Çré Båhad Bhägavatämåta

By Çréla Sanätana Goswami

Introduction

This book is divided in two parts - PURVA (preliminary), and UTTAR

(final). The first part is called “Çré Bhagavat Kåpa Nirdhara” or
“Determining the greatest recipient of the Lord's mercy”, and the
second part is called “Establishing the glory of Goloka Våndävana”.

There are seven chapters in the first part -

1. Earthly
2. Heavenly
3. Beyond material nature
4. Devotee
5. Dear
6. Dearer
7. The recipient of complete mercy

And there are seven chapters in the second part -

1. Renunciation
2. Knowledge
3. Devotional service
4. Vaikuntha
5. Love
6. The fulfillment of ultimate desire
7. The attainment of the highest bliss

The questions of Uttara devi, the mother of Maharaj Pariksit, are the
basis of this scripture. Maharsi Jaimini narrated this anecdote to
Janamejaya, the son of Maharaj Pariksit. Therefore this can be
considered to be a part of Mahabharata. In both parts there is
parivrajaka who described his own experience. In the first part it is
Narada Muni and in the second part Gopakumar. Narada Muni is one of
a group of sages who become inspired to understand who is the
greatest devotee, or who has received the most mercy from the
Supreme Lord. Gradually Narada meets more and more advanced
personalities, until He comes to Dvaraka and meets Uddhava. From his
experiences in Dvaraka Narada Muni is able to understand that the
gopés of Våndävana are the most exalted of all devotees.
In the second part of Båhad-bhägavatämåta, through Gopakumar, a
cowherd boy, in a most marvelous way, Çréla Sanätana Goswami has
explained the Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy. He reveals the highest
region of the spiritual sky and the supremacy of pure devotional
service by gradually elevating Gopakumar from the lowest rung of
devotional service in practice to the highest rung of loving devotion.

As Gopakumar advances by chanting the mantra given by his guru the

petals of the flower of devotional service blooms. Although his joy
increases due to the blossoming of this flower, instead of becoming
satisfied, he feels increasing discontent until the flower has fully
bloomed. Passing through different spiritual levels ultimately he
attains Vraja and experiences perfect fulfillment.

The story of Gopakumar has been narrated by Srila Sanatana Goswami

in order to show the result and potency of chanting the mantra given
by a bonafide spiritual master. It has also been pointed out in this
book that the life of a devotee is eternal, inexhaustible and ever-
progressive. Gopakumar's spiritual master appears to him five times
during his course of advancement and instructs him. Thus one can see
that until the disciple attains the lotus feet of the Lord the spiritual
master cannot rest in peace.

Part I
Chapter 1 - (Earthly)

After hearing the narration of Mahabharata from the great sage Jaimini
Pariksit Maharaj wanted to know what happened after that and
requested him to describe further. Sri Jaimini then told him, “O best of
the kings! Sri Vyasadev perceived the Lord, Bhakti Devi, and the
external energy of the Lord in his devotional trance, and described His
transcendental pastimes in Srimad Bhagavatam.

“His son, Sukadev Goswami, in spite of being self-realized and self-

satisfied, became attracted to Sri Krsna's transcendental qualities and
studied Srimad Bhagavatam from Srila Vyasadeva. When your father,
Maharaj Pariksit, was awaiting his death due to the curse of a
brahmana, on the bank of the Ganges, Srila Sukadev Goswami arrived
there and narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to your father and delivered
him from the fear of birth and death and bestowed transcendental
devotion unto him.

“When Maharaj Pariksit was waiting to attain the transcendental

abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead he noticed that his
mother Uttara was very much afflicted due to his imminent death.
Maharaj Pariksit then explained to her about the futility of material
existence and eternity of one's spiritual identity. Hearing these
instructions of Pariksit Maharaj, mother Uttara became free from
lamentation and experienced joy and asked him, ‘My dear son! Please
let me also drink that supremely delicious nectar of Srimad
Bhagavatam that you drank from the greatest of swanlike
personalities Sripad Badarayani.’

“Pariksit Maharaj replied, ‘Dear Mother! Not much time is left for me to
leave for the other world, therefore if you want to hear the most
confidential pastimes of Srimad Bhagavatam, the transcendental
pastimes of the Lord in Vrindavana which I heard from my most
worshipable spiritual master, Srila Sukadeva Goswami, then I must
describe if briefly, in a short time.’ Mother Uttara said in reply, ‘My
son! Just as sugar is extracted from sugarcane and nectar was once
drawn out from milk ocean is, I want you to similarly churn the Çrémad
Bhägavatam that you heard from Sripad Badarayani, and allow me to
drink that nectar.’

“Pariksit Maharaj then told her, ‘Mother! My last moment is nearing. I

thought that now I tould take the vow of silence, yet the beauty of
your question is making me eloquent.’”

Then Mahäräja Parikñit explains Narada Muni’s quest for the devotee
who has received the greatest mercy from the Supreme Lord. Once
upon a time, in the month of Magh in Praya , all the great sages
assembled near Sri Madhav. At that time one oppulent brahmana
(from that country) arrived there to feed the brahmanas. He cleaned
up the place and with great respect worshipped the Lord in his
Salagram form, and then fed His Mahaprasad to all the brahmanas,
Vaisnavas and poor. Then the brahmana honored the Prasad and
offered the results of all those activities to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Sitting the Salagram in a gorgeous throne he was about to
leave. Narada Muni considered him to be the greatest recipient of
Krsna's mercy and told him, “O brahmana! You are the greatest
devotee of Krsna. You are the recipient of greatest mercy of Krsna.”

The brahmana then said, “O sage! What symptoms did you see of the
Lord's mercy in me? If you really want to see the recipient of the Lord's
mercy then go to the southern land and meet the great devotee king.
He is rendering wonderful service to the Supreme Lord Krsna along
with his family. He is constantly rendering service to the saintly sages
and honest people he is always taking care of the guests. If you see
his wonderful qualities you will naturally be surprised.” Hearing these
words fromthe brahmana Narada Muni became extremely eager to see
the king and went to his city. There Narada the most wonderful service
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead - various festivals, service to
the Vaisnavas like offering them delicious Mahaprasad. Narada Muni
with great joy approached the king and told him, “O king! You are the
real recipient of Krsna's mercy. All your opulence is always engaged in
the service to the Lord and His devotees.” The king became ashamed
and told him, “O sage among the demigods! We are human beings
and our life span is short; we are constantly suffering the threefold
miseries; therefore how can a living entity like me be the recipient of
Krsna's mercy? If you really want to see the recipient of Krsna's mercy
then go to the demigods in the heavenly planets. They have
conquered old age and disease by drinking nectar. Among them Indra
is the greatest.
 Chapter 2 - (Heavenly)

1) Narada went to heaven and saw Sri Visnu surrounded by demigods,

and being worshipped by them. Indra was singing the Lord's
transcendental glory and tears of joy were flowing from his eyes.

2) When Sri Vamanadeva left for His Palace Narada Muni told Indra, “O
king of the demigods, you are very dear to the Lord, therefore the sun,
moon, Yamaraj and all other controllers of the nature are obedient to
you. The Lord Himself has taken a position of your younger brother
and respects you as His elder brother.”

3)Indra became very ashamed hearing that and told him, “O expert
musician, are you making fun of me? Are you not aware how often I
run away from heaven due tothe fear of the demons? Bali took over
my position and appointed the demons as the controllers of sun,
moon, wind and fire and started to enjoy the offerings of sacrifices
himself. It is due to my parents' severe austerity the Lord appeared as
my brother to reinstate me on my throne.” Indra then explains a
number of incidents which occurred which he feels show that he is not
the recipient of the Lord’s greatest mercy:
a) He did not defeat Bali, but begged heaven from him and gave it
Indra.
b) There are contaminations of pride, greed, envy in heaven, and there
is a constant fear of falldown due to sin of killing a brahmana.
c) The Lord took away the greatest assets of heaven Sudharma
assembly and parijata flower to earth.
d) He prevented the Vrajavasis from worshipping Indra.
e) He burnt Khandava forest which was very dear to Indra.

4) Indra told Narada Muni that his father Brahma is the dearest
devotee of the Lord. Because:
a) In one day of Brahma 14 Indras appear.
b) His one day is four thousand yugas of the demigods.
c) He is the creator of the controllers of nature.
d) Thousand headed Lord Mahapurusa always resides in his abode and
personally accepts the sacrifices performed by him. Therefore Brahma
is the dearmost devotee of Sri Krsna. He is nondifferent from Sri
Krsna.
a) Hiranyagarbha Brahma is Visnutattva.
b) Vairaja Brahma is living entity.

5) Narada Muni then went to Brahmaloka and saw that the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, as Mahapurusa, whose thousand heads are
bedecked with matted hair, along with Laksmidevi, receiving the
sacrificial offerings. When the Lord left for His abode along with
Laksmidevi, Brahma engaged his sons, the great sages, to perform the
sacrifice and went to attend the affairs of the universe.

6) Narada Muni started to glorify him as the greatest devotee saying -

a) You are the creator, maintainer and destroyer of the fourteen
planetary systems.
b) You are the supreme controller of the universe, and the self-born.
c) The four Vedas appeared from your four mouths.
d) Saintly persons who are completely free from pride and envy attain
your abode.
d) There is no place superior to this Brahmaloka. Narayana's
Vaikunthaloka is also within this brahmanda.

7) Brahma considered these praises to be blasphemy and covered his

eight ears and started to say, “I am His servant! I am His servant!” He
chastised Narada and told him he is not the recipient of the Lord’s
greatest mercy because:
a) It is His external energy mahamaya as His maidservant who
creates, maintains and destroys this material nature.
b) Brahma is controlled by Maya and often bewildered by Maya.
c) Due to the influence of Maya he develops pride and forgets the
supreme position of the Lord.
d) He is always afraid of time and therefore desires liberation.
e) He worships the Lord in order to attain liberation.
f) He does not have any devotion to His lotus feet. He constantly
worries about not to commit offense at His lotus feet.
g) He was afraid to approach Him when He killed Hiranyakasipu, He
warned him not to give any such boon to any demon, still he gave
boon to Ravana, who then became extremely powerful and created so
much trouble for the Lord.
h) All his followers are also offensive to the Lord - Indra, Varuna, Yama
etc.
i) He himself also stole His friends and calves.

8) Brahma explained that actually Lord Shiva is the dearest devotee

of Sri Vishnu because he is known to be His friend. There is no one in
this universe as dear to the Lord as Shiva because:
a) He renounced all opulence of this world due to the transcendental
joy of drinking the nectar from His lotus feet.
b) He is holding the Ganges on his head because she originated from
His lotus feet.
c) Shiva can grant liberation to demigods like us.
d) All the residents of Shivaloka are liberated.
e) So many living entities attained liberation and devotional service to
Sri Vishnu due to the mercy of Shiva.
f) Sri Krsna tolerates offenses to Himself but He does not tolerate
offenses committed to Shiva.
g) The Lord Himself killed the demons who became powerful due to
the boons given by Shiva and then consoled and praised him. (He did
not do that in Brahma's case)
h) During the churning of the milk ocean He made Shiva drink the
poison and glorified him with the name Nilakantha.

Therefore Brahma asked Narada to go to Lord Çiva’s abode beyond

the seven layers of this material nature and see how Krsna's mercy is
being showered upon him.
 Chapter 3 - (Beyond material nature)

1) Thereafter Narada Muni went to Shivaloka and from a distance saw

that Shiva was absorbed in worshiping Lord Sankarsana, and dancing
in ecstasy chanting His transcendental glory.

2) Narada Muni started to sing the glory of Shiva as he heard from his
father, and he tried to take the dust from his lotus feet. But Shiva
prevented him from doing that and embraced him.

3) Narada Muni started to sing his glory describing him as the lord of
the universe and the dearest devotee of Krsna.

4) Sri Shiva covered his ears and angrily told Narada that he was only
the servant of the servant of the Lord.

5) Narada Muni then felt guilty and started to describe him as the one
who knows the transcendental glory of the Lord and who can reveal
His glory to others. He is so dear to Krsna that so many times Krsna
worshiped him with great respect and accepted boons from him.

6) Sri Shiva then got up and covered Narada Muni's mouth telling him,
“Please do not remind me of my arrogant behavior.” And he explained
that they were nothing but Krsna's transcendental pastimes. Although
he committed so many offenses to Sri Krsna, but Sri Krsna never
neglected him.

7) Narada Muni said, “You are very dear to Krsna. Therefore there is no
room for you to commit offenses to Him. Although sometimes it may
appear that you committed offenses, but Krsna never considered them
to be offenses. Although you gave boons to offenders to Vaisnavas
there was some loopholes in those boons. (Kalayavana, Jayadratha).
“But when someone offends you you do not take any offense.”

8) There was nothing wrong in Shiva's asking a boon that his position
will be greater than Krsna's. By doing that he simply asked to become
His devotees.

9) Krsna blessed Shiva and Durga with the power to grant liberation.

10) In spite of being the most opulent person Shiva is most renounced.

11) Sri Shiva felt extremely ashamed and started to reply, he himself
is the cause of false ego. He is involved in destruction which is in the
mode of ignorance. He fought with Krsna at the time of stealing the
parijata flower and at the time of stealing Usha. Krsna instructed him
to write an imaginary commentary and tantras in order to make
people averse to Krsna consciousness. Liberation is not wanted by
devotees. The word liberation is painful to the ears of a devotee.

12) Lord Shiva told Narada that the residents of Vaikuntha are the
greatest devotees of Krsna. In Vaikunthaloka the devotees do not have
any desire besides serving Krsna. Their form is of eternity knowledge
and bliss. All they want is to protect and increase devotees and
devotional service. In Vaikuntha the animals, trees and plants are also
constantly serving Sri Hari. Everyone and everything is blessed by
Krsna's supreme mercy.

13) He continued to explain that even the human beings on earth who
are devotees of Sri Hari are worshipable by demigods like him. They
are as dear to him as the Supreme Lord. He always hankers for their
association. Wherever those devotees reside those places become
Vaikuntha. Their bodies, although apparently material, become
transcendental.

14) Parvati said, “In Vaikuntha Sri Mahalaksmi is the greatest devotee
of Krsna
a) She is worshiped by everyone in Vaikuntha.
b) One receives knowledge, renunciation and devotion by her mercy.
c) She always resides on the chest of Sri Hari.
d) She is the greatest of all chaste women.

15) Hearing that Narada Muni was about to go to Vaikuntha but Shiva
reminded him that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna was
residing on the earth in Dvaraka at that time. Therefore there was no
need to go to Vaikuntha. But if he wanted to see the greatest devotee
then he should go to Sutalaloka and see Prahlada. Prahlada is the
greatest devotee because -
a) Krsna Himself announced that of all His devotees Prahlada is the
best.
b) Prahlada's good fortune was perceived at the time of killing
Hiranyakasipu, because the Lord expressed His greatest affection to
him at that time.
c) Although the Lord repeatedly wanted to give Prahlada liberation,
Prahlada simply desired for devotion.
d) Krsna's special favor to Bali and Vanasura was due to His love for
Prahlada.
 Chapter 4 - (Devotee)

1) Narada Muni went to Sutalaloka according to Mahadeva's

instruction. Prahlada at that time was meditating upon the lotus feet
of the Lord in a solitary place. In his mind's eyes he saw Narada Muni
coming and he offered him obeisances.

2) Narada Muni refused to accept his worship and started to glorify

him as the dearmost devotee of Krsna. Because -
a) Krsna personally protected him from the torture of his father.
b) Due to his unalloyed devotion to Krsna his demoniac father also
became a great devotee.
c) He spread the glory of the Lord and His devotional service, and thus
delivered so many persons from this ocean of material existence.
d) Upon Brahma's request, when Prahlad approached Lord
Nrisimhadeva and fell down at His lotus feet, then the Lord picked him
up with His own hands and placing His lotus hands upon his head, and
licked his body with great affection.
e) Prahlad refused to accept liberation but accepted his father's
kingdom simply to spread Krsna consciousness.
f) When Prahlad was going to Naimisaranya to see his worshipable
Lord, Sri Hari, the Lord appeared to him in disguise and fought with
him. Being pleased with him the Lord then blessed him, “I will always
be defeated by you.”
g) It is because of His love for Prahlad that the Lord has become the
gatekeeper of Bali's palace.

3) Prahlada Maharaj then told Narada Muni with great respect -

a) In his childhood whatever devotion to the Lord he displayed was not
founded on knowledge. It was only some childish attachment. b) He
simply remembers the Lord in his mind through meditation, but does
not render devotional service unto Him.
c) Service to the Lord is the sign of greater mercy of the Lord than
being protected by Him.
d) The appearance and pastime of Lord Nrisimhadeva was mainly due
to His mercy upon the demigods, to deliver His two associates, to fulfill
Brahma's words and to prove the glory of His devotional service.
e) His offering the kingdom to Prahlad was not a sign of His mercy,
because He Himself said, “Upon whom I bestow my mercy I take away
his opulence.”
f) The Lord is not always present in the gate of Bali, as Narada
mentioned, only sometimes someone like Ravana gets to see Him
there. If He was always at his gate then would Prahlad have gone to
Naimisaranya for His darshan?
g) When the Lord appeared to kill Hiranyakasipu then Prahlad could
see Him only for a short while. But Hanuman is serving the Lord
personally for many thousands of years. In order to serve the Lord he
crossed the ocean, consoled Sri Sitadevi, burnt Lanka, and destroyed
Ravana's fort. Bringing back the news of Sita he received the embrace
of Sri Ramachandra.
h) He carried Lord Ramacandra on his back.
i) He carried the Gandhamadan mountain to save Laksman. His
servitorship to the Lord is the display of the Lord's mercy upon him.

4) Narada Muni then went to Kimpurusa-varsa and saw that Hanuman

was worshiping Lord Ramachandra.

5) Hearing Narada Muni's glorification of his Lord Hanuman embraced

Narada. Narada Muni glorified him as the Lord's friend, carrier, seat,
flag, umbrella, general and greatest assistant because of his total
surrender to the Lord.

6) Hanuman then started to cry remembering the mercy of the Lord.

Narada Muni consoled him. Controlling his emotion Hanuman started
to tell him -
a) “If I were really a servant of the Lord then would He have rejected
me like this?
b) He is in Mathura and displaying His Supreme opulence.
c) His mercy towards the Pandavas is the greatest.
d) He became the chariot driver, associate, minister, messenger of the
Pandavas and He also glorified them and offered obeisances to them.
e) Due to the constant presence of the Lord, the capital of the
Pandavas has become the residence of all great sages.
f) “Pandavas must know some magic by which they have enchanted
the Lord.”
g) Hanuman considered it to be his great fortune that Bhima is like his
brother and very dear to him, and Arjuna carries his image on the flag
of his chariot.

7) Narada Muni then invited Hanuman to go along with him to

Ayodhya to see the Lord and His devotees, but Hanuman refused that
proposal due to his fear of committing offense.

8) Difference between Ramachandra's pastimes and Krsna's pastimes.

9) Hanuman's attachment to Lord Ramachandra. Devakinandana is

the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore He can do everything.
As the source of all incarnation He can also appear as Sri
Ramachandra.
10) The Pandavas, due to their unalloyed devotion to Sri Krsna are
completely free from all material attachments. Yudhisthira ruled his
kingdom for the sake of the Lord's pleasure. He was not attached to
his most beautiful wife Draupadi and illustrious brothers like Bhima
and Arjuna. His fondness for them was due to their relationship with
Krsna.
 Chapter 5 - (Dear)

1) Dancing in ecstasy Narada Muni went to Hastinapur and saw that

Yudhisthira Maharaj along with his relatives were planning to bring
Krsna back from Dvaraka with some excuse of danger or performing
some sacrifice.

2) Pandavas offered obeisances to Narada Muni, and brought different

paraphernalia to worship him, but Narada Muni started to worship
them with those items and said, “Although some people received pure
devotion during Sri Ramachandra's incarnation, spontaneous
devotional service was unknown to this world. That spontaneous love
of spiritual sentiment is manifest in the Pandavas. Therefore the
Pandavas are the real recipient of the Lord's special mercy.

3) Pandavas are the greatest devotee of Krsna because -

a) Krsna became their dear friend, worshipable Lord, spiritual master,
cousin, messenger, charioteer even He became their servant.
b) He, whom Brahma, Shiva and other such great personalities cannot
even perceive in their meditation, who is the ultimate goal of the
Vedas, that Supreme Personality of Godhead became very pleased
with them, although they did not make any endeavor for that.
c) What to speak of Krsna's mercy, His chastisement also is very
beneficial. Putana got the position of His mother, Kalya was blessed by
His lotus feet on his head, Kamsa was always meditating upon Him
and left his body upon looking at His lotus face.

4) Narada Muni controlled his tongue by biting it with his teeth and
started to glorify the Pandavas along with mother Kunti and Draupadi.
Narada said -
a) Krsna loves the Pandavas just as they love Him.
b) Krsna offered Yudhistira the greatest glory by making him the king.
c) He offered Bhima the unequal fame by making him kill Jarasandha.
d) Arjun is known all over the world as His friend.
e) Nakula and Sahadeva are also very dear to Him.
f) He addressed Draupadi as “my dear friend”. He protected her from
the fear of Durvasa and Duhsasana.
g) Vidura and Bhisma received Krsna's special favour because of their
affection to the Pandavas.
h) Krsna Himself announced in the assembly of the Kauravas, “Those
who are inimical towards Pandavas are also my enemy, because
Pandavas are as dear to me as my own life.”
5) The Pandavas felt extremely embarassed hearing that, and told
Narada Muni, “We cannot understand, inspite of repeated reasoning,
what kind of mercy Krsna has upon us.
a) Now that we got back our kingdom, killing our enemies, instead of
joy we are feeling extreme pain.
b) He acts as our messanger and charioteer not because of His special
favour upon us, but to establish Dharma.”
6) The Pandavas then told Narada Muni that the Yadavas are really
dear to Krsna, therefore they are the objects of the Lord's real mercy.
Narada Muni went to Dvaraka and saw that the fortunate Yadavas
were sitting in the Sudharma assembly and waiting for Krsna's arrival.

7) As soon as they saw Narada they ran to greet him, and Narada
offered them obeisances. They picked him up from the ground and
offered him a divine seat to sit on. Narada Muni sat down on the
ground, and the Yadavas also sat on the ground around him.

8) When they brought the paraphernalia for the worship, Narada Muni
got up and spoke to them with folded hands, “You are especially
blessed by Krsna. Please be kind upon me and offer me the blessing
that I can sing your glories throughout the world. You can always see
Him, touch Him, address Him, sit with Him, eat with Him, sleep with
Him. Thus you are related to Him with a great bondage of love.
Therefore the Lord has forgotten about Vaikuntha and constantly
providing you with some indescribable joy.

9) Hearing this words the Yadavas touched Narada's feet and told him,
“O most worshipable sage! You are worshiped even by our worshipable
Krsna, therefore why are you offering obeisances to most fallen
persons like ourselves? All our qualifications are simply due to our
relationship to the Supreme Lord Krsna. But amongst us Uddhava is
extremely dear to Krsna. He is His minister, disciple, servant and very
dear friend. The Lord sends him on very special missions like rescuing
of Samba when he was captured by Bhishma, Drona and other
Kauravas. Uddhava is Krsna's constant companion. Uddhava always
remains with Him and receives His Mahaprasad. At night when Krsna
goes to bed he massages His feet and when Krsna falls asleep he
places His lotus feet on his lap and goes to sleep. He is so dear to
Krsna that he even looks exactly like Krsna.

10) Narada Muni was about to go to see Uddhava, then Ugrasena said,
“O best of the sages! Unless ordered by Krsna Uddhava never leaves
Him even for a moment. Please go inside and meet Uddhava, but at
the same time tell him that we are waiting for Krsna in the assembly. It
is already quite late. Ask him to come quickly with his Lord.
 Chapter 6 - (Dearest)

1) Narada Muni became overwhelmed with love hearing the glory of

Uddhava. He was not able to play his vina. When he was walking from
the Sudharma assembly to the inner part of Krsna's palace he
appeared to be like a raving mad man or a person haunted by ghost.
His steps were unsteady, sometimes he was falling down and rolling
on the ground, crying, shouting singing and dancing.

2) Krsna was still sleeping. Uddhava was sitting in the room

surrounded by Baladev, Devaki, Rohini, Kamsa's mother Padmavati
and some maidservants. They became surprised to see Narada in such
a strange mood and requested him to explain what actually happened
to him.

3) Narada opened his tearful eyes and told them with a faltering voice
- “Please introduce me to Uddhava. Please help me to get the dust of
his feet, then only my heart will be pacified. Because -
a) Uddhava received the greatest favor of the Lord.
b) Of all the devotees Uddhava is the greatest.
c) Krsna Himself said, ‘Brahma, Balaram, Shiva, Laksmi, even His own
expansions are not as dear to Him as Uddhava.’

4) Hearing that Uddhava got up and with great respect embraced

Narada's feet and started to cry. Then he controlled himself and said,
“O Narada Muni! You know everything. You are the most truthful
person, and the original preceptor of devotional service. I also used to
think that I was the dearest devotee of Krsna. But that pride has been
destroyed since I went to Vraja recently.

5) All the residents of Vraja are related to Krsna with great love, but
the love of the gopis are the greatest. In order to get the dust from
their lotus feet Uddhava desired to become a creeper in Vrindavana.

6) Uddhava desired to become a creeper in Vrindavana. Because -

a) Then he could get the dust from the feet of the gopis.
b) He would get the association of other creepers who also have
similar desire.
c) If someone says, “Uddhava, if you stay away from the road as a
creeper, then how will you get the dust from their feet?” Then
Uddhava's reply is, “When the gopis become mad with the desire to
meet Krsna hearing His flute they do not have any awareness of the
road. I repeatedly worship the dust from the feet of those gopis.”
7) Uddhava was afraid to describe the glory of the gopis in detail
because if somehow Krsna heard that then He would become afflic ed
with His love for the gopis.

8) Mother Rohini said, “Uddhava, please do not remind me of the gopis

who are plunged in an ocean of misery, who are being constantly
burnt in the dangerous forest fire, and afflicted by the poison of
separation from Krsna. “Yasoda's cry made stones to shed tears and
thunders to split. No one could make out whether the gopis like Radha
were alive or dead. “When Krsna returned from the ashram of
Sandipani Muni I told Him about the condition of Vraja, but He was not
moved by that. Therefore instead of going there Himself He sent you,
who are very expert in diplomacy and flattery. “You sang the glory of
your Lord's mercy upon the residents of Vraja, but is this the sign of
His mercy? When your Lord was in Vraja then also He did not do
anything to make them happy. Ever since Krsna went to Vraja many
demons like Putana and Kesi constantly caused disturbances. But the
Vrajavasis never cared for their own happiness. They were simply
enchanted by the sweetness of Krsna and desired only for His welfare.
They offered everything for Krsna's pleasure. They used to know Krsna
as the son of Nanda Maharaj, not as Yadunandana. Therefore they had
natural affection for Him. “Due to His selfish reasons as long as He
stayed there He did not do any good to the Vrajavasis. Now that His
selfish objectives have been accomplished, and He is residing very
happily with His relatives, what He is doing for them does not need
any description.”

9) Kamsa's mother Padmavati, who was old, unreasonable and

unchaste, said, “Alas! How painful it is that the heartless cowherd folks
engaged Acyuta to tend cows in the dense forest from His childhood.
they did not even give Him a pair of shoes. Sometimes, out of hunger,
when He drank some milk cruel Yasoda tied Him up with a rope. He
was helpless. He took care of the cows tolerating all those sufferings in
His childhood, benefitted them as much as He could. What can He do
now?”

10) Rohinidevi completely ignored Padmavati and told Uddhava, “Now

your Lord has become the king of kings in Dvaraka defeating all His
enemies. Now the demigods even worship His feet. Now He does not
even remember the poor Vrajavasis.”

11) Rukmini said, “Mother! You do not know what goes on in the
butter-soft heart of Krsna, therefore you are speaking like this. At night
in His sleep, Krsna speaks about Vraja. Some times He calls the cows
very sweetly by their names. Sometimes He says, “Mother! Give me
some butter.” Sometimes He addresses me as “Sri Radha”, “Sri
Lalita”. And sometimes He tells me “Candravali! What kind of behavior
is this, are you deceiving me?” Saying that He pulls the end of my sari.
Sometimes He soaks the earth with His tears, sometimes getting up
from His sleep He cries painfully. Hearing that cry we become
submerged in an ocean of sorrow. Tonight also, He had been crying
due to some dream. Covering His face with His cadar He is still lying in
His bed.” Satyabhama devi said, “Not only in His sleep, even in
wakeful state He behaves like that. We are His wives only superficially;
actually even the maidservants of the gopis of Vrindavana are more
dear to our Lord.”

12) Balaram said, “Since we are speaking about the pitiable condition
of the Vrajavasis, brother Krsna is acting as if He was dreaming about
the Vrajavasis just to deceive us. When I stayed in Vrindavana for two
months to console the Vrajavasis I realized that no one but Krsna can
console them. Upon my return I told Him, “Krsna, please go to Vraja
and save the lives of the Vrajavasis.” He simply said, “Yes, I will go.”
But it does not seem that He means it.

13) Hearing that Krsna quickly got out of His bed and started to cry
loudly. Tears were incessantly flowing from His eyes, with faltering
voice He started to say, “It is true that my heart is made with thunder,
therefore this heart did not split as yet. Those Vrajavasis took care of
me so affectionately since my childhood, but I am so cruel that I forgot
their extraordinary love for me. Instead of benefitting them I am
simply causing them great distress. Dear Uddhava, please tell me
what should I do. Please save me from this ocean of lamentation.”
Uddhava told Him, “The Vrajavasis only want you, and unless you go
there their lives will not be saved. In order to get you they have given
up everything. You can ask your elder brother about that.”

14) Remembering the condition of Vraja Balaram started to cry loudly

and said, “Dear Brother! What to speak of the Gopas and Gopis of
Vraja, due to your separation even the cows, animals, birds, trees,
creepers and grass offered their lives to you. The lakes have become
dry, the mountains are shrinking. Some of the men are maintaining
their lives depending upon your promise that you will return. If you do
not show your mercy upon them then Yama will show his mercy upon
them pretty soon. Those who are still alive have given up eating and
drinking. Now the forest fire of dry Mahavan will be their destiny.”

15) Hearing that soft hearted Krsna started to cry placing His hand
around Balaram's neck. Then They started to roll on the ground and
fainted. Seeing Their condition Rohini, Uddhava, Devaki, Rukmini,
Satyabhama and others present there started to cry. The sound of
their cry reached the Sudharma assembly and the Yadavas headed by
Ugrasena quickly arrived there and seeing Krsna's condition became
overwhelmed and started to cry.
Chapter 7 - ( The Recipient of Complete Mercy)

1) The sound of the Yadava's cry spread throughout the universe.

Brahma arrived in Krsna's palace along with the personified Vedas and
demigods, and saw that his father, Krsna, attained a uniquestate of
bewilderment due to His separation from the dearest ones. Losing his
composure Brahma also cried for a while. Then he thought of some
means to cure his Lord. He called Garuda and asked him to carry
Krsna and Balaram to Raivatak mountain in the salt water ocean
where Viswakarma had built an artificial Vrindavana. Only Rohinidevi
was allowed to go there.

2) In New Vrindavana where Visvakarma made a replica of Vrindavana

with statues of gopas and gopis, Garuda very carefully placed Krsna
on a bed. In the meantime Balaram came back to His senses, and
understood Brahma's arrangements.

3) Unable to leave Krsna in such a state Devaki, Rukmini, Satyabhama

and Padmavati also arrived with Uddhava, but due to Brahma's
request stayed out of sight. Narada also stayed invisibly in the sky to
see the pastime of the Lord. Garuda also remained in the sky and
spreading his wings protected his Lord from the sun. Balaram quickly
washed His mouth and then washed His brother's lotus like mouth.
Then He stuck a flute in His belt around His waist. Then He decorated
Him with buffalo horn, cane, garland of kadamba flowers, and a crown
of peacock feather. He then picked Krsna up from the bed and told
Him, “Krsna, Krsna, wake up. See, all your friends are waiting for you.
Due to their affection for you our parents are not able to say anything
to you. See, the Gopis are whispering to each others ears; most
probably they are making fun of you. Krsna woke up and opening His
eyes saw Nanda Maharaj and offered him obeisances; then told His
mother laughingly - “Mother! I dreamt this morning that I went to
Mathura and killed Kamsa and other such wicked demons. Then I built
a great city called Dvaraka on the bank of the ocean.” His mother did
not say anything. Krsna thought His mother was worried about His
health, and consoled her saying, “Mother, it is due to the dream that I
was so late to get up today.” He then told Balaram, “If you don't think
that dream to be impossible then I will describe them in details while
going to the forest.”

4) Krsna then stretched His hands to His mother for the food for His
picnic in the forest. Rohinidevi quickly told Krsna, “Your mother was
extremely worried today due to your sleeping till so late, therefore do
not speak to her too much now. I will prepare the food stuffs and send
them to the forest. Krsna then stole the butter from mother Yasoda's
hand and called Balaram to share it with. But Balaram already went
ahead with the cows, therefore He did not eat it.

5) On the way He met the gopis, and addressed Srimati Radhika as His
life and soul, and told Her, “Why aren't you speaking to me? Are you
angry with me? Did I offend you? Oh! I realized now - You are
omniscient, therefore you got to know about my dream. My dearest! I
dreamt that deserting you I went away to far off Dvaraka and got
married to many princesses there, and got many children through
them. Anyway, now I am getting late. This evening I will give pleasure
to you.” Then He threw flowers at Her and briskly looking around
embraced Her and kissed her.

6) Seeing Krsna dressed as a cowherd boy and hearing His flute, milk
started to flow from Devaki's breasts. Rukmini and Jambavati fainted.
Driven by lust old Padmavati ran towards Krsna along with
Satyabhama, but Kalindi with the help of Uddhava prevented them.

7) While tending the cows Krsna saw the ocean from a distance and
mistook it to be the Yamuna. He called all His friends to join Him in a
water sport in Yamuna - “Sridam, Subal, Arjun, where are you? Come,
let our cows drink this sweet water, then we will swim and play in this
cool flowing water of Yamuna.”

8) As He came close to the bank of the ocean, Krsna saw the city of
Dvaraka and became extremely surprised. Then Balaram told Him,
“My dear Lord of Vaikuntha! Try to remember that you have now
descended to reduce the burden of this earth due to the prayers of the
demigods. Therefore, please protect the devotees and annihilate the
demons. Help Yudhisthira to perform sacrifice.” Baladev continued,
“You established Yudhisthira as the monarch of this earth, but he
became afraid of demons like Anusalva. Therefore, please go there
with the Yadavas and annihilate those demons. They are troubling
Yudhisthira because he is dear to you.”

9) Sri Krsna became angry hearing that and said, “Brother Balaram!
Anusalva is so insignificant that I alone can kill him.” Then looking
around Krsna remembered Himself as the Lord of the Yadavas. Then
He remembered that He was sleeping in His palace. He became
surprised and doubtful seeing flute in His hand, and Balaram and
Himself tending cows on the bank of the Ocean dressed as cowherd
boys. Then Balaram explained everything to Him with a smile. After
taking bath in the ocean they returned to the palace riding on
Garuda's back. Krsna saw that His mother and all His queens were
there but Satyabhama was absent. So He asked Uddhava about Her.
10) Uddhava said, “My Lord! During your pastimes in Nava Vrindavan
Kamsa's mother Padmavati, who was watching your activities from a
distance along with Devaki, Rukmini and other queens, commented,
“You Devaki, devoid of piety! You, unfortunate Rukmini! O lowly
Satyabhama! Can't you see Krsna's condition? Now you give up your
pride for your good fortune and try to perform severe austerities to
become maidservants of those cowherd girls.” Mother Devaki replied,
“You fool! It is not at all surprising. In the past I performed austerities
along with Vasudev to receive Krsna as my son. But Nanda and Yasoda
prayed to Brahma only for devotion. Therefore they attained even
higher position than us due to their devotion. They brought up Krsna
with affection. Krsna's attitude towards them is very appropriate. This
attitude is very dear to me also.” “Rukmini said, “The gopis gave up all
attachments for everything in this life and the life after. They gave up
their husbands and children and served Krsna with intense love. Their
loving relation with Krsna is a mystery even to us. That love is a
subject of our constant meditation. Therefore Krsna's attachment to
the gopis being greater than to us is quite appropriate. Because we
are His married wives. We serve Him with awe and reverence, but the
gopis serve Him out of their pure love for Him, which is free from all
religious and moral considerations. The superior love of the gopis is
not a matter of our envy, because it is not proper for the inferiors to
develop enmity with someone who is much superior.” Uddhava said,
“Other queens approved these words of Rukmini, but Satyabhama
could not tolerate that. She became upset and went to her room.”

11) Krsna became angry upon hearing that and ordered angrily, “Bring
that foolish daughter of Satrajit here.” Satyabhama's maidservants
reported that to Satyabhama, and she got up from the ground and
quickly came to her husband. Krsna chastised Her angrily, “You,
narrow minded daughter of Satrajit! Just as you were upset upon
hearing that I gave parijata flower to Rukmini, you became upset now
seeing my love for the gopis. Don't you know that I am completely
submissive to the desire of the residents of Vraja? If in order to make
them happy I have to reject you all then I am prepared to do that.”
“Brahma mentioned in his prayer that I am not able to return the favor
of the Vrajavasis, that statement is not wrong. Because I am
extremely indebted to the Vrajavasis. If you say that if I go to Vraja
and stay there then that debt will be repaid, and they will become
satisfied, but in reply I will say that I do not know whether their
suffering due to my separation will be mitigated if I go to Vraja and
stay there. Because that pleasant union will increase their pain of
separation. Just as a person who is burnt with fire feels relief with fire,
similarly I try to relieve the Vrajavasis' anguish due to separation with
separation. “Besides that there is no possible remedy. If one asks why
I left such great lovers and made them feel such intense pain of
separation? In reply I will say, “Even in union they experience some
unique emotion and become oblivious of themselves. In union and in
separation I am unable to take care of their welfare. Even in union
they experience intense pain due to the anxiety of future separation.
“When I disappear then sometimes they become like dead and
sometimes become mad due to the blazing fire of separation. Then
they mistake a tamal tree to be Me and embrace it and kiss it.
“Therefore whether I stay in Vraja or stay away from Vraja means the
same.” “You may question, why I got married to you all. Actually when
I was in Mathura I did not have any desire to get married but when I
got to know that Rukmini decided to give up her life if she did not get
me, I stole Her, but when I saw her I remembered the gopis and I
became very much afflicted. In order to become free from that
affliction, seeing the resemblance of number with the gopis who
performed Katyayani vrata, I married you all. “How painful it is! The
pastimes I performed in Vraja and the joy I experienced there, what to
speak of performing such pastimes, I cannot even describe them here.
Sri Badarayani, who is as dear to me as the Vrajavasis will describe a
part of that pastimes to his disciple Pariksit.”

12) Balaram told Krsna about Narada's presence by the door. Krsna
asked with a smile, “Why Narada is not coming in as usual? Who
stopped him at the gate today?” Uddhava said, “My Lord it is his own
shame and fear that is preventing him from coming in.” Krsna
personally went to the door and brought Narada in and told him, “You
benefitted me immensely today. Due to the remembrance of the dear
ones, although one feels endless lamentation and pain at first, in the
long run it becomes even more pleasing than the joy of union. Then
the heart feels satisfied with a sense of completeness. “O sage among
the demigods! Reminding me of the gopis today you benefitted me
immensely. Therefore I have become very pleased with you, and I
wanted to grant you some boon according to your desire.” Narada
started to offer prayers to the Lord singing His transcendental names
related to His pastimes in Vraja, and asked “My Lord, please grant me
the boon that no one ever becomes satisfied with your mercy,
devotion and love.” The Lord said, “Naradada! What kind of boon did
you ask. Everyone knows that no one ever becomes satisfied with
devotion. This is the natural characteristic of devotion. Therefore you
ask some other boon from me.” Narada started to dance in ecstasy
and asked, “My Lord! Please let me constantly drink the nectar of your
holy name and distribute them to everyone everywhere. This is the
first boon, and the second one is - whoever hears, chants, touches or
holds in his hearts the land of your pastimes will be blessed with the
loving devotional service at the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. The
Lord granted Narada those boons.
 Part 2
(The Glory of Goloka)
Chapter 1 - (Detachment)

1) Janamejaya's enquires about the discussion between mother Uttara

and Pariksit Maharaj. In reply Sri Jaimini started to describe the glory
of Goloka - Srimati Uttara enquired about the abode that the devotees
who desire the servitorship of the gopis of Vraja attain.

2) Pariksit Maharaj described his own good fortune and started to

describe the story of the brahmana from Prag-yotishpur. That
brahmana received the ten-syllabled Gopal-mantra from Kamakhya-
devi. Due to chanting of that mantra he became detached from
material attachments and developed firm faith in chanting of the
mantra. He saw the Lord who was indicated by the mantra. Shiva
instructed him in a dream to go to Mathura.

3) In Prayag he saw the brahmanas worshipping Madhava. His

discussion with the Vaisnavas there. Instructions on one's worshipable
deities. Madhava's instruction to go to Mathura immediately.

4) The brahmana heard the sound of someone sobbing on the eastern

side of Kesi-tirtha and entered into the Kadamba-grove. There he saw
Gopakumar. He offered him obeisances and enquired from him about
the goal of life and how he could attain that. In reply Gopakumar told
him that the ultimate goal can be attained by “Sri-nama-sankirtan”
and in order to convince him he began to narrate his own life-story.

5) Gopakumar was a young cowherd boy from Vrindavan. He received

the same ten syllabled mantra from a great devotee of Krsna.
Gopakumar had firm faith that the mantra he received from his
spiritual master was Krsna's prasad. Due to chanting of that mantra
his heart became purified and he felt a tremendous attraction for his
worshippable Lord and left home. He saw a brahmana worshipping a
Salagrama-sila on the bank of the Ganges. Due to his instruction
gopakumar went to the palace of the king and seeing the grand
worship of Sri Narayan there he desired to worship the Lord like that.

6) The king accepted him as his son, and after the king's death he
became the king. Although he was always engaged in worshipping Sri
Narayan, he felt dicontentment due to various affairs about hi
kingdom. From one wandering mandicant he heard about the great
mercy of the Lord of Nilacala. He left his kingdom and went there to
see Him. He desired to serve Lord Jagannath personally.

7) He saw his spiritual master on the bank of the ocean, and he

received further instructions about chanting of the mantra. He became
the king of that country and improved the standard of worship. Due to
his involvement in ruling the kingdom he felt discontentment in his
mind. In a dream he received instruction from Lord Jagannath to return
to Mathura.

Chapter 2 - (Knowledge)

1) Gopakumar stayed in Mathura for some time, then he left for

Nilacala in order to see Lord Jagannath. On the way he met some
saintly peoplea and heard from them how opulently Sri Upendra (Lord
Vamanadev) is worshipped in heaven. Due to the potencey of the
mantra a spaceship arrived to take him to heaven, where he received
the mercy of Upendra. When Indra disappeard from heaven due to the
fear of a curse of a brahmana Gopakumar became the king of heaven,
and made very nice arrangements to serve Lord Upendra.
a) Although he became the king of heaven, he did not stay in
the palace, he used to stay in the Nandana-Kanan garden as a
mendicant. He did not have any desire for sense enjoyment.
b) In spite of being in heaven he could not forget Vrindavan.
Upendra consoled him whenever he felt sad.
c) When Upendra used to disappear from heaven, Gopakumar
wanted to go to Nilacala to see Lord Jagannath, because Jagannath
never leaves Nilacal. But whenever he thought like that Upendra
came back and consoled him.
d) He stayed in heaven as the king for one celestial year.

2) In heaven he met great sages like Bhrigu. He got to know about

Maharloka from Brihaspati. Due to the influence of chanting the
Mantra he was elevated there. Although the sages requested him to
become a brahmana he refused. He received the opportunity to serve
Yajnesvara. At the end of Brahma's day three worlds, upto heaven,
were destroyed, then he went to Janaloka. He got to see Sanatkumar
and from the sages heard about Tapaloka and was elevated there.

3) He saw four Kumaras in Tapaloka. He never gave up the chanting of

the mantra. Once he desired to go to Nilacala to see Lord Jagannath.
Sage Pippalayana got to know his mind and dissuaded him by saying -
 a) The Supreme Personality of Godhead is beyond sense
perception, therefore he should not try to perceive Him with his
eyes.
b) He asked him to fix his mind in meditation, then in trance he
would be able to see Him within and without.
c) Ultimate perception is through the mind.
d) Although Dhruva, Prahlad saw the Lord, but that perception
was possible through knowledge, but they felt that they saw the
Lord with their eyes.
e) Out of nine processes of devotianal service remembrance is
the best, because in remembrance the activities of the mind, the
greatest of all senses, is offered to the Lord.
Pippalayana asked him to go to Gandhamadan mountain to meet Lord
Nara-Narayana, whom they always see in their mind's eyes. As
Gopakumar was about to go there the four Kumaras showed him
various forms of the Lord. Once Brahma arrived in Tapaloka. From the
four Kumaras he got to know the facts about Brahma and Satyaloka.

4) Gopakumar went to Satyaloka. Saw Mahapurusa. Laksmidevi

treated him very affectionately. He saw how at the end of the day of
Brahma three worlds become destroyed. Once Brahama disappeared
from Satyaloka due to fear of a demon, then Gopakumar attained the
position of Brahma. The Srutis described the important facts about
liberation and devotion.

5) Devotion is greater than liberation. Superiority of devotion above

knowledge and renunciation. Description of eight coverings of
universe. Gopakumar's devotion increased after hearing the story of
devotion, and due to the direct instruction of the Lord he went to
Vrindavan.

Chapter 3 - (Devotional service)

1) While travelling in Vrindavan Gopakumar met his spiritual master

and received instructions from him. Due to the influence of chanting
the mantra he became free from the bondage of matter and
developed his spiritual body and reached the abode of Shiva
transcending the seven coverings of the material nature.
a) Earth - Varahadeva is worshipped by Dharani devi.
b) Water - Matsyadeva is worshipped.
c) Fire - Suryadeva in worshipped.
d) Air - Pradyumna is worshipped.
f) False ego - Aniruddha is worshipped.
g) Mahatattva - Vasudev is worshipped.
2) Gradually crossing those coverings he came to the covering of
Prakriti which was in great darkness. The deep dark colour of Prakriti
stole his mind . She invited him to stay there. Then she told him that
wether he desired liberation or devotion he should worship her.
Crossing that impenetrable darkness he perceived an extremely
brilliant light and closed his eyes out of fear, and due to his devotion
crossed that and as he opened his eyes he saw the Supreme
personality of Godhead brilliant as million suns, yet He was extremely
pleasing to the eyes and mind. Sometimes He appeared with His form
and sometimes He appeared to be blinding rays of light. Sometimes
he was about to lose his identity in that light and then he was safed
due to the mercy of the Lord. He saw Mahadev descending from some
higher plane along with his associates. Nandiswar revealed the
identity of Mahadeva to him. He recognized Mahadev as non-different
from his worshippable Madangopal .Still he felt dissatisfied because
the qualities of Madangopal like beauty, sweatness, mercy, etc. were
not there, He heard the sweet sound of music, and hearing that sound
Mahadev also lost himself with joy and started to dance in ecstacy. He
saw some fourhanded residents of Vaikuntha. He desired to know who
they were. Knowing his mind Parvati devi instructed Ganesh to explain
their secret to him. The associates of the Lord freely travel everywhere
to spread pure devotion to Krsna. If someone, at the time of death,
chants the name of the Lord, they deliver him. He desired to go to
Vaikuntha. But then he felt that he was unqualified to reside in
Vaikuntha and fainted. Sri Mahadev lifted him up and consoled him by
saying, “My dear Vaisnava, I also want to always reside in Vaikuntha
along with Parvati, That place is very rare. Grat sages like Bhrigu,
Brahma and myself are endeavouring in various ways to go there. But
you are qualified to attain that Vaikunthaloka. Because you are a
devotee of Mathuranath, a disciple of His very intimate devotee and
attached to chant His mantra. This place is meant for the impersonal
sannyasis who have been bewildered by my devient teaching.
Therefore, please leave this place knowing it to be troublesome.
Associates of the Lord offered obeisances to Sri Mahadev and said,
“No one is equal to Vaikunthanath and there in no difference between
you and Him, and there is no difference between Gauri and Laxmidevi.
We came here to take you. If you really want to go to Vaikuntha then
give up everything and perform nine types of devotional servive. Read
Srimad Bhagavatam, hear the pastimes of the Lord. Soon you will
reach the abode of the Lord. Performance of Namsankirtan is the best
of all pure devotional servive. Due to Namsankirtan one quickly
develops love for the Lord.
a) Kirtan manifests from the tongue, influences the mind and
enchants the ears. It not only satisfies oneself but satisfies other
listeners as well.
 b) Meditation is not possible unless one is in a solitary place. But
one can chant the holy name of the Lord in both solitary and
crowded places.
c) Of all kinds of kirtans Krsna's namsankirtan is the best
because it generates love for the Lord very quickly
d) Loud chanting pleases oneself and pleases others as well,
whereas meditation simply satisfies oneself.
e) When one chants the holy name with eagerness then love
automatically becomes manifest. Therefore sankirtan and love of
Godhead are nondifferent.
f) Meditation is possible both in His presence and absence.
The associates of the Lord instructed Gopakumar to go back to
Mathura.
 Chapter 4 - (Vaikuntha)

1) While wandering in Vraja chanting the Holy Name of the Lord

ecstatically Gopakumar saw his worshipable Lord Madan Gopal and
fainted. the associates of the Lord then brought him to Vaikuntha.

2) At the gate of Vaikuntha the associates of the Lord asked him to

wait while they went to report his arrival. Gopakumar saw a person
who looked like the Supreme Personality of Godhead and mistook him
to be the Lord and started to offer prayers. That person felt very
embarrassed and kept on saying, “I am the servant. I am the servant
of the servant.” and walked into Vaikuntha. Then Gopakumar saw an
even more opulent person, mistook him to be the Lord and offered
prayers to him. That person covered his ears and affectionately asked
him not to make such mistakes and entered into the city. In this way
Gopakumar met many residents of Vaikuntha and mistook them as
Narayana. Finally the associates of the Lord took him to
Vaikunthanath. Gopakumar learnt to recognize the Lord according to
the wonderful symptoms like Srivatsa. They also taught him how to
pray to the Supreme Lord. The Lord welcomed him and asked him to
stay in Vaikuntha.

3) He told him, “My dear friend, you have spent many lifetimes, but
did not develop any attachment to me. Only in this life you became
attached to me. I made you take birth in Govardhan and I myself
appeared as your spiritual master as Jayanta.

4) Gopakumar played his flute and gave pleasure to Sri Madhava. He

refused to accept all mystic powers and transcendental opulence and
stayed in Vaikuntha as a cowherd boy.

5) He rendereed intimate personal service to the Lord like fanning Him

with chamara and play his flute to give pleasure to Him.

6) Sometimes, according to his old habit, he used to sing His Holy

Name like “O Govinda! O Gopal!” Hearing that the residents of
Vaikuntha advised him with a smile, “O cowherd boy. You should not
address the Supreme Personality of Godhead as “O Krsna! O Gopal!”
He has many transcendental glories. You can compose them in poetry
and sing them. In order to protect the devotees and annihilate the
demons, especially to deceive Kamsa, He appears as a cowherd boy.”
Some of the Vakunthavasis said,” There is no harm in singing the
pastimes of the Lord as a cowherd boy. After all, His activities are
inconceivable.” Those who are His principal servitors became annoyed
and prevented others and said, “How foolishly you are speaking!
Activities of Sri Krsna to display His affection for His devotees must be
sung in sankirtan and the Lord also becomes very pleased with that.”

7) Gopakumar used to feel unhappiness not seeing his worshipable

Lord Sri Madan Gopal. All cognizant Vaikunthanath then became like
Nandanandan. Laxmidevi became Radha. Dharanidevi became
Chandravali and other residents became cowherd boys. Still
Gopakumar was not satisfied, because he did not receive the embrace
and kiss from Vaikunthanath as he did from Gopal in his meditation.

8) He used to console his mind by saying,” Oh my fickle mind. In spite

of coming to Vaikuntha you could not give up your restlessness! There
is nothing superior to Vaikuntha! Please now become peaceful.”

9) One day Narada Muni came to Vaikuntha and told Gopakumar,”You

have been favored by the Lord of Vaikuntha. Why then you look so
unhappy? There is no misery and lamentation in Vaikuntha, and there
is nothing superior to Vaikuntha.” All cognizant Narada Muni then told
him, I know you are hankering for the embrace and kiss of the Lord
here in Vaikuntha, as you received in your meditation. Those
exchanges, although very dear to the Lord, are very secret. They are
rare even for sages like ourselves. Only the Vrajavasis receive that
due to their unique love for the Lord. You have arrived in Vaikuntha
rendering devotional service unto Him as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. You will not be able to receive that kind of exchange here.
Because those very secret madhurya pastimes are not possible here.
Therefore give up your lamentation, and worship the Lord of Vaikuntha
as your supreme worshipable Lord. Do not make any distinction
between Vaikunthanath and Madan Gopal then only you will
experience an eternally increasing supreme joy. Do not ever think that
the animals, birds, trees and plants here in vaikuntha are in the mode
of ignorance. They are all associates of Krsna, yet in order to give Him
pleasure they have accepted different forms. According to their
service attitude they developed these forms. In spite of being without
a second, He expands Himself in different incarnations, according to
the desire of His devotees, in order to give them pleasure.”

10) Narada Muni told Gopakumar how he saw thousands of expansions

of Krsna in Dwaraka, and how the Lord was accepting the service from
his queens. Yogamaya, the potency of the Lord, organizes the
pastimes of the Lord and it is due to her mercy that devotion
manifests in hearts of devotees. Although her activities are
inconceivable, yet pure devotees can understand that. The great
potency of the Lord are of two kinds - para and apara (superior and
inferior) . The inferior potency is the reflection of His superior potency.
Transcending this inferior energy (maya) one attains liberation and
devotion. Then Narada Muni instructed Gopakumar to go to Dwaraka
via Ayodhya.
 Chapter 5 - (Love)

1) Gopakumar arrived in Dwaraka. There he saw some young Yadavas

playing. He became so joyful upon seeing their unique beauty that he
forgot to offer his obeisances to them. The Yadava boys embraced him
and holding his hands took him to the palace.

2) He saw Krsna sitting on a beautiful golden throne and being served

with greater opulence than Vaikuntha. Vasudeva, Balaram, Akrura etc.
were sitting on His right, and Gada, Satviki and others were sitting on
His left with Ugrasena ahead of them. Narada was singing for the
pleasure of the Lord playing his vina. Garuda was offering prayers to
Him, kneeling in front of Him and Uddhava was massaging His lotus
feet narrating some secret messages to Him.

3) Seeing the Lord from a distance Gopakumar fainted out of love, and
the Lord very affectionately asked Uddhava to bring him close to Him.
Uddhava brought Gopakumar to his senses and holding his hand
brought him to the Lord and made Gopakumar touch the lotus feet of
the Lord with his head. Then Krsna very affectionately brushed his
body with His hands. When He saw the flute in his hand he became
silent and wiped His tears. Then He told him, “O Gopakumar, are you
well? Nothing inauspicious happened in Gokul?” Saying that He
became very much afflicted and Uddhava consoled Him and reminded
Him about the presence of Vasudeva and other Yadavas, kings,
demigods and sages in the assembly. Krsna then checked Himself and
prepared to go inside His palace and holding Gopakumar's hand
entered into the palace with Balaram and Uddhava. His 16.108 queens
along with mother Rohini and Devaki received Him. Then Gopakumar
saw Dwarakanath as Madangopal surrounded by mother Yasoda and
the Gopis, and fainted in ecstasy. Krsna revived his consciousness by
touching him with His own hands. He fed him with His own hands and
then for his pleasure He ate something. Then Uddhava, after taking
His remnants, took Gopakumar to his house.

4) Gopakumar felt inconceivable joy thinking that he reached the

ultimate goal of his life. He experienced that the joy of Vaikuntha was
million times greater than the joy of liberation, joy of Ayodhya was
even greater than Vaikuntha but the joy of Dwaraka was inconceivable
and indescribable. One day the Yadavas told Gopakumar, “We feel sad
when we see you dressed as a forest dweller. Therefore please accept
the dress like us.” But still Gopakumar did not want to give up his
identity as a cowherd boy. He used to feel ashamed and afraid to
approach Krsna when He used to sit in His assembly surrounded by
greatly opulent personalities.
5) Sometimes he used to see Krsna in His four armed form. Sometimes
the Lord used to leave Dwaraka to see His dear friends, the Pandavas.
Then Gopakumar used to feel very sad. He also used to feel the
separation from Vraja, but he used to carefully hide that feeling.

6) One day he saw Narada Muni and offering obeisances to him he

asked, “O best of the sages, o best of the associates of the Lord! You
are singing the glory of the Lord everywhere. I am very surprised and
inquisitive about your ability.” Narada said, “I already revealed that
secret to you. Just as the Supreme Lord Krsna, who is one without a
second, manifests Himself in various places in various forms, similarly
we, His servants, also are present in various places in various forms. I
am also quite surprised that you, in spite of being sat-cit-ananda
vigraha, appear to be dissatisfied and disturbed.” Gopakumar then
embraced Narada's lotus feet and told him very humbly, “My lord! You
know everything.” Narada then smiled and told Uddhava, “This
Gopakumar, due to his birth in Govardhan, is searching for something
that is even rare for you and me. It is so sad that you, who is so much
concerned about the sufferings of Vrajavasis, cannot do anything to
console him. Goloka, that this Gopakumar is desiring for, is much
higher than Vaikuntha.”

7) Uddhava said, “He is born in Vraja and there he was engaged in

tending cows. Especially he is the worshipper of Gopal. Therefore he is
superior to us.”

8) Hearing that Narada excitedly embraced him and said, “Please

instruct him, so that he can fulfill his desire.” Uddhava said, “O great
sage! I am a ksatryia, in your presence I can not advise him.” Narada
laughed loudly and told Uddhava, “ You could not give up your ksatryia
consciousness even in Vaikuntha.” Uddhava replied with a smile,
“What to speak of us, even the Lord Himself could not give up His
ksatryia consciousness.”

9) Narada started to laugh and said, “How wonderful are the pastimes
of the Lord. Just as He played His sweet pastimes in the earth planet,
in Dwaraka also, which is even higher than Vaikuntha, He plays the
same way. Sometimes we get confused whether we are in Vaikuntha
Dwaraka or in earthly Dwaraka.” Then Narada explained to
Gopakumar, “O Gopakumar! Further from this Dwaraka there is a
place called Goloka, which is the crest jewel of Vaikuntha. That place is
inhabited by Krsna's most intimate and loving devotees. Although that
place is the most opulent place, where every single tree, even the
leaves and flowers can fulfill everyone's desires, the inhabitants of
Goloka do not desire any opulence due to the apprehension that may
disturb the pastimes of the Lord. Krsna is so merciful there that the
abominable Putana, who was very fond of killing children, attained the
position of His mother simply because she offered Him her breasts. He
delivered all the demons although they came to harass Him.”

10) “He allowed mother Yasoda to tie Him up in the mortar. Kåñëa’s
beauty stole the hearts of the gopis who are even superior to
Mahalaxmi. When they experienced some impediments to see Krsna
due to blinking of their eyes they cursed Brahma. He performed most
wonderful pastimes there. He broke the cart, who was actually a
demon named Sakatasura, when He was only three months old. He
killed Trinavarta. Stole milk and butter from the gopis. Delivered the
arjun trees. Killed Vakasura and Vatsasura while tending the cows in
the forest. Bewildered Brahma. Killed Dhenukasura. Subdued Kalyia.
Stole the garments of the gopis. Begged foodstuff from the brahmanas
who were performing yajna and attracted their wives. Lifted Giri-
Govardhan. When these pastimes of Vraja enter into someone's ears
naturally inundate his heart with love for the Lord.

11) “Glorious are those persons who conclusively establish the

supremacy of Krsna above all other incarnations. And those who
become overwhelmed with love for Krsna hearing these pastimes from
a distance, I offer my obeisances unto them. “What Krsna could not
accomplish with His own words or through the words of the Vedas and
Upanishads, has been accomplished by His flute simply by the touch
of His lotus lips. Hearing that sound of His flute demigods along with
their wives faint in their spaceships; Mahendra, Rudra and Brahma
forget themselves; the great sages fail to meditate and experienced
ecstatic symptoms. Moon becomes stunned and fails to move in his
orbit. “The cowherd boys of Goloka used to move with Him as His
shadows. Hearing His flute the cowherd damsels like Srimati
Radharani gave up their husbands, relatives, social custom, even
shame.

12) “The residents of Vraja knew Him as the son of Nanda Maharaj and
served Him in various ways. No one is able to describe their
attachment to Him. Those Vrajavasis are worshipable to us in all
respects.

13) “Those Vrajavasis were not enchanted by Krsna, but Krsna was
enchanted by them. Alas! I went to Vraja and reminded Him about His
duty to kill Kamsa. Then intelligent Akrura somehow brought Him to
Mathura from Vraja. Krsna could never leave the Vrajavasis. Therefore
He always resides in Vraja and performs His pastimes there. From
there He goes to Mathura and returns after a while. In order to find out
how the Vrajavasis feel due to His separation, He sometimes hides in
some bower in Vrindavana. My dear, be aware it is very difficult to
attain that Goloka.”

14) Then Narada Muni asked Uddhava to say something. Very humbly,
holding Narada Muni's feet, Uddhava said, “All I want is to become a
creeper in Vrindavana in order to receive the dust of the lotus feet of
the gopis who have given up their relatives and friends and all
considerations of morality.”

15) Narada told Uddhava, “You are very attached to the Vrajavasis,
therefore please advise this Gopakumar so that he can attain his
goal.” Then Narada told Gopakumar, “O dear Gopakumar! You are very
dear to Krsna. Be aware that soon your desire will be fulfilled. I already
guessed that in the past. In spite of attaining incomparable joy of
Vaikuntha and even greater joy in Ayodhya and Dwaraka, you are
experiencing sadness. I can well imagine that this sadness is meant to
increase your attachment to the lotus feet of Madan-Gopal. Otherwise
how can there be any sorrow in Vaikuntha? Therefore you return to
Vraja on the earth planet, because in Vrindavana you will attain the
qualifications to return to Goloka which is above Vaikuntha.”

16) Gopakumar then closed his eyes and felt as if someone was
carrying him to somewhere. When he opened his eyes he found that
he was in Vrindavana.

Chapter 6 - (Fulfillment of desire)

1) According to Narada's instruction Gopakumar went to Vrindavan

and started to chant the dear Names of Krsna in sweet Sankirtan and
constantly think of Him. He used to cry piteously throughout the day
and night. He could not make out, all that he was doing, whether they
were for his happiness of for misery. He could not make out whether
he was burning in the forest fire or dwelling in extremely sweet water
of Yamuna. Sometimes he used to feel as if he has fallen in the hands
of a cheater, therefore he has been submerged in an ocean of
suffering. In this way he was staying in Vrindavana in an arbour.

2) One day drowning in an ocean of tears he fainted. At that time that

most merciful personality appeared there and started to brush the
dust from his body with his nectarian soothing lotus hands. He made
the beautiful fragrance of His body enter his nostrils and shaking him
affectionately brought him back to his senses. Gopakumar got up and
looking at His beautiful lotuslike face in great joy tried to catch His
yellow garment, but then He started to move backwards playing His
flute and disappeared inside an arbour. Gopakumar tried to catch Him
but could not. He fainted and fell in Yamuna. When he gained
consciousness and opened his eyes, he saw that he was moving in
some vehicle with the speed faster than mind and saw that he arrived
in Vaikuntha and with his great surprise he saw that even before he
could look at Vaikuntha that region of the spiritual sky including
Ayodhya, Mathura and Dwaraka disappear from his vision and he
arrived in Goloka.

3) He saw with great surprise and delight that Madhupuri of Goloka is

just like Mathura on earth. There he heard that Kamsa is ruling his
kingdom after putting his father Ugrasena, Devaki and Vasudev in the
prison. Many of the Yadavas ran away to different countries due to the
fear of the demons. Gopakumar also became afraid and after taking
bath in Visramtirtha quickly went to Vrindavana. There he saw some
cowherd men wandering in the forests and elderly gopis picking
flowers. It seemed that someone stole their hearts. Gopakumar asked
them, “Please tell me who is the king of this country and where does
he stay? How can I get to see Him?” But they did not reply. He asked
whoever he saw, but no one answered.

4) Then he saw a palace, more beautiful and superior to Vaikuntha and

he heard the gopis singing while churning yoghurt. Hearing that song
he lost himself with joy, but controlling himself he walked forward and
saw a lady crying uttering the names of Krsna. Gopakumar inquired
from her about that place and she replied, “This us the house of
Krsna's father Nanda Maharaj.” As soon as Gopakumar heard that he
fainted, but that very merciful lady brought him back to his senses.
Gopakumar ran to the gate of the palace. He could not make out
whether the people there were perfectly satisfied with absolute joy or
intensely miserable due to acute pain.

5) He felt as if he was still in the material nature but then he realized

that he was in Goloka which is even higher than Vaikuntha. He asked
one old lady, where Nandanandan was, and that old lady replied, “He
went out to tend the cows along with His friends and elder brother
Balarama, but now in the evening He will return.” She also told him
that from the direction, where every Vrajavasi, even the leaves of the
trees are looking, He would return. Then Gopakumar heard the
beautiful sound of that flute blended with the sweet sound of the
mooing of cows. Hearing that sound of the flute, trees started to pour
nectar, tears started to flow from the cowherd folks, milk started to
flow from the breasts of Krsna's mother and nurses, and Yamuna
started to flow in the opposite direction. Gopakumar could not make
out whether that sound of the flute was poison or nectar - whether
that sound was hard as thunderbolt or soft as water - whether it was
hot as blazing fire or cool as the moon. Because the Vrajavasis
became mad and fainted upon hearing that flute.

6) The young gopis were rushing towards Krsna with the paraphernalia
of worship. Some of them were wearing their cloths in the opposite
way, some of them became stunned like a tree and some sooned and
fell on the ground.

7) Gopakumar saw that Krsna came out from the middle of His friends
and animals and told Sridham, “See Sridham! My dearmost friend, the
lotus of your family Sarup is here.” Saying that Krsna ran to meet
Gopakumar. At that time a garland of Kadamba flower was hanging
from Krsna's neck. He was wearing a yellow garment. A peacock
feather was decorating His head. Due to the beautiful fragrance of His
body ten directions were enchanted. A beautiful smile was making His
fully bloomed lotus like face even more beautiful. He came running
towards Gopakumar and embraced him and fainted. Gopakumar also
fainted, but soon he came back to his senses and got up after freeing
himself from His embrace, he saw that Krsna was lying on the ground
and the earth was soaked with His tears.

8) The gopis came running there and said, “Who came here and did
this to Krsna, the Lord of our hearts?” Seeing Gopakumar they said,
“This person must be a servant of wicked Kamsa.” Then all the gopas
came quickly and seeing Krsna in that condition started to cry. Upon
hearing that from a distance elderly gopas like Nanda Maharaj and
mother Yasoda and their servants and maidservants came running.
Then all the cows, calves, deers started to cry seeing Krsna's
condition. Trees became dry and everything everywhere became
almost dead. Gopakumar also started to cry piteously holding Krsna's
feet on his head. Then Balarama came there and also started to cry
seeing His younger brother's condition. After a while He composed
Himself and seeing Gopakumar there could understand what must
have happened. Then He made Gopakumar put his arm around Krsna's
neck and carass His body with his other hand and made him call Krsna
out loud. And at last He made him lift Krsna up from the ground. Krsna
then opened His tearful lotus-eyes and seeing Gopakumar embraced
him and kissed him with great joy. As a friend whom He met after a
long time He held his right hand with His left and started to ask him
various questions. Then He entered the house of Nanda Maharaj. The
wild animals, afflicted due to the separation of Krsna, became unable
to go anywhere and stayed there in order to see Krsna in the morning
once again. The birds, flying in the sky, kept on looking at Krsna and
knowing that they won't be able to see Him at night started to cry.
Mother Yasoda wiped out the dust from Krsna's body with her hair and
embraced and kissed Him repeatedly. She could not make out whether
she should keep her Son in her head, in her heart or in her womb.

9) Thereafter very lovingly Krsna took Gopakumar inside the house

and made him worship his mothers. Yasoda showered her affection
upon Gopakumar like her own son. At this point it becomes revelealed
that in Goloka Våndävana Gopakumar is knows as Sarupa.

10) Some cowherd damsels arrived there under different pretexts.

Mother Yasoda and Rohini began to bathe Krsna and Balarama, then
Krsna, who is very expert in amorous activities told His mothers, “Dear
mothers, we are very hungry. Therefore please arrange our food very
quickly and bring our father to eat.” Hearing that the gopis said, “O
mother Yasoda, the queen of Vraja! O Rohinidevi! Please go and
quickly prepare the food and we will take care of bathing Them.” Sri
Yasoda said, “O girls! First you bathe Balarama and send Him to call
Nanda Maharaj.” The gopis then quickly bathed Balarama and sent
Him to call Nanda Maharaj and then they started to bathe Krsna. First
they took out His ornaments and brushed His body with the ends of
their clothes. The gopis massaged His body very expertly with oil with
their lotus soft hands. But playful Krsna made some painful sound.
Hearing that mother Yasoda quickly came in and asked, “What
happened? What happened?” But when she saw the smiling face of
her Son she was relieved and walked into the house. Then the damsels
of Vraja bathed Krsna with the slightly warm fragrant water of
Yamuna, and decorated Him in the most beautiful way. Seeing that
Mukhara said, “O Yasoda! See, how beautifully these girls have
decorated your dark colored son.” But mother Yasoda became
annoyed and replied, “The lotus feet of my Syamasundar is naturally
dancing on the head of all the beauty of this world. The beauty of
these damsels cannot even be compared to the fraction of the beauty
of my Syamasundar's toe-nail.” Nanda Maharaj arrived there with
Balarama and sat on a golden seat with Krsna on his left and Balarama
on his right. And They asked Sarupa to sit in front of them. Mother
Yasoda started to serve them all kinds of delicious foodstuffs. Srimati
Radhika placed a laddu called 'Manohara' on Krsna's plate. Krsna
picked up a little bit of that with His fore finger and thumb and placing
it in His tongue distorted His face as if He tasted the most bitter thing
in this world. Seeing the distortion of Krsna's face Balarama smiled,
mother Yasoda became angry, father Nanda became surprised, the
sakhis from Radharani's camp became sad and the sakhis from the
opposite camp became delighted. Krsna gave Sarupa that laddu and
he felt that this was the most delicious thing he ever tasted. Srimati
Radharani frowned at Krsna and Krsna with a smile leered at her. After
dinner Nanda Maharaj went to take care of the cows and Balarama
went to the bedroom. Krsna then walked around in the courtyard with
the beautiful damsels of Vraja singing some songs. Then mother
Yasoda told Him to go to bed.

11) In the morning when Sarupa came to the house of Nanda Maharaj
he saw that Krsna was sleeping, and there were various amorous signs
in His body. Mother Yasoda was tending her son sitting next to Him on
the bed. She said, “My little son took care of the cows in the forest
during the day, therefore He became so tired that He did not wake up
from His sleep as yet. His body has become bruised all over due to the
thorns in the forest. He smeared the maskara of His eyes all over His
body in His sleep. The color of betel nut from His lips has been
smeared all over His body due to twisting and turning in His sleep. It
seems that the reddish soil from the bank of the Yamuna is still
sticking to His body. How surprising that it has not been washed during
His bath. Most probably these fickle minded girls did not bathe Him
properly.” Hearing these words of mother Yasoda the damsels of Vraja,
who arrived in the house of Nanda Maharaj in the morning, felt fear,
laughter and shame. When Krsna woke up mother Yasoda and Rohini
bathed Him with Balarama and decorated Them with various
ornaments and fed Them. All the residents of Vrindavana felt great
reluctance to let Krsna and Balarama go to the forest to tend the
cows. Mother Yasoda gave various advices to Krsna and Balarama and
Their friends. Sri Krsna's Supremacy as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in Goloka and unique position of His devotees there has been
described.

12) While Lord Kåñëa was out with His cowherd boyfriends He found
that the Yamuna River had been contaminated by the snake, Kaliya.
There follows a very dramatic description of the Lord’s confrontation
with the demon, which throws the Vrajavasis into a great ocean of
separation. Finally, Lord Balaräma appeals to the Lord: “O Kåñëa!
Kåñëa! These people are not Your associates in Vaikuntha! They are
not Your monkey-associates! They are not the Yadavas! They are the
people of Goloka! You are their only life and soul! They are dying
now! Lord, I have no power to save them! They are now lifeless! O,
Merciful Krsna! Only friend of the people of Vraja! Give up this
pastime, or Your gentle heart will become filled with grief!” Only on
this heartfelt appeal of His elder brother does Kåñëa conclude this lila.

13) After some time Akrura comes to Våndävana, to take Kåñëa and
Balarama to Mathura. This is the most dramatic of the Lord’s
pastimes, and Çréla Sanätana Goswami gives a description of it that is
very deeply moving. While describing how Akrura took away Krsna
from Vraja Sarupa fainted due to intense agony, but then he came
back to his senses and kept on describing the glory of Goloka.
 Chapter 7 - (Attainment of highest bliss)

1) Sarup said, “O brahmana! Now you decide what is your duty, after
due consideration. You also received that supreme obtainable object
by the mercy of Kamakhya devi. I can clearly see Krsna's mercy upon
you. Through me He revealed to you the greatest secret. I can see that
you have faith in my words. Therefore the result will come very soon.
This morning Sri Radhika Herself told me, ‘O Sarup! My devotee
Mathur Vipra is going to come to My kunja. Please go there and
bestow Krsna's mercy upon him by giving him proper advice.’
Therefore, giving up the joyful association of Krsna, according to the
instruction of Sri Radhika, I came here.”

2) Pariksit said, “Although Sarup instructed the brahamana, Sarup still

saw that he did not develop his love for Krsna. Therefore he placed his
hand upon the brahmanas head. Then, due to the mercy of Sarup,
whatever he (Sarup) experienced, immediately dawned in the heart of
the brahamana. This is how wonderful the association of a devotee is.
This brahmana immediately attained the platform where Sarup was,
and his life became successful. That brahmana very humbly asked
Sarup, after offering him obeisances, “Where is Krsna? Did you see
Him somewhere here?” He asking these questions to all moving and
nonmoving living entities. Singing the Lord's name loudly that
brahmana started to cry, holding the lotus feet of his spiritual master.
Seeing the love of his disciple, the spiritual master also was
submerged in an ocean of love.

3) Then the brahmana got up like a madman and, wandering around

the forest, fainted. At that time cows mooed, horns blew and various
musical instruments sounded melodiously. Hearing that, both the
spiritual master and the disciple got up and saw Sri Gopaldev walking
towards them along with His friends and animals. He was decorated
with the great ornaments of His youth. The ocean of His beauty was
constantly increasing the joy of the mind and eyes of all living entities,
and His sweetness was increasing at every moment. His beautiful
body was marked with all-auspicious signs. His ears were decorated
with ornaments made of kadamba flowers. There was a crown of
peacock feathers on His head, His beautiful neck was decorated with a
pearl necklace, and He was wearing a yellow garland. His broad chest
was marked with Srivatsa, His waist was thin as a lion's. He was as
powerful as hundreds of lions. His lotus feet were worshiped by
supreme sweetness, His beautiful arms were decorated with golden
armlets, and His lotuslike fingers were dancing on His flute. He Himself
was enchanted with the sweet sound of His flute and He was
enchanting the whole world. A tilak mark was drawn on His forehead
with the white clay of Yamuna, and His body was decorated with
beautiful designs drawn with various paints. He was playing His flute
and sometimes joking with His friends and thus giving them pleasure.
He was surrounded by His elder brother Balaram and other dear
friends. Seeing Him, both the spiritual master and disciple fell on the
ground and offered obeisances.

4) Gopaldev came up on them and embraced them with His long arms
and fell upon them. He bathed them with His tears and lifted them up.
He cleaned the dust and tears from their bodies and embraced them
again and again. Then he sat down with them and told the Mathur
Vipra, “O brahmana! You have been favored by Mathura! You are like a
moon in the Vipra family. O Janasharma! Are you well in all respects?
By your influence, I and all the members of my family are well. By your
mercy I became attracted to you and used to wait for your return. By
chance you remembered me. Fortunately after a long time I have
gotten to see you. O brahmana! You are very close to me, therefore I
am subordinate to you. Please stay here and feel at home.”

5) Pariksit Maharaj said, “Then Janasharma became overwhelmed with

respect and loving ecstasy. At that time he could not say anything or
see anything. His voice became choked and eyes became filled with
tears. Holding Krsna's lotus feet on his head he started to cry. That
most munificent Krsna could not find anything besides Himself to offer
him in return, and He pulled out His ornaments from His body and
decorated the brahmana. In this way the Supreme Personality of
Godhead extended His Supreme mercy and Janasharma attained
ultimate perfection.

6) Then Krsna called the animals by playing His flute and making
sounds with His mouth let them drink water from Yamuna. Then He
started to play in the water with Sarup, Janasharma, His friends and
Balaram. They started to splash water at each other and in that game
the Lord sometimes defeated His friends and sometimes being
defeated He turned His back and retreated. Sometimes He was
swimming with the current of Yamuna and sometimes against the
current. Sometimes in the dark water of Yamuna He hid His dark body
and then in the blue lotus garden He hid His lotus like face. At that
time His friends could not see Him and being afflicted due to
separation from Him started to cry. Then playful Krsna, with great
delight came out of the lotus garden and His friends swam with great
speed to meet Him. Krsna made garlands with the flowers of the water
and decorated His friends, and His friends also decorated Him in the
same way. After playing with His friends in this way they used to sat
on the bank of Yamuna to have their noon time picnic. Krsna
distributed various foods they brought from home and the fruits that
they collected from the forest in Vrindavana. He made them drink
sour, sweet and various other drinks and then He drank Himself. Then
they washed their mouth and ate fragrant betels mixed with dry betel
nut. They decorated each other with garlands made from different
flowers, and smeared their bodies with the paste of sandal, agarwood,
kum kum and camphor that they collected from the forest. Then Krsna
laid down placing His head on the lap of Sridham while other friends
served Him by massaging His feet, hands and fanning Him then giving
some signals to the animals by playing the flute and blowing the horn
Krsna tended the cows. then Krsna offered Janasharma to Sarup and
entered into the village in the evening.

7) Pariksit Maharaj told his mother, “By the mercy of Gopinath you
have attained a very saintly state. Now you decide after due
consideration the answer to your question. Dear mother! Please try to
go back to Goloka which is the limit of the ocean of supreme joy. As
soon as one goes there one participates in indescribable sweet
pastimes of the Lord. Everyone does not always participate in such
pastimes as soon as one goes to Mathura Mandal, but due to the
mercy of a very dear associate of Sri Madan Gopaldev someone
receives such fortune also. Therefore mother collect the dust of the
lotus feet of those who are attached to Krsna bhakti. Goloka
Vrindavana, which is situated even above Vaikuntha, can be attained
only by prema, and that prema can be attained only from those who
are connected to Goloka.

8) Sri Janamejaya told Sri Jaimini, “O venerable sage, when I heard

these narrations from Sri Vaisamayan I could not understand the
proper meaning, but now all my doubts have been dispelled. Now I
understand that Goloka is situated above Vaikuntha. I am already
feeling remorseful that soon this nectarian narration will come to an
end, therefore please give me some nectar so that my mind becomes
satisfied. Then Sri Jaimini sang some verses, describing the glory of
Goloka and loving devotion of the gopas and gopis of Goloka.”

9) Janamejaya said, “O my spiritual master, by your mercy my life now

became fully successful, because you told me the most secret glory of
Goloka.” Sri Jaimini said, “My son! You have really been crowned with
success. Whoever listens, chants and meditates upon this glorification
of Goloka with devotion will positively attain that supreme position. I
offer my obeisances to that Son of the King of Vraja, who as a
dearmost friend inspires devotion in the hearts of the living entities,
and enjoys extreme satisfaction.