Question: Is it by the mercy of Sri Krishna that those with Brahman realization are provided with `divine sunglasses’, to see through His bright illumination to worship His personal feature?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
It is by the combined mercy of Krishna and guru, wherein the guru is the conduit or the instrument of Krishna’s mercy.
Your question is nicely discussed in Madhurya Kadambini, Chapter 1. Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur explores the question “How does bhakti arise?” After proposing a number of possibilities and then refuting each one, he concludes that “Bhakti arises when one receives bhakti from a merciful bhakta, who is empowered directly by Krishna to distribute Himself to others.” In fact, this is what bhaktas who are laden with compassion do!!
Your question very much resembles Mantra 15 of Sri Isopanisad. But where does the person offering the prayer get the notion to offer such a prayer, to begin with? From the descending mercy of a spiritual guide, teacher, or guru.
