Krsna’s dedication to His friend Arjuna.
Aniruddha Dasa: We have a very mature crowd of devotees attending the Disciple Course in ISKCON Dwarka (Delhi) this weekend. It is a pleasure to teach.
I spoke on SB 1.15.17 this morning to an appreciative crowd of local devotees. The class was translated by Amogha Lila Prabhu.
A couple of things struck me in the purport and verse. Krsna’s dedication to His friend Arjuna, exemplified in His becoming His friend’s chariot driver. Arjuna’s humility in regretting he allowed Krsna to be his servant. Even though Arjuna is Krsna’s dearest friend he felt he had overstepped the mark in accepting service from the Lord. “…it was due to my lack of esteem for my Lord that I dared engage Him as my chariot driver, for He is worshiped and offered services by the best men to attain salvation.”
Krsna is perfect in all His dealings with His devotees and His pure devotees’ dealings with Him are not flawed. In his meditation on Krsna as the Supreme, Arjuna felt His familiarity lacked respect and proper recognition of Krsna’s position. It is exactly that intimate quality of friendship, devoid of awe and reverence, which is attractive to the devotees and which Krsna loves to reciprocate with His dearest friend.
The idea of service being the most attractive position is intriguing. Even Krsna, the Supreme Controller likes to serve. Everyone is a servant. No one, except Krsna, is fully independent. Ekale isvara krsna, ara saba bhrtya. Lord Krsna alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. CC Adi 5.142 Yet, the mood of service is also within Krsna. Yes, He is the Supreme Controller but He is also the Supreme Servant.
In that sense His dealings with His intimate devotees is so attractive because He gives up the position of Superior and becomes the servant of the servant.