Sri Brhad Bhagatamrtam
by
Srila Sanatan Goswami
Part One,
Sri Bhagavata-kripa-nirdhara
(The Search For the Lord's Mercy)
Part Two,
Sri Goloka-mahatmya
(The Glory of Sri Goloka)
Chapter Six Priyatama Nama (The Most Dear Devotees)
1 Sri Pariksit said: O noble
lady, after hearing these words, Lord Maha-Vishnu's dear devotee
Narada, who holds a vina in his hand, overwhelmed with love,
forgetting everything, and like a man possessed, walked on the
path to the inner rooms of the Lord's palace, a path full of
wonders that he had travelled many times before.
2 Sometimes he stumbled. Sometimes he fell to the ground.
Sometimes he stood motionless. Sometimes he trembled. Sometimes
he rolled about. Sometimes he cried out. Sometimes wept floods
of tears. Sometimes he sang and danced. Sometimes in a single
moment he manifested together all the symptoms of the treasure
of ecstatic love.
3 O my mother, please be attentive. Please carefully hear
something that makes me become stunned with love.
4 On that day, as Lord Krishna morosely slept in His
bedroom, Sriman Uddhava left His side and came to the doorway.
Then Baladeva, Devaki, Rohini, Rukmini, the other queens headed
by Satyabhama, Kamsa's gossipy mother Padmavati, the servants,
and many others became silent and with wonder they gazed at
Narada, who was acting in a way never seen before.
5 Rising, they made him wash his face and brought him to his
natural condition. Slowly and softly they said: "O brahmana, we
have never seen anything like this. What has happened to You?
Please sit quietly for a moment."
6 Sri Pariksit said: Bowing down, trembling and his bodily
hairs erect, with great effort he opened his eyes flooded with
tears, and with a voice choked with emotion said:
7 Sri Narada said: Please bring me to supreme fortunate
Uddhava. The dust of his feet will bring peace to my
heart.
8 No devotee, either in ancient times or today, has attained
the great mercy of the Lord he has attained. He is the greatest
of devotees. The Lord Himself has described his glories.
9 His ancient and recent sons headed by Brahma, His brothers
headed by Balarama, His friends headed by Shiva, His wives
headed by the goddess of fortune, and even His own
transcendental form are not as dear to the Lord as Uddhava is.
The Lord Himself has said this.
10 The Lord's words since ancient times show the great glory
of Uddhava's good fortune.
11 Today the extraordinary wonders of this mercy were sung
by the best of the Yadus.
12 Passing through the door of my ears, and entering my
heart, that description has now plundered all the wealth of my
peaceful composure.
13 Sri Pariksit said: Bewildered, Uddhava at once stood up,
placed Narada's feet on his chest, embraced them, understood
what was in (Narada's) heart, remembered the great souls who
have attained the Lord's great mercy, and was overcome with
tears. With a great struggle regaining his peacefulness, happy
with transcendental envy, he said to Narada Muni:
14 Sriman Uddhava said: O all-knowing one, O best of the
truthful, O best of the great sages, O lord, because you are the
first teacher of the path of devotional service to the Lord,
what you say is certainly true.
15 All that you have said and more is true of me. I know
this and others also know.
16 Recently I went to Vraja and saw something that ground
into dust my pride in my own great good fortune.
17 There I could understand the wonderful sweetness of Lord
Krishna, His mercy, His love and His devotees.
18 By seeing them I became very fortunate and attained all
the Lord's mercy. Thinking that I had attained the Lord's great
mercy, I became flooded with bliss.
19 Singing about them again and again, I yearned to become
their follower. Everyone knew. I cannot say more. O best of
sages, I bow before you again and again. With plaintive words I
beg you: Don't be so eager to hear of this.
20 Sri Pariksit said: Understanding the meaning of what
Uddhava said, Rohini, who having stayed for a long time in
Gokula was dearly loved by the people there, tearfully
said:
21 Sri Rohini said: O servant of Lord Hari, I am happy. I
have not a moment's worry. Please don't place on the path of my
memory they whom misfortune has destroyed, who have not the
slightest scent of good fortune, who are plunged in an ocean of
sorrows, who are poisoned, who are set aflame by a host of
burning volcanoes.
22 When Maharaj Vasudeva took me (to Mathura) Yasoda cried
so bitterly her tears broke what is harder than thunderbolts. On
his mouth who can place the news of the other women there, who
were like the living dead?
23 When your master returned from His guru's home I, being a
fool, briefly and sadly told Him their story.
24 His heart was not softened, for (He did not return, but
in His stead) sent you, an eloquent speaker of messages.
25 Why, then, do you say that your master has given His best
mercy to them?
26 When Krishna was in Vraja, from demons beginning with
Putana and ending with Kesi, from demigods beginning with Varuna
and Indra, from a serpent and other creatures, from the breaking
of the old cart and the arjuna trees, what calamity did not
attack Vraja before my own eyes? Still, the people there were
not troubled.
27 It was as if they have become enchanted. They always
wished for Krishna's welfare and they never considered their
own.
28 Everything they did was for Krishna's happiness, done out
of love.
29 Before your master did not do anything for their welfare.
How can I describe what He does now that His goals are
fulfilled?
30 Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, wicked Kamsa's arrogant
and senile mother, shaking her head, said:
31 Sri Padmavati said: Alas! From childhood Krishna
protected in a forest of brambles the cows of these merciless
cowherds!
32 They never gave Him even shoes! When, tortured by hunger,
He drank a little milk, the women tied Him up!
33 Let them cry. Krishna suffered so much in the course of
time. What must He do for them now?
34 Deeply intelligent Rohini, who was very dear to Vraja,
ignored her words and chose to glorify (the people of
Vraja).
35 Sri Rohini said: Krishna went to the Yadus' capitol,
Mathura, killed His enemies, and then became the happy king of
kings of kings.
36 Your master, to whom the defeated demigods bow down, in
His heart does not remember them.
37 Sri Pariksit said: Unable to tolerate these words,
Krishna's beloved queen Rukmini, who always stays in His heart
said:
38 Sri Rukmini said: O mother, how, without understanding
how His heart is softer than fresh butter, can you speak in this
way?
39 All of you please hear what I have heard. When He sleeps
at night sometimes He sweetly and lovingly calls many cows by
name and sometimes he calls His charming gopa friends. Sometimes
His transcendental form bends in three places and He pretends to
place the flute to His mouth. Sometimes He says, "Mother, give
Me some fresh butter!"
Sometimes He calls to me, "Sri Radha! Lalita!" Sometimes He
says, "Candravali, why?" and tugs at my garment. Sometimes, as
He sleeps, He softens the pillow with many tears.
40 Suddenly rising from the bed, He weeps, making sounds of
grief, and by this we become plunged in an ocean of tormented
grief.
41 Seeing something in a dream last night, He has become
very depressed. Weeping in grief, He covers His head with a
blanket and pretends to sleep. Today He has not done any of His
regular duties.
42 Surrounded by her co-wives, Queen Satyabhama jealously
said: O Sri Rukmini, why do you say "at night".
43 Awake He is dazed, as if in His heart He sleeps, and
again and again He (laments) as when He slept. We are His wives
in name only. His young gopi maidservants are more dear to Him
than we.
44 Sri Pariksit said: Unable to tolerate these words,
Rohini's son, glorious Balarama, who was the life-friend of
Gokula, angrily said:
45 Sri Baladeva said: Girls, My brother is tricking us. His
talk of the sorrows of the people there (in Vraja) is only His
expert skill at cheating others.
46 Although, wishing to bring the (people there) to an
auspicious condition of life, I stayed (in Vraja) for two
months, with my words and deeds I was not able to do it.
47 Seeing that no one but Krishna could help them, with
hundreds of promises I comforted them a little and then I
quickly returned here.
48 I anxiously said: "Krishna, go at once to Vraja and with
Your company save the lives of the people there."
49 His mouth said: "I will go," but His heart did not say
it. His deeds bear witness to the real condition of His
heart.
50 Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, who is conquered by His dear devotees' love suddenly
rose from bed and, weeping loudly, went outside.
51 Overcome with compassion, and raining streams of tears
from His blossoming lotus eyes, in a choked voice He said:
52 The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Though struck by
the greatest thunderbolt, My heart does not break in two.
53 I have forgotten their extraordinary love for Me and how
they protected Me for a long time while I was a child.
54 May they somehow become happy. I have cruelly brought
great suffering to they whose hearts are gentle.
55 All-knowing, dearest friend, brother Uddhava, what should
I do? Please tell Me at once. Lift Me up from this ocean of
grief.
56 Sri Pariksit said: Then Devaki, who loved her son and who
was the dear friend of Nanda's wife, said: "You should give Your
dear friends whatever they wish."
57 Then Padmavati, who is the Lord's old grandmother and
Yaduraja Ugrasena's senile queen, who feared that now the
kingdom would be given away in charity, and who felt insulted
because Balarama's mother would not listen to her words, in
order to protect her husband's kingdom, cleverly spoke, as if
joking.
58 With her words to change His mind and bring an auspicious
condition to Him, Lord Krishna, the only shelter of the Yadu
family, she said:
59 Sri Padmavati said: Krishna, why are You troubled? Listen
to my advice. With his own hand Garga Muni will calculate every
morsel of food You two brothers ate for the eleven years You
protected the cows in Nanda's home. Then I promise that my
husband (Ugrasena) will give him (Nanda) twice that. I promise
this.
60 Sri Pariksit said: As if He both heard and did not hear,
and as if He did not understand at all, out of grief the Supreme
Personality of Godhead spoke to Uddhava.
61 The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of the
wise, O you who know all the wishes of Vraja's people, tell Me
at once what they wish of Me.
62 Sri Pariksit said: Hearing the Lord's words Uddhava
became filled with wonder and unhappy at heart. He sighed and
unhappily said to Him:
63 Sriman Uddhava said: They do not wish the opulences of
the king of kings of kings. They do not wish from You any
glorious valuables. They do not wish anything but You in this
life or the next.
64 Please give me the mercy of Your attention. I will speak,
and then You may consider what should be done.
65 Previously (when the people of Vraja) saw the ornaments
and other things You had sent back with Nanda, they became
plunged in an ocean of grief and said:
66 "Alas! Alas! Alas! Now Krishna thinks we want these
things (and giving them to us) is His mercy! Miserable!
Miserable is the life-breath that still stays on our throats!
Miserable! Miserable are Nanda and the gopas, who left Krishna
behind and brought us these things!"
67 Now that they have given up hope that You will return,
the people of Vraja, along with Your mother, Yasoda, are on the
verge of death. Now they have begun a great fasting (until
death).
68 Overcome with grief, and thinking he had committed an
offense, Nanda could not speak for three days. Then, explaining
with great reason, and repeating Your promise to return, He gave
hope to the people of Vraja and saved their lives.
69 Sri Nanda said: My son sent these things as tokens of His
love. He will keep His word. He will quickly return as soon as
He finishes His duties there.
70 Sriman Uddhava said: Hearing these words, the
simple-hearted people of Vraja believed them. Seeing these
ornaments as signs of Your love, they placed them on their
bodies.
71 They thought: "When He returns, Krishna will see that we
followed His order by wearing these prasadam-ornaments and He
will be very kind to us."
72 When You did not personally return, but only sent me with
a message, they all became as if dead.
73 Seeing this, I promised You would return, and with a
great effort I saved their lives.
74 To attain You they have renounced all sense pleasures.
Ask Your elder brother what condition they have attained.
75 Sri Pariksit said: Seeing that Devaki, Rukmini and the
others were terrified of being separated from Him and their
bowed faces were wilting and shedding tears out of love,
Krishna's heart became softened and, agitated, He suddenly
called for leaf-pages and a pot of ink.
76 "After I finish My duties and have comforted My friends
here, I will soon return. O dear friends, please know this."
With His own hand He wrote this comforting letter of love to
make their faith strong.
77 Knowing what Krishna had done, and also knowing the
hearts of the people of Vraja, Uddhava became very unhappy and
exclaimed:
78 Sriman Uddhava said: Lord, Please understand the
conclusion. Without the auspicious return of Your lotus feet,
the people of Vraja cannot remain alive. They do not desire
anything but this.
79 Sri Pariksit said: Shaking her head and laughing, Kamsa's
mother, senile Padmavati said, "ah! Ah! Foolish Devaki, now I
understand! Now I understand!
80 "By giving him milk again and again the cowherd people
bewitched Uddhava so he would bring your son Krishna back to
Vraja to help them. These rascals want Him to protect their cows
in the terrible, impassable, bramble filled forest filled with
wild animals."
81 Sri Pariksit said: Unable to bear hearing these horrible
words, Rohini, who was Balarama's mother and Yasoda's dear
friend, became angry and spoke.
82 Sri Rohini said: O mother of Kamsa, what is this about
Krishna being used to protect the cows? If they do not see Him,
the people in Vraja cannot live for a moment.
83 When Krishna was behind a tree or something else, His
friends would call out, "Sri Krishna! Krishna!" with a loud
sound. Without Krishna every moment of the day and night became
like a yuga for the people of Vraja. Again and again they looked
for the sun or the pathway of dust or listened for the
flute.
Note: When during the day Krishna was protecting the cows in the
pasturing ground, the people of Vraja anxiously waited for His
return. They looked to see how soon the sun would set (the time
of Krishna's return), they looked in the distance for signs of
dust raised by the cows' hooves (the harbinger of Krishna's
return), and they listened for the sound of Krishna playing the
flute.
84 Eager to play, He would happily wander with His elder
brother, His friends, and the cows through many forests.
85 There are many splendid lakes fragrant with lotus flowers
moving with the pastimes of many intoxicated water-birds and
bumblebees. There the very wonderful Yamuna touches the land of
Vraja. There many other rivers like the Yamuna gloriously flow
from the Vindhya Hills and other places.
86 The charming river and lake shores are filled with
delicate bakula flowers, covered with fresh grass, crowded with
many different birds and animals free from natural feelings of
enmity, decorated with many vines, trees, and bushes bowing down
with the great weight of many splendid fruits, flowers, and
blossoming twigs, and musical with the sounds of maddened
peacocks and cuckoos. They are the object of Brahma's
prayers.
87 In the land of Vraja, in Vrndavana forest, or on
Govardhana Hill, places where there is no danger of their being
killed or stolen, the cows, buffaloes, and other animals go in
the morning, eat grass and drink water to their heart's content,
and then voluntarily return to their homes in the evening.
Note: The people of Vraja have no need to lure Krishna back to
protect the cows that can take care of themselves and need no
protector.
88 The old lady said: O talkative child, then why have we
heard that now, for want of protection, many of the cows and
other animals have died?
89 Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, Lord Krishna,
bewildered, tormented with fears, His heart burning with pain,
and His lotus face withered, tearfully looked at the face of
Balarama, who knew all the news, past and present, of
Vraja.
90 Balarama understood His brother's condition. Unable to
remain peaceful as He remembered Vraja, weeping, He spoke.
91 Sri Balarama said: O Krishna, what can I say about the
cows? Everyone in Vraja is dear to You. The deer, birds, trees,
headed by the bhandiras and kadambas, vines, forest groves, and
even the grass have now given up their lives for Your sake. Even
the hills and rivers have withered and gone dry.
92 Brother, nourished by the hope that You will keep Your
promise, a few humans remain alive. Surely You don't wish to
hear any more.
93 If You are not kind to them now, then death will quickly
be kind to them.
94 That You removed the poison from Kaliya lake makes them
lament bitterly. Now please hear another reason for their
lamentation.
95 The Yamuna river has very little water. It is almost dry.
Govardhana Hill, which You personally held, has become
stunted.
96 They do not eat, but because they still drink the nectar
of Your name life does not leave them. Their future is a fire in
the great dry forest.
97 Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, gentle Krishna was
overwhelmed with grief. Clinging to Balarama's neck, He loudly
wept as if He were the most miserable person. The stream of His
tears washed away the ointments decorating His body.
98 O mother, then Krishna and Balarama rolled about on the
ground and, after a moment, fainted. Seeing the unprecedented
nature of Their weeping and pain, Rohini, Devaki, Rukmini,
Satyabhama, and everyone else in the palace's inner rooms became
overwhelmed with grief. They wept again and again.
99 Hearing from the palace's inner rooms screams of grief
never heard before, Vasudeva and the Yadavas headed by Ugrasena
quickly ran there. Arriving, and seeing their Lord in that way,
they wept, overcome with grief. By seeing this sight, which had
never been seen before, the people of the city and the brahmanas
headed by Garga Muni also wept.