Ananda Vrindavan Champu

The Glorious Flute of Krsna

While ambling along the pathway, Krsna left the wonderful marks of a goad, lotus, conch, thunderbolt, and the other symbols of His lotus feet on the breast of mother earth. Holding the flute to His leaf-like lips, Krsna played a slow raga known as mallavasri just fit for the autumn season. Krsna's lips, red as bimbo, fruits, drank the nectar of His flute as His fin­gers danced deftly over its holes. The abundant flow of nectar emanating from the belly of the flute spread throughout the atmosphere. Besides the intended raga of mallavasri, the flute seemed to produce a variety of personified tunes.

Krsna's face looked very attractive brightened by His beautiful white teeth shining within His fresh leaf-like lips. Receiving a kiss from Krsna's dazzling smiling face, the flute enjoyed the same fortune as His charming lovers. Indeed the murali is devoid of defects, even though full of holes. It is astonishing that this hard flute softens the hearts of heartless people, and silences the deer, birds, and other forest animals. Though derived from bamboo (vamsa) or a good family (vamsa) like the Candra vamsa dynasty, it infects all chaste women with intense attachment to Madhupati.

Aho! Just see this murali of Murari! Although hollow, it holds a stream of ragas. It is formed from one section (parva) of a tree, but it initiates hundreds of festivals (parvani). The sweet sound of the murali simulta­neously stuns the whole universe and fills everyone with joy. Murari's sweet flute melodies engage the three worlds in marvelous pastimes. En­tering within the ears, the vibration of Murari's flute agitates one's body, mind, and senses.

By nature Krsna's flute is simple and sweet, but according to the mood of the listener it manifests as nectar to some and poison to others. It causes river water to freeze solid and hard mountains to melt into rivers of ecstasy. Dead trees spring to life with fresh green leaves. Sages fixed in Brahman become restless and agitated. Among relishable objects, the best thing is the sound of Krsna's flute, which completely maddens one in bliss. It removes the anxieties of all people and stops the movements of birds and animals. Thus the sound of Krsna's flute is a treasure house of wonders. All glories to the superexcellent vibration of Krsna's flute!

Although there were unlimited groups of gorgeous gopis, they all had the great fortune of achieving the highest stage of love for Krsna. The gopis had peaceful natures and the same object of meditation, namely the desire to attain Krsna. These splendid beauties of Vrndavana prayed only for Krsna supreme friendship. With great yearning they looked in the direction of the flute and embraced each other due to the sudden de­rangement of their minds. Overwhelmed with ecstasy, they uttered some sweet words to describe the transcendental qualities of Krsna. In this way, the Vraja gopis passed the day glorifying their beloved with poetic com­positions.

The leaders of each group of gopis spoke two verses of praise. But they felt apprehensive about revealing their inner moods before the common people. To avoid explicitly explaining their intimate pastimes with Krsna, they spoke in a hidden but humorous way.

One gopi said, "How can I properly describe the fortune of one having eyes. To see Krsna's pastimes in Vrndavana is the ultimate limit of vision. Wandering in Vrndavana, Krsna pierces the hearts of everyone with His restless sidelong glances. Those who see Krsna like this feel their bliss rise to the zenith. The sound of His flute makes the whole world impa­tient. Those who have seen the inexhaustible beauty of Krsna and Balarama tending Their cows are the most fortunate people in the world. But alas! We have been deprived of this good fortune.

"Beautiful peacock feathers caress Their crowns and garlands swing from Their necks to ornament Their elegant forms. Radiant tilaka made from various colored mineral powders graces Their foreheads. Bouquets of small creepers and flowers ornament Their bodies. Thus Krsna and Balarama please the eyes of everyone with their charming beauty as They enter Vrndavana just like dramatic actors walking onto a stage."

A second sakhi said, "A person is considered fortunate even if he can see Krsna's lotus face from a distance. One is even more fortunate if he can kiss Him with the comers of his eyes. Hey sakhi with a sweet face! That person, however, who drinks the nectar of His lips after He plays the flute is very fortunate. Hey murali! I am not lying. You hold a special position. When Syamasundara kisses you, you become overwhelmed and beautified by the touch of His teeth, glimmering white like the rays of the moon. You echo the pleasant sounds of His young lovers at the time of union and thus drive the world mad. Krsna's brightly shining teeth are so beautiful that they look like ripe pomegranate seeds sitting in the middle of a lotus flower or precious rubies embedded in the full moon. Of course, theses things are impossible, therefore, nothing can compare with the beauty of Krsna's teeth."

Another sakhi said, "The murali is acting very boldly because he is tast­ing the lips of Krsna, which are dear to His paramours and meant only for thegopis' enjoyment. But the murali must be very fortunate, because even without endeavoring he has easily obtained this rarest jewel. Before His evening bath Krsna kisses His flute and imbibes a sweet rasa. The union of Krsna and His flute produces a nectar that makes the Yamuna ecstatic, turn solid, and burst forth with blossoming lotuses. Feeling proud of their son the flute, the bamboo trees along her bank shed tears of love in the form of honey dripping down their trunks."

Another gopi, desiring eternal association with Krsna yet fearing im­pending separation, said, "The fortunate earth holds a position higher than Brahmaloka. She is supremely worshipable because Krsna marks her with His splendid footprints like an independent lover drawing de­signs on the breasts of His beloved. The endless flow of nectar from Krsna's flute has transformed the heart of mother earth. As one in ecstasy experi­ences erect bodily hairs and thrill-bumps, similarly, the grasses covering the earth stand straight up in shoots. The glories of Vrndavana are far beyond the comprehension of a person like me. Here the peacocks, feel­ing joyful at heart, begin gently dancing when they hear the sweet sound of Murari's murali. Stunned by that sound, the soft leaves of the creepers blowing in the wind become motionless."

Another gopi group leader, longing to see Krsna, said, "0 sakhi! The deer and doe must have performed severe penances and austerities in order to always hear Krsna's melodious flute and see His gorgeous face with their large innocent eyes. Now we can appreciate the extent of their fortune. Hey sakhi! Aho, look! Even the female parrots are more fortu­nate than we are. Without any fear or inhibition they enjoy the lotus face of Krsna, which sends forth the nectarean sound of His flute, along with their husbands. Hence they have achieved the highest perfection of the eyes.

"The wives of the demigods and their husbands, who are deeply at­tached to them, are very fortunate because they have already developed love for Krsna. Therefore, they are always attracted to the captivating form of Krsna, and feel extremely impatient upon hearing His enchant­ing flute. Losing all composure, the demigoddesses become unsteady. And even while flying in the sky their hair braids loosen and the knots of their waistcloths slacken. In this agitated condition of love, they forget to drop soothing flowers, and shower Krsna with tears of love instead.

"When the cows hear Krsna's flute they cock their ears in rapt attention and close their eyes in bliss. The sound of Krsna's flute enters their ears like a constant flow of nectar. In such a state the cows appear like statues painted on a canvas. As the cows become inert from the captivating sound their teeth look very beautiful with the half-chewed sprouts hanging out of their mouths. While holding their mothers' udders the calves neither suck milk, nor let go, or swallow the milk already in their mouths. The pleasing sound of Krsna's flute steals the minds of the cows and fills them with satisfaction. At that time mother earth happily drinks the milk auto­matically streaming from the cow's udders."

"Hey sakhi! Abandoning their usual flighty nature, the birds of Vrndavana listen attentively to the sweet sound of Krsna's flute while relishing the beauty of His transcendental form. With their eyes closed in meditation on the music, they look just like sages steeped in bliss. Hey sakhi! They have stopped flying, singing, and eating. Becoming fully ab­sorbed in tasting the pleasant sound of Krsna's flute, the birds have fluffed out their feathers due to ecstatic feelings of devotion.

"Listening to the sweet sound of the murali, the Yamuna and other riv­ers are intensely agitated and spinning in whirlpools. It seems they have been struck by Cupid's arrows and affected by a type of epilepsy. The swans and cakravakas rolling in the waves of the river look like the disar­rayed clothing of the river. The sandy banks look like the unclothed hips of the river. The bubbles on the surface seem like foam forming on the mouth of the river.

"Hey sakhi! The rivers, shivered in ecstasy from hearing Krsna's flute, are holding lotus flowers in the hands of their waves to offer Himpuspanjali. In the mood of His lovers, the rivers respectfully offer cool water to hap­pily bathe Krsna's feet, and remove the heat of walking on the burning earth of summer. The clouds, acting like friendly sakhis, cool down the hot air by pouring tiny drops of water upon His head.

Observing that every living entity was nicely serving Krsna except her­self, one sad gopi said, "Even the cloud, which is an unconscious entity, can show his affection by moving here and there to act as an umbrella shielding Krsna from the scorching rays of the sun. When Krsna plays His flute, the clouds remove the fatigue of cow herding by pouring tiny streams of water from all directions, which seem like a shower of camphor dust. Just see, only we have been cheated from tasting the sweetness of serving Krsna, which is being relished by everyone in the universe."

Then the best of the gopis, thinking like this and feeling an arousal of enchanting love at the same time, said, "Just see the fortune of the Pulindas (aborigine women). They thoroughly enjoy smearing their faces and breasts with the kunkuma fallen onto the grass from Krsna's feet that once adorned the breasts of His dearest sakhi. To relish Krsna's sweetness is the object of everyone's desire. Though the Pulindas are mere aborigines, we can­not say that they do not deserve such fortune. It is quite proper that the 'ulinda women have genuine attachment to Krsna. Such signs of greed indicate the extent of one's real attachment to Krsna. Though one feels totally unqualified for such attainment, the greed for Krsna remains."

While speaking of the Pulindas, that gopi remembered the fortune of Govardhana Hill, and revealed to a friend Her intense desire to meet Krsna. She said, "This Govardhana Hill enhances Madhava's pastimes by supplying roots, fruits, water, mineral colors, and caves to hide in. In this way Govardhana is the best servitor of the Lord. It is known that by serv­ing a great devotee one can attain Visnu. By his selfless service Govardhana has brought Krsna under his control."

Then that chief among the gopis indicated Her desire to meet Krsna by speaking to a friend. "0 sakhi! It is our opinion that Krsna fulfills the desires and relieves the thirst of those who take shelter of Govardhana Hill. This fact is also supported by sastric evidence."

The unmarried gopis headed by Dhanya-sakhi showed their great for­tune by manifesting their ongoing strong attachment to Krsna. The as­tonishing power of their yearning for Krsna revealed itself in newer and newer ways. But this secret longing for Krsna created a sense of bewilder­ment in their minds. Even experts in loving affairs cannot understand the intensity of the gopis' desire. Just hearing the flute song of Krsna para­lyzed their senses, hands, and feet. The unpredictable nature of prema put them in this embarrassing position.

Overwhelmed in love for Krsna, they embraced each other and spoke as follows, "0 sakhi! The sound of Krsna's flute is a powerful yogi trans­forming the nature of reality with his mantra. It makes the conscious be­come unconscious and gives life to the lifeless. 0 sakhi! Look! All the aquatics, birds, and deer remain stunned like statues. The trees, earth, and mountains melt into liquid and the hairs on their bodies stand erect."

Seeing the flute's ability to drastically alter the state of other moving and nonmoving entities, the gopis worried about upholding their vows.

The gopis said, "Can any young woman possibly stop the low sound of that resonating flute which the enemy of Kaliya started playing upon at­taining youth? It is so terrible that it brings about a state of death like that induced by drinking poison. Rather than stopping it, we simply be­come play things in the hands of that flute. That flute sound is the blem­ish on our family. But if we cannot hear it, then we die in the pain of separation.

"Agonized by this painful separation, we absorb our minds in remem­bering the prince of Vrndavana, the Lord of our hearts. His fickle mind is always agitated by lust. So everyday He proudly displays the attracting power of His flute song and enjoys a festival beneath the trees ot Vrndavana. But still the residents of Vrndavana always offer Him the greatest respect. With the sweetness of His bodily effulgence He pleases all living entities and satisfies the world

"When will we smell Krsna's sweet lotus face framed by the thick, glossy locks of His dark blue hair? His eyebrows dance on His broad forehead and His nose is beautifully raised. When an object falls into an ocean of sweetness, it also manifests sweetness. Similarly, the yellow rope draped attractively on His turban, which Murari uses for tying cows, has become joyful by contacting His blissful form.

"Moreover, the young gopis, who worship the tambula scented lips of Krsna that are bordered by His cheeks, are supremely fortunate. His danc­ing makara kundala (earrings), studded with jewels and flowers, cast re­flections on His cheeks like sparkling bubbles of water. What woman does not desire to embrace the broad chest of Krsna, which is adorned with a forest garland, the marks of Laksmi and Srivatsa, and brilliant jewels and pearl necklaces?

"Whose lake of the heart would not become agitated by His two arms, which hang at His sides like the trunks of a pair of intoxicated baby el­ephants, desiring to snatch the nectar beauty of His knees? Within our hearts we hold His waist which is surrounded by three graceful folds of skin. Although measuring only the size of a fist, Krsna's thin waist is ex­ceedingly powerful and makes us very weak.

"The line of hairs extending from His navel to His broad chest resembles a row of beautiful kalpa-taru trees. They look like the fine hairs on the back of a bumblebee, or a black snake that bites our chest when we tightly embrace Him. His elegant feet, marked with a lotus, goad, and thunder­bolt defeat the beauty of red lotus flowers. His toes sparkle from the effulgence of His jeweled inlaid anklets. When will those feet be the or­nament on our breasts?"

Thus, Dhanya-sakhi and other beautiful young gopis disclosed their in­tense craving to meet Krsna. Since maha-prema had arisen within them, they manifested so much longing that their throats choked up from the life airs rushing out of their bodies. Tossed by the insurmountable waves of desire to meet Krsna, they spent the days of autumn in great difficulty. In this way, the winter season quickly arrived and the gopis began to wor­ship Katyayani.

Dhanya-sakhi and other Vraja kumaris (virgins) came to the banks of the Yamuna to worship Goddess Uma (Katyayani) during the first month of the winter season known as Margasirsa. At this time, the ripened rice paddy in the fields displayed a mixed color of red and brown. Bent in humility, the rice paddy expressed its desire to drink the water made fra­grant from the white lilies blooming nearby. The newly sprouted barley spread a red and brown color across the fields. The growth of anise and inches of coriander sweetened the earth. Spinach bloomed in household gardens. Fields abundant with sugar cane spread in all directions.

The first month of winter displayed immense splendor with its wealth of agricultural products. The Vraja kumaris like Dhanya-sakhi, who pos­sessed unlimited affection for Krsna, played the part of sadhakas seeking to perfect the purity of their love for Krsna. Taking the vow, "May the virtuous son of Nanda Maharaja become our husband," they secretly wor­shiped goddess Katyayani in order to attain Krsna.

Gopala Champu

35] Finding no other alternative, Kṛṣṇa, though fearing the glances of eyes, like being beaten with a stick, when the gopīs did not accept to be controlled, began playing his flute to control them.

[36] It will be said in this regard by the gopīs, “O pious mother Yaśodā, your son, who is expert in all the arts of herding cows, has invented many new styles of flute-playing.” (SB 10.35.14)

[37] First, with absorption, he played tunes on the flute in the company of Balarāma.

[38] When he would herd the cows in the forest potent with love, he would astonish his friends who were beyond material conception by joyfully playing his flute daily, displaying the highest excellence, along with Balarāma, who was decorated with most attractive qualities.

[39] The gopīs then had a full experience of Kṛṣṇa’s sphūrti.

[40] This occurred regularly since the nature of prema is that the sought object becomes its target from far off.

The logicians class arthāpatti (inference from circumstance) as part of inference. Thus one can easily infer that all the women were Kṛṣṇa’s lovers. ||39||

[41] The gopīs, whose hearts were inundated with prema, dried up because of suffering to attain Kṛṣṇa, but they did not pay attention to their suffering.

[42] There were Rādhā’s sakhīs like Viśākhā and Lalitā (also called Anurādhā) and Candrāvalī’s sakhīs like Śaibya and Padmā. Among them, they revealed their desires confidentially, expressing their fixed love. Though he was covered somewhat by association with Balarāma, they began describing Kṛṣṇa with incomplete words.

[43] Their song:

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, dressing up, sang skillfully with their friends.

They covered their pure heads with the best buds from the mango tree, which had been nourished by its sap. They were at the stage of new youth, expressed through the new buds. They had a strong desire for action.

They had lovely peacock feathers in their hair, along with gems. They appeared to be wearing a small portion of a cloud accompanied by constellations and a rainbow.

Their ears were wonderfully ornamented with fresh blue lotuses. The boys showed eagerness for the bees which asked, “What creeper is that?”

Twirling lotuses in their hands they displayed the highest attractiveness, attracting the bees with a pleasant shower of sweetness.

Their strong bodies were worshiped by the fragrance of their garlands, surrounded by the bees. They had an extraordinary dress in the form of the loud humming of bees.

One was white with blue cloth and the other was blue with yellow cloth. When they bring the cows to Gokula our distress will disappear. ||40||

[44] All became absorbed in Kṛṣṇa as he approached Gokula: “Ah! When we see the two brothers enter Vraja with their friends and cows, our eyes reach perfection. The younger brother has a lotus face, shining with a flute, with eyes which are the essence of all arts.” ||41||

[45] This is suggested:

When he goes about, frolicking and singing with his friends and the cows, his eyes with restless pupils, moving like pearls on a necklace, pierce our hearts. ||42||

Thus the eyes of a noble woman who is enchanted by the flute player who gives her bliss have reached perfection. ||43||

[46] Overcoming shyness to some extent to reveal his desire when he noticed the gopīs’ affection and having great intelligence corresponding to the strength of his pleasurable awareness of their feelings, while glancing at Balarāma, he then began improvising on his flute with amazing skill, increasing the beauty of the music at every moment, on the pretext of playing for only Balarāma. All the gopīs at once became enchanted.

[47] The women of Vraja, shy to reveal their love, describe Kṛṣṇa while indicating Balarāma.

Holding their sticks and ropes, wandering in various forests to herd the cows while playing their flutes, making the mountains move and the water motionless, they make lifeless entities manifest opposite qualities. ||44||

[48] The following is suggested:

Of the two who destroy everyone’s dharma, Kṛṣṇa completely uproots our sense of dharma. ||45||

[49] Thinking that by playing songs in this way everyone would become bewildered, Kṛṣṇa then considered:

[50] I desire that all of them will become bewildered and attracted, and especially Rādhā, just as the brāhmaṇa is special among the jīvas. I will endeavor to play the flute so that gradually bewilderment, attachment, or both will appear. This will occur by the appearance of the essence of notes most desired by the sense objects.

[51] Considering this, in order to carry out a test, he began bringing under control all animals. But he only managed to agitate the hearts of the gopīs (not control them.)

[52] First the cows reacted on hearing the flute.

Kṛṣṇa’s face showered nectar through the song of his flute and the cows drank it by their ears which served as their tongues. And their tongues became stunned, not able to taste grass: “Is this nectar? Can it not be tasted? To what can it be compared? What is the purpose of the nectar?” ||46||

[53] This is suggested:

On hearing the flute we and the cows attained the same state, but there is some difference. The cows at every moment gaze at his moon-like face but we do not know in which yuga we will gaze upon his face. ||47||

[54] On another day, playing another tune, he attracted and enchanted the other animals.

The animals and birds became so enchanted by the sound of the flute that it seemed as if they had been caged. ||48||

[55] This affected the gopīs.

Vṛndāvana broadcast the glories of the earth, for here Kṛṣṇa personally played while marking the land with his lotus feet. By the sound of his flute the peacocks danced and the wild animals became civilized. Vṛndāvana had become a dancing arena. ||49||

[56] This is suggested:

We do not have the capacity to attain the good fortune of Vṛndāvana. We worship the peacocks because of their good fortune at every moment. The domestic animals in the house are worthy of worship. We are more condemned than the animals since they can freely see Kṛṣṇa, whereas we cannot even see his shadow. ||50||

[57] Apart from the domestic animals, on another day the deer became controlled by his flute. The gopīs described this in a similar manner:

How amazing! The does gather with the bucks and though of low intelligence, surpass you in their worship. Hearing the flute, they go towards Kṛṣṇa, and, stunned by his beauty, worship him with the corners of their eyes with great love. ||51||

[58] This also is suggested:

We who are women by birth are respected by the respectable. Our husbands live in Vraja famous for love of Kṛṣṇa. But the does are not like us. They go with their husbands towards Kṛṣṇa. We are so sinful! We cannot be equal to the does. ||52||

[59] On another day, the birds became transformed. This was described by the gopīs.

We know for certain the birds in this forest are sages and Kṛṣṇa is their guru. It cannot be otherwise. He has done this astonishing thing. They are all absorbed in listening, maintaining a vow of silence. ||53||

[60] They also suggested this despondently:

Since he and they are dwelling here as sages, it is not proper that our desires can be fulfilled. ||54||

[61] On another day the devatā women became enchanted. The gopīs described this:

When his flute attracted all the divine airplanes, on encountering the attractive skill of his flute with playful form, the devatā women became enchanted. “What is this that I hear and see everywhere?” They were not aware whether their ornaments and hair had fallen askew or not. ||55||

[62] This is suggested:

The devatā women have so easily attained this state. But what is our state, the state of depraved women of Vraja? ||56||

[63] Thus living beings lost consciousness and inanimate things became conscious. Surpassing mountains in their motionless state, though they were superior to inanimate objects, the gopīs were difficult to attract.

[64] The gopīs considered the nature of the river.

Hearing the flute, the river stopped, overcome with bewilderment. Its waves swelled, the water trembled, and shouted through the calls of swans. It became insane. It approached Kṛṣṇa in the distance and with its waves as hands, offered lotuses to his lotus feet. ||57||

[65] This is suggested:

The rivers, wives of the ocean, quickly go to meet him, overcoming the rules. We are not so fortunate. The rivers have easily accrued pious credits. We cannot compare to them at all. We must become detached from happiness and distress. ||58||

[66] On another day they described the clouds:

The clouds are not only his friend because of their similar color, but they are also beneficial to all beings. Kṛṣṇa nourished the cloud by the mallāra-rāga on his flute, and the cloud relieves him of the heat by placing its shadow over him. ||59||

[67] This is suggested:

Though the clouds are inanimate and are floating above everyone, because they have prema within, they serve Kṛṣṇa by their water and shade. We are unfortunate. We surrender to him, accept him as the protection of our lives and give him all respect. But without service to him our lives are useless. ||60||

[68] Ah! Even the pile of rocks, the mountain, has attained happiness:

Govardhana is clearly the best servant of Kṛṣṇa, for when he climbs the mountain with Balarāma while playing the flute, it serves him along with the cows and his friends continuously with elegant shoots sprouting by the touch of his lotus feet and by the waterfalls. ||61||

Not only do the hairs of Govardhana stand on end. Please listen to something else astonishing. If you do not believe it, look at another mountain. Becoming most affectionate for Kṛṣṇa, on hearing the sound of the flute, it becomes smooth so that at every moment it can witness the main markings on his feet. ||62||

[69] This is hinted:

If one desires to attain the feet of great souls by impudence, one will develop respect for them by good fortune. ||63||

[70] Thinking of the gopīs’ mood in not attaining Kṛṣṇa and identifying with their insane condition, with agitated heart and compassion, Madhukaṇṭha, with choked throat, covered his face with his cloth and began weeping profusely, making his grief visible to all. He then recited an unrestrained poem written by Rādhā.

The flute has good fortune because, being a male, giving up all shyness that the gopīs have, it continually touches Kṛṣṇa’s lips and makes sounds. Because of that sound, which emanates from his lips with joy, the rivers swell. And the bamboos on its bank shed tears in the form of honey. ||64||

[71] This is hinted:

I pray for the body of a bamboo flute, not the body of a respectable woman. Kṛṣṇa, attracted with eagerness, with great affection, will play the flute. This experience is impossible in any other body. As a flute, with the ebbing of consciousness, I will forget who I am. But Kṛṣṇa will know that I have become a piece of wood because of my suffering in separation. ||65||

[72] Then Rādhā thought to herself:

O makara earring! You kiss his cheek. Flute! You taste his mouth. O garland! You embrace all his limbs. That is proper for you. You are beyond fault. Ah! I am deprived of this desired object by criticism which considers rules. ||66||

Flowers, pearls and diamonds do not leave his chest. What are we women, controlled by passion in comparison to them? ||67||

If Śyāma did not associate with others, I would not be disturbed. Without fear, he embraces his friends. How can I tolerate it? ||68||

[73] When the song of Kṛṣṇa’s flute spread out with a heart-touching rāga, an indescribable confusion subdued the inhabitants of Vraja and produced obstacles (increase in desire).

[74] This will be the subject tomorrow. Folding his hands he said, “O Rādhā! No one can know the endeavor that your lover makes for you since it is internal.” ||69||

[75] When the lengthy topic was completed, all returned to their houses.

[1]A sphūrti is a temporary appearance of the form of the Lord though he is actually present somewhere else.