Syamarani dasi: You were saying during the parikrama that Krsna's associates, like Mother Yasoda and Sridama, are as powerful as Krsna.
Srila Gurudeva: They are more powerful than Krsna. They can support Krsna; they can give Him milk; they turn Him over because He cannot change sides on His own.
Syamarani dasi: When He is a baby.
Srila Gurudeva: When Krsna is a baby, Yasoda can give Him a slap, and He will cry, "O Mother, O Mother!" She can bind Him to a grinding mortar.
Syamarani dasi: Are the jivas who become perfect and go to Vraja similarly powerful?
Srila Gurudeva: Yes.
Syamarani dasi: In what way?
Srila Gurudeva: In every way. But, in order that they can serve Krsna, Yogamaya covers them. Otherwise, they would not be able to serve. Actually, Krsna has no need of service, because He is unlimited. He is purna (complete), atmarama (self-satisfied) and aptakama (all His desires are automatically fulfilled). At the same time, when He sees the affection and love of the gopis, and symptoms of their service, He develops an appetite and mood to be served.
His associates are as powerful as He is, but Yogamaya covers them and makes all circumstances favorable for their services. Narada cannot render personal service, and neither can Sanaka and Sanandana, because they know that Krsna is God and that He is self-sufficient, atmarama, and aptakama. Gargacarya cannot serve, and neither can Sandilya Rsi, because they know the tattva (philosophical truth) about Krsna. Mother Yasoda can serve Narada, and her son also.
Syamarani dasi: Yasoda can serve Narada?
Srila Gurudeva: Yes.
Syamarani dasi: How?
Srila Gurudeva: She considers that the foot-dust of Narada will protect her son Krsna.
Vrndavana: November, 1994