Chapter Eleven Śrī Ramā-vaikuṇṭha-śvetadvīpordhva-vaikuṇṭhājita-pada-śrī-lokācala-vāsinī-śrī-sakhīnām upākhyānam The Story of the Gopīs That were Residents of Ramā-vaikuṇṭha, Śvetadvīpa, Urdhva-vaikuṇṭha, Ajita-pada, and Śrī Lokācala

GS 4.11.1

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca anyāsāṁ caiva gopīnāṁ varṇanaṁ śṛṇu maithila sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ hari-bhakti-vivardhanam śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; anyāsām—of the other; ca—and; eva—indeed; gopīnām—gopīs; varṇanam—description; śṛṇu—please hear; maithila—O king of Mithilā; sarva-pāpa—all sins; haram—removing; puṇyam—sacred; hari-bhakti-vivardhanam—increasing devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Nārada said: O king of Mithilā, please hear the story of the other gopīs, a sacred story that removes all sins, and increases one's love for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

GS 4.11.2

Verse text

nīti-vin mārgadaḥ śuklaḥ pataṅgo divya-vāhanaḥ gopeṣṭāś ca vraje rājan jātā ṣaḍ vṛṣabhānavaḥ

Synonyms

nīti-vit — Nitivit ; mārgadaḥ — Margada ; śuklaḥ — Sukla ; pataṅgaḥ — Patanga ; divya-vāhanaḥ — Divyavahana ; gopeṣṭāś — Gopesta ; ca — and ; vraje — in Vraja ; rājan — O king ; jātā — born ; ṣaḍ — the six ; vṛṣabhānavaḥ — Vṛṣabhānus.

Translation

O king, the six Vṛṣabhānus: Nītivit, Mārgada, Śukla, Pataṅga, Divyavāhana, and Gopeṣṭa, were born in Vraja.

GS 4.11.3

Verse text

teṣāṁ gṛheṣu saṣjātā lakṣmī-pati-varāt prajāḥ ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ

Translation

ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyas tathājita-padāśritāḥ śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ teṣām—of them; gṛheṣu—in the homes; saṣjātaḥ—born; lakṣmī-pati-varāt—from the blessing of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune; prajāḥ—daughters; ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—even; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean; ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Urdhva-Vaikuntha; tathājita-padāśritāḥ—they who had taken shelter of Lord Ajita; śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Lokacala; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—also; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean. In their homes, by a benediction granted by Lord Nārāyaṇa, were born the girls of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha, Urdhva-Vaikuṇṭha, Lokācala, and Ajitapada, who had all been born from the ocean of milk and who were all friends of the goddess of fortune.

GS 4.11.4

Verse text

teṣāṁ gṛheṣu saṣjātā lakṣmī-pati-varāt prajāḥ ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ

Translation

ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyas tathājita-padāśritāḥ śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ teṣām—of them; gṛheṣu—in the homes; saṣjātaḥ—born; lakṣmī-pati-varāt—from the blessing of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune; prajāḥ—daughters; ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—even; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean; ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Urdhva-Vaikuntha; tathājita-padāśritāḥ—they who had taken shelter of Lord Ajita; śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Lokacala; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—also; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean. In their homes, by a benediction granted by Lord Nārāyaṇa, were born the girls of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha, Urdhva-Vaikuṇṭha, Lokācala, and Ajitapada, who had all been born from the ocean of milk and who were all friends of the goddess of fortune.

GS 4.11.5

Verse text

cintayantyaḥ sadā śrīmad- govinda-caraṇāmbujam śrī-kṛṣṇasya prasādārthaṁ tābhir māgha-vrataṁ kṛtam

Synonyms

cintayantyaḥ — meditating ; sadā — always ; śrīmad-govinda-caraṇāmbujam — on Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet ; śrī-kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prasādārtham — to gain the favor ; tābhiḥ — by them ; māgha-vratam — the vow of Magha ; kṛtam — was performed.

Translation

Always thinking of Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, to gain His favor they followed the vow of Māgha-vrata.

GS 4.11.6

Verse text

māghasya śukla-paṣcamyāṁ vasantādau hariḥ svayam tāsāṁ prema-parīkṣārthaṁ kṛṣṇo vai tad-gṛhān gataḥ

Synonyms

māghasya — of the month of Magha ; śukla-paṣcamyām — on the fifth day of the bright fortnight ; vasantādau — at the beginning of spring ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; svayam — personally ; tāsām — of them ; prema — the love ; parīkṣa-artham — to test ; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; vai — indeed ; tad-gṛhān — to their homes ; gataḥ — went.

Translation

On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Māgha (January-February), as springtime was about to begin, to test their love for Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa went to these gopīs' homes

GS 4.11.7

Verse text

vyāghra-carmāmbaraṁ bibhran jaṭa-mukuṭa-maṇḍitaḥ vibhūti-dhūsaro veṇuṁ vādayan mohayan jagat

Synonyms

vyāghra-carmāmbaram — a tiger's sking garment ; bibhran — wearing ; jāta-mukuṭa-maṇḍitaḥ — with matted locks ; vibhūti — opulences ; dhūsaraḥ — covered ; veṇum — flute ; vādayan — playing ; mohayan — charming ; jagat — the universe.

Translation

Dressed in a tigerskin, His hair matted, and His natural opulences concealed, by playing the flute he enchanted all the worlds.

GS 4.11.8

Verse text

tāsāṁ vīthiṣu samprāptiṁ vīkṣya gopyo 'pi sarvataḥ āyayur darśanaṁ kartuṁ mohitāḥ prema-vihvalāḥ

Synonyms

tāsām — of them ; vīthiṣu — on the opathways ; samprāptim — attainment ; vīkṣya — seeing ; gopyaḥ — the gopīs ; api — also ; sarvataḥ — in all respects ; āyayuḥ — arrived ; darśanam — seeing ; kartum — to do ; mohitāḥ — enchanted ; prema-vihvalāḥ — overcome with love.

Translation

Seeing Him on the path, the enchanted gopīs were overcome with love. To gaze at Him, they came close.

GS 4.11.9

Verse text

atīva sundaraṁ dṛṣṭvā yoginaṁ gopa-kanyakāḥ ūcuḥ parasparaṁ sarvāḥ premānanda-samākulāḥ

Synonyms

atīva — very ; sundaram — handsome ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; yoginam — the yogi ; gopa-kanyakāḥ — the gopīs ; ūcuḥ — said ; parasparam — among themselves ; sarvāḥ — all ; premānanda-samākulāḥ — filled with bliss.

Translation

As they gazed at this very handsome yogī, the blissful gopīs spoke among themselves.

GS 4.11.10

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ ko 'yaṁ śiśur nanda-sutākṛtir vā kasyāpi putro dhanino nṛpasya narī-ku-vāg-bāṇa-vibhinna-marmā jāto virakto gata-kṛtya-karmā

Synonyms

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ — the gopīs said ; kaḥ — who? ; ayam — this ; śiśuḥ — boy ; nanda-sutākṛtiḥ — the from of Nanda's son ; vā — or ; kasyāpi — of someone ; putraḥ — the son ; dhaninaḥ — of a wealthy man ; nṛpasya — of a king ; narī — of a woman ; ku — harsh ; vāg — words ; bāṇa — arrows ; vibhinna — broken ; marmā — heart ; jātaḥ — born ; viraktaḥ — renounced ; gata-kṛtya-karmā — performed pious deeds.

Translation

Thwe gopīs said: Who is this? Is this Nanda's son or the song of a wealthy king? Is He renounced because His heart was broken by a woman's harsh words or because He has performed many pious deeds?

GS 4.11.11

Verse text

atīva-ramyaḥ sumkumāra-deho manoja-vad-viśva-mano-haro 'yam aho kathaṁ jīvati cāsya mātā pitā ca bhāryā bhaginī vinainam

Synonyms

ativa-ramyaḥ — very handsome ; sumkumāra-dehaḥ — delicate features ; manoja — Kāmadeva ; vat — like ; viśva — of everyone ; manaḥ — the herarts ; haraḥ — enchanting ; ayam — He ; ahaḥ — Oh ; katham — how? ; jīvati — lives ; ca — and ; asya — of Him ; mātā — the mother ; pitā — father ; ca — and ; bhāryā — wife ; bhaginī — sister ; vinā — without ; enam — Him.

Translation

He is very handsome. His features are graceful and delicate. Like Kāmadeva, He charms the hearts of the entire world. Ah! How can He live without mother, father, sister, and wife?

GS 4.11.12

Verse text

evaṁ tāḥ sarvato yūthī- bhūtvā sarvā vrajāṅganāḥ papracchus taṁ yogi-varaṁ vismitāḥ prema-vihvalāḥ

Synonyms

evam — thusd ; tāḥ — they ; sarvataḥ — all ; yūthī-bhūtvā — gtahered together ; sarvā — all ; vrajāṅganāḥ — the girls of Vraja ; papracchuḥ — asked ; tam — Him ; yogi-varam — the best of yogis ; vismitāḥ — struck with wonder ; prema-vihvalāḥ — overcome with love.

Translation

Filled with wonder and love, the assembled girls of Vraja asked many questions.

GS 4.11.13

Content

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ kas tvaṁ yogin nāma kiṁ te kutra vāsas tu te mune kā vṛttis tava kā siddhir vada no vadataṁ vara śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; kaḥ—who?; tvam—You; yogin—O yogi; nāma—name; kim—what?; te—of You; kutra—where; vāsaḥ—residence; tu—indfeed; te—of You; mune—O sage; kā—what?; vṛttiḥ—activity; tava—of You; kā—what?; siddhiḥ—perfection; vada—tell; naḥ—to us; vadatām—of speakers; vara—O best. The gopīs said: O yogī, who are You? What is Your name? O sage, where do You live? What do You do? What mystic powers have You attained? O best of eloquent speakers, please tell us.

GS 4.11.14

Verse text

śrī-siddha uvāca yogeśvaro 'haṁ me vāsaḥ sadā māna-sarovare nāmnā svayamprakāśo 'haṁ nirannaḥ sva-balāt sadā

Synonyms

śrī-siddha uvāca — the perfect yogi said ; yogeśvaraḥ — a master of yoga ; aham — I ; me — of Me ; vāsaḥ — the residence ; sadā — always ; māna-sarovare — in Mana-sarovara ; nāmnā — by name ; svayamprakāśaḥ — Svayamprakāśa ; aham — I ; nirannaḥ — fasting ; sva-balāt — by My own power ; sadā — always.

Translation

The perfect yogī said: I am a master of yoga. I always stay at Māna-sarovara. My name is Svayamprakāśa. I never eat. My own mystic power keeps Me alive.

GS 4.11.15

Verse text

sārthe paramahāṁsānāṁ yāmy ahaṁ te vrajāṅganāḥ bhūtaṁ bhāvyaṁ vartamānaṁ vedmy ahaṁ divya-darśanaḥ

Synonyms

sārthe — in the treasure ; paramahāṁsānām — of the great swans ; yāmy — I go ; aham — I ; te — these ; vrajāṅganāḥ — O girls of Vraja ; bhūtam — past ; bhāvyam — future ; vartamānam — present ; vedmy — I know ; aham — I ; divya-darśanaḥ — spiritual vision.

Translation

O girls of Vraja, I have attained the great treasure of the paramahaṁsas. I have spiritual eyes. I can see the past, present, and future.

GS 4.11.16

Verse text

uccāṭanaṁ māraṇaṁ ca mohanaṁ stambhanaṁ tathā janāmi mantra-vidyābhir vaśī-karaṇam eva ca

Synonyms

uccāṭanam — ruin ; māraṇam — death ; ca — and ; mohanam — bewilderment ; stambhanam — being stunned ; tathā — so ; janāmi — I know ; mantra-vidyābhiḥ — with the knowledge of mantras ; vaśī-karaṇam — to bring under control ; eva — indeed ; ca — also.

Translation

I know mantras that can ruin people, kill them, bewilder them, paralyze them, or bring them under My control.

GS 4.11.17

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ yadi jānāsi yogiṁs tvaṁ vārtāṁ kāla-trayodbhavām kiṁ vartate no manasi vada tarhi mahā-mate

Synonyms

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ — the gopīs said ; yadi — if ; jānāsi — You know ; yogiṁḥ — O yogi ; tvam — You ; vārtām — news ; kāla — time ; traya — three phases ; udbhavām — manifested ; kim — what? ; vartate — is ; naḥ — of us ; manasi — in the mind ; vada — please tell ; tarhi — then ; mahā-mate — O wise one.

Translation

Thw gopīs said: O wise yogī, if You know the past, present, and future, then please tell us one thing: What are we thinking at this moment?

GS 4.11.18

Verse text

śrī-siddha uvāca bhāvatīnāṁ ca karṇānte kathanīyam idaṁ vacaḥ yusmad-ājṣayā vā vakṣye sarveṣāṁ śṛṇvatām iha

Synonyms

śrī-siddha uvāca — the perfect yogi said ; bhāvatīnām — of you ; ca — and ; karṇānte — whispered into the ear ; kathanīyam — should be spoken ; idam — this ; vacaḥ — word ; yusmad-ājṣayā — by your order ; vā — or ; vakṣye — I will speak aloud ; sarveṣām — of all ; śṛṇvatām — listening ; iha — here.

Translation

The perfect yogī said: The answer to this question I will now whisper in each girl's ear, or, if you request, I will speak it aloud so all may hear.

GS 4.11.19

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ satyaṁ yogeśvaro 'si tvaṁ tri-kāla-jṣo na saṁśayaḥ vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa sadyaḥ paṭhana-mātrataḥ

Translation

yadi so 'traiva cāyāti cintito yo 'sti vai mune tadā manyāmahe tvāṁ vai mantriṇāṁ pravaraṁ param śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; satyam—the truth; yogeśvaraḥ—the master of yoga; asi—are; tvam—You; tri-kāla-jṣaḥ—understanding the three phases of time; na—no; saṁśayaḥ—doubt; vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa—by a mantra to bring others under Your control; sadyaḥ—at once; paṭhana-mātrataḥ—simply by reciting; yadi—if; saḥ—He; atra—here; eva—indeed; ca—and; āyāti—goes; cintitaḥ—considered; yaḥ—one who; asti—is; vai—indeed; mune—O sage; tadā—then; manyāmahe—we consider; tvām—You; vai—indeed; mantriṇām—of mantra-chanters; pravaraṁ param—the best. The gopīs said: O sage, if it is true that You are a master of yoga, and if without doubt that You know the past, present, and future, and if by merely chanting a mantra You can actually bring others under Your control, then we think You must be the best of all mantra-chanters.

GS 4.11.20

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ satyaṁ yogeśvaro 'si tvaṁ tri-kāla-jṣo na saṁśayaḥ vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa sadyaḥ paṭhana-mātrataḥ

Translation

yadi so 'traiva cāyāti cintito yo 'sti vai mune tadā manyāmahe tvāṁ vai mantriṇāṁ pravaraṁ param śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; satyam—the truth; yogeśvaraḥ—the master of yoga; asi—are; tvam—You; tri-kāla-jṣaḥ—understanding the three phases of time; na—no; saṁśayaḥ—doubt; vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa—by a mantra to bring others under Your control; sadyaḥ—at once; paṭhana-mātrataḥ—simply by reciting; yadi—if; saḥ—He; atra—here; eva—indeed; ca—and; āyāti—goes; cintitaḥ—considered; yaḥ—one who; asti—is; vai—indeed; mune—O sage; tadā—then; manyāmahe—we consider; tvām—You; vai—indeed; mantriṇām—of mantra-chanters; pravaraṁ param—the best. The gopīs said: O sage, if it is true that You are a master of yoga, and if without doubt that You know the past, present, and future, and if by merely chanting a mantra You can actually bring others under Your control, then we think You must be the best of all mantra-chanters.

GS 4.11.21

Verse text

śrī-siddha uvāca durlabho durghaṭo bhāvo yusmābhir gaditaḥ striyaḥ tathāpy ahaṁ kariṣyāmi vākyaṁ na calate satām

Synonyms

śrī-siddha uvāca — the perfect yogi said ; durlabhaḥ — unattainable ; durghaṭaḥ — impossible ; bhāvaḥ — nature ; yusmābhiḥ — by you ; gaditaḥ — said ; striyaḥ — O women ; tathāpy — still ; aham — I ; kariṣyāmi — will do ; vākyam — words ; na — not ; calate — wavers ; satām — of the saintly devotees.

Translation

The perfect yogī said: Any impossible thing you ask, I can do. The words of saintly persons do not prove false.

GS 4.11.22

Verse text

nimīlayata netrāṇi mā śocāṁ kuruta striyaḥ bhaviṣyati na sandeho yuṣmākaṁ kāryam eva ca

Synonyms

nimīlayata — closing ; netrāṇi — eyes ; mā — don't ; śocām — lament ; kuruta — do ; striyaḥ — O girls ; bhaviṣyati — will be ; na — not ; sandehaḥ — doubt ; yuṣmākam — of you ; kāryam — to be done ; eva — indeed ; ca — and.

Translation

O girls, don't lament. Close your eyes and you will attain your wish. Of this there is no doubt.

GS 4.11.23

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca tatheti mīlitākṣiṣu gopīṣu bhagavān hariḥ vihāya tad-yogi-rūpaṁ babhau śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; tathā — so be it ; iti — thus ; mīlita — closed ; akṣiṣu — eyes ; gopīṣu — gopīs ; bhagavān — Lord ; hariḥ — Hari ; vihāya — taking ; tad-yogi-rūpam — that yogi's form ; babhau — manifested ; śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ — the son of nanda.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: As the gopīs stood with closed eyes, the Lord abandoned the form of a yogī and again became Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda.

GS 4.11.24

Verse text

netrāṇy unmīlya dadṛśuḥ sānandaṁ nanda-nandanam vismitās tat-prabhāva-jṣā harṣitā moham āgatāḥ

Synonyms

netrāṇy — eyes ; unmīlya — opening ; dadṛśuḥ — saw ; sānandam — with bliss ; nanda-nandanam — the son of Nanda ; vismitāḥ — filled with wonder ; tat-prabhāva-jṣāḥ — understanding His transcendental power ; harṣitā — delighted ; moham — enchantment ; āgatāḥ — attained.

Translation

Opening their eyes, they happily gazed at Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda. Delighted, filled with wonder, and now aware of His transcendental powers, the gopīs fainted unconscious.

GS 4.11.25

Verse text

māgha-māse mahā-rāse puṇye vṛndāvane vane tābhiḥ sārdhaṁ harī reme surībhiḥ sura-rāḍ iva

Synonyms

māgha-māse — in the month of Magha ; mahā-rāse — in the great rasa dance ; puṇye — dascred ; vṛndāvane — in Vṛndāvana ; vane — forest ; tābhiḥ — them ; sārdham — with ; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; reme — enjoyed ; surībhiḥ — with the demiugoddesses ; sura-rāḍ — the king of heaven ; iva — like.

Translation

As Indra enjoys with the girls of Suraloka, so Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoyed with these gopīs in a great rāsa-dance in sacred Vṛndāvana forest during the month of Māgha.