Chapter 82 - Meeting of Vṛṣṇis and Gopas of Vṛndāvana

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Note: The additional verses from Padaratnāvalī’s Text are added here from Ch. 70 as printed on pp. 309-310 of the Vrindaban edition.]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. On one occasion, while Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa were staying at Dvārakā, there occurred a complete eclipse of the sun, as it was at the time of deluge.

2. Being informed of it (beforehand astronomically), all (religious-minded) people from all sides went to the sacred place called Syamantapañcaka (Kurukṣetra) with the object of securing merits.

3. It was at that sacred place that Paraśurāma, the most prominent warrior, caused those big pools filled with the bloods of kings, while attempting to exterminate all Kṣattriyas from the earth.

4. Though the glorious Lord Paraśurāma was untouched by any Karma (despite his punitive action), in order to set a model example to people, he performed a sacrifice there for expiation of that sin (of killing Kṣattriyas) as an ordinary person will have to do.

5. People from all over Bhāratavarṣa came to that most important place of pilgrimage.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:]

6(A-B). Śrī Kṛṣṇa accompanied with the palanquins of his sixteen thousand queens, by his sons, grandsons, multitudes of citizens, army-units, courtesans, she-elephants, by bevies of ladies from the city and other women-friends.

5-6. Vṛṣṇis as well as (elderly persons like) Akrūra, Vasudeva and Āhuka assembled to that sacred place to absolve themselves of their sins. And Gada, Pradyumna, Sāmba and others did the same.

7-8. Along with Sucandra (Rukmiṇī’s son Cārucandra), Śuka and Sāraṇa, Aniruddha and the chief of the army Kṛtavarmā were posted for the protection of the city. With their chariots resembling celestial cars, with fleet horses springing like waves, with trumpeting elephants like thundering clouds and men appearing splendid like celestial beings (Vidyādharas), Yādavas who were adorned with wreaths of gold appeared extremely splendid and pompous on the way.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:]

8.1-2. With loud chantings of Vedic hymns and playing of instrumental music, and in accompaniment of the flourish of the sounds of conchs and beating of drums, they went on singing and repeating the name of Kṛṣṇa and Govinda continuously. In this way, they filled all the quarters with great noise as they went, O best of Kurus.

8.3. As they reached the holy place Syamantapañcaka, well known all over the three worlds, they built up hutments (dwelling places) with thatched roof, matting and wood (lit. with long grass and sticks).

8.4. Tents with blankets, deerskin and canvass were pitched up for kings. They were hundreds and thousands in number and had a variety of forms.

8.5. There arrived a number of kings, thousands of Brāhmaṇas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras and innumerable persons of lower castes.

8.6. And noble-souled sages of high reputation and of praiseworthy observance of vows, with preceptors, some maintainers of consecrated fire (agni-hotrins), some life-long celibate students and householders.

8.7. The blind, the deaf, the hunchbacks, dwarfs and physically handicapped people, persons with retarded intelligence, dumb persons—all are desirous of being absolved of their past actions.

8.8. All of them adorned their heads with the dust on the lotus-feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, beautified with ornaments like bracelets, armlets (both on the lower and upper part of the forearm), garlands and ear-rings.

9. Like celestials ranging through the sky, along with their wives, they put on heavenly garlands, rich clothes. Arriving at Syamantapañcaka, those highly blessed people took their bath, observed a fast and were perfectly serene and self possessed in mind.

10. They gave to Brāhmaṇas gifts of cows covering them with clothes and adoring them with garlands and chains of gold. (And after the eclipse was over) the Vṛṣṇis again took a bath as per formalities in the pools created by Paraśarāma.

11. 12. The Vṛṣṇis to whom Kṛṣṇa was their deity, served delicious food to prominent Brāhmaṇas and prayed, “May we be blest with constant devotion to Kṛṣṇa. With the permission of the Brāhmaṇas, they broke their fast. And they took rest according to their wish and pleasure under the dense, cool shade of trees. They interviewed their friendly kings and relatives who congregated there (for the same religious purpose).

12. 14. They saw kings (their friends and relatives) of Matsya, Uśīnara, Kosala, Vidarbha, Kuru, Sṛñjaya, Kamboja, Kekaya, Madra, Kuntī, Ānarta and Kerala and hundreds of many other kings who were their allies or strangers. They met their friends and well-wishers like Nanda and other cowherds and Gopīs (cowherd women) who were anxiously longing to meet them.

15. Owing to overwhelming ecstatic joy of mutually looking at each other, their lotus-like hearts and faces became fully blossomed and full of splendour. They hugged each other in close embrace, with tears of joy trickling from their eyes; their hair stood on their ends; their voice choked with emotion and faltering—all of them were transported with joy.

16. Looking at each other with affectionate side-glances and exceedingly friendly smiles, the women also embraced each other closely, pressing against each other their breasts which were besmeared with saffron and their eyes full of tears of joy and affection.

17. After paying respects to the elders, they were bowed by their juniors. Welcoming each other, they enquired after the well-being (of their friends and relatives) and they told each other the stories of Kṛṣṇa.

18. When Kuntī saw her brothers, sisters, their sons, her parents, sisters-in-law and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, she felt relief as her grief soothed during her conversation with them.

Kunti said:

19. Dear (elder) brother! I feel I am unlucky as no desire of mine becomes fulfilled. Or it may be that excellent-most brothers like you do not remember of me, even though I am entangled in calamities.

20. It appears that friends, relatives, sons, brothers—nay even parents—do not remember their own relative if the Fate frowns upon him.

Vasudeva replied:

21. Mother (a term of endearment for younger sister)! Please do not blame us, who are ordinary mortals—toys or pawns in the hands of Providence. The world is completely under the control of the Almighty Lord and everyone acts or is compelled to act according to his will.

22. (As you know it) due to the harassment of Karñsa all of us had to flee and were scattered in all directions. Dear sister! It is only recently that the Providence has rehabilitated us together.

Śrī Suka said:

23. The kings who were duly worshipped by Vasudeva, Ugrasena and other prominent Yādavas felt deeply satisfied and delighted at the sight of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

24-26. (Those kings arid prominent persons were) Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, Gāndhārī and all her sons, Pāṇḍavas and their queens, Kuntī, Sṛñjaya, Vidura, Kṛpa, Kuntibhoja. Virāṭa, Bhīṣmaka and Nagnajit, the mighty; Purujit, Drupada, Śalya, Dhṛṣṭaketu along with the king of Kāśī; Damaghoṣa, Viśālākṣa, the kings of Mithilā, Madra and Kekaya; Yudhāmanyu, Suśarmā, Bāhlīka along with his princes.

27. O king of kings! These princes and those who were the allies of Yudhiṣṭhira were astonished to behold the personality of Lord Kṛṣṇa which was the abode of the goddess Śrī (of affluence and beauty) in the company of his queens.

28. Thereupon, the kings who were duly honoured by Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa were greatly delighted and eloquently praised Vṛṣṇis who were the relatives of Lord Kṛṣṇa and were under his protection.

29. (They complimented:) “O Ugrasena, the king of Bhojas! Inasmuch as you are lucky to have constantly the sight of lord Kṛṣṇa who is very difficult to be seen even by Yogins, you must deem to have accomplished the purpose of human existence among all men born in this world.

30. His spotless glory sung by the Vedas purifies the world; so does the water that washes his feet and his word, viz. the Vedic Śāstra^[1]. The earth which has all its potential productive capacity burnt up by the Time-Spirit, has all her powers resuscitated by the touch of his lotus-feet. Hence, she yields to us all our desired objects.

31. The householder’s life paves the way to hell. But though you lead that (householder’s) life, Lord Viṣṇu. himself who makes one unattached both to celestial life as well as salvation (mokṣa) stays in your houses, and you can see him, touch, him, go after him, speak with him, sit close to him, eat with him, share the bed with him and have contacts and relations with him.^[2]

Śrī Śuka said:

32. Learning that Yādavas of whom Kṛṣṇa is prominent, have arrived there, Nanda accompanied with Gopas and carts loaded with milk-products, came there with a desire to see them.

33. Seeing Nanda all the Yādavas were overjoyed and rose up to receive him, as the bodies do after the return of vital breath. Being extremely anxious to see him for a long time, they embraced him closely.

34. Vasudeva was especially pleased. Being overwhelmed with affection, he embraced him fast, remembering how Kaṃsa subjected him to harrowing persecutions and how he had to entrust his son to Nanda’s care at his Gokula.

35. Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma embraced and bowed to their (foster) parents. But due to overwhelming affection, and the throat being choked with emotions (lit. tears of joy) they could not utter a word, O best of Kurus.

36. The highly blessed Yaśodā placed both the sons on her seat (v.l. on her lap) and clasping them together in her arms in close embrace, forgot her (long-felt) distress (of separation from them).

37. Remembering their close friendship with Yaśodā, both Rohiṇī and Devakī embraced her. With their voice choked with emotions (tears), they exclaimed in faltering tones.

38. “O queen of Vraja! Who can ever forget your everlasting (act of) friendship. Even if one attains to the fortune and status of the Lord of Heaven, the great debt (of your friendship) is unrepayable in this world.

39. Worshipful lady! These two children who had not seen their own parents, were entrusted to your filial care. They lived under your care like eyes protected by eye-lids without any fear from any quarter. You gave them protection, nourishment, loving care, caressing growth and development. For the good and righteous persons do not discriminate between a child who is theirs and the one who is not theirs.

Śrī Śuka said:

40. Having seen their beloved Kṛṣṇa after a pretty long time, they (yearned to gaze at him continuously without the interruption of winking of the eyelids and so) they blamed the Creator who created the eyelids and thus interrupted (even for a wink), his vision. Mentally they closely embraced him, who was ushered in their hearts through their eyes, and instantly became merged in him—an accomplishment not within the easy reach of Yogins who always practice to attain one-ness with him through Yogic meditation.

41. (Kṛṣṇa assumed as many forms as there were Gopīs. And at night in a secluded place simultaneously met them all severally). When the Lord saw them in that (absorbed) state of meditation, he met each of them, in privacy, embraced them, enquired about their health and spoke to them smilingly.

42. “O friends! Do you remember us who in order to serve the cause of our relatives have left Vraja and who were busy, as our heart was distracted elsewhere in annihilating the party of our enemies, and hence, were out of sight and have returned after a long time.

43. As a matter of fact, it is the will of the Almighty Lord which unites or disunites beings. Do you form a low opinion about us suspecting us to be ungrateful to you (despite your consistent friendliness during our stay at Gokul [Gokula?])? (Our absence was an act of God. Please do not misunderstand us).

44. Like unto the wind bringing together, or dispersing clouds, blades of grass, cotton, particles of dust, the Lord—the creator unites or disunites beings created by him.

45. It is a matter of great joy and fortune that the loving devotion entertained by you for me shall lead to my Self-realization and absorption in me, for it is only loving (and constant) devotion unto me that leads people to immortality i.e. Final Liberation.

46. O beautiful damsels! Just as the elements such as the sky, water, earth, wind and fire constitute the inside and outside, beginning and the end of all material objects, I am really the beginning and the end of all beings permeating them all from within and without.

47. In this way all these elements constitute all (gross) products and beings (and are thus in them but they are not in the Soul). The Soul abides in them as the enjoyer and thus pervades them. You, therefore, observe clearly that both these (The soul and the elements) appear in me, but I as the Supreme Perfect Brahman transcend them, all.

Śrī Śuka said:

48. In this way, the Gopīs were initiated and instructed in the spiritual Lore by Lord Kṛṣṇa. By dint of constant contemplation on him, they destroyed the sheath of the subtle body (jīva-kośa) and became merged in him.

49. And they prayed: “O Lotus-navelled Lord! May your lotus-feet worthy of being meditated upon in their hearts by masters of Yoga of unfathomable spiritual wisdom and which form as a support (or supporting plank) to get out of the well of saṃsāra to people who have fallen into that well, may these lotus feet ever remain manifest in our hearts even though we lead a domestic life in Saṃsāra.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Padaratnāvalī: The Śāstra such as The Brahmasūtras issued out of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mouth purifies the world.

[2]:

Padaratnāvalī: You have really accomplished the highest purpose in your life as you are in direct contact with Lord Viṣṇu—The source of the bliss in the heaven and in the Mokṣa. He of his own accord has been in your house, so in your case householder’s life will not lead to hell.