Divine Drama: Krishna’s Battle and Bewilderment Explained

By Brahma Tirtha Prabhu - 13.11 2024

In today’s Bhagavatam class, we dive into the thrilling and layered story of Lord Krishna’s battle against the warrior-king Salva. This encounter, with its mystical elements and intense philosophical themes, could outdo the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster if ever put to film. However, the spectacle is only a backdrop; the real value of this story lies in the profound philosophical lessons it offers.

Krishna’s Battle and Salva’s Mystic Power
The episode begins with Salva hurling torrents of weapons at Krishna, deploying powerful illusions that would amaze even modern magicians. With these tricks, Salva created visions to bewilder Krishna, including a scene where he appears to attack Krishna’s own father, Vasudeva. Salva’s mystic prowess allowed him to conjure illusions that could almost be convincing enough to deceive the Lord Himself - or so it seemed.
The mystery here, which both fascinates and bewilders readers, is how Krishna could appear to be affected by Salva’s illusions. Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur, a revered commentator, addresses this puzzling question: How could the all-knowing Lord, the supreme being, experience emotions like bewilderment or fear? After all, Krishna is not an ordinary character in a story, but the Supreme Lord who is aware of everything.

Divine Bewilderment: The Play of Emotions
Vishvanatha Chakravarti explains that Krishna’s reactions, including fear and lamentation, are not rooted in ignorance as human emotions often are. They are, instead, expressions of divine choice. Krishna, in His pastimes, chooses to experience emotions to intensify His relationships and pastimes. Chakravarti identifies this as "transcendental lamentation"—an emotion born not out of illusion, but of divine love.
This distinction between emotions caused by ignorance and those born out of transcendental knowledge is essential. When Krishna appears bewildered or distressed, it is not because He is truly confused but because He chooses to experience these feelings for the sake of His devotees. For example, in the Damodara Lila, Krishna is tied to a mortar by His mother, Yashoda, and He cries, showing fear and dependence. This display of vulnerability is not because of a lack of power, but a way to strengthen His mother’s love and to relish the sweetness of their relationship.

The Role of Emotions in Devotional Life
This concept extends beyond Krishna to our own lives. As devotees, we experience emotions, some of which arise out of ignorance, while others are guided by knowledge. When we face difficult situations, we can choose how to react—either with the ignorance that views these events as mere misfortune or with the understanding that Krishna is always acting for our highest good. Our emotions can thus become a path to spiritual growth when approached from a place of faith and knowledge.
### Salva’s Defeat and the Power of Divine Kindness
Returning to the battle, Krishna eventually shatters Salva’s aircraft and strikes him down. This scene echoes the action of modern science fiction; yet, it has deep meaning. Krishna’s choice to destroy Salva, who harbored intense envy toward Him, demonstrates His kindness. By killing Salva, Krishna liberates him from his negative karma and frees him from the cycle of hatred and envy, allowing him to progress spiritually. This kindness is intrinsic to Krishna’s character, even in moments that may seem harsh.

Ancient Spaceships and Modern Connections
Salva’s airship is just one of many references to extraordinary aerial vehicles found in ancient scriptures. Throughout world literature and historical accounts, we find descriptions of similar flying objects. My colleague Sadaputa Das wrote about these intriguing connections in a book titled *Parallels*, which explored how various cultures across history have described “ancient UFOs” in their texts. Although he refrained from concluding anything definitively, Sadaputa suggested that there may be connections worth exploring, and this theme adds another layer of interest to Salva’s story.

Lessons in Devotion and Perspective
The final message we can draw from this story is one of trust in Krishna’s kindness. Life in this world is full of both joy and sorrow, victories and struggles. Krishna advises in the *Bhagavad Gita* that we should neither overly lament nor celebrate these changes, but remain steady in our devotion to Him. When we strengthen our connection to Krishna, we can face life’s challenges with the understanding that they serve a higher purpose.
This story also reminds us of the teaching of saints like Prahlada Maharaja, who viewed even hardship as a blessing when offered by the Lord. We see similar teachings in the Bible as well; Job, the “suffering servant,” declares, “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Such acceptance of life’s trials, not as punishments but as opportunities for spiritual growth, is the mark of true faith.

A Closing Thought on Divine Love
The Bhagavatam and other scriptures offer us profound insights, helping us understand that even God sometimes expresses emotions, not because of ignorance but to deepen the love and joy of His devotees. Krishna, in His kindness, allows these exchanges, allowing us to witness the beauty of divine love.
We ended the class with a musical interlude, which I hope serves as a reminder that while life in this world can be challenging, there is always joy and sweetness in Krishna’s service. Let us carry that joy forward in our devotion and strive to see Krishna’s kindness in all things.
Thank you, and Hare Krishna.