Fear Personified Fearing His Devotees - Understanding Kṛṣṇa's Fear
The pastimes of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, as elucidated throughout the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, are filled with apparent contradictions that baffle the material mind but nourish the heart of the devotee. Among these, the Lord’s display of fear is a unique transcendental feature that highlights His desire to be controlled by the love of His pure servants, especially in the pastoral setting of Vraja.
The Fear of Mother Yaśodā's Stick
The Supreme Lord is the controller of the entire universe, yet Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that He becomes a frightened child in the presence of Mother Yaśodā. This display of fear is a manifestation of His extreme mercy, allowing a devotee to take a superior position over God through the strength of parental love.
- When Lord Sri Krsna saw His mother (Yasoda), stick in hand, He very quickly got down from the top of the mortar and began to flee as if very much afraid - SB 10.9.9.
- Krsna has become fearful to Yasoda: "My dear mother, kindly do not bind Me. I shall obey your orders." So Yasoda has become more than God, more than Krsna.
- When she (mother Yasoda) saw that her son (Krsna) had become excessively afraid, she threw the stick away and desired to bind Him so that He would not commit any further naughty activities - SB 10.9.12.
- Krsna was even afraid of mother Yasoda's stick. This was mentioned by Queen Kunti in her prayers: bhaya-bhavanaya sthitasya (SB 1.8.31). Krsna is afraid of mother Yasoda, and yogis are afraid of Krsna.
Internal Reasons for Divine Anxiety
According to the insights of Śrīla Prabhupāda, Kṛṣṇa's anxiety is often rooted in His concern for the well-being of His relationships. He may appear restless or worried not because of a lack of power, but because His intense love for His mother and friends creates a sense of accountability and child-like vulnerability.
- Mother Yasoda could understand that Krsna was unnecessarily afraid, and for His benefit she wanted to allay His fears. Being the topmost well-wisher of her child, Yasoda thought, "If the child is too fearful of me, I don’t know what will happen to Him."
- Mother Yasoda wanted to bind Krsna not in order to chastise Him but because she thought that the child was so restless that He might leave the house in fear. That would be another disturbance.
- Mother Yasoda wanted to impress upon Krsna that since He was afraid merely to see her stick, He should not perform such disturbing activities as breaking the container of yogurt and butter and distributing its contents to the monkeys.
- When caught by mother Yasoda, Krsna became more and more afraid and admitted to being an offender. As she looked upon Him, she saw that He was crying - SB 10.9.11.
Infant Pastimes and Early Apprehensions
Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that even in His earliest infant pastimes, Kṛṣṇa displayed fear to enhance the parental affection of His guardians. Whether closing His eyes as if afraid of a demon or running to His mother upon hearing strange sounds, these actions allowed His devotees to feel deeply needed as His protectors.
- Lord Sri Krsna, the all-pervading Supersoul, lying on the bed, understood that Putana, a witch who was expert in killing small children, had come to kill Him. Therefore, as if afraid of her, Krsna closed His eyes - SB 10.6.8.
- Devaki and Rohini said, "As long as They (Krsna and Balarama) were under your (Yasodadevi) care They had not even a pinch of difficulty. Under your protection, They were completely out of the way of all kinds of fear."
- Very much pleased by the sound of other people's ankle bells, They (Krsna and Balarama) used to follow them as if going to Their mothers, but when They saw that these were other people, They became afraid and returned to Their real mothers - SB 10.8.22.
- Sometimes, just like ordinary children, They (Krsna and Balarama) would be frightened by others and would immediately hurry to Their mothers for protection.
Fear and Playful Mischief in Vraja
In His daily life in Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa acts as a youthful participant in various social circles. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the Lord's fear as a mechanism for maintaining the flow of līlā with His friends and the gopīs. Whether fleeing from a scolding brother or hiding from village elders, His fear is a source of great transcendental relish.
- At that time, Krsna became very much afraid of Jarati and went to His elder brother Baladeva. He said, "My dear brother, I have stolen yogurt! Just see - Jarati is coming hurriedly to catch Me!"
- His playmates then threatened not to allow Him to play with them again. Krsna became afraid, and instead of going back home, He went back again to play with the boys. At that time, mother Yasoda scolded the children.
- As soon as Krsna saw all the gopis, He was struck with emotion. Thus He could not hide Himself, and out of fear He became motionless.
- Sometimes all the gopis would look at Krsna sitting there, His eyes fearful so that His mother would not chastise Him - SB 10.8.31.
The Strategic Fear of External Enemies
When dealing with worldly kings and demons, Kṛṣṇa sometimes adopts the role of a "coward" to fulfill specific objectives. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Lord's retreat from Jarāsandha was a strategic choice rather than actual fear, as it allowed Him to relocate His capital to Dvārakā and protect His family members.
- Krsna continued, "First of all, you (Rukmini) may know that I was so much afraid of Jarasandha that I could not dare live on the land, and thus I have constructed this house within the water of the sea."
- This time, Jarasandha thought that Krsna and Balarama were very much afraid of his military strength and were fleeing the battlefield. He followed Them with all his chariots, horses and infantry.
- Krsna continued, "It is not My business to disclose this secret to others, but you (Rukmini) must know that I am not very heroic; I am a coward and am afraid of My enemies. Still I am not safe, because all the great kings of the land are inimical to Me."
- Jarasandha said, "Krsna, I know that You are a coward. I refuse to fight with You because You become very confused when You face me in fighting. Out of fear of me You left Mathura and now You have taken shelter within the sea."
Rukmiṇī’s Insight into the Lord's Humility
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when Kṛṣṇa jokingly claimed He was a coward who fled to the sea out of fear, Rukmiṇī Devī understood His supreme position. She countered His statements with logic, recognizing that the "kings" Kṛṣṇa supposedly feared were insignificant compared to His divine prowess.
- Rukmini continued, "My dear all-powerful son of Vasudeva (Krsna), Your statement that You have taken shelter within the water of the ocean, being afraid of all the great princes, is quite unsuitable, for my experience with You contradicts this."
- Rukmini continued, "My dear husband, You (Krsna) have rightly said that You have taken shelter in the water of the sea as if You were afraid of the kings. But who are the kings of this material world."
- When I think of Krsna - how He went away from His father's protection to Vraja and lived there incognito out of fear of the enemy, and how, although unlimitedly powerful, He fled from Mathura in fear - all these bewildering incidents give me distress.
- There was no necessity of the Lord's being dispatched to the house of Nanda Maharaja out of fear of Kamsa's determination to kill Him (Krsna) as soon as He appeared.
The Philosophical Paradox of Fear Personified
The fact that the Supreme Person can Himself be afraid is a truth that Śrīla Prabhupāda explains is only accessible to the devotees. He emphasizes that these contradictions prove Kṛṣṇa is not a static concept but a living person who relishes being caught by the love of those who follow the paramparā.
- Queen Kunti said: My dear Krsna, Yasoda took up a rope to bind You when You committed an offense, and Your perturbed eyes overflooded with tears, which washed the mascara from Your eyes. And You were afraid, though fear personified is afraid of You.
- Yamaraja, the controller of all living entities, fears the order of Krsna, yet Krsna is afraid of His mother's stick. These contradictions cannot be understood by one who is not a devotee.
- Yogis, mystics, want to catch Krsna as Paramatma, and with great austerities and penances they try to approach Him, yet they cannot. Here (in SB 10.9.9) we see, however, that Krsna is going to be caught by Yasoda and is running away in fear.
- Krsna is unlimited, no one can catch Him, but if someone follows the parampara, he agrees to be captured. Everyone is afraid of Krsna, but Krsna is afraid of Mother Yasoda. That is Krsna's special mercy.
Conclusion
Kṛṣṇa’s fear is a sublime window into the nature of the Supreme Lord’s heart, and through the purports of Śrīla Prabhupāda, we understand that He seeks to be deeply and personally involved with His devotees. By exhibiting fear, Kṛṣṇa validates the intensity of the love His devotees bear for Him, showing that their affection is so great it can even cause the Almighty to forget His own power and flee in child-like vulnerability.
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