The Supreme Influence of Kṛṣṇa - From Cosmic Control to Transcendental Attraction
The material and spiritual worlds are entirely maintained and governed by the supreme influence of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead. While ordinary living beings possess a very limited scope of ability, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the supreme controller's reach extends over all places, all times, and all living entities simultaneously. Even though the conditioned souls in this world are hopelessly bewildered by the powerful influence of His external, illusory energy known as māyā, Kṛṣṇa Himself remains completely unaffected and transcendental to the material modes of nature. Ultimately, by associating with pure devotees and awakening one's dormant love for God, a conditioned soul can successfully escape the darkness of material existence and come directly under the shining, protective influence of Kṛṣṇa's internal spiritual potency.
The All-Pervading Cosmic Controller
The majestic control of the universe rests entirely in the hands of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that although we may not see Kṛṣṇa face-to-face with our physical eyes, His extensive influence is visibly managing the grand cosmic manifestation, from the intricate movements of the planets to the authoritative roles of the demigods.
- A common living being cannot extend its influence over another common living being by its all-pervasiveness, but the Supreme Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is unlimitedly able to exert His influence over all places and all times and over all living beings.
- Ananta indicates that there is nothing which is not covered by the influence and energy of the Supreme Lord, and devesa means that He is the controller of all demigods and is above them all. He is the center of the whole universe.
- Brahma said, "Krsna, the cosmic manifestation that we are visualizing at present is all within Your body. Yet I am seeing You outside, and You are also seeing me outside. How can such things happen without being influenced by Your inconceivable energy?"
- If you want to see God, Krsna, you cannot see Him. He is not there. He is in Goloka Vrndavana. But His influence is so extensive that even without His personal presence, things are going on so nicely. This is called Bhagavan.
Kṛṣṇa's Unlimited Opulences
Kṛṣṇa is defined as the Supreme Brahman precisely because of His perfect, inexhaustible opulences. Anyone who understands that Kṛṣṇa possesses all wealth, strength, knowledge, beauty, renunciation, and influence can recognize that His supreme position is unmatched by any conditioned soul or elevated mystic.
- Krsna has six opulences: all wealth, all strength, all influence, all knowledge, all renunciation, and all beauty. The nature of Krsna is that He is greater than the greatest and smaller than the smallest - anor aniyan mahato mahiyan.
- Krsna is the Supreme Brahman because of His unlimited knowledge, unlimited potencies, unlimited strength, unlimited influence, unlimited beauty and unlimited renunciation.
- In conclusion, O Nanda Maharaja, this child of yours is as good as Narayana. In His transcendental qualities, opulence, name, fame and influence, He is exactly like Narayana. You should all raise this child very carefully and cautiously.
- He (Krsna) appeared extremely powerful; His influence and vast power are so great that every human being should be afraid of Him.
Transcendental to Material Influence
A common philosophical mistake is to assume that when the Lord descends into the material universe, He becomes subjected to the laws of material nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda vehemently refutes this, clarifying that while ordinary living entities become maddened by material illusion, the Supreme Personality of Godhead remains completely aloof and unagitated by the material qualities.
- Krsna is never influenced by the material qualities. He is always free from such qualities, but He appears to act under material influence. This understanding is aropita, or an imposition.
- The Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, out of His causeless mercy, descends on the manifested world without being influenced by the material modes of nature.
- Narada said, "His (Krsna) knowledge is not affected by the process of creation, maintenance and annihilation, nor is it ever influenced by any agency beyond Himself, nor is it agitated by the interactions of the material qualities."
- A person, when he becomes ghostly haunted, he speaks all kinds of nonsense. So maya grasta jivera sei dasa upajaya. Those who have come to this material world under the influence of the external energy of Krsna, maya, they are all madmen.
The Power of Transcendental Attraction
The ultimate goal of human life is to transfer oneself from the jurisdiction of the external material energy to the sweet jurisdiction of Kṛṣṇa's internal spiritual energy. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the transcendental influence of Kṛṣṇa is so overwhelmingly attractive that it effortlessly defeats all mundane attachments, drawing the purified soul into an eternal relationship of joy and knowledge.
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that those who are mahatmas, or those whose minds have been so broadened as to be engaged in the service of Lord Krsna, are under the influence of the internal potency.
- The husbands began to discuss this amongst themselves: "How wonderful is the attraction for Krsna, that it has made these women leave us without any care!" This is the influence of Krsna.
- The transcendental influence of Krsna is so great that it can defeat anyone.
- We are now out of the orbit, or the shining influence, of Krsna, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We have to put ourselves again into that atmosphere of Krsna; then we get full-fledged happiness, knowledge and eternal life. That is the process of Krsna consciousness.
Conclusion
The supreme influence of Kṛṣṇa is universally expansive, governing both the massive cosmic creation and the intricate details of the spiritual realm. Although His external energy strongly binds the conditioned souls in forgetfulness, the Lord Himself remains eternally untouched by material contamination, displaying His unlimited opulences as the absolute controller. Through the mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda, we learn that the true perfection of our existence is to step out of the shadow of material illusion and surrender fully to Kṛṣṇa, allowing His transcendental, internal influence to guide us safely back home, back to Godhead.
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 Krsna's Influence. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.