NITAAI-Veda.nyf > All Scriptures By Acharyas > Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami > Govinda Lilamrita 1 > Chapter-13 |
Chapter 13
1- Lord Krishna and His
associates then arrived at the forest-boundary that divided the monsoon and
autumn-seasons. In the following words He described the beauties of both
seasons to His beloved Radharani:
2- O My beloved, the last
part of the monsoon-season is like the last part of a girl's childhood, and the
beginning of autumn is like the beginning of a girl's adolescence. Look! the
autumn forest of Vrndavana is present before Us, glistening like a beautiful
teen-age girl.
3- Now that the yuthi
creeper no longer bear flowers, the bumble-bee has abandoned it, and gone to
the freshly blooming jati flower, like a young man rejects an old woman and is
attracted to a beautiful young girl.
4-The forest of Vrndavana
is now reddened with ripe gunja berries and whitened with blossoming kasa
flowers. The absence of rain has silenced the peacocks, who no longer spread
their tail-feathers. The swans warble excitedly. The beauty of this season
announces the arrival of autumn.
5- Look! Whenever this
bumble-bees lands on a sephalika flower, that flower at once falls away. The
same thing happened to Me. O girl with the beautiful face, when I tried to
reclaim My flute from Your gopi-friends, they all became frightened and fled as
soon as I approached.
6- Then Kundalata said: O
king and queen of Vrndavana, look at this part of the forest, so beautifully
decorated by Your friend, the autumn season.
7- Her eyes quickly
moving khanjana birds, her face a lotus flower, her breasts playful cakravaka
birds, her garments like a white cloud, her lips a red lotus flower, the sash
of tinkling bells about her waist a host of warbling sarasa cranes, and her
earrings fashioned of blue lotus flowers, Your friend the autumn season is
eager to serve You. O my master and mistress, please glance upon her.
8- Your friend the autumn
season has fashioned all kinds of ornaments from jati and rangana flower,
crowns from white lotus flowers, garlands from beautiful red and blue lotus
flowers, and a forest-cottage couch from sephalika flowers. She gazes at this
path, waiting for the time when she can offer all these to You.
9- His ichor-fragrance
the blossoming saptacchada flowers, the cloth covering his body a host of white
clouds, his camara-whisk a multitude of kasa flowers, his bellow the sound of
bulls and bees maddened with amorous desire, his jingling ornaments the
warbling of sarasa cranes in the lakes, his tinkling bells the cooing of swans
and other birds, the autumnal cupid-elephant now appears very handsomely before
You in this forest.
10- Her graceful charm
this multitude of lakes teeming with lotus flowers, the luster of her beautiful
form these playful cakravaka birds, her limbs the sole shelter of these
handsome swans, this autumn season now stands before You.
10- This autumn season
now appears before You like the Supreme Personality of Godhead's transcendental
form. This form carry the glistening Sudarsana cakra. It is the sole shelter of
the pure devotees, and it appears even more charming and beautiful by the
presence of the transcendental form of Shrimati Laksmi-devi.
11- Lord Krishna and His
friends then overhead the following foolish debate between the male and female
parrots in branches of the tree filled with ripe nectar fruits above them.
12- The male birds said:
We male birds are great students and teachers of Vedanta philosophy, and you
female parrots are by nature our maidservants. Because Lord Krishna, the king
of Vrndavana is very pleased with us, He gave us this forest as our property.
For these reasons we order you: Do not touch this tree until we have finished
eating these fruits. Go away! Go somewhere else.
13- The female parrots
replied: You are rebels who hate our mistress Radharani. Radharani is the queen
of Vrndavana. The puranas proclaim: Radha Vrndavane vane ( Radharani is the
ruler of Vrndavana forest).
14- The male parrots then
said: The sruti-sastra proclaims that Vrndavana forest is the property of Lord
Krishna. Your evidence from the smrti-sastra is negated by our quotation from
the more authoritative sruti. This you should consider.
15- That Lord Hari is the
master of this forest is a fact well-known in all the worlds. This fact
delights the minds of the people of this world. This fact is confirmed by the
statements of both sruti and smrti sastras.
16- The female parrots
replied: That Her lover is its king is not the only relationship Radharani has
with this forest. This forest is the expansion of Radharani's expansion. This
forest is the reflection of Shrimati Radharani's transcendental body.
17- The cowherd boys like
Krishna, although from the outside they are very handsome and pleasant to see,
within their hearts they are polluted with great cunning. They are like
maha-kala fruits that are pretty without and wretched within.
18- The male parrots then
proceeded to say: The gopis are just like coconuts, for just as a coconut has a
hard shell, a soft inside, and nectar-liquid within, in the same way the gopis
are covered by a hard shell of pride, within which is a soft coating of
gentleness, and within that is a pool of transcendental nectar.
19-My master Krishna has
no faults. He is filled with nectar both within and without, just like grapes .
20- The female parrots
replied: Your master Lord Acyuta is just like a sugar-cane stalk. Although
filled with nectar within, he covered by a hard, rough shell of arrogance and
cunning. Within removing the hard shell of His pride, there is no question of
obtaining the sweet nectar within.
21- The female parrots
continued: Just as one must press a sesame seed to obtain the oil within, in
the same way one must first press the hard covering of Lord Krishna's
crookedness before obtaining the oil of gentle love within Him.
22- The male parrots
said: The gopis are like java flowers for although they are very beautiful they
have no sweet fragrance. Lord Krishna is like a blue lotus flowers, for He is
simultaneously splendid and fragrant.
23- A female parrot said:
Our queen Radha is reddened with transcendental virtue within and without like the
red manjistha plant. On the other hand Your king Krishna has no qualities of
His own. He is like a clear crystal that only reflects Radharani's various
virtues because He always remains in Her company.
24- A male parrot
replied: Our Krishna lifted Govardana Hill, the king of mountains, and He
burned the moths of the demons with the fire of His own strength. Who can
compare with Him?
25- A female parrot
replied: Satisfied by Vrajesvara Nanda's worship, Lord Vishnu invested His own
wonderful power in Krishna. Fools glorify Krishna for killing Putana, Bakasura,
and the other enemies of the demigods. They do not know He could not have done
it without Vishnu's help.
26- A male parrot then
said: Satisfied by Vraja's offerings, Krishna assumed the form of a gigantic
Govardhana Hill reaching to the sky. The same Krishna extended His hand and
lifted Govardhana Hill at its root. In this way He become famous as the lifter
of Govardhana Hill.
27- The male parrot sang:
The glorification of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is
beneficial to everyone in the universe. His beauty is victorious over the gopis
of Vrndavana, and it subdues their patience. His pastimes astound the goddess
of fortune, and His bodily strength turns Govardhana Hill into a small toy like
a ball. His spotless qualities are unlimited, and His behavior satisfies
everyone. Lord Krishna is attractive to everyone. Oh, may our Lord maintain the
whole universe.
28- The female parrot
said: Shrimati Radharani's affection, Her exquisite beauty and good behavior,
Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her poetic compositions are all so
attractive that they attract the mind of Krishna, who attracts the mind of
everyone in the universe.
29- A male parrot said:
Radha's enjoyment is to serve Krishna's lotus feet. On the other hand,
Krishna's enjoyment is only to taste the nectar of Radha's lips in the same way
a bumble-bee enjoys a jasmine flower. By comparing these two methods of
enjoyment we may easily understand that Krishna is in the superior position.
30- A female parrot then
said: Shrimati Radharani prays for Lord Krishna's association. She performs
severe austerities in the glorious powerful summer sun as She prays. She prays
to serve Krishna with love. It is very wonderful that She prays in this way in
the kingdom of Vrndavana forest.
31- A female parrot said:
Lord Hari's companion the flute causes havoc in this forest. This flute stuns
the flowing streams, attracts the entire universe, enchants all living entities
with its spell, and forces the women of Vrndavana to transgress the codes of
religion.
32- A male parrot
replied: Who can describe the glories of Lord Krishna's flute? By showering the
nectar of its music upon the hearts of the women in the universe, this flute
washes away the mud of love for any other man, and uncovers the heart's natural
love for Krishna.
33- Maddened with love
for their master and mistress, the male and female parrots delightedly
conversed, asking and answering questions in the following way:
34- One male parrot asked
his colleagues: Who flattened the great mountain of Indra's pride by lifting
the unliftable Govardhana Hill? Who danced on the dancing-arena of the Kaliya
srpent's heads?Say who did this! Another male parrot replied: Krishna did this.
35- One female parrot
asked: Whose two mountain-breasts carry Lord Krishna as if He were a toy lotus
flower? Who dances on the head of the moving snake of the thoughts of Lord
Krishna, the subduer of the Kaliya serpent? Say who does this? Another female
parrot replied: Shrimati Radharani does this.
36- One male parrot asked: Who gives the
madhavi creepers blossoming in this forest the power to constantly nourish the
bumble-bees with nectar? Another male parrot answered: Lord Madhava does it.
37- One male parrot
asked: These madhavi creepers, madhuka trees and bumble-bees are all liberated
souls. Why have they taken birth in this forest? Another male parrot replied:
They have accepted birth here so they may associate with Lord Krishna, the
younger brother of Balarama.
38- One female parrot
asked: Who stole the pious gopis' garments, saw them naked, and violated their
chastity? Who killed a woman (Putana), a
calf (Vatsasura), and a bull (Aristasura), without feeling any shame? Say who
did all this. Another female parrot answered: Krishna did this.
39- One male parrot
asked: Who, even though affectionate to His mother, killed His motherly nurse
(Putana)? Who, although the protector of the calves, killed a calf (Vatsasura)?
Who, although the protector of the dhenukas, killed a dhenuka (Dhenukasura)?
Who, although the maintainer of the bulls, killed a bull (Aristasura)?Who, by
examining the words, hearts, and limbs of the young girls who yearned to become
His wives, simultaneously broke their chastity and elevated them to the
greatest purity? Say who did this. Another male parrot replied: Krishna did all
this.
40- Shri Shri
Radha-Krishna and their associates filled the gobbles of their ears and drank
the nectarean words of these expert birds. They walked through this part of the
forest, gazed at the beauty and opulence of autumn, and pointed out the various
details for the pleasure of Their friends.
41- Lalita then gave ripe
grapes to the female parrots, and Subala gave ripe pomegranate seeds to the
male parrots.
42- Nandimukhi then said:
O king and queen of Vrndavana-forest, look at this part of the forest. This
place, famous as Hemanta-santama (the great auspiciousness of the early winter
season) is eager to employ its charming opulences in the worship of Your lotus
feet.
43- This place in the
forest bring pleasure to the five senses of Your Lordships. The blossoming
citra, amlana, kurunda, and kurubaka flowers delight Your eyes and nose with
their splendor and fragrance, the jubilant patridges, quails, bees, kikhi
birds, and parrots charm Your ears with their musical warblings, the ripe
nagaranga and rucaka fruits please Your palate with their delightful flavor,
and the breezes bring a pleasant coolness to Your sense of touch.
44- O Krishna, this
hemanta-season is exactly like the transcendental form of Your Lordship. It is
surrounded by many friends, its beauty is eternal and unfading, it resembles
cupid who carries a bow of flowers, it is glorifies by the beautiful gopis, it
resembles a quiver filled with fully-blossomed flower-arrows, and it is filled
with playful garrulous parrots who glorify it just as the great parrot Sukadeva
Goswami glorified Your transcendental pastimes. In all these ways the hemanta-season
resembles Your Lordship.
45- Lord Hari became very
pleased to see the beauty and opulence of the hemanta-season. He turned to His
beloved Shrimati Radharani and spoke the following words:
46- O beautiful-faced
Radharani, look how this hemanta-season appears like a beautiful actress. Her
complexion appears in many different colors, her large breasts are these
nagaranga fruits, and her garments these mature rice plants. She bows deeply
and recites the drama's introductory verses, which are the sweet warbling of
these parrots.
47- My dear saintly
Radharani, the sun's warmth, fearing the bitter cold of the hemanta-season, has
refuge in the strong fortress of Your heart. Because the sun's warmth is so
near, the two cakravaka birds of Your breasts do not experience any
inconvenience because of the season, and indeed they are both happily playing
together all day and night.
48- Experiencing the
intense heat of the fir, the frightened frosts in this hemanta-season have now
fled in all directions. Some are now hiding in the well-water, others in the
tree-branches,and others in mountain-caves.
49- Unobserved, the witch
of winter-cold drinks the fire and sun's warmth blood both day and night.
50- Embracing their
beloved mother, the sleeping young winter nights huddle around the warmth of
her breasts. In response to their worship of him, the sun mercifully delays his
appearance on he horizon, and in this way the little nights are gradually
growing into strong, tall adults.
51- These ripe naranga
fruits remind Us of the young gopis' breasts so nicely decorated with kunkuma
during the rasa-dance.
52- To Shri Shri Radha
and Krishna, her mistress and master, who were eagerly viewing that part of the
forest, Vrnda-devi, the controller of Vrndavana forest, then spoke the following
words:
53- This part of the
forest is named Sisira-rucira ( The beauty of the cold sisira season ). In this
place all living entities shiver with cold and the hairs of their bodies stand
upright. The trees are stooped over, and because the sun is traveling in the
south, the sunlight is very faint.
54- Dressed in the
exquisite red garments of the splendor of the java and bandhuka flowers,
wearing the bodice of the luster of the damanaka flowers, and her head covered
by the white veil of the glistening of the kunda flowers, the beauty and
opulence of the late winter sisira season joins voices with the bharadvaja and
harita birds as if glorifying You with great love.
55- This forest is filled
with leafy trees studded with suryakanta gems. At sunrise and sunset the
sunshine warms this place only slightly. The charming deer in this place see
You and at once approach near to You. They slowly chew their cud, their bodily
hairs stand up in ecstasy, and the tears glide from their eyes.
56- During this season
there is not very much sunlight. The cold weather has killed the lotus flowers,
and the fiercely shining sun, seeing his dearest friends destroyed, has become
despondent and now shines only faintly. All this happens with the sanction of
the Lord of the universe, for without His sanction how could this season exert
its influence upon anyone?
57- Afraid of the cold
sisira season, the sun has hidden the treasure of its warmth in the mountain
fortresses of the gopis' breasts. The gopis at once brought the sun's treasure
to been joyed by Lord Krishna. The principles of religion had no power to
hinder the intense love of the gopis.
58- Delighted by
Vrnda-devi's words, Lord Krishna, the enemy of Bakasura, gazed at the beauty
and opulence of this forest in the sisira season. He then turned to His beloved
Radharani and spoke the following charming playful words:
59- My dear beautiful
girl, by ignoring the lotus flowers and finding great pleasure in the kunda
flowers, the bumble-bees point to the arrival of this sisir season.
60- My dear beautiful
girl, seeing their lotus flower, temple burst into flames because of the
intense cold, the bumble-bees quickly left that place and made a new temple of
the kunda flowers.
61- The military leader
who is the rahu-planet of winter-cold has found himself unable to defeat his
enemy, the sun. Seeking revenge, and knowing the lotus flowers to be most dear
lovers of the sun, the winter cold has now become an arsonist, setting into
flames the lotus flowers.
62- These ripe badari
fruits remind Me of the breasts of the young gopis as they were rising from the
Yamuna's waters.
63- Vrnda-devi then gave
Lord Hari two clusters of flowers, each with a delicate white java flower in
the center. His bodily hairs standing up in ecstasy, and His hands trembling,
Lord Hari placed these flowers on the ears of His beloved Radharani, who
responded by placing kunda flowers on His ears in the same way.
64- Vrnda-devi then
jubilantly placed a garland of kunda flowers in Shrimati Radharani's lotus
hand. She placed it around Lord Krishna's neck, and He then removed the same
garland and placed it around Radharani's neck and breasts. Although the garland
was the color of the pink lotus flowers, when placed around Lord Krishna's
neck, it assumed the color of blue lotus flowers, and when around Shrimati
Radharani's neck the same garland appeared the color of yellow campaka flowers.
This is certainly very wonderful.
65- Smiling Visakha then
said: Look at this delicate beautiful creeper Kundalata. These amorous
bumble-bees are constantly drinking the nectar of her flowers. This is
certainly very wonderful.
66- Citra-gopi then said:
My dear saintly girl, it is not at all wonderful that Kundalata's lovers are
all bumble-bees. This is good arrangement for which there is ample precedent.
For example, the Pracetas, who were all human beings, accepted as their wife
the daughter of the trees.
67- Kundalata then said:
Look! Hundreds of wild bumble-bees have left this host of nearby bandhujiva
flowers. They are all simultaneously drinking the nectar of this one bandhujiva
flower. This is certainly very wonderful.
68- Citra then said: This
is not actually very wonderful. These pure-hearted bees, who sing the fifth
note, are intent on drinking only the purest, sweetest nectar. For this reason
they will only drink the honey of the bodily luster of Lord Krishna and nothing
else.
69- Lord Hari then spoke
the following joking words to His beloved Radharani: O Radha, Your peerless
transcendental virtues have shaken the pride even of the goddess of fortune
Laksmi-devi. Even Laksmi cannot approach Your exalted position, what to speak
of any other girls. When Shrimati Radharani heard these words She began the
following conversation with Lord Hari:
70- Radha said: Krishna!
How can You speak in this way? This goddess of fortune Laksmi-devi is Your
wife. You cannot speak ill of her in this way.
71- Krishna said: I can
speak in this way because You are actually the goddess of fortune. The goddess
of fortune is not a personality different from You.
72- Radha: Why do You say
that we gopis are goddesses of fortune?
73- Krishna: The husband
of You gopis is famous as the husband of the goddesses of fortune. Therefore,
if He is Your husband You must all be goddesses of fortune.
74- Radha: The goddess of
fortune must genuinely love You if she is willing to abandon Her exalted
position in the spiritual world and appear as Your human wife.
75- Krishna: It is true.
The goddess of fortune has appeared before Me as My humanlike wife.
76- Radha: Even the does
have become attracted by the sound of Your flute. You seem to be very fond of
these does.
77- Krishna: I am fond of
the does because their eyes resemble Your beautiful eyes.
78- Radha: You do not
love Me. I think You actually love the Yamuna river. She is the daughter of the
great sun-god. Her complexion is the same as Yours, and she is also known by
Your name, Krishna.
79- Krishna: I love You
and I also Love Your friend Visakha who is just like You.
80- Radha: These female
bumble-bees nap on the garland resting on Your chest as if they were Your
lovers. Perhaps it is they You love.
81- Krishna: These bees
are eternally dear to Me because they resemble Your beautiful hair.
82- Radha: O Krishna,
Your form is as delicate as a blue lotus flower, and Your waist is very
slender. How was it possible for this delicate form to lift Govardhana Hill for
seven days?
83- Krishna: My lifting
Govardhana Hill for seven days is not so wonderful. What I cannot understand is
how is it possible for Your tender, delicate form to continually carry the two
lofty golden Meru mountains of Your breasts?
84- Radha: Unable to
tolerate any separation from You, the crescent moon has appeared on Your chest
as the glistening mark of Shrivatsa. I think this Shrivata mark is the actual
object of Your love.
85- Krishna: Radha, Your
face is the moon, and Your fingernails are crescent moons. I keep the crescent
moons of Your fingernails in My heart and they are reflected outside as this
mark of Shrivatsa on My chest.
86- Radha: These honey
and bumble-bee filled creepers bring You great delight. I think they are the
real source of Your happiness.
87- Krishna: The fresh
sprouts on this creeper resemble Your lovely lips, and the flowers resemble
Your smile. It is for this reason that the sight of this creeper brings Me such
happiness.
88- Radha: Here is
youthful, charming, beautiful Lalita. Just as Parvati, the mother of Karttikeya
is expert in military engagement, Lalita is expert at fighting the amorous
duels which so delight passionate lovers. I think You should reject Me and give
Your love to her.
89- Krishna: My dear girl
with the beautiful neck, although this Lalita may be expert in verbal-battle,
when challenged to an amorous duel, she always flees.
90- The wonderful designs
drawn in musk on Your breasts appear like a host of splendid black bees sitting
on the whorl of a golden lotus flower.
91- Radha: Your
wonderfully elegant words are like a glistening sharp sword that cuts the
heartsand senses of these young gopis.
92- Krishna: This cuckoo
naturally sings loudly the fifth note. He is not at fault if his singing
arouses the amorous desire of these young girls.
93- Radha: The women of
this world testify that it is not this cuckoo, but rather lovely hypocritical
flute that glorifies irreligion before these young girls.
94- Krishna: According to
My own wish this flute preaches the message of religious scriptures and thus
purifies these young girls of all faults.
95- Radha: How is it
possible for these tender young girls, who have so devotedly worshipped the
goddess Katyayani, to bear these crushing blows from You, who are as ferocious
as a maddened elephant?
96- Krishna: The attack
of a large bumble-bee does not harm the blossoming yuthika flowers, but rather
nourishes them. In the same way, is it not so that these young girls remain
unharmed by My crushing words?
97- A glorious golden
plain traversed by a young black snake is something like Your beautiful golden
abdomen decorated with this line of black hairs.
98- Your beautiful
braid-decorated back is like a golden mountain-slope decorated with a black
snake.
99- Radha: O My beloved,
why have these beautiful cakori birds ceased gazing at the moon and assembled
together during the daytime, jubilantly flying in the air?
100- Krishna: Seeing the
moon grow smaller and smaller, these cakori birds have abandoned it. Now they
jubilantly nourish themselves by drinking the effulgence of the beauty of Your
moonlike face.
101- By speaking the
following joking questions and answers in fitting poetic prayers, Shrimati
Radharani and Lord Krishna, the infallible Personality of Godhead, who were
overwhelmed with love for each other, embarrassed their gopi-friends.
102- Krishna: O Radha,
when I shower dangerous arrows of joking words in the verbal battlefield, even
the most eloquent, harsh, and ferocious gopi flee from My challenges. Tell
Me,who among the gopis is eager to fight with Me? Who is able to fight against
My showers of arrows? Radha: Lalita shall fight You.
103- Krishna: O Radha,
among the gopis who flee from the challenge of My dangerous arrows, who will
stay behind and worship her chosen deity anointing her deity's breasts with
kunkuma, musk, aguru, and sandalwood paste? Radha: Visakha shall do that.
104- Krishna: What
creeper shall slowly crawl far away from her husband and approach the tamala
tree of Lord Krishna? Radha: Kundalata (jasmine-creeper) is that creeper.
105- Krishna: Who is the
artistic, gentle, charming, humble gopi who will please Us by decorating Us in
various ways? Radha: Citra will decorate Us.
106- Krishna: Which gopi
is expert in erotic science who will accept Me as her student, and in private
will place each of My limbs upon Yours? Radha: Tungavidya shall do this.
107- Krishna: Who is the
gopi, simultaneously pure-hearted and cunning, who arouses amorous desires with
only a glance? Tell Me who. Radha: Indulekha is she.
108- Krishna: Who is the
beautiful, quickly moving gopi who will please Us with her graceful dancing?
Radha: Rangadevi is she.
109- Krishna: who is the
expert gopi, who, seeing Me win the magnet wagered in the dice-game, will
proclaim Me the loser, and try to without the prize from Me? Radha: Sudevi is
she.
110- Krishna: What
devotees are satisfied when I am satisfied, very unhappy when I am unhappy,
unable to enjoy if their enjoyment means My unhappiness, and fully engaged in
worshipping Me as their deity? My dear moon-faced girl, please think for a
moment, and tell Me who is like this. Radha: My gopi-friends are like this.
111- Joking with the
clever and artistic gopis, worshipping them with flowers, touching their
breasts and kissing their lips, Lord Krishna appeared like the king of cuckoos,
intoxicated by tasting the fruits and flowers of a host of creepers. Enjoying
in this way, and wandering here and there, Lord Krishna gradually arrived at
the grove named Lalitanandada-kunja ( Lalita's delight ).
112- Thus ends the
thirteenth chapter of Govinda-lilamrta in the matter of the Lord's midday
pastimes. Shrila Raghunatha dasa Goswami has ordered me to write this book,
which I have been able to do by the blessings of Shrila Raghunatha Bhatta
Goswami and the saintly association of Shrila Jiva Goswami. I consider this
book the ripened fruit of the service I have rendered to Shrila Rupa Goswami,
who is like a bumble-bee relishing the honey at the lotus feet of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.