Verse One
çré-çuka uväca
itthaà çarat-svaccha-jalaà
padmäkara-sugandhinä
nyaviçad väyunä vätaà
sa-go-gopälako ‘cyutaù
çré-çuka uväca – Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé (or çriya çuka, the
very dear parrot of Çrématé Rädhikä) said; itthaà – in this
way; çarat – autumn season; svaccha – clear; jalaà – water;
padmäkara – lotus flowers are blossoming in the lakes, ponds
and rivers such as the Yamunä, Kusuma-sarovara, Mänasé
Gaìgä, Govinda-kuëòa, etc.; sugandhinä – full of sweet
fragrance; nyaviçat – He entered; väyunä – by the cool and
fragrant breeze; vätaà – carrying; sa – with; go – the cows;
gopälakaù – and the cowherd boys; acyutaù – the infallible
Nanda-nandana Çyämasundara.
Translation
Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé (Çrématé Rädhikä’s very dear
parrot) said, “O Mahäräja Parékñit, Çré Våndävana,
now exquisitely decorated by the autumn season, became
even more splendid. The lakes, ponds and rivers were filled
to capacity with clear, sweet water. Gently blowing, aromatic
breezes carried the mild, sweet fragrance of blossoming
lotus flowers from the lakes. In this pleasing atmosphere the
infallible Nanda-nandana Çré Kåñëa entered the immensely
alluring Våndävana forest, accompanied by His cows and the
gopas, His cowherd friends.”
In the previous chapter3 the crown jewel of swan-like
devotees, Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé, gave an enchanting
description of Våndävana’s autumnal splendor. In the present
chapter he describes Kåñëa’s gallivanting in the forest in
autumn. Ordinarily the six seasons – summer, rainy, autumn,
winter, misty and spring – come and go one after another.
In the summertime all the living beings are oppressed by the
fierce rays of the sun, and the grass, trees and plants generally
shrivel up. Ponds, lakes, pools and other reservoirs also begin
to go dry, and the currents of the rivers dramatically slow
down. With the advent of the rainy season all the lakes fill
to the brim and start overflowing, and the flooding rivers
acquire a fearsome aspect. Everywhere the water becomes
muddy; the trees fill up with new green leaves; and the clouds
float throughout the sky, sometimes sprinkling softly and
sometimes raining in torrents.
As soon as autumn arrives, the ponds, lakes and rivers
naturally become clear. All the flowers bloom due to the
nectar-filled autumn moon-rays. The full moon, surrounded
by countless stars, rises in the cloudless sky. And the heart
overflows with waves of new, joyful feelings. This is why
Kåñëa danced in the räsa-maëòala arena and enjoyed so
many other activities with the vraja-ramaëés4 in Våndävana
during autumn.
3 Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Chapter 20.
4 Ramaëés – shy young girls who are expert in the various skills for awakening
sweet amorous emotions, the sight of whose faces gladdens the heart.
Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé also describes the beauty of
Våndävana in the winter and misty seasons in various other
passages. And in the spring all the trees, plants, animals,
birds and human beings are infused with new life, exhibiting
fresh feelings of elation. The trees and plants sprout new
leaves and shoots, and the people blissfully sing Holi and
other songs. At this time it seems that the land of Vraja is
decorated like a bride.
Våndävana-dhäma is a most transcendental, miraculous
and astonishing place where the unique splendor of spring,
the charmingly sweet queen of all seasons, reigns perennially
and where a velvety carpet of luxuriant green grass is
always rolled out. The entire atmosphere is pervaded with
both transcendental bliss and the intoxication of youth.
These combine to create a kingdom of ever-increasing joy
which casts a magical spell on the body and mind.
The auspicious arrival of autumn smashes the pride of
the unyielding clouds of the rainy season. At that time
the whole atmosphere swings with joy – a green luster is
reflected everywhere, and new leaves and flowers appear
on the trees, which are filled with sweetly chirping birds.
The rivers, streams, ponds, reservoirs and waterfalls contain
pure sweet water. Their waves seem to be playing with one
another and running after each other as if desiring to be
kissed. Many colored lotuses blossom in all the ponds and
rivers, and the branches of the trees are also laden with fully
bloomed and delightfully fragrant campä, camelé, belé and
jühé (frangipani and varieties of jasmine). Intoxicated bees
relish the nectar of these flowers, and the ponds, rivers and
hills of the forest resonate with their melodious humming.
Carrying the weight of the sweetly intoxicating fragrance,
the gentle breeze collides into the branches of the trees and
loses its balance.
Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé was filled with bliss as he
described Çré Kåñëa’s autumn dalliance and said: itthaà çaratsvaccha-
jalaà padmäkara-sugandhinä. “Mahäräja Parékñit,
I have described only a fraction of the unparalleled beauty of
Våndävana, which becomes especially splendid with the onset
of autumn. On seeing the previously described loveliness of
Våndävana at this time, Çré Kåñëa, the performer of unlimited
pastimes, becomes very pleased. To stroll in the forest and see
more of her beauty, He enters Våndävana with His multitudes
of cows and cowherd friends.”
With the advent of autumn the waters of Kusuma-sarovara,
Pävana-sarovara, Mänasa Gaìgä, the Yamunä and the other
forest lakes spontaneously become crystal clear. The current of
the rivers slows down, their mood turns grave, and their waves
also become subdued. The lakes and rivers are elaborately
beautified with the blossoming of countless varieties of
lotuses, lilies and other flowers. The gentle breeze blows with
the wonderful fragrance of these flowers and permeates all
of Våndävana. The infallible Acyuta5 Çré Kåñëa, who never
deviates from His nature, became filled with supreme bliss
upon entering Våndävana.
5 Acyuta – who never diverges from His constitutional qualities, especially
His mercy, His beauty and His sweet pastimes; who never fails to keep His word
and to please His devotees.
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