The Robber Govardhana

[Guest guest]

The Robber Govardhana -

Of the Desire to Meet Krsna

 

Once there was a chief of robbers in Northern India who had many children.

One son of his had been named after a sacred mountain: Govardhana.

Govardhana was masterly in pickpocketing, and time and again he also

practiced mugging. One day his father told him, "Never go to a place where

they talk about Krsna!"

"Why not?" Govardhana asked.

"Am I your father or not?" his father yelled at him. "That's my only

prohibition."

Govardhana did not understand, but he agreed to his father's wish for he did

not want to aggravate him unnecessarily.

One night when Govardhana returned from a predatory attack and roamed the

forest he suddenly caught sight of a small fire, circled by several men. A

pandit sat amongst them who read from the sacred Srimad-Bhagavatam about Sri

Krsna's appearance. He also related how Krsna enacts His pastimes, and the

assembly cried "Jaya Sri Krsna!"

When Govardhana heard that, he remembered his father's words: "Never go to a

place where they talk about Krsna!" He put his hands over his ears and

swiftly went away.

All of a sudden, he stepped onto a thorn. "Ouch!" he screamed, and with a

face contorted with pain he grabbed his foot. His ears were free again for a

short time, and he heard the one sentence, "The mighty entities on the

higher planets, the devatas, cast no shadows like us men." At once he let go

of his foot, threw his hands so violently back over his ears that it sounded

like the crack of a whip, and ran away. The confused sages only saw the

robber's back, fleeing into the forest.

After a while he reached a village and desired to steal something. He was

about to enter a house through its kitchen window when ten dark shapes

surrounded him. They grabbed Govardhana and pulled him back onto the street.

By their grab, Govardhana noticed, "They're robbers like me, but of a more

brutal breed." The robbers took him on their shoulders and dragged him into

the forest.

He was frightened to realize they brought him to a sacrificial place of the

mighty goddess Kali. The robbers demanded, "Bow before our goddess!"

Govardhana knew they'd behead him and offer him as a human sacrifice for

Kali. "How can I escape here?", Govardhana thought feverishly. His glance

fell on Kali's deity, and to his surprise there was a shadow behind her.

"She's not real," he thought. "Didn't I hear a couple of minutes ago that

mighty beings cast no shadow?" At once he took heart and said: "I have

thought about it. My life was so useless and brutal, I'll sacrifice myself

voluntarily. However, I'll have a bath before, for I'd like to be clean and

sober for the sacrifice."

The robbers replied, "Oh, your filthiness doesn't matter at all. And your

decision to surrender voluntarily sounds really good to us. " They finally

agreed, however, and sent Govardhana with a single robber as an escort to

the river. Govardhana had gained so much courage, however, that he punched

his watchdog aside, dove headfirst into the water and escaped. When he

returned home next morning, tired and exhausted, he was glad for it had been

a close shave. He thought, "Hearing about Krsna is not really bad - it saved

my life, after all! I'll be there again tomorrow, I'd like to hear more

about Him."

The next evening, Govardhana returned to the place of the sadhus' assembly,

sat down at the edge and listened intently. What he heard should change his

life. He was told that Krsna who is adorned with a gold crown bedecked with

jewels and diamonds sets out into the forest every day to herd the cows with

his cowherd friends. He thought, "Super, I really have to meet this Krsna. I

have to steal His crown."

By the end of the lecture, he wanted to ask some questions about this boy

with the golden crown, but it was impossible to approach the pandit for too

many people were around him.

He returned the next day, and before the lecture commenced, Govardhana

approached the holy man who thought, "Oh no, this one looks like a robber,

and he's coming to take everything away from me. The only thing in my

possession is this holy book, the Srimad-Bhagavatam." Govardhana however

only wanted to know who the little boy with the beautiful crown was and

where He lived.

"The boy is called Syamasundara, an He lives in Vrindavana," the sage

replied.

Govardhana expressed his gratitude and set out to leave, but the pandit

asked whether he would like to stay a little further or not. Today's topic

would be the jewelry which Syamasundara always wears. Govardhana did not

wait to be told twice and promptly sat down in the first row to exactly

memorize everything. He wanted to devise a plan what to take away from the

little boy. The sage related that Krsna wears a pearl necklace. He is

adorned with costly jewelry and wears garments of the finest silk. Fragrant

flower garlands abound from His neck, and sometimes He feeds the swans that

enchantingly sing for Him with the pearls of these necklaces. Krsna wears a

peacock feather in His wavy, curly, black hair. The pandit enthusiastically

related, "He wears a beautiful pearl below His nose, and when He's

breathing, this pearl shakes, and while shaking it reflects the red colour

from inside His nose which resembles the rising sun. When the devotees of

the Lord meditate on this pearl, they find such joy that they get relieved

from all pains and troubles."

It had become late, and the saintly man wanted to pause for the night.

Tomorrow's topic would be the ornaments Krsna wears from His hips downwards.

Govardhana was really enthused about his plan to meet the youngster and to

free him of some jewelry, for He seemed to possess plenty of it, and such a

small boy, being only seven years old, would pose no threat.

The next evening, the pandit told that Krsna wears a belt studded with

jewels. His anklebells jingle enchantingly when He roams the forests of

Vraja, playing on His silver-and-golden flute.

Govardhana felt this was truly astounding; he was very much delighted. His

only thought was:

"I need to meet this boy."

"What was His name again, and where does He live?" he asked.

"He is called Syamasundara, and he lives in Vrindavana," the sage patiently

replied.

When Govardhana wanted to go home he saw that the people threw donations

into a pot, for the sage was about to leave, but he thought, "I won't do

that, I'd be crazy to donate my only coins." He glanced at the coin which he

had slowly pulled out of his pocket. Slowly his mind changed. "If I throw my

coin there, too, maybe a lucky star will smile upon my enterprise because

this assembly has already saved me once." And he added his coin to the

donation pot.

While walking home, his mind could not help but repeat the words

Syamasundara, Vrindavana, Syamasundara, Vrindavana, Syamasundara,

Vrindavana, time and again. He was sure he would never forget those names

again. Back home his sister asked what was going on with him. The only words

he uttered would be 'Syamasundara, Vrindavana,' and he would not look well.

Govardhana replied, "When I say Syamasundara, Vrindavana, I am seized with a

feeling of sadness and longing. I cannot explain where that comes from."

Only the names "Syamasundara, Vrindavana" came from my lips. Nothing else.

The next morning, after getting up, he could only remember the name

Vrindavana. "Oh no! Now, I have forgotten His name!" He wanted to ask the

pandit but remembered that the sage had left for his far-away hometown. Now

it was hard to say what to do. How should he find out where the saintly man

lives? After a while he got the saint's address and departed for his

dwelling place. The journey lasted for three days, but he was successful in

the end.

Govardhana knocked on the door. The sage thought: "Only a robber knocks like

this." He excitedly went to the door and was astonished to see the robber

again. The sadhu prayed to Krsna, "This person is so keen on meeting You. If

I only had a spark of this desire, I'd be completely Krsna conscious by

now."

"What was the name of the boy with the crown again?" were Govardhana's words

of greeting. "His name is Syamasundara," the sadhu replied joyfully.

Govardhana reminded him of the Lord of his heart.

The robber complained, "Such a long name for such a short boy. Doesn't the

name Syama suffice?"

"All boys in Vrindavana are called Syama, that's how they call them," the

sage told him and asked in reply, "What's your name?"

"Govardhana" was the answer.

"What would you say if I called you Gobha?" (Gobha means cowdung).

At once Govardhana drew his knife and threatened, "Say that again, and I'll

I!"

"You see, you cannot easily shorten names!" the sadhu said schoolmasterly.

Govardhana asked whether the sage could tell him more about Syamasundara,

and the sage began. "At morning, after getting up, He goes to the cowshed to

milk the cows. After that He honors breakfast prasadam. When He's finished

doing this, he sets out to the forest with His friends and cows to play. At

midday all of them rest beneath a tree - that is, except Krsna-Syamasundara

who goes on a trip." The pandit did not want to tell anything about

Radharani.

"Excellent!", the robber called out, "and what is His favourite food?"

"He loves butter mixed with sugar."

Govardhana was content with these answers and set out to find Krsna and His

wonderful crown. He came to Vrindavana and hid in the forest where he

observed a huge herd of cows and cowherds romping around the meadows.

Krsna asked His friends whether they would like to rest beneath the shadows

of the forest trees. When the robber saw the boys lay down and Krsna being

alone, he thought his time to act had come. Suddenly a peacock ran through

the bushes, and enchanted by the bluish boy's beauty, began to cry, "Miaaaa,

miaaaa I" At once Krsna's friends awakened and laughed because the peacock's

crying delighted them. Krsna sat the peacock on his lap and caressed his

crest comfortingly.

That's really complicated with this boy," Govardhana railed.

The cowherd boys lay down again, and Krsna was alone. Govardhana took the

opportunity and jumped up from behind a bush, facing Krsna for the first

time. Overwhelmed by His beauty, he began to cry. Tears rolled down on his

cheeks, something that really surprised him for he never experienced such a

thing in such a situation. He quickly suppressed his tears, thinking, "I'm

no sentimentalist!"

"What's Your name?", Govardhana asked.

"What's yours?", Krsna asked in reply.

"Govardhana", was the surprised answer.

Krsna smiled and said: "You really look like a rock, coarse, unwieldy and

dumb! There's only one thing in your head: robbing, robbing, robbing."

Govardhana was astonished and thought, "What sort of boy is this? He can

even read my mind!"

"Now tell me, what is Your name?"

"Syamasundara. I am a thief as well. I used to steal butter, then the

garments of the unmarried gopis, and nowadays I steal hearts."

"Tell meI", asked Govardhana, "are You always adorned like that? With the

crown, the anklebellsI"

"Ah, today is nothing. Today I got up late, and My mother had no time to

properly dress and decorate Me."

"I have brought something for You," Govardhana began, "for I have heard

You're fond of butter mixed with sugar." Krsna declined, however, and said:

"I know what you did with the butter. You have poisened it for Me to fall

asleep so that you can steel My jewelry."

"I'm not such a scoundrel! I won't ever poison little boys!", Govardhana

called out seriously, but he had no choice - he had to eat first. Krsna had

said this only so that Govardhana could have something to eat. Govardhana

had not eaten anything on his whole journey, and Krsna knew this. Govardhana

was supposed to eat everything. When he finished eating, Krsna used His

finger to take the remains out of the pot and in this way accepted His

devotee's food.

The robber reflected about how to get the crown, and he asked Krsna

hesitantly, "ErIcould You maybeIgive me one of your crowns? Just one."

"Of course!", Krsna said and handed the robber His crown. "My earrings, too?

And the necklaces?" Govardhana nodded enthusiastically.

"I have this pearl below My nose as well. Do you want it?"

When Govardhana realized that Krsna meant the pearl below His nose about

which the pandit had spoken, he was very sad and ashamed. "No, for heaven's

sake, no. I would not dare to disturb this beauty."

Krsna wanted to give him His anklebells as well, but He only got them loose

with a great effort. His mother bound them very tightly these days so that

Krsna won't lose them when romping around with the other boys. Govardhana

got more and more ashamed.

Syamasundara asked whether he also wanted to have His bangles, but

Govardhana replied: "No, I don't want anything from You. I have only one

wish: May I adorn You?", he shyly asked.

Krsna allowed him to put on His anklebells, necklaces and jewelry. Finally

Govardhana placed the crown on Krsna's head with trembling hands. He was not

used to decorating anyone at all, so the peacock feather looked a little

tilted on the crown. Krsna did not care.

Wasn't Govardhana decorating Him with devotion?

It has become late, and Krsna had to return to His cowherd friends.

"Will You return tomorrow? I'd love to meet you again, and yearn to speak

with You,"

Govardhana said honestly.

"Of course I'll come, but you have to be on time," Krsna said. "It might be

that I'll come a bit later in case my friends won't fall asleep so soon.

They should not know anything about our meeting!"

"I'll be there," Govardhana called out joyfully. "I've been waiting for You

all my life!"

When Krsna returned home this evening, His mother was surprised, "You look

quite different.

I didn't decorate You like that."

My friend Govardhana decorated Me today," Krsna told her laughingly.

"Govardhana?" Mother Yasoda was astonished. "I don't know him. Will You

bring him along one day?"

"You might not hold him in high esteem, he looks rather uncouth. But his

heart is good. He only wants Me. This is the sole desire in his heart. He

only wants MeI"

On the next day, Krsna met Govardhana in the forest. They met every day, and

Govardhana's heart filled with prema-bhakti, pure love. After the seventh

day, Govardhana left his body and returned to Krsna's abode, the spiritual

world, where he decorates Krsna to this day.

 

Philosophers try to reach God by hankering after knowledge, mystic yogis

undergo the most difficult austerities out of the same reason - but

Govardhana had but one qualification: he wanted to meet Krsna. There was

nothing elseI

 

 

Srila Prabhupada, lecture on SB 1.2.12, Los Angeles, August 15, 1972:

"So people, they sometimes say, "Can you show me God? Have you seen God?''

[...] So the answer is here. Yes, you can see God. Everyone can see God. I

am also seeing God. But there must be the qualification. [...] Here is the

qualification. What is that? Tac chraddadhana munayo. One must be first of

all faithful. Faithful. Sraddadhana. He must be very much eager to see God,

actually. Not that as a proclivity, frivolous thing, "Can you show me God?''

A magic, just like God is a magic. No. He must be very serious [...]

There is a story in this connection. It is very instructive; try to hear.

One professional reciter was reciting about Bhagavat, and he was describing

that Krishna, being very highly decorated with all jewels, He is sent for

tending the cows in the forest. So there was a thief in that meeting. So he

thought that "Why not then go to Vrndavana and plunder this boy? He is in

the forest with so many valuable jewels. I can go there and catch the child

and take [...] all the jewels.'' That was his intention. So, he was serious

that "I must find out that boy. Then in one night I shall become

millionaire. So much jewelries. No.'' So he went there, but his

qualification was that "I must see Krishna, I must see Krishna.'' That

anxiety, that eagerness, made it possible that in Vrndavana he saw Krishna.

He saw Krishna the same way as he was informed by the Bhagavat reader. Then

he saw, "Oh, oh, you are so nice boy, Krishna.'' So he began to flatter. He

thought that "Flattering, I shall take all the jewels.'' [...]

So when he proposed his real business, "So may I take some of your

ornaments? You are so rich.'' "No, no, no. You... My mother will be angry. I

cannot...'' [...] Krishna as a child. So he became more and more eager for

Krishna. And then... By Krishna's association, he had already become

purified. Then, at last, Krishna said, "All right, you can take.'' Then he

became a devotee, immediately. Because by Krishna's association...

So some way or other, we should come in contact with Krishna. Some

way or other. Then we'll be purified. Kamad bhayad dvesyad.

[Guest guest]

thanks for that, it makes you think that Krishna can be grateful to even robbers, so who am I?

[Govindaram]

Hare Krishna

 

what a great story, i nearly had a tears in my eyes, while I was reading it, beats Harry Potter any day /images/graemlins/mad.gif