View source for The Infallible Protection of God's Promise

Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate, unfailing shelter for all living entities. By studying his instructions, we can understand the absolute nature of God's promise to protect His devotees, supply their needs, deliver them from material existence, and even sacrifice His own word to glorify His pure servants.

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=== The Promise of Absolute Protection ===

The conditioned soul is constantly fearful in the material world, but the Lord offers an eternal guarantee of safety. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Lord never deviates from His word of honor, assuring us repeatedly in the Vedic literatures that anyone who surrenders unto Him will be fully protected from all calamities.

* [[Vaniquotes:The Supreme Personality of Godhead has promised in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.31), kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes|The Supreme Personality of Godhead has promised in Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.31), kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Lord never deviates from His word of honor. When He gives assurance for protection, the promise is executed in all circumstances|The Lord never deviates from His word of honor. When He gives assurance for protection, the promise is executed in all circumstances.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the Ramayana, Lanka-kanda (18.33) the Lord says: It is My promise and duty to give all protection to one who surrenders unto Me without reservation|In the Ramayana, Lanka-kanda (18.33) the Lord says: It is My promise and duty to give all protection to one who surrenders unto Me without reservation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When Hiranyakasipu was going to kill Prahlada Maharaja, the Lord saved Prahlada to fulfill His promise in Bhagavad-gita (kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati (BG 9.31)) and to prove true the words of Narada|When Hiranyakasipu was going to kill Prahlada Maharaja, the Lord saved Prahlada to fulfill His promise in Bhagavad-gita (kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati (BG 9.31)) and to prove true the words of Narada.]]

=== Maintaining the Devotee's Needs ===

Those who dedicate their lives entirely to spiritual advancement need not worry about their material maintenance. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Lord personally shoulders the burden of supplying the necessities for His pure devotees, promising to bring them whatever they lack and preserve what they have.

* [[Vaniquotes:A pure devotee never begs the Lord for material happiness in the shape of riches, followers, a good wife or even mukti. The Lord promises, however, yoga-ksemam vahamy aham: "I voluntarily bring everything necessary for My service"|A pure devotee never begs the Lord for material happiness in the shape of riches, followers, a good wife or even mukti. The Lord promises, however, yoga-ksemam vahamy aham: "I voluntarily bring everything necessary for My service."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The devotees have no anxiety over what will happen next, where they will stay or what they will eat, for everything is maintained and supplied by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has promised, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyat - BG 9.31|The devotees have no anxiety over what will happen next, where they will stay or what they will eat, for everything is maintained and supplied by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has promised, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyat - BG 9.31.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When the Lord appeared before Kardama Muni after his mature yoga practice, He promised that He would become Kardama's son|When the Lord appeared before Kardama Muni after his mature yoga practice, He promised that He would become Kardama's son.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The great sage Atri prayed for offspring, and the Lord, being satisfied with him, promised to incarnate as Atri's son, Dattatreya (Datta, the son of Atri)|The great sage Atri prayed for offspring, and the Lord, being satisfied with him, promised to incarnate as Atri's son, Dattatreya (Datta, the son of Atri).]]

=== The Promise of Liberation ===

The ultimate goal of human life is to escape the cycle of birth and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that the Lord has given a clear and definitive promise in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'': simply by understanding His transcendental nature and surrendering unto Him, the living entity is guaranteed immediate liberation.

* [[Vaniquotes:If one fully surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is immediately liberated from the bondage of conditioned life, as promised by the Lord Himself (aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami) - BG 18.66|If one fully surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is immediately liberated from the bondage of conditioned life, as promised by the Lord Himself (aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami) - BG 18.66.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the Bhagavad-gita (4.9) the Lord promises that one who simply understands the mysteries of His transcendental birth and deeds will be liberated from the clutches of Maya and go back to Godhead|In the Bhagavad-gita (4.9) the Lord promises that one who simply understands the mysteries of His transcendental birth and deeds will be liberated from the clutches of Maya and go back to Godhead.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Supreme Lord herein (BG 12.6-7) promises that He will without delay deliver a pure devotee thus engaged from the ocean of material existence. BG 1972 purports|The Supreme Lord herein (BG 12.6-7) promises that He will without delay deliver a pure devotee thus engaged from the ocean of material existence.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Lord promises herein (SB 3.25.39-40) that He takes His devotee to the other side of birth and death|The Lord promises herein (SB 3.25.39-40) that He takes His devotee to the other side of birth and death.]]

=== Sacrificing His Own Promise ===

While the Lord's word is absolute, His love for His devotees surpasses even His own rules. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the famous incident on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra where Śrī Kṛṣṇa broke His own vow not to fight, simply to fulfill the vow made by His pure devotee, Grandfather Bhīṣma.

* [[Vaniquotes:You should know that Lord Krsna Himself violated His own promise just to keep the promise of Grandfather Bhisma|You should know that Lord Krsna Himself violated His own promise just to keep the promise of Grandfather Bhisma.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:At that time (Bhisma about to kill Arjuna) Lord Krsna wanted to please His devotee, Bhisma, by keeping Bhisma's promise, which was more important than His own. Seemingly He broke His own promise|At that time (Bhisma about to kill Arjuna) Lord Krsna wanted to please His devotee, Bhisma, by keeping Bhisma's promise, which was more important than His own. Seemingly He broke His own promise.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Lord did this (taking up a chariot wheel and attack Bhisma) to show that His devotee was being maintained at the sacrifice of His own promise|The Lord did this (taking up a chariot wheel and attack Bhisma) to show that His devotee was being maintained at the sacrifice of His own promise.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:After hearing Lord Siva's prayer, Lord Krsna replied, "My dear Lord Siva, I accept your statements, and I also accept your desire for Banasura. I know that this Banasura is the son of Bali Maharaja, and as such I cannot kill him, for that is My promise"|After hearing Lord Siva's prayer, Lord Krsna replied, "My dear Lord Siva, I accept your statements, and I also accept your desire for Banasura. I know that this Banasura is the son of Bali Maharaja, and as such I cannot kill him, for that is My promise."]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully illustrates that the foundation of a devotee's spiritual life rests entirely on the infallible nature of God's promise. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, repeatedly declares in the Vedic literatures that His devotees will never perish, and history proves that He executes this promise under all circumstances. Whether it is protecting Prahlāda Mahārāja from a demonic father, supplying the daily necessities of a surrendered soul, or granting ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth and death, the Lord's word is the absolute truth. Yet, the most endearing feature of the Lord's character is that He values the honor of His pure devotees above His own. By willingly breaking His own vow to uphold the promise of Grandfather Bhīṣma, Kṛṣṇa proves that He is entirely conquered by the love of His servants. Therefore, humanity's greatest fortune lies in simply trusting and surrendering to the Supreme Lord, knowing that His promises are eternal, perfect, and absolute.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:God's_Promise|God's Promise]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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