Renunciation

The sixth opulence of Krsna is perhaps the most awe inspiring. It is renunciation-the opulence by which the Lord can reject all others. "There is nothing whatever that is higher than I. Everything rests upon Me as pearls are strung on a thread." (Gita, 7.7) And like a string of pearls, all of Krsna's opulences can be taken off and thrown away while Krsna remains complete in Himself. Lord Krsna is much more than the sum total of His creation. "In My transcendental form I pervade all this creation. All things are resting in Me, but I am not in them. Yet, everything that is created does not rest on Me. Behold My mystic opulence. Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, still My self is the very source of creation." (Gita, 9.4, 5)

Being the embodiment of perfect renunciation, as taught in the Gita, Lord Krsna creates everything in a spirit of detachment. "The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will is it manifested again and again, and by My will is it annihilated in the end. O Dhananjaya, all this work cannot bind Me. I am ever unattached, seated as though neutral." (Gita, 9.8, 9) Also in the Fourth Chapter Lord Krsna says that works do not defile Him because although He creates everything, He has no yearning for the fruits of His creation. One who knows the nature of His creation and of His renunciation is not bound by works.

The hand of the Lord is in every sphere of activity, yet He remains neutral. In the Brahma-samhita it is said, "The lord of Gokula is the transcendental Supreme Godhead, the own self of eternal ecstasies. He is the superior of all superiors and is busily engaged in the enjoyments of the transcendental realm and has no association with His mundane potency." (Brahma-samhita, 5.6) The material nature, which is a perverted reflection of the spiritual potency, is located on the other side of the river Viraja which surrounds the Brahman-dhama which is the boundary of Maha-vaikuntha. It is said that material nature is actually ashamed to appear before Lord Krsna, and when He wishes to create through material nature He does not mingle with her but simply glances her way. "Krsna never consorts with His illusory energy. Still her connection is not entirely cut off from the absolute truth. When He intends to create the material world, the amorous pastimes in which He engages by consorting with His own spiritual (cit) potency, Rama, by casting His glance at the deluded energy in the shape of sending His time-energy, is an auxiliary activity." (Brahma-samhita, 5.7) Therefore the material creation has only indirect contact with Krsna. It is the cit potency that carries His glance to the inferior energy. Lord Krsna is therefore complete within Himself. All of His opulences can be renounced totally at any moment, and in no way by such renunciation is He any the less. This is the meaning of total renunciation.

Simply by studying the opulences of Krsna one can become a mahatma, a great soul. These opulences are described in detail in the various Vedic literatures-in the Gita, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, Brahma-samhita and so on. The results of such studies are quickly perceived. One immediately comes to understand that Krsna is the factual proprietor of everything and that the highest benefit derived is love for Krsna Himself. "He who knows in truth this glory and power of Mine engages in unalloyed devotional service. Of this there is no doubt. I am the Source of everything; from Me the entire creation flows. Knowing this, the wise worship Me with all their hearts." (Gita, 10.7, 8)

Understanding how things exist as separate from Krsna is of no value. The knowledge, wealth, fame, strength, beauty and renunciation of a man who is unaware of Krsna are worthless. One must come to understand that all these things exist in the Supreme Lord and that they are His gratuitous opulences. By studying the opulences of Krsna we can come to understand why He is worthy of our worship. We may adore the beauty, wealth, fame, knowledge, strength or renunciation of a person, but when we come to understand that these are only fragmental and that Krsna is the source of all of them, then we direct our adoration to Krsna. Thus our thoughts should always dwell in Krsna. We can become completely satisfied only by thinking of Him, surrendering our lives to Him and speaking of nothing but Him. "The thoughts of the wise men dwell in Me. Their lives are surrendered unto Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me." (Gita, 10.9) The wise are always so engaged because Krsna is their all in all. Therefore the truly wise are the most opulent, for they belong to Krsna and Krsna belongs to them.