Krishna

Founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and author of many books on Krishna consciousness and related topics.

A book by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explaining the Bhagavad Gita from a Krishna conscious perspective.

A book by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explaining the Srimad Bhagavatam, a major Hindu scripture.

A book by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explaining the life and teachings of Sri Caitanya, a key figure in Vaishnava tradition.

A religious organization founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

A religious and philosophical movement focused on devotion to Krishna, emphasizing spiritual development.

A magazine founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada focused on Krishna Consciousness and related topics.

Books of teachings from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that were compiled after his passing.

The ultimate, all-attractive being, possessing unlimited wealth, power, fame, beauty, wisdom, and renunciation.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, a historical figure who appeared on Earth 5,000 years ago.

A characteristic of the Supreme Being, signifying the supreme draw of this being.

Wealth, power, fame, beauty, wisdom, and renunciation; qualities of the Supreme Being.

A person who actually lived and whose events occurred in human history.

A Vedic authority who described the attributes of Godhead.

A spiritual movement focusing on love for Kṛṣṇa (a Hindu deity).

Austerities and sacrifices that don't lead to love for Kṛṣṇa.

The spiritual state of having developed love for Kṛṣṇa.

The practice of the movement outside of traditional Hindu contexts.

Religious texts that go beyond the physical world.

A sacred Hindu scripture containing teachings on spiritual knowledge.

Significant life challenges.

A book about Kṛṣṇa consciousness, intended as a resource for spreading knowledge.

The three modes of material nature are goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and ignorance (tamas). They influence all aspects of the material world, including creation, maintenance, and dissolution.

Brahma, the creator god, is responsible for creation, influenced by the mode of passion. He manifests the material world according to the will of Krishna.

Vishnu, the preserver god, maintains the material world through the mode of goodness. He ensures the continuity and balance of creation.

Shiva, the destroyer god, dissolves the material world through the mode of ignorance. He brings about the end of a cycle and prepares for a new creation.

The material world is an expansion of the Supreme Lord's energy. When the world dissolves, it returns to its subtle form within His body.

Krishna is the Supreme Cause, the ultimate source of all creation, maintenance, and dissolution. He manifests in various forms to fulfill specific purposes.

Those who are intelligent can see the one cause, Krishna, beyond the illusion of the material world and its different manifestations.

Krishna's eternal form is beyond the limitations of the material world. It is full of transcendental pleasure and brings liberation to devotees.

Nārada was a great sage and messenger of the gods who warned Kamsa about the demigods, like Krishna, and his divine destiny.

Kamsa was a demon who feared Krishna because he knew Krishna would kill him, as he had done in a previous life as the demon Kalane-mi.

Fearing Krishna's birth, Kamsa imprisoned Vasudeva (Krishna's father) and Devaki (Krishna's mother) to kill all their children.

Demons are beings who engage in selfish, immoral actions, like lust, envy, and anger. They lack divine qualities and are often afraid of the demigods.

Demigods are beings with divine qualities, like compassion and selflessness. They are often messengers or agents of the Supreme Lord.

The Yadu Dynasty was a powerful royal family, to which Krishna belonged. Kamsa was afraid of the Yadu Dynasty because Krishna would bring their destruction.

Kamsa belonged to the royal Bhoja family. They were a powerful, opposing force to the Yadu Dynasty.

Kamsa's fear is understandable because history is filled with ambitious rulers like him who have committed terrible acts to secure power.

Vasudeva faces a difficult choice: save his wife Devaki now, risking her future children's safety, or attempt to protect both Devaki and her future children.

Vasudeva believes a child born to Devaki has the potential to kill Kamsa, fulfilling a prophecy and ensuring both Devaki's and the child's safety.

The passage compares the connection between a living entity and its body to a forest fire. Just as a fire can spread unpredictably, so too can an entity's next body.

Maharaja Bharata's story illustrates how even a deeply spiritual person can be influenced by attachments, resulting in an unwanted birth in their next life.

Vasudeva, despite his deep sorrow, chooses to flatter Kamsa, employing diplomacy to protect his wife and future children.

Kamsa trusts Vasudeva's promise to deliver any future children to him, allowing Vasudeva to temporarily secure Devaki's safety.

Every year, Devaki gives birth to a child, illustrating the continual cycle of life and death. The passage implies the consistent occurrence of the cycle.

Vasudeva returns home, having strategically secured his wife's safety, but facing the looming danger of her future children.