Protective Leadership: Bhagavan Krishna & Prahlada. (Communication)

Bhagavan Krishna & His Incarnations

Krishnastu Bhagavan Svayam (SB.1.3.28) clearly indicates that Sri Krishna Himself is exclusively Bhagavan and Original. He is an all-pervading and Supreme Personality of Godhead. All incarnations of Krishna are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Bhagavan.

Bhagavan Krishna manifests millennium after millennium to protect the universe when it is opposed by the enemies of Indra /atheists (SB.1.3.28). Bhagavan Krishna declared that "I appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form" (BG.4.6). Whenever and wherever ethical/ dharmic activities are on the decline and unethical/ non-dharmic activities are on ascendant, (BG 4.7) and to protect the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, (BG 4.8) Bhagavan Krishna descends Himself.

Various incarnations of Bhagavan include but not limited to Purusavataras like Karanodakasai Vishnu/ Maha Vishnu, Garbodakasai Vishnu and Kshirodakasai Vishnu and lilaavataras like Varaha (boar), Krishna, Rama, Nrusimha, Vamana, Buddha, Matsya (fish), Parasurama, Kurma (tortoise), Kalki. Bhagavan Krishna is an incarnation (avatar).

Hiranyakasipu, brother of Hiranyaksha who was killed by the Lord Varaha-incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnuwhile lifting the earth. He wanted to be invincible, immortal, and free from old age and death. He wanted to be the monarch of three planets without any rival. Hence, he performed severe austerity in the Valley of Mandarachala Mountain.

Devarshi Narada's Intervention

After Hiranyakasipu left for Mandarachala Mountain, demigods headed by Indra declared war against demons. All the demons were scattered leaving their wives, children, and wealth. Demigods looted Hiranyakasipu's residence and Indra detained the queen-wife of Hiranyakasipu--who was pregnant at that time. Indra was taking her to heaven. Devarshi Narada suddenly appeared there and asked Indra to release the queen as she was sinless and helpless. Then Indra said to Devarshi that she would be released after the delivery as there was seed of Hiranyaksha. Then Devarshi Narada replied to Indra that the child in the queen's womb was a great devotee of the Bhagavan Vishnu and hence a great Bhagavata. After listening to Narada, Indra released the queen. Then Devarshi Narada provided shelter to the queen in his hermitage/ ashram until her husband returned to his kingdom. Devarshi Narada delivered instructions on religion and transcendental knowledge to the queen. The child who was in her womb also listened to these teachings. The child was named Prahalada after birth.

Devarshi Narada takes care of devotees by inspiring and guiding them when they are in the initial stage of devotion as well as in a confused state of the direction to proceed to the advanced stage of devotion. He sometimes acts as their spiritual master. In fact, Devarshi Narada voluntarily helped and showed direction to Dhruva when he determined to do austerities by going to the forest.

Devarshi Narada in the case of Prahlada also acted voluntarily, but at an earlier stage i.e., when he was in the womb of his mother. He protected him at that stage by informing Indra who was kidnapping Prahlada's mother. Devarshi by the grace of Bhagavan knew in advance that a devotee of Bhagavan/ Bhagavata who will be free from material desires is going to take birth/ going to start devotional practice. He provided information about the Bhagavan and of devotion to Prahlada through the latter's mother.

It may be inferred that Devarshi Narada provided information to Prahlada only. This helped Prahlada to become an exalted devotee of Bhagavan and also a preacher with the attitude of a pure Vaishnava who bothers himself for others, since his childhood stage. He exhibited qualities of a pure devotee at the age of five and pleased the Supreme Personality of the Godhead.

Boon to Hiranyakasipu

Hiranyakasipu pleased Lord Brahma through his severe austerity and the latter appeared before the former. He asked Lord Brahma "to grant the boon of no death by humans, animals, gods, demons, and any form of Brahmadev's creation, within indoors or outdoors, during day or night and on the earth or in the air and by any kind of weapon, by any kind of snakes, and no death in the battlefield". Further, he asked for no adversary on battlefield, undisputed lordship over all living beings and presiding deities, unfailing mystic powers and glory like Brahmadev. Lord Brahma granted the boon to Hiranyakasipu, though it was difficult to get those boons for living beings and left for his abode.

Hiranyakasipu performed severe austerities to please Brahmadev, but not Bhagavan. Bhagavan would have corrected him, had he pleased Bhagavan with such austerities, rather than granting such boons which would bring imbalance in the societies and economies and harassment of people of various planets. In fact, Bhagavan never granted boons that have adverse effects. Lord Brahma and Lord Siva can't grant the highest boon as they have limitations in granting such boons, unlike Bhagavan.

It is inferred that approaching the highest would provide the right direction; if our direction was inappropriate.

Had Hirnyakasipu's goal been the highest i.e., going back to godhead, he would have approached Bhagavan. Nothing is impossible for Bhagavan. When Dhruva satisfied Bhagavan through his severe austerity, Bhagavan created a planet for Dhruva. Therefore managers/ employees should have either an appropriate goal or approach the highest authority who would set an appropriate goal and/ or modify the goal if it is inappropriate.

Excessive Power

Bhagavan Vishnu delegated authority to create to Lord Brahmadev and in turn empowered Him appropriately. In fact, the power of Bhagavan Vishnu is infinite. People with material desires are normally prone to satisfy demigods, not the Supreme...