Fall in Love with Krishna ..... (3)

Krishna loves all of us impartially

The Bhagavad-gita (9.29) reveals two paradoxical features of Krishna’s nature:

1.   He is equal to all and does not consider anyone to be an object of aversion or affection.

2.   For those who offer themselves to him and worship him with devotion, he offers himself to them in return.

These two features suggest that Krishna is both partial and impartial. How can that be?

The key to understanding Krishna’s mysterious nature is to remember that he is not an impersonal principle but a sentient person. Being a person, Krishna is neither neutral, nor partial; he is reciprocal. When we try to avoid him, he reciprocates by not interfering in our lives and by letting us stay under the supervision of the impartial law of karma. When we try to love him, he reciprocates by showering his love on us and by intervening to take special care of us.

It is Krishna’s reciprocity that makes love for him real. As Krishna is reciprocal, he is indeed partial to those who try to reciprocate love with him – his devotees. He offers them special protection and grace. But as he is universally reciprocal, he allows everyone to love him and thereby benefit from his partiality. In fact, he publically declares his partiality so that everyone will become attracted and come to benefit from it.

Thus, Krishna is impartially partial: he impartially leaves the doors to partiality open for everyone.

***