So if we want to understand Kṛṣṇa, Bhagavān, in truth, then we have to take the path of bhakti. No other means will help us. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ (BG 18.55): how He becomes Devakī-suta, how He . . .
Then the statement of Draupadī was accepted by all the gentlemen or the kings. Everyone accepted. And they considered, dharmyaṁ nyāyyaṁ sakaruṇam. Just like even in judgment . . . The other day I told you the judgment given to a murderer. There must be some consideration, sakaruṇam. Sakaruṇam means mercy. Not that . . . Because one has committed murder in a fanatic condition, he is excused sometimes. That is sakaruṇam. The judgment should be given not simply on the superficial causes. Everything should be con . . . Dharmyaṁ nyāyyaṁ sakaruṇaṁ nirvyalīkam. Suppose a child commits something wrong. He is not punished. A brāhmaṇa, a brāhmaṇa never commits any sinful activity. If he, sometimes in an unnatural condition, if he does something, so he should be excused. This is Vedic law. The woman, the brāhmaṇa, the child, the cow and?
Devotee: Old men.
Prabhupāda: Old men. Yes. They should be excused. That is,
- dharmyaṁ nyāyyaṁ sakaruṇaṁ
- nirvyalīkaṁ samaṁ mahat
- rājā dharma-suto rājñyāḥ
- pratyanandad vaco dvijāḥ
He accepted, "Yes, what Draupadī is saying is all right." Not only he, but also others. Nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca yuyudhāno dhanañjayaḥ bhagavān. Ultimately, bhagavān devakī-sutra cānye yāś ca yoṣitaḥ.
So, mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (CC Madhya 17.186). Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira is dharma-suta. He is not ordinary person. He is the son of Dharmarāja, Yamarāja. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira's mother, Kuntī, had the power to call any demigod. She got this benediction from Durvāsā Muni. So he (she) had his (her) three sons—means Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna. She got Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira from Dharmarāja, Arjuna from Indra, and Bhīma from Varuṇa, Vāyu, yes. Similarly, still she is one of the chaste women. These things are there. But still, they are not polluted. But in the Kali-yuga these things are prohibited. Devareṇa sutotpattiṁ kalau pañca vivarjayet (CC Adi 17.164). In the Kali-yuga people are very much polluted. They cannot transgress. This is not transgression; this is powerful. Just like you are prohibited to go to the filthy place. Prohibited. But the sunshine goes. Sunshine goes. Sunshine is not prohibited, that "Here is a filthy place, lavatory. Sunshine, you do not come here." No, sunshine doesn't require your permission. It can go anywhere. But it is not polluted. Tejīyasāṁ na doṣāya (SB 10.33.29). One who is tejī . . . Don't try to imitate tejī. You must become tejī. Then . . . Just like for Bhagavān everything is perfect. Apāpa-viddham. Bhagavān is never affected by any so-called sin. For Him there is no sinful activities. Apāpa-viddham. You'll find in the Īśopaniṣad, there is the mantra, Vedic mantra. And if you think, consider, that "Kṛṣṇa is doing so many things, this is sinful." No. Therefore God is always good. "God is good." There is a common word. Even if you see that He is doing something wrong, that is not wrong; that is right. Tejīyasāṁ na doṣāya (SB 10.33.29). He's so powerful, for Him there is no wrong. He's never wrongdoer.
Therefore devotees, they do not expect that "Kṛṣṇa will always be very kind upon me." He may be harsh, but that is also good. Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa's devotee, even he is harsh, he is unkind, so-called unkind, it is also good. Just like Nārada Muni cursed the Yamalārjuna. What is that? Their name? The Vidura's sons? They were cursed to become tree, but what was the result? The result was that although they became trees, they were fortunate enough to see Kṛṣṇa personally. So God or His devotee, Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa devotee, you should always take that they're always good. God is good, and the devotee is good. Either we see that He's merciful . . . He's always merciful. Therefore devotees never take anything as not merciful. Tat te anukampām. They take everything from Kṛṣṇa as sympathy, anukampā. Tat te 'nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇaḥ (SB 10.14.8). One who can see this anukampā in reverse condition of life, the compassion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk, his right to become liberation becomes guaranteed. If anyone accepts the mercy of God in any circumstances, and he does not do anything wrong to anyone, such person is guaranteed to be liberated. That is the injunction of the śāstra.
Thank you very much.