Gopala-campu

Gopal Champu

Chapter Four - Entering Mathurā

[1] Madhukaṇṭha spoke at the morning recitation arranged by Nanda with Kṛṣṇa present.

[2] Clothed in the gaze of Nanda which gave joy, Kṛṣṇa, in anxiety on thinking of his mother, who was trying to prevent the journey, walked a quarter of a krośa and then asked his attendants for the best food to get relief from fatigue, in order to make his mother think of other things.

[3] While Kṛṣṇa reached the edge of Vraja, Yaśodā entered her house to concentrate on preparing the food. In passing the time in this way, her suffering dissipated.

[4] While Yaśodā and others made their carts move, Akrūra, going swiftly on a crooked route with his chariot, came to a holy place on the Yamunā named Brahma-hrada. He thought that if he went on a straight path the residents would bring the two boys back. He had to keep the boys out of sight. The residents, of simple mind, not understanding the crooked route, went south, heading in the direction of Mathurā.

[5] When Akrūra was performing his noon rituals in the Brahma-hrada, he saw the astonishing powers of the Lord which destroy saṁsāra. This impeded his impetuous speed. The people of Vraja wondered why he was delayed and remained for a long time on the road.

After Akrūra went into the water alone, hear in summary what Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma did after obtaining news. Who will doubt the majesty of Mathurā or the sweetness of Vraja? Remembering this, my throat becomes choked with tears. ||1||

[6] Seeing the chariot with Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma after a long time, Nanda and the others became joyful. Sitting there for a short time and instructing one another and strengthening the advice, depending on the assistance of fate, the cowherds then went to the city.

[7] Who can describe the great fortune of travelers going to the places that Kṛṣṇa visited at that time?

[8] People coming to or going from a distant city, on suddenly seeing Kṛṣṇa’s lotus face, forgot what to do with their eyes and bodies. ||2||

Entering the city he first came to the place called Devī-khara. To the south lived donkeys (khara) and thus the place was named Khara-vāsa. Even today people going south on parikrama of Mathurā, keeping Devī to the south, become filled with bliss. ||3-4||

[9] Hearing about the attractive groves which increase all happiness, Kṛṣṇa alighted from the chariot and released the carts from the line, spreading them through the area. When he met Akrūra, he in self-interest attempted to bring Kṛṣṇa to his house. Kṛṣṇa promised that he would come there some other time when convenient and then dismissed him.

Putting Balarāma in front, with a desire to protect the righteous, he then entered the colorful town surrounded by friends while attractive instruments sounded. The town he saw seemed to be looking at him.

[10] The gates of the town appeared to be mouths. Made of crystal, the gates seemed to smile. The lattice holes seemed to be thousands of eyes for the city. When those eyes fell upon the remarkable eyes of Kṛṣṇa they seemed to stop blinking. The paved grounds were like the city’s cranium. The jeweled walls covering many huge towers were the town’s forehead. The many high tops of the towers were like crowns giving joy to the eyes. The hundreds of hanging decorations in front of the gate were like ointments applied to the city. Quivering in the gentle breeze they seemed to show transformations of love on obtaining a glimpse of Kṛṣṇa. The two golden door panels crafted by skilled tradesmen, filled with effulgence, were like attractive teeth of the town. The opening in the door panels was like a gaping mouth, praising Kṛṣṇa’s beauty. The buildings at the crossroads made of gold and sapphires seemed to reveal the antaḥkaraṇa of the town with their effulgence. The rows of buildings were like crowds of people rejoicing on seeing Kṛṣṇa. The aviaries near the palace, made by the creator with astonishing heavenly gems, were like colorful ornaments decorating the town. These attractive houses near the palace filled with the cries of countless peacocks and pigeons were like the indistinct utterances of the town caused by their excitement. The silver walls were like attractive clothing on the town. With their many colors, they were like freshly washed silk. The many groves were like attendants for the houses. The fruits and flowers of the groves were like gifts held in the hands of the town.

[11] With banana trees bearing fruit, betel nut trees as well as pots full of water on every road, the town seemed to have its hairs standing on end. The water in the many canals with clean banks was like the ecstatic perspiration of the town.

[12] When Kṛṣṇa entered the town some devatās who had not seen his Vraja pastimes began describing this event.

[13] Look, look! All the young women, confined in their quarters, now tolerate suffering of the hot sun to see Kṛṣṇa. Though following a vow of silence, they are giving pain to their enemies who use rough words (by their use of sweet words praising Kṛṣṇa).

[14] On the road ahead, a black moon and a white moon are shining in an astonishing manner. High up, at front of the palace, lotuses are blooming. When the women see Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma who like to play in the forest they become amazed. ||5||

O friends! Mathurā now shines like the abode of sweetness by contact with Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness. These women quickly climbing to the rooftops appear to be moonlight. ||6||

Some of the women wear only one earring and some have mascara on only one eye. Some have lac on only one foot. Some have only one breast covered with cloth. Running towards Kṛṣṇa they do not think this strange. Hearing that he is coming, they all come at the same time. ||7||

Some without bathing their bodies, some without eating, giving up the desire to live, some giving up shame in the heart, some with upper and lower cloth exchanged, all with ornaments in the wrong place, came from the roads and houses to Kṛṣṇa. ||8||

Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, walking like the king of elephants, showed the prowess of a lion. The women’s minds were attracted by the form which gave bliss to Lakṣmī and became most blissful. ||9||

When he gazed at the famous attractive women, they became filled with bliss by the nectar of his glance. They were attracted by the qualities of his eyes. They did not know that Kṛṣṇa was distant because he became situated in their hearts with a beautiful form. ||10||

All the women, with trembling bodies and blissful faces, climbed to the top of the palace to see Kṛṣṇa. Sprinkling his path with flowers, they increased the joy of the devatās and devotees. ||11||

[15] After repeating the words of the devatās the reciter then spoke his own words.

All the brāhmaṇas, ignoring Kaṁsa, who was hard to conquer by devatās and sages, approached Kṛṣṇa with plates full of scented water, flowers, yogurt and rice, worshiped him and followed behind him. May those brāhmaṇas put their feet on my head. ||12||

The citizens all said, “The cowherds are most fortunate but our hearts are attracted to the great glory of the gopīs. They seek out his sweetness, not his greatness, with their minds and constantly see his festive form astonishing to all people.” ||13||

[16] When Kṛṣṇa was standing there, eager and curious, a dyer arrived on a village path along with his associates, herding thousands of braying donkeys.

[17] When the dyer arrived, Kṛṣṇa, who casually lifted Govardhana and destroyed the pride of demons, began to think, “This proud rascal, surrounded by his friends, causing distress to all, had dyed many clothes for the festival and is bringing the cloth back to the city. I will take these auspicious clothes for myself for entering the city. Greeting him I will make the dyer angry at my request. I will then use force, and offending him, will take all the cloth.”

[18] He then spoke aloud, with a slight mocking tone:

dehy āvayoḥ samucitāny aṅga vāsāṁsi cārhatoḥ |

bhaviṣyati paraṁ śreyo dātus te nātra saṁśayaḥ ||

Please give suitable garments to the two of us, who certainly deserve them. If you grant this charity, you will undoubtedly receive the greatest benefit. SB 10.41.33

[19] Though the dyer, his mind clouded by passion and ignorance, had heard of famous, generous Kṛṣṇa’s strength, he did not take notice. He considered that he by his own power was taking the clothing to Kaṁsa’s palace on the authority of Kaṁsa. Covered with ignorance, he did not see that Kṛṣṇa was dressed in cloth given by Ananta, Varuṇa and Indra. Showing his demonic nature, the dyer, not recognizing Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, mocked Kṛṣṇa in agitation:

īdṛśāny eva vāsāṁsi nityaṁ giri-vane-cara |

paridhatta kim udvṛttā rāja-dravyāṇy abhīpsatha ||

yātāśu bāliśā maivaṁ prārthyaṁ yadi jijīviṣā |

badhnanti ghnanti lumpanti dṛptaṁ rāja-kulāni vai ||

You impudent boys! You’re accustomed to roaming the mountains and forests, and yet you would dare put on such clothes as these! These are the King’s possessions you’re asking for! Fools, get out of here quickly! Don’t beg like this if you want to stay alive. When someone is too bold, the King’s men arrest him and kill him and take all his property. SB 10.41.35-36

[20] Kṛṣṇa, using his arms as swords, immediately cut down the laughing, condemned dyer filled with the mode of passion, who was like a lāva bird. ||14||

All the dyer’s friends fled away. The cloth lay on the ground before their eyes. They took all the cloth that was useful to them. ||15||

[21] Kṛṣṇa began strolling through the city, like the king of jungle elephants, along with Balarāma and his friends. He was the best among all those friends who were eternally beautiful. His cloth became more beautiful because of his personal beauty. Kṛṣṇa laughed as his friends said, “Take these thousands of pieces of clothing.” He separated the clothes and put on what was suitable. He was understood to be the crest jewel of persons who act without fear.

[22] When Kṛṣṇa played in this way, his friends laughed. Then one weaver with the best qualities made an outfit with ornaments and cloth, suitable for sporting as the best wrestler.

[23] This weaver did not come to Vraja for fear of Kaṁsa, but he had heard of the great happiness of Vraja from his companions who had gone there and returned. Thus he was anxious to see Kṛṣṇa.

[24] Then something astonishing happened, which no one had seen before. Kṛṣṇa gave him a form similar to his own. When Kṛṣṇa glanced at him, Kṛṣṇa’s beauty entered his body. He took a form like Kṛṣṇa’s and the form of Kṛṣṇa did not leave him. ||16-17||

[25] We praise this assumption of Kṛṣṇa’s qualities.

The oil bug, absorbed in the wasp, becomes a wasp. Will not a person absorbed in Kṛṣṇa quickly become like Kṛṣṇa? ||18||

I offer praise to that weaver, the chief among them, offer āratrika and put my head at his feet because he put the most splendid, colorful sewn cloth and ornaments on Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. ||19||

[26] A certain well-bred garland maker of Mathurā used to go to Vṛndāvana constantly for getting rare flowers. The fortunate man used to see Kṛṣṇa wearing rustic dress.

[27] On seeing Kṛṣṇa, he had become attracted and on the pretext of collecting flowers would go to where Kṛṣṇa played and offer the flowers he had picked as a gift to him. Not only that, his name was Sudāma, like that of Kṛṣṇa’s friend, the abode of happiness. Kṛṣṇa, beautiful as a cloud, accepted him as a friend. Suddenly thinking along with his friends that Sudāma must live in that place, Kṛṣṇa endowed with highest character, inquired from the residents of Mathurā and went to his house after giving the residents pleasure.

[28] The garland maker knew of Kṛṣṇa’s arrival. Thinking it was a fault to meet Kṛṣṇa empty-handed, he thought of making a garland from the softest flowers suitable for Kṛṣṇa. He waited in his house.

[29] Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, surrounded by a few friends who did not speak, came along with those attentive, praiseworthy friends who acted for their benefit, to where the garland maker had made the garland, like a secret treasure.

[30] When the two went there, their bodies emanated a most pleasant fragrance, endowed with the perfume of all flowers and power of attraction. Recognizing the fragrance, the garland maker came to external consciousness. The most fortunate Sudāma used to meditate on Kṛṣṇa as his only object of thought. He was attractive with shyness and humility. His hairs stood on end. Quickly he offered respects with his head and offered the two, excellent seats. Thinking himself most fortunate, he offered praise in a choked voice. Gaining the mercy and love of the brothers, respecting the two together with their friends, he decorated them with the attractive garlands and then stood some distance away.

[31] When he decorated them, a most interesting thing happened. Kṛṣṇa gazed at a half-completed garland which was still most attractive. Seeing that, Sudāma in shame bowed his head and took Kṛṣṇa’s blessings. With his assistants he quickly completed the garland and offered it to Kṛṣṇa. Giving the garland, he offered respects and prayed in humility. “Oh! If you have come to evil Kaṁsa’s broad territory, you two should be careful, though you are the life of all beings.”

[32] Saying this, he left the two boys. The boys diminished the glory of all others by their irresistible effulgence. The following words rise in my heart.

There are thousands of devotees who search for Kṛṣṇa and there are thousands who attain his beautiful feet. But I offer respects to the skillful garland maker Sudāma, for Kṛṣṇa came with Balarāma to his house with a request. ||20||

[33] On the road, Kṛṣṇa was most excited by all the surprising things.

Seeing Kubjā with a hunchback going to the bathing ghaṭa made of crystal carrying some cosmetics, Kṛṣṇa asked for the cosmetics and smeared it all on his body. The cosmetics also made his friends effulgent. He then straightened out Kubjā’s body, amazing everyone with his great qualities. Offering all lamentation to Kaṁsa, he began jumping around. ||21||

[34] We consider this:

If one has bhakti for Kṛṣṇa, one’s heart will shine with straightness (honesty). If there is no bhakti, straightness is only an external show. If one has internal bhakti, the straightness will show externally. Kubjā is the example. ||22||

Kṛṣṇa destroyed the dyer and elevated many others. Remembering this, Kaṁsa attained his destruction. Seeing Kṛṣṇa’s affection, power and actions, the merchants worshiped him properly on the road. ||23-24||

[35] Their extraordinary profession is made an example.

The merchants took the results of others by their profession of selling goods. They took special results from Kṛṣṇa, which their ancestors had not obtained. ||25||