Page 8 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

passions of lust, anger and greed. This is the blessing of Krishna consciousness. Regardless of one’s position, one can
make spiritual progress and attain a transcendental consciousness as described by the following. “He who is satisfied
with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success
and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.” (Bg 4.22) A Krishna conscious person is above the
dualities of the material world such as success and failure, or happiness and distress, because he does not hesitate to
act for the satisfaction of Krishna.
Another example is given in the Srimad Bhagavatam, which describes the wives of the brahmanas of Vrindavan in the
time of Krishna, 5000 years ago. Their priestly husbands were employed by Kamsa to perform Vedic rituals for the
comforts of the material body and eventual elevation to the higher planetary residences called svarga-loka. Due to
their materialistic leanings, they were unable to understand the position of Krishna. The wives of these Brahmana
priests were neither educated like their husbands nor were they expert in performing Vedic rituals. Nevertheless, they
were great devotees because they were always absorbed in thinking of Krishna.
One day, the cowherd boys who accompanied Krishna and Balarama, were very hungry because they did not eat
breakfast. They requested asked Krishna and Balarama to satisfy their hunger. Krishna and Balarama asked their
friends to go to the brahmanas who were performing Vedic sacrifices for elevation to heavenly planets. Krishna said
that the brahmanas were not Vaishnavas, as they did not chant Krishna’s names. He instructed them to ask the
brahmanas for some of the eatable remains of the sacrifice. Krishna cautioned the cowherd boys that the brahmanas
may not agree to give them prasadam.
The boys approached the brahmanas and asked for some prasadam from the sacrifice for Krishna and Balarama. The
smarta-brahmanas did not care for the begging on behalf of Krishna and Balarama. They refused to speak to the
cowherd boys. Although the purpose of Vedic knowledge is to know Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices, the non-devotee brahmanas confined themselves to
mechanically performing sacrificial ceremonies for material benefits and ignored devotion for Lord Krishna. The Lord
says, “I am the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifices. Therefore, those who do not recognize My true
transcendental nature fall down.” (Bg 9.24) It is also said, “The occupational activities a man performs according to his
own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of
Godhead.” (SB 1.2.8)
The brahmanas were primarily interested in obtaining comforts for the material body and elevation to the higher
material planets call svarga. Blinded by such material desires, they were unable to understand the transcendental
position of Lord Krishna. Krishna says, “In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material
opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme
Lord does not take place.” (Bg 2.44)
The boys returned to Krishna and Balarama. Krishna reassured them not to be discouraged by the refusal of the
brahmanas. Begging efforts will not always be successful. He instructed them to go see the wives of the brahmanas
who were genuine devotees of the Lords. They approached the wives and begged food from them. The wives
spontaneously responded that they would prepare food and bring it themselves to the Lords so that they could see
Them. Their immediate acceptance was natural because they were highly advanced spiritually by virtue of always
thinking about Krishna and Balarama. This is mystic meditation. Because of their meditation, they were eager to see
the Lords.
When they were ready to take the food to Krishna and Balarama, their husbands and family members tried to
convince them not to go. They disregarded their family members and rushed to see Krishna and Balarama. On seeing
their cherished Lords, the wives felt all their desires fulfilled. They exhibited unalloyed love and devotion for Krishna.
Their only desire was to please the Lord by always being in agreement with His desires. This is the real sense of
oneness, which is always agreeing to satisfy the desire of the Lord. Understanding oneself as the soul within the
temporary body, one can progress to the next level of spiritual realization, which is seeing the individual soul as the

8