Body Armor that doesn't Protect the Armed Forces

Death is God
excerpt from Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.3, London, July 9, 1973

War is not a Game

Send the President to Iraq A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

When there was a war, the king was the first to fight. Just like your George Washington. He fought when there was a war. But what kind of president is ruling now? When there is a war he sits very securely and telephones orders. He's not fit to be president. When there is war the president should be the first to come forward and lead the battle. more

Pashyaitam pandu-putranam acharya: [Bhagavad-gita 1.3, Duryodhana said:] "My dear teacher, just see how many military soldiers are standing there on behalf of the Pandavas, and they have been arranged by your disciple, who is meant for killing you. So just remember." That means "You become more strong that this boy and the other party may not kill you." But Duryodhana does not know that the death does not depend on military strength or bodily strength. When death will come, nobody can check. Death is God. When Krishna desires that "This man should be killed now," or "He must die now," nobody can check. Rakhe krishna mare ke mare krishna rakhe ke. If Krishna desires to kill somebody, nobody can give him protection, no power. And if He wants to save somebody, nobody can kill him. This is Krishna's protection.

Therefore this big, big commander-in-chief Dronacharya and Bhishmadeva, Karna, they were very, very, big, powerful commanders. Arjuna was nothing before them. Arjuna was just like... Parikshit Maharaja compared that "My grandfather was just like an ordinary fish, and these soldiers, these commanders, were just like timingila." Timingila, there is a fish—we get information from Vedic literature—very big fish. They swallow up the whales. Timi. Timi means whale fish. And timingila means... Just like small fish are swallowed up like this. So just imagine how big such fish is. So these commanders, Karna, Dronacharya, and Bhishma, were compared with the timingila. And Arjuna although very powerful, he was compared with timi. So Parikshit Maharaja admitted "That it was not possible for my grandfather to win over the battle before these big, big commanders. It is only by the grace of Krishna he was saved." So the conclusion is if Krishna saves, nobody can kill; and if Krishna wants to kill, nobody can save. Therefore our conclusion should be that we should always be under the protection of Krishna. Avashya rakshibe krishna. This is sharanagati. Sharanagati, surrender. Surrender means that "I am surrendering to Krishna with full faith that He is quite competent and able to give me protection." This is called surrender. Not that hesitation: "Oh, I will surrender to Krishna, and in case of danger, He may not be able to give me protection." That is not surrender. With full faith, "Yes, Krishna is so powerful, Krishna is so great, that I am surrendering to Krishna from this day: 'From this day... Krishna, I was wandering throughout the universe life after life without knowing my relationship with you. Now, today, I surrender unto you. Kindly accept me and engage me in your service.'" This is called surrender.