Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 9, Verse 22

[manikantan]

	Chapter 9: The Most Confidential Knowledge
	Verse: 22 ananyas cintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kshemam vahamy aham

Translation:
But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form -- to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.

Explanation:
Now the Lord describes the details of His own devotees, the ananya bhakatas. Srila Prabhupada elaborates on the symptoms of these devotees. "One who is unable to live for a moment without Krishna consciousness cannot but think of Krishna twenty-four hours a day, being engaged in devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, rendering other services, cultivating friendship and surrendering fully to the Lord. Such activities are all auspicious and full of spiritual potencies, which make the devotee perfect in self-realization, so that his only desire is to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee undoubtedly approaches the Lord without difficulty. This is called yoga."

These devotees of the Lord derive their happiness because of the mercy of the Lord, not by pious activities. Krishna is their source of happiness and also their sole sustainer . The term "carry what they lack" can be understood both in material and spiritual contexts. In material context it means that Krishna maintains His devotees' by providing them with wealth, health and everything else that is needed for material happiness. Thus, for pure devotees, since everything, even the material body, success and achievements are directly coming from Krishna, they should not be regarded as reactions to past karmic activities but are a manifestation of the spiritual energy of Krishna. This is not a burden that devotees give to Krishna, since that would not be conducive to their mood of only giving and not taking service from Krishna. In this verse Krishna says "I carry," which implies that it is a burden that He willingly takes on in a mood reciprocation to His devotees. He does not take on these activities with the sense of duty (like that of creating this universe) but because of love.

The acaryas explain Krishna gives this implicit assurance also in the spiritual context. Srila Prabhupada explains. "By the mercy of the Lord, such a devotee never comes back to this material condition of life. Kshema refers to the merciful protection of the Lord. The Lord helps the devotee to achieve Krishna consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully Krishna conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life." This position of carrying the devotees back to Him is unique to Krishna. In chapter 8 it was mentioned that various demigods cooperate in taking back the soul of a devotee. But they do so depending on Krishna. However for the pure devotees, it is the Lord only, not the conducting deities that take him back to the spiritual world.

Please read the Sanskrit Verse and the Prabhupada's Purport.

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This human life is achieved only after the greatest difficulty of transmigrating through 8,400,000 different species of life. Now that you have gotten after millions and millions of years this rarest opportunity to attain spiritual perfection kindly do not miss this opportunity. Dedicate yourself fully to the self-realization process under the guidance of guru, devotees, and scripture. Attain the supreme perfection of going back to home, back to Godhead. Regain your original position in the pastimes of the Supreme Lord in the spiritual sky. Join us now and every day chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare