Gopal Champu

Chapter Twenty - Astonishment at Seeing Varuṇa’s Planet and Seeing Goloka

[1] In the morning recital, Snigdhakaṇṭha began speaking.

Ekādasī, the eleventh lunar day, was mentioned.[1] Nanda joyfully observed this vow which fulfilled all desires every fortnight with dedication.

[2] Knowing that only a small portion of the Dvādaśī remained for breaking the fast, he entered the Yamunā to bathe before the Dvādaśī ended, according to a specific rule.

Having entered the water he fearlessly bathed. He began to meditate on Nārāyaṇa, praised in the Vedas. From his birth he had full faith in Nārāyaṇa. Because he attained Kṛṣṇa as his son by that worship, he was even more inclined to worship him.

Absorbed in meditation he entered samādhi. At that time the servants of Varuṇa who were roaming everywhere suddenly approached and took Nanda to the abode of their master. Varuṇa had produced this splendid abode by his power to obstruct water. It was situated at the bottom of a pool in the Yamunā, within a cavern in the earth. Wise persons could never imagine that the father of Kṛṣṇa could be brought there. Nanda always thought that by his good fortune Kṛṣṇa had been born as his son. “We see Kṛṣṇa’s excellence which bestows the bliss of prema, bringing him greater and greater respect.” By the influence of Yogamāyā, the assistant in his pastimes, situations like the arrival of Pūtanā, had arisen to make him think in this way.

[3] When the servants brought Nanda, dressed in clothing suitable for vows, in front of Varuṇa, Varuṇa recognized him by his tulasī and lotus garland and understood that he had been meditating on Nārāyaṇa. Extremely frightened, he respectfully put him on an excellent bed furnished with celestial cloth.

[4] Understanding that Kṛṣṇa would not tolerate Nanda being taken away and would come there, Varuṇa waited at the entrance of his abode in order to see him approaching from afar.

[5] What happened in Vraja should be described.

[6] When Nanda, the protector of Kṛṣṇa, disappeared from the view of the people whose wealth was dependent on him, they ran in all directions with fear and dove in the water, but not finding him, they returned to the shore. Arriving at the shore, they returned to Vraja while wailing in grief and saw Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and others who lamented in front of them.

[7] On hearing that most lamentable news, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s minds sprang into action. They passed all others and moving quickly on the earth with zeal, arrived at the place on the river. Kṛṣṇa embraced his brother and, with tears in his eyes, spoke to him: “O brother! Keep mother free of lamentation and protect the others. Protect them as long as I cannot make them happy by bringing father back. When mother comes here, I will not have completed bringing father here.”

[8] Speaking in this way, he went to bring back Nanda. Though a lion expands his body on destroying his enemy, Kṛṣṇa put the lion to shame. Gathering up his lower cloth, he disappeared in the Yamunā into a deep hole.

[9] The moment Yaśodā and the others arrived and saw Balarāma alone, they looked for Kṛṣṇa and asked, “Where has your younger brother gone?”

[10] Seeing that Yaśodā was full of grief, he spoke: “O mother! Do not be grieved. He will now bring back Nanda and make everyone happy.”

[11] He said to Rohiṇī, “Ah! Why are you beating me? Please trust me and help keep Yaśodā alive, since she is barely alive.”

[12] As in the case of the Kāliya incident, the elders, considering that Balarāma’s words would cause her recovery, made her relax.

However, the people began to consider, “Is this a dream or are we awake? Have we fainted or are we insane?” They lost their intelligence completely. With agitated hearts, all they said aloud however was, “O Yaśodā! Ah! Oh! O Kṛṣṇa! Where are you?” ||1||

While four women held up Yaśodā, her heart began to burn. They could understand she was alive because she still breathed, but all she said was, “Ah! Ah!” ||2||

[13] Kṛṣṇa, dear to the gopīs, entered the hole within the water and approached the abode of Varuṇa. Please understand the condition of Kṛṣṇa in that situation.

[14] When Nanda arrived at Varuṇa’s abode, Varuṇa recognized him, and quickly went to meet him.

Though Kṛṣṇa’s body was black, it appeared red out of anger. Though his eyes destroyed darkness, because of their intense gaze, they were difficult to behold. His quality of softness became ferocious because of anger. His voice was like the rumbling of thunder in a cloud at the time of final devastation. This astonished all people. ||3||

[15] Going to Varuṇa’s abode, similar to a hole, Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of prosperity in Nanda’s dynasty, displayed boldness towards Varuṇa, thinking, “Where is that Varuṇa?” When Kṛṣṇa had increased his powers with a desire to attack him, Varuṇa, with his cloth covering his throat, touched his forehead to the earth. In great fear the protector of the water stood at some distance with folded hands and offered respects on the ground.

[16] Seeing Varuṇa’s pride crushed, his followers also offered respects on the ground.

[17] Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, dear to all, then desired to show mercy to Varuṇa and inquired from him. “Where is my worshipable father, the performer of the highest dharma?”

[18] Regaining his composure, Varuṇa spoke sweetly: “O highest lord! A person who resides where you stay, and resides nowhere else, attains the highest powers and becomes the foremost. I am one among your many servants. How can I follow your order?”

[19] Having given up his anger, Kṛṣṇa spoke with a peaceful heart: “Punishing these insignificant fellows will simply destroy the prowess of the punisher. Quickly show me the lotus feet of my father.”

[20] “O destroyer of suffering for the fallen souls! I will do as you say.”

[21-22] The lord of the water covered the path to where Nanda was, with the best cloth for Kṛṣṇa’s feet. He brought Kṛṣṇa, the chief among the best of the cowherds, to that place and said, “O Govinda, affectionate to your father! Please take your father. (SB 10.28.8) Your father is the object of my worship. I understand who he is. How can I treat him badly? How can he be defeated by any other person?”

[23] Kṛṣṇa freed Varuṇa from fear of being bound up by exerting his influence. Not seeing Kṛṣṇa with his eyes, but sensing him by his fragrance, Nanda regained consciousness to the astonishment of the assembled persons. The meditation on Nārāyaṇa which began with his bath in the Yamunā was now broken. ||4||

Opening his eyes he saw Kṛṣṇa. Immediately his eyes filled with tears. He though he was still dreaming because of his flow of tears. ||5||

[24] Kṛṣṇa touched his feet, raised him up and embraced him, “O father! I have come.” In this way he brought him to his senses.

25] Though they both were intensely emotional, fearing that they would be the joke of all-pervading Varuṇa’s followers, to control their hearts and dissipate their tears, Kṛṣṇa spoke, “O father, you have been confined here.”

[26] Nanda looked around. “Where are we?” He looked at the face of his son in astonishment.

[27] Kṛṣṇa said, “O father! Do not do anything else. Just as I have come here, we will return to Vraja. Get ready to put your lotus feet in that direction.”

[28] When they were about to leave, Varuṇa spoke with piteous words.

“O Kṛṣṇa! You are compassionate. Please either punish me or show me mercy. But do not let my offense remain. Offense will not cease without punishment or mercy.” ||6||

[29] As the two of them were leaving, they stood there for a moment. Varuṇa offered various gifts at their feet and paid his respects. He accompanied them to the edge of the hole. When they came to the hole, he made the water part for them. He gave to those assigned to take Kṛṣṇa and Nanda to Vraja, the best ornaments and cloth, and feeling momentary joy, returned to his abode dancing while thinking himself successful.

During this time the people of Vraja remained lifeless on the bank of the river. Waiting for Nanda and Kṛṣṇa to appear again, they had slight symptoms of life. But when they saw the two returning with Varuṇa’s servants, they fainted in bliss. ||7||

[30] Only Balarāma approached them and offered respects. Nanda, giving him great happiness, embraced him and, losing external awareness, remained stunned for a moment without speaking. As Balarāma offered repeated respects, Kṛṣṇa came so quickly that no one could see and he first brought his mother to consciousness by contact with his sweet touch. Then he revived the others.

When Nanda had arrived, they all approached Kṛṣṇa and Nanda, being aware of nothing else. But Nanda and Kṛṣṇa were aware of all of them, no matter what their status. ||8||

The roar of cows lowing, people chattering, flowers falling from heaven, along with music, dancing and recitation of verses rose up in competition with each other. Balarāma protected all the animals and directed everyone to suitable places in a sweet voice. ||9||

Balarāma made Nanda sit on a white cloth and arranged sitting places for all others. He then asked what happened to his brother who was sitting next to him. Hearing the narration of events, he then told this to the cowherd people. ||10||

[31] They invited the brāhmaṇas to come at their will and fed them sweet rice and gave them desirable gifts in profusion. Fearing profoundly that they would trespass the Dvādaśī they prayed that the vow could be completed without fault and made sure that they finished the vow with the words and blessings of the brāhmaṇas. Considering themselves successful, they then returned to Vraja.

[32] Walking along the path, Nanda looked effulgent between his two sons.

[33] The speaker, finishing his narration then spoke to Nanda:

“Where is the question of you being bound by Varuṇa? There is no fear, since your son has great power. When Varuṇa said, ‘O Govinda, affectionate to your father, please take your father, that was Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, caused by his great power.’ ||11-12||

[34] On another day when Kṛṣṇa was absent from the assembly, the cowherds inquired from Nanda about the wonderous events that took place at Varuṇa’s palace.

[35] Nanda profusely praised the great prosperity of Varuṇa, which was beyond human comprehension, “O friends! Hear the wonder.” He then described the great reverence that the inhabitants displayed for Kṛṣṇa.

[36] After Nanda’s description, they were all astonished in their hearts and they thought as follows on thinking that perhaps Kṛṣṇa was the Supreme Lord: “Even if it is true that he is the Lord because of his indestructible power of knowledge, he is the abode of great, natural affection and the giver of complete bliss. Because of this, our minds are always eager to see his excellent qualities which destroy all longing. Will he show us this excellence without restriction?”

[37] Recognizing all these people, both his relatives and others, as non-different from himself, he began to contemplate, attracted to them by his mercy and quickly falling under their control.

[38] “Ah! All these are my own people. They are now thinking of me as the Supreme Lord and desire to experience my greatness which cannot be fully experienced. But they cannot experience this, since they become astonished only by the powers of Varuṇa. They cannot realize my real greatness, since it is similar to what they have already known. They have lost their discrimination and thus consider their and my appearance in this world to be a mundane appearance —which gives destinations for the jīvas through their ignorance, lust and karma.”

iti nandādayo gopāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāma-kathāṁ mudā |

kurvanto ramamāṇāś ca nāvindan bhava-vedanām ||

In this way all the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, enjoyed topics about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with great transcendental pleasure and they could not even perceive material tribulations. SB 10.11.58

kṛṣṇe ’rpitātma-suhṛd-artha-kalatra-kāmāḥ

They had offered Kṛṣṇa everything–their very selves, their families, their wealth, wives and all pleasures. SB 10.16.10

kṛṣṇe kamala-patrākṣe sannyastākhila-rādhasaḥ

Those cowherds had dedicated everything to lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa. SB 10.65.6

[39] eṣāṁ ghoṣa-nivāsinām uta bhavān kiṁ devarāteti naś

ceto viśva-phalāt phalaṁ tvad-aparaṁ kutrāpy ayan muhyati |

sad-veṣād iva pūtanāpi sa-kulā tvām eva devāpitā

yad-dhāmārtha-suhṛt-priyātma-tanaya-prāṇāśayās tvat-kṛte ||

My mind becomes bewildered just trying to think of what reward other than you could be found anywhere. You are the embodiment of all benedictions, which you bestow upon these residents of the cowherd community of Vṛndāvana. You have already arranged to give yourself to Pūtanā and her family members in exchange for her disguising herself as a devotee. So what is left for you to give these devotees of Vṛndāvana, whose homes, wealth, friends, dear relations, bodies, children and very lives and hearts are all dedicated only to you? SB 10.14.35

Thus, they have great prema which controls me. When their minds become stunned in separation from me, it is not because of ignorance. I can never consider that their prema is similar to the prema of others. Caring for me in many ways, they have developed desire arising from bewilderment, which is actually prema for me.

[40] From the beginning I have been bound by the obligation to them though I do not give the opportunity to become obligated to other devotees. I am a debtor to them and they are creditors to me. When they give everything to me, their condition is my condition. My supreme power is obedience to them. It is not possible to surpass them.

[41] Nanda, who was astonished on seeing the powers of Varuṇa, is a cause of sorrow for me, for I can never become absorbed in prema for him and others as much as they are absorbed in prema for me. Thinking about this subject, I will now make them realize their own greatness through an experience of Yogamāyā filled with auspicious meditation.

[42] After thinking in this way, on another day, Nanda and the cowherds were present in the assembly with brāhmaṇas at the city gate, as recounted in the Varāha Purāṇa. They thought that if they bathed on the full moon of Kārtika month in Brahma-hrada, which gave blessings to Akrūra, they would quickly receive full results for their desires. Thinking this action to be the best, they went to Brahma-hrada with their cowherd relatives in the early morning.

[43] Kṛṣṇa went along with them and submerged himself in the river and then went to the bank. He then showed them Goloka, full of eternity, knowledge and bliss, endowed with form, taste, fragrance, touch and sound by its spiritual nature, and which is not revealed even to ātmārāmas, since it is covered by the Lord’s energy so that no one can see it.

[44] That place is called Brahmaloka, a planet with the human form of the Supreme Brahman, visible by withdrawing the curtain, as if revealing a wonderful picture.

[45] They saw that Kṛṣṇa, the tilaka of their family, was sitting among cowherds similar to themselves. The Vedas personified were singing praises of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes starting from his birth. This confirmed the powers of Kṛṣṇa to the cowherds. Seeing Kṛṣṇa with his people in Brahmaloka, the inhabitants of Vraja gave up lamentation and felt increasing happiness because of bliss mixed with astonishment.

[46] Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of the demons, then separated the people of Vraja from Goloka in order to complete his pastimes of afflicting the demons on earth.

[47] The speaker concluded as follows.

“O Nanda! You have given birth to a son who conquered the planet of Varuṇa and showed you and your people this planet. I offer respects to Kṛṣṇa who revealed Goloka and showed that the cowherds reside within Goloka and Goloka takes shelter of them.” ||13-14||

[48] After revealing the events in the morning, the evening events were related. Snigdhakaṇṭha began speaking.

When Kṛṣṇa went to the planet of Varuṇa with his father, it is false to say that Rādhā and other gopīs remained here. What should I say? An inanimate object experiences nothing and a conscious being experiences joy and sorrow and cannot attain a state of void. ||15||

When Kṛṣṇa went to retrieve his father, Rādhā’s life went with Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa returned, Rādhā’s life suddenly returned. This situation has been skillfully described by the poets. ||16||

When Kṛṣṇa returned from Varuṇa’s planet, the wise, affectionate Paurṇamāsī observed Rādhā coming with Kṛṣṇa. In the evening, she made known to the couple the longing within the other, and expressed in words in front of them the other’s inner feelings. ||17||

[49] The longing fixed in Rādhā:

O creator! If you bring me to other people without service to Kṛṣṇa, then at least give me a method so that I can be happy seeing the beauty of his face, so that I will not suffer because of separation from him. ||18||

[50] The longing fixed in Kṛṣṇa:

I delivered my worshipable father from Varuṇa’s planet and made everyone happy. Ah! Out of sorrow for me, has not Rādhā withered away with choked voice? ||19||

[51] The meaning of this statement is that she does wither away with her broken cries.

[52] Paurṇamāsī described Rādhā’s emotions to Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s emotions to Rādhā in private and particularly scolded him:

“O Mādhava! What resides in your heart other than anurāga? This gives you joy but it is certainly because of this that golden Rādhā has become white.” ||20||

[53] Determining that Kṛṣṇa’s body had become liquid because of affection, she then said with a laugh, “O Mādhava! You are full of good qualities by which you attract Rādhā from far away. Rādhā is full of affection, by which even while residing in her house she melts your heart.” ||21||

[54] Madhukaṇṭha said, “Who is this old woman? You have previously said that it is not possible for other people to enter their pastimes.”

[55] Snigdhakaṇṭha said with a smile, “Paurṇamāsī enters there in various dresses.”

[56] From that time Kṛṣṇa began playing attractive songs on his flute every day at midnight. That is not a lie. The women waited for this. He, or someone, is the archer who destroys their dharma with his arrows. ||22||

When Kṛṣṇa made a sudden appearance as sphūrti everywhere–while she was in the house, while she was sleeping, churning the yogurt, standing amongst people, or was in the water or the forest, Rādhā’s pain simply increased because of not attaining him. She became depressed on not being able to see or touch him. ||23||

[57] To conclude he said, “O Rādhā with youthful limbs! You have a lover (kānti) by whose desire you have become his supreme object. The word kānti means beauty and desire.” ||24||

[1] In the previous chapter Surabhī and Indra worshiped Kṛṣṇa on Ekādasī, the eleventh lunar day.