Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Freeing the Devas

Krsna thought how to use His present bondage to fulfill a prophecy of Narada Muni. Previously Narada had cursed two intoxicated and indecent demigods named Nalakuvera and Manigriva to become trees. Deciding to bestow His mercy upon them, Krsna dragged the grinding mortar tied to His belly along the ground toward those two trees. Krsna’s playmates cheerfully followed Him.

From a distance Krsna saw the two trees connected at the root. Similarly, a student will understand that prakrti and purusa originate from one source. As karma kanda and gyana kanda are separate paths, the two trees had different trunks. The Sama and Yajur Vedas have various divisions, and similarly, the two trees had many branches. As a great king has the qualities of valor and achievement, as a mountain range possesses steadiness, and as a cluster of clouds is laden with showers, similarly, these two trees displayed an abundance of natural opulence.

The demigods embodied in the two trees had become purified by suffering many years in that way, just as clouds abound in the rainy season and as water becomes clear and pure in autumn. As the universe is vast and broad, these trees stood stout and strong. Known as a pair of arjuna trees, they reminded everyone of the great heroes Arjuna and Kartavirya. Like Nakula and Sahadeva, these two trees were also twins. Seeing Krsna moving towards the huge trees, His friends said, “Perhaps Krsna cannot tolerate the scorching sunshine so He is seeking shelter under those shady trees.”

While His friends spoke thus, Krsna pulled the mortar over and it got stuck between the two trees. He who annihilates all pretenders appeared Pendid with His curly hair hanging loosely over His shoulders. Though Krsna’s body is pure and spotless. His character is colored with wonderful colours or rasa.

With a slight jerk of the mortar Krsna easily uprooted those huge trees in a moment. A loud cracking sound filled the air when the trees split open. As a person pokes a hole in a clay pot, that unique vibration, which conquered all other sounds, raced through the sky to puncture a hole in the coverings of the universe. The sound exactly resembled the terrible noise produced by the fierce thunderbolts crashing at the time of devastation. Krsna remained calm and joyful amidst the tremendous tumult.

Krsna is eternally free, but He appeared to be bound to a grinding mortar. His character is eternally pure, but it was stained by His pastimes of stealing. Although He can liberate anyone trapped in material existence He was bound by the loving affection of His mother.

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.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Gopal Runs Away

In a fearful yet playful mood Krsna ran through the butter and romped from room to room engaging in more mischief. Stealthily entering the milk storeroom, Krsna quickly ate small amounts of freshly churned butter from various pots.

From relishing His favorite food He soon felt satisfied and gave up His anger. Then Sri Hari, who is worshiped by all the demigods, snatched a pot of butter and ran into the courtyard.

The pastimes Krsna enjoyed at this time appeared to be classic performances on a dramatic stage. While standing on a grinding mortar in the courtyard and anxiously looking around for mother Yasoda, Krsna fed fresh butter to all the assembled children and monkeys. The fortunate Yasoda, whose jewel-like son benedicts the entire creation, took the boiling milk off stove and returned to Krsna.

The fame of attaining Krsna as her son enhanced the brilliant beauty of Yasoda’s body. She wanted to embrace her son and console Him, but not finding Him there she became morose. In a mood of lamentation she frantically searched everywhere for Krsna. She found some broken pots emitting innumerable streams of yogurt that flowed across the floor making it slippery and white in color. Out of anger, Krsna had smashed many clay pots, which now lay strewn on the floor in hundreds of pieces.

Mother Yasoda thought, “Alas! What has happened? Why is this yogurt pot broken?” At first she could not understand, but upon seeing a small rock she concluded that Krsna had perpetrated this naughty act. With a look of surprise mother Yasoda touched the tip of her nose with the index finger of her beautiful left hand and thought, “How could my child show such impudence? I tried so patiently to train Him properly, so how could He behave so horribly.”

Although no impurities resided in her heart, Yasoda appeared to manifest a special form of motherly pride. Showing false anger, she thought, “The glories of my son’s transcendental pastimes are unlimited. His every action increases His own pride and pleasure while simultaneously creating a festival for one and all. He derives boundless happiness by His constant pastimes of stealing.”

As soon as Krsna, who enchants the demigods with His beautiful body the color of a monsoon cloud, saw mother Yasoda coming out of the house, He jumped up in fear and ran away as fast as possible. Expertly understanding the human-like nature of her son, Yasoda chased after Him calling, “Stop running! Stop! 0 You foremost cheater in the world!”

Krsna kept looking fearfully back over His shoulder while running away from Yasoda. Though Yasoda felt fatigued and mentally distressed, her body, arms, and legs looked very beautiful as she pursued her mischievous son.

Full of pride and anger, Yasoda continued shouting to Krsna, “Stop You thief and liar! How can you carry on like this? Where are You going? Just stop running and stand where You are!”

Krsna said, “I will stop if you drop your stick.” After saying this Krsna stopped running away, but kept a safe distance from His mother. Yasoda said, “If You are so afraid of being punished, then why did You break my yogurt pot today?”

Krsna said, “I will never do it again. Now just drop the stick from your hand.” Yasoda’s mind turned into an abode of amazement as she tried to approach her son. But seeing her angry mood, Krsna quickly ran away again while speaking in a distressed tone, “Mother! Please drop that big stick and do not punish Me! O sinless one, if you do this I will come to you.” After hearing Krsna’s innocent appeal Yasoda dropped the stick.

Seeing this, Krsna stopped running. Absorbed in watching Krsna’s transcendental pastimes, the immortal denizens of heaven felt totally amazed. One can easily understand how powerful demigods like Lord Brahma, who lives for trillions of years, became upset and bewildered upon seeing Krsna’s pastime of showing fear before His mother. They could not fathom how the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is feared by fear personified, ran away in fear of a stick in His mother’s hand.

The fine hairs curling over Yasoda’s face dripped with perspiration and her blouse moved from her heavy breathing. Her hair hung loose from running and her lotus face appeared exhausted. When she caught Krsna’s hand He said, “Mother please do not beat Me.”

While saying this Krsna rubbed His tear-filled lotus eyes with His delicate palms which resembled the petals of a fresh lotus flower.

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.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Gopal Eats Clay Laddus

One day Krsna ate some clay in order to expand the glories of His beloved land of Vrndavana and to purify the universe. Upon seeing that, Balarama, who possesses keen powers of discrimination, and a group of cowherd boys ran to tell mother Yasoda.

“Mother! Krsna cannot control His mind. Out of greed He just ate some clay! Despite our rebukes, He Just keeps eating more and more.”

On hearing such harsh words about her son, Mother Yasoda felt disturbed. Her eyebrows raised in anger, she grabbed a bundle of sticks and quickly ran out of the house. Finding Krsna, she said. “Hey You naughty boy! Why did You eat clay? Didn’t I give You enough sweets? Who can enjoy eating clay?

“Just as we caught You before doing mischief in others’ homes, now we caught You again. Don’t You realize that You cannot hide Your faults? Your elder brother and friends are always there to witness all Your misbehavior.”

In fear of His mother, Krsna tried to conceal His faults. Though performing many mischievous deeds. He pretended to be completely innocent, and poured profuse tears from His lotus eyes. In order to counteract the charges, Krsna said emphatically, “Mother! I did not eat any clay. They are all lying. If you do not believe Me, then just look in My mouth.”

Vrajesvari Yasoda replied, “Alright, open Your mouth.” Krsna, the embodiment of unlimited power and the abode of good fortune, smiled and opened His lotus mouth. Mother Yasoda saw Bhuloka and the seven islands amidst limitless oceans. Bhuloka extended for a great distance with varieties of human beings and roaring rivers along its edges.

Both small and large forests covered its surface. Trees wrapped with flowering creepers blowing in the wind spread in all directions.

Lions and many types of animals inhabited its huge mountain chains. She saw the lower planetary systems including Nagaloka and the Nagapatnis serving their master. She saw the heavens complete with stars, planets, constellations, and the passing of the days. She saw the abodes of the celestials populated by Siddhas, Caranas, Gandharavas, and Vidyadharas.

Munis such as Marichi, Atri, and other famous sages beautified that realm with their radiant auras. Beyond that, Yasoda saw Maharloka, Tapaloka, and other universes as well. Countless living entities from the insignificant insects up to demigods like Indra and Brahma inhabited those regions.

Within Krsna’s mouth Yasoda also saw herself, Nanda Maharaja, Vraja-dhama, and her son Nandanandana. Upon marveling at these sights, mother Yasoda said, “What am I seeing? Am I dreaming? Is it the illusory energy? Is it a show of magic? Am I under a hypnotic spell?” ‘

This pastime put Yasoda into complete bewilderment. But after a moment, the wise Yasoda thought, “Indeed, this must have been a display of Krsna’s limitless power and opulence.”

Forgetting all these ideas, Yasoda tried to find out what had happened. Regardless of what she had seen, Yasoda felt that Krsna must protect her.

Upon seeing that amazing universal form, mother Yasoda concluded that her son was a most extraordinary personality. She thought, “Mahadeva himself must be astounded by the majesty and influence of my son. Certainly Krsna must be the supreme controller.”

Yasoda continued to treat Krishna as her dependent son. In order to expedite the free exchange of sweet intimate love between Himself and His dear devotees, Krsna quickly abandoned His mood as the Absolute Supreme Controller.

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.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Gopis Complain

Once the Vraja gopis talked amongst themselves, “Krsna brings good fortune wherever He goes, and His presence make everyone’s life glorious. Who in this world is not enchanted by the frivolous and amusing childhood pastimes of Krsna? Who cannot appreciate these mirthful activities?”

Rather than getting upset, they felt the greatest happiness whenever Krsna broke their clay pots and stole their butter. Still the housewives of Vrndavana pretended to be angry and complained to Yasoda about Krsna’s stealing.

In a mixed mood of love and laughter the gopis warned Yasoda, “O Queen of Vrndavana, Yasoda! In the future you will suffer for the mischievous acts of your son. Although now your son is like a young sprout with tender leaves, already He is disrupting the whole creation.

“But be careful, in the future when this tender sprout grows into a tree full of leaves and branches, He will bring you tremendous pair- Now your boy’s adventures are just beginning, but by nature they are forever expanding. Your son’s naughty behavior will soon destroy our own village. We have no idea what mischief He will do next.

“Before our cows have been milked, your son unties the calves and makes them drink all the milk. If someone tries to rebuke Him, He simply smiles sweetly and that person immediately forgets all his anger. If we keep our butter in a dark storeroom, He uses His natural effulgence to easily find and steal it.

“But instead of eating it Himself, He takes great pleasure in feeding it to the monkeys. When the monkeys reach their fill and are unable to eat more, Krsna breaks the pot and throws the butter on the ground. He catches the butter pots which are beyond His reach by stacking many small tables on top of each of other, climbing them, and extending His arm to grab the pots.

“Krsna is always stealing our butter and yogurt. If someone tries to stop Him, He immediately drops the food on the ground and quickly escapes. If by chance a housewife captures Him, Krsna twists her wrist and runs away. Then from a safe distance He yells back, ‘Hey just stay where you are! If you come any closer, I will give you even more trouble by teasing your babies and making them cry.’

“If someone calls, ‘Hey thief, stop!’ Krsna becomes angry and shouts, ‘You are the thief. This house is Mine and everything in this house belongs to Me.’ In the morning we spread a fresh layer of clay on the outer walls of our houses, and paint beautiful designs on top of it with powdered limestone. Then your son Krsna comes along to spoil everything by throwing dirt all over our houses.

“In front of you, Krsna is so quiet and well behaved. But when He enters our homes He acts frivolously, steals our food, speaks sharp words, and becomes angry and greedy.”

In this way the ladies of Vrndavana, pretending to be angry, made many complaints against Krsna. But in reality Krsna’s joyous pranks filled everyone with pleasure. When accused by the gopis, Krsna feigned innocence and shed false tears. Though culpable for His immoral acts of stealing and offending the villagers in various ways, Krsna tried to minimize His misdeeds by speaking very sweetly.

Responding to the charges of the gopis, Krsna said, “Mother, none of these ladies have any affection in their hearts. They are not speaking a single word of truth. Actually they are all liars, and have given up their human dignity. Whenever I see them or their sons I feel completely happy because of the natural affection I have for them, I regularly visit their homes every morning at sunrise.

“Ma, so knowing My motives you can easily understand they are deliberately telling lies. You should not believe them at all. Mother, since you are My worshipable superior, from now on I will not visit My friends any more.” Saying this, Kaña sobbed and cried.

Vrajesvari Yasoda put Kaña on her lap and smiled shyly at the gopis in order to conceal her real mood. Then just to please Kaña, Yasoda said, “You gopis are all telling lies, Only Kaña is telling the truth. He is just an innocent boy, so how could He possibly do such things? I think you have already scolded my son sufficiently.”

After saying this, Yasoda spoke affectionately with the gopis. Then as a friendly gesture, Rohini applied tilaka to their foreheads and sent them home. After the departure of the gopis, Yasoda, who is expert in the laws of etiquette, spoke to Krsna, “My son, because of greed You performed many improper acts in the homes of our friends.

“Although in Your own home such behavior is acceptable, in the home of another it is totally unbecoming. O beautiful one! These deeds of Yours were not good at all. From now on just stay here and play.” After instructing her son Yasoda caressed Him lovingly.

Just then Vrajaraja Nanda arrived and brightened the room with his favorable feelings. Nanda spoke pleasing words to encourage and pacify his charming son. “O Vatsa! Come sit on my lap.” Leaving Yasoda lap, Krsna climbed up on Nanda’s lap and wrapped His arm around His father’s neck.

Then Krsna said softly, “Why is mother chastising Me for nothing?”

Nanda responded, “What is this all about?”

That fabulous boy of oceanic intelligence replied, “Mother, now tell truthfully what happened.”

Then mother Yasoda recounted the misdeeds of Krsna by repeating the words uttered by the gopis. Pointing to Queen Yasoda, Vrajaraja Nanda said, “My son is faultless. He has not done anything wrong. I always see Him behaving nicely.

“By siding with those who made fun of Him and with those who showed envy toward my jewel-like son, you have wrongly accused my well-behaved son and so you should be punished.” Concealing his real mood behind these words, Nanda rebuked Yasoda and comforted his son: “0 my darling son, just stay in my lap and do not go to anyone else.”

Though hearing His father’s words, Krsna immediately jumped off his lap just like an unpredictable child, and quickly climbed on Yasoda’s lap. Seeing this gave both parents a hearty laugh.

Excerpt: Kaviraja Sri Karnapura Goswami’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.