Preamble of Question: There are many situations in history when devotees had to take the Deities and run away or run for their lives from the cruelty of muslim or any other rulers of that time.
And there were also certain situations when they were not able to run away and the devotees including women and children were brutally killed. As a woman, I am very much disturbed at the fact that the women of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya families of Srirangam (who were serving the supreme lord, Sri Ranganatha Swami), were raped and killed by the muslim rulers during the period of post-disappearance of Sri Ramanujacharya. Also, the instances where the women of Mathura and Dwaraka and many other devotees in different parts of the country were killed in the same way.
Question 1: When those devotees were helplessly killed in such a painful way, why didn’t Krishna protect them? I heard from one senior devotee that we should not see in terms of bodily protection, but we have to see in terms of soul. But when the body is in such pain, it is not easy to remember Krishna. And if one doesn’t remember Krishna at the time of one’s death (irrespective of their bodily conditions), there is no hope of going to Him.
All these days, I was of the opinion that Krishna would protect me (or my body) from all dangers. and I was kind of brave. But if at any moment, anything could happen to me and I shouldn’t expect that Krishna would protect me, then with what hope can I pray to Him ?
Answer by Romapada Swami: The answer you received was correct.
Whether the body is taken today or tomorrow, for sure it will be taken. Krishna’s protection does not mean that the body will endure forever. When the moment of death comes, there is no promise from Krishna that there will be no pain, either. Therefore, we must practice bringing our mind to Krishna in any circumstance. For those who are faithful in their practices of sadhana bhakti, Krishna intervenes and brings remembrance. See BG 15.15.
Question 2: Or Is it that they had to suffer their karma? Does it mean that whatever difficulties I get in my life, I shouldn’t expect that He would protect me? If so, Please guide me as to how I can get such faith where I engage myself in loving devotional service to Him without any expectation that He protects me.
Answer by Romapada Swami: Your conception of ‘protection’ seems to be the source of confusion. When a nondevotee experiences suffering and pain, this is indeed due to their past karma. When a devotee experiences pain and suffering, the devotee understands that this is a mere fraction — a token reminder — of my past misdeeds. Krishna is helping me to remember that my past misdeeds are indeed dark, thus I must be even MORE determined than others to take shelter of Him. In other word, the inner devotion of the bhakta is his/her protection from illusion! Seeing your devotion, Krishna will carry you beyond the temporary into the eternal realm. For one who is so situated, this temporary situation is ephemeral. See BG 12.13-14 and Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8.
