Çré Indirä Ekädaçé Issue no: 220 10th Oct 2023

Krishna's Eternal Desire

The Räsa Dance Inconceivable Compression of Time
Srila Sukadeva Goswami Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur

The Definition of Räsa-kréòä Krishna's Eternal Desire

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Religious Preachers
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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linked their arms together.The festive räsa dance

The Räsa Dance commenced, with the gopis arrayed in a circle.
Srila Sukadeva Goswami Lord Krishna expanded Himself and entered
between each pair of gopis, and as that master
Sukadeva Goswami said: When the cowherd of mystic power placed His arms around their
girls heard the Supreme Personality of Godhead necks, each girl thought He was standing next
speak these most charming words, they forgot to her alone. The demigods and their wives were
their distress caused by separation from Him. overwhelmed with eagerness to witness the räsa
Touching His transcendental limbs, they felt dance, and they soon crowded the sky with their
all their desires fulfilled. there on the Yamuna’s hundreds of celestial airplanes. Kettledrums then
banks Lord Govinda then began the pastime of resounded in the sky while flowers rained down
the räsa dance in the company of those jewels and the chief Gandharvas and their wives sang
among women, the faithful gopis, who joyfully Lord Krishna’s spotless glories. A tumultuous
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 220, Page—3
sound arose from the armlets, ankle bells and waist ankle bells made a loud musical sound, and their
bells of the gopis as they sported with their beloved chaplets scattered. Thus, the gopis danced with
Krishna in the circle of the räsa dance. In the midst the Supreme Lord in the arena of the räsa dance
of the dancing gopis, Lord Krishna appeared most as swarms of bees sang in accompaniment. In this
brilliant, like an exquisite sapphire in the midst of way Lord Krishna, the original Lord Narayana,
golden ornaments. As the gopis sang in praise of master of the goddess of fortune, took pleasure
Krishna, their feet danced, their hands gestured, in the company of the young women of Vraja by
and their eyebrows moved with playful smiles. embracing them, caressing them and glancing
With their braids and belts tied tight, their waists lovingly at them as He smiled His broad, playful
bending, their faces perspiring, the garments on smiles. It was just as if a child were playing with
their breasts moving this way and that, and their his own reflection. Their senses overwhelmed by
earrings swinging on their cheeks, Lord Krishna’s the joy of having His physical association, the go-
young consorts shone like streaks of lightning in a pis could not prevent their hair, their dresses and
mass of clouds. Eager to enjoy conjugal love, their the cloths covering their breasts from becoming
throats colored with various pigments, the gopis disheveled. Their garlands and ornaments scat-
sang loudly and danced. they were overjoyed by tered, O hero of the Kuru dynasty. The wives of
Krishna’s touch, and they sang songs that filled the the demigods, observing Krishna’s playful activities
entire universe. from their airplanes, were entranced and became
One gopi, joining Lord Mukunda in His singing, agitated with lust. Indeed, even the moon and his
sang pure melodious tones that rose harmoniously entourage, the stars, became astonished.
above His. Krishna was pleased and showed great Expanding Himself as many times as there were
appreciation for her performance, saying “Excel- cowherd women to associate with, the Supreme
lent! Excellent!” then another gopi repeated the
same melody, but in a special metrical pattern, Lord, though self-satisfied, playfully enjoyed their
and Krishna praised her also. When one gopi grew company. Seeing that the gopis were fatigued from
tired from the räsa dance, She turned to Krishna, conjugal enjoyment, my dear King, merciful Krish-
standing at Her side holding a baton, and grasped na lovingly wiped their faces with His comforting
His shoulder with Her arm. The dancing had hand. The gopis honored their hero with smiling
loosened Her bracelets and the flowers in Her hair. glances sweetened by the beauty of their cheeks
Upon the shoulder of one gopi Krishna placed His and the effulgence of their curly locks and glittering
arm, whose natural blue-lotus fragrance was mixed golden earrings. Overjoyed from the touch of His
with that of the sandalwood pulp anointing it. As fingernails, they chanted the glories of His all-aus-
the gopi relished that fragrance, her bodily hair picious transcendental pastimes. Lord Krishna’s
stood on end in jubilation, and she kissed His arm. garland had been crushed during His conjugal
Next to Krishna’s cheek one gopi put her own, dalliance with the gopis and colored vermilion by
beautified by the effulgence of her earrings, which the kuëkuma powder on their breasts.
glittered as she danced. Krishna then carefully gave To dispel the fatigue of the gopis, Krishna entered
her the betel nut He was chewing. Another gopi the water of the Yamuna, followed swiftly by bees
became fatigued as she danced and sang, the bells who were singing like the best of the Gandharvas.
on her ankles and waist tinkling. So, she placed He appeared like a lordly elephant entering the
upon her breasts the comforting lotus hand of Lord water to relax in the company of his consorts.
Acyuta, who was standing by her side. Indeed, the Lord had transgressed all worldly and
Having attained as their intimate lover Lord Vedic morality just as a powerful elephant might
Acyuta, the exclusive consort of the goddess of break the dikes in a paddy field. My dear King, in
fortune, the gopis enjoyed great pleasure. They the water Krishna found Himself being splashed
sang His glories as He held their necks with His on all sides by the laughing gopis, who looked at
arms. Enhancing the beauty of the gopis’ faces Him with love. As the demigods worshiped Him
were the lotus flowers behind their ears, the locks by showering flowers from their airplanes, the
of hair decorating their cheeks, and drops of per- self-satisfied Lord took pleasure in playing like
spiration. The reverberation of their armlets and the king of the elephants. Then the Lord strolled
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through a small forest on the bank of the Yamu- One who is not a great controller should never
na. This forest was filled to its limits with breezes imitate the behavior of ruling personalities, even
carrying the fragrances of all the flowers growing mentally. If out of foolishness an ordinary person
on the land and in the water. Followed by His does imitate such behavior, he will simply destroy
entourage of bees and beautiful women, Lord himself, just as a person who is not Rudra would
Krishna appeared like an intoxicated elephant destroy himself if he tried to drink an ocean of
with his she-elephants. Although the gopis were poison. The statements of the Lord’s empow-
firmly attached to Lord Krishna, whose desires ered servants are always true, and the acts they
are always fulfilled, the Lord was not internally perform are exemplary when consistent with
affected by any mundane sex desire. Still, to per- those statements.
form His pastimes the Lord took advantage of Therefore, one who is intelligent should carry
all those moonlit autumn nights, which inspire out their instructions. My dear Prabhu, when
poetic descriptions of transcendental affairs. these great persons who are free from false ego
Pariksit Maharaja said: O brähmaëa, the act piously in this world, they have no selfish
Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of motives to fulfill, and even when they act in ap-
the universe, has descended to this earth along parent contradiction to the laws of piety, they are
with His plenary portion to destroy irreligion not subject to sinful reactions. How, then, could
and reestablish religious principles. Indeed, He the Lord of all created beings animals, men and
is the original speaker, follower and guardian of demigods have any connection with the piety and
moral laws. How, then, could He have violated impiety that affect His subject creatures?
them by touching other men’s wives? O faithful Material activities never entangle the devotees
up-holder of vows, please destroy our doubt by of the Supreme Lord, who are fully satisfied by
explaining to us what purpose the self-satisfied serving the dust of His lotus feet. Nor do material
Lord of the Yadus had in mind when He behaved activities entangle those intelligent sages who have
so contemptibly. freed themselves from the bondage of all fruitive
Sukadeva Goswami said: The status of power- reactions by the power of yoga. So how could
ful controllers is not harmed by any apparently there be any question of bondage for the Lord
audacious transgression of morality we may see Himself, who assumes His transcendental forms
in them, for they are just like fire, which devours according to His own sweet will? He who lives
everything fed into it and remains unpolluted. as the overseeing witness within the gopis and
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 220, Page—5
their husbands, and indeed within all embodied Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja » Translated by

living beings, assumes forms in this world to enjoy Bhumipati Das

transcendental pastimes. When the Lord assumes

a humanlike body to show mercy to His devotees, Inconceivable Compression of Time
He engages in such pastimes as will attract those Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur
who hear about them to become dedicated to
Him. The cowherd men, bewildered by Krishna’s In the Bhagavad-gétä (8.17), Lord Krishna ex-
illusory potency, thought their wives had remained plains, "By human calculation, a thousand ages
home at their sides. Thus, they did not harbor any taken together is the duration of Brahma's one
jealous feelings against Him. After an entire night day. And such also is the duration of his night."
of Brahma had passed, Lord Krishna advised the Thus one thousand ages entered within a single
gopis to return to their homes. Although they did twelve-hour night when Lord Krishna performed
not wish to do so, the Lord’s beloved consorts His räsa dance. This inconceivable compression
complied with His command. of time to the fact that many universes fit neatly
Anyone who faithfully hears or describes the within the forty-mile range of earthly Vrindavan.
Lord’s playful affairs with the young gopis of Or one may consider that Mother Yashoda could
Vrindavana will attain the Lord’s pure devotional not encircle the small abdomen of child Krishna
service. thus he will quickly become sober and with numerous ropes, and that at another time
conquer lust, the disease of the heart. He manifested many universes within His mouth.
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum Bo- The transcendence of spiritual reality above and
num » Chapter 33 » Verses 1–39 » Translations by Disciples of His Divine Grace
beyond mundane physics is concisely explained
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
in Srila Rupa Goswami's Laghu-bhagavatämåta:

The Definition of Räsa-kréòä evaà prabhoù priyäëäà ca

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur dhämnaç ca samayasya ca
avicintya-prabhävatväd
The definition of räsa-kréòä is given by Shridhara atra kiïcin na durghaöam
Swami in his Bhävärtha-dépikä commentary on the
Çrémad Bhägavatam (10.33.1) as follows: “Räsa-lélä "Nothing is impossible for the Lord,
refers to a particular type of dance involving many His dear devotees, His transcenden-
women dancers.” In his Båhad-vaiñëava-toñaëé, tal abode or the time of His pastimes, for all
Sanatana Goswami gives the characteristics of the these entities are inconceivably powerful."
räsa dance as follows: “When many women join
hands in a circle and are embraced around the The word väsudevänumoditäù indicates that Lord
neck by male dancers it is called a räsa dance.” Krishna advised the gopis, "To assure the success
In the book named Saìgéta-sära it is stated: of these pastimes, you and I should keep them
“When a male dancer performs, being surrounded secret." The word väsudeva, a name of Krishna,
by a circle of many women dancers moving about, also indicates Lord Krishna's plenary expansion
it is called a halléñaka. When a halléñaka dance is ac- who acts as the presiding Deity of consciousness.
companied by various refined tälas (tunes), dance When the word väsudeva is understood in this con-
steps, and gestures, it is called a räsa dance. As it text, the word väsudevänumoditäù indicates that
does not exist even in heaven, what is the question the presiding Deity of consciousness, Vasudeva,
of it existing on earth?” In his Särärtha-darçiné manifested embarrassment and fear of their elders
commentary on the Çrémad Bhägavatam, Vishvana- within the gopis' hearts, and therefore it was only
tha Chakravarti states: “Räsa-kréòä refers to a räsa with great reluctance that the young girls returned
dance in which there is a mixture of ingredients home.
such as dancing, singing, kissing, and embracing.” — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum
— Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura » The vyäsa-avatära of Caitanya-lélä » With Bonum » Chapter 32 » Verse 7 » Särärtha-darçiné of Srila Vishvanath Chakra-
varti Thakur
English Translation of the Gauòéya-bhäñya Commentary and Chapter Summaries of

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 Issue no 220, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä

with His beloved gopi sweethearts who aptly

Krishna's Eternal Desire consider themselves married to other gopas. His
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur vaàçé becomes His priya-sakhi to initiate these
intimate pastimes of bliss. To facilitate Krishna’s
“Krishna is fully independent in all His activ- perfect enjoyment of parakéya-rasa, parakéya-bhä-
ities; His desires are unimpeded and absolute. va is eternally displayed in Goloka, wherein innu-
His eternal desire is that His mädhurya should be merable sylvan bowers, such as Keli-vrindavana,
fully revealed and predominate over His aiçvarya. remain eternally in pastoral splendour as sites
Accordingly, He has given a separate identity to for His amorous play. The site of the räsa-lélä,
His divine parä-çakti, who subsequently manifests the Yamuna River, Giri-Govardhana, and all
countless millions of stunningly beautiful gopis the places of Krishna’s Vraja-gokula pastimes
to serve Him eternally with tender loving care. are completely available in Goloka. In this way,
However, Krishna is not fully satisfied by service parakéya-bhäva and svakéya-bhäva are present in
influenced by perception of His aiçvarya. So by Goloka as elements to churn delightful rasa from
exhibiting a fabulous aspect of His yoga-mäyä-çakti the ocean of Krishna’s most intimate pastimes.
He arranges for all the gopis to adopt the abhimäna Actually, çuddha-svakéya-bhäva, the purest form
of being the wives of gopas in the idyllic village of the conjugal mood, reigns resplendently in
of Vraja-vrindavana. As a result, the gopis live in Vaikuntha. Parakéya-rasa is unique to Vraja-vrin-
their individual households, identifying with their davana, and though viewed as illicit from the
status as the married women of Vraja. In concert mundane platform, in essence it is non-different
with this abhimäna, Krishna joyfully assumes from svakéya-rasa, because the young gopis are
relationship with the gopis in the role of upapati. the eternal çakti of Krishna. Ultimately, the vra-
“Out of lobha for relishing parakéya-rasa, Krishna ja-gopis must be regarded as Krishna’s eternal
is allured into transgressing His inner ätmärä- conjugal consorts, immersed in the moods of
ma-dharma of being infinitely self-satisfied. He svakéyatva, conjugal faithfulness, and dämpatya,
engages in gorgeous pastimes such as the räsa-lélä conjugal love, towards Him beginninglessly.

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 220, Page—7
“Parakéya-bhäva is sustained in Goloka by abhimä- as an ordinary man and thereby commit offenses
na, spiritual conception. In Vraja-Gokula, Abhi- at His lotus feet by so many unwanted activities.
manyu and the other gopas are avatäras of their The äcärya is he who knows the scriptures well
respective abhimäna in Goloka. In Vraja-Gokula and teaches his disciples in terms of the disciple's
these gopas take birth and become the husbands of capacity to understand and advance in spiritual
the gopis in order to foster the pastimes of Krishna, realization. Therefore, he sometimes speaks and
making Krishna the upapati and essential näyaka sometimes does not speak. The holy messages of
of vraja-lélä. Similarly, far beyond the reach of the Godhead have to be received from the realized
external material nature, in the transcendental soul, and not from the professional man. Although
abode of Goloka, all the varieties of abhimäna fully rainwater and the waterfalls are the same, the water
nurture rasa. In Gokula, manifest within this mate- from the waterfalls has a different effect than ordi-
rial universe, the abhimänas of Goloka demonstrate nary rainwater. One should not accept messages
their individual existence when Yogamaya arranges from the professional men, as one should not ac-
for them to take birth. For the gopis, this creates cept milk touched by the tongue of a serpent. Milk
the experience of being married; however, in their is good, but as soon as it is touched by the snake it
eternal love for Krishna, the vraja-gopis transgress becomes poisonous. The äcärya, therefore, is not
the strictures of marriage, and thus parakéya-rasa a mercenary order-supplier like the professional
is fully nurtured in Gokula. This is all the play of reciter of scriptures.
Yogamaya.”
— Jaiva-dharma » Translated by Sarvabhavana Das — Light of the Bhagavata » Verse 34 » His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada.
Religious Preachers
His Divine Grace
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

There are two different kinds of religious preach-

ers. One of them is called the professional preacher,
and the other is called the äcärya. The professional
preachers are like the rainfall from the sky, but the
äcäryas are like waterfalls. The professional traders !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
in Bhägavatam and Rämäyaëa will speak from
ISKCON
the portion of the scripture that will appeal to the Bhägavata Mahävidyalaya
mundane senses of the audience. For example, is a branch of
the professional Bhägavatam reciter will generally International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
speak on the subject of räsa-lélä, which appears to A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
the layman to be something like the dealings of Editor
ordinary men and women. Thus the professional Brajsunder Das
reciters earn money from their so-called admirers. Copy Editor
But an äcärya will never speak on räsa-lélä to the Isha Prakash Das
general mass of people. The räsa-lélä chapters of Sanskrit Editor
the Bhägavatam are the most confidential part of Vrajsevika Devi Dasi
the scripture, and they are meant for advanced Assistance
students of spiritual realization. In the Bhägavatam Vamsidhari Gauri Devi Dasi
there are twelve cantos, and the räsa-lélä is in the Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
tenth. So, before one comes to the Tenth Canto, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada
the Bhägavatam tries to convince him of the tran- ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists.
scendental nature of the Absolute Truth. Unless
one has grasped the spiritual status of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, one is sure to accept Him

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