A sincere devotee of Krishna is never disturbed by any kinds of sufferings and lives always fearlessly. We will never find any instance in the Vedic scriptures where a devotee was fearful of any material situation.
But if we are not Krishna conscious then in this world we will always be in a disturbed state. In spite of our power and position, we will live in fear. Whether we are in the house or out of the house we will be in fear.
Many of us think that we are safe and secure inside the house but what happens when earth starts shaking? Do we remain inside the house? At the time of earthquake house is the most unsafe place to be in. But suppose that the earthquake is accompanied by heavy rain and lightening then where will we go? We will then not be secure in the house and also outside the house.
Is there any place in this world where we are safe? The answer is no.
This is why Srimad Bhagavatam says that in this world there are dangers at every step – padam padam yad vipidam, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58.
No one can protect us in this world. Even those who loves us the most cannot save us from danger.
A father and a mother cannot protect their child. In fact they can’t even protect themselves.
Even the best doctor and the best medicine cannot save a patient. A boat in the ocean cannot save a drowning man. We all know that Titanic which was said be an unsinkable ship sank in its first voyage.
From womb to tomb uncertainty, anxiety and fear accompany us like a shadow.
The unwanted suffering
We fear suffering. But suffering comes to us whether we like it or not.
But when suffering comes, we have a tendency to blame others. We feel that the entire world is conspiring against us. And it is true also that we suffer because of others. But if we study the life of great devotees then we will find that they never blamed anyone for their suffering even though it was very clear that others where inflicting pain upon them.
For example, Prahlada never blamed his father, Hiranyakasipu, who was torturing him mentally and physically and was employing cruel means to kill him. Prahlada said, “I am suffering because of my own activities.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.16
Now, how many of us accept that we are the cause of our own misfortune?
We may be suffering now not because the Lord wants us to suffer but because we had indulged in certain prohibitory activities in the past, which is considered sinful by the Vedic scriptures.
Like a prisoner in this world
As long as we are in this world and as long as we have not got purified of all our sins, we will suffer. This material world is compared to a prison house. Just like in a prison, the inmates cannot be peaceful, similarly, in this material world we cannot be peaceful.
A prisoner cannot complain that why he is not happy in the prison house.
Similarly, we the spiritual beings who have been exiled from the spiritual world and sent to this material world, which is just like a prison house should not expect that we can enjoy here.
Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 8.15 very clearly says that this world is duhkhalayam asasvatam– temporary and miserable.
The good news – we can live fearlessly.
However the good news is that we are not condemned to suffer forever in this world. There is a solution to all our miseries.
Sometimes seeing the good conduct of a prisoner, the jail authorities may recommend the constitutional authority to reduce his sentence or even recommend to set him free.
Similarly, we the residents of this world also have the chance to get freedom from all the miseries.
The jail authorities of this world may be heartless, biased or corrupt, but the Supreme Lord is unbiased and our best well-wisher.
He has the complete authority over this world and is always eager to take us back to His abode where there are no miseries. And once we return to our eternal home, we will never come back to this world. Free from all sufferings we will live there fearlessly.
“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.” Bhagavad Gita 8.16
Now, we do not have to wait to go to the abode of Krishna to live a fear free happy life.
Even in this world, if we always remain under the shelter of Krishna we will attain freedom from all suffering and can life without any fear.
Showing compassion upon you and me, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “Come to me, I will free you from all sins and you can then live fearlessly”.
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Bhagavad Gita 18.66
How Krishna helps devotee to live fearlessly
In fact, once we enthrone Krishna in our hearts then we can live happily and fearlessly forever, even in this world.
In fact, a devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly even in this world because Krishna personally and proactively protect his devotee.
Srimad Bhagavatam informs us that if one takes shelter of the Supreme Lord completely then the merciful Lord helps him to navigate through all the dangers which torments us in this world.
“For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58
Always absorbed in Krishna
Great devotee, Prahlada says that he is not afraid of material life because he always meditates on the Supreme Lord which gives him unlimited bliss. But he is concerned about those people who try to enjoy this world and forget to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. Such persons are condemned to suffer.
“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.43
A devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly because the Supreme Lord is always with him.
So, if we too want to live fearlessly then we should follow the footsteps of devotees like Prahlada and always remain under the shelter of Krishna, the Supreme Lord. If we fail to do so, then we will have to face the consequences.
