It appears in regards to Shukracharya many devotees are holding a negative opinion of him, probably from their recollection of the mistake he did in regards to Bali Maharaja and Vamana Avatara. We should always remember that that is only one past event, and he has moved on from that mistake. We should not hold offensive opinions about him because of one mistake he made in ancient times. That would be like judging Indra eternally because he offended a rishi once upon a time.
Those stories are to educate us, but we shouldn’t hold negative thoughts about the people involved who later elevated themselves from the mistakes they did. Nearly every personality in the Puranas committed some mistake at some point in their lives, and those mistakes are to educate us, not for us to judge them badly.
As stated in Bhagavad Gita 10.37, kavinam ushana kavih, “Among visionary poets, I am Sukracharya.”
Srila Prabhupada explains this in his purport to this verse:
“Kavis are those who are capable of thinking thoroughly on any subject matter. Among the kavis, Usana [Shukracharya] was the spiritual master of the demons; he was extremely intelligent, far-seeing, political and spiritual in every way. Thus Usana [Shukracharya] is another representative of the opulence of Krsna.”
I have read many comments where there seems to be a hatred for Lord Krishna’s representative among the visionary poets. By contrast, the Srimad Bhagavatam refers to him by the title “Bhagavan” (4.1.45):
kaviś ca bhārgavo yasya
bhagavān uśanā sutaḥ
“Bhagavan Ushana, the divine son, descended from the seer Kavi Bhargava.”
Also in the sixth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam Lord Brahma informs Indra that simply by worshipping Shukracharya, the asuras have become powerful enough to even take control of Brahma Loka:
maghavan dviṣataḥ paśya
prakṣīṇān gurv-atikramāt
sampraty upacitān bhūyaḥ
kāvyam ārādhya bhaktitaḥ
ādadīran nilayanaṁ
mamāpi bhṛgu-devatāḥ
“O Indra, your enemies, the demons, were extremely weak because of their disrespect toward Sukracarya, but since they have now worshiped Sukracarya with great devotion, they have again become powerful. By their devotion to Sukracarya, they have increased their strength so much that now they are even able to easily seize my abode from me.” – Srimad Bhagavatam 6.7.23
Thus one can understand what a great soul he must be if simply by worshipping him one can over take Brahma Loka. In the purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada states. “Lord Brahma wanted to point out to the demigods that by the strength of the guru one can become most powerful within this world and by the displeasure of the guru one can lose everything.”
Let us choose to remember Shukracharya’s divine words spoken to the Lord after the conclusion of the Vamana avatara pastime:
śrī-śukra uvāca
kutas tat-karma-vaiṣamyaṁ
yasya karmeśvaro bhavān
yajñeśo yajña-puruṣaḥ
sarva-bhāvena pūjitaḥ
mantratas tantrataś chidraṁ
deśa-kālārha-vastutaḥ
sarvaṁ karoti niśchidram
anusaṅkīrtanaṁ tava
“Śukrācārya said: My Lord, You are the enjoyer and lawgiver in all performances of sacrifice, and You are the yajña-puruṣa, the person to whom all sacrifices are offered. If one has fully satisfied You, where is the chance of discrepancies or faults in his performances of sacrifice?”
“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.” – Srimad Bhagavatam 8.23.15-16
Every cow and calf at our sanctuary has a story of rescue, healing, and hope. Your generous support provides them with food, shelter, medical care, and a lifetime of protection. Together, we can give these sacred animals the love and safety they deserve.
