Ananda Vrindavan Champu

The Gopis Watch Krsna Milking the Cows

The white hue of the pure-minded cows sitting along the road, which looked as white as powdered camphor, easily surpassed the glow of the full moon to create a satisfying sight for all. The beautiful white bodies of the cows could only be distinguished from the lustrous setting by their thick horns that appeared blacker than a swarm of bumblebees. Sitting there peacefully the cows felt boundless joy. Desirous to milk the cows, the gopas met with Krsna, who tastefully performs all artistic feats and derives pleasure from all that He does. Moving His lotus eyes in all direc­tions, Krsna milked the cows with great fun and affection.

The news that Krsna was milking the cows entered the ears of the gopis like a lusty elephant trampling the lotus flowers of their minds. Their minds captivated by Madan-mohan, the gopis ignored their relatives and courageously climbed the watchtowers to see their beloved. One gopi en­thusiastically clutched another's hand and pulled her up the stairs. As the doe-eyed gopis gazed in the direction of Krsna and the cows, the sky filled with the blue lotus flowers of their ardent, loving glances.

They bathed their minds in the river of nectar flowing from the moon­light face of Krsna. Like independent yoginis, the curious eyes of the gopis blissfully roamed in all directions as they stood on the rooftops watching Krsna milk the cows. Nothing could prevent their eyes from staring at Krsna. Their eyes tried to milk the nectar from the gorgeous face of their beloved.

Though Brahma himself cannot describe this pastime of Krsna milking the cows, and a sparrow can never reach the stars, still this insignificant Poet cannot resist the temptation to delight in the transcendental pastimes of Krsna. Therefore he has tried to glorify them by using the choicest words.

Krsna's turban looked very attractive as it tilted slightly from rubbing against the belly of the cows. Squatting down and holding the golden milk pail between His knees, Krsna looked very enchanting in His glimmering yellow dhoti. While milking the cows His back arched beautifully and His elbows jutted out to the sides as He squeezed and released the udders with His bud like fingers. First Krsna moistened His thumb and forefin­ger with milk foam, and then He deftly pulled showers of milk from one udder after another. The touch of Krsna's lotus hand felt dearer to the cows than their own calves. Out of affection for the Lord, the cows freely poured forth streams of milk. That forceful pouring of milk made a pleas­ant sound as it filled the deep milking pot. It spilled out on the ground before a new pot could be brought,

As they stood in the watchtowers glancing restlessly at Krsna, the gopis succumbed to both anxiety and ecstasy. Now that Krsna had sat down in t the minds of those desirous gopis, their minds became so heavy that even 5 a thousand chariots could not drag them away from their beloved Lord. Though shaking in fear of their superiors, the gopis were totally enchanted by the sweet festival of Krsna's beautiful darsana. The mood of awe and reverence could not stand before their spontaneous love for Krsna. Even if the gopis seem hypocritical, they are completely infallible and beyond mistakes. Those gorgeous gopis looked like golden creepers fashioned by an expert goldsmith. Feeling compassion for the maidservants standing beside them in the candrasalikas, they shared the joy rising within their hearts by conversing with them.

"Hey sakhi, listen! The creation of my eyes has attained perfection by the soothing sight of Syamasundara. I am relishing the palatable elegance of my Lord whose ever-youthful, dark blue body glows like a fresh rain cloud. My body is tormented with fever due to opposition from the village elders. Still I want to make my body fit to be controlled by Krsna who expertly displays the highest perfection in different arts.

"Just see, even in this condition my intelligence works nicely. Hey lis­ten, 0 playful creepers! In the absence of the bees, the clusters of lotuses lose their joy and luster. Therefore, 0 best of beautiful girls! We must now exhibit the strength of our mantra chanting by attracting Krsna into our courtyards."

Another sakhi replied, "How can we do it?"

The first sakhi answered, "Listen, I will tell you. In our house even the strongest girl cannot possibly milk the cows. Even for a fearless person, i1 is very difficult to control the cows because they are very strong and frisky. But due to our reluctance to milk them we are not deriving any wealth from their milk products. Therefore the minds of our superiors like our mothers - in-law and fathers-in-law are burning with grief like the blazing sun."

Second sakhi said, "So what does that matter to you? Just ask your guardians why aren't they milking the cows and deriving any milk prod­ucts from them? Advise them to simply lovingly call out for Krsna. And when the cows see Him they will automatically surrender their milk.

The first sakhi responded, "But then our elders will ask, 'Who is He and where does He live?' "

Second sakhi, "You should answer them by describing the wonderful milking activities of Krsna that you have just seen. 0 sakhi! Then I am sure that your superiors will immediately respond to your entreaty. Be­cause the wise and intelligent always respond to a good idea. Krsna alone has the power to break all psychic inhibitions and fill the mind with un­precedented delight. He always affectionately cares for everyone. By His ecstatic pastimes He provides soothing shelter for a tormented mind. Al­though Krsna is the supremely independent master of all intelligence, at the present time He submits to the authority and protection of His affec­tionate parents. Due to His love for all of us, I am convinced that as soon as our superiors inform Him of our dilemma, Krsna will respond by rush­ing here to milk our unruly cows." Thus the gopis passed their time dis­cussing these delightful topics.

Garlanded with wild flowers and surrounded by humming bees, Krsna walked back to His house after milking the cows. Unlimited qualities deco­rated Krsna at this time. The necklace adorning His broad chest swung back and forth like a shooting star. The ocean of joy within Krsna flowed out of His lotus eyes to flood the lakes of the gopis' hearts. Krsna's unlim­ited attributes appeared like sharks to devour the tender hearts the gopis.

With the carefree movement of a royal elephant Krsna rocked from side to side as He walked down the road. Immersed in loving rapture, the gopis stared with unblinking eyes at His sweet lotus feet as He passed by. Krsna's presence inflamed their senses with excitement and satisfaction. But when Krsna left their sight their eyes stopped functioning for want of anything worth looking at. Within their minds, however, the gopis found paramount pleasure by lying down with Krsna on the flowerbed of surrender.

When Krsna takes the cows to the pastures in the daytime, His lovers almost die from the severe pain of separation piercing the core of their hearts. It appears that a virulent poison has spread through their bodies. "us intolerable, burning pain of separation, however, is extinguished by the two nectar showers of seeing Krsna returning in the cool summer evening, and relishing His matchless beauty at that refreshing time.

Thus the Lord of unlimited power joyfully passed everyday of the summer tending the cows in the forest. Surrendered souls can easily perceive

is delightful form of the Lord. By His personal presence Krsna sweetened the whole world and attracted everyone to His spectacular transcendental pastimes. Krsna went to the forest to tend the cows and play various sportive games in the company of Haladhara and the cowherd boys. Upon enter­ing the forest they met the fortunate goddess of the rainy season. Seeing the beauty of the rainy season personified as a heroine, Krsna remarked, "Aho! Look what a wonderful sight!"

Krsna saw the goddess of the rainy season pervaded by a lusciously sweet fragrance from wearing the pollen of kadamba flowers. The swarms of bumblebees darting through the air were her provocative glances cast at Krsna. She wore effulgent, attractive blue garments in the form of freshly formed, glistening rain clouds. The gentle rumbling of radiant rain clouds filled the forest with the sweet sound of her elegant voice. She offered newly sprouted barley grass as a bed for Krsna's pleasure. This colorful green bed of fresh grass defeated the beauty of a collection of the bright­est emeralds.

The millions of indragopas (tiny red insects) crawling over the ground colored the delicate lotus feet of that goddess of the rainy season with an effulgent red lac. A row of splendid restless cranes adorned her throat as a pearl necklace. The fanned tails of the dancing peacocks comprised her beautiful hair. The fragrant air blowing by the arjuna trees laden with sweet flowers formed her pleasant breath.

Her gentle, enchanting face was moistened with tears of tiny raindrops. Erect petals of bright yellow kadamba flowers formed her hairs that stood on end due to a rarely perceived ecstasy. She eagerly waited to offer Krsna a fragrant garland made from the tiny malati flowers on her dangling creep­ers. Her restless eyes lowered out of respect and timidity when she of­fered her services to Krsna.

As an expert maidservant, she made wonderful garlands to decorate the whole forest of Vrndavana with an abundance of fragrant flowers. Over­flowing with love and affection for Krsna, she desired to serve the Lord in various ways. Her bodily complexion -reflected the fresh, dark blue rain clouds decorating the sky. Thus the goddess of the rainy season pleased the entire world with her sweetness.

Just as one gets relief from the scorching heat of summer by taking the proper medicine, similarly, all the living entities in Vrndavana delighted with the appearance of the refreshing rainy season. The Vrajavasis fe" that a magnanimous physician in the form of time had awarded them tns personified wealth of the rainy season. The blustering winds appeared to be the cool breath of the goddess of the rainy season. The grass standing erect on the ground represented the thrill bumps of the rainy season due to feelings of ecstatic joy. The peaceful green fields looked very charming under the beautiful deep blue sky. It seemed ithat the sun had retreated to a distant place to fall asleep. And with its disappearance all the miseries of the hot season also disappeared.

The rainy season felt proud of the many peacocks jubilantly dancing here and there. Seeing the joyful flying of the cataki and gallinule birds made her smile in happiness. Hearing the delightful voice of the cataki birds brought her immense satisfaction. The abundant blossoming kadamba flowers formed the smiling face of the rainy season.

A rich fragrance of musk saturated the entire atmosphere. Profuse rains bathed the mountainsides and washed the forest pathways of all debris. Just as the bones of a fat man cannot be seen, similarly, due to flooding, the islands in the middle of rivers disappeared. Since the whole forest had become overrun with a dense growth of reeds, the herds of deer could no longer sport and play. Fresh grass abounded everywhere to fatten the joyous cows that no longer wandered to distant pastures.

What more can I say about the beauty of the rainy season in Vrndavana which brought supreme satisfaction to the playful prince of Vrndavana?

During this time the cows ambled lazily under the shady trees. Krsna beautified the entire scene by sitting nearby on the root of a tree and singing a wonderful melody. The cows looked lovingly at Krsna while-munching the plentiful grass. The sound of their teeth cutting the grass was very pleasing. Becoming fully satisfied from eating the lush foliage the cows moved very slowly. They walked peacefully here and there with­out any disturbance from insects like mosquitoes and biting horse flies.

The constant swinging of their tails created a marvelous scene of pure effulgent beauty. Upon filling their bellies, the cows lost all desire to eat any more grass. To find relief from the heat of the day, they rested amidst the soft cooling grass and slowly chewed their cud. Turning their gentle faces toward Krsna, the cows glanced at Him with love and gratitude. Krsna took great delight in seeing them.

As the cows rested, Krsna and His boyfriends absorbed themselves in playing ball with the flower buds of the kadamba trees. Observing the sweet sporting of Krsna and the cowherd boys, the demigods flying in their airplanes became totally infatuated. Exhilarated with joy, the clouds raced across the sky, broke into small pieces, and gradually disappeared. Due to the increasing heat of the day attractive pearl-like drops of per­oration formed on Krsna's sweet lips and lotus face. Though tired from Playing, Krsna looked very radiant and attractive.

Stopping His play, Krsna sat down on a large root under the shade of a tall tree. To free themselves from the offense of subjecting Krsna to such intense sunrays, the clouds released tiny drops of rain that felt like a shower cooling camphor. Gentle, refreshing breezes scented with the sweet fragrance of malati flowers blew in all directions. In this way, the season served the Lord who forever enacts the sweetest pastimes.

Standing in a three-fold bending form, Krsna emanated the finest el­egance. Placing His cow herding stick under His left arm, Krsna looked very attractive as He leaned on it and crossed His right leg over His left. The flower garland hanging from His graceful neck gently swung; back and forth. Enchanting tunes and melodies echoed throughout the forest as Krsna played His celebrated flute. The cows extended their ears to drink the stream of nectar, and the male deer stood motionless,, capti­vated by the sweet vibration.

Krsna's flute song, the very embodiment of transcendental sound- com­pletely enchanted the minds of the cowherd boys. One boy said to Krsna, "It is the nature of the mallara raga that You are playing to indicate an impending rainfall. The rumbling of the clouds resembles the maudlin mood created by the crying of Your flute. 0 Krsna! Please tell us wlhy You are playing so sweetly and artistically? Due to the thick covering of rain clouds, I am bewildered and cannot tell whether it is day or night.

. "0 remover of all misfortune! Let us go now and return to the village. Although Your nature is to be gentle and joyful, sometimes You are naughty and disobedient. The monsoon showers have stopped for now, so put Your sweet-sounding flute to rest. Let us wake up the sleeping cows and quickly go home."

Krsna, whose face is more radiant than the full moon, enjoyed the jok­ing and laughter of His intimate boyfriends. While taking the cows along the path home He made sweet music on His celebrated flute. Looking in all directions, Krsna became absorbed in His transcendental pastimes. His unique matchless elegance put to shame the beauty of blue lotus flowers and the best of emeralds. His hands, feet, and body moved in waves of condensed brilliance. According to scriptures, Krsna is the personification of Parabrahman.

As He strolled gracefully down the path, it seemed as if another rain cloud moved along the earth. The embodiment of the earth's greatest treasure now walked on her surface. Somewhat tired from the long day of playing and tending the cows, Krsna moved slowly as He proceeded to­ward Vrndavana. The cows also ambled along in a leisurely mood.

It appeared that the entire city of Vrndavana bathed in the first shower of the rainy season. After the rainfall, proud peacocks, famous for their dancing ability, strutted about the roof tops of every home with their long, thick, green tail feathers fanned out to dry in the sun. As the sun set over the city of Vrndavana, its reddish rays, redder than a bimba fruit, spread across the clear western sky. The red sunrays looked like the line of sindura on a woman's hair part.

The eighty four thousand jalousie windows within the palaces appeared like the eyes of the city of Vrndavana, who had now attained the fortune of relishing the wonderful elegance of Krsna's body as He sauntered into the city. The holes of these windows seemed like the eyes of Krsna's thou­sands of cows that constantly drink the nectar of His exquisite beauty. The splendid flags flying over the city looked like tender green leaves waving in the wind. Their flapping indicated the intense joy felt within the mind of the goddess of Vrndavana as she watched Krsna return.

Overwhelmed with ecstasy, the goddess of Vrndavana desired to dance. Due to the heavy downpour pools of water were lying here and there. The excess water spilling over the rooftops merged with these pools and made them overflow. The water, scented by sweet flowers of various creepers, smelled more fragrant than sandalwood as it rushed through the gutters of the city. Due to carrying an abundance of white sand that water ap­peared brighter than camphor. Out of pure love the fortunate goddess of Vrndavana used this water to wash the feet of Krsna's cows as they en­tered their respective goshallas.

Krsna, dressed in glittering yellow garments and smiling attractively, churned the heart of Cupid and dispelled all darkness as He led the cows into the goshalla. With a loving glance He instantly removed the sadness rising within the hearts of His companions who contemplated their immi­nent separation. Consoled, the boys ran off to their respective homes;

Entering the palace, Krsna sat down to eat a variety of palatable foods. All the wealth of the heavenly planets could not compare to the opulence of those sumptuous eatables.

After being fed wonderful foods and drinks by mother Yasoda, Krsna laid down to rest on a bed with sheets whiter than powdered camphor. The buzzing of the bees hovering about filled Krsna's bedroom with a melodious sound. While enjoying the sweet smell of the aromatic herbs and dried flowers stuffed in His pillow, Krsna slowly fell asleep and passed the night.

The Autumn Season

Krsna relished the arrival of the autumn season with great enthusiasm. There is no need of clouds in the sarad season (autumn). So feeling dejected, the clouds turn their backs and vacate the sky over Vrndavana. The sarad season appeared just a wife, whose mind floods with happiness as she anxiously tries to please her husband with her service. The lone-billed storks of this season looked as beautiful the cheerful face of a newly-married housewife.

Full of clear water and inhabited by many types of colorful birds, the reservoirs resembled chaste housewives full of the wealth of pure love. The rows of pleasant and jubilant swans on the ground looked like a ridge of white mountains appearing as the feet of autumn personified. The singing storks formed the waist belt of autumn. The abundance of blos­soming blue lotus flowers appeared like the attractive blue eyes of a newly married girl enchanting the eyes and mind of her husband.

The fully cleansed earth and the crystal clear sky overhead resembled the pure mind of a sage. The catkins growing in the lakes exploded their white cottonseeds in all directions like the spreading fame of the Lord. It seemed as if the moon had been rubbed on a polishing stone to produce an extraordinary brilliant effulgence. The twinkling stars in the sky ap­peared like ointments smeared on the body of autumn personified.

The sweet fragrance of chatima flowers enhanced the beauty of the for­est. The rains falling from the garland of joyful clouds gradually reduced like the love sulk of a delighted lady that wanes with time. After the dark clouds of the rainy season departed, the sky hosted a covering of thin Clouds resembling fine white cloth. The sky looked like a woman wearing the dress of an ascetic. With all these decorations the bride in the form of the autumn season looked exquisitely beautiful.

Due to separation from her rain cloud friends, the joyful waves of the river danced no longer due to the shortage of water. Many small an moving rivulets replaced the gushing main stream of the river, which dried up in autumn. The transparent river water seemed to reveal the pure tendency of her heart. The various migratory birds wandering along the dried banks of the river unconsciously decorated the ground with artistic lines drawn by their beaks and feet. Quacking ducks, storks, cakravakas, and intoxicated swans beautified the river. The beautiful scenery of the sarad season attracted the denizens of heaven.

Even Sarasvati herself could not describe the extent of Vrndavana’s incredible elegance. Acting as an expert dance instructor, the wind directed the pure white lotus flowers to gently rock back and forth in the river. As it passed over the slowly moving water, the wind me cool and scented with lotus pollen. This gentle aromatic breeze satisfied and enchanted the minds of everyone. Thus the bride in the form of the sarad season dressed and ornamented herself in order to wor­ship Krsna.

Krsna found great happiness in the juncture of the rainy and autumn seasons. Moving with a delightful gait, Krsna pleased all the residents of Vraia with His darsana as He took the cows out to pasture. The favorite of Vrndavana affectionately poured His mercy on everyone. As a result, the Vrajavasis felt great satisfaction seeing Krsna strolling along playing with His friends. Picking up twigs, wild flowers, mineral dyes, and other gifts of nature, the cowherd boys decorated their beloved friend while walking down the road.

Krsna's nature will now be compared and contrasted with the rainy sea­son. As Krsna induces lust in the hearts of the gopis, similarly, the rains of the rainy season agitate the minds of the flocks of geese flying and squawk­ing overhead. Just as the rainy season incites lusty feelings, similarly, Krsna causes His devotees to feel matchless happiness. The kadamba flowers bloom in the rainy season and now Krsna wears long aromatic garlands of kadamba flowers. The rainy season is beautified with the fanned tails of intoxicated dancing peacocks. Similarly, Krsna looks elegant with His crest of fresh, iridescent peacock feathers.

Lightning bolts enhance the beauty of the dark blue sky in the rainy season. Similarly, Krsna's gorgeous yellow dress derides the brilliance of gold rubbed on a testing stone; As the monsoon sky glitters radiantly, similarly, Krsna possesses a brilliantly handsome aura. Holding His murali to His ruby lips, Krsna vibrates enchanting sounds resembling the low rumbling of thunder, which attract the peacocks to dance around Him. The deer, birds, and other animals never become satiated even after re-Peatedly relishing that sweet sound. The sound of His flute causes the water trickling out of the mouths of mountain caves to expand into huge reservoirs. Trees and creepers transform into liquid rasa.

Rivers stop moving, back up, and swell in all directions to flood the surrounding land with lotus flowers. Although the flooding washes away the riverbanks, they magically reappear when Krsna plays His flute again. Joyful Krsna always gives happiness to everyone. At this time He suffers in separation from the beloved doe-eyed gopis who have shot Him with the arrows of their sidelong glances. Thus Krsna causes the meeting of the rainy season with autumn which brings a fresh taste of rasa.

A peacock feather accented the beautiful locks of Krsna's curly dark hair. Kamikara flowers hung over His ears, which held glittering golden earrings that dangled attractively on His cheeks. Wrapped in an effulgent golden dhoti, Krsna looked extremely charming with the vaijayanti gar­land hanging from His neck. Dressed as the best of dancers, the all-at­tractive Lord Krsna entered the village of Vrndavana.