Conquering God - Captivating the Unconquerable Lord
The concept of conquering God seems paradoxical. In the material world, living entities constantly try to conquer nature, other nations, or each other, driven by the false ego. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as Ajita, the unconquerable. No amount of material strength, beauty, or intellectual prowess can defeat Him. Yet, there is a sublime spiritual science by which the unconquerable Lord willingly allows Himself to be conquered. This victory is not achieved through weapons or mental speculation, but through the irresistible power of pure, submissive love and devotional service.
The Unconquerable Supreme Lord (Ajita)
God is absolute and supreme, sitting far above the jurisdiction of material energy. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that any attempt to conquer the Lord through mundane means—whether by the physical force of demons or the allure of material beauty—is completely absurd and destined to fail.
- Because everyone is lower than God, who will conquer Him? Therefore His name is Ajita. Ajita means unconquerable. What to speak of God, you cannot conquer even the energy of God. You are under the material energy of God.
- Because the Lord is not an object that can be understood by speculation with our material senses, He is also called ajita; He will conquer, but no one can conquer Him. What does it mean, then, that still He can be seen.
- Since demoniac persons are less intelligent, they dare to fight with Visnu, who is known as Ajita, or one who has never been conquered.
- Cleopatra. You have heard the Grecian history. She was very beautiful, and she conquered many great warriors. So beauty sometimes can conquer even the greatest man, but that does not mean beauty can conquer God. No. That is not possible.
The Failure of Mental Speculation
Many philosophers attempt to capture the Absolute Truth through their own limited intellects. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Lord can never be conquered by empiric speculation or volumes of academic books; one must abandon this challenging attitude to actually approach Him.
- Brahma said, "O Lord, a devotee who abandons the path of empiric philosophical speculation aimed at merging in the existence of the Supreme and engages himself in hearing Your glories, can conquer Your sympathy and mercy even though You are unconquerable."
- In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that no one can conquer Him or approach Him, but He becomes conquered. How? Let people remain in their own positions, but let them give up nonsense speculation through volumes of books.
- God is not conquerable, but He becomes conquerable, He is conquered, by a devotee who gives up this nonsense process of understanding Him by his limited knowledge and becomes submissive.
- Ramananda raya cited verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.3: If one cultivates his spiritual life by following these principles and keeping himself on the honest path in life, then although Your Lordship is never conquered, You become conquered by such a process.
The Power of Submissive Hearing
The true process to conquer the Supreme Lord begins simply by using the ears. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by remaining in one's social position and meekly hearing the transcendental messages of Kṛṣṇa from a realized soul, the unconquerable Lord becomes captivated.
- If one meekly and submissively hears about the activities of the Lord from a realized soul, he will be able to conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unconquerable by any other process.
- Just lend your, this aural reception and try to hear about God from the self-realized person, from Mahatma. Then one day it will become so, that although God is unconquerable, you will conquer Him.
- My dear Lord, You are unconquerable - the devotee prays - but by this process, by hearing, You are conquered.
- What will be the result of such hearing (about God)? Regardless of what 1 is - whether he be a poor or rich man or whatever - if 1 but hears the transcendental word of God, He, who can never be conquered by any power or force, will be conquered by love.
Conquered by Pure Love
The ultimate secret of bhakti-yoga is that the Lord becomes a willing captive of His pure devotees' affection. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that when a devotee serves without any desire for material profit, the Lord is easily conquered by their sincere attachment and unalloyed love.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is called ajita, meaning that no one can conquer Him, but a devotee, by strong devotional service and sincere attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can easily conquer Him.
- The Lord is known as ajita (unconquerable). No one can conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Lord consents to be conquered by His devotees. That is His nature.
- A devotee who offers service in all conditions of life can conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- They (nondevotees) are unable to conquer the Supreme Lord, whereas devotees, being freed from such unreasonable (lusty) desires, can conquer the Lord. Such devotees are also conquered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita, stands eternally unconquerable against any material challenge, intellectual endeavor, or demoniac assault. Yet, the profound beauty of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is that this supreme, absolute monarch willingly submits to the love of His pure devotees. By abandoning the futile path of empiric speculation and adopting the simple, powerful process of submissive hearing, any conditioned soul can gradually cleanse their heart. As this pure devotional service matures into sincere, unmotivated love, the devotee binds the Lord with the ropes of affection. Ultimately, in the spiritual realm, there is a beautiful, eternal competition: the devotee conquers the Lord with love, and the Lord conquers the devotee with His infinite mercy and beauty.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Conquering God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.