Mayadevi's Thankless Task (SP Quote)

 
Question: Why is Mayadevi in such a Distasteful Position? How did She Acquire her Position?..........

Prabhupada: She's not acquired. She's given that position by Krsna. Because there are many individual souls who will defy Krsna, therefore Mayadevi is required to punish them...

[Bg 7.14]:
[This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.]

"It is very difficult to surpass the stringent laws of My maya." The maya is not independent. Maya has no powers. Krsna has given her power to chastise these individual souls who are defying the authority of Krsna. They should be punished. It is Maya's thankless task, but Maya is obedient servant of Krsna. Mama maya. 

He says, "My maya." So Maya is not degraded. Maya is faithful servant of Krsna. She is faithfully serving. That is stated in the Brahma-samhita. You should read. So many nice books you have got. What is Maya doing? That is stated in the Brahma-samhita: [Bs 5.44]

[The external potency Maya who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself.]

Durga is Maya. Now what is the position of Maya? Maya is so strong that she can perform creation, maintenance and dissolution of this whole universe. She's so powerful. The material nature is so powerful. Alone, she can do this as good as Krsna, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But she is just like shadow. She is working just like shadow. Just like here is shadow of my hand. If I shake my hand, the shadow also shakes. The Maya is acting like that. In the Bhagavad-gita also it is said, [Bg 9.10]:

[This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.]

"Under My superintendence, prakrti, the nature, or Maya, is acting."

That Maya is acting under the direction of the Personality. And who is that personality? "That personality is Govinda, the Supreme Person. I am offering my respectful obeisances." So Maya is acting under the direction of Krsna just like the shadow is moving under the movement of the original. So Maya's position is not degraded. Don't think like that. Therefore Vaisnava offers all respect to Maya, because she is working under Krsna. She is Vaisnavi. 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.8–12 – November 27, 1968, Los Angeles