SRI

 BRIHAD-BHAGAVATAMIRTA

The Nectar of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

SRILA SANATANA GOSVAMI

Part One Sri Bhagavata-krpa-nirdhara 
(The Search For the Lord's Mercy)

Chapter One Bhauma (The Earth)
Chapter Two Divya (The Higher Material Planets)
Chapter Three Prapancatita (Beyond the Material World)
Chapter Four Bhakta (The Devotees)
Chapter Five Priya (The Dear Devotees)
Chapter Six Priyatama (The Most Dear Devotees)
Chapter Seven Purna (The Perfect Devotees)

Part Two Sri Goloka-mahatmya
 (The Glory of Sri Goloka)

Chapter One Vairagya (Renunciation)
Chapter Two Jnana (knowledge)
Chapter Three Bhajana (Worship)
Chapter Four (Vaikuntha)
Chapter Five Priya (The Beloved)
Chapter Six Abhista-labha (The Attainment of Desires)
Chapter Seven Jagad-ananda (The Bliss of the Worlds)

Part One Sri Bhagavata-krpa-nirdhara 
(The Search For the Lord's Mercy)

Chapter One: Bhauma (The Earth)

1	Glory to He who is a great ocean of many sweetnesses, who is scented with the fragrance of youth, and who, in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, descended (to this world) to give pure love for His own lotus feet and to personally taste the perfect eternal love felt by the gopis.
2	Glory to the gopis headed by Srimati Radharani, who are famous as the beloveds of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the sweetness of whose intimate relationship with Lord Hari no one will ever have the slightest power to describe.
3	Glory to Lord Hari who, seeing the very sweet love His dear devotees bear for Him, eagerly descended (to this world) in the form of a devotee, who is now splendid as gold, who is dressed as a sannyasi, who is the son of Srimati Saci-devi, and who bears the name Sri Krsna Caitanya.
4	Glory to Goddess Mathura, the best and most beautiful of cities, dear to Lord Krsna, beautified with His birth-pastime, the place where His pastimes are narrated eternally, the place that, because it removes all sins and grants liberation and devotional service, is eternally glorified in this world.
5	Glory, glory to Vrndavana forest, the place dearer to Lord Krsna than the transcendental realm of Vaikuntha, the place where Lord Krsna eternally protects the surabhi cows, and where, sweetly playing the flute, He arouses the pure love of the gopis in the arena of the rasa dance.
6	Glory to the Yamuna River, which is the daughter of the sun-god, the sister of Yamaraja, the friend of Mathura, superior to Ganges, and very dear to Lord Krsna, and which flows with what seems to be water but is actually the nectar of the lotus flower of Lord Krsna's feet.
7	Glory to Govardhana Hill, the king of mountains, the hill the gopis declared was the best servant of Lord Hari, the hill personally worshipped by Lord Krsna when He stopped the indra-yajna, the hill that for seven days rested on Lord Krsna's lotus hand.
8	Glory, glory to devotional service in pure love for Krsna.  Rejected by the devotees, finally understanding the confidential secret of all Vedic knowledge, and abandoning all trust in mantra chanting, Vedic sacrifices, and severe austerity, liberation now worships the feet of devotional service.  Liberation now yearns to take shelter of the feet of devotion.
9	All glories, all glories, to the all-blissful holy name of Sri Krsna, which causes the devotee to give up all conventional religious duties, meditation, and worship.  When somehow or other uttered even once by a living entity, the holy name awards him liberation.  The holy name of Krsna is the highest nectar.  It is my very life and my only treasure.*
10	Obeisances to boundlessly merciful Lord Sri Krsnacandra who, appearing as Sri Caitanya, distributed the nectar of pure love of God in the age of Kali.
11	This book is bhakti literatures' essence, which was revealed by the Lord who is dear to the heart.
	Note:  The Lord who is dear to the heart is Nanda's son, who plays the flute and whose handsome form gracefully bends in three places.  By his mercy He appeared in the heart and revealed the truth of devotional service.
	Another interpretation is "Caitanyadeve" is "Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu" and "rupa" is "Srila Rupa Gosvami".  Then the phrase becomes :which was revealed by Srila Rupa Gosvami, who is dear to Lord Caitanyadeva."
12	May the saintly devotees hear this confidential book, the Bhagavatamrta (the nectar of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees), which Jaimini Rsi affectionately spoke to Maharaja Janamejaya.
13	Hearing the wonderful story of Mahabharata from Jaimini, the king of sages, and becoming very eager to hear more, Maharaja Janamejaya, the son of Maharaja Pariksit, asked:
14	Sri Janamejaya said:  O brahmana, the sweet  nectar I found in your narration of Mahabharata I did not find in Vaisampayana's version.  Please now sweetly finish that story.
15-17	Sri Jaimini said:  Of Sri Pariksit, who was the best of kings, and who by Sukadeva's instructions had become free of all fears, wise in all spiritual knowledge, and plunged in love for Sri Krsna, and who at that moment was about to ascend to his desired destination (in the spiritual world), his mother, Uttara, who was a great devotee of Lord Krsna, who was flooded with love, and who was first distressed, and then, encouraged by her son, had become cheerful, asked:
18	Sri Uttara said: Son, as nectar was taken from the ocean of milk, please extract for me the essence of Sukadeva's teachings.
19	Sri Jaimini said:  Maharaja Pariksit, who was both affectionate to his mother and eager to repeat the very wonderful nectar history of Lord Govinda he had heard, respectfully said:
20	Maharaja Pariksit said:  Mother, although at this time I wished to follow a vow of silence, the sweetness of your question makes me eager to speak.
21-3	Bowing down, by my guru Srila Sukadeva Gosvami's mercy, to the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, who gave life to both you and your son, by the power of his mercy I will speak the beautiful Bhagavatamrta, the nectar of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees, which the great devotees extracted with great effort, which is the great conclusion of the assembly of sages, and which is a great secret.  Please listen with great attention.
24-5	Once, during the month of Magha, at Prayaga, the best of holy places, many great sages bathed in the morning, happily sat down near the Deity of Lord Madhava and, thinking how to attain spiritual success, praised each other, saying "You are dear to Lord Krsna."
26	O mother, then a great brahmana devotee of the Lord came there to Dasasvamedha-tirtha.
27	A wealthy landowner, he and his associates had come to feed the brahmanas.
28	That great soul performed his morning duties, set aside a large area, and brought many wonderful things.
29	He quickly fashioned a charming courtyard, set up many open tents, and anointed the ground with his own hand.
30	Then he placed Lord Krsna, in His Salagrama-sila form, on a beautiful golden throne.  Filled with happiness, and carefully following the proper rituals, he devotedly worshipped the Deity.
31	He offered delicious foods, costly garments and many other valuables to Lord Hari.  Then he celebrated a great festival wherein he himself danced to the accompaniment of singing instrumental music.
32	Then he bowed down to offer respects to the brahmanas, who could eloquently speak on the Vedas, Puranas, and other scriptures.  He bowed down to the sannyasis, householders, and brahmacaris.
33	Then with sweet words and polite behaviour he pleased the many Vaisnavas, who were always eager to taste the bliss of chanting Lord Krsna's glories.
34	He placed on his head the water that had washed their feet.  He worshipped them by giving them the food and valuables that had been offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
35	Then he respectfully fed the poor and the outcastes, and he satisfied even the dogs, jackals, birds, and insects.
36	When everyone was satisfied in this way the saintly persons requested that he also eat.  He and his associates then happily ate the remnants of the nectarean feast.
37	Then he approached Lord Krsna, and with folded hands offered the fruits of all his actions to the Lord.
38-40	Then he put the Lord to rest and was about to go home when Sri Narada, who is always eager to serve the Lord, and who had been observing all his actions from far away, suddenly stood up in the assembly of sages, again and again said, "This person is very dear to Lord Maha-Visnu", quickly went to the brahmana and, proclaiming to the world that this person is the object of Sri Krsna's great mercy, said:
41	Sri Narada said:  O king of brahmanas, Lord Krsna is very merciful to you.  I have seen how in this sacred place you (have given) your money, property, generosity, and power.
42	The learned brahmana then said to sage Narada:  It is not true.  My lord, what signs of Lord Krsna's mercy do you see in me?
43	I am insignificant.  Who am I?  How much can I give in charity?  What power do I have?  Where is my devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
44	In the south is a great king in whose country are many temples of the Lord.  This king is the real object of Lord Krsna's mercy.
45	Sustained by eating food offered to Lord Krsna, many sannyasis, pilgrims, and others comfortably travel through his country.
46	Near the royal palace is a deity of the Lord.  It is as if the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, whose spiritual form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, has, out of His great kindness, personally come there, and is deliberately standing still without moving even slightly.
47	In that place is always a newer and newer festival where are every moment many newer and newer valuable presentations are made to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
48	He respectfully feeds all the residents of his kingdom, as well as many visitors from foreign lands, with prasadam offered to Lord Visnu.
49-50	Because they are very eager to see the Deity of the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, because they are filled with happiness by tasting the remnants of food offered to the Deity, and because in this place they may meet many saintly persons, many devotees of Lord Visnu come from foreign lands and permanently reside in his country.
51	The king worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the brahmanas, and he has given his country to them as their property.  For this reason, in his country there is no calamity, no suffering, and no fear.
52	In his country the ground produces crops even without being plowed.  The rain falls as much as one could desire, and excellent fruit, roots, and garments are very easy to obtain.
53	Righteously engaged in their various occupational duties, and completely devoted to Lord Krsna, all the people of his country are very happy.  They all follow their king as if they were his sons and daughters.
54	Prideless, and always humbly engaged in the service of the Lord, he pleases everyone.  He is very dear to the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.
55-6	In the presence of the Deity regularly chanting the Lord's holy names with his brothers, wives, children, grandchildren, servants, government ministers, priests, and other associates, and in that sankirtana personally dancing, singing transcendental songs, and playing musical instruments, he always brings great happiness to the Lord.
57	A host of good qualities follow his great devotion to Lord Krsna.  How many of them can I enumerate?  Of how many of them am I aware?
58	Sri Pariksit said:  Then Narada went to see that great king.  As he was travelling in that king's country he noticed that the people were intently and happily engaged in the worship of the Supreme Lord.
59	Happily playing his vina, Narada entered the palace and could see the king there.  Impelled by the brahmana's words, Narada approached him and said:
60	Sri Narada said:  You have great royal power, saintly subjects, a host of good qualities, piety, wealth, learning and devotion to the Lord.  You are certainly the object of Lord Krsna's mercy.
61	Sri Pariksit said:  Narada Muni, the best of Vaisnavas, played his vina and glorified the king's good qualities in song.  Narada embraced the king again and again.
62	His head bowed down with embarrassment to hear so much praise of himself, the humble king worshipped the great sage Narada and then spoke the following words:
63-4	Devarsi Narada, my life is short.  My power is very circumscribed, I have very little to give in charity.  I am not independent.  I am governed by fear.  I remain under the dominion of the three-fold miseries.  Why, without considering all these points, do you consider me, who am so unqualified, to be the object of Lord Krsna's mercy?
65	The demigods have effulgent and very powerful bodies.  They are always worshipped by human beings.  They are the actual object of Lord Visnu's mercy.
66	The demigods are sinless.  They are situated in the mode of goodness.  They never suffer.  They are always happy.  They are completely independent.  They have the power to fulfil all the desires of their devotees.
67	Whenever they wish they can drink nectar that satisfies all their hunger and thirst and frees them from old-age, disease, death and all distress.
68	My lord, by the power of their great good fortune these demigods reside in Svargaloka.  The human beings who reside in Bharata-varsa may enter that Svarga realm only by performing many pious deeds.
69	The most important of these demigods is Maharaja Indra.  He has the power to reward or punish.  It is he who nourishes the world with rain.
70	For 71 yugas he is the master of the three planetary systems.  If a human king performs 100 asvamedha-yajnas he will not obtain such a post.
71	His horse is Uccahisrava, his great elephant Airavata, his cow Kamadhuk, and his garden the Nandana.
72	In the Nandana garden are parijatas and many other flowers that fulfil all desires, and there are also many kalpa-druma trees and kalpa-lata vines that also fulfil all desires.
73	A single flower from that garden fulfils all desires.  Indra's abode is filled with very wonderful singing, dancing, instrumental music, colourful garments, delicious food, and a host of other opulences and pleasures.
74	Ah!  What more can I say about his good fortune?  The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Visnu became his younger brother Vamana.
75	Lord Vamana brings Indra great happiness.  Lord Vamana protects Indra from all calamities.  Lord Vamana personally accepts the opulent worship Indra offers.  You know all this.  What more need I say?

Chapter Two: Divya (The Higher Material Planets)

1	Sri Pariksit said:  After glorifying the king, Narada Muni (went) to Svargaloka and in a great assembly of demigods saw Lord Visnu,...
2	...who was decorated with garlands of kalpa-druma flowers, anointed with fragrant scents, dressed in beautiful garments and ornaments, served palatable nectar and a host of other very splendid offerings, and was comfortably seated on Garuda's back,...
3	   whom Brhaspati and the great sages were glorifying with prayers, whom Aditi was caressing and pleasing with sweet words...
4	   who was pleased by the prayers, exclamations of "jaya!", instrumental music, singing, and dancing of the Siddhas, Vidyadharas, Gandharvas, and Apsaras,...
5	   who emphatically assured Indra that he need not fear the demons, who gracefully accepted and chewed the betelnuts Kirti-devi offers.
6-7	   whom Indra glorified, raining tears from his thousand eyes as again and again he happily described how his Lord had come to his aid, and who splendidly sat on His throne, His transcendental potencies at His side.
8	Following Lord Visnu as He departed for His own residence, Narada returned to the assembly and, praising Indra, said:
9	Sri Narada said:  You are a great leader.  Surya, Candra, Yama, and all the demigods and rulers of planets, what to speak of others, obey your commands.
10	Sages like myself are under your order.  The Vedas praise you as the master of the universe.  You grant the results of pious and impious deeds.
11	Ah!  Lord Narayana is your younger brother, born from the same womb.  Honouring the path of religion, He always treats you with great respect.
12	Sri Pariksit said:  Repeatedly praising Indra's great good fortune in this way, and playing his vina, Devarsi Narada began to dance.
13	Then, with great embarrassment, Indra slowly said: Devarsi Narada,  O learned musician, why are you mocking me?
14	Do you not know the history of the king of Svargaloka?  How many times have we not left this place out of fear of the demons?
15	Once Bali Maharaja occupied the post of Indra.  He personally enjoyed Indra's portion in the Vedic sacrifices.  He posted demons as the rulers of the sun, moon, and other planets.
16	Then, pleased by my parents' long and severe austerity, the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared by His plenary portion as my brother.
17	Still, the Lord did not kill my enemies.  He merely pretended to beg the kingdom from them, and them embarrassed me by giving the results of His begging to me.
18	Because we are envious, embroiled in unremitting competition, and filled with many faults, and because we sometimes murder brahmanas and commit many other sins, we live in constant fear of falling down from our position.  Where is there any happiness for the residents of Svargaloka?
19	You should know that Vamana treats me with contempt.  He forcibly took both the Sudharma assembly house and the parijata flower from Svargaloka and brought them to the earth.
20	He stopped the cowherds' traditional worship of me, and He burned to the ground the Khandava forest, which is so dear to me.
21	When I begged Him to kill the demon Vrtra, who had terrified the three worlds, the Lord was not willing to do anything.  He told me to kill the demon myself.
22	Treating me with contempt, He left my city of Amaravati and made a new home for Himself above all the worlds.
23	At the time of His departure He only accepted my worship to show kindness to my priest Brhaspati and because my parents were also worshipping Him.  Very quickly He left for His own abode, far beyond the range of my sight.
24	When I said to Him, "We will be honoured if You quickly return to accept our offerings of arghya,"  He cheated me by speaking this instruction:
25	When I am not here you may worship Brahma or Siva, for they are not different from Me.
26	Have you forgotten the words of scripture:  "The one Supreme Lord has expanded into the three forms of Visnu, Brahma and Siva?"
27	Neither I nor the sages can go to His abode.  He does not stay for very long in any one place.  Sometimes He stays in Vaikuntha, sometimes in Dhruvaloka, and sometimes in the Ksirodaka Ocean.
28	Now He is at Dvaraka.  But He does not always stay there.  Sometimes He is in the palace of the Pandavas, sometimes in the city of Mathura, and sometimes going from forest to forest in Gokula.  In this way it is very difficult for us to see Him.  Where is His mercy to us?
29	O best son of Brahma, know that your father is the actual object of Lord Krsna's mercy.  He is directly the son of Lord Narayana, the husband of Laksmi.
30	Within his day, which lasts for one thousand catur-yugas, live 14 Manus and many Indras like myself.
31	His night is as long as his day, 360 such days and nights are his one year, and 100 such years is the span of his life.  This is the description of Smrti-sastra.
32	He creates both the ordinary living entities and the demigods who rule over planets, and he gives them each a specific sphere where they may act.  He protects them, gives them the fruits of their work, and, on the arrival of his night, destroys them all.
33	The thousand-headed Maha-purusa incarnation of the Lord always stays on Brahma's planet, eating a great multitude of sacrificial offerings and giving transcendental bliss to all.
34	In this way I have given thousands of reasons to consider Brahma the object of Lord Krsna's mercy.  What more need I say?  Brahma is himself an empowered incarnation of Lord Krsna.
35	This fact is celebrated in the words of both Sruti and Smrti sastras.  My lord, you know this fact and many other glories of both Brahma and those who reside on his planet.
36	Sri Pariksit said:  When he heard Indra's words, Lord Narada said, "Well done! Oh, well done!  and then quickly travelled to the planet of Brahma.
37	The Lord offered to the performers of sacrifices all the benedictions they requested.  He then retired to His bedroom, and, as the goddess of fortune massaged His feet, He happily fell asleep.
42	Brahma ordered the sages, who were his sons, to perform sacrifices, and then, to tend to his duties in managing the universe, Brahma left for his own abode.
43	As Brahma comfortably sat on his throne and intently heard the recitation of the glories of his Lord, the Personality of Godhead, tears came to his eight eyes.
44	Approaching His father, who was served by a host of wonderful opulences, Narada fell down like a stick to offer respects and said:
45	Sri Narada said: You are certainly the object of Lord Hari's mercy.  You are the master of the Prajapatis and the grandfather of all living entities.
46	You alone create, maintain, and destroy the fourteen worlds.  You are eternally the master of the universe. It is said that you are parentless and self-born.
47	Born from your four mouths, the Personified Vedas, Puranas, and other scriptures that reveal the goal of life, stay in your assembly-house.
48	The saintly sage, who are free from lust and all other vices, attain your planet after faithfully and faultlessly performing their prescribed duties for a hundred births.
49	In this universe no place is superior to your abode.  Even Lord Narayana's planet named Vaikuntha exists only within your realm.
50	Eating the offerings of sacrifice, and granting the fruits of their sacrifices to His worshippers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His form of the Maha-purusa, eternally resides in your abode.
51	At first you made a great endeavour to find the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but you could not find Him.  Then, by performing austerities you were able to see Him for a moment in your heart.
52	The truth is that you are very dear to Lord Krsna.  Indeed, you are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, who assumes many different forms for His pastimes.
53	Sri Pariksit said:  Again and again singing Brahma's glories, which Indra had described, and which he now personally saw, Narada bowed down before Brahma with great devotion.
54	As he heard Narada's words, Brahma became very agitated.  Covering his eight ears, through his four mouths he said, "I am only a servant,"  again and again.
55	Restraining with great effort the anger these unbearable words created within him, four-faced Brahma rebuked his son Narada.
56	Sri Brahma said:  I am not the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.  From your earliest childhood have you not repeatedly learned this from the Vedic scriptures, from the common-sense logic, and from my own explanations?
57	His potency is Maha-maya.  In His eyes Maha-maya is like a maidservant who, employing the three modes of nature, creates, maintains and destroys the material universe.
58	All of us are bewildered by this Maha-maya.  We are firmly under her control.  For this reason you should know that I have not received even a small portion of Lord Krsna's mercy.
59-60	I continually think:  "I am the great spiritual leader, the supreme controller, and the grandfather of this universe. I was personally born from the lotus flower sprouted from the navel of Lord Krsna.  I am a performer of great austerities.  I am a great devotee of Lord Krsna."  In this way Lord Krsna's illusory potency maya destroys me with intense pride.  In addition to that I am always angry, overwhelmed by the endless duties I must perform to maintain the universe.
61	I am anxious that someday my planet will be destroyed.  Afraid of all devouring time, I pray for ultimate liberation.
62	Only for this purpose I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead and I cause others to worship Him.  (You may say that the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally resides on my planet, but I say:) Where does the Supreme Personality of Godhead not reside?
63	He personally accepts the sacrificial offerings here only to firmly establish the Vedic revelation and also to bestow mercy on the dear devotees who make offerings to Him.  (He does not do it to bestow mercy on me.)
64	O Narada Acarya, think for a moment.  You should know that the Lord is pleased only by devotion.  He gives His mercy only to the devotees, never to the non-devotees.
65	I am very far from having any devotion to the Lord.  If I somehow avoid offending Him I think I am doing very well indeed.  The Lord does not forgive my offenses as He forgives the sins of Siva.
66	One time I gave benedictions to a demon named Hiranyakasipu, who became an enemy of the devotees and proceeded to torment the entire world.
67-70	When the Lord, in His form of Sri Nrsimha, killed that demon, and I and my companions, staying far away out of fear, spoke many eloquent prayers to the Lord, but He refused to recognise us even with a momentary sidelong glance.  Later, during the coronation ceremony of Maharaja Prahlada, He kindly approached me and angrily ordered:  "Do not give any more benedictions like this to the demons!"  In spite of this order I have since given many benedictions to Ravana and many other demons.  Whose tongue has the power to describe the sins of Ravana.
71	You may remember how I gave administrative posts to Indra and many others whose good sense became completely destroyed by their inflated pride.
72	Indra offended the Lord by showering incessant rains on the Govardhana sacrifice, by fighting with the Lord over the parijata flower, and in many other ways also.  Varuna, the king of the waters, kidnapped Nanda Maharaja, stole the cows from the forest, and committed many other offenses.
73	Yama terribly killed the son of the Lord's teacher, and Kuvera is partly responsible for the sins of his follower, the demon Sankhacuda.
74	Also, in the lower worlds the demons and the angry serpents who are relatives of Kaliya-naga have become enemies of the Vaisnavas.
75	When Krsna stopped for lunch I used my illusory potency to kidnap the boys and calves personally protected by Him in Vrndavana.
76	Then I saw something very wonderful.  Frightened, I bowed down before Him and offered prayers.  I arrogantly offended Him, and He responded by cheating me with His pastimes of a cowherd boy.
77	Because I was able to enter His dearmost land of Vraja, and because I was able to obtain His merciful lotus glance, I thought that at that moment my life was all-perfect and all successful.
78	Fearing that I would commit many more offenses if I stayed, I left Vraja.  What is the use of saying anything more about my misfortunes?
79	Siva is famous as the personal friend of Lord Visnu.  In this universe I do not see anyone who is the object of the Lord's mercy as Siva.
80	Always intoxicated by the sweet nectar of Sri Krsna's lotus feet, Siva has lost all interest in material goals, in supreme power and opulence, and in varieties of sense-pleasure.
81	Eating Dhustura seeds and arka leaves, decorated with a garland of skulls, and his naked body smeared with ashes, Siva laughs at materialists like myself, who are addicted to sense-pleasures.
82	Wearing matted locks of dishevelled hair, and eager to conceal his actual nature, he staggers about like a madman.  On his head he happily carries the Ganges, which has washed the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.  When he dances he destroys the universe.
83	Lord Krsna is so kind to him that not only does he have the power to grant the most valuable liberation to demigods like myself, but even his wife has that power.
84	Ah!  All the residents of Sivaloka are liberated souls.  By Siva's mercy how many of them are not only liberated, but are now pure devotees of Lord Krsna?
85	To consider Siva different from Lord Krsna is a great offense.  The Supreme Personality of Godhead may forgive offenses committed to Him, but He does not forgive those committed against Siva.
86	When Tripuresvara, Vrkasura and other demons maddened by benedictions he gave them, placed Siva in a very dangerous position, Lord Krsna at once rescued him with words as sweet as nectar.
87	Conquered by the intimate love of His devotee, Lord Krsna personally worships Siva just to glorify him.
88-9	Lord Krsna personally asked Siva to drink the terrible poison produced from the churning of nectar.  In this way Siva became worshipped by the Prajapatis, and showered with streams of great glory.
90	The Puranas sing of the mercy of Lord Krsna to Siva.  You know this already.  O sage, please remember his glories.
91	Sri Pariksit said:  O affectionate mother, Narada offered obeisances to his spiritual master and was about to depart for Kailasa Hill when Brahma glanced at his son and said:
92	Sri Brahma said: Submissive to the loving service of Kuvera, Siva resides in Kuvera's place on Mount Kailasa in the material universe.
93	Assuming the role of the protector of the northern direction, Siva resides there, surrounded by his associates, and keeping very little material wealth.
94	The Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna becomes conquered by the loving service of devotees like myself, and for this reason He resides on my planet, on Svargaloka, and in many other places as well, and enjoys suitable pastimes there.  (In the same way Siva resides in Kailasa because of the devotion of Kuvera.)
95	I quote the opinion of Vayu Purana
	"The planet of Siva is beyond the seven-fold coverings of the material world.  It is eternal, transcendental, and full of bliss.  Only the greatest servants of Siva may enter it."
96	In that place Siva is decorated with splendid transcendental garments and ornaments.  There He is the master of great powers and opulences, and there he is surrounded by many associates as splendid and glorious as he.
97	In that place, even though the two of them are not different, Siva worships the supremely powerful and opulent Lord Sankarsana as his chosen Deity.  Is this not very wonderful?
98	Because you are a pure devotee of Siva you have the power to go there.  Go, take shelter of Siva, and see how he is the object of Lord Krsna's mercy.
99	Sri Pariksit said:  O mother, instructed in this way, and chanting the holy names of Siva and Krsna, Narada eagerly went to Sivaloka.

Chapter Three: Prapancatita (Beyond the Material World)

1-3	Seeing Lord Siva who, rapt in love for Krsna, was singing and dancing as He worshipped Lord Sankarsana, and who was also praising his followers, headed by Nandisvara, as they were singing, playing musical instruments, and joyfully calling out, "Jaya! Jaya!", and who was also praising Goddess Uma as she was expertly playing the karatalas, the sage Narada became happy, sounded his vina and bowed down to offer respect.
4	Again and again Narada sand, "You are the great object of Lord Krsna's mercy!"  Repeating his father's words, Narada glorified Siva in a melodious voice.
5-6	When, eager to touch the dust of Sri Siva's lotus feet, the sage dear to Krsna approached him, the demigod, intoxicated by the flooding nectar stream of love for Sri Krsna, pulled the sage to him, embraced him, and respectfully said, "O son of Brahma, what are you saying?"
7-9	When, by conversing with Narada, the best of Vaisnavas, Siva, who is the lord of Parvati's life, became plunged in the nectar of transcendental bliss, stopped his ecstatic dancing, retired with a few intimate associates, and sat in the virasana yoga-posture on a kusa-grass seat, with great devotion Narada bowed down to offer respect to him and recited many prayers describing his glory as the master of the universe.  Then he sang of Lord Krsna's great mercy to Siva.
10	Covering his ears, Siva, the best of all Vaisnavas, the preacher of devotion for Lord Visnu, very angrily said:
11	I have never been the master of the universe, and I am not the object of Lord Krsna's mercy.  I always yearn for the mercy of the servants of the servants of Lord Krsna.
12	Sri Pariksit said: Bewildered, Narada stopped his prayer of Siva's identity with Krsna.  Thinking himself an offender, he slowly said:
13	Sri Narada said:  Lord, in truth you both understand and preach the great mystery of the glories of Lord Visnu and His devotees.
14	For this reason the best of Vaisnavas yearn for your mercy and Lord Krsna Himself is pleased with you and wholeheartedly chants your glories.
15	How many times did Lord Krsna, assuming many different forms, worship you with devotion?  How many benedictions did He take from you?
16	Sri Pariksit said: Unable to remain peaceful while hearing these words, the embarrassed Siva suddenly rose from his seat and with both hands covered Narada's mouth.  "Don't speak this reckless nonsense about me," he said.
17	Struck with wonder, Siva loudly said:  O sage, you should see the inconceivable power and opulence of the Supreme Lord's transcendental pastimes!
18	Ah! My Lord is a wonderful deep ocean of transcendental glory.  Even though I have many times offended Him, He does not become averse to me.
19	Sri Pariksit said:  Filled with bliss, Narada touched Siva's feet, made him sit down, and continued his glorification of Siva, who is always plunged in the nectar of devotion to Lord Krsna.
20	Sri Narada said:  You are very dear to the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.  You have never offended Him.  In the eyes of the common people you may seem to have sometimes offended Him but He does not see any offense in you.
21-3	When a demon named Bana, who was your devotee, who was very proud of the strength of his arms, and who brought many troubles to the saintly devotees, captured and bound Aniruddha with his mystic power, fought with Lord Krsna, the holder of the cakra, was almost dead, and was saved by you, who prayed that his life be spared, Lord Krsna at once stopped killing him, became pleased with him, gave him a form like His own, and made him your personal associate, a state even the demigods cannot attain.
24	When Gargya and other enemies of the Vaisnavas worshipped you with severe austerities, you granted them a clever benediction that proved to be no benediction at all.
25	Even though Citraketu and many others had offended you, because they took shelter of Lord Krsna you were not angry with them.
26	You desire only the satisfaction of Lord Krsna.  You eloquently pray only to remain a pure devotee of Lord Krsna.
27	For this reason the Supreme Personality of Godhead gave to you and goddess Durga the power to grant the liberation prayed for by Brahma and the demigods.
28	Living as an ascetic, you have a low opinion of all the happiness found in your power and opulence, which is greater than that of Brahma and all the demigods.
29	Who else, filled with ecstatic love for Lord Visnu and clothed in only the ten directions, would dance as a madman with his wife and friends?
30	Today I have seen the wonderful glory of your intense desire to attain pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  This desire has made you eternally very dear to Lord Krsna.
31	What more can I say?  You are very dear to Lord Krsna, and by your mercy many others have also become dear to Him.
32	By Parvati's mercy also many have become dear to Lord Krsna.  She knows very perfectly the truth about you both (Siva and Krsna).
33	Lord Krsna loves her as if she were His own sister.  For this reason, even though you are very renounced and advanced in spiritual life, you have great respect for her.
34	When the terrible time for devouring the entire world comes, I am ashamed of my duty to destroy everything in the darkness of ignorance.
39	Narada, if I had received even a small particle of Lord Krsna's mercy, would I have been willing to fight with Him over the parijata flower, over Usa's kidnapping, and over so many other things?
40	Would He worship His own servant?  Would the Lord have ordered me:  "With a philosophy of your invention make everyone averse to Me"?
41	You happily glorify us both as givers of liberation, but the very terrible liberation we give brings pain to the devotees' ears.
42	O best of Lord Krsna's associates, don't think I am the object of His mercy.  Know that the residents of Vaikuntha are the actual objects of His very great mercy.
43	Renouncing everything material as if it were only a clump of grass, with great devotion they worship their beloved Lord Krsna.  If all material benefits and yogic perfections come before them, they will not look at them, even from the corner of their eye.
44	They who are free of all pride may go to that realm of Vaikuntha, which is beyond the three modes of material nature, free of all fear, eternal and full of transcendental knowledge and bliss.
45	Their forms already eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, the devotees there do not worship Lord Krsna to attain eternity, knowledge, bliss or opulence equal to His.
46	Happy with devotional service to the Lord, protecting the devotees and preaching devotional service, they travel as they wish.
47	As, in the forms of birds, trees, and other creatures, They eternally serve the Supreme Lord in many ways in the realm of Vaikuntha, they seem to mock the souls merged in impersonal liberation.
48	They gaze at the delightful Supreme Lord Hari, whose lotus feet are massaged by the goddess of fortune.  They enjoy blissful pastimes in His company.
49	The great glory of Lord Krsna's mercy is eternally granted to the residents of Vaikunthaloka.  Where else may that mercy be placed?
50	In that place is only a wonderful, blissful, eternal flowing stream of pure love for the Lord and sankirtana and a host of devotional activities.  In that place there is not anything other than this.
51	Ah!  The happiness of impersonal Brahman does not equal a very small portion of half a drop of the great wonder that is the glory of that nectar ocean of the bliss of pure devotion.
52	Vaikuntha, its residents, and everything within it are the greatest object of the transcendental love and mercy of Lord Krsna's lotus feet.
53	The glory of the opulent residents of Vaikuntha, who are all the objects of Lord Krsna's mercy, is much greater than any glory I may possess.  How will it be possible for me to describe their glory?
54	People like myself should also always bow down to offer respects to they who, although they live in the earthly planets, and although they possess material bodies made of the five elements, are expert at always tasting the nectar mellows of pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
55	They have placed themselves at the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.  Hoping to attain pure love for Lord Krsna, they have renounced wealth, followers, and the whole sphere of material life.
56	They do not care for material activities or material goals either in this life or the next.  They have crossed to the farther shore of varnasrama duties based on the circumstances of birth.
57	Because of the power of their pure devotional service to Lord Hari they are free from the three debts, they have crossed beyond the path of the Vedas, and they are eternally free from all fear.
58	They do not desire anything in this world.  They only yearn for the nectar of pure devotional service.  They see heaven, hell and liberation to be the same.
59	In truth, to me they are as dear as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.  I pray that I may always have their company.
60	Narada, I think that wherever devotees like this live is already Vaikunthaloka.  Of this I have no doubt.
61	Because they drink the nectar of pure devotional service to Lord Krsna, and because they thus forget everything of the material body and the great host of things in relation to it, they have forms of eternity, knowledge and bliss, even while they stay in bodies made of material elements.
62	They patiently wait for the time when they will enter Vaikuntha to enjoy transcendental pastimes with the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
63	The devotees I have described are all my superiors.  They are very dear to Lord Krsna.  They are the special object of His mercy.
64	Sri Parvati said:  Of these devotees Laksmi-devi is the most dear to Lord Hari.  She is the queen of Vaikuntha and its residents.
65	By her sidelong glance one may attain powers and opulences like the demigods who rule the various planets.  By her mercy one may attain perfect knowledge, renunciation, and devotional service.
66	Even though many sages like yourself worship her with great reverence, she ignores you all, and chooses her beloved Lord Narayana instead.  Even though Narayana is indifferent to her, she worships Him and performs severe austerities to please Him.
67	She eternally resides on His handsome chest.  A faithful wife, she follows her husband in all His incarnations.
68-9	Sri Pariksit said: His heart trembling with great happiness, Narada Muni called out, "O husband of Laksmi, glory to You!  O master of Vaikuntha, O Lord Hari, glory to You!  O realm of Vaikuntha, glory to you! O residents of Vaikuntha, glory to you!  O Laksmi, O beloved of Lord Krsna, O queen of Vaikuntha, glory to you!"
70	Narada rose to go to Vaikuntha and meet Laksmi.  Understanding his plan, Siva took his hand, stopped him, and said:
71	Sri Siva said: "O sage whose memory is defeated by the wish to meet Lord Krsna's beloved, do you not remember that the Lord now lives in Dvaraka on the earth?"
72	Lord Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead and Rukmini is the goddess of fortune, Maha-Laksmi, whose plenary portions are the consorts of Lord Vamana and the other incarnations of the Lord.
73	Rukmini, the original goddess of fortune, eternally serves the two lotus feet of Lord Krsna, the original Personality of Godhead.
74	O brahmana, sit down, and I will whisper a great secret in your ear.  Please listen with great faith.
75	Prahlada, whose fame as a great devotee is spread throughout the entire universe, is more dear to Lord Krsna than your father, than me, than Garuda, and all the other devotees, and even than the goddess of fortune herself.
76	Have you forgotten the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?  Do you not remember this verse in the Puranas (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.64):
77	"O best of the brahmanas, without saintly persons for whom I am the only destination, I do not desire to enjoy My transcendental bliss and My supreme opulences."
78	Neither I, all the demigods, or even His own transcendental forms are as pleasing to Him as His dear devotees.  Who can properly glorify the devotees?
79	The Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself proclaims that the inconceivably fortunate Prahlada is the most fortunate of all the devotees.
80	When Hiranyakasipu was ripped apart by the Lord, Laksmi-devi and all of us were able to see directly the incomparable good fortune of Prahlada.
81	Although Lord Visnu wished to give him a host of benedictions one after another, Prahlada never asked for liberation.  He only wished for pure devotional service.  I bow down to offer my respects to him.
82-4	Bali Maharaja jumped over the rules of propriety, disobeyed the order of his spiritual master, and was unable to keep his own promise.  Did Lord Visnu become his doorkeeper as a reward for Bali's very insignificant gift?  Did the Lord protect the demon Bana because of my prayers?  The Lord became Bali's doorkeeper and protected Bana only to please His dear devotee Prahlada.  Shall I say any more about this?  After all, Laksmi's friend Parvati is here.
	Note:  Siva hints that Parvati may become offended if Prahlada is glorified at the expense of her friend Laksmi.
85	Quickly go now to Sutaloka.  Speak many words of blessing to Prahlada, embrace him, and tell him that I also embrace him again and again.
86	Prahlada, the best of the devotees, will not tolerate our bowing down before him.  Also, if you wish to remain happy, do not make the mistake of praising him.

Chapter Four:  Bhakta (The Devotees)

1	Sri Pariksit said:  After hearing these very wonderful words of Lord Siva, Narada Muni became eager to see Prahlada.  By mystic power the sage, within a moment, flew to Sutaloka and entered the city of the Asuras.
2	At that moment Prahlada, the best of the devotees, was sitting in a secluded place, his mind rapt in loving meditation on the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  When he saw Narada in the distance, Prahlada at once stood up, and when the brahmana Narada approached him, Prahlada bowed down to offer his respects.
3	Prahlada carefully seated Narada on a throne and began to worship him with elaborate, ancient ritual.  Agitated at heart, Narada suddenly embraced Prahlada.  Showering many tears of joy, and embracing him again and again, Narada said to Prahlada:
4	Sri Narada said:  Now, after a very long time, I am able to see your lordship.  Now the great trouble I took to come here has borne its fruit.  You are the object of the great mercy of Lord Krsna.  Since earliest childhood you have possessed a devotion for Lord Krsna so pure it cannot be seen in any other person.
5	When your own father tried to torture and kill you in a thousand ways, you thwarted all his attempts.  By your influence all the demons have now become devotees.
6	Rapt in thoughts of Lord Krsna, you appear like a madman singing, dancing, trembling, and crying.  You rescue everyone from the cycle of repeated birth and death.  You give them pure devotional service for Lord Visnu.  In this way you fill them with transcendental bliss.
7	Lord Krsna appeared on the shore of the great ocean, placed you on His lap, and caressed you as a mother.  Although Brahma, Siva and all the demigods were reciting many prayers, and although the goddess of fortune was worshipping Him, He ignored them all.
8	Although frightened Brahma offered prayers from far away, you approached the Lord and fell down before His splendid lotus feet.  Lord Nrsimha then picked you up, placed His lotus hand on your head, and licked your body.
9	With great eloquence and very wonderful persistence, Brahma and the other demigods repeatedly pray for liberation and entrance in the transcendental realm.  When Lord Hari offered that liberation to you as a gift, you ignored His offer and prayed only for pure devotional service birth after birth.
10	In order to please your Lord, and because in your prayers to Lord Nrsimha you prayed for the deliverance of all living entities, you accepted from Him the kingdom of your father.  That is why you remain here, rapt in meditation on your Lord.
11	One time, as you were going to Naimisaranya forest to see the lotus feet of Lord Narayana, who wears yellow garments, you accidentally met Him on the path.  He challenged you to a fight, and when He was finally pleased by your strength in battle, He declared:  "I am always defeated by you."
	Note: This pastime is narrated in the Vamana Purana.
12	As he spoke these words, Narada became plunged in the nectar ocean of pure devotional love for Lord Hari.  Narada, the confidential servant of the Lord, danced and called out, "We have defeated Him!"
13	Sri Narada said:  O best of the Vaisnavas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was defeated by you!  What more need I say?  It was because of your mercy that Lord Mukunda was defeated by your grandson Bali, the king of the demons, and became a guard standing at Bali's gate.
14	From now on I shall always stay here.  Your power has enabled me to counteract the curses of Daksa and many others.
	Note: Daksa and others cursed Narada always to travel, unable to stay for long in any one place.
15	Sri Pariksit said:  Unable to bear hearing himself praised, Prahlada lowered his head in embarrassment.  He bowed down before Narada and slowly and respectfully said:
16	Sri Prahlada said:  O my lord, O my spiritual master, please consider how it was that in my childhood I learned about pure devotional service to Lord Krsna.
17-18	When a person is instructed by great pure devotees of Lord Hari, he naturally becomes glorious.  He is never defeated by any obstacles, he has the power to preach the truth of spiritual life even to children, he is compassionate to the suffering conditioned souls, and he easily rejects impersonal liberation and all other material benedictions.
19	The great souls know that these things are not the real signs of Lord Krsna's mercy.  O noble one, Lord Krsna's mercy is given only to those who engage in devotional service.
20	I never rendered direct service to the Lord as Hanuman and many others did.  I simply meditated on the Lord when my heart was troubled.
21	You may praise the Lord's affectionately embracing me, but some say that embrace was only a feature of the Lord's illusory potency, and others think it was only a pastime of the Lord.
22	Great souls like yourself may consider the Lord's embracing me to be a sign of His genuine love.  For myself I consider it like a dream, or, even if it is true, it is not a sign of the Lord's mercy to me.
23	Saintly persons consider that the wonderful gift of direct devotional service the Lord gave to Hanuman and other devotees to be His real kindness.  They do not consider anything else to be the display of the Lord's mercy.
24	Lord Nrsimha's pastimes were not performed to show mercy to me.  They were meant for the protection of the devotee demigods and the deliverance of the Lord's two eternal associates (Jaya and Vijaya).
25	They were meant to establish the truthfulness of the words of Brahma and his sons the Kumaras.  They were meant to show the great glory of pure devotional service.
26	O best of the great saints who have taken a vow of poverty, when the Lord gave me a kingdom I could understand that He was not merciful to me.
27	The Lord has said (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.27.16): "When I desire to show mercy to someone I take away his material wealth and opulence."  The instructions of the great devotees also bear witness to these words of the Lord.
28	Look at me!  I am so absorbed in ruling my kingdom and so much surrounded by friends, relatives, and servants, that I have now completely given up the worship of the Lord!  Fie on me! Fie! I do not even lament for my own misfortune!
29	If this were not so then why would I, who am trapped in this world of repeated birth and death, have personally fought with the glorious Supreme Personality of Godhead at Visala-tirtha?
30	When I preached the truth of spiritual life I mingled with many miseducated demons, and by their association I became infected with a host of dry, non-devotional theories.  Even today not a single wretched fragment of those false theories has left me.
31	By pure devotion one attains the mercy of the Lord.  What pure devotion do I have?  As I meditate on the misdeeds of Bana I can see the clear signs of my own lack of devotion.
32	I have heard that the Lord bound Bali, imprisoned him, and now stands at the door to prevent his escape.  What is his fate now?  I do not know.
33	Ravana and others have seen the Lord there as the gatekeeper, and Durvasa has also seen Him.  From devotional faith the sight of the Lord is obtained.
34	One who yearns to attain the Lord may attain Him in any place.  He need not travel to the Lord's abode.
35	If the Lord always stays at Bali's gate, then why did I travel so far to Naimisaranya to see Him, the Lord who wears yellow garments?
36	By your lordship's mercy the Supreme Personality of Godhead may have some affection for me.  Still, the glory of that affection is very insignificant in comparison to the great mercy received by even the newest devotees.
37	O lord whose heart melts with limitless mercy, why should I make you suffer by describing my own great misfortune?  Better that you place your glance on the great mercy the Lord has given to the Kimpurusa Hanuman.
38	O lord, please know that when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in His half-man half-lion form to kill my father, He very quickly did His work and then disappeared again.
39	I was not able to see the Lord to my heart's content.  On the shore of the great ocean I saw Him for only a moment.  It was like a flickering dream.
40	Hanuman was very fortunate.  He was able to enjoy the happiness of directly serving the Lord for many thousands of years without obstruction.
41	Even in his childhood he was extremely strong.  By the mercy of the demigods he received many benedictions.  He is always free from old-age and death.
42	He is completely fearless, a follower of austere vows, saintly, a heroic fighter, and the uncommon servant of Lord Ramacandra.
43	He casually jumped over the fathomless, eight-hundred mile wide ocean.  He expertly comforted the distressed Sita captive in the palace of the king of raksasas.
44	He taunted his enemy, burned Lanka, destroyed its fortifications, returned with news of Sita, and was firmly embraced by his master.
45	He was the great carrier of his master.  His tail became a white parasol shading his master, and his broad back became a comfortable seat for his master.  He was the leader of those engaged in building the bridge at Setubandha.
46	He fulfilled the needs of Vibhisana, broke the strength of the raksasas, and, with his great strength, brought the medicinal herb visalya-karini.
47	He brought life again to the army.  He greatly pleased both his master and his master's younger brother.  He became the devoted carrier of both his master and Sri Laksmana.
48	With very intelligent tactics he attacked and defeated the enemy. He chanted the transcendental glories of his master, the killer of the raksasa king.
49	He brought great happiness to Sita.  He is the object of the great transcendental mercy of his master.  Even though he is not able to bear separation from his master, he remains in this world by His order.
50	He sustains himself by always hearing the glories of his master.  Even today he stands beside the transcendental Deity form of his master as he had always stood by Him in the past.
51	My lord, the scriptures declare:  "The monkey-king Hanuman attained perfection by serving the Supreme Lord."  In this way Hanuman's glory is famous in this world.  His service brought him the Lord's mercy.
52	I offer my respectful obeisances to Hanuman.  Even if it were to come to him of its own accord, he has no desire to accept any kind of liberation that would check his service to Lord Visnu, the son of Maharaja Dasaratha.
53	I have left much unsaid, still, your lordship knows his glorious position very well.  Please go now to Kimpurusa-carsa.  See him and become happy.
54	Sri Pariksit said:  O mother, Narada then exclaimed: "Ah! This is very auspicious! Ah! This is very auspicious!"  He then rose from his seat, and travelled through outer space to Kimpurusa-varsa.
55	There he saw Hanuman devotedly worshipping the lotus feet of the Deity of Lord Ramacandra with wonderful offerings taken from the forest as if the Lord were directly present before him.
56	Hearing the nectarean story of the Ramayana sung by the Gandharvas and other celestial singers, Hanuman became full of bliss.  He trembled and shed tears.  The hairs of his body stood erect.
57	Hanuman was himself reciting many wonderful and splendid prayers in prose and verse, and he was also falling down like a stick to offer respectful obeisances to his Lord.
58	Narada then jubilantly called out:  O Lord of the Raghavas, all glories to You!  O husband of Sita, all glories to You!  O elder brother of Laksmana, all glories to You!
59	Hanuman became filled with joy to hear the chanting of the holy names of his worshipable Lord.  He at once jumped into the sky and embraced Narada, placing his arms around his neck.
60	As he stood in the sky, Narada Muni jubilantly danced moving his feet to and fro, and at the same time wiped away the stream of Hanuman's tears of ecstatic love with his hands.  Filled with ecstatic love, Narada loudly said:
61	Sri Narada said: O noble sir, you are very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  By seeing you I have now also become very dear to Him.
62	Sri Pariksit said:  Within a moment Hanuman composed himself and then respectfully bowed down before Devarsi Narada.  Then he took Narada to the temple where he could bow down before Lord Ramacandra, the hero of the Raghu dynasty.
63	Narada Muni bowed down before the Deity and then sat in a seat carefully arranged by Hanuman.  Narada, wealthy with the wonderful opulence of pure devotional love, sounded his vina and said:
64	Sri Narada said: You are in truth the object of the incomparable great mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  You are always plunged in the very wonderful nectar ocean of pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
65	You are the Lord's servant, friend, chariot, sitting place, flag, parasol, awning, fan, poet to offer prayers, counsellor, military commander, and most helpful assistant.  You always chant the Lord's transcendental glories.
66	You have offered yourself to Lord Ramacandra without any reservation.  You are the object of His great mercy.  The narration of His glories is your life and soul.  You bring great transcendental bliss to the devotees who have taken shelter of Him.  You are eternally more glorious than Garuda and all the other devotees of the Lord.
67	Because you are a pure devotee, and because you do not consider anything better than the happiness of pure devotional service, you spoke to the Supreme Lord, who is the crest jewel of all generous philanthropists, the following words, which bring great happiness to the devotees:
68	O Lord, You are the master, and I am Your servant.  I do not desire any liberation from the bonds of repeated birth and death that will also break our relationship.
69	Sri Pariksit said:  For Hanuman, hearing this description of the great mercy of the Lord's lotus feet became a spark that ignited a great fire of the pain of separation from the Lord.  Hanuman lamented and cried.  Narada Muni comforted him.  Hanuman then said:
70	I am very unhappy because I no longer have the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra.  O best of the sages, why do you make me cry by reminding me of His cruelty to me?
71	If  I am His servant, then why did He abandon me when He took Sugriva, the residents of Ayodhya, and many other dear devotees to His side?
72	Because you are very affectionate to me you think that because I had the good fortune to serve the Supreme Lord directly, therefore He is very merciful to me.
73-4	Now the supreme opulent and powerful Lord has descended to Mathura City, where He gives His mercy to the great Pandavas.  The mercy He gives to me cannot be compared to even the smallest fragment of that mercy.  It is like a pebble compared to Mount Sumeru.
75	By sending them so many troubles since their early childhood, the Lord has shown to the world their patience, adherence to religious principles, fame, transcendental knowledge, pure devotion, and spiritual love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
76	The Supreme Personality of Godhead became their chariot-driver, companion, servant, counsellor, messenger, guard, and follower.  The Lord even offered prayers to them and bowed down before them.
77	The Supreme Lord is overcome with love for them.  What will He not do for them.  He has become their servant, friend, and most affectionate well-wisher.
78	Because the Lord always resides with them, their capitol has become like a sacred forest where great sages perform austerities.  Residence in their capitol now brings the results of all austerities.
79	Sri Pariksit said:  As Sri Narada heard these words he yearned to reside eternally in Dvaraka and always stay by the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.  Narada loudly shouted, rose again and again into the sky, and danced with joy in his heart.
80	Hanuman became blissful by seeing Narada dance.  His heart plunged in the nectar of the Pandavas' story.  Hanuman again and again described their glories.
81	Sri Hanuman said:  The host of calamities that befell the Pandavas were very auspicious for them.  These calamities made Lord Krsna anxious for the safety of the Pandavas, and at once brought Lord Krsna into their company.
82	O Pandavas, you have now become overpowered by love and no longer know how to do what is right.  You have made my Lord into your messenger and chariot-driver.
83	O Pandavas, you must know a very powerful magic spell or possess a very powerful potion to bring others under your control.
84	O mother, O celebrated wife of Abhimanyu, after speaking these words, Hanuman began to jump again and again.  For a long time he danced with Narada Muni.  Then he said:
89	O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Lord overwhelmed with love for Your devotees, O Lord whose transcendental activities attract your devotees' hearts, this is the way You act.
90	It is my great good fortune that in the middle of the sons of Kunti (the Pandavas) is my dear younger brother Bhimasena.
91	Out of kindness and friendship the Lord gave His own sister in marriage to Arjuna, who carries a flag whose insignia is a likeness of me.
92	Without the transcendental mercy of they who are very dear to the Lord, the loving service of the Lord's servants will not be successful.  That service will not bear any good fruit.
93	O best of the devotees, O most dear favourite of the Lord, let us go there to see them.
94-5	The transcendental opulence, sweetness, and wonder that is very difficult for Brahma, Siva and the other demigods to understand, that increases the love of the devotees, and that had not been revealed when the Lord appeared in Ayodhya, is now displayed in Mathura and Dvaraka.
96	Sri Narada said: This sweetness and opulence is not manifested even in Vaikuntha, what to speak of Ayodhya.  Rise! Rise! Friend, let us quickly go there.
97	At that moment Hanuman became as grave as the ocean.  He reflected within himself for a moment, sighed, bowed down, and then said to Narada:
98	Sri Hanuman said:  It is right for us to go to see and serve the most dear devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
99	The sweetness of great mercy the Lord displays now is greater and more profound than what He had shown in the past.
100	The supremely charming and wonderful waves of the Lord's present transcendental pastimes have bewildered even the most learned and intelligent of the sages.
101	Even Brahma, the father of you and your exalted brothers, the grandfather of all the worlds, and the original teacher of the Vedas, is bewildered by these pastimes.
102	If even he becomes bewildered, then what can be said about unintelligent monkeys like myself.  You can easily understand the Lord's activities, but I fear I will commit an offense.
103	The Lord's wonderful transcendental pastimes increase the love and devotion of the devotees.  These pastimes are the final destination of they who repose all their love in the Lord alone and in no one else.
104-8	I pray that for Lord Ramacandra, whose heart is naturally soft with sincere compassion, who is honest and righteous, who has taken a vow to accept only one wife, whose face and eyes are always bowed down with great humility and shyness, whose good character delights the world, who is the monarch of Ayodhya City, who is the greatest of all kings, who is served by Sita and Laksmana, who is the elder brother of Bharata, who is the dear friend of Sugriva, who is the ruler of the monkeys, who is the shelter of Vibhisana, who holds a bow in His hand, who is the son of Dasaratha and Kausalya, and who is the great king of the Raghu dynasty, may my devotional love always increase.
109	I shall simply stay here, gaze at the Deity form of Lord Rama, and drink the nectar of His pastimes.
110-1	When Lord (Krsna), out of His great mercy, may call me to give me the great transcendental happiness of the opportunity to serve Him, will He, out of love for me, show me the form (of Lord Rama) that is more dear to me than life?
112-3	When the Lord reveals Himself as Ramacandra I shall go to Him at once.  Now you please go to the Pandavas, and in their palace see the Supreme Brahman, whose transcendental form is like that of a human being, who is full of transcendental bliss, who is beyond the touch of the words and thoughts of the sages, who is very charming and who is a great jewel mine of the sweetnesses of wonderful transcendental pastimes.
114	Don't become an offender, thinking "We are celibate brahmacaris, and they are only householder ksatriyas ruling a kingdom."
115	By serving the lotus feet of Lord Krsna they have become free from all desire for material sense-gratification.  Their lotus feet are worshipped by the leaders of the swan-like devotees.
116	The eldest Pandava, with the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his only motive, now rules the kingdom.  He is the master of a great variety of royal opulences rare even among the demigods.
117	By amassing great pious credits in the performance of rajasuya-yajnas, asvamedha-yajnas, and other religious rituals, he attained the spiritual world of Visnuloka.  Even within this material realm he became king of the entire earth.
118-9	His pure fame is spread throughout the three worlds.  His faultless royal opulences, envied by even the demigods, and granted to him by the mercy of Lord Krsna, he has offered back to Lord Krsna.  These opulences were never able to actually please the king.
120	His heart is on fire with pure love for Lord Krsna.  He is like a man burning with hunger who cannot be pleased by sweet scented flower-garlands, sandalwood, or perfume.
121	Ah, what more shall I say?  Srimati Draupadi is his exalted queen.  Sri Bhimasena, Sri Arjuna and his other brothers are all as noble and exalted as he.
122	They are not dear to him because of their bodily relation.  They are not dear to him as assistants in the quest for material piety, wealth, sense-gratification, or liberation.  They are dear to him because they love the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.
123	I am a monkey.  How can I describe their great glories?  O lord, you know how great they are.

Chapter Five: Priya (The Devotees)

1	Dancing and overcome with happiness, Narada flew to Kurudesa, where he quickly entered the capitol.
2-5	When Narada Muni arrived at the door, Maharaja Yudhisthira was saying to his relatives: "Let us arrange for either a grand Vedic sacrifice, or else a terrible calamity.  That will force Lord Krsna to come here, and then we will be able to see him."  Seeing Narada at the door, Maharaja Yudhisthira, accompanied by his brothers, mother, and wives, at once stood  up, hastily ran to him, greeted him, bowed down before him, brought him into the palace, carefully seated him on a grand throne, and brought various articles to worship him.  O mother, Narada then took the articles of worship and began himself to worship your fathers-in-law and their servants.
6	His words ornamented by vina music, Narada elaborately repeated Hanuman's description of Lord Krsna's great mercy to the Pandavas.
7	Narada Muni said: 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.*
8-9	Even Brahma, Siva, and the other great demigods can only rarely see Him in a trance of meditation.  The words of the Vedas describe Him.  Lord Nrsimha, Vamana, and Ramacandra are His plenary portions, and the other incarnations are portions of His plenary portions.  Brahma and the other demigods are considered His potencies.  The illusory potency, Maya, who creates, maintains and destroys the material universes, is a maidservant on the pathway of His glance.
10-1	Inspired by the lament of Mother Earth, Brahma and the demigods went to the shore of the milk ocean and, although they faithfully worshipped the Lord with prayers, they could not obtain the Lord's mercy.  Then the order of the Lord was manifested in the sky, and when Brahma understood it in his own heart, all the demigods became happy.
12	In a secluded place the very intelligent sages, headed by Garga Muni, secretly revealed that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Narayana, and no one is His equal.
13	Then He went to Mathura City, where He became known as Dirgha-Visnu, Maha-Hari, Maha-Visnu, and Maha-Narayana.
14	We pray that by spiritual activities beginning with vows of silence, being peaceful, and engaging in devotional service, we may attain His mercy.  You, however, have already pleased Him and brought Him under your control.
15	Listen.  Although in His previous incarnations He gave it to only a chosen few, this time He gives liberation to everyone.
16-7	Although Kalanemi, Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and many other demons were personally killed by Him, they did not attain liberation.  Pure devotional service was not given to any of them.  Devotional service was given only to the demon Prahlada during the advent of Lord Nrsimha.
18	Although Sri Hanuman, Jambavan, Sugriva, Vibhisana, Guha, Dasaratha, and a few others attained pure devotional service from Him, during the advent of Lord Ramacandra there was not even the briefest mention of the highest stage of pure love of God.
19	Now your maternal cousin Krsna has caused many to become liberated.  May He has given pure devotional service, and many He has filled with pure love of God.
20	Demons killed by Lord Krsna, by Arjuna, or by the Lord's associates, although they deserved to go to hell, attained a glorious liberation.
21	Visvamitra, Gautama, Vasistha, and many other sages intently performing austerities, chanting mantras, and seeking knowledge, went to Kuruksetra and by Lord Krsna's mercy came to desire only pure devotional service.  They all became pure devotees.
22	Even trees, vines and other immobile living entities in forms of life darkened by ignorance have now attained pure ecstatic love for Lord Krsna.  Now they are all nourished by the nectar rains of pure love for Him.
23-4	O cousins of Lord Krsna, how can I describe the great, never-seen-before wonder of the sweetness of the handsomeness of His transcendental form?  His pastimes, qualities, love, glory, and pastime-places are unprecedented and wonderful.
25	I think that if He had not descended to this world, the fact that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead would not have been revealed.
26	The great wonder of His sweetness and glory is now displayed to its fullest perfection.
27	Let the description of Lord Krsna's kindnesses stay far away.  His mercy is shown even in His fighting Kamsa, Kaliya, Putana, Bali and a host of others bear witness to this.  
28	Sri Pariksit said:  After singing these words, Narada Muni instructed his tongue, which was greedy for Lord Krsna's glories:  "Aha! You are chanting the glories of the Lord!"  Narada then bit the tongue with his teeth.
	Note: Narada feels he is not qualified to say anything about Lord Krsna.
29	O tongue, you are very fortunate to have spoken these words.  Now, as much as you are able, please glorify the dear devotees of the Lord.
30	O great souls, what person would be so bold to think that the Lord's kindness and love for you can be actually brought to his tongue?
31	When your mother Kunti heard from Akrura's mouth a single sentence of affectionate consolation from Lord Krsna, she at once became plunged in a great flood of pure love.
32	Lord Krsna's many wonderful words of consolation made her cry.  That cry pierced the chests and hearts of the stoutest men.  She loved you so much only because you are so dear to Lord Krsna.
33	When, after a long time, Lord Krsna, the life of the Yadus, was about to leave for Dvaraka, she spoke many prayers in a voice choked  with emotion and convinced Him to continue to stay as a guest in her home.
34	Lord Krsna made Yudhisthira very famous in both this world and the next.  Although Lord Krsna was Himself the actual cause of Jarasandha's death, He gave all the credit to Bhima.
35	Lord Krsna and Arjuna became famous for Their close friendship.  Hundreds of the greatest Puranas are not able to properly describe the glory of that friendship.
36	Everyone saw how the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, who are both full of love for Lord Krsna, recommended that the Lord be worshipped first in the Rajasuya-yajna.
37	During the Rajasuya-yajna and other festive occasions, Lord Krsna personally performed the auspicious ritual of sprinkling water on Draupadi's hair.  He used to address her "O My dear friend."  He protected her from the fearful dangers presented by Durvasa, Duhsasana and others.  He removed all her grief.
38	He accepted the boiled rice offered by Vidura.  He performed the funeral-festival of Bhisma.  Please consider how many times He has taken your part in a dispute.
39	Ah! It is very wonderful that the learned and devoted prayers the women in your palace offered to Lord Krsna are now glorified by the greatest poets and philosophers.
40	Although Prahlada, his grandson Bali, and Hanuman received the Lord Hari's mercy, you and all your friends and relatives have received both His great mercy and His sincere love.
41	When He had just received opulent gifts from the Kurus, Lord Krsna said to me and my friends:  "They who are friends of the Pandavas are My friends, and they who are their enemies are My enemies.  The Pandavas are My life-breath."
42	Ah, how bold and arrogant I am!  Only the Supreme Lord has the power to know or describe your virtues.  I think the Lord descended to this world for your sake only.
43	Sri Pariksit said:  After a moment's embarrassed silence, Maharaja Yudhisthira sighed, and, in the company of his mother, brothers, and wives, said:
44	O crest-jewel of eloquent orators, Lord Krsna did not give His mercy to me and my brothers.  We thought about this for a long time and we decided that He never gave His mercy to us.
45	By seeing the many calamities that have fallen on me and my brothers materialistic men will lose faith in Lord Krsna and they will become less interested to engage in devotional service to Him.
46	If that were to happen it would be a great torment for us.  Lord Krsna is our life and soul.  Without Him we are like men without food or fish without water.
47	For this reason I prayed to the Lord:  "O Lord, please use this Rajasuya-yajna as a trick to grant to both devotees and non-devotees faith in Your pure devotional service.
	Note: The Rajasuya-yajna displayed the opulent position of the devotees.  Maharaja Yudhisthira considered that the sight of the devotees' opulence will encourage materialistic men to become devotees.
48	"In this way all the people of the world will see the splendid, wonderful, and extraordinary opulences of Your devotees, both in this world and the next.  Then the people will become full of faith and they will worship Your lotus feet.  In this way they will become free from suffering and fear and they will attain perfect transcendental happiness."
49	Now that He has given us a kingdom and killed the irreligious men who were our enemies, our grief is greater than before.
50	My teachers, headed by Drona and Bhisma, my sons, headed by Abhimanyu, and many others also, have entered the realm of death for my sake.
51	I wish for the association of the devotees of Lord Visnu more than I wish to remain alive.  Separated from them I cannot for a moment find the smallest amount of happiness.
52	Because we are now pressed with so many duties it has been a long time since we have enjoyed the happiness of seeing Lord Krsna's lotus face.
53	Now He always stays in Dvaraka, giving pleasure to His dear relatives, the extremely fortunate Yadu dynasty.
54	Your lordship personally saw how He became our messenger, chariot-driver, and servant in many other ways.  Still, all this was only to protect the principles of religion, and, by vanquishing a host of sins, to remove the burden of the earth.
55	Sri Pariksit said: Then Krsna's dear friend Bhima laughed aloud and said: O student of Lord Krsna, please listen to these words.
56	No one has the power to understand the vast ocean of Krsna's pastimes.  Krsna is the original creator of all illusions.  He is the guru of all skilful liars and cheaters.  When has He not been very clever in His words and deeds?  We do not understand Him, and neither do we trust Him.
57	O mother, repeatedly sighing, my grandfather, Sriman Arjuna, the dear fried of Lord Krsna, then spoke the sorrowful words:
58	Sri Bhagavan Arjuna said: O Lord Narada, the great mercy your dearmost Lord Krsna gave us simply led to our suffering.
59	Bhisma and others, all intent on performing their religious duty as ksatriyas, and all fixed in transcendental knowledge, hurled many powerful weapons at me in the battlefield to break my armour and pierce my heart.  Lord Krsna, who carries the Sudarsana cakra in His hand, for my sake again and again intercepted all those weapons, allowing them to fall on His own transcendental body instead of mine.
60	Even today, as I think of this act I cannot pull the arrow of grief from my heart.  O brahmana Narada, how is it possible for me to be happy?
61	Action that brings pain to a dear friend is not the symptom of either love or kindness.
62	Originally I refused to fight with Bhisma, Drona and the others, but then Lord Krsna, the greatest of philosophers, taught me something that convinced me to fight with them.
63	Hearing those words Lord Krsna spoke to me gives great pleasure to the dry impersonalist philosophers.  This fact brings great pain to those of us who live by glorifying the path of devotional service.
64	When I reflect on the words He spoke to me then I do not become happy.  Those words were a trick to cheat me.
65-6	I always have full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, who is supremely pure, boundlessly merciful, always true to His word, and the very best of friends.  No one is more dear to me than the Supreme Brahman, Lord Krsna, whose glorious transcendental form completely enchants the heart and mind.
67-8	Sri Nakula and Sahadeva said;  Lord Krsna gave us the power to be peaceful in the midst of a host of calamities.  He killed our enemies.  He enabled us to perform the asvamedha-yajna and other Vedic rituals.  He gave us great fame.  He gave us a kingdom others could not attain even with a host of pious deeds.  O Lord Narada, we do not consider any of these acts to be Lord Krsna's kindness to us.
69	By accepting the offering of first-worship He brought us great happiness and made our festival of many great Vedic sacrifices a grand success.  That was His mercy to us.
70	Now it is difficult to see Him!  We have been cheated by Him!  How is it possible for us to remain alive?
71	Sri Pariksit said: By hearing these words Draupadi became overwhelmed with grief.  Composing herself with a great effort, she still continued to cry as she spoke the following words in a voice choked with emotion:
72	Sri Draupadi said: Many times my dear friend Sri Krsna rescued me from great embarrassment.  Many times He killed the demons who were my enemies.
73	I always thought He would be merciful to me.  Now my father, brothers, sons and everyone else have fallen on the battlefield.
74	I do not lament.  I am surrendered to His will.  What shall I desire?  On the pretext of these calamities, He grants a great benediction that fulfils all desires.
75	When all my relatives had been killed, Lord Krsna personally sat by my side and consoled me with many eloquent words.
76	I pray that I may always drink the charming sweet nectar of His smiling words in this way.
77	I am very far from any fortune.  He no longer comes as He came to us before. O sage, what kind of mercy is this?
78	Sri Pariksit said: Kunti, for whom the sight of Lord Krsna was her life and soul, became stricken with grief.  Shedding tears as she remembered Krsna's kindness and cruelty, she spoke the following pitiful words:
	Note: Kunti considered Lord Krsna's staying in Dvaraka, where she could not have His continued association, to be His cruelty to her.
79	Sri Kunti said:  Lord Krsna repeatedly delivered me, a helpless widow with sons, from a host of calamities.  For this reason I thought He was more kind to me than He was to His own mother, Devaki.
80	Now both in my own home as well as in the homes of others I can hear the wailing of the women whose relatives are now dead.  My heart does not see this as mercy.
81	I shall abandon this prosperous condition that robs me of the sight of Lord Krsna, and I shall pray for a host of calamities to bring Him again within my sight.
82	Thinking, "Because I have given them an unrivalled kingdom, the Pandavas are now happy,"  He has abandoned us.  Now He stays always in Dvaraka.
83	Gone is the hope that He will return here.  For a long time I thought my death would be His mercy to me.
84	The rope of hope that is the thought "Krsna is our dear friend" is now broken, severed by friction with the strong family ties Krsna keeps with the Yadu dynasty.
85	Please go to visit the Yadu dynasty.  They are most dear to Lord Krsna.  They are plunged in a great ocean of incomparable transcendental bliss.  O lord Narada, you know their incomparable greatness.  What can we say to describe it?
86	Sri Pariksit said:  O mother, O wife of the son of the sister of Lord Krsna, at that moment the great sage Narada quickly went to Dvaraka.  He entered the palace and saw in the distance the exalted leaders of the Yadu dynasty.  He repeatedly fell down like a stick to offer respectful obeisances.
87	Narada saw the members of the Yadu dynasty comfortably sitting in their own seats in the Sudharma assembly-house.  They wore garlands of parijata flowers.  They were very richly ornamented with the handsomeness of their bodily forms.
88	They were entertained by splendid and festive music and dance, and they were glorified by poets with wonderful words.
89	The spoke wonderful joking words among themselves and laughed.  They were very charming and the splendour of their forms eclipsed the sun.
90	They were wonderfully decorated with many kinds of very splendid ornaments.  Everyone, even the very old, was in the prime of youth.
91	For them the greatest happiness was always to drink the nectar of Lord Krsna's lotus face.  Surrounding Maharaja Ugrasena, they repeatedly waited for the arrival of Lord Krsnadeva.
92	Countless millions of Yadus waited, eagerly talking about Lord Krsna, and their hearts and eyes fixed on the path coming from Lord Krsna's residential quarters.
93	Becoming aware of Narada's presence, the Yadavas hastily ran to him, lifted him up, and at once led him by the hand into the assembly-hall.
94	He was offered a great and splendid throne, but he would not sit on it.  By his own wish he sat on the floor.  Everyone at once sat around him.
95	When they brought paraphernalia to worship him, Narada, the humble leader of the divine sages, bowed down before them with folded hands, stood up, and addressed them:
96	O great souls who have obtained the mercy of Lord Krsna's lotus feet, please be kind to me and allow me to wander through this universe always singing your glories.
97	Ah, the Yadu dynasty is the most glorious.  The Yadus are more glorious.  The Yadus are more glorious than the residents of Vaikuntha.  By the mercy of the Yadus this world of men has become more glorious than Vaikuntha.
98	O earth, now your life is a great success, for now the Yadus have taken birth, reside, and enjoy pastimes on your surface.  Now the Supreme Personality of Godhead resides on your surface in the homes of the Yadus, and enjoys with them many unprecedented transcendental pastimes.
99-100	By placing Himself before the eyes of the Yadavas, by conversing with them, touching them, following them, sitting with them, eating with them, sleeping with them, arranging for marriages between their families, and in many other ways, Lord Krsna bound the Yadavas with unbreakable bonds of intense love stronger than the love they bore for their own selves.  In this way He broke their desire for impersonal liberation or residence in the celestial material planets, and greatly increased their pure devotion to Him.
101	By enjoying transcendental pastimes in their company, Lord Krsna, who has now forgotten Vaikunthaloka, gives to the Yadus an indescribable and intense transcendental pleasure that is newer and newer at every moment.
102	Even though engaged in sleeping, sitting, walking, talking, playing, bathing, eating, and a host of other activities, they are so absorbed in love for Lord Krsna they cannot remember anything except Him.
103	O great king Ugrasena, who is able to describe the wonderful glory of your great good fortune?
104	Ah, it is very wonderful!  It is a great jewel-mine of wonders!  It is a great jewel-mine of wonders!  The Supreme Personality of Godhead allows Himself to be controlled by the love of His devotees.
105	O king of the Yadus, when you are seated on the throne, Lord Krsna stands before you like a servant, and respectfully says:
106	"O my lord, please be kind to Me,"  and "I am your servant, please order Me."  For his reason I offer my respectful obeisances to you again and again.  For this reason I offer my respectful obeisances to all your relatives, friends, servants, and everyone connected with you.
107	Sri Pariksit said: Then all the Yadus, who are great devotees of Lord Krsna, the Deity of the brahmanas, bowed down before the great sage Narada, touched his feet, and said:
108	The Yadavas said:  "Even our master, the great Lord Krsna, worships you.  O lord, why do you bow down like a lowly person to offer respects to us, who are so lowly and unimportant?
109	O eloquent orator who has defeated even Lord Brahma, it is only because of the great power of Lord Krsna, the king of the Yadus, that what you have said about us is not untrue.
110	With the slightest scent of Lord Krsna's association, what person will not attain perfection?  Lord Krsna is a jewel-mine of great mercy.  He is the best friend of everyone.
111	He is an ocean of great transcendental glory.  Remembering Him grants all the goals of one's life.  He is the only shelter of the poor and shelterless.  To the humble and lowly He gives a benediction far more valuable than material piety, economic-development, sense-gratification, or liberation.
112	However, among us the fortunate Uddhava is the real object of Lord Krsna's great mercy.  Uddhava is Lord Krsna's counsellor, disciple, servant, and dear friend.
113	The Lord sometimes leaves us and goes travelling.  No noticing our suffering, He goes away.
114	We do not know when or where He will go again.  Uddhava, however, always stays with Him and serves Him.
115	Sometimes the Lord sends Uddhava to go accomplish something that should actually be done by the Lord Himself.  Uddhava's going to deliver Samba is an example of such a mission.
116	When the Lord enjoys the pastime of taking His meals, Uddhava stays nearby.  Uddhava alone regularly obtains the maha-prasadam remnants of Lord Krsna's meals.
117	Uddhava happily massages the Lord's lotus feet.  Uddhava enters the happiness of sleep with the Lord's feet pressed against his chest.
118	Sometimes Uddhava accompanies the Lord in His confidential pastimes.  In the government assembly-hall Uddhava is the prime minister, who speaks many jewels of good counsel to the Lord.  By repeating Lord Krsna's many wonderful joking words and charming words of praise, Uddhava delights us and fulfils all our desires.
119	Is it possible to describe his great good fortune?  Since childhood he has always been rapt in service to the Lord's lotus feet.  For this reason a host of ignorant fools proclaim him a madman.
120	Because he has attained the wonderful glory of always intensely desiring Lord Krsna's lotus feet, Uddhava has now abandoned his human material form and attained a transcendental form resembling that of Lord Krsna.
121	Uddhava is more handsome than Pradyumna, and also more dear to Lord Krsna.  Always wearing yellow silk garments, jewelled shark-shaped earrings, garlands of forest flowers and necklaces of jewels that had all been worn at one time by Lord Krsna, Uddhava delights us by bewildering us into thinking that instead of him we are actually seeing before us Lord Krsna, whose handsome splendour attracts the hearts of His devotees.
122-3	Sri Pariksit said: When he heard these words describing Uddhava's transcendental good fortune, Narada Muni became very eager to go to Uddhava's home.  Overwhelmed with wonderful ecstatic love for Lord Krsna, and already knowing the way, Narada began to walk on the path to Uddhava's place when Maharaja Ugrasena, the king of the Yadus spoke.
124	Sri Ugrasena said:  My lord, please hear something for a moment.  Without the Lord's express command, Uddhava never leaves Lord Krsna's company.
125	I cannot associate with Him whenever I wish.  The temporary maintenance of the  kingdom robs me of that great attainment.
126	I am happy to execute His order, but still I am cheated by the false respect He offers me.
127	Uddhava,, however, is very happy.  Because he has the good fortune always to serve at the Lord's side, he is never cheated by Lord Krsna.
128	Please go there at once and give my message to Uddhava.  Tell him:  "The time for the Lord's arrival is already past.  Please bring the Lord.  Please give the royal-assembly its Lord."

Chapter Six Priyatama (The Most Dear Devotees)

1	Sri Pariksit said: O noble lady, after hearing these words, Lord Maha-Visnu's dear devotee Narada, who holds a vina in his hand, overwhelmed with love, forgetting everything, and like a man possessed, walked on the path to the inner rooms of the Lord's palace, a path full of wonders that he had travelled many times before.
2	Sometimes he stumbled.  Sometimes he fell to the ground.  Sometimes he stood motionless.  Sometimes he trembled.  Sometimes he rolled about.  Sometimes he cried out.  Sometimes wept floods of tears.  Sometimes he sang and danced.  Sometimes in a single moment he manifested together all the symptoms of the treasure of ecstatic love.
3	O my mother, please be attentive.  Please carefully hear something that makes me become stunned with love.
4	On that day, as Lord Krsna morosely slept in His bedroom, Sriman Uddhava left His side and came to the doorway.  Then Baladeva, Devaki, Rohini, Rukmini, the other queens headed by Satyabhama, Kamsa's gossipy mother Padmavati, the servants, and many others became silent and with wonder they gazed at Narada, who was acting in a way never seen before.
5	Rising, they made him wash his face and brought him to his natural condition.  Slowly and softly they said:  "O brahmana, we have never seen anything like this.  What has happened to You?  Please sit quietly for a moment."
6	Sri Pariksit said:  Bowing down, trembling and his bodily hairs erect, with great effort he opened his eyes flooded with tears, and with a voice choked with emotion said:
7	Sri Narada said: Please bring me to supreme fortunate Uddhava.  The dust of his feet will bring peace to my heart.
8	No devotee, either in ancient times or today, has attained the great mercy of the Lord he has attained.  He is the greatest of devotees.  The Lord Himself has described his glories.
9	His ancient and recent sons headed by Brahma, His brothers headed by Balarama, His friends headed by Siva, His wives headed by the goddess of fortune, and even His own transcendental form are not as dear to the Lord as Uddhava is.  The Lord Himself has said this.
10	The Lord's words since ancient times show the great glory of Uddhava's good fortune.
11	Today the extraordinary wonders of this mercy were sung by the best of the Yadus.
12	Passing through the door of my ears, and entering my heart, that description has now plundered all the wealth of my peaceful composure.
13	Sri Pariksit said: Bewildered, Uddhava at once stood up, placed Narada's feet on his chest, embraced them, understood what was in (Narada's) heart, remembered the great souls who have attained the Lord's great mercy, and was overcome with tears.  With a great struggle regaining his peacefulness, happy with transcendental envy, he said to Narada Muni:
14	Sriman Uddhava said: O all-knowing one, O best of the truthful, O best of the great sages, O lord, because you are the first teacher of the path of devotional service to the Lord, what you say is certainly true.
15	All that you have said and more is true of me.  I know this and others also know.
16	Recently I went to Vraja and saw something that ground into dust my pride in my own great good fortune.
17	There I could understand the wonderful sweetness of Lord Krsna, His mercy, His love and His devotees.
18	By seeing them I became very fortunate and attained all the Lord's mercy.  Thinking that I had attained the Lord's great mercy, I became flooded with bliss.
19	Singing about them again and again, I yearned to become their follower.  Everyone knew.  I cannot say more.  O best of sages, I bow before you again and again.  With plaintive words I beg you:  Don't be so eager to hear of this.
20	Sri Pariksit said: Understanding the meaning of what Uddhava said, Rohini, who having stayed for a long time in Gokula was dearly loved by the people there, tearfully said:
21	Sri Rohini said: O servant of Lord Hari, I am happy.  I have not a moment's worry.  Please don't place on the path of my memory they whom misfortune has destroyed, who have not the slightest scent of good fortune, who are plunged in an ocean of sorrows, who are poisoned, who are set aflame by a host of burning volcanoes.
22	When Maharaja Vasudeva took me (to Mathura) Yasoda cried so bitterly her tears broke what is harder than thunderbolts.  On his mouth who can place the news of the other women there, who were like the living dead?
23	When your master returned from His guru's home I, being a fool, briefly and sadly told Him their story.
24	His heart was not softened, for (He did not return, but in His stead) sent you, an eloquent speaker of messages.
25	Why, then, do you say that your master has given His best mercy to them?
26	When Krsna was in Vraja, from demons beginning with Putana and ending with Kesi, from demigods beginning with Varuna and Indra, from a serpent and other creatures, from the breaking of the old cart and the arjuna trees, what calamity did not attack Vraja before my own eyes?  Still, the people there were not troubled.
27	It was as if they have become enchanted.  They always wished for Krsna's welfare and they never considered their own.
28	Everything they did was for Krsna's happiness, done out of love.
29	Before your master did not do anything for their welfare.  How can I describe what He does now that His goals are fulfilled?
30	Sri Pariksit said:  Hearing this, wicked Kamsa's arrogant and senile mother, shaking her head, said:
31	Sri Padmavati said: Alas! From childhood Krsna protected in a forest of brambles the cows of these merciless cowherds!
32	They never gave Him even shoes!  When, tortured by hunger, He drank a little milk, the women tied Him up!
33	Let them cry.  Krsna suffered so much in the course of time.  What must He do for them now?
34	Deeply intelligent Rohini, who was very dear to Vraja, ignored her words and chose to glorify (the people of Vraja).
35	Sri Rohini said:  Krsna went to the Yadus' capitol, Mathura, killed His enemies, and then became the happy king of kings of kings.
36	Your master, to whom the defeated demigods bow down, in His heart does not remember them.
37	Sri Pariksit said: Unable to tolerate these words, Krsna's beloved queen Rukmini, who always stays in His heart said:
38	Sri Rukmini said: O mother, how, without understanding how His heart is softer than fresh butter, can you speak in this way?
39	All of you please hear what I have heard.  When He sleeps at night sometimes He sweetly and lovingly calls many cows by name and sometimes he calls His charming gopa friends.  Sometimes His transcendental form bends in three places and He pretends to place the flute to His mouth.  Sometimes He says, "Mother, give Me some fresh butter!"
Sometimes He calls to me, "Sri Radha! Lalita!"  Sometimes He says, "Candravali, why?"  and tugs at my garment.  Sometimes, as He sleeps, He softens the pillow with many tears.
40	Suddenly rising from the bed, He weeps, making sounds of grief, and by this we become plunged in an ocean of tormented grief.
41	Seeing something in a dream last night, He has become very depressed.  Weeping in grief, He covers His head with a blanket and pretends to sleep.  Today He has not done any of His regular duties.
42	Surrounded by her co-wives, Queen Satyabhama jealously said: O Sri Rukmini, why do you say "at night".
43	Awake He is dazed, as if in His heart He sleeps, and again and again He (laments) as when He slept.  We are His wives in name only.  His young gopi maidservants are more dear to Him than we.
44	Sri Pariksit said: Unable to tolerate these words, Rohini's son, glorious Balarama, who was the life-friend of Gokula, angrily said:
45	Sri Baladeva said:  Girls, My brother is tricking us.  His talk of the sorrows of the people there (in Vraja) is only His expert skill at cheating others.
46	Although, wishing to bring the (people there) to an auspicious condition of life, I stayed (in Vraja) for two months, with my words and deeds I was not able to do it.
47	Seeing that no one but Krsna could help them, with hundreds of promises I comforted them a little and then I quickly returned here.
48	I anxiously said: "Krsna, go at once to Vraja and with Your company save the lives of the people there."
49	His mouth said: "I will go," but His heart did not say it.  His deeds bear witness to the real condition of His heart.
50	Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is conquered by His dear devotees' love suddenly rose from bed and, weeping loudly, went outside.
51	Overcome with compassion, and raining streams of tears from His blossoming lotus eyes, in a choked voice He said:
52	The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Though struck by the greatest thunderbolt, My heart does not break in two.
53	I have forgotten their extraordinary love for Me and how they protected Me for a long time while I was a child.
54	May they somehow become happy.  I have cruelly brought great suffering to they whose hearts are gentle.
55	All-knowing, dearest friend, brother Uddhava, what should I do?  Please tell Me at once.  Lift Me up from this ocean of grief.
56	Sri Pariksit said:  Then Devaki, who loved her son and who was the dear friend of Nanda's wife, said: "You should give Your dear friends whatever they wish."
57	Then Padmavati, who is the Lord's old grandmother and Yaduraja Ugrasena's senile queen, who feared that now the kingdom would be given away in charity, and who felt insulted because Balarama's mother would not listen to her words, in order to protect her husband's kingdom, cleverly spoke, as if joking.
58	With her words to change His mind and bring an auspicious condition to Him, Lord Krsna, the only shelter of the Yadu family, she said:
59	Sri Padmavati said: Krsna, why are You troubled?  Listen to my advice.  With his own hand Garga Muni will calculate every morsel of food You two brothers ate for the eleven years You protected the cows in Nanda's home.  Then I promise that my husband (Ugrasena) will give him (Nanda) twice that.  I promise this.
60	Sri Pariksit said: As if He both heard and did not hear, and as if He did not understand at all, out of grief the Supreme Personality of Godhead spoke to Uddhava.
61	The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of the wise, O you who know all the wishes of Vraja's people, tell Me at once what they wish of Me.
62	Sri Pariksit said:  Hearing the Lord's words Uddhava became filled with wonder and unhappy at heart.  He sighed and unhappily said to Him:
63	Sriman Uddhava said:  They do not wish the opulences of the king of kings of kings.  They do not wish from You any glorious valuables.  They do not wish anything but You in this life or the next.
64	Please give me the mercy of Your attention.  I will speak, and then You may consider what should be done.
65	Previously (when the people of Vraja) saw the ornaments and other things You had sent back with Nanda, they became plunged in an ocean of grief and said:
66	"Alas! Alas! Alas! Now Krsna thinks we want these things (and giving them to us) is His mercy!  Miserable! Miserable is the life-breath that still stays on our throats! Miserable! Miserable are Nanda and the gopas, who left Krsna behind and brought us these things!"
67	Now that they have given up hope that You will return, the people of Vraja, along with Your mother, Yasoda, are on the verge  of death.  Now they have begun a great fasting (until death).
68	Overcome with grief, and thinking he had committed an offense, Nanda could not speak for three days.  Then, explaining with great reason, and repeating Your promise to return, He gave hope to the people of Vraja and saved their lives.
69	Sri Nanda said:  My son sent these things as tokens of His love.  He will keep His word.  He will quickly return as soon as He finishes His duties there.
70	Sriman Uddhava said:  Hearing these words, the simple-hearted people of Vraja believed them.  Seeing these ornaments as signs of Your love, they placed them on their bodies.
71	They thought: "When He returns, Krsna will see that we followed His order by wearing these prasadam-ornaments and He will be very kind to us."
72	When You did not personally return, but only sent me with a message, they all became as if dead.
73	Seeing this, I promised You would return, and with a great effort I saved their lives.
74	To attain You they have renounced all sense pleasures.  Ask Your elder brother what condition they have attained.
75	Sri Pariksit said: Seeing that Devaki, Rukmini and the others were terrified of being separated from Him and their bowed faces were wilting and shedding tears out of love, Krsna's heart became softened and, agitated, He suddenly called for leaf-pages and a pot of ink.
76	"After I finish My duties and have comforted My friends here, I will soon return.  O dear friends, please know this."  With His own hand He wrote this comforting letter of love to make their faith strong.
77	Knowing what Krsna had done, and also knowing the hearts of the people of Vraja, Uddhava became very unhappy and exclaimed:
78	Sriman Uddhava said: Lord, Please understand the conclusion.  Without the auspicious return of Your lotus feet, the people of Vraja cannot remain alive.  They do not desire anything but this.
79	Sri Pariksit said: Shaking her head and laughing, Kamsa's mother, senile Padmavati said, "ah! Ah! Foolish Devaki, now I understand! Now I understand!
80	"By giving him milk again and again the cowherd people bewitched Uddhava so he would bring your son Krsna back to Vraja to help them.   These rascals want Him to protect their cows in the terrible, impassable, bramble filled forest filled with wild animals."
81	Sri Pariksit said: Unable to bear hearing these horrible words, Rohini, who was Balarama's mother and Yasoda's dear friend, became angry and spoke.
82	Sri Rohini said: O mother of Kamsa, what is this about Krsna being used to protect the cows?  If they do not see Him, the people in Vraja cannot live for a moment.
83	When Krsna was behind a tree or something else, His friends would call out, “Sri Krsna! Krsna!” with a loud sound.  Without Krsna every moment of the day and night became like a yuga for the people of Vraja.  Again and again they looked for the sun or the pathway of dust or listened for the flute.
	Note: When during the day Krsna was protecting the cows in the pasturing ground, the people of Vraja anxiously waited for His return.  They looked to see how soon the sun would set (the time of Krsna's return), they looked in the distance for signs of dust raised by the cows' hooves (the harbinger of Krsna's return), and they listened for the sound of Krsna playing the flute.
84	Eager to play, He would happily wander with His elder brother, His friends, and the cows through many forests.
85	There are many splendid lakes fragrant with lotus flowers moving with the pastimes of many intoxicated water-birds and bumblebees.  There the very wonderful Yamuna touches the land of Vraja.  There many other rivers like the Yamuna gloriously flow from the Vindhya Hills and other places.
86	The charming river and lake shores are filled with delicate bakula flowers, covered with fresh grass, crowded with many different birds and animals free from natural feelings of enmity, decorated with many vines, trees, and bushes bowing down with the great weight of many splendid fruits, flowers, and blossoming twigs, and musical with the sounds of maddened peacocks and cuckoos.  They are the object of Brahma's prayers.
87	In the land of Vraja, in Vrndavana forest, or on Govardhana Hill, places where there is no danger of their being killed or stolen, the cows, buffaloes, and other animals go in the morning, eat grass and drink water to their heart's content, and then voluntarily return to their homes in the evening.
	Note: The people of Vraja have no need to lure Krsna back to protect the cows that can take care of themselves and need no protector.
88	The old lady said: O talkative child, then why have we heard that now, for want of protection, many of the cows and other animals have died?
89	Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, Lord Krsna, bewildered, tormented with fears, His heart burning with pain, and His lotus face withered, tearfully looked at the face of Balarama, who knew all the news, past and present, of Vraja.
90	Balarama understood His brother's condition.  Unable to remain peaceful as He remembered Vraja, weeping, He spoke.
91	Sri Balarama said: O Krsna, what can I say about the cows?  Everyone in Vraja is dear to You.  The deer, birds, trees, headed by the bhandiras and kadambas, vines, forest groves, and even the grass have now given up their lives for Your sake.  Even the hills and rivers have withered and gone dry.
92	Brother, nourished by the hope that You will keep Your promise, a few humans remain alive. Surely You don't wish to hear any more.
93	If You are not kind to them now, then death will quickly be kind to them.
94	That You removed the poison from Kaliya lake makes them lament bitterly.  Now please hear another reason for their lamentation.
95	The Yamuna river has very little water.  It is almost dry. Govardhana Hill, which You personally held, has become stunted.
96	They do not eat, but because they still drink the nectar of Your name life does not leave them.  Their future is a fire in the great dry forest.
97	Sri Pariksit said: Hearing this, gentle Krsna was overwhelmed with grief.  Clinging to Balarama's neck, He loudly wept as if He were the most miserable person. The stream of His tears washed away the ointments decorating His body.
98	O mother, then Krsna and Balarama rolled about on the ground and, after a moment, fainted.  Seeing the unprecedented nature of Their weeping and pain, Rohini, Devaki, Rukmini, Satyabhama, and everyone else in the palace's inner rooms became overwhelmed with grief. They wept again and again.
99	Hearing from the palace's inner rooms screams of grief never heard before, Vasudeva and the Yadavas headed by Ugrasena quickly ran there.  Arriving, and seeing their Lord in that way, they wept, overcome with grief.  By seeing this sight, which had never been seen before, the people of the city and the brahmanas headed by Garga Muni also wept.

Chapter Seven: Purna (The Perfect Devotees)

1	Sri Pariksit said: Mother, the great weeping of the Lord and His associates filled the universe and at once created a great  host of terrible calamities.
2	Because no one (but Krsna) could have brought these calamities, Brahma, accompanied by His associates, the demigods and the scriptures headed by the Vedas and Puranas, personally came (to Dvaraka).
3	Gazing with wonder on his father and guru, Lord Maha-Narayana who, tortured with love for His dearest devotees and His most secret glories openly displayed, was in a wonderful, unprecedented condition of heart, Brahma lost all composure and for a moment wept.
4	Carefully composing himself, he thought how to bring the Lord to an auspicious condition.  Then, in his heart he found the way.
5	Addressing Garuda, who loudly wept by the Lord's side, and with great effort gaining his attention, Brahma spoke.
6	Sri Brahma said: Built by Visvakarma and decorated with deities of Nanda, Yasoda, the other cowherd people, and many cows, a district of Mathura is splendidly manifest between Mount Raivata and the ocean.  It is as if Vrndavana itself had come there.
7	Carefully and slowly, as His delicate state allows, bring Krsna there with His elder brother.  Rohini may also come, but no one else.
8	Sri Pariksit said: Carefully brought by Brahma to his normal state, Garuda, who is the king of birds and the best of the wise and skilful, very gently placed the two of Them (Krsna and Balarama) on his back.
9	Brahma brought everyone to their natural states and they all returned to their own places.  As He was being carried by Garuda, Balarama seemed to regain His original consciousness.
10	Then Lord Krsna was gently put in that place.  It was as if the gopas and gopis stood around Him.
11	Uddhava, Devaki, who dearly loved her son, Padmavati, and the queens headed by Rukmini and Satyabhama, unable to leave Krsna in that state, went there.  By Brahma's order they hid, staying far from the path of Krsna's eyes.
12	Thinking himself an offender, Narada, did not follow the demigods and Yadavas.
13	Tightening his yoga-garment, he stayed in the sky to see the sweetness of the Lord's pastimes.
14	Garuda also went into the sky where he followed the Lord, giving shade with his wings.
15	Krsna's elder brother, Balarama, the crest-jewel of philosophers, quickly attained His original consciousness and understood everything.  At once He covered Krsna's lotus face and gently placed a flute in His belt, a horn-bugle and stick under His arms, a kadamba garland on His neck, a peacock feather on His head, and new gunja earrings on His ears.
16	Having thus dressed Krsna with forest-garments fashioned by Visvakarma, Balarama picked up Krsna and loudly spoke.
17	Sri Balarama said: Sri Krsna! Krsna! Brother! Rise! Rise! Wake Up! Look! It is late! The cows are already entering the forest!
18	Your friends headed by Sridama are waiting for You! Overcome with love, Your parents have no power even to speak to You!
19	Gazing at Your lotus face and whispering in each other's ear, the gopis smile at You.
20	Sri Pariksit said:  In this way Balarama spoke again and again, affectionately addressed Krsna by different names, lifted Krsna with His hands and made Him stand up.  After a long time Krsna regained consciousness.  Filled with wonder, and saying, "Good! Good!", Krsna stood up.
21	Opening His lotus eyes, and looking in all directions, He smiled broadly.  Seeing (the Deity of) Nanda before Him, He became shy and bowed down to Him.
22	Seeing (the Deity of) Yasoda by His side, and gazing at Her face with unblinking eyes, He happily smiled and spoke.
23	The Supreme Personality of Godhead said:  O mother, this morning how many wonderful dreams unlike My waking life have I seen!
24	I went to Mathura City and I saw Kamsa and many others killed, Jarasandha and other kings defeated, and the demigods made happy.
25	I built a great city named Dvaraka on the seashore.  I cannot tell all the other stories.
26	On no other day did I wake from sleep with a dream like this, very long, so charming to the heart dream.
27	O noble one, if You do not think this great wonder is completely incomprehensible, when We have gone to the forest I will tell it to You.
28	Sri Pariksit said: After saying these words, He offered obeisances to His mother.  Wise Rohini, seeing that He wished for a lunch to bring in the forest, then spoke.
29	O child, today Your mother, who has only You as a son, is worried because You slept so long.  What is the need for speaking many words to her?
30	The cows have already left.  Quickly follow the gopas.  I will make Your lunch and have it sent to the forest.
31	Sri Pariksit said: As affectionate Rohini spoke these words, Krsna offered obeisances to her, gently smiled as He stole the fresh butter placed in His mother's hand, and called out to His elder brother.  Because He had not yet come to the cows, kind Krsna did not eat (the butter).
32	With sweet words he asked His mother (to arrange lunch).  Then He went to the gopis and joked with them.  He stopped the cows with His flute, and then He came to Radhika, who was surrounded by Her friends, and with a joking smile, spoke.
33	Sri Krsna said: O queen of My life, now You have met Your sincere devotee in this secluded place.  Why do You not speak?  Are You angry with Me?
34	Have I offended You.  O all-knowing one, You must know all about the dream I had last night.
35	I left You and married many princesses who were on the verge of death.  I begot many children and grandchildren.
36	So be it.  Now I must quickly go to the forest.  O delightful one, this evening You will enjoy with Me.
37	Sri Pariksit said: After saying these words He threw flowers on Her and, after first looking in all directions, kissed and embraced Her.  Then He rejoined the cows and the gopas.
38	When she saw Krsna playing the flute and charmingly dressed as a gopa, things she had never seen before, Devaki became filled with love and, even though she was very old, out of love milk flowed from her breasts.
39	The queens headed by Rukmini and Jambavati lost all composure, fainted out of love, and fell to the ground.
40	Satyabhama and mad old Padmavati became overwhelmed with amorous desires.  With their arms forward they ran to Krsna to kiss and embrace Him.
41	Peaceful because she had seen this feature of the Lord before, Kalindi and very intelligent Uddhava forcibly stopped them and pulled them away.
42	As He walked, herding the cows, Krsna saw the ocean.  Thinking it the Yamuna, He happily called His friends (to come and) play:
43	"Where are My friends?  Sridama! Subala! Arjuna!  Everyone happily run here!   We will make the cows drink from the Yamuna, and then We will play as We like!  We will dive into the river flowing with sweet, pure, cool water!"
44	Going ahead with the cows, the infallible Lord came near the ocean, which made a tumultuous sound with its garland of great waves.
45	From the shore looking in all directions and seeing His own great city, He became astonished and said: "What is that?  Where am I?  Who am I?"
46	Saying this again and again, He gazed with wonder at the great ocean and the city.  Then Sriman Balarama spoke to Him.
47	Sri Balarama said: O king of Vaikuntha, O My Lord, please understand who You are.  Requested by the demigods, You have descended to remove the burden of the earth.
48	Kill the demons.  Protect the others.  Perform the sacrifice of Your cousin, the saintly king.
	Note: The others are the devotees.  The sacrifice is the Rajasuya-yajna and the saintly king is Yudhisthira.
49	Make Yudhisthira the emperor and with your great power frighten the demons headed by Anusalva.
	Note: Anusalva is Salva's younger brother.
50	Now that You have come here, with the Yadavas' help please kill these demons that out of hatred torment Your devotees.
51	Sri Pariksit said: When He heard these words Balarama spoke to bring Him to His original consciousness, the Lord entered a different mood.
52	Now angry, the Lord said:  "O brother, who are these tiny creatures headed by Salva's younger brother?  I will go there now and kill them by Myself.
53	"You should know that this vow of Mine will be true."  In this way, because of (Balarama's) presence, the Lord abandoned His bewilderment.
54	Again and again looking in every direction, He understood that He was the master of Dvaraka and the king of the Yadavas.
55	Then, seeing the flute in His hand and His brother's forest-garments, He remembered how He had fallen unconscious in the palace.
56	Seeing how He had left the palace and gone to protect the cows, he became filled with doubt and wonder.  Thinking in his heart, He smiled and laughed.
57	Then Balarama, who was very dear to His heart, smiled and told Him how Brahma had arranged for everything.
58	Embarrassed, He looked at His brother's face and smiled.  His body covered with dust, He and Balarama went and bathed in the ocean.
59	Then, climbing on Garuda, who was expert at understanding the Lord's moods, the Lord, unseen by anyone, returned to His own palace.
60	Informed of everything by all-knowing Uddhava, the women headed by Devaki and Rukmini went to the Lord's side in the inner rooms of the palace.
61	Mother Devaki greeted her son with words of blessing and then, aware of the time, quickly went to prepare His meal.
62	The Lord's dear and pious queens were also there, hiding behind pillars and other things.  Satyabhama, however, did not come there, and Lord Krsna asked Uddhava about her.
63	Lord Krsna's servant Uddhava said: When the Lord enjoyed His glorious pastimes at the Vrndavana by Mount Raivata, then foolish, wicked Padmavati, who with Your queens was hiding far away, saw Your ecstatic state, which bewilders the foolish, she said:
64	O impious Devaki, O, O unfortunate Rukmini, O lowly Satyabhama, O lowly queens headed by Jambavati, look! Give up your pride and perform great austerities to become maidservants of some cowherd girls!
65	Hearing these wicked words, wise Devaki, who became the resting place of You, the resting place of all the universes said:
66	Why do you speak these astonishing words?  Fool, in our previous birth Vasudeva and I performed great austerities to get Krsna as our son.  That is why the king of all who give blessings became our son.  Nanda and Yasoda begged Lord Brahma to grant them devotion to Krsna.
67	By the blessings of Brahma, who is the best of devotees, they (Nanda and Yasoda) and their associates attained a glory great even than ours.
68	They lovingly protected Krsna in many ways.  I greatly admire the love they felt for Him.
69	Then Rukmini-devi happily spoke.  By hearing her words the love of all the devotees increased.
70	To the gopis, who renounced everything, beginning with husbands and children, who did not care for the best things in both spiritual and material worlds, who, tormented with love, worshipped Krsna in rasa dances and many other pastimes...
71	   who meditated on the Lord with a love so great it  cannot be attained or even imagined by performing many great spiritual activities...
72  	   who are better servants and better lovers of Krsna than we because we are attached to pious rituals, children, grandchildren, homes, and a host of other things, toward whom we feel no jealousy, and whom the Lord praises more than us, even though we are His wives, the Lord shows His glory of being submissive to His dear devotees.
73	The other queens agreed.  But Satyabhama, who could not tolerate these words, entered the realm of jealous anger.
74	Sri Pariksit said: Then Sri Krsna, who is the Lord of the gopis' lives, angrily said:  "Bring that foolish princess here at once!"
75	Satyabhama, who was the most intelligent of girls, was trying, with the expert skill of her jealous devotional service, to please her very intelligent husband by arousing His love for the gopis.  When from the maidservants she heard His order, the intelligent girl washed her body and quickly went to Him.
76	Embarrassed and frightened, she hid her body behind a pillar.  The Lord saw her and angrily spoke.
77	The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O daughter of King Satrajit, O girl whose intelligence is very slight, as you were jealous many times before beginning with the time when Rukmini got a parijata flower, so you are now jealous of the people of Vraja.  O insignificant girl, do you not know that out of great love for them I am their servant and I fulfil their every wish?
78	If the people of Vraja thought it good, I would leave all of you.  I swear that at this moment I speak the truth.
79	What Balarama said as he offered prayers is not false.  I have no power to repay My debt to the people of Vraja.  I am deeply in their debt.
80	If to please them I go and live with them I do not see that will be for their welfare.
81	By seeing Me they will faint, overcome with deep love.  They will no longer be aware of themselves, their bodies, or their surroundings.  What more can I say?
82	When they see Me they may become free of suffering, but then they will be overcome with fear of being separated again.  In this way what fate created for their happiness will only double their pain.
83	Because of not seeing Me sometimes they are tortured by the blazing fire of separation and sometimes they are almost dead with madness.  In this way they are filled with wonderful sweet love.
84	Sometimes they worship the darkness, which is like the colour of Me.  Thinking it really is Me, they kiss and embrace it.  What more can I say to describe them?
85	Seeing that My presence and absence are the same, I do not go there.  Now hear the reason why I married you.
86	O proud and jealous girl, when I was living in Mathura City and I was separated from them, I had no desire to marry.
87	When from a brahmana's mouth I heard the pathetic letter of passionate Rukmini, who was on the verge of suicide, I removed the pride of a host of demon kings, took her away in the midst of a battle as the kings looked on, and accepted her hand.
88	When I see her I remember the gopis and I become filled with grief.
89	To heal my heart by reminding it of the 16 100 gopis who with a vow worshipped goddess Katyayani to attain Me, I married you all.  O Noble lady, even so, happiness and glory have left Me and gone to a better place.
	Note: the better place is Vraja.
90	When I was in Vraja I enjoyed supremely wonderful and beautiful pastimes with the charming people there.  Plunged in an ocean of bliss, I did not understand how the days and nights were passing.
91	In the happiness of My childhood pastimes I killed many demons, conquered and sent away wicked Kaliya, and held Govardhana Hill in My left hand.
92	In this way I was plunged in an ocean of happiness.  I thought the words and sight of Brahma and the other demigods as they offered obeisances and prayers were painful.  I forgot My mission on behalf of the demigods.
93	With My handsomeness and the unprecedented nectar music of My flute, I charmed the universe and filled it with great love.  (For the moment let us not even consider) the residents of Vraja.  Let them stay far away.
94	Brahma, Siva, Indra, Candra, the siddhas and demigods flying in airplanes, the cows, bulls, calves, deer, trees, birds, bushes, vines, grass, rivers and clouds, the moving and unmoving creatures, and the conscious and unconscious, all became plunged in an ocean of love.  Overcome with ecstasy, they left their own natures and attained the opposite nature.
	Note: For example the moving creatures became stunned and motionless and the unmoving creatures trembled with ecstasy.
95	(You may doubt, thinking My words may be) true or not true.  Ask Kalindi.  She personally saw the bliss of My pastimes with the people of Vraja.
96	At the present, even with the bliss of playful joking pastimes, I cannot bring My relatives, the Yadavas, to that same kind of ecstatic love.
97	Because it is very difficult to break the pride here of people like you, with shame I have put down My dear flute.
98	The situation there cannot even be described here.
99	Vyasa's son Sukadeva, who is dear to Me as the people of Vraja, with great love will describe something of it to his disciple (Pariksit), whose life I once saved.
100	Sri Pariksit said: Fearing that by glorifying the good fortune of Vraja, the Lord would again become overcome with ecstatic love, minister Uddhava called for the queens to come.
101	Quickly coming, grasping His feet, and offering prayers with sweet and plaintive words wet with tears, the queens headed by Rukmini and including Satyabhama, gradually pacified their husband.
102	Uddhava quickly brought in Devaki and Rohini with the Lord's meal.  Then he brought in Balarama, who had just bathed.  Then he told the Lord that Narada was standing at the door.
103	Then Nanda's son, Lord Krsna, who sees within everyone's heart, said, "Why was he stopped today?  This is not the way he came before."
104	Uddhava smiled and said, "Lord, out of timidness and shyness (he does not come)."  Then Krsna, the master of the brahmanas, personally went (to Narada), spoke to him, and brought him in.
105	The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Dear friend Sri Narada, O saint overcome with love for Me, O best of they who taste nectar, You have done Me a great favour.
106-7	Although in the forest fire of separation My gopi-beloveds are filled with pain, that pain is more glorious than happiness of directly seeing Me.  It is indescribable and enchanting.  It is an ocean of ecstatic love.  Only they who are learned in tasting the mellows of spiritual love can understand it.
108	When the pain of their grief ends they become filled with happiness, a happiness greater than what they feel by directly meeting Me.
109	If one desires this kind of anxious ecstatic love, I do not remain present before him.  The thought "He is not here" makes My dear lovers always think of Me.
110	Know that remembering me keeps them alive.  For they who think Me more dear than life, forgetting me for a moment is worse than death.
111	The dear devotees who think of Me as their very life cannot forget Me at any time.  Remembering Me in any way brings them a great festival of happiness.
112	You have done Me a great favour.  I am very pleased with you.  Please choose some benedictions that you wish.
113	Sri Pariksit said: Calling out "Glory! Glory!", chanting the holy names, elaborately describing the Lord's pastimes in Vraja, and playing the vina, Narada Muni chose a benediction.
114	Having wandered from Dasasvamedha-tirtha to Dvaraka, having heard the explanations of many brahmanas, and now desiring to hear the final goal of spiritual life from Sri Krsna's own mouth, Narada, the king of sages, requested from the Lord, who is the lion of all who are generous, the following benediction, which is very pleasing to the heart:
115	"O Sri Krsnacandra, may I never become jaded to your mercy, devotional service to You, love for You, and the bliss that comes from serving You."
116	The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O teacher of the wise, what kind of benediction is that?  My mercy, devotional service to Me, and love for Me are by nature like that.
	Note: These things never make one jaded.
117	O sage, starting at Prayaga-tirtha, you have wandered here and there and you have seen and heard from many devotees.  For all of them every desire is fulfilled.  All have crossed beyond the material world.  All are the objects of My mercy.  Some are greater and some lesser.
118	Still, not one of them is ever jaded.  Please take from Me some other benedictions.  Benedictions that you wish.  Many benedictions.
119	Sri Pariksit said:  Happily dancing, Narada, as if begging alms, asked two benedictions of He who is the crest jewel of the generous.
120	Sri Narada said: O Lord who after giving Himself away in charity still thinks He has not given enough, now I am perfectly successful.  Now I understand who is the great object of Your mercy.
121	I think Your mercy is the best of benedictions.  O king of the generous, I request Your mercy eternally.
122	O swan staying in the lake of the love of Vraja's people, may I, drinking again and again the nectar of Your holy name and the sweetness of Your form and pastimes in the nectar ocean of Gokula, and giving bliss to everyone in the world, wander as a madman.
123	May they who, in this world, even only once, with their words, glance, hearing, or limbs touch Your pastimes, attain eternal spiritual love for Your lotus feet, which are splendid with kunkuma from the beautiful gopis' waterpot breasts.
124	Sri Pariksit said: Raising His lotus hand, Lord Krsna the master of the gopis, affectionately and blissfully said, "So be it."
125	Then Narada Muni became plunged in a great ocean of spiritual bliss.  Singing and dancing, he greatly pleased Lord Krsna.
126	As Devaki and Rohini looked on, Narada and the two Lords (Krsna and Balarama) enjoyed delicious foods and drinks served by Rukmini.
127	Uddhava gave the Lord advice, Satyabhama fanned Him, and the other queens pleased Him in different ways.
128	After He rinsed His mouth, the Lord personally anointed Narada Muni with fragrant scents and decorated him with garlands and many ornaments.
129	Saying "I should go to Prayaga and make successful the lives of the sages waiting there for me," Narada took Lord Krsna's permission to leave.  Having personally seen the glories of devotional service, and now very eager to engage in devotional service, Narada wandered here and there, playing his vina and singing.
130	Hearing all the wonderful descriptions from Narada's mouth, the wise sages, who could understand the highest truth, firmly gave up everything but devotional service.
131	By Narada's teachings they very humbly worshipped the lotus feet of Lord Madana-Gopala.
132	O mother, please become devoted to chanting the Lord's holy names and eager to serve the gopis.  Worship the Lord who in the nectar ocean of the rasa dance is a cowherd boy surrounded by gopis enchanted with love for Him.
133	As a small bee has no power to swallow Mount Meru, so I have no power to describe even one of the gopis' glories.
134	Plunged in the nectar of Lord Krsna, my guru (Srila Sukadeva Gosvami) always chants the names of Lord Krsna and His dear queens headed by Rukmini-devi.  Tormented by burning sparks of love whenever he does it, he has no power to place on his mouth the names of the gopis, who burn with great flames of a very wonderful love.
135	O mother, with love taking shelter of the gopis' Lord, who is surrounded by them, by His mercy you will be able to understand a little of their greatness.
136	A person who with faith takes shelter of this great narration describing the search to find the object of the Lord's greatest mercy will attain pure love for Lord Krsna.

Part Two Sri Goloka-mahatmya
 (The Glory of Sri Goloka)

Chapter One:  Vairagya (Renunciation)

Invocation
Obeisances to Lord Sri Krsna, the son of Vasudeva.

1	Sri Janamejaya said:  My father, who dearly loved Lord Krsna, taught the rare, secret meaning of the scriptures to my mother.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami begins his Digdarsini Tika commentary with the following prayers:
	O Lord dressed in yellow silk, I who am full of love for You, have tied You with the ropes of hearing about Krsna, the ropes of meditating on You, and the chains of chanting Your names.  Now I hold You tightly.  You will never escape.
	Obeisances to Lord Sri Gopinatha.  Obeisances to Lord Sri Caitanyadeva.  By taking shelter of the jewel of His form, even this dull and foolish person dances wonderfully.
2	O best of sages, as I drink the Bhagavatam-ocean's nectar, which is fragrant with the lotus flower of Your mouth, I am still not satiated.
3	O wise one, please relate more of the nectarean conversation of mother and son, who both relished the nectar of Lord Krsna's lotus feet.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the mother is Uttara and the son Maharaja Pariksit.
4	Sri Jaimini said:  O king, what they said even the all-knowing sages and the seers of Brahman cannot know or describe by their own powers.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the topic of their conversation was the glory of Goloka Vrndavana.
5	By the mercy of Sukadeva Gosvami, who is an ocean of the nectar of devotion to Krsna, I stayed by the side of King Pariksit and Uttara-devi and directly heard what they said.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that only the mercy of a great devotee can one understand or speak the nectar of Srimad Bhagavatam.
6	O fortunate one, now please hear the glory of Goloka, which although a great secret, the Vedas say may be revealed to an affectionate disciple.
7	When she heard this description of Lord Krsna's great mercy, your grandmother became filled with bliss.
8-9	Wishing to hear of (1) the result of great devotion to Lord Gopikanta and (2) the Lord's pastime-place above Vaikuntha, and not fully understanding them in her heart, she asked Sri Pariksit:
10	Sri Uttara said:  Three worlds are abodes for materialistic householders who perform pious deeds.  Above them are four worlds that are abodes for they who are not householders.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the three worlds are the Bhuh, Bhuvah, and Svah planets.  The householders here wish to enjoy the fruits of their work.  Householders that have no material desires, by performing prescribed duties may go to Maharloka or the other higher planets, and, when their hearts are pure, may become liberated.  This is described in Srimad Bhagavatam (4.24.29):
	"A person who executes his occupational duty properly for one hundred births becomes qualified to occupy the post of Brahma, and if he becomes more qualified, he can approach Lord Siva.  A person who is directly surrendered to Lord Krsna, or Visnu, in unalloyed devotional service is immediately promoted to the spiritual planets.  Lord Siva and other demigods attain these planets after the destruction of this material world."*
	The persons who are not householders are the naistika-brahmacaris, vanaprasthas, and sannyasis.  The four realms they attain are Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka.  The ultimate fate of these renounced souls is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.6.20):
	"The Spiritual world, which consists of three-fourths of the Lord's energy, is situated beyond this material world, and it is especially meant for those who will never be reborn.  Others, who are attached to family life and who do not strictly follow celibacy vows, must live within the three material worlds."*
11	When their enjoyments are ended they all return.  Some who go to Maharloka and the other higher planets become liberated with Lord Brahma.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains they who have material desires again take birth, but they who have no material desires and only act out of duty become liberated.
12	Some, after enjoying on Arcirloka and other planets, attain liberation.  The renounced souls devoted to transcendental knowledge attain liberation at once.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Arcih is the demigod of fire and the other planets here are the planets in the Sisumara circle.  This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.24-31.
13	The Lord's devotees that have material desires enjoy according to their own desires and when they become purified they also attain that abode.
14	The devotees that have no material desires at once attain the blissful spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, which even the liberated souls cannot attain.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami here quotes the description of Vaikuntha in Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.17-18, 2.9.9-10, and 10.28.14-15.
15	Eternally and in many different ways experiencing there the happiness of direct service to Lord Krsna's lotus feet, a happiness that eclipses impersonal liberation, they feel great bliss.
16	Some are devotees situated in knowledge (jnana-bhakta), some are pure devotees (suddha-bhakta), some are devotees situated in love (prema-bhakta), some are devotees situated in great love (premapara-bhakta), and some are overwhelmed by love (prematura-bhakta).
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that here four and a half, with the jnana-bhaktas the half, kinds of love are described.  The devotion of the jnana-bhaktas is mixed with the desire for knowledge.  The knowledge here is not the pathetic liberation of the impersonalists, but rather the awareness of the glories of serving the Lord's lotus feet.  Maharaja Bharata is an example of the jnana-bhaktas.
	The suddha-bhaktas are devoted to the nine processes of devotional service.  Their devotion is not distracted by fruitive work, the desire for knowledge, or non-devotional renunciation.  Maharaja Ambarisa is an example of the suddha-bhaktas.
The prema-bhaktas want only to serve the Lord's lotus feet with love.  Hanuman is an example of the prema-bhaktas.
	The premapara-bhaktas are the Lord's affectionate associates who by the Lord's boundless mercy are tied by the chains of affectionately gazing at the Lord, gazing at the Lord with the longings of love, friendship with the Lord, and close friendship where they joke with the Lord.  The Pandavas are examples of the premapara-bhaktas.
	The prematura-bhaktas are always overwhelmed by the treasure of wonderful love.  Uddhava and the Yadavas are examples of the prematura-bhaktas.
Although Vaikuntha cannot be attained without love for the Lord, there are varying degrees of that love.  Thus the prema-bhaktas are better than the suddha-bhaktas, the premapara-bhaktas better than the prema-bhaktas, and the prematura-bhaktas better than the premapara-bhaktas.
17	These different kinds of devotees do not attain the same results.  Still, in Vaikuntha one is not considered better than the others.
18	Sarupya-mukti, Samipya-mukti, and the other kinds of liberation are also all equal.  What place is better than Vaikuntha?  The Vedas do not say.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that sarupya-mukti is the liberation where one attains a four-armed form like the Lord's, and samipya-mukti is the liberation where one always stays near the Lord.
19	Each in his own part of Vaikuntha, each according to his own kind of love, and each attaining his own object of love, everyone is happy.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Ayodhya, Dvaraka and the many other abodes of the Lord are situated in Vaikuntha.  This is described in the Vedic literatures:
	The Lord's many favourite cities that rest on the earth also exist in Vaikuntha so the Lord may enjoy different pastimes in them.
20	The devotees in the different mellow have all attained the highest happiness.  Still, what is the destination of they who are devoted to the Lord who performs the rasa-lila?
21-22	My heart is not happy if others attain the same destination attained by the loving devotees who chant the holy names and who, indifferent to all material goals, yearn to become Sri Radha's maidservants.  I cannot tolerate that others attain the same destination as that attained by Nanda, Yasoda and their associates.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "others" here are the Pandavas and Yadavas.
23	The most sublime of millions of glories rest in them as many rivers enter the ocean.
24	They must have their own place above Vaikuntha.  Please show it to me and rescue me.
	Note:  Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "prakasya" means "please show me by describing it" and "uddharasva" means "please rescue me from this ocean of unhappiness filled with waves of doubts and whirlpools of illusions."
	The description of the glories of Goloka Vrndavana, which is above the material worlds, which is not destroyed at the time of cosmic devastation, and which is above even the realms of Vaikuntha, is the answer to this question of Uttara-devi.
25	Sri Jaimini said:  Delighted by his mother's beautiful question, the son bowed before her and shedding tears and the hairs of his body erect in ecstasy, began to speak.
26	Sri Pariksit said:  O mother for whom Lord Krsna is your very life and who cannot bear separation from Him, you can ask such a question.  Others cannot.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "Krsna-jivite" may also mean "you whom Krsna rescued from Asvatthama's' brahmastra-weapon".
	That Uttara could not bear separation from Lord Krsna is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.9-10.
	That Lord Krsna is her very life and that she cannot bear separation from Him show that Uttara is a very exalted devotee.  For this reason it is proper for her, and not others, to ask this question.
	27	In your womb I have taken a very pious birth as the grandson of Subhadra's husband, who was your dear friend.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Subhadra was Lord Krsna's sister and her husband was Arjuna.
28-32	Bowing down before Lord Krsna who, holding a club and cakra, in your own womb protected both you and me from the brahmastra, who in my childhood made me search, as the great devotees do, again and again for His own form in the world of men, who gave me the virtues of the great souls, who made me famous for subduing Kali, who gave me wonderful royal opulence, who filled me with despair by arranging a brahmana's curse, who in the form of His disciple told me of the curse, which I welcomed, who as Lord Vasudeva dragged me from the blind well of my home and made me sit by the Ganges, fasting until death, who in the form of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami taught me the truth in the assembly of sages, dispelled my fears, and delighted me, who by giving me the company of His dear devotees now makes me drink the nectar of words about Him, and who is kind without limit, I, nourished by the brahmana's words, with a single heart, at this, my last moment, will speak the answer to your question, an answer that contains the essence of all Vaisnava scriptures.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these activities of King Pariksit are described in the following verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.12.9, 10.1.6, 1.12.8-9, 1.12.30, 1.12.19-25, 1.18.37, 1.19.14 and 1.19.2.
33-34	I could satisfy you by quoting and explaining the Sruti and Smrti, but instead I will tell I story I got from the mercy of my guru, a story that will explain and dispel all doubts.
35-37	In ancient times a certain penniless brahmana who lived in Pragjyotisa-pura, who had no knowledge of the scriptures, and who with the desire for great wealth daily worshipped goddess Kama-devi there with faith, in a dream received from the satisfied goddess a ten-syllable mantra for the worship of Lord Madana-Gopala's lotus feet, a mantra that was spoken with instructions on its use in meditation and various kinds of worship and was like a great treasure.
38	By the goddess' instruction always chanting the mantra in a secluded place, he gave up all desire for wealth and become happy at heart.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that, thinking it only a dream, the brahmana did not at once chant the mantra.  Only when she instructed him again, in a second dream, did he chant it.
39	Although he could not understand the truth, he thought there was both a spiritual goal to be attained and a way to attain it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that although formerly he had no interest in anything spiritual, now, by the power of the mantra, he had faith in a spiritual goal and a way to attain it.
40	Renouncing his home and other things, and maintaining his body by begging as he wandered to the holy places, he came to the place where the Ganges meets the ocean.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that as he travelled to the holy places he became free from sin and material desires.
41	At the Ganges' shore he saw many dutiful brahmanas who were learned in all knowledge and were mostly householders.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the branches of knowledge these brahmanas knew are described in the Visnu Purana:
	The fourteen branches of knowledge are:  The four Vedas, the Vedangas, the Mimamsa, and many nyaya-sastras, the dharma-sastras and the Puranas.
42	He heard them describe the regular and occasional ritual duties by which one attains material things and goes to Svargaloka.
43	Seeing their faith in these various duties, he also had faith and he acted on their teachings.
44	By the goddess' order he regularly chanted the mantra in secret.  By the mantra's power his heart was not satisfied with these karma-rituals.
45	Dissatisfied, he went to Varanasi, where he saw many people from different countries, mostly sannyasis, debating the theories of monism.
46	He offered obeisances to Lord Visvesvara and then, going to each monastery, offered obeisances to the sannyasis, conversed with them, and rested by their side.
47	Their intelligence clear in the Vedas, they spoke as if liberation stood in the palms of their hands.  He thought about the essence of their views.
48-49	Again and again hearing from them the words of Vedanta, which proclaim the superiority of impersonal liberation, bathing at the Manikarna-ghata, gazing at Lord Visvesvara, happily staying among them, and eating many sweets, he wished to take sannyasa.
50	Because it brought happiness to his heart, he did not stop respectfully chanting the mantra the goddess gave.  Then one night in a dream he saw the Deity of the mantra.
51	Attracted by the Deity's handsomeness, he became filled with bliss.  Now his heart had no power to do anything but chant.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that his heart was no longer attracted to sannyasa, ritual bathing, or other activities.
52	The poor fellow was bewildered about what to do.  Then, accompanied by the goddess, Lord Siva appeared in a dream and gave him this instruction.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he thought, "Should I take sannyasa, or should I chant this mantra?"
53	Fool, don't take sannyasa!  At once go to Sri Mathura.  There, in Vrndavana, your desires will be fulfilled.
54	Eager to go to Mathura, and glorifying it again and again, as he went there he came to Prayaga.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that again and again he called out, "O Mathura!  O Mathura! with great love.
55	There he saw hundreds of saintly persons who had come at sunrise in the month of Magha to bathe there at that king of holy places, which was beautiful with the Ganges and Yamuna, and which was touched by Lord Madhava's glistening lotus feet.
56	Everywhere he saw them, with songs, obeisances, prayers, nama-sankirtana, instrumental music, and dancing, observing a beautiful festival of the worship of Lord Visnu.
57-59	Ignorant, and struck with wonder, he asked the Vaisnavas:  "O singers, O reciters of prayers, O you who fall to the ground as sticks, O musicians, O you calling out Rama! Krsna!, O you crying, O you with beautiful tilaka, O you wearing a beautiful garland, be quite for a moment, stop making so much noise, and tell me:  what are you doing?  Whom are you worshipping with such reverence?"
60	Hearing this, some laughed at him, some said, "Fool, be quiet!", and some, kind to the poor fellow, said:
61	"O son of a brahmana, you don't know anything.  Your intelligence is confused.  Don't again and again call out to the Vaisnavas, and don't talk to them in this way.
62	"Initiated by a guru in mantras and rules of worship, we always worship Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
63	"O best of brahmanas, some of us worship the form of Lord Nrsimha, some Lord Ramacandra, and some Lord Gopala.  We worship Lord Visnu, who has many forms."
64	Sri Pariksit said:  Embarrassed, the brahmana humbly and cheerfully asked, "Where does He live?  What benediction can He give?"
65	The Vaisnavas said:  "He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  He lives everywhere eternally.  He is within and He is without.  No one is like Him.
66	He, the supersoul in everyone's heart, the master of the demigods that control the universes, the handsome person whose form is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss, eternally lives in Vaikunthaloka.  He gives Himself as a gift to His servants.
67	The Sruti and Smrti offer prayers to Him.  Who can speak his glories?  In this place again and again you may hear the Puranas that describe Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the question in the second sentence is answered in the third.
68	Gaze on Lord Madhava, the Deity form of the Lord of the universes, and soon you will understand everything.
69	Sri Pariksit said:  Gazing at Lord Madhava and bowing down, he saw that Madhava and the Madana-Gopala he meditated on in his mantra were the same person.
70	There he heard some passages of the Purana in the Vaisnavas' company and he saw the many forms of Lord Visnu they worshipped.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "tatra" means "in Prayaga, near the Deity of Lord Madhava", and "kincit" means "the Magha-mahatmya and other passages".
71	Bewildered, and still not understanding, He thought:  The Lord of my mantra is the Lord of the universes, and Lord Madhava is the Lord of the devotees.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he did not understand that Lord Madana-Gopala, the Deity of His mantra, and the Deity of Lord Madhava were the same person.
72	He wondered:  Is the Lord I worship a person different from the Lord they worship, Madhava, the Lord of the universes?
73	This Lord has four arms decorated with conch. cakra, club and lotus.  My Lord is not like He.   How can my Lord be the same person as Lord Madhava?
74	My Lord does not have a form half-man and half-lion.  He is not a dwarf.  He does not have forms of a fish, tortoise, boar or other animals.
75	He is not Ramacandra, who is a king and holds a bow in His hand.  He is like the Gopala worshipped here by some.
76	Still, I don't think my Lord is the Lord of the universes.  He is not like the Lord I heard of in the Magha-mahatmya and the other passages.
77	Holding a flute to His mouth, and decorated with forest flowers, He protects the cows with His cowherd-boy friends.  A rake who enjoys pastimes with the gopis, He jumps over the religion of the pious.
78	By the power of the goddess I found bliss in worshipping Him.  I will never give Him up or stop chanting His mantra.
79	Chanting his mantra in a secluded place by the power of associating with the devotees he saw his Lord.
80	He fainted in ecstasy.  When somehow he again stood, he lamented that so much time for chanting had been lost:
81	How has this calamity happened to me?  This is a great obstacle.  Night has come, but I have not completed my chanting.
82	Was I overcome by sleep?  Was I possessed by a ghost?  Ah, I am so wretched that even in this misfortune my heart somehow feels happy.
83	Lamenting and fasting, he fell asleep.  Lord Madhava then consoled him, saying:
84	Remember, O brahmana, the words of Lord Siva, the master of the kings of the universe and the husband of Uma.  Go on the Yamuna's path to Sri Vrndavana.
85	By my mercy you will find uncommon happiness there.  Don't delay.
86	He rose early in the morning and, a happy man, began his journey.  Gradually he reached Mathura City and he bathed at Visrama-tirtha.
87	Then he went to Vrndavana.  As He chanted, in meditation he saw the Lord's associates.  At every moment he rejoiced.
88	Not seeing anyone in that land decorated with cows, he wandered here and there.  Then he heard crying east of Kesi-tirtha.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he did not see any people, only cows.  Kesi-tirtha is glorified in the Varaha Purana, Mathura-mahatmya
	"Kesi-tirtha, where Kesi died, is hundreds of times more sacred than the Ganges, and Visrama-tirtha, where Lord Hari rested, is hundreds of times more sacred than Kesi-tirtha,"
89	He went in that direction.  Hearing a human lovingly chanting the holy names, again and again he searched for him.
90	Because of the forest's blinding darkness he could not see anyone.  Concluding that the sound was coming from the Yamuna's shore, he eagerly went there.
91	There, in a kadamba grove, he saw a handsome youth with delicate limbs dressed as a cowherd boy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the youth wore a peacock-feather crown and was holding a flute, buffalo horn, bugle, stick and other objects.
92	Mistakenly thinking this was his worshipable Deity, in great happiness he called out, O Gopala! and to offer respects fell as a stick to the ground.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the brahmana thought this person was Krsna because of his dress and ornaments.
93-94	Returning to external vision, this person, who was the crest-jewel of they who know everything, could understand that this was a brahmana of Mathura living in Kama-desa and engaged in the worship of Lord Madana-Gopala.  He came out from the forest grove, lifted his guest up, bowed before him, embraced him, and made him sit by his side.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this person could understand that his guest has been sent by Sri Radha.
95	He pleased him with hospitality and, to gain his trust, with a smile revealed something of what he had seen in life.
96	Aware that this was a cowherd boy, and thinking him his dearmost friend, the brahmana, full of faith, happily narrated the story of his entire life.
97	Thinking him the best of they who know everything, the humble brahmana plaintively said to the exalted cowherd-boy.
98	The brahmana said:  I have heard of many goals of life and many ways to attain them, but I do not have the power to determine what goal should be sought and how it is attained.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some of the goals here are attainment of Svargaloka and attainment of impersonal liberation, and some of the methods to attain them are karma (pious fruitive activity) and jnana (philosophical speculation).  The brahmana had heard of these at the Ganges shore, at Varanasi, and at other places.
99	I always follow the goddess' orders.  What as I doing?  What will be the result?  I don't know.
100	Thinking my life wasted, I yearn for death.  It is only by the mercy of Lord Madhava and the two Sivas that I live.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the two Sivas here are Lord Siva and Goddess Kama-devi (Parvati).
101	Here today I have attained you, who are very kind, who know everything, and who are like my own Lord.  I am surrendered to you.  Please rescue me, a wretched man.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "svadevavat" means "like Lord Madana-Gopala" and the word "samuddhara" means "please rescue me from the ocean of doubt", or "please rescue me from the ocean of repeated birth and death."
102	Sri Pariksit said:  Respectfully hearing these words, he thought:  This person has attained the goal of life.  He has attained all that is good.
103	For him only the direct sight of the Lord's lotus feet remains.  He should not be attached to chanting mantras.  He should be attached to chanting the Lord's holy names.
104-5	There is no way other than the worship of Sri Madana-Gopala's lotus feet, a worship that consists mostly of glorification of His holy names, that gives a result beyond what one can desire, and that should be performed with faithful and respectful seeing of the places where the Lord enjoyed pastimes.
106	There is no goal other than pure love, which mocks the four goals of life and conquers the Lord's lotus feet.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the four goals of life are material piety, economic development, sense gratification, and liberation.
107	Therefore to enlighten him and remove his doubts I will tell all of my own story.
108	Although the great souls think a person would not speak his own glories, there is not another story that will be good for him.
109	Thinking in this way, the very experienced cowherd boy turned to the brahmana and, as a sage speaking the Puranas to a company of sages, began to tell of his own experience.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes Devala Muni's definition of a sage:
	"A sage is one who is celibate, very austere, who eats little, controls his senses, speaks the truth, and has the power both to curse and to forgive.
110	The cowherd boy Gopa-kumara said:  For this there are many histories in the scriptures.  Still, as I remember, I will tell the story of my own life and what I experienced in ecstatic trance.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "moha" means "what I experienced in the trance of love for the Lord" and "adi" means "and other very confidential topics".
111-2	O best of brahmanas, I, the young son of a vaisya cowherd of Govardhana Hill, accompanied by young friends, tend my cows on Govardhana, the Yamuna's shore, here in Vrndavana forest, and in the circle of Mathura.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami here quotes the description of the activities of the cowherd boys in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.24.21.  He also notes that later in the book it will be revealed that Gopa-kumara's eternal rasa is as a cowherd boy.
113-6	In the middle of the forest we always see a great brahmana whose form is splendid, who is rich in renunciation, and who wanders here and there again and again chanting the holy names of Lord Krsna, sometimes engaged in japa and meditation, sometimes dancing, sometimes singing, sometimes laughing loudly, sometimes crying, sometimes falling to the ground, sometimes rolling on the ground as a madman, sometimes loudly calling out , sometimes fainting unconscious, sometimes muddying the ground with a stream of tears of love, and sometimes lying as a corpse on the dust of the cowpath.
117	Out of curiosity we boys always go to see him.  When we come he bows down to us with devotion.
118	Out of love he tightly embraces us and kisses our bodies.  As if we were his dearest friends, he cannot leave us.
119	He was pleased by my gifts of milk and other services.  One day, finding me on the Yamuna's shore, he embraced me and said:
120	Child, if you wish the perfection desired by all, then bathe in Kesi-tirtha and you may take from me the mercy of the Lord of the universes.
121	Then, when I had bathed, he, the crest jewel of the merciful, who, although he was indifferent to all material things had all his desires fulfilled, taught me your mantra.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this was the same ten-syllable mantra the brahmana chanted.
122	Then, to teach the method of worship he began to describe the Lord, the object of meditation.  Overcome with love, and crying as a woman separated from her love, he suddenly fainted in ecstasy.
123	When he became conscious again I was too frightened to ask him anything.  His mind fixed on something else, he suddenly rose and left.  I never met him again.
124	What had I obtained?  What result would it bring?  How should the mantra be chanted?  I did not know anything.
125	Out of respect for his words this mantra alone was on my mouth.  Unnoticed by anyone, I eagerly chanted it at every moment.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he chanted the mantra silently.  The word "kautukat" may also  mean "filled with wonder".
126	By the power of that great person my heart became purified as I chanted.  Then I developed faith.
127	Thinking of his words I decided that this mantra would lead me to the Lord of the universes.  I became happy and I was dedicated to chanting it.
128	I though:  What is the Lord of the universes like?  When will I see Him?  Intent only on Him, I left my home and everything and went to the Ganges.
129	Hearing a conchshell I went to the riverbank.  Seeing a brahmana worshipping a Salagrama-sila, I bowed down in respect.
130	I asked him:  O Svami, whom are you worshipping?  He smiled and said:  Child, don't you know?  This is the Lord of the universes.
131	When I heard this I became happy as a penniless man who finds a treasure or a man who finds his long-lost dearest friend.
132	I gazed at the Lord of the universes and with faith I fell down as a stick to offer respects.  By the brahmana's mercy I got the water of the Lord's feet and the prasadam offered to Him.
133	When he was about to go home he put the Lord of the universes to rest in a box.  When I saw this I became very unhappy and, shedding tears, I lamented:
134	Alas! Alas!  The Supreme Lord is put in a very unsuitable box.  He has not eaten anything.  How can He sleep if He is hungry.
135	O best of brahmanas, that there might be another Lord of the universes in another place, I did not understand.
136	Me, who was sincerely aggrieved, the humble brahmana, as if embarrassed, comforted and said:
137	O new Vaisnava, what more can I, a poor man do?  I offer to the Lord of the universes only what I myself can eat.
138-40	If you wish to see His opulence and a great festival of His worship, then to the nearby palace of this country's saintly king, who loves to worship Lord Visnu.  There you will directly see the Lord of the universes, who is so difficult to see.  There you will see your heart filled with bliss.  For now come to my home and eat the food that Lord Visnu has enjoyed.
141	I was delighted to hear his words.  Even though I was hungry I did not go to his home, but I bowed down before him and, following the path he showed, at once went to the palace.
142	From far away I heard unprecedented tumultuous sounds of the worship of the Lord of the universes.  I asked question of the people there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the sounds were wonderful singing and instrumental music.  The questions asked may have been "Where is the Lord of the universes?"  or "What are these sounds?"
143	Understanding that the Lord of the universes was there, I, not stopped by anyone, quickly entered to see Him.  There before my eyes I saw Him, a conchshell, disc, lotus and club in the splendid hands of His four handsome arms...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he understood either:  1.  where the sounds were coming from, or 2.  where the Lord of the universes was.  Without being stopped by anyone, he quickly entered the temple.
144	...all His limbs very handsome, splendid as a new cloud, dressed in yellow silk, rich with a garland of forest flowers, decorated with golden ornaments, His youthful form beyond description, His face a full moon, His smile nectar, His eyes lotus flowers,...
145	...worshipped by His devoted servants with a host of rare and glorious things, seeing the dancing and other entertainments played before Him, sitting on a wonderful throne, and served with a flood of paraphernalia.
146	Filled with bliss, again and again I fell down as a stick to offer obeisances.  I thought:  Today I saw what I wished to see.
147	Now my birth is a success.  I will never leave this place.  By the Vaisnavas' mercy I happily lived there.
148-9	O brahmana, I ate the prasadam of Lord Visnu, saw the great festival of His worship, heard the glories of worshipping Him, and secretly chanted my mantra with great care.  Still, the beauty of Vrajabhumi and the happiness of playing as a cowherd boy never left my heart.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the following verse glorifying the prasadam of Lord Visnu.
	"In Kali-yuga they who eat Lord Visnu's prasadam attain the same result said to be gained by fasting for six months."
	The word "kadacit" here means "awake or even asleep".
150	Happily staying there for some days, I developed a great yearning to worship the Lord in that way.
151	The king, who was sonless, and who, seeing my good character, affectionately considered me his adopted son even though I was a foreigner, soon died.
152	Inheriting his kingdom, I increased the bliss of the worship of Lord Visnu.  Every day many saintly devotees enjoyed His prasadam.
153	Not attached to any of this, I remained as before.  I chanted my mantra and I ate the Lord's prasadam.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by the mantra's power he remained unattached to the royal opulences there.  He continued to live as an unattached, penniless person, as he had before he inherited the kingdom.  He accepted only the Lord's prasadam, and that only to maintain his body.
154	Although I divided the kingdom among the king's associates, still it made me very unhappy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that a kingdom does not please an intelligent Vaisnava.
155	Sometimes I was afraid of other kingdoms.  Sometimes the emperor's orders curtailed my independence.
156	Sometimes a pious person would not eat the prasadam of the Lord of the universes because it had been touched by someone else, or carried outside.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these bewildered brahmanas were concerned that the prasadam may have been touched by a non-brahmana.  The prasadam of the Lord never becomes contaminated.  This is confirmed by the following  words of the Visnu Purana:
	"O brahmana, one should not consider whether it is proper  to eat or not to eat the food, drink, or other things offered to the Lord of the universes.  These offerings are spiritual as Lord Visnu Himself is spiritual.  Brahmanas who make such distinctions in eating the Lord's prasadam become afflicted with disease and bereft of wife and children.  They go to a hell from which they do not easily return."
157	At this my heart was wounded by a arrow and I became despondent.  Still, I could not leave the Lord I so yearned to see.
158	At this time some saintly pilgrims come from the southern countries said:
159	In Purusottama-ksetra Nilacala, by the shore of the salt-water ocean, the Lord of the universes (Jagannatha) is splendidly manifest in a spiritual form of wood.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the Padma Purana's description of Lord Jagannatha:
	"On the northern shore of the ocean, in Purusottama-ksetra, the supremely blissful Personality of Godhead pretends to be made of wood."
	The Visnu Purana explains:
	In the country of Orissa, in Nilacala in Purusottama-ksetra, the spiritual and blissful Personality of Godhead appears as the wooden Deity named Lord Jagannatha."
160	Opulent and powerful, He personally protects the kingdom of Orissa.  He is glorious.  He loves His servants.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the Tattva-yamala:
	"In Bharata-varsa, in the country of Orissa, in Bhu-svarga, in Purusottama-ksetra, the Lord of the universes (Jagannatha), who makes the devotees fearless, whose pastimes are like those of a human being, and who grants liberation, appears in a form of wood."
161	The goddess of fortune personally cooks for Him.  When He has eaten, the merciful Lord gives His remnants, which even the demigods cannot obtain, to His devotees."
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the question may be asked:  If the Lord eats the food, how is anything left?  The answer is found in the word "dayaluna" (merciful).  Although the Lord eats all that is offered to Him, and leaves no remnants, He mercifully makes it as full as before and then gives it to His devotees.
162	These remnants, called mahaprasadam, should be eaten without considering who has touched them or from where they were brought.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the Vedic literatures:
	"The food cooked by the goddess of fortune, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead eats, is like Lord Visnu Himself.  One should not consider whether some unworthy person has touched it or not."
		- Vedic literature
	"Whether old, dried-up, or already tasted by someone else, the prasadam of the Lord removes all sins."
		- Skanda Purana
	"Whether touched by people of the lowest caste, people who have no caste, or people born of mixed caste, food once eaten by the Lord of the universes destroys all sins."
		- Bhavisya Purana
	"O king, there is no consideration whether or not some unworthy person has touched the Lord's prasadam, for by once touching it even the most unworthy person is at once purified."
		- Tattva-yamala
	"O brahmanas, if one desires liberation he should eat the Lord's prasadam at once, without considering whether it is the proper time, as one does in the candrayana-vrata."
		- Garuda Purana
163	Oh, the glory of that place!  Even an ass there becomes a four-armed resident of Vaikuntha.  Anyone who goes there once is never born again.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes Lord Brahma in the Brahma Purana:
	"Oh, the glory of that place of 80 miles!  When one goes there he sees that everyone is a four-armed resident of Vaikuntha."
	Veda-vyasa explains in the Garuda Purana:
	"When the demigods in heaven see that the people there are four-armed residents of Vaikuntha holding a conchshell, cakra, and lotus in their hands, again and again they faint."
	Narada Muni says in the Bahv-rca-parisista
	"The people who live there are all seen to be four-armed residents of Vaikuntha."
	Veda-vyasa also says in the same scripture:
	"Touching that place gives liberation to human beings.  The Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys pastimes there, playing as a wooden Deity.  By performing difficult austerities for a hundred births one is able to touch that place and become equal to Lord Visnu."
164	I heard that when blossoming-lotus-eyed Lord Jagannatha is seen, the seer's birth in this world brings a wonderful result never heard of before.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the following words spoken by Narada Muni to Prahlada Maharaj in the Padma Purana:
	"They who see the Supreme Personality of Godhead who, gloriously manifest on the summit of Nilacala Hill, stands before all eyes and is seen by hearing of Him and in other ways also, attain Lord Visnu's abode, what to speak of they who are like you."
165	Conquered by the desire to see Him, I at once gave up everything and, glorifying Lord Jagannatha, set out for the country of Orissa.
166	Quickly reaching that place, and falling down as a stick to offer respects to the people there, I entered the temple by the devotees' mercy.
167	From far away I saw the moon of the Supreme Person's face, a moon with large glistening eyes, a forehead decorated with jewel tilaka, a splendour like a glittering cloud, and a delightful glory of red lips, and shining with moonlight of a smile blossoming with all kindness.
168	Although I had a mind to go before Him, I was not able.  I trembled with love, the hairs of my body stood erect, tears removed my power to see.  Somehow I came to the Garuda-stambha.
160-70	As I gazed on Lord Jagannatha, who was adorned with splendid garments, ornaments, and garlands, whose eyes and heart were filled with happiness, who gracefully set on His throne, who enjoyed many offerings of delicious foods, who lovingly glanced at they who were bowing before Him, dancing, reciting prayers, playing musical instruments, and singing, and who was the abode of great glories, I suddenly fainted and fell to the ground.
171	Regaining consciousness, opening my eyes, and gazing into the Lord's eyes, I became like a madman.  I suddenly ran to embrace the Lord.
172	I called out:  "I can see the Lord I so long yearned to see!  My life is a success!  My life is a success!  I have my Lord, the Lord of the universes!"
173	Striking me with sticks, the guards stopped me.  Thoughtful and ashamed, I went outside and there I received mahaprasadam.
174-5	O brahmana, after eating the prasadam I again entered the Lord's temple.  There I saw many blissful wonders.  My mind cannot measure it.  How can my mouth speak of it?  There I spent the entire day filled with bliss.
176	At night there was a great festival of decorations and a great festival of flowers offered in folded hands.  Then I left the temple.
177	Enjoying newer and newer festivals in the devotees' company, I was not aware how the time was passing.  It was as if the grief of separation from Vrajabhumi had gone away.
178	I heard of in many accounts, and I also saw directly Lord Jagannatha's great mercy to His servants.
179	Nothing other than gazing at Lord Jagannatha pleased me.  Even my desire to hear the Purana's description of the Lord's glories left me.
180	Sometimes I would suffer in my body or mind, but when I saw the lotus-eyed Lord my sufferings were at once destroyed.
181	I thought:  "I have attained the goal of my life chanting".  For many days I lived there very happily.
182	Then I began to yearn to do some confidential service for the Lord.  That desire brought me great anxiety.
183-4	When, during great festivals, that country's king, who was a great servant of the Lord, came to see the Lord's glorious face, he brought many saintly visitors and filled the gardens.  Then poor people like myself were no longer able to see the Lord whenever we wished.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the most important of these festivals was Rathayatra.  Someone may protest that this action is not proper for a saintly king.  The answer is given that the king brought with him many saintly persons eager to see Lord Jagannatha.  The gardens were filled with the horses and other animals of the kings entourage.
185	One day when for this reason I felt sick at heart I saw my guru, who was overcome with love as he stood before Lord Jagannatha.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this was the guru who first gave him his mantra in Vrndavana.
186	He was not able to speak.  My heart attracted by Lord Jagannatha's face, I did not see when he went somewhere else.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains the guru could not speak because he was overcome with love.
187	Searching here and there, one day I found him alone on the ocean's shore, dancing and chanting the holy names in ecstasy.
188	Seeing me falling down as a stick to offer obeisances, he blessed me, embraced me, and, knowing all, mercifully gave me the following instruction:
189	O child, whatever you desire, you should chant your mantra.  By it's power all will be fulfilled beyond what you can desire.
190	Knowing that chanting your mantra is also service to Lord Jagannatha.  Have faith and never give up chanting.
191	By the mantra's power you will become an eternally youthful cowherd boy.  Now you heart is worthy to attain that.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that here the guru is giving his disciple a benediction.
192	Sometimes you will see me here and sometimes in Vrndavana.
	After speaking these words of instruction, he suddenly left.
193	Distraught in separation from him, I went to see Lord Jagannatha.  I became strong and again I chanted.
194-5	When I yearned to see Vrajabhumi, by Lord Jagannatha's glory the gardens there became like Vrndavana forest, the ocean like the Yamuna, and Nilacala Hill like Govardhana.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this happened by Lord Jagannatha's mercy.
196	Thus I lived happily there.  Every day, after seeing Lord Jagannatha, I would follow my guru's order and chant to attain my desired perfection.
197	When the king's time was over, his eldest son, a very renounced soul, refused to accept the kingdom.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the king died.  His son became very renounced by serving Lord Jagannatha.
198	After asking Him, by Lord Jagannatha's order looking for the signs of a great king, the ministers crowned me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the king's eldest son refused the kingdom, and the younger sons and other relatives were not qualified to accept it.  The king's ministers asked Lord Jagannatha what should be done.  Lord Jagannatha might have said to them:  "My devotee Gopa-kumara, who was born on Govardhana Hill, should be crowned king."  Or then He might have said:  "He on whom the signs of a great king are seen should be crowned king".  Seeing the signs of a great king on Gopa-Kumara, they crowned him king.  The signs of a king are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.20.24) in these words:
	"Maharaja Bharata, the son of Dusmanta, had the mark of Lord Krsna's disc on the palm of his right hand, and he had the mark of a lotus whorl on the soles of his feet."*
199	I expanded the great festivals of worshipping the Lord, and I specifically expanded the twelve great yatras, including the yatra to Gundica.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the twelve great yatras, beginning with Dolayatra, Damanakayatra, Candanayatra, Jalasnanayatra, and Rathayatra, are performed in the twelve months.  The yatra to Gundica is Rathayatra.
200	Coming in groups and meeting here, all the saintly persons on earth sang and danced with such ecstatic love they looked like madmen.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this statement may mean that they came for the twelve great yatras, or that they came for the Rathayatra.  They came from the different sampradayas.
201	Personally living as a penniless man, and placing my kingdom and all royal enjoyments at Lord Jagannatha's lotus feet, I served Him according to my wish.
202	Sometimes the Lord jokes with His dear eternal servants and sometimes He enjoys loving pastimes with them.
203	When the blissful Lord playfully becomes motionless, the devotees following His pastimes become filled with wonder and bliss.
204	I yearned to become like those devotees.  I was a newcomer.  My faith was not fixed on Lord Jagannatha alone.  How could I enjoy His mercy?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara was attached to Vrndavana.
205	When I thought of the good fortune of the Orissan devotees I yearned to be like them and I became sick at heart.
206	The chanting of prayers, songs, and the holy names before the Lord reminded me of Mathura and filled me with pain.
207	By associating with the devotees I saw the lotus-eyed Lord.  Then all my unhappiness disappeared and I did not wish to go anywhere.
208	Still, because I was a king my heart could not feel the same bliss it once felt to see the Lord.
209	Surrounded by kings, I could not enjoy the great yatra festivals to my heart's content.
210	Placing the burden of the kingdom on the king's sons, ministers, and relatives, I became aloof as before.
211	Chanting my mantra in a secluded place, and serving Lord Jagannatha's lotus feet to my heart's content, I lived happily.
212	Because the people continued to treat me with great respect I became very unhappy at heart.
213	One morning I went before the Lord to ask permission to go to Vrndavana, but when I gazed at His glorious face I forgot everything.
214	A year passed.  One day I heard Mathura described by some people come from there.
215	That night, as I slept overcome with grief, the Lord, who suffers when others suffer, instructed me, saying:
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord here is Lord Jagannatha.  The Lord could not tolerate His devotee's sufferings.
216	O cowherd boy, as this place is dear to Me, so is Mathura dear.  Mathura is even more dear, for it is the land of My birth.
217	It is decorated with the places of My childhood pastimes.  I still live there, enjoying pastimes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "childhood" here also includes the Lord's adolescence.  The word "vibhraman" may also be interpreted to mean "wandering here and there".
218	Why, your heart wavering so, do you suffer?  Go there.  In time you will see me there in this form.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara's heart wavered between two decisions:  "I will stay here", and "I will go there". In this way he was filled with doubt and torn in two.  The form the Lord predicts he will see is the form of Madana-Gopala, the Deity of Gopa-kumara's mantra.
219	That morning some priests from the temple came to my home and gave me the Lord's order in the form of Lord Jagannatha's garland.  Tying the garland around my neck, and bowing down to offer respects to the cakra, I went to the country of Mathura.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara might think:  "This is just a false dream.  why, simply by words in a dream, should I leave this place and go to another?"  The sudden appearance of the priests with the garland confirmed the Lord's order:  "Go to Mathura".

Chapter Two Jnana (knowledge)

1-2	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  O best of Mathura brahmanas, I bathed at Visrama-tirtha and then went to Vrndavana.  To Govardhana and other places wandering as I wished, drinking milk, unnoticed by my former friends, and chanting my mantra, I passed some days.
3	My longing to see Lord Jagannatha making me see everything as if it were a dessert, I remembered Purusottama-ksetra.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this verse may mean that Gopa-kumara saw everything as if it were a desert.  Lord Krsna lives in Vrndavana eternally.  This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.42, 10.1.28, and 10.44.13.
4	Unhappy, I was returning to Orissa to see Lord Jagannatha when on the path by the Ganges shore I saw some brahmanas devoted to religious duties.
5	From those brahmanas learned in many scriptures I heard something wonderful:  that in the sky above is a place named Svargaloka, where the demigods live.
6	That place is glorious with many airplanes.  In it are  no fears, sufferings, old-age, death, disease, or any other faults.
7	That very happy place, where the king is Indra, the elder brother of the Lord of the universes, is attained by performing many great pious deeds.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that King Indra is the elder brother of Lord Vamana.
8	That realm, named Divya-svarga, is better than the realm of Vila-svarga, which is decorated with the forms of Lord Visnu, Lord Sesa, and other forms of the Lord, and it is also better than Bhauma-svarga, which in its continents, countries, and other places, is splendid with festivals of worship for Lord Krsna, who appears in many forms.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Visnu is the Deity of Sutalaloka and Lord Sesa is the Deity of Saptamapatalaloka.  The word "adi" refers to Deities described in the Ramayana, as well as to Lord Kapila, who is the Deity of Atalaloka, and the Rudras, who are the Deities of Vitalaloka.
	The word "dvipa" refers to continents, such as Jambudvipa, the word "varsa" refers to countries such as Bharata-varsa, and the word "adi" refers to other places, such as the ocean of milk.  In Plaksadvipa the Deity is Lord Surya, in Ilavrta-varsa the Deity is Lord Sankarsana, and in Bhadrasva the Deity is Lord Hayagriva, Thus in the different places are different forms of Lord Krsna, as is described in the fifth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.  Divya-svarga is the abode of the demigods.  The other svargas here are the other planets, below that realm.
10-11	Then I heard the wonderful story of Aditi's son Upendra, who is the Lord of the universes personally present there, enjoying pastimes, travelling on the king of birds, killing demons, always pleasing the demigods with playful, beautiful words, and worshipped by them as their own brother.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the king of birds is Garuda.
12	Yearning to see Him, i chanted my mantra, and in a very short time an airplane came.  I happily entered it and went to the realm of the demigods.
13	There I saw Lord Visnu, His form filled with eternity knowledge and bliss, sitting on the throne of Garuda's graceful shoulders, surrounded by demigods, and worshipped by Narada who very sweetly played a vina.  He was the same Lord I had seen before in a king's palace by the Gange's shore.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this was the Lord four-armed form.
14	Now having attained the Lord I yearned to attain, seeing the Lord I yearned to see, and thinking I now had the goal of my life, from far away again and again I fell down as a stick to offer my respects.  Then, with words melting with compassion, He called to me:
15	It is good, very good that you have come, O cowherd boy.  Why should you fall down as a stick?  Come close to Me without fear.
16	Respectfully brought before Him by demigods sent by Indra, I very carefully sat down.
17	Residing in the Nandana forest, and pleased with heavenly things, I was happy.  I saw that there was no fear, lamentation, disease, death, withering, suffering, or old age.
18	There may have been some defects there but, enjoying the sight of the Lord of the universes, I did not consider them.
19	With the opulences of Svarga, day after day Indra worshipped the Lord as his brother, master and shelter.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives the parijata flower and the heavenly nectar as examples of the opulences of Svarga.
20-22	In my heart I thought:  Indra is fortunate.  Obtaining from Lord Visnu fearlessness and mastery over the three worlds, he worships the Lord with celestial things, and the Lord personally accepts his offerings.  will the Lord be kind to me in this way?
	With this desire I chanted my mantra and lived there.
23	Then Indra, having raped the dear wife of a great sage, ashamed, and fearing a curse, hid somewhere.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this event occurred soon after Gopa-kumara's desire was manifest.  Indra hid in a lotus stem in Manasa-sarovara.
24	Although they searched in many ways, the demigods could not find him.  Because there was no king, the three worlds were overcome with calamities.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the calamities were caused by demons.
25	Then, on Lord Visnu's order, the demigods sent by their guru, crowned me in Indra's place.  I delighted Aditi and the others.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the guru here is Brhaspati.  Why did Indra's mother Aditi, wife Saci, and many friends tolerate this?  They were happy with this arrangement because it was the Lord's order.
26	I worshipped Aditi, Saci, Brhaspati, and the brahmanas.  I made the three worlds always full of devotion to Lord Visnu.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "jivam" here is a name of Brhaspati and the word "manayan" means "worshipping".  Gopa-kumara made the worlds more full of Visnu-bhakti than they had been under King Indra.
27	Although made king of Svarga by the Lord's order, I lived as before, a penniless man in the Nandana forest.
28	Fearing that I would become ungrateful, I did not give up my chanting.  Thus I could never forget the land of Vraja.
29	Tormented by this, my face dried up.  Noticing this, the Lord of the universes again and again pleased me with the touch of His lotus hand and the many nectars of His words.
30	Acting as if i were His elder brother, to please me He took and ate the food I offered Him.
31	With this I forgot my sufferings.  I pleased Him with unprecedented worship and loved Him as one loves a younger brother.
32	Seeing that I had become well, glorious Upendra then went to His own abode.  Then I could not always see Him.
33	Then I became very unhappy.  I yearned to go and see Lord Jagannatha, the master of Nilacala, who out of love never leaves they who take shelter of Him.
34	When Lord Visnu appeared, His great mercy and the hope it brought me made all my sufferings disappear.
35	O brahmana, living as Indra there, I happily passed one year of the demigods.
36	Then Bhrgu and other great sages, who were mercifully going on foot to purify the holy places of the earth, unexpectedly came to Svarga.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the sages in this group included Marici, Angira, Pulastya and Pulaha.  The great devotee Bhrgu Muni is glorified in Bhagavad-gita (10.25) and Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.11.30).  The Ganges and other holy places become contaminated by the very sinful people that visit them.  These sages were going to purify them again with the touch of their feet.
37	I gazed on them with wonder as all the demigods and sages, Brhaspati, and Lord Visnu Himself worshipped them.
38	I, a novice whose heart was charmed by the bliss of serving Lord Visnu, did not know them.  Pushed by my friends, I also worshipped them.
39	They blessed me and then left by their own wish.  Lord Upendra also disappeared.  Then I asked the demigods:
40	Who are these sages that they are worshipped by demigods who receive the worship of human beings?  What are their splendid glories?  Where do they live?
41	Their hearts filled with envy, the embarrassed demigods did not speak.  Then Brhaspati said:
42	Sri Brhaspati said:  Above this realm is splendid Maharloka, which is attained by great pious deeds, and which does not perish when the three worlds are destroyed.
43	As Indra's happiness is millions of times more than an earthly king's, so the Prajapatis' happiness is considered millions of times greater then Indra's.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Prajapatis here are Bhrgu Muni, and the other residents of Maharloka.
44	Taking shelter of the Lord sacrifices, and worshipping Him at every step, they live there very happily.
45	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  hearing this, and losing interest in Indra's post, I yearned to see the Lord worshipped by these great, supremely worshipable sages.
46-7	Desiring this as I chanted my mantra, very soon I went by airplane up to that planet and there I saw all was faultless and beyond description.  The happiness, opulence and worship was not like that in the three worlds.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the happiness there is faultless because:  1. there is no fear it will perish at the arrival of Brahma's night,  2. it is free from material rivalry, and 3. it is not a cause of future suffering.  The opulence there is faultless because it is free from diminution and other faults.  The worship is faultless because it is done without material motives.
48	When thousands of devotee sages perform great fire sacrifices, the Lord of sacrifices rises from the fire and enjoys pastimes of eating the offerings.
49	Charming the world's hearts and splendid as millions of suns, He who is the personification of sacrifices extends His hands, accepts the offerings, and blesses the worshippers.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord of sacrifices is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.13.35-36.
50	To me, filled with awe and reverence and happily bowing before Him, with His own hand He gave His prasadam remnants and said in a voice melting with compassion:
51	By His great mercy I attained unprecedented bliss and all my desires were fulfilled.
52	Wandering with the kind sages, I saw in every home the Lord of the universes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this was the form of the Lord appearing  in the midst of the sacrificial fire and eating the offerings.
53	Thinking I had attained all success, I very happily lived there.  Then the great sages said to me:
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara thought that his birth and his mantra-chanting were successful because now, by the Lord's grace, he could directly see the many forms of the Lord of the universes.
54	The great sages said:  O son of a gopa-vaisya, please accept from us the status of a brahmana in these worlds.
55	Become one of the great sages and worship with sacrifices the Lord of the universes you long desired to see.
56	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  O brahmana, when I heard this I thought:  There is great happiness in being a vaisya, for then I can serve both the Lord and His brahmana devotees.
57	By staying with these sages devoted only to sacrifices, I will become lax in chanting the mantra, taught by my spiritual guru, that shows me such good results.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that from chanting this mantra came the results of kingdoms on earth, the kingship of Svarga, and the attainment of Maharloka.
58	Showing all respect to them, but not accepting the status of a brahmana, I continued to live there, enjoying the great happiness of the Prajapatis.
59	In that place is no fault, lamentation, or anxiety.  There is nothing but festivals of sacrifices for the pleasure of the Lord of Sacrifices.
60	However, when the sacrifices are over, and the Lord disappears, there is suffering, a and when the sacrifices are performed and the Lord appears, again there is happiness.
61	When the three worlds burn at the end of a thousand catur-yugas, a time that here is a single day, (the sages) go to Janaloka.
62	Then, when it was like night, and there were no sacrifices, the Lord of Sacrifices was not seen.  For me this was a fire greater than the fire of devastation.
63	Then, going to Sri Purusottama-ksetra, which stands in the shade of an eternal banyan tree, I saw Lord Jagannatha.  Thus I became happy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because it is shaded by that eternal banyan tree, Purusottama-ksetra is not destroyed at the time of cosmic devastation, but stays there eternally.
64	When I returned to Maharloka my chanting done in secret as before, made me unhappy, for I wished to see the earth.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he wished to see Vrndavana.
65-6	When I worshipped Him, the Lord, who was an ocean of kindness, appeared, and when He affectionately called me and gracefully ate what I offered, all my unhappiness went away, as darkness goes with the rising of the sun.  Now, bound by desires, I had no power to go anywhere else, even at night.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that, shackled by the desire to see and worship the Lord of sacrifices, Gopa-kumara would not go to Purusottama-ksetra, or any other place, at the time of (Brahma's) night.
67	One day a naked and very splendid boy, five or six years of age, came from the higher planets.
68	Leaving their sacrifices, standing up with devotion, and bowing down, the great sages worshipped that meditating sage as if he were the Lord of sacrifices.
69	After he left I asked the great sages:  Who is he?  Where is he from?  Why do you worship him?
70	(The great sages said:)  His name is Sanat-kumara.  He is older than we.  He is a great soul.  He is the first guru of the atmaramas (they who take pleasure in the Supreme) and the apta-kamas (they who have attained all desires).  He has taken the great vow (of celibacy).
71	He lives in a higher world named Tapoloka with three brothers, great yogis as he is.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Tapoloka is above Maharloka.
72	That place is attained only by the celibate sages.  There the auspicious happiness of the celibate sages is millions of times greater than the happiness of the Prajapatis.
73	We householders abandoned our duties and worshipped Sanat-kumara because He is as much to be worshipped as the Lord of sacrifices Himself.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Sanat-kumara should be worshipped because:  1. He is a form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, 2. He is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and 3. He is a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
74	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Then in my heart I thought:  What happiness do they experience there?  How many are like them?  What form of the Lord do they worship?
75	Wishing to see them, and my heart fixed on them, I chanted, became very powerful, and quickly went to their world.
76	There I saw glorious Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat-kumara, and the fourth Sanatana.
77	They were being worshipped by other sages like themselves.  They were happily conversing, but those like myself could not understand their words.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that a sample of their conversation is found in the Prayers by the Personified Vedas chapter of the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
78	Although they were not like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, still, simply by seeing them I felt great happiness.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they did not have four armed-forms, or supreme power and opulence, as the Lord does.
79	To see the Lord of the universes as I had before, I wandered among the sages fixed in meditation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that, expecting to find the Supreme Lord, as he had found Him in Svargaloka and Maharloka, Gopa-kumara visited many places in Tapoloka.  He did not find the Lord, but instead found only yogis living alone, hardly talking to each other, and rapt in meditation.
80	Not seeing Him anywhere, I asked the sages about Him.  As I bowed before them and recited prayers, they did not even see me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he asked the sages:  "Where is the Supreme Lord?"
81	Almost always situated in ecstatic trance, finding pleasure in the Supreme, all their desires fulfilled, and served by the mystic perfections, all were perfect celibate sages.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "almost always" mean that sometimes they would converse amongst themselves, and sometimes they would perform external worship of the Lord.
82	My great desire to see the Lord did not bear fruit.  Indeed, it seemed to be checked by associating with the sages.
83	Because of seeing their great power, I stayed among them, and because of respect for my guru's words, and also because I had seen the results it brings, I did not abandon my chanting.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara's guru had ordered him:  "Never abandon your chanting."
84	Because this place is naturally very pleasing to the heart, my chanting increased, and with that, my desire to see the Lord also increased.
85	Seeing that I desired to go to Nilacala and see Lord Jagannatha, Pippalayana Muni said to Me:
86	Why do you wish to leave this great place and go to another?  Why would you go to see the Supreme Lord with your eyes?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that here the sage implies that the Supreme Lord is beyond the perception of the eyes and other senses.
87	Fix your mind in meditation and you will always see Him everywhere, within and without, as if He were always before you.
88	In this way, and not in another way, the Supreme Self, Lord Vasudeva, whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, will always appear in your purified heart.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this way to see the Lord is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.3.23.  Pippalayana Muni here implies that because the Supreme Lord is all-pervading and is manifest only by His own wish, He cannot be seen with the eyes or other senses.
89	Because one cannot actually see without the action of the mind, the action of seeing the Lord with one's eyes is only perfectly done when the mind is also fixed on Him.
90	The happiness of all the senses rests in the happiness of the mind, and the actions of the words, eyes, ears, and other senses also rest in the actions of the mind.
91	Without the action of the mind, the actions of all the senses are fruitless.  When the mind does not act, one cannot experience anything.
92	If sometimes, out of love for His devotee, the Lord appears and is seen with the eyes, He is actually seen with the eye of transcendental knowledge, although one may think He is seen with the physical eyes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that someone may protest:  "Dhruva, Prahlada, and others saw the Lord with their eyes!"  To answer, Pippalayana Muni speaks this verse.  He asserts that the senses are helpless without the mind.
93	Or if, by the power of His mercy, He is seen by the external eyes, the bliss of seeing Him is felt in the mind.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the power of the Lord's mercy is described in the following words (of Srila Sridhara Svami):
	"The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ananda, transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity.  I offer my respectful obeisances unto He who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.  Such is the mercy of the Lord."*
94	After (He is no longer visible to the eyes) He still enjoys pastimes in the mind.  The mind is the place where the happiness of seeing Him is felt.
95	By His mercy the happiness in the mind expands.  The happiness in the senses has no power to expand in that way.
96	When one sees the Lord in meditation it is as if one sees Him directly.  The demigod Brahma gives evidence for this special mercy of the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that, seen in meditation, the Lord grants benedictions, talks with the devotee, touches him, and relates to him in many ways.  Lord Brahma's vision of the Lord is described in Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.9, 2.9.14, 2.9.17-18, 2.9.37, 3.8.22-23, 3.8.33, 3.9.29, and 3.9.29.
97	It is said that the direct sight of the Lord delights the devotees, but fills Kamsa, Duryodhana, and those like them with fear and a host of faults.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that anger and envy are examples of some of the faults here.
98-9	Even though they directly saw Lord Narayana's handsome, glorious, blissful form, which with its virtues delights all the senses, Madhu, Kaitabha, and a host of other sinful demons would not abandon their wickedness, which tormented everyone.
100	To show the glories of devotional service, the blissful Lord delights His devotees and hides that delight from others.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that as a fire's heat is concealed by smoke, so the Lord conceals from the demons the bliss of seeing Him.  This verse is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.1.18.
101	Of the nine ways of devotional service, remembering the Lord is the best, for it engages the mind, which is the best of the senses.
102	The mind is able, without stopping, and as much as it wishes, to give the Lord pure love, the most confidential of spiritual gifts.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that love for the Lord is more confidential than transcendental knowledge and renunciation.  The word "avisramam" here means "without impediment".
103-5	Pure love, which is the goal to be attained by other spiritual practices, which is the best of the best of all goals of life, which is the only powerful way to bring the Supreme Lord under one's dominion, which is only attained by the Lord's mercy, which is the only treasure of the devotees, which is flooded with the sweetness of wonderful transcendental bliss, which is glorious beyond description, and which manifests the transformations of ecstasy, arises from the actions of the mind.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the other spiritual practices begin with transcendental knowledge and renunciation, and the goals of life are piety, sense gratification, economic development and liberation.
106-7	If you think meditation is difficult for the mind, or if you wish to see the Lord and thus make your eyes fruitful, then go to Bharata-varsa and on Gandha-madana Mountain see Lord Narayana, the friend of Nara.
108	Fixed in meditation, we see Him within and without.  Therefore we never suffer separation from Him.  That is why the Lord has gone there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that someone may ask:  "Why do the sages stay in Tapoloka if the Lord is not present?  Someone may also ask:  "How can the Lord who loves His devotees, leave that place and go somewhere else?"  The answer is given in this verse.
109	As a very austere brahmacari archery-teacher with matter locks of hair, he stays there to benefit the world with His teachings.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "hita" means that His teachings brought auspiciousness to the people.
110	Seeing that I wished to go there, the four sages headed by Sanaka said to me:  "Go there!"  They showed me many forms of the Lord.
111	The first one became Lord Narayana.  Another became the form of Visnu.  Another became the Lord of sacrifices.  Another assumed many different forms.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the first one was perhaps Sanaka, or perhaps another of the Kumaras.  The form of Lord Visnu here was either Lord Upendra, whom Gopa-kumara had seen in Svargaloka or perhaps it was a form like His.  The Lord of sacrifices is the Deity worshipped on Maharloka.  The forms of Lord Nrsimha and Lord Vamana were among the many different forms.
112	Trembling with fear and bowing down, with folded hands I said to Them:  "O Lords who love the poor, please forgive my horrible offenses."
113	They touched me on the head and I entered a trance of meditation and saw those forms again as before.  Sometimes, by the power of meditation, I still see those forms as if They were right before my eyes.
114	As I chanted my mantra, I found happiness and faith.  Then the sweetness of Vrajabhumi agitated my mind.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by chanting he remembered Vrajabhumi and then became agitated with the suffering of separation from it.
115	Sometimes I experience a certain state like deep sleep, where I see many forms of the Lord.  That state hinders my chanting.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the sate described here is ecstatic trance (samadhi), where the mind and all the senses became inactive.
116	For this I lamented.  I wished to go to Nilacala.  Consoling me, the sages asked what had happened.
117	Hearing my lament, they praised me.  I could not understand.  I became unhappy.
118	Then, by the power of my regular practice, I saw, as if before my eyes, the Lord of the universes in many forms, everywhere, within and without.
119	Sometimes seeing Sanaka and the other sages so rapt in meditation that they manifested forms of the Lord, I became very happy.
120	Even when there were no such displays I did not lament with a desire to see them.  In this way I happily lived there for many days.
121	One time, as on his swan he was kindly going to see his devotees at Puskaradvipa, four-headed Brahma came.
122	Humbly bowing down, Sanaka and the other sages respectfully worshipped the elderly, supremely opulent demigod.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Brahma's opulences included being accompanied by a great entourage.  Although he had a white beard, he was not conquered by old age because, as an incarnation of the Personality of Godhead, his form was eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.
123	Blessing them, affectionately smelling their heads, and speaking some instructions, he quickly left for Puskaradvipa.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he instructed them on the secrets of devotional service to the Lord.
124	When I asked about him, the sages laughed and said:  "O cowherd, after coming here even now you don't know who he is!"
125	"He is our father, Brahma, who is the leader of the Prajapatis and the creator of the universe, who was self-born, who is most exalted, and who protects and teaches the universe.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Brahma by giving the universe the Vedas, teaches the principles of religion.
126	His realm, named Satyaloka, which is attained by those pure souls that follow religious principles for a hundred births, is splendidly manifest above all the worlds.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.29.
127	In his realm is Vaikunthaloka, where the thousand-headed Supreme Person, the Lord of the universes, stays eternally.
128	In the Sruti-sastra it is heard that Brahma is like the Supreme Lord's son.  There is no difference.  We think Brahma playfully appears in two forms.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the two forms are four-headed Brahma and the thousand-headed Lord of the universes.
129	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Hearing this, I chanted my mantra and, in a trance of meditation, went to Tapoloka to see the Supreme Person.
130	After a moment I opened my eyes and saw that i was in Brahmaloka and I also saw the Lord of the universes...
131	...who was very great, who had a thousand handsome arms, heads, feet, who was splendid as a monsoon cloud, who was opulent with many tasteful ornaments, who was an ocean of splendour, whose navel was a lotus, who reclined on the couch of Lord Ananta's coils, who delighted every eye...
132	...whose feet were massaged by the goddess of fortune, who glanced at Garuda standing with folded hands, who was worshipped by Brahma with great opulences and treated with great love, who placed His attention on Narada's loving devotion...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the first way Brahma expressed his love was by touching the Lord's lotus hands.  Narada expressed his devotion by singing and dancing.
133	...who to Brahma was carefully teaching the path of devotional service, the great secret of the Vedas, who was splendidly manifest in His regal palace...
134	...who happily heard jubilant Brahma humbly repeating what he had learned, whose feet Brahma worshipped again and again...
135	...who is the husband of the goddess of fortune, and to whose side the goddess of fortune, seeing me faint in ecstasy, and reviving me, and being affectionate as if I were her own son, brought me.
136	Gazing at the Lord, and again and again bowing before Him, I said to my heart:  "O heart, today you have attained your desire.  Now you may enjoy eternal happiness.
137	"This place is free of all lamentation, fear and suffering.  It is full of supreme opulence and supreme bliss.  It is worshipped by the universes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is a description of Satyaloka.
138	"O brother, here the Lord of the universes, situated at the highest pinnacle of all glory, shines with great splendour.
139	"Aware that the goddess of fortune is affectionate to you, gaze now on the Lord with your eyes.  Conquer your grieving over Mathura and Vrajabhumi and your desire to go to another place.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the grief is out of separation from Mathura and Vrajabhumi.  The other place is Nilacala.
140	"If you wish that the Lord of the universes love you as He does Brahma, the by the power of the mantra you learned from a great soul, your wish will be fulfilled."
141	Then the Lord enjoyed pastimes of sleep, and at a certain time the creation was again manifest on the lotus of worlds born from the Lord's navel.  Seeing this, Brahma came out to perform His duties.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because the Lord is spiritual He does not sleep.  That is why the word "pastimes of sleep" is used.  Brahma had been in the Lord's abode.  He left and went to his own abode to perform his duties in the world.
142	Seeing both the Lord's wonderful form below and the universe on the lotus of His navel, and also seeing the currents of divine love flowing in four-headed Brahma as He heard confidential teachings from the Lord, I happily lived there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's teachings were about the secrets of pure devotional service.
143	During the night, when all the three worlds perished and all was flooded by an ocean accompanied by Brahma the Lord happily rested on Lord Ananta Sesa.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the night here is Brahma's night, which occurs after one thousand catur-yugas.  The Lord here is the thousand-headed form of the Lord.
144	By Brahmaloka's power I saw the Lord as the residents of Janaloka and other planets glorified Him with many wonderful prayers.
145	If the Lord went somewhere we suffered.  when He returned our suffering perished at its root.
146	After some days, one morning Brahma touched some foam and it suddenly became a demon.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this foam was on the ocean of cosmic devastation.
147	Brahma fled in fear.  The Lord killed the demon.  When terrified Brahma did not return, the Lord appointed me to his post.
148	I created Vaisnavas to increase the world's devotion to the Lord, and I appointed Vaisnavas to all the different administrative posts.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these were the posts of the demigods, such as Prajapati, Candra, and Surya.
149	In place after place worshipping the Lord with asvamedha-yajnas and other sacrifices, I flooded the universe with happiness.
150-2	Although I was elevated to the post of Brahma, and although the personified Vedas, sacrifices, Puranas, Itihasas, Agamas, and holy places, as well as the maharsis and brahmarsis, again and again very happily offered prayers to me, I did not abandon my humility.  Still, drowning in the waves of the ocean of a Brahma's duties, my heart became filled with anxieties, and I could not enjoy serving the Lord as before.
153	Although I heard that would live for two parardhas (many millions of years), I was still afraid of time.  My chanting also brought me great distress.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that to overcome his fears, Gopa-kumara chanted his mantra, but the chanting made him yearn for Vrajabhumi.
154	The Lord of the universes was affectionate to me as if I were His son.  This made me happy and destroyed the sadness in my heart.
155	Serving Him, thinking of Him as my father, and staying near Him, I sometimes offended Him, but He forgave me.
156	Although I was anxious at heart, the goddess of fortune loved me as if she were my mother, and that made me happy.  In this way I lived there for a long time.
157	One day, hearing the people of that planet praise a person about to attain impersonal liberation, I asked them about that wonderful thing.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this person had attained liberation in Bharata-varsa, Gopa-kumara asked:  "What is liberation?  How is it attained?"
158	I heard from them that impersonal liberation is very important and very difficult to attain.  Again I asked those all-knowing sages:  "When on desires it, by what method does he attain it?"
159	The goddesses of the Upanisads, accompanied by the personified Srutis and Smrtis, then said:  "Impersonal liberation is attained by knowledge alone.  It is not attained in any other way."
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that  this is confirmed in the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.8 and 6.15)
	By knowing the Supreme, one travels beyond death.  There is no other way.
160	Some Puranas and Agamas then very gravely said that transcendental knowledge, which is so difficult to attain, is easily attained by devotional service to the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Puranas and Agamas, who were here accompanied by the Pancaratras and other scriptures, are very expert in preaching the service of the Lord.  The word "gambhiryam" here means that they spoke without wavering.  Although liberation is attained by transcendental knowledge, transcendental knowledge is difficult to attain save by devotional service to the Lord.
161	Then some Srutis and Smrtis were seen to agree with that idea, that transcendental knowledge is easily attained by devotional service to the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is confirmed by the following quotations:
	"For one who has firm devotion to Lord Janardana, the master of the demigods, all good things come.  That is why the devotees are the best of all transcendentalists."
		-Brhan-Naradiya Purana
	"As all living entities take shelter of their mother, so all perfections take shelter of devotional service."
		-Vaisnava-sastra
	"My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly.  Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding."*
		-Bhagavad-gita 11.54
	"Good children, wealth, beautiful wife, precious necklaces, palaces, horses, elephants, pleasures, residence in Svargaloka and liberation are never far from devotional service."
		-Padma Purana
162	Refusing to hear these words, some great Upanisads, along with their Agamas and other scriptures became angry.  They agreed with a more direct view.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the scriptures here are the great Upanisads very devoted to the glories of the Supreme Lord.  The Agamas here are the scriptures that follow these Upanisads, and the other scriptures are some Puranas and other scriptures.  The more direct view here is their opinion that only by devotional service can liberation easily be attained.  This view is confirmed by the following quotations:
	"O best of brahmanas, they who are devoted to Lord Hari attain the goals of human life, namely:  piety, economic development, sense gratification, liberation.  Of this there is no doubt."
		-Brhan-Naradiya Purana
	"O Lord, liberation rests in the hand of a person devoted to You, the root from which all the universes have sprouted.  What use does he have for piety, economic development, and sense gratification?"
		-Visnu Purana
163	Some confidential Upanisads along with some confidential Agamas and Puranas, smiled and remained silent.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Vaisnava-tantras were part of this group.  Perhaps they were surprised that the Lord's glories, which are so clearly described in the scriptures, remained unknown to these so-called all-knowing sages.  Therefore they were silent.  Or perhaps they were silent because they were so convinced that devotional service grants liberation that they had only contempt for those who did not agree.  Or perhaps they thought it not proper to reveal this confidential truth to such an unqualified audience.  The truth is that pious works and rituals, cultivation of knowledge, and liberation are only steps leading to devotional service.  The scriptures here thought it not the proper time to explain this.
164-5	Then the Agama-sastras debated with the Puranas and Amnayas whether or not liberation is attained simply by chanting mantras of the Supreme Lord.  Not tolerating this, many Puranas, Agamas and Upanisads covered their ears and left.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the scriptures that left were the same ones that smiled and remained silent before.  They left because the discussion was not even slightly touched by the slightest scent of the great glories of devotional service to the Lord.
166	Then, on the meditation of the great Puranas and great Upanisads, the Agamas were declared the victors.  This pleased me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the scriptures that left were considered neutral, not taking either side, and therefore they were called to decide the case.  Hearing the arguments of both sides, they decided that the winners were the Agamas, whose opinion was that merely by chanting mantras of the Supreme Lord one may certainly become liberated.  Their view is confirmed by the following quotations:
	"They who go to Candraloka, Suryaloka, and other material planets, return again, but they who chant the twelve-syllable mantra glorifying the Supreme Lord never return."
		-Visnu Purana
	"The Supreme Lord is pleased when He is regularly glorified by mantra-chanting.  He gives many great happinesses and eternal liberation to the chanter."
		-Padmanabhiya
167	Understanding their exalted nature, I humbly glorified these Puranas and Agamas, and brought them to my own assembly.
168	When I respectfully asked them about the truth, the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Agamas that teach the Vaisnava conclusion, accompanied by the crowns of the Sruti, spoke.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he asked them why they smiled, remained silent, covered their ears, and left the assembly.  The crowns of the Sruti are the confidential Upanisads.
169	The devotional scriptures said:  O deva who has attained the Brahma's post, made willing to speak by your many virtues, we will tell you something more to be guarded than the greatest treasure.
170	We, who are intent on devotional service to the Lord, have sometimes discussed impersonal liberation and its associates.  We have criticised it, and we say it should be completely rejected.
171	Sometimes, in order to describe the glory of devotional service, we have also described impersonal liberation.  Impersonal liberation does not fulfil the purpose of life.  In it is not the slightest scent of happiness.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the happiness of devotional service is many millions of millions of times greater than the happiness of impersonal liberation.  Actually, there is no happiness in impersonal liberation.
172	The happiness in impersonal liberation is like the happiness in having good health or in sleeping soundly.  The ignorant call it happiness.  The ignorant are pleased by it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the happiness in good health and sound sleep are not positive happiness, but merely the absence of pain.  This is seen in the statement "I slept happily.  I don't remember a thing."  The happiness of impersonal liberation is like that.  It is only some relief from the sufferings of the world of birth and death.  Impersonal liberation is described by Lord Brahma in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.26.
173	Entering the ear, or spoken only once, even the dim reflection of the Lord's holy name brings prefect liberation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that even if one chants as a joke, or even if one chants to mock the holy name, one still attains liberation.  This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.24
	"Ajamila, for example, was extremely sinful, but while dying he merely chanted the holy name, and although calling his son, he achieved complete liberation because he remembered the name of Narayana."*
	This is also described in the story of Satyatapa in the Varaha Purana:
	A demon once came to eat a brahmana who was chanting the holy name in the water.  By hearing the holy name from his dying victim, the demon became liberated."
174	The Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures say that only they who have no good sense like impersonal liberation.
175	Impersonal liberation may vanquish all sufferings, or it may end actions done in ignorance, or it may, by enabling one to renounce the unreal forms made by the illusory potency, give direct perception of the self to the individual spirit soul, who is really eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, but the happiness it gives is very slight.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that liberation is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.6.
177	(The proponents of impersonal liberation) say that the pure soul is in reality quality-less, solitary, formless, inactive Brahman.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they say Brahman has no qualities, such as mercy, is alone and does not associate with the great devotees or anyone else, does not have wonderful forms, and does not enjoy any sweet pastimes.  It is the personal form of the Lord, which is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, that is and does all this.  By seeing Him one can experience happiness.
178	The Supreme Person, however, is the ultimate form of Brahman.  He is the Supersoul.  He is the Supreme controller.  His form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  he is an ocean of glory.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these statements are confirmed in Bhagavad-gita 10.12 and 14.27 and Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.87.1.
179	The presence and absence of all qualities, as well as a host of other contradictions, are all present in Him.  He is famous as the opulent Supreme Person and the Brahma.  He is both.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that as many rivers flow into the ocean, so many contradictory features are present in the Supreme Lord.  As the Brahman, He has no qualities, and as the Supersoul and the Supreme Controller, He has qualities.  Another example is that in some scriptures it is said He has no name, and in others His names are given.  The Vedic literatures describe this in these words:
	"Because the Supreme Lord's qualities cannot be completely known, it is said He has no name.  Because the Supreme Lord's form is not material, it is said He has no form."
	The Lord has spiritual qualities, but because His qualities are not material it may be said, in one sense, that He has no qualities.
180	Therefore, by devotional service one may see the Lord's intensely blissful, glorious lotus feet.  In this way one experiences intense bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the personal feature of the Supreme Lord is the origin of the impersonal Brahman.  This is explained in Bhagavad-gita 14.27 and Brahma-samhita 5.40
181	Sri Krsna's feet are the personification of happiness.  They are a great reservoir of happiness.  The are sweet as sugar.  Impersonal Brahman has only slight happiness.
182	If the individual spirit soul is Param Brahman (spirit) then he must also be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.11) explains that Brahman is a feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  If the individual spirit souls are Brahman, then they are also a feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
183	The truth is that the individual spirit souls are parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as rays of light are parts of the sun.
184	The individual spirit souls are eternally different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  They are different as rays of light are different from the sun, sparks are different from a fire, and waves are different from the ocean.
185	By the Lord's eternal potency, which is full of spiritual pastimes and opulences, and which is called Mahamaya and Yogamaya, the difference between the individual spirit souls and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is established eternally.
186	Therefore the devotees consider that the individual spirit souls are both different from the Lord and not different from Him.  In the liberated condition the difference is prominent.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because the individual spirit souls are Brahman they are not different from the Supreme and because they are only parts of Him they are different from Him.  Even Sankaracarya agrees that the liberated souls are different from the Lord, for he says:
	"Even the liberated souls have form.  They worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead and enjoy pastimes with Him."
	That the liberated souls worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead is also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.5.
187	Although the individual spirit souls have forms that are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, by the influence of Lord Krsna's maya, which places them in ignorance without beginning and makes them forget the truth, they become bewildered and wander in the world of birth and death.
188	When he understands his own nature, material illusion departs, and he becomes liberated.  Then he understands that he is an intensely blissful part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman.
189	In every circumstance one reaps the fruit of his actions.  In the liberation attained by knowledge of one's own self, the fruit is only slight happiness.
190	Persons who yearn for Svargaloka praise the celestial worlds.  In the same way persons who, because they are tormented by the world of birth and death and cannot taste nectar, yearn for impersonal liberation, again and again praise impersonal liberation.
191	The ultimate happiness is in devotional service.  That happiness is attained by they who serve the Lord's glorious lotus feet.
192	To describe the greatness of the happiness in devotional service we have spoken the word "ultimate".  This means it has no limit.
193	The happiness of devotional service increases at every moment.  Its greatness has no limit.  However the Brahman happiness in impersonal liberation does not increase.  It stays within its limits.
194	There are the Supersoul, the impersonal Brahman, and the Supreme Controller.  Because these three are one the difference between them is destroyed.
195	In truth, the individual spirit souls are eternally different from the Supreme.  Then again, because they are His parts and parcels they are not different from Him.  Then the difference is destroyed.
196	In this, our final conclusion, which is perfectly logical, and which proclaims that the individual spirit souls and the Supreme are simultaneously one and different, there is no flaw.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that even Sankaracarya admitted that the individual spirit souls are subordinate to the Supreme.  Sankara prayed:
	"O Lord, even when all differences between us have gone, still I am Yours, but You never become mine.  A wave is the property of the ocean, but the ocean never becomes the property of the a wave."
197	As the words of great souls quoted here by us are always conclusive evidence, so the actions of great souls are also evidence.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this evidence includes Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.10, 6.17.28 and 10.87.21, as well as the statement of Hanuman:
	"I have no desire for any liberation from the bonds of birth and death that will break the relationship where You are the mater and I the servant."
198	Many histories support this view.  They are not myths or fables.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.31-32 as an example.
199	They who think these stories myths become offenders and are thrown into a terrible hell.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the Naradiya Purana:
	"O best of brahmanas, they suffer in hell who claim that the stories in the Puranas, which teach the path of religion, are myths."
200	How can impersonal liberation be worthy of praise when even the demons, who are criticised by the scriptures, and who kill cows, brahmanas and others, attain it?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the demons' killing of others is described in the advice given by Kamsa's ministers in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.4.40.
201	The devotees and demons are opposite in all respects.  Therefore their destinations and the ways they attain it must also be opposite.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the goal of the devotee is to love the Supreme Lord and the devotees attain it by worshipping the Lord's lotus feet.  The goal of the demons is impersonal liberation and the demons attain it by following the theory of impersonalism.  Sometimes anger or other vices may also lead to the devotee's goal.  This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.97.23:
	"By practising the mystic yoga system and controlling their breath, the great sages conquered the mind and senses.  Thus engaging in mystic yoga, they saw the Supersoul within their hearts and ultimately entered into the impersonal Brahma.  However, even the enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attain that position simply by thinking of the Supreme Lord.  The damsels of Vraja, the gopis, simply wanted to embrace Krsna and hold His arms, which are like serpents.  Being attracted by the beauty of Krsna they ultimately acquired a taste for the nectar of the Lord's lotus feet.  We can also taste the nectar of Krsna's lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopis."*
	This is also described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.1.30
	"Many, many persons have attained liberation simply by thinking of Krsna with great attention and giving up sinful activities.  This great attention may be due to lust desires, inimical feelings, fear, affection, or devotional service.  I shall now explain how one receives Krsna's mercy simply by concentrating one's mind upon Him."*
202	By devotional service to Lord Krsna one becomes saintly.  Devotional service is the best way to progress in spiritual life.  By devotional service one attains the Lord's two lotus feet as the result of his efforts.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Krsna Himself glorifies the devotee in these words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.4.63-68):
	"I am completely under the control of My devotees.  Indeed, I am  not at all independent.  Because My devotees are devoid of all material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts.  What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotees are very dear to Me.*
	"O best of the brahmanas, without saintly persons for whom I am the only destination, I do not desire to enjoy My transcendental bliss and My supreme opulences.*
	"Since pure devotees give up their homes, wives, children, relatives, riches and even their lives simply to serve Me, without any desire for material improvement in this life or in the next, how can I give up such devotees at any time?*
	"As a chaste women bring their gentle husbands under control by service, the pure devotees, who are equal to everyone and completely attached to Me in the core of the heart, brings Me under their full control."*
	"My devotees, who are always satisfied to be engaged in My loving service are not interested even in the four principles of liberation (salokya, sarupya, samipya and sarsti), although these are automatically achieved by their service.  What then is to be said of such perishable happiness as elevation to the higher planetary systems?*
	"The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of My pure devotee.  My devotees do not know anything else but me, and I do not know anyone else but them."*
203	The great souls who know the truth and relish the nectar of devotional service to the Lord attain the nectar of the Lord's lotus feet as the result of their efforts.
204	The nectar of Lord Krsna's lotus feet is attained only by Lord Krsna's mercy.  It is not attained by pious fruitive work, philosophical speculation, or renunciation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8, 5.19.19, 11.20.35-36, 11.20.9, and 5.5.2-3.
205	Pious fruitive work interferes with devotional service and dry renunciation destroys it.  However when these two are purified they help it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami says this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.42 and 11.20.31-33.
206	Because of the Lord's mercy and the devotees' association, the self-satisfied sages abandon their faith in impersonal Brahman and enter the path of devotional service.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.19.3.
207	They become liberated and by the Lord's potency they attain bodies of eternity, knowledge and bliss.  With spiritual senses they serve Lord Hari.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the exalted position of the devotees is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.5.
208	The happiness of the impersonalists is attained by renunciation of false-ego.  That renunciation is easily done by they who know the truth.
209	Although impersonal liberation may come from devotional service, the devotees never accept the happiness of the impersonalists, for it checks their love for the Lord.
210	Love that can never be satisfied is the great result of devotional service.  The devotees think all other results should be given up.
211	Because the happiness of the impersonalists comes without devotional service, it does not satisfy the heart.  The great devotees do not think it very good.
212	By devotedly performing one's own religious duties one attains the purity of heart that brings the happiness of the impersonalists.  By performing this external devotional service one attains a slight result, but by performing internal devotional service one attains a very great result.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that internal devotional service consists of hearing and chanting the Lord's glories.
213	Leaving the happiness of the impersonalists behind, the devotees worship the Lord's lotus feet without stop and quickly attain great happiness and faith in devotional service.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8.
214	In devotional service the person who experiences, what he experiences, and the activities of the senses by which he experiences, are all manifested in many different ways.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the person who experiences is the devotee, who thinks "I am the Lord's servant", or who thinks himself related to the Lord in any one of a number of ways.  What he experiences is the Lord, who manifests many very wonderful and sweet transcendental forms pastimes, and other features.  The devotee experiences through the activities of the senses, which include a host of devotional activities beginning with hearing and chanting.
215	Because the mind remains inactive, no happiness can be perceived in the meditative trance of the impersonalists.  However, when the mind is active happiness shines through as light shines through a crystal mountain.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in the trance of the impersonalists the mind and senses are inactive, and therefore neither happiness nor anything else can be perceived.  In that state there is only void.  This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.84.29.  However, for the devotees, who with love and devotion actively serve the Lord's blissful lotus feet, great happiness is experienced in the mind, intelligence and senses.
216	Therefore the happiness of devotional service, which comes from the sweetness of the mercy of the Lord who loves His devotees, is greater than the happiness created by the meditative trance of the impersonalists.
217	The happiness in impersonal liberation is of only one kind, but the happiness in devotional service is of a wonderful variety of kinds.  Therefore the happiness in devotional service is different from the happiness in impersonal liberation.  The impersonalists cannot guess how great is the sweetness of the pastimes of devotional service to Lord Hari.
218	Lord Visnu, whose form is one, by employing His transcendental potency, which is beyond the understanding of the non-devotees, creates at every moment hundreds of newer and newer wonderful sweetnesses of devotional service.
219	The Supreme Personality of Godhead is much sweeter than the impersonal Brahman.  The Lord gives His greatest mercy to His devotees, who experience the highest bliss of the most intense sweetness, a bliss that reviles and eclipses the happiness in impersonal Brahman.
220	To splash His devotees with the waves of bliss of His many kinds of sweetness, the Lord appears in many ways.  His Brahman feature has  no variety, but His feature as the Supreme Person eternally presents a wonderful variety to His devotees' senses.
221	May Lord Krsna, whose opulence is eternal, whose great variety of many features is eternal, whose handsomeness is eternal, who is eternally surrounded by His eternal servants, who is worshipped eternally, whose realm is eternal, and who appears as the eternal, non-dual Brahman, protect you.
222	Although the wise do not push the hard thorns of logic into the very soft nectar of devotional service, to please the new devotees they do use those thorns against they who are attached to impersonal liberation.
223-4	If you can see that impersonal liberation is very insignificant, and if you desire the treasure that is faith in pure devotional service to the Lord, then worship your maha-mantra, and now hear a great secret that will please your heart.
225	Outside the material universe, which is four billion miles in diameter, are eight coverings, each one ten times greater than the one before.
226	Crossing these coverings, one attains eternal liberation, which is called Maha-kala-pura because the subtle and gross material elements are not manifests there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Mahakala-pura here may also be interpreted to mean the place Krsna and Arjuna visited to rescue a brahmana's sons.  The words "karya" and "karana" may also be interpreted to mean "the material senses" and "the gross material elements".
227	Each according to his own idea, the wise say that indescribable place either has form or has no form.
228	By their own wish the Lord's servants go there and see the Lord's pleasing, intensely spiritual form.
229	By the power of your maha-mantra you will attain the result you so long desired.
230	If you are waiting here for a long time to pass, don't continue to wait.  Go to Sri Mathura's Vrajabhumi at once.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara was waiting for his lifetime as Brahma to end.
231	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  O brahmana of Mathura in my heart their words increased my devotion for the Lord.
232	The Supreme Person to whom I should be devoted is present here as my father.  Why should I leave and go to some other place?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Visnu acted as Brahma's affectionate father.
233	Then, to me, who was very anxious at heart, the merciful Lord, knowing my thoughts, personally spoke the following words of instruction:
234	The Supreme Lord said:  Go to Mathura's Vrajabhumi, which is most dear to Me, and which is decorated with the places of My transcendental pastimes.
235	There a Lord Brahma prayed to become a blade of grass.  Unchanged after all this time, it is splendidly manifest as it was before.
236	Again you will find your guru, who is very dear to Me.  By his mercy you will understand everything.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "nitaram" here means "everything."
237	In the spiritual world of Maha-kala-pura you will see Me at once.  There you will attain transcendental bliss that will please your heart.
238	By the power of my mercy wandering as you wish, you will see hundreds of great wonders.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara will wander in the spiritual realms of Vaikunthaloka.
239	After some time all your desires will be fulfilled and you will enjoy pastimes with Me in Vrndavana as you wish.
240	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Filled with both joy and grief, by His order I at once came, travelling by the mind's power, to beautiful Vrndavana.

Chapter Three Bhajana (Worship)

1	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Coming from Brahmaloka to earth, I saw that not even the slightest fragrance of what had been before still remained.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains the demigods, humans, and their abodes had all been destroyed by the influence of the time of cosmic annihilation.
2	Sri Mathura however, with its forests, hills, streams, and moving creatures, was splendidly manifest as before.
3	Remembering the Lord's instruction, I wandered in Vrndavana.  Entering a forest grove, I say my guru, who had fainted in the ecstasy of love.
4	Revived after many efforts, and seeing me as I bowed before him, he embraced me.  Omniscient, he understood my desire.
5	After bathing, he taught me the rules of meditation and other rules of the mantra he had given me.  Some things he directly said, and others he hinted.
6	He said:  To you, who are very dear to me, I gave everything. By the power of what I gave, you will know everything and attain everything.
7	As with great happiness I fell at his feet, he suddenly left.  I could not see where he had gone.
8	With a great effort calming my mind now tortured by separation from him, I began to chant my mantra in the way he had taught.
9	I saw that my body was no longer made of the five gross elements.  Going through the circle of the sun, and then going higher, I saw that the different planets were filled with defects, decorated with false shadows of happiness, and filled with illusions, as desires seen in a dream.
11	Planets that before would take a long time to attain, one by one, now were all passed in a single moment, as if I were travelling at the speed of mind.
12	Then I reached the universe's coverings, which had happinesses and opulences millions of times greater than Brahmaloka.
13-4	I came to the coverings of gross material elements, and the subtle material elements, which are named linga, and which contain many great pleasures enjoyed by living entities free from the gross elements.
15-6	First I entered the covering of earth, where I saw the supremely opulent earth-goddess who, with offerings of things difficult to get the material universes, was worshipping the Lord, who had the form of a great boar, the pores of His body the place from which the universes come.
17	I saw that the entire material universe, including its ingredients, were present in her, its subtle cause.
18	Putting aside the worship of the Lord, the earth-goddess welcomed me as a guest and asked me to stay for some days and enjoy the happiness there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this place is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.89.47.
19	Taking her permission, I quickly went through that covering, as if being somehow dragged through it, and I came to the other coverings.
20-1	In those coverings I saw, one after another, Lord Mastya, Lord Surya, Lord Pradyumna, Lord Aniruddha, Lord Sankarsana, and Lord Vasudeva, being worshipped by the great forms of the deities of water, fire, air, ether, false-ego, and mahat-tattva.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the deity of water worshipped Lord Matsya, and the deity of fire worshipped Lord Surya.  In this way each element-deity worshipped a specific form of the Lord.
22	Each gross material element, and then each subtle material element manifested greater and greater objects of worship, worshippers, enjoyment, beauty and glory.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in each element-covering these things were greater than in the previous covering.  The objects of worship were the Deities beginning with Lord Mastya, and the worshippers were the element-deities beginning with the element fire.
23	Passing through these coverings as before, I came to the very dark covering of material energy, its dark colour very pleasing to the eyes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this covering is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.89.47.
24	Seeing this dark colour, so like the colour of my worshipable Lord, I became very pleased, and did not wish to go any further.
25	The very beautiful material nature, concluding the worship of her Deity, the splendid form of Mohini-devi, at once approached me.
26	Placing anima and the other mystic powers as an offering before me, she begged me to stay, as had the earth-goddess and the other deities.
27	She affectionately said:  If you wish impersonal liberation, then you must please me, for I guard the door to it.
28	If you wish devotional service to Lord Visnu then you should worship me, for by His mercy I am His maidservant, sister, and potency.
29	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Thinking of her as Lord Visnu's potency, I bowed before her and, ignoring everything, wandered about to gaze at the covering which had a very beautiful colour...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara ignored everything she said and all the offerings she presented before him.
30	...which was supremely glorious, which was enjoyed by many individual spirit souls manifesting forms of subtle material elements...
31	...which had many forms, which was difficult to understand, which had opulences that charm the heart, which was worshipped by the gross and subtle material elements, and which consisted of the material universes.
32	Then, by the Lord's wish, I travelled a great distance through that great darkness and finally I saw a light so splendid it made me close my eyes.
33	With great devotion and care I looked ahead and saw, splendid as millions of suns, the Supreme Lord...
34	...who delighted my eyes and heart, who was all-powerful, who was decorated with wonderful sweetnesses, who had all the characteristics of the Supreme Person, who was perfectly spiritual, who was very wonderful...
35	...who was eternally beyond the modes of material nature, who had all spiritual qualities, who had no form, whose form charmed the hearts of the world, who was splendidly manifest as the creator of the material energy, who had no relationship with the material energy, and who was infallible.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami says the statement that the Lord had no form means He had no material form.
36	What should I do?  Overcome with great fear, reverence, bliss, and love, I had no power to understand at all.
37	Although He is manifest only by His own wish, and although He is beyond the material senses, by the power of His mercy He is seen directly.
38	Was I seeing Him with my eyes, or my heart, or something beyond them both?  I could not decide.
39	One moment seeing Him formless, I remembered the mercy of Lord Jagannatha.  In the next moment seeing, as before, that the great splendour had form, I became happy.
40	One moment I began to merge into that light, but by the Lord's mercy I was saved by the touch of the splendour of His lotus toenail.
41	My heart became pleased when at one moment I saw the Lord, as the sun is surrounded by rays of light, surrounded by perfect devotees at once different and not different from Him.
42	My heart plunged in an ocean of bliss, I became like a self-satisfied sage, or like a person whose desires are all fulfilled.
43	Thinking a flood of thoughts worshipped by logic I concluded that this was the best place, the ultimate, the final fruit of all endeavours.
44	In my heart tossed by waves of bliss, awareness of everything else disappeared.
45	Because of the instruction of the great devotee, because of the power of my service to my mantra, and because of my yearning to see directly the lotus feet of my worshipable Lord, I never merged in impersonal liberation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the great devotee here is Gopa-kumara's guru, and the Lord here is Lord Madana-Gopala.
46	The sight of that Supreme Person increased my long-nourished yearning to see my worshipable Lord and carried it on the path of my memory.
47	Gazing at Him, as He was manifest before me, I was not pleased as before.  I feared merging into Him.
48	I thought, "When I come to Vrajabhumi, I will attain my desire."  Then I heard wonderful sounds of singing and instrumental music.
49	Happy, I looked at that direction and saw, coming from above, a person different from all the others, riding on a bull...
50	...his body fair with camphor, having three eyes, his only clothing the four directions, crowned with a half-moon, graceful, holding a trident, his matted locks holding the Ganges' water, anointed with ashes, wearing a necklace of glorious bones...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the bones were glorious because they were the bones of great Vaisnavas.
51	...pleased by goddess Gauri sitting on his lap, and served with very splendid paraphernalia by associates whose handsome forms and graceful actions were like his.
52	I became filled with joy and wonder.  I thought:  "Who is this that, surrounded by his associates, stands above impersonal liberation?
53	"His opulences seen unworldly and he seems better than all the liberated souls, but yet he looks like a great hedonist who does not care to act rightly."
54	When, my heart overcome with bliss by seeing him, I bowed before him and his associates, he mercifully glanced at me.
55	Joyfully approaching the leader of the associates, who was named Sriman Nandisvara, I asked about him.
56	He laughed and said:  "O cowherd boy, O devotee worshipper of Lord Gopala, you don't know Lord Siva, who is the Lord of the universes...
57	...who gives both material pleasures and liberation, who increases devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshipped by the liberated souls, and who is dear to the Vaisnavas?
58-9	"Conquered by the devotion of his friend Kuvera, from his own abode, which is like himself, and which is attained by the devotion of they who see that Lord Siva and Lord Krsna are not different, he is now going, along with his beloved Parvati and his many associates, to decorate Mount Kailasa."
60	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Hearing this, I became happy, and I desired to get the blissful mercy of Lord Siva.
61	Understanding my heart, Lord Siva gave a meaningful glance to Nandi.  Nandi then explained to me the pure truth, which was at once manifested before me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the fact the Lord Krsna and Lord Siva are not different was the truth manifested to Gopa-kumara.
62	The truth was that Lord Siva, who increases one's love for Lord Krsna, is not different from Lord Madana-Gopala, my Lord, who is more dear to me than life.
63	I happily joined their company and all of Lord Siva's associates treated me well.  From Sri Nandi heard of Lord Siva's extraordinary glories.
64	Always in the same form, Lord Siva stays in his own abode eternally.  There he is always seen by his devotees, who have faith in him alone, and who are pleased to stay in his abode.
65	He is always filled with devotion for Lord Krsna, who is not different from him.  With singing, dancing, and other pastimes he delights his associates.
66	Although he is the Lord of the universes, Lord Siva always worships thousand-headed Lord Sesa with great love, as if he were His servant.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.17.16.
67	Even though I became very happy to hear of the supreme glories of Sivaloka, still I noticed that my heart felt empty.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara still yearned to see the lotus feet of Lord Madana-Gopala.
68	Thinking about the reason for this, by the power of my service to the mantra my guru gave, I suddenly understood.
69	The absence of the pastimes and glories of Lord Madana-Gopala's lotus feet gave me pain.
70	Then I told my mind that because he is the same as Lord Madana-Gopala, Lord Siva himself has performed these wonderful pastimes, although in a different form.
71-2	Seeing it was still unhappy, I said to my mind:  Although you have not yet seen in Lord Siva the sweetness of Lord Madana-Gopala's form and other glories, still, your long-cherished desire to see them will certainly be fulfilled by Lord Siva's mercy.
73	My mind somehow became satisfied.  Then Lord Siva became tired and stopped, and for a moment I stayed happily by his side.
74	Then, O lord, from far away came the very sweet sound of some great souls singing.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "lord" here refers to the Mathura brahmana, who is very fortunate because he is a devotee of Lord Madana-Gopala.
75	Hearing this, Lord Siva became plunged in an ocean of bliss and, overcome with ecstatic love, began to dance.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that he manifested the symptoms of ecstasy, such as perspiring, speaking with a choked voice, trembling, his bodily hairs standing up, and his eyes shedding tears.
76	The goddess, best of chaste ladies, along with Nandi and the others, encouraged the Lord by singing and playing musical instruments.
77	Then I saw suddenly come many handsome four-armed men, who were filled with the glories of youth, handsomeness,, and sweetness...
78	...the splendour of whose limbs decorated their ornaments and put Lord Siva's followers in the shade, who were plunged in the nectar of the bliss of the great glories of their Lord...
79	...who were beyond description, whose clothing and ornaments charmed the heart, and who were accompanied by the four sages headed by Sanaka that we had seen before.
80	The sight of them created a bliss that tugged at my heart.  I did not know anything within or without more dear than the sight of them.
81	After a moment I composed myself.  My heart filled with awe and shyness, I could not beg to serve them.
82	The desire to serve them overwhelmed weak me.  By Lord Siva's mercy would they speak even once to me?
83	From whence had they come?  Who were they?  I prayed they would mercifully glance at me.  Tightly embracing them, Lord Siva fainted in the ecstasy of love.
84	Encouraged by Goddess Uma, who faithfully followed Lord Siva's heart, and who could understand my thoughts, Ganesa softly spoke.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Ganesa spoke softly because he was to say something very confidential, and it was not right for Lord Siva's followers hear it.
85	Sri Ganesa said:  They are the personal associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, the master of Vaikuntha.  They have forms like His.  They have come from Vaikuntha.
86-7	Look, some of them are going to a four-headed Brahma's universe.  Others, far way, are quickly going to an eight-headed Brahma's universe, which is twice the size.  Still others are going to a sixteen-headed Brahma's universe, which is twice the size again.
88-9	Ganesa then showed me these many associates, who were decorated with appropriate ornaments, who charmed the eyes and heart, and who in their pastimes were entering the millions and millions of universes of millions and millions of great, lotus-faced Brahmas.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these associates of the Lord are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.11, 10.87.41 and 6.16.37.
90-1	(Ganesa said:) From all fears they protect devotees who, somehow even once get the slight reflection of the Lord's holy name on their tongue or the pathway to their ear.  Fond only of devotional service, by their own wish they wander everywhere preaching of glorious devotional service.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami says these two verses explain why the liberated devotees of Vaikuntha come to the material universes.
92-3	These four, who are incarnations of the Lord in the forms of devotees, who are the best of celibate sages, and who appear to be the Lord's associates, wander about for the welfare of the worlds.  They reside in Tapoloka, bringing auspiciousness to the sages who stay there bereft of Lord Narayana's company, feeling lost and without a master.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the four sages here are the four Kumara's, headed by Sanaka, who are devotee-incarnations of the Lord of Vaikuntha.  they bring auspiciousness to the residents of Tapoloka by glorifying the Supreme Lord's pastimes.
94-5	Having recently gone to Vaikuntha and seen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of all attractive transcendental qualities, having drowned there in a flood of limitless bliss that mocks the happiness of impersonal liberation and in the company of devotees having drunk there the sweet nectar of devotional service to Lord Hari, they (the four Kumaras) have now come here.
96-7	How will I be able to describe Vaikunthaloka, which is filled with the limitless ultimate of all happiness and opulence, which is decorated with the pastimes of the lotus feet of Lord Narayana, the husband of the goddess of fortune, which the devotees full of love find easy to attain, and which they whose hearts are wounded by the desire for impersonal liberation and filled with the sinful desire to become one with the Lord, find very difficult to attain?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami quotes the following warnings from Vedic literature:
	"The half-wake fool that proclaims, 'Everything is Brahman,' takes birth again in a terrible hell."
		-Vasista-sastra
	"A person who claims, 'I am the Supreme Brahman, who now enjoys pastimes of sense gratification,' burns in hell for billions of kalpas."
		-Brahma-vaivarta Purana
	"A person who claims, 'I am the Supreme Brahman, who now enjoys pastimes of sense gratification in the worlds of repeated birth and death,' loses the merit of his spiritual deeds and becomes like an outcaste."
		-the Puranas
98	If my father is kind, then you may hear of the glories of that place and you may also go there and see them directly.
99	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  O brahmana, filled with a great yearning to attain that place, I danced on the waves of a shoreless ocean of anxiety.
100	Thinking I would not be able to go there, I cried and by the power of my grief, I fainted from moment to moment.
101	Then Lord Siva, who is very merciful and very dear to the Vaisnavas, and who cannot bear to see others suffer, picked me up, comforted me, and spoke to me.
102	Lord Siva said: O Vaisnava, Parvati and I yearn to stay always in Vaikunthaloka, just as you do.
103	That realm is very difficult to attain.  The liberated souls pray for it.  Lord Brahma, his sons, and I myself strive for it.
104-6	A person who has great faith in the pure and desireless performance of one's own varnasrama duties attains the mercy of Lord Hari.  If that mercy is multiplied a hundred times, one attains the post of Brahma.  If that mercy is again multiplied a hundred times, one attains my post.  If the mercy I receive from the Lord is multiplied a hundred times, one attains Vaikuntha.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.29.  It is also described in Itihasa-samuccaya in these words:
	"Saintly persons free of false-ego, material possessiveness, and material duality, who devotedly engage in the yoga of meditation, and who know that the pure, eternal, splendid Supreme Brahma effulgence is beyond the realm of the demigod Brahma, go to that effulgence."
	"They who worship Lord Hari, who is known as Visnu, Krsna, Jisnu, Sanatana, Narayana, Aja, Visvaksena, and Caturbhuja, and who meditate on Him, the transcendental divine Person, and who remember Him, the infallible Lord, attain His eternal abode.  That is the conclusion of the eternal Sruti-sastra."
107	You are a Govardhana-gopa's son, a devotee of Lord Mathuresa, and a disciple of a brahmana attached to the Lord's service.  You devotedly chant a mantra glorifying the Lord and You love the Lord.  You should go to Vaikuntha.
108-11	Knowing that impersonal liberation, sayujya-mukti, which is one of the four kinds of liberation, and which is attained by sannyasi who imagine that they are  not different from the Supreme, whose hearts are withered by the great flames of sufferings in the world of repeated birth and death, who cherish what is worthless and cannot distinguish the worthless and the valuable, and whom I, by the order of Lord Krsna, who wished to conceal the path of loving devotion to His lotus feet, cast into an ocean of illusions, is rejected by they who taste the bliss of devotional service to the Lord.  You should also reject that liberation, which is a great obstacle.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the impersonal Brahman effulgence is described in the Hari-vamsa, where Lord Krsna says to Arjuna:
	"O best of the Bharatas, I am the divine Brahman effulgence that you see.  It is My eternal splendour."
	"It is My superior potency.  Although it is sometimes manifest and sometimes not manifest, it is eternal.  The greatest knowers of yoga enter it and become liberated."
	"O son of Prtha, it is the goal of the sankhya philosophers, the yogis and the ascetics.  It is My supreme Brahman effulgence, which pervades the entire world."
	"O scion of Bharata, you should know that this great effulgence is Mine."
	That impersonal liberation is worthless is explained in the prayers of Lord Brahma (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.4), where it is compared to the empty husks left remaining after rice is threshed.
	That Lord Krsna ordered Lord Siva to preach the theory of mayavada impersonalism is described in Padma Purana, Uttara-khand:
	"The mayavada philosophy", Lord Siva informed his wife Parvati, "is impious (asac-chastra).  It is covered Buddhism.  My dear Parvati, in the form of a brahmana in Kali-yuga I teach this imagined mayavada philosophy.  In order to cheat the atheists, I describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be without form and without qualities.  Similarly, in explaining Vedanta I described the same mayavada philosophy in order to mislead the entire population toward atheism by denying the personal form of the Lord."*
	This is also described in the Brhat-sahasra-nama, where Lord Krsna orders Lord Siva:
	"In Kali-yuga, mislead the people in general by propounding imaginary meanings of the Vedas to bewilder them."*
112	A brahmana who lived in Dvaraka and prayed only for the nectar of devotional service, by his own mystic powers brought his sons from impersonal liberation to Dvaraka.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the wonderful loving devotion the residents of Dvaraka, who had forms of eternity, knowledge and bliss, felt for Lord Krsna's lotus feet completely eclipsed the happiness of impersonal liberation.  The glories of devotional service are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.37, 7.1.46, and 4.29.47.
113	By the mercy of your spiritual guru, even here you see the Supreme Lord.  That sight makes you yearn to see Lord Krsna.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "even here" mean "even in this realm, where the impersonal liberation is manifest."
114	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  O brahmana, by Lord Siva's mercy I was filled with bliss.  Although wishing to say something, because of shyness I could not speak.
115	Hearing Lord Siva's words, the Lord's humble associates respectfully bowed before him and with love said to him:
116	The Lord's associates said:  O Lord, you are not different from the Lord of Vaikuntha, and Gauri is not different from Goddess Laksmi.
117	It is right that you and Your goddess stay in His realm (Vaikuntha).  You are famous for being very dear to Him and for being His great incarnation.
118	What you have said about yourself is proper for one very dear to the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the reference here is to.fn1
	Text 103, where Lord Siva says about Vaikuntha: "That realm is very difficult to attain.  The liberated souls pray for it.  Lord Brahma, his sons, and I myself strive for it."  Such a humble statement (that he prays to attain Vaikuntha) is proper for a person who is very dear to the Lord.
119	You enjoy pastimes in the nectar waves of devotional service.  The Vaisnavas glorify you.  You are the most glorious of all incarnations.
120	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Ashamed to hear himself praised, Lord Siva remained silent.  The very friendly associates of the Lord then embraced me and said:
121	The Lord's associates said:  O you who worship our Lord's transcendental mantra, O you who are dear to Lord Siva, O cowherd boy, we count on you among the devotees.
122	An exalted Mathura-brahmana named Jayanta was born on the Ganges' shore.  He is an incarnation of Lord Krsna.  He is your great guru.
123	Know the truth.  We have come here for your sake.  Hear what you should do for your own welfare:  If you desire Vaikuntha, then renounce everything and perform the nine kinds of loving devotional service.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "here" means "in this realm of impersonal liberation".  Renouncing everything here means renouncing even his mantra chanting.  The nine kinds of devotional service begin with chanting and hearing the Lord's glories.
124	Worship Srimad-Bhagavatam and the other scriptures that teach devotional service.  Regularly hear of the Lord's pastimes.  When they lovingly enter the ear, the narrations of His pastimes have the power to give the Lord's feet at once.
125	Any one of these nine kinds of devotional service is the best of all ways to attain Vaikuntha, the highest goal.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that any one of the nine kinds of devotional service is better than pious work (karma), philosophical speculation (jnana) and other spiritual methods.  Vaikuntha is better than sense gratification, impersonal liberation or any other goal.  This is explained in the following verses of the Brahma Purana.
	"Simply by being initiated, the devotees of Krsna attain liberation, what to speak of they who always worship Lord Acyuta with devotion."
	They who with a vow always remember Lord Janardana, attain the blissful realm of Vaikuntha when they leave this body."
126	The glories (of Vaikuntha) make the great souls reject all material results as insignificant.
Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the great souls here are the devotees, who relish devotional service and have the power to distinguish what is valuable and what is worthless.
127	To taste its sweetness, the devotees who know how to taste nectar engage in devotional service, which has nine ways...
128	When these kinds of devotional service are performed with faith, at a certain time pure love for Lord Krsna's lotus feet appears of its own accord.
129	Devotional service performed with love cures the heart-disease that is the desire for other attainments, a disease that prevents the attainment of Vaikuntha.
130	Wherever devotional service is performed, that place becomes Vaikuntha.  There the Lord stays.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is confirmed by the Lord Himself in these words:
	"I live neither in Vaikuntha, nor in the yogis' hearts.  O Narada, I stay where My devotees chant My glories.
131	Although the Lord is always present in other places, He is not always seen there.  The devotees yearn for Vaikuntha because He is always seen there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's wonderful handsomeness, virtues, pastimes, sweetness, and other features are not eternally visible in places other than Vaikuntha.
132	The faithful devotees cannot attain this kind of pure devotional service, eternal and without any obstacles, in any other place.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "like this" mean "performed with pure love".  Because in Vaikuntha there are no obstacles presented by material time or other material limitations, the pure devotees there, filled with pure love and manifesting forms of eternity, knowledge and bliss, engage in pure devotional service eternally.  For this reason the devotees aspire to attain Vaikuntha.
133	Do not think devotional service is an activity of the material senses, mind or body.  It is beyond the modes of material nature.  It is eternal, spiritual, and full of bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in the activities of devotional service it is not the material ears and voice that hear and chant the Lord's glories, not the material mind that remembers the Lord, and not the material body that bows down before the Lord or serves Him in other ways.
134	To bring happiness to the devotees, devotional service is splendidly manifest by Lord Krsna's mercy in many ways to the souls beyond the modes of material nature, who have forms of eternity, knowledge and bliss.
135	When, by using proper discrimination, a pure soul goes to Lord Hari's spiritual abode, the many kinds of pure devotional service are splendidly manifest in him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that proper discrimination is described in Bhagavad-gita 5.9.
136	In a soul by knowledge purified of material actions performed by body or senses, there is no contact with any other (than devotional service).
137	How can a person who remains aloof from the activities of devotional service to the Lord, as if they were like other activities, go to Vaikuntha?  He attains impersonal liberation.
138	It should not be thought that the activities of devotional service are like other activities.  It should not be said, with external vision, that a devotee's body or possessions are like anything else.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.35.
139	Whether in Vaikuntha or in another place, the devotees have forms, limbs, and senses that are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by the potency of the Lord's mercy a devotee's material body becomes spiritualised.
140	We ourselves, the Lord's associates in Vaikuntha, who day and night serve Him in many ways and remain untouched by the modes of material natures, are the proof of this.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.1.34.
141	Devotional service lovingly appears before the new devotees because of the actions they perform with their senses.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these are the actions of devotional service, which begin with glorifying the Lord.  Devotional service appears before the new devotees to increase their faith.
142	The great souls do no think devotional service is independent of the Lord.  They see devotional service is the Lord's great mercy.
143	If you wish to see beautiful Vaikuntha at once, then go to beautiful Vrajabhumi, the best of holy places that fulfill all desires.
144	To the Lord's beautiful lotus feet always render pure devotional service, which consists mainly of glorifying the holy name.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that glorifying the Lord's holy name quickly brings one to Vaikuntha.  Pure devotional service is not mixed with fruitive work (karma), philosophical speculation (jnana), or anything else.
145	By this you will attain a great wealth of spiritual love and you will easily see Lord Krsna in Vaikuntha.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25.
146	Some think that remembering the Lord,  not glorifying Him, is the best, most confidential way to attain spiritual love because the devotional service of glorifying the Lord is easily manifested, is done without knowledge, and only appears on one sense: the voice.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is the opinion of Pippalayana Muni and the other sages in Tapoloka.  According to them, because glorifying the Lord is done with one of the working senses (the voice) and not one of the knowledge-acquiring senses, it is done without knowledge.  They also say that because glorifying the Lord quickly brings a result, that result, because it is quickly attained, must be inferior.
147	The devotional service of remembering the Lord, which appears when the fickle, horrible, childish mind, which is the king of all the senses, is brought under control and purified, is the best.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.23.45 and 11.23.47.
148	We think that because it engages the voice, ears and mind, and because it attracts others as it does oneself, glorifying the Lord is better than remembering the Lord with the fickle mind.
149-50	When the voice and the other restless internal and extral senses are controlled, then the mid becomes steady in remembrance of the Lord.  Remembrance of the Lord is the result of this endeavour.  This is the opinion of they who are attached to meditating on the Lord.  They who have faith in meditation employ only the mind in remembering the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these and the following verses present the opinion of they who are attached to meditation.  They think that remembering the Lord is the result obtained by glorifying the Lord.  The external senses begin with the ears and the internal senses begin with the mind.  The mind may be controlled either by observing a vow of silence or by actively glorifying the Lord.
151	By the power of meditation the activities of the senses, beginning with glorifying, touching, and seeing, rest within the mind.  For this reason meditation is better than glorifying the Lord.
152	The kind of devotional service one loves and enjoys and finds sweet as nectar is the best kind for him.  The saintly devotees say it is not the same for the result one obtains.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the result has not the same nature as the means for it is not many, but is only one:  spiritual love for the Lord.
153	With glorification of the Lord the happiness of meditating on the Lord increases.  By meditating on the Lord the happiness of the sweetness of glorifying Him increases.  We see that they increase each other.  They are one.
154	As glorifying the Lord gives happiness, so does meditating on Him.  They whose hearts are attached to one thing become peaceful when in their hearts they see the object of their desire.
155	As men stricken by fever break their thirst and becomes happy by drinking water cool as nectar (so by glorifying or meditating on the Lord one becomes happy).
156	If they have the power to glorify the Lord, the devotees are ashamed to remain silent in a secluded place.
157	In solitude meditating on the Lord becomes perfected.  Glorifying the Lord may be done either in solitude or surrounded by many people.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that if obstacles prevent one from glorifying the Lord in the presence of others, one may glorify Him in a secluded place.
158	Of the many ways to glorify Lord Krsna, chanting His holy name is the first.  Because it has the power to give the great wealth of pure love for Him, it is considered the best.
159	Who can describe the peerless glory of Lord Krsna's holy name, which delights the heart and is waves of nectar always lovingly tasted by the tongue?
160	Although all the Lord's names are equally glorious, by chanting the names that are dear to the devotees one quickly and easily attains his desire.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that there are no gradations of higher and lower in the Lord's names.  All are unlimitedly glorious.  Some names, however, are especially dear to the devotees.  This is described in these words:
	"O beautiful-faced Parvati, the holy name of Lord Rama is equal to a thousand other names of the Lord.
161	The devotees attracted to various names of the Lord gradually become attracted to all His names.  They all become dear to him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that first one, then two, then three, and gradually all the Lord's names become dear to the devotee.
162	Appearing in one sense, the nectar of the holy name floods all the senses with sweetness.
163	The holy name's appearance on the voice-sense delights both oneself and others.  For this reason glorifying the Lord's holy name is better than meditating on Him. 
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains the holy name delights both the chanter and they who hear him.
164	It is said that chanting the holy name is a great treasure of love for Lord Krsna.  It is the best and most powerful spiritual practice.  It is like the best mantra.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the glories of chanting the holy name are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.39-40.
165	They who know how to taste spiritual nectar know that spiritual love is the fruit of devotional service.  In spiritual love one chants the holy name without stop.
166	They who know how to taste nectar describe the spiritual qualities of intense love for Lord Krsna.  When the chanter is in distress, the Lord's holy name is chanted with great love.
167	Know that, as the cataka birds lament when there is no rain cloud, and as the cakravaki birds lament when separated at night from their husbands, so the (devotees)), distressed (by separation from the Lord, make a lament of) chanting the holy names.
168	Only by the wonderful mercy of the Lord, who is a nectar ocean of wonderful pastimes, is the wonderful sweetness of chanting the holy name manifest.  It is not manifest by one's own efforts.
169	The karmic reactions of they who worship (the holy name) are destroyed as much as they could wish.  Others, however, must still experience their karma.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya, where the Lord says:
	"Know that My devotees transcend the wheel of karma, which the demigods and demons cannot escape."
170	Afraid to reveal the secret treasure of devotional service, the holy name's exalted servants pretend that they themselves are also suffering because of their own fault.
171	Simply by chanting the holy name, all Lord Hari's devotees are free of sins and sufferings.  However, some devotees who are merciful as the Lord is, teach the people of the world to act rightly.
172	As King Bharata and others showed the fault of bad association, as King Yudhisthira and others showed it is a mistake to gamble, and as King Nrga and others showed the fearful danger of stealing from a brahmana, by their own actions, these pure souls teach the people.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that King Bharata became degraded by becoming attached to a fawn.
173	By the power of devotional service, and by thoughtful understanding, you will surmount the greatest obstacles in this world.  We will also help you in all circumstances.
174	even the words of the sage in Tapoloka could not make you abandon your wish to see the Lord directly.
175	The Lord's form is real.  It is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  This form of eternity, knowledge, and bliss can be seen only with proper senses.  Still, by the power of the Lord's mercy He can be seen even by eyes of matter.  Thus, either by one's own power, or His mercy, the Lord may be seen.
176	The mind thinks:  "Although He is seen only with eyes of knowledge, I am seeing Him with these material eyes."  In this way the teacher that is the power of Lord Krsna's mercy acts to increase (the devotee's) happiness.
177	By the power of a flood of His mercy, or by the power of devotional service, the Lord may be seen.  Even with limited, material eyes He may be seen perfectly and always, as He is seen by the mind.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these words refute Pippalayana Muni, who said that with the naturally limited material eyes one may sometimes see the Lord, and sometimes not see Him, and only with the subtle mind is one able to see the Lord always and without impediment.  The conclusion is that by the Lord's mercy, or by devotional service, one is able to see the Lord always and without impediment.
178	If (the power of the Lord's mercy or the power of devotional service) is not (present), then it is not possible to see the self-manifest Lord in one's heart.  Only when He is worshipped does the intensely blissful Lord give bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord is supremely independent.  He appears only by His own wish.  Therefore He is called self-manifest.
179	By seeing the Lord with one's eyes, one obtains the Lord's great mercy.  This is seen everywhere.  By hearing about the Lord and serving Him in other ways one can attain the supremely blissful goal (of seeing Him).
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this and the following two verses declare that seeing the lord directly is better than seeing Him in meditation.  Kardama Muni and Dhruva Maharaja are examples of devotees who by seeing the Lord obtained His mercy.  Pippalayana Muni may say that Lord Brahma saw the Lord in a trance of meditation and obtained His mercy in that way.  To this it is replied that Lord Brahma is an exception here.  The other ways of serving the Lord mentioned here include glorifying the Lord and remembering Him.  As one of the activities of devotional service, remembering the Lord in meditation also leads to the result of directly seeing Him.
180	Directly seeing (the Lord) is the best result of all kinds of spiritual practices.  (By seeing Him) illusion perishes at its root and spiritual love (for Him) grows.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.21.
181	Although Prahlada and other devotees always saw the Lord in their hearts, they still yearned to see Him directly.  The proof of this is that after directly seeing the Lord, their love for Him increased.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is proven by the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya's description of Prahlada's attaining great love for the Lord by seeing Him on the ocean's shore.
182	(Someone may say that) sometimes the devotees close their eyes (in meditation) when they directly see the Lord.  (To this it is answered) that this is not meditation, but it is like trembling or other symptoms of ecstatic love.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that someone may quote the description of the four Kumaras' closing their eyes when they saw Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.44).  However, they did not close their eyes in order to meditate on the Lord, but rather because they were overcome with ecstatic love.
183	Meditation is proper when the Lord cannot be seen, but not when He can be seen.  Whether the Lord is seen or not, glorifying Him is always proper.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that glorifying the Lord when He is not present is described in the account of the rasa-dance in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.7).  It is also described in Visnu Purana in these words:
	"(Bereft of His company), the gopis sang Lord Krsna's name again and again."
	"(Bereft of His company), the gopis called out: O Krsna! O Krsna!"
184	The Lord's beautiful name, which is more dear even than His beautiful Deity form, is auspicious for the world, is easily worshipped, and is full of nectar.  Nothing is equal to it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.14.15.
185	Therefore, obey Lord Siva's order and quickly go to beautiful Mathura., to which we bow down to offer our respects, and which is most dear to Lord Krsna.
186	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Drinking this nectar for my ears, I became filled with bliss.  I bowed down to them and to Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati and then I was suddenly in the land of Vraja.  At this my intelligence was bewildered.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the statement that Gopa-kumara was bewildered means that he was either surprised or full of joy.

Chapter Four (Vaikuntha)

1	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Wandering alone as I lived in the forest, when I saw the beauty of that land, a beauty never before see, I forgot everything as if I were under a spell.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this statement shows that the land of Vraja is more glorious than any other place in the material or spiritual worlds.  Its beauty is so great it made Gopa-kumara completely forget the realm of Vaikuntha.
2	Playfully wandering, I came to the beautiful city of Mathura.  From the brahmanas there I heard Srimad-Bhagavatam and other scriptures.
3	After learning from them the nine-fold devotional service, I came to this forest and suddenly saw my exalted guru.
4	He was glorious as before.  Seeing me bowing before him, he, who knew everything, happily blessed me, embraced me, and gave me his mercy.
5	I attained his mercy.  He revealed great secrets.  As he taught me, I practiced the yoga of devotional service.
6	Soon I was overcome with a flood of love.  I could not do anything. I could only chant the holy names.
7	"O Sri Krsna! Gopala! Hari! Mukunda! Govinda! O son of Nanda! Krsna! O son of Yasoda! Life of the gopis! Lord of Radhika! Please be kind!"
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these ten names of the Lord are especially dear.
8	Singing these words, again and again I called out to the Lord.  Sometimes dancing, and sometimes crying out as a madman, I wandered here and there, forgetting my own body and everything else.
9	Once I saw the Lord of my life before me.  Running to grasp Him, I fainted and fell, overcome with love.
10	At that moment the Lord's associates came to bring me to Vaikuntha.  I entered their airplane.  Regaining consciousness, I restlessly moved my eyes to and fro.
11-12	Seeing everything changed, I was filled with wonder.  I was comforted when I saw at my side the dear friends I had seen before.  Eclipsing the splendour of the most splendid things, they were now riding on an incomparable, supremely splendid, indescribable beautiful airplane.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the dear friends here are the Lord's Vaikuntha associates he had met before.
13	I respectfully bowed before them.  They embraced me and again and again reassured me.  With a hundred reasons they wished to give me a form like theirs.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they wished to give him a four-armed form.  "A human form is not appropriate in Vaikuntha.  In such a form you will not be happy there", is an example of one of the reasons they gave.
14	I did not accept.  instead, my own form, which has been born on Govardhana Hill, attained spiritual qualities like theirs.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara did not accept the sarupya-mukti they offered.  Instead, his own form became eternal, splendid and filled with the same spiritual attributes as theirs.
15-18	Travelling with them to Vaikuntha on a blissful, inconceivable, supernatural path, I became embarrassed when I glanced at the different planets and the coverings of the universe.  With folded hands and bent heads, the rulers of the planets eagerly worshipped me with showers of flowers.  As they praised me with words of "Glory!" and as they bowed before me at every step, I saw insignificant impersonal liberation before me, and then, going above it, went to Sivaloka.
19	I happily bowed down before Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati.  With a network of affectionate, respectful, and kind words, he delighted me.  Then I went to Vaikuntha, which is garlanded with glories beyond the reach of the mind and words.
20	Then the Lord's associates said to me:  "Wait outside for a moment.  We will inform the Lord, and then you may enter.
21	"Stay here and, with eyes alight with devotion for the Lord, see the waves in this ocean of wonders never seen or heard of before.
22	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  As they went inside and I stayed outside the gate, I saw someone come and begin to enter that city.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the city here is Vaikuntha and the person entering is a resident of Vaikuntha.
23	He was on a transcendental airplane that was rich with the opulences of hundreds of universes.  Singing wonderful songs and (glorifying the Lord in) many other ways, he was filled with happiness.  His splendid handsomeness and other features were like the Lord's.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "adibhih" here means "chanting, acting in dramatic performances, and glorifying the Lord in other ways."  The word "kanti" here means that His bodily complexion was dark and His features were like the Lord's.  The word "adyaih" here means that his youthfulness ornaments, bracelets, handsomeness, and other features were like the Lord's.
24	Thinking he was Lord Hari, again and again I said to him:  "O Lord, please save me! "  He at once covered his ears, bowed down before me, and stopped me with these words:
25	He said:  "I am a servant.  I am a servant of the servants", and went inside.  Then another person, who was more opulent and glorious, came.
26	Seeing him, I thought he must be the Lord of the universes, who in his pastimes had gone somewhere and was now entering his own city.
27	Seeing me respectfully bowing down and speaking prayers as I had before, he affectionately spoke to me as the other person had, and then he entered the city.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara again said, "O Lord, please save me!"  and the person addressed covered his ears and said, "I am a servant of the servants."
28-9	More persons, some alone, some in groups of two, and some in very large groups, came, each  more glorious than those before, and entered the Lord's city.  Seeing them, as before, I dived into the ocean of awe and reverence, bowed down before them, and offered prayers to them, but they stopped me and spoke to me with the nectar of affectionate words, as the others had before them.
30	Some were carrying things to offer the Lord and some, intoxicated by the nectar of loving devotion, ran ahead.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they were carrying parasols, camara wisks, and other paraphernalia for worshipping the Lord.
31	Their minds and senses were intent on their own specific services.  They were decorated with pastimes of the bliss of wonderful services.
32-3	All their limbs decorated the decorations they wore.  They were glorious as the Lord Himself.  Bowing down and reciting prayers, they acted wonderfully.  They enjoyed a wonder of great pastimes, as emperors do.  They yearned to see the lotus feet of the Lord, the goddess of fortune's husband. 
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that their handsomeness and other virtues were like those of the Lord of Vaikuntha Himself.  Their wonderful activities included chanting and dancing.  As an emperor's doorkeepers and other servants eat, drink, and enjoy in royal style, so did they.
34	Some came with associates, some with paraphernalia, and some with both associates and paraphernalia.
35	Some merged their associates and paraphernalia in their own selves and became like penniless solitary sages plunged in the nectar of meditation.
36	Some moment by moment manifested different wonderful and charming forms, each opulent with different and wonderful ornaments, features and pastimes.
37	Some were humans, some monkeys, some demigods, some demons, and some sages.  Others carried the marks of being initiated in the orders of varna and asrama.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the forms of the Vaikuntha residents are all eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  They were not actually humans, or any of these other forms.
38	Some were like Indra, Candra, or the other demigods.  Some had three eyes, some four heads, and some four arms, some eight arms, and some a thousand faces.
39	I will tell you the reason for this great wonder:  How can they who taste the nectar of devotion to Lord Krsna not be handsome?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Hanuman, Jambavan, and others were handsome because of their devotion to the Lord.
40-1	The glories of Vaikuntha's residents, who are all beyond the material world of five elements, of Vaikunthaloka, and of Vaikuntha's hero, cannot be described with the examples drawn from the world of five elements.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Vaikuntha's residents are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  They cannot be described with examples drawn from the world of matter.   The hero of Vaikuntha here is the Lord.
42-3	O brahmana, because you are a resident of the material world, and because your thoughts and vision are placed within the material world, I have used material examples so certain things may be easily understood.  I pray that Lord Hari will forgive any offenses I have committed because of this.
44	The residents of Vaikuntha are all equal.  Then again, among them there are gradations of higher and lower.  There is no contradiction in this.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that although the residents of Vaikuntha have different powers and opulences, each, according to his own desire, employs all his powers and opulences in serving the Lord.
45	For them there is no envy nor any other fault.  They have thousands of natural, eternal, transcendental virtues.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described by Lord Brahma in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.18-19.
46	Although in external vision they may be seen as materialists eager for material pleasure, the liberated souls worship their feet.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.17 and 3.15.20.
47	Although they never accept material forms, they do playfully manifest many wonderful forms appropriate for the Lord's pastimes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they do this to please the Lord.
48	Although they are different, they all have the same nature.  That place, its many airplanes, and everything there, are all like that.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in Vaikuntha everything is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  Because everything there is spiritual, it is, in one sense, all one.  Still, variety is manifested as a natural feature of the lord's pastimes.  In this way everything there is simultaneously one and different.
49	Sometimes everything there seems made of gold and jewels, and sometimes they seem made of solidified moonlight.
50	With power given by the Lord, this place can be understood to a certain extent.  It cannot be understood in any other way.  The material mind has no power to grasp the truth of it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because it is spiritual, it cannot be understood by the material mind.
51	No one can understand it without having seen it.  Only in this way can one properly describe it.
52	For they who see (Vaikuntha) the happiness of seeing the impersonal Brahman becomes very insignificant.  It stops, as if it were embarrassed.
53-4	Self-satisfied impersonalists, whose desires are all fulfilled, and who have renounced everything, when they have the association of Vaisnavas give up everything they have learned and attained, and, understanding what is really valuable and what is worthless, enter the path of devotional service.  I have personally seen this very clearly.
55	Seeing them coming and going, I thought:  "If His servants are like this, what is the Lord like?"
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara saw that the servants of the Lord of Vaikuntha were glorious with handsomeness, opulences, powers and many other things.  He wondered:  "How glorious must be the person they serve!"
56-7	Dragged by joy, I stood and then I sat down as I waited by the gate.  Then by the Lord's associates I was quickly brought inside.  Then I saw a wonder of wanders.  Even Lord Ananta with His thousands of mouths could not describe it in the time of Brahma's life.
58	There were gate after gate, and at each gate there were gatekeepers as before.  Each time the gatekeepers informed their master and then allowed me to enter.
59-60	As I went to each gate I saw there was one leader to whom the gatekeepers bowed down.  I thought this must be the Lord of the universes and I also bowed down to him and glorified him again and again.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this leader was the supervisor of the gatekeepers.
61	Then the Lord's affectionate associates described to me the Lord's uncommon features and taught me how to glorify and worship Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the gatekeepers described the Lord Srivatsa mark and other features.
62-3	Passing through many very wonderful and colourful gates, I came to a very glorious palace, its feet served by many other palaces.  This one palace was most excellent.  It was flooded with glory.  It was more splendid than millions of suns and moons.  It charmed the eyes and the heart.
64-5	Inside I saw, far away, on a regal golden throne glistening with many jewels, happily sitting on a splendid white swan-cushion, handsome as a splendid moon, and His left elbow resting on a soft cushion, the supremely opulent and eternally youthful Lord of Vaikuntha...
66	...who with His sweetly handsome limbs' glory, which eclipsed the glory of new clouds, decorated His ornaments of jewels and gold, His garments and His scented ointments...
67	...whose splendid and broad four arms were decorated with bracelets and armlets, who wore two yellow silk garments, the circle of whose cheeks had beautiful earrings...
68	...whose broad chest was decorated with the Kaustubha jewel, whose conchshell neck held a strand of pearls, the moon of whose face held the nectar of a charming smile, the lotus of whose eyes glittered with wonderful glances...
69	...whose eyebrows danced with great mercy, to whom the goddess of fortune, appropriately staying at His left side, respectfully offered prayers, who took and chewed sublime betelnuts...
70	...whose glorious laughter was illumined by a row of white jasmine-flower teeth breaking through the glory of the red bimba fruits of His lips, the waves of whose joking words charmed His devotees' hearts...
71	...whom Goddess Dharani, holding a leaf in her hand, and splashing Him with waves of sidelong glances, worshipped again and again, whom the Sudarsana-cakra and other handsome weapons, bearing auspicious markings on their heads, served...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Goddess Dharani held a leaf to collect betelnuts after the Lord had chewed them.  The Lord's club, conch, sword, and bow were among the weapons worshipping Him.
72	...whom many servants glorious as the Lord and their hands splendid with camara wisks, fans, slippers and other beautiful paraphernalia, respectfully surrounded and served...
73	...whom Sesa, Garuda, Visvaksena, and many other important associates, their folded palms placed on reverentially bowed heads, worshipped with wonderful words...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.21.16-17.
74	...whom Sri Narada worshipped with graceful artistry of wonderful singing, dancing, and vina music, who joked and laughed with His beloved Laksmi and Dharani...
75	...and who, to fill with bliss the devotees whose hearts were fixed on Him alone, placed on them His splendid and wonderful lotus feet.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.8.26.
76	Filled with bliss by seeing Him and forgetting the instructions of the Lord's associates, I called out "O Gopala! O my life!"  Shedding tears, I ran to embrace Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's associates had instructed him to offer prayers.
77	Held by some wise associates and standing behind the Lord, I piteously begged with many plaintive words, and then, overcome with love, I fainted unconscious in the Lord's presence.
78	They quickly picked me up and I regained consciousness.  Tears blocked my eyes.  Carefully wiping the tears with my hands, I opened my eyes.
79	Then I heard the most merciful and affectionate Lord, in a deep soft voice, say some words beginning with:  "Be calm.  Come, child, at once."
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some of the other words the Lord spoke were:  "Give up this awe and reverence.  Come and talk with Me."
80	Then I attained the ultimate happiness.  Again and again I danced as a man possessed.  the Lord's associates carefully made me calm down.
81	Then, the Lord said:  Welcome! Welcome! Child, it is so fortunate, so fortunate, that you are here with Me.  For so long I have longed to see you.
82	Dear friend, somehow you passed many births without coming to see Me.
83	Hoping that in this, in this, in this, in this birth you would turn to Me, I danced as a fool.
84	Brother, I could not find a pretext to bring you to My abode and still protect the ancient rules of religion.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that had Gopa-kumara chanted the holy name, even as Ajamila and others had done, the Lord could have brought him to His abode.
85-6	Seeing that you had not attained My mercy, I became overcome with mercy for you.  Ignoring the rules of karma, I gave you a birth on Govardhana Hill, My favourite place, and then, O dear friend, I became your guru, who was named Jayanta.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.42.
87	Today you have suddenly fulfilled my long-cherished desire.  Please stay here always and make Me happy.
88	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Intoxicated by drinking the sweet nectar of the Lord's words, I did not have the power to recite any prayers, to understand anything, or to do anything.
89	In the Lord's presence came some cowherd boys like myself, who were playing flutes.  Very affectionate, they took me in their midst and encouraged me to play the flute.
90	In many ways playing on my favourite flute from Govardhana Hill, I pleased Lord Madhava, who is an ocean of artistic skill and a treasure-house of mercy, and who was surrounded by His associates.
91	At a certain time they all left.  By the goddess of fortune's order they took me outside, although I was not willing to go.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this was the time for the Lord to take His meal.
92	Great opulences surrounded me, but I shunned them.  I stayed as a cowherd boy, as I had been before.
93	The opulences there have forms of eternity, knowledge and bliss.  They are independent and are manifest as they like.
94	Whether opulences are manifested or not, humbleness is present as a natural feature in Vaikuntha.
95	By the great strength of my previous activities, I considered humble worship of the Lord eternal happiness.
96	Then in my heart I decided that, by the Lord's mercy, I had attained the highest fruit of all I done in all my births.
97	What rare happiness!  What a glorious place!  What a wonderful Lord!  What wonderful mercy!
98	By the Lord's mercy I fanned Him with a camara wisk and performed other personal services.  When I played the flute His glance brought me eternal bliss.
99	By the strength of my previous actions sometimes I would call out, "O Krsna! O Gopala!"  again and again.
100	With many prayers I would always sing the great glories of the Lord's pastimes in Gokula.
101	Smiling and laughing, the residents of Vaikuntha took me outside and, their hearts melting with love, again and again spoke to me many words of instruction.
102	The residents of Vaikuntha said:  Don't address the Lord of Lord's in that way.  Don't praise Him in that way.  With elegant verses you should praise His real, limitless greatness.
103	To kill the demons and protect the others, the Lord cheated Kamsa and disguised Himself as a cowherd boy.
104	The devotees do not take these disguises of the Lord very seriously.  In the beginning of devotional service it may be right, but we do not glorify the Lord in that way.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.53.
105	Then some of them said:  The Lord, whose pastimes are difficult to understand, has pastimes like that.  There is no fault in glorifying Him in that way.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that pastimes discussed here are pastimes like the Lord's protecting the cows.  These pastimes are not like His creation of the material universes.  They have no contact with the illusory potency maya.  Someone here may protest:  "When the Lord protects the cows sometimes He is stung by brambles as He wanders in the forest.  What kind of happy pastime is that?"  This objection is answered here by the word "durbodha-caritasya".  Because the Lord is the supreme controller, it is not possible to understand His activities perfectly.
106-7	Then some great souls,, rebuked them all and said:  Ah! Why do you speak as fools?  Out of love for His devotees, Lord Krsna will do anything.  Glorifying His deeds is a great virtue.  It pleases the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord Himself says:
	"To enjoy pastimes with My devotees I act in many ways."
108	These words made me first embarrassed and then pleased.  Still my heart was not perfectly satisfied.
109	Because I could not see my worshipable Lord Gopala's lotus feet, form, pastimes and everything else, I became like a poor wretch.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "everything else" here refers to the Lord's associates, paraphernalia, mercy and other features.
110	Then I saw the Lord of Vaikuntha, who is the crest-jewel of the all-knowing, become Krsna, the joy of Nanda.  I saw Laksmi and Dhara become Radhika and Candravalli and the Lord's associates become the boys of Vraja.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this was not a vision in meditation.  Gopa-kumara actually saw this.
111	When I could no longer see the Lord enjoying pastimes in the land of Vraja with His associates, my heart became unhappy.
112	Sometimes I would see Him enjoying pastimes with the cows in the gardens there.  But then again I would see Him as before, as a master sitting on His throne.
113	Still, because I was aware that He is the Supreme Lord, because I could remember coming to Vaikuntha, and because of the presence of a great awe and reverence that killed spontaneous love, my heart was not satisfied.
114	In meditation, by Lord Gopaladeva's mercy, I would embrace Him, kiss Him, and enjoy pastimes with Him in many ways.  Now that the Lord was present before my eyes, I was unhappy, for although I desired these things, I could not attain them.
115	Sometimes the Lord would go to a secluded place with His intimate associates.  Then everyone else would lament for not seeing the Lord.
116	I asked what the Lord was doing.  Concealing what they knew, as if it were a great secret, no one told me clearly.
117	At that moment the Lord of the universes appeared and was visible again.  Then that lamentation died and an ocean of joy overflowed.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.11.37.
118	The glory of that place killed whatever suffering stayed in my heart as the sun kills the darkness.
119	Whenever my heart became unhappy, as it had been many times before when it could not attain its desire, I considered what was the cause of this malady, and the perfection of Vaikuntha cured it at once.
120	(I said to my mind:)  Nothing is better than residence in Vaikuntha.  Don't doubt.  For what more could you ask?
121	O fickle mind, leave your restless nature far behind.  No result is better than this.  Think about the hundreds of reasons for this and become peaceful.
122	As I was explaining this (to my mind) I saw that I was made of eternity, knowledge and bliss and that I eternally experienced wonderful, intense, transcendental bliss by worshipping the Lord in Vaikunthaloka.
123	In this way sometimes happy and sometimes distressed, I lived in Vaikuntha.  One day Narada saw me in a secluded place.
124	He, who is the crest-jewel of the merciful,, who is the friend of the vina, who is very dear to the Lord, and who is an ocean of the nectar of devotion to Him, touched my head with his hand and blessed me, saying:
125	Lord Narada said:  O son of a gopa, O object of the Lord of Vaikuntha's mercy, I can see by the withering of your face and other symptoms that you are as unhappy as a very wretched person.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the other symptoms include a vacant expression in his eyes and sighing in his breath.
126	What is the reason for your unhappiness?  Please tell.  I am very eager to know it.  I have not seen anyone like that here.
127	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Then to Narada, who was exalted, who was the best of friends, and who was like my own guru, I told all that was in my heart.
128	After hearing everything, he sighed, moved his eyes everywhere, pulled me to his side, and spoke very slowly and with great compassion.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Narada moved his eyes everywhere, that is to say He looked in every direction, because he was about to reveal a great secret.
129	Sri Narada said:  That no place is better than Vaikuntha, the opinion you hold for many reasons is the truth.  It is not otherwise.
130	Your wish to see the pastimes of your worshipable Lord directly, pastimes you have seen only in meditation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the worshipable Lord here is Lord Madana-Gopala.
131	His pastimes bring great bliss.  They charm the heart and are filled with the greatest love.  They are the greatest secret.  They are attained only by the great love of Vraja's people.  They are not easy for those like me to attain.
132	His pastimes are splendidly manifest in a certain realm that attracts its own devotees and is situated somewhere above everything.  By devotedly worshipping the Lord of the universes you have come to Vaikuntha.  How can you see these pastimes here?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "above everything" means "above all material and spiritual worlds."
133	How can these very confidential pastimes be manifest here in Vaikuntha, which manifests the Lord's supreme opulence?
134	Give up all lamentation and see that the Lord of Vaikuntha is the same as your worshipable Deity (Madana-Gopala).  Don't think of Them as two different persons.
135	Then even here you will attain limitless, transcendental, eternally increasing bliss that fills your heart.
136	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  With limitless yearning I wished to hear with my ears whatever of these truths could come in the range of my understanding.
137-8	Overcome with awe and shyness, I could not ask him about them.  Then he, the best of the all-knowing and the best of the Lord's devotees, understanding all that was in my heart,, to please both my ears and his tongue, briefly revealed everything.
139	Sri Narada said:  Don't think that the animals, birds, trees, vines, shrubs, grass and other things you have seen here are made of the darkness of matter.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the cows, horses, elephants, and other animals, and the paravatas, kokilas and other birds and the mandaras, kundas and other trees, vines, and other things in Vaikunthaloka are not material.
140	They are Lord Krsna's personal associates and their forms are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  To enjoy the bliss of serving the Lord in many wonderful ways, they assume these forms.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in the Third Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Brahma explains that the birds, bees, trees, vines and other beings in Vaikuntha are not material.
141-4	According to the specific form and nature of the Supreme Lord that they worship, meditate on as their beloved, the devotees attain a form like the Lord's.  In this way they manifest many different forms and opulences.  They have forms like the Lord's incarnations, as humans, sages, demigods, and philosophers, and as the Lord's incarnations as Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Nrsimha, Vamana, Siva, Brahma, Indra, Sesa, Surya, Vayu, Vahni, and many other forms.  They also attain four-handed forms, and still other forms, with the specific garments and features of the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the devotees' attaining a form like the Lord's is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.11.  The Lord's human forms include Lord Ramacandra, His sage forms include Lord Kapila, His demigod forms includes Lord Satyasena, and His philosopher forms include Lord Parasurama.
145-6	The form and features of the Lord one worshipped in worshipping Lord Krsna's lotus feet one attains when he enters Vaikuntha at the end.  All those features of the Lord become dear to him.  These nectar mellows of the Lord please him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the forms and features of the Lord are the Lord's incarnations, such as Lord Ramacandra and Lord Kapila.  By worshipping Them in the material world one is able to see Them in Vaikuntha.  The words "at the end" here mean "at the end of one's stay in the cycle of repeated birth and death".  The word "rasena" means "by engaging in the different kinds of devotional service, which begin with glorifying the Lord."
147	In Vaikuntha everyone sees the Supreme Lord, Narayana, who manifests various forms appropriate to each person.
148	Worshipping the Lord as they had before, the devotees always attain the newer and newer limitless bliss of devotional service here in Vaikuntha.
149-50	These supremely faithful great souls see, now surrounded by all extraordinary associates, whose handsomeness pleases the heart and mind, the same Lord they has worshipped before, and as before they desire to serve Him eternally.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that each form of the Lord is surrounded by His own specific associates.  In this way, for example, Lord Ramacandra is surrounded by His own associates headed by Sita-devi and Laksmana.
151	Worshipping their own Lords in (Ayodhya) City and other places, the devotees become happy.
152	The devotees' faith and love is not placed in one form alone.  The Lord has many forms and each form is served by certain devotees.
153	All who devotedly chant the eight-syllable mantra and other mantras glorifying the goddess of fortune's husband attain Vaikuntha at the body's end.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described by Parasara Muni in the Visnu Purana:
	They who attain the sun, the moon, and the other celestial planets again return to the lower worlds, but they who meditate on the twelve-syllable mantra never return.
154	They attain as much happiness as they could wish, a happiness greater than they had known before.  Because they taste different kinds of the nectar of devotional service, they are different, being more or less advanced in devotional service.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "rasa" here means the different kinds of devotional service, which begin with hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord.
155-7	The Lord happily appears as Nara and Narayana Rsis, Dattatreya, Parasurama, Kapila, and other incarnations, all of them jewels decorating the earth.  In Svargaloka and other celestial worlds He appears as Visnu the Lord of sacrifices, and other incarnations you have personally seen.  He also appears as Matsya, Kurma, Maha-Varaha, Sriman Nrsimha, Vamana and many other incarnations, all bearing different names, all with forms of eternity, knowledge and bliss, and all simultaneously different and eternally one.
158	That these incarnations of the Lord are different persons is an illusion.  They are not different persons as the individual spirit souls are different persons.  The Lord's potency shows His incarnations to be different persons so He can enjoy different transcendental pastimes.  The devotees are different persons because that is their actual nature.
159	The variety of the Lord's forms is not like the sun's reflections on the water.  The Lord's forms are like the sun shining as one in the sky but seen as many by people in different places
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that a person in one place sees the sun as shining near a certain and tree and another person in a different place far away sees the same sun as shining near a different tree.  In this way the two persons see the same to be present in two different places.  They see two different suns although one sun shines in the sky.  This example shows how the one Supreme Lord is seen as having different forms and characteristics.
160	As transcendental knowledge and the bliss it brings are simultaneously the same and different, so the Supreme Lord and His many incarnations are simultaneously the same and different.  That is clearly so.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the spiritual nature of the Lord's incarnations is described in the Varaha Purana:
	"The lord's form is not material.  It is not made of flesh, fat and bones.  Because He is neither a yogi nor a demigod, the infallible Supreme Lord has an eternal spiritual form."
	The Maha-varaha Purana explains:
	"The transcendental forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are eternal and imperishable.  They were not created at a certain point, and they are never to be destroyed.  They are not products of the material energy.
	"All the forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are completely filled with transcendental bliss, knowledge and all auspicious qualities.  These spiritual forms of the Lord are free from all material defects."
	"They do not lack anything.  Nothing is greater than they.  They have all transcendental virtues.  For the Supreme Personality of Godhead there is no difference between Himself and His form."
161-2	As in a dream one may go to different places, so Lord Krsna, His associates, and His abode are seen as many although they are also one.  The variety and the oneness are both true.  When one form of Lord Krsna is pleased, then all His forms become pleased.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by worshipping one form of Lord Krsna all His forms are also worshipped.
163	Sri Krsna is the only Lord of Vaikuntha.  To please His devotees He manifests different forms in different places.
164	Brahma saw this when he stole Lord Krsna's boys and calves in Vrndavana, and I myself saw it when I wandered through the palaces in Dvaraka.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.54, 10.14.18, 10.69.2-3, and 10.69.41.
165	The Supreme Lord's potency is wonderful and inconceivable.  Still, it is not a secret to His pure devotees.
166	The one Supreme Lord ate simultaneously the many meals His thousands of queens offered simultaneously.  Each queen saw her husband and thought: "He has taken His meal from me first.  Now He eats."
167	Sometimes, because of the entrance of the Lord's potencies in certain individual spirit souls, empowered incarnations appear.  The wise think these incarnations to be like the Lord Himself.
168	As Lord Krsna (expands in many incarnations) so does Goddess Maha-Laksmi, His eternal beloved, whose form is filled with eternity, knowledge and bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Visnu Purana:
	"O best of the brahmanas, Lord Visnu's transcendental potency, Srimati Laksmi-devi, is His constant faithful companion.  She is eternal and she is the mother of the entire material universe.  She is all-pervading, just as Lord Visnu is."
	"Laksmi-devi appears in different forms corresponding to the forms of Lord Visnu.  When the Lord appears as a demigod, she assumes a demigod-like form, and when He appears in a human-like form, she assumes a human-like form."
169	Devoted to Him, she always stays on the Lord's chest.  As Lord Krsna manifests His different incarnations, she manifests her incarnations as His devoted consorts.
170	She is like a great mystic perfection among the other goddesses of fortune.  She is the queen of all opulences.  As the giver of material opulences, she is neglected by the devotees, the liberated and they who aspire for liberation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because the sense pleasures that come from material opulences obstruct the path of liberation and spiritual advancement, the transcendentalists neglect this feature of the goddess of fortune.
171	Everywhere it is said that she, being very fickle, arranges that the newest devotees become most dear to the Lord.
172	Dharani-devi and others are also dear to the Lord.  The Lord's potency is also dear to Him.
173	Sometimes she is called Maha-vibhuti, sometimes Yoga, and sometimes Yogamaya.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some of the names of Goddess Yogamaya are given in the Maha-samhita:
	"The goddess that fulfils the Lord's desires, is known as Sri, Bhu, Durga, Jivamaya, Atmamaya, Gunamaya, and Jadatmika."
	The Skanda Purana explains:
	"O limitless Lord, the potency that fulfils Your desire is called Mayamaya, Avidya, Niyati, Mohini, Prakrti, and Vasana."
174-5	She arranges for the Lord's pastimes, which are filled with eternity, knowledge and bliss.  She is eternal, transcendental, beginningless, endless, and indescribable.  She is the mother of the wonder that is the bliss of service to the Lord.  By her the Lord is revealed in many ways.
176	By Goddess Laksmi the wonderful variety of the Lord's devotees, of the many kinds of devotional service, of the Lord's spiritual realms, and of the Lord's pastimes are eternally manifest.
177	She and her actions can be understood only by the pure devotees.  She cannot be understood by they whose minds are filled with the mistakes of dry speculation.
178	The Lord's potencies are called superior and inferior.  She is His superior potency.  She is His internal potency.  She is famous by the name Prakrti.
179	Her expansions are manifested in many ways according to their different duties.  The illusory potency Maya, which consists of the modes of nature, is her shadow.
180	Maya is the mother of the illusory world of the five material elements.  She is filled with the darkness of illusion.  She is indescribable, temporary and transcendental.  She is the cause of the individual souls' stay in the world of birth and death.
181	She is the controller of the eighth covering (of the universe).  She has a form.  Because she does not change form to do her duties, she is called Prakrti.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "vikrti" (transformation) and "prakrti" (nature, or the original state that is not transformed) are opposites.  Because she does not change her form, Maya is called Prakrti.
182	By transcending her one attains liberation and devotional service.  She has created this material universe, which is like a mirage.
183	By her potency are seen the long-lasting and real magical creations Kardama Muni and others showed by austerity, yoga, and other practices.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives Saubhari Muni as an example of another yogi that had these magical powers.
184	However, whatever is created by the potency of Lord Krsna, who gives the results of all pious deeds and whose lotus feet are worshipped by the greatest yogis, is both real and eternal.
185	In this way the incarnations are not different from Sri Krsna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the origin of the incarnations.  They are real and eternal as He.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.28 proves that Sri Krsna is the origin of all incarnations.
186	Krsna, whose form contains all incarnations, is glorious with many opulences, which are greater than all others and which described by the word "bhaga".
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Krsna many limitless and extraordinary opulences are described in this verse, which uses the word "bhaga".
	The Supreme Personality of Godhead has six opulences: all wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation."
187	Even if He is considered an incarnation, His many sweet and charming glories, which can be understood only by they whose hearts melt with love and devotion for Him, make Lord Krsna better than Narayana.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that someone may protest: "Lord Narayana is the source of all incarnations.  How can Krsna be more glorious than He?"  This verse answers that protest.
188	The servants of His many incarnations attain great happiness by serving the Lords dear to their hearts.
189	The Lord gives them results according to their worship.  They are never displeased with what they attain.
190	Who can understand the pastimes where the Lord, who enjoys many wonderful pastimes and whose thoughts are deeper than millions of oceans, enjoys (with His devotees) is a wonderful exchange of nectar of love?
191	Engaging in activities free from rivalry and other faults, and each according to his own nature, whether higher or lower, the devotees attain, as much as they desire, the highest happiness of devotional service.  This proves the greatness of the Lord's mercy.
192	(The Lord's associates in Vaikuntha), whose forms are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, do not think the slight happiness of they who live in the world of repeated birth and death, or the slight happiness of the (impersonalist) sannyasis to be great happiness.
193	As there are many gradations of service, so there is a wonderful variety of gradations of happiness according to the different mellows.
194	Some of the residents of Vaikuntha have been the Lord's associates eternally, and others have come to that position by the Lord's mercy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Sesa and Garuda are examples of persons who have been the Lord's associates eternally, and Jaya, Vijaya, Bharata and Priyavrata are examples of persons who became the Lord's associates by His mercy.
195	Although the bliss of serving the Lord is the same in all circumstances, some think it different to perform open or confidential service, or to be far from the Lord or standing by His side, or in some other place.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the phrase "some other place" here means to join the Lord in His pastimes in the material world, and sometimes to have and sometimes not to have His association.
196	Although, because they are both eternal, they are like the Lord, their natural relationship with Him, where He is the served and they are His servants is both real and eternal.
197-8	Although, because they are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, they are like the Lord, awareness of the sweetness of the bliss of serving Him impels them to become eternally servants of Sri Krsna' lotus feet, which are an ocean of many kinds of inconceivable sweetnesses.
199	Even if He were not the origin of all incarnations, and even if He were the same as all incarnations, who are eternal and full of bliss and knowledge, Sri Krsna would still be distinguished by His very sweet glories.
200	Some say that Sri Krsna, whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss is the Supreme Brahman and all others are His spiritual, liberated associates.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "all others" here are the devotees headed by Sesa and Garuda.  The word "liberated' here means "they who have attained Vaikuntha."
201	To enjoy the bliss of devotional service, aided by the Lord's transcendental pastime potency they assume forms suitable for the Lord's pastimes.
202	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  I asked him: O lord, are the Lord's Deity forms on the earth all eternal and full of knowledge and bliss as is the form of Lord Jagannatha, the master of Nilacala?
203	Although the Lord, whose form is filled with eternity, knowledge and bliss, is one, in His pastimes He appears in many places in many different forms.
204	By renouncing everything and worshipping the Deity what mistake is done?  When the Deity is worshipped one becomes aware of a great gain.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "everything" here is material piety, fruitive work, yoga, and other things like them.
205	Why, then, do we hear from the Puranas so many statements contradicting this?  These statements cannot be rejected as evidence, for they have come from the mouths of great souls.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47, 3.29.22, and 3.29.24 as examples of scriptural statements that minimise the importance of Deity worship.
206	Hearing this, he who is the guru of the path of Deity worship stood up, embraced me with great bliss, and replied.
207-9	Sri Narada said: I have already explained that the Deity forms of the Lord are the same as the Lord Himself.  Deity worship is very glorious.  They who, aware that the Deity is the Lord Himself, worship the Deity, even though they neglect other duties, and even though their worship is not sincere, do not fall down.  They have no faults.  Their merits are very great, their devotional service is thought to be the greatest.  They attain a very great result.
210	By seeing the Deity, by worshipping Tulasi, or by once chanting or hearing even the reflection of the holy name, one may attain perfection.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the worship of Tulasi begins with watering her and bowing down to offer respects to her.
211	How can there be any fault with worship of the Lord's Deity form, whose form reminds one of the Lord, who is properly installed with mantras, and who is the object of all activities of devotional service?
212	They who worship the Deity of Lord Krsna never offend the devotees of Lord Krsna.  If somehow they do offend them, the devotees do not take offense, but rather praise their attachment to the Lord.
213-4	They who, seeing the Deity as different from the Lord Himself and thinking the Deity as made of stone or some other material, worship the Deity of Lord Hari, do not respect the Lord's devotees.  Disrespectful to all, and proud of their worship, they rebel against the Lord's commandments in the Vedas.
215	They are the least of all the devotees.  Their intelligence is slow.  They do not find the fruits of their worship.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 and 9.7.11.
216-7	Although the transcendental fruit if their Deity-worship is greater than the fruits of all ordinary pious deeds, they do not attain the real fruit that comes from service to the Lord.  For this reason the saintly devotees criticise their method of worship in different ways and in different places.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the real fruits of devotional service are love for Lord Krsna's lotus feet, attainment of Lord Krsna's planet, seeing the Lord, and enjoying pastimes with Him.
218	Although all the statements of the Puranas and other scriptures (condemn them), don't think everyone who worships the Lord's Deity-form is like them.
219-20	If they do not abandon their worship, then by the mercy of the Lord's devotees, who see the good in others, all the faults in their hearts, now purified by their faith, are destroyed and in time they become the greatest devotees.
221	After enjoying what they desired, materialistic devotees, by the power of their devotional service, in time attain the real fruit of their service.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that material sense gratification is insignificant in comparison to the result obtained by devotional service.
222	Because in this way one does not immediately attain the fruit of devotional service, the pure devotees criticise the first result of the materialistic devotees' efforts.
223	They who are devoted to the Lord's lotus feet think the real fruit of devotional service is the bliss of always seeing, enjoying pastimes with, and serving in many ways the Supreme Lord.
224	They cannot bear even a moment's delay.  The Lord also cannot bear to leave them for even a moment.
225	The fruits of all other desires are very insignificant in comparison.  Liberation is easily attained, but devotional service is not.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.18.
226	By the mercy of devotional service the Lord is controlled by His devotees.  Because it destroys His independence, the Lord does not bestow devotional service.
227	I think that being under the control of His dear devotees is not a fault for the Lord.  Neither does it make Him unhappy.  It brings Him happiness.  It increases His glories, which begin with His love for His devotees.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in the previous verses Narada Muni has been relating the opinions of others.  In this verse he gives his own opinion.
228	Eclipsing His independent bliss and other glories, he supreme hero Lord Krsna's being under the control of His dear devotees is the greatest of His divine glories.
229	From the perfection of loving devotion comes great ecstatic love.  Gazing at the truth, that love eternally dances in the kingdom of great bliss.
230	Although externally this ecstatic love may show signs of great suffering (this suffering is not real, for the Lord) would never allow His dearest devotees to suffer in that way.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these devotees experience great bliss, a bliss that eclipses the happiness of Brahman.
231	With external eyes seeing this bewildering condition of great love, the people in general have no desire to engage in devotional service.  They laugh at the devotees.  The Lord does not give loving devotion to them.
232	Loving devotion is very difficult to attain and the pleasures of Svargaloka and other celestial planets are very easy to attain.  Common people cannot attain a cintamani jewel, although they may attain a glass, or sometimes a golden trinket.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in this example the cintamani jewel is loving devotion, the glass trinket is the pleasures of Svargaloka and the golden trinket is impersonal liberation.
233	Sometimes, to a wise and extraordinary person who wishes it alone, the Lord gives devotional service.
234	We are not able, nor is it proper for us, to describe the nature of this ecstatic love, in the same as it is not proper for the scriptures that describe the activities of the Lord's service to describe it to fools.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the nature of ecstatic love is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.40.
235	They who serve the mellows of devotional service understand the sweetness and glory of that ecstatic love.  By the Lord's mercy you, staying there, will also quickly understand it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the phrase "staying there" means "staying in the land of Gokula."
236	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  These words greatly increased my yearning to see the lotus feet of Sri Gopala, the Lord I worshipped.
237	Not noticing that at that moment I, filled with a desire to attain that love, was thrown into an ocean of lamentation, he, comforting me, said:
238	Sri Narada said: Although this great secret should not be told in this place, made talkative by your anxiety, I will speak.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "in this place" means "here in Vaikunthaloka."
239	Not far from here, Lord Ramacandra's city of Ayodhya is splendidly manifest.  Far from that, the city of Dvaraka, which is like the beautiful land and charming city of Mathura and is very dear to Lord Krsna, the Lord of the Yadus, is splendidly manifest.  Go there, and with a glance worship your beloved Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Hari-vamsa affirms that Dvaraka is like Mathura.
240	First hear the way to go to Ayodhya, a way approved by they who taste the nectar of service to Sri Ramacandra's lotus feet.
214-2	Although by directly worshipping Lord Krsna, the origin of the incarnations, everything is obtained, I will now describe how to attain the nectar of the lotus feet of Lord Rama, the hero of the Raghu dynasty.
243	As you meditate on His form, virtues and opulences, which are all described in the Vedas, glorify Him, beginning with the words: "O husband of Sita, O glorious Lord of the Raghus, O elder brother of Laksmana, O Lord, O dear master of Sri Hanuman!"
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some other names used to glorify Lord Rama are: "O delight of Kausalya! O son of Dasaratha! O elder brother of Bharata! O friend of Sugriva!"  Lord Rama's virtues begin with His shyness and humbleness, and His form, holding a bow in the hands of His strong arms, is very handsome.
244	In this way the great devotees attain their worshipable Lord.  Even the slightest scent of the Lord brings great happiness to they who have placed their faith in Him alone.
245	If when you see Lord Rama's lotus feet your desire to see the Lord remains unsatisfied, Lord Rama Himself, His heart melting with compassion, will happily send you to Dvaraka.
246	Glorifying your Lord, as the scriptures prescribe, you will go there and see Your beloved Lord, handsome Sri Krsnacandra, whom you long desired to see, surrounded by the Yadus.
247	Kosala, Dvaraka and many other places are provinces of the kingdom of Vaikuntha.  Go now, and do not wait for the Lord's order.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Kosala is another name of Ayodhya.
248	By the order of He who knows what happens in everyone's heart, I have come here.  Know that His order has come through my mouth.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord told Narada: "O Narada, go to Gopa-kumara, and in a secluded place, fulfil his desire."
249	To show mercy to a great devotee, the Lord has gone somewhere.  You will not be able to tolerate any delay.  This is the right time for you to go.
250	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Hearing this, I became very happy.  Again and Again I bowed down before Sri Narada.  I took His blessing and meditated on his instructions.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these are the instructions of .fn1  Text 243.
251	Then I left.  From far away I saw many restless monkeys jumping here and there and calling out:  "Rama! Rama!"
252	As they tugged at my flute, I went with them.  Then I saw human beings more handsome than the Lord's associates in Vaikuntha.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the residents of Vaikuntha had four-armed forms like that of Lord Narayana. These humans had forms like that of Lord Rama.
253	Very saintly and well-behaved, they would not allow me to bow down and worship them.  Led by them, I came to the city's outer courtyard.
254	Seeing glorious Bharata comfortably sitting with Satrughna, many charming human beings, and monkeys headed by Sugriva, Angada and Jambavan, and thinking Bharata was Lord Ramacandra Himself, I began to glorify Him with many prayers.  He at once covered His ears, and saying again and again that he is only a servant, forbade me to continue.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara said:  "O king of kings, O Lord of the Raghu dynasty, O beloved of Sita, glories to You!"  That Gopa-kumara mistook Bharata for Lord Rama proves that Bharata is like Rama, Bharata's wife is like Sita-devi, and Satrughna is like Laksmana.
255	Frightened, I stood with folded hands.  Hanuman then suddenly dragged me inside and there I saw the supremely wonderful, humanlike Lord Rama...
256	...who comfortably sat on a royal throne in the charming palace, who was joyful, who had the features of an exalted personality, who was like Lord Narayana...
257	...who was enchanting with many charming sweetnesses, whose hand was glorious with a bow, whose humble, shy glances were delightful, who enjoyed pastimes of being the king of kings, and who was explaining the principles of religion.
258	Overcome by the bliss of seeing Him, I fainted before Him as if I had bowed down as a stick to offer respects.  Then He who is desired by the best of religious duties mercifully picked me up and I gazed on Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord is attained by devotional service, the best of religious duties.
259	Pulled by his service, Hanuman left me and in one jump came before Lord Rama.  Beautiful beloved Sita was glorious at the Lord's left and His younger brother Laksmana was glorious at His other side.
260	Sometimes Hanuman fanned the Lord with a splendid white camara, sometimes he sang of His virtues, and sometimes, standing before Him with folded hands, recited wonderful prayers in verses of his own composing.
261	One moment he holds a white parasol.  Another moment he massages the Lord's lotus feet.  Another moment he easily does many different services simultaneously.
262	Overcome with bliss, I called out: "Glory! Glory!" and bowed down again and again.  His heart melting, the Lord pleased me with the very wonderful nectar of sweet words.
263	The Supreme Lord said: O gopa's son, O dear friend, well done! Well done!  With your love you have conquered Me.  Please stop.  What is the need of all this trouble you take?  What is the need?  Don't make Me, your eternal friend, suffer like this.
264	Rise! Rise  Auspiciousness to you! Give up this awe and veneration!  Friend, eternally I am conquered by your love.
265	By the Lord's order, Hanuman picked me up and placed me at the Lord's lotus feet.
266	In my heart I thought: Now my long yearning has borne fruit.  Now I have a result more than I can desire.  How can I go to some other place now?
267	In the form and garments of a cowherd boy as before, for how long a time did I stay there, overcome with bliss?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the meaning of this rhetorical question is that he stayed in Ayodhya only very briefly, although while he was there he was overcome with bliss by drinking the nectar of Lord Ramacandra's lotus feet.
268	There I saw Lord Rama's pastimes as a saintly king.
269	Still, I did not see anything like the playful sweetness of my worshipable Lord's pastimes and I did not attain mercy like His mercy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the worshipable Lord here is Lord Madana-Gopala.  Example of His pastimes are His playing the flute and charming the gopis.
270-1	I was unhappy there.  By hearing from Sri Hanuman the glories of Lord Ramacandra's lotus feet and by directly gazing at the Lord, I tried to cast off the pain in my heart.  I tried to see that all the features of my worshipable Lord were also present in Lord Rama.
272	By the power of my previous activities in Vrajabhumi, a yearnings for my Lord's pastimes and mercy invaded my heart.
273	Then, seeing my condition, Sri Hanuman, the best of counsellors, tried to console me with many very wonderful arguments.
274	Then Lord Rama, who knows what is in the hearts of all the world, His own heart soft with great mercy, comforted me with sweet and affectionate words.  He told me to go to Dvaraka and He at once sent me there with Jambavan, the king of the Ballukas.

Chapter Five Priya (The Beloved)

1.	Sri Gopa-kumara said: I went there and saw the Yadavas playing with their children and some Mathura brahmanas.
2	Wandering everywhere I had never seen such great sweetness as shone amongst them.
3	The bliss of seeing them made me forget everything.  Understanding everything, they firmly embrace me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara forgot to offer obeisances to them.
4	Aware that I was the son of a gopa of Govardhana Hill, they took my hands and, their hearts melting with a flood of love, took me inside the palace.
5	From afar I saw the splendid Lord comfortably sitting on a throne of gold and jewels.
6	He was served by all the wonderful sweetnesses of the Lord of Vaikuntha, and His opulence was even greater than the Lord of Vaikuntha.
7	He was worshipped by the sweet nectar of youthful handsomeness.  His handsome arms embraced His devotees.  The waves of his sweetness charmed His servants' hearts.  He was an ocean of very wonderful pastimes.
8	Above Him a white parasol was splendidly manifest.  By His two sides two camaras moved.  In from of Him was a golden footstool.
9	Everywhere were servants and associates, many great opulences, and the paraphernalia of a king of kings of kings.
10-1	To the Lord's right were Vasudeva, Balarama, Akrura, and others, each seated on his own throne.  To his left were King Ugrasena, Gada, Satyaki, Krtavarma, the counsellor Vikadru, and the best of the Vrsnis.  With playful, joking songs and vina music, Sri Narada made the Lord laugh.
12	Sri Garuda stood before the Lord and recited prayers.  Uddhava massaged his Lord's lotus feet and pleased Him by telling Him many dear secrets.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Uddhava's secrets were about Gokula.  It was not right to speak them openly.
13	Seeing Him I had long desired to see, I fainted, overcome with love.  The Lord, also flooded with love, told Uddhava to bring me to Him.
14	Uddhava came.  Seeing that I was a cowherd boy, he was very happy.  He carefully picked me up and brought me back to consciousness.  Taking both my hands, he brought me before the Lord.
15	As the Lord rose to greet me, Uddhava, with his own hand, placed my head at the Lord's feet.
16	With His lotus hand the Lord of my life stroked my body.  Seeing my flute, He took it from my hand and stood silently, shedding tears as if He were in great pain.
17	Saying "Is all well with you? Are you happy?  How can anything inauspicious happen there?"  He was overwhelmed until Uddhava, the best of counsellors, pacified Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "there" in this verse is Gokula.
18	Uddhava then gave a sign to Vasudeva and the Yadavas, the kings, the demigods, and the sages in the assembly.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the sign was a movement of the eyebrows.  Of the kings there, Yudhisthira was prominent, of the demigods Indra was prominent, and of the sages Garga Muni was prominent.
19	With great effort opening His eyes and seeing them all before Him, He composed Himself and decided to enter the inner rooms of the palace.
20	So quickly attaining my desire, the Lord of my life, I was plunged in an ocean of happiness.  What should I do?  What should I say?  I did not know at all.
21	Going out, He worshipped the best of the Yadavas with betelnuts, ointments and other gifts and taking my folded hands with His right hand, with Balarama and Uddhava entered the inner rooms of the palace.
22	Placing their mother-in-law, Devaki and Rohini in front, 16 108 joyful queens, accompanied by their maidservants, followed the Lord.
23	Among them were the queens Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Satya, Bhadra and Laksmana.
24	There were other queens also, headed by Queen Rohini, very fulfilled in all ways and served by maidservants like them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these were the queens rescued from the palace of Narakasura.  The  most important of them was named Rohini, who is mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.61.18.
25	Glorious with the two men, the many shy women, and a host of children, the Lord entered His palace and, concealing the real condition of His heart, happily sat on the throne.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord was thinking of Gokula.
26	Then, first in meditation and then directly before my eyes, seeing the Lord holding a flute and decorated with all the cowherd boys and the gopis headed by Yasoda, I fainted in ecstasy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord became Madana-Gopala.  No longer was He the king of Dvaraka.  The flute He held in His lotus hand was the same flute He has taken from Gopa-kumara's hand.  Queen Devaki became like Yasoda, the queens became like the gopis, Pradyumna, Samba and the other boys became like the cowherd boys.  Balarama's mother, Rohini remained as before.
27	His heart overcome with compassion, the Lord, the son of Nanda, suddenly rose and, stroking my limbs, with the touch of His lotus hand awakened me.
28	When it was time for lunch, the Lord had no desire to eat.  His mothers made Him perform His midday duties.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because the Lord was suffering in separation from Gokula, He had no desire to eat.  The mothers are plural here because they refer to the many wives of Vasudeva.
29	The Lord, the son of Devaki, personally fed me with His own hand and then, to satisfy me, He also ate.
30	Then the Lord made a circle of His sons, placed His elder brother, Balarama, in the middle, and personally fed them as He had done in His childhood pastimes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.11.
31	Uddhava ate some of the Lord's maha-prasadam remnants, and then, knowing the Lord's desire, took me, almost as if by force, to his own home.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the cowherd boy Gopa-kumara could not become happy in the opulences of the palace, therefore the Lord wanted him to stay with Uddhava, who is very dear to the people of Gokula.
32	Then I again became fully conscious.  Thinking of what I had experienced, I danced again and again.  I thought:
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "then" here means "when he arrived at Uddhava's home".
33	Ah, today the greatest of my desires is fulfilled.  In meditation have seen my worshipable Lord, the hero of Vraja, with all His sweetnesses.
34	Going in Uddhava's company, I would gaze at my Lord, but, overcome with happiness, I could not do anything else.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara was so overwhelmed he was not able to serve the Lord.
35	Living there and attaining the Lord's abundant, wonderful, eternal mercy, I was flooded with bliss.
36	Living as long as Brahma, even a great devotee of the Lord could not understand that mercy with his mind or describe it in words.
37	The happiness in impersonal liberation is said to be very great, but the happiness in Vaikuntha is said to be many millions of millions of times greater.  Still greater is the happiness in Ayodya, and greater than that is the happiness in Dvaraka.  How is it possible to describe the happiness in Dvaraka?
38	By what actions of the mind or words can the wise understand the happiness of a devotee who loves the Lord alone and who has finally attained the Lord of his life he long yearned to see.
39	To me, who was living there in this way, the best of the Yadavas, their hearts melting with the desire to see me enjoy all happiness within and without, said:
40	The Yadavas said:  Friend, you have come to this place, which is more opulent than Vaikuntha, and now you stay here with us.  We do not think it is good that you continue to dress as a poor person that lives in the forest.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara was still dressed as a resident of the forest.
41	It makes us unhappy at heart.  Please dress as we do.
42	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Although they persisted, I never heard anything from the Lord, so I continued to dress as a humble, poor person.
43	To leave the side of the Lord who, served by great opulences, sat in the assembly, I was both ashamed and afraid.
44	Sometimes I saw Him display four arms, something He never did in the land of Vraja.
45	Sometimes He went alone to see His dear relatives, the Pandavas, who were not far away.
46	Because my long-held desire was still not fulfilled, my heart was agitated.  Still, when I saw the Lord's handsomeness and virtues, it became peaceful again.
47	How can my tongue touch the happiness brought by the merciful nectar of His words?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains this means Gopa-kumara could not adequately describe his happiness.
48	In this I spent some days in Uddhava's home.  If I was unhappy, I concealed it.
49	One time, seeing that Narada had come, I bowed before him, and with wonder and joy spoke the following words:
50	O king of sages.  O greatest of the Lord's associates, I see you like this in Svargaloka and the other material planets, in Vaikunthaloka, and now here also.  This fills me with wonder and curiosity.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "like this" mean that in each of these places Narada manifested the same form of a sage playing his vina.  His form never changed.
51	Sri Narada said:  You are a playful cowherd boy eternally.  Did I not tell you before?
52	As Lord Sri Krsna, who is one, manifests in many forms in many places, so do we, His servants.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that here Narada says: "We also manifest in many forms in many places."
53	All the devotees, those led by Garuda, those led by Hanuman, those led by the Yadavas, and Uddhava also, are like that.
54	Dedicated to serving Him, we are all the Lord's associates eternally.  As the Lord does, so do we assume different forms in different pastimes.  In this way we worship Him.
55	The Lord's paraphernalia, names, pastimes and favourite abodes are all eternal and real.  Know that they are both one and many,
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these things are so because they are all eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.
56	It is surprising that even though you are also like that, even in these pastimes you manifest your previous nature.  I see that even here you are always unsatisfied and unhappy at heart.  This is very surprising to me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the phrase "previous nature" means "the nature of a cowherd boy", and the phrase "also like that" means "you also have a spiritual form of eternity, knowledge and bliss, as we do".  Narada is curious to know why, even in Dvaraka, Gopa-kumara is still dissatisfied.
57	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Bowing down and touching his feet, I humbly said: "Lord, you know everything."  Then Narada smiled and, glancing at Uddhava's face spoke.
58-9	Sri Narada said: O Uddhava, he was born a cowherd's son on Govardhana Hill.  Very restless, he has been searching place after place for something even those like you and me cannot attain.  Not finding it, his heart is filled with pain and grief.
60	You are overcome with kindness for the people there.  Why did you not enlighten him for even a moment.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the phrase "the people there" means "the people of Vraja".
61	His home is very far away and his happiness is also very far from us.  We pray for them, but they are very difficult for us to attain.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the home here is the realm of Goloka, which is far from Vaikuntha, and which because it is very exalted, is very difficult to attain.  The happiness here is the happiness of seeing the son of Nanda and enjoying pastimes with Him.  Even though Narada and Uddhava are eternal associates of the Lord, they still pray to attain this realm and this happiness.
62	Srimad Uddhava said: He was born in the land of Vraja and there he was a cowherd boy.  His faith is placed in the worship of Gopala.  He is more exalted than we.
63	Narada eagerly and happily embraced him and said: "Teach him how to quickly attain his desire".
64	Uddhava said: O great sage, I am a ksatriya by birth.  I should not teach when you are present.
65	Narada laughed and said: "Even in Vaikuntha you don't think you are a ksatriya?"
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the castes exist only in the material world, not in the spiritual world, where everything is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.
66	Uddhava smiled and said: "What I say is not my idea.  Our Lord has not rejected (His status as a ksatriya).
67	As He does there, so here also He protects the principles of religion by following the restrictions of household life, conquering His enemies, worshipping the elders and brahmanas, and acting piously in other ways also.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "there" is the Dvaraka in the material world.  Some of the Lord's other religious actions, beginning with rising for brahma-muhurta are described in the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
68	With these words Narada's heart was overcome with joy.  Filled with wonder, laughing, jumping up and down, and crying out, he spoke.
69	Sri Narada said: Ah, the wonder that is the glory of the sweetness of the Lord's pastimes! Ah, the depth of faith in Him alone, held by His servants, who are like Him!
70	Ah!  I have seen a great wonder! The Supreme Lord, who stays in a place above even Vaikuntha, enjoys pastimes in the material world to please they who are dear to Him.
71	Persons like me become bewildered when we see the Lord's pastimes.  Are we in the material world, or in the Dvaraka of Vaikuntha?
72-3	You have love and devotion for the Lord's lotus feet, and the Lord, who loves His devotees, fulfils their desires.  Your actions have nothing to do with living in Vaikuntha, nor do they have anything to do with material opulences or with material friends and relatives.
74	You are always humble, and that helps your love and devotion for the Lord.  The enjoys pastimes as if He were an ordinary person, and that helps the exchange of love between Him and His devotees.
75	Who can describe the great glory of that love?  That love makes the Supreme Lord act as an ordinary person that is the dear friend of His devotee.
76	I glorify that seemingly ordinary relationship, by which transcendental love for Krsna is manifest without awe and reverence.
77	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Speaking these words, the sage became overcome with ecstatic love and fell silent.  Seeing that I was unhappy, he began again to teach me.
78	Sri Narada said: O beloved of Gopaladeva, O son of a gopa, very far from here a beautiful place named Goloka, the crown of all Vaikuntha planets, is splendidly manifest.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Goloka is described in Brahma-samhita 5.43.
79	Goloka's form is the beautiful land of Vraja in the district of Mathura.  Although the splendid city of Mathura is also there, Goloka cannot exist without it's heart, the land of Vraja, which begins with Vrndavana forest.
80	Because it is primarily a land (loka) of cows (go), Mathura is called Goloka.  Although it is a secret place, it is famous everywhere.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Goloka is a secret place because the Lord enjoys secret pastimes there.
81	Goloka is attained only by one who follows the pure love the people of Vraja feel for Krsna.
82	Love like this is never manifest when one sees the Lord's opulence, for that brings awe and reverence.
83	This love is perfect when one thinks the Lord is an ordinary person, one's life-friend. This love is beyond the coverings of the material worlds.  It is beyond the realm of Vaikuntha.
84	This mutual love, as if they were ordinary persons, is very extraordinary.  It is mixed with ordinariness, sweetness, wonder and glory.
85	His and their actions increase their love.  This love is not possible in Vaikuntha, the realm of opulence.
86	Ayodhya is like Vaikuntha, and Dvaraka is even more opulent.  Krsna has place Goloka very far from those two places.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because Vaikuntha, Ayodhya and Dvaraka are very opulent, Krsna placed Goloka very far from them.
87	Situated in the highest sweetness, His happy pastimes with the people there become perfect there, the proper place for them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "the people there" are the residents of Sri Goloka.  "His" means "Sri Krsna's", and "there" means "in Goloka".
88	Ah, I think that Lord Hari's most confidential feature is manifested there.
89	The glory of Goloka, which is situated above Vaikuntha, and which is the crest jewel of all the worlds, is supreme.
90	Who can describe the supreme and wonderful glories of Mathura-Gokula, which is beyond the material world?
91	Friend, listen.  My restless tongue itches (to speak).  Now I will show you the jewel I have long kept in the box of my heart.
92	Desiring to enjoy loving pastimes, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, the master of Goloka, within whom all incarnations of God rest, descends there at the end of Dvapara-yuga.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "there" in this verse is Mathura-Gokula.
93-4	Taking all His incarnations into Himself, leaving Vaikunthaloka and the other spiritual worlds with all their paraphernalia, leaving the devoted goddess of fortune and His own transcendental opulences far behind, and ignoring all His beloved servants, like myself, He goes there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "there" is Mathura-Gokula in the material world.
95	In another place, Mathura-Vraja, which is not easy to attain, He enjoys transcendental pastimes with others, His proper companions there, as much as He desires.
96	With a mercy never shown before, He revealed (the glories of Mathura-Gokula) to the devotees fortunate to have firm devotion for Him.
97	You will see things even the Lord of Vaikuntha has never seen in Vaikunthaloka.
98-100	Seeing the sweetness and glory of the Lord, the saintly persons from the different planets describe, each according to his own idea, the Lord who has descended to Mathura City.  Some sages say He is the hero of Vaikuntha, others He is thousand-headed Lord Ananta, others He is Lord Visnu, others He is Ksirodakasayi Visnu and others He is Lord Kesava.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains because Lord Krsna is their source, all the incarnations of God joined with Him when He descended to the material world.  The incarnations were therefore absent from their particular planets in the spiritual world, and the residents of those spiritual planets each thought that the Lord of their planet had descended to the material world.  That is why the sages had different opinions of the identity of Lord Krsna.  That Lord Krsna is the source of all incarnations is confirmed in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28.  Lord Narayana the friend of Nara is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.1.57 and Lord Ksirodakasayi Visnu in Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.26.
101	However, (the truth is that) the Lord of Goloka eternally manifests on the earth His own abode and pastimes.
102	Here there is no outsider.  Uddhava is dear to the people there, and you were born there.  Therefore I will tell you a secret.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "here" is in Uddhava's home.  Narada will now describe tell the secret he had previously described as a jewel he had kept hidden in the box of his heart.
103	There, the Lord's ultimate opulence, mercy, handsomeness, glory, sweetness, charming pastimes, and submission to His devotees, is manifest.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "there" is in Mathura-Vrajabhumi.
104	The Lord's virtues made Nanda's cow-pasture a place of transcendental pastimes, and the glance of Vaikuntha's queen made it a place of all opulences.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.5.18:
	"O Maharaja Pariksit, the home of Nanda Maharaja is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities, and it therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth.  Yet beginning from Lord Krsna's appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune."*
105	Any tree there can fulfil all the desires of they who ask.  Still, they can never produce great opulences, for that would obstruct the Lord's pastimes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that there the Lord enjoys pastimes as an ordinary person, and great opulences there would be only an obstruction.  The trees, however, do offer many nice flowers, fruits and other things.  They are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.22.34:
	"With their leaves, flowers, fruits, shade, roots, bark, wood, fragrance, sap, ashes, pulp, and sprouts, these trees fulfil all desires."
106	To a demoness that only pretended to be a devotee, He gave the status of being His mother.  In His pastimes, to His friends and relatives, and even to the demons who hate the devotees, He gave liberation.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this demoness Putana, pretended to act as Mother Yasoda acted, so Krsna gave her a situation in life like Mother Yasoda's.  Putana is praised in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.2.23 and 10.14.35.
107	He allowed Himself to be bound at the waist to a grinding mortar with a cow-rope.  He enthusiastically danced and performed in many ways, asked by the women of Vraja.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.17-19 and 10.11.7-9.
108	Who can describe the glory of His handsome form?  I will describe it as far as I have the power.  Seeing the wonder of it, the cows, birds, trees and vines became filled with ecstatic love.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.2.12 and 10.29.40.
109	O dear one, He became a thief that robbed the peacefulness of many girls whose feet are worshipped by saintly girls and who have beauty, noble character, virtues, and saintly deeds more glorious than the great goddess of fortune.
110	Gazing on Him, they cursed the blinking of their eyelids.  The curse the creator, Brahma, and praise thousand-eyed Indra.  They wish all their senses were eyes.  No one in all the worlds is like them.
111	How can I describe the glory of Vrajabhumi, where the Lord revealed a handsome form He did not show in any other place?
112	The Lord's form is the resting place of the charm of childhood, it is eternally worshipped by the pastimes of youth.  It eternally rests on His handsome teen-age years.  It's transcendental virtues are newer and newer at every moment.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's childhood is characterised by His delicateness and restlessness, His youth by His many expert skills, and His teen-age years by His handsomeness and other virtues.
113	What He had never done before in any circumstances, now He did.  In His pastimes as a handsome child in Vraja He performed tasks that were impossible before.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that what the Lord was not able to do before as Lord Nrsimha, Lord Ramacandra or in any of His other forms, He now did as a child in Vraja.
114	Although it is always very fond the sweetness there, my tongue is terrified to dive in the nectar ocean of the Lord's pastimes.  This person is not qualified to do this task.
115	Whose heart will not become charmed when his ears once drink the nectar of the Lord's pastimes?  My restless tongue is no longer shy.  Now it yearns to drink that nectar.
116	When He was three-month-old infant lying down in His bed, with His soft foot He broke a great cart.  When He was a child that cried for breast-milk, He twice showed to His mother the universe in his mouth.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
117	May His pastimes of killing Trnavarta, crawling on the ground, pleasing the gopis, and stealing milk protect you.
118	May His pastime of carefully looking here and there in fear of His mother or in fear of the gopis' rebukes, His pastime of being curious to eat clay, and His pastime of playing with His mother as she churned yoghurt, protect me.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that as His mother churned yoghurt, child Krsna would playfully grab the churning-stick.
119	The Lord's pastimes of crying, breaking yoghurt-jars, stealing butter from jars hanging on ropes, fleeing in fear of His mother and looking about with restless, frightened eyes, are very wonderful.
120	May His pastime of dragging the grinding mortar His mother tied to His waist with a rope, breaking the Arjuna trees, and then, in that condition, giving them benedictions charm my heart.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this pastime is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.10.42.
121	May he who enjoys pastimes of hearing the calves in Vrndavana, who killed Vatsasura and Bakasura, who is the first teacher of playing the flute, who is decorated with forest ornaments, and who playfully imitates the sounds of the forest creatures, protect me.
122	I worship the Lord's sweet pastime of going to Vrndavana forest with His friends and calves, pausing for a moment to think and then entering the mouth of a great serpent, and doing many other things.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this pastime is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.28.
123	The Lord's pastimes of first a picnic on the grass by the lakeshore and then, His hand splendid with a mouthful of rice-and-yoghurt,, His search for the calves, attracts my heart.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.14.
124	Seeing the sweetness of these pastimes, the demigod Brahma became bewildered.  Who can describe them?  Why did the Lord search for His friends and calves as if He had become bewildered?  Why did He assume the forms of His calves and boys?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by assuming the forms of the boys and calves Krsna showed His supreme power, and then He also searched for them as if He had become bewildered.  This contradiction, that He is simultaneously powerful and bewildered, it the reason for the last two questions in this verse.
125	Understanding the glory of the pastime-place Gokula, Brahma respectfully offered prayers to the Lord, the personified nectar of great love.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the glory of Gokula is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.22, 10.14.31 and 10.14.34.
126	Please worship the Lord's beautiful pastimes, where He protected the cows, worshipped His elder brother, glorified the beauty of Vrndavana forest, imitated the singing of the bees, and did many other things.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some of the other pastimes hinted at here are the Lord's imitating the parrots' conversations with a deep voice calling the cows from far away, and taking a nap on a bed of leaves and flowers.
127	In Talavana He crushed Dhenukasura's relatives, and in the evening He met the girls of Vraja.  I cannot properly glorify the Lord's pastimes.  I simply bow down to offer respects to them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's meeting the gopis in the evening is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.42-43.
128	Overcome with grief and joy, I cannot even remember the pastimes Yasoda's son enjoyed in Kaliya's lake.  How can I speak of them?
129	How did the Lord angrily punish that wicked demon?  How did He enjoy a festival of dancing on the demon's raised hoods?
120	How did the Lord defeat Kaliya?  How was He merciful to him?  Even Lord Sesa cannot describe it.  To the serpent's wives, who offered prayers and worship to the Lord, and to Kaliya also, I offer my respectful obeisances.
131	May the Lord's pastimes in a forest fire on the shore of that lake and in another, greater fire in Manjuvana forest, His expert games in Bhandiravana, and His praise of His elder brother, bring auspiciousness (to you).
132	Glories to His monsoon-season pastimes, where He took shelter in the lap of a tree, made the women of Vraja burn with amorous passion, and praised the beauty of the autumn forest!
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's making the gopis burn with amorous passion is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.20.45.
133	When will I directly perceive His forest-flower decorations, His flute-music flood of sweetness that enchants everyone's heart, and His pastimes of enchanting the gopis?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.3, 10.21.5, 10.21.9, and 10.21.19.
134	When will I directly perceive His festival of stealing the Gopis' garments, His quickly climbing to the top of a kadamba tree, His joking words, the girls' prayers and obeisances with folded hands, and His taking the garments from His shoulder and giving them back?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.22.10, 10.22.18, and 10.22.19.
135	I glorify His pastimes of begging food from the brahmanas performing sacrifices, attracting their wives, being handsomely decorated, speaking words of kindness, and gracefully accepting the food the wives offered.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.23.22, 10.23.25, 10.23.35 and 10.23.38.
136	I offer my respectful obeisances to His pastimes of gracefully worshipping Govardhana Hill, lifting the great hill with His left hand, pleasing the gopas, being pacified by Indra and being crowned king of the surabhi cows.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.10.25-29 and 10.26.24.
137	I have no power to describe His pastimes of showing the realm of Vaikuntha to the people of Vraja and rescuing Nanda maharaja from the realm of Varuna.  How can I describe the Lord's supreme sweetness?
138	How can I describe the glory of the Lord's pastimes in Vraja?  When words describing them enter the ear, great love appears at once.
139	With perfect logic a fortunate person proves the superiority of Lord Krsna's pastimes.  Simply by hearing a little of His pastimes a person becomes filled with love.  I offer my respectful obeisances to the Lord's pastimes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the pastimes of Lord Krsna are superior to those of His incarnations.
140	Can my tongue hope to touch the glories of the supreme, dear thing, suitable for Him alone, that the Lord always holds in His lotus hand?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this verse refers to the Lord's flute, which is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.2.  Beginning here is a lengthy description of the Lord's flute music.
141	By the power of the Lord's mercy, as far as I am able I will now say something of it.  Please listen with care.
142	Because it touched the Lord's bimba-fruit lips, the wooden flute could say things that even the best of the Upanisads, the words of the Vedas, and the nectar words of other scriptures, all spoken from the Lord's beautiful mouth, could not say.
143	(Hearing it) the demigods and siddhas, travelling in airplanes with their wives, fainted in ecstatic love, and Indra, Siva, Brahma, and their following became first bewildered and then filled with wonder,...
144	...their meditations broken, the great sages become overcome with ecstasy, the moon and other planets travelling on the wheel of time became stopped in their course...
145	...the cowherd men offered their bodies, relatives, possessions, hearts, actions, and thoughts to Krsna, gave no thought to gaining anything in the two worlds, and offered respectful obeisances to their wives, who dearly loved Him...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in the Hari-vamsa, where the cowherd men say to Nanda:
	"O sinless one, from now on, in any calamity the cowherd people and cows of Vraja will always take shelter of Lord Krsna whose large eyes are so beautiful."
146	...their sons, who were always happy to be with Him, and who had become like His shadow, and who became unhappy when for a moment He was far away and they could not see Him, eagerly ran to Him, touching Him, and enjoying pastimes with Him...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.6.
147	...and supremely glorious Radha and Her associates at once renounce their husbands, children, relatives, possessions, religious principles, and shyness, became filled with love and poisoned with its sweetness, and overcome with ecstasy, became like trees, unable to search for it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "parama-bhagavatayah" shows that Radha and the gopis are more exalted than either Maha-Laksmi or Rukmini-devi and the queens at Dvaraka.  This pastime is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.16-17.
148	Please hear this wonder.  The unintelligent animals, the cows, calves, bulls, forest deer, the birds who live in the trees, the creatures who play in the sky and the water, the motionless (trees and plants), and the ignorant rivers and clouds, all abandoned their own natures.
149	The moving became motionless.  The motionless moved.  The conscious fainted unconscious.  The unconscious became thoughtful.  They became plunged in a great nectar of love.  They became overwhelmed with ecstasy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.19.
150	The Lord's rasa dance is a great secret of the greatest opulence.  It is the greatest treasure.  It manifests the ultimate of intense sweetness.  Even with hundreds of desires, goddess Laksmi could not attain it.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the glorification of the Lord's flute music now ended, the glorification of the Lord's rasa dance begins in this verse.  That the goddess of fortune could not enter the rasa dance is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.60). where Uddhava says:
	"When Lord Sri Krsna is dancing with the gopis in the rasa-lila, the gopis were embraced by the arms of the Lord.  This transcendental favour was never bestowed on the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world.  Indeed, never was such a thing even imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets whose bodily lustre and aroma resemble in the lotus flower.  And what to speak of worldly women who are very beautiful according to the material estimation?"*
151	The heart of what wise and pious person would not be attracted to the Lord's supremely sweet genius?  Even as the saintly gopis wept in the forest, His eloquence charmed them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Srila Sukadeva Gosvami describes these pastimes in Srimad-Bhagavatam's five chapters of rasa-lila.
152	I praise Lord Hari's expertly disappearing and then, impelled by the gopis plaintive appeals, appearing again in their midst.  Charming them with the arts of love, He enjoyed pastimes with them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.46 and 10.90.48.
153	Who will not sing the praises of the disappearance pastime of the Lord, who expertly enjoys the pastime of being away from His beloveds?  Although they are naturally very grave and peaceful, the gopis spoke and acted wonderfully in a very wonderful condition of life.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that an example of the gopis' words is found in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.30.5.  An example of their wonderful actions is their imitation of Krsna's pastimes.  The wonderful condition they attained was transcendental madness.
154	I fear the Lord, whose pastimes are inscrutable.  Why did He one moment give Her a give of the greatest good fortune?  Why did He the next moment suddenly disappear and leave Her alone, tormented, without a master, and drowning in an ocean of weeping?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this verse describes Srimati Radha.
155	May the Lord who, impelled by their suffering and the weeping of their songs, appeared amongst them, flooded them with bliss, and, answering their questions, affirmed that He was their debtor, protect you.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the gopis' questions begin in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.32.16.  Lord Krsna affirmed that He was their debtor in these words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.32.22):
	"My dear gopis, our meeting is certainly free from all material contamination.  I must admit that in many lives it would be impossible for Me to repay My debt to you because you have cut off the bondage of family life just to search for Me.  Consequently I am unable to repay you.  Therefore please be satisfied with your own honest activities in this regard."*
156	May the Lord's pastimes, which charm the gopis, which are filled with expert artistry of singing, dancing and other arts, which have unprecedented beauty and other virtues, and which charm the entire world, charm my  heart.
157	They who yearn to drink the honey of Lord Krsna's lotus feet know the great glory of they who are able to lick that honey.  Brahma knows the glory of they who were born in Gokula and Uddhava knows the glory of the gopis.  They both yearn to attain that glory.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Brahma, seeing the good fortune of the people of Gokula, yearned for a fortunate position like theirs.  He expressed his desire in these words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.34):
	"My dear Lord, I am most humbly praying at Your lotus feet for You to please give me any sort of birth within this Vrndavana forest so that I may be able to be favoured by the dust of the feet of some of the devotees of Vrndavana.  Even if I am given the chance to grow just as the humble grass in this land, that would be a glorious birth for me."*
	Uddhava, however, seeing the gopis great love for Lord Krsna, yearned to love Him as they did.  Uddhava expressed his desire in these words (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."*
158	They who yearn to attain a certain condition can understand the good fortune of they who have already attained it.  The gopis, who yearn to drink the nectar of Mukunda's lips, sing the glories of the good fortune of His flute.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.9), where the gopis say:
	"My dear gopis, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Krsna's lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopis, for whom that nectar is actually meant!  The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure.  His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body."*
159	The Lord is so wonderfully attached to the people of Vraja and eternally so full of love for them that He has no desire at all to see His eldest son Brahma, who, attracted by the flute, bows before Him and recites prayers.
160	Charmed by the people of (Vrndavana) forest, who know wonderful mantras and magical herbs, the hero of Vraja is not eager to speak even for a moment with persons like me, for whom His lotus feet are the only goal.
161	Who can describe their attachment to Him?  Aware only that He is the son of the cowherd Nanda, and elaborately serving Him with love, they always pass the time with great anxiety.
162	They are beyond time.  Their feet are worshipped by us, who are filled with the opulences of transcendental knowledge.  They are flooded with a bliss greater than what is in Vaikuntha.  They are worshipped even by the Yadavas.
163	The people of Vraja were not enchanted by Krsna.  It was Lord Krsna who was enchanted by them.  That is the truth.  He even forgot His mission as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and I had to somehow remind Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some thinkers say that with His wonderful pastimes and features Lord Krsna enchanted the people of Vraja.  This verse refutes that claim by saying that it was Lord Krsna who became enchanted.  The Lord even forgot His mission of killing Kamsa and doing many other things, and by offering prayers  Narada had to remind Him.  Examples of Narada's reminders are Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.37.13 and 10.37.15.
164	Wishing auspiciousness for the Yadavas, how did intelligent Akrura take the Lord, as if by force, from Vraja to Mathura City?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the question posed in this verse is answered in the following verses.  By hearing intelligent Akrura's description of the great sufferings of Devaki and Vasudeva, Krsna was convinced to go.  This is described in Hari-vamsa, where Akrura says:
	"Your aged parents are now slaves tortured by the sadist Kamsa."
165	He can never leave the people of Vraja.  He returns to Vraja at every moment.  He lives there and enjoys pastimes there eternally.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord leaves Vraja and then returns to Vraja again and again and again in His pastimes.
166	As, very eager to see what actions pleasing to His heart the people of Vraja do when they are tossed by waves of separation from Him, the Lord sometimes hides in the depth of the forest groves, so in His different pastimes He sometimes hides.
167	I think this actions is a very rare gift the crown of all generous gives to they who are most dear to Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some persons may protest that it is not right for the Lord to separate Himself from they who cannot bear even a moment's separation from Him.  This verse answers them.  The gift here is the most intense love for Krsna.  It is so rare that none but the people of Vraja are able to attain it.  It is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.27), where Uddhava tells the gopis:
	"My dear gopis, the mentality which you have developed in relationship with Krsna is very, very difficult to attain, even for great sages and saintly persons.  You have attained the highest perfectional stage of life.  It is a great boon for you that you have fixed your mind upon Krsna and have decided to have Krsna only, giving up your family, home, relatives, husbands, and children for the sake of the Supreme Personality.  Because your mind is now full absorbed in Krsna, the Supreme Soul, universal love has automatically developed in you.  I think myself very fortunate that I have been favoured, by your grace, to see you in this situation."*
168	As the Lord enjoys pastimes in earthly Gokula, so He also does in spiritual Goloka.  Any idea that one is higher and the other is lower is an imagination only.
169	Although He enjoys pastimes there with Sri Nanda and the others eternally and without ever becoming tired, the Lord is not always seen by everyone in Vrajabhumi.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that someone may protest: "If the Lord enjoys pastimes in the earthly Gokula eternally, then why does no one ever see Him?"  This verse answers that protest.  In Goloka, in the spiritual world, everyone sees the Lord always.  In Gokula, in the material world, everyone sees the Lord during a certain period at the end of the Dvapara-yuga, but at other times only certain people at certain times are able to see Him.
170	As in Vaikuntha Garuda and the other eternal associates of the Lord are always present, so in Goloka the Lord's eternal, dear friends are always present.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that someone may protest:  "Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd people are residents of Gokula in the material world.  How can they simultaneously exist in Goloka in the spiritual world eternally?"  This verse answers that question.  As Garuda and the other associates of the Lord stay in Vaikuntha, but at the same time are also present in the material world, so the cowherd people of Vraja are present in the spiritual and material worlds simultaneously.
171	By their own wish, with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of their life, they eternally enjoy pastimes in both places.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the two places are Gokula in the material world and Goloka in the spiritual world.
172	Adopting the same methods one uses to attain Sri Goloka, one may see the playful and merciful Lord in the material world.
173	O dear one, why are you so eager to see the sweetness of the pastimes at Lord Gopaladeva's lotus feet?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that here Narada rebukes Gopa-kumara for desiring something so rare and difficult to attain.
174	O brother, know that this is very difficult to attain.  The way to attain it is very difficult to follow.  That is my final conclusion.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that here Narada Muni speaks of attaining Goloka in the spiritual world.
175	Most living entities do no know what should and what should not be done.  Some few men know what should be done.
176	Many are intent on economic development and sense gratification.  Some follow the duties by which one attains Svargaloka.
177	Some perform religious duties without material motive.  Of them, some aspire for impersonal liberation.
178	Of them, some are liberated paramahamsas and of the paramahamsas some are great souls devoted to the service of the Lord.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the devotees are called great souls because they consider impersonal liberation to be very insignificant and because they are very eager to taste the nectar of serving the Lord.  They are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.3-5.
179	Among these devotees they who have given their hearts to being friends of Sriman Madana-Gopala's lotus feet are even more rare.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the exalted status of the devotees is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.6.
180	Know that the different ways to attain different goals of life are in this sequence of higher and lower.  This is taught by the words of the scriptures.
181	Than these devotees there are others even more exalted.  I am not qualified to describe them.
182	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  Then Narada embraced Uddhava and with plaintive words humbly begged:  "Please,, you say something."
183	Uddhava, overcome with ecstatic love and humbly bowing his head again and again, said:  At every  moment I offer my respectful obeisances to the women in Nanda's Vraja.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Uddhava could understand Narada's intention in asking him to speak.  Touching his head to the ground, with great love he sang the glories of the greatest devotees.
184	Uddhava, the servant of Lord Hari, suddenly became very agitated.  Taking straw in his teeth, and grasping Narada's feet, he sang again.
185	"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."*
	This verse is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.61).
186	Displaying symptoms of the greatest ecstatic love, and filled with wonder, again he loudly sang:
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that some of the symptoms Uddhava displayed were trembling, perspiring and standing up of the body's hairs.
187	"When Lord Sri Krsna was dancing with the gopis in the rasa-lila, the gopis were embraced by the arms of the Lord.  This transcendental favour was never bestowed on the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world.  Indeed, never was such a thing even imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets whose bodily lustre and aroma resemble the lotus flower.  And what to speak of worldly women who are very beautiful according to the material estimation."*
	This verse is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.60).
188	Lord Narada became filled with great wonder.  Seeing that I was unhappy, he at once sang this:
189	Sri Narada said:  Uddhava, the best of all the devotees, offers his respectful obeisances to the dust of the gopis' lotus feet.  He prays to be born as a blade of grass fortunate enough to be touched by the dust of their lotus feet.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.61 and 10.47.63.
190	Even Rukmini, who is famous as Lord Hari's beloved,, who, yearning for the infallible Lord, refused to act as an ordinary pious girl, and who almost died when the Lord spoke to her a single joke, could not attain even the scent of the gopis' good fortune.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.60, 10.60.17 and 10.60.24.  
191	What are the best of women in comparison to the gopis?  What are the goddesses of Svargaloka?  What are the queens headed by Satyabhama and Kalindi?  What are the noblewomen headed by Rohini?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 
10.47.60.
192	I am insignificant.  Who am I?  Still, my restless tongue will not stop glorifying the gopis.
193-4	O son of a gopa, O friend of the Lord of Vraja, Uddhava is the best of loving devotees.  Because He was fortunate to receive the Lord's mercy, he was able to see the ecstatic love of the gopis in Vraja.  The gopis gave him such great mercy that he forgot even about Lord Krsna.  Uddhava is able to understand the actions of the gopis.  He should describe them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Uddhava describes the gopis in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.27.
195-6	The Lord's uncle is Svaphalka's son Akrura.  His heart is dry with knowledge that has no sweetness.  An old man, his heart unable to melt with compassion, he came to Vraja as Kamsa's messenger.  He can meditate on Lord Krsna's lotus feet and describe them, but because he offended the gopis he cannot meditate on them in his heart or describe their exalted glories.
197	"(I will be able to see) the Lord's lotus feet, which are worshipped by great demigods like Brahma, Narada and Lord Siva, which traverse the ground of Vrndavana as He herds the cows, and which touch the breasts of the gopis covered with tinges of kunkuma."*
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in this verse (quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.38.8) Akrura meditates on the Lord's lotus feet, as was described in the previous verse.
198	"When I bow down before Lord Krsna in that way, certainly He will place His fearless lotus hand on my head.  His hand is offered to all conditioned souls who take shelter under His lotus feet.  Krsna is the ultimate goal of life for all people who fear the snake of material existence, and certainly when I see Him He will give me the shelter of His lotus feet.  I am aspiring for the touch of His lotus-like hands on my head."*
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in this verse (quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.38.16) Akrura meditates on the Lord's lotus hand.
199	"Indra , who is the king of heaven and the master of the three worlds-the upper, middle and lower planetary system-was blessed by the Lord simply for His offering a little water which Krsna accepted.  Similarly Bali Maharaja gave only three feet of land in charity to Vamanadeva, and he also offered a little water, which Lord Vamanadeva accepted, and thereby Bali Maharaja attained the position of Indra.  When the gopis were dancing with Krsna in the rasa dance, they became fatigued, and Krsna smeared His hand, which is fragrant as a lotus flower, over the pearl-like drops of perspiration on the faces of the gopis, and immediately they became refreshed."*
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in this verse (quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.38.17) Akrura says that the Lord gives fearlessness to the devotees that surrender to Him.  The Lord even gives Himself to these devotees.
200	In  his last moments the saintly brahmacari Bhisma, who was the grandfather of the Kurus and Pandavas, offered to the Lord prayers that described the exalted glories of the women of Vraja.
201	"Let my mind be fixed upon Lord Sri Krsna, whose motions and smiles of love attracted the damsels of Vrajadhama (the gopis).  The damsels imitated the characteristic movements of the Lord (after His disappearance from the rasa dance).*
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Bhisma speaks this verse (quoted from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.40).
202	Seeing the Lord as He was about to go to His own city, Yudhisthira Maharaja's queens said among themselves:
203	"O friends,, just think of His wives, whose hand He has accepted.  How they must have undergone vows, baths, fire sacrifices, and perfect worship of the Lord of the universe to constantly relish now the nectar of His lips (by kissing).  The damsels of Vrajabhumi would often faint just by expecting such favours."*
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this verse (quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.28) is their conversation.
204	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Speaking these words, Lord Narada embraced me.  He was plunged in the waves of the ocean of love, waves that him tremble and shed tears and made the hairs of his body stand erect.  Biting his tongue, which yearned to continue describing the gopis, He danced wonderfully and displayed many symptoms of ecstatic love.
205	In a moment he became normal again and, seeing me depressed, the best of sages comforted me with affectionate words.
206	Sri Narada said: This is a great secret to be concealed in all times and places, and especially to be concealed from the devotees in places where the Lord's great opulences are abundantly manifested.
207	That is why I did not reveal this to you in Vaikuntha.  Now, inspired by the sweetness of your love and devotion, I have said something about it here.
208	Before you and before Uddhava, I vow that I speak the truth:  In this place one can attain neither Goloka nor the means to attain Goloka.
209	Please hear from me this one instruction:  Not far from here a place named Sri Purusottama-ksetra is splendidly manifested.  This is the same place you saw before on the earth.
210	There, with Balarama and Subhadra the Lord enjoys many pastimes on Govardhana Hill, in Vrndavana forest, and on the shore of the Yamuna.
211	The Lord, in whom all incarnations of God rest, enjoys many pastimes there.  To a devotee who finds pleasure in Him, the Lord reveals His own form.
212	As Sri Mathura is dear to Lord Krsnadeva, so this place is also dear to Him.  Although it is very opulent, it is also very beautiful and charming.
213	If when you go there your desire is not fulfilled by seeing the Lord there, you will attain there the way to fulfil your desire.
214	There, and in no other place, is the way to attain the spontaneous love the people of Vraja feel for the lotus feet of He who is the Lord of the gopis' lives.
215	Sri Krsna's great mercy, which brings that love, comes to some spontaneously and to others as a result of gradual spiritual advancement.
216	From a generous donor one may receive either cooked food or ingredients to prepare cooked food.  In this way the scriptures describe the ways to quickly or gradually attain (the Lord's mercy).
217	Thinking the Lord one's own friend or relative as one has a friend or relative in the material world, and yearning to serve the gopas and gopis, one should reject awe and reverence and all other impediments and strive to attain that pure love.
218	By engaging in devotional service that largely consists of singing about and meditating on the Lord's Vraja pastimes, one attains that love, which is glorious with the chanting of the dearmost Lord's holy names.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that there are nine methods of devotional service, of which two important activities are mentioned here.
219	In the association of a devotee who relishes the nectar of it, that love appears of its own accord.  Still, it should be carefully concealed.
220	As one lives alone in the Lord's dear pastime-forest, one's love becomes manifest and grows to become very strong.
221	That love is far from fruitive pious work, philosophical speculation, yoga and other spiritual practices.  It is decorated with independence from them.  It is the root of humbleness.
222	Even if one is very exalted, he should be humble and think himself very incompetent and lowly.
223	A wise man should try to be humble in his words,, deeds, and thoughts.  He should shun the opposite of humbleness.
224	Humbleness comes from advancement in love for Krsna (as is seen in the example of) the women of Gokula when they were separated from Krsna.
225	Mature humbleness brings love for Krsna.  It is seen that the two are in a relationship of cause and effect.
226	O brother, the wise know that the nature of this love is characterised inside the heart by melting and outside the heart by trembling and a host of other symptoms.
227	(In this love) a fire's flames become the Yamuna's nectar and the Yamuna's nectar becomes a fire's flames.  Poison becomes nectar and nectar becomes poison.  Death becomes happiness and life becomes torture.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is the condition of a devotee separated from Krsna.
228	It is not possible to distinguish between separation (from Krsna) and the happiness of enjoying (with Him) or (to distinguish which is full of bliss and which is full of grief).
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that even when the devotees are enjoying in the Lord's association they feel the unhappiness of being separated from Him.  This is described at the end of the Tenth Canto in the account of the queens' water-pastimes with the Lord.  Also, in either meeting or separation, intense love for Krsna brings an intense bliss.  Therefore it is not possible to clearly determine what is bliss and what is torment in these pastimes.
229	Gaining the wealth of that love, one again and again acts as a madman.  Without that love the nine methods of devotional service to Lord Mukunda bring no happiness.
230	The become like vegetables without salt, a feast without hunger, scripture-study without understanding, or orchards without fruit.
231	In a general way I have said something about this love.  I do not have the power to describe it in detail.  How can I say much about the love the women of Vraja feel for Krsna?
232	When Krsna went to Mathura City, the gopis thought they were burning in the fires of cosmic devastation.  Please,, don't try to understand (from me) anything more about the cause or nature of their love.
233	If somehow Sri Radhika is seen, then the form of that love may be understood.  If one is empowered by Her, he can describe it.  If you are able to understand it, you can hear of it from him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that a person who is able to describe that love will be at every moment so overwhelmed with ecstatic joy, lamentation, madness, and other ecstatic symptoms that he will not be able to describe it to any listener.  Therefore only Goddess Radhika can describe that love.
234	If Krsnacandra incarnates to reveal that love, or if Radhika incarnates, then one may understand it.
235	O you who were born in Vraja, to attain your desire you should go to the province of Mathura at once.  You are not like me.  You are the object of His mercy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the province of Mathura here is Purusottama-ksetra.  The last sentence here means that Gopa-kumara received the mercy of the Lord of Goloka.
236	Srimad Uddhava said: As Purusottama-ksetra is dear to the Lord, so is Dvaraka City dear.  As it is decorated with great opulences and appropriate pastimes, so is Dvaraka.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that as a great devotee of Lord Dvarakanatha, Uddhava could not tolerate the suggestion that Dvaraka might be inferior in any way.
237	Our Lord, the son of Devaki,, manifests His own form at Purusottama-ksetra.  Standing motionless, He enjoys pastimes for the pleasure of the people there whose hearts are flooded with love for Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the motionless form of the Lord here is daru-brahma Lord Jagannatha.
238	Here one attains the same perfection one obtains there.  There is no difference.  However, by seeing and hearing of the Lord's Vraja-pastimes he will become unhappy there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in Purusottama-ksetra Gopa-kumara will see pictures and plays of the Lord's Vraja-pastimes and hear songs and other descriptions of those pastimes.  Yearning to attain the Lord of Vraja, he will become unhappy.
239	Also,, there, by seeing the Lord Jagannatha's lotus face, by obtaining maha-prasadam again and again, and by seeing many festivals, he will become blissful and he will not be humble at heart.
240	Without humbleness he will not attain the pure love that brings one to Goloka, and without attaining Goloka he will not be happy.
241	Lord Jagannatha, who is unhappy to see others suffer, will only send him to His Gokula, the ornament of Mathura.  Why not send him to Gokula directly?
242	There he will see the forests, rivers, hills and everything else are all void and desolate (without Krsna).  He will become humble and he will feel the pure love felt by the great devotees.
243	There he will search for the person loved by the great souls whose voices are filled with calls of "Alas! Alas!" and whose hearts are burned by great sufferings.
244	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Hearing these eloquent and logical words of Uddhava, the best of counsellors, Lord Narada became pleased and spoke.
245	Sri Narada said: O Uddhava, you love the people of that land.  You have spoken good advice for him to attain his desire.
246	You know the glory of the land of Vraja, You left your worshipable Lord, Sri Krsna, to go there, and you stayed there for a long time.
247	Looking in all directions and seeing that all the signs were auspicious, all-knowing Narada, who is dear to the devotees became happy and spoke to me.
248	O glorious one dear to Vraja's hero, know that your desire will soon be fulfilled.  O very fortunate one, I knew this all along.
249	In beautiful Vaikuntha, which is full of the greatest bliss, in Ayodhya City, where the bliss is even greater, and even in this Dvaraka City, your heart became unhappy.  In Svargaloka and the other planets, even when you could see the Lord's lotus feet, you could find no happiness.
250	I think this unhappiness was only to increase your love for the beautiful lotus feet of your beloved Lord.  If it were not so, then why would you be unhappy in this place or unaware of the happinesses in the other places?
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the beloved Lord here is Sri Madana-Gopala.
251	Because of this unawareness, because your heart was calm and untroubled, because you were very curious, and because your love was very great, you could not find any happiness in these worlds, even when there you could see the infallible Lord.
252	Therefore, to attain your long-cherished desire, you should go at once to Mathura-Vrajabhumi, which makes the earth beautiful and glorious.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Vrndavana's making the earth beautiful and glorious is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.10.
253	There you should at once engage in spiritual activities, and that will bring you to beautiful Goloka above the Vaikuntha worlds.
254	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Pleased by the nectar of his words, I was eager to go, but I wished first to get the Lord's permission.  The great soul Uddhava noticed this.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord here is the king of Dvaraka.
255	Sriman Uddhava said: If you go to any other place,, you should first have permission from the king of the Yadavas, but this one place s very dear to Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "very dear" here means "more dear even then Dvaraka".
256	By residing in Vraja one attains a love much greater than what one attains even by directly serving the Lord.
257	That is why, on the pretext of comforting the devotees for whom the Lord is more dear than life, I stayed in Vrajabhumi for a long time.
258	I think when He knows of your strong desire my master will personally lead you, a person He loves, to that land He also loves.
259	Drinking the nectar of his words, I became flooded with great bliss.  I fainted and for a moment I closed my eyes.
260	I could guess that someone was taking me somewhere.  When I opened my eyes I saw that I had come to this forest grove.

Chapter Six Abhista-labha (The Attainment of Desires)

1	Sri Gopa-kumara said: Following Narada's instruction, in a sweet voice I chanted Lord Krsna's dear holy names and I sang of and meditated on His pastimes here.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "here" means "in Vrndavana".
2	When I saw the places of the Lord's pastimes my heart became filled with love and my body displayed the symptoms of ecstasy.  In my heart I am embarrassed.  How can I tell this to others?
3	Tormented, I passed my days and nights pitiably crying in pain.  Soon I did not know whether I was filled with bliss or drowning in an ocean of pain.
4	I did not know whether I was in the flames of a forest fire or in the cooling nectar waters of Sri Yamuna.
5	Sometimes I thought I must have fallen into the hand of a demon.  I was always drowning in an ocean of pain.  Even the slightest fragrance of happiness would not touch me.
6	Thus I lived in this grove that decorated Vrndavana forest.  One day, as I was drowning in an ocean of weeping, I fainted.
7-8	Then I met the crown jewel of all merciful persons.  With a hand holding a flute He wiped the dust from my limbs.  Again and again this most wise person playfully shook me.  He flooded my nostrils with His unprecedented sweet fragrance.
9	I reverently gazed at His lotus face.  I quickly got up.  My heart filled with joy, I tried to touch His exquisite yellow garment.
10	Making playful melodies on His flute, that best of heroes moved behind me and then fled into the forest.  I ran after Him, but I could not catch Him.
11	He disappeared.  Not seeing Him, I fainted and fell into the current of the Yamuna.  As I was carried along I became unconscious and I opened my eyes.
12	I saw that, carried by a vehicle rising faster than the mind and travelling along a very wonderful path, I had arrived at a very splendid, flawless place.
13	Collecting my thoughts, I happily saw Vaikunthaloka, within where were Ayodhya and many other places, and I became filled with wonder.  Then, carried along, I left them all behind.
14	Then I came to effulgent Goloka, which was above all the worlds, and which I had long desired.  Here was the circle of Mathura.  Everything was as it had been on the earth.
15	In the circle of Mathura I went to Mathura City.  Gazing at it I became filled with joy and wonder.
16	There I heard that, imprisoning Devaki, Vasudeva, and his own father, Kamsa had usurped the kingdom.
17	Afraid of the demons, the Yadavas could not be happy or act as they wished.
18	They found themselves troubled by Kamsa day and night.  Some fled, and some took shelter of him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.1-4.
19	Being also afraid of him, I left, bathed in Visranti-tirtha, and quickly went to beautiful Vrndavana.
20-1	There, in Goloka, which the demigods, kings of the planets, and their associates could  not approach, seeing a country glorious as the sunrise, where there were the ways and customs and human language of Bharata-varsa's Arya-varta, I became filled with wonder and I plunged in an ocean of bliss.
22	In a moment I saw cowherd men going here and there and elderly gopis picking flowers.
23	Everyone there was extraordinary, different from any people I had seen before.  It seemed that someone had stolen the treasure of their hearts.
24	Simply by seeing them I became like them.  Carefully composing myself, I approached them and asked them this question.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "became like them" means that Gopa-kumara also became very agitated.
25-6	O people served by great bliss beyond what the great paramahamsas can desire, O people to whom the loving devotees of the goddess of fortune's husband pray for mercy, please look, look with kindness on this poor person come to you for shelter.  Tell him: Who is the king of this place?  Where is His palace?  By what path (does one go to Him)?
27	O fortunate ones, please be kind to me, who with plaintive words asks:  O saintly ones, please give me a sign in answer.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that they did not answer Gopa-kumara's questions.  He thinks they may be observing a vow of silence, so he asks that with a gesture of their hands they somehow answer his questions.
28	Please hear the words of troubled me.  You must be overcome with love for that charming person.
29	Again and Again with plaintive words asking everyone I saw, I went to the different places in Vraja.
30	Moving my eyes in all directions, far away I saw a palace filled with great sweetness.
31	On that side, and also everywhere, I heard the beautiful singing of gopis, the sounds of them churning yoghurt, and the tinkling of their ornaments.
32-3	Suppressing the bliss I felt in my heart, I approached an elderly man who was emotionally singing "Krsna! Krsna!" and crying.  I carefully listened to the broken words he spoke.
34	Simply by hearing the words "This is the palace of Krsna's father, the gopa-king Nanda" I fainted, overcome with happiness.
35	In a moment brought to consciousness by the kind elderly man, I ran ahead and came to the palace gate.
36	There I saw millions and millions of wonders never seen, heard of, or imagined by anyone.
37	O best of the brahmanas, I could not understand whether all the people were filled with bliss or overcome with sorrow.
38	Whether I heard the gopis songs I did not know whether they cried in the greatest happiness or the greatest sorrow.
39	As I looked at this place, which I had ascended higher and higher to reach, I thought "I am in the material world".
40	Then I understood:  "I am above all material and spiritual worlds.  I am above the material and spiritual worlds".
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "loka" here means "the fourteen material worlds" and the words "aloka" and "ati-loka" mean "what is beyond the fourteen material worlds".
41	An elderly lady came.  I bowed down before her and with sweet words asked:  "Where does the son of Nanda enjoy pastimes today?"
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami reminds us that this conversation was at the entrance to Nanda's palace.
42	The elderly lady said:  He who gives life to us people of Vraja, in the morning went to the forest with His cows, friends, and elder brother to enjoy pastimes.  Now, in the evening, He will return.
43	Their eyes fixed on the path, all the people of Vraja now stand by the Yamuna's shore.  Even the trees, eager to see Him, stretch their leaves and branches high.  He will come by this path.
44	Sri Gopa-kumara said:  It was as if I was suddenly bathed with great streams of nectar.  With a single glance I saw the path she showed.
45	I was stunned with bliss.  My legs could no longer move.  With a great effort from far away I could hear the sound...
46	...of cows mooing, and playful, sweet flute melodies filled with many charming waves of sound, that enchanted the people of Vraja...
47	...made the trees shed tears that were a great flood of nectar, made the people of Vraja shed streams of tears from their eyes, made milk flow from the breasts of the elderly mothers, and made the swiftly moving Yamuna become motionless.
48	Whether this flute flows with poison or nectar I do not know.  Whether this sound is harder than a thunderbolt or softer than nectar I do not know.  Whether it is hotter than fire or cooler than the moon I do not know.  Because of it everyone in Vraja has become mad.  Now they have fainted unconscious.
49	Then I saw some of the women of Vraja coming from the palace carrying in their hands articles for offering arati.  Others carried on their heads ornaments and delicious foods.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that in their hands they carried lamps, and other things, and on their heads they carried garlands, ointments, fresh butter, sweet rice and other things.
50	As they hastily and confusedly ran in the direction of the cows' mooing and the flute's music, some of the women stumbled and fell.
51	Some had put their ornaments in the wrong places, some had forgotten to tie their belts and hair, some, stunned as trees, stayed in their homes, and some fainted and fell to the ground.
52	Some, their faces wet with tears, had fainted and were being carried by their friends.  Others, overcome with love, came there and said to their friends: “Look! It is He!”
53-4	Continually singing His names and pastimes, decorated with wonderful beauty and colourful garments, and their good fortune robbing Goddess Laksmi of her pride in being fortunate, they ran to the Yamuna's shore.  As if pulled by someone, I ran behind.
55	Then from far away I saw Him.  His hand was glorious with the sweet flute.  He quickly ran from His friends and cows, said "O Sridama, now I have found my friend Sarupa, who is a brilliant sun shinning on the lotus flower of your family", and gracefully continued walking.
56	He was decorated with forest ornaments, a moving kadamba garland, and a peacock-feather turban.  His fragrance filled the directions.   His blossoming lotus face was handsome with a playful smile.
57	His lotus eyes glistened with merciful glances.  His only real ornament was His own wonderful handsomeness.  The fingers of His lotus hand pushed back the moving locks of His hair decorated with dust raised by the cows.
58	To beautify the surface of the earth, He touched it with His soft lotus feet as He danced gracefully.
59	Splendid with the sweetness of youth, His handsomeness made all the directions glorious.  The ocean of His many glories charmed the hearts of His eternal dear friends there.
60	Controlled by the love of His helpless devotees, He ran to me.  I fainted with love by seeing Him.  He embraced my neck, and then suddenly fell to the ground.
61	In a moment I became conscious.  I carefully freed my neck from His embrace.  I saw Him fallen to the ground, unconscious, covered with dust, and muddying the path.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord was muddying the ground with streams of tears.
62	The gopis came there and said:  "Who has come here?  What has he done to the goal of our lives?  Alas! Alas!  Now we people of Vraja are all dead!"
63	Crying and lamenting in many ways, and saying, "Perhaps he is a servant of the magician Kamsa", they gathered around Krsna.
64	The gopas quickly came.  Seeing the situation, they cried pitifully.
65-6	Hearing the sound of crying, the people of Vraja: Nanda and the gopa men, Yasoda, who dearly loved her son, the other women, and the maidservants, fainting and stumbling as they came, all ran there, crying out "Alas! Alas!"
67	Then the cows, bulls, calves, black deer, and other animals all came there and, seeing what had happened to Krsna, cried in agony.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the animals all considered Krsna the Lord of their life.
68	Gently making sounds of love, their faces bathed with tears, approaching Him again and again, and smelling Him, they licked Him again and again.
69	Crying as they flew in the sky above, many grieving birds made a great sound.
70	Their hearts filled with pain, the unmoving trees and plants suddenly became withered and dry.  How can I say it in words?  All moving and unmoving beings became as if they were dead.
71	Tormented, drowning in an ocean of sorrow, confused about what I had done, placing my head at His feet, and crying, I lamented again and again.
72	Handsome Balarama, whose fair complexion was decorated with blue garments, who was dressed and decorated as His younger brother was, and who was only slightly older than He, with great fear quickly came from far away.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Balarama's complexion is the colour of a white lotus flower.
73	Balarama, the leader of the wise, cried at first, but then He became peaceful at heart.  He looked about.  He took my arms and carefully placed them around the neck of His younger brother.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Balarama looked about to find the cause of His brother's fainting.
74	He made my hand stroke Krsna's handsome limbs.  He made me call out to Him with wonderfully sweet words.  He made me lift Him from the ground.
75	At once He opened the charming lotus eyes that had been sealed by streams of tears.  Seeing me, He happily embraced and kissed me, but then, looking around, He became embarrassed.
76	Having attained me, a friend more dear than life He had not seen for a long time, taking my hand in His left lotus hand, asking me wonderful questions, bringing happiness to all the people of Vraja, and walking as gracefully as an elephant, the handsome Lord entered the village of Vraja.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives "O dear friend, are you well?  Are you happy?" as an example of Krsna's questions.
77	Unhappy in his absence, unable to go anywhere without Him, and hoping to see the Lord in the morning, the forest deer passed the night at the entrance to Vraja village.
78	Again and again flying over Vraja, the birds gazed at Krsna.  Unable to see Him at night, weeping and crying out, they left.
79	At the insistence of Nanda, who was full of love for His sons, the two brothers did not stay to talk to the cows after they were milked, but went directly home.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Nanda said, "Son, you must be tired from wandering in the forest.  Go home with Your older brother.  Bathe and perform Your other duties.  I will stay and talk to the cows.  Don't delay.  Your mother is lamenting.  She will rebuke me.  Please honour the promise I made her.  Go home at once."
80	Their limbs and garments bathed in the streams flowing out of love from their eyes and breasts, again and again Yasoda and Rohini offered arati to each limb of the two boys.
81	With her hair she offers arati to her son.  She embraces Him and lovingly kisses Him.  Will she hold His head to her breast or her waist?
82	Filled with love, He brought me to His mother and made me bow down before Her.  Seeing that her son loved me, she was as affectionate to me as she was to Him.
83	Then, ignoring all other duties, some gopis came there on a certain pretext.
84	Seeing that the two mothers were making arrangements to bathe the two brothers, the mischievous Lord said to the gopis:
85	"O mothers, We two brothers are tortured with hunger.  Please quickly prepare our meal, bring father, and We will eat."
86	Hearing these pleasant words, the gopis said: "O Sri Yasoda, queen of Vraja, O Queen Rohini, you need not do this.  We will do this duty.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the duty here is the bathing of Krsna and Balarama.
87	"You two quickly prepare Their meal.  We will nicely bathe Them at once."
88	Sri Yasoda said: "Girls, quickly bathe the older boy first and send Him to fetch Nanda so he may also eat."
89	Sri Sarupa said: Praising mother Yasoda's pleasing words, some gopis quickly bathed Balarama and sent Him (to get Nanda) as Yasoda and Rohini went into the kitchen.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Sarupa is Gopa-kumara's original name in the spiritual world.  From now on he will be identified as Sarupa.
90	One by one removing Sri Krsna's wonderful ornaments, they scrubbed His limbs with their own washcloths.
91	Alerting me with a signal, from far away He tossed into my open hand the flute, which was like the gopis' rival, for which they begged, and which they tried to grab from His lotus hand.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the signal was the Lord's dancing eyebrow.  The gopis begged, "Give it to me! Give it to me!"
92	Then they anointed Him with excellent oil and carefully and expertly massaged Him with the soft touch of their lotus hands.
93	Still, either because He was so very delicate and sensitive, or perhaps out of playfulness, He cried out with a pained expression on His face.
94	Hearing this cry of pain, and at once coming out, she who had placed all her love in her son alone asked, "What happened? What happened?"
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Mother Yasoda came out from the Kitchen.
95	Seeing Her son's smiling face, she went back to the kitchen.  Afraid, smiling, and singing songs, the gopis finished massaging Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the gopis smiled because they knew that Krsna only pretended to cry in pain, but they were also afraid that Mother Yasoda would again come from the kitchen.
96	Then, with clear, warm, and fragrant Yamuna-water from jewelled jars, they playfully bathed Him.
97	Then, with wonderful garlands, scented ointments, garments, and many ornaments all brought from their own homes, according to their own liking they dressed Him as a dancer-actor.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "yatha-ruci" may also be interpreted to mean "according to Krsna's liking".
98	Then they fed Him some food they had hidden, and then, with the offerings that are said to be proper to give again and again offering arati to Him, they placed the offerings on their heads.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the gopis may have themselves brought the hidden food out of love for Krsna, or the hidden food may have been arranged by Mother Yasoda's own desire.  The arati offerings include camphor and a lamp.
99	With paste of excellent sandalwood, kunkuma, and musk they drew wonderful pictures and designs on His neck, forehead, and cheeks, and in other places also.
100	As He lovingly gazed at them, they carefully steadied Him with their hands to decorate His eyes with black Kajjala.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that because Krsna's loving glances made their hands tremble, they could not do a very good job of decorating His eyes.
101	Again and again He spoke with them about the happiness of their pastimes in the forest, He said many wonderful joking words and He pleased them.
102	Interrupted again and again by their mutual friendship, His decoration did not attain its completion.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by saying, "This is not good.  Take it away and do it again," Krsna interrupted the process of decoration again and again.
103	Her heart filled with love for her son, Yasoda left the kitchen again and again.  Seeing what had happened she spoke the following words as if she were angry.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Mother Yasoda was not actually angry.
104	Sri Yasoda said: "O gopi girls, because of your fickleness and childishness His bathing and decoration is still not finished?"
105	Sri Sarupa said: Understanding the playful hearts of the gopis, whose eyes were then fixed on their beloved, an elderly lady said:
106	"O daughter Yasoda, please happily see how these girls have brought handsomeness to your dark son."
107	Hearing these words of her nurse Mukhara, she again left the kitchen.  Understanding the joke her nurse had said, she spoke as if she were angry.
108	Sri Yasoda said: "All handsomenesses offering arati to His lotus feet, my handsome dark boy dances again and again on the head of the entire world!
109	"The beauty of all these girls together is not worthy to offer arati to the handsomeness in the tip of one of His toenails."
110	Sri Sarupa said: How can His handsomeness, glory, and sweetness be described?  It cannot be compared to anything in this world, nor anything beyond it, nor even the king of Dvaraka!
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "handsomeness" here means "the handsomeness of His body", "glory" means "the glory of His dark complexion", and "sweetness" means "the sweetness of His smile and other features".  That His handsomeness cannot be compared to anything in the material world means His eyes and the other parts of His body cannot be compared to lotus flowers or other things, and also that His handsomeness cannot be compared to that of the incarnations of Lord Visnu present in the material world.  It cannot even be compared to that of the king of Vaikuntha, the king of Ayodhya, or the king of Dvaraka.
111	As Krsna is the crest of heroes, so Radha is the greatest heroine.  As Radha is the greatest heroine, so Krsna is the crest of heroes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Radha, being like Krsna, cannot be compared to anyone else.  They are both like each other and unlike all others.
112	Completing the bathing, and seeing that the gopa king had come with Balarama, all the girls hid, and Krsna at once came before him.
113	With the two boys at his sides, Nanda sat down on a golden throne in the dining room and began to eat.
114	Yasoda's son was at his left and Rohini's son was at his right.  At Their insistence I faced Them.
115-6	The king of enjoyers then ate a meal that had all good qualities, that had four kinds of food, that Sri Rohini brought from the kitchen in splendid jewelled, golden and silver pots and that His mother lovingly served Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the king of enjoyers is Krsna.
117	His great golden plate filled with many cups of different kinds of food, He ate a great deal.
118	Sometimes His mother, father, or brother would carefully place some food in His mouth and He would playfully and graciously accept it.
119	As He ate He drank excellent nectar from a golden cup and excellent water from another golden cup.
120-4	In the beginning He ate very sweet warm milk mixed with sugar and ghee, jallebis, pupa cakes, phenika sweets, capatis, many other delicious foods cooked in ghee, and many sweets made of milk and yoghurt, in the middle He ate many exquisite, sweet, cakes, fragrant soft foods, vataka cakes, parpata cakes, soup, spinach, other vegetables, many milk preparations of the sweet and bitter kinds, and many other spicy, bitter, and salty foods at the end He ate curds with sugar, many kinds of curd and yoghurt preparations, and buttermilk with hing, and He also fed me all these different foods.
125	Glorious with the dancing of His lotus eyes and archer's bow eyebrows, the waves of pastimes of His lotus face, cheeks, charming tongue, red lips, and chewing teeth cannot be approached by words or the mind.
126	From their own homes the gopis brought many sweets cooked with milk, butter and sugar and placed them before Mother Yasoda.
127	With wonderful playfulness He ate them again and again, praising all of them, delighting all the gopis, and with His own hand feeding me some of them.
128	Then Sri Radhika brought a manohara-laddhu filled with sugar and placed it at Krsna's left.
129	Picking it up with the tips of His forefinger and thumb, and then lightly placing it on the tip of His tongue, He suddenly curled His mouth in an expression of distaste.
130	His brother smiled, His mother became angry at Radha, His father was surprised, Radha's bewildered friends felt sick, and Her enemies rejoiced.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Krsna's brother Balarama appreciated the joke, and so He smiled.  Radha's enemies are Her rivals.
131	Then He threw it on the plate of me, who was born in Radha's brother's family.  When I ate that sublimely delicious sweet I became filled with wonder.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Gopa-kumara was related to Radha's brother Sridama.  The sweet was not actually bitter, but Krsna thought it appropriate that one of Radha's relatives eat it.  It was actually the best of all the foods and out of love Krsna gave it to Gopa-kumara.  Why did Gopa-kumara become filled with wonder?  Because that sweet was the most delicious.
132	When with moving eyebrows Radha secretly glanced at Him, Krsna pleased Her with a gentle smile and a sidelong glance.
133	Then I understood this pastime, by which He who is the crest jewel of the intelligent delights they who are overcome with love for Him.
134	Then putting some betelnuts in His mouth, playfully chewing them, and glancing at Radhika, He timidly placed the betelnuts in my mouth.
135	Then, reciting mantras for good digestion, His affectionate mother again and again stroked His stomach with her left palm.
136	Then, as Nanda was in the cow-barn, and as intelligent Balarama slept, Krsna, singing songs, wandered in the courtyard of Vraja.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that at this time Mother Yasoda was absorbed in her household duties.
137	After enjoying for a moment pastimes with the beautiful girls of Vraja, out of respect for His mother's call, He went to His bedroom nearby and lay down on His soft bed beautiful as foam.
138	On that very splendid, golden, priceless, bejewelled bed were many soft pillows like spotless full moons.
139	In the lion's part of the palace, in a beautiful bejewelled room fragrant with aguru incense, the bed, decorated with a canopy of pearls, was very beautiful.
140	Intelligent Radha prepared some betelnuts and placed them in Krsna's mouth.  Candravali and Sri Lalita playfully massaged His two lotus feet.
141	Some gopis fan Him, some bring Him betelnuts, some a dish for betelnut-remnants, and some golden cups with excellent water.
142	Some sing songs of glorification that please His ears and heart, some play musical instruments, and some joke with Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "sankirtana" here indicates that the gopis were chanting Krsna's names.
143	Thus served by all the gopis, who were melting with feelings of great friendship, Krsna gave the chewed betelnuts they intensely desired, although each could not see the others receiving them.
144	With these activities pleasing His beloveds, and delighted by Sri Radhika's words of love, Krsna, the crest jewel in the assembly of the most intelligent, at once began His pastimes of sleep.
145	Receiving a hint from Him, all of them drowning in a flood of happiness, went to their own homes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Krsna's hint was the dancing of His eyebrows.
146	Then Sridama carefully took me to his own home.  What other pastimes Krsna enjoyed that night I cannot say.
147	With great difficulty I passed the night and in the morning I went to Nanda's home.  I saw Krsna on the bed, sleeping and bearing the marks of amorous pastimes.
148	Going to His side and showing Her affection for Him in many ways, His honest mother spoke some words to herself.
149	Ah, exhausted from having spent all day protecting the cows in the forest, and finding the happiness of sleep, even now my boy does not wake up.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Mother Yasoda does not suspect that Krsna has spent the entire night enjoying the rasa-dance pastime.
150	Terrible thorns in the forest made these wounds everywhere on all His limbs when again and again He ran here and there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these wounds were made by the gopis' fingernails.
151	Alas!  The black kajjala from His eyes has anointed all His limbs.  He is so overcome with sleep that He does not even know.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that these marks of black kajjala were left by the gopis.
152	He does not even know that He is marked here and there with strains of red betelnuts from His lips.  He must have broken His necklaces, garlands, and other ornaments as again and again He turned in His sleep.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the red betelnut stains actually came from the gopis lips and it was the gopis who broke Krsna's necklaces, garlands, and ornaments.  Mother Yasoda thinks Krsna broke them as He turned in His sleep.
153	Even bathing did not wash away the kunkuma-coloured Yamuna-bank clay that is now the friend of His body.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the kunkuma actually came from the gopis' breasts.  Mother Yasoda playfully calls the kunkuma the "friend" of Krsna's body because it clings there so tightly.
154	Yesterday at sunset the impatient girls did not bathe Him very carefully and thoroughly.  They did not wash away all the dirt.
155	These same things Mother Yasoda spoke again and again before the girls of Vraja when they came, their faces shining with fear, smiles and embarrassment.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that gopis were afraid that Mother Yasoda had learned the truth of their pastimes with Krsna at night, they smiled when they heard her words explaining how thoroughly she misunderstood everything and they were embarrassed to see the marks they had left on Krsna's body.  Their faces showed the signs of these different responses.
156	Then Krsna ended His pastimes of sleeping.  Yasoda and Balarama bathed Him, decorated Him with ornaments, and ate breakfast with Him.
157	The gopis waited a moment to wish Krsna a happy journey to the forest and Mother Yasoda performed her duties to make His journey auspicious.
158	Although their hearts were tortured with the thought of being separated from Him, they sang splendid and auspicious songs and they performed the purna-kumbha ritual.
159	Then, at that place, Mother Yasoda placed on the limbs of both Her son and His elder brother both protective amulets and ornaments proper for the forest.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the amulets included emeralds and tiger's claws.
160	She arranged for elderly brahmana ladies and other ladies to offer blessings.  She did everything to prepare for His journey.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "other ladies" were the elderly gopis.
161	Taking the lunch His mother gave, putting the cows in front, and playing His flute, Krsna set out.
162	Then, each leaving his own home, all His companions came around Him and enjoyed friendly pastimes with Him.
163	Together they played many melodies, sometimes on bamboo flutes, sometimes on horn-bugles, and sometimes on leaf-flutes.
164	In this way He stayed with His brother and with His friends, who carried paraphernalia for His pastimes and who happily sang, danced, and spoke words of praise.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the paraphernalia here includes flags, camaras, parasols, slippers, fans, snacks, nectar drinks, toy balls, cymbals, and mrdanga drums.
165	The older boy was in the front and I was in the rear.  Pulled by the rope of love and unable to bear separation from Krsna, the gopis, on some pretext, began to follow behind.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the older boy here is Balarama, and the "I" is Sarupa, who is speaking these words.
166	Seeing it was covered with perspiration, Mother Yasoda affectionately wiped her son's face.  The milk flowing from her breasts, she followed Him outside the gates.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that first she wiped it with her hand and then again she wiped it with the edge of her sari.  The phrase "outside the gates" here means "outside the gates of Vraja village".
167	Krsna spoke to her and she turned to go home.  Craning her neck (to see Him), she took two or three steps and then, overcome, went again to her son.
168	She prepared some betelnuts and placed them in His hand and mouth.  She turned to go and, as before, she quickly came to Him again.
169	In the middle of the road she fed her son sweets mixed with fruit and other ingredients and she also gave Him something to drink.  Then she began to go home, but again she returned as before.
170	Carefully inspecting her son's garments and other things, she set everything neatly in order.  Again she left, and again she returned.  Then she instructed her son:
171-2	"Son, don't go far in this impassable forest, and never go where there are thorns". With many sweet words she made Him promise.  Then she turned to go, took a few steps, and returned again.
173-4	"Dear Balarama, You stay in front of Your younger brother.  Sridama, you stay with Sarupa in the rear.  Amsu, you stay at His right.  Subala, you stay at His left."  With a blade of grass she begged them.  Then she gazed at her son.
175	With an agitated heart coming and going again and again, she defeated a surabhi cow very affectionate to its new-born calf.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this means that she was more affectionate to her son than even the most affectionate cow is to its calf.
176	Then, bowing down and grasping her feet, embracing her, presenting many different reasons, and speaking many promises, her son made her turn back.
177	As a painted picture she stood there at the edge of the forest, gazing at her son, the milk flowing from her breasts, and above them many tears.
178-9	With shyness and fear unable to say or do anything, their throats stopped with tears, their eyes flooded with streams of tears, their steps stumbling, and themselves drowning in an ocean of pain without any remedy, the beautiful gopis followed Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the gopis were afraid because their superiors were present.
180	He charmed the eyes and hearts of these girls, who had come very far from Vraja village.  With a great effort He made them return home, although again and again He glanced at them as they left.
181-2	With an anxious heart He craned His neck and again and again comforted them with His glances of love.  With the movements of His eyebrows, which carried the message of His love, He embarrassed and even frightened them.  They stood, stunned, before His mother.
183-4	Seeing his wife's love for her son, the king of the gopas also became filled with love.  Seeing the people of Vraja's great love for His son, he, accompanied by the adult gopas, followed Him for a long way and could not give Him up.
185-6	Even though, seeing many auspicious omens, and seeing that the cows and every other creature were all very happy, he was happy at heart, he was also tormented by separation from his son.  He embraced his older son, and then he embraced his younger son, and then he embraced them both again and again.  He smelled Their heads and, overcome with love, he shed many tears.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Nanda embraced Balarama and then he embraced Krsna.
187	His son bowed down before him and explained all the duties to be done.  He turned to go, gazed at his son, and then stood still and motionless.
188-9	When he saw his two sons were deep in the forest and he could no longer hear any sounds from them, he turned towards Vraja village.  Engaging some swift servant-messengers to bring news of the boys, he comforted his wife and the gopis and brought them all to their homes.
190	Singing of Krsna's pastimes, the gopis entered Vraja village.  They spent the day thinking of Krsna's company.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.2.
191	Even Lord Ananta has no power to describe what they felt.  What wise man can describe their suffering?
192-3	When He sent the gopis back, Krsna felt unhappy at heart, but when His friends at once made Him enter beautiful Vrndavana forest, showed Him the beauty of Vrndavana, and also described it in words, His unhappiness went away.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the beauty of Vrndavana forest is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.5.
194	Then Krsna enjoyed pastimes with the gopas, and even the moving and unmoving creatures there joined in these pastimes.  My heart cannot understand these pastimes.  How can my tongue describe them?
195	Herding the cows near Govardhana Hill, He made them drink the Yamuna's water.  In the evening He, the master of Vraja, returned to His own Vraja village and enjoyed pastimes with the girls of Vraja.
196	Although the palace of the king of the gopas is splendidly manifest in a place called Nandisvara, the followers of Krsna worship the rasa dance and other pastimes He enjoys in the forest groves.
197	O brahmana, to what may the bliss of living there be compared?  How can it be described?
198	They who have experienced this bliss say that because it comes from the glory of pure devotional service to the Lord it is greater than the bliss of they who have attained impersonal liberation and also greater than the bliss of the residents of Maha-Vaikuntha.
199	The bliss felt by the residents of Ayodhya and Dvaraka is greater than that in Vaikuntha.  Each is sweeter than the one before.
200	The bliss felt by the residents of Goloka is greater than all others.  How can it be described in words?
201	They who are friends of the Lord in Goloka feel that bliss eternally.  They can understand it.
202	The residents of Goloka incarnate as eternal associates of the Lord in Vaikuntha.  They also appear as reflections among the demigods in the material world.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the appearance of Nanda and Yasoda of Goloka as Drona and Dhara in the world of the demigods is an example of this:
203	To please Lord Visnu when He wishes to enjoy pastimes there, these demigods descend to the surface of the earth again and again.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Balarama, who appears in Goloka, incarnates in Vaikuntha as Ananta Sesa.  He again incarnates as Ananta Sesa among the demigods in the material world, and on earth He again appears as Balarama.  The devotee Sridama, who appears in Goloka, appears in Vaikunthaloka as Garuda.  He again appears as Garuda among the demigods in the material world, and on the earth he again appears as Sridama.  Vasudeva and Devaki, who appear in Goloka, incarnate as Sutapa and Prsni in Vaikuntha and as Kasyapa and Aditi among the demigods in the material world.  On the earth they again appear as Vasudeva and Devaki.  These are some examples of how the residents of Goloka incarnate in different places in the spiritual and material worlds and how, as demigods in the higher material planets, they incarnate on the earth to please the Lord.
204	As Krsna, the origin of the incarnations of God, is not different from His many incarnations, so the residents of Goloka are also not different from their incarnations.
205	According to the time, place, and mission to be performed, the residents of Goloka appear, sometimes in partial forms and sometimes in fullness.  They do this as Krsna Himself does.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives Lord Varaha, who appeared in Satya-yuga to rescue the earth, as an example of a partial incarnation, and Lord Krsna, who appeared at the end of Dvapara-yuga to enjoy pastimes and reveal the nature of pure devotional love, as an example of the Lord appearing in fullness.
206-8	When the Lord incarnates, the residents of Goloka, each attracted by his own rasa with the Lord, also desire to appear, by some pretext, in their own incarnations, and then at the end their incarnations merge into them and become one with them again.  This is what the sages say.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives Brahma's benediction (to Drona and Dhara) as an example of the pretext mentioned here.  When the Lord's pastimes are completed, the incarnation of Nanda Maharaja merges into the existence of the original Nanda Maharaja in Goloka, and the incarnations of the other residents of Goloka also merge into their sources in the same way.
209	Without doubting, please understand all this according to the explanations previously spoken by Narada.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives the following doubts as examples:  If Goloka is actually superior to Vaikuntha, then why do Kamsa and other demons live there?  Why do carts and other objects made of wood and other materials, as well as grains of dust and other lifeless things exist in Goloka?  Why do Nanda Maharaja and the other residents of Goloka incarnate as the Lord's associates in Vaikuntha?
	These doubts were already answered in the beginning of Chapter five, and they will be answered again later on in this book.  The first doubt is specifically answered in the beginning of this book.  The answer to the second doubt is given in Narada's explanation that everything in Vaikuntha is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  This is also true in Goloka.  Therefore the carts and other objects in Goloka are not lifeless, but are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  The answer to the third doubt is that in order to assist the Lord in His pastimes, Nanda and the other residents of Goloka incarnate in spiritual forms that are eternal and full of knowledge and bliss.  In this way they are among the Lord's eternally dear associates in Vaikuntha.
210	O best of the residents of Mathura, please listen and by Lord Krsna's power I will tell you something wonderful about Goloka.
	Sri Sanatana Gosvami explains that although the glory of Goloka is beyond the sphere of words and the mind, by Lord Krsna's mercy it can be described.
211	In Goloka there are millions and millions of young, adolescent, and old gopas.  Each one thinks: "I, and no one else, am most dear to Krsna".
212	In the course of their daily activities they constantly associate with Krsna.  They are all very pure.  Each one is like that.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "each one is like that" mean that each one, in truth, is most dear to Krsna.
213	None of them is ever satisfied.  The many varieties of the thirst of their love for Krsna, which is the mother of humbleness, always increase.
214	Krsna's great kindness, love, and attachment are seen to be always placed in each of the millions and millions of gopis.
215	For these reasons and for hundreds of other reasons people like myself can understand that no one in any place is more dear to Krsna than they.
216	When Krsna's special love for a certain gopi is seen, then it is understood that she is the most dear to Him.
217	Although each gopi is most dear to the Lord, and although they all experience the many blisses of enjoying pastimes with Him, the gopis do not think the Lord loves them.
218	Each gopi thinks: "When will I be fortunate to be the least of Krsna's maidservants?'
219	O Lord, even the great souls cannot understand the great wonder of their deep love.
220	One day, as He was enjoying pastimes by the Yamuna's shore, Krsna, the son of Nanda, heard that Kaliya had again come to his lake.
221	At once going there alone and climbing a kadamba tree, He dove into the lake, making the waters very turbulent.
222	Playing in the water by wonderfully swimming back and forth, and making many loud sounds, Krsna approached the demon, who at once wrapped his coils about the Lord.  Playful Krsna then showed something.
223	Not seeing Krsna, who had left their company, the gopa friends became as if they had died.  Tormented by the desire to find Him, they saw His footprints, and followed them to the lake.
224	When they saw Krsna could not move, His friends fainted.  When they could not see Him at all because He was covered by the waters, they no longer wished to live.
225	Standing by the shore, the cows, bulls, calves, and other domestic animals from the village, as well as the wild animals from the forest, all cried, fixing their eyes on Krsna's face and screaming in agony.
226	Crying pitifully, the birds flew over the lake and dived into the waters.  The trees and other plants became dry and withered.  May great calamities happened.
227	Sent by the Lord, an old man ran to Vraja village.  Crying, and terribly calling out "Alas! Alas!", he described what had happened.
228	Seeing many fearful calamities, the people of Vraja left their homes and hurried to find Krsna.
229	The old man's broken words were like a thunderbolt falling on them.
230-1	In His home Balarama called out "It's a lie! A lie!" consoling the people of Vraja, who had become like running corpses.  He carefully convinced Mother Rohini to stay at home, and then He also ran with the others.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Balarama knew how powerful His younger brother was.  Balarama gave Mother Rohini the task of cooking Krsna's meal, and in this way He kept her at home.
232	He quickly came to the lake.  Seeing His younger brother in that state, He could not remain peaceful, but He cried in the agony of love.
233	He lamented again and again, His cries breaking wood and stone.  In a moment He fainted, as Nanda and Yasoda had already done.
234	Then everyone let out a great, painful, terrible cry that made the entire world cry also.
235	Awakened by this great sound, Balarama, the crest jewel of the sober, with a great effort regained His peaceful composure.
236	In a moment Krsna's parents became conscious again.  Gazing at their son, and crying loudly, they began to enter the lake, but Sri Balarama forcibly stopped them with His hands.
237	Seeing everyone fainted as if they were dead, Balarama became filled with pain.  In a voice choked with emotion, He loudly called out to Krsna.
238	Sri Balarama said: These people are not Your associates in Vaikuntha!  They are not Your monkey-associates!  They are not the Yadavas!  They are the people of Goloka!  You are their only life and soul!  They are dying now!  Lord, I have no power to save them!
239	They are now lifeless!  Merciful Krsna!  Only friend of the people of Vraja!  Give up this pastime, or Your gentle heart will become filled with grief!
240	Sri Sarupa said: Crying, with many words of lamentation, fainting, their bodies filled with pain, and their hearts destroyed by grief, the gopis entered the lake, as if to go by the Lord's side.
241	Leaving that pastime, freeing Himself from the bondage of Kaliya's coils, and climbing on the serpent's thousands of raised, extended hoods, Krsna stretched out His two lotus hands.
242	Then, bringing His gopi beloveds, Krsna climbed the very wonderful jewelled pastime place of Kaliya's hoods.
243	With splendid singing and instrumental music, dancing with the gopis on these very wonderful dancing-places, Krsna, who is an ocean of playfulness enjoyed the wonderful happiness of the rasa-dance pastime.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Nanda and the others could not see these pastimes.
244	Staying on the shore, and now brought by Balarama to consciousness, Nanda and the others gazed at Krsna and became filled with joy and wonder.
245	After subduing the serpent-king Kaliya, smiling Krsna, forcibly took away the upper garments from the serpent's wives as they offered prayers.
246	Making of these garments a single long rope, piercing the serpent's nose, and threading it, playful Krsna held the rope in His left hand.
247	Then Krsna, playing the flute with His right hand, rode the serpent as one rides a horse, and made it go here and there.
248	Sometimes prodding the serpent with His flute, He made the serpent His carrier, showing it great mercy.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's mercy to Kaliya is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.16.34.
249	Accepting the priceless jewel-ornament and the garments, garlands, and fragrant ointments the serpent's wives offered, Krsna placed them on Kaliya's hoods.
250	Then, with many lotuses, water lilies, and other flowers the serpent's wives brought from the Yamuna, Krsna decorated both Himself and the gopis.
251	As the serpent king offered prayers with its countless mouths, Krsna emerged from the lake, making His friends and relatives dance with joy.
252	Then, from Kaliya, who was very happy to have attained a very great mercy that even Garuda could not attain, very wonderful Krsna descended with the gopis.
253	Flooded with streams of tears from the happy eyes of Nanda and the others as again and again they embraced Him and offered arati to Him, Krsna, after mercifully giving some instructions, sent the serpent king out of the lake.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's instructions to Kaliya are given in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.16.60-61.
254	Pleased by a great and beautiful festival of singing, instrumental music, and other festivities celebrated by the happy gopas and gopis, the Lord went to His own home.
255-7	Once, Kamsa's two great demon servants Kesi and Arista, the first assuming the form of a great horse, and the second assuming the form of a bull, both of them so tall their great bodies touched the sky, both of them like death personified, and both of them terrifying the gopas, wreaking havoc in Gokula, and with their roaring making every living entity fall to the ground, came to Vraja.
258	Surrounded by His dear friends terrified of the two demons, Krsna, comforting them and showing them His heroic power, flexed His arm.
259	First the horse came running, and Krsna kicked it far away.  Then Krsna went to the bull, pierced its nose, and brought it before the deity of Lord Siva.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Krsna tied a rope to the bull's nose and brought it before the Siva-linga in Vrndavana so Lord Siva could ride it.
260	When the horse came again, very powerful Krsna, jumping on its back, subdued it and, ordering it to go here and there, was very splendid and glorious.
261	With his friends and relatives, Krsna enjoyed riding on the horse, as with pastimes of wonderful leaps of thousand of hands it wandered on the ground and in the sky.
262	In a moment defeating it, bringing it under His control and bridling it, for pastimes of riding Krsna kept the horse in Vraja.  In the same way He kept the bull for pulling carts.
263	One day, as Krsna was living in the town of Nandisvara, Akrura came to bring Him from Vraja to Mathura city on Kamsa's order.
264	When they heard this news, even the people in other places, and even the stones, wood, and other inanimate objects cried and broke into pieces.
265	At night hearing this news, all the people of Gokula lamented, crying and fainting again and again.
266	Yasoda, terrified of the demon Kamsa, and thinking her son her very life, with many loud complaints hid Krsna in a secluded place.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that she hid Krsna behind a curtain and other obstacles.
267	In the morning Akrura, with many arguments, convinced Nanda.  Then Nanda convinced his crying wife and brought his son outside.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Akrura's arguments included a description of Kamsa's wickedness and Krsna's supreme strength.
268	It was as if Nanda had broken the lives of the gopis as they loudly called out "Alas! Alas!', shamelessly cried, and gazed on Krsna.
269	Then poor Yasoda came outside.  Wiping away the streams of her tears, she took her son's hand and as if making a gesture, placed it in the hand of Akrura.
270	She said to Nanda: "I trust no one but you.  He who is more dear than life I place in your hand.  Keep Him by your side.  Return Him here, and place Him again in my hand."
271	When the pious lady, overcome with love for her son, and fainting again and again went, without Krsna, to her home, a great cry rose among the women of Vraja.
272	When this is remembered, even today, the rocks cry out, dry wood sheds tears, thunderbolts break into pieces, and, if it has not already given up its life, the world is at once plunged in an ocean of sorrow.
273	Again and again comforted by honest, simple Yasoda, the women of Vraja, their hearts drowning in an ocean of pain and grief, angrily said to her:
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Mother Yasoda said to them: "I placed Krsna in the hand of Nanda and the hand of Akrura, who is the son of a great sage.  Krsna will be returned.  Because He was placed in the hands of good people there is no need to fear.  They will quickly return Him to me."  Mother Yasoda was simple and honest, and therefore she had faith in the words of crooked Akrura.
274	"O merciless one! O fool! How, after placing your own son in the paws of a tiger, can you, alone, enter your empty home, which should now be set in flames?"
275	Pushed by grief, rebuking her and the others, cursing Akrura, calling out to the Lord, and crying pitifully, they ran from their homes.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "others" here are Nanda and the gopas.
276	With these cries of intense grief and pain they made Akrura, Nanda, the gopa boys accompanying them, and their beloved Krsna standing on the chariot, cry, and they made all the people of Vraja faint.
277	Composing Himself, and seeing that the gopis had become as if dead, He who is the gopis' goal brought them again to life, descended from the chariot, and, unseen by anyone, went with them to the forest.
278	Composing himself, Kamsa's messenger Akrura, not seeing Krsna on the chariot, and feeling morose, convinced Balarama with many eloquent words.
279	He described how only for Krsna's sake Devaki, Vasudeva, and all the Yadavas had suffered.
280	Then Balarama, who is the son of Vasudeva and Rohini, with His uncle Akrura searched for His younger brother Krsna.  By following certain signs He came to the right forest grove.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "signs" here were Krsna's footprints.
281	When Balarama could see Krsna and the gopis from far away, Akrura called out so Krsna could hear his words.
282	Sriman Akrura said: Wicked Kamsa insults your poor, aged parents again and again!  Again and again he raises his sword to kill them!  They are plunged in fears, lamentations and pain!  They are Your devotees!  It is not right to ignore them!
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Vasudeva and Devaki, Krsna's parents, are afraid of Kamsa.  They lament because they cannot see their son, and they suffer because they hear from Kamsa many lies about their son.
283	All the Yadavas placed their eyes on my path!  They suffer greatly!  They have no other shelter!  They are overcome with grief!  Let not their hopes be destroyed!  Let not the demigods, brahmanas, and others continue to fear Kamsa!
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "placed their eyes on my path" mean that the Yadavas know of Akrura's journey and mission and they are anxiously awaiting its outcome.  The words "They have no other shelter" mean that Krsna is their only shelter.
284	Again and again he praises the strength of his arms!  He does not think the demigods have any power at all to crush him!  He is always worshipped by demon-kings powerful as he!.
285	Sri Sarupa said:  Placing blades of grass in his teeth, he spoke many sweet words.  He who is named Akrura, and whose actions are very terrible, bowed down before the women of Vraja, one by one.
286	Sriman Akrura said: Don't kill they who were born in the Yadu family!  Be kind to them, for they are filled with grief!  O goddesses, Krsna's poor parents, who are imprisoned by Kamsa, should be rescued!
287	The gopis said: O, O thief! Liar!  Follower of Kamsa!  Where are the parents of He who is the son of Nanda and Yasoda?  Don't kill Gokula village!  Don't crush women!
288	Sri Sarupa said:  Hearing of the wicked Kamsa's deeds and of how He Himself was the cause of His relatives' suffering, and seeing that Balarama agreed, Krsna comforted the gopis and, filled with rage and grief, left the forest grove.
289	Akrura was pleased.  Encouraged by Balarama, he ran to bring the chariot.
290	Understanding that Krsna would now go to Mathura city, again and again gazing at His lotus face, frightened of the fire of separation from Him, crying, and falling at His feet, the gopis said to Krsna:
291	Lord, we cannot live without You!  We have no shelter but You!  Lord don't abandon Your maidservants!  Please don't go!
292	For Your sake we made the forest our home and our homes a forest.  We made enemies friends and friends enemies.  We made poison nectar and nectar poison.  Without You we will die!
293	Not seeing Your handsome smiling face, Your charming lotus feet, and Your chest worshipped by all splendours, we will slowly die!
294	When, desiring to enjoy gopa pastimes, You go to Vrndavana Forest with Your friends, only by hoping that certainly You will return in the evening, can we somehow, painfully, pass the day.
295	When, following Kamsa's order and in the company of Kamsa's dear friend, You have gone far away to that city, how, filled with many fears, and worrying that You will suffer in a far-away place, will we live?
296	We don't know how hard it will be to kill Kamsa and his followers, or how long it will take to kill the sufferings of the people there, or whether You will remember us there?
297	When the gopis spoke these plaintive words everyone there wept and fainted.
298	Somehow regaining His composure, and wiping the tears from His and the gopis' eyes, the Lord spoke the following words in a voice choked with emotion.
299	The Lord said:  I will very easily pacify this impotent Kamsa, who hates Me and My devotees.  Have faith that I will soon return.  O friends, do not cry and make things inauspicious.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "pacify" here is a euphemism for "kill".
300	Sri Sarupa said: Then Nanda, the gopas, Rohini, Sri Yasoda, the others, and the animals, all quickly came there.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "others" included the brahmana priests, the servants, the maidservants, and many others.  The animals included the cows, buffaloes, and many other animals.
301	With a great effort turning His glance from the gopis, Lord Hari, with His elder brother, climbed the chariot Akrura had quickly brought.
302	Seeing the gopis crying, fainting, falling to the ground, and turning the dust to mud with their tears, Yasoda cried pitifully.
303	Even though he was also unhappy at heart, Nanda, showing his eloquence, spoke words to comfort her.
304	Sri Nanda said:  Don't think I go happily to that city, or that I believe Krsna is someone else's son, or that I will leave Krsna there and somehow return to Vraja without Him, or that I will be eager to stay long in that city.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Nanda here asserts that Akrura's claim that Krsna is Vasudeva's son is a lie.
305	Do I not know that without your son we people of Vraja cannot live for a moment?  Know that as soon as Vasudeva and Devaki are released I will return with your son.
306	Sri Sarupa said:  Comforted by him again and again with many promises, and now peaceful at heart, Yasoda comforted the gopis with many words.
307	Carefully pacifying them in many ways, she picked them up.  The gopas climbed on their carts.  Akrura made the chariot go.
308-9	Seeing Krsna leaving, unable to bear His separation, their dried-up mouths crying "Alas! Alas!", their steps faltering and their pitiful wailing filling all directions, the women of Vraja ran after the chariot.
310	Some grabbed the chariot.  Some threw themselves under the wheels.  Some fainted.  Some could not move.
311	Then the cows, bulls, calves, deer, and other animals, crying, and their faces washed with tears, surrounded the chariot.
312	Making a great sound, the birds flew in a circle above them.  The leaves of the plants suddenly withered.
313	The trees and rocks fell from the great mountains, the lotuses withered, and the rivers, now very thin, flowed upstream.
314	Seeing the condition of His most beloved gopis, Krsna became filled with pain and grief.  Unable to stop their crying, He Himself became washed in tears.
315	Fearing that Krsna might again jump from the chariot, or faint unconscious and fall from it, Akrura, the elder of the Vrsnis, affectionately held Him from behind.
316	Noticing that Krsna had fainted, Akrura, with the permission of Balarama, Nanda, and the others, with his whip made the chariot's horses go very quickly.
317	Here and there the gopis would throw themselves before the horses, but Akrura would always make the chariot swerve and not hit them.
318	As the crying gopis looked on, Akrura stole the Lord from them as an eagle steals a piece of meat from kurari birds.
319	Akrura drove the horses so fast that soon no one could even see the chariot.
320	Each climbing on his own cart yoked with great bulls, Nanda and all the gopas quickly followed the chariot.
321	Bringing Him to Brahma Lake, and speaking many eloquent prayers, Akrura woke Krsna and brought Him to His original consciousness.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Brahma Lake is also known as Akrura-tirtha.
322	It is very difficult to hear what happened to the people of Vraja.  Alas! Alas!  Talk of it breaks thunderbolts and other hard things into pieces.
323	Sri Pariksit said:  O mother, speaking these words in a pitiful voice, crying in pain, and overcome with love, Sarupa fainted.
324	With many great efforts the agitated and crying Mathura-brahmana brought him back to consciousness in a moment, and again he spoke.
325	Sri Sarupa said:  Then Krsna went to Mathura city, delighted the people there, killed Kamsa and Kamsa's followers, and released His parents.
326	He crowned Kamsa's father, Ugrasena, ruler of the kingdom, brought the Yadavas there from all directions, and comforted the people of the city.
327-8	To please the Yadavas, for whom He was the only goal of life, and who were very unhappy, frightened by the kings that had been Kamsa's friends, Krsna, who is affectionate to His devotees, stayed there with His elder brother.  Then Krsna sent Nanda and the other gopas back to Gokula to comfort the people there.
329	(Krsna said:)  "Father, with the gopas please go to Gokula at once, so the people there do not die in My absence."
330	I will stay here briefly to please my friends so unhappy at heart, and then I will quickly return to Vraja.
331	Sri Nanda said: I will never believe that You are someone else's son and You will go to live somewhere else.  When You say "I will return", I believe You.
332	Save us! Save us! Don't leave us! Don't leave us! Go where You like.  We will go with You.
333	Because of my promise, Your mother and the people of Vraja are still alive.  O dear one, if I am hard-hearted and return without You, they will die in a moment.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Nanda had promised the people of Vraja that he would not return without Krsna.
334	Sridama said:  O Lord, how can we, who could barely stay alive when You hid for a moment behind a tree, a vine or something else in Your pastimes of herding the cows in the land of Vraja, survive if You stay for a long time in a far-away place.
335	Sri Sarupa said: When the Lord, hearing their unhappiness, became silent, Vasudeva, fearing the Lord would want to go to Vraja, spoke.
336	Sri Vasudeva said: Brother Nanda, Your son will be perfectly happy staying in Vraja with His elder brother.  He will not be happy anywhere else.
337	However, this is the time for Them to accept the sacred-thread.  Let Them become brahmacaris, go to another place, and study.  Afterwards They will return to Vraja.
338	Seeing Krsna smile at Vasudeva's words, Nanda, filled with tears, and not smiling, left.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that with this smile Krsna hinted that He wanted to do as Vasudeva said.  Nanda understood the hint, convinced that Krsna would certainly return to Vraja to be with them, left.
339	Accompanied by the Yadavas, the Lord followed the king of the gopas.  As the weeping gopas one by one held His neck, the Lord wept loudly.
340	Seeing that Krsna was unhappy and wanted to go, Vasudeva and the other intelligent Yadavas turned Him back with many logical arguments.
341	By Krsna's desire Nanda and all the other gopas went to Vraja.  Hearing that Nanda had come, the people of Vraja happily came to meet him.
342	Out of grief and embarrassment covering his face with a cloth, very morose, and crying, Nanda went to his home and lay down on the ground.
343	Not seeing the Lord, the people of Vraja became filled with pain.  Filled with many fears, they did not know what to do.  Their mouths dried and withered, they could not even ask about Him.  Then, from an elderly gopa they heard the news of the Lord.
344	"Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas!" Krsna's mother and the other women cried in agony.  Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas! How can I describe what they felt?
345	Sri Pariksit said: O mother, his heart burned by these activities, Sarupa, the best of the cowherd boys, again fainted.
346	The great brahmana carefully brought Sarupa to consciousness again.  Fearing he would faint again, Sarupa did not say anything more about this topic.
347	Seeing that the Mathura brahmana was very eager to hear the rest of the story, the great soul Sarupa, carefully pacifying his heart, spoke.
348	Sri Sarupa said: Deciding that there was no other way to remove their grief, Krsna, who is conquered by His devotees' love, quickly returned to Vraja.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Krsna made this decision after hearing the words of Uddhava.
349	Merciful Krsna, who is the crest jewel of the wise, restored the lives of the people of Vraja.  He enjoyed pastimes with them, and they forgot all their sufferings and the roots from which their sufferings grew.
350	If someone sometimes would remember or speak of the Lord's absence from Vraja, the person would think: "I was frightened and lamented greatly because I saw a very bad dream."
351	Their senses attracted and charmed by the sweetness of Gopala's pastimes, after a time the people of Vraja could not remember the Lord leaving them.
352	O friend, after some time, as if he had never come before Akrura came again and took his chariot to Vraja.
353	Again he took away the life of Vraja.  The people there attained the same condition as before.
354	Again Krsna went to Mathura city, killed Kamsa, and returned to Vraja as before.  In this way He enjoyed pastimes.
355	Again and again He goes to Mathura city and, as before, again and again He returns and enjoys pastimes in Vraja.
356	Again and again He subdues Kaliya.  Again and again He lifts Govardhana Hill.  Again and again the Lord enjoys many wonderful pastimes that enchant the devotees' hearts.
357	Poisoned by great love for Sri Krsna, the people of Vraja think these events never happened before.
358	Separated from Him, and meeting Him again, their love for Krsna grows very great.
359	For the eternal residents of Vraja the news of these pastimes is far away.  Even newcomers like myself cannot remember them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by the Lord's mercy the eternal residents of Vraja forget these pastimes.
360	How can they who are always plunged in a great ocean filled by streams of the Lord's charming sweetnesses and are maddened by attaining the great treasure of pure love for Him, not forget?
361	Ah, plunged in an ocean of love for His dear devotees, even the Lord Himself, the crown of the wise, has not the power to understand His own opulences, what He has done, and what He will do.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that even Lord Krsna forgets that these pastimes have happened again and again.
362	These pastimes, where the Lord's lotus feet are served by His personal associates, are eternal, spiritual, and full of knowledge and bliss.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord's pastimes appear like those of an ordinary human being.  This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.31.  Sri Visnu Purana also explains:
	"By His own wish the Lord of the universes enjoys pastimes like those of a human being."
363	O brahmana, thus I have described to you the extraordinary and supremely exalted flood of sweetness that is Goloka's glory.
364	The Mathura brahmana said: When Krsna went to Mathura city, where did you stay?  How, attaining His feet after a long time and with great endeavour, could you wish to go somewhere else?
365	By the Lord's order everyone like me stays in Vraja with Nanda and the others who are like Him.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Nanda and the others have the same nature as the Lord Himself.
366	It is the nature of Goloka that they who live there never wish to leave it, even if they cannot have Krsna's company there.
367	Torment felt there dances again and again on the heads of all happinesses.  Grief felt there is better than the greatest bliss.
368	Staying there always, attaining an eternal result beyond what I could desire, and my heart always feeling fulfilled, I never became satiated.
369	With my senses and limbs I cannot, for even a moment, leave Krsna's lotus feet, which are anointed with kunkuma from the Vraja-gopis' breasts.
370	In this very poor person the Lord's mercy has placed faith in His sweetness.  What by others cannot be spoken, I have somehow said.
371	Staying for a long time in Goloka, I came to see that it was the same as beautiful Mathura-mandala in the material world.
372	Mathura-mandala is also filled with the same gopas, gopis, birds, worms, hills rivers, trees and everything else.
373	It is eternally decorated with the same pastimes of Sriman Krsnacandra.
374	Sometimes I stay there and sometimes here.  Now I do not see any difference between them.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "there" and "here" refer to Goloka in the spiritual world and Mathura-mandala in the material world.
375	Only when coming from one and going to the other may I see be a slight difference.  Attached to both places, I do not know any difference between them.
376	Neither my eyes, ears, nor mind touch any place other than these two abodes.
377	My heart does not think: "Lord Sri Krsna also stays in other places, and His devotees also stay in other places."
378	When sometimes I see the residents of Vaikuntha or other places, I see them as being tormented by separation from Sri Krsna.
379	Sometimes I see that their love is not like the love the people of Vraja feel.  From that I feel distress, love, and then the highest happiness.
380	I offer my respectful obeisances to the people of Goloka, who eternally see the glories of that abode, and who are worshipped by the residents of all the worlds.  How can I describe them in words?

Chapter Seven Jagad-ananda (The Bliss of the Worlds)

1.	Sri Sarupa said: O brahmana, please consider all this and decide what is the goal of life and the best way to attain it.
2	O best of Mathura brahmanas, by the grace of the goddess you also may attain all that I have attained.
3	Know that what you have not attained you will attain.  I will see the Lord bestow His great mercy on you.
4	I have told you the most confidential secrets of the Lord, His devotees, and myself.
5-7	Everything of the highest love for the Lord's lotus feet, which I am embarrassed to reveal even in my own heart, and which is so confidential I myself do not know of it directly, in your presence has come from my mouth, for the Lord entered my heart and forced it out.
8.	By the symptoms you show I see that you have great faith, which will bring you the greatest result.
9	This morning Queen Radhika instructed me: "O Sarupa, a Mathura brahmana who is My devotee has come to My forest."
10	On My order quickly go there alone, enlighten him, comfort him, and give him Krsna's mercy.
11	Following Her order, I happily came here from far away, not caring for the happiness of Krsna's company.
12	Sri Pariksit said: Seeing that the wealth of spiritual love had not yet appeared in the brahmana, Sarupa placed his hand on the brahmana's head.
13	Then, by the mercy of that great soul, the brahmana could see in his heart everything that Sarupa had seen.
14	Made successful by the very wonderful glory of association with a great soul, the brahmana at once attained his original spiritual form.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that by the great mercy of the Lord one attains the association of a devotee.  The value of associating with a devotee is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.7.19:
	"By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon, and whose service vanquishes one's material miseries."*
	The Vasistha-sastra explains:
	"One should always associate with devotees.  Even if they do not teach you directly, their conversations amongst themselves will teach you.  Association with wise devotees makes what was empty full.  It turns death into immortality.  It turns calamity into good fortune."
	Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.12.12.) explains:
	"My dear King Rahugana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realise the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy (brahmacarya), strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vanaprastha, accepting sannyasa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun.  There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee."*
	The value of association with devotees is also explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.55, 3.25.25, 4.9.11, 4.24.57-58, 5.12.13, 5.13.21, 7.5.31, 10.51.53, 11.26.31-34, 11.12.1-2, 11.19.33-34, 3.13.4, 4.9.10, 4.9.12, 11.13.36, 5.5.2-3, 11.14.17, 11.2.55, 1.3.18, 11.2.29, 10.47.24, 4.22.39, 10.2.33, 10.87.29, 3.5.39, 11.17.39, and in Bhagavad-gita 7.28, 10.10, 13.18,, 18.54-55.
15	Now plunged, as Sarupa was, in the nectar ocean of great love and tossed by the waves of many devotional ecstasies, the brahmana cried out: "O Krsna! Krsna! Please show me He who is the crown of youths!"
16	Taking a blade of grass in his teeth, he bowed down before Sarupa and with plaintive words asked both him and the moving and unmoving creatures there:  "Where is Krsna?  Have you seen Him?"
17	Chanting Krsna's beautiful names, grasping his guru's feet, plunged in an ocean of love and overcome by his guru's affectionate glance, the brahmana wept.
18	At once overcome with great love, standing up, wandering as a madman, and fainting unconscious, he fell on some thorny karira bushes.
19	O mother, from far away came sweet, deep sounds of bamboo flutes, horn bugles, tumburus, vinas and leaf flutes.
20	Awakened by the loud sounds, standing up and running toward them, the saw Gopaladeva, splendid with handsome dark limbs...
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "they" here are the guru and his disciple.
21	...who enjoys limitless pastimes, who, so the cows could drink the Yamuna's water, and so He could play with His friends, with dancing limbs moving like the pastimes of a regal elephant, gathered everyone together...
22	...who was decorated with the ornaments of youth, who was an ocean filled with waves of handsomeness, who filled with bliss the eyes and hearts of the world, whose sweetness became newer and newer at every moment...
23	...whose handsome form had all transcendental virtues, whose ears were decorated with kadamba-flower earrings, who wore a peacock feather crown, whose conchshell neck was decorated with a strand of pearls, who was splendid with a pair of yellow silk garments...
24	...whose broad chest was decorated with a great necklace of gunja and with the Srivatsa home of the goddess of fortune, who had a lion's waist, who was strong as hundreds of lions, whose lotus feet were worshipped by the greatest handsomeness...
25	...who was handsome with garlands of kadamba flowers, gunja, tulasi, peacock feathers, and pravala, and whose broad hips were splendid with a sash of colourful flowers...
26	...who was handsome with broad arms splendid with golden armlets and bracelets, whose lotus fingers played the bamboo-flute placed to His bimba-fruit lips...
27	...whose waves of nectar flute-music never heard before enchanted the people of the world, whose restless, playful lotus eyes were decorated with pastimes of slightly crooked glances...
28	...the glory of the dancing of whose archer's bow eyebrows filled with the devotees love, whose always-smiling handsome lotus face attracted the hearts of the kings of the sages...
29	...the sesame-flower tip of whose nose was splendid with an elephant-king pearl, who sometimes placed a splendid hand on the black bumble-bees of His curling locks of hair decorated with dust raised by the cows...
30	...whose broad half-moon forehead was decorated with Yamuna-mud tilaka, whose body was decorated with pictures and designs drawn in different hill-mineral colours, who was an ocean filled with waves of many blissful pastimes...
31	...who sometimes assumed a graceful three-fold bending posture, who, playing jokes on His flute, made His friends laugh, who decorated the earth with His footprints...
32	...and who was accompanied by His handsome and fair-complexioned elder brother Balarama, whose age and ornaments were like His, and by His dear friends, who were also like Him.
33	Filled with wonderful bliss by seeing Him, they both fell down offering dandavat obeisances, their peaceful composure destroyed.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the "they" here are the guru and his disciple.
34	Overcome with love for His dear devotees, and bewildered with happiness, Krsna ran to them, fell on them, and embraced them with His great, long arms.
35	His heart melting with mercy,, the Lord bathed them with streams of tears of love.  With both hands He pulled them up at once.  He made them peaceful.
36	Wiping tears and dust from their limbs, the merciful Lord embraced them again and again.  Sitting with them on the ground, with the nectar of His words He pleased the brahmana.
37	The Supreme Lord said: O Janasarma, kindness of Mathura, O saintly one, O moon rising from the ocean of the brahmana's families, is everything well with you?
	Note: The brahmana is here placed in his eternal position as a cowherd boy, and the Lord addresses him by his name in the spiritual world:  Janasarma.  From now on he is known as Janasarma.
38	By seeing you, I and My friends have become happy.  My heart is drawn to your mercy.  I always gaze at your path.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the words "I always gaze at your path" mean that Krsna anxiously waits for them, thinking "When will they come?"
39	By good fortune you remembered Me.  By good fortune after a long time now I can see you.  I am your obedient servant.  Please stay here and enjoy as you wish.
40	Sri Pariksit said: Overcome with awe, love and bliss, he could not reply.  Janasarma could not even gaze on the Lord.
41	His eyes and throat filled with tears, he placed the Lord's lotus feet on his head and wept.
42	Not seeing any proper gift to give, Krsna, the crest jewel of the generous, became agitated.  Taking the ornaments from His own body, He decorated the brahmana and made him look like Sarupa.
43	In this way the Lord was merciful to the brahmana and made him a personal friend, like Himself.  Then Janasarma attained his desires.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the Lord made him one of His gopa friends.  By attaining his original spiritual form, the brahmana's desires were fulfilled.  That the devotees desire an attainment like this, and not material things, is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.14.14, 11.20.34, 9.4.67, 10.16.37 and 10.83.41-43.
44	With a wonderful sound from His mouth, Krsna had the cows drink water, and with a signal from His flute He called them together.
45	After making the cows sit in comfortable places, He and His elder brother played in the water with the two of them and with His other friends.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that "the two of them" are Sarupa and Janasarma.
46	Sometimes, as His friends splashed water, He defeated them with splashes,, and sometimes the Lord who is expert at playing enjoyed His own defeat.
47	Making delightful splashing sounds, and swimming sometimes with and sometimes against Sri Yamuna's currents, He enjoyed many wonderful pastimes.
48	Sometimes, submerging His body in the dark waters of the Yamuna and placing His face in a forest of blue lotuses, playful Krsna hid, unseen by anyone.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Krsna's body was hidden by the dark water and His face was unrecognisable among the blue lotuses.
49	Searching, and not finding Him, His grief-stricken friends wept terribly.
50	Laughing as He emerged from the forest of lotuses, happy Krsna played with His friends, their eyes wide with a flood of happiness.
51	He decorated them with waterflower garlands strung on lotus stems and they also decorated Him.  Then they emerged from the water.
52	To enjoy lunch He had the gopas make many circles on the broad shore of the Yamuna, and He placed His elder brother in the middle.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.1.
53	Wonderfully going here and there among them as if playfully dancing, He enjoys serving them the many wonderful foods they had brought from home.
54	Then He served them, as they wished, the fruits they playfully gathered from the wonderful and splendid Vrndavana trees, which always bear the fruits and flowers of every season.
55-7	He served them mangoes, talas, bilvas, badaras, amalakas, coconuts, panasas, grapes, bananas, nagarangas, kariras, kharjuras, pomegranates, and other sweet, ripe fruits.  To please them, He took a little from each one.  Sitting next to each one, the infallible Lord both fed and ate.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that Krsna sat next to each boy.  Each boy thought that Krsna was sitting next to him alone.
58-9	Tasting everything and deciding what was the most delicious, each boy would respectfully offer it to Krsna, praising it, and placing it with his own hand in Krsna's mouth.  Tasting the delicious food, joking, and making funny faces, Krsna charmed them and made them laugh.
60-1	Drinking and giving them to drink many kinds of bitter and sweet nectar drinks and Yamuna water in gourd cups, the Lord who is expert at enjoying many kinds of happy pastimes pleased all the gopas.
62	Then He chewed fragrant betelnuts mixed with camphor and brought from home, and He also chewed betelnuts and betel leaves found in the forest.
63-6	Then He took and distributed the wonderful garlands His friends made of tulasi, malati, jati, mallika, kunda, kubjaka, lavanga,, ketaki, jhinti, karavira, the two kinds of satapatri, palasa, navamalli, odra, damanaka, kadamba, nipa, bakula, naga, punnaga, campaka, kutaja, asoka, mandara,, karnikara, asana, arjuna, patala, priyaka, and many other flowers and their leaves.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the two kinds of yuthikas are the white and golden kind, and the two kinds of karaviras and satapatris are the white and red kind.
67	Then He anointed His limbs with powder made from sandal, aguru, musk, kunkuma, and other fragrant things brought from the forest.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the boys crushed these things with stones and made of the powder a paste with water.
68-9	Then, in a beautiful forest grove scented with fragrant flowers and pleasant with humming bees, on an excellent bed made of new soft leaves and flowers, served by boys expert in combing and decorating His hair, singing, massaging His lotus hands and feet, reciting prayers, and fanning Him, and His soft pillow the body of a dear friend named Sridama, He slept.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.16 and 10.15.18.
70	With hundreds of different playlets and funny expressions on His lotus face, He won over the discriminating audience of His friends expert in comedy and made them happy.  In this way He and Balarama enjoyed many happy pastimes.
71	By sounding signals on His flute and horn making the cows stand up and walk, He enjoyed pastimes near Govardhana Hill.
72	Each boy eagerly claiming "I am first!" with wonderful and colourful forest ornaments they decorated Him according to His own wish.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives haritala tilaka, a peacock feather crown, and a gunja necklace as examples of these forest ornaments.
73	Then, placing the newcomer, the brahmana now named Janasarma, in Sarupa's hand, Krsna, who gives happiness to Vraja, enjoyed the pastime of entering the gopa village at evening.
74	O you who by Lord Gopinatha's mercy have become a great saint, reflecting on it please accept this answer to your question.
	Note: In this verse Maharaja Pariksit is speaking to his mother.
75	Mother, please try with a great effort to go to Sri Goloka, which is a deep ocean of the greatest transcendental bliss.  Simply by going there one is able to enjoy many sublimely sweet and blissful pastimes with the Lord.
76	These pastimes are not always manifested to one who simply goes to Mathura-mandala on the earth.  However, they will be manifested to one who is flooded with the mercy of a devotee dear to the Lord.  Therefore, O mother, please take the dust of they who are dear to the Lord.
77	O mother, by describing Goloka, which brings eternal love for the Lord's glorious lotus feet touched by the glory of the kunkuma on the gopis' breasts, I have answered your sweet and profound question and I have dispelled your doubts.
78	Far above Vaikuntha, Goloka is splendidly manifest.  It is attained only by a flood of love for the feet of the gopis' handsome lover.  It gives a great result beyond what one can desire.  It gives a treasure of spiritual love to they who meditate on it.
79	Now please hear the words of the great sages describing this, words that will please your heart.
80	"Above Svargaloka is Brahmaloka, where Brahma and the sages reside.  Also there is the abode of Lord Siva and the abode of the effulgent liberated souls.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this and the following texts are taken from Indra's prayers to Lord Krsna in the Hari-vamsa.  The statements of this verse are also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.5.42 and Bhagavad-gita 10.12 and 10.20.
81-2	"O Krsna, Your splendid realm of Vaikuntha is very great, but far above it is Goloka, the splendid realm of the cows, where the great souls go.  Although we have all asked Grandfather Brahma about it, none of us know any place above Goloka.
83-5	"Svargaloka is the realm of virtuous person who are peaceful and self-controlled and have performed pious deeds.  Brahmaloka is the realm of they who have performed spiritual austerities.  Goloka is far above them.  O Krsna, O saintly one, You personally stay in Goloka and protect everyone from all calamities.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word "brahmaloka" here means Vaikunthaloka.
86	"O son of Kunti, in many different forms I wander in the material world, in the spiritual world, and in the eternal realm of Goloka."
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that this verse, quoted from the Skanda Purana, is spoken by Lord Krsna to Arjuna.
87-8	Sri Janamejaya said: O best of the Vaisnavas, I had heard these verses before, from Vaisampayana, but now that I hear them from you a new understanding shines in my heart.  Ah, the glory of the devotees is very wonderful.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the verses referred to here are the quotations from Hari-vamsa found in Texts 80-85.
89	Fearing that this description will now end, my heart has become unhappy.  Please give some more nectar, so it will be happy.
90-1	O child, happy to hear the description of Goloka's glories, with wonderful and sweet love your father sang from two stories many verses that confirm these descriptions, beautiful verses that are the essence of the Sruti and Smrti.  I wander in this material world and speak these verses.  In this way I become free from the unhappiness of separation from your father.
	Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the two stories are Brahma-samhita and the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which are both quoted in the following verses.
92	"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Radha, who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic potency (hladini).  Their companions are Her confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are imbued and permeated with ever-blissful spiritual rasa."**
	Note: This verse is Brahma-samhita 5.37.
93	"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 respectful obeisances unto Him."*
	Note: This verse is Brahma-samhita 5.43.
94	"The damsels of Vrndavana, the gopis, are super goddesses of fortune.  The enjoyer in Vrndavana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.  The trees there are all wish-fulfilling trees, and the land is made of transcendental touchstone.  The water is all nectar, the talking is singing, the walking is dancing, and the constant companion of Krsna is His flute.  The effulgence of transcendental bliss is experienced everywhere.  Therefore Vrndavana-dhama is the only relishable abode."**
	Note:  This verse is Brahma-samhita 5.44.
95	In Goloka numberless milk-cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk.  In Goloka 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."**
	Note: This verse is Brahma-samhita 5.56.
96	"Dear friends, just imagine how fortunate the land of Vrndavana is were the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself is present, always decorated with flower garlands, and engaged in tending the cows along with His brother, Lord Balarama.  He is always accompanied by His cowherd boy friends, and He plays His transcendental flute.  The residents of Vrndavana are fortunate to be able to constantly see the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama, which are worshipped by great demigods like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, and the goddess of fortune."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.44.13.
97	"The gopis and cows of Vrndavana are so fortunate that they have been able to supply their breast milk to You.  Persons who are engaged in performing great sacrifices cannot attain the perfection of understanding You, but simply by devotional service these innocent village women and cows are able to satisfy You with their milk.  You have drunk their milk to satisfaction, yet You are never satisfied by those engaged in performing sacrifices."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.31.
98	"How greatly fortunate are Nanda Maharaja, the cowherd men, and all the other inhabitants of Vrajabhumi!  There is no limit to their good fortune, because the Absolute Truth, the source of transcendental bliss, the eternal Supreme Brahman, has become their friend."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.32.
99	"My dear Lord, no one can actually appreciate the good fortune of these residents of Vrndavana.  We are all demigods, controlling deities of the various senses of the living entities, and we are proud of enjoying such privileges, but actually there is no comparison between our position and the position of these fortunate residents of Vrndavana because they are actually relishing Your presence and enjoying Your association by dint of their activities."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.33.
100	"My dear Lord, I am therefore not interested in either material opulences or liberation.  I am most humbly praying at Your lotus feet for You to please give me any sort of birth within this Vrndavana forest so that I may be able to be favoured by the dust of the feet of some of the devotees of Vrndavana.  Even if I am given the chance to grow just as the humble grass in this land, that will be a glorious birth for me.  But if I am not so fortunate to take birth within the forest of Vrndavana, I beg to be allowed to take birth outside the immediate area of Vrndavana so that when the devotees go out they will walk over me.  Even that would be a great fortune for me.  I am just aspiring for a birth in which I will be smeared by the dust of the devotees' feet.  I can see that everyone here is simply full of Krsna consciousness.  They do not know anything but Mukunda.  All the Vedas are indeed searching after the lotus feet of Krsna."*
	Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.34.
101	"My Lord, sometimes I am puzzled as to how Your Lordship will be able to repay, in gratitude, the devotional service of these residents of Vrndavana.  Although I know that You are the supreme source of all benediction, I am puzzled to know how You will be able to repay all the service that You are receiving from these residents of Vrndavana.  I think of how You are so kind, so magnanimous, that even Putana,, who came to cheat You by dressing herself as a very affectionate mother, was awarded liberation and the actual post of a mother.  And other demons belonging to the same family, such as Aghasura and Bakasura, were also favoured with liberation.  Under the circumstances I am puzzled.  These residents of Vrndavana have given You everything:  their bodies, their minds, their love, their homes.  Everything is being utilised for Your purpose.  So how will You be able to repay their debt?"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.35.
102	"O Krsna, as long as people are not Your devotees their desires are thieves, their homes are prisons, and their love for others is a pair of shackles binding their feet."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.36.
103	"I can also understand that Your appearance as a small cowherd boy, a child of the cowherd men, is not at all a material activity.  You are so much obliged by their affection that You are here to enthuse them with more loving service by Your transcendental presence.  In Vrndavana there is no distinction between material and spiritual because everything is dedicated to Your loving service.  My dear Lord, Your Vrndavana pastimes are simply to enthuse Your devotees.  If someone takes Your Vrndavana pastimes to be material, he will be misled."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.37.
104	"My dear Lord, I have nothing to say about people who advertise that they have already realised God, or that by their realisation they have themselves become God.  But as far as I am concerned, I admit frankly that for me it is not possible to realise You by my body, mind, or speech.  What can I say about You, or how can I realise You by my senses?"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.38.
105	"My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Lord of all creation, although I sometimes falsely think that I am the master of this universe.  I may be the master of this universe, but there are innumerable universes, and there are innumerable Brahmas also who preside over these universes.  But actually You are the master of them all.  As the Supersoul in everyone's heart, You know everything.  Please, therefore, accept me as Your surrendered servant.  I hope that You will excuse me for disturbing You in Your pastimes with Your friends and calves."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.39.
106	"My dear Lord Krsna, Your very name suggests that You are all-attractive.  The attraction of the sun and moon are all due to You.  By the attraction of the sun You are beautifying the very existence of the Yadu dynasty.  With the attraction of the moon You are enhancing the potency of the land, the demigods, the brahmanas, the cows and the oceans.  Because of Your supreme attraction, demons like Kamsa and others are annihilated.  Therefore it is my deliberate conclusion that You are the only worshipable Deity within the creation.  Accept my humble obeisances until the annihilation of the material world.  As long as there is sunshine within this material world, kindly accept my humble obeisances."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.40.
107	"It is quite natural for these Vrndavana inhabitants to thus receive a great personality like You.  The herbs, creepers, and plants are also so fortunate to touch Your lotus feet.  And by Your touching the twigs with Your hands, these small plants are also made glorious.  As for the hills and the rivers, they are too now glorious because You are glancing at them.  Above all, the damsels of Vraja, the gopis, attracted by Your beauty, are the most glorious, because You embrace them with Your strong arms."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad Bhagavatam 10.15.8.
108	"Dear friends, our Vrndavana is proclaiming the glories of this entire earth because this planet is glorified by the lotus footprints of the son of Devaki.  Besides that, when Govinda plays His flute, the peacocks immediately become mad.  When all the animals and trees and plants, either on the top of Govardhana Hill or in the valley, see the dancing of the peacock, they all stand still and listen to the transcendental sound of the flute with great attention."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.10.
109	"Of all the devotees this Govardhana Hill is the best!  O my friends, this hill supplies Krsna and Balarama, along with Their calves, cows, and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities - water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers, and vegetables.  In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord.  Being touched by the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.18.
110	"The scorching heart of the autumn sunshine was sometimes intolerable, and therefore the clouds in the sky appeared in sympathy above Krsna and Balarama and Their boy friends while They engaged in blowing their flutes.  The clouds served as a soothing umbrella over their heads just to make friendship with Krsna."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.16.
111	"Even the river Yamuna, being desirous to embrace the lotus feet of Krsna after hearing the transcendental vibration of His flute, broke her fierce waves to flow very nicely with lotus flowers in her hands, just to present flowers to Mukunda with deep feeling."*
112	"Just by Krsna's association the trees, plants, and other vegetation in the forest immediately became Krsna conscious.  A Krsna conscious person sacrifices everything for Krsna.  Although trees and plants are not very advanced in consciousness, by the association of Krsna and His friends they also become Krsna conscious.  They want to deliver everything-whatever they have-their fruits, flowers, and the honey incessantly falling from their branches."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.9.
113	"I think that the drones that are buzzing all around You must have been Your devotees in their past lives.  They cannot leave Your company because no one can be a better, more affectionate master than You.  You are the original and supreme Personality of Godhead, and the drones are just trying to spread Your glories by chanting every moment.  I think some of them must be great sages, devotees of Your Lordship, and they are disguising themselves in the form of drones because they are unable to give up Your company for even a moment."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.6.
114	"Krsna would play His flute, and together the sounds became so sweet to hear that together the aquatics, the cranes, swans, and ducks, and other birds were charmed.  Instead of swimming or flying they became stunned.  They closed their eyes and entered a trance of meditation in worship of Krsna."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.11.
115	"My dear mother, the birds, who are all looking at Krsna playing on His flute, are sitting very attentively on the branches and twigs of different trees.  From their features it appears that they have forgotten everything and are engaged only in hearing Krsna's flute.  This proves that they are not ordinary birds.  They are great sages and devotees, and just to hear Krsna's flute they have appeared in Vrndavana forest as birds."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.14.
116	"Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Maharaja Nanda's son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute.  Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.11.
117	"My dear friends, the cows are also charmed as soon as they hear the transcendental sound of the flute of Krsna.  It sounds to them like the pouring of nectar, and they immediately spread their long ears just to catch the liquid nectar of the flute.  As for the calves, they are seen with the nipples of their mother pressed in their mouths, but they cannot suck the milk.  They remain struck with devotion, and tears glide down their eyes, illustrating vividly how they are embracing Krsna heart to heart."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.13.
118	"When Krsna plays His flute, all the cows and other animals of Vrndavana, although engaged in eating, simply take a morsel of food in their mouths and stop chewing.  Their ears raise up and they become stunned.  They do not appear alive but like painted animals.  Krsna's flute-playing is so attractive that even the animals become enchanted, and what to speak of ourselves."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.35.5.
119	"The wanton aborigine girls also became fully satisfied when they smeared their faces and breasts with the dust of Vrndavana, which was reddish with the touch of Krsna's lotus feet.  The aborigine girls had very full breasts, and they were also very lusty, but when their lovers felt their breasts they were not very satisfied.  When they came out into the midst of the forest they saw that while Krsna was walking some of the leaves and creepers of Vrndavana turned reddish from the kunkuma powder which fell from His lotus feet.  His lotus feet were held by the gopis on their breasts, which were also smeared with kunkuma powder, but when Krsna travelled in Vrndavana forest with Balarama and His boy friends, the reddish powder fell on the ground of the Vrndavana forest.  So the lusty aborigine girls, while looking toward Krsna playing on His flute, saw the reddish kunkuma powder on the ground and immediately took it and smeared it over their faces and breasts.  In this way they became fully satisfied, although they were not satisfied when their lovers touched their breasts."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.17.
120	"Sometimes Krsna would go to a somewhat distant place to see the beauty of the forest.  Then all the other boys would run to accompany Him, each one saying, 'I shall be the first to run and touch Krsna! I shall touch Krsna first!'  In this way they enjoyed life by repeatedly touching Krsna,"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.6.
121	"In this way, all the cowherd boys used to play with Krsna, who is the source of the Brahman effulgence for jnanis desiring to merge into that effulgence, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead for devotees who have accepted eternal servitorship, and who for ordinary person is but another ordinary child.  The cowherd boys, having accumulated the results of pious activities for many lives, were able to associate in this way with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  How can one explain their good fortune?"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.11.
122	"Yogis may undergo severe austerities and penances for many births by practicing yama, niyama, asana, and pranayama, none of which are easily performed.  Yet in due course of time, when these yogis attain the perfection of controlling the mind, they will still be unable to taste even a particle of dust from the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  What then can we describe about the great fortune of the inhabitants of Vrajabhumi, Vrndavana, with whom the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally lived and who saw the Lord face to face."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.12.12.
123	"When Krsna would feel tired and fatigued, He would sometimes take shelter of the root of a big tree, or the lap of a cowherd boy, and lie down"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.16.
124	"When He would lie down with a boy or a root as His pillow, some of the boys would come and massage His legs, and some would fan His body with a fan made from leaves."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.17.
125	"Some of the more talented boys would sing in very sweet voices to please Him."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.18.
126	"O learned brahmana, Mother Yasoda's breast milk was sucked by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  What past auspicious activities did she and Nanda Maharaja perform to achieve such perfection in ecstatic love?"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.46.
127	"Thereafter, O Maharaja Pariksit, best of the Bharatas, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead became the son of Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda, they maintained continuous, unswerving devotional love in parental affection.  And in their association all the other inhabitants of Vrndavana, the gopas and gopis, developed the culture of Krsna-bhakti."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.51.
128	"O Maharaja Pariksit, best of the Kurus, Nanda Maharaja was very liberal and simple.  He immediately took his son Krsna on his lap as if Krsna had returned from death, and by formally smelling his son's head, Nanda Maharaja undoubtedly enjoyed transcendental bliss."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.6.43.
129	"Because of mother Yasoda's hard labour her whole body became covered with perspiration, and the flowers and comb were falling from her hair.  When child Krsna saw His mother thus fatigued, He became merciful to her and agreed to be bound."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.18.
130	"Neither Lord Brahma, nor Lord Siva, nor even the goddess of fortune, who is always the better half of the Supreme Lord, can obtain from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the deliverer from this material world, such mercy as was received by mother Yasoda."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.20.
131-2	"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the bestower of many benedictions, including liberation (kaivalya) or oneness with the Brahman effulgence.  For that Supreme Personality of Godhead the gopis always felt material love, and Krsna sucked their breasts with full satisfaction.  Therefore, because of their relationship as mother and son, although the gopis were engaged in various family activities, one should never think that they returned to this material world after leaving their bodies."*
	Note this verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.6.39-40.
133	"In the evening Krsna and Balarama, along with the boys and cows, returned to Vrndavana playing their flutes.  As They approached the village, all the gopis became very joyous.  Throughout the day the gopis used to think of Krsna while He was in the forest, and in His absence they were considering one moment to be like twelve years."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.19.16.
134	"The gopis' mind and intelligence became absorbed in thoughts of Krsna.  They all imitated the activities of Krsna and His speeches.  Due to their heart and soul being completely given to Krsna, they began to chant His glories, completely forgetting their family interests."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.30.43.
135	"What austerities must the gopis have performed!  With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord Krsna's form, 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."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.44.15.
136	"The gopis are so fortunate that they can see and think of Krsna twenty four hours a day, beginning from their milking the cows or husking the paddy, or churning the butter in the morning.  When engaged in gather fuel, riding on swings, taking care of crying babies, cleaning their houses, and washing their floors,, they are always absorbed in the thought of Krsna.* There hearts full of love for Him and their throats stopped with tears, they always sing of His glories."
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.44.15.
137	"My dear friends, we must accept the gopis' activities to be the highest form of piety.  Otherwise how could they have achieved the opportunity of seeing Krsna both morning and evening when He goes to the pasturing-ground with His cows and cowherd boy friends and returns inn the evening?  They frequently see Him playing on His flute and smiling very brilliantly."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.44.16.
138	"I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service even within a lifetime of Brahma.  Your connection with Me is beyond reproach.  You have worshipped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break.  Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.32.22.
139	"My dear gentle friend Uddhava, please go immediately to Vrndavana and try to pacify My father and mother, Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda-devi, and the gopis.  They are very much grief-stricken, as if suffering from great ailments.  Go and give them a message.  I hope their ailments will be partially relieved."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.36.3.
140	"The gopis are always absorbed in thoughts of Me.  They have dedicated body, desire, life and soul to Me.  I am anxious not only for the gopis, but for anyone who sacrifices society, friendship, love and personal comforts for Me.  It is My duty to protect such exalted devotees."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.46.4.
141	"The gopis are the most dear.  They are always thinking of Me in such a way that they remain overwhelmed and almost dead in anxiety due to separation from Me."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.46.5.
142	"They are keeping alive simply by thinking that I am returning to them very soon."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.46.6.
143	"When Akrura took Balarama and Myself to Mathura, the gopis, their hearts full of love for Me, became overcome with the pain of separation.  They could not see happiness anywhere."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.12.10.
144	"O gentle one, when I, their beloved, was with them in Vrndavana, the gopis' nights passed as half a moment.  Now, without Me, they pass as a kalpa."
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.12.11.
145	"Their hearts tied to Me, the gopis were not aware even of their own selves.  They became like sages absorbed in meditation and unaware of the world of material names and forms, or like rivers that have entered the ocean."
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.12.12.
146	"Desiring Me as their paramour, and unaware of My true nature, hundreds and thousands of gopis attained Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.12.13.
147	"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, having lovingly accepted the Lord, are automatically accustomed to this habit.  They do not depend on any yogic practice.  The conclusion of that one who has attained the gopis' 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."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.58.
148	"The gopis were not born of any highly cultured family.  They were born of cowherd men, and yet they developed the highest love of Krsna.  For self-realisation or God-realisation there is no need to take birth in a high family.  The only thing needed is ecstatic development of love of God.  In achieving perfection in Krsna consciousness no other qualification is required than to be constantly engaged in the loving service of Krsna.  Krsna is the supreme nectar, the reservoir of all pleasure.  The effect of taking up Krsna consciousness is just like that of drinking nectar.  With or without one's knowledge, it will act."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.59.
149	"When Lord Sri Krsna was dancing with the gopis in the rasa-lila, the gopis were embraced by the arms of the Lord.  This transcendental favour was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or other consorts in the spiritual world.  Indeed, never was such a thing even imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, whose bodily lustre and aroma resemble the lotus flower.   And what to speak of worldly women who are very beautiful according to material estimation?"*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.60.
150	"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."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.61.
151	"When in the rasa dance the gopis embraced to their breasts Lord Krsna's lotus feet, which are worshipped by Laksmi, Brahma, the demigods whose every desire is fulfilled, and the masters of yoga, they become free of all suffering."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.62.
152	"I constantly pray to be honoured by the dust of the gopis' lotus feet. The gopis' chanting of the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krsna has become celebrated all over the three worlds."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.63.
153	"My dear gopis, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Krsna's lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopis, for whom that nectar is actually meant!  The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure.  His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.9.
154	"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."*
	Note: This verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.90.48.
155	Sri Janamejaya said: I have found the goal of life!  I have found the goal of life!  O my lord, O my guru, you have explained to me the confidential glory of Goloka!
156	Sri Jaimini said: O dear one, you have spoken the truth.  Anyone who with devotion hears, chants, or remembers this story, attains that supreme abode.
157	Obeisances to unlimitedly merciful Lord Krsna, who is the son of the gopas' king, who is the supreme guru, who gives devotional service to the devotees, and who is very pleased by their service.

Texts marked with an asterisk * are taken from the translations of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Texts marked with two asterisks ** are taken from the translations of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
Texts marked with three asterisks *** are taken from the translations of Srimad-Bhagavatam by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust committee of scholars.