Pradyumna: "Bhima, however, disagreed with them and recommended killing this culprit who, in an angry mood, had murdered sleeping children for no purpose and for neither his nor his master's interest.

Caturbhuja (the four-armed one), or the Personality of Godhead, after hearing the words of Bhima, Draupadi and others, saw the face of His dear friend Arjuna, and He began to speak as if smiling."

Prabhupada:

tatrahamarṣito bhimas
tasya sreyan vadhaḥ; smrtaḥ;
na bhartur natmanas carthe
yo 'han suptan sisun vrtha
[SB 1.7.51]

nisamya bhima-gaditaṁ
draupadyas ca catur-bhujaḥ;
alokya vadanaṁ sakhyur
idam aha hasann iva
[SB 1.7.52]

So in the previous verse it is described, bhagavan devaki-suta. Bhagavan Krṣṇa, Devaki-suta. Still, people may doubt that Krṣṇa, being Devaki-suta, how He can become the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because sometimes very powerful person is also called bhagavan. So such persons have very confidence in Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu is Caturbhuja. Therefore here, in this verse, Krṣṇa is confirmed to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead by adding this word, Caturbhuja. Don't doubt. Because Krṣṇa has appeared with two hands, that does not mean He is not Bhagavan. He is Caturbhuja. To confirm it.

Actually, sometimes it is said that Krṣṇa is the incarnation of Viṣṇu, but actually Viṣṇu is incarnation of Krṣṇa. Aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2], that is said in the Bhagavad-gita. Viṣṇu also one of the devas, first, principle devas. Brahma, Viṣṇu, Mahesvara. Brahma, Lord Viṣṇu, and Lord Siva. Guṇavatara. Viṣṇu expanding Himself in three avataras. Sattva-guṇa He takes charge Himself, sattva-guṇa. Rajo-guṇa it is given to Brahma in charge, and tamo-guṇa is given to the Lord Siva. Srṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya. Srṣṭi, creation, is done by Brahma, rajo-guṇa; and sthiti, maintenance, is done by Viṣṇu; and destruction is done by Lord Siva, tamo-guṇa. He is not tamo-guṇa. In charge of tamo-guṇa. Just like somebody becomes superintendent of jail. It does not mean that the superintendent is also one of the prisoners. No. He's in charge of the jail department. Similarly, Lord Siva, He's not in tamo-guṇa. He's transcendental. He is almost Viṣṇu. He's neither ordinary human being. Lord Siva is in between viṣṇu-tattva and jiva-tattva. So how he can be in the tamo-guṇa? Nobody is... They are all transcendental. Especially Lord Viṣṇu.

Lord Viṣṇu has nothing to do with these material affairs, as a big man, a rich man has nothing to do personally, but he gets things done by his assistant, by his servant. It is like that. In the Vedas also, Upaniṣad, it is said, na tasya karyaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate. Lord Viṣṇu has nothing to do personally. Na tasya karyaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate, na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate. Nobody is equal to Him, neither nobody is greater than Him. Everyone is below. Therefore viṣṇu-tattva is asamordhva. Nobody is equal, nobody is higher. To consider equal to viṣṇu-tattva is aparadha, offense. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has warned this offense very strictly.

prakrta kariya mane viṣṇu-kalevara
viṣṇu-ninda ara nahi ihara upara

If somebody thinks Viṣṇu as one of the product of this material world, prakrta...

prakrta kariya mane viṣṇu-kalevara
viṣṇu-ninda ara nahi ihara upara

Mayavadi philosophers, they abuse that Viṣṇu's body is. Viṣṇu comes, appears, He accepts a material body. That is condemned, condemned by Bhagavan in Bhagavad-gita. Avajananti maṁ muḍha manuṣiṁ tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. He does not accept any material body. Tadatmanaṁ srjamy aham. Atma-mayaya. Sambhavamy atma-mayaya [Bg. 4.6]. Not with material help. Atma-mayaya, cit-sakti. So Krṣṇa, there is no difference between Krṣṇa's soul and Krṣṇa's body. Just like we have got. We are different from this body. And Krṣṇa is not different from the body. He does not change His body. Although He assumes several avatara, but he does not change His body. Advaitam acyutam... Acyuta, not different from the original personification, identification. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs. 5.33]. Although He assumes so many varieties of viṣṇu-tattva, still, advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyaṁ puraṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca [Bs. 5.33]. Therefore viṣṇu-tattva is, never looks like old man. Nava-yauvanam. Always young. Krṣṇa always young. Nava-yauvanaṁ ca.

So in order to confirm Krṣṇa's position, here it is not Devaki-suta. Because one may doubt, that "Devaki-suta is ordinary human being or living being." No. Here it is said, catur-bhuja. Here it is said, bhagavan. Here it is said, catur-bhuja. So we should always remember that Krṣṇa is the Supreme Being. And Krṣṇa says, mattaḥ; parataraṁ nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. Don't think that above Krṣṇa there is any other higher authority, either Brahman or Paramatma or Viṣṇu. So many... Absolute Truth is manifested in so many features. But Krṣṇa is the original. Krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam. Ete caṁsa-kalaḥ; puṁsaḥ; krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28].

It is summarized in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that there are so many descriptions of the incarnation of Viṣṇu, but at the end, Vyasadeva concludes that whatever incarnations are described here, they are aṁsa-kala. Aṁsa means direct expansion, and kala means expansion of the expansion. Just like Krṣṇa, the first expansion is Balarama, Baladeva. And the next expansion is Saṅkarṣaṇa, Vasudeva, Aniruddha, Pradyumna. The next expansion is Narayaṇa. The next expansion again second catur-vyuha. Saṅkarṣaṇa again. Dvitiya-catur-vyuha. Then next expansion, Viṣṇu, Maha-Viṣṇu. Next expansion, Garbhodakasayi Viṣṇu. And next expansion is Kṣirodakasayi Viṣṇu. In this way, there are different expansion, but krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam. Adyaṁ puruṣaṁ sasvatam. Krṣṇa is the original person. Therefore Krṣṇa says, mattaḥ; parataraṁ nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. "I am not expansion of anybody." Sarva-karaṇa-karaṇam. Isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; [Bs. 5.1]. They are all isvaras, controller. Viṣṇu-tattva is controller always. Mayadhyakṣeṇa prakrtiḥ; suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. Everywhere Viṣṇu is the Supreme Controller.

So every viṣṇu-tattva is controller. There is no doubt. And they have got equal power. Not that Lord Ramacandra is less powerful than Krṣṇa. No. They have equal power. The example is described in the Brahma-saṁhita. Diparcir eva hi dasantaram abhyupetya [Bs. 5.46]. Just like one candle. You ignite another candle, you ignite another, another, another. But all these candles, they are equally powerful. Although you can say, "This is first candle, this is second candle, this is third candle..." Similarly, viṣṇu-tattva, everyone is equally powerful. Although Krṣṇa is first, Balarama is second, Saṅkarṣaṇa is third, like that. But do not think They are less powerful. No. Viṣṇu-tattva means They are equally powerful. Svaṁsa. Ramadi-murtiṣu kala-niyamena tiṣṭhan [Bs. 5.39]. Kala. Rama is expansion of Viṣṇu, but it is not that Rama is less powerful than Krṣṇa. Nobody is less powerful. Ramadi-murtiṣu kala-niyamena tiṣṭhan nanavataram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu [Bs. 5.39]. There are so many avataras. Krṣṇaḥ; svayaṁ samabhavat paramaḥ; puman yaḥ;. But Krṣṇa is the paramaḥ; puman, the Supreme Being, the Supreme Person. Krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Everywhere. Isvaraḥ; paramaḥ; krṣṇaḥ; sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ; [Bs. 5.1]. Mattaḥ; parataraṁ nanyat [Bg. 7.7]. This is the conclusion of the sastras. So don't consider that Krṣṇa, because He has come, appeared in Vrndavana like a cowherd boy, never think...

Of course, the Vrndavana-vasi, they do not know what is Krṣṇa. They are villagers. They do not know. But they do not love anyone more than Krṣṇa. That is their qualification. They do not know even Viṣṇu. When the gopis saw viṣṇu-murti... Krṣṇa assumed the viṣṇu-murti. They were passing. They said, "Oh here is Viṣṇu. All right. Namaskara." They were not interested even with Viṣṇu. They were interested with Krṣṇa, although they do not know that Krṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, if, without knowing what is Krṣṇa, if you simply become attached to Krṣṇa, then your life is successful. Simply, somehow or other, you become attached to Krṣṇa. Mayy asakta-manaḥ; partha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-asrayaḥ;... [break] ...yatha jñasyasi tac chrṇu. Simply you have to... This is Krṣṇa consciousness movement. Somehow or other, you increase your attachment for Krṣṇa. Some way or other. Yena tena prakareṇa manaḥ; krṣṇe nivesayet. This is Rupa Gosvami's instruction. Somehow or other, you become attached to Krṣṇa. Then your life is successful.

So this Krṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to induce people how to become attached to Krṣṇa. That is bhakti-yoga. Yena tena prakareṇa manaḥ; krṣṇe nivesayet. Then? Vidhi-niṣedhaḥ;. There are so many rules and regulations for bhakti-yoga. Yes, there are. And Rupa Gosvami says, sarve vidhi-niṣedhaḥ; syur etayor eva kiṅkaraḥ;. Some way or other, if you become attached to Krṣṇa, then all the vidhis and regulative principles and rules and regulations, they will act as your servant. They'll, automatically there will be... Because as soon as you become attached to Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa said, kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmatma.

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmatma
sasvac-chantiṁ nigacchati
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktaḥ; praṇasyati
[Bg. 9.31]

Kṣipram, very soon. Api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyaḥ; [Bg. 9.30].

Don't think that these Europeans or Americans, they are mlecchas and yavanas. That is aparadha. Offense. Because they are sadhu. They do not know... They have accepted Krṣṇa without any hodgepodge understanding, that "This is also good, this is also good, this is also good." They are strictly following the instruction of their spiritual master. Krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Even a small child in our association, Syamasundara's daughter, she would go to somebody, she was only five years old. She would ask, "Do you know Krṣṇa?" So somebody said, "No, I do not know." "Oh, Supreme Personality of Godhead." She would preach like that. So they are convinced, krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam. This conviction is the foremost quality. Then other things will follow. Sarve vidhi-niṣedhaḥ; syur etayor eva kiṅkaraḥ;. So if one is simply convinced on this point, that krṣṇas tu bhagavan svayam, and he does like that, follows the principle, krṣṇaika-saraṇam. Varṇasrama-dharma. Krṣṇaika-saraṇam. That is wanted. Mam ekaṁ saraṇaṁ vraja. So do that. Stick to this principle, that Krṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krṣṇa is para-tattva, the Absolute Truth, and Krṣṇa is all-pervading. Maya tatam idaṁ sarvam [Bg. 9.4]. Krṣṇa is everywhere. Jagad avyakta-murtina. This avyakta. The Krṣṇa's potency is everywhere. Therefore those who are advanced devotee, they do not see anything else than Krṣṇa. Everywhere he sees Krṣṇa. And that is a fact.

Krṣṇa also teaches that "I am here." If you cannot conceive that Krṣṇa is everywhere present, Krṣṇa personally gives you instruction, "Here I am." Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8]. Everyone is drinking water at least four times, five times. So at the time of drinking water, or drinking anything, if you remember Krṣṇa then you become purified. Mayy asakta-manaḥ; partha. That is yoga, bhakti-yoga. If you practice only this. Whatever you drink, you drink something for some taste. So either you drink soda water, or water, or milk, or even wine. Because the Europeans, Americans, they are accustomed to drink wine. But if they follow this instruction of Krṣṇa, that "This taste is Krṣṇa," then he remembers Krṣṇa. Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktaḥ;. As soon as he brings Krṣṇa in his mind, he becomes a bhakta. So easy. Anyone can become krṣṇa-bhakta if he follows the instruction of Bhagavad-gita. There is no difficulty. Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktaḥ;. This is the simple process. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoḥ; [Bg. 7.8]. This is for ordinary class of men. But if you think that you are very advanced in learning, in Vedic literature, and Vedic mantras, yes, then Krṣṇa says, praṇavaḥ; sarva-vedeṣu. That praṇava-oṁkara, oṁ tad viṣṇoḥ; paramaṁ padaṁ sada pasyanti surayaḥ;. That praṇava is Krṣṇa. Praṇavaḥ; sarva-vedeṣu.

So either you become a highly learned scholar in Vedic literature or you are simply an ordinary person, you can think of Krṣṇa and you become successful in your life. There is no difficulty. Raso 'ham. If you are ordinary person... Any, every, every person drinks water or drinks something. Let him immediately think of, as soon as he tastes, "Here is Krṣṇa." Puṇyo gandhaḥ; prthivyaṁ ca. A flower, a rose flower, very fragrant. As soon as you smell you can remember Krṣṇa. "Oh, this smell is Krṣṇa." Actually, that is Krṣṇa. You cannot create that smell. It is Krṣṇa, Krṣṇa's art. That, puṇyo gandhaḥ; prthivyaṁ ca, that gandha, that smell, flavor, is within the earth. Wherefrom the rose is coming? From this earth. But still the rose is so fragrant. You cannot take out the fragrance from the earth. Everything is there. Sarva-kama-dugha-mahi. Everything is within the earth. But you cannot take out. It is Krṣṇa. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jñana-bala-kriya ca [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. He has got this power to exact, to extract puṇya-gandha through the rose flower. You haven't. You may be very big chemist, but you cannot do that. So in this way, if we study Krṣṇa, if you become Krṣṇa conscious, then your life is successful. That we are teaching. This is Krṣṇa consciousness movement. And the sastras will help you.

But even if you do not read sastra, if you always remember Krṣṇa, impression of Krṣṇa. The temple is made for layman. Even woman, child, if he sees daily Krṣṇa here, then he gets impression. He can think of Krṣṇa. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto [Bg. 18.65]. Therefore the temple is there. Everyone should come every day, every morning, or as many times as possible and take the impression of Krṣṇa and keep it within your core of heart and think of Krṣṇa. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam... And offer little You don't require to study Vedanta philosophy or this or that. Because what is the purpose of Vedanta? The purpose of Vedanta is vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. You have to understand Krṣṇa. So if you simply think of Krṣṇa, then you are greatest Vedantist. Greatest Vedantist. Vedais ca sarvair. Vedanta-vid vedanta-krt ca aham. He is the compiler of Vedas. So whatever instruction Krṣṇa has given in the Bhagavad-gita, that is all Vedanta. This simple instruction, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto, this is Vedanta. Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8]. This is Vedanta. So to become Vedantist means to understand Krṣṇa, follow Krṣṇa's instruction, and be successful in your life. Thank you