Nectar of Instruction — 9
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
The spiritual world is three fourths of the total creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is the most exalted region. The spiritual world is naturally superior to the material world; however, Mathurā and the adjoining areas, although appearing in the material world, are considered superior to the spiritual world because the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself appeared at Mathurā. The interior forests of Vṛndāvana are considered superior to Mathurā because of the presence of the twelve forests ( dvādaśa-vana ), such as Tālavana, Madhuvana and Bahulāvana, which are famous for the various pastimes of the Lord. Thus the interior Vṛndāvana forest is considered superior to Mathurā, but superior to these forests is the divine Govardhana Hill because Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana Hill like an umbrella, raising it with His lotuslike beautiful hand to protect His associates, the denizens of Vraja, from the torrential rains sent by the angry Indra, king of the demigods. It is also at Govardhana Hill that Kṛṣṇa tends the cows with His cowherd friends, and there also He had His rendezvous with His most beloved Śrī Rādhā and engaged in loving pastimes with Her. Rādhā-kuṇḍa, at the foot of Govardhana, is superior to all because it is there that love of Kṛṣṇa overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Rādhā-kuṇḍa because this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī ( rati-vilāsa ). In Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya-līlā ) it is stated that when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first visited the area of Vraja-bhūmi, He could not at first find the location of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. This means that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was actually searching for the exact location of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Finally He found the holy spot, and there was a small pond there. He took His bath in that small pond and told His devotees that the actual Rādhā-kuṇḍa was situated there. Later the pond was excavated by Lord Caitanya’s devotees, headed first by the Six Gosvāmīs, such as Rūpa and Raghunātha dāsa. Presently there is a large lake known as Rādhā-kuṇḍa there. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given much stress to Rādhā-kuṇḍa because of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire to find it. Who, then, would give up Rādhā-kuṇḍa and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so. The importance of Rādhā-kuṇḍa, however, cannot be realized by other Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas, nor can persons uninterested in the devotional service of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu understand the spiritual importance and divine nature of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Thus Rādhā-kuṇḍa is mainly worshiped by the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, the followers of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
The previous verse instructed us to perform bhajana while residing in Vraja. This verse very clearly answers precisely where one should reside within Vraja. Due to Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s having taken birth there, the abode of Mathurā is superior even to Vaikuṇṭha, the realm of great spiritual opulence. Superior even to the abode of Mathurā is the forest of Vṛndāvana because there the festival of the rāsa dance took place. Superior to the Vṛndāvana forest is Govardhana Hill because it playfully rested on Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus hand, and because there Kṛṣṇa freely enjoyed many pastimes with His devotees. Yet superior even to this Govardhana Hill is the super-excellent Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa because it immerses one in the nectarean divine love that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the moon of Gokula, feels for Śrīmatī Rādhikā. The scriptures declare that Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is as dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the daughter of Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja, Śrīmatī Rādhikā Herself. All the above-mentioned spiritual realms or locations where Śrī Kṛṣṇa performed pastimes manifest from His internal potency (svarūpa-śakti) and are therefore purely spiritual. However, Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is superior to them all because it manifests the highest display of the inherent variegated pastimes of the svarūpa- śakti.
This ninth verse informs us that Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is the best among all worshipful places. Because Śrī Kṛṣṇa took birth in the city of Mathurā, it is superior to Vaikuṇṭha, the realm of immense opulence in the spiritual sky. Within the district of Mathurā, the
Vṛndāvana forest is the best location. Govardhana Hill is the best place within the entire area of Vraja due to Udāra-pāṇi Śrī Kṛṣṇa having performed various pastimes there. Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is splendidly situated just near Śrī Govardhana. It is the best place of all due to being the special storehouse of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s nectarean divine love (premāmṛta). Is there any person intent upon performing bhajana who would not desire to render service to Śrī Rādhā- kuṇḍa? In other words, the devotees of Bhagavān most certainly render service to Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Either in their material bodies or in their spiritually perfected forms, devotees should execute the aforementioned process of bhajana while constantly residing at Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
Among all holy places, the Vaikuṇṭha realm situated in the spiritual sky is the best. Superior even to Vaikuṇṭha is the district of Mathurā, because Bhagavān took birth there. Within Mathurā- maṇḍala, the forest of Vṛndāvana is the best because there the rāsa dance took place. Of all places within Vṛndāvana, Govardhana Hill is greater still due to being the site where Śrī Kṛṣṇa freely enjoyed various pastimes. Superior even to Govardhana Hill is Śrī Rādhā- kuṇḍa. Because it overflows with the nectar of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s divine love, it is the best place of all. There is no place greater than Rādhā- kuṇḍa. Therefore, what intelligent person would not render service to Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which is so splendidly situated at the base of Govardhana? In other words, anyone endowed with true spiritual intelligence serves Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s eternal devotee Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, being fully conversant with the most elevated devotional sentiments within Gaurahari’s heart, has described service to Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa as the topmost. The glories of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa are incomprehensible and inaccessible even for loving devotees who may have taken shelter of madhura-rasa, yet are devoid of devotion to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
My note
Source: vedabase.io