SRILA RUPA GOSVAMI'S
SRI LAGHU-BHAGAVATAMRTA

Volume Three

Lord Krsna is the creator of the numberless universes

A story of Lord Brahma

The structure of the universes

The gopis

Sri Vrndavana

Lord Balarama
Laksmi-devi cannot attain Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama

Lord Krsna's holy name

Lord Krsna is original Personality of Godhead

All the avataras are present in Lord Krsna's form

The Pastimes of the avataras are manifest in Vrndavana

Although Krsna is unborn He takes birth

The revelation of Lord Krsna's form

Lord Krsna is not formless

Lord Krsna reveals Himself by His own wish

Lord Krsna's pastimes are eternal

Lord Krsna's prakata and aprakata pastimes

Nanda and Yasoda

Lord Krsna's return to Vraja 

Laksmana enters the spiritual world

Lord Krsna's aprakata pastimes in Dvaraka

The different parts of Lord Krsna spiritual abode

Lord Krsna's sweetness

Part Two

Sri Bhaktamrta
The Nectar of Sri Krsna's Devotees         page  17

The devotees should be worshipped

Prahlada Maharaja

The Pandavas

The Yadus

Uddhava

The gopis

Srimati Radharani

313	Now some passages from the Puranas will be quoted.
314	Unlimited variegated material universes are manifested by the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
315	Many universes, some as large as one billion yojanas in measurement, are manifested from the variegated potencies of Lord Hari.
	Note: One yojana equals eight miles.
316	Some universes are one billion yojanas in diameter, others are 1000 billion x 10,000 yojanas in diameter, and still others are 100 million billion x 100 yojanas in diameter.
317	Some universes contain 20 plenary systems, others contain fifty planetary systems, and others contain 70 planetary systems.  Other universes contain a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, or a hundred-thousand planetary systems.
318	In each universe there is a great community of demigods headed by Brahma.  These demigods are the possessors of thousands and thousand of great powers and opulences.  In some universes Indra and his associates live for 100 maha-kalpas, and Brahma and his associates have a life-span of 100 million billion maha-kalpas.
	Note: One maha-kalpa equals 432 million earth years.
319	The demigods beginning with Brahma and Indra are described in the verse quoted in Text 302, where it is said that the demigods, who live for a very long time, touch the lotus feet of the Lord with their millions of helmets and thus offer prayers to the Lord.
320	One day, when Lord Krsna was in the Sudharma assembly house in Dvaraka city, the palace doorman approached the Lord and said that the demigod Brahma was waiting at the door, eager to see the Lord's lotus feet.
321	The Lord asked: "Which Brahma has come to the door?  Please ask him.  Hearing the Lord's words, the doorman went again, asked him, returned, and said to Lord Krsna: "He is the four-headed Brahma, the father of the Four Kumaras."
322	When Lord Hari said, "Bring him."  Brahma was brought in.  Brahma fell down like a stick to offer obeisances.  Krsna asked him, "Why did you come here?"  Brahma replied, "Lord, later I will tell why I have come, but first I wish to know why You asked, 'Which Brahma?' Lord, there is no Brahma other than me.
323	Lord Krsna smiled and meditated.  The demigods from ten million universes then hurried to Dvaraka city.  Among the many Brahmas some had eight heads, some sixty-four heads, some a hundred heads, some a thousand heads, some a hundred thousand heads, and some ten million heads.  Among the many Sivas some had twenty heads, some fifty heads, some a hundred thousand heads and arms.  Among the many Indras some had a hundred thousand eyes, and some had a million eyes.  Many other demigods, with many kinds of forms and ornaments, also came.  Then they all approached Lord Krsna and bowed down before His lotus feet.  When the four-headed Brahma saw all this he became mad with wonder.
324	In Visnu-dharma Purana, Uttara-khanda, it is said that all the material universes have the same structure and the same kind of residents:
325	"O king, all material universes have the same form.  They have the same regions and the same kinds of living entities."
326	A resolution of the apparent contradiction is given here.
	Note: The story of the many Brahmas shows that the demigods have different forms from one universe to the next.  The statement of Text 325 affirms that their forms are the same.
327	In Kurma Purana:
	"When contradictions are found in the Vedic scripture, it is not that one statement is wrong.  Rather, both statements should be seen in such a way that there is no contradiction."
328	At a certain time Lord Hari destroys all the material universes in a single moment.
329	In Visnu-dharma Purana, Uttara-khanda:
	"As I have already explained to you, Lord Hari destroys all the numberless material universes at the same time, and then the universes remain in their unmanifest state within the material energy, prakrti.  This is known as the Lord's night."
330	After destroying them, the Lord creates the universes again.  Sometimes He makes them all different, and sometimes He makes them all the same.
331	Thus we have spoken the introduction to the topic we will address in writing.
332	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.2.12):
	"The Lord appeared in the mortal world by His internal potency, yoga-maya.  He came in His eternal form, which is just suitable for His pastimes.  These pastimes were wonderful for everyone, even for those proud of their own opulence, including the Lord Himself in His form as the Lord of Vaikuntha.  This His (Sri Krsna's) transcendental body is the ornament of all ornaments."*
333	Explanation
	In this verse "martya-lilaupayikam" (just suitable for His pastimes in the mortal world) modifies "bimbam" (form) in the previous verse.
334	Because of their wonderful and variegated sweetness, heroism, opulence, and other transcendental qualities, the human-like pastimes of the Supreme Lord charm the heart more than His pastimes as a demigod or other being.
335	The word "bimbam" (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.2.11) refers to He who is the origin of all the Lord's forms full of six opulences.
336	Because He is the abode of all virtue and handsomeness, it is said He is the right person to enjoy wonderful humanlike pastimes.
337	In the verse quoted in Text 332, "sva-yoga-maya" means "the Lord's spiritual potency", "balam" means "power" and "darsayata" means "revealing".  It is as if the Lord said, "See the wonderful power of My spiritual potency, even the slightest fragrance of which is not manifest even in the highest planets of the material world!"  By this potency the Lord reveals His form, which charms the entire world.  That is the meaning of the word "sva-yoga-maya" hear.
338	This form fills even Lord Narayana and the other avataras with great and new wonder.
339	"Saubhagarddheh" means "the highest, most wonderful handsomeness" and "param padam" means "He who is the abode of the most exalted eternal opulence."
340	"Bhusana" refers to the Kaustubha gem, shark-shaped earrings and other ornaments decorating the Lord's body.  Here it is said that the Lord's form has no equal or superior.
341	Because He is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, there is no difference between the Lord and His form.  The idea that they are different is only an imagination.
342	In Kurma Purana:  
	"For the Supreme Lord there is no difference between His body and His self."
343	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.44.14) in the words of the women of Mathura city:
	"What austerities must the gopis have performed?  With their eyes they always drink the nectar of the face of Lord Krsna, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equalled or surpassed.  That loveliness is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence.  It is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare."*
344	In the words of Lord Krsna to Lord Balarama (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.8):
	"This land Vrndavana (Vrajabhumi) is glorified today.  Your lotus feet have touched the earth and grass, Your fingers have touched the trees and creepers, and Your merciful eyes have glanced upon rivers, hills, birds, and beasts.  The gopis have been embraced by Your arms and even the goddess of fortune desires this.  Now all of these are glorified."*
345	Explanation
	His heart overcome with bliss by seeing the sweetness of Sri Vrndavana and its residents, Lord Hari praised them in the beginning of this prayer.  Then, seeing that Lord Balarama was the origin of their excellences, Lord Hari praised Him.
346	This verse should not be taken as a serious description of Lord Balarama's superiority over Lord Krsna.  Rather, Lord Krsna is speaking playful joking words out of friendship for Lord Balarama.
347	In this verse Lord Krsna explains that the gopis are embraced by Lord Balarama to His chest.  Even the goddess of fortune aspires to be embraced in this way by Lord Balarama.
348	Although the goddess of fortune, Laksmi-devi, aspired for the embrace of Lord Balarama, she never became worthy to attain it.
349	Although Srimati Laksmi-devi eternally remains on the chest of Lord Narayana, the master of the Vaikuntha planets, she aspires to rest on the chest of Lord Krsna.  This means that she considers the form of Lord Krsna superior to the form of Lord Narayana.
350	The story (of Srimati Laksmi-devi's attempt to attain Lord Krsna) is described in the Puranas.  A summary of that account is written here.
351	Seeing Krsna's handsomeness, and becoming very greedy to attain Him, Laksmi-devi performed great austerities for that purpose.  When Krsna noticed her austerities, He said to her, "Why do you perform austerities?"  She replied, "I wish to become a gopi and enjoy pastimes with You in Vraja."  He said, "That is very difficult to attain."  She said, "Lord, I then wish to become a golden line on Your chest."  He said, "So be it."  Then she assumed that form and stayed on His chest.
352	The wives of the Kaliya serpent allude to this story in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.16.36):
	"O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kaliya attained such a opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet.  For this end, the goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires, and taking austere vows."*
353	The glory of Krsna's holy name is said to be greater than that of any other name of the Lord.
354	In Brahmanda Purana:
	"The pious results derived from chanting the thousand names of Lord Visnu three times can be attained by only one repetition of the holy name of Krsna."*
355	In Skanda Purana:
	"Lord Krsna's holy name, which is the sweetest of sweet things, the most auspicious of auspicious things, and the transcendental fruit of the vine of all Vedic literature, delivers, O best of the Bhrgus, anyone who, either with faith or contempt, chants it even once."
356	Because the scriptures use the word "svayam" (personally) again and again to describe Him, Lord Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead.  In Srimad-Bhagavatam and other scriptures Lord Krsna is declared to be the original form (svayam-rupa) of the Personality of Godhead.
357	In Brahma-samhita (5.1):
	"Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller.  He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body.  He is the origin of all.  He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes."*
358	Again in Brahma-samhita (5.39):
	"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who by His various plenary portions appeared in the world in different forms and incarnations such as Lord Rama, but who personally appears in His supreme original form  as Lord Krsna."
359	Therefore Lord Narayana, the master of Vaikuntha, is a vilasa-avatara of Lord Krsna.
360	The prayers of the Personified Vedas contain the essence of knowledge.  Understanding that essence of knowledge, Narada Muni offered obeisances to Lord Krsna, and said (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.87.46):
361	"I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Krsna, the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead."
362	Here someone may object: Lord Krsna was born in the Yadu dynasty at the end of the Dvapara-yuga.  How can Lord Narayana, the master of Vaikunthaloka, who has no beginning, be a vilasa-avatara of Him?
363	I reply: Don't speak in this way.  Although He has no beginning, He plays the pastime of taking birth.  Again and again Lord Krsna appears by His own wish.
364	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.2.15):
	"The Personality of Godhead, the all-compassionate controller of both the spiritual and material creations, is unborn, but when there is friction between His peaceful devotees and persons who are in the material modes of nature, He takes birth just like fire, accompanied by the mahat-tattva."*
365	Explanation
	Here "sva" means "the devotees" and "sva-santa-rupesu" describes their nature.  "Santi" means "faith in the Lord", and "santa" means "they who have faith in the Lord."
366	The devotees here are 1.  those headed by Maharaja Vasudeva, 2. those headed by Maharaja Nanda, and 3. the sadhus.  The "itaraih" (others) are they who oppose the devotees.  They are 1.  those headed by King Kamsa, and 2. those headed by other demons.  "Svarupaih" means "very (su) ugly (arupa)".  That is the meaning here.
367	"Abhyardyamanesu" means "harassed from all directions", "anukampitatma" means "He whose heart is full of compassion, para means those places, headed by Goloka Vrndavana, that are free from the touch of the illusory energy",  "avara" means "the material universes, which are under the spell of the illusory energy," and "isa" means "the controller of both the spiritual and material creations."
368	"Mahat" means "They who are great".  Here it refers to Lord Narayana, the master of Vaikuntha, and to the catur-vyuha expansions beginning with Lord Vasudeva.
369	Lord Krsna's expansions (krsna vyuha) are superior to Lord Narayana's expansions, which are headed by Lord Vasudeva.  Lord Krsna's expansions join with Their vilasa-avataras, Lord Narayana's expansions, and as one They appear in this world.
370	The "amsas" here are the famous purusa-avataras, as well as Ramacandra, Nrsimha, Varaha, Vamana, Nara's friend (Narayana Rsi), Hayagriva, Ajita, and others.
371	All these incarnations are eternally present in Lord Krsna.
372	For this reason the pastimes of these avataras are seen in Vrndavana.
373	Lord Narayana's pastimes are seen in the wonderful display to Lord Brahma in Vrndavana of millions of universes and their demigods.  This pastime is understood to be manifested by the Lord's amsa-avatara.
374	The pastimes of Lord Vasudeva and other avataras are seen in Mathura, Dvaraka, and other places as well as in the Lord's childhood pastimes in Vraja.  When Sridama assumed the form of Garuda, Krsna assumed a four-armed form, and when the Adityas approached Him, the Lord manifested twelve arms.
375	The pastimes of killing the demons are performed by Lord Sankarsana.  Also, the forms of Lord Pradyumna and Lord Aniruddha are eternally present in the district of Mathura, as confirmed by the Gopala-tapani Upanisad, Varaha Purana, and other Vedic Literatures.
376	In this way the Deities headed by the Lord who rests on Ananta manifest the purusa-avataras' pastimes in the district of Mathura.
377	Whenever Lord Krsna displayed a pastime it was recorded in the narrations of the Puranas.
378	Whatever forms, beginning with the form of Lord Ramacandra, Lord Krsna manifested in His pastimes are present even today in Mathura district.
379	Once a hundred million billion  cows in Vrndavana produced a great ocean of milk.  Krsna then assumed the form of the avatara Ajita and with the gopas, who had become devas and asuras, churned it.
380	In Brahmanda Purana:
	"The Supreme Personality in Vaikuntha, who has four arms, is the master of Svetadvipa, and Nara-Narayana Rsi are Nanda's son, who enjoys pastimes in the land of Vrndavana.
381	"Lord Krsna has limitless avataras that all enchant the heart.  As hundreds and thousand of sparks (come from) a great fire and then enter it again, so (numberless avataras come from) Lord Hari, and then enter Him again."
382	In this way the word "mahad-amsa-yuktah", which refers to the amsa-avataras of the all-powerful Lord, is explained.
383	According to the intimate relationships between Sri Krsna, the primeval Lord, and His devotees, the Puranas describe Him by various names.  Sometimes He is called Narayana; sometimes Upendra (Vamana), the younger brother of Indra, king of heaven; and sometimes Ksirodakasayi Visnu.  Sometimes He is called the thousand-hooded Sesa Naga and sometimes the Lord of Vaikuntha.*
384	Now that this has been explained, I will again write about the original subject of our discussion.
385	Although Lord Krsna is unborn, He takes birth.
386	Here someone may object: How is it possible for a person to be unborn and again to take birth?  This statement is self-contradictory.
	Thinking someone may say this, I reply: The Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses inconceivable power and opulence.
387	As the element fire, which is present in many different substances, sometimes, for certain reasons, becomes manifest in firewood, a jewel, or something else, so Lord Krsna sometimes, for certain reasons, manifests His birth and other pastimes.
388	By manifesting the glory of His pastimes He shows mercy to the devotees.  That is the great reason He reveals the pastimes that begin with His birth.
389	To show mercy to His devotees when they are troubled by fearful demons is another reason for (His appearance in this world).
390	Brahma and other demigods' appeal that the Lord remove the burden of the earth planet is only a secondary reason.  (It is not as important as the other reasons).
391	Even today, if a sincere devotee earnestly longs to see Lord Krsna's pastimes, the Lord who is an ocean of mercy, will show them.
392	Even today, some rare exalted devotees, overcome with pure love for Krsna, are able to see Sri Krsna enjoying pastimes in Vrndavana.
393	If Lord's personal associates have eternal forms, why should it be surprising that the Lord Himself has an eternal form?
394	To silence they who have faith in dry logic, I now write some quotes from the Puranas.
395	In Brahma's prayers in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.22):
	"O Krsna, this universe appears real because it is manifested by the potency of illusion emanating from You, whose unlimited transcendental forms are full of eternal happiness and knowledge."***
386	In Sri Brahmanda Purana:
	"Lord Hari's form has neither beginning nor end.  What are called its birth and death are only His coming and going (from the material world).
397	In Brhad-Visnu Purana:
	"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the universes.  His avataras are eternal.  His form is eternal.  His handsomeness is eternal.  His fragrance is eternal.  His opulence and bliss are eternal.
398	In Padma Purana (Patala-khanda 73.12-13), Srila Vyasadeva's words to Sri Krsna, revealed in a conversation with Maharaja Ambarisa:
	"O Krsna, the Upanisads describe You as the Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Truth and the creator and master of the universes.  O Lord I desire to see You with my own eyes.  O Lord, please let me see You."
399	Sri Krsna's reply (Padma Purana, Patala-khanda 73.17-19):
	"Lord Krsna then said to me, "Look! I will show you My form, which is hidden from the Vedas."  O king, then I saw the infallible Lord as a cowherd boy, splendid as a dark cloud, dressed in yellow garments, sitting at the base of a kadamba tree, laughing with the cowherd boys, and surrounded by gopis.
400	There (Padma Purana, Patala-khanda 73.23-25)
"Smiling as He walked through Vrndavana, Lord Krsna said: 'This form of Mine you have seen is eternal, transcendental, faultless, free from karma, peaceful, eternal, full of knowledge, blissful, perfect, complete, and handsome with lotus-petal eyes.
401	"The Vedas say this form is the original cause of all causes and is real, all-pervading, blissful, spiritual, eternal, and auspicious."
402	In Sri Vasudeva Upanisad (3.5):
	"By devotional service one may understand My eternal spiritual form, which is full of knowledge and bliss, self-effulgent, free from material duality and without beginning, middle or end."
403	Here someone may object: Is it not true that the Supreme Lord is actually formless, but He creates an illusory form of Himself as Krsna so He may be visible (to the conditioned souls)?
404	The Lord's statement in Moksa-dharma (Mahabharata, Santi-parva 341.33.45):
	"You don't understand Me.  You see that I have a form.  If I wish I can destroy everything in a moment.  I am the Supreme Lord, the master of the universes.
405	"O Narada, this form of Mine that you are seeing is created by Me.  It is made of all material elements and modes of nature. You are not able to understand My actual nature."
406	In Padma Purana:
	"The sruti and smrti-sastras proclaim that the Supreme Controller, Lord Hari, is ultimately formless, nameless and inactive."
407	To this objection I reply:  This is explained in Sri Vasudevadhyatma:
	"Because no one can understand all His qualities, the Supreme Lord is called 'nameless'.  Because His form is not material, He is called 'formless'.  Because He does not perform material acts, the wise call the ancient Supreme Person 'inactive'.
408	The quote from Moksa-dharma (Text 404) should be interpreted in this way:
409	That quote should be interpreted to mean: "Don't think My form is like the material form of a conditioned soul."
410	By stating that the Lord's form is invisible, (this quote) shows that His form is not material.
411	In the second half of this verse (Text 404) Lord Krsna explains that He reveals His form according to His own wish, which cannot be thwarted.  Again, He says that if He wishes, in a moment He can become invisible.  The word "nasyeyam" here means "I may become invisible".
412	The next verse from the Moksa-dharma (quoted in Text 405), should be interpreted in this way: "O Narada if you think that My form is a product of the illusory material energy (yan mam pasyasi narada sarva-bhuta-gunair yuktam), then please understand that such a conception is simply an illusion I have Myself created (maya hy esa maya srsta).  You should not think that My form is at all material (naivam tvam jnatum arhasi.)"
413	Sometimes the word "maya" is used to mean the Lord's transcendental potency.
414	In Catur-veda-sikha:
	"The Lord possesses an internal potency named 'maya'.  For this reason the sages call eternal Lord Visnu, 'maya-maya' (the master of the internal potency known as maya)."
	This verse from Sruti-sastra is quoted by Sripada Madhvacarya in his commentary (on Vedanta-sutra).
415	That Lord Krsna reveals Himself by His own wish is described in Moksa-dharma (Mahabharata, Santi parva 338.13-20):
	"When He is pleased, the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of the demigods, shows Himself.  Otherwise He is invisible.
416	"(Once, while performing an agnihotra-yajna, the priest) Brhaspati became angry.  He raised the sacrificial ladle and repeatedly struck the sky.  He shed tears of anger.
417	"(After the sacrifice was concluded), the various demigods all arrived, each claiming his share of the sacrificial results.  Then it was asked, "Why did Lord Hari not show Himself?"
418	"Then Uparicara Vasu and all the members of the assembly pacified the sage by saying:
419	"The Supreme Lord Hari only accepts those sacrificial offerings given in an unangry frame of mind.  (Because he became angry during the course of this sacrifice) neither you nor we were able to see the Lord.  O Brhaspati, only one who attains the mercy of Lord Hari is able to see Him."
420	In the same scripture the words of the three sages Ekata, Dvita, and Trita (Mahabharata, Santi-parva 338,25-27):
	"When their vow was completed the disembodied voice of a goddess who is very pleasing to the Lord said with sweet and deep words, 'You devotees are still attached to philosophical speculation.  How can you see the all-powerful Lord?"
421	By the agency of His prakasa potency, which reveals Him according to His own wish, the Lord appears before the eyes.  Otherwise He is not within the eye's range of perception.
422	In Sri Narayanadhyatma:
	"The eternally invisible Supreme Lord may be seen with (the help of) His own transcendental potency.  Without it who can see the limitless Lord?"
423	In Padma Purana:
	"Because His form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, Lord Krsna is beyond the perception of the senses.  By the power of His own transcendental potency the Lord shows Himself to His devotees."
424	Sri Krsna's form is situated in one place, and it is also all-pervading.  It is manifest in these two way simultaneously.
425	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.9.13-14):
	"The Supreme Personality of Godhead has no beginning and no end, no exterior and no interior, no front and no rear.  In other words, He is all-pervading.  because He is not under the influence of the element of time, for Him there is no difference between past, present and future; He exists in His own transcendental form at all times.  Being absolute, beyond relativity, He is free from distinctions between cause and effect, although He is the cause and effect of everything.  That unmanifested person, who is beyond the  perception of the senses, has now appeared as a human child, and mother Yasoda, considering Him her own ordinary child, bound Him to the wooden mortar with a rope."*
426	In the pastime of being bound with a rope, as described in these two verses, Lord Krsna, the prince of Vraja, appeared in these two ways (situated in one place and all-pervading).
427	In the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas, the eternality of Lord Krsna's pastimes is clearly described.
428	The words of Dvaraka's residents in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.10.26):
	"Oh, how supremely glorified is the dynasty of King Yadu, and how virtuous is the land of Mathura, where the Supreme leader of living beings, the husband of the goddess of fortune, has taken His birth and wanders in His childhood."*
429	The use of the present tense in the word "ancati" in the words of the Dvaraka residents declares that the Lord's pastimes are eternal.
430	In Sukadeva Gosvami's words in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.90.48):
	"Lord Sri Krsna is He who is known as Jana-nivasa, the ultimate resort of all living entities and who is also known as Devaki-nandana or Yasoda-nandana, the son of Devaki and Yasoda.  He is the guide of the Yadu dynasty, and with His mighty arms He kills everything inauspicious as well as every man who is impious.  By His presence He destroys all things, inauspicious for all living entities, moving and inert.  His blissful smiling face always increases the lusty desires of the gopis of Vrndavana. May He be all glorious and happy!"*
431	Sri Narada's words to Sri Yudhisthira in Skanda Purana, Mathura-khanda:
	"Krsna is enjoying pastimes in Vrndavana with Balarama, the cowherd boys, calves and young cows."
432	When the two (Narada and Yudhisthira) spoke Lord Krsna was in Dvaraka.  The present-tense in this verse, therefore, proclaims that these pastimes are eternal.
433	Lord Siva's words to Parvati-devi in Padma Purana, Patala-khanda:
	"This sage and all the demigods always yearn to reside in auspicious Mathura-puri, where Krsna, killer of Kamsa stays."
434	The people of Vraja, the Yadavas, the demigods headed by Brahma, Indra, and Kuvera's sons (Nalakuvara and Manigriva), the sages headed by Narada, and others headed by demons, snakes and yaksas are the Lord's associates in His pastimes.
435	The Lord's pastimes are said to be of two kinds: 1. prakata (manifest) and 2. aprakata (not manifest).
436	Expanded in limitless forms, Lord Krsna eternally enjoys many pastimes.  Sometimes Lord Krsna in one of His forms manifests in the material universe His birth and His pastimes with His associates.
437	According to Sri Krsna's wish, His pastime potency arranges the different natures of His different close associates.
438	The Lord's pastimes that are visible in the material world are called 'prakata' (manifest).  Other pastimes, which are not visible in the material world, are called 'aprakata' (not manifest).
439	In His prakata pastimes, Lord Krsna travels from Gokula to Mathura to Dvaraka.
440	In each of these places His aprakata pastimes are present.  This is stated again and again in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.90.48 (quoted in Text 430).
441	By Brahma's order Maharaja Vasudeva and the other associates of the Lord incarnate, by their partial expansions, in the upper material planets as Kasyapa Muni and others.  Then, at the appropriate time, these expansions merge into their origins, the forms of Maharaja Vasudeva and the other devotees that eternally enjoy pastimes with the Lord.
442	Lord Krsna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who enjoys transcendental pastimes and whose vilasa-avatara is Lord Narayana, the husband of the goddess of fortune, appeared first as Sankarsana, then as the other catur-vyuha avataras, and then as Himself in the heart of King Vasudeva.
443	In the 28th cycle of four yugas, towards the end of the Dvapara-yuga, Lord Krsna descended to the earth in response to the demigods' request that He relieve the burden of the earth.  He appeared as Lord Aniruddha who lies down on the ocean of milk.  Then that form became one with the form of Lord Krsna in Maharaja Vasudeva's heart.  Then He was transferred to Devaki's heart.
444	Showered (by Devaki-devi) with the blissful nectar of pure parental love, Lord Krsna grew as the moon (grows from new to full).
445	Then, during the month of Bhadra, on the eight day of the dark moon, in the middle of the night, within the maternity room of Kamsa's prison, Sri Krsna left Devaki's heart and appeared before her.
446	His mother and all the women present thought a boy had taken birth without difficulty in the ordinary way.
447	The form of Sri Krsna sometimes manifests four arms and sometimes two arms.  In either feature He never abandons His transcendental qualities, handsomeness and pastimes.
448	Still, it is said that Lord Krsna's two-armed form is most important.  The other form is said to be secondary because when it is sometimes manifest it conceals that most important form.  Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.10.48) and (7.15.75) explains:
	"My dear Maharaja Yudhisthira, all of you (the Pandavas) are extremely fortunate, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, lives in your palace, just like a human being.  Great saintly persons know this very well, and therefore they constantly visit this house."*
449	Then morose Maharaja Vasudeva took his son to the home of Yasoda-devi, the queen of Vraja.  Placing his own son in Yasoda's house, Vasudeva took Yasoda's daughter and left.
450	Although Sri Krsna is without any beginning the eternal son of Yasoda-devi (in the spiritual world), in His prakata pastimes He appeared in this way.
451	In the beginning of Lord Krsna's prakata pastimes, Vraja's king, Nanda performed a great festival.  Whatever the Lord Krsna does, beginning with His childhood, in His prakata pastimes, He does many thousands of times in His aprakata pastimes.
452	Because He enjoys many happy pastimes, delighting His dear associates, and even enchanting Himself, Lord Krsna is called "lila-purusottama" (the most playful person).
453	Because the parental love of Vraja's king and queen has no equal or superior, Lord Krsna eternally thinks Himself their son.
454	In ancient times some devotees have said that the Lord appeared in His Vasudeva feature in the home of Maharaja Vasudeva and at the same time He appeared, along with Yogamaya, in His original form as Sri Krsna in the village of Vraja.
455	When Maharaja Vasudeva arrived in Vraja, he entered the maternity room, saw (Yasoda's) daughter and, taking her with him, returned to Mathura.  The Vasudeva expansion (Maharaja Vasudeva carried with him) then merged in the body of Sri Krsna.
456	Because this pastime is very confidential, it was not related in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.  Nevertheless, Sukadeva Gosvami and other great devotees have indirectly described it in some of their writings.
457	(Sukadeva Gosvami explains that Nanda Maharaja is the actual father of Sri Krsna) in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.5.1):
	"Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Sri Krsna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation."*
458	(This is again mentioned) in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.6.43):
	"Nanda Maharaja was very liberal and simple.  He immediately took his son Krsna on his lap as if Krsna had returned from death."*
459	Also in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.9.21):
	"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, the son of Mother Yasoda is accessible to devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realisation by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self."*
460	In Brahma's prayers (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.1):
	"Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the son of Maharaja Nanda, who is standing before me with conchshell earrings and peacock feather on His head.  His face is beautiful; He is wearing a helmet, garlanded with forest flowers, and He stands with a morsel of food in His hand.  He is decorated with cane, flute, and a bugle made of buffalo horn.  He stands before me with small lotus feet."*
461	(The difference between Krsna's appearance in Vrndavana and His appearance in Mathura and Dvaraka is described in) Yamala Tantra:
	"The Krsna known as Yadukumara is Vasudeva Krsna.  He is different from the Krsna who is the son of Nanda Maharaja.  Yadukumara Krsna manifests His pastimes in the cities of Mathura and Dvaraka, but Krsna the son of Nanda Maharaja never at any times leaves Vrndavana.*
462	"Vrndavana-Krsna always has two arms.  He never has four arms.  He eternally enjoys pastimes with a certain gopi."
463	In His prakata form Lord Krsna goes to the Yadus' capitol, Mathura.  Concealing His real identity as the son of Vraja's king, He shows Himself as Lord Vasudeva.  Vasudeva has sometimes with two arms and sometimes four arms.
464	Yadava-Krsna goes to Dvaraka and manifests the same pastimes He showed in Mathura.
465	There (in Dvaraka) He manifests His third and fourth catur-vyuha expansions: Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
466	Beginning with His marriages, many wonderful and extraordinary pastimes of His catur-vyuha expansions are described there.
467	During the Lord's prakata pastimes, the people of Vraja were separated from Him for three months.  Then Lord Krsna again appeared.  For three months He appeared among (or returned to) them.
468	Here the word "sangati" may be interpreted in two ways, as "appearance" or "return".
469	"Appearance"
	Concerned for the welfare of His dear devotees, whose hearts were overcome with pain in His separation, He suddenly appeared among them.
470	When from Uddhava they heard Krsna's message, Krsna, wearing a forest garland, suddenly appeared among them in Vraja.
471	That Sri Krsna, although remaining in Dvaraka, appeared in Vraja is described again and again in many Vedic scriptures, beginning with Brhad Visnu Purana.
472	When Lord Krsna appeared in Vraja, which had been tormented with separation from Him, the people of Vraja thought His journey to Mathura had been only a bad dream.
473	"Return"
	Showing love for His friends and the truthfulness of His word (travelling) by chariot and other vehicles, Lord Krsna returned to His dear Vraja.
474	"The truthfulness of His word is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.39.35):
	"Krsna was very much affected upon seeing the plight of the gopis and He therefore consoled them.  He told them they should not be aggrieved; He was coming back very soon after finishing His business."*
475	In the same way (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.45.23), where Lord Krsna says to Maharaja Nanda and Yasoda devi):
	"My dear father and mother, I know you will be feeling separation by returning to Vrndavana and leaving Us here, but please rest assured that I shall be coming back to Vrndavana just after giving some satisfaction to my real father and mother, Vasudeva and Devaki, My grandfather, and other relatives and family members."*
476	Sri Krsna's promise was repeated by His dearest friend, the Yadava minister Uddhava.
477	(Uddhava said to Nanda and Yasoda, in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.46.35 and 34):
	"I have brought a message from Krsna to the effect that He will soon come back to Vrndavana and satisfy you both by His personal presence.  Now that Krsna has killed Kamsa, the Yadava's enemy, in the wrestling arena, Krsna has promised that He will come back to Vrndavana after finishing His business in Mathura.  This promise He will surely fulfil."*
478	That Sri Krsna kept this promise (to return to Vraja) is confirmed by the words of Dvaraka's residents (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.11.9):
479	"O lotus-eyed Lord, whenever You go away to Mathura, Vrndavana or Hastinapura to meet Your friends and relatives, every moment of Your absence seems like a million years.  O infallible one, at that time our eyes become useless, as if bereft of sun."*
480	(This verse should be interpreted in the following way):  "O Lotus eyed Lord (bho ambujaksa), You have gone (bhavan apsasara) to Mathura (Mathun), eagerly desiring to see Nanda Maharaja and Your other friends and relatives there (suhrd-didrksasaya)."  The word "madhun" means "the village of Vraja in the district of Mathura."  Because the city of Mathura is not meant here the friends are the Lord's friends in Vraja.
481	Sri Krsna travelled by chariot to Mathura, killed the demon Dantavakra, and then returned to Vraja.  This is clearly described in prose and verse in Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 279.24-26):
482	"After killing Dantavakra, Lord Krsna bathed in the Yamuna, entered Nanda's Vraja, greeted and consoled His parents who yearned (to see Him) was embraced by them as tears (streamed down their) necks, bowed down before the gopas, consoled them, and offered them many garments, ornaments, and other gifts.
483	"Under a desire tree by the Yamuna's charming shore Krsna enjoyed pastimes with the gopis day and night.  Dressed  as a gopa, he stayed there for two months, happily enjoying charming pastimes filled with the nectar of great love."
484	Explanation
	Here "uttirya" means "bathing".  The Lord killed the demon, bathed in the Yamuna, and went to Vraja.
485	Although in His prakata pastimes the Lord is sometimes briefly absent, (in His aprakata pastimes) in His three abodes He enjoys pastimes eternally (and is never absent).
486	In the Padma Purana's description of Sri Krsna's return to Vraja, another pastime is also related (Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda 279.27):
487	"Then, by Lord Krsna's mercy, the gopas headed by Nanda, their wives and children, and the cows, birds, deer and other living entities there, all in glorious spiritual forms, entered spiritual airplanes and went to the highest Vaikuntha realm."
488	Explanation
	Lord Krsna at once sent to Vaikuntha the demigods headed by Drona, who were amsa-avataras of the devotees headed by Vraja's king.
489	With the residents of Gokula, who to Him are dearer than the dearest, Lord Krsna eternally enjoys pastimes in Vrndavana.
490	In Skanda Purana, Ayodhya-mahatmya, the following is heard about Laksmana:
491	"As everyone watched, Indra spoke sweet words to Laksmana who, true to His word, had assumed the form of Ananta Sesa.
492	"Indra said: "O Laksmana, O hero, O destroyer of enemies, You have fulfilled Your mission of assisting the demigods.  Please return to Your own transcendental abode.  O Lord, Your form of Ananta Sesa, who has glittering hoods, has now come.  Please return to your own eternal abode in the realm of Lord Visnu."
493	"After speaking thus, Indra, in the company of the demigods, respectfully placed Laksmana on Ananta Sesa, who had come from Patalaloka and who can carry all the universes, and then he himself went to Devaloka."
494	Desiring to perform His aprakata pastimes, the Lord manifested at Dvaraka the illusions that began with a sage's curse.
495	Then, accompanied by they who as amsa-avataras of the demigods and their followers had incarnated in the Vrsni dynasty, the Lord, in His form as Ksirodakasayi Visnu, went to His own abode.
496	With the Yadavas and others who eternally enjoy pastimes with Him, Lord Krsna continued to enjoy pastimes at Dvaraka.
497	The Lord's abode is said to be in two parts:  Mathura and Dvaraka.  They say Mathura is also in the two parts: Gokula and Mathura City.
498	The abode named Goloka manifests its opulence as the abode Gokula.  Goloka is described in Brahma-samhita (5.43 and 56):
499	"Below the planet named Goloka Vrndavana are the planets known as Devi-dhama, Mahesa-dhama and Hari-dhama.  These are opulent in different ways.  They are managed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, the original Lord.  I offer my obeisances unto Him."*
500-1	"I worship the transcendental seat known as Svetadvipa, where as loving consorts the Laksmis in their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krsna as their only lover; where every tree is a transcendental purpose tree; where the soil is a purpose gem, all water is nectar, every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favourite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental bliss and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty, where numberless milk-cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk, and where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment.  That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realised souls in this world."**
502	Because (Gokula) is the potency of (Goloka, Goloka) is more glorious.
503	In Padma Purana, Patala-khanda:
	"Glorious Mathura is greater than Vaikuntha.  Living there for single day creates devotion for Lord Hari.
504	"The seven holy cities of Ayodhya, Mathura, Mayapura, Varanasi, Kanci, Avantika, Jaganatha Puri, and Dvaraka grant liberation.
505	"Mathura is the best of these seven holy cities.  O goddess, please hear of its glories.  It is the most exalted part of the Vaikuntha world."
506	It has already been shown that (Goloka) is the abode of the Lord's eternal pastimes.  In Padma Purana (Lord Krsna) explains that (Goloka) is eternal.
507	"Know that My Mathura, Vrndavana forest, Yamuna, cowherd boys, and gopis are all eternal."
508	Although small, earthly Mathura is very wonderful.  It expands or contracts according to Lord Krsna's pastimes.
509	The demigod Brahma directly saw that many many material universes are situated within earthly Vrndavana.
510	During the rasa-dance pastime billions of gopis were on the Yamuna's shore.  How could this wonder happen?
511-13	At the time of the Lord's prakata appearance the places of His pastimes could be seen only by His personal associates. Others could not see them.  At present, however, the many hills, forests, villages and other places (in Vrndavana) that had been decorated with Lord Krsna's childhood and other pastimes still wonderfully remain (and can be seen by all).
514	The place that was once rich with His pastimes is now empty for both they who are qualified to see them and also for others.
515	However, because He has inconceivable powers, for the Lord, His dear devotees, His abode, and His pastimes, what is not possible?
516	The wise know that this is true about Dvaraka.
517(a)	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.31.23-24):
	"O king, when Lord Hari left Dvaraka, the ocean at once flooded the Lord's abode.
517(b)	"Lord Krsna eternally stays there.  Remembrance of it brings all-auspiciousness and removes all inauspiciousness."
518	Another transcendental opulence of Lord is the wonder of His ability, displayed before the eyes of Narada Muni, to manifest many forms simultaneously.
519	Although the sun, moon and planets then were not the ordinary material planets of the world, the devotees in the Lord's pastimes saw them as material.
520	Although Sri Krsna eternally performs pastimes in Gokula, Mathura, and Dvaraka, His pastimes in Gokula are sweeter than the others.
521	In Sammohana Tantra:
	"The Personality of Godhead has many thousands of avataras.  Of them the childhood form of Sri Krsna is the most extraordinary."
522	Explanation
	The span of life is divided in three parts: childhood, youth, and old-age.  Childhood extends from birth to the age of 16 years.
523	In Brahmanda Purana:
	"Although I appear in many different forms, all full in six opulences, none of these forms is equal to My form as the cowherd boy Krsna."
524	In the great Tantras are spoken many great mantras, headed by the famous 10-syllable and 18-syllable mantras, decorated with Lord Krsna's glories."
525	The best of all evidence is Gopala-tapani Upanisad, which Lord Krsna spoke to Brahma in the beginning.
526	Lord Krsna's sweetness in Vraja is of four kinds, the sweetness of His: 1. opulence, 2. Pastimes, 3. flute, and 4. handsome form.
527	The Sweetness of His opulence
	Served by the nectar of opulence and sweetness, nectar never heard of before, Lord Krsna enjoys pastimes in Vraja.
528	When the demigods headed by Brahma and Siva reverentially offer prayers, Lord Krsna does not even glance at them from the corner of His eye.
529	Sri Narada's words in Brahmanda Purana:
	"O Krsna, in Your childhood pastimes You killed many demons You  could not have killed when You were an adult holding the cakra in Your hand.  O Lord Hari, when, as a child playing with friends, You knitted Your eyebrows, the demigods headed by Brahma and Siva trembled in fear."
530	(Lord Krsna's childhood) pastimes (are described) in Padma Purana:
	"All Lord Krsna's pastimes are wonderful.  Still, His pastimes as a cowherd boy are more charming than all others."
531	In Brhad-Vamana Purana (Lord Krsna says):
	"Although I have many enchanting pastimes, when I remember the rasa dance, I do not know what happens to My heart."
532	(The Sweetness) of (Lord Krsna's) Flute:
	All sweetness of sound in all the world drowns in a single atom of the sound of (Lord Krsna's) flute.
533	Plunged in deep bliss, the moving and inert change natures when (Lord Krsna's) enchanting (flute) sounds.
534	Saying, "Is this a mystic mantra that charms (it's hearers), or is it wonderful nectar drunk by our ears?"  The demigods headed by Siva become bewildered.
535-6	In Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.14-15 (a gopi says to Mother Yasoda):
	"My dear mother, your son is very expert among the cowherd boys.  He knows all the different arts, how to tend the cows and how to play the flute.  He composes His own songs, and to sing them He puts His flute to His mouth.  When He plays, either in the morning or in the evening, all the demigods like Lord Siva, Brahma, Indra and Candra, bow their heads and listen with great attention.  Although they are very learned and expert, they cannot understand the musical arrangements of Krsna's flute.  They simply listen attentively and try to understand, but they become bewildered and nothing more."*
537	In the 21st and 35th Chapters of the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam the goddess of Vraja describe the very wonderful sweetness of (Lord Krsna's flute).
538	(The sweetness of Lord Krsna's) form
	The beauty of the son of Maharaja Nanda is incomparable.  Nothing is higher than His beauty, and nothing can equal it.  His beauty is like waves in an ocean of nectar.  This beauty is attractive both for moving and nonmoving objects.*
539	In the Tantras: "I will now describe the process of Meditation on Nanda's son, Krsna, whose charming handsomeness has never been seen or heard of before, and whose lotus toenails are worshipped by the personified handsomeness of many billions of Kamadevas."
540	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.29.40):
	"My dear Lord Krsna, where is that woman within the three worlds who cannot be captivated by the rhythms of the sweet songs coming from Your wonderful flute? Who cannot fall down from the path of chastity in this way?  Your beauty is the most sublime within the three worlds.  Upon seeing Your beauty, even cows, birds, animals and trees in the forest are stunned in jubilation."*
Part Two
Sri Bhaktamrta
The Nectar of Sri Krsna's Devotees
1	Lord Krsna's devotees must be worshipped.  If His devotees are not (worshipped) a grave offence is committed.
2	In Padma Purana:
	"Vaisnavas should serve the great devotees headed by Markandeya Muni, Maharaja Ambarisa, Uparicara Vasu, Srila Vyasadeva, Vibhisana Maharaja, Pundarika, Maharaja Bali, Lord Siva, Maharaja Prahlada, Sri Vidura, Dhruva Maharaja, Sri Dalbya, Parasara Muni, Bhismadeva, and Narada Muni.  If one serves Lord Krsna but does not serve them, he commits a great sin.
3	In Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya:
	"They who worship Lord Govinda but do not worship His devotees are proud hypocrites who do not attain Lord Visnu's mercy."
4	In Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda:
	"My dear Devi, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Visnu is topmost.  However, above the worship of Lord Visnu is the rendering of service to Vaisnavas, who are related to Lord Visnu."*
5	There also (Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda):
	"They who worship Lord Govinda but do not worship His devotees should not be known as devotees.  They should be known to be only proud hypocrites."
6	In Adi purana (where Lord Krsna told Arjuna):
	"Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servants are factually My devotees."*
7	In Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.19.21 (Lord Krsna says):
	"The worship of My devotees is more important than worshipping Me."
8	Among all the devotees of the Lord, Prahlada Maharaja is the best.  His glories are described in Skanda Purana, Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic literatures.
9	In Skanda purana Lord Siva says:
	"A devotee is one who understands Lord Krsna in truth.  I am not among them.  Among all Lord Krsna's devotees Prahlada Maharaja is the best."
10	Prahlada Maharaja's words in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.26):
	"O my Lord, O Supreme, because I was born in a family full of the hellish material qualities of passion and ignorance, what is my position?  And what is to be said of Your causeless mercy, which was never offered to Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, or the goddess of fortune, Laksmi?  You never put Your lotus hand upon their heads, but You have put it upon mine."*
11	Lord Nrsimha's words there (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.10.210:
	"Those who follow your example will naturally become My pure devotees.  You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps."*
12	The Pandavas are even greater than Prahlada Maharaja and the devotees like him.  Srimad-Bhagavatam may be seen as the clear evidence for this.
13	Sri Narada's words in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.10.48-50 and 7.15.75-77):
	"My dear Maharaja Yudhisthira, all of you (the Pandavas) are extremely fortune for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, lives in your palace just like a human being.  Great saintly persons know this very well, and therefore they constantly visit this house."*
14	"The impersonal Brahman is Krsna Himself because Krsna is the source of the impersonal Brahma.  He is the origin of the transcendental bliss sought by great saintly persons, yet He, the Supreme Person, is your most dear friend and constant well wisher and is intimately related to you as the son of your maternal uncle.  Indeed, He is always like your body and soul. He is worshippable, yet He acts as your servant and sometimes as your spiritual master.*
15	"Exalted persons like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma could  not properly describe the truth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.  May the Lord, who is always worshipped as the protector of all devotees by great saints who observe vows of silence, meditation, devotional service, and renunciation, be pleased with us."*
16	Srila Sridhara Svami comments:
	"To the king who lamented, 'Ah Prahlada, who saw the Lord, was fortunate', Narada Muni spoke the three verses beginning with 7.10.48."
17	Sridhara Svami further comments on these three verses:
	"The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not personally stay in Prahlada Maharaja's home (although He did stay in the Pandava's home).  The great sages did not travel to Prahlada's home in order to see the Supreme Lord (although they did visit the Pandavas home for this purpose).  The Supreme Lord did not become the intimate relative of Prahlada Maharaja (as He became the maternal cousin of the Pandavas).  The Supreme Lord also did not personally express great pleasure in the daily activities of Prahlada Maharaja (as He did with the Pandavas).  For all these reasons Narada said that the Pandavas were more fortunate that either himself (Narada) or Prahlada.'
18	Because of their constant intimate association with Krsna and close family ties with Him, some members of the Yadu dynasty are more exalted than the Pandavas.
19	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.82.28 and 30):
	"Your majesty Ugrasena, king of the Bhojas, factually the Yadus are the only persons within this world who are perfect in all respects.  All glories unto you!  All glories unto you!  The specific condition of your perfection is that you are always seeing Lord Krsna, who is sought after by many mystic yogis undergoing severe austerities and penances for great numbers of years.  All of you are in direct touch with Lord Krsna at every moment."*
20	"Your majesty, King of the Bhojas, you are related with the Yadu dynasty by matrimonial relationship and by blood relationship also.  As a result you are constantly in touch with Lord Krsna, and you have no difficulty in seeing Him at any time.  Lord Krsna moves with you, talks with you, sits with you, rests with you, and dines with you.  The Yadus appear to be always engaged in worldly affairs with are considered to lead to the royal road to hell.  But due to the presence of Lord Krsna, the Original Personality of Godhead in the Visnu category, who is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent,  all of you are factually relieved from all material contamination and are situated in the transcendental position of liberation and Brahman existence."*
21	In Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.90.46:
	"The Yadavas loved Krsna so intensely that in their regular activities: in sleeping, sitting, travelling, talking, sporting, cleansing and bathing, they were simply absorbed in thoughts of Krsna, and paid no attention to bodily necessities."*
22	Uddhava, whose wonderful glories are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, is the best of all the Yadavas.
23	Lord Krsna's words in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.15):
	"O Uddhava, neither Brahma, Siva, Sankarsana, Laksmi nor I Myself am dear to Me as you."
24	(Lord Krsna also said to Uddhava in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.16.29): ("O Uddhava) among the devotees you are my representative."
25	Even from his own childhood, Uddhava was a great devotee of Lord Krsna.
26	In Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.2.2):
	"Uddhava was one who even in his childhood, at the age of five years, was so absorbed in the service of Lord Krsna, that when he was called by his mother for morning breakfast, he did nor wish to have it."*
27	There also (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.31):
	"Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way because He is never affected by the modes of material nature."*
28	Here is the meaning of this verse, "Yad-gunaih" means "with Uddhava's qualities", "prabhuh" means "I, the Lord", and "n-arditah" means ""na requested", or the meaning may be "yat" means "because", "gunaih" means "by the modes of nature beginning with the mode of goodness", and "na arditah" means "not troubled".  This means that Uddhava is beyond the modes of material nature.  The reason is given in the word "prabhuh", which means "able to taste the nectar of devotional service.
29	The gopis of Vraja are more exalted even than Uddhava. Uddhava begs to attain the same sweetness of love (they bear for Lord Krsna),
30	In Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.58 (Uddhava said):
	"Among all the living entities who have accepted the human form of life, the gopis are super excellently successful in their mission.  Their thought is thoroughly absorbed in the lotus feet of Krsna.  Great sages and saintly persons are also trying to be absorbed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Krsna, who is Mukunda Himself, the giver of liberation, but the gopis, have lovingly accepted the Lord, are automatically accustomed to this habit.  They do not depend on any yogic practice .  The conclusion is that one who has attained the gopis's condition of life does not have to take birth as Lord Brahma or be born in a brahmana family or be initiated as a brahmana."*
31	In Brhad-Vamana Purana, speaking to the sages headed by Bhrgu, Brahma said:
	:Although I performed severe austerities for six thousand years to attain the dust from the Vraja-gopis' lotus feet, I was unable to attain it."
32	The sages headed by Bhrgu said:
	"In this world are many devotees, among whom Narada is the first, the dust of whose feet persons like you may take.  Still, you neglect them for the dust of the gopis feet.  This fills me with doubt.  What is the reason. O Lord, please tell."
33	Brahma said:
	"My sons, the beautiful girls of Vraja are the best of women.  Neither I, Lord Siva, Ananta Sesa, nor Laksmi-devi, are equal to them in any way.
34	In Adi Purana, Arjuna said (to Lord Krsna):
	"In the three worlds, which devotees know You most intimately?  With whom are You always pleased?  To whom do You bear love without equal?
35	The Personality of Godhead replied:
	"O king, neither Brahma, Siva, Laksmi nor My own self are as dear to Me as the gopis.
36	"How many devotees do I love in this world?  Still, the gopis are more dear to Me than My own life-breath.
37	"O mighty Arjuna, neither the great sages, yogis, nor demigods headed by Siva understand Me as well as do the gopis of Vraja.
38	"Neither by austerities, Vedic study, saintly conduct, nor knowledge am I conquered. I am conquered only by love.  The gopis are proof of that.
39	"The gopis understand My glories, service to Me, faith in Me, and meditation upon Me.  O son of Prtha, others do not understand these things intimately.
40	"The gopis worship My body.  O son of Prtha, no one else worships Me with more intimate love."
41	It is not surprising that Uddhava, who begged to take birth as a blade of grass sprinkled with the dust of their feet, yearned to attain the same sweetness of love they (bore for Lord Krsna).
42	(He says) in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.61):
	"The gopis of Vrndavana have given up the association of their husbands, sons, and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krsna, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge.  Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers, or herbs in Vrndavana because the gopis trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet."*
43	
after serving Lord Krsna, the devotees of Krsna should serve the beautiful-eyebrowed girls of Vraja with offerings of prasadam-flowers and other offerings.
44	Srimati Radharani is the best of all the gopis.  Her superiority is described in the Puranas, Agamas, and other Vedic literatures.
45	In Padma Purana:
	:Just as Srimati Radharani is most dear to Sri Krsna, Her bathing place known as Radha-kunda is also dear to Him.  Among all the gopis, Srimati Radharani is supermost and very dear to Lord Krsna."*
46	Also in Adi Purana:
	"O son of Prtha, in the three worlds the earth planet, where the town of Vrndavana is situated, is most fortunate.  There the gopis stay.  There My (beloved), who is named Radha, stays."