Then and only then should one hear about radha-krsna-lila.

[Guest guest]

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, "Out of all topics people listen to, which is

best for all living entities?"

Ramananda Raya replied, "Hearing about the loving affairs between Radha and

Krsna is most pleasing to the ear."

 

PURPORT

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.39):

 

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam ca visnoh

sraddhanvito 'nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah

bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam

hrd-rogam asv apahinoty acirena dhirah

 

"He who faithfully hears about the dealings between Lord Krsna and the gopis in

the rasa dance and he who describes these activities attain to the perfectional

stage of devotional service and simultaneously lose material, lusty desires."

A liberated person who hears about the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna is not

inclined to have lusty desires. One mundane rogue once said that when the

Vaisnavas chant the name "Radha, Radha," he simply remembers a barber's wife

named Radha. This is a practical example. Unless one is liberated, he should

not try to hear about the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna. If one is not

liberated and listens to a relation of the rasa dance, he may remember his own

mundane activities and illicit connections with some woman whose name may also

be Radha. In the conditioned stage one should not even try to remember such

things. By practicing the regulative principles, one should rise to the

platform of spontaneous attraction for Krsna. Then and only then should one

hear about radha-krsna-lila. Although these affairs may be very pleasing both

to conditioned and to liberated souls, the conditioned soul should not try to

hear them. The talks between Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are

conducted on the platform of liberation.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 8.255