Posted by geeta kakkar on January 27, 2011 at 1:40pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The Song of the Bee
1. The young women of Vraja became astonished upon seeing Lord Krsna’s servant, who had long arms, whose eyes resembled a newly grown lotus, who wore a yellow garment and a lotus garland, and whose lotuslike face glowed with brightly polished earrings. “Who is this handsome man?” the gopis asked. “Where has he come from, and whom does he serve? He’s wearing Krsna’s clothes and ornaments!” Saying this, the gopis eagerly crowded around Uddhava, whose shelter was the lotus feet of Lord Uttamahsloka, Sri Krsna.
2. Bowing their heads in humility, the gopis duly honored Uddhava with their shy, smiling glances and pleasing words. They took him to a quiet place, seated him comfortably and began to question him, for they recognized him to be a messenger from Krsna, the master of the goddess of fortune.
3. [The gopis said:] We know that you are the personal servant of Krsna, the chief of the Yadus, and that you have come here on the order of your good master, who desires to give pleasure to His parents.
4. We see nothing else He might consider worth remembering in these cow pastures of Vraja. Indeed, the bonds of affection for one’s family members are difficult to break, even for a sage.
5. The friendship shown toward others—those who are not family members—is motivated by personal interest, and thus it is a pretense that lasts only until one’s purpose is fulfilled. Such friendship is just like the interest men take in women, or bees in flowers.
6. Prostitutes abandon a penniless man, subjects an incompetent king, students their teacher once they have finished their education, and priests a man who has remunerated them for a sacrifice.
7. Birds abandon a tree when its fruits are gone, guests a house after they have eaten, animals a forest that has burnt down, and a lover the woman he has enjoyed, even though she remains attached to him.
8. Thus speaking, the gopis, whose words, bodies and minds were fully dedicated to Lord Govinda, put aside all their regular work now that Krsna’s messenger, Sri Uddhava, had arrived among them. Constantly remembering the activities their beloved Krsna had performed in His childhood and youth, they sang about them and cried without shame.
9. One of the gopis, while meditating on Her previous association with Krsna, saw a honeybee before Her and imagined it to be a messenger sent by Her beloved. Thus She spoke as follows.
10. The gopi said: O honeybee, O friend of a cheater, don’t touch My feet with your whiskers, which are smeared with the kunkuma that rubbed onto Krsna’s garland when it was crushed by the breasts of a rival lover! Let Krsna satisfy the women of Mathura. One who sends a messenger like you will certainly be ridiculed in the Yadus’ assembly.
11. After making us drink the enchanting nectar of His lips only once, Krsna suddenly abandoned us, just as you might quickly abandon some flowers. How is it, then, that Goddess Padma willingly serves His lotus feet? Alas! The answer must certainly be that her mind has been stolen away by His deceitful words.
12. O bee, why do you sing here so much about the Lord of the Yadus, in front of us homeless people? These topics are old news to us. Better you sing about that friend of Arjuna in front of His new girlfriends, the burning desire in whose breasts He has now relieved. Those ladies will surely give you the charity you are begging.
13. In heaven, on earth or in the subterranean sphere, what women are unavailable to Him? He simply arches His eyebrows and smiles with deceptive charm, and they all become His. The supreme goddess herself worships the dust of His feet, so what is our position in comparison? But at least those who are wretched can chant His name, Uttamahsloka.
14. Keep your head off My feet! I know what you’re doing. You expertly learned diplomacy from Mukunda, and now you come as His messenger with flattering words. But He abandoned those who for His sake alone gave up their children, husbands and all other relations. He’s simply ungrateful. Why should I make up with Him now?
15. Like a hunter, He cruelly shot the king of the monkeys with arrows. Because He was conquered by a woman, He disfigured another woman who came to Him with lusty desires. And even after consuming the gifts of Bali Maharaja, He bound him up with ropes as if he were a crow. So let us give up all friendship with this dark-complexioned boy, even if we can’t give up talking about Him.
16. To hear about the pastimes that Krsna regularly performs is nectar for the ears. For those who relish just a single drop of that nectar, even once, their dedication to material duality is ruined. Many such persons have suddenly given up their wretched homes and families and, themselves becoming wretched, traveled here to Vrndavana to wander about like birds, begging for their living.
17. Faithfully taking His deceitful words as true, we became just like the black deer’s foolish wives, who trust the cruel hunter’s song. Thus we repeatedly felt the sharp pain of lust caused by the touch of His nails. O messenger, please talk about something besides Krsna.
18. O friend of My dear one, has My beloved sent you here again? I should honor you, friend, so please choose whatever boon you wish. But why have you come back here to take us to Him, whose conjugal love is so difficult to give up? After all, gentle bee, His consort is the goddess Sri, and she is always with Him, staying upon His chest.
19. O Uddhava! It is indeed regrettable that Krsna resides in Mathura. Does He remember His father’s household affairs and His friends, the cowherd boys? O great soul! Does He ever talk about us, His maidservants? When will He lay on our heads His aguru-scented hand?
20. Having heard this, Uddhava then tried to pacify the gopis, who were most eager to see Lord Krsna. He thus began relating to them the message of their beloved.
21. Sri Uddhava said: Certainly you gopis are all-successful and are universally worshiped because you have dedicated your minds in this way to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva.
22. Devotional service unto Lord Krsna is attained by charity, strict vows, austerities and fire sacrifices, by japa, study of Vedic texts, observance of regulative principles and, indeed, by the performance of many other auspicious practices.
23. By your great fortune you have established an unexcelled standard of pure devotion for the Lord, Uttamahsloka—a standard even the sages can hardly attain.
24. By your great fortune you have left your sons, husbands, bodily comforts, relatives and homes in favor of the supreme male, who is known as Krsna.
25. You have rightfully claimed the privilege of unalloyed love for the transcendental Lord, O most glorious gopis. Indeed, by exhibiting your love for Krsna in separation from Him, you have shown me great mercy.
26. My good ladies, now please hear your beloved’s message, which I, the confidential servant of my master, have come here to bring you.
27. The Supreme Lord said: You are never actually separated from Me, for I am the Soul of all creation. Just as the elements of nature—ether, air, fire, water and earth—are present in every created thing, so I am present within everyone’s mind, life air and senses, and also within the physical elements and the modes of material nature.
28. By Myself I create, sustain and withdraw Myself within Myself by the power of My personal energy, which comprises the material elements, the senses and the modes of nature.
29. Being composed of pure consciousness, or knowledge, the soul is distinct from everything material and is uninvolved in the entanglements of the modes of nature. We can perceive the soul through the three functions of material nature known as wakefulness, sleep and deep sleep.
30. As a person just arisen from sleep may continue to meditate on a dream even though it is illusory, so by the agency of the mind one meditates on the sense objects, which the senses can then obtain. Therefore one should become fully alert and bring the mind under control.
31. According to intelligent authorities, this is the ultimate conclusion of all the Vedas, as well as all practice of yoga, Sankhya, renunciation, austerity, sense control and truthfulness, just as the sea is the ultimate destination of all rivers.
32. But the actual reason why I, the beloved object of your sight, have stayed far away from you is that I wanted to intensify your meditation upon Me and thus draw your minds closer to Me.
33. When her lover is far away, a woman thinks of him more than when he is present before her.
34. Because your minds are totally absorbed in Me and free from all other engagement, you remember Me always, and so you will very soon have Me again in your presence.
35. Although some gopis had to remain in the cowherd village and so could not join the rasa dance to sport with Me at night in the forest, they were nonetheless fortunate. Indeed, they attained Me by thinking of My potent pastimes.
36. The women of Vraja were pleased to hear this message from their dearmost Krsna. His words having revived their memory, they addressed Uddhava as follows.
37. The gopis said: It is very good that Kamsa, the enemy and persecutor of the Yadus, has now been killed, along with his followers. And it is also very good that Lord Acyuta is living happily in the company of His well-wishing friends and relatives, whose every desire is now fulfilled.
38. Gentle Uddhava, is the elder brother of Gada now bestowing on the city women the pleasure that actually belongs to us? We suppose those ladies worship Him with generous glances full of affectionate, shy smiles.
39. Sri Krsna is expert in all kinds of conjugal affairs and is the darling of the city women. How can He not become entangled, now that He’s constantly adored by their enchanting words and gestures?
40. O saintly one, does Govinda ever remember us during His conversations with the city women? Does He ever mention us village girls as He freely talks with them?
41. Does He recall those nights in the Vrndavana forest, lovely with lotus, jasmine and the bright moon? As we glorified His charming pastimes, He enjoyed with us, His beloved girlfriends, in the circle of the rasa dance, which resounded with the music of ankle bells.
42. Will that descendant of Dasarha return here and by the touch of His limbs bring back to life those who are now burning with the grief He Himself has caused? Will He save us in that way, just as Lord Indra brings a forest back to life with his water-bearing clouds?
43. But why should Krsna come here after winning a kingdom, killing His enemies and marrying the daughters of kings? He’s satisfied there, surrounded by all His friends and well-wishers.
44. The great soul Krsna is the Lord of the goddess of fortune, and He automatically achieves whatever He desires. How can we forest-dwellers or any other women fulfill His purposes when He is already fulfilled within Himself?
45. Indeed, the greatest happiness is to renounce all desires, as even the prostitute Pingala has declared. Yet even though we know this, we cannot give up our hopes of attaining Krsna.
46. Who can bear to give up intimate talks with Lord Uttamahsloka? Although He shows no interest in her, Goddess Sri never moves from her place on His chest.
47. Dear Uddhava Prabhu, when Krsna was here in the company of Sankarsana, He enjoyed all these rivers, hills, forests, cows and flute sounds.
48. All these remind us constantly of Nanda’s son. Indeed, because we see Krsna’s footprints, which are marked with divine symbols, we can never forget Him.
49. O Uddhava, how can we forget Him when our hearts have been stolen away by the charming way He walks, His generous smile and playful glances, and His honeylike words?
50. O master, O master of the goddess of fortune, O master of Vraja! O destroyer of all suffering, Govinda, please lift Your Gokula out of the ocean of distress in which it is drowning!
51. Lord Krsna’s messages having relieved their fever of separation, the gopis then worshiped Uddhava, recognizing him as nondifferent from their Lord, Krsna.
52. Uddhava remained there for several months, dispelling the gopis’ sorrow by chanting the topics of Lord Krsna’s pastimes. Thus he brought joy to all the people of Gokula.
53. All the days that Uddhava dwelled in Nanda’s cowherd village seemed like a single moment to the residents of Vraja, for Uddhava was always discussing Krsna.
54. That servant of Lord Hari, seeing the rivers, forests, mountains, valleys and flowering trees of Vraja, enjoyed inspiring the inhabitants of Vrndavana by reminding them of Lord Krsna.
55. Thus seeing how the gopis were always disturbed because of their total absorption in Krsna, Uddhava was supremely pleased. Desiring to offer them all respect, he sang as follows.
56. [Uddhava sang:] Among all persons on earth, these cowherd women alone have actually perfected their embodied lives, for they have achieved the perfection of unalloyed love for Lord Govinda. Their pure love is hankered after by those who fear material existence, by great sages, and by ourselves as well. For one who has tasted the narrations of the infinite Lord, what is the use of taking birth as a high class brahmana, or even as Lord Brahma himself?
57. How amazing it is that these simple women who wander about the forest, seemingly spoiled by improper behavior, have achieved the perfection of unalloyed love for Krsna, the Supreme Soul! Still, it is true that the Supreme Lord Himself awards His blessings even to an ignorant worshiper, just as the best medicine works even when taken by a person ignorant of its ingredients.
58. When Lord Sri Krsna was dancing with the gopis in the rasa-lila, the gopis were embraced by the arms of the Lord. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or other consorts in the spiritual world. Indeed, never was such a thing even imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the lotus flower. And what to speak of worldly women who are very beautiful according to material estimation?
59. The gopis of Vrndavana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krsna, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers or herbs in Vrndavana, because the gopis trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.
60. The goddess of fortune herself, along with Lord Brahma and all the other demigods, who are masters of yogic perfection, can worship the lotus feet of Krsna only within her mind. But during the rasa dance Lord Krsna placed His feet upon these gopis’ breasts, and by embracing those feet the gopis gave up all distress.
61. I repeatedly offer my respects to the dust from the feet of the women of Nanda Maharaja’s cowherd village. When these gopis loudly chant the glories of Sri Krsna, the vibration purifies the three worlds.
62. Uddhava, the descendant of Dasarha, then took permission to leave from the gopis and from mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja. He bade farewell to all the cowherd men and, about to depart, mounted his chariot.
63. As Uddhava was about to leave, Nanda and the others approached him bearing various items of worship. With tears in their eyes they addressed him as follows.
64. [Nanda and the other cowherds said:] May our mental functions always take shelter of Krsna’s lotus feet, may our words always chant His names, and may our bodies always bow down to Him and serve Him.
65. Wherever we are made to wander about this world by the Supreme Lord’s will, in accordance with the reactions to our fruitive work, may our good works and charity always grant Us love for Lord Krsna.
66.Thus honored by the cowherd men with expressions of devotion for Lord Krsna, Uddhava went back to the city of Mathura, which was under Krsna’s protection.
67. After falling down to pay his homage, Uddhava described to Lord Krsna the immense devotion of the residents of Vraja. Uddhava also described it to Vasudeva, Lord Balarama and King Ugrasena and presented to them the gifts of tribute he had brought with him.
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 24, 2011 at 5:17pm
Guru
Two things are necessary for a beautifully finished sculpture. One is a strong piece of marble and the second is the expert sculptor. The piece of marble should but unconditionally remain in the hands of the sculptor, in order to be carved and chiselled into the fine image. The seeker placing himself under the expert guidance of a fully realized Guru, will allow to be carved out and chiselled into the image of perfection. It is also absolutely necessary for the disciple to purify himself through positive karma -righteous words, thoughts and actions in order to attain liberation.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 23, 2011 at 2:48pm
Meditation on Sri RadhaKrishna
I meditate on two-armed Lord Krishna, who is dark like a monsoon cloud, dressed in yellow garments, garlanded with forest flowers... crowned with a peacock feather, and garlanded with lotus whorls, whose face is splendid like ten million moons, whose eyes move restlessly... whose forehead is marked with tilaka of sandal paste and musk... who is splendid with earrings like two rising suns, whose perspiration-anointed cheeks are like two glistening mirrors... who with raised eyebrows playfully glances at His beloved's face, the tip of whose graceful raised nose is decorated with a glistening pearl... whose bimba-fruit lips are splendid in the moonlight of His teeth, whose hands are splendid with bracelets, armlets, and jewel rings... who holds a flute in His left lotus hand, whose waist is splendid with a graceful belt, whose feet are splendid with graceful anklets... whose eyes are restless with the nectar of amorous pastimes, who jokes with His beloved, making Her laugh again and again... and who stays with Her on a jewel throne under a kalpa-vriksha tree in Vrindavana forest. In this way one should meditate on Lord Krishna and His beloved."
"On the Lord's left side one should meditate on Sri Radha, who is dressed in blue garments, who is splendid like molten gold... who with the edge of Her garment covers Her graceful lotus smile, whose restless chakori-bird eyes dance on Her beloved's face... who with Her forefinger and thumb places betel nuts and crushed betel leaves in Her beloved's lotus mouth... whose full, raised breasts are decorated with a glistening pearl-necklace, whose waist is slender, whose broad hips are decorated with tinkling ornaments... who is decorated with jewel earrings, finger rings, toe rings, bracelets, armlets, and tinkling golden anklets... whose limbs are graceful with the best of beauty, who is always in the prime of youth, and who is always plunged in the nectar of bliss. Her friends, whose age and qualities are like Hers, devotedly serve Her with chamaras, fans, and other articles."Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 22, 2011 at 1:05pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Kokilavana
Once, the very playful Sri Krsna eagerly desired to meet Srimati Radhika, but because of the obstacles created by Her mother-in-law Jatila, sister-in-law Kutila and husband Abhimanyu, Srimati Radhika could not get to Their appointed meeting place. After waiting for a long time, Krsna climbed a tall tree and sweetly began to imitate the sound of a cuckoo. Hearing the loud and delightful call of this astonishing cuckoo bird, Srimati Radhika and the sakhis understood that it was a signal from Krsna and became eager and restless to meet with Him. At that time, Jatila addressed Visakha, saying,"Visakha, I have heard cuckoo birds make so many beautiful sounds, but I have never heard anything like the wonderful and lengthy melody this bird sings today." Visakha replied," Dadiji, we also have never heard anything like it. This is certainly an amazing cuckoo bird. With your permission, we would like to go out and see it for ourselves." The old woman gladly gave permission for the sakhis to go. They very happily entered the forest, and thus Krsna was able to meet with Radha. This is how this place became known as Kokilavana.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 20, 2011 at 12:41pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Uddhava Visits Vrndavana
1. The supremely intelligent Uddhava was the best counselor of the Vrsni dynasty, a beloved friend of Lord Sri Krsna and a direct disciple of Brhaspati.
2. The Supreme Lord Hari, who relieves the distress of all who surrender to Him, once took the hand of His fully devoted, dearmost friend Uddhava and addressed him as follows.
3. [Lord Krsna said:] Dear gentle Uddhava, go to Vraja and give pleasure to Our parents. And also relieve the gopis, suffering in separation from Me, by giving them My message.
4. The minds of those gopis are always absorbed in Me, and their very lives are ever devoted to Me. For My sake they have abandoned everything related to their bodies, renouncing ordinary happiness in this life, as well as religious duties necessary for such happiness in the next life. I alone am their dearmost beloved and, indeed, their very Self. Therefore I take it upon Myself to sustain them in all circumstances.
5. My dear Uddhava, for those women of Gokula I am the most cherished object of love. Thus when they remember Me, who am so far away, they are overwhelmed by the anxiety of separation.
6. Simply because I have promised to return to them, My fully devoted cowherd girlfriends struggle to maintain their lives somehow or other.
7. Thus addressed, Uddhava respectfully accepted his master’s message, mounted his chariot and set off for Nanda-gokula.
8. The fortunate Uddhava reached Nanda Maharaja’s pastures just as the sun was setting, and since the returning cows and other animals were raising dust with their hooves, his chariot passed unnoticed.
9. Gokula resounded on all sides with the sounds of bulls in rut fighting with one another for fertile cows; with the mooing of cows, burdened by their udders, chasing after their calves; with the noise of milking and of the white calves jumping here and there; with the loud reverberation of flute-playing; and with the singing of the all-auspicious deeds of Krsna and Balarama by the cowherd men and women, who made the village resplendent with their wonderfully ornamented attire. The cowherds’ homes in Gokula appeared most charming with their abundant paraphernalia for worship of the sacrificial fire, the sun, unexpected guests, the cows, the brahmanas, the forefathers and the demigods. On all sides lay the flowering forest, echoing with flocks of birds and swarms of bees and beautified by its lakes crowded with swans, karandava ducks and bowers of lotuses.
10. As soon as Uddhava arrived at Nanda Maharaja’s home, Nanda came forward to meet him. The cowherd King embraced him in great happiness and worshiped him as nondifferent from Lord Vasudeva.
11. After Uddhava had eaten first-class food, been seated comfortably on a bed and been relieved of his fatigue by a foot massage and other means, Nanda inquired from him as follows.
12. [Nanda Maharaja said:] My dear most fortunate one, does the son of Sura fare well, now that he is free and has rejoined his children and other relatives?
13. Fortunately, because of his own sins, the sinful Kamsa has been killed, along with all his brothers. He always hated the saintly and righteous Yadus.
14. Does Krsna remember us? Does He remember His mother and His friends and well-wishers? Does He remember the cowherds and their village of Vraja, of which He is the master? Does He remember the cows, Vrndavana forest and Govardhana Hill?
15. Will Govinda return even once to see His family? If He ever does, we may then glance upon His beautiful face, with its beautiful eyes, nose and smile.
16. We were saved from the forest fire, the wind and rain, the bull and serpent demons—from all such insurmountable, deadly dangers—by that very great soul, Krsna.
17. As we remember the wonderful deeds Krsna performed, His playful sidelong glances, His smiles and His words, O Uddhava, we forget all our material engagements.
18. When we see the places where Mukunda enjoyed His sporting pastimes—the rivers, hills and forests He decorated with His feet—our minds become totally absorbed in Him.
19. In my opinion, Krsna and Balarama must be two exalted demigods who have come to this planet to fulfill some great mission of the demigods. Such was foretold by Garga Rsi.
20. After all, Krsna and Balarama killed Kamsa, who was as strong as ten thousand elephants, as well as the wrestlers Canura and Mustika and the elephant Kuvalayapida. They killed them all sportingly, as easily as a lion disposes of small animals.
21. With the ease of a royal elephant breaking a stick, Krsna broke a powerful, giant bow three talas long. He also held a mountain aloft for seven days with just one hand.
22. Here in Vrndavana, Krsna and Balarama easily destroyed demons like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Arista, Trnavarta and Baka, who had themselves defeated both demigods and other demons.
23. Thus intensely remembering Krsna again and again, Nanda Maharaja, his mind completely attached to the Lord, felt extreme anxiety and fell silent, overcome by the strength of his love.
24. As mother Yasoda heard the descriptions of her son’s activities, she poured out her tears, and milk flowed from her breasts out of love.
25. Uddhava then joyfully addressed Nanda Maharaja, having clearly seen the supreme loving attraction he and Yasoda felt for Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
26. Sri Uddhava said: O respectful Nanda, certainly you and mother Yasoda are the most praiseworthy persons in the entire world, since you have developed such a loving attitude toward Lord Narayana, the spiritual master of all living beings.
27. These two Lords, Mukunda and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the creator and His creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval Supreme.
28. Anyone, even a person in an impure state, who absorbs his mind in Him for just a moment at the time of death burns up all traces of sinful reactions and immediately attains the supreme transcendental destination in a pure, spiritual form as effulgent as the sun. You two have rendered exceptional loving service to Him, Lord Narayana, the Supersoul of all and the cause of all existence, the great soul who, although the original cause of everything, has a humanlike form. What pious deeds could still be required of you?
29. Infallible Krsna, the Lord of the devotees, will soon return to Vraja to satisfy His parents.
30. Having killed Kamsa, the enemy of all the Yadus, in the wrestling arena, Krsna will now surely fulfill His promise to you by coming back.
31. O most fortunate ones, do not lament. You will see Krsna again very soon. He is present in the hearts of all living beings, just as fire lies dormant in wood.
32. For Him no one is especially dear or despicable, superior or inferior, and yet He is not indifferent to anyone. He is free from all desire for respect and yet gives respect to all others.
33. He has no mother, no father, no wife, children or other relatives. No one is related to Him, and yet no one is a stranger to Him. He has no material body and no birth.
34. He has no work to do in this world that would oblige Him to take birth in pure, impure or mixed species of life. Yet to enjoy His pastimes and deliver His saintly devotees, He manifests Himself.
35. Although beyond the three modes of material nature—goodness, passion and ignorance—the transcendental Lord accepts association with them as His play. Thus the unborn Supreme Lord utilizes the material modes to create, maintain and destroy.
36. Just as a person who is whirling around perceives the ground to be turning, one who is affected by false ego thinks himself the doer, when actually only his mind is acting.
37. The Supreme Lord Hari is certainly not your son alone. Rather, being the Lord, He is the son, Soul, father and mother of everyone.
38. Nothing can be said to exist independent of Lord Acyuta—nothing heard or seen, nothing in the past, present or future, nothing moving or unmoving, great or small. He indeed is everything, for He is the Supreme Soul.
39. While Krsna’s messenger continued speaking with Nanda, the night ended. The women of the cowherd village rose from bed and, lighting lamps, worshiped their household deities. Then they began churning the yogurt into butter.
40. As they pulled on the churning ropes with their bangled arms, the women of Vraja shone with the splendor of their jewels, which reflected the lamps’ light. Their hips, breasts and necklaces moved about, and their faces, anointed with reddish kunkuma, glowed radiantly with the luster of their earrings reflecting from their cheeks.
41. As the ladies of Vraja loudly sang the glories of lotus-eyed Krsna, their songs blended with the sound of their churning, ascended to the sky and dissipated all inauspiciousness in every direction.
42. When the godly sun had risen, the people of Vraja noticed the golden chariot in front of Nanda Maharaja’s doorway. “Who does this belong to?” they asked.
43. “Perhaps Akrura has returned—he who fulfilled Kamsa’s desire by taking lotus-eyed Krsna to Mathura.
44. “Is he going to use our flesh to offer funeral oblations for his master, who was so satisfied with his service?” As the women were speaking in this way, Uddhava appeared, having finished his earlymorning duties. Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 19, 2011 at 11:55am
Guru
The Guru is the veritable physical manifestation of God and the seeker of Truth should have a total faith and surrender in the saving grace of the Guru. A word from him is a word from God. His very company is self-illumination. We must remember that, three things, devotion, faith and surrender are essential for any progress. Having a strong devotion, faith and surrender towards the Guru, the spiritual seeker will be able to establish a strong spiritual connection with the Guru’s Light, evolving at a tremendous speed towards spiritual liberation. This path is called Guru margam, the way of the Guru, and according to revelations received by great seers, this is the most dynamic way towards liberation.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 18, 2011 at 11:44am
Glory of Holy Name (Taken from the book Sri Bhajana Rahasya)
The Visnu-rahasya states: yad abhyarcya harim bhaktya krte kratu-satair api phalam prapnoty avikalam kalau govinda-kirtanat
Whatever fruit can be obtained in Satya-yuga by devoutly performing austerities and so on for hundreds of years, can be obtained in the age of Kali simply by chanting the names of Sri Govinda.
satya-yuge sata sata yajne haryarcana kalite govinda-name se phala-arjana
“The result received in Satya-yuga by meditation on Bhagavan, in Treta-yuga by worshipping Bhagavan through great sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by performing arcana of Bhagavan according to proper rules, is obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting nama-abhasa, a semblance of Sri Krsna’s names.”Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 17, 2011 at 2:06pm
Prayers to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna
"I mediate on Shri Shri Radha and Govinda, who sit on an effulgent throne underneath a desire tree in a temple of jewels in Vrindavana. They are being served by Their most confidential associates, the gopis."
"I meditate on the supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, who possesses beautiful lotus eyes, whose color is that of a new cloud, whose clothes are like lightning, who possesses two arms and a beautiful forest garland, and whose hand is indicating divine knowledge by exhibiting the jnana-mudra. That Krishna is decorated with glittering ornaments and is surrounded by all the cowherd friends of Shrimati Radharani. While being embraced by Shrimati Radharani Herself, His form is intensified consciousness and bliss. Shri Krishna, who is intensely bluish-black, in His two-armed form, is the Lord of all the demigods, and His body is full of transcendental bliss."
"O Radha-Krishna, You are my protectors from the ocean of material existence which is characterized by sons, friends, household and land. Therefore You are known as the destroyers of the fear of those who are surrendered unto You."
"O Your Lordships, myself and whatever little bit is mine in this world and in the next, all that I now offer unto Your lotus feet."
"O Your Lordships, I am certainly the abode of many offenses, and am completely devoid of the practice of devotional service; neither do I have any resort or shelter. Therefore, I am taking You as my ultimate goal."
"O Lord of Shrimati Radharani, I am Yours; my actions, mind and words. O lover of Shri Krishna, Shrimate Radharani, I belong to You alone. You both are my only shelter. O Radha and Krishna, ocean of mercy, I am taking shelter of You. Please be pleased upon me and make me Your servant, although I am such a fallen offender."
"O Purushottama, there is no sinful person or offender who is equal to me. How can I describe my shame? Just as the minds of young ladies take pleasure in a young man, and the minds of young men take pleasure in a young woman, kindly let my mind take pleasure in You alone."
"Just as the ground is the only support for those whose feet have slipped, so also You alone are the only shelter, even for those who have committed offense to You."
"O Shrimati Radharani, the dearest of Lord Govinda, this is always my request to You--please let Lord Govinda, along with Yourself, consider me to be one of Your assistants."
"O Shrimati Radharani, O Queen of Vrindavana, You are a river flowing with the nectar of mercy. Please be kind upon me, and give me a little service at Your lotus feet." Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 15, 2011 at 12:27pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Javata
Once, Srimati Radhika was in mana and did not meet Krsna for several days. The sakhis tried various means to convince Her to give up Her mana, but on this occasion Her mana was fixed and therefore difficult to subdue. Krsna's separation from Radha filled Him with great distress. Subala sakha therefore began to hatch a plan to help Him meet with Radha. Subala exactly resembles Srimati Radhika in age, beauty, speech and so forth and is skilled in many arts. He consoled Krsna, saying," Why are You so distressed? You should wait in this kunja for a short time while I arrange Your meeting with Priyaji." Saying this, he went to Yava-grama. When Jatila(Srimati Radhika's mother-in-law) saw him there, she cried out," Subala, you are the friend of that licentious debauchee Krsna, why are you hovering around our house? Leave this place immediately."
Subala replied," Maiya, one of my calves is lost and I can not find it anywhere. I have come to search for it."
"Your calf has not come here,"Jatila answered. "Leave at once." Subala repeatedly requested her to please allow him to look for his calf, and she finally relented. "I am going now to make cow-dung patties. Go to the cowshed and search for your calf, and if you find it, take it."
Subala became delighted and reached Srimati Radhika's balcony through the cowshed. He gave such a heart rending description of Krsna's condition of separation that Srimatiji's heart melted. She immediately gave up Her mana and prepared Herself to go and console Krsna, but how would She be able to leave Her house? Subala then gave Her his clothes and She disguised Herself as him, carrying a stick and wearing a twisted turban on Her head, a dhoti around Her waist, and a necklace of gunja seeds around Her neck. Carrying a small calf in Her arms, She appeared to be Subala happily leaving, having found his lost calf. Meanwhile, Subala, disguised as Radhika, became immersed in conservation with the sakhis. When Jatila saw Srimatiji disguised as Subala leaving the cowshed, she asked," So, did you find your calf?"
Radhika answered in Subala's voice,"Just see Maiya,"She said," I have found it." Jatila did not became even the slightest bit suspicious. Srimati Radhika finally reached Krsna, having made Her way to the location as indicated by Subala. Distressed in separation, Krsna asked Her," Sakha, were you unable to bring My beloved? My life is coming to an end. What should I do? Where should I go?" Upon seeing Krsna in such a miserable condition, Srimatiji could not contain Herself. She put the calf down and embraced Him. By Her tender touch and by the fragnance of Her body, Krsna understood everything and all His sorrow went far away. He repeatedly praised the intelligence of Subala, and proceeded to enjoy delightful pastimes with His beloved. After sometime, Subala also arrived there and became so happy to watch Their meeting.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 13, 2011 at 4:42pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Krsna Rescues His Teacher’s Son
1. Understanding that His parents were becoming aware of His transcendental opulences, the Supreme Personality of Godhead thought that this should not be allowed to happen. Thus He expanded His Yogamaya, which bewilders His devotees.
2. Lord Krsna, the greatest of the Satvatas, approached His parents with His elder brother. Humbly bowing His head and gratifying them by respectfully addressing them as “My dear mother” and “My dear father,” Krsna spoke as follows.
3. [Lord Krsna said:] Dear Father, because of Us, your two sons, you and mother Devaki always remained in anxiety and could never enjoy Our childhood, boyhood or youth.
4. Deprived by fate, We could not live with you and enjoy the pampered happiness most children enjoy in their parents’ home.
5. With one’s body one can acquire all goals of life, and it is one’s parents who give the body birth and sustenance. Therefore no mortal man can repay his debt to his parents, even if he serves them for a full lifetime of a hundred years.
6. A son who, though able to do so, fails to provide for his parents with his physical resources and wealth is forced after his death to eat his own flesh.
7. A man who, though able to do so, fails to support his elderly parents, chaste wife, young child or spiritual master, or who neglects a brahmana or anyone who comes to him for shelter, is considered dead, though breathing.
8. Thus We have wasted all these days, unable as We were to properly honor you because Our minds were always disturbed by fear of Kamsa.
9. Dear Father and Mother, please forgive Us for not serving you. We are not independent and have been greatly frustrated by cruel Kamsa.
10. Thus beguiled by the words of Lord Hari, the Supreme Soul of the universe, who by His internal illusory potency appeared to be a human, His parents joyfully raised Him up on their laps and embraced Him.
11. Pouring out a shower of tears upon the Lord, His parents, who were bound up by the rope of affection, could not speak. They were overwhelmed, and their throats choked up with tears.
12. Thus having comforted His mother and father, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appearing as the son of Devaki, installed His maternal grandfather, Ugrasena, as King of the Yadus.
13. The Lord told him: O mighty King, We are your subjects, so please command Us. Indeed, because of the curse of Yayati, no Yadu may sit on the royal throne.
14. Since I am present in your entourage as your personal attendant, all the demigods and other exalted personalities will come with heads bowed to offer you tribute. What, then, to speak of the rulers of men?
15. The Lord then brought all His close family members and other relatives back from the various places to which they had fled in fear of Kamsa. He received the Yadus, Vrsnis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dasarhas, Kukuras and other clans with due honor, and He also consoled them, for they were weary of living in foreign lands. Then Lord Krsna, the creator of the universe, resettled them in their homes and gratified them with valuable gifts.
16. The members of these clans, protected by the arms of Lord Krsna and Lord Sankarsana, felt that all their desires were fulfilled. Thus they enjoyed perfect happiness while living at home with their families. Because of the presence of Krsna and Balarama, they no longer suffered from the fever of material existence. Every day these loving devotees could see Mukunda’s ever-cheerful lotus face, which was decorated with beautiful, merciful smiling glances.
17. Even the most elderly inhabitants of the city appeared youthful, full of strength and vitality, for with their eyes they constantly drank the elixir of Lord Mukunda’s lotus face.
18. Then, the Supreme Lord Krsna, the son of Devaki, along with Lord Balarama, approached Nanda Maharaja. The two Lords embraced him and then addressed him as follows.
19. [Krsna and Balarama said:] O Father, you and mother Yasoda have affectionately maintained Us and cared for Us so much! Indeed, parents love their children more than their own lives.
20. They are the real father and mother who care for, as they would their own sons, children abandoned by relatives unable to maintain and protect them.
21. Now you should all return to Vraja, dear Father. We shall come to see you, Our dear relatives who suffer in separation from Us, as soon as We have given some happiness to your well-wishing friends.
22. Thus consoling Nanda Maharaja and the other men of Vraja, the infallible Supreme Lord respectfully honored them with gifts of clothing, jewelry, household utensils and so on.
23. Nanda Maharaja was overwhelmed with affection upon hearing Krsna’s words, and his eyes brimmed with tears as he embraced the two Lords. Then he went back to Vraja with the cowherd men.
24. Then Vasudeva, the son of Surasena, arranged for a priest and other brahmanas to perform his two sons’ second-birth initiation.
25. Vasudeva honored these brahmanas by worshiping them and giving them fine ornaments and well ornamented cows with their calves. All these cows wore gold necklaces and linen wreaths.
26. The magnanimous Vasudeva then remembered the cows he had mentally given away on the occasion of Krsna’s and Balarama’s birth. Kamsa had stolen those cows, and Vasudeva now recovered them and gave them away in charity also.
27. After attaining twice-born status through initiation, the Lords, sincere in Their vows, took the further vow of celibacy from Garga Muni, the spiritual master of the Yadus.
28. Concealing Their innately perfect knowledge by Their humanlike activities, those two omniscient Lords of the universe, Themselves the origin of all branches of knowledge, next desired to reside at the school of a spiritual master. Thus They approached Sandipani Muni, a native of Kasi living in the city of Avanti.
29. Sandipani thought very highly of these two self-controlled disciples, whom he had obtained so fortuitously. By serving him as devotedly as one would serve the Supreme Lord Himself, They showed others an irreproachable example of how to worship the spiritual master.
30. That best of brahmanas, the spiritual master Sandipani, was satisfied with Their submissive behavior, and thus he taught Them the entire Vedas, together with their six corollaries and the Upanisads.
31. He also taught Them the Dhanur-veda, with its most confidential secrets; the standard books of law; the methods of logical reasoning and philosophical debate; and the sixfold science of politics.
32. Those best of persons, Krsna and Balarama, being Themselves the original promulgators of all varieties of knowledge, could immediately assimilate each and every subject after hearing it explained just once. Thus with fixed concentration They learned the sixty-four arts and skills in as many days and nights. Thereafter, They satisfied Their spiritual master by offering him guru-daksina.
33. The learned brahmana Sandipani carefully considered the two Lords’ glorious and amazing qualities and Their superhuman intelligence. Then, after consulting with his wife, he chose as his remuneration the return of his young son, who had died in the ocean at Prabhasa.
34. “So be it,” replied those two great charioteers of limitless might, and They at once mounted Their chariot and set off for Prabhasa. When They reached that place, They walked up to the shore and sat down. In a moment the deity of the ocean, recognizing Them to be the Supreme Lords, approached Them with offerings of tribute.
35. The Supreme Lord Krsna addressed the lord of the ocean: Let the son of My guru be presented at once—the one you seized here with your mighty waves.
36. The ocean replied: O Lord Krsna, it was not I who abducted him, but a demonic descendant of Diti named Pancajana, who travels in the water in the form of a conch.
37. “Indeed,” the ocean said, “that demon has taken him away.” Hearing this, Lord Krsna entered the ocean, found Pancajana and killed him. But the Lord did not find the boy within the demon’s belly.
38. Lord Janardana took the conchshell that had grown around the demon’s body and went back to the chariot. Then He proceeded to Samyamani, the beloved capital of Yamaraja, the lord of death. Upon arriving there with Lord Balarama, He loudly blew His conchshell, and Yamaraja, who keeps the conditioned souls in check, came as soon as he heard the resounding vibration. Yamaraja elaborately worshiped the two Lords with great devotion, and then he addressed Lord Krsna, who lives in everyone’s heart: “O Supreme Lord Visnu, what shall I do for You and Lord Balarama, who are playing the part of ordinary humans?”
39. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Suffering the bondage of his past activity, My spiritual master’s son was brought here to you. O great King, obey My command and bring this boy to Me without delay.
40. Yamaraja said, “So be it,” and brought forth the guru’s son. Then those two most exalted Yadus presented the boy to Their spiritual master and said to him, “Please select another boon.”
41. The spiritual master said: My dear boys, You two have completely fulfilled the disciple’s obligation to reward his spiritual master. Indeed, with disciples like You, what further desires could a guru have?
42. O heroes, now please return home. May Your fame sanctify the world, and may the Vedic hymns be ever fresh in Your minds, both in this life and the next.
43. Thus receiving Their guru’s permission to leave, the two Lords returned to Their city on Their chariot, which moved as swiftly as the wind and resounded like a cloud.
44. All the citizens rejoiced upon seeing Krsna and Balarama, whom they had not seen for many days. The people felt just like those who have lost their wealth and then regained it.
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 12, 2011 at 1:31pm
Guru
Guru leads from ignorance to wisdom, from disharmony to harmony, from hatred to love, from want to fullness, from weakness to strength, from limitation to infinitude, from diversity to unity, from darkness to Light, and from imperfection to perfection. He gives hope to the sad and forlorn, strength to the weak, health to the sick and wisdom to the ignorant.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 11, 2011 at 5:27pm
Sri Nanda-Nandanastakam A Prayer to Lord Krishna
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana (the son of Nanda Maharaja, Krishna), whose face is extremely delightful, from whose beautiful ears hang jewelled earrings, and whose entire body is anointed with fragrant candana.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose eyes are more beautiful than the fully-bloomed lotus, whose head is beautifully adorned with an arrangement of peacock feathers, and who enchants millions of Cupids.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, from whose beautiful nose hangs an elephant-pearl, whose teeth are brilliantly shining, and whose bodily complexion is more beautiful and lustrous than a fresh rain cloud.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose lotus hands hold the flute, whose lingering gait defeats even that of an impassioned elephant, and whose dark limbs are beautified by a yellow shawl.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose three-fold bending posture is exquisitely elegant, the effulgence of whose toe-nails puts to shame even the moon, and who wears invaluable jewels and ornaments.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose body exudes an extraordinarily beautiful fragrance and whose broad chest is adorned with the kaustubha jewel and the mark of srivatsa.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, Vrindavana's expert lover who dresses in a manner that enhances His charming, playful pastimes, and who pulverized the pride of Indra.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, who as the lover of the Vraja gopis perpetually delights them and who enchants the minds of all living entities.
Whoever regularly recites this Sri Nanda-Nandanastakam with deep faith will easily cross the seemingly insurmountable ocean of material existence and attain eternal residence at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 10, 2011 at 5:24pm
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Javata
Once, Mother Yasoda was in her storeroom, organising some skirts, blouses, shawls and other expensive clothes and ornaments to be placed in a large chest, when mischievous Krsna burst into the room. He came up behind her, put His arms behind her neck and insisted on knowing what she was doing. "Maiya, is it My birthday today?" He asked. "Are you preparing all of these clothes and ornaments for Me?"
"Go and play now," Maiya answered with some irritation."Do not disturb me." Krsna felt somewhat dejected and left, only to observe what His mother was doing from a hidden place. Mother Yasoda was preparing this box to send to Srimati Radhika in Javata. She would occasionally send such gifts to please the hard-hearted Jatila, so that she would not prohibit her daughter-in-law from coming to Nanda-bhavana. Clever Sri Krsna understood this fact, so when His mother finished packing the chest and became absorbed in other household chores, Krsna made His way with Subala sakha to the room in which the chest lay. They unlocked it and removed its contents, and Krsna climbed inside. Subala closed the lid and locked it as before.
Yasoda has requested Abhimanyu to personally come and collect the box because it was filled with expensive gifts and should not be given to anyone else. Abhimanyu put the box on his head and with great difficulty carried it to his mother in Javata-grama. Jatila said,"My son, this box is filled with very expensive clothes and ornaments for my daughter-in-law, so put it in Her room." He happily placed the box in Srimati Radhika's room and left. When sakhis eagerly opened the box and saw the mischievous Syamasundara inside, they burst out laughing. Their bliss knew no bounds. With intense prema, Radha and Krsna met, which filled the sakhis with great satisfaction.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 8, 2011 at 1:18pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The Killing of Kamsa
1. Thus addressed, Lord Krsna made up His mind to accept the challenge. He paired off with Canura, and Lord Balarama with Mustika.
2. Seizing each other’s hands and locking legs with each other, the opponents struggled powerfully, eager for victory.
3. They each struck fists against fists, knees against knees, head against head and chest against chest.
4. Each fighter contended with his opponent by dragging him about in circles, shoving and crushing him, throwing him down and running before and behind him.
5. Forcefully lifting and carrying each other, pushing each other away and holding each other down, the fighters hurt even their own bodies in their great eagerness for victory.
6. All the women present, considering the match an unfair fight between the strong and the weak, felt extreme anxiety due to compassion. They assembled in groups around the arena and spoke to one another as follows.
7. [The women said:] Alas, what a greatly irreligious act the members of this royal assembly are committing! As the King watches this fight between the strong and the weak, they also want to see it.
8. What comparison can there be between these two professional wrestlers, with limbs as strong as lightning bolts and bodies resembling mighty mountains, and these two young, immature boys with exceedingly tender limbs?
9. Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing.
10. A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.
11. Just see the lotus face of Krsna as He darts around His foe! That face, covered with drops of perspiration brought on by the strenuous fight, resembles a lotus covered with dew.
12. Don’t you see the face of Lord Balarama, with its eyes copper-red from His anger toward Mustika and its beauty enhanced by His laughter and His absorption in the fight?
13. How pious are the tracts of land in Vraja, for there the primeval Personality of Godhead, disguising Himself with human traits, wanders about, enacting His many pastimes! Adorned with wonderfully variegated forest garlands, He whose feet are worshiped by Lord Siva and goddess Rama vibrates His flute as He tends the cows in the company of Balarama.
14. What austerities must the gopis have performed! With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord Krsna’s form, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That loveliness is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare.
15. The ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women because, with their minds fully attached to Krsna and their throats always choked up with tears, they constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cleaning their houses, and so on. By their exalted Krsna consciousness they automatically acquire all desirable things.
16. When the gopis hear Krsna playing His flute as He leaves Vraja in the morning with His cows or returns with them at sunset, the young girls quickly come out of their houses to see Him. They must have performed many pious activities to be able to see Him as He walks on the road, His smiling face mercifully glancing upon them.
17. As the women spoke thus, Lord Krsna, the master of all mystic power, made up His mind to kill His opponent.
18. Out of affection for the two Lords, Their parents [Devaki and Vasudeva] became overwhelmed with sorrow when they heard the women’s fearful statements. They grieved, not knowing their sons’ strength.
19. Lord Balarama and Mustika, expertly displaying numerous wrestling techniques, battled each other in the same way that Lord Krsna and His opponent did.
20. The harsh blows from the Supreme Lord’s limbs fell like crushing lightning bolts upon Canura, breaking every part of his body and causing him more and more pain and fatigue.
21. Furious, Canura attacked Lord Vasudeva with the speed of a hawk and struck His chest with both fists.
22. No more shaken by the demon’s mighty blows than an elephant struck with a flower garland, Lord Krsna grabbed Canura by his arms, swung him around several times and hurled him onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair and garland scattering, the wrestler fell down dead, like a huge festival column collapsing.
23. Similarly, Mustika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty Lord’s palm, the demon trembled all over in great pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.
24. Confronted next by the wrestler Kuta, Lord Balarama, the best of fighters, playfully and nonchalantly killed him with His left fist.
25. Then Krsna struck the wrestler Sala in the head with His toes and tore him in half. The Lord dealt with Tosala in the same way, and both wrestlers fell down dead.
26. Canura, Mustika, Kuta, Sala and Tosala having been killed, the remaining wrestlers all fled for their lives.
27. Krsna and Balarama then called Their young cowherd boyfriends to join Them, and in their company the Lords danced about and sported, Their ankle bells resounding as musical instruments played.
28. Everyone except Kamsa rejoiced at the wonderful feat Krsna and Balarama had performed. The exalted brahmanas and great saints exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!”
29. The Bhoja king, seeing that his best wrestlers had all been killed or had fled, stopped the musical performance originally meant for his pleasure and spoke the following words.
30. [Kamsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds’ property and arrest that fool Nanda!
31. Kill that most evil fool Vasudeva! And also kill my father, Ugrasena, along with his followers, who have all sided with our enemies!
32. As Kamsa thus raved so audaciously, the infallible Lord Krsna, intensely angry, quickly and easily jumped up onto the high royal dais.
33. Seeing Lord Krsna approaching like death personified, the quick-witted Kamsa instantly rose from his seat and took up his sword and shield.
34. Sword in hand, Kamsa moved quickly from side to side like a hawk in the sky. But Lord Krsna, whose fearsome strength is irresistible, powerfully seized the demon just as the son of Tarksya might capture a snake.
35. Grabbing Kamsa by the hair and knocking off his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then the independent Lord, the support of the entire universe, threw Himself upon the King.
36. As a lion drags a dead elephant, the Lord then dragged Kamsa’s dead body along the ground in full view of everyone present. All the people in the arena tumultuously cried out, “Oh! Oh!”
37. Kamsa had always been disturbed by the thought that the Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore when drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or simply breathing, the King had always seen the Lord before him with the disc weapon in His hand. Thus Kamsa achieved the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord’s.
38. Kamsa’s eight younger brothers, led by Kanka and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a rage, seeking to avenge their brother’s death.
39. As they ran swiftly toward the two Lords, ready to strike, the son of Rohini slew them with His club just as a lion easily kills other animals.
40. Kettledrums resounded in the sky as Brahma, Siva and other demigods, the Lord’s expansions, rained down flowers upon Him with pleasure. They chanted His praises, and their wives danced.
41. The wives of Kamsa and his brothers, aggrieved by the death of their well-wishing husbands, came forward with tearful eyes, beating their heads.
42. Embracing their husbands, who lay on a hero’s final bed, the sorrowful women loudly lamented while shedding constant tears.
43. [The women cried out:] Alas, O master, O dear one, O knower of religious principles! O kind and compassionate protector of the shelterless! By your being slain we have also been slain, together with your household and offspring.
44. O great hero among men, bereft of you, its master, this city has lost its beauty, just as we have, and all festivity and good fortune within it have come to an end.
45. O dear one, you have been brought to this state because of the terrible violence you committed against innocent creatures. How can one who harms others attain happiness?
46. Lord Krsna causes the appearance and disappearance of all beings in this world, and He is their maintainer as well. One who disrespects Him can never prosper happily.
47. After consoling the royal ladies, Lord Krsna, sustainer of all the worlds, arranged for the prescribed funeral rites to be performed.
48. Then Krsna and Balarama released Their mother and father from bondage and offered obeisances to them, touching their feet with Their heads.
49. Devaki and Vasudeva, now knowing Krsna and Balarama to be the Lords of the universe, simply stood with joined palms. Being apprehensive, they did not embrace their sons. Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 7, 2011 at 1:31pm
GURU
Guru Kumhaar Shish kumbh hai, Garhi Garhi kade khot, andar haath sanhaar de, baahar bahe chot. Guru is like a Potter and our heads are like the clay mounted on His wheel. Just as the Potter hits the clay on the outside and digs the extra clay and impurities to give it shape from the inside, Guru may be harsh on His children from the outside, but from inside, He loves them and makes them pure.Read more…
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 4, 2011 at 11:01am
Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Javata
One day, Sri Krsna could not meet with Radhika because She was in mana. He became most agitated in separation from Her, so on the advice of Visakha, He disguised himself as a brahmana student. He donned a sacred thread across His shoulder and wooden shoes on His feet. Carrying a begging bowl and staff in His hands and a book under His arm, He arrived at the door of Jatila's house in Javata and began begging by calling out God's name. Since it was morning time, Jatila and kutila(Sri Radhika's mother-in-law and sister-in-law) were making cow-dung patties and had not yet bathed. Because they were not clean, they could not give any alms in charity. They therefore called for Radhika and ordered Her to give alms to the brahmana, but Radhika refused to come before any man other than Her husband. The beggar boy had His own unique style. "Mother", he said," I can not stay here very long. I can only wait for as long as it takes to milk a cow and no longer. It is already time for me to go."
Jatila thought," If this young brahmana leaves empty-handed, it will not be at all auspicious for my family and the cows or any of my family members may die." She entered the house and in a gentle way explained the situation to her daughter-in-law, repeatedly requesting Her to give the mendicant some alms. She then returned to make some cow-dung patties. Srimati Radhika covered Her face with Her veil and carried a plate of flour, lentils and vegetables to the door. Lalita, Visakha and some other sakhis accompanied Her. When She tried to offer them to the beggar, He humbly petitioned Her," I have no need for these alms. Please place Your precious mana in My begging bowl." Now Priyaji understood everything. She smiled, uncovered Her face a little and emptied the whole plate on top of His head. Delighted, the young beggar went His way, meditating upon the alms He had just received from Radhika.
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 2, 2011 at 5:15pm
Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Krsna Kills the Elephant Kuvalayapida
1. Krsna and Balarama, having executed all necessary purification, then heard the kettledrums resounding at the wrestling arena, and They went there to see what was happening.
2. When Lord Krsna reached the entrance to the arena, He saw the elephant Kuvalayapida blocking His way at the urging of his keeper.
3. Securely binding up His clothes and tying back His curly locks, Lord Krsna addressed the elephantkeeper with words as grave as the rumbling of a cloud.
4. [Lord Krsna said:] O driver, driver, move aside at once and let Us pass! If you don’t, this very day I will send both you and your elephant to the abode of Yamaraja!
5. Thus threatened, the elephant-keeper became angry. He goaded his furious elephant, who appeared equal to time, death and Yamaraja, into attacking Lord Krsna.
6. The lord of the elephants charged Krsna and violently seized Him with his trunk. But Krsna slipped away, struck him a blow and disappeared from his view among his legs.
7. Infuriated at being unable to see Lord Kesava, the elephant sought Him out with his sense of smell. Once again Kuvalayapida seized the Lord with the end of his trunk, only to have the Lord forcefully free Himself.
8. Lord Krsna then grabbed the powerful Kuvalayapida by the tail and playfully dragged him twenty-five bow-lengths as easily as Garuda might drag a snake.
9. As Lord Acyuta held on to the elephant’s tail, the animal tried to twist away to the left and to the right, making the Lord swerve in the opposite direction, as a young boy would swerve when pulling a calf by the tail.
10. Krsna then came face to face with the elephant and slapped him and ran away. Kuvalayapida pursued the Lord, managing to touch Him again and again with each step, but Krsna outmaneuvered the elephant and made him trip and fall.
11. As Krsna dodged about, He playfully fell on the ground and quickly got up again. The raging elephant, thinking Krsna was down, tried to gore Him with his tusks but struck the earth instead.
12. His prowess foiled, the lordly elephant Kuvalayapida went into a frenzied rage out of frustration. But the elephant-keepers goaded him on, and he furiously charged Krsna once again.
13. The Supreme Lord, killer of the demon Madhu, confronted the elephant as he attacked. Seizing his trunk with one hand, Krsna threw him to the ground.
14. Lord Hari then climbed onto the elephant with the ease of a mighty lion, pulled out a tusk, and with it killed the beast and his keepers.
15. Leaving the dead elephant aside, Lord Krsna held on to the tusk and entered the wrestling arena. With the tusk resting on His shoulder, drops of the elephant’s blood and sweat sprinkled all over Him, and His lotus face covered with fine drops of His own perspiration, the Lord shone with great beauty.
16. Lord Baladeva and Lord Janardana, each carrying one of the elephant’s tusks as His chosen weapon, entered the arena with several cowherd boys.
17. The various groups of people in the arena regarded Krsna in different ways when He entered it with His elder brother. The wrestlers saw Krsna as a lightning bolt, the men of Mathura as the best of males, the women as Cupid in person, the cowherd men as their relative, the impious rulers as a chastiser, His parents as their child, the King of the Bhojas as death, the unintelligent as the Supreme Lord’s universal form, the yogis as the Absolute Truth and the Vrsnis as their supreme worshipable Deity.
18. When Kamsa saw that Kuvalayapida was dead and the two brothers were invincible, he was overwhelmed with anxiety.
19. Arrayed with variegated ornaments, garlands and garments, just like a pair of excellently costumed actors, the two mighty-armed Lords shone splendidly in the arena. Indeed, They overpowered the minds of all onlookers with Their effulgences.
20. As the citizens of the city and the people from outlying districts gazed upon those two Supreme Personalities from their seats in the galleries, the force of the people’s happiness caused their eyes to open wide and their faces to blossom. They drank in the vision of the Lords’ faces without becoming satiated.
21. The people seemed to be drinking Krsna and Balarama with their eyes, licking Them with their tongues, smelling Them with their nostrils and embracing Them with their arms. Reminded of the Lords’ beauty, character, charm and bravery, the members of the audience began describing these features to one another according to what they had seen and heard.
22. [The people said:] These two boys are certainly expansions of the Supreme Lord Narayana who have descended to this world in the home of Vasudeva.
23. This one [Krsna] took birth from mother Devaki and was brought to Gokula, where He has remained concealed all this time, growing up in the house of King Nanda.
24. He made Putana and the whirlwind demon meet with death, pulled down the twin Arjuna trees and killed Sankhacuda, Kesi, Dhenuka and similar demons.
25. He saved the cows and the cowherds from a forest fire and subdued the serpent Kaliya. He removed Lord Indra’s false pride by holding up the best of mountains with one hand for an entire week, thus protecting the inhabitants of Gokula from rain, wind and hail.
26. The gopis overcame all kinds of distress and experienced great happiness by seeing His face, which is always cheerful with smiling glances and ever free of fatigue.
27. It is said that under His full protection the Yadu dynasty will become extremely famous and attain wealth, glory and power.
28. This lotus-eyed elder brother of His, Lord Balarama, is the proprietor of all transcendental opulences. He has killed Pralamba, Vatsaka, Baka and other demons.
29. While the people talked in this way and the musical instruments resounded, the wrestler Canura addressed Krsna and Balarama with the following words.
30. [Canura said: O son of Nanda, O Rama, You two are well respected by courageous men and are both skillful at wrestling. Having heard of Your prowess, the King has called You here, wanting to see for himself.
31. Subjects of the King who try to please him with their thoughts, acts and words are sure to achieve good fortune, but those who fail to do so will suffer the opposite fate.
32. It is well known that cowherd boys are always joyful as they tend their calves, and that the boys playfully wrestle with each other while grazing their animals in the various forests.
33. Therefore let’s do what the King wants. Everyone will be pleased with us, for the king embodies all living beings.
34. Hearing this, Lord Krsna, who liked to wrestle and welcomed the challenge, replied with words appropriate to the time and place.
35. [Lord Krsna said:] Although forest-dwellers, We are also subjects of the Bhoja king. We must gratify his desires, for such behavior will confer upon Us the greatest benefit.
36. We are just young boys and should play with those of equal strength. The wrestling match must go on properly so that irreligion does not taint the respectable members of the audience.
37. Canura said: You aren’t really a child or even a young man, and neither is Balarama, the strongest of the strong. After all, You playfully killed an elephant who had the strength of a thousand other elephants.
38. Therefore You two should fight powerful wrestlers. There’s certainly nothing unfair about that. You, O descendant of Vrsni, can show Your prowess against me, and Balarama can fight with Mustika.
Posted by geeta kakkar on January 1, 2011 at 11:24am
GURU Yeh Tan Vish ki Belri, Guru Amrit ki Khaan, Shish kate aur Guru mile, to bhi sasta jaan. Our body is like a plant of poison and Guru is a mine of Nectar. Even if the life is sacrificed to reach the Guru, the deal comes at a cheap price. Because, once we reach the Guru and submit our self to Him, the course that our soul will now take, will be defined by our Guru. "Guru Bina Gati Nahin". Without The Guru, we cannot achieve our ultimate aim.Read more…
