27 January 2015 - QA 1

Gurudev, why did Lord Krishna slay Shishupala (an evil king in Mahabharata and a distant cousin of Lord Krishna) when he spoke ill and abused Lord Krishna? Lord Krishna could have chosen to punish him in some other way also. Why did He resort to killing him instead?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Well, Lord Krishna did many things during His lifetime. Now, how do I say why He did what He did at that time? How would I know this?
Every avatar (incarnation of the Divine) has done something or the other during their lifetime. You should just learn and take whatever lesson or incident you like from their life.

might want to ask, 'Why did Lord Krishna hide the clothes of the village maids who were bathing in the river Yamuna? Can I also do the same?”
If you think this way, then you will be in trouble! (Laughter)
Or you may think, “Why does Lord Krishna appear to stand on one foot only?”
I would say, that is how He is, and He does as He chooses to! (Laughter)
You know, once when He was standing near a river, Lord Krishna also took a vow, saying that, “If I have never spoken a lie in my entire life, then may this flowing river come to a standstill”. The moment He said so, the river stopped flowing and stood still. So there are many such stories from Lord Krishna’s life. His life and times are indeed very unique and wonderful to hear about.
So I do not know why did Lord Krishna killed Shishupala. I am not His lawyer and cannot speak for His actions. I am my own lawyer.

This is why I say, “No explanations, and no complaints”. What is the sign of being in Brahmagyana (self-knowledge or the knowledge of the absolute)? When you neither ask for, nor give any explanations, and when you do not complain about anything, then that is a sign of being in knowledge. That is why Lord Krishna would never explain or justify the reasons behind His actions, nor would He ever have any complaints about anything.