A discourse on Lord Balarama's pastime at Naimisaranya with Romaharsana Suta, teaching the principles of respect and humility in the presence of the Supreme Lord.
The Assembly at Naimisaranya
Lord Balarama appeared in the meeting where Romaharsana was sitting on his big vyasasana. There were so many thousands of students, great sages, listening to Romaharsana, preparing to hear the message of Bhagavat. Everyone stood up to greet Balarama. But Romaharsana was probably thinking, "I am seated on the vyasasana, so Kṛṣṇa Himself, Balarama has come, but the guru is of course non-different from God." Who knows exactly what he was thinking? He was thinking, "Somehow or other I am on this vyasasana, and therefore I don't have to stand up."
The example given is: the ambassador may be somewhere, representing the king, and everybody may stand up to show him respect. But when the king himself comes, won't the ambassador stand up? Of course the ambassador would stand up; he is simply the servant of the king. If the king comes and the ambassador thinks, "this is my house," that of course is a mistake on his part.
The example given is: the ambassador may be somewhere, representing the king, and everybody may stand up to show him respect. But when the king himself comes, won't the ambassador stand up? Of course the ambassador would stand up; he is simply the servant of the king. If the king comes and the ambassador thinks, "this is my house," that of course is a mistake on his part.
The Blade of Grass
Romaharsana remained seated on his vyasasana, not getting up to show Balarama respect. Balarama came, took a blade of grass and touched him with it. And simply by touching him with a blade of grass, He took his life.
Then everyone started to lament; but nobody could say anything because Balarama is svatantra isvara — the independent Personality of Godhead. He can do as He pleases. They were now lamenting, "Who will speak the Bhagavatam to us? He was our teacher." They simply approached Him with a question, requesting Him to solve their problem, not to challenge Him. So Balarama assigned Suta Goswami, the son of Romaharsana, the task of speaking the Srimad-Bhagavatam to them.
Then everyone started to lament; but nobody could say anything because Balarama is svatantra isvara — the independent Personality of Godhead. He can do as He pleases. They were now lamenting, "Who will speak the Bhagavatam to us? He was our teacher." They simply approached Him with a question, requesting Him to solve their problem, not to challenge Him. So Balarama assigned Suta Goswami, the son of Romaharsana, the task of speaking the Srimad-Bhagavatam to them.
The Independent Lord
He is the independent Personality of Godhead. No one can dictate to Him. Of course, in love He may accept to do something, that is also His independence. He is the reservoir of all the best qualities, of all good qualities. Even the qualities of this material world that appear to be bad, are good in Him. So naturally He has got compassion, He has a loving nature, mercy, friendliness, forgiveness, benevolence. He has so many qualities.
Ref. His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 6 Jun 1980 in Śrī Māyāpur, India
Ref. His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 6 Jun 1980 in Śrī Māyāpur, India