Sri Brahma-vaivarta PuranaChapter One
Sri Krsna-pada-padma-prapti-sopanamThe Stairway to Sri Krsna’s Lotus Feet
Sri Narada said: O brahmana, first I heard the beautiful and very wonderful Brahma-khanda from Brahma’s mouth. Then, by his command, I came to you and heard the Prakrti-khanda, which is sweeter than nectar.
Now, unsatisfied even by hearing the Ganapati-khanda, which breaks the cycle of repeated birth, my heart yearns to hear a certain thing. To me, a devotee and your surrendered disciple, please elaborately narrate the Sri Krsna-janma-khanda, which breaks the cycle of birth and death for all who are truthful, which ends fruitive work, brings devotional service to Lord Hari, at once creates renunciation, cures the disease of repeated birth and death, plants the seed of liberation, is a boat to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, is a medicine to cure the disease of trying to enjoy the fruits of work, is a stairway leading to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet, and is the life of the Vaisnavas and the purifier of the worlds.
By whose request did Lord Krsna, the most perfect and complete original Supreme Personality of Godhead come, accompanied by all His amsa incarnations, to the surface of the earth?
In what yuga, for what reason, and in what place did He appear? Who is His father, Vasudeva? Who is Devaki?
Please tell in what family, with Yogamaya’s aid expertly imitating the actions of ordinary men, He took birth? When He came what did He do? In what form did Lord Hari appear?
Afraid of Kamsa, He left the maternity room and went to Gokula. O sage, why was the fearless Supreme Person afraid of Kamsa, who was insignificant as a worm or an insect?
Dressed as a cowherd boy, what did Lord Hari do in Gokula? Why did the master of the universes enjoy pastimes with cowherd girls?
Who were these cowherd girls? Who were these cowherd boys? Who was Yasoda? Who was Nanda? What pious deeds had they performed?
Why did the saintly goddess Radha, who lives in Goloka and is Lord Hari’s dearest lover, come to Vraja and become a girl of Vraja? How did these cowherd girls attain the unattainable Supreme Personality of Godhead? Why did He leave them and go to Mathura?
After removing the earth’s burden where did He go and what did He do? O very fortunate one, please tell the story of the Lord, hearing and chanting whose glories are the greatest of pious deeds.
O ocean of mercy, to me, who am your devoted disciple, please teach the rarely heard stories of Lord Hari, which are a boat to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, a sword to cut the painful chains of material pleasures, blazing flames to burn the fuel of hosts of sins, the destroyer of sins for they who hear, the giver of liberation, nectar for the ears, and the destroyer of an ocean of grief.
By performing austerities, chanting mantras, giving great charity, seeing the holy places of the earth, studying the Vedas, fasting, following vows, worshipping the demigods, and being initiated to perform all yajnas, one does not attain even on sixteenth the benefit of hearing the glories of Lord Hari.
My father sent me here to learn from you. Who, approaching an ocean of nectar, would not wish to drink from it?
Sri Narayana Rsi said: I know that you are very fortunate, pious, and glorious. O purifier of the people, you wander here and there to purify the worlds. As you hear their words, the people’s hearts are quickly revealed to you. You know how people’s hearts are disposed to their disciple, wife, daughter, granddaughter, relatives, son, and grandson, and how their hearts have glory, beauty, intelligence, eloquence and knowledge. You are liberated, even while living in this world. You are completely pure. You are a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. With the dust of your feet you purify this earth, the maintainer of all.
Now, unsatisfied even by hearing the Ganapati-khanda, which breaks the cycle of repeated birth, my heart yearns to hear a certain thing. To me, a devotee and your surrendered disciple, please elaborately narrate the Sri Krsna-janma-khanda, which breaks the cycle of birth and death for all who are truthful, which ends fruitive work, brings devotional service to Lord Hari, at once creates renunciation, cures the disease of repeated birth and death, plants the seed of liberation, is a boat to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, is a medicine to cure the disease of trying to enjoy the fruits of work, is a stairway leading to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet, and is the life of the Vaisnavas and the purifier of the worlds.
By whose request did Lord Krsna, the most perfect and complete original Supreme Personality of Godhead come, accompanied by all His amsa incarnations, to the surface of the earth?
In what yuga, for what reason, and in what place did He appear? Who is His father, Vasudeva? Who is Devaki?
Please tell in what family, with Yogamaya’s aid expertly imitating the actions of ordinary men, He took birth? When He came what did He do? In what form did Lord Hari appear?
Afraid of Kamsa, He left the maternity room and went to Gokula. O sage, why was the fearless Supreme Person afraid of Kamsa, who was insignificant as a worm or an insect?
Dressed as a cowherd boy, what did Lord Hari do in Gokula? Why did the master of the universes enjoy pastimes with cowherd girls?
Who were these cowherd girls? Who were these cowherd boys? Who was Yasoda? Who was Nanda? What pious deeds had they performed?
Why did the saintly goddess Radha, who lives in Goloka and is Lord Hari’s dearest lover, come to Vraja and become a girl of Vraja? How did these cowherd girls attain the unattainable Supreme Personality of Godhead? Why did He leave them and go to Mathura?
After removing the earth’s burden where did He go and what did He do? O very fortunate one, please tell the story of the Lord, hearing and chanting whose glories are the greatest of pious deeds.
O ocean of mercy, to me, who am your devoted disciple, please teach the rarely heard stories of Lord Hari, which are a boat to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, a sword to cut the painful chains of material pleasures, blazing flames to burn the fuel of hosts of sins, the destroyer of sins for they who hear, the giver of liberation, nectar for the ears, and the destroyer of an ocean of grief.
By performing austerities, chanting mantras, giving great charity, seeing the holy places of the earth, studying the Vedas, fasting, following vows, worshipping the demigods, and being initiated to perform all yajnas, one does not attain even on sixteenth the benefit of hearing the glories of Lord Hari.
My father sent me here to learn from you. Who, approaching an ocean of nectar, would not wish to drink from it?
Sri Narayana Rsi said: I know that you are very fortunate, pious, and glorious. O purifier of the people, you wander here and there to purify the worlds. As you hear their words, the people’s hearts are quickly revealed to you. You know how people’s hearts are disposed to their disciple, wife, daughter, granddaughter, relatives, son, and grandson, and how their hearts have glory, beauty, intelligence, eloquence and knowledge. You are liberated, even while living in this world. You are completely pure. You are a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. With the dust of your feet you purify this earth, the maintainer of all.
