Garga Bhagavatham : Golok khanda : Chapter 16
The Praise of Radhika by Nanda at Bhandeera vana; Brahma conducts the wedding of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna; Praise of the divine couple by Brahma; the Divine couple perform sweet pastimes;
Sri Narada says:- One day Nand was carrying his son in his arms and playing
with him, he was grazing cows. Without realizing he went too far and had
reached Bhandeer forest. The whole forest was shaking as the river Kalindi was
flowing with great force. In a little while at the wish of Sri Krishna, the
wind started blowing very fiercely. The sky was covered with heavy clouds. The
branches of all the trees were falling broken and were being slung around by
the force of the gale and it was all very scary. It became very dark, there was
darkness all around. The son of Nand was scared and started weeping in his
father's arms. Nand also became afraid and prayed to Lord Sri Hari.
At the same time, a bright light which was
as bright as crores of Suns appeared, whose brightness spread in all
directions. Amid the bright light, the king of nine Nandas saw Vrishabanu's
daughter Sri Radha. She had the beauty of crores of Moons. On her, the
brilliantly blue colored dress was looking lovely. The ankle bells she wore
were sounding like the sweet music of cymbal( a musical instrument) and this
sound was mixed with sweet sounds of her bracelets and bangles. The pearl
necklace with a pendant and armlet she was wearing made her stunningly
beautiful. The nosering studded with precious gems was having a rare beauty.
The ornaments around her neck, the earrings and the golden belt studded with
gems were shining beautifully. Nand was overawed by the sheer brilliance of Sri
Radha. He bowed his head and with folded hands he said 'Radhe, This is the real
Purshotham and you are His beloved. I came to know about this after listening
to Sri Garga himself, Radhe! take your loved one from me. He got scared by the
sounds of thunder. He has accepted the qualities of material nature here. This
is why he is acting as if he is afraid. Devi! please protect me in this world.
By your kindness only you have given me darshan, in reality, you are
inaccessible to everybody'
Sri Radhe said:- Sri Nand! what you say is correct. Getting my darshan is
indeed very difficult. Today as I was pleased with your devotion, I have given
you my darshan.
Sri Nand said :- Devi! If you are indeed pleased with me, please let my deep
devotion at the holy feet of both of you be eternal. Grant me also the company
of all the sages who are full of devotion towards you. In every age, let me be
at the feet of such great sages.
Sri Narada says:- King! Then saying 'so be it', Sri Radhe took her beloved from
him. Then, after Nand left that place after paying his respects to Her, Sri
Radhe went into Bhandeer forest. Firstly, when Goddess of Earth descended on
this earth in her original divine beauty, she appeared in the same form. That
place looked like golden land embedded with rubies. Vrindavan was looking very
attractive with all the trees with divine beauty and the whole place was full
of enchanting divine beauty. The banks of the river Yamuna was bedecked with
golden ornaments studded with precious gems. Govardhan mountain was also filled
with rocks embedded with precious gems. Its golden peak was shining in all
directions. It was looking beautiful with drunk bees flying around and the
wonderful waterfalls. With all these, the mountain king was similar to a huge
elephant with towering body parts. The trees in Vrindavan were also showing off
their divine form. The meeting place, coutyard and mandaps were looking
impressive. All the sweetness of Vasantha ritu(season) also appeared there. The
sweet sounds of honey bees, peacocks, and cuckoo birds were also being heard.
The top of the mandaps in the garden were also decorated with gold and precious
gems. The beautiful flags all around were enhancing the beauty. A beautiful
lake appeared there. Lovely golden-colored roses blossomed in the lake and bees
were sucking honey from the flowers.
As soon as the garden got all its glory, the
best of all best men Ganashyam Baghawan Sri Krishna appeared there in His
original form and stood beside SriRadhe. The Pitambar garment was shining on
His divine form. He was adorning the most valuable gem stone(kousthubha mani),
He was holding a flute in His hand. He was surpassing many Kamadevas. He held
His beloved's hand in His and proceeded to the marriage hall with her. He
smilingly held His beloved's hand and proceeded to the marriage hall. There all
the needed items for the marriage were kept ready. MEKHALA KUSHAA pots filled
with holy water were adding to the beauty of the place. There itself a great
throne appeared on which the divine lovers sat and exuded their beauty, They
were talking to each other sweetly. At that moment the greatest of the Devas,
Lord Brahma descended there. He came near Sri Krishna and prostrated before
them and with folded hands, started praising them with a dignified voice
through all His four mouths.
Sri Brahma said:- Lord! You are the reason behind everything, but there is
no beginning or ending for You. You are the best of all men. You are full of
love towards your devotees and You are famous by the name Sri Krishna. You look
after innumerable universes. I seek asylum at the feet of such a Lord Sri
Krishna, who is the
beloved of Sri Radhe. You are the Lord of Golokdham and your
playful acts are endless. Along with you this, playful SriRadhe also does
playful acts.
When You are in the form of Vaikuntanath this same daughter of
Vrishabanu is with you as Lakshmi. When you appeared as Sri Rama on this earth
she appeared as the daughter of Janaka, Devi Sita and served you. You are Sri
Vishnu and she is Kamala, who resides on a lotus. When you appear as
Yagnapurush, she resides in the form of Dakshinaa. If you are the best husband,
she is the best wife. If you are Nrisimha she lives in your heart as Ramaa.
When you do penance in the form of Nara-Narayan she resides with you in the
form of 'Param Shanti'. Whichever form You take, she takes form accordingly and
stays with you like a shadow. You are Brahman and she is Prakruti. When You
take the form of Kaal then she is known as Pradhan (nature). When You take the
form of universal importance this SriRadhe takes the form of Sugunaa Maya. When
you are the inner consciousness consisting of the soul, wisdom, mind, and pride
then SriRadhe takes the form of 'Lakshanavritti' (attitude). When you take the
form of the vastness of the universe she takes the form encompassment of the
universe. Greatest of great men! only your dark and bright form is there
everywhere.
You are The Lord of Golokdham and You are the greatest God. I
seek refuge in You. Whoever always prays this couple and always reads or
listens to their leelas will attain Golokdham. And in this world get
all-natural beauty, wealth, and happiness. When you the eternal couple, who is
the greatest and who is fully contented with the love for each other, take
forms according to the situations and perform leelas, then for the goodness and
welfare of this universe, I shall conduct rituals of your marriage.
Sri Narada says:- King! after praising this way, Sri Brahma invoked the fire
God(Agni deva), and sitting near the fire conduccted the marriage of the loving
couple with all the religious customs. Then Brahma stood up and asked Sri Hari
and Sri Radhe to go around (parikrama) The Fire God seven times. Then with
folded hands, Brahma asked the Divine couple to recite seven mantras. He made
Sri Radhe place her hand on SriKrishna's heart and Sri Krishna's hand on the
backside of SriRadhe and made them recite mantras in high pitched voices. He
asked Sri Radhe to put a garland mixed with saffron around Sri Krishna's neck.
Bees were flying around the fragrant flowers in the garland. In the same way,
he asked Sri Krishna to put a similar garland around Sri Radhe's neck and asked
them prostrate before Agnideva. Thereafter, he made the newlywed couple sit on
the throne, they stood before them with folded hands. Then Brahma asked them to
recite five mantras and just like a father who marries off his daughter, he
kept Sri Radhe's hands in SriKrishna's hand.
King! at that moment all the Devas showered
flowers. Along with the scholars, the celestial maidens started singing and
dancing. Drums, veena, flutes, conches, and other musical instruments were
being played. All the Devas standing in the sky were singing holy verses and
Brahmanlapping hands and were hailing the greatness of the lord. The Lord said,
"Brahma! you ask what Dakshina (token of appreciation for performing the
rituals) you want as per your wish". Brahma said "You give me
devotion to your sacred feet as Dakshina" Sri Hari saying 'so be
it'(tatastu) gave the boon Brahma wished for. Brahma prostrated before SriRadhe
and left for his abode. Brahma was feeling very happy and satisfied.
Thereafter, at the mansion in the garden, Sri
Krishna accepted the four types of divine food offered by Sri Radhe and Sri
Krishna also fed Sri Radhe with His own hands. She also ate the arecanut and
betel leaves (paan-supari) offered by Him. After this, Sri Hari held his beloved's
and went towards the garden. Talking to each other sweetly, they walked looking
at Vrindavan, Yamuna, and the lovely creepers. The divine couple performed
loving pastimes with each other. Hiding behind the creepers in the garden Sri
Radhe, saw Sri Krishna between the branches and pulled away His pitambar. Then
Sri Radhe escaped from the hands of Sri Krishna and ran away and hid in the
garden of Yamuna. When Sri Krishna would pursue her, and She would come within
His arm's grasp, She would get up and run away. Just like a garden is
beautified by lovely creepers, like clouds are beautified by lightning, and
like a mountain of sapphire is beautified with gold, Sri Krishna, the son of
Nand was glorified by the company of Sri Radhe. They were lovingly roaming
about in Vrindavan, which was filled with lovely creepers and the humming of
intoxicated bees, the waterfalls, and the enchanting lake. He was happily
dancing with Sri Radhe in the garden at the foot of Govardhan mountain.
After this, Sri Krishna entered into Yamuna river
with Sri Radhe. He grabbed from Sri Radhe's hands the lotus flowers which had a
lakh petals and moved away. Sri Radhe followed him laughingly and snatched the
bamboo stick and the flute from Sri Krishna's hands. Sri Hari said 'Give me my
flute'. Then Radha answered 'give me my lotus'. Then Sri Krishna gave back her
lotus, and then Sri Radhe returned His pitambar, flute, and bamboo stick. After
this, their lovely acts began.
Afterward, going to Bhandeer forest, son of Nand
started to decorate His beloved with his own hands. He painted her face,
applied mahaavar(mehndi) on both feet, and drew a black lining around her
eyes(kajal). He also decorated her with precious rubies and pearls and also
flowers. After this, Sri Radhe was also eager to decorate Sri Krishna. At that
very moment Sri Krishna left his original form and became a small boy. Just as
Nand had given the boy to her, he started crawling on the ground and started
weeping with fear. Seeing Him in this form, Sri Radhika was disappointed and
said 'Lord! why are you playing this trick on me?' When SriRadhe was crying
like this voice from heaven(aakashvani) said "Do not be worried at this
time, Your wish will be fulfilled after some time'"
After listening to this Sri Radha carried Sri
Krishna in the form of a small boy immediately to the house of Yashoda, the
wife of the king of Vraj, and gave the baby to her and said "Your husband
gave the baby to me on the way". Then Nand's wife said "Daughter of
Vrishabanu, you are blessed because at this time when the sky is covered with
clouds and there is thunder my little boy was scared. You have taken very good
care of him". Saying thus, the queen of Nand treated Sri Radhe very well
and praised her good nature. By this Sri Radhe was very pleased. She took leave
of Yashoda and slowly went back to her house.
King! in this way the holiest and secret story of
Sri Radhe's marriage was described here. All those who read, listen or tell
this story will never be touched by any sins.
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