The Story of Krishna Begins

The sages said:

1. О glorious one, we have duly heard from you the (des­cription of) Rama’s horse-sacrifice. Now tell us the greatness (i.e. glory) of noble Shrikrishna.

Suta said:

2-3. О best sages, (please) listen to the nectar-like story of Shrikrishna. I shall tell you what Parvati asked the lord of beings. Once goddess Parvati with her mind affectionate towards Shiva, having saluted him with reverence, said these words to him:

Parvati said:

4-5. The place of Vishnu staying without and within the crores of universes, is beyond them, is the chief one, the best one, and excellent. There is no place superior to the one which, is Krishna’s charming place, dear to him. О great lord, I desire to hear it all. (Please) tell it.

The lord said:

6-15a. The highest, excellent secret place dear (to Vishnu) is more secret than a secret place, is holy, is very wonderful, and gives great joy. О goddess, it is great, very difficult to reach among all the places that are difficult to reach; it is full of all power, and is concealed among all places. This place of Vishnu is the chief among the places of the Satvatas, is extremely difficult to reach, is eternal, is called Vyndavana, and is situated above the universe. It is the complete Brahman, happiness and glory, is eternal, is bliss, and is imperishable. Vaikuptha is a part of its portion; on the earth there is Vrindavana itself. Whatever is the glory of Goloka is settled in Gokula. Whatever glory is (found) in Vaikuntha is settled in Dvaraka. Whatever is the glory of that highest Brahman, it always resorts to Vmdavana. In the forest Krishna’s abode is especially great among them. Since that which is named Mathuraka is solely dear to Vishnu, therefore in the three worlds the earth is blessed. His own abode, named the region of Mathura, is superior; it is a concealed, multiform place, situated within'a city. The Mathura region is of the form of a thousand-petalled lotus. Due to the roaming about of Vishnu’s disc, the wonderful abode of Vishnu (has come about). Its pericarp and petals are extensive, and has sprung up with secret trees.

15b-23a. The twelve groves are important. In the order of importance they are: Bhadra, Shri, Loha, Bhaptfira, Maha, Tala, Khadiraka, Bakula, Kumuda, Kamya, Madhu(vana) and Vjndavana. They are twelve in number. Seven of them are (situated) in the west of Kalindi. The five on the east are (together) called Paficavana (i.e. the five groves). There is a great, secret grove called Gokula and also Madhu(vana)-Vrindavana. This latter is called the place of Krspa’s sport-delight. (Then there are: ) Kadamba, Khap^ana, Nandavana, Nandisvara, Nandanandanakhagtf a, Palasa, Atoka, Ketaki, Sugandhamanasa, Kaila, Amfta, the place of his eating (food); Sukhaprasadhana, Yatsaharapa, Sheshasayika; the village Syamapflrvodadhi, so also the city Cakrabhanu; Samketa, Dvipada, dusty due to the sports of children; Kamadruma, Sulalita and the grove Utsuka. It is a place of the enjoyment of pastimes of various kinds, so also of the enjoy­ment of many sports; Nagavistaravigtambha (literally, stopping of the expanse of the serpent), and having secret trees growing in it.

23b-51. The great place called Gokula is the thousandpetalled lotus. The great place in it, its pericarp, is the excellent abode of Govinda on a golden seat and is adorned with a golden pavilion. The petals have sprung up in (i.e. from) the pericarp in due order in the (main) directions and intermediate directions. The petal which is said (to be situated) in the south is the best and the best among the best (i.e. most) secret places. In that petal is a great seat inaccessible to the Vedic and sacred texts. It is difficult to obtain even for the lords of the meditating saints, is the soul of all, and is Gokula. In the south-east there is the second petal, a secret petal. It is Samketa, Dvipada; in that region two huts are situated. In the east there is the third petal, an excellent and chief place. It is said to be hundred times more meritorious than the contact with all holy places like Ganga. In the north-east is the fourth petal, and the place is on the seat of the inspired sages. A cowherdess would obtain Krishna as her husband at that place due to her worshipping Katyayana. It is said that snatching off of the garments and orna­ments (of the cowherdesses) took place there. In the north is said (to exist) the fifth petal, the best of all petals. Here itself is the petal resembling Karnika (literally, the pericarp), called Dvadasaditya (i.e. having twelve suns). In the north-west is the sixth petal. Kalihrada is said (to be situated) there. It is said to be the best of the best petals, and the chief place. In the west is said (to exist) the seventh petal, the best of all petals. It gives the desired boons to the groups of the wives of Vishnu. Here even a demon obtained salvation difficult to be obtained by gods. Here only is the petal called Brahmadala deluding Brahma. In the south-east is said (to exist) the eighth petal (called) Vyomaghatana. The killing of Shankhachuda took place there. It is the place of the enjoyment of many sports. The eighth petal is well-known, and is said to be situated within the Vrindavana-forest. The glorious Vrindavana is on the south of Yamuna. There is seen the place of aiva-phallus, called Gopeshvara. Outside it is the sixteenth petal, glorious and full of beauty, which, due to going round it in order, is said (to exist) in all directions. It is a great place, a great abode, named Svadhamadhava. The first petal is the greatest, and its greatness is like Karnika (the pericarp). There is the Karnika on the Govardhana mountain which is lovely and is ever the abode of pleasure, is a grove full of great sports where Krishna would be the lord of the Nityavfndakanana. Krishna became (there) a cowkeeper. What is the use of further talking much? The third petal is called Sarvashreshthottamottama. The fourth petal is called Mahadbhutarasasthala. There is the beautiful grove (called) Nandisvara, and there is said (to exist) abode of Nanda. The fifth petal is called Kariiikadalamahatmya. Here Gopala (i.e. Krishna) engaged in tending the cows, dwells. There, which is said to be the sixth petal, is said (to exist) Nandavana. The seventh lovely petal is called Bakularanya. The eighth is Talavana where the cows were killed. The ninth charming petal is called Kumudaragya. The tenth (called) Kamaragya is the chief and the cause of all. There is Brahmaprasadhana (lit. decora­tion of Brahma), and the manifestation of the disguise of Vishgu. It is the place of the pleasures of (i.e. due to) Krishna’s sports, and is said to be preeminent. The eleventh petal is called Bhaktanugrahakaraga. A bridge is constructed here; and the place is full of many groves. The twelfth lovely and charming petal is Bliagtfira; there Krshga was engaged in sports and was surround­ed by Andaman etc. The thirteenth best petal is known as Bhadravara. The fourteenth petal is called Sarvasiddhipradasthala. There is Shrivana, which is charming, and is the cause of all splendour; it has a part of Krishna’s sports and enhances glory, beauty and fame. The fifteenth excellent petal is known as Lohavana. The petal resembling Кацика is said to be the sixteenth petal.

52-55. There is said to be a secret, excellent, great grove. (Krishna) surrounded by keepers of calves (i.e. young cowherds) is en­gaged in child-sports. The murder of Putana etc. and the breaking of twin Arjuna trees (took place) there. The young Gopala, five years old, the ocean of love, joy and pleasure, and called Damodara, lives there. This is said to be a well-known petal, and best and excellent of all petals. The sport of Krishna (takes place here). It is called Kinjalkiviharadala. It is also called Siddhapradhanakinjalka.

Parvati said:

56. I desire to hear the importance and the wonderful secret of Vpidaranya. О great lord, narrate it.

The lord said:

57-59. О most beloved one, I have told you the best, greatest mystery, the secret of secrets, and the rare of the rare. О goddess, it is watched over in the three worlds, and wellhonoured by the lord of gods. It is desired by Brahma and others; the place is resorted to by gods and inspired sages. The best among the meditating saints are devotedly always intent upon meditation on it only. There is the continuous singing and dancing of gandharvas and celestial damsels.

60-69. The glorious Vmdavana is charming and is an abode of complete joy and pleasure. There are many desire-yielding gems; and the water is full of the taste of nectar. The big tree there is surrounded by Kadamba trees. There is the lady Lakshmi, the man Vishnu, produced from the tenth part of it. There (one sees) Krishna, of the age of a boy, always of a joyful figure, walking dramatically, with a face having continuous sweet but indistinct talk, with the forest resorted to by devotees of Vishnu, of a pure nature, and full of love, engaged in the joy of the complete Brahman, full of the thoughts about him; being inspired by his image; (the forest was) charming due to the sweet notes and humming of the intoxicated cuckoos and bees, havingthe music of pigeons and parrots, with thousands of intoxicated bees, rich with the dance of the enemies of serpents (i.e. peacocks), full of all amorous joyful sports; it was full of the pollen of flowers of various colours; it had the full moon always rising, and served with the sun having cold rays; it was without misery, free from grief, and old age and death. It was free from anger, free from jealousy, unbroken (i.e. complete) and without ego; it had the nectar of full joy; it was the ocean of full love and happiness. The great abode was beyond (all) qualities and was of the nature of full love, where due to horripilation tears were shed by trees etc.; then what can be said about Vishnu’s devotees having cons­ciousness! It was Vrindavana on the earth due to the constant contact with the dust of Krishna’s feet.

70-78. The Vrindavana is the seed-vessel of the lotus having a thousand petals, by the touch of which the earth is blessed in the three worlds. On the earth Vrindavana is a greater secret than a secret (i.e. the greatest secret) and a charming (place). It is an inexhaustible, unchangeable abode of Govinda, containing greatest joy. It is non-different from Govinda’s body, and is the abode of the joy of (reaching) the complete Brahman. There salvation is had by the touch of the dust(-particles). What can be said about its importance? Therefore, О queen, by all means, keep in mind that forest. In the Vrindavana parks, (one sees) Krishna having a boy’s body. Kalindi went round its pericarp. The water of Kalindi is pleasant due to sports, is deep, and attractive due to fragrance; it was mixed with the nectar of joy; it is the dense place of honey; it is bright with many colours due to flowers like lotuses and blue lotuses. The water is lovely; it looks beautiful with birds like the ruddy geese with various sweet and indistinct notes; it is very lovely due to the waves. On both of its sides (there is a pericarp) which is lovely and fashion­ed with pure gold, said to be a crore times more meritorious than Ganga (Gangakotigupa). In the pericarp (Karpika) there is the Kotigupa where Krishna is engaged in sports. Kalindi, Karnika and Krishna are not different from one another. They (just) have one body.

Parvati said:

79. О you not having a beautiful body, I desire to listen to the wonders of Govinda. О you treasure of compassion, tell (them to me).

The lord said

80-107. In Vjndavana adorned with lovely sprouts and beautified with the foliage of the branches of good trees extend­ing over a yojana, in a charming abode there is a very bright seat for abstract meditation. It is fashioned with eight angles and is charming due to various lustres. On it is an auspicious throne (decked) with rubies. There is an eight-petalled lotus lying comfortably in the pericarp. It is the great abode of Govinda. How can its greatness be described? A man should meditate upon Krishna who is served by the group of cowherdesses remaining in (i.e. following) the advice of Govinda (i.e. Krishna) who has the (proper) age and form for the divine station of the cowherds, who is the lord of Vrindavana, who is the chief of the station of the cowherds, who always has splendour, who alone is dear to the children of the station of the cowherds, whose childhood has broken into youth due to age, whose body is wonderful, who is without a beginning but is the origin of all, who is the dear son of the cowherd Nanda, who is to be sought after through the sacred texts, who is unborn, who is always charming to the cowherdesses, who is the highest abode, who is the highest form, who has two arms, who is the lord of the station of the cowherdesses, who is the son of a cowherdess, who is the only cause of the qualityless (Brahman), who is very glorious, who is fresh and pure, who has a dark lustre, who is charming, who is much glistening like the row of fresh clouds, who is pleasing to touch due to his great loveliness like a fully opened blue lotus, who gives comfort, who is glossy like the heap of collyrium that is expanded and is dark and attractive, whose entire (set of) hair is very glossy, dark, curly and fragrant, who is charming due to the dark lock of hair and the right part over it, who is bright on account of many colours and adorned with bright feathers of peacocks, who has on his crest a charming string of mandara (dowers), who has put on lovely ornaments, who is at times adorned with a crown made with a multitude of big leaves, who at times has the ornament of a crown made with many gems and rubies, who is covered with unsteady hair, whose face is like a crore of bright moons, who has put on (his fore­head) the mark of musk, who has been (smeared) with bright, charming yellow pigment made from the urine or bile of a cow, whose eyes are long like very long petals, having the beauty of fully opened blue lotuses, in whose smile the creeper-like eye­brows dance (i.e. move) closely, and the sight is (i.e. the eyes are) charming, the tip of whose nose is charming on account of its beauty due to its being very beautiful and rising, who entices the three worlds with the rays of the pearls supposed to be found in the projection on the foreheads of elephants on the tip of his nose, who is lovely on account of his red and glossy lower lip resembling red lead, who puts on ear-rings resembling the shape of crocodiles and made of pure bright gold and of many colours, and the good cheeks of whom have the resemblance with mirrors due to the heap of rays of (i.e. shooting from) them (i.e. the ear-rings), on whose ears are placed mandara and lotuses and who is well-adorned with chaplets of the shape of crocodiles, who has on his chest the (mark of) Shrivatsa and Kaustubha, whose neck shines with a necklace of pearls, round whose arm are the bracelets and armlets with divine rubies shining and mixed with lovely gold, whose waist is adorned with small bells, whose beautiful feet are adorned with the beauty of sweet(-jingling) anklets, (on whose body) sandal etc. looks bright with camphor, agaru (sandal) and musk, who is painted with divine fragrant unguents mixed with a bright yellow pig­ment made from cow’s urine or bile, who is shining with soft,, yellow garment and with whose feet the collyrium is disturbed, whose lotus-like navel is deep, whose chaplet is depressed in the line of hair, whose pair of knees is quite round, who is lovely due to his lotus-like feet, whose palms and soles are adorned with (signs of) flag, diamond, gold and lotus, who having therow of rays shooting from his nails is the only cause of the com­plete Brahman. Some say that the unique supreme spirit, Brahman, is his portion; the wise ones say that Mahavishnu is his tenth part; that one alone, who has three modes and who is fashioned with the essence of (materials required to) fashion all good things, is thought of in their hearts by the best meditating saints like Sanaka, who is lovely (as he has) vanquished innu­merable crores of Cupids due to his neck that is turned (to a side), whose golden ear-rings shine when he has put his finecheek on his. left shoulder, whose smile is accompanied by a side-glance, who deludes the three worlds with the sweet, indis­tinct notes of his flute put between the contracted lips, who is drowned in the ocean of love.

Parvati said:

108-115. О lord, tell me everything about the highest cause Krishna, the highest position called Kfshoa, the lord of Vpidavana, the eternal one, and the only cause of the qualityless (Brahman); tell me the importance of each secret, about the lovely wonder. О lord of lords, I desire to hear it.

The lord said:

О goddess, how much can be said about the greatness of him, the knowledge of whose moon-like rays cannot be had? Listen joyfully. In the innumerable crores of the universes, in the rise of the infinite (Prakjti) with three consti­tuents, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are equal to the parts of the measure of a croreth of a croreth of his feet. (These) arising from him are endowed with creation, maintenance, and destruc­tion. The bodies of Cupid are the parts equal to the portion of a croreth of a croreth of his form. Born of his ap^antara(? ) they entice the world. Brahma is (made of) a part equal to a croreth of a croreth of the lustre shining in his body. The forms of the sun are the partial rays equal to a croreth of a croreth of his light. Those of the form of rays which are a croreth of a croreth of his portion live due to rays of his body which are the nectar of great joy, which are of the nature of highest bliss and intelligence, and which are the only cause of the qualityless Brahman.

116-118. They say that the lustres of the gem-like (crescent) moon(-shaped) nails of his two feet are even the cause of the complete Brahman, difficult to be understood by the Vedas. (The fragrance) enticing the universe is but a part which cannot be measured (i.e. is negligible) of his fragrance; and the various fragrances are produced from the fragrance etc. of the flowers touched by him. The first (primordial) matter is Radhika, dear to К? зда. Durga and others having the three constituents are a part equal to a croreth of croreth portion of her. The excellent Vishnu is produced from the touch of the dust of her feet.

 

CHAPTER SEVENTY

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