Çré Paramä Ekädaçé Issue no: 216 12th August 2023

The Supreme Lover

Krishna And The Gopis Meet For The Rasa Dance
Srila Sukadeva Goswami

The Actual Supreme Lover

Disciples of His Divine Grace
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Rasa Lila And Radha-kunda

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
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Krishna And The Gopis Meet houses, and instead they remained home with
For The Rasa Dance eyes closed, meditating upon Him in pure love.
Srila Sukadeva Goswami For those gopés who could not go to see Krishna,
intolerable separation from their beloved caused
Sri Badarayani said: Sri Krishna is the Supreme an intense agony that burned away all impious
Personality of Godhead, full in all opulences, yet karma. By meditating upon Him they realized His
upon seeing those autumn nights scented with embrace, and the ecstasy they then felt exhausted
blossoming jasmine flowers, He turned His mind their material piety. Although Lord Krishna is the
toward loving affairs. To fulfill His purposes He Supreme Soul, these girls simply thought of Him
employed His internal potency. The moon then as their male lover and associated with Him in
rose, anointing the face of the eastern horizon that intimate mood. Thus their karmic bondage
with the reddish hue of his comforting rays, and was nullified and they abandoned their gross
thus dispelling the pain of all who watched him material bodies.
rise. The moon was like a beloved husband who Sri Pariksit Maharaja said: O sage, the gopés
returns after a long absence and adorns the face knew Krishna only as their lover, not as the
of his beloved wife with red kumkuma. Supreme Absolute Truth. So how could these
Lord Krishna saw the unbroken disk of the full girls, their minds caught up in the waves of the
moon glowing with the red effulgence of newly modes of nature, free themselves from material
applied vermilion, as if it were the face of the god- attachment?
dess of fortune. He also saw the kumuda lotuses Sukadeva Gosvami said: This point was ex-
opening in response to the moon’s presence and plained to you previously. Since even Sisupala,
the forest gently illumined by its rays. Thus the who hated Krishna, achieved perfection, then
Lord began to play sweetly on His flute, attract- what to speak of the Lord’s dear devotees. O King,
ing the minds of the beautiful-eyed gopés. When the Supreme Lord is inexhaustible and immea-
the young women of Vrindavan heard Krishna’s surable, and He is untouched by the material
flute-song, which arouses romantic feelings, their modes because He is their controller. His personal
minds were captivated by the Lord. They went appearance in this world is meant for bestowing
to where their lover waited, each unknown to the highest benefit on humanity. Persons who
the others, moving so quickly that their earrings constantly direct their lust, anger, fear, protec-
swung back and forth. Some of the gopés were tive affection, feeling of impersonal oneness or
milking cows when they heard Krishna’s flute. friendship toward Lord Hari are sure to become
They stopped milking and went off to meet Him. absorbed in thought of Him. You should not be
Some left milk curdling on the stove, and others so astonished by Krishna, the unborn master of
left cakes burning in the oven. Some of them were all masters of mystic power, the Supreme Per-
getting dressed, feeding milk to their infants or sonality of Godhead. After all, it is the Lord who
rendering personal service to their husbands, but liberates this world. Seeing that the girls of Vraja
they all gave up these duties and went to meet had arrived, Lord Krishna, the best of speakers,
Krishna. Other gopés were taking their evening greeted them with charming words that bewil-
meals, washing themselves, putting on cosmetics dered their minds.
or applying kajjala to their eyes. But all the gopés [Lord Krishna said:] O most fortunate ladies,
stopped these activities at once and, though their welcome. What may I do to please you? Is every-
clothes and ornaments were in complete disarray, thing well in Vraja? Please tell Me the reason for
rushed off to Krishna. your coming here. This night is quite frighten-
Their husbands, fathers, brothers and other rel- ing, and frightening creatures are lurking about.
atives tried to stop them, but Krishna had already Return to Vraja, slender-waisted girls. This is not
stolen their hearts. Enchanted by the sound of His a proper place for women. Not finding you at
flute, they refused to turn back. Some of the gopés, home, your mothers, fathers, sons, brothers and
however, could not manage to get out of their husbands are certainly searching for you. Don’t

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 216, Page—3
cause anxiety for your family members. Now you ment to render devotional service to Your lotus
have seen this Vrindavan forest, full of flowers and feet. Reciprocate with us, O stubborn one, just
resplendent with the light of the full moon. You as the primeval Lord, Sri Narayana, reciprocates
have seen the beauty of the trees, with their leaves with His devotees in their endeavors for liberation.
trembling in the gentle breeze coming from the Our dear Krishna, as an expert in religion You
Yamuna. So now go back to the cowherd village. have advised us that the proper religious duty
Don’t delay. O chaste ladies, serve your husbands for women is to faithfully serve their husbands,
and give milk to your crying babies and calves. children and other relatives. We agree that this
On the other hand, perhaps you have come here principle is valid, but actually this service should
out of your great love for Me, which has taken be rendered to You. After all, O Lord, You are the
control of your hearts. This is of course quite dearmost friend of all embodied souls. You are
commendable on your part, since all living enti-
ties possess natural affection for Me. The highest their most intimate relative and indeed their very
religious duty for a woman is to sincerely serve Self. Expert transcendentalists always direct their
her husband, behave well toward her husband’s affection toward You because they recognize You
family and take good care of her children. Wom- as their true Self and eternal beloved. What use do
en who desire a good destination in the next life we have for these husbands, children and relatives
should never abandon a husband who has not of ours, who simply give us trouble? Therefore, O
fallen from his religious standards, even if he is supreme controller, grant us Your mercy.
obnoxious, unfortunate, old, unintelligent, sickly O lotus-eyed one, please do not cut down our
or poor. For a woman from a respectable family, long-cherished hope to have Your association.
petty adulterous affairs are always condemned. Until today our minds were absorbed in house-
They bar her from heaven, ruin her reputation and hold affairs, but You easily stole both our minds
bring her difficulty and fear. Transcendental love and our hands away from our housework. Now
for Me arises by the devotional processes of hearing our feet won’t move one step from Your lotus feet.
about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating on How can we go back to Vraja? What would we
Me and faithfully chanting My glories. The same do there? Dear Krishna, please pour the nectar of
result is not achieved by mere physical proximity. Your lips upon the fire within our heartsa fire You
So please go back to your homes. ignited with Your smiling glances and the sweet
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Hearing these unpleas- song of Your flute. If You do not, we will consign
ant words spoken by Govinda, the gopés became our bodies to the fire of separation from You, O
morose. Their great hopes were frustrated and they friend, and thus like yogés attain to the abode of
felt insurmountable anxiety. Their heads hanging Your lotus feet by meditation.
down and their heavy, sorrowful breathing drying O lotus-eyed one, the goddess of fortune con-
up their reddened lips, the gopés scratched the siders it a festive occasion whenever she touches
ground with their toes. Tears flowed from their
eyes, carrying their kajjala and washing away the the soles of Your lotus feet. You are very dear to
vermilion smeared on their breasts. Thus they the residents of the forest, and therefore we will
stood, silently bearing the burden of their unhap- also touch those lotus feet. From that time on we
piness. Although Krishna was their beloved, and will be unable even to stand in the presence of any
although they had abandoned all other objects other man, for we will have been fully satisfied by
of desire for His sake, He had been speaking to You. Goddess Lakshmi, whose glance is sought
them unfavorably. Nonetheless, they remained after by the demigods with great endeavor, has
unflinching in their attachment to Him. Stopping achieved the unique position of always remaining
their crying, they wiped their eyes and began to on the chest of her Lord, Narayana. Still, she desires
speak, their voices stammering with agitation. the dust of His lotus feet, even though she has to
[The beautiful gopés said:] O all-powerful one, share that dust with Tulasi-devi and indeed with
You should not speak in this cruel way. Do not the Lord’s many other servants. Similarly, we have
reject us, who have renounced all material enjoy- approached the dust of Your lotus feet for shelter.

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Therefore, O vanquisher of all distress, please playfully scratching them with His fingernails,
show us mercy. and also by joking with them, glancing at them
To approach Your lotus feet we abandoned our and laughing with them. In this way the Lord
families and homes, and we have no desire other enjoyed His pastimes. The gopés became proud
than to serve You. Our hearts are burning with of themselves for having received such special
intense desires generated by Your beautiful smil- attention from Krishna, the Supreme Personality
ing glances. O jewel among men, please make us of Godhead, and each of them thought herself the
Your maidservants. Seeing Your face encircled by best woman on earth. Lord Keshava, seeing the
curling locks of hair, Your cheeks beautified by gopés too proud of their good fortune, wanted to
earrings, Your lips full of nectar, and Your smiling relieve them of this pride and show them further
glance, and also seeing Your two imposing arms, mercy. Thus He immediately disappeared.
which take away our fear, and Your chest, which — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum
is the only source of pleasure for the goddess of Bonum » Chapter 29 » Verses 1–48 » Translations by Disciples of His Divine
fortune, we must become Your maidservants. Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Dear Krishna, what woman in all the three worlds
wouldn’t deviate from religious behavior when The Actual Supreme Lover
bewildered by the sweet, drawn-out melody of Disciples of His Divine Grace
Your flute? Your beauty makes all three worlds A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
auspicious. Indeed, even the cows, birds, trees and
deer manifest the ecstatic symptom of bodily hair As we begin the famous narration of Lord
standing on end when they see Your beautiful Krishna's räsa dance, a dance of love with beau-
form. Clearly You have taken birth in this world to tiful young girls, questions will inevitably arise
relieve the fear and distress of the people of Vraja, in the minds of ordinary people regarding the
just as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the propriety of God's romantic dancing with many
primeval Lord, protects the domain of the demi- young girls in the middle of a full-moon autumn
gods. Therefore, O friend of the distressed, kindly night. In his description of the Lord's räsa dance
place Your lotus hand on Your maidservants’ in Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
heads and burning breasts. Srila Prabhupada painstakingly explains the
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Smiling upon hearing spiritual purity of these transcendental activities.
these despondent words from the gopés, Lord Those advanced in the science of Krishna—the
Krishna, the supreme master of all masters of mys- great teachers, or äcäryas—leave no doubt that
tic yoga, mercifully enjoyed with them, although Lord Krishna is full and satisfied in Himself, free
He is self-satisfied. Among the assembled gopés, of all material desire, which is, after all, a sense of
the infallible Lord Krishna appeared just like the incompleteness or lack.
moon surrounded by stars. He whose activities Materialistic persons and impersonal philoso-
are so magnanimous made their faces blossom phers stubbornly reject the bona fide explanation
with His affectionate glances, and His broad smiles of Sri Krishna's transcendental nature. There is no
revealed the effulgence of His jasmine-bud-like reason to deny the beautiful reality of an absolute
teeth. As the gopés sang His praises, that leader person able to perform absolute romantic activ-
of hundreds of women sang loudly in reply. He ities, of which our so-called romance is merely
moved among them, wearing His Vaijayanti gar- a shadow or perverted reflection. The irrational
land, beautifying the Vrindavan forest. Sri Krishna insistence that material activities cannot be a
went with the gopés to the bank of the Yamuna, reflection of the perfect, spiritual activities per-
where the sand was cooling and the wind, enliv- formed by God reflects the unimaginative emo-
ened by the river’s waves, bore the fragrance of tional disposition of those who oppose the reality
lotuses. There Krishna threw His arms around of Sri Krishna. This psychological disposition of
the gopés and embraced them. He aroused Cupid the nondevotees, which leads them to fervently
in the beautiful young ladies of Vraja by touching deny the very existence of the absolute person,
their hands, hair, thighs, belts and breasts, by unfortunately boils down to what may be suc-

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 216, Page—5
cinctly described as envy, since the overwhelming Cakravarti Thakura quotes Srila Rupa Gosvami
majority of the impersonal critics eagerly pursue as follows: kaiçoraà saphalé-karoti kalayan kuïje
their own romantic affairs, which they consider vihäraà hariù. "Lord Hari perfects His youth by
quite real and even "spiritual." arranging loving pastimes in the groves of the
The actual supreme lover is Lord Krishna. The Vrindavan forest."
Vedänta-sütra begins by declaring that the Absolute — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum
Truth is the source of everything, and even West- Bonum » Chapter 29 » Verse 1 » Purport by Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C.
ern philosophy was born in a somewhat awkward Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
attempt at finding the original One behind the ap-
parent many of material existence. Conjugal love, Rasa Lila And Radha-kunda
one of the most intense and demanding aspects of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
human existence, can hardly have nothing at all to
do with supreme reality. The eighth instruction of Srila Rupa Prabhu is the
In fact, the conjugal love experienced by human essence of all instructions. It is as follows:
beings is a mere reflection of spiritual reality, in
which the same love exists in an absolute, pris- tan-näma-rüpa-caritädi-sukértanänu-
tine state. Thus it is clearly stated here that when småtyoù krameëa rasanä-manasé niyojya
Krishna decided to enjoy the romantic atmosphere tiñöhan vraje tad-anurägi janänugämé
of autumn, "He resorted to His spiritual potency" kälaà nayed akhilam ity upadeça-säram
(yoga-mäyäm upäçritaù). The spiritual nature of
Lord Krishna's conjugal affairs is a major theme The essence of all advice is that one should
in this section of Çrémad-Bhägavatam. utilize one’s full time twenty-four hours a day, in
A woman is attractive because of the sweet nicely chanting and remembering the Lord’s divine
sound of her voice, her beauty and gentleness, name, transcendental form, qualities, and eternal
her enchanting fragrance and tenderness, and pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one’s tongue
also because of her cleverness and skill in music and mind. In this way, one should reside in Vraja
and dance. The most attractive ladies of all are the [Goloka Vrindavan dhäma] and serve Krishna un-
young gopés of Vrindavan, who are Lord Krishna's der the guidance of devotees. One should follow in
internal potency, and this chapter tells how He the footsteps of the Lord’s beloved devotees, who
enjoyed their brilliant feminine qualities—even are deeply attached to His devotional service.
though, as Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura We have to always remain subordinate to the
has mentioned, Lord Krishna was an eight-year-old Vrajaväsés. The banks of Yamuna, the playground
boy when these events took place. for Krishna’s amorous pastimes, the waters of the
Ordinary people prefer God simply to be a wit- Yamuna, the cows, sticks, horns, and flutes are all
ness of their romantic affairs. When a boy desires a Vrajaväsés. They are Vrajaväsés on the platform of
girl or a girl desires a boy, sometimes they pray to çänta-rasa. Raktaka, Citraka, Patraka, and others
God for their enjoyment. Such people are shocked are Vrajaväsés on the platform of däsya-rasa. Ex-
and dismayed to find out that the Lord can enjoy ternally making a show of residing in Vraja while
His own loving affairs with His own transcen- thinking internally about material enjoyment
dental senses. In truth, Sri Krishna is the original unrelated to Krishna cannot be called vrajaväsa,
Cupid, and His exciting conjugal pastimes will be living in Vraja. Vrajaväsés are those who cannot
described in this section of the Bhägavatam. engage in anything other than Krishna’s service
When Lord Krishna descends to the earth, His even in their dreams or while unconscious, and
spiritual body seems to take birth and grow as who have natural attachment for Krishna. If one
He displays His variegated pastimes. The Lord is unable to physically live in Vraja, he should live
could hardly allow His boyhood to pass without there mentally. This means that he must always
exhibiting the supreme loving affairs between a keep his mind absorbed in thoughts of Vraja. One
young boy and young girls. Thus, Vishvanatha has to give up both material enjoyment and dry

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 Issue no 216, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
renunciation. According to Çrémad-Bhägavatam, an ground, are deeply attached Vrajaväsés in däsya-ra-
attached householder and a staunch, dry renunci- sa. Friends like Sridama or Sudama are deeply at-
ant cannot worship Hari. tached Vrajaväsés of viçrambha-sakhya-rasa, friend-
We have to follow the gradual path. We must ship with love. Arjuna’s idea of the Lord is mixed
start with hearing the holy names and kåñëa-kathä. with knowledge of His godhood and is therefore
Krishna’s holy name reveals Himself as the Lord’s not pure friendship. There is a difference between
forms, qualities, pastimes, and associates. After viçrambha-sakhya-rasa and gaurava-sakhya-rasa
hearing, we have to act accordingly. We have to (friendship with awe and reverence). On the plat-
constantly chant whatever we have heard. Then form of viçrambha-sakhya-rasa, Krishna’s friends
the state of remembrance will come. There are five will climb on Krishna’s shoulders, feed Him con-
kinds of remembrance. The final stage of remem- taminated täla fruits in the Talavana forest, fight
brance is called samädhi, uninterrupted remem- with Him, and compel Him to carry them on His
brance. After the stage of remembrance one attains shoulders. But Arjuna is struck with wonder when
the stage of self-realization, after which one attains he sees Krishna’s universal form. He says, “O Lord!
the ultimate goal of life and goes back to Godhead. You are so opulent and great. I have committed
One must properly glorify the Lord’s name, form, an offense by addressing You as friend. Please
and characteristics. One will not yield any result if forgive me.” He spoke like this because he was
one simply makes a pretense of glorifying the Lord. overwhelmed by Krishna’s opulence.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (2.8.4) states: Personalities like Nanda and Yasoda are deeply
attached Vrajaväsés in vätsalya-rasa. Raghupati Up-
çåëvataù çraddhayä nityaà, adhyaya, a disciple of Sri Madhavendra Puri said:
gåëataç ca sva-ceñöitam
kälena nätidérgheëa, çrutim apare småtim itare,
bhagavän viçate hådi bhäratam anye bhajantu bhava-bhétäù
aham iha nandaà vande,
Persons who hear Çrémad-Bhägavatam regularly yasyälinde paraà brahma
and are always taking the matter very seriously
will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna Those who are afraid of material existence
manifested in their hearts within a short time. worship the Vedic literature. Some worship
småti, the corollaries to the Vedic literature, and
Trying to artificially remember the Lord by giving others worship the Mahäbhärata. As far as I am
up one’s chanting is not real remembrance. The concerned, I worship Krishna’s father, Mahäräja
pretension of remembrance without chanting will Nanda, in whose courtyard the Supreme Person-
leave one meditating on sense objects. The çästras ality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, is playing.
have described two paths, the path of çreyas and (Padyävali 126)
the path of preyas. That which we like is the path of
preyas, and that which we don’t like is the path of The Vraja gopés are deeply attached Vrajaväsés in
çreyas. When çreyas and preyas merge, our hearts the topmost mädhurya-rasa. When the gopés, who
will rush toward Sri Radha-Krishna’ service. In that were afflicted by separation from Krishna met Him
stage çreyas appears as preyas and preyas as çreyas. at Kurukshetra during the solar eclipse, they said:
This is how exalted devotees think.
The phrase tad anurägi in the original verse refers ähuç ca te nalina-näbha padäravindaà
to the Vrajaväsés who are deeply attached to the yogeçvarair hådi vicintyam agädha-bodhaiù
Lord. The cows, sticks, horns, flute, kadamba trees, saàsära-küpa-patitottaraëävalambaà
and the banks of the Yamuna are deeply attached gehaà juñäm api manasy udiyät sadä naù
Vrajaväsés in çänta-rasa. Raktaka, Citraka, and
Patraka, who are Nanda’s house servants and who Dear Lord whose navel is just like a lotus flow-
serve Krishna when He returns from the pasturing er, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those
who have fallen into the deep well of material

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 216, Page—7
existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated performs the pastime of taking birth. The Lord of
upon by great mystic yogés and highly learned Vaikuntha is unborn. But since that unborn Lord,
philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may due to His inconceivable potency, manifested
also be awakened within our hearts, although we His pastime of taking birth, His position as the
are only ordinary persons engaged in household Supreme Lord becomes more glorious. Therefore
affairs. (Çrémad Bhagavatam 10.82.48) Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha.
Materialists are motivated by a desire to become Lord Krishna appears in the pure mind of a prac-
liberated from material existence. Renunciant yo- titioner. That pure mind is also Mathura. Many
gés practice meditation to realize the subtle object. people consider Mathura a mythical place, a place
Surpassing these considerations is the topmost described in fairy tales. Doing so denies Krishna’s
platform of devotional service found in the gopés of inconceivable potency. By His inconceivable po-
Vraja. The gopés are not prepared to serve Krishna tency Mathura appears along with Krishna in this
from a distance like the yogés who practice medita- material world.
tion. Their meditation is spontaneous and natural. Vrindavan, where Krishna enjoyed the räsa
These above mentioned five kinds of rasas are lélä, is superior to Mathura, where Krishna took
found in Goloka and in the Vraja of this world. birth. Caitanya-caritämåta (Ädi 1.17) states:
In Vaikuntha there are two and half kinds of
rasas, çänta, däsya, and gaurava-sakhya. Viçram- çrémän räsa-rasärambhé vaàçévaöa-taöa-sthitaù
bha-sakhya does not exist there. karñan veëu-svanair gopér gopé-näthaùçriye ’stu naù
In Sri Rupa Prabhu’s ninth instruction, he deter-
mines the best place to perform bhajana as follows: Sri Gopinatha, who originated the transcenden-
tal mellow of the räsa dance, stands on the shore in
vaikuëöhäj janito varä madhu-puré taträpi räsotsaväd Vamsivata and attracts the attention of the cowherd
våndäraëyam udära-päëi-ramaëät taträpi Govardhanù damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute.
rädhä-kuëòam ihäpi gokula-pateù premämåtäplävanät May They all confer upon us Their benedictions.
kuryäd asya viräjato giri-taöe seväà viveké na kaù
In Mathura, Krishna enjoys His pastimes as an
The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually immature boy. In the räsa-lélä arena He is a mature
superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, boy. Krishna enjoyed the räsa-lélä pastimes with
because the Lord appeared there. Superior to His different types of gopé friends. When Sri Radha
Mathurapuri is the transcendental forest of Vrin- arrived and saw that the special characteristics of
davan, because of Krishna’s räsa-lélä pastimes. And Her service could not be exhibited in a räsa-lélä that
superior to the forest of Vrindavan is Govardhan included so many types of gopés, She left the arena
Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri and went to Govardhan. Chandravali also arrived.
Krishna and was the site of His various loving When Sri Radha saw Sri Krishna sitting inside a
pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri cave at Govardhan with Chandravali, She became
Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is over-flood- very upset. After tactfully deceiving Chandravali’s
ed with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the messenger Shaibya, Radha's gopé friends, Tulasi,
Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, then, is that Dhanistha, and others, sent Chandravali to Sakhis-
intelligent person who is unwilling to serve this thali. That is why Srila Dasa Gosvami Prabhupada,
divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot who was a staunch follower of Sri Rupa, offered
of Govardhan Hill? his obeisances to Sakhisthali from a distance. Af-
As the surrendered maidservants of Sri Radha, ter deceiving Chandravali, Sri Radha's followers
we have to constantly live on the banks of Rad- brought Shyamasundara to Radha-kunda.
ha-kunda. In the conception of Narayana there Sri Govardhan, where Sri Radha-Krishna’s most
is no existence of father and mother. Narayana is confidential amorous pastimes take place, is supe-
unborn. But when that unborn Lord appears as rior to Vrindavan. In his prayer to Sri Govardhan,
the son of Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura, He

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 Issue no 216, Page — 8 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami wrote (Stavävalé,
Vol. 1, text 6): karmibhyaù parito hareù priyatayä
vyaktià yayur jïäninas
yasyäm-mädhava-näviko tebhyo jïäna-vimukta-bhakti-paramäù
rasavatém ädhäya rädhäm-tarau premaika-niñöhäs tataù
madhye caïcala-keli-päta-valanät tebhyas täù paçu-päla-paìkaja-dåças
träsaiù stuvatyäs tataù täbhyo ’pi sä rädhikä
sväbhiñöham-paëam ädadhe preñöhä tadvad iyaà tadéya-sarasé
vahati sä yasmin mano-jähnavé täà näçrayet kaù kåté
kas tam-tan nava-dam-pati-pratibhu-
vam-govardhanm-näçrayet In the çästra it is said that of all types of fruitive
workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the
Who will not take shelter of Govardhan Hill, higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord
where the divine couple enjoy Their rescue-fee Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced
pastimes, and where the Manasa-ganga flows? In in knowledge [jïänés], one who is practically
the Manasa-ganga the pilot Madhava took sweetly liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to
beautiful Radha on His boat, and when She, fright- devotional service. He is superior to the others.
ened by a great storm, prayed that He calm it, He However, one who has actually attained prema,
claimed from Her as a rescue-fee the fulfillment of pure love of Krishna, is superior to him. The gopés
His amorous desires. are exalted above all the advanced devotees be-
cause they are always totally dependent upon Sri
Radha-kunda is superior to Govardhan because Krishna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among
it is flooded fully with nectarean love of Sri Krish- the gopés, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to
na. Sri Rupa-manjari, who understood Caitanya Krishna. Her kuëòa [lake] is as profoundly dear
Mahäprabhu’s confidential intention, instructed to Lord Krishna as this most beloved of the gopés.
that service to Radha-kunda, the highest object Who, then, will not reside at Radha-kunda, and in
of Sri Gaurahari’s internal mood, is the ultimate a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional
goal of all service. Sri Radha-kunda is totally in- feelings [apräkåta-bhäva], render loving service to
comprehensible and unattainable by followers of the divine couple Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, who per-
the Nimbärka-sampradäya, by the followers of any form Their añöa-käléya-lélä, Their eternal eightfold
sampradäya under Chandravali's guidance, and by daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devtioal
the so-called followers of mädhurya-rasa who are service on the banks of Radha-kunda are the most
devoid of devotion to Gaura. Therefore Srila Dasa fortunate people in the universe.
Gosvami wrote in his prayer to Sri Radha-kunda
(Stavävalé text 2): Only the most fortunate live in the most sanc-
tified place, Sri Radha-kunda, with pure hearts,
vraja-bhuvi mura-çatroù preyasénäà nikämair and worship Krishna twenty-four hours a day. Sri
asulabham api türëaà prema-kalpa-drumaà tam Radha-kunda is the topmost section of Goloka,
janayati hådi bhümau snätur uccair priyaà yat the most confidential place in the spiritual sky,
tad ati-surabhi rädhä-kuëòam eväçrayo me and the only shelter for devotees on the platform
of mädhurya-rasa. Planets like Bhu, Bhuvah,
May very dear and fragrant Radha-kunda, which, and Svah are meant for ambitious householders.
for one who bathes in it immediately creates in the Above them are planets like Mahar, Jana, Tapa,
land of the heart a desire tree of pure love rare even and Satya, which are meant for the celibates. Up-
among the gopé beloveds of Lord Krishna in Vraja, akurvaëa-brahmacärés live in Maharloka, naiñöhi-
be my shelter. ka-brahmacärés attain Janaloka, vänaprasthas
In his tenth instruction Sri Rupa Gosvami has attain Tapaloka, and sannyäsés enjoy in Satyaloka.
ascertained who among the devotees is the best: Bhagavad-gétä (8.16) confirms:
ä-brahma-bhuvanäl lokäù punar ävartino ’rjuna

Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya www.ibmedu.org

 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 216, Page—9
mäm upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate

From the highest planet in the material world

down to the lowest, all are places of misery where-
in repeated birth and death take place. But one
who attains to My abode, O son of Kunté, never
takes birth again.

The ecstatic spiritual abode of Vaikuntha is

rarely attained even by liberated souls. The Lord’s
devotees who are free from material desire at once dane characteristics. (Caitanya-caritämåta Madhya
attain that abode after leaving their material bodies. 6.141)
Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha, Vrindavan, the
abode of the räsa-lélä, is superior to Mathura, Gov- Since they think they have defeated material
ardhan is superior to Vrindavan, and Radha-kunda variegatedness, spiritual variegatedness must
is the best of all. similarly be rejected. Because they think spiritual
Srila Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu’s explanation variegatedness must be as illusory as material
that the Lord’s abode is three-fourths of the cre- variegatedness, those who pursue this philosophy
ation is most scientific. The impersonal Brahman are called Mäyävädés. The abode of the impersonal
is situated beyond the Causal Ocean. Imperson- Brahman lies on the other side of the Causal Ocean.
alists think that ultimately there is nothing there. The concept of the Brahman effulgence arises after
They think all the “imaginary” gods as well as the washing off the three modes of material nature. But
imaginary form of Brahman will be merged, hav- jyotir abhyantate rupaà atulaàçyämasundaraà:
ing become one. The Hayaçérña Pancarätra states: “Within that effulgence is the beautiful and unique
form of Lord Shyamasundara.”
yä yäçrutir jalpati nirviçeñaà, Vaikuntha possesses spiritual variegatedness.
sä säbhidhatte sa-viçeñam eva There are two and half rasas found there. The
vicära-yoge sati hanta täsäà, Supreme Lord is omnipotent; both matter and
präyo baléyaù sa-viçeñam eva spirit are under His control. This is the philosophy
taught by Sri Ramanuja. The Lord is the proprietor
Whatever Vedic mantras describe the Absolute of the material and spiritual energies.
Truth impersonally only prove in the end that the — A lecture given by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada
Absolute Truth is a person. The Supreme Lord on the bank of Sri Radha-kunda during his Vraja-maëòala Parikrama on Sunday
is understood in two features, impersonal and afternoon, October 16, 1932.
personal. If one considers the Supreme Personal-
ity of Godhead in both features, he can actually
understand the Absolute Truth. He knows that the
personal understanding is stronger because he can
!! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
see that everything is full of variety. No one can
see anything that is not full of variety. ISKCON
Bhäägavata Mahä
Bh Mahävidyalaya
Sriman Mahaprabhu says: is a Educational Unit of
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
nirviçeña’ täìre kahe yei çruti-gaëa A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
präkåta’ niñedhi kare ’apräkåta’ sthäpana
Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
Wherever there is an impersonal description His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
in the Vedas, the Vedas mean to establish that ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
everything belonging to the Supreme Personality ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists.
of Godhead is transcendental and free of mun-

www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya