Sri Krishna-darsana-varnana Description of Seeing Lord Krishna

[Paramananda das]

Garga Samhita
Canto 2,
Chapter Eight
Sri Krishna-darsana-varnana
Description of Seeing Lord Krishna

Text 1

sri-narada uvaca

adrishtva vatsakan etya
vatsapan puline harih
ubhau vicinvan vipine
mene karma vidheh kritam

Sri Narada said: Not seeing the calves, returning to the riverbank and not seeing the gopas, and then searching in the forest for them both, Krishna thought, "This must be Brahma's work."

Text 2

tato gavam gopikanam
mudam kartum sa lilaya
sarvam tu visva-kric cakre
hy atmanam ubhayayitam

Then, to please the cows and gopis, Lord Krishna, who is the creator of the universes, made Himself into (the calves and boys).

Texts 3 and 4

yavat vatsapa-vatsanam
vapuh pani-padadikan
yavad yashti-visanadin
yavac chila-gunadikan

yavad bhushana-vastradin
tavac chri-harina svatah
sarvam vishnumayam visvam
iti vakyam pradarsitam

Whatever were the gopas' and calves' forms, with their hands, feet, and other parts, whatever were their sticks, horns, and other possessions, whatever were their characters, qualities, and other features, and whatever were their clothes, ornaments, and other things, Lord Krishna perfectly copied. In this way He proved the Vedic statement: "sarvam vishnumayam visvam" (The entire universe is Lord Vishnu).

Text 5

atma-vatsan atma-gopais
carayan kridaya harih
pravisan nanda-nagaram
ashtam-giri-gate ravau

As the sun was setting on the western horizon, Krishna, herding calves that were in truth Himself, and accompanied by gopas that were also Himself, playfully entered Nanda's village.

Text 6

tat-tad-goshthe prithan nitva
tat-tad-vatsan pravesya ca
krishno 'bhavat tat-tad-atma
tat-tad-geham pravishtavan

The many gopas, who were all Krishna, led the various calves, who were also Krishna, to their respective barns. Then the gopas entered their own homes.

Text 7

srutva vamsi-ravam gopyah
sambhramac chighram utthitah
payamsi payayam asur
lalayitva sutan prithak

Hearing the sound of the flute, the gopis fainted and then suddenly stood up. As milk flowed from them, each embraced her son.

Note : Krsna fullfilled the mothers of the Cowherd boys desires to have Krsna as their son so this lila took place for one year ,Srila Prabhupada has nicely commented on this in his Krsna book,, what Srila Prabhupada did not mention is that the cowherd boys got married to the cowherd girls so thus Krsna indirectly and directly married the unlimeted gopis in Vrindavana Krsna and unlimeted numbers of cowherd friends
Text 8

svan svan vatmsams tatha gavo
rambhamanan nirikshya ca
lihantyo jihvayangani
payamsi ca hy apayayan

Seeing their calves, the cows mooed. They licked the calves with their tongues, and made the calves drink their milk.

Text 9

abhavan matarah sarva
gopyo gavo harer aho
ati-sneham ca vavridhe
purvato hi catur-gunam

In this way all the gopis and cows became Krishna's mothers. Their love for their children became four times what it had been.

Text 10

sva-putran lalayitva tu
majjanonmardanadibhih
pascad gopyas ca krishnasya
darsanam kartum ayayuh

As they embraced, bathed, massaged, and in other ways served their sons, the gopis now gazed on Lord Krishna.

Text 11

anekanam tu balanam
udvahah krishna-rupinam
babhuvus tah vraje vadhvo
ratah krishne tu kotisah

Then the millions of gopi girls, who were all deeply in love with Krishna, were married to the many gopa boys, who at that time were all forms of Krishna.

Text 12

vatsa-pala-mishenapi
svatmanam hy atmana hareh
palito vatsaras caiko
babhuva vraja-mandale

In the circle of Vraja one year passed with Krishna disguising Himself as both the calves and gopas. He was the calves and He was the gopas protecting the calves.

Text 13

sa-ramas caikadha vatsams
caranyam carayan yayau
hayanapuranishv atra
pancashasu ca ratrishu

On the day when there were only five nights remaining to complete the year, Krishna and Balarama went to the forest as They herded the calves.

Text 14

tatrapi durac caratas ca gavo
vatsan upavrajya gires ca sringat
lihanti cangani vilokayantyo
hy apayayams ta amritani sadyah

From far away on the summit of Govardhana Hill the cows ran to their calves, licked their bodies, gazed on them, and made them drink the nectar of their milk.

Text 15

govardhanad adho vatsan
pita-dugdhan vilokya ca
snehavritah sthita gas ca
gopala dadrisur nripa

O king, the cowherd men saw the calves, who had already drunk their (mothers') milk, staying below Govardhana Hill, and they saw the cows, overcome with love for their calves, also staying there.

Inline image

Text 16
tatah krodhena mahata
parvatad avatirya ca
tadanarthe sva-putranam
ajagmuh kacchato drutam

As the men came down from the hill to hit the cows, they suddenly came upon their own sons.

Text 17

tadagata samipe tu
putranam gopa-nayakah
svan svan sutams tadonniya
hy anke kritva milanti vai

Meeting them, the gopa men immediately placed their sons on their laps.

Text 18

yatha yuvano vriddhas ca
snehad asru-pariplutah
svan svan pautran grihitva tu
hy upavishta milanti hi

Young and old were flooded with tears of love. The men embraced their sons and grandsons and sat down with them.

Inline image

Text 19

evam prema-paran sarvan
drishtva sankarshano balah
bahu-prakaram sandeham
kritva manasi so 'bravit

Seeing everyone so affectionate, powerful Balarama had many doubts. In His mind he said:

Text 20

aho kim vatsarat prapto
na jnato 'pi vraje maya
ati-snehas tu sarvesham
vardhate ca dine dine

I do not understand what has happened for the past year. Everyone is so affectionate, and their love increases day after day.

Text 21

keyam maya samayata
deva-gandharva-rakshasam
nanya me mohini maya
vina krishnasya sampratam

Is this an illusion made by the devas, gandharvas, or rakshasas? No one but Krishna can bewilder Me.

Text 22

evam vicarya ramas tu
locane sve nyamilayat
bhutam bhavyam bhavishyam ca
divyakshabhyam dadarsa ha

Thinking this, Balarama closed His eyes. Then with transcendental eyes He looked at the past, present, and future.

Text 23

sarvan vatsams tatha gopan
vamsi-vetra-vibhushitan
barhi-paksha-dharan syaman
bhrigv-anghri-krita-kautukan

He saw that all the calves and gopas had become dark boys, each decorated with a flute and stick, peacock feathers, Bhrigu Muni's footprint, . . .

Text 24

jalakanam maninam ca
gunjanam sragbhir eva ca
padmanam kumudanam ca
hy esham sragbhir vibhushitan

. . . necklaces of flowers, jewels, gunja, lotuses, and water lilies, . . .

Text 25

ushnisair mukutair divyaih
kundalair alakair vritan
ananda-varshan kurvanan
sarat-padma-drisair api

. . . turbans, crowns, and splendid earrings, endowed with curly locks of hair, making showers of bliss with the glances of their autumn-lotus eyes, . . .

Text 26

koti-kandarpa-lavanyan
nasa-mautika-sobhitan
sikha-bhushana-samyuktan
pani-bhushana-bhushitan

. . . more handsome than millions of Kamadevas, their noses decorated with pearls and their heads and hands decorated with many ornaments, . . .

Text 27

dvi-bhujan pita-vastrais ca
kanci-kataka-nupuraih
prabhatara-vikotinam
sobhabhih sobhitan subhan

. . . having two arms, glorious with yellow garments, belts, bracelets, and anklets, and more glorious than millions of rising suns.

Text 28

uttare giri-rajasya
yamunayas ca dakshine
acashta vrindakaranye
sarvan krishnam halayudhah

Balarama saw that all these forms on top of Govardhana Hill, and in Vrindavana forest south of the Yamuna were all Krishna.

Text 29

jnatva krishna-kritam karma
tatha vidhi-kritam balah
punar vatsan vatsapams ca
pasyan krishnam uvaca ha

Understanding what Brahma had done and what Krishna had done, and looking again at the calves and gopas, Balarama said to Krishna:

Text 30

brahmananto dharma indrah sivas ca
sevante tam bhakti-yuktah sadaite
svatmaramah purna-kamah paresah
srashtum saktah kotiso 'ndani yah khe

The devotees Brahma, Ananta, Yama, Indra, and Siva always worship the Supreme Lord, who is the controller of everything, who is self-satisfied, whose desires are always fulfilled, and who has the power to create many millions of universes in the sky.

Text 31

sri-narada uvaca

evam bruvati sri-rame
tavat tatragato vidhih
dadarsa krishnam ramam ca
vatsakair vatsapaih samam

Sri Narada said: As Balarama was speaking, Brahma came there and saw Krishna, Balarama, the calves, and the gopas.

Text 32

aho krishnena canita
yatra sarve dhrita maya
iti bruvan yayau sthane
tatra sarvan dadarsa sah

Saying, "Krishna brought back all the (calves and gopas) I took away," Brahma left and saw them all still there (where he had hid them).

Text 33

drishtva prasuptan sarvams tu
sa agatya vraje punah
vatsapalair harim vikshya
manasi praha vismitah

Seeing them all still asleep, he returned to Vraja and gazed again at Krishna and the gopas. Astonished, in his mind he said:

Text 34

aho vicitram te sarve
kutra sthanat samagatah
kridanto purvavac catra
sakam krishnena kridanaih

This is a great wonder. From where did all these boys come that now they are playing with Krishna just as before?

Note :Lord Brahma had stolen all the cowherd boys of Krsna and made them sleep in a cave in Govardhana for one year ,Krsna expanded to become all the missing cows and cowherd boys as Lord Brahma had stolen the calves also so that all the cows all of a sudden had Krsna as their calf

Inline image

Text 35

mat-trutir vatsaras caiko
vyatito 'bhun mahi-tale
sarve prasannatam prapta
na jnatah kenacit kvacit

What is for me only a moment is a year on earth. I don't understand how they are still manifested as before.

Text 36

evam sammohayan brahma
mohanam visva-mohanam
sva-mayayandha-karena
sva-gatram naiva drishtavan

In this way Brahma, who bewilders the entire universe, was so blinded by Krishna's illusion that he could not see even his own body.

Text 37

vatsapalapaharanat
kim abhuj jagatah pateh
aho khadyota-vad vedha
sri-krishna-ravi-sammukhe

What happened to Brahma, the master of the universe, after he stole the gopas? The creator Brahma became like a firefly standing before the sun of Sri Krishna.

Text 38

evam vimuhyati sati
jadi-bhute ca brahmani
sva-mayam kripayakrishya
krishnah svam darsanam dadau

As Brahma stood, stunned and bewildered, Krishna mercifully removed His own illusory potency and revealed Himself.

Text 39

evam tatra sakrid brahma
go-vatsan gopa-darakan
sarvan acashta sri-krishnam
bhaktya vijnana-locanaih

With eyes of knowledge Brahma devotedly gazed at the calves and gopa boys and saw that they were all Sri Krishna.

Note : the painting done by the BBT artists shows that Lord Brahma saw them as Krsna Visnu expansion but actually Lord Brahma saw Krsna as all the cowherd boys and calves ,by the vision given by Krsna to Brahma
Inline image

Text 40

dadarsatha vidhis tatra
bahir antah sariratah
svatmana sahitam rajan
sarvam vishnumayam jagat

O king, Brahma then saw that the entire universe, including all that was inside and outside his body, and including his own self, was all the potency of Lord Vishnu.

Text 41

evam vilokya brahma tu
jado bhutva sthiro 'bhavat
vrindavad vrindakaranye
pradrisyeta yatha tatha

Gazing at this, Brahma became stunned. He looked like an unmoving tulasi plant in Vrindavana forest.

Text 42

svatmano mahimam drashtum
hy anise 'pi ca brahmani
cacchada sapadi jnatva
maya-javanikam harih

Aware that Brahma had no power to continue gazing at the Lord's glories, Krishna at once pulled the curtain of His illusory potency.

Text 43

tatah pralabdha-nayanah
srashta supta ivotthitah
unmilya nayane kricchrad

dadarsedam sahatmana

Then, his eyes covered, the creator Brahma became as if asleep. Awakening, and with difficulty opening his eyes, he saw Vrindavana and he also saw himself.

Text 44

samahitas tatra bhutva
sadyo 'pasyad diso dasa
srimad-vrindavanam ramyam
vasanti-latikanvitam

Now composed and peaceful, in the ten directions he saw, filled with flowering vasanti vines, charming and beautiful Vrindavana, . . .

Text 45

sardula-balakair yatra
kridanti mriga-balakah
syenaih kapota nakulaih
sarpa vaira-vivarjitah

. . . where without any enmity fawns play with tiger cubs, doves play with eagles, and snakes play with mongeese.

Note : there is mention in the Bible also when there in God consciouness even the tigers play and even embrace with animals they would normally eat because in God consciouness one realize that I am a spirit soul.When Lord Caitanya made the animal in Jharikanda forrest chant Hare Krsna ,the tigers kisses the deers ,,hahaha imagine that see the BBT painting .There is also mention in Gita Mahatmya about by chanting chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita I am including this chapter here

The Glories of Chapter Two of the Bhagavad Gita from the Padma Purana

Lord Vishnu said, “My dear Lakshmi, you have heard from Me the glories of the First Chapter of Bhagavad-gita Now please listen carefully, as I tell you the glories of the Second Chapter.

Once in the South in the town of Pandharpur, a very learned brahmana by the name of Devashyama lived. He was able to perform all kinds of fire sacrifices. He also knew the importance of receiving guest. And by his activities he managed to satisfy all the demigods. But he was not happy and peaceful in his heart and mind. He had the desire to attain knowledge of the soul’s relationship with the Supersoul, Paramatma, and towards this end he would invite many yogis and tapasvis, and render all kinds of service to them and inquire from them about the Absolute Truth. In this way he passed many years of his life.

One day, while he was walking, he saw one yogi in front of him, sitting cross-legged with his eyes fixed on the tip of his nose, totally absorbed in meditation. Devashyama could perceive that this yogi was completely peaceful, and without any material desires. Devashyama, with the greatest respect and reverence, fell at the feet of that yogi, and inquired from him, how he could attain complete peace of mind. At that time, that yogi, who had complete knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, advised Devashyama to go to the village of Sowpur and meet one Mitravan; who was a goat-herder by profession, and take instructions in the science of God-realization from him. After hearing this, Devashyama again and again offered his respectful obeisances at the feet of that yogi and immediately left for Sowpur. When he arrived there he found on the northern side, one beautiful forest where he was informed that Mitravan lived. When he entered that forest, he saw on the bank of a small river, Mitravan seated on top of some rocks.

Mitravan looked very beautiful and totally peaceful. In that forest the wind was blowing very gently and a beautiful aroma was emanating from every direction. The goats were peacefully moving here and there, totally unafraid. Some were seen to be sitting next to tigers and other ferocious animals very peacefully.

When Devashyama saw this scene, his mind became very peaceful, and he respectfully approached Mitravan and sat close to him. Mitravan appeared to be fully absorbed in his meditation. After some time Devashyama inquired from him, how he would be able to attain devotion to Lord Krishna. When Mitravan heard this question, for a moment he was lost in deep thought. Then he replied, “My dear learned Devashyama, once long ago, I was in the forest looking after the goats, when a very ferocious tiger attacked. At that time all the goats ran here and there to save themselves. I also ran off, due to fear of that tiger. From some distance I looked back and saw that that tiger on the bank of this river encountered one of my goats. At that time a strange and wonderful thing happened. That tiger lost all his anger and desire to eat my goat. Thereupon, my goat inquired from that tiger, “You have attained your food, so why are you not eating the meat of my body? You should immediately kill me, and with great relish eat up my flesh. Why are you hesitating?”

That tiger said, “My dear goat, since I have come to this place, all anger has left me, and I have no hunger or thirst”. The goat said, “I also do not know why I am feeling so fearless and peaceful. What can be the reason for this? If you know, then kindly inform me”.

The tiger replied, “I also do not know. Let us inquire from that person” When I saw this change take place in the activities of that tiger and goat, I become very much astonished. At that time they both approached me, and inquired as to the reason. I noticed that a monkey was sitting on the branch of a nearby tree. I went along with the two of them and inquired from that monkey-king. That monkey replied to our question with great respect.

“Listen, I will tell you, it is a very old story. In that forest, just in front of you, there is a very large temple in which Lord Brahma installed a Shivalinga. Long ago, a learned sage of the name Sukama, who had performed many austerities, lived there. Daily he would bring flowers from the forest and water from the river, and worship Lord Shiva.

In this way he was living here for many years, when one day one sage arrived. At that time, Sukama brought fruits and water and fed that sage. After the sage had eaten and rested, Sukama spoke to him. “Oh learned one, only for the reason of obtaining knowledge of Lord Krishna, am I living here, performing austerities and worship. But the results of my austerities have been attained today by coming in contact with you.”

When the sage heard the words of Sukama, which were full of submission, he became greatly pleased. And he wrote on one piece of stone the Second Chapter Srimad Bhagavad-gita. He then instructed Sukama to daily read those verses. “By so doing, you will quickly attain your goal.” After having spoken thus, that sage disappeared from that place while Sukama was looking on. After that, following the instructions of that sage, Sukama recited those verses daily for the rest of his life. Very quickly he attained complete knowledge of Lord Krishna. And from the day he started reciting those verses, he felt no more thirst or hunger.

And due to this austerities and devotion, at this place, any one who visits here does not, feel the pangs of hunger and thirst, and immediately attains complete peace.”

Mitravan said, “My dear Devashyama, after the monkey had finished telling us that wonderful story, I along with the tiger and goat went to that temple. We found there written on a piece of stone the Second Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. And I started to recite those verses daily. In this way, we were able to attain very quickly devotion to Lord Krishna. My dear brahmana, if you also start reciting the verses of the Second Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita, you will very quickly attain the mercy of Lord Krishna.”

Lord Vishnu said, “My dear Lakshmi, in this way Devashyama attained knowledge from Mitravan and after worshipping that great soul, he returned to Pandharpur and daily recited that Second Chapter. And whoever visited Pandharpur, Devashyama would first recite before him the Second Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. In this way Devashsyama attained the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.

My dear Lakshmi these are the glories of the Second Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita.

Inline image

Text 46

tatas ca vrindakaranye
sa-pani-kavalam vidhih
vatsan sakhin vicinvantam
ekam krishnam dadarsa sah

Then Brahma saw Krishna, with a morsel of food in His hand, searching for His calves and friends in Vrindavana forest.

Text 47

drishtva gopala-veshena
guptam goloka-vallabham
jnatva sakshad dharim brahma
bhito 'bhut sva-kritena ca

Gazing at Him, and suddenly understanding that Krishna was Lord Hari, the beloved of Goloka, the Supreme Personality of Godhead now disguised as an ordinary gopa, Brahma became afraid for what he had done.

Note : here we get another detail not mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam Lord Brahma disguised himself as a cowherd boy of Vrindavana to blend in ,demigods have such mystic powers what to speak of Lord BRahma who is the leader of all the demigods ,When Lord Caitanya was born the demigods also took form of Navadvipa basis to blend in

Inline image

Text 48

tam prasadayitum rajan
jvalantam sarvato disam
lajjayavan-mukho bhutva
hy avatirya sva-vahanat

O king, to beg for pardon from the Lord, whose glory filled all directions, Brahma, speechless with embarrassment, descended from his swan-carrier.

Note : Here Lord Brahma gives up his disgusise in front of Lord Krsna
Text 49

sanair upasasaresam
prasideti vadan naman
sravad-varshasru-dattarghah
sa papatatha dandavat

Slowly he approached the Lord. Saying, "Please be kind", bowing down, and with a streams of tears offering arghya, he fell down like a stick.

Note in Deity worship Argya is offered after water is offered to Krsna lotusfeet here is a nice defenition given :
Arghya (अर्घ्य) refers to a “symbolic offering of oneself” and represents one of the various ingredients used during worship, according to the Arcana-dīpikā (manual on deity worship).—The ingredients of arghya are water, milk, kuśa grass, yoghurt, unboiled paddy rice (aravā), sesame seeds, barley and white mustard seeds. A version can be made using only candana, flowers and water. For worship of śrī viṣṇu-tattva, combine tulasī leaves with the above mentioned items.

I know when I learned Deity worship Arghya was just rose water offered as far I recall Arghya - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT Here is sumoly means Lord Brahmas tears are offerings at Krsna lotusfeet
Text 50
utthayasvasya tam krishnah
priyam priya iva sprisan
suran su-bhuvi dura-sthan
aluloka sudhardra-drik

Pulling Brahma up, comforting him, and gently touching him as a lover touches his beloved, Lord Krishna, His eyes wet with nectar, glanced at the many demigods now standing far away.

Note : In Srimad Bhagavatam we read Krsna shook Lord Brahmas hand at the material creation as if to say thanks for a job well done on My (Krsnas behalf) but here Lord Brahma is being picked up by the lotushands of Krsna and bestowed love by Krsna so this is thus a very sweet pastime and reading this description from Garga Samhita enhances what we read in Srimad Bhagavatam about this Lila ,,Lord Brahma was accompanied by the demigods that stood at some distance so Krsna betowed His merciful glance on them as well ,Gaudiya Vaisnava of advanced caliber daily sing Radha Kripa Kataksa and Krsna Kripa Kataksa to invoke Radha Krsnas merciful glance there is prayer like that to Lord Narasimha as well
Text 51

tato jaya-jayety-uccaih
stuvatam namatam samam
tad-dayadrishta-drishtanam
sanandah sambhramo 'bhavat

When the demigods received Lord Krishna's merciful glance they called out, "Glory! Glory!", bowed down, and offered prayers. Pleased with them, Krishna offered them all respect.

Text 52

drishtva harim tatra samasthitam vidhir
nanama tam bhakti-manah kritanjalih
stutim cakarasu sa dandaval luthan
prahrishta-roma bhuvi gadgadaksharah

Gazing at Lord Krishna standing there, and his heart filled with devotion, with folded hands Brahma bowed down. Falling like a stick to the ground, the hairs of his body erect in ecstasy, and his voice choked with emotion, Brahma offered prayers.

In Krsna book we read the same pastime given in summary by our dear Srila Prabhupada

13. The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma
Sukadeva Gosvami was very much encouraged when Maharaja Pariksit asked him why the cowherd boys did not discuss the death of Aghasura until after one year had passed. He explained thus: "My dear King, you are making the subject matter of the transcendental pastimes of Krsna fresher by your inquisitiveness."
It is said that it is the nature of a devotee to constantly apply his mind, energy, words, ears, etc., in hearing and chanting about Krsna. This is called Krsna consciousness, and for one who is rapt in hearing and chanting Krsna, the subject matter never becomes hackneyed or old. That is the significance of transcendental subject matter in contrast to material subject matter. Material subject matter becomes stale, and one cannot hear a certain subject for a long time; he wants change. But as far as transcendental subject matter is concerned, it is called nityanavanavayamana. This means that one can go on chanting and hearing about the Lord and never feel tired but will remain fresh and eager to hear more and more.
It is the duty of the spiritual master to disclose all confidential subject matter to the inquisitive and sincere disciple. Thus Sukadeva Gosvami began to explain why the killing of Aghasura was not discussed until one year had passed. Sukadeva Gosvami told the King, "Now hear of this secret with attention. After saving His friends from the mouth of Aghasura and after killing the demon, Lord Krsna brought His friends to the bank of Yamuna and addressed them as follows: 'My dear friends, just see how this spot is very nice for taking lunch and playing on the soft sandy Yamuna bank. You can see how the lotus flowers in the water are beautifully blown and how they distribute their flavor all around. The chirping of the birds along with cooing of the peacocks, surrounded by the whispering of the leaves in the trees, combine and present sound-vibrations that echo one another. And this just enriches the beautiful scenery created by the trees here. Let us have our lunch in this spot because it is already late and we are feeling hungry. Let the calves remain near us, and let them drink water from the Yamuna. While we engage in our lunch-taking, the calves may engage in eating the soft grasses that are in this spot.'"
On hearing this proposal from Krsna, all the boys became very glad and said, "Certainly, let us all sit down here to take our lunch." They then let loose the calves to eat the soft grass. Sitting down on the ground and keeping Krsna in the center, they began to open their different boxes brought from home. Lord Sri Krsna was seated in the center of the circle, and all the boys kept their faces toward Him. They ate and constantly enjoyed seeing the Lord face to face. Krsna appeared to be the whorl of a lotus flower, and the boys surrounding Him appeared to be its different petals. The boys collected flowers, leaves of flowers and barks of trees and placed them under their different boxes, and thus they began to eat their lunch, keeping company with Krsna. While taking lunch, each boy began to manifest different kinds of relations with Krsna, and they enjoyed each other's company with joking words. While thus enjoying lunch with His friends, Lord Krsna's flute was pushed within the belt of His cloth, and His bugle and cane were pushed in on the left-hand side of His cloth. He was holding a lump of foodstuff prepared with yogurt, butter, rice and pieces of fruit salad in His left palm, which could be seen through His petal-like finger joints. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who accepts the results of all great sacrifices, was laughing and joking, enjoying lunch with His friends in Vrndavana. And thus the scene was being observed by the demigods from heaven. As for the boys, they were simply enjoying transcendental bliss in the company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
At that time, the calves that were pasturing nearby entered into the deep forest, allured by new grasses, and gradually went out of sight. When the boys saw that the calves were not nearby, they became afraid for their safety, and they immediately cried out, "Krsna!" Krsna is the killer of fear personified. Everyone is afraid of fear personified, but fear personified is afraid of Krsna. By crying out the word "Krsna," the boys at once transcended the fearful situation. Out of His great affection, Krsna did not want His friends to give up their pleasing lunch engagement and go searching for the calves. He therefore said, "My dear friends, you need not interrupt your lunch. Go on enjoying. I am going personally where the calves are." Thus Lord Krsna immediately started to search out the calves in the caves and bushes. He searched in the mountain holes and in the forests, but nowhere could He find them.
At the time when Aghasura was killed and the demigods were looking on the incident with great surprise, Brahma, who was born out of the lotus flower growing out of the navel of Visnu, also came to see. He was surprised how a little boy like Krsna could act so wonderfully. Although he was informed that the little cowherd boy was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he wanted to see more glorified pastimes of the Lord, and thus he stole all the calves and cowherd boys and took them to a different place. Lord Krsna, therefore, in spite of searching for the calves, could not find them, and He even lost His boy friends on the bank of the Yamuna where they had been taking their lunch. In the form of a cowherd boy, Lord Krsna was very little in comparison to Brahma, but because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He could immediately understand that all the calves and boys had been stolen by Brahma. Krsna thought, "Brahma has taken away all the boys and calves. How can I alone return to Vrndavana? The mothers will be aggrieved!"
Therefore in order to satisfy the mothers of His friends as well as to convince Brahma of the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead, He immediately expanded Himself as the cowherd boys and calves. In the Vedas it is said that the Supreme Personality of Godhead expandes Himself in so many living entities by His energy. Therefore it was not very difficult for Him to expand Himself again into so many boys and calves. He expanded Himself to become exactly like the boys, who were of all different features, facial and bodily construction, and who were different in their clothing and ornaments and in their behavior and personal activities. In other words, everyone has different tastes; being individual soul, each person has entirely different activities and behavior. Yet Krsna exactly expanded Himself into all the different positions of the individual boys. He also became the calves, who were also of different sizes, colors, activities, etc. This was possible because everything is an expansion of Krsna's energy. In the Visnu Purana it is said, parasya brahmanah sakti. Whatever we actually see in the cosmic manifestation--be it matter or the activities of the living entities--is simply an expansion of the energies of the Lord, as heat and light are the different expansions of fire.
Thus expanding Himself as the boys and calves in their individual capacities, and surrounded by such expansions of Himself, Krsna entered the village of Vrndavana. The residents had no knowledge of what had happened. After entering the village, Vrndavana, all the calves entered their respective cowsheds, and the boys also went to their respective mothers and homes.
The mothers of the boys heard the vibration of their flutes before their entrance, and to receive them, they came out of their homes and embraced them. And out of maternal affection, milk was flowing from their breasts, and they allowed the boys to drink it. However, their offering was not exactly to their boys but to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had expanded Himself into such boys. This was another chance for all the mothers of Vrndavana to feed the Supreme Personality of Godhead with their own milk. Therefore Lord Krsna gave not only Yasoda the chance of feeding Him, but this time He gave the chance to all the elderly gopis.
All the boys began to deal with their mothers as usual, and the mothers also, on the approach of evening, began to bathe their respective children, decorate them with tilaka and ornaments and give them necessary food after the day's labor. The cows also, who were away in the pasturing ground, returned in the evening and began to call their respective calves. The calves immediately came to their mothers, and the mothers began to lick the bodies of the calves. These relations between the cows and the gopis with their calves and boys remained unchanged, although actually the original calves and boys were not there. Actually the cows' affection for their calves and the elderly gopis' affection for the boys causelessly increased. Their affection increased naturally, even though the calves and boys were not their offspring. Although the cows and elderly gopis of Vrndavana had greater affection for Krsna than for their own offspring, after this incident, their affection for their offspring increased exactly as it did for Krsna. For one year continuoually, Krsna Himself expanded as the calves and cowherd boys and was present in the pasturing ground.
As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna's expansion is situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. Similarly, instead of expanding Himself as the Supersoul, He expanded Himself as a portion of calves and cowherd boys for one continuous year.
One day, when Krsna, along with Balarama, was maintaining the calves in the forest, They saw some cows grazing on the top of Govardhana Hill. The cows could see down into the valley where the calves were being taken care of by the boys. Suddenly, on sighting their calves, the cows began to run towards them. They leaped downhill with joined front and rear legs. The cows were so melted with affection for their calves that they did not care about the rough path from the top of Govardhana Hill down to the pasturing ground. They began to approach the calves with their milk bags full of milk, and they raised their tails upwards. When they were coming down the hill, their milk bags were pouring milk on the ground out of intense maternal affection for the calves, although they were not their own calves. These cows had their own calves, and the calves that were grazing beneath Govardhana Hill were larger; they were not expected to drink milk directly from the milk bag but were satisfied with the grass. Yet all the cows came immediately and began to lick their bodies, and the calves also began to suck milk from the milk bags. There appeared to be a great bondage of affection between the cows and calves.
When the cows were running down from the top of Govardhana Hill, the men who were taking care of them tried to stop them. Elderly cows are taken care of by the men, and the calves are taken care of by the boys; and as far as possible, the calves are kept separate from the cows, so that the calves do not drink all the available milk. Therefore the men who were taking care of the cows on the top of Govardhana Hill tried to stop them, but they failed. Baffled by their failure, they were feeling ashamed and angry. They were very unhappy, but when they came down and saw their children taking care of the calves, they all of a sudden became very affectionate toward the children. It was very astonishing. Although the men came down disappointed, baffled and angry, as soon as they saw their own children, their hearts melted with great affection. At once their anger, dissatisfaction and unhappiness disappeared. They began to show paternal love for the children, and with great affection they lifted them in their arms and embraced them. They began to smell their children's heads and enjoy their company with great happiness. After embracing their children, the men again took the cows back to the top of Govardhana Hill. Along the way they began to think of their children, and affectionate tears fell from their eyes.
When Balarama saw this extraordinary exchange of affection between the cows and their calves and between the fathers and their children--when neither the calves nor the children needed so much care--He began to wonder why this extraordinary thing happened. He was astonished to see all the residents of Vrndavana so affectionate for their own children, exactly as they had been for Krsna. Similarly, the cows had grown affectionate for their calves--as much as for Krsna. Balarama therefore concluded that the extraordinary show of affection was something mystical, either performed by the demigods or by some powerful man. Otherwise, how could this wonderful change take place? He concluded that this mystical change must have been caused by Krsna, whom Balarama considered His worshipable Personality of Godhead. He thought, "It was arranged by Krsna, and even I could not check its mystic power." Thus Balarama understood that all those boys and calves were only expansions of Krsna.
Balarama inquired from Krsna about the actual situation. He said, "My dear Krsna, in the beginning I thought that all these cows, calves and cowherd boys were either great sages and saintly persons or demigods, but at the present it appears that they are actually Your expansions. They are all You; You Yourself are playing as the calves and cows and boys. What is the mystery of this situation? Where have those other calves and cows and boys gone? And why are You expanding Yourself as the cows, calves and boys? Will You kindly tell Me what is the cause?" At the request of Balarama, Krsna briefly explained the whole situation: how the calves and boys were stolen by Brahma and how He was concealing the incident by expanding Himself so people would not know that the original cows, calves, and boys were missing.
While Krsna and Balarama were talking, Brahma returned after a moment's interval (according to the duration of his life). We have information of Lord Brahma's duration of life from the Bhagavad-gita: 1,000 times the duration of the four ages, or 4,300,000 x 1,000, comprise Brahma's twelve hours. Similarly, one moment of Brahma is equal to one year of our solar calculation. After one moment of Brahma's calculation, Brahma came back to see the fun caused by his stealing the boys and calves. But he was also afraid that he was playing with fire. Krsna was his master, and he had played mischief for fun by taking away His calves and boys. He was really anxious, so he did not stay away very long; he came back after a moment (of his calculation). He saw that all the boys, calves and cows were playing with Krsna in the same way as when he had come upon them, although he was confident that he had taken them and made them lie down asleep under the spell of his mystic power. Brahma began to think, "All the boys, calves and cows were taken away by me, and I know they are still sleeping. How is it that a similar batch of cows, boys and calves are playing with Krsna? Is it that they are not influenced by my mystic power? Have they been playing continually for one year with Krsna?" Brahma tried to understand who they were and how they were uninfluenced by his mystic power, but he could not ascertain it. In other words, he himself came under the spell of his own mystic power. The influence of his mystic power appeared like snow in darkness or the glow worm in daytime. During the night's darkness, the glow worm can show some glittering power, and the snow piled up on the top of a hill or on the ground can shine during the daytime. But at night the snow has no silver glitter; nor does the glow worm have any illuminating power during the daytime. Similarly, when the small mystic power exhibited by Brahma was before the mystic power of Krsna, it was just like snow or the glow worm. When a man of small mystic power wants to show potency in the presence of greater mystic power, he diminishes his own influence; he does not increase it. Even a great personality like Brahma, when he wanted to show his mystic power before Krsna, became ludicrous. Brahma was thus confused about his own mystic power.
In order to convince Brahma that all those cows, calves and boys were not the original ones, the cows, calves, and boys who were playing with Krsna transformed into Visnu forms. Actually, the original ones were sleeping under the spell of Brahma's mystic power, but the present ones, seen by Brahma, were all immediate expansions of Krsna, or Visnu. Visnu is the expansion of Krsna, so the Visnu forms appeared before Brahma. All the Visnu forms were of bluish color and dressed in yellow garments; all of Them had four hands decorated with club, disc, lotus flower and conchshell. On Their heads were glittering golden jeweled helmets; They were bedecked with pearls and earrings, and garlanded with beautiful flowers. On Their chests was the mark of srivatsa; Their arms were decorated with armlets and other jewelry. Their necks were smooth just like the conchshell, Their legs were decorated with bells, Their waists decorated with golden bells, and Their fingers decorated with jeweled rings. Brahma also saw that upon the whole body of Lord Visnu, fresh tulasi buds were thrown, beginning from His lotus feet up to the top of the head. Another significant feature of the Visnu forms was that all of Them were looking transcendentally beautiful. Their smiling resembled the moonshine, and Their glancing resembled the early rising of the sun. Just by Their glancing They appeared as the creators and maintainers of the modes of ignorance and passion. Visnu represents the mode of goodness, Brahma represents the mode of passion, and Lord Siva represents the mode of ignorance. Therefore as maintainer of everything in the cosmic manifestation, Visnu is also creator and maintainer of Brahma and Lord Siva.
After this manifestation of Lord Visnu, Brahma saw that many other Brahmas and Sivas and demigods and even insignificant living entities down to the ants and very small straws--movable and immovable living entities--were dancing, surrounding Lord Visnu. Their dancing was accompanied by various kinds of music, and all of Them were worshiping Lord Visnu. Brahma realized that all those Visnu forms were complete, beginning from the anima perfection of becoming small like an atom, up to becoming infinite like the cosmic manifestation. All the mystic powers of Brahma, Siva, all the demigods and the twenty-four elements of cosmic manifestation were fully represented in the person of Visnu. By the influence of Lord Visnu, all subordinate mystic powers were engaged in His worship. He was being worshiped by time, space, cosmic manifestation, reformation, desire, activity and the three qualities of material nature. Lord Visnu, Brahma also realized, is the reservoir of all truth, knowledge and bliss. He is the combination of three transcendental features, namely eternity, knowledge, and bliss, and He is the object of worship by the followers of the Upanisads. Brahma realized that all the different forms of cows, boys and calves transformed into Visnu forms were not transformed by a mysticism of the type that a yogi or a demigod can display by specific powers invested in him. The cows, calves and boys transformed into Visnu murtis, or Visnu forms were not displays of Visnu maya or Visnu energy, but were Visnu Himself. The respective qualifications of Visnu and Visnu maya are just like fire and heat. In the heat there is the qualification of fire, namely warmth; and yet heat is not fire. The manifestation of the Visnu forms of the boys, cows and calves was not like the heat, but rather the fire--they were all actually Visnu. Factually, the qualification of Visnu is full truth, full knowledge and full bliss. Another example can be given with material objects, which are reflected in many, many forms. For example, the sun is reflected in many waterpots, but the reflections of the sun in many pots are not actually the sun. There is no actual heat and light from the sun in the pot, although it appears as the sun. But the forms which Krsna assumed were each and every one full Visnu. Satyam means truth, jnanam, full knowledge, and ananda, full bliss.
Transcendental forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His person are so great that the impersonal followers of the Upanisads cannot reach the platform of knowledge to understand them. Particularly, the transcendental forms of the Lord are beyond the reach of the impersonalists who can only understand, through the studies of Upanisads, that the Absolute Truth is not matter and that the Absolute Truth is not materially restricted by limited potency. Lord Brahma understood Krsna and His expansion into Visnu forms and could understand that, due to the expansion of energy of the Supreme Lord, everything movable and immovable within the cosmic manifestation is existing.
When Brahma was thus standing baffled in his limited power and conscious of his limited activities within the eleven senses, he could at least realize that he was also a creation of the material energy, just like a puppet. As a puppet has no independent power to dance but dances according to the direction of the puppet master, so the demigods and living entities are all subordinate to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta, the only master is Krsna, and all others are servants. The whole world is under the waves of the material spell, and beings are floating like straws in water. So their struggle for existence is continuing. But as soon as one becomes conscious that he is the eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this maya or illusory struggle for existence is immediately stopped.
Lord Brahma, who has full control over the goddess of learning and who is considered to be the best authority in Vedic knowledge, was thus perplexed, being unable to understand the extraordinary power manifested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the mundane world, even a personality like Brahma is unable to understand the potential mystic power of the Supreme Lord. Not only did Brahma fail to understand, but he was perplexed even to see the display which was being manifested by Krsna before him.
Krsna took compassion upon Brahma's inability to see even how He was displaying the force of Visnu in transforming Himself into cows and cowherd boys, and thus, while fully manifesting the Visnu expansion, He suddenly pulled His curtain of yogamaya over the scene. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not visible due to the curtain spread by yogamaya. That which covers the reality is mahamaya, or the external energy, which does not allow a conditioned soul to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead beyond the cosmic manifestation. But the energy which partially manifests the Supreme Personality of Godhead and partially does not allow one to see, is called yogamaya. Brahma is not an ordinary conditioned soul. He is far, far superior to all the demigods, and yet he could not comprehend the display of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore Krsna willingly stopped manifesting any further potency. The conditioned soul not only becomes bewildered, but he is completely unable to understand. The curtain of yogamaya was drawn so that Brahma would not become more and more perplexed.
When Brahma was relieved from his perplexity, he appeared to be awakened from an almost dead state, and he began to open his eyes with great difficulty. Thus he could see the eternal cosmic manifestation with common eyes. He saw all around him the super-excellent view of Vrndavana--full with trees--which is the source of life for all living entities. He could appreciate the transcendental land of Vrndavana where all the living entities are transcendental to ordinary nature. In the forest of Vrndavana, even ferocious animals like tigers and others live peacefully along with the deer and human being. He could understand that, because of the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vrndavana, that place is transcendental to all other places and that there is no lust and greed there.
Brahma thus found Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, playing the part of a small cowherd boy; he saw that little child with a lump of food in His left hand, searching out His friends, cows and calves, just as He was actually doing one year before, after their disappearance.
Immediately Brahma descended from his great swan carrier and fell down before the Lord just like a golden stick. The word used among the Vaisnavas for offering respect is dandavat. This word means falling down like a stick; one should offer respect to the superior Vaisnava by falling down straight, with his body just like a stick. So Brahma fell down before the Lord just like a stick to offer respect; and because the complexion of Brahma is golden, he appeared to be like a golden stick lying down before Lord Krsna. All the four helmets on the heads of Brahma touched the lotus feet of Krsna. Brahma, being very joyful, began to shed tears, and he washed the lotus feet of Krsna with his tears. Repeatedly he fell and rose as he recalled the wonderful activities of the Lord. After repeating obeisances for a long time, Brahma stood up and smeared his hands over his eyes. Seeing the Lord before him, he, trembling, began to offer prayers with great respect, humility and attention.
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Thirteenth Chapter of Krsna, "The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma."

;