Captured by a Divine Smile - Becoming Pleased through Hearing Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes
While material pleasure is often pursued through the temporary gratification of the eyes and ears, true satisfaction remains elusive until the senses are connected to the Absolute. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the transcendental state of becoming pleased as a natural response to the beauty and activities of Kṛṣṇa. This article explores the intimate exchanges of joy found in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, where the mere sight of the Lord or the sound of His glories erases all material distress and fills the heart with "insatiable" nectar.
Joy of Seeing the Supreme
The eyes of the devotee find their perfection when they behold the transcendental form of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda recounts how Mother Yaśodā would become "wonderfully pleased" simply by watching the small gestures of her son—the ringing of the bells on His waist or the pearl between His nostrils. Similarly, when Kṛṣṇa entered Mathurā, the citizens were so captured by His appearance that they looked upon His face as if they were "drinking the nectar of heaven." This visual experience of becoming pleased is a symptom of pure love, where the devotee desires nothing but the continued presence of the Lord.
- When mother Yasoda saw that the child (Lord Damodara) was moving, ringing the bells on His waist, smiling at her with a pearl between His nostrils and with butter on His hands, she became wonderfully pleased to see her little child in that fashion.
- The citizens of Mathura City who saw Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, became very much pleased and began to look on His face with insatiable glances, as if they were drinking the nectar of heaven.
- Akrura thought, "He (Krsna) will be pleased with my devotional attitude, and maybe He will smile lovingly and look upon me and thereby free me from all kinds of sinful reactions. I shall then be on the platform of transcendental bliss and knowledge."
Satisfaction through Inquiry and Hearing
In the spiritual realm, the act of hearing and speaking about Kṛṣṇa is a source of immense pleasure for all involved. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that inquiring about Kṛṣṇa is not a dry academic exercise; rather, both the person asking the question and the person giving the answer become pleased simultaneously. This mutual satisfaction is the hallmark of kṛṣṇa-kathā. Whether it is the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya or the associates of Lord Caitanya, the narration of the Lord’s activities acts as a spiritual balm that counteracts all sinful reactions and brings a sense of relief and joy to the mind.
- Here it is recommended that simply by inquiring about Krsna and taking answer of the question, both the questioner and the answer-giver, both will be pleased.
- The demigods also become pleased because this narration is so glorious, and it is so powerful that it can counteract all the results of one's sinful actions.
- Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the narration of Gopala's activities. Both He and His personal devotees became very pleased.
Intimacy in Loving Exchanges
Becoming pleased in Kṛṣṇa consciousness often involves a selfless desire to provide enjoyment for the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana would dress themselves exquisitely not for their own vanity, but because they knew Kṛṣṇa would be pleased to see them. This redirection of desire—from self-satisfaction to the Lord’s satisfaction—is the secret to spiritual happiness. Even great demigods like Lord Śiva and Goddess Durgā are described as becoming "very pleased" when they witness the sincere devotion of the Lord’s associates, showing that spiritual pleasure is contagious and all-encompassing.
- In the spiritual world there it appears that gopis are dressed very nicely not for the purpose of her own satisfaction. They want to satisfy Krsna, that "If I dress nicely, Krsna will be pleased."
- In Sri Saila Lord Siva and his wife Durga lived in the dress of brahmanas, and when they saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they became very pleased.
- Spiritual pleasures come when you desire to please Krsna. That is spiritual pleasure. For example, a mother is more pleased by feeding her son. She's not eating, but when she sees that her son is eating very nicely, then she becomes pleased.
Conclusion
The various accounts of devotees becoming pleased through the sight and sound of Kṛṣṇa illustrate that spiritual life is vibrant and full of emotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that while material service leads to fatigue, the more one engages in the service of the Lord, the more they become pleased. This ever-increasing joy is the hallmark of the soul's original constitutional position. By immersing ourselves in the pastimes of the Lord and seeking to please Him and His devotees, we can experience the same "transcendental bliss" that once captured the hearts of the residents of Vraja and Mathurā.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming Pleased. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.