Lectures and Commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7, made in Vrindavan (India)
In the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, there is a very interesting dialogue recited by Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī about the liberation of Śiśupāla who was killed by Kṛṣṇa during Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja’s Rājasūya-yajña. Śiśupāla was Kṛṣṇa’s cousin, but hated Kṛṣṇa since his very birth. At the first sight of Kṛṣṇa, he would start insulting Him, but Kṛṣṇa always remained tolerant, not showing any sign of disturbance. Kṛṣṇa had promised Śiśupāla’s mother, his maternal Aunt, “I will tolerate one hundred abuses from your son, but the day he crosses this limit, I will take action.”
External situations cannot force you to give up Bhakti. External situations can force you to give up specific actions of Bhakti. But the essence of Bhakti is fixity of mind on Krishna. Only an offense can trigger you to give up Bhakti. But then you will come back to Bhakti anyway once the offense has given its result.
