Tag Archive for: Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Krishna Nectar Lila 52 – “THE GOPIS FALL IN LOVE”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

When Krishna’s beloved gopi Radhika appeared the whole world drowned in unlimited transcendental ecstasy.

Radhika’s touch turned the village of Vrndavana into an abode of the sweetest fortune. The birth of the flower-archer Cupid attained perfection by Radha’s presence, and the poets achieved perfection by praising the mellow exchanges of Radha and Krishna.   

The gopis were extremely anxious to meet Krishna, but they did not manifest any external symptoms of their ecstasy. Transcendental lust had taken over their minds, but they did not show any lusty behavior. Though desiring, they did not act on their desire. They sustained their lives with just one thought: “Soon we will enjoy many playful pastimes with our beloved Syamasundara.”

The gopis hid this intense longing deep in their hearts. They covered the emotions swirling within their hearts with a veneer of boundless shyness. Their sudden detachment from ordinary activities created a slight fear within their minds.

The functions of their minds appeared to be hampered by a type of dreaminess. The incurable disease of inertia had mysteriously infected the gopis. The sudden transformation of the gopis’ minds resembled a type of rice that is ripe inside though appearing raw outside.

Though the gopis concealed their internal attachment to Krishna, their relatives detected a change in their behavior. The experience of rasa transcends verbal description. It can only be appreciated by tasting and feeling it.

In the same way, no words can accurately depict the agitation in the gopis’ minds due to their rising love for Krishna. As a word like Ganga has both outer and inner meanings, similarly, no one can know the confidential desires within the minds of the gopis just by observing their outer behavior.

Somehow they maintained patience despite the fact that the forceful movements of their hearts spun their minds in circles. Though concerned, the gopis did nothing to stop the growing force of their desire. Just as one with a fever always feels thirsty, the gopis always felt severe aching in their bones and joints due to the raging fire of their intense desire to enjoy with Krishna.

As termites eat dry bamboo devoid of moisture (rasa), the termites of desire slowly nibbled away the dry, mellow (rasa)less hearts of the gopis. Although their minds vibrated with attraction for Krishna, their tender bodies were not yet experienced in savoring the sweet mellows of love.

The disturbance in the gopis’ minds made their cheeks turn pale yellow in color like the lavalé fruit. Their lips dried out like fresh leaves withered by the sun. As the petals of blue lotus flowers loose their luster with the arrival of winter, the childish glimmer in the blue lotus eyes of the gopis gradually faded with the onset of youthful desires. They breathed heavily as if afflicted by sunstroke.

Their erratic movements resembled a deranged person moving here and there without any purpose. Uttering incoherent phrases, the gopis appeared like a person who has lost his speaking ability due to negative planetary influences. When a person develops a mood of detachment he loses interest in domestic affairs, similarly, the gopis became totally detached from their homes and relatives.

Day by day the minds of the gopis were steadily and spontaneously more attracted to Krishna. This created contempt for their household chores. But they carefully hid these feelings even from their closest friends. As the gopis blossomed with youth, they looked incredibly beautiful and effulgent.

Gradually, the gopis understood each other’s purva-raga (love prior to meeting). Radhika’s flourishing heart radiated most prominently. To hide the intolerable rise of affection that they felt for Krishna, the gopis acted in various tricky ways. With their intelligence they reassured themselves of the reality of their deep attachment to Krishna.

Pushed by their disturbed minds, the gopis gave many valuable ornaments to each other in charity. The effulgence of this jewelry rivaled that of royalty, and resembled the beautiful radiance of Krishna’s transcendental body. Receiving these ornaments, the gopis felt blissful and manifested various symptoms of divine ecstasy such as crying, thrill-bumps, and standing up of bodily hairs.

Kajala highlighted their eyes and blue lotus flowers adorned their ears. The sweet fragrance of those flowers filled the earth with jubilation. Because those lotus earrings reminded them of Krishna’s beautiful body, they enlivened the gopis and removed the pain in their hearts. The blue lotuses made a perfect match for the golden bodies of the gopis.

While thus absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, the gopis chanted His sweet name. As the nectar of the name exhilarated their hearts, the gopis displayed various symptoms of ecstatic love. Waterfalls of tears washed away the kajala bordering their lotus-petal eyes. Their life airs seemed to pass out of their fragile bodies as they sighed deeply. Their heavy breathing and tear-filled eyes brought the gopis to a wonderful state of intensely desiring to meet Krishna.

Overwhelmed with such feelings of love, one gopi joked with a girlfriend. “O sakhi! Ah! My heart pains and is full of grief. I am completely contaminated by lust. Upon seeing the beautiful form of Syamasundara, my tears have moistened the pathway of my eyes.”

Her girlfriend replied cleverly, “Though you are not wearing a blue sapphire, your body is showing the symptoms of divine ecstasy. You have not directly smelled that blue lotus, yet even smelling it from a distance has filled your nose with jubilation. Your eyes and other senses are also illuminated with ecstasy due to this absorption. Therefore I think you should have this ecstatic encounter again and again.”

Due to the appearance of their unparalleled love for Krishna, the gopis talked madly with each other. One gopi said to herself, “O sakhi! Do not lament! This is the life of one who rejects the rules of morality. Only because of this are you full of remorse and lamentation. It is a well-known fact that you have a secret love for Krishna. Are you becoming adversely affected by the celestial power of all the gems you are wearing? Or are you just going crazy?” 

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 51 -“THE YOGI GOPIS”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

As Krishna entered His pauganda period (six to ten years old) He looked exceedingly attractive with His sweet nectarean smile, puffy raised cheeks, and the natural fragrance of His body.

At this time Krishna and Balarama no longer played in the dust of Vrndavana, nor did They play with the honeybees that always buzz in the lotus flowers. For mother Bhumi, the touch of Krishna’s lotus feet gave the perfection of happiness. At six years of age Krishna and the gopas, the abodes of purity and good qualities, stopped caring for the calves and tended the cows instead.

Now Krishna rarely acted restlessly and frivolously as He did during His kaumara period. As a student of the Vedas becomes sober and serious, Krishna turned thoughtful and grave in His movements. His waist reduced to slender proportions and His eyes shone with a glimmer of excitement. He cast anxious glances in all directions. Where did Krishna’s naughty childish behavior suddenly go?

As a great epic is full of expertly placed words and phrases, similarly, Krishna now used precise language with perfect pronunciation. The nectarean beauty of Krishna’s effulgence far surpassed the splendor of a tamala tree blooming in spring with fresh sprouts and colorful flowers. Every part of Krishna’s transcendental body diffused a special sweetness like the liquid nectar oozing from a lotus flower.

When flower buds unfold their petals, pollen, and honey they become surrounded by swarms of eager bees. Similarly, at this time Krishna’s body revealed all the qualities of beauty, softness, fragrance, and sweetness. Krishna combined these attributes with a playful desire to enjoy in a way just suitable for this age. This is symptomatic of His characteristic as Cupid personified and His dhira lalita nature (a youthful hero expert at joking, devoid of anxiety, and controlled by the prema of His beloveds).

The creeper named syama-lata becomes free from bitterness before it produces fruits. Even before fully ripe, the fruits are soft, tasty, and tempting. Similarly, though not fully mature, Krishna’s body displayed a tantalizing charm. As a necklace acquires more attraction when strung with different jewels, similarly, the elegance of Krishna’s body enhanced from the variety of radiant pastimes He performed.

The serenity of a lake is destroyed when intoxicated elephants enter and playfully spray water from their trunks. Similarly, Krishna’s broad chest and wide shoulders emanated a sweet wantonness that enchanted and agitated the minds of all observers. 

Radha and all the other beloved gopis of Krishna appeared on earth along with the Lord. Krishna’s complexion compares with the hue of a blue sapphire, a blue lotus, or a fresh monsoon cloud. The complexion of the gopis’ defeats the brilliance of molten gold, lightning, and golden campaka flowers. The gopis appeared on earth within two weeks or one month of the birth of Sri Krishna.

The beauty of any one gopi could easily crush the pride of Parvati. To increase the various flavors of Radha-Govinda’s srngara-rasa (ecstatic conjugal love), the gopis appeared in Vrndavana to selflessly serve Krishna, the fountainhead of madhura-rasa. Radhika and Syama could not have relished the summit of sweetness in srngara-rasa without the Vraja gopis.

In the beginning stage, tulasi manjaris grow straight but upon developing they turn crooked. Similarly, Radhika and the other lovers of Krishna behaved innocently and honestly as children, but upon attaining youth they were crafty and cunning. As a verse from an epic can have many different meanings, the gopis’ speech at this time contained many outer and inner meanings.

The slow and measured steps of the gopis resembled the gentle dripping of water falling off the edge of a roof after a monsoon. The gopis felt a little insecure about the new sensations they felt upon flowering into youth. As the whorl of a lotus flower looks like a golden demigod sitting there ruling over his kingdom, it seemed that the demigod of lust had suddenly taken possession of the gopis’ hearts and established his kingdom there. They no longer cared to play in the dust of Vrndavana.

The palms of the gopis now displayed a pinkish hue like the rising sun. Their reddened lips looked like luscious ripe bimba fruits shining with nectar. Under the control of Cupid, their eyes and limbs moved in various enchanting ways. Their hips expanded with shapely curves and their speech sounded sweet and captivating.

The gopis now walked with petite and gentle steps. Their long, thick hair defeated the dense darkness. These beautiful characteristics heralded the glories of the gopis like a raised flag waving in the wind. The subtle powers of the nine planets now reposed within them.

Since they had lost all the attributes of their childhood, the gopis now plundered the special qualities of others. Their restless running here and there as children reentered their eyes as furtive glances. Their waists became very slender as the broadness of their childhood waists moved out to their hips. Their talkative nature as children turned into the abundant sweetness of youth.

The eight mystic siddhis now resided in the bodies of the gopis. Anima-siddhi (becoming smaller than the smallest) entered their waists. Mahima-siddhi (becoming bigger than the biggest) took shelter within the broad hips of the gopis. Laghima-siddhi (becoming lighter than the lightest) entered their rarely spoken words. Prapti-siddhi (acquire whatever one desires) took the form of the gopis’ shyness.

Kamavasayita-siddhi (obtain anything from anywhere) moved into the corner of their eyes. Vasitva-siddhi (ability to control others) took shelter in the gopis’ glances. Prakamya-siddhi (fulfillment of all desires) manifested in the sweetness of their forms. Isitva-siddhi (create something wonderful or willfully annihilate something) entered their sidelong glances. Thus the eight mystic siddhis fully manifested within the bodies of the gopis.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 50 – “Krishna: Crest Jewel of Magicians”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The mothers of the boys greeted them happily and beautified them by cleansing the dust from their bodies. With excitement and animation the cowherd boys told the wonderful pastimes of Krishna.
They said, “Mother, Krishna is the crest jewel of all magicians. We personally saw His astounding activities. Our hearts filled with joy as we watched Him perform impossible feats. Once Krishna came and saved us when we were trapped in a devastating fire that burned us like poison.”
Pointing with his right index finger, Vrajaraja Nanda ordered his royal attendants to serve Krishna. After bathing Him, they fed Him food and drinks. The learned Krishna, of reddish eyes and charming character, found relief in their tender care. His body excelled the softness of a çiréña flower and the coolness of camphor. After mother Yasoda tenderly fondled her beloved son, Nanda asked Krishna to take rest.
Nanda Maharaja said, “Yasoda, as a wealthy man keeps his clothes and servants in separate rooms, now I think we should make a separate room for Krishna to sleep in.”
Smiling slightly, Yasoda replied, “But it seems that only a few days have passed since His birth. Even now He can hardly protect Himself. I cannot live a moment without having Him sit on my lap.”
Understanding her heart, Nanda Maharaja replied with gentle words, “O Yasoda, your memory is not very good. From the moment of His birth you have enjoyed the wealth of His pastimes. On one side we are very wealthy.” By not replying Yasoda communicated her approval. Nanda felt elated to see her response, so the next day he built special quarters for Krishna.
Despite unlimited personal efforts one cannot understand the transcendental pastimes of Krishna. Even though he outwits the best of yogis, Lord Brahma became totally bewildered by this tiny boy.
During this time Krishna killed a variety of demons like Vatsasura, Bakasura, and Aghasura. Krishna also bewildered Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, while enjoying a picnic on the bank of Yamuna. Thus ends the description of the kaumara lila of Lord Sri Krishna.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 49 – “True Loving Friendship”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
Sri Krishna then rejoined His calves that were sitting peacefully munching on fresh grass. Rotating His stick above His head, Krishna signaled to the calves to go back home. The calves ran so quickly that the half-eaten grass fell out of their mouths onto the ground.
After bewildering Lord Brahma, the Supreme Brahman, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, in the form of a human being, took the calves, which were still sitting where they were a year earlier, and brought them to the riverbank, where He had previously enjoyed a picnic with His boyfriends. Yogis who perceive this pastime laugh in transcendental bliss.
As soon as the cowherd boys saw Krishna, the peerless jewel, they no longer felt the distress of separation in their minds. Although the boys had passed an entire year apart from the Lord of their lives, due to the covering of Krishna’s illusory potency, they felt the year to be half a moment.
The cowherd boys said to Krishna, “O brother! You have quickly returned after defeating the soldiers of the enemy. We have not eaten even one morsel of food in Your absence.”
Illuminated by their bright smiles, the faces of the boys looked very sweet and beautiful. Then the cowherd boys surrounded their beloved friend Krishna, the remover of all fear.
The cowherd boys continued, “Please take Your meal without distraction.” The loving friendship they shared with Krishna freed the boys from all types of agony and distress. Seeing their happy faces, Krishna felt unlimited joy within His heart. After relishing this wonderful exchange of transcendental love, Krishna decided to conclude the joyful picnic and return home.
Krishna tried to cheer up the boys in order to alleviate the fatigue they felt in their arms and legs from playing so many games. To get relief from the scorching sunshine Krishna and His friends put on refreshing flower garlands and laid down under the shade of a big tree. Using the thigh of one boy for a pillow, Krishna rested briefly.
Above their heads the sun rushed across the courtyard of the sky to enter his house and meet his loving wife, the western direction. To reduce the fiery pain of separation he felt from his wife during the day, the sun radiated blistering heat waves on the people of earth. Seeing the sun disappearing with his wife, the lotus flowers lost their luster and felt unhappy. As the rays of the setting sun reflected across the ocean of the sky, Krishna decided to bring the calves back home to Vrndavana.
When the cowherd boys blew on their flutes and buffalo horns to call the calves the vibration echoed in all directions. Feeling empty and unhappy, the cowherd boys reluctantly left the forest to return home when they saw rain clouds racing across the evening sky. Taking pleasure in associating with the lord of their heart, the boys gathered all the calves and quickly walked home.
Noticing the remains of the huge body of the dead serpent Aghasura, the cowherd boys thought of using it as a cave for future pastimes. Soon they reached the edge of the village. Eager to drink their mothers’ milk, the calves extended their front legs and tried to run quickly. But since their affectionate Lord Krishna moved behind them, their rear legs refused to cooperate with the front ones, and thus they could not run very fast.
As Krishna approached Vrndavana a flow of nectar poured from His lotus lips as He played sweetly on His flute. The ears of the Vrajavasis bathed in spiritual bliss by drinking that ambrosia. They felt the ultimate joy in seeing His lovely form.
Beholding the beauty of Krishna brought life back to their bodies that had died in His separation. Due to intense affection the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda melted in ecstasy. Allured by the sweet sound of Krishna’s flute, they hurried to the town gate to greet Him.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 48 – “Prayers of Submission”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
Krishna showed Lord Brahma an extremely grave mood. As the puppet master of this entire pastime, Krishna moved everyone and everything according to His own desire. He enacted the drama to show the whole universe a wonderful display of His transcendental energy. Realizing the severity of his offence, Brahma offered obeisances again and again at the lotus feet of the Lord. Then Brahma, his head bent low and his body trembling, very humbly glorified Krishna with faltering words.
“O son of Vrajaraja Nanda! All glories to You! Your enchanting gunja necklace shines brighter than the moon. A splendid forest garland swings on Your transcendental body. Equipped with a herding stick, buffalo horn, and a flute tucked in Your belt, You stand beautifully with a morsel of food in Your hands. I glorify Your wonderful transcendental body that is the source of consciousness.
“One who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, while patiently suffering the reactions of his past karma and always serving You with his body, mind, and heart, will definitely inherit Your inexhaustible abode. My disrespectful dealings toward You and Your friends are reprehensible. You are the supreme controller and the foremost of all mystics.
“O Lord! Your effulgent transcendental body is full of spiritual bliss and free from all material contamination. Who can match Your boundless qualities? As an intoxicated bee becomes absorbed in drinking the nectar of a flower, similarly, the mind of a person who has received the mercy of a sad-guru becomes absorbed in tasting the nectar of Your service.
“Indeed, such a wise and fortunate person is very rare in this world. Only Your devotees, whose consciousness has become pure by serving Your merciful lotus feet, can perceive the mysteries of Your transcendental pastimes. Without rendering loving service unto You, even one who knows all the Vedas will fail to understand You. Ah! Even the personified Vedas could not attain the dust of Your lotus feet!
“Anyone born in Vrndavana is the most fortunate of men. Also blessed are those who contact the pollen from the lotus feet of Your eternal associates. Afterall, Your family, beloved friends, character, opulences, and holy dhama of Vrndavana are nothing but expansions of Your very self. Therefore, my dear Lord! Please allow me to take birth as a bird, beast, human being, or even as a creeper in Vrndavana.
“I too desire such a position because You derive great pleasure from the service rendered by all these creatures such as the cows, bulls, birds, and parrots. By taking any type of birth in Vrndavana I will give up my false ego, and attain the opportunity to serve Your lotus feet which are the storehouse of unlimited treasures.
“The Vrajavasis are the most glorious of all living entities. They have attained the summit of all pious activities. Although You are the shelter of everything in creation, You take shelter of the residents of Vrndavana. Although You are the matchless, omnipotent Absolute Truth, You make friends with the Vrajavasis and live amongst them as their greatest treasure. What could be more amazing than this?
“O Lord of creation! You expanded Yourself as thousands of calves to drink the milk of Vraja’s cows. Who can estimate the limits of the good fortune of these pious cows? Lord Siva, myself, and the other presiding deities of the eleven senses utilize the senses of the Vrajavasis as the cups through which we repeatedly drink the intoxicating beverage of the honey nectar of Your lotus feet. By this divine connection we have also become fortunate. However, the good fortune enjoyed by the Vrajavasis who directly and intimately serve You is beyond description.
“Dressing attractively like Your mother, Putana smeared deadly poison on her breast and came to kill You. Yet You mercifully promoted her to the spiritual world. How can You possibly repay the Vrajavasis who have given You everything they have? Just thinking about this bewilders my mind.
Lord Brahma concludes his stuti saying, “O Lord! Until one surrenders to Your lotus feet, he will remain in a fallen condition imprisoned by the contamination of lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion, and madness. O dearest of everyone! Without a doubt, only pious and intelligent persons can know Your inconceivable qualities. Definitely Your glories are beyond the comprehension of my body, mind, and words.”

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 47 – “A Bath of Tears”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
After waiting a moment (in his celestial time standard) Brahma returned to Vrndavana. He was totally astonished to see Krishna playing with the boys and calves just as before, even though a complete year had passed by earthly calculation. Greatly bewildered, Brahma thought, “Are these the same calves I stole? Or have some other calves appeared in their place? Actually it appears the calves that I stole are all illusory, and that these are the real calves.”
Brahma’s pride being crushed; he chastised himself for attempting to show off his paltry power before the unlimited potency of Lord Krishna, who mystifies the whole universe. Rather than bewildering the Lord, Brahma perplexed himself with his mystic force. This offensive act filled Lord Brahma with great remorse.
As Brahma gazed at the boys, he saw them as four-handed Visnu forms fully decorated with priceless ornaments, and holding the four symbols of the Lord (conch, lotus, club, disc). These forms embodied unlimited bliss and knowledge, and their combined effulgences surpassed the light of millions of suns and moons. Their bodily hairs stood erect in ecstasy, and the perspiration coming from their bodies resembled the globe-like universes rising from the pores of Lord Visnu.
All these Visnu forms of bluish hue wore yellow silken garments that glowed like lightning. They were bedecked with jeweled earrings, crowns, necklaces, armlets, and glittering golden bangles that jingled sweetly. Swarms of buzzing bees hovered above the fresh, tender tulasi garlands that hung to their thighs. The tiny tinkling bells suspended from their golden belts emitted delicate enticing sounds.
Then Brahma saw that space, the time factor, the three modes of material nature, the five elements, the seasons, the eight mystic perfections, the nine planets, the ten directions, the presiding deities of the senses, the fourteen Manus, and all the other aspects of material creation had been subjugated by the potency of the Lord. They had taken personal forms to worship the Lord. Those Visnu forms, whose transcendental bodies shone with beauty and opulence, blessed everyone with their compassionate sidelong glances.
One can perceive this truth only by the mercy of the Lord. Understanding Brahma’s bewilderment, Krishna at once removed the curtain of His Yogamaya. Then Brahma realized that Vasudeva is everything. And he immediately saw Vasudeva, the Absolute Truth, standing before him in Vrndavana as Krishna.
With a stick, flute, and buffalo horn tucked in the sash around His waist, and a lump of rice and yogurt in His hand, the Absolute Truth, Sri Krishna, was searching everywhere for the calves and His cowherd friends. The transcendental form of Krishna acts as a rasayana (life giving tonic) to all His friends.
After seeing this, Brahma hastily got down from his swan carrier and fell down before the Lord like a golden stick. He touched the lotus feet of Krishna with the tips of his four crowns, which appeared like the four golden peaks of Mt. Sumeru. The effulgence of the costly jewels on these crowns seemed to be running out to touch the lotus feet of the Lord.
The unlimited radiance of Krishna’s toe rings, however, neutralized that effulgence. Merely by the touch of Krishna’s splendid toenails, the effulgence of Brahma attained perfection. Offering his obeisances, Brahma bathed the feet of Krishna with his tears of joy.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 46 – “Balarama Baffled”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
Balarama, although happy to see the intense love shared between the cows and calves, felt doubtful about it since the calves had already grown up and stopped sucking milk from their mothers. He pondered, “Aha! How astonishing! My affection and that of all the Vrajavasis toward these boys and calves is increasing as never before. It perfectly resembles the love we all feel for Krishna, the Supersoul of every living entity.
This must be a display of the Lord’s inconceivable energy (acintya-sakti). Otherwise, how could I, the elder brother of that unborn Lord who wields the disc that destroys the illusory energy, become bewildered by some mystical display of maya? Therefore I will inquire from that crest-jewel of all mystics.”
Balarama continued, “Krishna, I am amazed! I have faith that You possess superior intelligence beyond My comprehension. Now I can see that You alone have manifested Yourself in the different forms of these calves and boys. They are none other than expansions of Your personal energy as four-armed Narayana forms. Please tell Me why You have done this?”
Honoring Balarama’s request, Yasodanandana satisfied Him by describing the pastime from beginning to end. No one can count the unlimited waves of Krishna’s blissful pastimes.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 45 – “Gau Vatsa Prema”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
As usual, the cowherd boys (now expansions of Krishna) danced gleefully to the captivating sound of Krishna’s flute. Their frolicking steps enriched Mother Earth with the quality of bliss. Whistling on their panpipes, they called their beloved calves and returned to Vrndavana. When they arrived home their mothers showered the same affection on them that they had previously shown to Krishna.
Overflowing with parental love, each mother felt unlimited joy upon seeing her son, who was none other than Krishna. Previously, the Vrajavasis had more affection for Krishna than for their own children. But now for one year they displayed ever-increasing affection toward their sons, the expanded forms of Krishna.
The cowherd boy expansions of Subala, Sridama, and others pleased their mothers with their usual activities of bathing, eating, and dressing. Unlike other days, however, on that day the boys did not describe the pastimes they had enjoyed with Krishna. The calves ran to their respective mothers who affectionately licked their bodies again and again merging in an unlimited ocean of bliss. Overwhelmed with parental love, the cows bellowed with deep loving voices and then slept with their calves.
When Krishna returned home, Nanda picked Him up, embraced Him, and placed Him on his lap. Nanda feared that his beard might scratch Krishna’s delicate face, which is softer than a lotus. Lifting up Krishna’s turban, Nanda Maharaja smelled His head and then affectionately kissed Him. Although enjoying the highest pleasure just by smelling his son’s head, Nanda cried when Krishna jumped off his lap to run to mother Yasoda, the perfect form of parental love. Yasoda lovingly fondled her son, massaged Him with fragrant oil, and bathed Him to remove the dust from grazing the calves. Then she dressed Krishna in fresh clothing and fed Him sumptuously. After satisfying her invincible son, who is the embodiment of eternity, Yasoda put Him to rest on a comfortable bed covered with a mattress as white as the foam of milk.
At sunrise the next day, Yasoda and the other mothers prepared their sons for going to the forest by carefully decorating them with different ornaments. After taking breakfast all the boys met Krishna in the courtyard of His house. Since He could not proceed to the forest without first pleasing His parents, Krishna allowed Nanda and Yasoda to caress Him to their heart’s content. Even then they insisted on accompanying Him to the edge of the forest. Collecting all His intimate friends and their calves, His own expansions, Krishna walked toward the forest.
Krishna took the cowherd boys and the calves to pasture near Govardhana Hill. When the cows that were already grazing on Govardhana Hill saw Krishna, they ran down the hill so fast that they appeared to be flying. Leaving their own calves and newborns behind, the cows displayed intense parental love toward Krishna and the calves accompanying Him. In reality, Krishna had expanded as all these calves.
Though trying, the cowherd men could not stop the cows with their sticks. Impelled by strong motherly affection, the cows mooed lovingly while smelling and licking these calves. They neither moved nor eat any grass. On the other hand, the boys could not restrain their calves. Neither the boys nor the cowherd men could separate the cows from those calves.
The cowherd men felt pain in their legs from running after the calves. Upon seeing their sons, however, the expanded forms of Krishna, they forgot all pains and immersed in an ocean of parental love. The cowherd men felt supremely blissful from embracing their tender sons, smelling their heads, and kissing them.
Placing them on their laps, they cried affectionately out of great joy and drenched their chests from the tears pouring from their eyes. Then with great difficulty and reluctance they gradually stopped embracing their sons and allowed them to return to Krishna.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 44 – “Abduction of the Sakhas”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
Due to his false ego, Brahma thought himself the supreme creator. But witnessing the awesome power of Krishna in killing Aghasura astounded him. He thought, “Krishna is the supreme controller of everything. Nevertheless, let me test His actual position.” As one becomes a laughing stock by trying to measure the ocean with a yardstick, or measuring the sky with a hand span, similarly, Brahma became a laughing stock by his foolish attempt to fathom the unlimited transcendental power of Krishna by purloining His calves.
Although similarities exist between Krishna and Brahma, or between a glowworm and the sun, the differences are vast. Both Brahma and Krishna have illusory energy, but Krishna alone enchants Brahma and the entire creation.
The gopas forgot all about the calves as they happily took prasada with Krishna. It appeared as if the gopas’ lips bathed in the radiance of their teeth as they joked and laughed. During this time Brahma stealthily stole their calves. After some time when the cowherd boys looked for the calves they could not find them. Feeling sad and helpless, they appealed to Krishna, who is greater than Lord Siva.
“O beloved friend! We cannot find any of our calves. It seems they have wandered far away being greedy to eat fresh grass. Let us enter the forest and search for them.” While listening, Krishna’s face looked more charming than a splendid full moon. Smiling compassionately, Krishna spoke to mitigate their fear, “My dear friends, do not stop eating. Just stay here. I shall personally find the calves and bring them to you.”
Krishna put down His food and went to collect the calves. He looked very attractive walking along with His flute, stick, and buffalo horn tucked in His dhoti. The wonderful effulgence of His body illuminated the entire forest. Although the area abounded with fresh grass, Krishna did not find hoof prints or any other sign of the calves even after searching in all directions.
Much to His surprise, when Krishna returned to the banks of the Yamuna He could not find any of His cowherd boyfriends. Though temporarily exhibiting a touch of bewilderment, Krishna displayed His omniscience by concluding that Brahma, the supreme creator of the material world, had succumbed to His illusory potency and stolen both the calves and His boyfriends. The all-knowing Lord then employed His spiritual energy to expand Himself into the exact forms of each one of the missing calves and boys. Krishna miraculously appeared with all of their attributes including their individual moods, mannerisms, dress, ornaments, and carrying sticks. Then playing His sweet flute Krishna gladly proceeded home to Vrndavana.
The Supreme Lord directly creates everything in this universe. He is the only cause and effect of all actions in this world. Nonetheless, the material world is full of Krishna’s variegated transcendental pastimes. Because the Supreme Lord is unique, wonderful, and inconceivable, the universe displays the same qualities.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Krishna Nectar Lila 43 – ” Feasting with Friends”

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
After saving the boys and calves from the mouth of Aghasura, death personified, Krishna, who is full of transcendental qualities, ordered His fortunate companions to gather the calves that had strayed away like meandering deer and follow Him back to Vrndavana. Krishna displayed intense love and affection toward His friends by tending calves and playing with them. To bestow His mercy upon the world Krishna performed many captivating pastimes in the mood of an ordinary boy.
The cowherd boys carried bundles of delicious food items, which their mothers had prepared in the morning, tied on sticks that rested on their shoulders. On the way home Krishna noticed an ideal spot for a forest picnic just beside the Yamuna. “Look, my friends,” said Krishna, “The birds are not flying here. It is a nice quiet place, pleasing to the eyes, and as comfortable as the lap of a mother. There are no footprints on the bank. Therefore it is a perfect picnic site. Let the calves graze nearby while we honor prasada.”
After hearing the statement of Krishna, who is the supreme transcendence and a marvelous person at the same time, the cowherd boys said, “You and I are the same. Since we feel hungry, You must also. So let us take prasada.” Krishna agreed, “Yes! What a splendid idea! Let us sit here and take prasada.”
A circle of tall green trees whose branches joined overhead to form a natural canopy shaded the picnic spot. The earth, as pure and white as powdered camphor, looked as though it had been washed with liquid silver. A gentle breeze, filled with droplets of water scented with the sweet smell of blossoming lotuses, cooled and refreshed the entire area. That peaceful wind felt soothing to the touch, and created a pleasing atmosphere along the bank of the Yamuna.
With His golden effulgence, attractive bluish complexion, and elegant yellow dress, Krishna looked like the whorl of a lotus surrounded by a thousand petals as He sat in the center, encircled by lines of cowherd boys. Krishna’s intimate friends sat nearest Him. They appeared like rays of the sun sitting in rows around the Lord. The innermost rays glowed with a reddish hue. As the rays moved further from the center they displayed a gradation of colors from orange to yellow, green, blue and violent. This rainbow-like display of colors looked attractive.
Although the boys sat at different distances from the Lord, they each felt that Krishna was looking directly at them when He glanced their way. This pastime confirms the words of the learned sages who claim that everywhere are the Lord’s eyes and faces as well as His arms and legs.
At that time Krishna said, “O My friends! Now please take all the foodstuffs off your carrying poles.” Their full tiffins emitted brilliant effulgences in all directions. The cowherd boys placed their prasada on flowers or leaves, on rocks, the bark of trees, or on their caddars.
Some held the prasada in the auspicious lines of their palms, and a few put it on their strongly built thighs. Other boys artistically arrayed their best prasada on leaf plates and affectionately offered it to Krishna.
As Krishna ate, He spoke sweet words that washed over His lips like a stream of nectar. Moving His hands in expressive mudras, Krishna took great pleasure entertaining the boys with witty words. They responded by telling funny jokes that filled Krishna with laughter. The blissful smiles on the lotus faces of the cowherd boys revealed the happiness of their hearts. Krishna’s warm personal dealings increased the affection felt by His boyfriends. The whole scene appeared breathtaking.
With a flute tucked tightly in His waist on the right side and a buffalo horn and cow-driving stick tucked on His left side, Krishna’s thin, perfectly shaped waist attracted the minds of everyone. Krishna ate some pickles with His right hand while holding a nice preparation of yogurt and rice in His left palm. With His hands moistened by these different foods Krishna looked magnificently beautiful.
Brahma, Siva, Indra and other denizens of heaven marveled at the extraordinary sight of Krishna eating with His friends in the forest.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.