, and
You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world.”’ For per-
