Govinda lilamrta chapter 5

[Paramananda das]

Pranams to the readers of Govinda Lilamrta : Chapter 5 Purvahana Lila - Pastimes at forenoon, 8.24-10.48

a.m. SUMMARY OF THE FORENOON PASTIMES: I remember Shri Krishna in the forenoon, who goes into the forest with His cows and His friends, being followed by the people of Vraja. Later in the morning He goes out to the bank of Radhakunda, eager to meet Shri Radha. I also remember Shri Radha, who is being engaged by Her elder Jatila to go out for worshiping the Sun god. Being eager to hear something about Krishna, She sends out Her friends to look for Him. She remains casting Her eyes down the road, hoping that Her friends will return with news from Him. (1) When Shri Krishna went out to the meadows in the morning He blew His horn named Mandaghosa, which destroys all inauspiciousness in the world and gives joy to the people of Vraja. Enchanting the minds of all the gopis, and increasing Their love for Him, He went out. (2) Krishna's bliss knew no bounds when He went out to the meadows and saw the beauty of the surrounding area. At some places there were high, mountain-like heaps of cow dung. At some places the bulls, that were agitated by the smell of the cows in rut, were fighting each other. At some places hundreds of cowherd-maidservants eagerly collected cow dung, looking very beautiful as they sang Krishna's glories and laughed at one another. Somewhere hundreds of cowherders anxiously kept the calves back when the cows were going out. Elsewhere the elderly cowherdwomen made cow dung cakes. Innumerable barns were around everywhere, calves stood under their blossoming tree-abodes, wealthy Vrajavasis walked around and the whole area was softened by scattered cow dung powder. Hari was very happy to see the barns that looked as beautiful as a lake from which rows of white cows streamed like rivers. Their flowing milk was like the water of that river and the cowherdmen that were trying to stop their calves from going to the cows were like fishes in that river. The milk pots were like turtles and the faces of the gopis that collected cow dung were like lotus flowers in that stream, the white and red calves were the swans and the Cakravakas and the cows raised tails were like moss in that river. When Krishna, the moon of Vraja, thus saw the beauty of the cow pens He became very happy and went into the forest with His friends and His cows that kept their heads up and that were selected by the king of Vraja (3-10) When those white cows thus started for the meadows with the black buffaloes it looked like the Triveni, the confluence of the Ganga (the white cows), and Yamuna (the black buffaloes). Even Brahma, Siva and Indra consider themselves blessed when they get the touch of this dust, thrown up by the cows' hooves, that purifies their intelligence and their senses like the water of the celestial Ganga. (11) Wherever lotus-eyed Han placed His lotus feet when He went to the forest there the enthusiastic soil of Vraja manifested one of her own heart's lotuses. Out of joy from the touch of Krishna's lotus feet the soil of Vraja shivered fully over her whole body, wearing fresh grass-sprouts again after the hooves of the cows had split up the old ones. (12-13) A river of children, old people and women floated from the mountain like Vraja. Their lotuslike eyes emitted a flood of loving tear-showers in all directions, that quickly met with the Krishna-ocean. (14) Yasoda, whose dress was moistened with tears and breast milk of love, eagerly came out to see her son along with her sisters-in-law and the leading women of Vraja, like Amba, Kilimba and Rohini. (15) Just as the Ganga flows towards the ocean, the Ganga-like waves of Radha's glances were stunned from meeting Krishna, the ocean of rasa. (16) From all sides, the gopi group leaders like Mangala, Syamala, Bhadra, Pali, Candravali and others came out to follow Krishna. The gopis stayed behind motionless and speechless, like wives whose husbands are leaving for a journey. When the Lord of their hearts, Krishna, took His friends and cows with Him, all directions were covered with dust thrown up by the cows' hooves. (17-18) When Krishna came to the outskirts of the forest, He looked behind Him with bent neck to see that the people of Vraja and their cows, that were following Him along with His parents, were watching Him motionlessly. (19) Krishna was sorry to see His parents in boundless anxiety about His going to the forest, unable to withold their tears, that kept them from looking at Him despite their eagerness to do so. (20) The bee-like eyes of the gopis became greedy and thirsty after Krishna's fragrance, wandered around on the wind of bashfulness and then fell on Han's lotus face. Seeing the intoxicated, dancing Khanjan bird like eyes in Radha's lotuslike face, Krishna thought His journey would be auspicious and successful. (21-22) The women of Vraja left their children and affectionately surrounded Acyuta, looking at Him while tears and breast milk of love moistened their clothes. (23) Although Yasoda was sad, she thought of her son's welfare and fondled Him with her own hands, saying: "0 Child! Although we have hundreds of cowherdmen, that are expert in keeping cows, You are saying: "I will herd the cows Myself!" Why do You have such ill desires? You are just a tender child, but still You wander around on rough roads in the day, without shoes and umbrella. How can Your parents survive that thought?" (24-26) Seeing His parents' eagerness to make Him wear shoes and an umbrella, and seeing their love for Him, Kesava said: "Our duty (as vaisyas) is to keep the cows, and this must be done without shoes. The cowherders must go just like the cows. Then only is our profession purely executed! Religious principles increase one's lifespan and reputation and they protect those who follow them. 0 Mother, how can you give this up? Only religious principles protect one from fear!" (27-29) Although Krishna's parents were very happy and satisfied to see these good qualities in their son, still mother Yasoda was stirred by anxiety and she told the cowherdboys: "0 Subhadra, Mandalibhadra and Balabhadra! 0 boys, I hand my tender child over to you! He should always be controlled, instructed and protected and when He is naughty, I must be informed of it! 0 Boys, headed by Vijaya, stay close to Krishna with your swords, bows and arrows and always protect Him!" (30-33) With her hand, mother lovingly touched all of her son's limbs, pronouncing the mantras with the Lord's names and the Nrsimhabija for protection, binding a protecting stone on His wrist. Krishna fell at His parents' feet and said: "Mother; father! Allow Me to go now!"

They held Him to their hearts in their arms and moistened Him with tears and breastmilk, kissing Him, wiping His lotusface with their hands and smelling His head, saying with choked voices:" May Lord Nrsimha protect You, may the earth, the sky, the path, the forest and all directions be auspicious!" Shri Krishna became very happy when they thus granted Him leave for the forest, embraced Him and said: "Quickly come back home!" (34-36) Nanda, Yasoda, Rohini, Amba, Kilimba and all the cowherdmen- and women fondled Balarama just as they fondled Han. (37) Krishna then sprinkled the eyes of the gopis, that were like thirsty Cataka-birds, with the stream of His nectarean glance, announcing His own departure to the forest, and they allowed Him to go with their glances. (38) When Krishna went to the forest to herd His cows, it seemed as if He made the needy does of the gopis' minds relish the sprout-like luster of His limbs. Then He locked them in the chain of His glance and took their minds along into the forest (39) With His glance Krishna requested Radhika: "0 Fairfaced girl! Close Your eyes and wait just two or three hours! Don't be sad, after a short time We will meet in the forest. Please find some excuse to go into the forest and quickly come to Your pond (Radhakunda)!" With afflicted heart and full of humility Krishna begged permission from Shri Radhika and She granted permission with Her afflicted glance. When the arrows of Radha and Krishna's glances fell out of the sky, entering Their hearts, They both became very pleased (instead of hurt). This is the wonderful, inconceivable course of Their love. (40-42) Krishna dragged Radha's fishlike mind along in the net of His bodily luster and Radha locked Krishna's anxious swanlike mind in the cage of Her glance. (43) Then Krishna, keeping the cows in front of Him, headed for the forest, attracting the minds of all the people of Vraja. Han turned His neck again and saw that the people still followed Him out of loving attachment to Him. Then He told His parents: "Mother; now don't go along with Me into the forest anymore! Quickly prepare some condensed milk for Me at home! Father! The front of My ball bat was broken, please make five or six very solid new ones for Me! Mother; look! The cows have become hungry and thirsty and they are looking backwards with their faces raised, waiting for Me!" (44-47) Yasoda replied: "Boy! I will send some nice food for Your lunch! Then quickly come back home to Your mother in the afternoon!" (48) Krishna said: "Mother! If I hear that You are happy at home after having finished your meal, then I will eat the lunch you send Me, but otherwise I will not come back home!" (49) Hearing this, Krishna's parents swore Him protection with their bodies, minds and words. They sprinkled His limbs with tears and breast milk, kissed Him and anxiously embraced Him, repeatedly staring at His face. (50) Krishna's dear girlfriends were scorched by the blazing hot rising sun of intense separation from Him, but Krishna sprinkled them with drops from His wave-like glances. They drank the nectar of His beauty through the tubes of their eyes. Nandanandana's mind was filled with eagerness for leaving Vraja and going to the forest In this mood He entered the forest (52) When the Vrajavasis looked at Krishna, all their senses turned into eyes, and as soon as Krishna disappeared into the forest, their senses stopped functioning. They thought: "We are mobile creatures, yet the immobile creatures are more blessed than us, for Krishna leaves us to see them in the forest Thinking like this, they became stunned of distress. (53-54) The gopis' luster dried up like rivers in the summertime when Krishna, who was their life's wealth, went out to the meadows. His Cillibird-like eyebrows devoured their rishi-like sense of discrimination (in the summer Cillibirds eat the fish in the dried-up ponds). Their restless bee-like glances flew up from their lotuslike faces and their swanlike hearts fell into the mud of separation from Him. (55) Although the Vrajavasis were stunned, they took their bodies along without their minds, which had followed Krishna into the forest In this enchanted state they took Nanda and Yasoda to the village, merely as a habit (56) Carefully the gopis took their groupleaders (yuthesvaris) that had fainted, back home with them in a mechanical way, like one doll taking another along. (57) Although Kundalata was suffering separation from Krishna herself, she took the unconscious Radha back home with Her girlfriends. (58) Although the Vrajavasis had fixed their minds on Krishna and were unconscious, they performed their duties out of habit only, until they could see Krishna again, without external sense, like liberated souls. (59) Meanwhile, Jatila became eager to make cow dung cakes and she looked down the road, seeing if her daughter-in-law was returning from Nandisvara. Just then Kundalata awoke Radha from Her swoon and took Her along to Jatila, eager to quickly and expertly arrange for Her next meeting with Krishna. She told Jatila: "0 Revered One! Obeisances unto you! I bring you your auspicious daughter-in-law back! Krishna has not even cast His glance on Her shadow! Look! Queen Yasoda was very happy with Her expert cooking, and has decorated each of Her limbs with garments and ornaments more valuable than the jewels from all the earth's oceans together! These divine ornaments, that are studded with countless jewels, are very rarely obtained even by Sacidevi, the Queen of heaven!" (60-62) Jatila was very happy that Kundalata served her purposes so well, bringing her daughter-in-law safely back home and making her gain wealth and piety, so she praised her; saying: "0 Girl! Come, come! Are you well? I praise your good qualities! Because you are so fond of my daughter-in-law I bless you with seven sons! You are most chaste yourself and dashing in your efforts to protect other girls' chastity! I consider you to be like myself; now I have one request to you: That man whose wife is fixed in loyalty to him gains good cows, sons, wealth and a long lifespan. This I have heard from Paurnamasi, who knows the smrti- scriptures, therefore I entrust Radha to you. You can protect Her religious principles! The saints say that wealth and sense-enjoyment come from doing pious work This can never be false, so if my son makes his wife perform this work he will obtain immense wealth! Therefore, engage Radha in the worship of the sungod, so that my only son will be blessed with a spotless, unblemished family through Her religious observance!" (63-68) Then she told Radha: "Radhe! Get a copper pot, milk from red Kapila-cows, yoghurt, ghi, foods fried in ghi, canesugar; Java-flowers, Kesara, red sandalpaste and a garland of lotusflowers from the house and go to worship the sungod with Gargi or any expert brahmana- boy and take Kundalata with You!" (69) Then she told Lalita: "Lalite! You are bold and chaste! Don't leave this girl alone, and offer your obeisances to any direction where the smell of Nanda's son hangs (stay away from there). 0 Girl, it's getting late now, there are many cow dung cakes to be made! I entrusted this duty so that I can do my work without having to worry!" (70-71) With joy-filled hearts Kundalata and Lalita said: "0 revered mother! Don't worry and finish your work! We will protect your daughter-in-law as the eyelids protect the eyes!" (72) Although the sweet-limbed gopis were intoxicated from drinking Jatila's honey-like words, their minds were blooming of joy, they still went home patiently with Shri Radhika. (73) Coming home, Shri Radhika sat down on Her dais where Her maidservants joyfully washed, wiped and massaged Her lotus feet and fanned Her. (74) One garland-making girl from the forest, named Narmadi was sent to her Queen Radha by Vrndadevi with garlands of Malli, Rangana Karnikara, Bakula, Amogha, Saptala, Jati, Campaka, Nagakesara, Lavanga, lotus and other flowers that were slightly blooming and were touched by honeybees. (75) Shri Radhika showed Her skill in making garlands by making a Vaijayanti garland scented with black aguru and camphor; like a victory flag for Krishna's limbs, that are the abode of Cupid. She made betel leaves with cardamom, camphor; nutmeg, catechu etc., that will color Krishna's moonlike face, give joy to His eyes and mind, and which was scented with Her heart's passion for Him and the smell of Her hands. (76-77) Lalita sent Tulasi and Kasturi to Krishna with the garland and the betelleaves, saying: "Tulasi! Give this to Han, ask the location of the trysting kunja from Vrnda and Subala and then quickly come back here!" (78) Shri Radhika and Her friends expertly made Karpura Keli, Amrta Keli and other kinds of amazing laddus for satisfying all of Krishnacandra's senses. (79) Although Her own friend Tulasi had already gone out to look for Krishna and She Herself was absorbed in Krishna's service, Radha was still eager to see Han's moonlike face like a Cakori bird, thinking one second to be like hundreds of thousands of millennia. (80) In the poem Govinda Lilamrta, which was the result of service to Shri Rupa Gosvami, who is a honey bee at the lotus feet of Shri Chaitanya, the encouragement of Shri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, the association of Shri Jiva Gosyami and the blessing of Shri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, this was the fifth chapter; dealing with Shri Krishna's forenoon pastimes

[Paramananda das]

from Krsna Bhavanamrta : 

Chapter 7

Pastimes in the Pastures

Purvahna Lila  (8:24 a.m. - 10:48 a.m.)

 

The cowherd boys that were eager to go out to the pastures with Krishna told their mothers, "Oh mother, why do you keep me here for putting on my tilaka and ornaments? What should I do? Why can't I get out of the house? All my friends are meeting with Krishna at this time of the morning. My friend Krishna, who is an ocean of love, waits for me, looking out for me to go with Him to the forest."

The mothers replied, "Vatsa, why are you so upset? I only have the tranquilizing, protective, stone left to put on your wrist. I don't hear the cows going out, yet. It's not forenoon, yet, and your friends haven't left their homes, yet! Why are you so restless? If you go unornamented you'll look like a beggar, and your friends, who have been decorated with jewels and golden ornaments, and who have been bathed by their mothers, will laugh at you!"

Even though their mothers were being naturally affectionate, the boys considered them impediments. When they heard even the slightest sound from near the road, they anxiously looked in that direction for their friends to come. Then Vasudama, Sudama, Kinkini, Subala and other boys gathered together from different places, like the waves of an ocean reaching the Krishna-shore.

Then, one cowherd man came and loudly said, "Listen, boys! King Nanda, who stays in the barn says, 'Let Acyuta happily sleep a little more. Don't awaken Him so roughly. I personally let loose the cows. Just wait a minute. And then go.' "

Hearing this, all the cowherd boys joyfully joined king Nanda in the barn, while more intimate friends like Subala went up to see Krishna in His bedroom. Then, the servant boys like like Raktaka, Patraka and the rest, whose love for Krishna never decreases and who are expert in their service, came to mother Yashoda, who gave one of them some gladdening sweetmeats for her son. That boy kept the sweets in his wooden basket on his shoulder, considering them as being more precious than billions of hearts. Another servant boy brought in a wonderful moonstone jug filled with camphor scented water, covered by a wet, crimson sheet, that was colored like his attachment to Krishna, covering the clear whole water of his mind, that was outwardly manifest as matchless jewels of fortune (like the jewels on the jug). Another servant boy held a round crystal box filled with pan, under his arm, as if he were wearing his favorite deity, the moon. Another servant boy carried many kinds of garments and ornaments for the Lord, which were like herbs that enchanted the demigoddesses.

When Hari heard His friends talking near the mountain cave where He sat with lightning-like Radhika, He loosened Himself from Her tight embrace and went to see them. When Krishna's friends saw that He was dressed in Radhika's fresh kunkum-like dress, they took Him to be a cloud embraced by restless lightning strikes, that were unable to let go of Him. Seeing this, the boys began to shower Krishna with their smiles, that were like moon white flowers. After they ornamented His limbs they brought Him back to the palace, where they began to dress him for going out to the gostha (pastures). They hung the Kaustubha gem, whose rays extend here and there to punish the sun's rays, around His neck, and they adorned His head with a crest of peacock feathers, that shone like a brilliant rainbow. Then they hung restless strings of pearls that resembled a row of baby cranes, and a fragrant garland of forest flowers surrounded by blissful honeybees, around His neck. In this way Krishna, who removes the affliction of the people of Vraja, inundated the area of His mother with water (her tears and breast milk) of bliss, as He appeared before the town gate.

Then Vrajesvari, Yashoda, came out crying with Ambika, Kilimba, her sisters and sisters-in-law, being followed by Shri Radhika and Her friends. When the news 'Mukunda goes to the forest' went around, it clearly entered the ear holes of the villagers like 'the sun is setting!'. The cowherd boys then said, "Friends, take the cows out on the path to the forest without delay! We're going to fight for fun with Hari on the slope of Govardhana Hill today!"

The Brahmins blessed Krishna with hand fulls of Dharba grass and peacefully sprinkled Him with drops of water that were sanctified by mantras from the Rig Veda.

Parjanya, Krishna's grandfather, told the cowherds, "Take me to Krishna somehow or other, so that I can cool off my eyes with the nectar of my grandson's lotus-like face, without which I cannot live!"

"O Visarade (expert girl)!" one gopi told another, "find some trick by which we can deceive our old mother. I'm going down the secret path to the cottage in the trysting kunja."

"Sakhi, what to do now? I hear that Hari is going to the forest through the town gate! I'm so eager to see Him, but my body is stunned of ecstasy, I cannot climb the watchtower! There's no need to make up my hair! Let my chest remain uncovered! If I cannot see Madhava even once my life will leave me! Alas! Let my husband give me intolerable punishment, let my superiors see me, I'm going to Krishna! Time will stand still when He goes into the forest!"

One sakhi told her obstructing mother-in-law, "Oh ugly faced one, why are you screaming!? Am I the only one going out of your house? Look here! Whose bride is not running out of her house, and which mother-in-law is there to stop her?"

Then Krishna, who has eyes like forest lotuses, went out of the barn into the forest with His cows and His friends, spreading a saphire luster that astonished everyone. At that time, even the slightest feeling of separation from Krishna afflicted Nanda and Yashoda, who followed their son with their eyes full of tears that sprinkled the soil of Vraja. Mother Yashoda and Rohini, understanding that they would not see their boys for a long time, forgot all bodily activities and they became stunned like statues. Father Nanda embraced his son within his heart, after which he quickly became stunned and enchanted.

Mother Yashoda said, "Oh tender boy, if You go into the forest to tend Your cows then we will all follow You. Don't deceive us by going without us. Oh son, don't send us elsewhere, take us with You! We know You cannot tolerate the heartache of Your parents, who are burning in the fire of separation from You. Oh ornament of our town, if You don't take us with You, then these blissful abodes in our town will swallow us by force and we will remain alive in vain. Do You want to hurt us by returning home from the forest only after nine long hours? If You don't want to come home soon, then what shall we do? Where are the soles of Your feet, that are like the spotless and tender leaves of crimson lotuses, and where are the sharp sprouts, thorns and pebbles in the forest soil? Oh, where is Your body, that is as soft as a puppet of butter sprinkled with liquid musk, and where are the scorching rays of the sun that increase their heat at every moment? The life of this unfortunate mother of Yours, that is tearing up her chest, refuses to leave her. It bears the burden of a kingdom of great cruelty! Let the cowherd boys, or king Nanda himself herd the cows. Oh my child, if You don't give up Your eagerness for this, then how can Your friends remain alive? Oh my tender Krishna, why did You take birth in a family of cowherds, where You must walk after the grazing cows? With a body such as Yours, which is softened by the nectar of auspiciousness, You should have been born in a royal family."

Hearing this ocean of faltering words from His mother, Krishna humbly waited before going into the forest and stood in front of her. Mother Yashoda, whose life was almost gone, became aware of this and embraced Krishna, showering Him with the tears of her love.

Mother Yashoda recovered from her swoon, because of Krishna's blissful embrace as Krishna forced her to drink the nectar of parental love. She became overwhelmed with feelings of love as she protected her son's body with the names of Lord Nrisimhadeva, telling Balabhadra, Subhadra, Vardhana and other leading boys that stood before her, "Oh boys, my Krishna is Your younger brother, friend and very life. Don't I know that? Still, this mother cannot remain alive without grinding pulp every day? Although Hari is so tender, He is the leader of all the rowdy boys, and although He is very intelligent, He does not know His limits. Although He is weak, He is also very dashing. Therefore, You should stay around Him to protect Him. He cannot be controlled by His father, His mother or any of His superiors, but He may listen to You. I hope my request to You will not be in vain. If you see Kamsa's cruel demonic servants You should run, leaving even the cows, and quickly take shelter of us! Oh Subala, Ujjvala, Kokila and the other boys, don't play so roughly with your heart's friend, Krishna. Are there no games in this world for men? Oh Raktaka, Patraka and other expert servant boys, I'll tell you about Krishna and Balaram's nature. Listen! Even if They are hungry They're not aware of it, because They're so absorbed in playing and even if Their throats are dried up from thirst They will not feel thirsty"

Then Yashoda told her husband, Nanda, "The road where our boys walk will be scorched by the sun and this mother even stays alive seeing this father staying home in his golden brick home. Even those women whose sons suffer when they go out to tend the cows, but who still shamelessly continue their house duties without dying of compassion, are worshipped in this world."

Then she told Krishna, "Your friends, who see You going into the forest, have become as hard as thunderbolts! But still You gladden them with Your attributes, having a heart as soft as a flower?"

Krishna, who wore these words of His afflicted mother like earrings, revived her by sprinkling her with the nectar from His moonlike smile. Krishna humbly replied, "Mother, you have not seen the forest path. I feel no trouble in tending the cows at all. It's My greatest pleasure! We're playing in the dense, cool shade of the fragrant trees in the forest on the bank of the Yamuna, looking at the cows. It's also no problem for us to keep the cows together. For that, I have My expert new murali flute. And the paths also don't give Me any pain: the camari deer sweep them with their tails, the trees shower them with their honey and the nabhi deer scent them with their navel musk. These paths are flawless, and as soft as cotton! With its fragrant caves and kunjas where the cuckoos sing, the peacocks dance, the honeybees buzz, where the vines with their different flowers are always swung by a soft breeze, and where there are many cascading waterfalls, Govardhana Hill attracts our minds at every step. The joy of your jewelled abodes give Me nothing compared to the joy I feel in these mountain caves! Here, I am adorned with flowers by My Mayas ('friends' or 'girlfriends') and here I lie down in great joy. Why are you so vainly distressed?"

Saying this, Krishna quickly and secretly embraced the eyelashes of the jewel of girls, Shri Radhika, with His eyes. This meeting made the corners of both Their eyes melt. In this way, the corners of Radha and Krishna's charming eyes cleverly briefed over each other's heartaches. This gave the hearts of the Young Couple some temporary relief.

Madhumangala said, "Oh mother, why are you so upset? Listen, I tell you frankly: there's not s drop of happiness in your town compared to the bliss we feel in the forest. We simply eat the ripe and fragrant bananas, jack fruits, mangoes and pomegranates that fall automatically from the trees. Our friend, Krishna, desires to go to the forest to pick the fruits, leaves and flowers from the desire vines. Such a desire cannot be fulfilled in your town."

Although they are very, very hungry, the cows will not set one foot in the forest without Krishna, the destroyer of His friends miseries. But now they began to call Him by mooing, so Acyuta, seeing their condition, carefully stopped His parents from following Him and blissfully began to mark the forest soil with the signs of the disc, the lotus, etc. from the soles of His feet, as He walked on.

While He went into the forest, Hari thought, "Those who love Me feel sad when I leave, so let Me take their minds with Me."

But the Vrajavasis' eyes also thought, "What other objects do we have but Krishna?" so they followed Him. In this way, the Vrajavasis entered their homes like liberated souls that maintain their bodies only as an external custom.