View source for Lord Krsna married 16,108 wives (Lectures)

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[[Category:Lord Krsna Married 16,108 Wives|1]]
[[Category:Compilations from Lectures]]
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
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<div id="IntroductiontoBhagavadgitaAsItIsLosAngelesNovember231968New2003_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="2" link="Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is -- Los Angeles, November 23, 1968 (New-2003)" link_text="Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is -- Los Angeles, November 23, 1968 ">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives, and each wife had a palace. And not only that, that He married 16,000 wives and He was apart from them, no. With each wife He was present.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is -- Los Angeles, November 23, 1968 (New-2003)|Introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is -- Los Angeles, November 23, 1968 ]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When you find a person that nobody is richer than Him, nobody is stronger than Him, nobody is richer than Him, nobody is reputed than Him, nobody is wiser than him, nobody is beautiful, more beautiful than Him, and nobody is renouncer than Him, He is Bhagavān, He is God. </p>
<p>So all these you will find in Kṛṣṇa. That is the significance of Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa was present on this material world so nobody could excel Him in any of these opulences. Nobody. So far richness is concerned, He exhibited His richness with His (indistinct). He married 16,108 wives, and each wife had a palace, and the palace did not require light. It was bedecked with valuable jewels, so at night the light from the jewels will illuminate the rooms. Can you imagine such house? (laughter) And not only that, that He married 16,000 wives and He was apart from them, no. With each wife He was present. With some wife He is talking, with some wife He is playing, with some wife He is looking after the children. In this way Nārada travelled all the houses, all the palaces, he saw Kṛṣṇa is there engaged. This is called opulence.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG11619LondonJuly161973_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="12" link="Lecture on BG 1.16-19 -- London, July 16, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.16-19 -- London, July 16, 1973">
<div class="heading">The red vermillion which we apply, that is kṣatriya principle. After killing the opposite party, the blood will be smeared over the hair of the bride. That is conquer, victory. So in every marriage, Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and each wife was married by fighting, beginning from Rukmiṇī.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.16-19 -- London, July 16, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.16-19 -- London, July 16, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">This kidnapping was allowed among the kṣatriyas, and fight. That is kṣatriya marriage. Unless there is fight, that marriage is not complete. The red vermillion which we apply, that is kṣatriya principle. After killing the opposite party, the blood will be smeared over the hair of the bride. That is conquer, victory. So in every marriage, Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and each wife was married by fighting, beginning from Rukmiṇī. Rukmiṇī also, the first wife of Kṛṣṇa, the first queen, when Kṛṣṇa became king of Dvārakā, she was the first queen. So Subhadra was kidnapped by Arjuna. Rukmiṇī was settled up to be married with Śiśupāla. Śiśupāla also happened to be Kṛṣṇa's cousin-brother, and Rukmiṇī did not like that she would be handed over to Śiśupāla. She wanted to marry Kṛṣṇa. So she sent one letter to Kṛṣṇa that this is the position. "My brother Rukma, he has decided to hand over to me to Śiśupāla, but I don't like. So please arrange for kidnapping." A brāhmaṇa was sent to Kṛṣṇa.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG215GermanyJune161974_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="31" link="Lecture on BG 2.1-5 -- Germany, June 16, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.1-5 -- Germany, June 16, 1974">
<div class="heading">Everyone marries, but Kṛṣṇa, being the Supreme Person, He married 16,108 women. But it is not that He remained one husband for sixteen thousand wives. He made arrangement for providing the sixteen thousand wives in different palaces. Each palace, there is described, they were made of first-class marble stone and furniture made of ivory and the sitting place made of very nice, soft cotton. In this way there is description.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.1-5 -- Germany, June 16, 1974|Lecture on BG 2.1-5 -- Germany, June 16, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So Kṛṣṇa is accepted by the authorities as Bhagavān, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And what is Bhagavān? Bhagavān means that one who is fully equipped with six opulences. Fully equipped with all opulences means Bhagavān is the richest personality. How much rich Bhagavān, or God, is, we can understand that we are proud of possessing a few acres of land, and Bhagavān means who is the proprietor of the whole universe. Therefore He is considered the richest. Similarly, He is considered the strongest. And similarly, He is considered the wisest. And similarly, He is the most beautiful personality. In this way, when you find a person the richest, the most beautiful, the most wise, the strongest—in this way, when you find, that is Bhagavān, or God. So when Kṛṣṇa was present on this planet He proved all these opulences possessed by Him. Take, for example, that everyone marries, but Kṛṣṇa, being the Supreme Person, He married 16,108 women. But it is not that He remained one husband for sixteen thousand wives. He made arrangement for providing the sixteen thousand wives in different palaces. Each palace, there is described, they were made of first-class marble stone and furniture made of ivory and the sitting place made of very nice, soft cotton. In this way there is description. And the outward compound, there are many flower trees. Not only that, He also expanded Himself into sixteen thousand expansion, personal expansion. And He was living in that way with each and every wife. So it is not very difficult task for God. (devotees offer obeisances) God is said to be situated everywhere. So within our vision, if He is situated in sixteen thousand homes, what is the difficulty for Him?</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG26LondonAugust61973_4" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="38" link="Lecture on BG 2.6 -- London, August 6, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.6 -- London, August 6, 1973">
<div class="heading">Even in their marriage there would be fighting. Without fighting, no marriage takes place in kṣatriya family. Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and almost in each time He had to fight, to gain the wife. It was a sporting.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.6 -- London, August 6, 1973|Lecture on BG 2.6 -- London, August 6, 1973]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Translation: "Nor do we know which is better-conquering them or being conquered by them. The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, whom if we killed we should not care to live, are now standing before us on this battlefield."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: So these two groups of cousin-brothers... Mahārāja Pāṇḍu had five sons and Dhṛtarāṣṭra had one hundred sons. So it is family, the same family, and it was understanding between them that when others beyond the family would come to attack them, they would join, 105 brothers, and fight. But when there was fight amongst themselves—one side, hundred brothers; one side, five brothers. Because a kṣatriya family, it is to be understood they must go on fighting. Even in their marriage there would be fighting. Without fighting, no marriage takes place in kṣatriya family. Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and almost in each time He had to fight, to gain the wife. It was a sporting. For kṣatriya to fight, it was a sporting. So he is perplexed whether this kind of fighting he should encourage or not.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG2711NewYorkMarch21966_5" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="40" link="Lecture on BG 2.7-11 -- New York, March 2, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.7-11 -- New York, March 2, 1966">
<div class="heading">So when Kṛṣṇa was present on this earth, He showed His opulence, opulences, in full. Opulences in full. Of course, we have got all these historical records about Him. Now, so far His wealth is concerned, He had 16,108 wives. And for each of them, He built a palace. And all those palaces were so nicely built that there was no need of electricity or light. It was bedecked with jewels. So day and night, they were blazing.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.7-11 -- New York, March 2, 1966|Lecture on BG 2.7-11 -- New York, March 2, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So when Kṛṣṇa was present on this earth, He showed His opulence, opulences, in full. Opulences in full. Of course, we have got all these historical records about Him. Now, so far His wealth is concerned, He had 16,108 wives. And for each of them, for each of them, He built a palace. And all those palaces were so nicely built that there was no need of electricity or light. It was bedecked with jewels. So day and night, they were blazing. You see? So these description are there. But if we forget that, that He is God, then this will be something like story, that "How a man can marry sixteen thousand wives? How He...?" But we should always remember that He is God. He is all-powerful. And for no other person such historical records are there, only for Kṛṣṇa. So in strength also nobody could conquer Him. And beauty... So far beauty is concerned, when He was on the battlefield... Have you seen any picture of Kṛṣṇa? Have you seen? Oh, no. Any one of you have seen Kṛṣṇa? Kṛṣṇa, when He was present in the battle, Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, at that time He was about ninety years old. Ninety years old. He had His great-grandchildren. He married sixteen thousand wives, and each wife had ten children. And those ten children, they also got, each, ten, twelve children. And they had children also. Because He was at that time ninety years old, He got at that time great-grandchildren also. So His family was very great. Now, if you see the picture of Kṛṣṇa, you'll see Him just like a boy of twenty-two, twenty-five years old. He was so beautiful. He was so beautiful.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG29AucklandFebruary211973_6" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="43" link="Lecture on BG 2.9 -- Auckland, February 21, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.9 -- Auckland, February 21, 1973">
<div class="heading">It may be unbelievable, but these are in the history of Kṛṣṇa—that Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives. Now, it is unbelievable. We cannot maintain even one wife, but He maintained 16,108 wives, and each wife had big palatial buildings.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.9 -- Auckland, February 21, 1973|Lecture on BG 2.9 -- Auckland, February 21, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So when Kṛṣṇa, Lord Kṛṣṇa was present, He actually showed by His activities, by His behavior, that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For example—it may be unbelievable, but these are in the history of Kṛṣṇa—that Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives. Now, it is unbelievable. We cannot maintain even one wife, but He maintained 16,108 wives, and each wife had big palatial buildings. This description we have got. So that means so far riches are concerned, Kṛṣṇa showed that there is no second comparison in the whole history of the world that one is maintaining sixteen thousand wives and each wife has got special palace.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG224HyderabadNovember281972_8" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="88" link="Lecture on BG 2.24 -- Hyderabad, November 28, 1972" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.24 -- Hyderabad, November 28, 1972">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa, when He was present, He had 16,108 Lakṣmīs in Dvārakā. That is Nārāyaṇa. And each Lakṣmī was given big palatial building made of marble and bedecked with jewels. So there was no need of light. Such nice marble palaces. And each queen was given ten children, and it is not that that sixteen thousand queens were crying and Kṛṣṇa is only with one queen. No. He expanded Himself into sixteen thousand forms, and He was living with each queen.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.24 -- Hyderabad, November 28, 1972|Lecture on BG 2.24 -- Hyderabad, November 28, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Nārāyaṇa is the master of Lakṣmī, goddess of fortune. But they have manufactured a word—daridra-nārāyaṇa. Nārāyaṇa has become daridra. Just foolishness, see. Nārāyaṇa, He's the master of goddess of... Not only one goddess of fortune, lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam aham... (Bs. 5.29), hundreds of thousands of Lakṣmīs. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He was present, He had 16,108 Lakṣmīs in Dvārakā. That is Nārāyaṇa. And each Lakṣmī was given big palatial building made of marble and bedecked with jewels. So there was no need of light. Such nice marble palaces. And each queen was given ten children, and it is not that that sixteen thousand queens were crying and Kṛṣṇa is only with one queen. No. He expanded Himself into sixteen thousand forms, and He was living with each queen. That is Nārāyaṇa. Why Nārāyaṇa should become daridra? Nārāyaṇa says that bhoktāraṁ yajña... He's the supreme bhoktā, enjoyer. So He's unlimited. Therefore He's unlimited enjoyment. That is Kṛṣṇa. He showed it when He was present. Why sixteen thousand wives? If He could have sixteen millions of wives, still, they were not perfect. Because He's unlimited. So these things we have to understand.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG230LondonAugust311973_9" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="96" link="Lecture on BG 2.30 -- London, August 31, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.30 -- London, August 31, 1973">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa is the real husband. Therefore, He married 16,108 wives. Why 16,000? If He married sixteen trillion, billions wives, what is the wrong there? Because He is the real husband.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.30 -- London, August 31, 1973|Lecture on BG 2.30 -- London, August 31, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Actual friend is Kṛṣṇa. Suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām. As it is said, tasmād sarvāṇi bhūtāni. Kṛṣṇa is the real friend. So if the gopīs dance with the real friend, what is the wrong there? What is the wrong there? But those who are rascals, who do not know Kṛṣṇa, they think it is immoral. It is not immoral. That is the right thing. Right thing. Kṛṣṇa is the real husband. Therefore, He married 16,108 wives. Why 16,000? If He married sixteen trillion, billions wives, what is the wrong there? Because He is the real husband. Sarva-loka-maheśvaram ([[Vanisource:BG 5.29 (1972)|BG 5.29]]).</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG32125NewYorkMay301966_10" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="125" link="Lecture on BG 3.21-25 -- New York, May 30, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 3.21-25 -- New York, May 30, 1966">
<div class="heading">Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives, and He built 16,108 palaces also, well-decorated, fully equipped, all-marble palaces. And there was no need of light. The palaces were so nicely decorated with jewels that the light focused by the jewels, that will illuminate the house.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 3.21-25 -- New York, May 30, 1966|Lecture on BG 3.21-25 -- New York, May 30, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was present amongst ourselves, from the history we can see that... If we have to believe the history, then He was in full in everything. He was full in everything. So far as a householder also, when Lord Kṛṣṇa displayed His capacity as a householder... You will be surprised. Perhaps most of you know that He married 16,108 wives. Sixteen thousand... So somebody may be surprised that "How a person can marry 16,108 wives?" Yes. A ordinary person like us or a little more strong person, that is not possible. But when the word omnipotency is applied... God is called omnipotency, so for Him nothing is impossible. So if we have to believe the history, then Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives, and He built 16,108 palaces also, well-decorated, fully equipped, all-marble palaces. And there was no need of light. The palaces were so nicely decorated with jewels that the light focused by the jewels, that will illuminate the house. And another thing—He was present in every house simultaneously. Sixteen thousand wives and sixteen thousand houses—He was present in sixteen thousand expansions by Himself.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG41314NewYorkAugust11966_11" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="170" link="Lecture on BG 4.13-14 -- New York, August 1, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.13-14 -- New York, August 1, 1966">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa He married sixteen thousand wives. This is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He had 16,108 wives. So sometimes who does not understand Kṛṣṇa, they think, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa was so sensuous. Oh, He kept sixteen thousand wives." No, that is not the fact. What was the fact? The fact is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, we have got different relationship with the Supreme Lord constitutionally, every one of us.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.13-14 -- New York, August 1, 1966|Lecture on BG 4.13-14 -- New York, August 1, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Now, sometimes Kṛṣṇa is misunderstood that Kṛṣṇa, in His boyhood, He had so many girlfriends. Perhaps you may know, who has written, gone through Kṛṣṇa's life. Or in His youthhood, He married sixteen thousand wives. This is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He had 16,108 wives. So sometimes who does not understand Kṛṣṇa, they think, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa was so sensuous. Oh, He kept sixteen thousand wives." No, that is not the fact. What was the fact? The fact is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord... We have got different relationship with the Supreme Lord constitutionally, every one of us.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG71SanFranciscoMarch261968_12" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="227" link="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- San Francisco, March 26, 1968" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- San Francisco, March 26, 1968">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives, and He provided each one of them with big palaces and each one of them had ten children, and from ten children there were many other children also.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.1 -- San Francisco, March 26, 1968|Lecture on BG 7.1 -- San Francisco, March 26, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So there is evidence of authority. And practically, if we believe the śāstras, the scriptures, authorities, then see who can be more powerful than Kṛṣṇa, who can be more beautiful than Kṛṣṇa, who can be more famous than Kṛṣṇa? Just like Kṛṣṇa appeared five thousand years before, but His knowledge, which He gave us in the shape of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, still it is worshiped. It is worshiped not only by the Hindus or the Indians, but this Bhagavad-gītā is read all over the world. In your country there are at least fifty kinds of different editions of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhagavad-gītā) written by different American thoughtful men. Similarly you'll find in England, in Germany, in France, in, I mean to say, all other countries you'll find hundreds of editions of Bhagavad-gītā. Just see who can be more famous and who can be more wise than Kṛṣṇa? There are many other evidences if we believe śāstra. That Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives, and He provided each one of them with big palaces and each one of them had ten children, and from ten children there were many other children also.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG71BombayJanuary131973_13" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="236" link="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, January 13, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, January 13, 1973">
<div class="heading">Nārada Muni wanted to see how Kṛṣṇa is managing His sixteen thousand wives, 16,108 wives. So when Nārada Muni came, he entered each and every palace. There were 16,108, all marble palaces, bedecked with jewels. There was no need of electricity or light at night, all the palaces were so bedecked with jewels. And the furnitures were made of ivory and gold.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, January 13, 1973|Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, January 13, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Nārada Muni wanted to see how Kṛṣṇa is managing His sixteen thousand wives, 16,108 wives. So when Nārada Muni came, he entered each and every palace. There were 16,108, all marble palaces, bedecked with jewels. There was no need of electricity or light at night, all the palaces were so bedecked with jewels. And the furnitures were made of ivory and gold. Opulences. The gardens were full of pārijāta trees. And, not only that, Nārada Muni saw that Kṛṣṇa was present with each and every wife and He's doing..., He was doing different types of business also. Somewhere He was sitting with His wife, children. Some..., somewhere marriage ceremony was going on of His children. Somebody... So many, all. Not one kind of engagement. So this is called opulence, riches.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG71UpsalaUniversityStockholmSeptember81973_14" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="239" link="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Upsala University Stockholm, September 8, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Upsala University Stockholm, September 8, 1973">
<div class="heading">When Kṛṣṇa married, He married 16,108. And sixteen thousand wives were given sixteen thousand palaces. And each wife got ten children. And Kṛṣṇa also expanded Himself into 16,108. That is God.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Upsala University Stockholm, September 8, 1973|Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Upsala University Stockholm, September 8, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The unlimited enjoyer is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like we want to enjoy life, family life. We marry one wife. Or, in some countries, more than one wife—two, three, four. But when Kṛṣṇa married, He married 16,108. So... And sixteen thousand wives were given sixteen thousand palaces. And each wife got ten children. And Kṛṣṇa also expanded Himself into 16,108. That is God. For us, it is very difficult to maintain even one wife at the present moment. This is the difference. Just try to understand what is the meaning of this word bhagavān. Bhaga means opulence. This is one of the opulences, richness. When Kṛṣṇa was present on this planet, He was so rich that He could maintain sixteen thousand queens in sixteen thousand very costly palaces, made of marble, the furnitures made of ivory, and the beds were made of silk, and each and every room was decorated, bedecked with jewels, glittering jewels, so that at night there was no need of electricity or lamp. These descriptions are there in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam of Kṛṣṇa's palace, Kṛṣṇa's sixteen thousand wives, Kṛṣṇa's expansion into sixteen thousand forms. This is Bhagavān. Bhagavān means unlimitedly potential. That is Bhagavān.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG82892NewYorkNovember211966_15" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="296" link="Lecture on BG 8.28-9.2 -- New York, November 21, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 8.28-9.2 -- New York, November 21, 1966">
<div class="heading">We find that Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives, and every wife had a different palace. The palaces are described. And He expanded Himself into 16,108 divisions also. These things we have got in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If you believe, it is all right, but great ācāryas, great scholars of India, they have accepted this fact, that Kṛṣṇa is God.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 8.28-9.2 -- New York, November 21, 1966|Lecture on BG 8.28-9.2 -- New York, November 21, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When Kṛṣṇa was present on this earth, nobody could conquer Him. There is not a single instance that Kṛṣṇa was defeated. So He belonged to the kṣatriya family. He identified Himself as kṣatriya. The kṣatriyas are meant for giving protection to the poor, to the weak. So He belonged to the royal family. So there were so many fightings in His so long He remained on this earth, but in no fight He was defeated. Therefore He was the most powerful. And so far His opulence is concerned, from Bhāgavatam we find that He married 16,108 wives, and every wife had a different palace. The palaces are described. And He expanded Himself into 16,108 divisions also. These things we have got in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If you believe, it is all right, but great ācāryas, great scholars of India, they have accepted this fact, that Kṛṣṇa is God.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB126MontrealAugust31968_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="32" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Montreal, August 3, 1968" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Montreal, August 3, 1968">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa married 16,108. Now, if you question why Rāma is so moralist or whatever you like—He is sticking to one wife—and Kṛṣṇa is marrying sixteen thousand? We say that God is omnipotent. That is a qualification of God. So He is showing His omnipotency. That means why sixteen thousand? If He marries sixteen millions, sixteen billions, still, He is potent, full-fledged potency. So we cannot imagine even that how a person can marry sixteen thousand wives. This is inconceivable potency.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Montreal, August 3, 1968|Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Montreal, August 3, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Rāma is also the same potency. But under circumstances He exhibits a partial potency, not full potency. But kṛṣṇa-līlā, you will find full potency. Just like Rāma, Lord Rāmacandra. He married only one wife, Sītā. But Kṛṣṇa married 16,108. Now, if you question why Rāma is so moralist or whatever you like—He is sticking to one wife—and Kṛṣṇa is marrying sixteen thousand, that means you will... We say that God is omnipotent. That is a, I mean to say, qualification of God. So He is showing His omnipotency. That means why sixteen thousand? If He marries sixteen millions, sixteen billions, still, He is potent, full-fledged potency. So we cannot imagine even that how a person can marry sixteen thousand wives. This is inconceivable potency, to give an example of His inconceivable potency. And Rāma presented Himself as an ideal king. He did not manifest Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but from symptoms of authentic literature we understand that He is God. But Kṛṣṇa personally said that "I am the Supreme Personality of God." Mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya: ([[Vanisource:BG 7.7 (1972)|BG 7.7]]) "There is no superior truth beyond Me." The Rāmacandra never said that, that... He never said that "I am God." But those who are intelligent, they understood that He is God.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1323LosAngelesSeptember281972_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="120" link="Lecture on SB 1.3.23 -- Los Angeles, September 28, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.3.23 -- Los Angeles, September 28, 1972">
<div class="heading">When Kṛṣṇa appeared, His all activities were uncommon activities. So far as a human being, He was not human being, but He was playing as human being. The human being marries. So His marrying is also wonderful. He married 16,108 wives.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.3.23 -- Los Angeles, September 28, 1972|Lecture on SB 1.3.23 -- Los Angeles, September 28, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When Kṛṣṇa appeared, His all activities were uncommon activities. So far as a human being, He was not human being, but He was playing as human being. The human being marries. So His marrying is also wonderful. He married 16,108 wives. This is uncommon. This is uncommon. Nobody can marry like that. Not only marrying. Mussulman nawabs, they used to marry also many wives. Not many wives. One nawab was there, he married 160 wives. They have got in Lucknow... When you go to India, you will see. That is now fallen. That all the wives of the nawab was living... That's a... Now it has been turned into a big park. There are small houses. So he could not reach all the wives every day or every night. That was not possible. Humanly it is impossible. One hundred sixty, that means if he goes, visits every, it will take at least six months. So after six months one queen or nawab, might have seen her husband. But Kṛṣṇa was not like that. Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself also in sixteen thousand forms, and each and every one of his wife was accompanied by Kṛṣṇa personally.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1535VrndavanaAugust161974_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="154" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.35 -- Vrndavana, August 16, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.35 -- Vrndavana, August 16, 1974">
<div class="heading">So Kṛṣṇa was so beautiful that 16,108 very, very beautiful women, and this is married. And unmarried, many millions, they were attracted by Kṛṣṇa, the most beautiful. Śyāmasundara. His name is sundara, very beautiful. Although śyāma, blackish, still He's so attractive.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.35 -- Vrndavana, August 16, 1974|Lecture on SB 1.5.35 -- Vrndavana, August 16, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Kṛṣṇa, the richest personality, the most beautiful personality, the most wise. He has given the Bhagavad-gītā. Apart from other instructions, the Bhagavad-gītā is there. Who has given such wise instruction throughout the whole world, throughout the whole universe? Nobody has given. God means the wisest, the richest, the most powerful, the most beautiful. So He was so beautiful that 16,108 very, very beautiful women... And this is married. And unmarried, many millions, they were attracted by Kṛṣṇa, the most beautiful. Śyāmasundara. His name is sundara, very beautiful. Although śyāma, blackish, still He's so attractive.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1833MayapuraOctober131974_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="229" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.33 -- Mayapura, October 13, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.33 -- Mayapura, October 13, 1974">
<div class="heading">So when Kṛṣṇa was present, who could compete Him with His opulence? He had 16,108 wives, not loitering in the street, but each and every wife had big, big marble palaces, all marble palaces.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.33 -- Mayapura, October 13, 1974|Lecture on SB 1.8.33 -- Mayapura, October 13, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So when Kṛṣṇa was present, who could compete Him with His opulence? He had 16,108 wives, not loitering in the street, but each and every wife had big, big marble palaces, all marble palaces. Furniture with ivory, ivory and silk, and frames, all golden, garden with pārijāta, so many things. The... And not one palace, two palace. Sixteen thousand palaces. And Nārada was surprised: "What Kṛṣṇa is doing with sixteen thousand wives?" In each and every palace he entered, and he saw Kṛṣṇa is engaged in different way. Somebody is taking care of the children; somebody... Somewhere He is arranging for the marriage of His son and daughter. Somewhere He is engaged in other sixteen thousand..., in the sixteen thousand palaces, in sixteen thousand engagements, and queens. So this is called opulence, aiśvarya. Who can show this? And Kṛṣṇa showed it personally.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB11312GenevaJune31974_4" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="284" link="Lecture on SB 1.13.12 -- Geneva, June 3, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.13.12 -- Geneva, June 3, 1974">
<div class="heading">When Kṛṣṇa was present, the family members were about ten millions. This is Kṛṣṇa. Everything is wonderful. He married 16,108 wives, and each wife had ten children, and each child begot another ten children. In this way, the Yadu-kula was a very big family.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.13.12 -- Geneva, June 3, 1974|Lecture on SB 1.13.12 -- Geneva, June 3, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When Kṛṣṇa was present, the family members were about ten millions. This is Kṛṣṇa. Everything is wonderful. He married 16,108 wives, and each wife had ten children, and each child begot another ten children. In this way, the Yadu-kula was a very big family. So they were destroyed.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB11520LosAngelesNovember301973_5" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="288" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973">
<div class="heading">So after departure of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's all the wives, 16,108, they were being taken care of by Arjuna. But some cowherdsmen, they plundered all the queens, and Arjuna could not protect them.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So after departure of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's all the wives, 16,108, they were being taken care of by Arjuna. But some cowherdsmen, they plundered all the queens, and Arjuna could not protect them.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB11520LosAngelesNovember301973_6" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="288" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa has 16,108. That is allowed. Kṛṣṇa was Personality of Godhead. He could maintain. Why sixteen? Sixteen millions wife. That is not difficult for Him. But even ordinary man, kṣatriyas especially, they used to marry more than one wife.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.20 -- Los Angeles, November 30, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Woman is not given independence. And generally one man marries more than one wife. That is Vedic culture. Just like see Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa has 16,108. That is allowed. Kṛṣṇa was Personality of Godhead. He could maintain... Why sixteen? Sixteen millions wife. That is not difficult for Him. But even ordinary man, kṣatriyas especially, they used to marry more than one wife. Still. Not only wife, but one wife, one princess is married, and along with her, hundred, two hundred maidservants, they will go with the king.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1152223LosAngelesDecember21973_7" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="290" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.22-23 -- Los Angeles, December 2, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.22-23 -- Los Angeles, December 2, 1973">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and each wife had ten sons, and each son had another ten sons. In this way the whole family was composed of hundreds and thousands of men, Yadu dynasty. And when Kṛṣṇa came, so to assist Him, all these demigods, they came to help Him, līlā.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.22-23 -- Los Angeles, December 2, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.22-23 -- Los Angeles, December 2, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The story is that Yadu-vaṁśa, the dynasty of Kṛṣṇa... Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and each wife had ten sons, and each son had another ten sons. In this way the whole family was composed of hundreds and thousands of men, Yadu dynasty. And when Kṛṣṇa came, so to assist Him, all these demigods, they came to help Him, līlā. Just like if you play something dramatic, you require so many assistants, so when Kṛṣṇa comes, those who are devotees of Kṛṣṇa, they also come to assist Him. Somebody becomes His father, somebody His mother, somebody His friend, somebody His wife, somebody His son, some grandson, like that. So when Kṛṣṇa wanted to depart from this planet, He wanted to take away all others also along with Him. So these are simply material, external causes. Actual fact is Kṛṣṇa, as He went away, He wanted to take all the associates under different pleas.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB11534LosAngelesDecember121973_8" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="302" link="Lecture on SB 1.15.34 -- Los Angeles, December 12, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.15.34 -- Los Angeles, December 12, 1973">
<div class="heading">So when Kṛṣṇa appeared, He had to marry so many wives because it was a stage to show Kṛṣṇa's supreme authority, supremacy. So the demigods came down also from different planets to help Kṛṣṇa. So these demigods became Kṛṣṇa's family. Some of the woman denizens, they became Kṛṣṇa's wife, and some of them became their sons. In this way, a huge family of Kṛṣṇa, Yadu dynasty. One crore, very big family, 16,108 wives.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.15.34 -- Los Angeles, December 12, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.15.34 -- Los Angeles, December 12, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">This Yadu-vaṁśa, they were Kṛṣṇa's descendants. Just like when a king comes, he comes with his associates. So when Kṛṣṇa appeared, He had to marry so many wives because it was a stage to show Kṛṣṇa's supreme authority, supremacy. So the demigods came down also from different planets to help Kṛṣṇa. So these demigods became Kṛṣṇa's family. Some of the woman denizens, they became Kṛṣṇa's wife, and some of them became their sons. In this way, a huge family of Kṛṣṇa, Yadu dynasty. One crore, very big family, 16,108 wives. Each wife had sons, ten sons, and each son had ten sons. In this way children, grandchildren, and the whole family, big dynasty, Yadu family. It is estimated 100,000 hundred times. So many. Now, Kṛṣṇa wanted to leave this planet. So what will happen there? If they remain... Although Kṛṣṇa knew that they have come from different planets, but they knew that "We are sons and grandsons and grandchildren of Kṛṣṇa." They were very much puffed up.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB213ParisJune121974_9" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="363" link="Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974">
<div class="heading">Female population is always bigger than the male population. Then you can ask, "Where so many husbands?" Therefore polygamy was allowed. And the kings, the kṣatriyas who had money and who had very nice strength also, they used to marry more than one wife. You'll find all the kṣatriyas, even Kṛṣṇa, the best kṣatriya, He married 16,108 wives. Wholesale.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974|Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Brahmacārī is meant for the boys, not for the girls. Girls, they are to be married. A brahmacārī may remain unmarried for life, but according to Vedic civilization, a girl must be married. As soon as... Before the age of attaining puberty, it is the duty of the father, or if she has no father, it is the duty of the elder brother to get her married somehow or other. (laughter) Give her in responsibility to another young man. This is the duty. Yes. This is the duty. So therefore... Female population is always bigger than the male population. Then you can ask, "Where so many husbands?" Therefore polygamy was allowed. And the kings, the kṣatriyas who had money and who had very nice strength also, they used to marry more than one wife. You'll find all the kṣatriyas... Even Kṛṣṇa, the best kṣatriya, He married 16,108 wives. Wholesale. (laughter) Yes.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB213ParisJune121974_10" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="363" link="Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974">
<div class="heading">So Kṛṣṇa, as kṣatriya, proved how much strong He was, how much able He was, that He married sixteen thousand wives, and for each wife, separate establishment, separate servants, separate house, separate palace. Everything separate. Not that "I marry only. Therefore I have no responsibility." Not like that. That is Kṛṣṇa, ideal. He married 16,108, but He had 16,108 palaces, big big palace.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974|Lecture on SB 2.1.3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So Kṛṣṇa, as kṣatriya, proved how much strong He was, how much able He was, that He married sixteen thousand wives, and for each wife, separate establishment, separate servants, separate house, separate palace. Everything separate. Not that "I marry only. Therefore I have no responsibility." Not like that. That is Kṛṣṇa, ideal. He married 16,108, but He had 16,108 palaces, big big palace. And palace all made of nice, what is called, marble, and decorated with jewels. The... Kṛṣṇa's house, there was no need of this light. The jewels were glittering. These are description in the Bhāgavata. And the furnitures were married of ivory. That is Kṛṣṇa's house. And the garden, compound, pārijāta flower. Then is that sufficient? A woman will be satisfied simply with this palace, nice palace, and...? No. He expanded Himself into 16,108 Kṛṣṇas. Each and every wife is able to receive her husband individually. So anyway, you cannot imitate Kṛṣṇa, neither you can do like that, neither you can marry sixteen thousand, but you can marry—that is Vedic civilization—more than one wife. Because every female must be married, so where are so many husbands? So therefore polygamy was allowed, but the man who marries, he must be able to maintain the wife very nicely. That is Hindu, or Vedic civilization. That is kuṭumba, kuṭumba-bharaṇa, maintaining the family.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB3261BombayDecember131974_11" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="465" link="Lecture on SB 3.26.1 -- Bombay, December 13, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 3.26.1 -- Bombay, December 13, 1974">
<div class="heading">Even from material point of view, Kṛṣṇa, as far as we can calculate, we cannot conceive even at the present moment to maintain more than one wife or two wife. But He was maintaining sixteen thousand wives, 16,108.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 3.26.1 -- Bombay, December 13, 1974|Lecture on SB 3.26.1 -- Bombay, December 13, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So long Kṛṣṇa was on the planet, he proved it, that no one superior. Even from ordinary life as gṛhastha... Kṛṣṇa was gṛhastha, householder. Now he married 16,108 wives. So who has got this potency to marry sixteen thousand? One wife... It is very difficult to maintain one wife. One lady in America, she had a grown-up son. So I asked her, "Why don't you get your son married?" "I have no objection if he can maintain wife here. I have no objection." Then I understood that it is very difficult to maintain wife here. And actually it is difficult to... Even from material point of view, Kṛṣṇa, as far as we can calculate, we cannot conceive even at the present moment to maintain more than one wife or two wife. But He was maintaining sixteen thousand wives, 16,108.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB32640BombayJanuary151975_12" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="496" link="Lecture on SB 3.26.40 -- Bombay, January 15, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 3.26.40 -- Bombay, January 15, 1975">
<div class="heading">If Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, almighty, then what is difficulty for Him to marry 16,108 wife? Kṛṣṇa has many, many millions and millions of devotees. Some of them desiring to serve Kṛṣṇa as servant. Some of them are desiring Kṛṣṇa, to serve Him as friend or as father, as mother, as lover, as wife. So there are many devotees, ananta devotees, only not one or two. So Kṛṣṇa has to satisfy every one of them.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 3.26.40 -- Bombay, January 15, 1975|Lecture on SB 3.26.40 -- Bombay, January 15, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So because they do not want to know Kṛṣṇa in tattvataḥ, factually, therefore they mistake Kṛṣṇa. Especially they attack Kṛṣṇa, that "He killed so many demons. He had rāsa-līlā with so many gopīs. He married so many wives," misunderstand Kṛṣṇa. But if Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, almighty, then what is difficulty for Him to marry 16,108 wife? Kṛṣṇa has many, many millions and millions of devotees. Some of them desiring to Kṛṣṇa..., to serve Kṛṣṇa as servant. Some of them are desiring Kṛṣṇa, to serve Him as friend or as father, as mother, as lover, as wife. So there are many devotees, ananta devotees, only not one or two. So Kṛṣṇa has to satisfy every one of them. That is not difficult for Him.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB799MayapurFebruary161976_13" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="804" link="Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Mayapur, February 16, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Mayapur, February 16, 1976">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa has many, many thousands of beautiful wives and friends. In Vṛndāvana He had many, many beautiful girl friends, the gopīs. And in Dvārakā He had many, many beautiful queens, 16,108, counting—Lakṣmīs. They are all goddess of fortune. That is Kṛṣṇa.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Mayapur, February 16, 1976|Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Mayapur, February 16, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Kṛṣṇa has many, many thousands of beautiful wives and friends. In Vṛndāvana He had many, many beautiful girl friends, the gopīs. And in Dvārakā He had many, many beautiful queens, 16,108, counting—Lakṣmīs. They are all goddess of fortune. That is Kṛṣṇa. Lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama sevyamānaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi (Bs. 5.29). Kṛṣṇa, He's not after beauty, but beauty is after Him. That is Kṛṣṇa. Not Kṛṣṇa is after beauty. The materialistic person, they think that Kṛṣṇa was so much fond of beautiful woman. No, no. That is not the fact. The beautiful women were after Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is so beautiful... Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ (Bs. 5.30). Kandarpa. Kandarpa means Cupid. We have heard the name of Cupid, very beautiful, attractive. But He is kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya viśeṣa-śobhaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. Kṛṣṇa does not want any beauty for His satisfaction. He's self-satisfied. But devotees, beautiful devotees, rich devotees, aristocratic devotees, perfect devotees, they are after... That is... He's self-satisfied. He doesn't require. These... Just like when these foolish people read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and it is said that Kṛṣṇa had sixteen thousand wives, queens, so they think that an ordinary man, one who keeps more than one wife, he is considered to be very lusty. No, no. That is not the fact.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB7913MayapurFebruary201976_14" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="819" link="Lecture on SB 7.9.13 -- Mayapur, February 20, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.9.13 -- Mayapur, February 20, 1976">
<div class="heading">The master can expand Himself in many, many thousands and millions of forms, but they are advaita. They are not different. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He married 16,108 wives, so He expanded Himself also into 16,108 forms, Kṛṣṇa. But those expansions, 16,000 expansions, they are one, the same Kṛṣṇa. This is to be understood.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.9.13 -- Mayapur, February 20, 1976|Lecture on SB 7.9.13 -- Mayapur, February 20, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The master can expand Himself in many, many thousands and millions of forms, but they are advaita. They are not different. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He married 16,108 wives, so He expanded Himself also into 16,108 forms, Kṛṣṇa. But those expansions, 16,000 expansions, they are one, the same Kṛṣṇa. This is to be understood. Kṛṣṇa may expand Himself in so many forms, but still they are the same.</p>
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<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Lectures" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures"><h3>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonCCAdilila115DallasMarch41975_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="15" link="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Dallas, March 4, 1975" link_text="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Dallas, March 4, 1975">
<div class="heading">The gopīs were the most beautiful women, and Kṛṣṇa was attractive to them. So just imagine how much beautiful was Kṛṣṇa. Not only to the gopīs; there were 16,108 queens of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore His name is Kṛṣṇa. He is attractive to everyone. So why He should not be attractive to fallen souls like us? So that is the position of Kṛṣṇa.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Dallas, March 4, 1975|Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Dallas, March 4, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Kṛṣṇa is so beautiful that He is more attractive than the Cupid. Madana-mohana. Madana means Cupid. Cupid is supposed to be the most beautiful person within the universe, but Kṛṣṇa is still more beautiful. Kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobham (Bs. 5.30). That is described in the śāstra. And when Kṛṣṇa was present, we know from the śāstra or from the evidences that Kṛṣṇa was attractive to so many gopīs. The gopīs were the most beautiful women, and Kṛṣṇa was attractive to them. So just imagine how much beautiful was Kṛṣṇa. Not only to the gopīs; there were 16,108 queens of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore His name is Kṛṣṇa. He is attractive to everyone. Jayatam suratau paṅgor mama. So why He should not be attractive to fallen souls like us? So that is the position of Kṛṣṇa.</p>
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<div id="LectureonCCMadhyalila20137146BombayFebruary241971_1" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="77" link="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.137-146 -- Bombay, February 24, 1971" link_text="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.137-146 -- Bombay, February 24, 1971">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa can see in innumerable rooms simultaneously at one time. Therefore He is all-pervading. Just like Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives. Nārada came to see Kṛṣṇa, and every palace he entered he saw Kṛṣṇa was there. And with some wife, in some wife's palace He is playing with children, or some wife's He's just taking bath. In another palace He was playing chess.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.137-146 -- Bombay, February 24, 1971|Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.137-146 -- Bombay, February 24, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Beginning from Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, He has got innumerable forms. Tiṣṭhan: He is existing always with all these forms, expansions, rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā. Just like Kṛṣṇa existing in everyone's heart. There are millions and trillions of living entities. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati ([[Vanisource:BG 18.61 (1972)|BG 18.61]]). Kṛṣṇa is existing. That is Kṛṣṇa's omnipotency. If you do not try to understand God, or Kṛṣṇa, with inconceivable omnipotency, then you cannot understand God. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa... Just like we are sitting here; we are not sitting in the other room. But Kṛṣṇa can see in innumerable rooms simultaneously at one time. Therefore He is all-pervading. Just like Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives. Nārada came to see Kṛṣṇa, and every palace he entered he saw Kṛṣṇa was there. And with some wife, in some wife's palace He is playing with children, or some wife's He's just taking bath. In another palace He was playing chess. In this way he differently saw Kṛṣṇa in different palaces. So in 16,000 palaces he saw Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa. Not that He married 16,000 wives, but He remained one. He also expanded Himself sixteen hundred times. That is Kṛṣṇa. He can expand Himself. Rāsa-līlā... Rāsa-līlā, every gopī was feeling that "Kṛṣṇa is dancing with me." So many gopīs. That is Kṛṣṇa. He can expand. But He has got form. He is not formless.</p>
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<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureExcerptNewYorkApril121969_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="44" link="Lecture Excerpt -- New York, April 12, 1969" link_text="Lecture Excerpt -- New York, April 12, 1969">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives. Is there any history, any instance? And each wife had a palace which did not require any lightening, electricity. It was jewel-bedecked. So at night, by the light of the jewel it was brilliant. So these description are there.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture Excerpt -- New York, April 12, 1969|Lecture Excerpt -- New York, April 12, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Bhagavad-gītā you'll find, Kṛṣṇa said that "Nobody is greater than Me." And actually when Kṛṣṇa was present on this earth, there was no contemporary who was greater than Kṛṣṇa. Neither even at the present moment, there is anyone who can claim that "I am greater than Kṛṣṇa." In opulence... Greatness in six kinds of opulences: in richness, in reputation, in strength, in beauty, in wisdom, and in renunciation. If you analyze, you'll find nobody is greater than Kṛṣṇa even in material richness. Everyone wants to become rich, to have a nice family, nice wife, good bank balance, a nice house. But Kṛṣṇa married 16,108 wives. Is there any history, any instance? And each wife had a palace which did not require any lightening, electricity. It was jewel-bedecked. So at night, by the light of the jewel it was brilliant. So these description are there. And 16,100 palaces. And not only that. Nārada wanted to see how Kṛṣṇa is enjoying His family life, so he entered each and every palace, and he saw Kṛṣṇa is present there with His wife. That means He was enjoying, expanding Himself in 16,000. Not that one wife is lamenting, "Oh, my husband is not here. He is in that apartment or that palace." No. She is satisfied that Kṛṣṇa is there. This is called opulence.</p>
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<div id="LectureLosAngelesMay181972_1" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="115" link="Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972" link_text="Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa. He had 16,108 wives. And each wife had a big palace, made of marble, bedecked with jewels, the furnitures made of ivory and gold. The descriptions are there. So in the history of the human society, you cannot find out any person who had 16,000 wives and 16,000 palaces.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972|Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 18, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">We have described in our book, Kṛṣṇa. He had 16,108 wives. And each wife had a big palace, made of marble, bedecked with jewels, the furnitures made of ivory and gold. The descriptions are there. So in the history of the human society, you cannot find out any person who had 16,000 wives and 16,000 palaces. Not only that, it is not that He used to go to one wife's house one day, or one night. No. He was present in every one house personally. That means He expanded Himself in 16,108 forms. That is not very difficult. If God is unlimited, then He can expand Himself in unlimited forms; otherwise there is no meaning of unlimited. If God is omnipotent, He can maintain 16,000. Why 16,000? He can maintain 16,000,000's still, it is imperfect. Otherwise there is no meaning of omnipotency.</p>
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