Posted by geeta kakkar on August 1, 2010 at 1:04pm
SRI VILAPA KUSUMANJALI (Prayers to Sri Radha)
1. O queen, please rescue this unfortunate person, drowning in an ocean of pain. Place him on the strong boat of your mercy and carry him to the wonderful realm of Your lotus feet.
2. O queen, with the medicine of the red lac from Your lotus feet, please bring back to life this person now dead from the bites of the black snake of not seeing You.
3. O queen, with the nectar of a moment's glance please restore the life of this gopi maidservant of Your lotus feet, who now burns in the great forest fire of separation from You.
4. O beautiful faced one, when, even in a dream, will I, by decorating my head with the splendid perfumed powder of Your lotus feet, attain the goal of my life?
5. O beautiful one, when will the sound of your anklebells, sprinkling drops from an ocean of nectar, cure my deafness?
6. O queen, with the two bumblebees of the corners of Your eyes, which in the moonlit rendezvous anxiously wander over each direction as if the forest were a jungle of blue lotuses, will You glance upon this person?
7. O queen whose eyes are as beautiful as two blossoming lotus flowers, when Your lake, filled with sweet water and splendid with many blossoming lotus flowers and buzzing bees, appeared before my eyes I at once began to yearn for the nectar of direct service to You.
8. O queen, I shall never ask You for anything other than direct service to your lotus feet. I offer my respectful obeisances to Your friendship. I offer my respectful obeisances to Your friendship again and again. May I find Your service as sweet as nectar. May I find Your service as sweet as nectar.
9. When, at Your house early in the morning, will I carefully wash Your two lotus feet with camphor-scented water and then dry them with my hair?
10. When will this maidservant brush Your teeth with a twig, wash Your lotus feet, and, when You have entered another room, massage You with scented oil?
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - toll-tax
Once, Sri Bhaguri Rsi was performing a sacrifice for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. The cowherd boys and girls were bringing ingredients for the sacrifice from distant places. Srimati Radhika and Her sakhis were also bringing yoghurt, milk, butter and various kinds of milk-sweets, such as rabadi. Sri Krsna along with Subala, Madhumangala and other sakhas, obstructed their path and forcibly demanded toll-tax, and the sakhas and gopis began to taunt each other. Standing in His enchanting threefold-bending form, Sri Krsna mischievously asked the gopis, "What are you carrying?" "Milk, yogurt and butter for Bhaguri Rsi's sacrifice," they replied. Madhumangala's mouth started to water upon the mere mention of butter. "Quickly pay the toll-tax and move on," he said. "What toll-tax?", Lalita angrily asked. "We have never paid any toll-tax before." "You can pass only after paying toll-tax," Krsna insisted. "Since when have You become the toll collector here?" Srimatiji asked. "Did you inherit this place from your father?" "Don't be so insolent," He replied. "I am Vrndavanesvara, the ruler of the kingdom of Vrndavana." "How is that?" "Vrnda is my wedded wife," Krsna asserted. "The property of the wife is also the property of the husband. Vrndavana is the kingdom of Vrnda-devi, and therefore it is My kingdom." "Really?" Lalita answered haughtily. "We have never heard anything about this. Let us ask Vrnda right now." She turned to Vrnda. "Vrnda, is this 'black one' your husband?" "Never!" Vrnda flared in disgust. "I have no relation with this lying debauchee. Previously this was my kingdom, but I have given it to Vrndavanesvari Srimati Radhika." All the sakhis burst into laughter, which slightly embarrassed Sri Krsna. Nonetheless, He was determined to collect the toll-tax. After this love-quarrel the gopis exchanged the toll-tax of prema.
Posted by geeta kakkar on July 27, 2010 at 12:36pm
Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)
1. O Radha, when will I see the moon of Your face, a moon risen from the ocean of nectar, a moon that shames the nectar moon of this world, a moon shining at every moment with a flood of glistening, sweet, ever-new moonlight, moonlight the two cakora birds of Krsna's eyes drink again and again with a thirst that is never satisfied?
2. Will I dive into the flooding current of the nectar of love, a current rippling with waves of blissful pastimes, a current flowing in the supremely glorious and sweet nectar ocean of the limbs of Sri Radha's soft, delicate, wonderful, graceful form, which has passionate restless eyes, and a face that eclipses millions of moons?
3. Whether I stay in wakefulness, dream, or dreamless sleep, may the splendour of Radha's lotus feet always appear before me. Whether I stay in Vaikuntha or in hell, I have no goal but Radha. May my heart be tossed to and fro by the great waves in the nectar ocean of the description of Radha's pastimes on the terrace of the palace by the Yamuna's shore.
4. Ah, when will I, moving a fan, bring peerless pleasant coolness to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna as, perspiring, exhausted from amorous pastimes, and Their eyes happily closed, They rest on the terrace of the newly-blossoming vine palace by the Yamuna's shore?
5. One moment sweetly singing, the next moment moving back and forth on a swing, the next moment enjoying a breeze fragrant with flowers, and the next moment artistically creating new kinds of amorous pastimes, the most intelligent of girls and the crown of playful nectar lovers enjoy pastimes together in Vrndavana, the natural home of sweet loving pastimes.
6. This evening the crown of dark youths takes Her by both hands and then quickly enters the kadamba grove. As They enjoy amorous pastimes on the bed, will the sounds of Their pleasures, waves of sound that mock every other kind of happiness, enter my ears?
7. "O Srimad Radha, Nanda's son and You have both leapt into the same kind of very sweet and charming youth. Therefore You are a perfect match." When, as I speak these words, will I gaze on the most beautiful, playful, and eternally young teenage girl?
8. One is splendid like a golden campaka flower. The other is dark like a raincloud. One trembles with amorous passion. The other pretends to be averse. One is proud and contrary. The other begs with sweet words.. I gaze on Them, the most charming couple, as They enjoy pastimes in the forest.
9. Glory to the fair and dark splendours that are dressed in opposite fair and dark garments and who meet in a charming and secluded forest grove and enjoy passionate and wonderful amorous pastimes.
10. Please remember the smiling, sweet, charming pastimes the two rasikas enjoy in beautiful Vrndavana, two rasikas who play with wonderful lotus flowers in Their hands, two rasikas who place the blossoming vines of Their arms around each other's shoulders, two rasikas wild with amorous passion, two rasikas whose graceful motions are like the graceful motions of a hundred regal elephants.
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Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Lord Balarama Slays the Demon Pralamba
1. While Krsna and Balarama were enjoying life in Vrndavana in the guise of ordinary cowherd boys, the summer season gradually appeared. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead was personally staying in Vrndavana along with Balarama, summer manifested the qualities of spring.
2. Intending to engage in pastimes, Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, accompanied by Lord Balarama and surrounded by the cowherd boys and the cows, entered the forest of Vrndavana as He played His flute.
3. Decorating themselves with newly grown leaves, along with peacock feathers, garlands, clusters of flower buds, and colored minerals, Balarama, Krsna and Their cowherd friends danced, wrestled and sang.
4. As Krsna danced, some of the boys accompanied Him by singing, and others by playing flutes, hand cymbals and buffalo horns, while still others praised His dancing.
5. Demigods disguised themselves as members of the cowherd community and, just as dramatic dancers praise another dancer, worshiped Krsna and Balarama, who were also appearing as cowherd boys.
6. Krsna and Balarama played with their cowherd boyfriends by whirling about, leaping, hurling, slapping and fighting. Sometimes Krsna and Balarama would pull the hair on the boys’ heads.
7. While the other boys were dancing, Krsna and Balarama would sometimes accompany them with song and instrumental music, and sometimes the two Lords would praise the boys, saying, “Very good! Very good!”
8. Sometimes the cowherd boys would play with bilva or kumbha fruits, and sometimes with handfuls of amalaka fruits. At other times they would play the games of trying to touch one another or of trying to identify somebody while one is blindfolded, and sometimes they would imitate animals and birds.
9. They would sometimes jump around like frogs, sometimes play various jokes, sometimes ride in swings and sometimes imitate monarchs.
10. In this way Krsna and Balarama played all sorts of well-known games as They wandered among the rivers, hills, valleys, bushes, trees and lakes of Vrndavana.
11. While Rama, Krsna and Their cowherd friends were thus tending the cows in that Vrndavana forest, the demon Pralamba entered their midst. He had assumed the form of a cowherd boy with the intention of kidnapping Krsna and Balarama.
12. Since the Supreme Lord Krsna sees everything, He understood who the demon was. Still, the Lord pretended to accept the demon as a friend, while at the same time seriously considering how to kill him.
13. Krsna, who knows all sports and games, then called together the cowherd boys and spoke as follows: “Hey cowherd boys! Let’s play now! We’ll divide ourselves into two even teams.”
14. The cowherd boys chose Krsna and Balarama as the leaders of the two parties. Some of the boys were on Krsna’s side, and others joined Balarama.
15. The boys played various games involving carriers and passengers. In these games the winners would climb up on the backs of the losers, who would have to carry them.
16. Thus carrying and being carried by one another, and at the same time tending the cows, the boys followed Krsna to a banyan tree known as Bhandiraka.
17. When Sridama, Vrsabha and the other members of Lord Balarama’s party were victorious in these games, Krsna and His followers had to carry them.
18. Defeated, the Supreme Lord Krsna carried Sridama. Bhadrasena carried Vrsabha, and Pralamba carried Balarama, the son of Rohini.
19. Considering Lord Krsna invincible, that foremost demon [Pralamba] quickly carried Balarama far beyond the spot where he was supposed to put his passenger down.
20. As the great demon carried Balarama, the Lord became as heavy as massive Mount Sumeru, and Pralamba had to slow down. He then resumed his actual form—an effulgent body that was covered with golden ornaments and that resembled a cloud flashing with lightning and carrying the moon.
21. When Lord Balarama, who carries the plow weapon, saw the gigantic body of the demon as he moved swiftly in the sky—with his blazing eyes, fiery hair, terrible teeth reaching toward his scowling brows, and an amazing effulgence generated by his armlets, crown and earrings—the Lord seemed to become a little frightened.
22. Remembering the actual situation, the fearless Balarama understood that the demon was trying to kidnap Him and take Him away from His companions. The Lord then became furious and struck the demon’s head with His hard fist, just as Indra, the king of the demigods, strikes a mountain with his thunderbolt weapon.
23. Thus smashed by Balarama’s fist, Pralamba’s head immediately cracked open. The demon vomited blood from his mouth and lost all consciousness, and then with a great noise he fell lifeless on the ground, like a mountain devastated by Indra.
24. The cowherd boys were most astonished to see how the powerful Balarama had killed the demon Pralamba, and they exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!”
25. They offered Balarama profuse benedictions and then glorified Him, who deserves all glorification. Their minds overwhelmed with ecstatic love, they embraced Him as if He had come back from the dead.
26. The sinful Pralamba having been killed, the demigods felt extremely happy, and they showered flower garlands upon Lord Balarama and praised the excellence of His deed.
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1. O beautiful-eyed one, will I soon worship Your two lotus feet with jeweled anklets and the petals of Your lotus feet with toe-rings? With a splendid belt will I soon worship Your hips, the sacred pilgrimage place of Lord Krishna?
2. Bowed down with intense bliss, with two jeweled armlets will I decorate Your two graceful lotus arms, which expertly destroy the peacefulness of the swan of Lord Krishna's heart?
3. O beautiful one, will this person some day worship with a valuable necklace Your neck, which attained all good fortune when it was touched by the arm of Lord Gokulacandra in the festival of the rasa dance?
4. O beautiful-faced one, will I make the Syamantaka jewel, which after the death of proud Sankhacuda, was given by Balarama to cheerful-hearted Madhumangala, which Madhumangala with his own hand gave to You, and which since has become the friend of the Kaustubha jewel, the central jewel of Your necklace?
5. O slender-waisted one, when, fearing that Your very slender waist might break, will I very carefully tie it with a new golden belt splendid with flower-cluster tassels at each end?
6. O golden one, when will Your nose, which defeats the sesame flower, receive from my hand a beautiful golden honey-pearl that agitates the great bumblebee of Lord Krishna?
7. O golden one, when, by Your order, will I place on Your left arm a silken band tied with jewels and flowers?
8. O restless-eyed one, the rings I place in Your ears made Lord Krishna, who agitates all the gopis, aimlessly wander in a circle.
9. O fawn-eyed one, when will I place a dot of splendid musk on Your chin, the temple of Mukunda's happiness?
10. O queen, when will I decorate Your pearl-like teeth with ruby-like red lines?
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Posted by geeta kakkar on July 23, 2010 at 12:58pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Vyomasura's cave
Once, Krsna came to this place while grazing His cows. The forest was filled with green grass, which the cows happily ate. Without any care, Sri Krsna and the sakhas began to play a game of "cops and robbers". Many of the sakhas pretended to be sheep while others pretented to be their keepers. Still others took on the role of thieves and stole the sheep. Krsna played the judge. The owners of the sheep filed a lawsuit with the judge against the thieves. Sri Krsna called both parties before Him and proceeded to consider the case. All the cowherd boys were thus deeply absorbed in their play.
Intending to kill Krsna, Vyomasura, one of kansa's spies, entered the group disguised as a sakha and became one of the thieves. He stole all of sakhas who were playing part of sheep and hid them in this cave. Sri Krsna looked around and wondered," Where have all our sakhas gone?" Recognizing Vyomasura as a demon in disguise, He understood that this was his work. He therefore caught him and killed him. Krsna and the sakhas who were playing the sheep's owners then released the other sakhas from the cave in the hill.
The footprints of Sri Baladeva Prabhu lies nearby, at the foot of the hill. When Sri Krsna was killing Vyomasura, the earth began to tremble. Baladeva pressed down on the earth with His foot and thus stabilized it. His footsteps can still be seen today.
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Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)
1. O Radha, O girl whose splendid braids are decorated with newly blossoming jasmine flowers, whose belt tinkles on broad hips, whose anklets tinkle, whose vine arms are splendid with bracelets, armlets, and other ornaments, and whose breasts are golden lotus-buds, when with my own eyes will I drink the nectar of seeing You?
2. O Radha, O girl whose body rocks to and fro, tossed by the waves in the limitless nectar ocean of amorous pastimes as You sit on Your beloved's lap, O girl with the blossoming golden-lotus face, when will You give happiness to the eyes of us, Your gopi friends?
3. O Radha, will You and I talk, Your every syllable like a peerless ocean of love, a cooling, sweet, gentle, delightful, shower of nectar falling on the ears?
4. O Radha, when a person once tastes the nectar of Your holy name, Lord Krsna becomes filled with love for him, makes no record of his offenses, and considers giving him the greatest gift. Who, then, can touch the pinnacle of the glory possessed by persons whose only thought is to serve You?
5. When will Radha, who loves Her maidservants, take from the moon of Her mouth the betelnuts, mixed with camphor and cloves, She has chewed and, Her cheeks filled with signs of ecstasy, place them in my mouth?
6. May the jewel of teenage girls, who is a flood of the nectar of beauty, who enjoys wonderful and beautiful pastimes, whose splendid sidelong glance is like a flood of Yamuna waves, and whose glorious form is like a monsoon cloud of love, bliss, and millions of wonders of the gentle arts of amorous pastimes, allow me to serve.
7. When will I see a splendour dressed in fine red garments, its braids gracefully tied with sweet jasmine flowers, a tinkling belt on its broad hips, and is effulgence like a golden campaka flower?
8. When, Krsna dances, splendid to Her eyes, in the midst of a great bracelet of gopis in the wonderful, playful, sweet, wild with love rasa dance circle, and as She happily and gracefully dances with Him, will I serve Her with a fan and betelnuts?
9. When will I worship Radha, who wears graceful garments, stands in the highest pinnacle of glorious love, smiles with the sweetest of sweetnesses, is splendid with glistening ornaments, happily rests on Her beloved's shoulder, and is tied by the rope of His arms in the playful and graceful rasa dance?
10. If there were a golden lotus filled with the light of ten million moons, flowing with ever new nectar, situated in the abode of great beauty, and the home of a pair of graceful and playful khanjana birds, that lotus would still not be qualified to serve Sri Radha's smiling face.
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Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Swallowing Forest Fire
1. After Krsna’s chastisement of Kaliya, because the residents of Vrndavana were feeling very weak from hunger, thirst and fatigue, they and the cows spent the night where they were, lying down near the bank of the Kalindi.
2. During the night, while all the people of Vrndavana were asleep, a great fire blazed up within the dry summer forest. The fire surrounded the inhabitants of Vraja on all sides and began to scorch them.
3. Then the residents of Vrndavana woke up, extremely disturbed by the great fire threatening to burn them. Thus they took shelter of Krsna, the Supreme Lord, who by His spiritual potency appeared like an ordinary human being.
4. [Vrndavana’s residents said:] Krsna, Krsna, O Lord of all opulence! O Rama, possessor of unlimited power! This most terrible fire is about to devour us, Your devotees!
5. O Lord, we are Your true friends and devotees. Please protect us from this insurmountable fire of death. We can never give up Your lotus feet, which drive away all fear.
6. Seeing His devotees so disturbed, Sri Krsna, the infinite Lord of the universe and possessor of infinite power, then swallowed the terrible forest fire. Lord Krishna possesses infinite power. This was no act of wonder on His part.
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1. O girl with the golden lips, will the Krishna-parrot bite the nectar bimba fruits of Your lips, splendid with red khadira and camphor, placed by Me?
2. When will this person worship with black kajjala Your two eyes, which defeat the khanjana birds, and which, with the slightest movement from their corners, in a moment tightly bind the regal elephant of Lord Krishna?
3. His head reddened by the marks of Your feet as He tries to soothe Your jealous anger Lord Krishna has become extremely handsome. When, decorated with nectar red lac by me, will Your feet become very splendid?
4. O graceful artist, O queen, when will this maidservant happily place a sweet jasmine-garland filled with humming bees on Your gracefully sloping shoulders, touched in the rasa dance by Lord Krishna, who has become a moon shining with amorous passion?
5. O girl with charming limbs, O girl with a beautiful face, will this maidservant nearby hand You the articles of worship when, surrounded by Your friends, You are eager at heart to devotedly worship the sun-god on an alter of suryamani jewels?
6. O girl with beautiful thighs, employing the hands of Your friends, such as myself, will You place before Lord Krishna the many delicious foods You very carefully cooked by the order of the queen of Vraja?
7. O beautiful one, when, lovingly touching her forehead to the forehead of they, like me, who had brought the feast, will the jubilant queen of Vraja, like a loving mother, ask me, because I am Your maidservant, about Your welfare?
8. O queen, will I place before You the prasadam remnants tasted by the lotus mouth of Lord Krishna and respectfully brought by Danistha-gopi.
9. O girl whose limbs are anointed with kunkuma, when will I carefully feed You, Lalita, and Your other friends many kinds of ambrosia foods and nectar drinks mixed with the remnants of what was directly tasted by Lord Krishna?
10. O restless-eyed one, when will I lovingly give You sweet drinking-water scented with fresh patala flowers and camphor, water to rinse Your mouth, a toothbrush twig, and other things?
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Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Luk-luki-kunda
While grazing the cows, Krsna would sometimes leave His play(water-sports) with the sakhas for a while to meet the gopis in this lovely, secluded place. Krsna played hide-and-seek here with the vraja-ramanis. The gopis closed their eyes, and Krsna hid in a cave in a nearby hill. The sakhis searched for Him everywhere, but were anable to find Him. They became very worried. "Where could Krsna have gone,leaving us behind?" they thought, and they began to meditate on Him. After Sri Krsna entered the cave, He appeared on the top of the hill in which the cave is buried and played sweetly on His flute. The sound of the flute broke the sakhis meditation on Him. They looked up to see their beloved playing His flute on the hill, and eagerly ran there to meet Him. The sound of the flute somewhat melted the hill, and Sri Krsna's footprints manifested there. Read more…
Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)
1. May Sri Radha who, when Her dearmost Krsna tells Her, "O beautiful, eternal lover, O wise treasure of nectar, O beloved, I pray that My love for You will always grow stronger and stronger.", smiles and replies to Him, "O lover, Your words stay always in My heart.", be always splendidly manifested in my thoughts.
2. May the effulgent youthful divine couple, who eternally enjoy blissful passionate amorous pastimes in a newly-blossoming vine cottage in Vrndavana forest, with the cooling nectar of Their feet extinguish for me the terrible flames that are the world of birth and death.
3. May my tongue tremble with the desire to taste the nectar of Radha-s name. My feet follow Her footprints in Vrndavana forest. May my hands work to please Her. May my heart meditate on Her feet. May I celebrate a great festival of love for the Lord of Her life.
4. May my heart become less interested in the great bliss at Lord Krsna's beautiful lotus feet, a bliss that makes Siva and all the demigods wild with joy. Instead, may my heart, tossed to and fro by the nectar waves of the talk of Sri Radha's pastimes, happily stay on the terrace of Sri Radha's palace in Vrndavana forest.
5. Chant the holy name of Radha every day. Reject millions of other great spiritual practices. Millions of the best goals of life perform arati to the nectar at Radha's lotus feet. Millions of noble mandara trees are glorious in the land where Radha's lotus feet enjoys pastimes. Millions of wonderful spiritual perfections roll at the feet of Sri Radha's maidservants.
6. Glory to the youthful divine couple, who, Their eyes wild and restless, and Their eyebrows tossed to and fro by millions of waves of nectar of love, enjoy wonderful and amorous pastimes in the forest.
7. May a certain girl, whose form is the sweetest nectar of pure love, who is expert in the splendid limitless, wonderful, and sweet arts of love, and who, in a palace of blossoming vines in Vrndavana forest stands motionless, caught in the tight embrace of Lord Krsna's arms, appear before me.
8. He is very fortunate who, unaware of the many worlds, unaware of the scriptures, unaware of family, and unaware of the activities of the great saints, knows only the nectar of love that resides in Sri Radha, the jewel of Vraja.
9. Some talk only of the happiness of impersonal Brahman. Others are wild with the bliss of offering prayers to the Supreme Person. Others taste the peerless bliss of being Krsna's friend. Still, Sri Radha's maidservants taste the highest, most wonderful bliss, the bliss found in a single particle of the splendour of the glistening toenails of Her lotus feet.
10. Neither the demigods headed by Brahma, nor the devotees of Lord Hari, nor the Lord's friends and other associates know the secrets of Radha and Krsna. Alas! Alas! I hope for what is so difficult to attain. I yearn to become Their maidservant and see Their pastimes with my own eyes.
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Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Krsna Chastises the Serpent Kaliya
1. Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, seeing that the Yamuna River had been contaminated by the black snake Kaliya, desired to purify the river, and thus the Lord banished him from it. The story is as follows:
2. Within the river Kalindi [Yamuna] was a lake inhabited by the serpent Kaliya, whose fiery poison constantly heated and boiled its waters. Indeed, the vapors thus created were so poisonous that birds flying over the contaminated lake would fall down into it.
3. Lord Krsna saw how the Kaliya serpent had polluted the Yamuna River with his terribly powerful poison. Since Krsna had descended from the spiritual world specifically to subdue envious demons, the Lord immediately climbed to the top of a very high kadamba tree and prepared Himself for battle. He tightened His belt, slapped His arms and then jumped into the poisonous water.
4. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead landed in the serpent’s lake, the snakes there became extremely agitated and began breathing heavily, further polluting it with volumes of poison. The force of the Lord’s entrance into the lake caused it to overflow on all sides, and poisonous, fearsome waves flooded the surrounding lands up to a distance of one hundred bow-lengths. This is not at all amazing, however, for the Supreme Lord possesses infinite strength.
5. Kaliya saw that Sri Krsna, who wore yellow silken garments, was very delicate, His attractive body shining like a glowing white cloud, His chest bearing the mark of Srivatsa, His face smiling beautifully and His feet resembling the whorl of a lotus flower. The Lord was playing fearlessly in the water. Despite His wonderful appearance, the envious Kaliya furiously bit Him on the chest and then completely enwrapped Him in his coils.
6. When the members of the cowherd community, who had accepted Krsna as their dearmost friend, saw Him enveloped in the snake’s coils, motionless, they were greatly disturbed. They had offered Krsna everything—their very selves, their families, their wealth, wives and all pleasures. At the sight of the Lord in the clutches of the Kaliya snake, their intelligence became deranged by grief, lamentation and fear, and thus they fell to the ground.
7. The cows, bulls and female calves, in great distress, called out piteously to Krsna. Fixing their eyes on Him, they stood still in fear, as if ready to cry but too shocked to shed tears.
8. In the Vrndavana area there then arose all three types of fearful omens—those on the earth, those in the sky and those in the bodies of living creatures—which announced imminent danger.
9. Seeing the inauspicious omens, Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men were fearful, for they knew that Krsna had gone to herd the cows that day without His elder brother, Balarama.
10. The residents hurried toward the banks of the Yamuna in search of their dearmost Krsna, following the path marked by His footprints, which bore the unique signs of the Personality of Godhead.
11. As they hurried along the path to the bank of the Yamuna River, they saw from a distance that Krsna was in the lake, motionless within the coils of the black serpent. They further saw that the cowherd boys had fallen unconscious and that the animals were standing on all sides, crying out for Krsna. Seeing all this, the residents of Vrndavana were overwhelmed with anguish and confusion.
12. Lord Balarama then saw that Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men, who had dedicated their very lives to Krsna, were beginning to enter the serpent’s lake. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Balarama fully knew Lord Krsna’s actual power, and therefore He restrained them.
13. The Lord remained for some time within the coils of the serpent, imitating the behavior of an ordinary mortal. But when He understood that the women, children and other residents of His village of Gokula were in acute distress because of their love for Him, their only shelter and goal in life, He immediately rose up from the bonds of the Kaliya serpent.
14. His coils tormented by the expanding body of the Lord, Kaliya released Him. In great anger the serpent then raised his hoods high and stood still, breathing heavily. His nostrils appeared like vessels for cooking poison, and the staring eyes in his face like firebrands. Thus the serpent looked at the Lord.
15. Again and again Kaliya licked his lips with his bifurcated tongues as He stared at Krsna with a glance full of terrible, poisonous fire. But Krsna playfully circled around him, just as Garuda would play with a snake. In response, Kaliya also moved about, looking for an opportunity to bite the Lord.
16. Having severely depleted the serpent’s strength with His relentless circling, Sri Krsna, the origin of everything, pushed down Kaliya’s raised shoulders and mounted his broad serpentine heads. Thus Lord Sri Krsna, the original master of all fine arts, began to dance, His lotus feet deeply reddened by the touch of the numerous jewels upon the serpent’s heads.
17. Seeing the Lord dancing, His servants in the heavenly planets—the Gandharvas, Siddhas, sages, Caranas and wives of the demigods—immediately arrived there. With great pleasure they began accompanying the Lord’s dancing by playing drums such as mrdangas, panavas and anakas. They also made offerings of songs, flowers and prayers.
18. Kaliya had 101 prominent heads, and when one of them would not bow down, Lord Sri Krsna, who inflicts punishment on cruel wrong-doers, would smash that stubborn head by striking it with His feet. Then, as Kaliya entered his death throes, he began wheeling his heads around and vomiting ghastly blood from his mouths and nostrils. The serpent thus experienced extreme pain and misery.
19. Exuding poisonous waste from his eyes, Kaliya, would occasionally dare to raise up one of his heads, which would breathe heavily with anger. Then the Lord would dance on it and subdue it, forcing it to bow down with His foot. The demigods took each of these exhibitions as an opportunity to worship Him, the primeval Personality of Godhead, with showers of flowers.
20. Lord Krsna’s wonderful, powerful dancing trampled and broke all of Kaliya’s one thousand hoods. Then the serpent, profusely vomiting blood from his mouths, finally recognized Sri Krsna to be the eternal Personality of Godhead, the supreme master of all moving and nonmoving beings, Sri Narayana. Thus within his mind Kaliya took shelter of the Lord.
21. When Kaliya’s wives saw how the serpent had become so fatigued from the excessive weight of Lord Krsna, who carries the entire universe in His abdomen, and how Kaliya’s umbrellalike hoods had been shattered by the striking of Krsna’s heels, they felt great distress. With their clothing, ornaments and hair scattered in disarray, they then approached the eternal Personality of Godhead.
22. The wives of the serpent praised Krishna and prayed for their husband’s life. Thus praised by the Naga-patnis, the Supreme Personality of Godhead released the serpent Kaliya, who had fallen unconscious, his heads battered by the striking of the Lord’s lotus feet.
23. Kaliya slowly regained his vital force and sensory functions. Then, breathing loudly and painfully, the poor serpent praised Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
24. Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was acting the role of a human being, said: O serpent, you may not remain here any longer. Go back to the ocean immediately, accompanied by your retinue of children, wives, other relatives and friends. Let this river be enjoyed by the cows and humans.
25. If a mortal being attentively remembers My command to you—to leave Vrndavana and go to the ocean—and narrates this account at sunrise and sunset, he will never be afraid of you.
26. If one bathes in this place of My pastimes and offers the water of this lake to the demigods and other worshipable personalities, or if one observes a fast and duly worships and remembers Me, he is sure to become free from all sinful reactions.
27. Out of fear of Garuda, you left Ramanaka Island and came to take shelter of this lake. But because you are now marked with My footprints, Garuda will no longer try to eat you.
28. Having been released by Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities are wonderful, Kaliya joined his wives in worshiping Him with great joy and reverence.
29. Kaliya worshiped the Lord of the universe by offering Him fine garments, along with necklaces, jewels and other valuable ornaments, wonderful scents and ointments, and a large garland of lotus flowers. Having thus pleased the Lord, whose flag is marked with the emblem of Garuda, Kaliya felt satisfied. Receiving the Lord’s permission to leave, Kaliya circumambulated Him and offered Him obeisances. Then, taking his wives, friends and children, he went to his island in the sea.
30. The very moment Kaliya left, the Yamuna was immediately restored to her original condition, free from poison and full of nectarean water. This happened by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was manifesting a humanlike form to enjoy His pastimes.
31. Then Krsna rose up out of the lake wearing divine garlands, fragrances and garments, covered with many fine jewels, and decorated with gold. When the cowherds saw Him they all stood up immediately, just like an unconscious person’s senses coming back to life. Filled with great joy, they affectionately embraced Him.
32. Having regained their vital functions, Yasoda, Rohini, Nanda and all the other cowherd women and men went up to Krsna. Even the dried-up trees came back to life.
33. Lord Balarama embraced His infallible brother and laughed, knowing well the extent of Krsna’s potency. Out of great feelings of love, Balarama lifted Krsna up on His lap and repeatedly looked at Him. The cows, bulls and young female calves also achieved the highest pleasure.
34. All the respectable brahmanas, together with their wives, came forward to greet Nanda Maharaja. With a satisfied mind, Nanda Maharaja very gladly gave them gifts of cows and gold.
35. The greatly fortunate mother Yasoda, having lost her son and then regained Him, placed Him on her lap. That chaste lady cried constant torrents of tears as she repeatedly embraced Him.
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1. O queen, when, with great love, will I carefully light an abundance of aromatic incense, fan You, and perform other suitable services as You take Your meal?
2. O sweet-limbed girl, when, the hairs of my body standing upright in ecstasy, will I place a betel leaf filled with betel nuts and camphor into the lotus flower of Your mouth?
3. O girl with the beautiful face, on the strength of some good fortune will I, as a vine of devotion here, in a secret place with Your affectionate friends, attain the remnants You had spit out and the waves of nectar water that washed Your lotus feet?
4. O queen, during Your meal will You take some nectar from Your own lotus mouth and lovingly give it to me, whose heart has gone to You?
5. O queen, will my two eyes someday attain You as, stumbling because of the happiness rising in Your heart, and the hairs of Your body standing erect, You walk to the town of Vraja's king in order to prepare a nectar feast for Lord Madhava?
6. O sweet one, O talented one, when, washing Your auspicious lotus feet, entering the kitchen, bowing down before the queen of Vraja and the other elder gopis, and cooking a nectar feast, will You plunge me into an ocean of bliss?
7. O queen, when will You be seen, Your head bowed and Your face blossoming with happiness as You place the ambrosia foods and nectar drinks for Lord Madhava in the hand of Rohini devi?
8. O sweet girl, when will Your lotus face, its passionate sidelong glances seen by Lord Madhava during the feast in the company of His elders, fill me with happiness?
9. When will You be seen as You gaze at the prince of Vraja, His cheeks sweet with a smile, as He wanders in the forest fulfilling His vow to protect the surabhi cows, or as He is embraced by His mother, her heart overwhelmed?
10. O girl bashful at heart, O girl with the beautiful face, seeing You happily taking Your meal, according to Your promise, with your dear friends and with the queen of Vraja, who is more affectionate than millions and trillions of mothers, will I at once attain bliss in my heart?
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Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Setubandha sarovara Taken from the book Sri Vraj Mandal Parikrama
One day, the supremely playful Sri Krsna was sitting in the shade under the trees on the northen bank of this lake, together with the gopis, and was laughing and joking with vinodini Sri Radhika. At that time, many monkeys from nearby places descended from the trees, being attracted by Krsna's sweet beauty. They respectfully bowed at His lotus feet, sang in joy, jumped and danced. Several monkeys took very long leaps from trees on the sourthern bank of the lake and landed near His lotus feet, and Bhagwan Sri Krsna praised their bravery. Watching this amzaing pastime charmed the gopis. They began to describe the astonishing pastimes of Bhagwan Sri Ramacandra and said that He received help from monkeys. At that time Lalita said," We have heard that in Treta-yuga the greatly powerful Hanuman crossed the ocean in one leap, and today we are seeing with our own eyes monkeys crossing this lake in one single jump."
Hearing this, Krishna proudly declared,"Do you know, I was Sri Rama in Treta-yuga. I performed all these pastimes as Rama."
Lalita praised the amazing pastimes of Sri Ramacandra and then said," You are a liar. You were never Rama. Such bravery is impossible for You."
Sri Krsna smiled and replied,"You do not believe me, but I did take the form of Rama, and I married Sita after breaking the bow of Siva in Janakapuri. On the order of my father, with bow in hand, together with Sita and Laksmana, I roamed through Citrakuta and Dandakaranya where I killed cruel and tyrannical demons. Thereafter, I wandered from forest to forest in seperation from Sita, destroyed Ramana and Lankapuri with the help of monkeys, and then returned to Ayodhya. Now I carry a flute, roam from forest to forest tending and grazing the cows, and perform pastimes with My beloved Sri Radhika in the company of you gopis. Previously, when I came as Rama, My bow and arrow made the three worlds tremble. Now, however, all living beings, both moving and non-moving, are becoming maddened by the sweet sound of my flute."
Smiling, Lalita said,"Mere words will not convince us. If You can show some valour like that of Sri Rama, then we meight believe You. Sri Ramacandra arranged for a bridge to be constructed by bears and monkeys so that He could cross an ocean eight hundred miles wide with His entire army. If You can get these monkeys to construct a bridge over this small lake, then we can believe You."
Hearing Lalita's words, Sri Krsna assembled all the monkeys in a moment by sounding His flute. He ordered them to construct a bridge over the lake using flat stones. On the order of Sri Krsna, thousand of monkeys immediately and eagerly started to help build the bridge, bringing stones from distant places. This occurred right before the gopis eyes. Sri Krsna then constructed the bridge with His own hands with the stones brought by the monkeys. He installed His Ramesvara Mahadeva at the start of the bridge, on the northern side of the lake. These place can be seen to this day. This lake is also called Lanka-kunda.
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Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)
1. I gaze on a splendour that bears the name Radha, a splendour glorious like millions of lightning flashes, a splendour joyful with a festival of amorous pastimes, a festival that has beautiful jasmine-decorated braids, hair parted with a splendid line of red sindura, wonderful tilaka drawn with nine jewels, glistening earrings on its cheeks, a locket on its neck, a great necklace, and new red garments.
2. Glory to Sri Radha, who is the pinnacle of love's splendour, the pinnacle of the great wonder of transcendental nectar, the pinnacle of beauty, the pinnacle of youthful charm, the pinnacle of the sweetness of transcendental pastimes, the pinnacle of love and kindness to Her devotees, the pinnacle of happiness, and the pinnacle of the sweetness of transcendental amorous pastimes.
3. Sri Radha, who is the personification of pure love and transcendental pastimes, whose glorious pastimes are flooded with the nectar of great sweetness, and a tiny particle of the beauty of moonlight of the toes on whose soft and beautiful feet is the life and soul of all jewel like beautiful girls, is the only goal of my life.
4. Exhausted from enjoying pastimes of splashing in the Yamuna, and now flooded with the nectar of other wonderful pastimes, the beautiful divine couple enjoy in a beautiful palace in bumblebee-filled Vrndavana forest.
5. Two splendours, one dark like a blossoming blue lotus and the other fair like a blossoming golden lotus, beautiful splendours restless in amorous pastimes, splendours whose lotus feet are a flood of ever-new nectar, are gloriously manifested in Vrndavana forest.
6. When, sometimes offering Them betel nuts, sometimes massaging Their feet, sometimes decorating Them with flower garlands and other ornaments, sometimes fanning Them, and sometimes offering Them nectar water fragrant with camphor and other scents, will I serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in Their cottage?
7. Glory to Sri Radha, who is the most valuable hidden treasure, the sweetest nectar, a nectar ocean of beauty, an ocean of great mercy and affection, and a kingdom of the glistening sweetness of new youth, and whose every limb is a splendid nectar ocean of pure love.
8. If Sri Radha, a single ray of light from the moons of whose jewel toenails brings playful waves to many millions of sweet nectar oceans of love, once casts a glance of mercy, then liberation and all spiritual and material opulences become very insignificant.
9. When in sweet and blissful Vrndavana forest will I search for the newly-blossoming forest grove where my dear queen now enjoys pastimes? When will my heart become a wild bumblebee intoxicated by tasting the waves of madhvika nectar in the lotus flower of Sri Radha's feet?
10. When will I walk on the pathways in Radha's pastime forests, chant the holy name of Radha, follow the religion of worshipping Radha, and happily serve Radha's lotus feet in many ways? When, walking on the heads of all the Vedas, will I serve Radha in the most wonderful ways?
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Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Boys and Cows Saved From the Effect of Poison
1. Once, surrounded by boyfriends, Krsna went without Balarama to the Yamuna River after wandering through the forest of Vrindavan.
2. At that time the cows and cowherd boys were feeling acute distress from the glaring summer sun. Afflicted by thirst, they drank the water of the Yamuna River. But it had been contaminated with poison.
3. As soon as they touched the poisoned water, all the cows and boys lost their consciousness and fell lifeless at the water’s edge. Seeing them in such a condition, Lord Krsna, the master of all masters of mystic potency, felt compassion for these devotees, who had no Lord other than Him. Thus He immediately brought them back to life by showering His nectarean glance upon them.
4. Regaining their full consciousness, the cows and boys stood up out of the water and began to look at one another in great astonishment.
5. The cowherd boys then considered that although they had drunk poison and in fact had died, simply by the merciful glance of Govinda they had regained their lives and stood up by their own strength.
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1. O girl whose eyes are restless as khanjana birds, seeing You with an embrace, with kissing Your head, and with many loving glances, loved by the queen of Vraja as if You were her own daughter, will I celebrate a great festival of transcendental bliss in my heart?
2. O friend, within my sight will Queen Radha with You decorate Her beloved with flower ornaments in a forest cottage by the shore of Her lake?
3. O beautiful one, hearing from the parrot Vicaksana of Your rendezvous with the prince of Vraja, will I happily decorate You with elegant garments, flower earrings, and necklaces?
4. O queen, when will I decorate the splendid doorway with garlands of many flowers filled with buzzing bees and with many splendid pictures of Kama drawn in kunkuma? O moon-faced girl, when will I decorate the bed in the cottage named Madananandada with networks of flowers?
5. Will I see You, Your eyebrows knitted and Your eyes burning with pride as Lord Madhusudana, the crown on the heads of expert jesters, stops You near Govardhana Hill on the pretext of collecting a toll?
6. O sweet, moon-faced girl, when will we see the new pastimes You enjoy with the Lord of Your life and with Your friends at Your sweet lake filled everywhere with the humming of intoxicated bees, the cooing of birds, and hosts of splendid, blossoming lotuses?
7. O girl with the beautiful thighs, when will Lord Krishna, who floods me with an ocean of bliss, happily decorate You with many kinds of flowers on the splendid lake shore crowded with blossoming flowers and forests full of humming bees?
8. As Her limbs blossom with happiness, will my queen's hair, decorated by jubilant, trembling Lord Hari with many types of slightly blossomed flowers, many large gunjas, and many splendid peacock feathers, all hastily brought by a certain happy girl, bring bliss to my eyes?
9. O girl with the beautiful face, seeing Lord Madhava struck with a lotus flower by intoxicated You in a flurry of amorous pastimes, will I try to hide the smile on my face?
10. When, O girl with the beautiful face, as You sing sweet love songs with the prince of Vraja, Your splendid graceful shoulder embraced by His long arms and He embraced by Your beautiful arms, will You give me transcendental bliss?
Posted by geeta kakkar on June 24, 2010 at 12:00pm
Sri Krsna's playful pastime (vihara) - Kamyavana
Once Maharsi Durvasa with his sixty thousand sages reached the residence of the Pandavas in Kamyavana in the afternoon. Upon seeing him, the Pandavas became very happy. Maharaja yudhisthira worshipped him and requested him to accept his hospitality. Maharsi said," We are now going to bath in Vimala-kund and will come back very soon. You should arrange for our meals. We will eat here." Saying this, Durvasa left to bath together with his whole entourage.
The Pandavas now became very concerned. What arrangement could be made to feed these sages? They called Draupadi and asked her if she could arrange to feed a gathering of sixty thousand, but her pot had already been cleaned and turned upside down. She considered hard what to do to save the pandavas but could not think of a plan. At last, she began calling out to her dear friend Sri Krsna in a voice filled with distress. How could Dvarakanatha not come upon hearing her call? He immediately appeared in front of Draupadi and said," Sakhi, I am very hungary. Give Me something to eat." Draupadi answered," You are hungary and I have nothing at home. My pot has been cleaned and is lying upside down. The extremely hot-tempered Maharsi Durvasa together with his sixty thousand disciples are about to come to take their meal. When he finds that there is nothing to eat, he will definitely annihilate the Pandavas. Therefore first please arrange for them to be fed."
Sri Krsna said," I cannot do anything without eating and drinking, so please bring your pot."
In a sad voice Draupadi said," There is nothing in the pot. I have cleaned it very thoroughly."
"Still you please bring it, I want to see."
Draupadi brought the pot and put it in Krsna's hands. Krsna looked into it and became joyful. A very tiny piece leafy vegetable was stuck to the side of the pot. Sri Krsna scraped it off with His nail and put in His mouth. He then filled His stomach with water poured by Draupadi's hands. "Trpto 'smi, trpto 'smi - I am satisfied, I am satisfied" He exclaimed, and he began to pat His stomach with His hand. He even belched in satisfaction. Sri Krsna then sent Bhimsena to quickly go and call the sages. The great warrior Bhima, club in hand, started towards Vimala-kunda.
Maharsi Durvasa and His disciples had been bathing in Vimala-kunda when suddenly their stomachs felt completely full. They all starting belching as if they had eaten a meal. So, He and his sixty thousand disciples quickly fled to Maharsi-loka through the celestial pathways. Upon arriving at Vimala-kunda, Bhima could not find the sages anywhere. He returned and told Maharaja Yudhisthira and Sri Krsna," I searched everywhere but could not find them."
After learning what had happened from Sri Krsna, Draupadi and the Pandavas became free from anxiety. If Sri Krsna is satisfied, then the whole universe is satisfied.
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Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi (The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)
1. O Sri Radha, I meditate on Your beautiful face with its graceful restless knitted eyebrows, beautiful pouting bimba-fruit lips, fear, joy, playful amorous happiness, and sweet sarcastic words, all caused by Your lovers' quarrel with the crown of great rasikas.
2. O heart, please worship the splendour that bears the name Radha, a splendour that with its crown fills the circle of the directions with rays of light, a splendour that shines with the glory of jewels in many tinkling bracelets, armlets, and necklaces, a splendour that wears a tinkling belt on its hips, and sweetly tinkling anklets on its beautiful lotus feet.
3. May Lord Krsna's first beloved, who is the crown jewel of beautiful girls, whose bodily hairs stand upright because of Her intense love for Lord Krsna, who is splendid like kunkuma, who trembles in passionate amorous pastimes, who smiles gently, and who stays in a palace in a mandara-tree forest, protect me.
4. O queen whose lotus feet are worshipped by the girls of Vraja, O queen whose festival of love is inconceivable to the great saints, O queen who is the abode of fathomless nectar, please give to me the sweet glory of service to your lotus feet.
5. O Radha, when will I see You as, the playful moon of Your face humbly bowed, and Your veil and curling locks of hair a little lifted by Your graceful fingers, with a great splendour of sidelong glances from frightened eyes You suddenly see Your lover?
6. May Sri Radha, a single ray of light from the blissful nectar moon of whose face makes the full moon of this world seem very insignificant, whose red lips are an ocean of nectar sweetness, who passionately loves Krsna, and who is His very life, be pleased with us.
7. If a multitude of full moons were to flood countless millions of universes with many waves of the nectar moonlight of pure love, then that flood might give a slight hint of Your beautiful face in Vrndavana forest, O Radha.
8. May She who is glorious with ever new spiritual love, whose form is filled with spiritual bliss, who enjoys splendid pastimes under a kalpa-vrksa tree by the Yamuna's shore, who is a gopi residing in a secluded place in Vrndavana forest, and whose lotus feet make streams of sweet nectar flow in the hearts of Her devotees, appear before us.
9. When will Sri Radha, who is a treasure-house of the wealth of the pastimes of pure love, who, free from all fear and trouble, happily sits on Her beloved's lap, whose form is filled with limitless and peerless mercy, love, and sweetness, and whose dear gopi friends offer arati to the beauty and sweetness of Her feet, stand by Lord Krsna's side and perform an abhiseka ceremony to formally grant me the post of Her servant?
10. When will Vrndavana's queen, who deep in Vrndavana forest always enjoys a festival of transcendental amorous pastimes, who becomes intoxicated by drinking the madhvika nectar of Krsna's lips, and who is surrounded by gopis dear to Krsna, mercifully make me Her maidservant?
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Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon
1. Once, some of the cowherd boys—Sridama, the very close friend of Rama and Krsna, along with Subala, Stokakrsna and others—lovingly spoke the following words.
2. [The cowherd boys said:] O Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one! O Krsna, destroyer of the miscreants! Not far from here is a very great forest filled with rows of palm trees.
3. In that Talavana forest many fruits are falling from the trees, and many are already lying on the ground. But all the fruits are being guarded by the evil Dhenuka.
4. O Rama, O Krsna! Dhenuka is a most powerful demon and has assumed the form of an ass. He is surrounded by many friends who have assumed a similar shape and who are just as powerful as he.
5. The demon Dhenuka has eaten men alive, and therefore all people and animals are terrified of going to the Tala forest. O killer of the enemy, even the birds are afraid to fly there.
6. In the Tala forest are sweet-smelling fruits no one has ever tasted. Indeed, even now we can smell the fragrance of the tala fruits spreading all about.
7. O Krsna! Please get those fruits for us. Our minds are so attracted by their aroma! Dear Balarama, our desire to have those fruits is very great. If You think it’s a good idea, let’s go to that Tala forest.
8. Hearing the words of Their dear companions, Krsna and Balarama laughed and, desiring to please them, set off for the Talavana surrounded by Their cowherd boyfriends.
9. Lord Balarama entered the Tala forest first. Then with His two arms He began forcefully shaking the trees with the power of a maddened elephant, causing the tala fruits to fall to the ground.
10. Hearing the sound of the falling fruits, the ass demon Dhenuka ran forward to attack, making the earth and trees tremble.
11. The powerful demon rushed up to Lord Baladeva and sharply struck the Lord’s chest with the hooves of his hind legs. Then Dhenuka began to run about, braying loudly.
12. Moving again toward Lord Balarama, the furious ass situated himself with his back toward the Lord. Then, screaming in rage, the demon hurled his two hind legs at Him.
13. Lord Balarama seized Dhenuka by his hooves, whirled him about with one hand and threw him into the top of a palm tree. The violent wheeling motion killed the demon.
14. Lord Balarama threw the dead body of Dhenukasura into the tallest palm tree in the forest, and when the dead demon landed in the treetop, the tree began shaking. The great palm tree, causing a tree by its side also to shake, broke under the weight of the demon. The neighboring tree caused yet another tree to shake, and this one struck yet another tree, which also began shaking. In this way many trees in the forest shook and broke.
15. The other ass demons, close friends of Dhenukasura, were enraged upon seeing his death, and thus they all immediately ran to attack Krsna and Balarama.
16. As the demons attacked, Krsna and Balarama easily seized them one after another by their hind legs and threw them all into the tops of the palm trees.
17. The earth then appeared beautifully covered with heaps of fruits and with the dead bodies of the demons, which were entangled in the broken tops of the palm trees. Indeed, the earth shone like the sky decorated with clouds.
18. Hearing of this magnificent feat of the two brothers, the demigods and other elevated living beings rained down flowers and offered music and prayers in glorification.
19. People now felt free to return to the forest where Dhenuka had been killed, and without fear they ate the fruits of the palm trees. Also, the cows could now graze freely upon the grass there.
20. Then lotus-eyed Lord Sri Krsna, whose glories are most pious to hear and chant, returned home to Vraja with His elder brother, Balarama. Along the way, the cowherd boys, His faithful followers, chanted His glories.
21. Lord Krsna’s hair, powdered with the dust raised by the cows, was decorated with a peacock feather and forest flowers. The Lord glanced charmingly and smiled beautifully, playing upon His flute while His companions chanted His glories. The gopis, all together, came forward to meet Him, their eyes very eager to see Him.
22. With their beelike eyes, the women of Vrndavana drank the honey of the beautiful face of Lord Mukunda, and thus they gave up the distress they had felt during the day because of separation from Him. The young Vrndavana ladies cast sidelong glances at the Lord—glances filled with bashfulness, laughter and submission—and Sri Krsna completely accepting these glances as a proper offering of respect, entered the cowherd village.
23. Mother Yasoda and mother Rohini, acting most affectionately toward their two sons, offered all the best things to Them in response to Their every desire and at the various appropriate times.
24. By being bathed and massaged, the two young Lords were relieved of the weariness caused by walking on the country roads. Then They were dressed in attractive robes and decorated with transcendental garlands and fragrances.
25. After dining sumptuously on the delicious food given Them by Their mothers and being pampered in various ways, the two brothers lay down upon Their excellent beds and happily went to sleep in the village of Vraja.
26. The Supreme Lord Krsna thus wandered about the Vrndavana area, performing His pastimes.
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