Verse Text
tatra svatantro, yathā –
kṛṣṇaḥ prasādam akarod aparādhyate’pi
pādāṅkam eva kila kāliya-pannagāya |
na brahmaṇe dṛśam api stuvate ’py apūrvaṁ
sthāne svatantra-carito nigamair nuto’yam ||177||
Translation
An example of “He who is independent”: Though Kāliya offended the Lord, Kṛṣṇa gave him mercy by placing His foot mark on his head. Though Brahmā praised the Lord, Kṛṣṇa did not glance at him. Such unprecedented behavior is suitable to the Lord because the Vedas praise him as being independent.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
This is suitable (sthāne) behavior (ayam). He is praised (nutaḥ) by the Vedas (nigamaiḥ) as having an independent nature (svatantra-caritaḥ).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Regarding Kṛṣṇa’s complete independence and lordship, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says that although Kāliya was a great offender, Kṛṣṇa still favored him by marking his head with His lotus feet, whereas Lord Brahmā, although having prayed to Kṛṣṇa with so many wonderful verses, still could not attract Him.
This contradictory treatment by Kṛṣṇa is just befitting His position, because in all the Vedic literature He is described as the complete independent. In the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the Lord is described as svarāṭ, which means “completely independent.” That is the position of the Supreme Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is not only sentient, but is also completely independent.