If Kṛṣṇa Wants to Kill Someone No One Can Save Him
This article explores the profound spiritual dynamics surrounding the desire to kill, as explained in the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda. While mundane violence is born of ignorance, envy, and bodily identification, the power over life and death ultimately belongs to the Supreme Lord. By understanding the distinction between demoniac violence and the righteous, protective anger of the pure devotees, one can grasp the absolute nature of Kṛṣṇa's supreme will and the transformative mercy of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
The Supreme Protector and Destroyer
A fundamental axiom of Vedic philosophy is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the absolute controller. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that one's lifespan is dictated entirely by the will of the Lord. No amount of material advancement, nor the protection of powerful demigods like Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, can save a person if Kṛṣṇa decides they must die. Conversely, if Kṛṣṇa desires to protect His devotee, the entire universe cannot harm him.
- If Krsna wants to kill someone no one can save him, and if Krsna wants to save someone no one can kill him.
- Rakhe krsna mare ke, mare krsna rakhe ke - "If Krsna wants to kill you, who can save you? Nobody can save you. And if Krsna wants to protect you, who can kill you?"
- If some demigod, even Lord Siva or Lord Brahma, wants to do harm to a devotee, Krsna protects the devotee. But when Krsna wants to kill someone, such as Ravana or Hiranyakasipu, no demigod can protect him.
- There is a saying that when Krsna protects someone, no one can do him harm, and when Krsna wants to kill someone, no one can protect him. The vivid example was Ravana.
The Demoniac Mentality of Killing
In the material world, the desire to kill usually stems from intense false ego and bodily identification. Demons and atheists become so infatuated with their temporary material forms that they are willing to kill innocent animals, pure Vaiṣṇavas, and even their own benedictors to preserve their power. This envious mentality was vividly displayed by personalities like Pūtanā and Durvāsā Muni, who acted out of sheer malice and spiritual blindness.
- Self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaisnava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord.
- Putana had no affection for Krsna; rather, she was envious and wanted to kill Him. Nonetheless, because with or without knowledge she offered her breast, she attained the highest achievement in life.
- The demoniac people first of all killed Jesus Christ: "You are speaking 'Thou shall not kill'? I shall kill you." Just see. This is the position. "So what is my fault? You want to kill me?" "Because you are speaking of God, therefore we shall kill you."
- At last, in fear of his (Durvasa Muni's) life, he approached Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was so interested in his own body that he wanted to kill the body of a Vaisnava.
The Righteous Anger of the Devotees
Although a pure devotee is naturally gentle, peaceful, and unwilling to cause harm, this nonviolence does not mean cowardice. When the Supreme Lord, His intimate associates, or the principles of dharma are violently attacked, the devotee will fiercely rise to their defense. Mahārāja Parīkṣit's immediate readiness to kill Kali for harming a cow, and Lord Caitanya's blazing anger toward the offenders of Lord Nityānanda, perfectly illustrate that violence executed in defense of religious principles is fully transcendental.
- For example, as soon as Maharaj Pariksit saw that a black man was attempting to kill a cow, he immediately took his sword, wanting to kill the black man, whose name was Kali.
- Maharaja Pariksit wanted to kill the personified Kali, who was attempting to kill a cow, the emblem of peace and religion.
- In spite of Lord Caitanya's being so humble and meek as a devotee, when He was informed about injuries inflicted on the body of Sri Nityananda, He immediately ran to the spot and wanted to kill the offenders.
- When the Lord was informed that Nityananda Prabhu was injured by Jagai and Madhai, He immediately went to the spot, angry like fire, wanting to kill them. Thus Lord Caitanya has explained His verse (Siksastaka 3) by the example of His own behavior.
Killing the Demoniac Mentality
In previous ages, the Supreme Lord personally descended with weapons to annihilate the miscreants. However, in the current age of Kali, the demons are so numerous that physical destruction is not the primary method of deliverance. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu initiated the saṅkīrtana movement specifically to kill the demoniac mentality within the heart, rather than killing the physical body. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the darkness of misunderstanding is eradicated, granting ultimate salvation.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu, out of kindness for them (the demons), did not bring any weapon to kill them. Rather, by spreading Krsna consciousness, love of Krsna, He wanted to kill their nefarious, demoniac activities. This is the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement.
- Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, could have killed all the demons by employing His different material energies, but He wanted to kill them personally, to give them salvation.
- Lord Krsna killed the demon Madhu, and now Arjuna wanted Krsna to kill the demon of misunderstanding that had overtaken him in the discharge of his duty.
- One must sacrifice everything to realize Krsna, just as Arjuna did. He did not want to kill his family members, but when he understood that these family members were impediments to Krsna realization, he accepted the instruction of Krsna.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the ultimate judgment of life and death is in the hands of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Materialistic violence is a symptom of spiritual ignorance and false ego, plunging the conditioned soul deeper into suffering. True spiritual life requires us to conquer and kill our own material attachments and misunderstandings. By surrendering to the will of the Lord and taking shelter of the Bhagavad-gītā, we allow the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra to destroy the demoniac tendencies within our hearts, granting us the ultimate protection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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 Wanting to Kill. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.