Why Krishna Attracts Everybody

By HG Mother Nanda - 14.11 2024

In today’s study, we explore verses SB 1.7.7–10 and delve deeper into why Lord Krishna is universally attractive. To appreciate the essence of these verses, it helps to briefly recap where we are in this chapter and how it connects to the previous one, as the text unfolds in a logical sequence.
In the preceding chapter, we witnessed a conversation between the sage Narada and Vyasa. Vyasa felt despondent, and Narada appeared to guide him, pointing out that Vyasa had not glorified the Lord directly enough. While Vyasa had written about living peacefully in the material world, he had treated glorifying Krishna as a secondary aim rather than the central purpose of human life. Narada encouraged him to directly glorify Krishna as the Supreme Lord, the heart of all beings.
Following this advice, Vyasa purified himself by touching water and sat to meditate at Badrikashrama under a berry tree. His focus brought him into direct vision of Krishna, along with His external energy—Maya, or illusion—existing separately under His full control. This was a revelation that forms the foundation of our verses today. We learn from this moment that Krishna’s potency manifests in three main ways: the internal potency, the external potency, and the living entities themselves. These potencies intertwine harmoniously, each with a specific purpose in Krishna's creation.
The verses we focus on today are profound enough that each one could be studied for months. For example, Srila Prabhupada once spoke at length on verse SB 1.7.10, known as the “Atmarama” verse, in which he unpacked its meanings over three months. In our study, we’re taking an overview of all four verses in one session, so let’s examine the essential points.
When Vyasa fixed his mind and engaged in devotional service without any material motivation, he saw Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with His external energy, controlled by Him completely. This theme of the Lord’s supremacy over His energies is essential to understand. Many spiritual paths address the illusionary energy we live within, but it’s rare to find a tradition that emphasizes, as the Vedic texts do, that this energy is not independent—it is subordinate to Krishna.
The stages of devotional service begin with hearing about Krishna, and by doing so, we immediately come into contact with Him. The Srimad Bhagavatam’s transcendental sound vibrations connect us with Krishna directly, bypassing all material misconceptions and offering us a glimpse of divine truth. This process is described as Shravanam, or hearing, the first step in devotional service. As we continue to hear, the material illusions of lamentation, fear, and attachment gradually dissolve, allowing our attraction to Krishna to grow naturally.
Through this process, we realize that worldly pleasures, while real on a temporary level, pale in comparison to the eternal bliss of spiritual connection. Srimad Bhagavatam clarifies that the satisfaction of the soul—the real “us”—does not lie in fleeting material gains but in our relationship with Krishna. This truth shatters the complexity of worldly labels and divisions we often get caught in - like capitalism, socialism, or nationalism. All these constructs serve to fragment society rather than unify it. Krishna consciousness, however, unites us by addressing our shared spiritual essence.
In verse SB 1.7.10, we encounter the famed Atmarama verse, which conveys that even those who are self-satisfied or on the path of self-realization find joy in Krishna. This verse emphasizes Krishna’s universal attractiveness, surpassing all material allurements. Even individuals who have transcended material desires are drawn to Krishna because His attributes are inherently fulfilling, drawing everyone to His divine qualities.
Krishna's appeal is limitless, extending beyond the four objectives of life—dharma (religion), artha (wealth), kama (sense enjoyment), and moksha (liberation). Pure devotees, attracted to Krishna, do not hanker for these objectives because Krishna provides an ultimate satisfaction beyond them. In His association, the fulfillment of these four paths becomes secondary, as the bliss of Krishna’s presence is unmatched.
In discussing the stages of devotional service, Srimad Bhagavatam outlines 81 levels, gradually leading from the initial practice in the material world to the transcendental state. For example, Dhruva Maharaj, who initially sought Krishna for a material desire, ultimately transcended this motivation, fully surrendering to Krishna's divine nature. Through devotional service, he realized that Krishna alone was the goal and reward of his life.
This truth remains profound: when we engage in devotional practices, particularly hearing about Krishna’s pastimes, we transform our consciousness, moving closer to Him. Through this hearing process, even if imperceptible at first, our material attachments weaken. For instance, the growth of a bamboo plant, which takes years of unseen rooting before sprouting skyward, mirrors how our devotion grows unseen over time until it eventually flourishes in deep faith.
Krishna’s teachings assure us that every sincere effort we make in devotional service is preserved forever. Unlike material investments that can disappear in an instant, spiritual progress is eternally safeguarded by Krishna. Just as an oak seed has the potential to grow into a mighty oak tree, our small endeavors in devotion will one day blossom into full realization.
Srimad Bhagavatam further reveals that happiness in this world, though tangible, is limited, transient, and often complicated by ego-driven pursuits. True happiness is realized when we reestablish our eternal connection with Krishna. So, we hear these pastimes and qualities of Krishna not just for knowledge but for transformation, as they dispel material illusions and awaken our dormant spiritual potential.
In conclusion, Krishna’s attraction is unlike any worldly pleasure. It draws us into a pure relationship with the Supreme, freeing us from the complexities and divisions of material life. This relationship deepens with each step in devotional service, ultimately bringing us to the highest state of consciousness where all miseries, illusions, and fears vanish. Hearing about Krishna, understanding His qualities, and meditating on His pastimes lead us to the ultimate fulfillment of life - a state where we are free from material attachments and wholly attracted to Krishna alone.
This timeless message encourages us to cultivate patience, remain committed to our spiritual practices, and trust that Krishna’s mercy will guide us beyond worldly suffering to eternal bliss.