Sri Aparä Ekädaçé Issue no: 235 3rd June 2024

The Story of Kubja

The Story of Kubja
Srila Jiva Gosvami

Krishna Pleases His Devotees

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami

Two Levels to Understand Kubja

Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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rooms of King Kamsa’s palace. As I took away
The Story of Kubja the glorious garments being carried to Kamsa,
Srila Jiva Gosvami so I will also take away the sweet fragrances also
being to carried to him. I should not agitate this
It is because Sri Radha and the gopis spoke girl, as I agitated the washerman. Instead, I should
words giving this specific benediction to them that inspire her to yearn to enjoy with Me. Because her
the ladies of Mathura were able to see Sri Krishna. body is so bent and deformed, she cannot have
This truth is confirmed by the following words enjoyed the company of any man. Therefore she
of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami (Çrémad-Bhägavatam will easily and naturally yearn to enjoy amorous
10.42.24): “When Krishna and Balarama had pastimes with Me. It cannot be that she will not
been going from Vrindavan to Mathura, the inhab- yearn to enjoy with Me and with no one else. Of
itants of Vrindavan had imagined the great fortune this I am certain. By speaking affectionate joking
of the citizens of Mathura in being able to see the words with her I will encourage her to desire Me.”
wonderful beauty of Krishna, who is worshiped After thinking in this way, Sri Krishna, who is
by His pure devotees and the goddess of fortune. the supreme teacher of all who are clever and
The fantasies of the residents of Vrindavan were expert, openly said: “O girl with graceful thighs,
now actually realized, for the citizens of Mathura O girl so earnestly walking on this path, who are
became fully satisfied by seeing Krishna.” you?” Kubja then said: “O boy with the hand-
Her words tinged with irony, Lalita then said: “It some face, I am a maidservant.” Sri Krishna said:
is certainly by Sri Radha's mercy that the women “Whom do you serve?” Kubja said: “Kamsa.”
of Mathura attained their desire. Still, did you not Sri Krishna said: “O crest-jewel of all graceful
omit something in your account of these glorious goddesses, what is your name?” Kubja shyly
pastimes? why did you speak such a truncated de- replied: “O boy handsome like Indra, my name
scription of Lord Krishna’s pastimes with Kubja?” is Trivakra (bent in three places).” Sri Krishna,
Seeing the shy reluctance of the two narrators, who was accompanied by His associates, smiled
Sri Krishna said: “You two know My heart. Please and said: “Your name is certainly appropriate.”
tell the story of Kubja. Tell it as it truly was.” The Krishna again said: “For whom do you carry this
two narrators said: “O graceful Lalita, please sweet fragrant ointment, ointment that relieves
listen. By mere logic no one can understand the sorrows of every part of the body?” Kubja
the actions of supremely merciful Sri Krishna. smiled and said: “O crown of intelligent boys, I
Krishna’s heart melts with compassion when He am Kamsa’s maidservant, so I carry this for him.”
sees a person who has been rejected by all others Sri Krishna said: “O sweetly talking girl, some
in the world. If a poor and downtrodden person maidservants are very obedient to their master,
becomes attracted to Krishna, then Krishna, who and other maidservants are indifferent and do not
places Himself under the control of His poor and much care what their master thinks or wishes.”
humble devotee, becomes attracted to that person. Kubja said: “O boy with the handsome face, what
Thousands of wise philosophers cite the story of You say is true. I am obedient to my master. I do
Krishna and Kubja as the proof of this. not disobey him.”
About Krishna and Kubja, Madhukantha spoke Krishna’s associates all smiled and said: “Her
the following words: When He saw Kubja, Sri body is very beautiful. How is it possible that
Krishna thought: “Her face shines like the moon, Kamsa has not already accepted her as his be-
although her body is crooked like the body of loved?” Sri Krishna said: “Are you obedient to
Ashtavakra Muni. I should ask her some ques- Kamsa? Tell the truth.” Now filled with the anger
tions. Now that she stands before Me, My heart of love, Kubja said: “You can see for Yourself. Why
trembles in a great festival of bliss. Yes. Yes. She is do You even ask? This sweet fragrance is meant
a maidservant carrying sweet fragrances to Kamsa. to anoint Kamsa’s body.” Sri Krishna said: “Many
She is all alone. In her hands she carefully carries other fortunate and glorious persons are also obe-
a jeweled container filled with sweet fragrances. dient like you.” Kubja said: “That may be. Still,
I think she must be carrying them to the inner this fragrant ointment I carry is meant for the en-

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 235, Page—3
joyment of Kamsa, the king of the Bhoja dynasty.” I will kindly give her protection. She directly saw
Sri Krishna said: “If you think it is not improper, Me, so therefore she is qualified to have the suffer-
then I wish to enjoy the sweet fragrance of this ing-like-an-arrow-in-her heart pulled out of her.
scented ointment.” Kubja said: “There is nothing Then Sri Krishna openly said: “O Trivakra, I
that I will not give to You. I vow this before all would like to ask permission to make your body
elders and superiors and gurus.” Sri Krishna said: straight.” Thinking Krishna’s words only a joke,
“If these words that you speak are the truth, then Kubja smiled and said: “Why not? But how will
please anoint My body and the body of My com- You do that?” Sri Krishna said: “By expertly grasp-
panion (Balarama) with this fragrant ointment. ing you in a specific way.” As Krishna’s friends
Smiling with a smile of love, Kubja said: “Who loudly laughed to hear this conversation, Kubja,
but You two, who are the most wonderful teenage the hairs of her body now standing erect, said:
boys in the entire universe, is so worthy to receive “Then You should come to my house.” Sri Krishna
this scented ointment? If You wish, please accept laughed and said: “It is not what you think. Ap-
it.” Krishna’s cowherd associates smiled and whis- proach Me now and you will see something that
pered amongst themselves: “Aha! The beautiful will fill the whole universe with wonder.” When
girl desires both Krishna and Balarama.” Praising trembling Kubja approached, and as all the cow-
Kubja, Sri Krishna said: “Very soon, you will attain herd boys watched, Sri Krishna performed a great
happiness and auspiciousness.” Her heart intox- wonder. First He adopted the graceful pose of a
icated by gazing on the sweetness of Krishna’s dancer. Then He placed both His feet upon Kubjas
supremely handsome form and by listening to feet. Then He placed the forefinger and middle
the sweetness of Krishna’s bathed-in-playful-jokes finger of His left hand under Kubjas chin. With a
charming words, Kubja anointed the bodies of sudden jerk he made Kubjas body straight. The
Krishna and Balarama with the fragrant ointment.
As the glory of the moon becomes doubled when it crookedness in Kubjas back and limbs was sud-
is reflected in the water, so the glory of fair Balara- denly made straight. With a glance from the corner
ma and dark Krishna became doubled when They of His eyes Krishna made Kubjas breasts, hips, and
were anointed with the sweet-fragrant ointment. thighs gracefully full. Simply by Lord Krishna’s
By the touch of Krishna and Balarama, who are touch Kubja became wonderfully beautiful like the
like two treasures of handsomeness, the fragrant most beautiful of all graceful-eyebrowed women.
ointment became greatly increased in quantity. Filled with wonder, the people made a great
All of Krishna’s cowherd friends were then also tumult of “Hala! Hala!” No one had ever done
anointed with that fragrant ointment. such a thing before. With His supreme knowledge
Krishna was splendidly anointed with yellow of how to make anyone beautiful, Krishna had
saffron and Balarama was splendidly anointed with transformed Kubja into a beautiful woman. Of
dark musk. They were glorious like a dark rain- these actions I think in the following way:
cloud and glittering lightning, or like two glorious “Prosperity quickly brings pride, and misfortune
moons shining together. Because he was about to forcibly brings humility.” Please heed these words
narrate the embarrassing part of the story, Mad- of the scriptures, words that are not untrue any-
hukantha’s voice then became choked up. Smiling where in the universe. Now fortunate with beauty
Lalita then said: “Now please describe your master and teenage youthfulness, Kubja at once began to
Krishna’s miracle of changing the nature of the tug at the edge of Lord Krishna’s upper garment. If
girl Kubjas body.” Madhukantha replied with the after adversity a person attains good fortune, then
following words: When Kubja had thus anointed that person will remain righteous and humble.
Him with the fragrant ointment, Sri Krishna, who In that place filled with people, Kubja said to Sri
is merciful to the poor and wretched, and who is Krishna: “O hero, please come with me and satisfy
the purifier of Putana and a host of others like her, me. I am now greatly afflicted with passionate love
thought: “This girl has a beautiful face, but because for You.”
her body is so crooked, she feels as if an arrow has Lalita said: “By Krishna’s touch we gopis have
been shot into her heart. Because she served Me, attained a fate like that of Kubja, who gave plea-

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sure to enjoyer-of-limitless-pastimes Sri Krishna. Krishna Pleases His Devotees
Please fearlessly continue the narration.” Mad- Srila Sukadeva Gosvami
hukantha shyly said: Then supremely merciful,
supremely wonderful, and supremely blissful Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: After assimilating
Krishna was overcome with shyness. Glancing Uddhava’s report, Lord Krishna, the Supreme
at His contemporary cowherd-friends and at Personality of Godhead, the omniscient Soul of all
smiling Balarama, who had been His companion that be, desired to satisfy the serving girl Trivakra,
in playing since earliest childhood, Sri Krishna who was troubled by lust. Thus He went to her
cheated Kubja by speaking the following words house. Trivakra’s home was opulently appoint-
(Çrémad-Bhägavatam 10.42.12): ed with expensive furnishings and replete with
“My dear beautiful girl, I am very much pleased sensual accoutrements meant to inspire sexual
by your invitation, and I must come to your home desire. There were banners, rows of strung pearls,
after finishing My other business here. Such a canopies, fine beds and sitting places, and also
beautiful girl as you is the only means of solace fragrant incense, oil lamps, flower garlands and
for persons like Us, who are away from home and aromatic sandalwood paste. When Trivakra saw
not married. Certainly a suitable girlfriend like Him arriving at her house, she at once rose from
you can give Us relief from all kinds of mental her seat in a flurry. Coming forward graciously
agitation.” Lalita smiled and said: “Whatever great with her girlfriends, she respectfully greeted Lord
persons say is always proper. This I have always Acyuta by offering Him an excellent seat and
seen.” Vishakha said: “What did you say? Please other articles of worship.
explain it.” Lalita laughed and said: “For a person Uddhava also received a seat of honor, since
who is by nature always satisfied, and who sees he was a saintly person, but he simply touched it
his little hut to be like a grand palace and his little and sat on the floor. Then Lord Krishna, imitat-
sleeping-platform an opulent bed, may also see ing the manners of human society, quickly made
the girl Kubja to be glorious like an apsarä.” Sri Himself comfortable on an opulent bed. Trivakra
prepared herself by bathing, anointing her body,
Radha gently smiled and said: “Why does Mad- and dressing in fine garments, by putting on jew-
hukantha not say to Kubja: ‘You gave pleasure to elry, garlands and perfume, and also by chewing
others. Now you should give pleasure to me.’ ?” betel nut, drinking fragrant liquor, and so on.
Madhukantha said: You gopis may think in She then approached Lord Madhava with shy,
that way. For myself what I think is this: If a playful smiles and coquettish glances. Calling
poor and fallen person comes within the glance forward His beloved, who was anxious and shy at
of very merciful persons, then, although they are the prospect of this new contact, the Lord pulled
by nature the masters, the merciful persons will her by her bangled hands onto the bed. Thus
act as if they are under the control of the poor and He enjoyed with that beautiful girl, whose only
fallen persons. Momentarily attracted, Sri Krishna trace of piety was her having offered ointment
may cast a glance on Kubja. Aha! Then Kubja will to the Lord. Simply by smelling the fragrance of
jump to imitate Sri Krishna’s gopé-beloveds. Krishna’s lotus feet, Trivakra cleansed away the
O Radha, only Your pure love has the power burning lust Cupid had aroused in her breasts,
to bind Your friend Krishna. May merciful and chest and eyes. With her two arms she embraced
wonderfully playful Sri Krishna be always mani- between her breasts her lover, Sri Krishna, the
fest before You. When this narration of pastimes, personification of bliss, and thus she gave up her
a narration pleasing to Them both, came to its long-standing distress.
conclusion, Sri Radha and Sri Krishna went to Having thus gotten the hard-to-get Supreme
Their charming palace. Lord by the simple act of offering Him body
ointment, unfortunate Trivakra submitted to that
- Sri Gopäla-Campü of Srila Jiva Gosvami » Translation by Kushakratha Das Lord of freedom the following request.

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 235, Page—5
[Trivakra said:] O beloved, please stay here with variegated objects of Your creation. You create,
me for a few days more and enjoy. I cannot bear to destroy and also maintain this universe with Your
give up Your association, O lotus-eyed one! Prom- personal energiesthe modes of passion, ignorance
ising her the fulfillment of this lusty desire, consid- and goodnessyet You are never entangled by these
erate Krishna, Lord of all beings, paid Trivakra His modes or the activities they generate. Since You are
respects and then returned with Uddhava to His the original source of all knowledge, what could
own supremely opulent residence. Lord Vishnu, ever cause You to be bound by illusion?
the Supreme Lord of all lords, is ordinarily difficult Since it has never been demonstrated that You
to approach. One who has properly worshiped are covered by material, bodily designations, it
Him and then chooses the benediction of mundane must be concluded that for You there is neither
sense gratification is certainly of poor intelligence, birth in a literal sense nor any duality. Therefore,
for he is satisfied with an insignificant result. You never undergo bondage or liberation, and if
Then Lord Krishna, wanting to have some things You appear to, it is only because of Your desire that
done, went to Akrura’s house with Balarama and we see You in that way, or simply because of our
Uddhava. The Lord also desired to please Akrura. lack of discrimination. You originally enunciated
Akrura stood up in great joy when he saw them, the ancient religious path of the Vedas for the
his own relatives and the greatest of exalted per- benefit of the whole universe. Whenever that path
sonalities, coming from a distance. After embracing becomes obstructed by wicked persons following
them and greeting them, Akrura bowed down to the path of atheism, You assume one of Your incar-
Krishna and Balarama and was greeted by Them nations, which are all in the transcendental mode
in return. Then, when his guests had taken their of goodness. You are that very same Supreme
seats, he worshiped them in accordance with Person, my Lord, and You have now appeared in
scriptural rules. O King, Akrura bathed the feet of the home of Vasudeva with Your plenary portion.
Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama and then poured You have done this to relieve the earth’s burden by
the bath water on his head. He presented Them killing hundreds of armies led by kings who are
with gifts of fine clothing, aromatic sandalwood expansions of the demigods’ enemies, and also to
paste, flower garlands and excellent jewelry. After spread the fame of our dynasty.
thus worshiping the two Lords, he bowed his Today, O Lord, my home has become most
head to the floor. He then began to massage Lord fortunate because You have entered it. As the
Krishna’s feet, placing them on his lap, and with Supreme Truth, You embody the forefathers,
his head bowed in humility he addressed Krishna ordinary creatures, human beings and demigods,
and Balarama as follows. and the water that has washed Your feet purifies
[Akrura said:] It is our good fortune that You the three worlds. Indeed, O transcendent one,
two Lords have killed the evil Kamsaand his fol- You are the spiritual master of the universe. What
lowers, thus delivering Your dynasty from endless learned person would approach anyone but You
suffering and causing it to flourish. You both are for shelter, when You are the affectionate, grateful
the original Supreme Person, the cause of the and truthful well-wisher of Your devotees? To
universe and its very substance. Not the slightest those who worship You in sincere friendship You
subtle cause or manifest product of creation exists reward everything they desire, even Your own self,
apart from You. O Supreme Absolute Truth, with yet You never in-crease or diminish.
Your personal energies You create this universe It is by our great for-tune, Janardana, that You
and then enter into it. Thus one can perceive You are now visible to us, for even the masters of yoga
in many different forms by hearing from author- and the foremost demigods can achieve this goal
ities and by direct experience. Just as the primary only with great difficulty. Please quickly cut the
elements earth and so on manifest themselves in ropes of our illusory attachment for children,
abundant variety among all the species of mobile wife, wealth, influential friends, home and body.
and immobile life, so You, the one independent All such attachment is simply the effect of Your
Supreme Soul, appear to be manifold among the illusory material energy.

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 Issue no 235, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus worshiped to be a liberated soul, directly associating with
and fully glorified by His devotee, the Supreme the Lord and participating in His pastimes. On
Lord Hari smilingly addressed Akrura, completely the other hand, her conduct is clearly meant to
charming him with His words. teach a lesson about what not to do in relation
[The Supreme Lord said:] You are Our spiritual with Lord Krishna. Since all of the Lord's pastimes
master, paternal uncle and praiseworthy friend, are not only blissful but also didactic, there is no
and We are like your sons, always dependent on real contradiction in this pastime, since Trivakra's
your protection, sustenance and compassion. Ex- purity and her bad example take place on two
alted souls like you are the true objects of service distinct levels. Arjuna is also considered a pure
and the most worshipable authorities for those devotee, yet by initially disobeying Krishna's
who desire the highest good in life. Demigods are instruction to fight, he also showed an example
generally concerned with their own interests, but of what not to do. However, such "bad exam-
saintly devotees never are. No one can deny that ples" always have happy endings in the blissful
there are holy places with sacred rivers, or that association of the Absolute Truth, Sri Krishna.
the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth
and stone. But these purify the soul only after a — Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum
long time, whereas saintly persons purify just by Bonum » Chapter 48 » Verse 11 » Purport by Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C.
being seen. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
You are indeed the best of Our friends, so please
go to Hastinapura and, as the well-wisher of the
Pandavas, find out how they are doing. We have
heard that when their father passed away, the
young Pandavas were brought with their an-
guished mother to the capital city by King Dhri-
tarshtra, and that they are now living there. Indeed,
weak-minded Dhritarshtra, the son of Ambika, has
come under the control of his wicked sons, and
therefore that blind King is not treating his broth-
er’s sons fairly. Go and see whether Dhritarshtra
is acting properly or not. When We find out, We
will make the necessary arrangements to help Our
dear friends.
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus fully
instructing Akrura, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Hari then returned to His residence,
accompanied by Lord Sankarshana and Uddhava. !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
ISKCON
— Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum Bhägavata Mahävidyalaya
Bonum » Chapter 48 » Verses 1–36 » Translations by Disciples of His Divine is a branch of
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
Two Levels to Understand Kubja Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami His Divine Grace
Prabhupada A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada

It is clear from the commentaries of the acharyas ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
that the story of Trivakra is to be understood on ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective
two levels. On the one hand, she is understood artists.

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