Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
After entering Mathura, Krishna was worshipped by the florist Sudama and the maiden Trivakra (Kubja). The elephant Kuvalayapida, however, challenged Him and was comfortably dispatched, after which Krishna killed the two wrestlers and King Kamsa. After completing Their studies at gurukula , Krishna and Balarama brought back Sandipani Muni’s dead son. While in Mathura, Krishna (through Uddhava) sent a message to the gopis , visited Trivakra’s house, defeated Jarasandha seventeen times, and favoured Mucukunda by appearing before him in a cave.
Previous M.A.D Next Kamsa Killed
Last updated 1 year ago
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
After entering Mathura, Krishna was worshipped by the florist Sudama and the maiden Trivakra (Kubja). The elephant Kuvalayapida, however, challenged Him and was comfortably dispatched, after which Krishna killed the two wrestlers and King Kamsa. After completing Their studies at gurukula , Krishna and Balarama brought back Sandipani Muni’s dead son. While in Mathura, Krishna (through Uddhava) sent a message to the gopis , visited Trivakra’s house, defeated Jarasandha seventeen times, and favoured Mucukunda by appearing before him in a cave.
Previous M.A.D Next Kamsa Killed
Last updated 1 year ago
Cry for Krishna
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Cry for Krishna
“Sri Uddhava is described in this verse as buddhi-sattamah, “the most intelligent,” and thus he could expertly pacify the residents of Vrindavana, who were feeling such intense separation from Lord Krishna. Then, upon his return to Mathura, Uddhava would describe to all the members of the Vrsni dynasty the extraordinary pure love he had seen in Vrindavana. Indeed, the love the cowherd men and gopis felt for Krishna was far beyond anything the Lord’s other devotees had ever experienced, and by hearing about that love all the Lord’s devotees would increase their faith and devotion.” ( SB 10.46.1 )
Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura explains how one can place valuable gold within a fire to ascertain its purity. In the same way, he says, Krishna placed His most beloved devotees, the residents of Vrindavana, in the fire of separation from Him, just to reveal the purity of their love. From the day Krishna left Vrindavana, Mother Yasoda could only see His beautiful face, and she cried constantly despite being consoled by friends and family. When Uddhava came, she was so overwhelmed by love that she couldn’t even interact with him. These were the unique manifestations of love in separation that Krishna wanted Uddhava to witness. Interestingly, Krishna Himself came to this world to experience those same emotions.
Krishna is known as rasaraja , the king of all relationships. As the fierce Nrsinghadeva, He savoured the mood of servitude that His devotees embody. As Lord Ramachandra, He experienced the brotherly love of Laksman and marital joy with Sita. As Lord Krishna, He relished intimate friendship with the cowherd boys, and unwedded paramour love with the cowherd girls. Although Krishna delighted in these relationships, a curiosity still remained. Krishna had not yet experienced the spiritual emotion that His devotees feel in their relationship with Him. It is said that Srimati Radharani, the most celebrated devotee, feels pleasure which is ten million times greater than the Lord’s! Thus, Sri Chaitanya, the manifestation of Krishna in Kali-yuga, descended to:
Delight in the position of Srimati Radharani
Understand the sweetness of Krishna’s qualities
Experience the happiness of a pure devotee
As the ‘maintainer’ of the universe, Visvambhara (Sri Chaitanya) taught the world what life’s priority really is. Though maintenance of the body is essential, one should not forget the necessity of the soul: to reawaken pure love of God ( prayojana ). The great teacher Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura summarises the four main precepts that Sri Chaitanya came to teach:
1) The Goal: Pure Love of God
The essence of each spirit soul is to seek love and express love. We spend our lives looking for those persons and objects in which we can repose the loving sentiment, but we’re often left frustrated and dissatisfied. When we develop our love for Krishna, however, we not only feel deep fulfillment and satisfaction, but we connect with others on a much deeper and satisfying level as well. By loving Krishna we become a conduit of love for others.
2) The Object of Love: Sri Krishna (who resides in Vrindavana)
In Sanskrit, God is known as ‘Bhagavan,’ or the possessor of all opulences. Jiva Goswami explains that God is more intimately known as Krishna, and Bhagavan stands for bhajaniya guna visistha: “One whose qualities are so enchanting that nobody can resist worshipping Him.” Only Sri Krishna manifests the glories of God in full. Krishna, whose eternal playground is Vrindavana, performs exquisite pastimes of love there, and never takes one step out of that sacred land. Even when it appears that He has left, He remains there in a concealed form.
3) The Example of Love: Gopis of Vrindavana
Amongst Vrindavana’s residents, the love of the gopis is particularly special since they sacrificed everything to be with Krishna. They left their family members, disregarded social customs, rejected the path of chastity and underwent all tribulations to be with Him. They were unconcerned with people’s opinions, and held nothing back, exhibiting affection without constraint. After meeting with the gopis , Krishna apparently left Vrindavana, throwing the cowherd maidens into an intense love in separation known as vipralambha-bhava. Their feelings of transcendental madness are considered the highest expressions of the soul in connection with God.
4) The Guidebook for Developing Love: Srimad-Bhagavatam
Though such ecstatic emotions seem far and distant for the conditioned soul, the Srimad-Bhagavatam is the priceless guidebook to help us reawaken that love. It describes the incredible feelings of the most celebrated devotees in creation, but also narrates historical incidents and didactic passages which help one progress to such pure devotion. Thus, the light of Srimad-Bhagavatam is an incredible blend of inspiration and instruction for the lost souls in this dark age of Kali-yuga.
Previous Dwaraka Established Next Separation for a Sadhaka
Last updated 1 year ago
Separation for a Sadhaka
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Cry for Krishna
Separation for a Sadhaka
The mood of separation from Krishna is not only an intensified emotional state found in pure devotees, but is also a cultivation that can assist the practitioner devotees in their spiritual progress. In 1969, Srila Prabhupada instructed the devotees to cry prayerfully for Krishna while chanting His name: “So we are addressing, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna: ’O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me.’ That’s all. ’Please accept me.’ We have no other prayer. ’Please accept me.’ Lord Chaitanya taught that we should simply cry, and we shall simply pray for accepting us. That’s all. So this vibration is simply a cry for addressing the Supreme Lord, requesting Him, ’Please accept me. Please accept me.’”
Srila Prabhupada confirms this in another place: “This crying is the last word in the progressive path of devotional service. One who can cry for the Lord in love is certainly successful in the line of devotional service.” (SB 3.4.35)
It is said that separation is the best mood in which to perform one’s spiritual practices. When we are chanting Hare Krishna with an awareness of how we separated from Krishna, we’ll begin to feel a deep necessity to reconnect with Him. Srila Prabhupada once said, “Actually, meeting Krishna is possible through the attitude of separation taught by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When the feeling of separation becomes very intense, one attains the stage of meeting Sri Krishna.” ( CC Adi 4.108 )
The acaryas explain that vipralambha , love in separation, expresses itself in four varieties:
Purva-raga – the feeling of separation that is experienced before the lovers actually meet and express their sentiments for one another
Mana – the feeling of separation that is experienced when lovers quarrel with one another
Prema-vaicittya – the feeling of separation that occurs when the lovers are together but they fear the potentiality of parting
Pravasa – the feeling of separation that occurs when lovers are actually parted by distance and time
In analysing the relevance of these for a practitioner devotee ( sadhaka ), Bhaktivinoda Thakura comments as follows:
“It is essential for the sadhaka jivas to cultivate only the mood of vipralambha , and because they have never experienced meeting with Krishna, their vipralambha will come only in the category of purva-raga. But without having ever met with Krishna, how can they experience separation in purva-raga from Him? By hearing the lila-katha of Sri Krishna from others, purva-raga is awakened. This was the case with the dvija-patnis as well as the ladies of Mathura before Krishna’s arrival there. Rukmini also had never seen Krishna, but by hearing about Him from Sri Narada, purva-raga arose within her heart. Thus she became exceedingly anxious to meet with Krishna. Similarly, by hearing from the guru and Vaisnavas or by reading the sastras , the jivas may have purva-raga vipralambha awakened within their hearts.”
Previous Cry for Krishna Next The Mood of Sri Chaitanya
Last updated 1 year ago
The Mood of Sri Chaitanya
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Cry for Krishna
The Mood of Sri Chaitanya
For the final twelve years of Sri Chaitanya’s manifest pastimes, He remained secluded in the Gambhira, the garden house of Kasi Misra. The Lord merged into a deep spiritual communion, obsessed day and night in thought of Krishna. This esoteric phenomenon is described by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami: “When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu felt separation from Krishna, His condition exactly corresponded to that of the gopis in Vrindavana after Krishna’s departure for Mathura. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s emotions exactly corresponded to those of Srimati Radharani when She met Uddhava in Vrindavana.”
Sri Chaitanya’s ecstasy resulted in bodily transformations and delirious behaviour which resembled that of a madman. He would sometimes catch hold of the necks of His associates and plead “My dear friends, please listen to Me. What shall I do? Where shall I go? Where can I go to get Krishna? Please, both of you, tell Me how I can find Him.” In this way, Sri Chaitanya exhibited the intense longing of a pure devotee.
Previous Separation for a Sadhaka Next A – Astonishing Rule (52-70)
Last updated 1 year ago
Dwaraka Established
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Dwaraka Established
Chapter 50, 51
When Kamsa’s two wives complained to their father, Jarasandha, about their husband’s death, Jarasandha decided to attack Krishna. The brothers annihilated his armies, and when Balarama was poised to arrest Jarasandha, Krishna decided to set him free. Krishna wanted Jarasandha to attack multiple times since it would facilitate a large-scale annihilation of his demoniac forces. In total, Jarasandha’s armies were defeated seventeen times.
During the eighteenth attack, Narada Muni instigated the wicked Kalayavana and his 30 million soldiers to also join in. The dual attack tipped the scales, and Krishna thus created a magnificent city in the sea (Dwaraka), and mystically transferred the entire Yadava clan there for safety.
When Kalayavana pursued Krishna to kill Him, he was led into a mountain cave. In that dark cave, Kalayavana kicked a man he thought was Krishna. That personality stood up and burned Kalayavana to death! This was Mucukunda, who had been awarded the boon of unbroken sleep, and also the power to annihilate anyone who interrupted it. After seeing the beautiful form of Krishna, Mucukunda lamented his absorption in material affairs, and thus requested the divine gift of pure devotional service.
Previous Uddhava in Vrindavana / Akrura in Hastinapura Next Cry for Krishna
Last updated 1 year ago
Gurukula
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Gurukula
Chapter 45
Krishna consoled Vasudeva and Devaki for the traumatic incidents they had to endure, and expressed His indebtedness for each of their incredible sacrifices. After reinstating Ugrasena on the throne, many exiled family members returned and everyone felt safe and secure again. Krishna bade farewell to Nanda Maharaja, who returned to Vrindavana with all the cowherd community.
To set the ideal example, Krishna and Balarama then took their vows of brahmacarya and began their education in Avantipura, at the school of Sandipani Muni. They learnt the detailed knowledge of the Vedas in sixty-four days and demonstrated how to suitably honour the spiritual master. Their traditional donation to the teacher came in the form of retrieving Sandipani Muni’s son from the abode of Yamaraja, the god of death.
Previous Kamsa Killed Next Uddhava in Vrindavana / Akrura in Hastinapura
Last updated 1 year ago
Kamsa Killed
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Kamsa Killed
Chapter 41, 42, 43, 44
Entering Mathura: As Krishna and Balarama entered the opulent city of Mathura, the residents were mesmerised. Their minds were captivated and their hearts melted; everyone stopped to drink the beauty of the brothers through their eyes. The exception was a miserly washerman, who, when he rudely refused to gift Krishna some garments, lost his head! A pious weaver, who generously gifted Them ornaments, was benedicted, while the florist, Sudama, welcomed the transcendental brothers into his home with a warm reception.
Breaking the Bow: After offering her finest oils to Krishna, Trivakra’s hunchbacked body was miraculously straightened by Krishna. The Supreme Lord then proceeded to the wrestling arena. There, Krishna broke the sacrificial bow and annihilated the guards who tried to attack Him. Hearing of these events, Kamsa was beset with anxiety since every sign he saw spelt doom. The following morning, crowds filled the arena, and Kamsa became more and more apprehensive.
Killing Kuvalayapida: When Krishna arrived at the arena gate, He was greeted with an attack from Kuvalayapida, the mighty elephant. After a playful tussle, Krishna extracted the elephant’s tusk and used it to beat him and his keepers to death. When Krishna entered the arena, the various personalities there perceived Him in different ways according to their character and consciousness. They all chattered amongst themselves, recounting the extraordinary activities of Krishna in Vrindavana. Just then, Chanura appeared and insisted on a personal duel with Krishna.
Killing Kamsa: The two professional wrestlers, Chanura and Mustika, enthusiastically jumped in for a fight, though Krishna and Balarama expertly manoeuvered themselves to remain unharmed. The onlookers complained that it was an unfair duel since Kamsa’s agents were much older. Krishna soon mitigated their anxiety by tossing Chanura onto the ground and ending his life, while Balarama followed suit with Mustika. When the other wrestlers attempted to intervene, they also lost their lives. Kamsa was aghast! When the evil King ordered his henchmen to kill Vasudeva, Krishna furiously leapt onto the royal dais where he sat. He threw Kamsa onto the floor of the wrestling ring and brought his life to an end. When the evil King’s widowed wives lamented, Krishna consoled them and arranged for the funeral rites.
Previous M – Mathura-Lila (41-51) Next Gurukula
Last updated 1 year ago
Uddhava in Vrindavana / Akrura in Hastinapura
Canto 10 (Part 2)
M – Mathura-Lila (41-51)
Uddhava in Vrindavana / Akrura in Hastinapura
Chapter 46, 47, 48, 49
Thinking about His beloved devotees in Vrindavana, Krishna asked His intimate friend, Uddhava, to deliver a message to them. He also wanted Uddhava, an advanced spiritualist himself, to witness the unique emotions of love in separation that they embodied - the love of Vrindavana’s residents is unparalleled. Upon arrival, Uddhava was enchanted by the beauty and spirituality of Vrindavana, and was particularly inspired by Nanda and Yasoda, whose absorption in Krishna was profound. He reassured them that the Lord would return soon.
Uddhava then approached the gopis , who were astounded by how much he resembled Krishna. In the pain of separation from their beloved Krishna, the gopis questioned the motives of His friendship with them. When one gopi saw a bee and considered it a messenger of Krishna, she poetically expressed her feelings of transcendental anger in separation. To comfort them, Uddhava read Lord Krishna’s message, wherein He told the gopis “I am the Supreme Soul and Supreme shelter of all, but to increase your attraction and intensify your remembrance of Me I left you.” With heartfelt emotion, they expressed their hopes, confusions, pains and incredible appreciation for Krishna. Uddhava stayed there for several months longer to witness the exalted nature of their love and share more narrations about Krishna. He eventually returned to Mathura and described all that he had witnessed. Uddhava prayed to take birth as a creeper in Vrindavana, just so he would be blessed with the footdust of those exalted associates of Krishna.
After hearing Uddhava’s report, Krishna, as promised, visited Trivakra and satisfied her lusty desires. Krishna then visited Akrura, who welcomed Him graciously. The Lord requested him to visit Hastinapura to ascertain how the Pandavas, now without their father, were coping with the difficult situation.
In Hastinapura, Vidura and Kuntidevi relayed how Dhritarastra’s envious sons were conspiring to destroy the saintly Pandavas. Kunti sincerely prayed that Krishna comes to the rescue. Akrura delivered Krishna’s advice to Dhritarastra, reminding him of the temporary nature of family relationships and the dangers of bodily consciousness, but the blind King expressed his inability to follow. These words of wisdom, he said, were simply like lightning flashes – though illuminating, the darkness of ignorance kept returning. After staying there for several months and analysing the situation, Akrura left for Mathura.
Previous Gurukula Next Dwaraka Established
Last updated 1 year ago
— S.B. Keshava Swami, Book Bhagavata