Rādhā Govinda Swami [ACBSP] – US: Though in essence, when given proper analysis, Krsna always follows His laws given for mankind when He appears on this earth planet, because of certain externals it appeared to some, that Krsna violated such laws.
Lord Ramacandra was known for following Dharma from the beginning “D” to the ending “A,” and due to there being question of Sita’s chastity among some of the population of Ayodhya, Lord Ramacandra upholding Raj Dharma – the dharma of king – would not allow Sita to sit on the throne as queen, and banished Sita Devi from the kingdom, despite her being pregnant with (the unnamed twins at that time), Luv and Kusa.
We see the selflessness and glory of not only Lord Ramacandra, but of other Vedic kings, such as King Rantidev, whose glories are briefly mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam, 9th canto chapter 21. Rantidev (verse 6) “perceived the presence of the Supreme Godhead everywhere, and in every living entity,” and because of this, (after having fasted for 48 days), was willing to sacrifice his own life to see to the welfare of his guests (who he did not personally know), who had come to beg from him food and water.
This included a candala who had come to beg on behalf of himself and his dogs. When King Rantidev “on the verge of death” (verse 14) had only water left to drink, again, another candala came and asked for “drinking water.” (Verses 11, 12)
“Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the poor fatigued candala, Maharaja Rantideva spoke the following nectarean words. ‘I do not pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the eight perfections of mystic yoga, nor for salvation from repeated birth and death. I want only to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering’.” (verses 15-17),
“Demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, who can satisfy all materially ambitious men by giving them the rewards they desire, then manifested their own identities before King Rantideva, for it was they who had presented themselves as the brahmana, sudra, candala and so on. King Rantideva had no ambition to enjoy material benefits from the demigods. He offered them obeisances, but because he was factually attached to Lord Vishnu, Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he fixed his mind at Lord Vishnu’s lotus feet. O Maharaja Parikshit, because King Rantideva was a pure devotee, always Krishna conscious and free from all material desires, the Lord’s illusory energy, maya, could not exhibit herself before him. On the contrary, for him maya entirely vanished, exactly like a dream.”
Ksatriya Dharma dictates that the kings see to the legitimate needs and protection of the citizens, all of them, including those praja possesed of non-human bodies. The famous example of Maharaj Sibi is given, who, in his upholding of Dharma, when approached by a pigeon asking for the king to give it shelter from the eagle who wanted to eat it, Maharaj Sibi offered to the eagle his own flesh of equal weight to match that of the pigeon, the eagle agreeing to this. After Sibi Maharaj weighed the pigeon and cut off some of his own body’s flesh, the pigeon’s weight increased, and with each subsequent cut, the weight of the pigeon’s body increased, Maharaj Sibi ready to offer his whole body to the eagle to fulfill his agreement. (Agni and Indradev then revealed their forms, with explanation that they had arranged this pastime to test and give glorification to Maharaj Sibi who was the upholder of Dharma.)
Those who are placed into positions of protectors, positions of leadership must – if they are legitimate leaders – understand properly and be possessed of the quality of renunciation; renunciation in the form of being able to make those sacrifices required for giving protection to the praja, as we can see from these examples, as well as that of the Supreme Lord, Ramacandra, who not only protected His people, but because of that, sustained throughout His life the separation of His beloved Sita Devi, (His knowing Her chastity was beyond question) but having to upholding Raj Dharma, Lord Ramacandra helf fact, because such a question had been presented
The ISKCON GBC would do well to understand this principle of renunciation that’s needed on the part of the leader(ship), for the protection of the people, as opposed to the GBC as individuals and as a body doing the opposite; ruining the lives of the praja for their (the GBC’s) own materialistic “benefits”.
Though sadly misunderstood, to be placed into a position of leader / leadership, means that one is a servant; a servant of the servants, responsible for seeing to the protection of (which includes giving proper guidance as well, to) those under their leadership jurisdiction. Especially in the association of those aspiring to become Vaisnavas, one would think the leaders / leadership would be VERY CAREFUL to take such a position of responsibility VERY SERIOUSLY, since Krsna explains how dear are the devotees to His heart.
SB 9.4.63 “The Supreme Personality of Godhead said to the brahmana: ‘I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me.” (More verses to read, including verse 70), “For a brahmana, austerity and learning are certainly auspicious, but when acquired by a person who is not gentle, such austerity and learning are most dangerous.”
The purpose of the GBC was to see that Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON was PROPERLY kept to the standard that Srila Prabhupada desired, and to see to the spiritual and material protection of those aspiring to become Vaisnavas. In other words, the GBC and others in leadership position had a service responsibility to Srila Prabhupada and the devotees. Having such a service of leadership does not mean that one is master, but servant. If one sees hirself as master, then Maya Devi has captured the heart of that individual.
Since this story is associated with Lord Ramacandra’s rulership, and has a relevance to the current GBC, I’m choosing to relate it here: After His return to Ayodhya, Lord Ramacandra gave Laksman the order that every day, before taking meals, Laksman was to make the call that if anyone was hungry, they should please come to the palace to take food. On a particular day of doing so, no one came, but Laksman saw a dog crying and reported this to Lord Ramacandra.
Lord Ramacandra (Who knows all languages) questioned the dog as to why it was crying. In return the dog replied that it had been beaten by a brahmana, so Lord Ramacandra called for the brahmana, who admitted that he had indeed beaten the dog, explaining that the dog was in his path so he decided to beat it.
Knowing that the brahmana was at fault, Lord Ramacandra asked the dog what he thought would be an appropriate punishment, to which the dog replied, “Please give this brahmana a position of being in charge of a math.” Surprised, Lord Ramacandra asked, “But this brahmana has beaten you with a stick. How is his being placed in charge of a math a punishment to him?” In reply the dog explained, “Because of my misdeeds to the sevaks of the math, when I was in charge, I have been made to take this birth as a dog and get beaten. Thus, with his mentality, if he is placed in charge, he will commit offenses, and will then have to take birth as a dog to be beaten in the same way that he has done so to me.”
Krsna explained to Arjuna, ye me bhaktah janar partha na me bhaktas ca te janah mad bhaktanam ca ye bhaktas te me bhaktatamo matah “One who says he is My devotee is not My devotee, but one who says he is a servant of My devotees, he is My devotee.”
Patita Pavana Sri Sri Ramacandra ki Jaya. Sri Sita Rama Laksmana Hanuman ki Jaya Jagat Guru Patita Pavana Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya