The following discourse has been translated into English from Bhagavan's Telugu speech as heard on this festival's ashram audiocassette. It is a complete, literal translation made with the objective of preserving Bhagavan's precious original poetic style as much as possible.
DISCOURSE BY SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
Krishnashtami
August 31st, 2002

Sweeter than sugar,
tastier than the essence of curds (butter),
so much more tastier than matured honey,
uttered and uttered with the mouth,
it seems like amritha (nectar)!
Therefore, remember that excellent
and eternal Name of Krishna!
Remember the Name of Krishna,
Remember the Name of Krishna!
(Swami sings a Telugu poem)

THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED
Embodiments of Love!
From ancient times the nature of Krishna is such a sweet Name for children and elderly people also. From the time Krishna was born He made everyone forget themselves with dance and songs, joy and enthusiasm.
Coming together with the cowherd boys, both Balarama and Krishna took the cows and played along the shores of Yamuna river. The cowherd boys were immersed in joy during the games and songs of Krishna, and they forgot the cows. After sometime, they ate meals and they took rest.
In the meantime, intense heat spread in the four directions. Wherever one observed there were flames. There were flames that were not possible to look at. The cowherd boys saw. “Krishna, no one else can extinguish these flames except You!” Unable to bear this intense heat, even the cows ran in the four directions. No one was able to catch hold of their cows.
This heat was increasing moment to moment. Then the cowherd boys didn’t see any other way. Everyone came running, “Krishna, Krishna, Krishna! You only have to protect them, save them and forgive us!” They requested that.
Krishna laughed outright, “O cowherd boys, haven’t you experienced even so much, though you have been going about with Me, playing, singing, and even experiencing bliss? Many times I killed the messengers sent by Kamsa and gave you joy. Now you are unable to bear seeing the difficult situation of these cows. Where have these cows gone to? How are the cows? You are unable to recognize.” He called everybody near, “O cowherd boys, don’t be worried.”

When you have the Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling tree) that gives the fruits one desires, why desire a flower in the backyard?
When there is Kamadhenu (the wish-fulfilling cow) that gives as much milk as one asks, why give money and buy another cow?
When there is the shining and radiant mountain Meru (made of gold), why search for silver and gold?
(Telugu poem)

“When Krishna who has all powers is beside you, with you, in front of you and in you, why are you under so much delusion because of this small difficulty? Close your eyes once and think of Me.” The cowherd boys were ones who listened and acted accordingly to Krishna’s commands. Immediately everyone closed their eyes. They contemplated, “Krishna, Krishna, Krishna!”
After a moment, “O cowherd boys, open your eyes! See where your cows are!” By the time they opened their eyes, the fire was extinguished. Each one’s cows came beside them. Seeing this sight, the cowherd boys were immersed in joy and were unable to bear it. They went in haste to their own villages. They went to prove to their parents this amazing wonder.

WOLFE MESSING
Such amazing wonders were noticed wherever one looked. Not only in the country of Bharath. In Russia such amazing powers were also demonstrated. Wolfe Messing was born in Russia (Poland) in September 10th, 1899. He radiated brilliance even from his birth.
As a small boy, without him being aware of it, he rotated his hands, laughed, talked (to himself) and did strange and mysterious actions like this. His parents were very surprised and were unable to understand this wonder. One year passed like this. In his second year, he began to talk. He was talking within himself, scratching his head, laughing, running here and there and acted as if he was talking with someone.
His parents were unable to understand this mystery. “Is he crazy or what? Why is he doing like this? Whom he is talking with? Who does he see that makes him laugh?” In this way they were surprised within themselves. They gained joy and also felt fear.
When it continued to happen in this way, in 1806 day, a big tall man wearing a white gown came in front of his house and stood. He called that boy near, “Messing, Messing, Messing, come one, come on!”
He called him close, “Dear one, your parents, thinking that you are insane, are ready to join you in some mental hospital or join you in a school. Don’t go anywhere. Your (spiritual) craziness is known to the people who understand but what do (materially) crazy people know? This is spiritual madness. If everyone had this kind of madness, the country would progress. So don’t join in an ordinary school. Worldly and physical knowledge will not touch (impress) you. Learn spiritual knowledge. I came to tell you this.”
Then that boy Messing said, “Grandfather, where did you come from?” He said, “I will tell you afterwards. Wherever I am going (now), I came from there. Just don’t forget these words. Only learn spiritual education. Don’t enter into secular, physical and worldly education. Your position is you are now in boyhood. Until you become an adult, don’t have association with anybody. Look here, I am going now.” He said this and he disappeared from there.
Messing saw this. He inquired within himself, “Where did he come from and where did he go? Am I just like that? I came. Will I go ultimately back there?” Wondering where he went to, he ran here and there, here and there. He went inside, he came outside, he leaped up, he jumped down and he did something or the other. “This is not possible for me. That great being could do it but I am an ordinary person, I cannot do it.”
In this way he grew, grew and grew. His parents didn’t try to send him outside anywhere. However, they protected him inside. On 9th February 1909, he saw. “I should go somewhere. I should not stay in this house. This only teaches me worldly knowledge. What that great soul said was to learn spiritual knowledge.”
He went inside. No money was (immediately) seen at all. On a rack there were eight annas (half a rupee). He took those eight annas and started off. He did not know where he was going and what he was doing. Gradually, he went around the entire world with those eight annas. There was no one to question him. There was no one who asked, “Where is your ticket?” There was no one who asked, “Where is your money?” No one came near to him.

HE ENTERED INTO INDIA
Wandering, wandering, wandering and wandering like this, finally he went around for ten years. Then his age was 19. On the 19th he entered into India. He entered into India and he sat in the train in Cuddapah, wanting to come to Anantapur.
As it was proceeding, proceeding, proceeding, proceeding and proceeding, the train stopped at Kamalapuram station. Then I was studying at Kamalapuram. What study? Crazy studies! I was studying in third or fourth class, that’s all. There, both Ramesh and Raghu (Suresh), sat at My desk. Ramesh was a rich boy. His father was a revenue officer.
Then taking those boys, we used to go towards the station in the evening. We used to contemplate on spiritual matters. Then, one or two trains used to come daily (along the route). There weren’t many trains then. We three walked. Beside the station there was a rock and we sat on the rock. They were asking some questions and I was saying the answers. In this way we were there laughing.
Messing was in the train that was coming from Cuddapah and going towards Anantapur. He saw (us) from a window. As the train was moving he opened the doors. He jumped. He fell. “Oh dear, maybe his legs were broken!” Thinking this, Ramesh and Ramu (Suresh) who were with Me, felt very bad. I told them nothing at all happened. I said, “For whom was he coming? He was coming for Me! So, no danger will happen to him. You both be quiet.” (Applause)
HE WAS APPROACHING ME
He walked and didn’t even take a bag or anything. He was approaching Me. However, he didn’t come very close to us. He sat ten feet away. He was shedding tears and watching Me without even batting his eyelids.
Ramesh and Ramu (Suresh) saw this sight. In those days children were afraid. They used to talk about it, saying, “All these white people will come, grab children, and join them in the military. Therefore, we should never be caught by white people.” Thinking that they (foreigners) might take them (the children) away and join them in the military, they used to be very afraid.
However, Messing was coming nearer and nearer, nearer and nearer. Ramesh went running home. He went to his father and said, “Father, you have to bring the jeep and come immediately! First and foremost bring Raju to our house. Someone came to carry Raju away. He is a white foreigner. He is looking only in Swami’s (Raju’s) direction. So, he is continually watching Raju.” Saying that, he told his father.
Immediately his father came in the jeep. That father came and lifted me up and sat Me in the car. “Raju, I will take you again (safely) to your own house. First and foremost come to our house.” He took Me to their house. He took me and went, and Messing followed the entire path of the jeep. He came in front of their house and he sat there day and night.
After, whenever he saw Me, he was laughing, calling, seeing Me with so much bliss and saying something. “Yet, this is not good. We cannot explain anything to the British.” Therefore, the doors were locked and he was told to go.
A peon was sent to the house (Swami’s brother’s house, where He was staying) to tell this. Then Seshama Raju (Swami’s eldest brother) was a teacher there. He (the peon, the messenger) said, “Look, a foreigner has come wanting to take away Raju. He is waiting. We have hid him (Raju) in our house. Don’t be afraid, we will bring him home safely.”
He (Messing) watched and watched and after three days, he got on another train and he went away somewhere. (Before going) he came near the house and with a pencil he wrote on a door: “The people of this house are so lucky! The people of this house have this boy inside. They are serving this boy. I obtained just so much.” He said ‘thanks’ to them, and he went away.

A KIRLIAN CAMERA
The one who went away reached Russia again. After reaching Russia, after 20 years he came to India again. He brought a camera called ‘Kirlian’. He brought it. He didn’t use it anywhere else. That (camera) showed the aura, meaning, there is radiance around a person. To someone who is sathwic and good, a shining effulgence will appear behind him. To one who has thamo guna, a black aura will appear. That is what comes from thamo guna. Then, for the one who has rajo guna, a red aura comes.
He came to Kamalapuram and he inquired where Raju was. By then, I changed. I wasn’t Raju (anymore). They (the people of Kamalapuram) said, “He has become a guru now for all of us Hindus. His name is Truth. Therefore, he has the name of Sathya Sai Baba. (Applause) Now He may be in Puttaparthi or in Bangalore.” He started off there for Bangalore.
He started off for Bangalore and by the time the train reached (Whitefield), a big crowd was waiting. When he asked, “What is this crowd?” They said, “We came for Darshan of Sathya Sai Baba.” When they said that, he thought to himself, “This must be (the same) Sathya Sai Baba.”
He stood there. I came there then and was going among the people. He went and saw. “This is the same boy I saw then. That radiance is still shining!” Thinking that, he slowly went to our college principal. The name of the college principal then was Narendra. He was a great man. He also was educated in Sanskrit. He used to teach the students very well. His father was a named Damodhara. He was a judge. Both of them were there.
He (Messing) said, “Show me once to that boy.” Afterwards he opened the camera, “You can't see the correct way. He is the manifested God. (Applause) You are unable to recognize. You are seeing an ordinary form. See the aura well.” He took it (the camera) out. There was nagarsankirtin and I was giving Darshan from above. From below he clicked the camera. Many lights came to him.
He showed that photo. Around my Face was a large radiance. (Applause) My Body was fully in a sacred white light. Nothing could be seen except for My Body. Every finger, every nail, everything on this Body were seen. Narendra took this photo. He took it and requested, “Photos like this aren’t available in our country of Bharath. I want this.”
He (Messing) said, “I will give the photograph but I won't give the camera. There are so many things that I have to experience with this. First and foremost bring me to Baba, that’s enough for Me.”
YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING
In the evening he arranged a class meeting. Then I sat. He came. Whether the class teachers or the masters, he wasn’t looking at anyone. Wondering where was I sitting and what was I doing, he was looking here and there and looking amongst the people. It was happening like this.
Finally he saw Me. “My dear, my dear, my dear!” Saying that, he came walking near (Me). “You are my everything. I am your instrument. You are my everything, you are my everything. You are my everything! You are my everything!”
Till now I haven’t told this to anyone. So, saying this, he stayed there for ten days. I showed him everything that needed to be shown and I said everything that needed to be told. This (referring to Himself) appears to be an ordinary human nature.

Daivam Manusha Rupena.

God is in the form of Man.
(Sanskrit sloka)

“God never comes in the form of God. He comes in human form. This system is also in the scriptures.” Saying that, he wrote a big book about that. He wrote it and he gave it to Gokak. Gokak knows English but he doesn’t know French so well. And beyond that, he truly doesn’t know the Russian language at all. He kept it near him. Finally, he learnt (the language) with all the people who were coming and he translated it.
After a few days, he (Messing) went away without being seen by anyone. A letter came to Narendra from Russia. (Messing wrote,) “You’re a teacher (working) for God. You are so lucky!” Saying that, he asked him (Narendra) to convey to him all matters that were happening there, relating to Swami.
One day, Narendra and I were both sitting. He was asking questions and I was talking (answering). At that time he (Messing) suddenly appeared. How did he come? There was no ticket or anything. He came, he saw Me and then he disappeared. Not everyone can observe this. Even if I describe it, not everyone can understand. Divinity is very mysterious. Saying that, from then he taught about the nature of Krishna.

THESE ARE DIVINE POWERS
Afterwards, one day all of the cowherd boys came together with Krishna, and they were playing the game of ‘tree branches’ on the shores of the Yamuna, jumping from tree to tree. When they were playing that kind of game, a few people were very tired.
At that time, both Vamana, his name was Vamana and Maharshi Bharadwaja were travelling there. They came to the shores of Yamuna and they asked the cowherd boys, “Dears, where can bath be taken without danger? Where is the deep place? Where is the light (shallow) place? From where can we bathe?” They were asking them.
Krishna, who was on the tree, jumped down. As soon as He jumped, Balarama also jumped. They (the two sages) closed their eyes and thought. “They are the manifested jivatma (individual soul) and Paramatma (Universal Soul). Therefore, this is Divinity and these are Divine powers.” Saying that, they folded both their hands (in adoration).
Bharadwaja asked Krishna, “Dear one, where is a deep place? Where is a shallow place? We have to take a bath.” Saying, “I will show you, come!” He jumped into the water right there. The water came up to here on Krishna (Swami pointed to His neck). He said, “This is a safe place. This is a safe place to take a bath. Immediately take a bath. We will make meals for you made out of butter. We will prepare all of your food. Both of you take bath and come.”
When they said that, Krishna didn’t take bring anything at all. In those days there weren’t tiffin carriers. He said, “Come here.” He opened a bundle. A smell was coming from there, a good smell. It was rice cooked in milk. On top of it was a small plate. He put it (the rice) on the plate for both of them and told them to eat.
The children are here, just see! (They were like) monkey children! They were looking in His (Krishna’s) direction, and being a spectacle (saying), “Where did this (the food) come from? Where did this come from?” Krishna said, “They are great sages! What can be said near them? Therefore, be quiet.”
They (the sages) took it, prayed and ate it. “Dear one, Krishna, who cooked this food?” “Who? My mother, Yashoda!” They thought of her once and ate it. They said, “We never ate such tasty food!” After they ate, they drank the waters of Yamuna and they went on the path that they came on.

BRAHMA HID ALL THE COWS, CALVES AND COWHERD BOYS
Brahma was observing all of these wondrous mysteries. “Where did they all come from? Where did all of this food come from? Hence, He (Krishna) should be caught.” The second day, all the cowherd boys went with all their cows from their house. They arrived in the forest. “The powers and capabilities of Balarama and Krishna should be made public here,” thinking that, he (Brahma) went around there.
All of them (the cowherd boys) were sitting and playing games. They did not think of their cows. Their entire thought was on Krishna. They were immersed in talking with Krishna and jumping up and down. Brahma observed this time and hid all the cows, calves and the cowherd boys. There wasn’t a cow to be seen anywhere. Not even one cowherd boy was seen anywhere.
Krishna observed this. “This is something done by Brahma.” Saying that, he called a cowherd boy, “Look, you also hide without being seen. I will create everything.” Saying that, Krishna created everything: all the cowherd boys, cows and calves. He created all of them, each one’s cows and each one’s calves. Not for only one or two days. One year: one full year.
For one year, going to the house with the cows, seeing to the buckets, eating all that was given, coming back again, He also eating in the early morning, children also coming, in this way it went on. However, even the parents thought they were their own children but they didn’t think that they were created children.
After all of this happened, Brahma felt ashamed. “I did it for so many days but I can't do it any longer. God's leelas are so wondrous!” Then it is said in the Bhagavatha:

It is amazing!
Sacred in the three worlds are crops, friends,
forest dwellers, people and citizens.
It is the story of Vishnu.
(Telugu poem)

Saying that, the second day Brahma came, “Krishna, I have lost. Look here, your children and your cows,” he gave all of them back again. When these (original) cows came, those (created) cows disappeared. In this way, right from childhood, Krishna used to show powerful and great sights with leelas.

THEY WANTED TO FEED ME POISON AND KILL ME
Then, I will tell another wonder that happened with this Body. I never told anyone. After (inaugurating) this Prasanthi Nilayam, I used to eat in the room on this side (Swami points to the top veranda). The whole time I was eating, griham ammayi (literally, ‘the girl of the house,’ meaning His mother Easwaramma) used to come there. She used to sit (and say), “Swami, eat a little more! Eat, you are getting thin!” Saying that, she used to excessively describe Me. I used to say, “Do I have to fight with anyone? Do you want Me to be fat? Chi, chi! I don’t want that. I don’t like it.”
One day, people invited Me to a house. Why did they invite Me? Because they wanted to feed Me poison and kill Me. “The greatness is increasing day by day. How can they build such big temples in this Prasanthi Nilayam, in this small village?” They were considering things in a worldly way.
At that time I liked vadas (a deep-fried gram preparation) very much. I liked alasanda grains a lot. She made alasanda vadas and mixed poison in those vadas, and then gave them to Me. When I went (to their house), I told the griham ammayi, Easwaramma, “Don’t be afraid at all.” I also told Subbamma, “They will look after it. Don’t be afraid at all.”
All right, when I came from there, there was foaming at My mouth and My whole Body was blue. I said to Easwaramma, “Rotate your hand.” ‘He told me to rotate my hand!’ Thinking that, she rotated her hand. When she rotated it, vibhutthi came! (Applause) She was very afraid. “What is this? If Swami rotates (His Hand) it (vibhutthi) comes, but how is it that it comes when I rotate it?” I gave that power to her for some time. (Applause) She mixed it in water and made Me drink it. Immediately all was rectified.

ARE YOU PLAYING WITH SNAKES?
In the past when I was in the Old Mandir, we used to always go to Chitravathi. When we went to Chitravathi, on the way to Chitravathi, all the children used to come. Then there weren’t these students. There were only village boys. They came and I used to say, “Make the sand into heaps. Make it into a pile.” I used to say, “Search in that heap for whatever you want.”
One said he wanted a pencil. One said he wanted a pen. Another one said he wanted a laddu (a ball-shaped sweet). In this way each one (wanted something). They were in childhood, they didn’t know better, so they desired things like this. All of them (whatever they desired) came to each one.
After they (the items) came like this, then I came back with them (the children) to the Old Mandir. “Before Swami arrives, we should go first and give arathi,” thinking that, Kuppam Sushilamma and her younger sister Kumaramma--she (Kumaramma) also wrote a book, you know, she also wrote the book, ‘Anyatha Saranam Nasthi’—they both came running. Why? “When Swami comes, arathi should be given.” No one was there. We had locked the whole Mandir. Thinking that, they were coming running.
When they were coming running, I made a sign to Subbamma. I said, “Push them aside. Subbamma, you go first.” She (Subbamma) said (to the two sisters), “You wait here, I am going.” They had some worldly feelings. “We are both married woman, we may go and give arathi. Subbamma is a widow, how can she give arathi?” They had these thoughts.
Subbamma went there. She prepared the arathi. Before preparing it, there was a big snake by the door. I sent Subbamma for that reason. Subbamma looks very carefully, so she went and saw. She saw it and called to that snake, “Sai Nageswara! Sai Nageswara! Sai Nageswara!” (This means, “Lord Sai in the form of a snake.”) When she called like that, all of them came running. In the meantime all of us came.
Then she became courageous, “Swami says that God is in everything. God is in every living being and God is in every living creature,” saying that, she held it. “Don’t beat it! Don’t beat it! Don’t kill it!” She held it and she went, wanting to put it at a distance. When she held it, it coiled round her entire hand.
In the meantime I came. I said jokingly, “What is this Subbamma! Are you playing with snakes?” “You sent me first, to protect both of them. You have kept me as a principle actor (in this drama).” In this way, I made so many things happen through Subbamma, paapam!
Karanam Subbamma was a very meritorious lady. She was very lucky. She served Me from the beginning. Not only Me, she cooked and served food even to all the devotees that came for (to see) Me also. All her relatives turned against her. She said, “I don’t need anyone. If I have just Sai Baba it is enough. Whatever Sai Baba says, I will do that work.” She had such firm faith.

DO YOU HAVE THE DESIRE TO SEE YOUR (DEAD) HUSBAND?
One day while sitting I asked Subbamma, “Do you have the desire to see your husband?” I used to make jokes now and then like this. “Chi! I don’t have any desire like that, Swami! What work do I have with dead people? They didn’t have the good fortune and they went away (died). I have the good fortune and I am present here serving You.” I said, “If you have the desire to see him once, even that desire will be fulfilled. Go a bit that way, outside.”
She had planted a drumstick tree, paapam! When she went outside near that tree, Narayan Rao (her husband) was smoking a cigarette. She saw that sight. She directly saw him. She saw and not only was she happy but she even scolded him! “Even after death you didn’t give up these bad habits! (Laughter) Even now you are smoking cigarettes! Chi! I won't look at this sight!” Saying that, she returned.
He had two wives. Subbamma and Karanam Kamalamma. Kamalamma is here even now in our Mandir (Ashram). Then I said, “Kamalamma, you go also and see”. She said, “I won't look at that form. I came and am living with Swami. I don’t need all of those forms.” I said, “Go once and see!” When she went and saw, he was drinking hot coffee.
In this way, whatever action he was doing when he was alive, they saw him doing those same actions. In this way, in the avatar of Krishna also, He showed things again that happened before.

RADHA WAS A GREAT DEVOTEE
When He (Krishna) lifted the mountain of Govardhana, they celebrated the festival of Govardhana. When that festival was being celebrated, all the unmarried cowherd girls were doing the Vara Lakshmi Vratam (a ritual worship following certain restrictions, that specifically requests God for a good husband and/or the long and healthy life of the husband). Now also many people do the Vara Lakshmi Vratam. They used to do Vara Lakshmi Vratam. They used to go near to the Govardhana mountain and perform the Vara Lakshmi Vratam.
Then also Radha was a great devotee. Many people harmed that devotee. This is because even then it wasn’t as if there were no atheists. Then or now, atheists, theists, theistic-atheists and atheistic-theists are present in all times.
They put Radha in a room and locked it. I even wrote a drama about that and taught the children. “Krishna will come. If Krishna comes, as soon as she sees Him, she will go running with Krishna. Hence, all the villagers will come to know. The respect of the family of Radha will be ruined.” With that aim in view, they closed the door and locked her in.
From inside she was crying and singing. Then Krishna heard it. He came and opened the doors. Seeing the devotees He said, “Is this what you should do? It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any devotion, (but) you are terrible sinners to do harm to devotees.” He gave a very big speech there, and he took Radha away, along with Rukhmini and Sathyabhama, to Govardhana Mountain.
When He went, Radha, paapam, asked for one desire. She said, “I don’t want anything else, Swami! Play your flute once, that is enough form me. I will listen.” From that day (after fulfilling her desire) Krishna did not touch the flute. As soon as they went there, she fell on His feet:

Sing a song, Krishna,
like the crystallizing honey overflowing.
Speak to us, our Mukunda, to bring relief to the mind!
Collecting the milk from the cows, convert it into sound.
And fill it up in the flute.
(Swami sings a Telugu poem)

In this way she requested Him to sing a song. Krishna sang one song. When He sung she heard, and she gave up her life. Not only gave up her life: from that day, He (Krishna) gave up touching the flute. In that way he renounced one thing after another. He renounced the flute for Radha. He gave up that song.

Fill the sound (in the flute), change it into song.
Sing a song, Krishna,
like the crystallizing honey overflowing.
(Telugu poem)

Then, with that Krishna stopped singing songs. Today in the cinemas, showing as though many songs were sung thereafter. However, Krishna had only this one as the final song.
Krishna showed many different kinds of leelas. Krishna is the personification of leela in human form. Up until now it is not possible for anyone to describe such a nature of Krishna, who is the very personification of leelas. It is infinite and fathomless. It is beyond all measure. There is no measure for it.
You saw such a nature of God in the many leelas of Krishna. In dramas they also fabricated a few. However, they also showed some true things. Yet, the nature of Krishna is only fully the nature of love, but no other natures can be observed there. In those days Krishna arranged for these kinds of leelas, and he showed them in all ways to the entire world.
Only in Dwapara Yuga, they had more faith in God. In the age of Dwapara, Divinity became public through ladies. The nature of women is the nature of feelings. It is only women who externalise (propagated or brought out) the actions of Divinity.

SUCH GOOD FORTUNE!
They (certain sages) were doing Gayathri yagna (a certain fire ceremony) in the forest. As they were doing Gayathri yagna, Krishna called the cowherd boys and said, “Go there. They are performing the yagna. We are hungry. Bring food and come.” First and foremost He said to ask to priests.
They went to the priests, “Sir, Gopala and Balarama both have come. They came walking. They say that they are hungry. Will you give some food?” They asked. They (the priests) said, “What is this! Do you think this is a rest house or a wayside inn? After our yagna is completed, after (the food is) offered to God and after we eat, if there are leftovers, we will give to them.”
They (the cowherd boys) went again (to Krishna). He said to ask the mothers (wives of the priests). They (the cowherd boys) went back. The mothers were cooking. They were making bobotlu (a sweet, chapatti-like preparation, made with jaggery, lentils and ghee). They said, “Mother, Krishna is very hungry. Krishna and Balarama are waiting. Will you give some food?” “Oh! Have we obtained so much good fortune? Such good fortune! Such good fortune!” Saying that, they quickly made many different packs, made bundles and they themselves took them and went there.
A few ladies objected, saying, “After coming here, will their husbands accept them back or not? Before even giving it (the food) to offer to God, isn't it a mistake giving it to Krishna? You are Brahmans and He is a cowherd boy. Giving to him first?!”
They didn’t pay heed to any of that. “He is God, God, God, God! Gopala is God.” They brought everything. They came walking. They served Balarama and Krishna. They both ate well. After spending a lot of time, all of them (the wives of the priests) again arrived home.
Then the husbands said, “Where have you gone up to now? Instead of feeding us, did you go to serve the cowherd boy?” Saying that, they scolded them a lot. After some more time, they sat in meditation. “Chi! We have made a mistake. What they did was right.” Saying that, they again took baths and they requested, “Give us the prasad that was left over.”

WOMEN ARE DEVOTION; MEN ARE JNANA
In any avatar, the ones who first and foremost realized Divinity were only women. It is only women who draw and bring (the husbands) to God. Due to women having devotion, devotion enters into men also to some extent. So, men wouldn’t have devotion if it weren’t for women.
It is said that the place devoid of women is a forest. It is said that the place devoid of men is a monastery. Therefore, women are the root cause for devotion. Hence, if Divinity is to be firm and if Divinity is to be obtained (experienced) in the world, the first and foremost way is (through) women.
Hence, it is said that women are (symbolise) devotion and men are jnana. Jnana is only verbal. However, devotion is the sacredness of conduct. Women may enter into the antahpuram (inner apartments set apart for women). Men only have entrance up to the darbar hall (a hall of audience) but they will not be allowed further. Therefore, jnana goes only so far. Jnana can only reach up to the place of God. Devotion will even bring one into the heart of God. Therefore, devotion was given so much value.
From those days the cowherd girls popularised and taught such devotion so that it would spread to the entire world. They only are also the root cause for prayer to God. Wherever they went, they felt:

Harih Nama Harih Nama,
Harih Namame Kevalam,
Kalo Nastiva, Nastiva, Gatih Nidha.

Only God's Name, God's Name, God's Name
will grant liberation, grant liberation in the Kali age.
(Sanskrit sloka)

“Remember the Name of God!” Saying that, they taught all people.

THEY ARE ALSO DEVOTEES, AREN’T THEY?
Even in this village of Puttaparthi Karanam Subbamma was first and foremost (in devotion). Before her house was there, no one contemplated on God. Sometimes the griham ammayi used to notice that such big officers were coming to see Me. If they had on police dress it was enough, she used to be afraid!
Slowly she would come to Subbamma’s house. “Subbamma, the police have come! They might talk with Swami. See that they don’t go there, see that they don’t go!” She used to say that, paapam!
Then Subbamma used to say, “Mother, they are also devotees, aren’t they? Everyone comes to Swami. Don’t have that suffering and (feelings of) differences. None can touch Swami. So, no one will come near Swami (to trouble Him).”
When she (Subbamma) said that, she (Easwaramma) even used to get angry at Subbamma. “Due to Swami being in your house, all the police are coming to your house. Therefore, don’t let them come; don’t let them come!”

I WON'T LEAVE
One time, someone named IGP Ranga Nayakulu came from Madras. He came wanting to take Me to Madras. Griham ammayi was only continually crying. That was the first time I was going to Madras.
(Easwaramma said,) “They say it is a big village, they say that country it is very far. It seems they are taking Swami to the country of Madras! I will come as an obstacle; I won't let Him go! Swami, don’t go! Don’t go!” She was simply crying.
“Where are you telling Me not to go to?” “It is said that the town of Madras is somewhere distant. I don’t know what country it is!” In those days, Madras was like a different country for (those in) Puttaparthi. They used to feel like that.
From then she felt very bad and suffered. However, what was the reason for all of this (suffering)? All of this was due to the love she had for Swami. “They might take Swami away!” Afterwards, first and foremost she was completely the root cause to construct this Mandir.
Sakamma came, “Swami, we cannot come and cannot go (so easily) to this village. Cars can't come, nothing can come, even bullock carts can't come! All the cars have to be kept in Penukonda and one must come (walking from there). Swami, come to Bangalore. All of us will build a great building. We will give a palace.”
I said, “I don’t need that palace. I don’t need big buildings. If I have one small room, it is enough.” Though I said that, they didn’t listen. Finally, due to the crying (of Easwaramma), without leaving Puttaparthi I gave her the word that, “I won't leave, I won't leave, I won't leave.” (Applause)
She gave one small example. She said, “Swami, wherever a plant sprouts up, there only if a protective fence is built, manure is put and water is poured, it will become a great tree. If, when it is growing, one continues to grow it by changing the place again and again, it won't progress. Therefore, stay in the village You were born in. Great progress will come.” I also gave her My word. I said, “I will remain here only. I will continue to go (visit other places) and return.
Men do not have all the devotion and surrender that women have. Therefore, there is great viveka in women. There is vijnana. There is prajnana. There is sujnana. All forms of jnana are within them. Hence, none of you should consider women as low. However, a few weaknesses are also present in them. They can correct those weaknesses themselves. However, none of us should see them as low. We should not talk to anyone in a cheap way. Today they have it (but) tomorrow what will we have? All should be well. It is said:

WE SHOULD DESIRE THE WELFARE OF EVERYONE

Loka Kshema Vaha Vyaham.

May all in the world be well.
(Sanskrit sloka)

Therefore, first and foremost everyone should be well. For the welfare of everyone, these types of teachings were given even in the Bhagavad Githa. We should desire the welfare of everyone.

Ekoham Bahusyam.

I am One.
I will become many.
(Sanskrit sloka)

There is only One who is in everyone. Therefore, God is the embodiment of all.
Hence, Krishna taught a great nature in so many types of ways to people in Dwapara Yuga. I will tell you one small remarkable thing (that happened) in Dwaraka. (Krishna) was in Mathura. No matter where He (Krishna) went, the attempts of Kamsa (to kill Krishna) could not be avoided. (Kamsa) would send messengers who would harm these people, harm those people and in this way cause a lot of suffering.

UNDERSTAND MY POWERS AND CAPABILITIES
One day, after Krishna killed Kamsa, there were two wives of Kamsa. Both of them were daughters of a big king. However, he (the big king) came to fight with Krishna. In this way, when he came to fight, “What should be done?” All the gopikas were suffering a lot. The cowherd boys and everyone else in Repalli were feeling bad. “How many days must we experience these difficulty situations?”
He said, “Understand once My powers and capabilities. All of you sleep in Repalli tonightt. Tomorrow morning just see where you are.” They slept in Repalli that night, forgetting themselves. When they got up in the morning, they were in Dwaraka!
Where is Dwaraka and where is Repalli? They are 1,000 miles distant. The ones who laid down here (in Repalli) at night, were in Dwaraka when they got up in the morning. In that way, He changed many villages.
Such a Divinity cannot be seen in anywhere else. Therefore, don’t feel that Divinity is low. He can do anything at all. He can accomplish anything at all. He can go anywhere. He can change anything. Therefore, there is no need to have any doubt about this. These doubts are drowning us. Therefore, without having doubts regarding anything, with firm faith, have faith in all, and you follow it. True Dharma will arise through following God but nothing else will be useful to us.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.

May all the beings in all the worlds be happy.
(Sanskrit sloka)

Therefore, have full faith only in Divinity.

Bhagavan ended His Divine Discourse by chanting the three bhajans, ‘Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Shanti Nahi…’, ‘Govinda Krishna Jai…’ and ‘Subrahmanyam…’