The Supreme Mercy When God Gives Liberation
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies the concept of liberation (mukti) by explaining that freedom from the material world is solely in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While the Lord freely gives liberation to those who understand His divine nature, and even to the demons He kills, He reserves the highest gift of pure devotional service for those who desire nothing else but to serve Him.
Knowledge Brings Liberation
Liberation does not require excruciating physical austerities; it requires transcendental knowledge. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the Supreme Lord promises in the Bhagavad-gītā that anyone who factually understands the divine nature of His appearance and activities is instantly freed from material bondage.
- 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.
- Krsna is Bhagavan. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam (SB 1.3.28). He appears as the son of Devaki or Vasudeva. We have to know this. And if you can know, then you become immediately liberated.
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that anyone who factually understands the transcendental appearance and disappearance of the Lord by His inconceivable energy becomes liberated from the laws of birth and death.
The Pure Devotee's Rejection of Mukti
Although liberation is highly sought after by mystic yogīs and impersonalists, pure devotees consider it insignificant. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a pure Vaiṣṇava rejects all forms of liberation, desiring only to please the Lord, which in turn causes the Lord to offer Himself entirely to the devotee.
- Pure devotees always reject the five kinds of liberation, which include living in the spiritual Vaikuntha planets, possessing the same opulences as those possessed by the Supreme Lord, having the same bodily features as the Lord's.
- Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya concluded, "Even though he is offered all kinds of liberation, the pure devotee does not accept them. He is fully satisfied engaging in the service of the Lord."
- If a devotee wants liberation or material sense gratification from the Lord, Krsna immediately delivers it, but pure devotional service He keeps hidden.
Liberation as a Byproduct of Devotion
For a surrendered soul, there is no need to separately endeavor for liberation. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that simply by engaging sincerely in bhakti-yoga, the living entity is automatically situated on the liberated platform, completely free from the dictations of material nature.
- Since a living entity is eternally the servitor of the Supreme Lord, when one seriously and sincerely engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he is situated in the position of liberation.
- Living entities, being superior energy to matter, have choice and discrimination either to surrender unto the Lord or to surrender unto material nature. By surrendering unto the Lord, one is happy and liberated.
- After attaining this liberated stage, one has to become engaged in devotional service to the Lord. After attainment of the brahma-bhuta (liberation) stage one can further advance to engagement in devotional service.
Liberation Granted Even to Enemies
The absolute goodness of the Supreme Lord is demonstrated by how He treats His enemies. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that even the asuras (demons) who act inimically toward God and are personally killed by Him are immediately granted liberation, proving His causeless mercy.
- Sometimes the asuras are killed by the Supreme Lord, but this killing is also good for them, for in Vedic literature we find that anyone who is killed by the Supreme Lord becomes liberated.
- Here is proof that God is good for everyone. Even when He kills someone, the one who is killed attains liberation. What then is to be said of those who are already in the association of the Lord?
- If someone is killed by the wheel of the Lord and is thus fortunate enough to see the arms of the Lord, that is sufficient for his liberation. Such good fortune is not achieved even by the great sages.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that while liberation from the cycle of birth and death is a tremendous achievement for the conditioned soul, it is merely a byproduct of the Supreme Lord's mercy. God gives liberation effortlessly to those who understand His divine nature, and out of His absolute goodness, He even grants it to the demons He vanquishes in battle. However, for the pure Vaiṣṇavas, mukti holds no appeal. By dedicating their lives to unalloyed bhakti, pure devotees transcend the desire for liberation entirely. In response to such selfless love, the Supreme Lord bestows the rarest and highest gift—His own personal association and the eternal opportunity to serve Him, proving that devotional service is far superior to even the greatest liberation.
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 God Gives Liberation. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.