Angry at Kṛṣṇa - From Demoniac Envy to Transcendental Love
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate object of all emotion. While a neophyte devotee strives only to please the Lord, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that Kṛṣṇa is equally absorbed in those who direct their anger toward Him. Whether it is the venomous envy of a demon, the bruised ego of a demigod, or the sweet, pouty wrath of a pure devotee, Kṛṣṇa expertly manages and relishes these emotional exchanges to perfect His absolute pastimes.
The Envious Anger of Demons
The material world is populated by entities who deeply resent the supremacy of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that demons like Śiśupāla, Kaṁsa, and Hiraṇyakaśipu maintain an everlasting, envious anger toward Kṛṣṇa. However, because Kṛṣṇa is absolute, even this wrathful absorption guarantees their ultimate liberation.
- Sisupala could not tolerate such honoring of Krsna and glorification of His qualities because Krsna stole Rukmini. Instead of being happy to hear the glories of the Lord, he became very angry.
- When everyone offered respect to Krsna by standing up, Sisupala remained in his seat, but as he became angrier at Krsna's being honored, he stood up suddenly, raised his hand and spoke very strongly and fearlessly against Lord Krsna.
- Others in the bodily concept of life are angry at their enemies but not at Lord Visnu. Hiranyakasipu, however, was everlastingly angry. He was angry not only because of false prestige but also because of continuous enmity toward Visnu.
- If one becomes attached to Krsna even through lust, anger or fear, then one's salvation and freedom from material contamination are assured.
Smashing the Pride of the Demigods
Sometimes, even devotees or exalted demigods become puffed up by their material power. To protect them from this illusion, Kṛṣṇa deliberately acts to provoke their anger. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the pastime of King Indra, whose furious wrath was completely subdued when he realized Kṛṣṇa's true position.
- King Indra was certainly a devotee, not a demon, but because he was puffed up, Krsna wanted to teach him a lesson. He first made Indra angry by stopping the Indra-puja, which had been arranged by the cowherd men in Vrndavana.
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is clearly stated that in this instance Krsna wanted to make King Indra angry. Krsna's advent was especially meant for the annihilation of the demons and protection of the devotees.
- When Krsna defied the authority of Indra, Indra became angry because he thought that he was all in all within this universe and that no one was as powerful as he.
- When Krsna stopped the villagers of Braja (Vrndavana) from worshiping Indra, Indra became angry and therefore inundated Vrndavana with continual rain.
Artificial Anger in Vṛndāvana
In the intimate atmosphere of Vṛndāvana, anger is never fueled by actual malice; it is an expression of pure love. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the cowherd men and Mother Yaśodā would artificially express anger at Kṛṣṇa's mischievous childhood pranks, only to have their hearts melt immediately upon seeing His beautiful smile.
- When Krsna would again steal butter and curd, the cowherd men would again try to capture Him, saying, Here is the butter thief. Better capture Him! And they would be angry. But Krsna would simply smile, and they would forget everything.
- When Krsna is caught in His naughty activities, the master of the house will say to Him, 'Oh, You are a thief,' and artificially express anger at Krsna. Krsna will then reply, 'I am not a thief. You are a thief' - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.8.31.
- In their childhood pastimes, all these cowherd boys joined with Krsna in stealing butter. But rather than become angry, Mother Yasoda became wet from the milk flowing out of her breasts.
- First a complaint was lodged with mother Yasoda about Krsna's stealing, but mother Yasoda did not chastise Him. Now, in an attempt to awaken mother Yasoda's anger so that she would chastise Krsna, another complaint was invented-that Krsna had eaten earth.
Relishing the Loving Wrath of the Consorts
The most elevated exchanges of anger occur in the conjugal rasa. As the supreme enjoyer, Kṛṣṇa finds immense pleasure in provoking the loving anger of His queens and the gopīs. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa would deliberately speak teasing words to Queen Rukmiṇī, hoping to witness the beautiful perfection of her transcendental retaliation.
- In this case, because Krsna could not find any fault with Rukmini, for she was very grave and always engaged in His service, He smilingly, in great love, began to speak to her just to provoke her loving anger.
- Krsna continued, "I expected that you would cast your (Rukmini's) unblinking glance upon Me in retaliation and that I would thus be able to see your beautiful face in that angry mood."
- Krsna continued, "I am very sorry for it. I expected your (Rukmini's) red lips would tremble in anger when you heard My statement that you would chastise Me in many words. O perfection of love, I never expected that your condition would be like this."
- Krsna asked them to go back to their husbands and homes. The gopis apparently became very angry and began to talk to Krsna with faltering voices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding how different entities become angry at Kṛṣṇa provides deep insight into the absolute nature of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully outlines that while demonic anger is rooted in a desire to usurp Kṛṣṇa's position, it paradoxically guarantees liberation due to constant absorption in Him. However, the supreme perfection of emotional exchange is found only in the pure devotees. Whether Kṛṣṇa is orchestrating events to smash the pride of a demigod or teasing His pure devotees to relish their loving wrath, every interaction is a perfectly designed facet of His eternal, blissful pastimes.
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