Eternal Associates of God
The Kingdom of God is not an impersonal void but a vibrant society filled with the Lord's eternal associates. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that just as a king is never alone but is always surrounded by ministers, secretaries, and family members, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is eternally accompanied by His loving devotees. These associates are not ordinary living entities subject to birth and death; they are nitya-siddha, or eternally perfected souls, who exist solely for the pleasure of the Lord.
Nitya-Siddhas
There are two categories of living entities: the nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) and the nitya-siddha (eternally liberated). The eternal associates belong to the latter category. They reside in the spiritual world, engaging in various mellows, or rasas, with Kṛṣṇa. They never fall under the clutches of māyā, even when they descend to the material world.
- Associates of the Lord are eternally liberated souls, and they cannot bear the separation of the Lord even for a moment because of intense affection for the Lord. Thus the inhabitants of the city of Dvaraka were in a mood of dejection.
- Nitya-siddha-bhakta indicates the eternally liberated associates of the Lord. Such devotees enjoy the company of the Lord in four relationships - as servant, friend, parent or conjugal lover.
- The spiritual sky is not void. There are innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and in each of them the Lord, by His innumerable expansions, predominates, and the pure devotees who are there also live in the same style as the Lord and His eternal associates.
Descent into Material World
When Kṛṣṇa descends to display His pastimes, He does not come alone. Like a king accompanied by his entourage, the Lord brings His confidential associates from the spiritual sky to assist in His mission. Figures like Nanda, Yaśodā, the cowherd boys, and the gopīs are not mundane personalities; they are transcendental actors in the Lord's divine play.
- When the Lord descends on the earth, His eternal associates also come with Him, just as the entourage of a king accompanies him.
- As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (4.8), the Lord and His eternal associates, who are also liberated souls like the Lord, come down on this earth at certain intervals.
- The Lord and His eternal associates appeared on earth to help the administrative demigods in eradicating the burden of the world. He called for some of the confidential demigods to appear in the Yadu family and serve Him in His great mission.
Prominent Associates
The scriptures describe various circles of associates. In Vṛndāvana, the gopīs and cowherd boys are prominent. In Dvārakā, Uddhava and members of the Yadu dynasty serve the Lord. In the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, associates like Nityānanda Prabhu and Haridāsa Ṭhākura assisted in the saṅkīrtana movement. Even personalities like Arjuna, who appear to be ordinary humans involved in politics and war, are eternal companions acting under the internal energy of the Lord.
- All these trees and birds and beasts were pious living entities born in the transcendental abode of Vrndavana just to give pleasure to the Lord and His (Krsna's) eternal associates, the cowherd boys.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme individual person, and Arjuna, the Lord's eternal associate, and all the kings assembled there (at the battlefield of Kuruksetra) are individual, eternal persons.
- In the city of Dvaraka the following devotees are known as Krsna's close associates: Uddhava, Daruka, Satyaki, Srutadeva, Satrujit, Nanda, Upananda and Bhadra. All of these personalities remain with the Lord as His secretaries.
Following in Their Footsteps
The goal of a practicing devotee, or sādhaka, is to enter this eternal family. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that one must follow in the footsteps of these great souls. By executing devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, one can regain their original spiritual body and attain svarūpa-siddhi, personal perfection.
- The devotee has to follow in the footsteps of the eternal associates of Krsna in Goloka Vrndavana.
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita (BG 4.9), after giving up his body, a devotee does not again receive a material body, but goes back to Godhead and receives a spiritual body resembling those of the Lord's eternal associates whose activities he followed.
- A pure devotee desires only to engage in loving service to the Lord in the constant association of the Lord and His eternal associates, as stated in the previous verse (SB 6.11.25) - dasanudaso bhavitasmi.
Conclusion
The eternal associates of God are the perfect examples of love and surrender. Their lives demonstrate that the highest perfection is not to become one with the Lord, but to serve Him eternally in a personal relationship. As Śrīla Prabhupāda states, "The Lord and the devotee, they are on the same status."
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Eternal Associates of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.