Question: Draupadi is calling the Lord for protection and Prahlada Maharaj was not calling but completely depending on the Lord whether He protects or kills (maro bi rakho bi jo iccha tohar).
Which is the higher standard:
1) calling the Lord for protection or
2) having complete faith that He will protect us always?
Please clarify.
Answer by Romapada Swami:
One of the six principles of saranagati (surrendering process) is full confidence in the protection of Lord Krishna. Helplessly calling out exclusively to the Lord for protection and having full faith that the Lord is going to bestow His protection in all circumstances are both on the same level.
In SB 11.2.50, Maharaja Nimi states that a devotee on the highest platform of devotional service is one who has taken *exclusive* shelter of the Supreme Lord.
“One who has taken exclusive shelter of the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva, becomes free from fruitive activities, which are based on material lust. In fact, one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord is freed from even the desire to enjoy material sense gratification. Plans for enjoying sex life, social prestige and money cannot develop within his mind. Thus he is considered bhagavatottama, a pure devotee of the Lord on the highest platform.”
Our devotional strength can be assessed by our ability to take shelter of Krishna under every circumstance. Devotees who are mature in their Krishna consciousness are always looking for an opportunity to intensify their shelter-taking in the Lord. The moments of distress offer great opportunities for a surrendered soul to strengthen his/her loving relationship with Krishna. In such situations, whether one is explicitly calling out to the Lord for protection or internally awaiting Lord’s protection, it is merely a circumstantial detail; but because of reposing one’s exclusive faith in Krishna’s protection, both the positions are equally great.
When Draupadi was initially attempting to hold on to her sari with one hand while calling out to Krishna, her surrender was not considered exclusive. However, when she threw both her arms up in the air, calling out “He Govinda!”, that mood of exclusive shelter in Krishna’s protection is the highest platform of devotional service. Reflecting upon Draupadi’s mood of devotion, Krishna says, “When I was away from Draupadi, she cried with the words, ‘He Govinda!’ This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and that indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart!” This clearly establishes the highest platform of Draupadi’s devotion to Krishna.
In Prahlada Maharaja’s example as well, we can find instances of his praying for the shelter and protection of Lord Nrsimhadeva.
“Now kindly take me under the protection of Your lotus feet.” [SB 7.9.22]
“When will that moment come when You will call me to the shelter of Your lotus feet, which are the ultimate goal for liberation from conditional life?” [SB 7.9.16]
Therefore, calling out to the Lord (in a prayerful mood) for receiving protection and having internal conviction about the Lord’s protection go hand in hand. Thus, we can understand that both Prahlada Maharaja and Draupadi have full confidence in Krishna’s protection and therefore both of them are equally glorious in their mood of surrender.
