ya eṣa rājann api kāla īśitā

ya eṣa rājann api kāla īśitā

sattvaṁ surānīkam ivaidhayaty ataḥ

tat-pratyanīkān asurān sura-priyo

rajas-tamaskān pramiṇoty uruśravāḥ

O King! The Lord as time, friend of the devatās, increases the devatās in sattva by the Lord’s influence, and destroys the demons inimical to them, covered by rajas and tamas.

Since time is the product of the Lord, the nature of the product is applied to the Lord as well. Thus the Lord is described as time. The Lord increases the devatās with predominance of sattva. He destroys the demons who are enemies of the devatās. But time is the cause of disturbance of the guṇas, and not the Lord. Though a person makes a house, controls it and lives in it, the height or coolness of the house is not the height and coolness of that person. 

 

The Lord is affectionate to the devatās (sura-priyaḥ). Though this is favoritism, it is his ornament, not a fault. This has been explained elsewhere. It is said:

samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu na me dveṣyo 'sti na priyaḥ

ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto me in devotion is a friend, is in me, and I am also a friend to him.

BG 9.29 

 

Sometimes the devatās are defeated. This is arranged by the Lord to rid the devatās of their pride. “How can you say that the Lord is affectionate to all beings and is friend of everyone?” He is uruśravāḥ, most famous. His fame is proclaimed as the friend of all and most affectionate to all when he gives Pūtanā and others a place in the spiritual world even though they committed the greatest sins.

aho bakī yaṁ stana-kāla-kūṭaṁ

jighāṁsayāpāyayad apy asādhvī

lebhe gatiṁ dhātry-ucitāṁ tato ’nyaṁ

kaṁ vā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajema

 

Oh! Evil Pūtanā, who offered her poisonous breast to Kṛṣṇa to drink with the intention of killing him, attained the position of a nurse in the spiritual world. How else is so merciful? I surrender to him! SB 3.2.23

 

|| 7.1.13 ||