From Devotees

KRISHNA’S SATISFACTION

Thepranams Team

January 24, 2022

KRISHNA’S SATISFACTION
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
If someone can satisfy Krishna, then automatically he can satisfy one and all. There will be no dissatisfaction. But how many of you are trying to satisfy Krishna? You maysay, “Yes, we are all trying. We are all working for Krishna’s satisfaction. We are all engaged in loving devotional service to Krishna.” But if we are engaged in loving service to Krishna,then why are we feeling dissatisfaction? Are you really satisfying Krishna? The Gītā says and the Bhāgavatam says. The vaisnavas and gurus have been teaching you this every day— yuktasya bhaktā_ś ca niyuṣjato ‘pi — the guru engages you in the service of Krishna.That is the guru’s business. If an aspirant devotee comes to the guru, he will engage him in the loving service of Krishna. But why can’t you satisfy Krishna? What is wrong? Where is the mistake? Does anyone know?
Devotee: Because we have some material desires?
Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. In his purport to the verse we are studying today, (Bhagavad-gītā 9.24), my revered spiritual master says:
If, however, anyone has any material desire to be fulfilled, he had better pray for it to the Supreme Lord (although that is not pure devotion), and hewill thus achieve the desired result.
akāma sarva-kāmo vā mok_a-kāma udāra-dhī tīvre_a bhakti-yogena yajeta puru_a_ param
The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (2.3.10) says that whatever desire one may have, whether they have many material desires, sarva-kāma, theyare desirous of liberation, mok_a-kāma, or theymay have no desires, akāma, let one pray to the Supreme Lord Krishna, and when hesanctions it, then one’s desire will be fulfilled.
Take the example of Dhruva Maharaja; he had the material desire to sit on the throne of his father. He went to the forest and underwent severe austerities under the guidance of his spiritual master, Narada Muni. Within a short six months, Dhruva satisfied the Supreme Lord Vishnu. Then Lord Vishnucame and asked Dhruva, “Ask for any boon.”However, by getting Lord Vishnu, all Dhruva’s material desires had disappeared. Dhruva then replied, “I have nothing to ask from you.”
In the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (7.28), DhruvaMaharaja states:
sthānābhilā_ī tapasi sthito ‘ha_tvā_ prāptavān deva-munīndra-guhyam
kāca_ vicinvann api divya-ratna_svāmin k_tārtho ‘smi vara_ na yāce
“I had a desire for position, so I underwent tapasya, penance. I was just searching for some pieces of glass, but I found divya-ratna, aninvaluable jewel. k_tārtho ‘smi vara_ na yāce I am fully satisfied. I have no boon to ask for.”
This is most important. At first, Dhruva had a material desire. Therefore he underwent tapasya. But then he became so satisfied that he didn’t ask for anything. Still, Lord Vishnu said, “No, no. You go and sit on the throne of your father.” That was his first desire. Vishnu told him, “Sit there for 36,000 years and rule.”Not one or two years, but 36,000 years. He received such a great boon without even asking. All his desires were fulfilled. Lord Vishnu created a planet for him, the Dhruva planet, which will never be annihilated even during the complete annihilation. It is an eternal planet. Therefore it is said that ifanyone has any material desires they should pray to the Supreme Lord. Krishna or Vishnu gives us boons in such a way that we will never ask again for anything material.
A very nice description is given in Caitanya-caritām_ta, madhya 22.38:
k___a kahe, — ’āmā bhaje, māge vi_aya-sukhaam_ta chā
i’ vi_a māge, — ei ba
a mūrkha
Krishna says, “He is worshiping me, and in return asking for material enjoyment. He is such a foolish mūrkha. sva-cara_ām_ta diyā‘vi_aya’ bhulāiba  He is such a rascal that heis not asking for my lotus feet (Cc. madhya22.39). He is asking for sense gratification. But I am a wise man. ei mūrkhe ‘vi_aya’ kene diba— Why will I give such a fool material enjoyment? I will give him my lotus feet and make him forget his desire to enjoy.” Krishna,Vishnu, does like this. All desires will be fulfilled, and at last you will get the lotus feet of Vishnu, Krishna.
Better to worship Vishnu, Krishna, and satisfy him. Then you can satisfy one and all.But how can you do that? There is a very easy way. Srila Viswanath Chakravarti Thakur describes it in his Gurv-a__aka, text eight: yasyaprasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān nagati kuto ‘pi — If you can satisfy and get the mercy of your spiritual master, the bonafide representative and intimate associate of Krishna, then automatically you can satisfy and get the mercy of Krishna. Otherwise,whatever you may do, it is not possible.Therefore, although we try, still we cannot satisfy Lord Krishna, or Vishnu, because we don’t satisfy our guru. _
— Excerpted from a lecture on Bhagavad-gītā. New Vrindavan, West Virginia. 3 October 1990.