Śrīla Gurudeva: You all know how near and dear Rūpa Gosvāmī was to Mahāprabhu. Hence, if you consider Rūpa Gosvāmī as your śikṣā-guru, then no harm. So, ‘anu,’ means to always be under the guidance of any bona fide Guru and Vaiṣṇavas. You should serve by three methods—by mind, body, and words. The conditioned soul cannot serve by more means, the mind, body, and words are all that he possesses, which he can use in the service of the Lord. Here, activities have been divided into two sections. We should try to avoid carrying out those activities that are not favorable to our devotional services. We should not execute these unfavorable activities by our mind, body, and words. But, if you persist on carrying out these activities, then your bhakti is not uttamā-bhakti. There is another meaning to anukāla-anuśīana. By our activities and services, Kṛṣṇa must be happy. But this happiness is not the symbol of pure and high class of bhakti.
An instance can be told to explain this. When Kṛṣṇa went to Mathurā from Vṛndāvana, He went to the wrestling arena of Kaṁsa. In order to kill Kṛṣṇa, Kaṁsa had arranged for many demons to spar with Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in the wrestling arena. They were told to wrestle with Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and kill Them. When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered the wrestling arena, Cāṇūra and Mūṣṭika caught the hands of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and challenged the two brothers to a duel.
On being told to wrestle, Kṛṣṇa told the assembled wrestlers, “I am a very little boy. My milk teeth haven’t fallen out yet. I am only eleven years old. All of you are so tall and powerful. Let anyone who is of the same age and stature wrestle Us.
Cāṇūra and Mūṣṭika replied, “We know that You have taken so much milk and butter from all the gopīs. You stole from them. Eating butter and drinking milk, You have become so powerful. Pūtanā, Aghāsura, Bakāsura, and many of their allies were killed by Your hands. So, You are not just any ordinary boy. I have to please Kaṁsa.”
After listening to them speak, Kṛṣṇa jumped up and locked hands with Cāṇura. When Kṛṣṇa wrestled with Cāṇura, He was so inspired and He tasted vīra-rasa to His full satisfaction. While wrestling with Cāṇura, Kṛṣṇa was so happy wrestling and He tasted the mood of chivalry with great relish. Although Kṛṣṇa was happy, the happiness He tasted was not because of bhakti. The demoniac wrestlers were of an unfavorable mood, they wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa. Even if Kṛṣṇa is happy, His happiness may not be connected to uttamā-bhakti. Kṛṣṇa should be made happy in a favorable way. For instance, Duryodhana wanted to give Kṛṣṇa so much delicious food and he even built a golden palace for Kṛṣṇa to stay. This palace also had hundreds and hundreds of servants.
But, Kṛṣṇa told Duryodhana, “I have no appetite. I cannot eat. Moreover, you have no prīti to Me. You have no love and affection for Me. Most importantly, I have come with a message of peace but you remain firm in your stance and don’t agree for a peaceful settlement. So, I cannot take what you offer.” Speaking this way, Kṛṣṇa went away from there. Duryodhana wanted to arrest Kṛṣṇa. His offerings of delicious food and sweet words were an artificial display filled with hypocrisy.
We should also not be like Pūtanā. Pūtanā appeared in a beautiful form as a mother and she was more affectionate to Kṛṣṇa that Yaśodā. Yaśodā was astonished by her display of affection for her beloved son. Yaśodā thought, “This lady is actually the mother of Kṛṣṇa. I am not Kṛṣṇa’s mother. I am not so qualified.” But, displaying artificial love and taking Kṛṣṇa on the lap with an intention to kill Him is not bhakti. Pūtanā was killed by Kṛṣṇa. Hence, artificial gurus who show their bhakti, but who have no honor for Kṛṣṇa, Guru and Vaiṣṇavas and are always absorbed in fulfilling their self-interests—are not bona fide gurus. They have not become Vaiṣṇavas yet. Therefore, activities that please Kṛṣṇa but, which are carried out with unfavorable intentions are not bhakti.
There is another important consideration. Brandishing a stick in her hand, Yaśodā tells Kṛṣṇa, “I will punish You!” She caught hold of one hand of Kṛṣṇa and on being caught, Kṛṣṇa was weeping so bitterly. He repeatedly told Yaśodā, “Mother, mother! I will not do like this.” Who is Kṛṣṇa? He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Holding His ears, and folding His hands, He was weeping bitterly.
On listening to Kṛṣṇa cry, Yaśodā told Kṛṣṇa, “I will punish You. Otherwise, You will be spoiled.”
Kṛṣṇa is weeping! It seems that Kṛṣṇa is not pleased. Thus, you may think it is not bhakti; but it is bhakti. Because it is favorable to Kṛṣṇa. The services and activities we perform for our holy master, for each and every Vaiṣṇava, and to Kṛṣṇa and Caitanya Mahāprabhu must be very favorable from our hearts. They are all in one family.
[CC-by-NDNC Bhakta Bandhav]
Radlett 17 May 1996