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14

THE BIRDS

O mother Yashoda, we have seen
Those birds of the Vrindavan forest.
We know they are enlightened sages.
They have seen Him, Shri Krishna
And now they closed their eyes in deep meditation.

They are resting in the arm-like branches of the Vrindavan trees that are rich in foliage.

We witness their silence. 
They are totally engaged in listening
To Hari’s delightful song. (Bhagavat 10/18/14)

The Svaminis here are speaking to Krishna’s mother, Yashoda. They are all "nirguna", that is, they are all beyond material qualities. That is perhaps why they are so open about their love for Krishna, even in front of His mother. In their worldly lives they are maid-servants who work in Yashoda’s home. They are all unmarried and speak affectionately with Yashoda, the giver of glory.

In olden times, wealth was often viewed in terms of jewels, cows, servants and beautiful young women.

Wealth was collected and gifted
To the Supreme Ruler.

These young virgins who work for mother Yashoda are very insightful. They have pious karma from previous births and know for certain that those Vrindavan birds were human sages. Now they wonder, "How did they become birds?" This thought distressed them until they considered.:

Although they may be birds:
They have the honor to reside in Vrindavan, 
The home of our Beloved. 
They taste the Nectar of the call.

The Svaminis become enthralled when they carefully consider their fortune. They call Yashoda "mother" because she has given birth to Krishna. The Svaminis are refined and always see the higher nature. They begin to reflect upon the nature of those birds, "They are naturally inclined towards meditation.

That is how we know they are sages. Those birds are waiting for Krishna to appear.

They know He will; they know everything.

"They are seers, contemplative and patient. These birds are watching and waiting for Krishna to walk through their forest. They wait for the great opportunity in the protective arms of the noble Vrindavan woods, who are also considered to be high incarnations. From their elevated branches the winged ones will behold Hari only after relishing the call of His flute.

"When He fills the world of Vrindavan with song, the activities begin. The birds will listen carefully and then absorb the vision of Hari. Even after He has passed by them, these sages will not take flight.

They are firm in their vision.
And comprehend the nature of ras.
They know that to fly away would only
Spoil their experience of Hari.

"The bird sages remain focused on Him wherever He wanders. The ras produced by Krishna’s flute is never deficient nor does it resonate like any worldly tone. It could never create any inner obstacles. These blessed birds know this and that is why they experience an uninterrupted rush of His nectar. Shri Krishna’s flute produces sound that is unmanifested elixir. Its call is concealed, sweet and brings forth the experience of ras.

It is the sound of Brahman.
Constant.

"By this sweet call Hari manifests the unmanifested ras for the benefit of others. Then He forms that nectar into a cognizable form.

"The birds have taken refuge in the Vrindavan woods like the ancient sages took the support of the different branches of Vedic wisdom. They rest upon their boughes and have no fear of falling nor any apprehension concerning death.

Even when Krishna wanders far away
They simply close their eyes to the world
And contemplate Him within their hearts.

"Their speech is totally controlled. They speak of nothing besides Krishna. They are firmly established in bhava. If they were to speak to each other while Hari was playing, their ability to hear God would be obstructed. Then their bhava for Him would be adversely affected and their words would all be wasted.

"All of this confirms in our minds that these blessed birds are experiencing the ras of our beloved Hari within their hearts. Through them we are able to grasp that the flute’s call is divine and extremely rare. Otherwise, those sages who became the Vrindavan birds would not be so enraptured by the song. Now they can think of nothing else!

"It is often thought that birds stay in trees with lovely thick foliage to avoid the hunter’s arrows. We see them resting in mango and other trees that have tender and beautiful leaves:

So they will not be distracted
By those beautiful leaves.
They close their eyes for meditation.

"They close their mouths so they will not be tempted to nibble on the tender leaves. It also stops them from chirping. Birds such as parrots have a habit of chattering. Any discussion at this point would only obstruct their encounter of Hari’s magic.

Now the Svaminis will reveal to us what happened to the rivers, streams and springs of Vrindavan upon hearing the call of Shri Krishna’s flute.

THE WATERS

When the rivers and waters of Vrindavan
Heard Mukunda’s call, 
Their arising desires were ebbed and came to a halt.
Then, in appreciation they offered Him their finest lotuses. 
Now Hari has come before them and allows the waters 
To embrace His lotus feet 
With their lapping hands. (Bhagavat 10/18/15)

"When the rivers and springs observed the bids of Vrindavan they all considered,

By just listening to Hari’s call
Those birds have come to know God’s essence.
We could become just like them
Totally enlightened, spiritually accomplished.

"It was at that point that these bodies of water decided to take the teachings of those sagious birds to heart. They began to listen carefully to the flute, that famous call of Hari that freely grants liberation. Then their ebbing currents, all signs of their rising passions and swoons of separation came to a complete standstill.

It is the natural dharma for rivers and springs to flow, 
But in Vrindavan things are very different.
The profound desires of the waters’ hearts
Are filled with wisdom and discrimination.

"We can easily understand how Hari can bring sentient beings to a sudden standstill with His spellbinding presence, but what is amazing here is that He has cast His charm:

Upon insentient flowing bodies of water.
The halting of those springs and rivers
Was not due to weakness or formula.
They stopped to only meet with Hari.

"Krishna became still to accept their embrace. He came right before them so that the rivers and other noble waters of Vrindavan could bring to Him their highest offerings, their lotus flowers. The water’s waves became hands and caressed His feet.

Their dedicated lotus hearts have also
Taken firm hold of His feet.

"Those rivers are goddesses; they are respected divinities and are worshiped by many. Now they have no other desire aside from Hari. They are focused on Krishna’s lila and He made Himself available for their embrace.

"Our Krishna has been connected to water before. That is why He is sometimes called Murari. He received that name when He killed the demon Mura who lived in the water. By doing so, He removed the impurities and ignorance of the waters.

"Now with the touch of His lotus feet, He enlightens the Vrindavan waters. Mukunda, the Gifter of Liberation brings them from :

Unconsciousness to awareness,
From ignorance to wisdom.
Krishna has made water feel.

Now we will speak of an exceptional cloud
Who sees Balaram, the cowlads
And her friend Krishna herding cows and
Playing His flute 
Under the hot sun in Vrindavan.

That Cloud
Becomes filled with love and 
Shades Hari with her expansive form.
She then cools Vrindavan 
With showers of flowers. (Bhagavat 10/18/16)

"It is autumn and the intense sun beats down upon Hari and His friends, His protectors. Krishna is Gopal, the protector of cows. They are all used to the shade. Krishna is also accompanied by His older brother Balaram who increases the love of the participants. Krishna is surrounded:

By the gods. 
The divinities are His associates
Appearing for this special occasion in cowlad forms.
Shri Krishna is always accompanied by dharma.

"When Hari sounds His flute, He awakens all the divinities of Braja. He is playing with all of His potencies, blissfully making exchange with His lila-partners and lovers. Shade is required for this activity and this is the role of that special cloud.

She loves Hari and has perfected her devotion
To such an extent that she is God’s friend.

"She understands what is required of the situation and expands herself to provide adequate shade for the lila taking place beneath her. It was the love she felt for Shri Krishna that elated her and made her expand.

As her love increased, so did her form. 
It was all for the pleasure of Hari.

"As an act of selfless friendship, this Cloud rose to the exalted position of being able to offer her very essence to Him; she showered flowers upon Him, an act of supreme refuge. It is said that,

Flowers are the nectar of clouds.

"As she showered her flowers, this cloud rose from being Hari’s friend, the eighth level of devotion to offering her very Self to Him, the nineth devotion.

The Cloud was first moved by love
That increased when she heard His glories
And then matured into a fast friendship.

It was love that inspired her to take her form.

"Clouds are considered to be the forms of desire and can take on any shape at will. It was because of her great affection and the nature of Hari’s play that she expanded and shaded all the lila-players. She was not at all troubled by her efforts, but rather enthralled.

"One who is born and can develop and cultivate devotion to God attains "atmanivedanam", the blessed state of Soulful Dedication. That cloud perfected "atmanivedanam".

"Some compare that cloud to Krishna since she is:

Charitable like Hari.
She also shares His hue and
Like Him, nourishes and helps create life
With her nourishing waters.

"Those who share similar qualities are generally friends. This cloud excels even in friendship. She has given everything she owns to Krishna. Her nectar essence of flowers is freely offered to Hari, an act of selfless love.

"This all indicates that she is playing with Krishna as if she is Laxshmi herself. More on that intimate lila when we praise Hari’s forest women, the Pulindis.

The cowlads herd the cows,
Balaram protects the quarters
While Krishna’s flute awakens Vrindavan.
Then there is dalliance in God’s playground.

"This Cloud is a true friend like the serpant god Shesh who once sheltered Shri Krishna with his thousand hoods.

Now the Svaminis speak of the low caste tribal women, the forest dwelling Pulindis.

The Pulindi tribal women of the forest
Were overwhelmed with passion
For Shri Krishna, Who is also called 
Urugaya.

To quell their pain of separation
They used "kum kum", 
The red powder, 
That graces Shri Laxshmi’s breasts.

From Krishna’s lotus feet it
Found its way into the Vrindavan grass. 
From there the Pulindis collected it 
And applied it onto their faces and breasts.

By connecting in this way
With Beloved Hari,
These tribal women 
Became perfected. (Bhagavat 10/18/17)

"The Pulindis, the forest tribal women who live by the Govardhan Hill, abide close to our Beloved. Their growing bhakti makes them exalted. They are peerless and have a direct connection to Shri Krishna’s lotus feet.

"Shri Krishna is respected and replete, the conclusion of the scriptures and praised by His bhaktas. His lotus feet are adorned by Shri Laxshmi, the Splendor Goddess.

"It was after deep reflection that Shri Lakshmi chose Hari. She then prepared the red "kum kum" powder and applied it with great devotion to Krishna’s lotus feet.

And in the love play that followed 
The Couples’ special positions 
Allowed the love powder 
To find its way to Laxshmi’s breasts.

The "kum kum" is a lila-substance
Filled with divine energy.
It now graces Laxshmi’s breasts
And enters Her heart.

"When Krishna walked on the Vrindavan grass, the "kum kum" on His feet formed impressions that looked like alligators, a creature reknown for potency. Somehow some "kum kum" found its way to Hari’s hands, but was again dropped at His feet. Then, when Krishna wandered the Vrindavan abode, some of the "kum kum" came to embellish the grass.

"When the Pulindis saw the graced powder, they instantly realized Laxshmi’s pleasures with Hari.

They saw the lila, 
The love plays.

"It was at that point that Krishna’s dalliance became known to them and it made their passions arise. To quell the rise of their divine desires they spread the blessed substance, the lila love-powder, all over their faces and breasts in an attempt to regain some composure.

"By simply applying the powder, Shri Laxshmi entered them and they became worthy. They could now be enjoyed by Hari, their pains of separation relieved in the encounter.

In this amazing manner the Pulindis were perfected.

"What we relate to you here is a divine description of Hari’s play of transcendence. Krishna is called "Urugaya" because the Pulindis heard of Him and then praised Him from their hearts.

"When compared to these tribal women living deep in the forest, We are inferior.

Desire can be a source of agony to the heart.

The nirguna Svaminis now speak amongst themselves.

O friends, how sad it is that Hari
Does not even touch us 
The way He does the Govardhan Hill.

When Ram and Krishna wander about the mount,
That king of peaks becomes totally enraptured
And affords the Divine Brothers and Their herds of cows
Water, grass, caves and roots.

Of all bhaktas, we consider 
Govardhan to be the best. (Bhagavata 10/18/18)

"If you wonder how the Pulindis became so devotionally exalted, it was due to their association with that great bhakta, the Govardhan Hill.

"How distressing that we also live near the sacred hill, yet are not blessed with their experiences of Shri Krishna. Truly, among all of Hari’s followers, we count the Govardhan Hill as the foremost. We have good reason:

Most mountains are unconscious but
Govardhan has been thrilled with the touch
Of Ram and Krishna as They herd Their cows.

"We know that bhakti practioners are accomplished real saints. When touched by devotion once, they remain in a continual state of bliss. They are like the Govardhan Hill.

Govardhan is pure
Govardhan is "nirguna"
Full of non-worldly virtues.

"Although penniless, the Hill offers the cows, the cowlad gods, as well as Ram and Krishna water, grass, caves and roots. The Govardhan Hill is a fine host to its lila guests. Four items of hospitality never leave the saint’s abode.

A grass mat to sit on.
A place on earth to entertain.
Water to refresh the guest.
And sweet speech, pleasing to the mind.

"See how the Govardhan Hill maintains those four traditions. On its slopes there is ample grass for comfortable seating and food for herding cows. The hill’s springs disperse fresh water. For earth Govardhan provides caves that shelter everyone from elements like rain.

"Since the hill cannot speak, it offers roots. Some are eaten raw, the others beg to be cooked. Sweet speech and food are both subjects of the mouth. The Govardhan hill offers various edibles and presents Krishna and His friends a total meal. Govardhan is the foremost of all bhaktas and is always content and provides comfort to others.

"Compared to such a great devotee as the Govardhan Hill, we appear to be truly lacking. We are unable to even approach that sacred mount, never mind to find and collect any roots for our Beloved there. We cannot offer a single ras. We are frustrated and visibly agitated like when Krishna stole and ate our precious butter. But what can we do? We are not as capable as those Pulindi tribal women we mentioned earlier. They are inspired by the Govardhan hill and please Krishna by offering Him collections of edible roots all gathered from that divine hill.

"We are similar in form to our Beloved Hari. But why does He always choose to grace rocks and others who are not even His own kind while He astutely avoids us?"

O friend
It is all so amazing
The way Krishna and Balaram
Move from forest to forest 
With their cows and cowlads.

When They play Their benevolent sweet flutes
It creates complete immobility in
Otherwise moving conscious entities while
In trees and other insentient ones
He brings forth complete consciousness.

Now those embodied beings
Are thrilled by Krishna
Who adorns Himself with a rope
For binding cows 
At milking time.

"Our Hari is totally contrary to anything we have seen in the world. It is the nature of His lila. Although He actually does nothing, the cows and others capable of motion are amazed by His presence. They are spellbound; all their movements have come to a halt.

"Hari not only affects the mobile ones, but even touches those who are confined to a single place their entire lives.

The trees are aware of Hari’s presence.
It makes them spontaneously bloom, 
They have become thrilled and ooze sweet sap.

"We are amazed and know that we are also meritorious of receiving Hari’s nectar, yet somehow have been deemed unworthy by Him. This is why Shri Krishna does not bless us with His nectar while those tribal women, who should be considered unworthy, Hari made deserving and awarded them His nectar association.

"Hari’s movement through the forest with His cows and cowlads, the melodious song of the flutes and the touch of His lotus feet upon the ground purified the cows and godly cowlads and everything in the forest. Vrindavan is now free of contradiction. This is due to the prevasive presence of

Krishna’s dharma. 
His exalted presence has covered Vrindavan 
And puts everyone and everything 
Into a devotional "samadhi".

"That noble flute, the creator of the wonderful song, enjoys Krishna’s nectar. What it cannot contain it passes on to the trees. They stand enraptured.

 "Shri Krishna makes conscious beings inanimate and insentient beings conscious.

"When there is victory over the base nature, then the individual becomes a part of the lila and can experience Shri Krishna. Only then is there a comprehension and taste of ras. By Krishna’s contact, the godly cowlads attained lila-powers. That is why they are called "rasikas".

"Rasikas" savor lila. 
Their presence contributes 
To the purification of the forest.

"When Hari and the cows return to the cow pen in Gokul in the late afternoon, His forest-wandering cows see that Krishna is ready to milk them. The cows are all pleased and stand prepared to pour forth their nectar for Him without any complications. Krishna’s approach is slow and silent, very sweet. Nothing should disturb the cows at milking time. There should be peace when nectar flows. We call out to our fellow bhaktas because we have all come to the cow pen to see and meet with Hari.

To end the day of separation.

"We are of one mind and are all In Love with Hari. We see the most wonderful condition of Vrindavan’s conscious and unconscious entities.

"Now Krishna has a rope in His hand. It is used to restrain the cows. He ties their legs so He can easily milk them. When the trees and other steadfast growth see Hari with that rope they consider, ‘He will also bind us.’

In the dismay and excitement of the moment 
They exude nectar.

Now the sage Shri Sukadeva concludes the flute calling lila. It is the last portion of the "prameya lila" wherein the Svaminis of Braja, having realized that Krishna is God, now refine that realization by understanding that Krishna is their eternal Lord and Husband. Now they will explore different means to realize that relationship within the world. Before these chapters are revealed, Sukadeva tells the attentive king about the result of the Svamini’s praise of the flute.

20

O king, you have listened to the song of Krishna’s flute.
You have heard how the Svaminis sang to each other
About Hari’s uninhibited Vrindavan play
And became totally absorbed into His lila.

"Good King, what you have heard is a description of a single lila. Know that Krishna’s plays are unlimited and that is why He is called Bhagavan, the holder of the six virtues."

When the divine attributes mingle,
There is infinite expansion of liberated lilas.
Krishna can never be contained by any law
Because by nature He is unlimited.

The Svaminis are now familiar with Him and express to each other the nature of His inner lila and how it is an unrestrained love-play.

They have entered into the realm of Hari’s glories and are totally absorbed, unaware of anything else except for Shri Krishna’s lila. They only see His Play, whether they are asleep or awake.

Their attachment and one-pointedness can be compared to an insect that is trapped in a crevice. Outside a hungry black bee awaits, ready to devour the insect. The insect is terrified and thinks of nothing besides the black bee. The insect’s meditation on the black bee is so overwhelming that-

The insect is transformed
Into a black bee!

In a similar way, the Svaminis are so engrossed in Hari’s lila that they became the lila, that is, a part of it. No other consciousness remains and this process has liberated them. They have forgotten "samsara" and now only remember God. They are freed from the cycles of coming and going. Their attachment to Hari is firm and they are totally forgetful of everything else.

This chapter divulges how Hari revealed His ras nature to the Svaminis of Braja and in doing so, they became continuously conscious of God. Their attainment is to be emulated.