Question: In Sri Isopanisad, Srila Prabhupada says, "The killer of the soul is destined to enter the darkest region of ignorance to suffer perpetually." Does perpetual here mean eternally? Do such living entities ever have hope again or are they condemned forever in the lower planetary regions?
Romapada Swami Maharaja Answers: Lord Krishna also makes a very similar statement in Bhagavad-gita (16.19,20): "I perpetually cast such persons in the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life… Gradually they sink down to the most abominable type of existence." Krsna is all-merciful, and as Srila Prabhupada explains in his purports to the above verses, this is just another feature of the Lord‘s mercy. In these verses, the word "perpetually" conveys the idea that such souls glide down further and further, repeatedly being born in demoniac species until they at last reach the animal species of life such as cats and dogs. Thereafter, one again goes through the entire cycle of transmigration until they attain another human form of life, the rare opportunity to put an end to this cycle.
Krishna‘s desire is that ALL living entities come back to Him, to the spiritual world. The very purpose of the material creation is to facilitate the living entity to rectify his mentality and go back to Godhead. Therefore, NO ONE is eternally condemned to material existence; everyone is repeatedly and endlessly given yet another chance to revive his or her spiritual consciousness.
In addition, Krishna personally incarnates, especially in His most-munificent feature as Caitanya Mahaprabhu to benefit even the most sinful and demoniac persons. And so also the pure devotees of the Lord compassionately walk the earth; just by coming in contact with them even the birds and beasts are spiritually uplifted! Krishna‘s mercy is endless and one can take advantage of it in any status of life.
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