Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The demigods felt great satisfaction as they flew in sky above Vrndavana watching Krishna’s blissful cowherding pastimes.

The happiness of Krishna and Balarama increased moment after moment as they played with their friends. One day everyone listened to Krishna narrate the glories of Vrndavana’s trees, creepers, bees, deer, and animals to His elder brother. Due to the hot sun, drops of perspiration appeared on the foreheads of Krishna and Balarama. To relieve Their exhaustion

They rested in the shade of some thick foliage. The cowherd boys, while laughing and speaking sweetly, removed the fatigue of Krishna and Balarama by offering various items. These personal services increased their affection for Krishna more and more.

Sometimes Krishna comforted Balarama by personally massaging His feet and offering other services. Feeling refreshed, Krishna and Balarama ignored the hot sun and played again with the cowherd boys laughing gleefully in great delight. Overcome with merriment, they followed the cows into the forest. Everyone relished a festive mood bathing in the natural aura of Krishna’s sweet love.

With a stream of honey-dipped words, the boys spoke to Krishna, who is generous, attractive, expert in all types of sports, full of matchless strength, and the best among all worthy persons. The cowherd boys said, “O Krishna! O supreme enjoyer and all-powerful one! Please hear us. Our bodies can no longer tolerate the severe hunger we feel.

“Nearby is a forest of tala (palm) trees full of mouth-watering fruits. The sweet aroma of those ripened fruits attracts our minds. Simply shaking the trees will bring all the luscious fruits to the ground. Our desire to have those fruits is very great. If You think it is a good idea, then let us go to that tala forest”

After hearing this, Krishna agreed to satisfy their desires by entering the forest guarded by the evil Dhenuka. While observing the beauty of the forest, Krishna stated His intentions to take the fruits. The branches of the trees bent down from the weight of the ripened, bright orange tala fruits. The tightly packed clusters of fruits appeared like one big fruit.

The fruit trees practically touched the clouds and were beyond the reach of the common people. The fragrance of the tala fruits pleased the entire earth. Being greedy for that fragrance, the wind stole it and made a rustling sound in the leaves of the trees as it ran away. Krishna glanced happily at those trees and gave the command, “Pick the fruits!”

The cowherd boys threw stones at the tala fruits with their restless hands. Dhenuka (a demon in the form of a donkey) exploded with anger upon hearing the loud sound of the falling fruits. Suddenly the sky darkened from a huge dust cloud created by the scratching of Dhenuka’s hooves, and the earth trembled from the stomping of his feet. His deafening roar frightened the demigods. Ignoring the other boys, Dhenuka brayed louder than thunder while attacking Krishna and Balarama.

Before the invincible Lords, Dhenuka looked like a grasshopper jumping into a fire. Intending to kill Them, he charged at Balarama and violently kicked the Lord’s chest with the hooves of his hind legs. With the fingers of His left hand Balarama seized Dhenuka by his hooves and threw him into the top of a palm tree. The demon groaned loudly and died.

Seeing the death of Dhenuka, his fellow ass demons sought revenge for the loss of their close friend. Large numbers of strong donkeys immediately attacked Krishna and Balarama. But the two brothers easily killed them all.

Abundant fruits fell from the trees and piled up on the ground below, which turned muddy from the juice of so many broken fruits. The boys threw the unripe fruits around in play. Knowing the rules of purity, they did not touch the fruits contaminated by the blood of the demons. Just smelling the strong fragrance of the tala fruits satisfied them.

Krishna, Balarama, and the cowherd boys collected the cows while admiring the stout trees of the forest. Noticing the arrival of afternoon, Krishna made His way back to Vrndavana. Krishna, the crest jewel of lovers, performed human-like feats while playing His flute and wandering on the bank of the Manasi Ganga.

The pleasant evening breeze carried the clouds of dust raised by the hooves of the cows returning to Vrndavana. The dust appeared to kiss the cowherd boys as it slowly sprinkled down on their hair and turbans. The Vraja gopis, watching intently from the rooftops, lost their minds upon hearing the melodious sound of Krishna’s flute and seeing His delightful face. Conveying His secret attachment, Krishna glanced lovingly toward them with His lotus petal eyes before entering His house.

When Krishna and Balarama arrived, Yasoda and Rohini enthusiastically cleansed the dust from Their bodies, washed and rubbed Them with oil, and bathed Them. After dressing and ornamenting the two brothers, they fed them and laid Them to rest. By nature Krishna is an unfathomable ocean of sweetness, and the best among all qualified persons. His beauty illuminates the whole universe, and dispels the lamentation from the hearts of His obedient followers.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

One year Nanda Maharaja organized a grand festival (nandotsava) to celebrate Krishna’s auspicious birthday.

Krishna sat upon a celestial golden throne and all the Vraja gopis came to worship Him. The loud pounding of the bheri drums, the “dhinta dhinta” sounds from the mrdangas and dundubhis, the bols from the madalas, and the skillful beats on the dolaks announced the auspicious festival of Krishna’s birthday. The joyous vibration of the occasion was enhanced by the excited voices and jingling ankle-bells of the elderly gopis as they greeted the various guests.

The learned brahmanas bathed Krishna with thousands of streams of pure water poured from crystal pitchers while purifying the environment with perfectly enunciated mantras. This added waves of attraction to Krishna’s already gorgeous body. They dried Krishna with a fine linen cloth, dressed Him in a yellow silk dhoti and caddar, decorated Him with glittering gems, and anointed His forehead with tilaka made of gorocana. After fixing His jeweled bracelets and armbands, they tied some durva grass around His wrist with turmeric soaked thread.

Following the local customs of such blissful festivals, the merciful Yasoda blessed Krishna by showering flowers upon His head. The elderly gopis sang traditional Vraja bhasa songs and waved lamps respectfully before the Lord. He, who is kind to His friends and the object of the gopis’ love, sat quietly on His asana accepting arati. Then with great enthusiasm the Vrajavasis joyfully offered gifts to Krishna and gave Him a variety of creamy milk sweets.

To properly complete the festival, Yasoda had her servants invite the general public. Yasoda offered palatable food to the wives of the village leaders, the married women and the young girls of Vrndavana. Nanda Maharaja invited the cowherd men such as Sananda, Upananda, and their wives to take the sumptuous foods cooked by Rohini, the crest-jewel among women. When the cowherd men arrived Yasoda honored their youngest sons by worshiping them and offering pearl necklaces.

Though pained by separation from their husbands because they had to accompany their mothers-in-law to the festival, the newly married gopis put on ornate and elegant ankle-length dresses. The tender faces of these newlyweds glowed splendidly under the fine fabric of their veils. Feeling intensely attracted to Krishna; the gopis disclosed their loving sentiments by offering Him their sidelong glances in charity. Their bangles fell silent as they embraced Krishna with their eyes. They felt as if they were beholding a bouquet of beautiful flowers. No one noticed the auspicious meeting of Krishna and the gopis.

Though they had seen Krishna before, the young unmarried gopis like Dhanya-sakhi just stood with their mothers and gazed timidly upon Him as if it was the first time. While bathing in the lake of Krishna’s exquisite beauty, the unmarried gopis expressed their desire to be His wives by offering Him mental flowers scented with camphor. They became shy, however, when Krishna accepted their proposal with a favorable glance. No could detect the infinite bliss the gopis now relished within their hearts.

At that time, Krishna’s pet parrot left His side and landed on the lotus feet of a gopi whose heart throbbed with love. Hoping to develop a relationship with Krishna, that excited gopi respectfully welcomed the parrot.

Understanding the hint of the parrot, Krishna cast the fresh lotus garland of His glance toward Radha, the daughter of Vrsabhanu. Krishna’s glance seemed to say, “O parrot! I saw this gopi Radha looking at Me from the watchtower as I took the cows to the forest.”

No one else saw this secret exchange of sweet love. Understanding that Radha’s body had become slender due to Her purva-raga, Krishna looked upon Her with great compassion. Then Yasoda, shining with all auspicious qualities, smiled gently and took lotus-faced Radhika and the other gopis to another room to feed them.

After worshiping His best cows with scents and garlands, Vrajaraja Nanda escorted his guests to a wide jeweled veranda and sat them down on wooden seats. Then he bathed their feet, performed acamana, and offered arghya. Nanda arranged for Rohini and the wives of Sananda and Upananda to respectfully serve them first-class food and drink on gold plates.

At the conclusion of the meal, Nanda personally gave them betel nuts, cardamom, scents, garlands, and ornaments. After the elderly men, children, and babies had eaten the feast, the married women and girls sat down in two rows to eat. Radhika and others received respect according to their position.

Yasoda swam in an ocean of happiness as she personally served the gopis. In a voice that sounded as sweet as pattering raindrops of nectar, Yasoda spoke to each guest, “Please do not feel shy. Just eat to your heart’s content.”

Yasoda affectionately served everyone, and then honored them with offerings of betel nuts, garlands, ointments, sindura, and gold embroidered cloth. Finally, Yasoda, the crest jewel of good fortune, embraced each of the gopis before sending them home. Smiling broadly, Yasoda distributed the remnants of the feast to the sinless residents of the village.

Nanda Maharaja presented gifts to the dancers and musicians while Yasoda blessed them with her upraised palm. Upon concluding the festival, Yasoda thought holding such a festival everyday would surely fulfill all her desires. For a moment she felt a touch of sadness, fearing that she may not have fully satisfied all the guests. 

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

All the married gopis like Radhika and Candravali, and the unmarried gopis who had fallen in love with Krishna displayed these super-excellent emotional ornaments.

They were curious to test each other’s loving mood towards Krishna. The exquisite elegance and radiance of even the toenails of the gopis easily derided all the dazzling ornaments decorating the goddess of fortune. The beautiful raised hips of the gopis frustrated the pride of the celestial nymph Rambha, and crushed to dust the royal throne of Cupid, who now sits on their hips to rule his kingdom.

Their slender waists mocked the middle portion of Siva’s damru (small x-shaped drum). The luscious beauty of their full breasts made pomegranate fruits seem worthless. Indeed, upon seeing these wonderful fruits the pomegranate tree stops producing fruits.

The rich red hue of their lips looked like the sky at sunrise or a blossoming bandhujiva flower. Their teeth beamed more brilliantly than shining pearls. One easily abandons the association of his very self just by glancing at them.

The arrow quiver of Cupid felt insulted upon seeing the charming openings of their noses. Upon viewing the captivating sidelong glances of the gopis, Cupid hung his face in shame and forgot how to shoot his arrows.

The attractive blue eyes of the gopis heavily rebuked the natural beauty of the blossoming blue lotuses swaying in the Yamuna. The incomparable beauty of the moon-like lotus faces of the gopis appears to have closed the petals of the lotus flowers and dried up the lake supporting them.

The most beautiful of the gopis acted as group leaders and accepted submissive service from their faithful gopi associates. The gopi group leaders are eternally liberated companions of Sri Krishna, and famous for their expertise in relishing srngara-rasa. They always display favorable moods of love toward Krishna.

The intensity of their love, however, is not a by-product of passionate youth as in ordinary humans. Although the gopis are eternally the dearmost lovers of Krishna, according to human calculation it appears that the gopis begin to manifest intense loving emotions toward Krishna when they enter youth. Mundane scholars should not be surprised by the natural expression of the gopis’ purva-raga for Krishna. The gopis did not taste this rasa upon attaining a particular age, but rather from birth they felt this inconceivably sweet form of love for Krishna. 

Visakha, a group leader and dearmost friend of Sri Radha, exists as a sweet branch of an enchanting creeper of nectar. Once upon a time in a secluded place, Visakha composed an exceptional verse and spoke to her dear friend Radhika. “Hey Sumukhi! How has Your heart suddenly been so transformed?

“Your present state of mental agitation is greatly paining the minds of Your relatives. This mentality has been steadily growing within You from the day of its appearance. Even an intelligent person using his powers of argument and persuasion cannot understand Your mental state!

“Why are You no longer interested in Your studies? Previously, You took such care to train Your pet parrots, and You used to amuse Yourself watching the dancing peacocks. Why have You suddenly stopped playing Your vina and joking and laughing with Your dear friends? Has that Vanamali Krishna stolen the precious jewel of Your mind?

“Hey sakhi! As a lake devoid of lotus flowers feels no pleasure, it is not surprising that You feel such anguish. There cannot be any happiness for the white lotus flowers until the life-giving sun rises. Besides seeing the monsoon cloud, nothing gives You joy. Your condition is just like the cataki bird who lives only by drinking rainwater falling in the sky, or like Rati-devi who accepts no other lover but the flower archer Kamadeva.

“Besides sitting on the lap of a rain cloud, can a lightning bolt ever cherish any other display of elegance? Does the wife of the cuckoo, except in the month of caitra, ever become intensely eager or worried about separation from her lover? Can a royal swan appear beautiful if there is no water in the lake?

“Can a waxing moon grow during the dark fortnight? Without a gold-testing stone, how can pure gold reveal its own character? Only in the presence of spring (madhava—a month or Krishna) does the creeper (madhavi— Radha) produce its sweet and fragrant flowers. White lilies blossom and give forth their honey only when the full moon appears overhead.

“Hey sakhi Radhe! Why are You concealing Your sentiments from me? Nothing can be hidden from a trained jeweler who can easily test the value and quality of a particular gem. In the same way, You cannot conceal Your emotions from me, for Your love is well known and praised by all. Be merciful and quickly tell me everything about Your new found love.”

After Visakha finished speaking, Lalita, who is an abode of all spiritual qualities adorned with Krishna prema, said, “Like the branch of a supremely gorgeous tree of love, Visakha has spoken quite befittingly. The splendor of night is appreciated during the presence of the moon. But who can cherish the beauty of the moon more than a cakori bird?”

Radhika responded, “Lalite! You have acted very boldly and courageously by thinking about the possibility of an impossible attainment. When Visakha-sakhi attains the month of Madhava (Krishna), she does not give up the nature of the star named Visakha, which enters the sky during the month of Madhava.

“Similarly, it is quite proper to declare that Visakha desires only to unite with Krishna. Therefore do not consider Me to be like You, although Visakha usually helps to enhance the beauty of Madhava (Krishna).”

Lalita-sakhi: “Hey sakhi! Whatever is destined will definitely happen. This is because the month of Visakha is also known as the month Radha. It is only Radhika who gives service during the month named Radha or Visakha. Since the words Radha and Visakha are both of the same category, it can be said that the name of the star called Visakha is actually Radha. Who is the one who becomes beautified by that Radha star? Indeed, it is Krishna who is adorned and served by that Radha.”

Her face beaming with a sweet nectarean smile, Radhika said, “Hey Lalite! What kind of flower appears on a creeper in the sky? One may answer by saying that it is a sky flower of course. Similarly, since your question is also illusory, should I give an illusory answer? Certainly sakhi, you have conquered Laksmi by your words. Now do not perturb Me by speaking imaginary statements.”

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

As Krishna entered His pauganda period (six to ten years old) He looked exceedingly attractive with His sweet nectarean smile, puffy raised cheeks, and the natural fragrance of His body.

At this time Krishna and Balarama no longer played in the dust of Vrndavana, nor did They play with the honeybees that always buzz in the lotus flowers. For mother Bhumi, the touch of Krishna’s lotus feet gave the perfection of happiness. At six years of age Krishna and the gopas, the abodes of purity and good qualities, stopped caring for the calves and tended the cows instead.

Now Krishna rarely acted restlessly and frivolously as He did during His kaumara period. As a student of the Vedas becomes sober and serious, Krishna turned thoughtful and grave in His movements. His waist reduced to slender proportions and His eyes shone with a glimmer of excitement. He cast anxious glances in all directions. Where did Krishna’s naughty childish behavior suddenly go?

As a great epic is full of expertly placed words and phrases, similarly, Krishna now used precise language with perfect pronunciation. The nectarean beauty of Krishna’s effulgence far surpassed the splendor of a tamala tree blooming in spring with fresh sprouts and colorful flowers. Every part of Krishna’s transcendental body diffused a special sweetness like the liquid nectar oozing from a lotus flower.

When flower buds unfold their petals, pollen, and honey they become surrounded by swarms of eager bees. Similarly, at this time Krishna’s body revealed all the qualities of beauty, softness, fragrance, and sweetness. Krishna combined these attributes with a playful desire to enjoy in a way just suitable for this age. This is symptomatic of His characteristic as Cupid personified and His dhira lalita nature (a youthful hero expert at joking, devoid of anxiety, and controlled by the prema of His beloveds).

The creeper named syama-lata becomes free from bitterness before it produces fruits. Even before fully ripe, the fruits are soft, tasty, and tempting. Similarly, though not fully mature, Krishna’s body displayed a tantalizing charm. As a necklace acquires more attraction when strung with different jewels, similarly, the elegance of Krishna’s body enhanced from the variety of radiant pastimes He performed.

The serenity of a lake is destroyed when intoxicated elephants enter and playfully spray water from their trunks. Similarly, Krishna’s broad chest and wide shoulders emanated a sweet wantonness that enchanted and agitated the minds of all observers. 

Radha and all the other beloved gopis of Krishna appeared on earth along with the Lord. Krishna’s complexion compares with the hue of a blue sapphire, a blue lotus, or a fresh monsoon cloud. The complexion of the gopis’ defeats the brilliance of molten gold, lightning, and golden campaka flowers. The gopis appeared on earth within two weeks or one month of the birth of Sri Krishna.

The beauty of any one gopi could easily crush the pride of Parvati. To increase the various flavors of Radha-Govinda’s srngara-rasa (ecstatic conjugal love), the gopis appeared in Vrndavana to selflessly serve Krishna, the fountainhead of madhura-rasa. Radhika and Syama could not have relished the summit of sweetness in srngara-rasa without the Vraja gopis.

In the beginning stage, tulasi manjaris grow straight but upon developing they turn crooked. Similarly, Radhika and the other lovers of Krishna behaved innocently and honestly as children, but upon attaining youth they were crafty and cunning. As a verse from an epic can have many different meanings, the gopis’ speech at this time contained many outer and inner meanings.

The slow and measured steps of the gopis resembled the gentle dripping of water falling off the edge of a roof after a monsoon. The gopis felt a little insecure about the new sensations they felt upon flowering into youth. As the whorl of a lotus flower looks like a golden demigod sitting there ruling over his kingdom, it seemed that the demigod of lust had suddenly taken possession of the gopis’ hearts and established his kingdom there. They no longer cared to play in the dust of Vrndavana.

The palms of the gopis now displayed a pinkish hue like the rising sun. Their reddened lips looked like luscious ripe bimba fruits shining with nectar. Under the control of Cupid, their eyes and limbs moved in various enchanting ways. Their hips expanded with shapely curves and their speech sounded sweet and captivating.

The gopis now walked with petite and gentle steps. Their long, thick hair defeated the dense darkness. These beautiful characteristics heralded the glories of the gopis like a raised flag waving in the wind. The subtle powers of the nine planets now reposed within them.

Since they had lost all the attributes of their childhood, the gopis now plundered the special qualities of others. Their restless running here and there as children reentered their eyes as furtive glances. Their waists became very slender as the broadness of their childhood waists moved out to their hips. Their talkative nature as children turned into the abundant sweetness of youth.

The eight mystic siddhis now resided in the bodies of the gopis. Anima-siddhi (becoming smaller than the smallest) entered their waists. Mahima-siddhi (becoming bigger than the biggest) took shelter within the broad hips of the gopis. Laghima-siddhi (becoming lighter than the lightest) entered their rarely spoken words. Prapti-siddhi (acquire whatever one desires) took the form of the gopis’ shyness.

Kamavasayita-siddhi (obtain anything from anywhere) moved into the corner of their eyes. Vasitva-siddhi (ability to control others) took shelter in the gopis’ glances. Prakamya-siddhi (fulfillment of all desires) manifested in the sweetness of their forms. Isitva-siddhi (create something wonderful or willfully annihilate something) entered their sidelong glances. Thus the eight mystic siddhis fully manifested within the bodies of the gopis.

Excerpt: Sri Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Krishna Nectar Lilas ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.