Some of the toughest interview questions these days are:

  • You have a piece of paper that is 1mm thick. How many times would you need to fold the piece of paper in half for it to be high enough to reach the moon?
  • Why are manhole covers round?
  • How many ways are there for finding a needle in a haystack?
  • How many times do the hands of a clock overlap each day?
  • You are given eight balls that are equal in size. Seven of these balls have equal weight, while one ball is slightly heavier. You have also been provided with a weighing balance. How do you find the heavier ball by weighing only two times?
  • What has changed in this room since you walked in?

These questions test creativity, strategy, and the thought process of a candidate in addition to his technical skills. A good interviewer tests the balance of many skills including the attitude and patience in a candidate while simultaneously assessing his knowledge on the specific position. 

What kind of questions would God ask?

Just like the interview questions above, God also does not solely test technical knowledge on the scriptures.  For example, He may not ask one to chant ‘Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam’ or ‘Harya:shtakam’ a certain number of times.  He may not ask ‘how many hours did you pray, or how long did you meditate’.  Rather, he wants to assess how we lived life in accordance with what was taught by a sadguru.  This is the practical knowledge that helps one to face the ultimate interview with God.

What position is the interview for?

The interview is for one’s moksha, liberation from all current limitations prohibiting us from joining God to experience incessant joy. This happens when one joins Him in His abode (Sri Vaikuntam) and begins to serve Him driven by devoted and dedicated love. 

It is the topmost place that one must aim for, the purusha:rdham (purusha = one who lives in a puram, a body; ardha = meaning/aim). 

Goda Devi, along with gopikas, faced that ultimate interview with Lord Sri Krishna.  She was not only successful at the interview, but she proved to be a teacher for all of us as well as to Sri Krishna.

How did she become so smart?

Goda Devi filled her heart with love for God.  She learned about Him and His divine qualities from her father, Vishnu Chitthan.  She learned about His greatest abilities, bhagava:n where bha encompasses all jnana (knowledge) and shakthi (power), ga encompasses all bala (strength) and Aishwarya (wealth), and va encompasses veeryam (renunciation) and tejas (effulgence).  She also expressed that He has no bad qualities (indicated by the last part of the word, ‘a:n’ in bhagava:n).

Her love for Him allowed her to listen attentively to the teachings of her father.  It did not let anything from within her (such as ego, laziness, or ignorance) block her readiness to reach Him.  Thus, she has become the most advanced to face the most important interview, the interview with God!

Janma:nthara sahasre:shu thapo: jna:na sama:dibhihi
nara:na:m kshi:na punya:na:m krishne: bhakthi praja:yathe:

It takes millions of lifetimes of virtues (necessary knowledge, right thoughts, meditation, and much more) pulled together to develop a love for Sri Krishna. 

Goda Devi reached Lord Sri Krishna along with the gopikas. Lord Sri Krishna then interviews, scans and screens them in multiple ways before offering them the most valued blessing,  His grace (1. sa:ru:pyam – enables them with a divine form as His, 2. sa:lo:kya – gives access to His abode, 3. sa:mi:pya – gives them His close association, 4. sa:yujya – shares His divine qualities and let them experience the true bliss).

What were the questions, and what were her answers?

Sri Krishna:  It looks like you all worked very hard to reach me. (Krishna checks if Goda Devi thinks she attained karma yoga). 

Goda Devi:  No. Our karma, work involves following cattle. We simply roam the forests. We do it for earning food. We neither went to any temples nor attended any yajnas. 

Sri Krishna:  Okay, you must have some knowledge then (Krishna checks if Goda Devi thinks she has attained jnana yoga).

Goda Devi:  We do our karma for the sake of food. How can you expect us to have good knowledge, jnana come out of it?

Sri Krishna:  Not necessary, Vidura was a jnana yogi. His karma yogam could be coming from his past birth. So, it is possible.

 Goda Devi:  No, we don’t have any knowledge.

Sri Krishna:  Okay. You must be having bhakthi, devotion. Is that the case? (Krishna checks if Goda Devi thinks she has attained bhakthi yoga)

Goda Devi: Devotion is a result of good knowledge, jnana, and good work, karma. We have neither. How can you expect bhakthi in us?

Sri Krishna:  Sabari is a devotee who neither studied scriptures nor has attained any karma yoga. Even Sri Rama was impressed with her. Maybe you belong to that category. (Sri Krishna wants to know if they feel that they have bhakthi. which case, He would respond saying that bhakthi itself will give them what they want)

Goda Devi:  No Lord, we do not have that kind of devotion.

Sri Krishna:  So, you have nothing, no means. How do you expect to get My grace without working for it in any way? We are done here, you may leave.

Goda Devi:  Krishna, don’t say that. We have a means. We have You. You are our punyam (blessing) that grew with us. (Goda Devi declares upa:ya nishkarsha, the decision that the means to reach Him is Him alone and nothing else. This means, their punyam is not generated by some external activity. It is flawless, illimitable, omniscient, all-capable).

Sri Krishna:  Okay, what do I have that you want?

Goda Devi:  You have everything, and we have nothing. So, you can give us what we want. You are Govinda, you rescued countless beings many times when they are in trouble.

Sri Krishna:  Just because I have everything, it does not mean I should give you what you want. Why would I do that?

Goda Devi:  You must do it because we are related to each other and our bond is eternal. The purpose of any possession is to share it with others who are devoid of it (Goda Devi expresses the eternal inseparable nava vidha sambandham that exists with God).

Sri Krishna:  I can just simply let go of you and there will be no bond between us. What is stopping me from doing so?

Goda Devi:  Our bond is like the bond between brilliance and diamond, light and the Sun. (Goda Devi expresses that Lord and a soul are always bonded, if not the mere existence of both will cease).

Sri Krishna:  Okay, but you want to do a big vratham, as if you know everything.

Goda Devi:  We are ignorant. We are simply in love with you. We are little kids. Don’t mind our effort. It is only because of your presence in us that we can even think, move, or act. Otherwise, we are just corpses. 

Sri Krishna:  You were referring to me as Narayana, Kshi:ra:bdi Sayana, A:li nilayay. 

Goda Devi:  We now refer to you rightly as ‘Govinda’ because it is through this form that You are accessible to us. You are our life, don’t get upset with us. You should take care of us; you should bestow with us the best of what you do. (Goda Devi apologizes for any mistakes and corrects herself, and reminds Him of His duty).

Sri Krishna:  Okay, I will give you the parai, the instrument that you asked for. (Krishna tests Goda Devi to see if she clearly specifies what she wants. He tests if she will be open with Him instead of expecting Him to understand the intention of her words).

Goda Devi:  You are a great person. Don’t take our word literally. Please look at the spirit of the word. We will take the parai, the physical instrument if you want us to have it. However, we want You forever and ever. Whatever we do should become a service to You. We do not want any thoughts that block us from You. Please remove all such blockers. Make us serve You. Please do not separate us from Your divine feet. You are our only goal. (Goda Devi declares the upe:ya nishkarsha, the decision that her goal is Him alone and nothing else).

Sri Krishna: Okay, join Me [with love and joy]. (Goda Devi reaches the topmost position, union with God) 

I can now learn from these question and answers. Can I attain God’s abode?

God tests for words and actions that come from the heart out of devoted love and trust in Him, not simply the literal verbal and physical conduct. Such an outpour can only happen if He first graces us with that fortune. He is the means to attain Him and He is the goal. 

All our duties in life must be carried out properly with this knowledge in mind with hearts set on His beautiful form and His divine qualities. Such lifestyle makes you ready for the most important interview, the interview with God.

– From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– 12 th January 2021, Vijaya Kiladri Hills
– Dhanurmasam 2020

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