Insulting Krishna?

a short story

Naughty Krishna holding a piece of candy

Two young devotee males dressed in saffron robes and wearing saffron baseball caps walked up to the door.

“Should we really bother Guruji with this?” said Rama.

“You won’t be peaceful if you don’t,” said Nitai.

Rama knocked on the door.

“Come in,” said a voice inside.

The door was stuck so Rama had to pull hard to open it. Then they both slipped off their shoes and walked inside. Guruji was sitting at his desk, typing on his computer.

Rama and Nitai took off their baseball caps, got down on all fours, and touched their heads to the floor.

“Nice to see you,” said Guruji. “Sit down. What can I do for you?”

“Something’s bothering me,” said Rama. An article I saw on the intenet. I feel a pain inside when I think about it.”

“What article?”

“I can’t remember the name. It’s too long.”

“I remember,” said Nitai. “I wrote it on my arm.”

Guruji laughed a little laugh. “On your arm? Well that’s pretty clever. How old are you now?”

“Eleven. And Rama’s eighteen.”

“So what’s the name of this article?”

“Universal Truths People Can’t Seem to Accept.”

“Who wrote it?”

“Some woman named Sabrina F.” said Rama. “No last name. It’s the usual drivel. Life is unfair… Rich people protect other rich people… You know.”

“Then what’s bothering you?”

“It’s this: ‘All religions are man-made.’ I just don’t know how to answer it. How can I prove that religion comes from Krishna?”

“She’s saying the same thing.”

“What? One says, ‘Krishna,’ one says,’man.’ How can it be the same?

“You know,” said Guruji as he smiled and adjusted his glasses. “This woman says God did not invent religion. Some man did. She may be trying to insult Krishna, but she’s actually speaking a profound truth.”

“I’m lost.”

“The highest worship is to worship Krishna in his manlike form. Right?”

“Yes, but…”

“No ‘buts’. Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita in his manlike form. So religion was started by a man, but not by the man Miss F was thinking of.”

“What about Buddhism and Christianity?”

“The Bhagavatam says that Buddha is an incarnation of Krishna. Jesus and Mohammed are not mentioned as avatars, but they showed the same qualities. And they are all men.”

“Thank you. Now I understand.”

“Me too,” said Nitai. “And Moses saw God.”

“Yes,” said Guruji. “And thank you, Miss F for speaking a profound truth even though you wanted to do the opposite. And now, Rama, you can go out and preach this. You are a born preacher. Yes. And take Nitai with you.”

Nitai punched Rama in the arm. “See? I told you Guruji would answer the question.”

Rama reached over and squeezed Nitai’s nose.

“Ouch!” said Nitai.

Guruji laughed. “You two guys are always fun.”

Rama grabbed Nitai’s arm. “Come on. Let’s get out there and preach.”

Rama and Nitai got down on all fours and touched their heads to the floorboards. Then they put on their baseball caps and walked out the door.

⁓Umapati Swami September 27, 2025

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© Umapati Swami 2025

Srila Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the teacher who brought Krishna Consciousness from India to the West and then to the rest of the world. He is the founder of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement as well as the author and compiler of many works of Vedic knowledge. He left this world in 1977.

Umapati Swami

One of the first American devotees of the Hare Krishna Movement, he became Srila Prabhupada’s disciple in 1966. Since then, he has preached Krishna Consciousness in many countries and is the author of “My Days with Prabhupada,” available from Amazon. Now 88 years old, he maintains this blog to share what he has learned.