The Supreme Enjoyer

Rasika Mukuta mani Sri Syamasundhara

Sri Krsna who's complexion resembles a dark monsoon cloud, who stands in a three fold bending way playing on his flute, is the crown jewel of all Rasa. He plants the seeds of Rasa and waters them, then without any reservation enjoys all the fruit when they become extremely ripe.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is non other than Radha and Krsna combined appeared in this world along with his associates, just to distribute freely the seeds that fell out of those extremely sweet and juicy fruits.

It is said in the Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya-lila 19.151: "After wandering throughout the universe for unlimited births, the Jiva (Individual Soul) becomes fortunate when by the mercy of guru and Krsna(Supersoul) he receives the seed of Devotion."

Under the guidance of ones guru the seed of devotion becomes mature and the fruit of pure devotion begins to ripen. Krsna being attracted picks the ripened fruit and enjoys it, after all he is "Rasika Mukuta mani Sri Syamasundhara" the Supreme enjoyer. - AJD

White Jasmine Flowers

Sri Kundadanti

(Lovely Radharani, whose teeth are white like Kunda flowers)

Rain was Created

Sri Radha began to play on her Vallaki-Vina, holding it in her lotus like hands as Krsna held his Hamsika-Flute in his lotus hands. It was if they wanted to defeat each other in expertise in singing and playing musical instruments. Their music turned stone into water. That's quite normal, but even the stone like hearts of the sages in Satyaloka, that were absorbed in non dual meditation, melted and poured down to earth. That was most amazing!

(rain was created because the Vina and the Murali-flute played the Mallara Raga, which is played during the monsoon season)

- Visvanath Cakravarty Thakur -

Sri Bhagavan uvaca:

" I am the taste of water,

the light of the sun and the moon,
the syllable oḿ in the Vedic mantras;
the sound in ether
ability in man
original fragrance of the earth,
the heat in fire.
the life of all that lives,
the penances of all ascetics
the original seed of all existences,
the intelligence of the intelligent,
the prowess of all powerful men
strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire.
sex life which is not contrary to religious principles
the Supersoul seated in the hearts of all living entities.

the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.

of the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu,
of lights I am the radiant sun,
of the Maruts I am Marīci,
among the stars I am the moon.
of the Vedas I am the Sāma Veda
of the demigods I am Indra, the king of heaven
of the senses I am the mind;
in living beings I am the living force [consciousness].
of all the Rudras I am Lord Śiva,
of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the Lord of wealth [Kuvera],
of the Vasus I am fire [Agni],
of mountains I am Meru.
of priests, know Me to be the chief, Bṛhaspati.
of generals I am Kārtikeya,
of bodies of water I am the ocean.
of the great sages I am Bhṛgu;
of vibrations I am the transcendental oḿ.of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa],
of immovable things I am the Himālayas.
of all trees I am the banyan tree
of the sages among the demigods I am Nārada.
of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha,
among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.
of horses know Me to be Uccaiḥśravā,
of lordly elephants I am Airāvata,
among men I am the monarch.
of weapons I am the thunderbolt;
among cows I am the surabhi.
of causes for procreation I am Kandarpa, the god of love,
of serpents I am Vāsuki.
of the many-hooded Nāgas I am Ananta,
among the aquatics I am the demigod Varuṇa.
of departed ancestors I am Aryamā,
among the dispensers of law I am Yama, the lord of death.
among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlāda,
among subduers I am time,
among beasts I am the lion,
among birds I am Garuḍa.
of purifiers I am the wind,
of the wielders of weapons I am Rāma,
of fishes I am the shark,
of flowing rivers I am the Ganges.
of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle,
of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the self,
among logicians I am the conclusive truth.
of letters I am the letter A,
among compound words I am the dual compound.
I am also inexhaustible time,
of creators I am Brahmā.
I am all-devouring death,
I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be.
Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.
of the hymns in the Sāma Veda I am the Bṛhat-sāma,
of poetry I am the Gāyatrī.
of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa [November-December]
of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.
I am also the gambling of cheats
of the splendid I am the splendor.
I am victory,
I am adventure,
I am the strength of the strong.
of the descendants of Vṛṣṇi I am Vāsudeva,
of the Pāṇḍavas I am Arjuna.
of the sages I am Vyāsa,
among great thinkers I am Uśanā.
Among all means of suppressing lawlessness I am punishment,
of those who seek victory I am morality.
of secret things I am silence
of the wise I am the wisdom.
I am the generating seed of all existences.
There is no being — moving or nonmoving — that can exist without Me"

One evening in Srila Prabhupad's room he said: "when preaching just tell the truth..that is preaching. Not everyone wants to hear the truth. Sometime animosity will arise but the truth will be appreciated by those persons sincerely wanting it. The truth must be spoken ! People are looking for something. When you speak of restrictions (no meat eating, no intoxication, no gambling, no illicit sex) some become angry. They don’t want to give up. They want to have cake and eat it to. The risk is there when preaching that some will not care for us.

Follow the rules and take Krishna, that is our message! Naturally everyone is pure so this restriction is not such a difficult thing."

PinchaBhusana
Krishna who is adorned with a peacock feather.

I ran to Tehran

Srila Prabhupad stayed at the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindaban in the summer of 1976. I was also there during that time. S.P. gave Srimad Bhagawatam class during the morning program frequently. During one class he said some things that stirred up some of the disciples, including myself. He said if you want to chant without offense, don’t try to chant all day in Vrindaban. Instead, leave Vrindaban and go and preach. In that way you will be able to chant without offense. I felt S.P. talking to me especially because I for a few weeks before that class chanted 64 rounds (mechanical) per day, most done before mangal arotik. This was from the suggestion of a Godbrother. Srila Prabhupad obviously had a different point of view.

After the class was over some devotees, myself included, were inspired to leave Vrindaban and go to another temple and preach. I got the idea to go to Tehran in Iran. This was partly due to misplacing my return ticket back to New York.

I went to stay at the Temple in New Delhi to arrange travel to Iran. I met some English people downtown New Delhi. They were planning to take a bus from New Delhi to Tehran in a week. The one way fare was $35.00. They agreed to let me join the bus group.

For the next several days I went to the Delhi airport and asked the people waiting for planes to give a contribution for my trip. After about 4 or 5 days collecting, I had enough money for the bus fare and for other travel expenses.

During that time S.P. visited the Delhi Temple. A preaching program in a city north of Delhi was being planned. Some of the disciples accompanying S.P. were Hansadutta (then sannyas), Yasoda Nandana(then sannyas)and Gopal Krishna .

I remember one of the breakfast meals. It was kittri mixed with potatoes and also lime wedge on the side. YasodaNandana asked for some ghee to mix in with the kittri.

On one morning, after breakfast prasad, the disciples except for me went to do service. They left the temple compound. For some reason I stayed behind, planning to go to the airport later. I was walking in the area near S.P.’s room when all of a sudden I heard a voice that sounded like thunder or like someone speaking with a muffled megaphone. I was frightened because the sound was unexpected What I heard was, “Bring Gopal here.” I could understand that S.P. spoke those words. I thought he wanted to speak to Gopal Krishna Maharaj. I walked all around the compound. No one was there. I went back to from where I heard the voice. I was afraid to go in S.P.’s room because the sound frightened me. Was he in ecstasy calling for Gopal or ? I am so fallen ( my heart beating fast like a big Mrdunga) I cannot disturb him is what I was thinking at the time. I shouted: “ I can’t find Gopal Krishna Maharaj.” Then I went to the airport.

A few days later I met the bus in Delhi. The trip began. We traveled through the following countries: India , Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. In those days terrorism was not as much a problem so travel to those counties was permitted. I brought along a Mahabharat and did spend time reading it while traveling.

I felt I was protected on the trip because I was serving S.P. by carrying out his instructions. The mountain roads in Afghanistan in the area of the Khyber Pass were steep narrow and filled with curves. It was dangerous. At certain points on the windy mountain roads the outer wheels would hang off the cliff and we could here and see boulders falling and crashing in the valleys. I rode on the roof of the bus a few times but mostly inside. Also there was a problem near a village in the Punjab area. Some boys threw rocks at the bus. The bus leader took a rifle and threatened the boys with it. The boys went away. Also on the border between Afghanistan and Iran there was a problem. The border guards spent a long time searching the bus for drugs because most the people on the bus were English. (The 70's was the Hippie era)

We arrived in Tehran and I went to live in the Temple. I stayed there for four months. For 3½ months I taught English class to army personnel. The highlight of my stay there was during the last two weeks There was only one hotel in the city that accepted Europeans and American. It was called Amir Kabir. I used to go there every afternoon for two weeks to try to distribute books to the guests of the hotel. It was about 2 miles from the Temple to the hotel. I would walk there and back each day. The streets were full of young men rushing around and many women with their heads covered. On some street corners men sold roasted pistachio nuts that I would buy and offer to Krishna. I was focused that I was doing everything on behalf of S.P. From that, I felt satisfied. I would go the hotel lobby and try to interest a guest in the book and to buy it. I did not sell any books but I remained satisfied thinking I was a servant of S.P.

Harer Nama das (acbsp)

related article

Sweet, butter dance

GOPALA VIMSATI Twenty Verses on Gopala, the cowherd boy of Brindavana

Sri Sampradaya

Note: Verse twelve depicts Narada descending from the heavenly planets singing joyously this sloka during his journey to meet Purushan and initiate him into the mahamantra of the Lord . I would also like to mention that Gaudiya Vaisnavas have determined that Sri Vishnu is within the body of Sri Krsna as an expansion not in the reverse order. A few other discrepancies exist here but I believe this is a hard text to translates, especially into English. Regardless, this is very wonderful composition and I think you get will the general Idea. AJD

Verse 1

vande bRndAvanacaram vallavI janavallabham |
jayantisambhavam dhAma vaijayantI vibhUshaNam ||

I salute that divine effulgence named Gopala, who was born on this Sri Jayanthi day and roamed in the forests of Brindavanam wearing the unfading garland, known as Vaijayanti, made of wild flowers of the forest. This garland was his charactrestric decoration. He enchanted the gopis of Brindavanam. I salute this illustrious jyoti.

Verse 2

vAcam nijAnkarasikam prasamikshamAno
vaktrAravidha vinivesita pAncajanya: |
varNatrikoNarucire vara puNDarIke
baddAsano jayati vallava cakravartI ||

The Lord of the cowherds, Sri Gopala is seated on a yantra in the shape of a eight-petalled lotus. Inside that yantra is yet another yantra in the shape of a triangle. Gopala-upAsakas seat Him at the center of this inner triangle and enjoy His illustrious beauty. On His lap, they find Sarasvati, the goddess of learning. He blesses Her with His auspicious glances .

He has on His lotus lips the conch known as Panchajanyam, whose sound is that of the holy praNavam symbolizing the essence of the Vedas. (His devotees meditate on Him in this manner and receive His blessings).

Verse 3

amnAyagandhI rudita sphUritAdharoshTam
AsrAvilekshaNamanukshaNa mandahAsam |
gopAlaDimbhavapuSam kuhanAjananyA:
prANasthanandayAmivaimi param pumAmsam ||

I visualize and revere Sri Gopala as the Supreme Lord, who took the form of the child born in the cowherd family. He was not an ordinary baby. As he feigned fear at the sight of the approaching evil Puthana, he alternately cried and smiled. As He cries, his upper and lower lips quivers from the exertion. At that time, his sweet breath carries the fragrance of the Vedas. He also smiled in between his crying spells. His smile was over the thought of what he planned to do next with the deceitful Puthana. He not only helped himself to the poisonous milk from her breast, but also sucked her life through the very same act of responding to her cunning invitation to breast-feed him. He drank at one swoop Puthana's milk and her life force and blessed her this way. This certainly is no ordinary child!

Verse 4

AvirbhAvAtvANibhrUtAbharaNam. purastAt
Akuncitaika caraNam. nibrUtanyapAdam |
dadhnAnimantamukareNa nibaddhatAlam
nAthasya nandabhAvane navanItanATyam ||

At the house of his parents, Yasodha was strenuously churning milk to produce butter as part of the daily chore. Krishna, the bhAgyam of Yasodha, heard these rhythmical sounds coming from her efforts and began a special dance to amuse her and to receive gobs of butter as a reward. He planted one of his feet firmly and he moved the other foot around in different directions, the gold necklaces, jewelery and the ankle bells on His holy feet producing a most delightful musical sound, which matched the laya patterns emanating from his mother's efforts at churning milk. May that vision of this sweet, butter dance of Lord Gopala appear before my eyes! (navanItam is freshly churned butter mixed with sugar ).

Verse 5

hartum. kumbhe vinihita kara: svAdu hayangavInam.
dRshTvA dhAmagrahaNacatulAm. mAtaram. jAtaroshAm. |
pAyadhISat pracalitapado nApagacchan na tishTan
mithyAgopa: sapadi nayane mIlayan visvagoptA ||

May the special pose that this protector of the Universe, who acted like an innocent child born in the family of cowherds of Gokulam, nurture the inhabitants of his world! His mother normally stored freshly churned butter in shallow earthern vessels (chattis). Gopalan routinely raided the kitchen and stole this butter. Yasodha thought that she could hide the butter in deep water pots (kumbha) to mislead her child. Gopalan defeated his mother in her efforts to save the butter and won the game. When his mother stepped out of the kitchen for a moment, he put his hands into the pot and helped himself. As he was enjoying himself, his mother arrived suddenly suspecting something was going on behind her back. She saw Gopalan stealing butter again and ran towards him, rope in her hand, to tie him up as punishment.

Gopalan was bewildered by the sight of his angry mother. For a moment, he wanted to run away to escape his mother. He lifted his foot to run. His (feigned) fright at his mother however made him stop. He stood still pretending that he did not know what to do next. He closed his eyes at the thought of the impending calamity of being caught and punished by his mother. He appeared as though he was averting that danger by closing his eyes. It is common for ordinary human beings to close their eyes, when they face serious danger, out of a sense of utter helplessness. Our Lord, who is the protector of His universe adopted this posture as if he was a mere mortal. May the thought of the simplicity that he adapted for this occasion protect all of us in our daily lives!

Verse 6

vraja yoshidapAnga vedhanIyam.
mathurAbhAgyam. ananya bhogyamIDe |
vasudevavadhU sthanandhayam. tat
kimapi brahma kiSorabhava dhRSyam. ||

The young girls of Gokulam look at this lovely child of Yasodha with great affection. Their glances enter him like arrows and makes him subservient to them. He is the great fortune of the city of Northern Madhurai (Mathura). He who was born there is the object of delectable experience for the sages, who do not covet anything else in this world. Right from his infancy, when he was breast fed by his natural mother Devaki in the prison, he has been the essence of beauty in all the three worlds. I salute and offer my tribute to this supreme being known as Gopalan.

Verse 7

parivattita kandharam bhayena
smita phulladhara pallavam. smarAmi |
vitapitva nirAsakam kayoschit
vipulolUkala karSakam kumAram ||

I meditate on that child Gopala, who dragged the big mortar to which he was tied by his angry mother Yasodha. She wanted to teach him a lesson for stealing butter. As Yasodha went away, he checked around to make sure that she was out of sight and then pulled the tied mortar to the garden. He smiled with a sense of satisfaction that he duped his mother once again and his lips were rosy with that joy. He dragged the mortar further and went between two Marutha trees. The shock of the collision with the mortar broke the twin trees and the the sons of Kubera, who stood as the trees in the garden of the Lord, got released from their curse and regained their original bodies. I offer my worship to that blessed child, who freed the sons of Kubera from their existence as twin trees.

Verse 8

nikaTeshu nisAmayAmi nityam
nigamAntai: adhunApi mRkyamAnam |
yamalArjuna dRshTa bAlakelim
yamunAsAkshika yauvanam yuvAnam ||

Vedas are still searching for Him; His leelas were seen by the twin Marutha trees in His backyard. Even after they were released from their state as trees, the sons of Kubera did not want to get back to their home, since they wanted to enjoy some more of His Bala Leelas. The river Yamuna, the daughter of Surya was a joyous witness to all his playful deeds that took place on her sandy banks. I see that wonderful young Gopala next to me always.

Verse 9

padavIm. adhavIyasIm. vimukte
atavI sam.padam ambhuvAhayantIm. |
aruNAdhara sAbhilASa vam.sAm
karuNAm. kAraNa mAnushIm. bhajAmi ||

I worship the most merciful Gopala, who is the root cause of the creation, sustenance and destruction of this universe; He is the one, who revealed to us the easy-to-practise route of Prapatti as the short road to Moksham. He is the rejuvenating, rain-bearing cloud that enhanced the wealth and well-being of the citizens of Brindavanam. The flute that rests on His red lips during the time of His playing appears to be deeply eager to taste the sweetness of his mouth. I salute this embodiment of mercy known as Venugopalan.

Verse 10

animeSaniSevanIyamakshno:
ajahat yauvanam Avirastu chitte |
kalahAyita kuntalam kalAbhai:
karanonmAdaka vibramam. maho me ||

One should enjoy the unchanging and incomparable beauty of the youth, Gopala, with unblinking eyes. When we blink, we lose that moment of this delectable experience. He is wearing the peacock feathers (peelis) in his dark tresses. The "eyes" at the top of each of the peelis decorating his hair seem to compete for the attention of his youthful beauty. When we think of His many playful deeds/pranks as Balagopala in Gokulum and Brindavanam and his blemishlesss beauty, our minds fall in intense love with Him. Our senses are overpowered. May the overflowing flood of that beauty and its lustre remain steadily in my mind .

Verse 11

anuyAyi manojna vam.sanAlai:
avatu sparSita vallavI vimohai: |
anagasmita SItalai rasau mAm
anukampA saritambhujai: apAngai: ||

Venugopalan plays on his flute and creates delightful music and casts his most merciful glances on the Gopis. They are totally captivated by his friendly smile and the divine music originatinig from His flute. At this time, His cool and welcoming eyes resemble a pair of just-blossomed lotuses in the river of His mercy (Dayaa). May this enchanting youth Gopala protect me always!

Verse 12

adharAhita cAru vamSa nALA:
makuTalambi mayUra pinchamAlA: |
harinIla SilAvibhanga-lIlA:
pratibhA: santu mamAntima prayANe ||

May the resplendent blue jyoti of Gopala reminding one of an incomparable blue gem stone (indranIla or blue sapphire), with blue peacock feather decorations on His dark black hair and the divine flute on His lips appear before me during the last moments of my life on this earth.

Verse 13

akilAnavalaokayAmi kAlAn
mahilAdhIna bhujAntarasya yuna: |
abhilASapadam. vajrAnganAnAm.
abhilAbha krama dhuramAbhirUpyam ||

Even in His incarnaton as Krishna/Gopala, Sri Devi is always united with Him. He has left her His chest region as Her place of special residence and enjoyment. He has the eternal and youthful beauty that qualifies Him to play with Her. We are powerless to describe His full beauty. The Gopis of Gokulam are thirsting to enjoy His beauty. I am blessed to have the vision of this beautiful youth everywhere and at all times .

Verse 14

hRdI mugdhasikanda mandana:
likhita: kena mamaisha SilpinA |
madanAdura vallavAnganA
vadanAmbhoja divAkaro yuvA ||

Which (bold) artist has drawn this picture of this unsatiable beauty known as Gopala in my heart? Who etched this embodiment of beauty wearing the charming peacock feathers in His hair? Which painter painted the picture of this beautiful youth in my heart, who is like the morning Sun to the lotus-like faces of the love-sick Gopis ?

Verse 15

mahase mahitAya maulinA
vinatenanAnjalimanjanatvise |
kalayAmi vimugdha vallavI
valayAbhAsita manju venave ||

I join my hands in Anjali Mudra and lower my head in salutation of that much revered effulgent, dark-hued Jyothi of Gopala, whose divine flute music joins in conversation as it were with the taaLam of Gopis whose golden bangles that jingle as they keep up with the rhythmic patterns.

Verse 16

jayati lalitAvRttIm sikshito vallavInAm.
Sitila valaya sincA SItalairhasta tAlai: |
akhilabhuvanarakshA gopaveSasya viSno:
AdhAra maNi sudhAyAm. amsavAn vam.AsnAla: ||

The incarnation of Vishnu taking the form of a cowherd to protect all the universes has on its coral-red lips the bamboo flute that tastes the nectar of this Gopala's mouth. As he plays the flute on the banks of the Yamuna river during the moon-lit nights, the lovelorn Gopis engage in rAsa krIDa with him. The Gopis beat taaLam to the music of their Lord with their cool hands decorated with golden bangles. Their follow-up with taaLam suggests as though they are teaching the abhinayam step known as LaLitham to the flute of the Lord. [The Abhinaya sastras describe LaLitham as the gesture, where the dancer places her hands on the appropriate portion of the body and change the movement of her eyebrows to mimic the different rasas. The delectable interplay between the bhAvam, rAgam and tALam - Bharatanatyam - is suggested here as the rAsa krIDa progresses.]

Verse 17

citrAkalpa: Sravasi kalayan lankalI karNapUram.
barhottamsa sphuritacikuro bandhujIvam dadhAna: |
gunjA baddhA murasi lalitAm dharayan hArayaStim
gopastrInAm. jayati kitava: ko'pi kaumArahAri ||

Gopalan is a roamer of the forest. Hence, he decorates himself with the ornaments appropriate to the dwellers of the forests i.e. natural products available in the forests.

The mischevous Gopalan, who stole the youth of the Gopis appears before them with many decorations that enhance his beauty. On his ears, the Gopis find the flower known as Laangali (flower from the coconut tree's sheaf/ Tennampaalai flower); peacock feathers are found by them on his dark and curly tresses; red hibiscus also decorates those tresses. On his broad chest, they find a beautiful necklace made of yellowish-red seeds known as Gunjaa or Kunrimani strung together . With these and more AbharaNAs made of forest products, Gopala enchants the hearts of the adoring Gopis.

Verse 18

lIlayashtIm karakisalaye dakshine nyasya dhanyAm
amse devyA: pulakaruchire sannivishTAnya bAhu: |
meghaSyAmo jayati lalito megalA datta veNu:
gunjApIta sphurita Sikaro gopakanyA bhujanga: ||

Lord Gopalan, showing great affection for the Gopis, stands before them in resplendent attire. He strikes a pose with his tender right hand holding the shepherd's bent stick; his left hand rests on the shoulder of the beautiful Nappinnai; that touch of Gopalan sends shivers of joy over Nappinnai's body. That beautiful Gopalan has tucked his flute inside his waist band and has additional decoration in the form of a chain of Kunrimani beads tied across his own dark hair pulled up in the form of a bun. He shines with his dark blue hue, reminiscent of the clouds in the rainy season and wins over the Gopis with his formidable beauty. He roams around with great desire for union with Gopis.

Verse 19

prayAlIta sthitimadigatAm praptagAtAngapAlIm
pascAdISan milita nayanAm prayasIm. prekSamAna: |
bhastrA yantra pranihita karo bhaktajIvAturavyAt
vAri krIDA nibitavasano vallavI vallabho na:

Gopalan desirous of performing water sports with the Gopis tucked tightly his garments. He took in his hands the water pump used in those sports. He approached one of the Gopis, who was standing with one foot forward in the water and the other planted backward on the land. He surprised her from behind and embraced her tightly. That Gopi was overpowered by that delectable experience and partially closed her eyes and looked at Gopalan with half-open eyes. He returned her affectionate glances. Their eyes met.

May that Gopala engaged in water sports with the Gopis as their lover protect us, since he is the medicine for his devotees suffering from the afflictions of Samsaara .

Verse 20

vAso hRtvA dinakarasuta sam.nidhau vallavInAm
lIlAsmero jayati lalitAm. Asthita: kuntasAkhAm. |
savrItAbhi: tadhanu vasane tAbhirabhayArtyamAne
kAmi kaScit kara kamalayo anjalIm. yAcamAna: ||

On the banks of the Yamuna river shines the Lord, who is seated on the bow of a kunthaa tree with a smile on his face. He is enjoying the prank that he played on the unsuspecting Gopis, who had left their clothes on the river bank and were engaged in taking morning abolutions. [He wanted to teach them a lesson for breaking the rules of Sastras, which forbid one from taking bath in the river without wearing a cloth.] Gopalan sneaked up on the crowd of Gopis deeply absorbed in water sports and took all of their clothes and climbed up the kuntha tree and sat on one of its branch and waited for them to come out of the water. The unaware Gopis completed their water sports and abolutions and got out of the water and discovered that their clothes were removed by the smiling Gopalan sitting on the adjacent Pinnai (Kuntha) tree. Overcome by modesty, they rushed back into the water and prayed to him to return their clothes. He commanded them to come out of the water with folded hands raised above their hands [as a mark of atonement for the sin of breaking the injunctions of Saastras]. They had no choice, but to obey him to regain their clothes. May that mischievous Gopalan fond of Gopis be victorious!

Verse 21 - Phala Sruti of Gopala Vimsati

ityanayamanasA vinirmitAm.
venkaTesa kavinA stutIm. patan |
divyaveNurasikam samIkSate
daivatam. kimapi yauvata priyam. ||

This stotram has been created by the poet Venkatesa, who does not consider any God other than Gopala/Narayana .Those who read and recite this eulogy will have the blessings of the darSanam of the God of incomparable beauty, Venugopalan who was the keen object of desire of youthful gopIs .

So potent

Jiva Goswami

"Pure devotional service rendered to the supreme Lord is spiritually so potent that simply by hearing about such transcendental service, by chanting its glories in response, by meditating on it, by respectfully and faithfully accepting it, or by praising the devotional service of others, even persons who hate the demigods and all other living beings can be immediately purified."

This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in these words (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.27):

"Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform-do that, O son of Kunti as an offering to Me."

In this way, even by engaging in what is only a dim shadow of real devotional service, and even when committing many offenses while engaging in such a dim shadow of real devotional service, one can still attain the real result of devotional service. Ajamila, Musika and many others are examples of this!

* This excerpt is from the Sri Bhakti-sandarbha of Sri Jiva Goswami

Bewildering

When Lord Sri Krsna was personally present in the mortal world in His eternal, blissful form of Shyamasundara, those who were not pure devotees of the Lord could not recognize Him or know His glories.

"Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam (Bg. 9.11): He is always bewildering to the nondevotees, but He is always seen by the devotees by dint of their pure devotional service to Him."

"When Satrajit was visiting the city of Dvaraka, the citizens felt great pride to think that although Krsna was living in Dvaraka like an ordinary human being, the demigods were coming to see Him. Thus they informed Lord Krsna that the sun-god, with his appealing bodily effulgence, was coming to see Him. The citizens of Dvaraka confirmed that the sun-god's coming into Dvaraka was not very wonderful, because people all over the universe who were searching after the Supreme Personality of Godhead knew that He had appeared in the family of the Yadu dynasty and was living in Dvaraka as one of the members of that family. Thus the citizens expressed their joy on this occasion. On hearing the statement of His citizens, the all-pervasive Personality of Godhead, Krsna, simply smiled. Being pleased with the citizens of Dvaraka, Krsna informed them that the person whom they described as the sun-god was actually King Satrajit, who had come to visit Dvaraka City to show his opulence in the form of the valuable jewel obtained from the sun-god." - ACBSP KB c.56

This is perfect example of how mundane self interest gets in the way of ones spiritual vision. In a earlier article titled "Panch Mukha Hanuman" I mentioned that we should always be on guard because Anything at Anytime could happen to us and we could find ourselves in a very forgetful state of existence. On the other side of the coin we can say that Anything at Anytime could happen to us that may invoke our love and desire to render Divine Service. In that case we should take advantage of the situation. The above example however shows clearly how King Satrajit is not only himself in illusion but by his association he bewilders others. Arijit Das