Chapter Thirty-eight
Srngara-rasa-vicara
Srngara-rasa
Folding his palms, Vijaya-kumara asked his spiritual master about sambhoga (enjoyment in meeting).
Gosvami: Sri Krishna's pastimes are of two kinds: 1 prakata (manifested and 2 aprakata (unmanifested). The separation from Krishna I described occurs in the prakata pastimes. In Vrindavan Krishna eternally enjoys the rasa dance and other pastimes with the gopis. Therefore, because these pastimes are eternal, Krishna and the gopis are never separated. In the Mathura mahatmya it is said that Krishna eternally enjoys pastimes with the gopas and gopis. There the verb 'kridati' (enjoys pastimes), which is in the present tense, affirms that Lord Krishna eternally enjoys pastimes in Vrindavan. Therefore in Goloka or in Vrindavan, in Lord Krishna's aprakata (unmanifested) pastimes, Krishna and the gopis always enjoy together. Krishna never goes to a faraway place. There is no separation. Gazing at each other, embracing and enjoying many pastimes, Krishna eternally enjoys (sambhoga) with the gopis. This enjoyment (sambhoga) is of two kinds: 1 mukhya (primary) and 2 gauna (secondary).
Vijaya-kumara: What is mukhya sambhoga?
Gosvami: When Krishna and the gopis enjoy while they are awake, that is called 'mukhya-sambhoga'. Mukhya-sambhoga is of four kinds. The sambhoga that occurs soon after the purva raga is called sanksipta (brief). The sambhoga that occurs after jealous anger is called 'sankirna' (narrow). The sambhoga that occurs after a nearby pravasa (journey) is called 'sampanna' (fortunate). The sambhoga that occurs after a faraway journey is called 'samrddhiman' (opulent).
Vijaya-kumara: What is sanksipta-sambhoga?
Gosvami: When fear, shyness, and other like emotions keep the meeting brief, that is called 'sanksipta-sambhoga'.
Vijaya-kumara: What is sankirna-sambhoga?
Gosvami: When the lovers worry that an unpleasant obstacle may thwart their pastimes, and therefore Their enjoyment becomes like drinking hot sugar cane juice, that is called 'sakirna-sambhoga'.
Vijaya-kumara: What is sampanna-sambhoga?
Gosvami: When, after a long journey the lover meets His beloved, Their enjoyment is called 'sampanna-sambhoga'. This sambhoga is of two kinds: 1 agati and 2 pradhurbhava. An ordinary meeting is called 'agati'. When the two passionate lovers accidentally and suddenly come face-to-face, that is called pradhurbhava. Pradhurbhava brings a great festival of the best transcendental happiness.
Vijaya-kumara: What is samrddhiman sambhoga?
Gosvami: This is when the young lovers have a rare opportunity to see each other. And why not? Because they are under the control of others, this does not always happen. Now that they are free from the control of others, they can enjoy without any obstacles. This is called 'samrddhiman sambhoga'. This sambhoga is of two kinds: 1 concealed and 2 openly manifested. I need not describe them now.
Vijaya-kumara: What is gauna-sambhoga?
Gosvami: When one enjoys pastimes with Krishna in a dream, that is called 'gauna-sambhoga'. These dreams are of two kinds: 1 samanya (general) and 2 visesa (specific). This gauna sambhoga is of two kinds. When the vyabhicari-bhava sleep is prominent, it is samanya gauna sambhoga. Visesa gauna-sambhoga is when one awakens from the dream and sees that the waking reality is exactly the same as the dream. Thus the meeting with Krishna in the waking state is exactly like the meeting with Him in the dream. This rasa is filled with the yearnings of love. The four divisions of sanksipta, sankirna, sampanna, and samrddhiman also exist in gauna sambhoga.
Vijaya-kumara: Dreams aren't real. How can samrddhiman sambhoga occur in a dream?
Gosvami: In the spiritual world waking and dreaming are the same. Usa and Aniruddha met in a dream. In the same way Krishna and His beloved gopis can meet in Their dreams. Perfected devotees (siddha-bhakta) sometimes have very wonderful dreams, and when they awaken they attain an ornament or something else that they first saw in the dream. These dreams are of two kinds: 1 being awake when one is dreaming, and 2 dreaming when one is awake. The gopis' dreams, which are filled with spiritual love are in the fifth condition of life, far beyond the yogis samadhi, which is in the fourth condition of life. Thus the gopis' dreams are not at all like material dreams, which are born from the mode of passion. This means that the gopis' dreams are not material and are not impelled by the material modes of nature. Rather, they are eternal spiritual reality. Therefore Lord Krishna can certainly enjoy wonderful pastimes with the gopis in their dreams.
Vijaya-kumara: Please describe visesa-gauna-sambhoga.
Gosvami: The following are all the visesa gauna sambhoga (special situations of meeting): seeing, talking, touching, blocking the path, putting an obstacle on the path, pastimes in a house, pastimes in Vrindavan forest, pastimes in the Yamuna's waters, pastimes in a boat, pastimes of stealing flowers, pastimes at a ghata (the dana-keli pastime), playing hide-and-seek in the forest, drinking madhu nectar, Krishna disguising Himself as a woman, pretending to be asleep, gambling with dice, tugging at garments, kissing, embracing, scratching with fingernails, drinking the nectar of each other's bimba fruit lips, and enjoying amorous pastimes.
Vijaya-kumara: O master, playful pastimes (lila-vilasa) is one thing, meeting (samprayoga) is another thing. Of the two, which brings the most happiness?
Gosvami: Playful pastimes (lila-vilasa) bring more happiness than meeting (samprayoga).
Vijaya-kumara: With what affectionate names do the gopis address Krishna?
Gosvami: The gopis address Krishna with the following affectionate names: Gokulananda (O bliss of Gokula), Govinda (O pleasure of the cows, land and senses), Gosthendra-kula-candra (O moon born from the king of Vraja), Pranesvara (O master of our lives), Sundarottamsa (O crown of all handsome men), Nagara-siromani (O crest-jewel of amorous heroes), Vrindavan-candra (O moon of Vrindavan), Gokula-raja (O king of Gokula), and Manohara (O enchanter of our hearts). There are many other names also.
Vijaya-kumara: O master, Lord Krishna's pastimes are of two kinds: 1 prakara (manifested) and 2 aprakata (unmanifested). Still, all His pastimes are the same spiritual reality. What are the different kinds of His prakata pastimes in Vraja?
Gosvami: The Lord's prakara pastimes in Vraja are of two kinds: 1 nitya (regular) and 2 naimittika (for some special occasion). The Lord's asta-kaliya-lila (pastimes in the eight periods of the day) in Vraja are His nitya pastimes. Other pastimes, like His killing Putana and other demons, and His going far away on a journey are His naimittika pastimes.
Vijaya-kumara: O master, I wish to learn about the Lord's nitya-pastimes.
Gosvami: O Vijaya-kumara, would you like to hear the description given by the ancient sages, would you like to hear the description given by the Six Gosvamis?
Vijaya-kumara: I would like to hear the descriptions given by the ancient sages.
Gosvami: It is said:
"The eight periods of the day are: 1 the end of night, 2 the early morning, 3 the late morning, 4 midday, 5 the afternoon, 6 sunset, 7 evening, and 8 night. Midday and night last for six muhurtas each. Evening and the other periods last for three muhurtas each."
Two dandas (24 minutes) equal one muhurta (48 minutes). In the Sanat-kumara-samhita, Lord SadaShiva described Lord Krishna's pastimes in these eight periods of the day.
Vijaya-kumara: O master, am I qualified to hear these words of Lord SadaShiva, the spiritual master of the universe?
Gosvami: Please listen. Lord SadaShiva said (Sanat-kumara-samhita 183-188):
"Thinking of Him as their paramour, with hidden love the gopis please their beloved Krishna.
"One should think of oneself as a beautiful young gopi girl expert in various arts, pleasing to Lord Krishna, reluctant to directly enjoy with Lord Krishna even if He were personally to invite you...
...a follower of Sri Radha, always devoted to Her service, more affectionate to Sri Radha than to Lord Krishna Himself...
...every day carefully and affectionately arranging the meeting of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, and becoming happy to see Them pleased by your service.
"Thinking of oneself in this way, one should serve Sri Sri Radha-Krishna from the early morning of Brahma-muhurta to the end of night.'
Vijaya-kumara: what are the pastimes at the end of night?
Gosvami: Sri Vrnda-devi said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 196-201):
"In the middle of beautiful Vrindavan fore, which is decorated with fifty groves, in a grove of kalpa-vrksa trees, in a glittering jewel palace...
...on a graceful be, the sleeping, tightly embracing divine couple were awakened by birds following my command.
"Their firm embrace broken, the divine couple became unhappy at the thought of Their impending separation. They had no wish to rise even slightly from Their bed.
"Awakened by the cheerful words of many parrots and other birds, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna rose from Their bed.
"Seeing that the divine couple had happily risen from bed, the gopis entered and served Them in ways appropriate to that time.
"When the female parrots spoke, the divine couple rose from Their bed. Very anxious, They returned to Their homes."
Vijaya-kumara: What are the pastimes in the early morning?
Gosvami: There it is said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 202-218):
"Wakened by His mother in the early morning, Lord Krishna rose from bed. Then He and Balarama brushed Their teeth.
"With His mother's permission, Lord Krishna eagerly went to the barn to milk the cows. Then Sri Radha, wakened by the elder gopis, also rose from Her bed.
"Sri Radha rose, brushed Her teeth, anointed Herself with fragrant oils, and then went to the bathing room, where Lalita and the other gopis bathed Her.
"Then She went to the decorating room, where Her friends decorated Her with garlands, scents, oils, and many glittering ornaments.
"Then, after first speaking to Radha's mother-in-law, Yasoda called Radha and Her friends to cook breakfast for Lord Krishna.
"Sri Narada said: O goddess, why did Yasoda call Sri Radha to cook when Rohini and so many other expert cooks were present in her home?
"Sri Vrnda said: The great sage Durvasa gave Radha a boon that She would be the best of cooks. This I heard from the mouth of Katyayani.
"Durvasa said to Radha: O goddess, by my mercy whatever You cook will be more delicious than nectar. It will increase the life of whoever eats it.
"That is why every day Yasoda calls Radha to cook. Yasoda thinks, "Eager to eat this delicious food my son will live a very long life."
"Receiving permission from Her mother-in-law, Radha becomes very happy. Accompanied by a host of friends, She goes to Krishna's home to cook.
"Meanwhile, Lord Krishna milked some cows and had the other boys milk the others. Then, called by His father, He and His friends returned home.
"Then the servants happily massaged Lord Krishna, bathed Him, dressed Him in clean garments, garlanded Him and anointed His body with sandal paste.
"Then the servants gathered Lord Krishna's hair from His forehead to His neck and tied it in a topknot. They made the moon of His forehead splendid with tilaka and curling locks of hair.
"They decorated Lord Krishna with armlets and bracelets. They made His hands splendid with jewel rings. They placed a necklace of pearls across His chest and decorated His ears with shark shaped earrings.
"Again and again called by His mother, Lord Krishna holding His mother's hand, finally followed Balarama into the breakfast room.
"Accompanied by His mother and His friends, Lord Krishna ate a breakfast feast of many different kinds of foods. He told many jokes, laughing and making His friends laugh.
"Then the servants brought betel nuts. After sharing them with His friends and chewing some Himself, Lord Krishna rested for a moment on a splendid bed."
Vijaya-kumara: Please describe the pastimes of the late morning.
Gosvami: It is said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 220-223:)
"When dressed as a cowherd boy, Lord Krishna followed the cows to the pasture, all the people of Vraja affectionately followed Him on the path.
"Bowing down before His father and mother, casting sidelong glances at His gopi-beloveds, and dealing appropriately with all the others, Lord Krishna sent them all back. Then He again proceeded to the forest.
"Lord Krishna entered the forest, played for a while with His friends, and then slipped away with two or three especially close friends.
"Eager to see His beloved, Lord Krishna happily went to meet Her."
Vijaya-kumara: Please describe the pastimes of midday:
Gosvami: It is said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 223-262):
"When She saw that Lord Krishna had gone to the forest, Sri Radha returned to Her home.
"Then on the pretext of gathering flowers and other things for the worship of the sun-god and other purposes, Sri Radha tricks Her superiors and, yearning to meet Her beloved, goes to the forest.
"Finally meeting after a great effort, the divine couple enjoy many happy pastimes in the forest with Their associates.
"Sometimes Radha and Krishna enjoy pastimes on a swing hanging from a tree branch and pushed by the gopis. Sometimes Radha steals the flute from Lord Krishna's hand.
"Sometimes the gopis hide and make Him search after them. Sometimes they teased and scolded Him. Sometimes they joked with Him and made Him laugh. In these ways they charmed Lord Krishna and stole His heart.
"Sometimes Lord Krishna happily enters the forest in the beautiful springtime and with a sprinkler sprinkles the gopis with water mixed with sandal, kunkuma and other colourful scents. The gopis respond by sprinkling Him. Then Radha and Krishna sprinkle each other again and again.
"O brahmana, in the forest groves the divine couple enjoy many different pastimes with Their associates, pastimes appropriate to the different times and seasons.
"O best of sages, sometimes They become tired. Then, sitting on a splendid throne under a tree, They drink nectar.
"Intoxicated by drinking nectar, their eyes become closed with sleepiness. Holding hands, They are attacked by Kamadeva's arrows.
"Desiring to enjoy, They place Their lotus feet in a forest grove. There They enjoy pastimes like two regal elephants.
"Intoxicated by drinking nectar, and their eyes closed with sleepiness, the gopis entered the nearby forest groves.
"Expanding into many different forms, all-powerful Lord Krishna approached each gopi individually.
"As an elephant king enjoys with His many wives, so Lord Krishna enjoyed with the gopis. Then Lord Krishna, His beloved Radha and all the gopis entered a lake.
"Sri Narada said: O Vrnda-devi, if His pastimes of sweetness are like this, then when does Lord Krishna manifest His pastimes of opulence? Please cut apart my doubt?
"Sri Vrnda said: O sage, the powerful potency of the pastimes of sweetness is one of Lord Hari's potencies. With that potency Lord Hari enjoys pastimes with the gopis.
"When in His original form Lord Krishna enjoys pastimes with Sri Radha, He manifests the potency of His pastimes of sweetness. At that time He does not manifest the potency of His pastimes of opulence.
"Accompanied by Their gopi friends, the divine couple enjoy pastimes of splashing each other in the water. Then They are decoarated with splendid garments, ornaments, garlands and sandal paste.
"Then in a jewel cottage by the lakeshore, the divine couple eat a snack of delicious fruits and roots carefully prepared by me.
"After Their snack, Lord Hari and His beloved recline on a couch of flowers. There two or three gopis serve Them.
"Served by the gopis who offer Him betelnuts, fan Him and massage His feet, Lord Krishna, His thought fixed on His beloved, becomes filled with happiness.
"As Lord Krishna slept, Sri Radha and Her associates happily ate the remnants of His meal.
"After eating, Sri Radha went to the bed to gaze on Her beloved's lotus face as a cakori bird gazes at the moon.
"The gopis there gave Her the remnants of betelnuts chewed by Lord Krishna. Some She chewed and some She gave to Her friends.
"Eager to hear what the gopis said, Lord Krishna only pretended to be asleep as He lay under the covers.
"As they playfully joked about their beloved Hari they could gradually understand that He was only pretending to sleep.
"Seeing the signs of wakefulness on Lord Krishna's face, they looked at each other and suddenly became silent out of embarrassment.
"Suddenly pulling the blanket from His limbs and exclaiming, 'My, You must have had a pleasant sleep!' they laughed and make Lord Krishna laugh also.
"O best of sages, in this way the divine couple enjoyed a pleasant nap and a host of happy joking words.
"Sitting on a splendid throne and surrounded by Their associates, the divine couple gamble at dice, with garlands, kisses, and embraces as the winner's prize.
"Joking with words of love, Radha and Krishna gamble with dice. Defeated by His beloved, Lord Krishna slowly pronounces, 'I have lost'.
"Taking the necklace and other prizes, Sri Radha struck Lord Krishna with a lotus flower.
'O Narada, His unhappiness showing on His face, Lord Krishna felt as if He had lost a great treasure. "O goddess, You have defeated Me", He said. "Please take the winner's prize."
"To see Radha's crooked raised eyebrows and hear Her words of rebuke, Lord Krishna declared, 'Now I will give You the kiss and the other prizes.' Then He gave Her all the prizes.
"Then, hearing the parrots calling, Radha and Krishna bathed and decided to return to Their homes.
"Taking leave of His beloved, Lord Krishna returns to the cows. Accompanied by Her friends, Sri Radha goes to the temple of the sun-god.
"Lord Krishna goes a short distance, disguises Himself as a brahmana and then goes to the temple of the sun-god.
"Requested by the gopis, the disguised Krishna worships the sun god. Lord Krishna then recites a host of imaginary Vedic prayers, prayers made up on the spot and filled with a host of errors.
"Finally understanding that this person was their beloved Krishna, the intelligent gopis became plunged in an ocean of bliss. Intoxicated with bliss they did not know who they were or who anyone else was.
"O sage, in this way the divine couple and Their associates passed six hours enjoying many pastimes. Finally the gopis returned to their homes and Lord Krishna returned to the cows."
Vijaya-kumara: What are the afternoon pastimes?
Gosvami: It is said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 263-270):
"Meeting with His gopa friends, taking the cows with Him, and attracting everyone with the music of His flute, Lord Krishna returned to Vraja village.
"Hearing the sound of Krishna's flute and seeing the sky filled with the dust raised by the cows, King Nanda and all the men and women and children of Vraja stopped all they were doing and ran to see Krishna.
"Sri Radha, bathed and decorated, came, bringing many delicious foods for Her beloved. She and Her friends were all eager to see Krishna.
"On the royal road at the entrace to Vraja village Lord Krishna met all the people of Vraja one after another.
"He met them with embraced, glances, and smiling glances. He bowed before the elder gopas and His honoured them with His words.
"O Sri Narada, Lord Krishna prostrated His entire body to show respect to His parents and to Rohini-devi. From the corner of His eye He shyly glanced at His gopis beloveds.
"Then in the ways proper for each, all the people of Vraja worshipped Lord Krishna. Then Lord Krishna took the cows into the barn.
"Requested by His parents, Lord Krishna went home with mother Yasoda. Requested by her, He bathed and then He ate and drank, and then He went to milk the cows."
Vijaya-kumara: What are the sunset pastimes?
Gosvami: It is said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 271-272):
"After milking some the cows, having the other gopas milk the other cows, and allowing the calves to also drink some of the milk, Lord Krishna, accompanied by His father and by servants carrying the milk, returned home.
"Then accompanied by Lord Balarama, the gopa boys, and the boys; mothers, Lord Krishna ate a feast of many different kinds of foods, foods to be chewed, licked or consumed in other ways."
Vijaya-kumara: What are the evening pastimes?
Gosvami: It is said (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 273-277):
"On Mother Yasoda's request, Sri Radha and Her friends had cooked this feast.
"After enjoying the feast in the company of His father and the others, Lord Krishna praises with many words. Then, accompanied by the poets and reciters, Lord Krishna goes to the assembly house.
"Then Mother Yasoda gave abundant remnants from the feast to the gopis who had brought it in the first place.
"Mother Yasoda gives them the remnants from Lord Krishna's plate. The gopis take it and in a secluded place present it before Sri Radha.
"Then Sri Radha and Her friends honour Lord Krishna's remnants. Then, to prepare for Her meeting with Lord Krishna, the gopis decorate joyful Radha."
Vijaya-kumara: O master, I yearn to hear the pastimes of night.
Gosvami: Sri Vrnda-devi described them in these words (Sri Sanat-kumara-samhita 278-285):
"One of the gopis has already made arrangements for Sri Radha's secret meeting with Lord Krishna by the Yamuna's shore.
"Accompanied by Her friends and dressed in garments suitable for a bright or dark night, Sri Radha goes to a jewel palace in a kalpa-vrksa grove.
"Meanwhile Lord Krishna saw many festive ceremonies and heard many beautiful poems and songs.
"Then Lord Krishna pleases the artists and performers with many valuable gifts and then, called by His mother, He goes to bed.
'When, after giving Him a nighttime snack, mother Yasoda left the bedroom, unseen by anyone, Lord Krishna left His home and went to meet His beloved.
"Meeting in the forest groves, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna enjoy singing, dancing and many other pastimes.
"After enjoying pastimes for seven and a half hours of the night, Lord Krishna becomes sleepy. Accompanied by five or six gopis and unseen by the others, He enters another forest.
"Served by Their dear gopi friends, the divine couple sleeps there on a beautiful pastime bed made of unstemmed flowers.
O Vijaya-kumara, These are the asta-kaliya pastimes. They have all the samagris (ingredients) of the rasas. All these pastimes have been described in the books of the ancient sages. In every time, place, and situation, you should mediate on these pastimes and engage in devotional service.
Hearing these pastimes, the learned pandita Vijaya-kumara became plunged into the nectar of ecstatic love. Streams of tears flowed from his eyes. The hairs of his body stood up. He spoke one or two broken words in a choked voice. He fell before Sri Gopala-guru Gosvami's feet, offering obeisances for a long time. Then he rose up and slowly walked home. Day and night these words about the rasas stayed in his heart.