There is a famous pastime mentioned in the Mahābhārata. When it was decided that the battle of Kurukṣetra was inevitable, both sides began gathering their supporters. Duryodhana had his own strategies, while Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, who was Ajātaśatru, the one without enemies, was inviting saintly and non-envious people to join his side.

A crucial question remained: whose side would Kṛṣṇa fight for?

When Arjuna went to meet Kṛṣṇa, he found that Duryodhana had already arrived. Kṛṣṇa, however, was taking rest. Duryodhana sat near Kṛṣṇa’s head, while Arjuna humbly sat near His lotus feet.

When Kṛṣṇa opened His eyes, He first saw Arjuna and greeted him. Then He said, “On one side is I Myself, who will not fight, and on the other side is My Nārāyaṇī-sena – a vast army equal in strength to Me.” He gave Arjuna the first choice.

Duryodhana feared that Arjuna would surely ask for the mighty Nārāyaṇī-sena, but to his surprise, Arjuna chose Kṛṣṇa Himself, while Duryodhana eagerly accepted Kṛṣṇa’s vast army.

Ultimately, in the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, the party that had Kṛṣṇa won, while the party that had Kṛṣṇa’s energies lost.

In spiritual life, success lies not in possessing Kṛṣṇa’s energies, but in possessing Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Choosing People or Their Energies?

In our practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we may encounter a similar situation. Sometimes, rather than valuing a person, we may tend to value their energies—their skills, influence, talents, or position. In doing so, we overlook the person’s bhāva, their inner consciousness and devotion.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was pleased to accept a South Indian brāhmaṇa in His party who had no material qualifications, because He valued the brāhmaṇa’s humility and devotion more than his scholarship.

Lord Rāma was more attracted to Śabarī’s simple devotion than her social status.

Lord Caitanya was captivated by the pure-hearted devotion of the banana-seller Sridhar Kholaveca, not by any other thing.

Lord Rama defeated the entire army of Rakshasas with the help of monkey soldiers.

Śrīla Prabhupāda once said, “Kṛṣṇa sent me only third-class men,” though we know how exalted his disciples truly were. He was emphasizing that their background didn’t matter, but by his grace, they were empowered to do things much beyond their level.

People or Projects?

Our parampara is not based on grooming and cultivating skill and talent. Rather, it is based on keeping people first and then projects. When we care for people, why won’t they give their best? When we invest in relationships, why won’t they fructify and yield delicious fruits over time?

Prabhupada definitely opened 108 temples, but he kept devotee care as one of his prime goals. His care brought devotees to this movement. He prioritized people over projects.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura opened 64 Gaudiya Maths. But he was the one who would personally put mosquito nets for all his disciples.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed through his example how to care for devotees. When all devotees would arrive in Jagannath Puri, he would ensure the right care for them from accommodations to prasadam.

As practitioners of Krishna Consciousness, we are meant to engage people, and not use their skills and talents for our own purposes.

And, when we choose devotees rather than their energies, the devotees come on our side, just like Krishna came on the side of Arjuna. And, along with devotees, naturally all their energies follow.

As a spiritual movement and a spiritual personality, we must assess what do we value more: people or their energies? If we tend to value energies more, we have great chances of losing in the battelfield of life. In this battlefield, people matter more than their energies. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada said – You can show me your love by how you co-operate with each other. The success of our spiritual life and our organization greatly depends on co-operation, and it is only possible to the degree we value devotees in our life.