# Devotees Protected *On the protection Krishna gives to His devotees* --- ### Guaranteed Relief > Therefore our first relief, guaranteed relief, is this shelter of Kṛṣṇa. If we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, even there is some deficiencies in the matter of protecting us, Kṛṣṇa will save. Therefore we should depend on Kṛṣṇa. That is called *śaraṇāgati,* surrender, to believe that "Kṛṣṇa will give us protection." Without Kṛṣṇa's protection, no other protection is valid. There is no guarantee. So in every way we shall surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa also guarantees, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi*. Our sufferings are due to our sinful activities. So Kṛṣṇa gives guarantee that *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi:* "I shall save you from all kinds of sinful reaction." — [[spoken/1969/690209le.la|Lecture [Partially Recorded], Los Angeles, February 9, 1969]] --- ### Devotees Never Defeated > So enemies there will be. Because he has got enemy, therefore it is not that he is *kṛṣṇa-bhakta.* He is *kṛṣṇa-bhakta,* even having his enemies, just like Kṛṣṇa, despite having enemies, is Kṛṣṇa. But the difference is that Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa's *bhakta* will never be defeated by the enemies. That is the distinction. Enemies may have, but he will never be defeated. God or God's devotee cannot be defeated by the enemies. Otherwise, Kṛṣṇa's declaration will be false. He says, *kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati*. — [[spoken/1971/710211sb.gor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.18, Gorakhpur, February 11, 1971]] --- ### Protected from Yamadūtas > So *rakṣanti bhakti, tad-bhaktimataḥ parebhyo mattaś ca*. Now, Yamarāja says *mattaś ca.* Not only from the enemies, but *mattaḥ,* means "my men," the Yamadūtas. Because they were surprised. The Yamadūtas were surprised: "How is that? Some four-handed, very good looking persons came and checked our duty." So therefore Yamarāja said that "The devotees are protected from the Yamadūtas, by the men of Yamarāja." *Mattaś ca, martyān atha sarvataś ca.* Therefore a devotee has nothing to fear. He is protected from the attack of enemies, from the attack of Yamadūtas. How is that? There are many hundreds and thousands of instances—Prahlāda Mahārāja, Haridāsa Ṭhākura... — [[spoken/1971/710212sb.gor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.18–19 at Śrī Kṛṣṇa-niketana, Gorakhpur, February 12, 1971]] --- ### The Medicine for Killing Māyā > So similarly, this world is Hong Kong flu. *Māyā* is always ready to attack. Always. So we have to take this injection, this anti-vaccine, Hare Kṛṣṇa. *Enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāro lāgi'* [Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura]. That song, *Jīv Jāgo, Jīv Jāgo.* "I have brought this medicine for killing this Hong Kong flu of *māyā.*" *Enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāro lāgi', hari-nāma mahā-mantra lao...* Now you take. This is greatest contribution of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, to fight against this attack of material influence. — [[spoken/1969/690604in.nv|Initiation Lecture, New Vrindavan, June 4, 1969]] --- ### Krsna Will Force You? No. > So Kṛṣṇa can be seen only by service. You cannot challenge Kṛṣṇa, "Kṛṣṇa, come here. I shall see You." No. That is not possible. You have to submit. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja*. That is the way. You have to surrender. So long you don't surrender, that is up to you. Kṛṣṇa will not force you. He is almighty, He can force you, but He does not do that. He says, "You do this. If you do not do it, that is your business. But I say you do it." — [[spoken/1975/750209ar.la|Arrival Address & Hari Hari Biphale Janama, Los Angeles, February 9, 1975]] --- ### Pure Devotee Has No Question of Danger > So these things, these are the symptoms of really Kṛṣṇa conscious person, that one should think always in danger without Kṛṣṇa. This is the first step. And by taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, one should always feel safe: "Now I am under the protection." Kṛṣṇa says, *kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati*. It is a fact. If you become a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, there is no question of danger. *Praṇaśyati.* Kṛṣṇa gives protection to everyone. Without His protection, nobody can live even for a single moment. That's a fact. So if you think that "Kṛṣṇa is giving protection to everyone; then what is the use of becoming a special devotee?" No, there is use. Just like the king gives protection to everyone, every one of the citizens. That is his duty. But he has got special protection for his own men. This is the distinction. — [[spoken/1973/730429sb.la|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.37, Los Angeles, April 29, 1973]] --- ### Always Anxious How to Serve Kṛṣṇa > Similarly, Kṛṣṇa loves everyone because everyone is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. But He takes special care of the devotee. Therefore He says, *kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati.*. His *bhakta,* His devotee, will never be. He's always allowed to see the comforts of the devotees. And the devotees are always busy to see how Kṛṣṇa is satisfied—by dressing Him, by supplying Him food, by serving Him. Always engaged. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is also always engaged to see "How My devotees will be happy." This is the process going on. — [[spoken/1973/730429sb.la|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.37, Los Angeles, April 29, 1973]] --- ### Surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, No More Debtor > Anyone who has fully surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, he is no more debtor to anyone. And Kṛṣṇa says that "You surrender to Me, and I shall keep you protected from all kinds of..." Because if you don't pay your..., repay your debts, then you become sinful. But Kṛṣṇa says, "I shall protect for all kinds of sin." So if anyone has surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, he is no more debtor to anyone. He is immune from all obligation. His only obligation is to Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1975/750701mw.den|Morning Walk, Denver, July 1, 1975]] --- ### Kaunteya Pratijānīhi > *Kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati.* And Kṛṣṇa confirms it: "Kaunteya, My dear Arjuna, you declare to the world that My devotee will be never vanquished by any enemy." — [[spoken/1974/740804sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.23, Vṛndāvana, August 4, 1974]] --- *9 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on devotees being protected*