Canto 1 Chapter 8 Flashcards
- Why were the unscrupulous kings who joined with Duryodhana killed by the Lord? (5)
Duryodhana usurped the kingdom of Yushisthira and also Dushsasana had insulted Draupadi, hence all the unscrupulous king who joined Duryodhana during the war were killed which is the stringent laws of the Lord.
- Identify the five groups who were properly given protection in Vedic times. (5)
- The protection of the brāhmaṇas maintains the institution of varṇa and āśrama, the most scientific culture for attainment of spiritual life.
- The protection of cows maintains the most miraculous form of food, i.e., milk, for maintaining the finer tissues of the brain for understanding higher aims of life.
- The protection of women maintains the chastity of society, by which we can get a good generation for peace, tranquillity and progress of life.
- The protection of children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberty from material bondage. Such protection of children begins from the very day of begetting a child by the purificatory process of garbhādhāna-saṁskāra, the beginning of pure life.
- The protection of the old men gives them a chance to prepare themselves for better life after death.
- Why did Uttarä, Abhimanyu’s widow, not follow the path of her husband? (10)
Because she was pregnant, and Mahārāja Parīkṣit, a great devotee of the Lord, was lying in embryo, she was responsible for his protection.
- Why did the Lord establish the rule of Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira? (11)
The Lord is impartial in every respect, but still He is inclined towards His devotees because there is a great necessity of this for everyone’s well-being. The Pāṇḍava family was a family of devotees, and therefore the Lord wanted them to rule the world. That was the reason He vanquished the rule of the company of Duryodhana and established the rule of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
- What does Çré Kåñëa’s taking up His Sudarçana disc indicate? (13)
Sri Krishna knew the danger his dear devotees was facing, he took up his sudarsana chakra to protect them as the pandavas were 100 % dependent on His protection
- Describe the nature of a chaste devotee of the Lord. (17)
A chaste devotee of the Lord does not look to others, namely any other living being or demigod, even for deliverance from danger. The Pandavas knew nothing except Kṛṣṇa, and therefore the Lord was also always ready to help them in all respects and in all circumstances.
- Why are demons reluctant to accept the Lord as the Absolute Truth? (19)
There is a class of men with demoniac mentality who are always reluctant to accept the Lord as the Supreme Absolute Truth. This is partially due to their poor fund of knowledge and partially due to their stubborn obstinacy, which results from various misdeeds in the past and present. Such persons could not recognize Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa even when He was present before them. Another difficulty is that those who depend more on their imperfect senses cannot realize Him as the Supreme Lord. Such persons are like the modern scientist. They want to know everything by their experimental knowledge. But it is not possible to know the Supreme Person by imperfect experimental knowledge.
- Explain why women generally assemble in great number in religious functions. (20)
Women in general are unable to speculate like philosophers, but they are blessed by the Lord because they believe at once in the superiority and almightiness of the Lord, and thus they offer obeisances without reservation. The Lord is so kind that He does not show special favor only to one who is a great philosopher. He knows the sincerity of purpose. For this reason only, women generally assemble in great number in any sort of religious function.
- Why does Queen Kunté specifically adore the incarnation or descent of Kåñëa? (21)
Because in this particular incarnation He is more approachable. In the Rāma incarnation He remained a king’s son from His very childhood, but in the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, although He was the son of a king, He at once left the shelter of His real father and mother (King Vasudeva and Queen Devakī) just after His appearance and went to the lap of Yaśodāmāyī to play the part of an ordinary cowherd boy in the blessed Vrajabhūmi, which is very sanctified because of His childhood pastimes. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa is more merciful than Lord Rāma.
- What does the name Govinda indicate? (21)
Lord Kṛṣṇa as Govinda is more inclined to the brāhmaṇas and the cows, indicating thereby that human prosperity depends more on these two items, namely brahminical culture and cow protection. Lord Kṛṣṇa is never satisfied where these are lacking.
- What principle can be drawn from Kåñëa’s respective treatment of Kunté and Devaké (23)
Kuntīdevī, along with her children, was also saved from a series of dangers. But Kuntīdevī was shown far more favor because Lord Kṛṣṇa did not save the other children of Devakī, whereas He saved the children of Kuntīdevī. This was done because Devakī’s husband, Vasudeva, was living, whereas Kuntīdevī was a widow, and there was none to help her except Kṛṣṇa. The conclusion is that Kṛṣṇa endows more favor to a devotee who is in greater dangers.
- Explain why so-called calamities are welcome. (25)
Therefore, for a pious person, if there is some calamity there is no other alternative than to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Constantly remembering the lotus feet of the Lord means preparing for liberation from birth and death. Therefore, even though there are so-called calamities, they are welcome because they give us an opportunity to remember the Lord, which means liberation.
- What is the meaning of akiïcana-gocaram? (26)
one who is approached easily by the materially exhausted man.
- Explain why the four principles of material advancement are disqualifications. (26)
A man with pride of high birth, opulence, education and physical beauty cannot address You with sincere feelings. But You are easily approached by materially exhausted.
- Why is the specific example of Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé and the touchstone given? (27
This specific example is given for the neophyte devotees just to convince them that material hankerings and spiritual advancement go ill together. Unless one is able to see everything as spiritual in relation with the Supreme Lord, one must always distinguish between spirit and matter.
- What principles can be drawn from Kunté‘s expression of bewilderment in verse 31?
Kuntī was conscious of the exalted position of Kṛṣṇa, whereas Yaśodā was not. Therefore Yaśodā’s position was more exalted than Kuntī’s. Mother Yaśodā got the Lord as her child, and the Lord made her forget altogether that her child was the Lord Himself. If mother Yaśodā had been conscious of the exalted position of the Lord, she would certainly have hesitated to punish the Lord. But she was made to forget this situation because the Lord wanted to make a complete gesture of childishness before the affectionate Yaśodā.
- Why did Kuntédevé pray to Kåñëa to sever her affection from her own kinsmen? (41-42)
Kunti devi wanter to sever her affection rom her own kinsmen so that she is completely dependent on Krsna and thus everything is cleared on her path of going back to godhead..
The skin relation is the cause of material bondage, but the relation of the soul is the cause of freedom. This relation of the soul to the soul can be established by the medium of the relation with the Supersoul.
- List reasons why Yudhiñöhira could not be convinced by the Lord. (46-51)
1.Aggrieved like a common man, became deluded by worldly affection by the will of the Lord
2.He is sorry because for such a temporary body such a huge massacre was committed.
3.Due to the killing he was therefore thinking of residing in hell for millions and billions of years
4.The killing was committed not in the course of administration but for the sake of self-aggrandizement, and as such he thought himself responsible for all the sins.
5. He thought that even by performing Asvamedha yajna he will not get relief from the great sins committed
