Blaspheming Kṛṣṇa - The Fate of the Envious
The relationship between the Supreme Lord and the living entities is one of eternal love, but when that love turns to envy, it manifests as blasphemy. Śrīla Prabhupāda analyzes the complex dynamics of blasphemy against Śrī Kṛṣṇa, contrasting the Lord's own indifference with the fiery intolerance of His devotees. Using the histories of demons like Śiśupāla, he illustrates how the Lord deals with those who choose to be His enemies.
Kṛṣṇa is Unaffected
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently reminds us that Kṛṣṇa is ātmarāma, self-satisfied. He is not puffed up by prayers, nor is He diminished by insults. Whether one offers Him a garland or hurls abuse, His transcendental position remains unchanged. Because He is the well-wishing friend of everyone, He does not take these insults as a personal injury in the way a conditioned soul might.
- One should not conclude that because Krsna is unaffected by favorable prayers or unfavorable blasphemy one should therefore blaspheme the Supreme Lord. This is not the regulative principle.
- Thus He has no enemy and no friend. When He chastises the demons it is for their good, and when He accepts the prayers of the devotees it is for their good. He is affected neither by prayers nor by blasphemy.
- Krsna did not reply to even a single accusation made by Sisupala, but all the members except few, present in the meeting were very much agitated because it is the duty of any respectable person not to tolerate blasphemy against God or His devotee.
The Intolerance of the Devotees
While Kṛṣṇa may remain silent, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a devotee cannot. Upon hearing Śiśupāla's vicious words during the Rājasūya sacrifice, the Pāṇḍavas were agitated. Bhīma felt his mighty arms were useless if they could not immediately smash the offender, and Sahadeva trembled in anger. This proves that while a devotee excuses personal offenses, they are duty-bound to be intolerant of blasphemy against their Lord.
- One may then ask why the Lord exhibited His anger. The point is that one should be ready to tolerate all insults to one's own self, but when Krsna or His pure devotee is blasphemed, a genuine devotee becomes angry and acts like fire against the offenders.
- Trembling of the body was exhibited in Sahadeva, the younger brother of Nakula. When Sisupala was vehemently blaspheming the Lord, Sahadeva began to tremble out of anger.
- Bhima began to murmur, "My arms are just like thunderbolts, but despite these arms I could not smash Sisupala while he was blaspheming Krsna. Therefore, of what use are these strong arms?"
- One should be very intolerant towards the blasphemy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, or His devotees.
The Case of Śiśupāla
Śiśupāla is the archetypal blasphemer. From his very childhood, he was envious of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Śiśupāla and Dantavakra (formerly Jaya and Vijaya) constantly thought of Kṛṣṇa, albeit with hatred. Paradoxically, this constant absorption allowed them to be purified and liberated when killed by the Lord. Sometimes, as Śrīla Prabhupāda points out, the goddess Sarasvatī would even twist their blasphemous words to sound like prayers, showing how everything ultimately serves the Lord.
- From the very beginning of his childhood, when he could not even speak properly, Sisupala, began blaspheming the Lord, and he continued to be envious of Sri Krsna until death. Similarly, his brother Dantavakra continued the same habits.
- In that way, although your verse is blasphemous according to your meaning, mother Sarasvati has taken advantage of it to offer prayers to the Lord.
- Although these two men - Sisupala and Dantavakra - repeatedly blasphemed the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu (Krsna), the Supreme Brahman, they were quite healthy.
Danger and Punishment
Despite the unique deliverance of Śiśupāla, Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly warns against imitating this path. Blaspheming Kṛṣṇa is like "embracing a snake." For the ordinary soul, it results in birth in asura (demoniac) families where one forgets God entirely. Kṛṣṇa's punishment is actually a form of mercy; by checking the demon's violence, He stops their accumulation of sin and prepares them for eventual rectification.
- As one should not try to be killed by embracing an enemy, a tiger or a snake, one should not blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead and become His enemy in order to be put into hellish life.
- One who blasphemes the Lord is put into a family of asuras, in which there is every chance of forgetting the service of the Lord.
- When Krsna punishes a demon or conditioned soul, He stops that soul's habit of blaspheming Him, and when the soul becomes completely pure, the Lord takes him back to Godhead.
- One should not blaspheme Lord Visnu through one's mind, words or actions, for a blasphemer will go to hellish life along with his forefathers.
Conclusion
The safest path is always favorable service. While Kṛṣṇa is merciful even to His enemies, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the risk of blasphemy is too great. A devotee's duty is to defend the Lord's honor and to carefully avoid even the shadow of offense, knowing that favorable devotion is the only true means to please Kṛṣṇa.
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 Blaspheming Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.