Daily Devotion -Apr 27, 2026 (English)- Only Companion
O mind, Shri Krishna is your true friend
The Hindi word 'yār' is derived from the Sanskrit 'jār'. The meaning of jār is to have a relationship with an opposing entity. If a married woman harbors affection for another man, that is called 'jār prem' or illegitimate love.
Why, then, is Krishna being called a 'yār' here? He is our master, friend, beloved - He is everything to us -
divyo deva eko nārāyaṇo mātā pitā bhrātā suhṛt gatiḥ।
A 'yār' is someone unrelated to you, yet you love them. But we have infinite relations with Him -
tvameva sarvaṃ mama deva deva।
So, this is being said to the mind. This is because the mind is made of maya, the external power of God that is contrary to Him. By nature, the mind should naturally love the world since both the mind and the material world are made of maya. In contrast, Shyamsundar is transcendental and divine. Therefore, for the mind, God is an outsider, because it is the offspring of Maya. Therefore, God became a 'yār' for the mind.
The soul's cleverness lies in this: if this foolish mind accepts Shri Krishna as its yār and loves Him - then its goal of attaining the Supreme Lord and serving Him can be achieved.
Therefore, here the mind is being addressed and told, "O mind! Krishna is your true friend ('sāńcho yār')."
A 'true friend' is one who protects their friend or dear one without any selfish motive. In this world, there are several friends and 'yārs', but there cannot be any friendship devoid of self-interest.
However, God has no selfish motive in His friendship with us because:
- The Lord is complete in Himself.
- Whatever we possess is so impure that any wise person would feel disgusted merely thinking about it. So what can we offer Him?
- We brought nothing with us into the mother's womb. Whatever we have in this world - the body, senses, mind, intellect, wealth - all are given to us only by God. It is all made from His own external energy. God remains far from Maya; Maya cannot stand before Him -
vilajjamānayā yasya sthātum īkṣā-pathe’muyā.
Their friendship of all the yārs of the world is based on self-interest - they are false yārs. Their love increases with increasing self-interest and decreases or turns to enmity as their self-interest ends. Therefore, do not trust anyone in the world, regardless of who they are. Even if someone seems good to you today, their behavior may change tomorrow if their self-interest is hampered.
But God provides for all beings equally. He makes available the same sky, water, air, and earth to all - whether one is a saint or a demon abusing Him. There is so much truth, love, and a sense of belongingness in His friendship. Even though the mind is a product of His material energy and opposed to God, look at how beautifully God has arranged everything for it -
He protected the body in the mother's womb, making all arrangements for its survival in the world, and so on. His friendship is solely for our welfare.
Therefore, God alone is the true friend - our sāńcho yār.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
