ISKCON NewsThe News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

The King and an Ass by Srila Prabhupada

For a devotee, Kṛṣṇa is within the palms of a devotee. Ajita, jito 'py asau. Although Kṛṣṇa is not conquerable, but He likes to be conquered by His devotee. That is the position.

Just like He willingly placed Himself to be conquered by Mother Yaśodā, to be conquered by Rādhārāṇī, to be conquered by His friends. Kṛṣṇa became defeated and He has to take His friend on the shoulder.

Practically sometimes we see that a king keeps a joker amongst his associates, and sometimes the joker insults the king, and the king enjoys. The joker sometimes... Just like there is a famous joker, Gopāla Bon, in Bengal.

So one day the king asked him, "Gopāla, what is the difference between you and an ass?"

So he immediately measured the distance from the king.

He said, "It is three feet only, sir. The difference is only three feet."

So everyone began to laugh. And the king enjoyed that insult. Because sometimes it is required.

So Kṛṣṇa also... Everyone praises Him in exalted position. Everyone. That is Kṛṣṇa's position—the Supreme Lord. In Vaikuṇṭha, there is only praising. There is no such thing. But in Vá¹›ndāvana Kṛṣṇa is free to accept insult from His devotee. The people do not know that, what is Vá¹›ndāvana life. So devotees are so exalted. Rādhārāṇī orders, "Don't allow Kṛṣṇa to come here." Kṛṣṇa cannot come in. He flatters the other gopÄ«s: "Please allow Me to go there." "No, no. There is no order. You cannot go." So Kṛṣṇa likes that.