Everyone feels for their dependents. We wish our children, sub-ordinates, relatives, people whom we are caring for to grow in their lives, both materially and spiritually.

Many a times, we even want our dependents to advance faster than even our own selves.

One of my guides would humorously say, “Our tyre is punctured, but we want, or rather, we are very eager to fill air in others’ tyres!”

We may give our dependents higher association, push them, and regularly pray for them to advance. We may also request other devotees to pray for them. Srila Prabhupada’s father would request all sadhus to bless his son so that he becomes a devotee of Srimati Radharani.

Sometimes we may also impose strict rules on them so that they may not drift away.

These are definitely good ways to help our dependents grow.

Another powerful way by which we can help our dependents receive Krishna’s mercy is we ourselves start loving Krishna!

Someone may ask, how will my loving Krishna help others?

Krishna’s Very Existence – His Devotees!

Devotees are the dearest paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His very existence is incomplete without His devotees.

In fact, Krishna is dependent on his devotees. In Vrindavan, Krishna cries if He is alone at night and cannot see mother Yashoda. He fears chastisement from mother Yashoda.

Bhagavatam mentions that when Lord Vishnu appeared in Prthu Maharaja’s sacrifice, he didn’t want to leave because of affection for His dear devotee. Krishna becomes the chariot driver of Arjuna being bound by his deep love. Krishna forever becomes an indebtor of the gopis’ love – na paraye ‘ham (SB 10.32.22)

Just as Krishna loves His devotees, He loves those who are connected to His devotees in any way. And Krishna considers it an obligation to award His own love to the dependents of His dear devotees!

Let us see three examples, with varying degrees of connection with devotees who loved Krishna.

From ‘Dukhi’ to ‘Sukhi’

Srivas Thakura’s maidservant was named Dukhi. When Mahaprabhu performed his sat-prahariya lila, also known as the Mahaprakasa Lila, Dukhi was in the background, arranging water for the Lord’s abhisheka. Mahaprabhu, seeing her menial service, became pleased and awarded her the title ‘Sukhi.’ He didn’t just award the title, but made her truly sukhi, or happy, by awarding her His own love.

Sukhi never desired anything. She simply assisted Mahaprabhu’s servants in the background. And she became a recipient of His mercy. More so, because of her connection with Srivas.

If we love Krishna, Krishna grants love to those who serve or assist us.

But, what if our dependents are not serving or assisting Krishna in any way? Let us see another example.

A ‘Dog’ Ascends to Vaikuntha!

Sivananda Sen was responsible for the entire travel, accommodation and prasadam arrangements of all devotees who would travel each year from Navadvipa to Jagannath Puri. Once, a dog joined their group. Sivananda became fond of this dog, and assured that he received prasada each day. Sivananda even paid an additional amount to get that dog onto a boat. One day, as Sivananda was going somewhere out, he told his servants to feed the dog. In the midst of their arrangements, they forgot, and the dog left. When Sivananda Sen came to know about it, he became very unhappy. He ordered 8-10 people to search for the dog, but they could not find him.

Eventually, as Sivananda reached Jagannath Puri with all devotees, he found that dog in front of Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu was feeding him, and being induced by the Lord, he was also chanting ‘Krishna, Krishna.’ The very next day, Lord Caitanya sent that dog back to Godhead, simply because he became dear to Sivananda!

Krishna takes care of the objects of affection of His devotees. If we become Krishna’s devotees, won’t He take care of our dependents and loved ones?

The dog was neutral to bhakti. His only qualification was Sivananda’s love for him. Now, what if our dependents are antagonistic to bhakti? Will Krishna take care then also?

From a God-hater to a God-lover

Amogha was the son-in-law of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. He despised the Lord. Once, Sarvabhauma had invited the Lord for lunch. He induced the Lord to eat a large quantity. He reasoned that as Lord Jagannatha, he ate 56 bhogas, why can’t he take what had been prepared at his home? As this loving reciprocation was going on, Amogha appeared. Seeing the huge quantity of prasadam, he started blaspheming the Lord. Sarvabhauma looked at him angrily, and as Amogha began to leave, Sarvabhauma ran behind him with a stick. His wife started beating her chest and praying that her daughter becomes a widow. Mahaprabhu was laughing all the while. He tried to pacify Sarvabhauma and his wife.

Meanwhile, Amogha developed cholera as a result of his offense. He was in a dying condition. Yet, Sarvabhauma and his wife’s anger had not subsided. They felt it as an apt punishment for his offense.

When Mahaprabhu came to know about this, he ran to Amogha’s house, placed his hand on Amogha’s chest and said, “This is the place for Krishna to reside. Why have you allowed jealously to sit in here?” And then he encouraged Amogha to chant Hare Krishna. Amogha, being purified by Lord’s touch, became ecstatic in Krishna’s love. He even began slapping his cheeks in atonement for his offense.

Mahaprabhu said to him,
prabhu āśvāsana kare sparśi’ tāra gātra
sārvabhauma-sambandhe tumi mora sneha-pātra
After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pacified Amogha by touching his body and saying, ”You are the object of My affection because you are the son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

sārvabhauma-gṛhe dāsa-dāsī, ye kukkura
seha mora priya, anya jana rahu dūra
”Everyone in Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s house is very dear to Me, including his maids and servants and even his dog. And what to speak of his relatives? CC Madhya 15.283-284

This is a shining example of how a devotee’s relative, even though offensive, is protected by the Lord.

Therefore, if we simply love Krishna, then those connected to us, whether they serve, assist, remain neutral, or even oppose devotional service, can become dear to Him.

Our role is to guide, care for, and uplift our dependents. But above all, if we rise in our own love for Krishna, they too will rise in love. Krishna’s mercy flows best through those He loves the most.