Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 18

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Sri Krishna, in the form of GopDevi tests Sri Radhika’s love; Sri Radhika gets Darshan of Sri Krishna 

 

Sri Narada says:- Thereafter, upon the passing of the night, Sri Hari, who took the form of a Gopi girl by His Maya, went the palace of the Sri Radhika, the daughter of Sri Vrishabhanuvar to soothe her anguish. Upon seeing this, Sri Radhika got up in an instant and welcomed Gopdevi. She gave Gopdevi a good seat and performed her pooja with proper rituals

 

Sri Radha said:- Sakhi! I was very unhappy without seeing you all night and now that you are here, I feel so elated as if I have regained something that was long-lost. When one consumes something unhealthy, there is an initial feeling of happiness. However, after some time, one has to undergo pain. Similarly, when one receives Satsang, it leads to happiness initially. However, after some time, one has to endure the pain of separation. 

 

Sri Narada said:- King! Upon hearing the words of Sri Radhika, Gopdevi became very disturbed. She did not say anything to Sri Radha. She sat quietly with a heavy heart. Thinking Gopdevi was unwell, Sri Radha after discussing with her sakhis, spoke thus.

 

Sri Radha said:-  Gopdevi! Why have you become so disturbed? Auspicious One! Please tell me the reason. Did your mother, husband, sister in law or mother in law get angry at you and speak harsh words at you? Is your mind agitated because your husband is interested in another woman, or because of the pain of separation from your husband, or because your mind is entangled elsewhere? Please tell me the reason for your sadness quickly. Attractive one! Are you unwell because of the tiredness experienced during your long walk to reach here? Please tell me. Rambhoru! Other than a devotee of Sri Krishna or a Brahmin, if someone has offended you, I will make sure to set them right! If you so desire, please accept horses and elephants from me as vehicles, and also accept different types of gems, dresses, and houses from me. One should sacrifice money for the protection of the body, one should sacrifice the body to protect one's dignity, and for the success of a dear friend's endeavors, one should sacrifice wealth, body and one's dignity as well! One should always give away wealth and save a life. One who selflessly maintains one's friendship without any ulterior motives, such a friend is indeed great! Fie upon one who establishes a friendship and then indulges in cheating and back-biting! King of Kings! Upon hearing these words, Sri Krishna who had come in the guise of Gopdevi, smiled and spoke thus.

 

Gopdevi said:-  Radhe! I went to sell curds in the beautiful narrow street along the valley of Barsana. Just then, the youthful son of king Nanda, Shyamsundar, stopped me. He had a flute in his hand and a cane as well. The foremost among all Rasikas, Sri Krishna, setting aside all modesty, grabbed my hand instantly. In that secluded forest, he began to laugh loudly and spoke to me thus. "Sundari! (Beautiful one) I am a tax collector. Give me all your curds as tax!" I replied thus, "Get away from me! I will never pay tax to some milk-thief who calls himself a tax collector!" When I merely said so, he immediately took the pot of curds from above my head and crashed it. After crashing my pot and drinking just a little bit of the curds, he grabbed my shawl and went away in the Ishanya (northeastern) direction of the Nandishwar mountain. I am very disturbed by this. By caste, he is just a cowherd, his color is pitch black, he neither rich nor brave, neither good-natured nor good-looking! Oh, Good-natured one! Did you really fall in love with someone like this? This is not good for you! I tell you, remove that ruthless Krishna from your heart this very moment. 

Upon hearing such harsh words, full of enmity, the beautiful daughter of Vrishabhanu, Sri Radha, was shocked. She meditated on the feet of Goddess Saraswati, who bestows good oratory skills and spoke thus.

 

Sri Radha said:- Sakhi! To attain whom, Devatas like Brahma and Shiva, perform intense austerities by their immense Yogic powers, and the dust of whose feet, sages like Dattatreya, Angirasa, Kapila, Aasuri and Shuka are eager to touch with great respect, that Supreme Lord, who is beyond birth, who takes avatar to perform various leelas, who wards away the sorrow of all people, who reduces the burden of Mother Earth, and who has appeared here to reduce the difficulties of good-natured people, how can you talk ill about that Primordial Lord? You seem like someone who cannot be trusted! Cowherds always care for cows and are immersed in the river of milk from their cows, and chant the beautiful names of their cows. Not only that, but they also get the beautiful darshan of the faces of their cows, day and night. In my understanding, there is no other caste greater than that of the Gopas. You call Him pitch black, but dazzled by the very same dark aura, and completely losing his mind in the beauty of Shyam Sundar, the Lord Neelakantha Shiva, turns his face away from everyone else and roams around in the streets of Vraj in an intoxicated state, wearing matted locks, carrying the Halaahal poison in his throat, smeared with ashes all over his body and wearing a snake around his neck. The kings of heavens, Siddhas, Munis, Yakshas and Marutganas, and the kings of all the humans, Kinnaras and Nagas, who have immense wealth in their possessions, bow down to His feet eternally with devotion and offer sacrificial oblations to Him! Yet, you say He is not rich! Even the slaying of terrible demons like Vatsasura, Aghasura, Kaliyanag, Bakasura, Yamalarjuna trees, Trinavarta, Shakatasura, and Putana were all slain by Him are trivial acts for that Murari, who single-handedly creates and annihilates innumerable universes! For that best among men, I do not know if anyone is dearer than a devotee. Even Shankar, Brahma, Lakshmi, and Baladeva, the son of Rohini are not as dear to Him as a devotee. Bound by the love of devotees, He always follows them lovingly. Not only is Sri Krishna good-natured, but He is also the crest-jewel among the good-natured beings in the entire creation. While following His devotees, He purifies the universes which are present in every fiber of His divine body. That Supreme Lord always expresses His longing to His devotees. Therefore He grants Mukti to all those who incessantly chant His names, but does not grant His Bhakti very easily, as it would overpower Him to remain bound to the devotee. 

 

Gopadevi said:- Sri Radhe! Your intellect puts even Brihaspati to shame and your speech is accomplished as the Vedas themselves. However, Devi! Bound by your call, if the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna comes here and answers you, only then will I accept your words as true. 

 

Sri Radha said:- Shubhru! If the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna comes here by my calling, tell me, what I should do towards you? However, I can promise you, that if that Vanamali Sri Krishna does not come here when I meditate on Him, then I will give away all my wealth and my palaces to you. 

 

Sri Narada says:- Thereafter, Sri Radha got up and bowed to Sri Nandanandan and sitting on her seat, began to meditate upon Him. Her eyes became still while she went into deep meditation. Sri Hari saw that Sri Radha was very eager for His darshan, and she began to perspire from every pore of Her body and her eyes began to shed tears of love. Seeing this, Sri Krishna, who is very benevolent towards His devotees, assumed His male form and appeared right in front of the eyes of the Sakhis. Very pleased, he spoke thus in a voice as majestic as the thunder.

 

Sri Krishna said:- Rambhoru! Moon-faced maiden! Crest jewel among the beautiful maidens of Vraja! Youthful one! Sensitive maiden! My dear Radhe! You called me with your sweet voice, hence I have come here right away! Please open your eyes and look at Me. I heard these words coming out of this place, "My dearest Krishna, Come here!" That very moment, I left my Gokul and Gopa friends and passing through Vamshivat and the banks of Yamuna, I came running here to please you. As soon as I arrived here, some Yakshi, or a demoness or a kinnari, who had come here in the guise of a Sakhi to trick you through her Maya, went away. Hence you should never trust such tricksters. 

 

Sri Narada says:- Then Sri Radha saw Sri Hari and fell at His feet and became immersed in absolute bliss. Her wish was fulfilled immediately. Devotees who hear such astonishing leelas of Sri Krishnachandra become immensely gratified. 

 

 

 

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