If Krsna is the source of everything, what is the source of Krsna?

One may apply material logic in trying to understand Krsna, and ask that if Krsna is the cause of everything that exists, what is the cause of Krsna? Brahma answers this question.

One may apply material logic in trying to understand Krsna, and ask that if Krsna is the cause of everything that exists, what is the cause of Krsna? Brahma answers this question by stating that there is no cause beyond Him. The process of finding the cause of different causes ends when we reach Krsna. He is Supreme, and there is nothing beyond Him.

"At the beginning of creation there are penance, myself [Brahmā] and the Prajāpatis, the great sages who generate; then, during the maintenance of the creation, there are Lord Viṣṇu, the demigods with controlling powers, and the kings of different planets. But at the end there is irreligion, and then Lord Śiva and the atheists full of anger, etc. All of them are different representative manifestations of the energy of the supreme power, the Lord." (SB 2.7.39)

Although it may be attractive for souls captivated by the material energy, the cosmic manifestation is just a temporary show that has the goal of giving us a chance of liberation from the clutches of Maya. The universe is created starting by Brahma and the great sages, and the different incarnations of the Lord appear to teach devotional service. However, when time passes and the souls don't take the opportunity, Lord Shiva and His associates take charge of the process of destruction.

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"Who can describe completely the prowess of Viṣṇu? Even the scientist, who might have counted the particles of the atoms of the universe, cannot do so. Because it is He only who, in His form of Trivikram, moved His leg effortlessly beyond the topmost planet, Satyaloka, up to the neutral state of the three modes of material nature. And all were moved.

Neither I nor all the sages born before you know fully the omnipotent Personality of Godhead. So what can others, who are born after us, know about Him? Even the first incarnation of the Lord, namely Śeṣa, has not been able to reach the limit of such knowledge, although He is describing the qualities of the Lord with ten hundred faces.

But anyone who is specifically favored by the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, due to unalloyed surrender unto the service of the Lord, can overcome the insurmountable ocean of illusion and can understand the Lord. But those who are attached to this body, which is meant to be eaten at the end by dogs and jackals, cannot do so." (SB 2.7.40-42)

Lord Sesa lives at the bottom of the universe and is absorbed in constantly describing the glories of the Lord. However, although he has glorified the Lord for billions of years with his millions of heads, he still can't find an end to them. By the mercy of the Lord, even the most sinful persons can become liberated by surrendering to Krsna's devotees and following their footsteps.

The Lord is uncontaminated and without material distinctions. He is the cause of all causes, and the illusory energy can't stand before Him. When we approach the Lord, Maya automatically stops acting over us. As Lord Brahma states:

"In such a transcendental state there is no need of artificial control of the mind, mental speculation or meditation, as performed by the jñānīs and yogīs. One gives up such processes, as the heavenly King, Indra, forgoes the trouble to dig a well."

Just like digging a well to get water will sound ludicrous to Indra, who controls the rain, mental control or mystical perfections are automatically attained by a pure devotee who fully dedicates himself to the service of the Lord. We may think that this platform is inaccessible to us, but by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everything becomes possible. Because our situation in this age is so lamentable and we face so many challenges, the Lord is merciful to us and rewards us at every small step, different from previous ages where people lived in a favorable environment and would be punished for any small mistake.

Krsna Himself describes this compassionate mood in the Bhagavad-Gītā, and this compassion is even more pronounced in Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu:

"Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination. He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes. O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth – women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] – can attain the supreme destination. How much more this is so of the righteous brāhmaṇas, the devotees and the saintly kings. Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me.

Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me." (Bg 9.30-31)

The first point described by Krsna is that even if one can't follow everything perfectly, or falls from regulative principles, he is not rejected. AS long as he remains sincere in chanting and worshiping the Lord, He overlooks these limitations and offers his devotee mercy, so he can gradually overcome his shortcomings. As exemplified by the history of Ajāmila, even in the most dire circumstances, a devotee is always protected. In our age, everyone is a sudra, and therefore Krsna reassures us that even the most degraded people can get His shelter regardless of material position.

This is even more directly explained by Krsna in the Gītā on 6.40:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Son of Pṛthā, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil."

In the Sanskrit, Krsna used the word kalyāṇa-kṛt to describe devotional activities, it means "one who is engaged in auspicious activities". Devotional service is the most auspicious activity. Such a devotee who is engaged in this way, even if faults is fully protected by the Lord: naiveha nāmutra, vināśas tasya. Even though he is living in the material world, his devotional service never faces destruction, neither in this life nor in the next life. The word "durgatim" indicates that a devotee never faces degradation. His devotional service may be covered for some time due to mistakes or sinful activities, but as soon as he returns to the right path, this contamination is very quickly washed away, just like a diamond put into the mud can be cleaned easily by just washing it with water.

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