VENU-GITA - THE FLUTE SONG

[Guest guest]

VENU-GITA - THE FLUTE SONG

 

(Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 21)

 

(Murwillumbah, Australia, January 21, 2001, pm)

 

 

I request you to come with me to Vrindavana. The Gopis are assembled

in their houses. By their bhava-netra, eyes of transcendental ecstatic

emotions, they are seeing that Krishna is going through the forest and

playing on the flute - very beautiful Krishna. They are hearing the

very sweet voice of the flute, and they are all totally immersed in

that. They are discussing with each other, and one sakhi is telling

another, " Sakhi! O, what are you doing? Come with me at once. Come on.

Don't delay; otherwise Krishna will go away. I know that the fruit of

these eyes is only one. Only one. And what is that? To have a darsana

of Krishna. Only this. If you do not have the darsana of Krishna, your

eyes are useless. Useless. It would be better to be blind. There is

only one fruit of these eyes - to have the darsana of Krishna.

 

" Which Krishna? The killer of Kamsa? The killer of other demons? No.

That Krishna who is going cow herding with the cowherd boys and so

many lakhs and lakhs of cows. That Krishna who is playing on His

flute. To have a darsana of that Krishna. "

 

aksanvatam phalam idam na param vidamah

sakhyah pasun anavivesayator vayasyaih

vaktram vrajesa-sutayor anuvenu-justam

yair va nipitam anurakta-kataksa-moksam

(SB 10.21.7)

 

[ " The gopis began to speak among themselves: O sakhis! We think that

for those who have eyes, there is but one thing which is a suitable

object of vision. Success of the eyes lies in beholding this object

alone; we know of no other. And what is that most precious object of

attainment for the eyes? It is the vision of the two sons of Maharaja

Nanda, Sri Krishna and Baladeva, accompanied by the gopas, as They

enter the forest taking the cows, or as They bring them back to

Vrindavana. They hold Their flutes to Their lips and look upon us with

mild smiles and amorous sidelong glances filled with love. At that

time, we drink the sweetness of Their faces. " ]

 

Vrajesa-sutayor anuvenu-justam. There are two sons of Nanda Baba -

Rama and Krishna. Although Rama is a son of Vasudeva, He never thinks,

" I am the son of Vasudeva. " Rather, he always thinks, " I am the son of

Nanda and Yasoda. "

 

Anuvenu justam. Krishna is somewhat behind. And what is Rama doing?

Oh, He has gone ahead of all the others. He is at the front of all the

cows and cowherd boys. Why? He's rasika. He knows, " If I'm with

Krishna, the gopis will be unhappy. They may die in separation. So I

should give them a chance. " He therefore goes ahead.

 

There is another meaning to this verse. The gopi is telling her sakhi,

" Oh, just come on with me. "

 

The other gopi is replying, " Oh, I cannot go. I fear my mother-in-law,

my husband, and my other relatives. They will chastise me. I cannot go. "

 

" Oh, let them do so. No harm. "

 

" But I cannot go. I feel so much shame. I cannot go. "

 

" If, even from a distance, you will see that very beautiful Krishna

playing on His flute and smiling, then all kinds of hesitations, all

kinds of shame, all kinds of obstacles, will automatically go. Don't

fear. On the other hand, if Krishna goes ahead and passes away from

this lane without our seeing Him, then what to do? Come on. "

 

There is a hidden meaning. Anuvenum justam, vrajesa-sutayor. Vrajesa

means the king of Vraja. In Vrindavana, in Vraja, there are two

Vrajesas. One is Nanda Baba and the other is Vrsabhanu Baba. Vrsabhanu

Baba has so much more wealth. Nanda Baba has nine lakhs of cows. How

many does Vrsabhanu Maharaja have? He has eleven lakhs of cows. He is

much, much more wealthy - because Laksmi is there. Who is Laksmi? She

who is the Laksmi of Laksmi of Laksmi is there.

 

Devotees: Sri Radha.

 

Srila Narayana Maharaja: Vrsabhanu Maharaja is therefore more wealthy.

Krishna is also wealthy only because of Radhika. Otherwise He is like

zero. He is not wealthy at all. So Radhika is there. She is the

daughter of Vrajendra, Vrajesa, and Krishna is the son of Vrajesa.

Together, Radha and Krishna are Vrajesa sutayo.

 

Anuvenu justam. What is the meaning? First Krishna played on the

flute, and then Srimati Radhika said, " Oh, You have done wrong. Let Me

do it. " She forcibly took that flute, and then began to play and to

teach Krishna. This is the meaning. So if anyone, with these eyes, is

seeing Krishna and Radhika playing on the flute, her eyes are actually

successful.

 

That sakhi was told, " From your groves, from your windows, you can

see. " She was not ready to go, but she saw Krishna from a distance.

When she saw Him, she forgot her chastity and everything else.

Absorbed, she quickly ran away to see Him.

 

Who are these gopis? They are none other then Krishna Himself. Krishna

has come in two parts, Radha and Krishna, and all the gopis are bodily

manifestations of Radhika. These gopis have descended to this world to

show something, so that we can learn something from them. We should

follow this high class of associates of Krishna. Be attached like

these gopis. All other attachments should quickly go away.

 

You know the wife of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami - how beautiful she

was! She was like Miss India - more beautiful than Miss India.

Perhaps, if she would have competed for Miss Universe, oh, she could

have also gotten that title. For Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, however, she

was like any dry wood. She could not attract him. Why? There was some

attachment for Krishna. Sri Yadunandana Acarya and epecially Sri

Svarupa Damodara have given him this attachment. If a guru can give

some attachment to Krishna, he is actually guru. You should try to be

attached to Krishna in this way, by this process, following day and night.

 

These slokas have been given by Srila Vyasadeva and Sri Sukadeva

Gosvami. This flute-song is very important. Herein, the gopis are

telling so many things. What are they telling?

 

cuta-pravala-barha-stabakotpalabja

malanuprkta-paridhana-vicitkiira-vesau

madhye virejatur alam pasu-pala-gosthyam

range yatha nata-varau kvaca gayamanau

(SB 10.21.8)

 

[ " O sakhi! When dark-complexioned Sri Krishna, dressed in yellow

garments, and fair-complexioned Baladeva, dressed in blue garments,

decorate Themselves with newly grown mango blossoms, peacock feathers,

clusters of flowers, and garlands of multicolored lotuses and lilies,

Their appearance becomes astonishing. They sit down right in the

middle of the assembly of cowherd boys and sing the sweetest of songs.

O priya sakhi! At such times, They look just like two incomparably

beautiful and expert dancers performing on a dramatic stage. What am I

to say of the splendor of Their appearance at such times? " ]

 

" Oh, come on, come on. Come very quickly. Why you are wasting your

time in your house? Come on with me. Oh, see how Krishna looks.

 

Cuta-pravala-barha-stabakotpalabja,

malanuprkta-paridhana-vicitra-vesau. Krishna is decorated with very

new leaves of mango, and other leaves of reddish color. This reddish

color represents anuraga. Anuraga means love and affection.

Pravala-barha. He has taken very beautiful peacock feathers on His

head. Utpala means kamala, lotus flowers.

 

Malanuprkta-paridhana-vicitra-vesau. Krishna has so many decorations,

of flowers and peacock feathers. You can see more than seven colors in

the peacocks' feathers, and His peacock feathers are more beautiful

than those of the dancing peacocks. He is taking His flute and

singing, and He is also in a position and mood of dancing . Seeing

this, all the peacocks of the forest thought, " Oh, He is like a cloud,

a new cloud full of water. " As soon as they saw Krishna, they began to

dance to the tune of His flute. They thought, " Oh, this vamsi-walla

(player of the flute) is so very expert, and I can dance so well to

His tune. " They therefore gave Him a peacock feather as a gift.

Krishna took it and [srila Maharaja indicated how Krishna placed the

peacock feather in His hair] He always keeps it on His head, as a

donation from the peacocks.

 

The gopis are saying, madhye virejatur alam pasu-pala-gosthyam, range

yatha nata-varau kvaca gayamanau. " In the midst of all the cowherd

boys, the peacocks are dancing, Krishna is playing on His flute, and

all the boys are very happy. The boys are surrounding Krishna and

glorifying Him, 'Jaya ho tumari, Krishna jaya ho tumari.' " It is a

very beautiful scene. Even Caturasana [the four Kumaras], Brahma, and

Sankara cannot see this scene in Vraja. They only pray to have a

darsana like this. But the gopis - oh, they are seeing this scene as

if Krishna is in front of them and singing and dancing.

 

gopyah kim acarad ayam kusalam sma venur

damodaradhara-sudham api gopikanam

bhunkte svayam yad avasista-rasam hradinyo

hrsyat-tvaco 'sru mumucus taravo yatharyah

(SB 10.21.9)

 

[ " O dear sakhis! Although the flute is male, we cannot imagine what

sort of sadhana and bhajana he must have performed in his previous

births that in our very presence it is drinking the nectar of

Damodara's lips, which rightfully belongs to us alone. He is not even

sparing a drop of that rasa for us. On the pretext of their blossoming

lotus flowers, the rivers, which have nourished the flute with

their water (rasa), are exhibiting symptoms of ecstatic horripilation.

The trees, who are forefathers of the flute, are equal to the best of

men. Seeing their descendant filled with such intense love for the

Lord, they have become overjoyed, and tears of ecstasy are flowing

from their eyes. " ]

 

" O my dear sakhi, my friend. I want to know what austerities the flute

has performed in past lives. What austerities has he done? Has he

taken bath in many tirthas, or has he donated something in charity?

What has he done? I don't know. If I know. if you know then tell me,

and I will do the same. "

 

The gopis are telling each other, " O, this flute, made only of bamboo,

dry bamboo - what has he done in previous lives that enabled him to

become like a male, a venu, and to sit here on the lips of Krishna?

What is he doing here? He is drinking all the rasa, all the nectar.

Although he is a male, he is drinking it all, totally, without leaving

any remnants. Oh, he is drinking it totally. This is our wealth,

because we are gopis, and no one else is qualified to touch it. But

this male venu is showing us by his gestures, 'You are not qualified.

What can you do? You can't do anything. In front of you I'm taking

this mellow nectar.' He is saying, 'It may be your property, no harm,

but I am taking it forcibly. What can you do? You can't do anything.'

This is his mood.

 

" Venu's father, mother, forefathers and all other relatives are very

happy. If anyone has a good child, a very qualified child, then his

father and forefathers will be very happy. Similarly, the bamboos and

almost all other trees are fathers of this bamboo flute. And who is

the mother? She from whom he takes water - 'milk.' All these rivers,

like Yamuna, and Manasi-ganga, and all these ponds, like

Pavana-sarovara, are mothers. And who is the father? Bamboos, and big,

big trees like mango, kadamba and others. They are very happy. Tears

are coming from these trees, and they are thinking, 'Oh, how beautiful

and very qualified is my son.' And do you know the symptoms of the

mothers' happiness? Some tears are coming. " Ananda-asru. Ananda-asru

means tears of joy. There are also tears of sorrow and suffering, and

they are warm; but the tears of love and affection are cold.

 

So the gopis are telling each other, " How fortunate is that bamboo

flute, and how fortunate is his father, mother, and all other

relatives. I want to know what austerities he performed, what

donations he gave in charity, what he has done that he became a bamboo

venu and is now drinking all the nectar-juice of Krishna's lips. "

 

vrndavanam sakhi bhuvo vitanoti kirtim

yad devaki-suta-padambuja-labdha-laksmi

govinda-venum anu matta-mayura-nrtyam

preksyadri-sanv-avaratanya-samasta-sattvam

(SB 10.21.10)

 

[O sakhi! This Sri Vrindavana, which is even greater than Vaikunha, is

enhancing the fame of the Earth planet. This is due to being

splendidly decorated with the marks of the lotus feet of Damodara Sri

Krishna, the son of Yasoda. When Sri Krishna plays a melody on His

flute, which captivates the three worlds, the peacocks become

intoxicated and begin to dance to its tune. Seeing and hearing this,

all the birds, animals and other moving living entities on Govardhana

Hill become stunned silent and remain sitting or standing without

moving, forgetting all their activities. " ]

 

" O, this Vrindavana is more, more, more glorious than even heaven and

Vaikuntha. Why? Devaki-suta-padambuja-labdha-laksmi. The son of Yasoda

is walking here without any shoes, without any sandals - barefoot.

Everywhere are the signs of His feet: the vajra (thunderbolt), ankusa

(elephant goad) and so many other signs.

 

" The earth is now so much more fortunate than even when Lord

Ramacandra came. On the Earth, Vrindavana is fortunate, and in

Vrindavana, the most fortunate places are those which are marked with

Krishna's footprints - like Govardhana, like Radha-kunda, Syama-kunda,

Nandagaon, Varsana, and the bank of Yamuna. All the marks of Krishna's

feet are there.

 

dhanyah sma mudha-gatayo 'pi harinya eta

ya nanda-nandanam upatta-vicitra-vesam

akarnya venu-ranitam saha-krsna-sarah

pujam dadhur viracitam pranayavalokaih

(SB 10.21.11)

 

[ " O sakhi! When our dearmost Nanda-nandana Sri Krishna dresses Himself

in a most extraordinary fashion and plays upon His flute, then even

the foolish deer, hearing the melody of the flute, approach

Nanda-nandana along with their husbands (who are known as the

krsna-sara deer) and

begin to glance upon Him very affectionately with their large eyes. We

know the meaning of their glancing. With their enormous eyes, expanded

like the petals of a lotus flower, they are offering worship at the

lotus feet of Sri Krishna and accepting His invitation, which He

extends by casting loving, sidelong glances. Truly, the lives of these

deer are blessed. " ]

 

" O, these she-deer are so much fortunate, dhanya, even though they are

foolish. They don't know how a hunter will come and put them in his

trap and shoot them. Still, although foolish, they are so much

fortunate. Hearing the flute-song of Krishna and looking at the beauty

of Krishna they come very near, with no fear at all. And what are

their husbands doing? They are saying, 'O, you should go on. No harm.

We are with you, and no one can tell you to stop. So you should go

on.' And what are these deer doing? Pranaya. They are praying to

Krishna for His love and affection. " What is the meaning? The gopis

are actually saying, " O, see how fortunate are these she-deers, that

their husbands are also helping them. If our husbands will hear that

we are going to Krishna, they will punish us, chastise us, and they

may break our legs. They may even shoot us. They are not at all

favorable. So I want that I should die at once, and I want to become a

deer so that I can meet Krishna. "

 

How they are absorbed! It is as if Krishna is directly in front of

them and they are realizing that. Why is Sri Sukadeva Gosvami telling

Srimad-Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaja, who is going to die? Why, if

these are lusty things, is he is telling them to Pariksit Maharaja who

is going to die? The gopis are not lusty. We should follow their mood

of love and affection.

 

I heard that some devotees have made a rule that if anyone will say,

" Radhe! Radhe! Gopi! Gopi! " he will be expelled from their temple.

They will kick him out.

 

Isa Prabhu: They can come here.

 

Srila Narayana Maharaja: They will say, " Oh, go! You should take

shelter of Narayana Maharaja for this! "

 

We should try to take the essence of these slokas, and see how the

gopis are absorbed. My explanation is only to tell you what class of

attachment the gopis have for Krishna. Throughout the whole day and

night they are talking like this. They don't know when night comes and

goes, or when day comes and goes. This is the solution to all kinds of

problems - forever - and it is the way to have love and affection for

Krishna.

 

However, first you should follow what I'm explaining in my morning

classes [in the monings Srila Maharaja has been giving the teachings

of Sri Upadesamrta, The Nectar of Instruction, beginning with 'vaco

vegam, manasa krodha vegam.'] You should try to follow all these rules

and regulations. And, if a chance comes to hear from any high class of

Vaisnava, don't neglect that chance. You should hear from him.

 

We are singing here in this class, 'srita kamala kuca mandala', 'jaya

radha jaya krsna', and so many other songs of this category. You are

also singing the songs, 'munindra vrnda vandite' and 'namami nanda

nandanam'. They are a very high class of songs. 'Yasomati-nandana

braja bala nagara'. In the lifetime of Srila Prabhupada

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura this kirtana was prohibited. No

unqualified person was allowed to sing it. Why? We should also not

neglect the songs of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, like Saranagati, and

also the songs of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura - what he has told. We

should also remember all these things. But those who are senior and

sincere, who have developed some standard in their bhakti, should also

try to hear and to sing these songs. This will be very helpful for

them, but not for unqualified persons.

 

I am therefore giving a hint of all these things. In the morning

classes I'm telling how we should practice vaidhi-bhakti, and now, in

the evenings, I'm telling something about raganuga-bhakti. The

progress of vaidhi-bhakti is very slow, but for qualified persons,

those who can practice raganuga-bhakti, advancement in bhakti develops

very, very soon.

 

krsnam niriksya vanitotsava-rupa-silam

srutva ca tat-kvanita-venu-vivikta-gitam

devyo vimana-gatayah smara-nunna-sara

bhrasyat-prasuna-kabara mumuhur vinivyah

(SB 10.21.12)

 

[ " O sakhi! Not to speak of the deer, when the wives of the demigods

see Sri Krishna, who is a treasury of all beauty and character and a

festival of bliss for all young women, and when they hear the sweet,

variegated melodies He plays upon His flute, their intelligence

becomes stunned and they fall down unconscious in their airplanes,

right in front of their husbands. How do I know this, O friend? Just

hear! When their hearts become possessed of an intense desire to meet

with Sri Krishna, they become so bewildered that they cannot even

detect that the flowers braided in their hair are falling upon the

surface of the earth. What's more, they don't even know that their

saris are slip-

ping from their waists and falling to the ground. " ]

 

" O, see how fortunate are these demigoddesses, the wives of the

demigods. " Vanitotsava means that the demigoddesses were seeing this

rasa, hearing the flute-song of Krishna, and seeing His beauty.

Although they were in the laps of their husbands, in their

puspa-vimana, flower-airplanes, they fainted. They forgot everything:

" Where am I? What am I doing? Who am I? "

 

There is something here to note. Can demigoddesses see rasa-lila? They

can, but their husbands cannot. They are compared with the

yajna-patnis, the wives of the brahmanas of Mathura. The yajna-patnis

came to Krishna and pleased Him with very sweet preparations, but

their husbands were very far away. Similarly, the demigods were there,

but what did they see? Nothing. They were hearing something, but not

seeing all these mahotsava's, festivals, like rasa-lila and others.

Their wives were seeing, however. They were taking darsana.

 

The hearts of males are very hard - very hard. They will be very hard

to melt. But the demigoddesses' hearts melted, and so they wished

that, " We should serve the gopis. " They can wish.

 

The gopis are saying, Devyo vimana-gatayah smara-nunna-sara. " We want

to be demigoddesses. We want to die at once. These demigoddesses are

helped by their husbands who brought them here in airplanes. We want

to be demigoddesses so that even if we are married, no harm. We will

come and take the darsana of Krishna, and we will see this rasa-lila.

Now we cannot. Our husbands are like demons. They don't allow us.'

 

gavas ca krsna-mukha-nirgata-venu-gita

piyusam uttabhita-karna-putaih pibantyah

savah snuta-stana-payah-kavalah sma tasthur

govindam atmani drsasru-kalah sprsantyah

(SB 10.21.13)

 

[ " Some other sakhi said: O friend! Why are you speaking about the

devis? Have you not seen the cows? When our dearest beloved Sri

Krishna fills the holes of the flute with the sound flowing from His

mouth and the cows hear that sweet music, they turn their ears upward

and indiscriminately drink that nectar with the cups of their ears. In

this way, they are tasting the sweetness of that

music. Why is that so, O friend? Taking beloved Govinda into their

hearts through the doorway of their eyes, they seat Him there and

embrace Him within their minds. Just see for yourself, the truth of my

words! Tears of joy are gushing out from their eyes. The condition of

their calves is indeed strange. Even though milk is flowing

automatically from the udders of the cows, the calves, while in the

midst of drinking that milk, suddenly hear the sound of the flute. At

that moment the calves are neither able to spit out nor swallow the

milk which they have taken in their mouths. They also take Sri Krishna

within their hearts and embrace Him. By obtaining the touch of the

soft limbs of Sri Krishna,

their eyes overflow with tears of joy, and they stand still, exactly

as they were. " ]

 

Gavas ca. " What to say of all the demigoddesses, they are a higher

species of jiva souls. Oh, we see that even the cows and their

calves...what are they doing? From very far away they are hearing the

flute of Krishna. "

 

The cows were grazing and their mouths were full of grass. When they

heard Krishna's flute-song, at once they did like this: [srila

Maharaja cupped his hands behind his ears, imitating the attentive

cows.] They were drinking with the cups of their ears.They can do

this. If you go out and do nagara-sankirtana, the cows will come

running. And what will they do? [srila Maharaja again cupped his hands

behind his ears]

 

" These cows were making their ears like cups. Grass was there in their

mouths, but they could neither swallow it, nor could they give it up.

They forgot everything, and were simply drinking nectar through their

ears. And what can we tell of their calves? They had been drinking

milk from their mother's udders and their mouths were full with milk,

but they could neither swallow it nor could they give it up. What

became of them? They became like statues. Like statues.

 

" So how wonderful they are. How fortunate they are. We want to die,

and we want to become the cows of Krishna - and the calves. Sometimes

Krishna comes to them and caresses them. Sometimes He is cleaning the

backs of the cows, as though they are His mothers. He can wash their

feet, and by this He is giving them the respect of mothers. So we want

to die and at once become cows or calves. They are very fortunate. We

are not fortunate. We cannot go to Krishna. If He's going to the

forest to cowherd, we cannot go. Our mother-in-laws will stop us and

say, 'Oh, you should be here. Otherwise a black serpent will come and

bite you and you will die. No one will be able to save you. So you

should be here.' "

 

These newly married gopis quarrel with their mothers-in-law, " Why is

your daughter going, and why are you, yourself, going there? "

 

" Oh, you don't know. We know. So you should not go. You are new. First

you should be perfect here, and then you can go. Otherwise don't go. "

 

nadyas tada tad upadharya mukunda-gitam

avarta-laksita-manobhava-bhagna-vegah

alingana-sthagitam urmi-bhujair murarer

grhnanti pada-yugalam kamalopaharah

(SB 10.21.15)

 

[ " Some other gopi said: O sakhi! Why do you speak of the devlks, cows

and birds? They are all animate living beings. Have you not seen the

inanimate rivers? By the whirlpools that are seen in them, it is

understood that within their hearts surges an intense desire to meet

with Syamasundara. The flow of the rivers has been stopped by this

intense emotional agitation. They have also heard the

sound of our beloved Krishna's flute. Just see! Just see! With the

arms of their waves, they have caught hold of His lotus feet and are

presenting offerings of lotus flowers. They are embracing His lotus

feet just as if they were offering their hearts to Him. " ]

 

" These cows are animals. They are intelligent. But the river is

nothing but a flow of water. Just see these rivers. They are like

beloveds. When they see Krishna playing on His flute, and when they

hear His flute-song, their currents stop and a whirling comes. Why is

this? Unable to give up Krishna, they cannot flow forward. And from

behind more water is coming. So what will be there? Whirlpools. These

whirlpools are evidence that the rivers want to give their hearts to

the lotus feet of Krishna. That water then goes up to embrace Him.

This river wants to embrace Krishna. But Krishna is indifferent.

Seeing this, she became shy, went down, took some lotus flowers, and

offered them at the lotus feet of Krishna. Even a river - water - can

do this, but we cannot. We cannot offer any puspa, flowers, to the

lotus feet of Krishna. So we want to die and become the river water,

and go to Krishna. "

 

What more?

 

purnah pulindya urugaya-padabja-raga

sri-kunkumena dayita-stana-manditena

tad-darsana-smara-rujas trna-rusitena

limpantya anana-kucesu jahus tad-adhim

(SB 10.21.17)

 

[ " Some other Vraja gopi said: O sakhis! We consider the young

aborigine women (Pulindis) to be truly blessed and successful because

they possess extraordinary attachment (anuraga) for Sri Krishna within

their hearts. When they see our dearmost beloved Krishna, then an

intense desire to meet with Sri Krishna is aroused within their

hearts. Their hearts are struck with the disease of love. At that

time, they smear their breasts and faces with the reddish kunkuma

powder collected from the grass of Vrindavana. The beloved gopis of

Krishna adorn their breasts with this kunkuma powder. It then becomes

affixed to Sri Krishna's lotus feet. When Syamasundara walks about

Vrindavana, the grass becomes covered with this powder. The supremely

fortunate Pulindi girls then smear their breasts and faces with this

powder. In this way they alleviate the anguish of their love. " ]

 

" O, see the forest girls. They are very low caste, with black faces.

They are pulindya, from the hilly tribes, but still they are so

fortunate. When Krishna goes to the forest, His footprints, mixed with

some kumkum powder, comes on the grass. When the pulindya girls see

this, they take that kumkum and smear it on their breasts. When they

do this, they feel as if Krishna is meeting with them. But we cannot

do even this. "

 

There are very good explanations of this sloka by Srila Jiva Gosvami,

Srila Sanatana Gosvami, and Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. I've

given only some hint. I've not explained so much. In India I have

explained their commentaries, and a book has been published, called

Venu-gita. If you want to know more, you can read that book. I think

that my all books can help you so much. The explanation of Gita by

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura will help you more, more, more,

and more. And the biography of my Gurudeva will also help you so much.

All the books - about forty books - Upadesamrta, Manah-siksa,

Siksastakam and Jaiva-dharma, will all help you so much - so much. So

you should try to read them, and this will give you association of

Vaisnavas.

 

hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo

yad rama-krsna-carana-sparasa-pramodah

manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat

paniya-suyavasa-kandara-kandamulaih

(SB 10.21.18)

 

[ " O sakhis! This Giriraja Govardhana is the best of all the devotees

of Sri Hari (Sri Harideva). How fortunate he is indeed! Have you not

seen how elated he is to obtain the touch of the lotus feet of Sri

Krishna, who is prana-vallabha, dearer to us than life, and those of

Sri Baladeva who is nayanabhirama, the source of delight for the eyes?

Who can adequately praise his fortune? Just see how graciously he

receives all the cows and cowherd boyfriends of Krishna and Balarama.

He supplies cool, clear and sweet water for bathing and drinking, soft

green grass for the cows, caves for them to rest in, and fruits and

roots for them to eat. Truly, this Giriraja Govardhana is blessed. " ]

 

A gopi is telling to her sakhi, " O sakhi, hantayam adrir abala. See

how fortunate is haridasa Giriraja Gjovardhana! Krishna walks barefoot

on Govardhana, with His cows and friends. He plays in Govardana's

groves with the gopas and gopis. How fortunate he is. We want to be

the dust of Govardhana, so that Krishna will come and we will touch

His lotus feet. How lucky he is! Not only is he serving Krishna; he's

giving the very pure water of Manasi-ganga, of Kusuma-sarovara, of

Govinda-kunda, Apsara-kunda, and Naval-kunda, to the cows who drink

their water. He also serves the cowherd boys by these waters, and

besides this, he gives them so many fruits and flowers.

 

" Govardana also gives colors to decorate Krishna. " If you go there and

put some water on a stone of Giriraja Govardhana, you will see that

some colors will come from that stone. Various colors will come. So

Govardana also decorates Krishna.

 

" Giriraja Govardhana gives seats to all the children - very good, good

seats. There is so much fragrance in his stones, as if kasturi, musk,

is there. So we want to become a particle of dust of Govardhana. "

 

The gopis are totally absorbed. If we will remember these pastimes, it

may be that a greed will come to serve Krishna and Radhika, in the

line of Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami. So Srimad-Bhagavatam is a

very powerful grantha, scripture. We should hear it, but from those

who are qualified. We should hear from a high class of Vaisnava, and

always be observing the rules and regulations of vaidhi-bhakti.

 

Any kirtana.

 

[kirtana is performed]

 

You know about the wives of the brahmanas of Mathura. The Mathura

brahmanas were doing austerities, performing a fire sacrifice, at the

border of Vrindavana and Mathura. So many brahmanas were there, and

their wives had also come from Mathura to help them. One day Krishna

came for cow grazing with the cowherd boys, and they were somewhat

hungry. Their mothers had sent something to eat, but they had sent it

to Bhandiravan, not here. The boys somehow came to this forest and

thus missed their lunch. In this forest the trees were without any

fruit. There were so many trees, such as asoka-vrksa, but they had no

fruit at all. So all the cowherd boys were feeling hungry. They told

Krishna and Dau [balarama], " Oh, a big demon has come. Please save us. "

 

Krishna asked, " What demon? "

 

" Oh, hunger has come. We are so hungry. Please save us. "

 

" You should go to the brahmanas. Thousands of brahmanas are here -

very learned and qualified. They can recite so many mantras, and they

are now performing a fire sacrifice. They may be somewhat humble and

polite, so if you go and tell them that, 'We have come with Krishna

and Baladeva', they are sure to give something. So you should go and

beg from them. "

 

The boys went there, and what happened? You should tell what happened

after that.

 

[Aranya Maharaja tells the story of Krishna and the wives of the

Mathura brahmanas]

 

There are many teachings in this pastime. How did this attachment for

Krishna come in the hearts of the yajna-patnis? How? They used to hear

about Him. From where? They would hear from anyone coming from

Vrindavana, from Vraja, Fruit-sellers and so many brahmanas used to go

to Vrindavana and hear about Krishna and see Him. They would then

return to Mathura and tell about the beauty, qualities, and smiling of

Krishna. So gradually the Mathura brahmanis became attached. Why are

we not attached? We would like to be, but no attachment is coming.

There are so many unwanted things here in our hearts. Sometimes,

although coming to classes, some want to leave and return to their

former ways. And some have returned. They don't like to remain here

because their hearts are full of worldly desires for sense

gratification and so on.

 

Therefore, even though you will hear, attachment to Krishna will not

come. But, when your heart is free of all these things, even if you

will hear very little, like the yajna-patnis, attachment is bound to

come. It will come. The yajna-patnis were waiting, " When will we see

Krishna? When will we meet? When will we serve? " After a very long

time Krishna mercifully came without apparent reason. That day He did

not go to the destination to which He was supposed to go

(Bhandiravana). Rather, He came to this side.

 

For those who are so much sincere, who have no worldly desires,

Krishna arranges a pure guru. That guru goes to him, just as Srila

Swami Maharaja came to these countries. So Krishna makes arrangements.

He sends a high class of devotees from whom you should hear. All

arrangements are made by Krishna.

 

In this way, attachment very quickly came in the hearts of the

yajna-patnis. When they heard that Krishna had come very near, and

that all the cowherd boys including both Rama and Krishna were all

very hungry, they forgot everything. Whatever they had prepared for

helping their husbands with the sacrifice, they brought without

hesitation to Krishna. Krishna saw this and became very happy.

 

Any of the yajna-patnis who had been checked in her house, locked in

her house, had left her body in separation. But she arrived first,

before the others. She arrived by a miracle. Her separation mood had

washed away all of her unwanted things - everything - and she reached

there.

 

Krishna told the yajna-patnis, " Now you have brought preparations to

Me. I'm accepting them, and I'm very happy. Now you should return to

your homes and serve your husbands. Even if they are blind, if they

are lame, if they cannot earn any money, if they are not beautiful,

and even if they are handicapped, you should not give up your

husbands. Even if they chastise you, you should not give them up. You

should be very tolerant and return back to them. "

 

They replied, " You should remember Your promise. "

 

What was His promise?

 

ye yatha mam prapadyante

tams tathaiva bhajamy aham

(Gita 4.11)

 

What is the meaning?

 

Pundarika Prabhu: Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham.

In this verse Krishna is telling us, " I reciprocate with devotees

according to how they worship Me, equally and in the same manner. "

 

Srila Narayana Maharaja: So they are telling Krishna, " You should

follow sastra. We are following and giving up all things.

Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. We have given up

everything: our husbands, our children, our chastity, dharma, adharma,

and all other things. We have given up everything and we have come to

You. Now you should accept us. Otherwise You are breaking Your promise. "

 

" Still " , Krishna told them, " You should go and serve them. "

 

They said, " How can we go? Our heart is with You. We cannot walk.

Where will we go and what will we do? "

 

Then Krishna told them, " Return to your home, and all the brahmanas

will apologize to you and honor you. So return back. "

 

Why He has said this? They are brahmanis. They also have children.

They were not gopis. Krishna can have mercy upon all those who are

brahmanas, non-brahmanas, and anyone else. However, for entering rasa,

He can accept only the gopis. He accepted these brahmanis, but He

informed them, " By this body you should return. In your next birth,

because at the time of death you will be remembering Me, you will

quickly enter the womb of any gopi in Vraja, and then you can meet Me

and serve Me in that form. "

 

Krishna cannot accept anyone if they are not following the gopis, and

therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu brought this wealth from Goloka

Vrindavana, from Sveta-dvipa - this mood of the gopis. Before Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, no one knew all these things. Even Sri Jayadeva Gosvami

was somewhat fearful. [Although Krishna Himself was giving him

inspiration in his heart, he hesitated to write about Krishna's

subservience to Srimati Radhika, due to his awareness of Krishna's

Godhood.] He had some doubt. And Ramanuja and Madhvacarya could not

even speak about these subjects.

 

On the other hand, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught all these things.

The root is Madhavendra Puripada and Isvara Puripada, and then, in the

line of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is Srila Rupa Gosvami. You are lucky,

very lucky, that you are all in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

and Rupa Gosvami. Though you have so many worldly desires, no harm. By

hearing, and hearing, attachment to Krishna will come. A relation will

come; a very strong relation will come.

 

Gradually you should give up all worldly things. One day you will have

to give them up. Old age is coming very soon. You cannot be happy in

this world without doing harinama sankirtana, hearing hari-katha, and

practicing all other devotional activities. So try to follow. I will

explain more tomorrow.

 

Gaura-premanande!