Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 21

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Sri Krishna plays Raasa-Kreeda with Gopi maidens; Abandoning of the Gopis by Sri Krishna due to their pride and leaving with Sri Radhika; Later disappearance of Sri Krishna after abandoning Sri Radhika due to her pride 

Sri Narada says:- King of Kings! Like this in the attractive Kumudavan, Shyamasundar, who was moving along with the maidens of Vraj reached the beautiful Kamavan which had a garden with Malathi flowers, and a dense grove of mango, orange, and lemon trees, and a thicket of grapevines and almonds. It had very attractive forests with kadamba trees, coconut trees, banyan, jackfruit, and peepul trees, and attractive gardens which had Tulsi, kovidar, ketaki, banana, kareel groves, bakula trees. 

            There itself on a mountain Sri Krishna played a sweet tune on His flute. Listening to His alluring tune the beauties of Vraj felt feverish and fainted. King! In the sky, the celestial maidens who were seated with the Devas in their Vimanas were also attracted. The arrows of Kamadev pierced every part of their bodies and their chaste morals were loosened and started slipping. Including immobile things, all the four types of living beings on the earth were attracted, the waters of the oceans and rivers became motionless and even mountains began to quiver. The mountain in Kamavan was embedded with the divine feet of Shyamasundar and the mountain got the name 'Charan Pahadi'. Just by looking at it, humans become sanctified. 

            Thereafter, Sri Krishna performed Raas on the plains of Nandeeshwar and Brihatsanu hills. There, when the gopikas became very proud of their good fortune, then Sri Krishna left them there itself and disappeared with Sri Radha. King of Mithila! In that desolate place, without Sri Krishna, all the gopikas felt extremely sad by the separation. Their eyes were filled with tears and started running around here and there like frightened deer. Just like female elephants without their male companions and terns without male company cry out pitifully, in the same manner, the gopikas, unable to see Sri Krishna and feeling very sad at being separated, were crying out pitifully. King! All of them together and making separate groups, went from forest to forest and maddened by the separation, were asking the trees and creepers 'Please tell us quickly, where is Sri Krishna hiding?' and began calling out the name of Sri Krishna repeatedly. Their minds were rooted in the divine feet of Sri Krishna. Hence all the girls started looking like Sri Krishna just like a worm that is captured by a large black bee takes the form of the bee. This is not surprising at all. They reached a spot where they could find the impression of Sri Krishna's feet and surrendered to the divine feet. Thereafter by the grace of Bhagawan Himself, and by worshipping the Feet, the gopikas got the darshan of Bhagawan's feet with all the special decorations. 

Bahulashwa asked:- Lord! Where did Shyamasundar along with Radha go leaving behind the gopikas? How did gopikas get His darshan later on? 

Sri Narada says:- King! Bhagawan Sri Krishna went beneath Sanketvat and there and He began to decorate the hair of His beloved Sri Radhika with flowers. Sri Radha turned the blue hair of Sri Krishna into curls and on His face which was round like the moon and drew unusual figures. In this way decorating each other Sri Krishna, with his beloved went to Bhadravan, huge Khadiravan, Vilvavan, and Kokilavan. There, searching for Sri Krishna,they saw His footprints. The footprints were adorned with the symbols of millet, chakra(Sudarshan chakra), flag, swastika, hook, dot, eight angles, diamond, lotus, blue conch, pot, fish, triangle, arrow, urdhwarekha lines, bow, gokhur marks, and half-moon. Following the footprints of the great Sri Krishna and putting the dust of the footprints on their heads the gopis were going forward. Then they saw another footprint along with that of Sri Krishna. The other footprints were adorned with symbols of flag, lotus, chatra, millet, urdhwarekha lines, chakra, half-moon, kook marks and dots.

                King of Videha! Seeing the unusual symbols of the creeper of clove, mace, fish, conch, giriraj, shakti, throne, chariot and two dots, the gopikas told among themselves 'Surely the Son of Nand has taken Sri Radhika along with Him'. Admiring the footprints of Sri Krishna, the gopikas reached Kokilavan. 

            Hearing the noise of those gopikas Madhav told Sri Radhe 'Dear Sri Radhe, you can dispense a crore Moons with your beauty!  Gopikas have come from all directions. Now they will take you away with them. Hence leave from here quickly'. At that time Radha, who was proud of her beauty, youth, intelligence, and modesty told Ramaapati with pride thus.

 Sri Radha said:- Dear! I have never moved out of my palace but today I had to walk a lot, hence I cannot move even a step. Can you not see me, a tender princess sweating profusely? Then how can you take me?

 Sri Narada says:- Hearing this, the beloved of Radhika, Sri Krishna started fanning Sri Radhika with His divine yellow cloth. Then holding her hands said 'Sri Radhe! Now you walk slowly as per your wish'. Even after Sri Krishna repeatedly told her she did not put one step forward. She stood silently turning her back towards Sri Hari. Then the favorite of saints, Sri Krishna told the self-respecting dear Radha thus. 

Sri Baghawan said:- Self-respecting one! Here other gopis wish to meet me, with all their hearts, even then leaving all of them I adore you, I do whatever you like! Radhe! Climb onto my shoulders and quickly leave from here. 

Sri Narada says:- King! Upon His saying thus, his beloved, Sri Radha wanted to climb onto His shoulders. Right then, the independent and speedy God, beloved Sri Krishna disappeared from there. Whereupon the extraordinary girl Radha was very disappointed. In the great Kokilavan, being distraught with the separation from Bhagawan she started weeping hoarsely. King of Mithila! At that time a group of gopikas came there. Hearing the remorseful weeping of Sri Radha, they felt very sorry for her and they all felt shy. Some of them bathed their leading girl with the essence of flowers and perfumes and some of them sprinkled water mixed with sandal, aguroo scents, musk, and saffron on her and some of them fanned her. They encouraged her with kind and soothing words. Hearing from Sri Radha the words of honor told to her by Sri Krishna, the self-respecting gopikas were greatly surprised.

 

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