BY: SUN STAFF
Jun 16, CANADA (SUN) —
Sri Krsna-sandarbha
by Srila Jiva Goswami
Anuccheda 88
1 This distinction between the material and spiritual Cupids is confirmed by the following verse (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.55.2) which describes the appearance of the material Cupid:
“Cupid was born as the son of Lord Krsna in the womb of Rukmini and he became celebrated by the name Pradyumna. Because he was begotten by Lord Krsna directly, his qualities were most similar to those of Krsna.”*
2 This verse describes the visnu-tattva Lord Pradyumna, the direct expansion of Lord Krsna, who took birth in the womb of Rukmini. That this verse describes the visnu-tattva Pradyumna, and not the material demigod Cupid may be inferred by the phrase ‘sarvato navamah pituh’ (His qualities were most similar to those of His father Krsna).
The material Cupid, who appeared in Lord Krsna’s pastimes, is an empowered incarnation of Lord Pradyumna. Cupid was granted the powers of Lord Pradyumna, just as Arjuna was granted the powers of Indra by his father, who was Indra himself (this story is related in the Mahabharata).
Because this person was actually the material demigod Cupid, who was granted extraordinary powers by Lord Pradyumna, Narada informed Rati-devi (Cupid’s wife) that her husband had appeared in Lord Krsna’s pastimes. For this reason, when Rati- devi was reunited with Pradyumna, there was no fault on her part, for she simply regained the association of her husband.
Someone may raise the question how it was possible for Rati-devi, a material demigoddess to associate with an empowered incarnation of Lord Pradyumna. The answer to this question is that by contact with the empowered incarnation of Pradyumna she became purified and qualified to associate with him, just as ordinary metals become turned to gold by contact with a touchstone.
The actual visnu-tattva Lord Pradyumna, however, is not associated with Rati-devi who is the potency of the material Cupid. Lord Pradyumna’s potency is Lord Aniruddha. This is confirmed in the verse from Gopala-tapani Upanisad quoted in Anuccheda 87, text 2.
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