Being an Instrument in Krishna’s Plan

Free to Read
13 mins September, 2026
Being an Instrument in Krishna’s Plan
00:00
00:00

A humble devotee accepts the Lord’s will and executes it to the best of his or her ability, that ability having been granted by the Lord Himself.


by Gauranga Darsana Dasa


AN INSTRUMENT is often something we use to accomplish a task and then forget about, or at least park aside for some time. But in the realm of bhakti, or Krishna consciousness, things work differently. This is because the glories of becoming an instrument of Krishna’s will are ongoing and eternal. We clearly find evidence in support of this statement in scriptures like the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.


The Logic Behind Being Krishna’s Instrument


Srila Prabhupada explains that because a finger is a part (amsa) of the body, its duty is to serve (seva) the body. Similarly, because all living beings are part of Krishna, their natural duty is to serve Him. The Bhagavad-gita (15.7) confirms that all living entities are eternal parts (amsas) of the Lord. And Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 20.108) that all living beings are eternal servants of Lord Krishna: jivera ‘svarupa’ haya—krishnera ‘nitya-dasa.’ Irrespective of one’s social status, gender, nationality, skills, and so on, everyone is a part and servant of Lord Krishna. Thus, our natural function is to serve Krishna, and this is done most effectively by identifying ourselves as instruments in Krishna’s plans.


What Krishna Expected from Arjuna


Lord Krishna revealed to Arjuna the purposes of His descent in this world:

paritranaya sadhunam

vinasaya ca dushkritam

dharma-samsthapanarthaya

sambhavami yuge yuge

“To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” (Gita 4.8) Lord Krishna personally performs these three activities, and sometimes He empowers, engages, or takes assistance from His devotees like the Pandavas to execute them. By fighting in the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna was supposed to assist Lord Krishna in fulfilling these three purposes, as an instrument in Krishna’s plans, instead of posing himself as an independent well-wisher of the soldiers by not killing them.

In fact, Krishna had already decided the deaths of the miscreants who had insulted Draupadi and viciously misbehaved against the Pandavas. Arjuna had only to be instrumental in manifesting their deaths by fighting dutifully. Lord Krishna told Arjuna to just act as an instrument (nimitta-matram bhava) in His plans:

tasmat tvam uttishtha yaso labhasva

jitva satrun bhunkshva rajyam samriddham

mayaivaite nihatah purvam eva

nimitta-matram bhava savya-sacin


“Therefore, get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom.


They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasaci, can be but an instrument in the fight.” (Gita 11.33)


As it is said, “Not a blade of grass moves without the Lord’s sanction.” Therefore, although it was Arjuna and the other Pandavas who were to fight in the war, it was Krishna who would decide the outcome. Ultimately, the death of any soldier in any war depends on the decision and sanction of Krishna, and not just the strength of the warriors taking part. At Kurukshetra, Krishna had already decided the deaths of Duryodhana, Duhsasana, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Sakuni, Jayadratha, and so on. So, Krishna’s sanction was there, His instruction was there, His personal presence and guidance were there, and all Arjuna had to do was execute the mission in the mood of being an instrument of Krishna’s plan. In fact, the entire conversation between Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita serves as a guide for all who strive to embrace their role as instruments in Krishna’s divine plans.


Recognizing oneself as an amsa of Krishna, and acknowledging one’s position as His servant, one should act as an instrument in His hands and attribute to Him the credit for all one’s achievements.


Invincible, yet an Instrument


In the above verse (Gita 11.33), on the one hand Lord Krishna addressed Arjuna as savyasacin, an expert bowman who could shoot arrows with both hands; he was renowned for his mastery of his Gandiva bow. But on the other hand, Krishna emphasized that Arjuna should consider himself nimitta-matram, merely an instrument in Krishna’s hands.


Elsewhere, Krishna addressed Arjuna as parantapa, “one who defeats his enemies.” Krishna thus highlighted Arjuna’s fighting skills, praising him as the most celebrated fighter of his times, with numerous military achievements. At the same time, Lord Krishna emphasized that Arjuna should recognize himself as an instrument in His hands.


Krishna revealed to Arjuna the consequences of the war through the majestic display of His Kala-rupa, His form of time, with hundreds of faces, some emitting fire. Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Sakuni, and others who aligned with irreligion were seen entering those fires. Thus, Krishna declared and displayed that He had already slain all those warriors but Arjuna still had to fight and kill them and thus manifest their inevitable deaths. Despite Arjuna’s talents, power, and fame, his true reputation and glory lay in acting humbly as an instrument in Krishna’s hands.


Inanimate and Animate Instruments


An inanimate object may be called an instrument, but how can a living being, who has some independence, free will, desires, feelings, and emotions, possibly act as an instrument in the hands of the Lord or some other master or guru or anyone else? That’s where the idea of voluntary spirit comes into the picture.


Bhakti entails using one’s free will to voluntarily and enthusiastically serve the Lord. A devotee’s acting as an instrument in the Lord’s service is not a ritual or an obligation, but a voluntary, conscious, and earnest desire to serve Him, with the very strength the Lord has bestowed upon the devotee.


Krishna never interferes with the independence of any living being. He gives us knowledge, power, and resources and leaves it up to our discernment to decide how to use them. After all, like any wise person, He doesn’t want to receive forced love or service.


For example, initially Arjuna declined to fight in the Kurukshetra war, but Krishna enlightened him by speaking the Gita, and finally He said,

iti te jnanam akhyatam

guhyad guhyataram maya

vimrisyaitad aseshena

yathecchasi tatha kuru


“Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.” (Gita 18.63) Lord Krishna left the decision to Arjuna, and Arjuna voluntarily prepared to act as an instrument in Krishna’s plans and fight as a service to Him. Arjuna’s previous disinclination to fight was due to his material emotions and his confusion regarding his duty (dharmasammudha-cetah, Gita 2.7). But after he heard the Gita, all his confusion was gone and he regained his intelligence and prepared to fight. He declared,

nashto mohah smritir labdha

tvat-prasadan mayacyuta

sthito ’smi gata-sandehah

karishye vacanam tava


“My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.” (Gita 18.73)


This is the life of a devotee – to be enlightened and empowered by Krishna and willingly act as an instrument in His plans by appropriately using one’s minute independence. Instead of being proud of one’s capabilities or discouraged with one’s disabilities, one should sincerely try to use all one’s God-given abilities in His service and realize that all accomplishments are due to His sanction. This consciousness instills hope and humility in devotees and empowers them to serve Krishna in meaningful ways, even beyond their imagination.


To become an empowered instrument of the Lord, a devotee must consciously and voluntarily be willing to serve Krishna to the best of one’s God-given abilities. There lies the perfection of life.


The Source and Utility of All Powers


After the Kurukshetra war, Lord Krishna wanted to depart from Hastinapura and return to Dwarka, but Kunti Devi approached Him and asked, “Krishna, if You leave now, who will protect my sons?”


Krishna consoled her, saying, “Bhima and Arjuna possess great power, and Yudhishthira Maharaja embodies righteousness. They, along with the rest of the Pandavas, will ensure your safety and security.”


Kunti replied, “My sons without You are like senses without a soul. Their abilities and strengths are meaningful only by Your presence.”


Similarly, Yudhishthira later said to Bhima,

yasman nah sampado rajyam

darah pranah kulam prajah

asan sapatna-vijayo

lokas ca yad-anugrahat


“From Him [Krishna] only, all our kingly opulence – our kingdom, good wives, life, progeny, control over our subjects, victory over our enemies, and future accommodation in higher planets – has become possible. All this is due to His causeless mercy upon us.” (Bhagavatam 1.14.9)


Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport, “Prosperity earned by one’s personal endeavor also depends on the mercy of the Lord. Personal labor must be there in addition to the Lord’s benediction, but without the Lord’s benediction no one is successful simply by personal labor.”


In similar mood, Arjuna told Yudhishthira (Bhagavatam 1.15.7–17) that it was only by Lord Krishna’s mercy that he (Arjuna) won Draupadi’s hand, defeated Indra and other devatas, offered the Khandava forest to Agni. and had the wonderful assembly hall built by Maya Danava. It was by Krishna’s blessings alone that Arjuna killed the Nivatakavaca demons, regained Virata’s cows, and astonished Siva, Parvati, and the devatas with his fighting and thus received various weapons and even entered heaven and shared Indra’s throne. It was only due to Krishna’s grace that Bhima defeated Jarasandha and released the kings he had arrested. It was only by Krishna’s support that the Pandavas were saved from Durvasa’s anger during their exile and later won the Kurukshetra war. Thus, the powerful and accomplished Pandavas and their mother, Kunti Devi, expressed that the source of their power and prosperity was their beloved Lord Krishna. They acknowledged their exclusive dependence on Him and emphasized that everything they had and everything they were was only by His grace.


From all the above examples it is clear that Lord Krishna is the ocean of all powers, and His devotees derive their power from Him and use it in His service. Because all of us are amsas of Krishna, and our bodies, senses, powers, talents, and skills are generated from Him, it is appropriate that we use all of them in His service. That is bhakti. And we shouldn’t be attached to our bodies, powers, skills, and so on, because they may be taken away once the service is completed.


When Krishna departed from this planet, Arjuna said, “Lord Krishna, my intimate friend, has left me alone, and now my astounding power, which astonished even the demigods, is no longer with me.” (Bhagavatam 1.15.5) Srila Prabhupada comments:


No one, therefore, can be independently powerful in any measure without being endowed by the Lord. When the Lord descends to the earth along with His eternal, ever-liberated associates, He not only displays the divine energy possessed by Himself, but also empowers His associate devotees with the required energy to execute His mission of incarnation. . . . The power and energy which were bestowed upon Arjuna were required for fulfillment of the mission of the Lord, but when His mission was fulfilled, the emergency powers were withdrawn from Arjuna because the astounding powers of Arjuna, which were astonishing even to the denizens of heaven, were no longer required, and they were not meant for going back home, back to Godhead. If endowment of powers and withdrawal of powers by the Lord are possible even for a great devotee like Arjuna, or even the demigods in heaven, then what to speak of the ordinary living beings who are but figs compared to such great souls. The lesson is, therefore, that no one should be puffed up for his powers borrowed from the Lord. The sane man should rather feel obliged to the Lord for such benefactions and must utilize such power for the service of the Lord. Such power can be withdrawn at any time by the Lord, so the best use of such power and opulence is to engage them in the service of the Lord.


Just as money created by a magician’s wand is useless, and sowing seeds in barren land yields no results, our talents, skills, positions, and possessions are also useless without Lord Krishna’s blessings. It is Krishna who gives His devotees opportunities, inspiration, and assistance to render a particular service. And when the service is completed, He withdraws the powers.


From the above analysis, we can learn the following lessons.

  • Krishna bestows on us various positions, possessions, talents, skills, and resources so that we may use them in His service. However, when the particular service is finished, Krishna may take them away.

  • We should not become attached to our positions, possessions, or powers; instead, we should develop attachment to the principle of rendering service to Krishna, with whatever we possess.

  • Whatever we have is meant to be used in Krishna’s service, and if that purpose is absent, all our possessions and positions are futile.

  • Our real wealth lies in our connection with Krishna, rather than in worldly possessions, fame, or talents. Our most valuable possession is the love and devotion we hold for Krishna.

  • We should cherish and prioritize our connection with Krishna through submissive service, while letting go of attachment to our temporary material positions, possessions,
    expertise, fame, facilities, acclaim, and so on. And we should actively engage in His divine service and be grateful for the opportunity, inspiration, and ability to serve Him.

  • Our motivation should stem from the understanding that service to Krishna is the most precious gift from Him. Our focus should be on our participation in Krishna’s service rather than the recognition we get for it.


Transferring Credits


When a person signs a document with a pen, who should get the credit for signing the document – the pen or the person? The pen is just an instrument in the hands of the person, and therefore the person gets the credit although the pen’s role is crucial. Similarly, when we become successful in serving the Lord, the credit for our accomplishments must go to the Lord because it is He who has given us the opportunity, inspiration, and ability to perform. The only credit for us is that we have used our free will and chosen to serve the Lord. Furthermore, we may have received support from others in accomplishing the service. Therefore, we shouldn’t be eager to claim credit, although we must be responsible to execute the service in the mood of an instrument.


This devotional attitude is based on humility and the understanding that all our abilities, talents, and inspirations are the Lord’s gifts. By dedicating them to the service of Krishna, we awaken and use them in a way that is spiritually nourishing and purposeful, thus reminding us that we are merely instruments in the divine plan and any success or credit should be directed toward the Lord and His representatives.


By recognizing that our abilities are bestowed upon us by Krishna, we understand that we are not the ultimate doers or enjoyers. A doer-ship mentality inevitably leads to an enjoyer-ship mentality. One thinks,

“Because I have done this activity,


I should enjoy its results.” When we think of ourself as the doer and enjoyer of our work, that consciousness binds us to this world. It also destroys our humility and our gratitude toward those who helped us. On the contrary, humble devotees serve the Lord with commitment and responsibility and yet transfer the credit to the Lord and His devotees.


A peacock cannot fly very high. Other birds, such as sparrows, can fly higher. Pigeons can fly even higher than sparrows, while eagles and vultures can fly still higher. Similarly, every devotee has unique talents and capabilities and can use them to serve and glorify Krishna. By using our free will and consciousness to choose Krishna’s service over material sense gratification, we become genuine instruments in Krishna’s plans. Our love for Him is exhibited when we willingly and voluntarily choose to act as His instruments, putting His desires above our own.


Gauranga Darsana Dasa (www. gaurangadarshan.com), a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, is an educator and spiritual author. He is the dean of Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha at ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV). He conducts online and residential spiritual-education programs for children and adults at multiple places across the globe. He has lectured more than 7,500 hours and penned more than 33 books, including study guides, self-enrichment works, and children’s literature.

Subscribe to BTG Digital Magazine

Embark on your path to Krishna consciousness with BTG Digital Magazine! Subscribe now and discover inspiring stories of growth, enlightenment, and connection shared by our community.

Subscribe

Being an Instrument in Krishna’s Plan

Being an Instrument in Krishna’s Plan
Listen to Article
Press Play to listen

A humble devotee accepts the Lord’s will and executes it to the best of his or her ability, that ability having been granted by the Lord Himself.


by Gauranga Darsana Dasa


AN INSTRUMENT is often something we use to accomplish a task and then forget about, or at least park aside for some time. But in the realm of bhakti, or Krishna consciousness, things work differently. This is because the glories of becoming an instrument of Krishna’s will are ongoing and eternal. We clearly find evidence in support of this statement in scriptures like the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.


The Logic Behind Being Krishna’s Instrument


Srila Prabhupada explains that because a finger is a part (amsa) of the body, its duty is to serve (seva) the body. Similarly, because all living beings are part of Krishna, their natural duty is to serve Him. The Bhagavad-gita (15.7) confirms that all living entities are eternal parts (amsas) of the Lord. And Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 20.108) that all living beings are eternal servants of Lord Krishna: jivera ‘svarupa’ haya—krishnera ‘nitya-dasa.’ Irrespective of one’s social status, gender, nationality, skills, and so on, everyone is a part and servant of Lord Krishna. Thus, our natural function is to serve Krishna, and this is done most effectively by identifying ourselves as instruments in Krishna’s plans.


What Krishna Expected from Arjuna


Lord Krishna revealed to Arjuna the purposes of His descent in this world:

paritranaya sadhunam

vinasaya ca dushkritam

dharma-samsthapanarthaya

sambhavami yuge yuge

“To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” (Gita 4.8) Lord Krishna personally performs these three activities, and sometimes He empowers, engages, or takes assistance from His devotees like the Pandavas to execute them. By fighting in the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna was supposed to assist Lord Krishna in fulfilling these three purposes, as an instrument in Krishna’s plans, instead of posing himself as an independent well-wisher of the soldiers by not killing them.

In fact, Krishna had already decided the deaths of the miscreants who had insulted Draupadi and viciously misbehaved against the Pandavas. Arjuna had only to be instrumental in manifesting their deaths by fighting dutifully. Lord Krishna told Arjuna to just act as an instrument (nimitta-matram bhava) in His plans:

tasmat tvam uttishtha yaso labhasva

jitva satrun bhunkshva rajyam samriddham

mayaivaite nihatah purvam eva

nimitta-matram bhava savya-sacin


“Therefore, get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom.


They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasaci, can be but an instrument in the fight.” (Gita 11.33)


As it is said, “Not a blade of grass moves without the Lord’s sanction.” Therefore, although it was Arjuna and the other Pandavas who were to fight in the war, it was Krishna who would decide the outcome. Ultimately, the death of any soldier in any war depends on the decision and sanction of Krishna, and not just the strength of the warriors taking part. At Kurukshetra, Krishna had already decided the deaths of Duryodhana, Duhsasana, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Sakuni, Jayadratha, and so on. So, Krishna’s sanction was there, His instruction was there, His personal presence and guidance were there, and all Arjuna had to do was execute the mission in the mood of being an instrument of Krishna’s plan. In fact, the entire conversation between Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita serves as a guide for all who strive to embrace their role as instruments in Krishna’s divine plans.


Recognizing oneself as an amsa of Krishna, and acknowledging one’s position as His servant, one should act as an instrument in His hands and attribute to Him the credit for all one’s achievements.


Invincible, yet an Instrument


In the above verse (Gita 11.33), on the one hand Lord Krishna addressed Arjuna as savyasacin, an expert bowman who could shoot arrows with both hands; he was renowned for his mastery of his Gandiva bow. But on the other hand, Krishna emphasized that Arjuna should consider himself nimitta-matram, merely an instrument in Krishna’s hands.


Elsewhere, Krishna addressed Arjuna as parantapa, “one who defeats his enemies.” Krishna thus highlighted Arjuna’s fighting skills, praising him as the most celebrated fighter of his times, with numerous military achievements. At the same time, Lord Krishna emphasized that Arjuna should recognize himself as an instrument in His hands.


Krishna revealed to Arjuna the consequences of the war through the majestic display of His Kala-rupa, His form of time, with hundreds of faces, some emitting fire. Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Sakuni, and others who aligned with irreligion were seen entering those fires. Thus, Krishna declared and displayed that He had already slain all those warriors but Arjuna still had to fight and kill them and thus manifest their inevitable deaths. Despite Arjuna’s talents, power, and fame, his true reputation and glory lay in acting humbly as an instrument in Krishna’s hands.


Inanimate and Animate Instruments


An inanimate object may be called an instrument, but how can a living being, who has some independence, free will, desires, feelings, and emotions, possibly act as an instrument in the hands of the Lord or some other master or guru or anyone else? That’s where the idea of voluntary spirit comes into the picture.


Bhakti entails using one’s free will to voluntarily and enthusiastically serve the Lord. A devotee’s acting as an instrument in the Lord’s service is not a ritual or an obligation, but a voluntary, conscious, and earnest desire to serve Him, with the very strength the Lord has bestowed upon the devotee.


Krishna never interferes with the independence of any living being. He gives us knowledge, power, and resources and leaves it up to our discernment to decide how to use them. After all, like any wise person, He doesn’t want to receive forced love or service.


For example, initially Arjuna declined to fight in the Kurukshetra war, but Krishna enlightened him by speaking the Gita, and finally He said,

iti te jnanam akhyatam

guhyad guhyataram maya

vimrisyaitad aseshena

yathecchasi tatha kuru


“Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.” (Gita 18.63) Lord Krishna left the decision to Arjuna, and Arjuna voluntarily prepared to act as an instrument in Krishna’s plans and fight as a service to Him. Arjuna’s previous disinclination to fight was due to his material emotions and his confusion regarding his duty (dharmasammudha-cetah, Gita 2.7). But after he heard the Gita, all his confusion was gone and he regained his intelligence and prepared to fight. He declared,

nashto mohah smritir labdha

tvat-prasadan mayacyuta

sthito ’smi gata-sandehah

karishye vacanam tava


“My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.” (Gita 18.73)


This is the life of a devotee – to be enlightened and empowered by Krishna and willingly act as an instrument in His plans by appropriately using one’s minute independence. Instead of being proud of one’s capabilities or discouraged with one’s disabilities, one should sincerely try to use all one’s God-given abilities in His service and realize that all accomplishments are due to His sanction. This consciousness instills hope and humility in devotees and empowers them to serve Krishna in meaningful ways, even beyond their imagination.


To become an empowered instrument of the Lord, a devotee must consciously and voluntarily be willing to serve Krishna to the best of one’s God-given abilities. There lies the perfection of life.


The Source and Utility of All Powers


After the Kurukshetra war, Lord Krishna wanted to depart from Hastinapura and return to Dwarka, but Kunti Devi approached Him and asked, “Krishna, if You leave now, who will protect my sons?”


Krishna consoled her, saying, “Bhima and Arjuna possess great power, and Yudhishthira Maharaja embodies righteousness. They, along with the rest of the Pandavas, will ensure your safety and security.”


Kunti replied, “My sons without You are like senses without a soul. Their abilities and strengths are meaningful only by Your presence.”


Similarly, Yudhishthira later said to Bhima,

yasman nah sampado rajyam

darah pranah kulam prajah

asan sapatna-vijayo

lokas ca yad-anugrahat


“From Him [Krishna] only, all our kingly opulence – our kingdom, good wives, life, progeny, control over our subjects, victory over our enemies, and future accommodation in higher planets – has become possible. All this is due to His causeless mercy upon us.” (Bhagavatam 1.14.9)


Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport, “Prosperity earned by one’s personal endeavor also depends on the mercy of the Lord. Personal labor must be there in addition to the Lord’s benediction, but without the Lord’s benediction no one is successful simply by personal labor.”


In similar mood, Arjuna told Yudhishthira (Bhagavatam 1.15.7–17) that it was only by Lord Krishna’s mercy that he (Arjuna) won Draupadi’s hand, defeated Indra and other devatas, offered the Khandava forest to Agni. and had the wonderful assembly hall built by Maya Danava. It was by Krishna’s blessings alone that Arjuna killed the Nivatakavaca demons, regained Virata’s cows, and astonished Siva, Parvati, and the devatas with his fighting and thus received various weapons and even entered heaven and shared Indra’s throne. It was only due to Krishna’s grace that Bhima defeated Jarasandha and released the kings he had arrested. It was only by Krishna’s support that the Pandavas were saved from Durvasa’s anger during their exile and later won the Kurukshetra war. Thus, the powerful and accomplished Pandavas and their mother, Kunti Devi, expressed that the source of their power and prosperity was their beloved Lord Krishna. They acknowledged their exclusive dependence on Him and emphasized that everything they had and everything they were was only by His grace.


From all the above examples it is clear that Lord Krishna is the ocean of all powers, and His devotees derive their power from Him and use it in His service. Because all of us are amsas of Krishna, and our bodies, senses, powers, talents, and skills are generated from Him, it is appropriate that we use all of them in His service. That is bhakti. And we shouldn’t be attached to our bodies, powers, skills, and so on, because they may be taken away once the service is completed.


When Krishna departed from this planet, Arjuna said, “Lord Krishna, my intimate friend, has left me alone, and now my astounding power, which astonished even the demigods, is no longer with me.” (Bhagavatam 1.15.5) Srila Prabhupada comments:


No one, therefore, can be independently powerful in any measure without being endowed by the Lord. When the Lord descends to the earth along with His eternal, ever-liberated associates, He not only displays the divine energy possessed by Himself, but also empowers His associate devotees with the required energy to execute His mission of incarnation. . . . The power and energy which were bestowed upon Arjuna were required for fulfillment of the mission of the Lord, but when His mission was fulfilled, the emergency powers were withdrawn from Arjuna because the astounding powers of Arjuna, which were astonishing even to the denizens of heaven, were no longer required, and they were not meant for going back home, back to Godhead. If endowment of powers and withdrawal of powers by the Lord are possible even for a great devotee like Arjuna, or even the demigods in heaven, then what to speak of the ordinary living beings who are but figs compared to such great souls. The lesson is, therefore, that no one should be puffed up for his powers borrowed from the Lord. The sane man should rather feel obliged to the Lord for such benefactions and must utilize such power for the service of the Lord. Such power can be withdrawn at any time by the Lord, so the best use of such power and opulence is to engage them in the service of the Lord.


Just as money created by a magician’s wand is useless, and sowing seeds in barren land yields no results, our talents, skills, positions, and possessions are also useless without Lord Krishna’s blessings. It is Krishna who gives His devotees opportunities, inspiration, and assistance to render a particular service. And when the service is completed, He withdraws the powers.


From the above analysis, we can learn the following lessons.

  • Krishna bestows on us various positions, possessions, talents, skills, and resources so that we may use them in His service. However, when the particular service is finished, Krishna may take them away.

  • We should not become attached to our positions, possessions, or powers; instead, we should develop attachment to the principle of rendering service to Krishna, with whatever we possess.

  • Whatever we have is meant to be used in Krishna’s service, and if that purpose is absent, all our possessions and positions are futile.

  • Our real wealth lies in our connection with Krishna, rather than in worldly possessions, fame, or talents. Our most valuable possession is the love and devotion we hold for Krishna.

  • We should cherish and prioritize our connection with Krishna through submissive service, while letting go of attachment to our temporary material positions, possessions,
    expertise, fame, facilities, acclaim, and so on. And we should actively engage in His divine service and be grateful for the opportunity, inspiration, and ability to serve Him.

  • Our motivation should stem from the understanding that service to Krishna is the most precious gift from Him. Our focus should be on our participation in Krishna’s service rather than the recognition we get for it.


Transferring Credits


When a person signs a document with a pen, who should get the credit for signing the document – the pen or the person? The pen is just an instrument in the hands of the person, and therefore the person gets the credit although the pen’s role is crucial. Similarly, when we become successful in serving the Lord, the credit for our accomplishments must go to the Lord because it is He who has given us the opportunity, inspiration, and ability to perform. The only credit for us is that we have used our free will and chosen to serve the Lord. Furthermore, we may have received support from others in accomplishing the service. Therefore, we shouldn’t be eager to claim credit, although we must be responsible to execute the service in the mood of an instrument.


This devotional attitude is based on humility and the understanding that all our abilities, talents, and inspirations are the Lord’s gifts. By dedicating them to the service of Krishna, we awaken and use them in a way that is spiritually nourishing and purposeful, thus reminding us that we are merely instruments in the divine plan and any success or credit should be directed toward the Lord and His representatives.


By recognizing that our abilities are bestowed upon us by Krishna, we understand that we are not the ultimate doers or enjoyers. A doer-ship mentality inevitably leads to an enjoyer-ship mentality. One thinks,

“Because I have done this activity,


I should enjoy its results.” When we think of ourself as the doer and enjoyer of our work, that consciousness binds us to this world. It also destroys our humility and our gratitude toward those who helped us. On the contrary, humble devotees serve the Lord with commitment and responsibility and yet transfer the credit to the Lord and His devotees.


A peacock cannot fly very high. Other birds, such as sparrows, can fly higher. Pigeons can fly even higher than sparrows, while eagles and vultures can fly still higher. Similarly, every devotee has unique talents and capabilities and can use them to serve and glorify Krishna. By using our free will and consciousness to choose Krishna’s service over material sense gratification, we become genuine instruments in Krishna’s plans. Our love for Him is exhibited when we willingly and voluntarily choose to act as His instruments, putting His desires above our own.


Gauranga Darsana Dasa (www. gaurangadarshan.com), a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, is an educator and spiritual author. He is the dean of Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha at ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV). He conducts online and residential spiritual-education programs for children and adults at multiple places across the globe. He has lectured more than 7,500 hours and penned more than 33 books, including study guides, self-enrichment works, and children’s literature.