Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 22

  

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 The praise of Sri Krishna by the Gopis; The Lord appears amidst them; Krishna narrates the story of Hamsa Muni on the behest of the Gopis; Sri Krishna gives Darshan of His Narayana form in Ksheera sagara – Shweta Dwipa;

 

Sri Narada says:- King! Thereafter, for the return of Sri Krishna, all the gopika girls started singing with lovely taals and melodious raagas HIS delightful qualities.

Gopis said:- Most handsome in the world! Jewel of mankind! Light of the world! Madan Mohan! The destroyer of all troubles and sins of the world! Happy son of Yadukul! Son of Nand! The honey of Your feet also is very sweet, many many salutations to You. The victorious flag of cows and saints! The one who is worshipped by Devas,

        One who has appeared to slay demons like Kamsa and others! Lotus in the clan of King Nand, Diwakar! The prime reason behind all the Gods of Gods! The mirror of all mankind! Victory to You! One who has taken the form of the brightest pearl in the Gopa dynasty which is like an ocean! One who has taken the form of Gopal and is the blue jewel on Giriraj! The Prime God! The lotus personified in the lake of Gopalamandal! The greatest swan in the Chandanvan, who is in the form of one among the gopas! Victory to You. Dear Shyamasundar, You are the bee who drinks the honey from the lovely face of Sri Radha, You are the playful thief of moonlike brightness from the face of Sri Radha, You are the bright Chandrahaar on Her chest and You are the one who gives fragrance to Madhavi creeper which is shaped like Sri Radha. Who at the place of Raas exhibits His leelas, He, who is the eyes and the very life-breath of the gopikas and when Sri Radha was esteemed who esteemed Himself, that Sri Hari Shyamasundar! Please appear in front of our eyes. He, who has decorated all the groups of gopikas and the king of mountains Govardhan with the dust of His feet! Who, for the creation of the world and it's protection has appeared on this earth, who's luster is dark, who's hands are like the body of Nagaraj, we admire that son of Nand, Madhav. Protector of life! without You, the separation is very painful to all of us, Gopikas, and we are feeling inflamed and thirsty by the rays of light from the Sun and Moon. This forest which used to be full of happiness when You were here, now coming here it feels dissymmetrical, and the mild breeze that is blowing feels like arrows piercing us. King Soudaasa's queen Madhayanti felt sad and was tormented by the separation from her husband. Nala's wife Damayanti's sadness at her separation from her husband was a thousand times more. The pain was a crore times more for the daughter of Janaka, Sita who was separated from her husband. The pain of separation is many times more for us today. 

Sri Narada says:- In the middle of the weeping gopikas, lotus-eyed Sri Krishna suddenly appeared as if the most cherished wish was fulfilled. On His head, a crown, on His arms armlets, bracelets, and on the ears jewel called Kundal were emanating their brightness. The balsamic, clean, scented, blue curly hairstyle was attracting the heart. Seeing Him all the gopikas stood up, just like seeing an exquisite group of ghosts, the mental faculties suddenly become active. King! In the middle of those gopika beauties, Shyamasundar Sri Krishna playing on His flute danced with Radha, as if the handsome Kamadev was dancing with Rati. As many gopikas were there, Sri Hari took that many forms and did Raas with each and every Gopika, exactly like the mind plays with the sleeplessness of human beings. At that time in the forest, the gopikas who were devoid of sadness, holding the hands told Shyamasundar Sri Krishna was standing there, in a choked voice spoke thus  

Goikas asked:- Shyamasundar! Where did You go away leaving behind those who sacrificed this world like straw and have offered their body, mind, and soul at your feet? 

Sri Bhagawan said:- Living under the Pushkar island in Dadhimandod ocean, a great saint named 'Hams' was doing penance. He was concentrating on me and offering prayers without any motive or ambition. That ascetic and great sage spent two manvantaras (several eons) doing penance in this manner. Only today, large fish having a body as long as half a yojan swallowed him. Then a huge demon wearing the form of a fish swallowed both of them. Hence to help the great saint Hams, I quickly went there and vanquished both the fish with my Chakra (Sudarsan chakra), thus after saving the sage I went away to 'Shwetha dweepa'. Gopikas! There in the ocean of milk(ksheersagar} and slept on the bed of Sesha. Then getting to know that all of you, My Dear gopikas are feeling sad I came here immediately foregoing my sleep because I am always in the control of my devotees. Those great saints, who have won over their bodies, who are level headed and who have no material ambitions, know that being without any desires only gives me greatest happiness, they know that sense of knowledge, original delight and subtle matter are the real happiness

 Gopis said:- Madhav! if you are happy with us, please give us your darshan of sleeping on the bed of Sesha in Ksheersagar.

 Sri Narada says:- Then saying 'so be it', Bhagawan became Narayan, with eight shoulders and Sri Radha took the form of Lakshmi in front of the group of gopikas. There itself Ksheersagar appeared with mercurial waves. Divine, auspicious palace bedecked with precious gems became visible. There itself like a lotus stalk, the white Seshanag with spiral loop could be seen, which was glorious as the early morning Sun and was graceful with a thousand faced umbrella. On the bed of Seshanag, Madhav was comfortably sleeping and Sri Radha who had taken the form of Lakshmi was serving Him by pressing His legs. Seeing that marvelous sight which was equal to a crore Suns, the gopikas prostrated in front of Him and all of them were immersed in astonishment. The place where Sri Krishna gave this darshan to the gopis became a sacred place where all sins could be washed away. After that Madhav along with the gopikas came to the banks of the Yamuna and began an artful pastime in the fast-flowing waters of Kalindhi. Sri Krishna snatched the lakh petalled lotus and Radha's robe from her and ran. Then Sri Radha chased Him and took His shining yellow cloth, flute and cane and went into the waters of Yamuna. Now the great Sri Krishna pleaded with her and said 'Radhe! give me the flute'. Sri Radha said 'Madhav! return my lotus and my robe'. Sri Krishna returned her lotus and her robe. Then Sri Radha also gave back His flute, cane, and His Yellow cloth. Thereafter Sri Krishna wearing a long garland of Vyjayanthi flowers, which was touching His knee and singing a melodious song went to Bhandeervan. There the crest-jewel among the clever, Sri Krishna decorated His beloved. He decorated her hair artfully, colored her feet, put a garland of flowers and decorated her plait also with flowers, put a spot of kumkum on her forehead, and applied eyeliners, In the same manner, daughter of Keerthi, Sri Radha also decorated Sri Hari's face with sandal, aguroo, and saffron.

      

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