Damodar Lila & meaning of Damodarastaka

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Summary of the Damodar Lila from Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto 9th chapter:

 

While mother Yasoda was allowing Krsna to drink her breast milk, she was

forced to stop because she saw the milk pan boiling over on the oven. The

maidservants being engaged in other business, she stopped allowing Krsna

to drink from her breast and immediately attended to the overflowing milk

pan. Krsna became very angry because of His mother's behavior and devised

a means of breaking the pots of yogurt. Because He created this

disturbance, mother Yaçod? decided to bind Him. These incidents are

described in this chapter.

One day, the maidservants being engaged in other work, mother Yaçod?

was churning the yogurt into butter herself, and in the meantime K??ëa

came and requested her to allow Him to suck her breast milk. Of course,

mother Yaçod? immediately allowed Him to do so, but then she saw that the

hot milk on the oven was boiling over, and therefore she immediately

stopped allowing Krsna to drink the milk of her breast and went to stop

the milk on the oven from overflowing. Krsna, however, having been

interrupted in His business of sucking the breast, was very angry. He took

a piece of stone, broke the churning pot and entered a room, where He

began to eat the freshly churned butter. When mother Yasoda, after

attending to the overflowing milk, returned and saw the pot broken, she

could understand that this was the work of Krsna, and therefore she went

to search for Him. When she entered the room, she saw Krsna standing on

the ulükhala, a large mortar for grinding spices. Having turned the mortar

upside down, He was stealing butter hanging from a swing and was

distributing the butter to the monkeys. As soon as Krsna saw that His

mother had come, He immediately began to run away, and mother Yasoda began

to follow Him. After going some distance, mother Yasoda was able to catch

Krsna, who because of His offense was crying. Mother Yaçod?, of course,

threatened to punish Krsnaa if He acted that way again, and she decided to

bind Him with rope. Unfortunately, when the time came to knot the rope,

the rope with which she wanted to bind Him was short by a distance equal

to the width of two fingers. When she made the rope longer by adding

another rope, she again saw that it was short by two fingers. Again and

again she tried, and again and again she found the rope too short by two

fingers. Thus she became very tired, and Krsna, seeing His affectionate

mother so tired, allowed Himself to be bound. Now, being compassionate, He

did not show her His unlimited potency. After mother Yasoda bound Krsna

and became engaged in other household affairs, Krsnaa observed two yamala-

arjuna trees, which were actually Nalaküvara and Maëigréva, two sons of

Kuvera who had been condemned by Narada Muni to become trees. Krsna, by

His mercy, now began to proceed toward the trees to fulfill the desire of

N?rada Muni. (Summary of Srimad Bhagavatam SB 10 th Canto 9 th

chapter "Mother Yashoda Binds Lord Krishna.)

 

Baby Damodara and the broken pot - Binding took place on the Diwali Day SB

10:9:1-2.

[srimad Bhagavatam 10:9:1-2 txt] : Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: One

day when mother Yasoda saw that all the maidservants were engaged in other

household affairs, she personally began to churn the yogurt. While

churning, she remembered the childish activities of Krsna, and in her own

way she composed songs and enjoyed singing to herself about all those

activities.

PURPORT: Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, quoting from the Vaisnava-

tosani of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, says that the incident of Krsna's

breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yasoda took place on

the Dipavali Day, or Dipa-malika. Even today in India, this festival is

generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kartika by fireworks

and lights, especially in Bombay. It is to be understood that among all

the cows of Nanda Maharaja, several of mother Yasoda's cows ate only

grasses so flavorful that the grasses would automatically flavor the

milk. Mother Yasoda wanted to collect the milk from these cows, make it

into yogurt and churn it into butter personally, since she thought that

this child krsna was going to the houses of neighborhood gopas and gopis

to steal butter because He did not like the milk and yogurt ordinarily

prepared.

While churning the butter, mother Yasoda was singing about the childhood

activities of Krsna. It was formerly a custom that if one wanted to

remember something constantly, he would transform it into poetry or have

this done by a professional poet. It appears that mother Yasoda did not

want to forget Krsna's activities at any time. Therefore she poeticized

all of Krsna's childhood activities, such as the killing of Putana,

Aghasura, Sakatasura and Trnavarta, and while churning the butter, she

sang about these activities in poetical form. This should be the practice

of persons eager to remain Krsna conscious twenty-four hours a day. This

incident shows how Krsna conscious mother Yasoda was. To stay in Krsna

consciousness, we should follow such persons. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 10:9:1-2. purport.)

 

 

SRI DAMODARASTAKAM

 

Tika by Sri Sanatana Gosvamipada

 

Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's sannyasa guru, Srila Bhaki-

prajnana Kesava Maharaja said, "Due to the eternal nature of Sri Sri

Damodarastaka, it is necessary to study it every day during the month of

Karttika (or Damodara)." The following passages describing this bhajan are

taken from Sri Sanatana Gosvamipada's commentary on the DAMODARASTAKAM:

 

Kartik Vrata: What day was Damodara bound by Yasoda's rope? It was the day

of Govardhana Puja (Krsna sukla pratipat, the first day after Divalli,

which falls on Amavasya) when Krsna was four years old in Gokula lila.

Later on when Krsna was seven years old, He lifted Govardhana Hill on this

same day (Kartika month Krsna sukla pratipat). Hari Bhakti Vilas says its

a rule that one must daily worship Radha Damodara with ghee lamp and chant

the Damodarastakam. HBV 16.95-96- "One who worships a deity of Radha

Damodara for purpose of Radhika's happiness, then Damodara Hari becomes

very satisfied. One worships Damodara by daily chanting Damodarastakam

attracts the Supreme Lord Damodara Himself."

 

Introduction: The Prayer--- The stotra named Sri Damodarastaka is found in

the Padma P., spoken by Satyavrata Muni during conversation with Saunaka

and Narada. Sanatana Gosvami, "This prayer is nitya-siddha, eternally

perfect. It manifested through Satyavrata Muni and is capable of

attracting Damodara Krsna."

 

Verse 1: Mula sloka, opening prayer defines the spiritual position of God-

His transcendental form, sweet beauty and sweeter still pastime of

breaking Mother Yasoda's butter pot.

 

Words:

Namam== I bow down with love and devotion before commencing description of

the Supreme Lord's excellences (visesa) or attributes of tattva visesa,

lila visesa, guna and rupa visesa. When starting any function it is

customary to offer respects to the Isvara. This word serves as the

Mangalacaran.

 

Isvara== an individual attributes or characteristics. This indicates

tattva visesa, an excellence of the truth of the Supreme Lord. Obeisances

are offered to the Supreme Controller in order to get the power to offer

this prayer and prove that only the Supreme Lord is worthy of such

glorification.

 

Sac-cid anandam rupam==defines the Supreme Lord as one with a

transcendental form of eternity, knowledge, and bliss (rupa visesa) or a

description of the excellence of His beauty.

 

Lasanti Kundalam== Swinging earrings running in fear of Yasoda. Earrings

have a position above all other ornaments because always kissing

Damodara's cheeks. Lasanti=glistening because reflect the splendorous

effulgence of Krsna's bodily complexion. Therefore, Krsna's body is the

ornament of all ornaments. See Subala 3.2.12 vismapanam

 

Gokule Bhrajamanam== Parivara visesa, excellence of His family, the

Vrajavasis. Gokula, which is filled with gopas, gopis, cows, calves,

Yamuna and Govardhana Hill, is a befitting place wherein Krsna can

manifest His topmost pastimes.

 

Yasoda Bhiya== Lila visesa, excellence of Krsna's pastimes. Krsna displays

great fear of Mother Yasoda punishment for breaking her yogurt pots and

stealing the fresh butter.

 

Ulukhalat== Krsna stood on a large wooden grinding mortar to steal butter

hanging from the rafters.

 

Dhavaman==Krsna jumps down and runs away.

 

Details see SB 10.9.8-9

 

Paramrstam== saundarya visesa, excellence of Yasoda's beauty.=caught by

the back

 

Atyantato Drutya==Mother Yasoda running swiftly behind Krsna. Her

beautiful hips, full breasts, flowers falling from loosened hair,

perspiring.

 

Anvancamana

 

Gopya== Mother Yasoda.

 

Verse 2: Description of details of Damodara lila. The Supreme Lord, crying

in fear, can only be bound Mother Yasoda's love. Shows lila visesa.

 

Rudantam==Crying. Upon seeing the whipping stick of Mother Yasoda, Krsna

becomes terrified and starts crying.

 

Netra Yugmam Mrjantam== rubbing two lotus eyes again and again

 

Karambhoja Yugmena==with His lotus hands fearful Krsna rubs His eyes to

make the tears fall out.

 

Satanka Netram==fearful eyes glancing here & there

 

Muhuh Svasa==crying again and again

 

Kampa== trembling

 

Tri-rekhanka Kanta== three lines on His conchshell neck

 

Sthita Graivam== pearl necklace situated there

 

Bhakti Baddham==Bound by love. Bhakta vatsalya, Krsna's quality of coming

under control of His devotees. God can only be bound by a devotee's love

and nothing else.

 

Krsna was bound by the pure parental love of Yasoda. Damodara willingly

accepted the binding, although no rope has the power to bind the Supreme

Absolute Truth. The Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.18-21 sva matuh gives proof

that Krsna is controlled by His devotees. Krsna performs this Damodara

lila and all His other pastimes because of His devotees's love.

 

Verse 3: This sloka glorifies Vraja madhurya maya bhakti over aisvarya

jnana bhakti. It describes Krsna's

 

Guna Visesa, the excellence of His qualities.

 

Itidrk==Srimad Bhagavatam 10.11.7-8 Damodara lila shows how Krsna under

control of His devotees.

 

Sva Lilabhir==His own transcendental sportive pastimes like this

 

Ananda Kunda==pool of ecstasy, full of deep mellows and rich rasas.

 

Sva Ghosam==His own family in Gokula; ghosh also means loudly proclaims

His glories and the sweet glories of His eternal Vraja bhaktas by this lila

 

Nimajjantam==immersed personally in pools of bliss

 

Akhyapayantam==let everyone see and understand My position by seeing this

lila of Me coming under the control of My pure madhurya bhaktas.

 

Tadiyesita Jnesu==tadiya (opulence, majesty) Isa= the master, controller.

Aisvarya jnana bhaktas who are the Vaikuntha vasis. Those attached to

knowledge of the Lord's majestic opulences (aisvarya).

 

Bhaktair Jitatvam==Krsna only conquered by love and devotion of His

devotees.

 

Line three means: "I willfully submit to the control of My bhaktas, but I

never submit Myself to those fond of jnana.

 

Punah== repeatedly

 

Prematah== with an excellence of love and devotion

 

Tam==unto that Isvara, Lord Sri Krsna.

 

Satavrtti==100 times

 

Line four means: "I offer my obeisances hundreds and hundreds of times to

the process of pure devotion, Vraja bhakti. This type of divine love puts

the Supreme Lord Krsna under the control of His devotees.

 

Verse 4: Verse 4 & 5 mention Satyavrata Muni's cherished desire-to see the

transcendental form of Gopal manifested within his heart. He wants no

other boon than this. The muni is thinking, "Oh! If Your divine form of a

bala gopal would be manifested in my heart, then I would feel very very

pleased; nothing short of this will satisfy me." Verse four shows that the

longing for inner darsan of Krsna is the best of all goals.

 

Varam== boon

 

Deva== effulgent Supreme Lord

 

Moksam== Brahman liberation

 

Na== not want, reject

 

Moksavadhim== highest type of liberation to Vaikuntha planets

 

Na Canyam anya== reject all other things, not want anything else.

 

Vrne== pray

 

This verse rejects three Boons: 1-moksa=Brahman liberation 2-

moksavadhim=Vaik. Liberation which is the zenith of all liberations 3-na

canyam= boons achieved by following nava vidha bhakti

 

Idam== this

 

Vapur== vani/vapuh divine form and words; instructions.

 

Natha==Lord. The are four famous Nathas that if one sees all then gets

liberation. Badri in north, Jagan in east, Dvaraka in west, Ranga in south

and Gopal Nathji in center. But if see only one Natha, Sri Nathji or Gopal

Nathji get full benefit of seeing other 4.

 

Gopal Balam== young cowherd boy

 

Sada==always sac-cid-ananda

 

Me==mine

 

Manasy==mind, heart

 

Avirastam==ever manifested (avirbhava)

 

Kim Anyaih==What good are they? What is the use of any other thing such as

moksa or the boons gained by performed devotional service?

 

Summary: This attitude, as stated by Sat. Muni above, comes from one

absorbed in thinking of Krsna's name, form, qualities and pastimes. If one

attains Krsna, then everything else in automatically and perfectly

attained. If Krsna is not attained, then all other boons are useless

 

Verse 5: This verse, describing the beauty of Krsna's face, is a prayer to

see the sweet lotus face of Krsna.

 

Idam==this

 

Mukhambhojam==lotus face. Krsna's face resembles a fully blossomed lotus

flower.

 

Avyakta==un manifested , dark

 

Nilair==blue

 

Vrtam==surrounded; lotus face surrounded by bumblebee like curly locks of

hair

 

Kuntalaih==curly dark blue hair

 

Snigdha==soft, glossy

 

Raktais==red tint

 

Gopya==a gopi, = that face kissed by either Radhika or Yasoda

 

Muhuh==again and again

 

Cumbitam==kissed

 

Bimba==like a bimba fruit

 

Raktadharam==lips cherry red

 

Manasy==mind

 

Avirastam==avirbhava, manifested. May this lotus face that is kissed by

that fortunate gopi, Srimati Radhika, be manifested within my mind.

 

Alam==useless

 

Laksa==millions

 

Labhaih==greed; attainment of other boons and benedictions

 

Summary## IN deep meditation on the Damodara lila, one will see the divine

lotus face of Krsna as described in this verse five.

 

Verse 6: Is a prayer for saksat darsan; the boon of seeing Krsna face to

face

 

Namo==obeisances

 

Deva==divine, beautiful Supreme Lord

 

Damodara==bound by the affection of Yasoda. Indicates his param bhakti

vatsalya visesa. Therefore, there is nothing He cannot do

 

Ananta==Full of inconceivable sakti and unlimited mercy

 

Visno==all-pervading Supreme Lord Visnu is living everywhere

 

Prasida==show mercy, be pleased with one

 

Prabho==master, controller, astonishing power to reveal Yourself to me

 

Dukha==suffering, natural miseries

 

Jala==network

 

Abdhi==ocean

 

Magnam==immersed

 

Krpa==mercy

 

Drsti==glance

 

Vrsti==rain

 

Ati Dinam==very fallen

 

Batanu==please

 

Grhana==uplift, accept

 

Esa==independent Lord, controller

 

Mam==me

 

Ajnam==ignorance

 

Aksi Drsyah==give Your darsana, become visible to me

 

Summary Verse Six: Explains how to see Krsna?

 

1. Must fix Krsna in the mind and by pure bhakti will see Him

 

2. Attain pure bhakti by chanting Nama Sankirtan with love and devotion

and sorrowful prayers. (verse six full of Krsna's names-Deva, Prabho,

Damodara, Visnu, Ananta)

 

3. There are no fixed rules governing the appearance of the Lord. It is

His free will only.

 

What happens if one gets the direct darsana of Supreme Lord Krsna?

 

In Hari-bhakti Sudhodaya says Prahlada M. Saw the Lord by the sea one day.

Narada, Dhruva, Kardama Muni and Bilvamangala all received direct darsana,

saksat darsana, of the Lord.

 

BRHAD BHAGAVATAMRTA chap. 3 179-182: "1. Seeing Lord Krsna in person direc

tly with the eyes is the final reward for practicing nava vidha bhakti.

One will experience profound bliss that surpasses all other forms of

darsana such as seeing the Lord in meditation. 2. The ignorance and Maya

covering the soul is destroyed. 3. Bhava increases 4. Devotee becomes

overwhelmed with bliss and exhibits different sattvika bhavas, such as

shivering, crying, hair standing erect. Prema vikaras, ecstatic symptoms.

 

Verse 7: Describes Prema visesa, the excellence of Krsna prema. It is a

prayer to attain prema bhakti, which is the only means for attaining

darsana of Lord Krsna as described in verse 6. Verse 7 also rejects moksa,

liberation.

 

Kuveratmaja==sons of Kubera, Nalakuvara, Manigriva

 

Baddha==bound with ropes

 

Murtyaiva==Sri Vigraha, divine form

 

Yat vat== curse birth as trees

 

Tvaya==you

 

Mocitau==liberated

 

Bhakti bhajau==performance of devotional service. Never give up practice

of bhakti

 

Krtau==gave, made them, Krsna awarded them prema bhakti

 

Tatha==then

 

Prema bhaktim==pure devotion

 

Svakam==Your own, shelter Your lotus feet

 

Prayaccha==give intense, profuse

 

Graho==enthusiasm, have no eagerness for any other type of liberation

 

Sti==this

 

Damodara==Lord Damodara who is bhakta vatsala

 

Iha==this or here in Vrndavana, please bestow prema bhakti.

 

Verse 8: This verse summarized things the prayer stands for

 

Damne==rope

 

Sphurad==splendrous

 

Dipti dhamne==effulgent abode

 

Tvadiya-udaraya==unto your belly

 

Visvasya==universe

 

Radhikayai priyayai==dearest beloved Radha

 

Dhamne==shelter

 

Nanta lila==unlimited sportive pastimes

 

Devaya==transcendental

 

Tubhyam==you

 

Summary: The rope around Krsna's belly represents the Brahman effulgence

surrounding the spiritual world. His belly supports all the universe in

creation. One lotus flower growing from His navel or belly sustains the 14

worlds (planetary systems). Krsna showed His universal form to Mother

Yasoda. By binding this waist Mother Yasoda has single-handedly bound the

whole universe and brought the entire creation under her control by the

strength of Her vatsalya prema. For anyone else it would be totally

impossible to bind the all pervading unlimitedly potent Supreme Lord; but

He willingly accepts Mother Yasoda's binding as an attribute of His bhakta

vatsalya visesa, excellence of His being controlled by the love of His

devotees.

 

Radhika is also engaged in Krsna's aradhana or worship only for His

pleasure. Eternally Radhika is Krsna's dearmost beloved nitya priya or

Priyayai.

 

Namo Nanta Lilaya==Satyavrata Muni is herein glorifying the topmost

unlimited pastimes of Krsna such as rasa lila which Krsna performed with

His beloved Priyaji, Sri Radhika. Such confidential pastimes are hinted at

and offered respects to with the word (Namo). Namo nanta lilaya refers to

ananta lila, Ananta Bhagavan Sri Krsna who continually enjoys limitless

pastimes. Satyavrata Muni is offering obeisances to Radha-Krsna unlimited

pastimes of rasa lila.

 

Word LILA== root L i means lingita or embrace. La means to accept.

Therefore, word lila means those playful pastimes wherein Krsna accepts

the embraces of the gopis. Thus Satyavrata Muni is ending his prayer on a

sweet note (madhurena samapayet, a sanskrit rule of drama meaning that

everything should end on a sweet note) by offering respectful obeisances

unto the topmost transcendental pastime of Krsna's rasa lila and other

such confidential pastimes in Vraja Dhama.