ye yatha mam prapadyantetams tathaiva bhajamy ahammama vartmanuvartantemanushyam partha sarvashahAs all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.Bhagavad Gita 4.11
Thus Krishna appears as death for the atheist and as the loving protector for His devotee. Like He appeared as Narasingha, a protector for Prahalad Maharaj and death for Hiranakashipu.
