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KB 1970-1-34 / The Gopis' Feelings of Separation
34 / The Gopis' Feelings of Separation
The gopis of Vrndavana were so attached to Krsna that they were
not satisfied simply with the rasa dance at night. They wanted
to associate with Him and enjoy His company during the daytime
also. When Krsna went to the forest with His cowherd boy
friends and cows, the gopis did not physically take part, but
their hearts went with Him. And because their hearts went, they
were able to enjoy His company through strong feelings of
separation. To acquire this strong feeling of separation is the
teaching of Lord Caitanya and His direct disciplic succession
of Gosvamis. When we are not in physical contact with Krsna,
we can associate with Him like the gopis, through feelings of
separation. Krsna's transcendental form, qualities, pastimes,
and entourage are all identical with Him. There are nine
different kinds of devotional service. Devotional service to
Krsna in feelings of separation elevates the devotee to the
highest perfectional level, to the level of the gopis.
It is stated in Srinivasacarya's prayer to the six Gosvamis
that they left the material opulences of government service and
the princely status of life and went to Vrndavana, where they
lived just like ordinary mendicants, begging from door to door.
But they were so much enriched with the gopis' feelings of
separation that they enjoyed transcendental pleasure at every
moment. Similarly, when Lord Caitanya was at Jagannatha Puri,
He was in the role of Radharani, feeling the separation of
Krsna. Those who are in the disciplic succession of the Madhva-
Gaudiya-sampradaya should also feel the separation of Krsna,
worship His transcendental form, and discuss His
transcendental teachings, His pastimes, His qualities, His
entourage and His associations. The spiritual masters should
enrich the devotees to the highest devotional perfection.
Feeling constant separation while engaged in the service of the
Lord is the perfection of Krsna consciousness.
The gopis used to discuss Krsna amongst themselves, and their
talks were as follows. "My dear friends," one gopi said, "do
you know that when Krsna lies on the ground He rests on His
left elbow, and His head rests on His left hand? He moves His
attractive eyebrows while playing His flute with His delicate
fingers, and the sound He produces creates such a nice
atmosphere that the denizens of the heavenly planets, who
travel in space with their wives and beloved, stop their
airplanes, for they are stunned by the vibration of the flute.
The wives of the demigods who are seated in the planes then
become very much ashamed of their singing and musical
qualifications. Not only that, but they become afflicted with
conjugal love, and their hair and tightened dresses immediately
loosen."
Another gopi said, "My dear friends, Krsna is so beautiful that
the goddess of fortune always remains on His chest, and He is
always adorned with a golden necklace. Beautiful Krsna plays
His flute in order to enliven the hearts of many devotees. He
is the only friend of the suffering living entities. When He
plays His flute, all the cows and other animals of Vrndavana,
although engaged in eating, simply take a morsel of food in
their mouths and stop chewing. Their ears raise up and they
become stunned. They do not appear alive but like painted
animals. Krsna's flute playing is so attractive that even the
animals become enchanted, and what to speak of ourselves."
Another gopi said, "My dear friends, not only living animals,
but even inanimate objects like the rivers and lakes of
Vrndavana also become stunned when Krsna passes with peacock
feathers on His head and His body smeared with the minerals of
Vrndavana. With leaves and flowers decorating His body, He
looks like some hero. When He plays on His flute and calls the
cows with Balarama, the River Yamuna stops flowing and waits
for the air to carry dust from His lotus feet. The River
Yamuna is unfortunate like us; it does not get Krsna's mercy.
The river simply remains stunned, stopping its waves just as
we also stop crying out
of frustration for
Krsna
."
In the absence of Krsna the gopis were constantly shedding
tears, but sometimes, when they expected that Krsna was coming,
they would stop crying. But when they saw that Krsna was not
coming, then again they would become frustrated and begin to
cry. Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead, the origin
of all Visnu forms, and the cowherd boys are all demigods.
Lord Visnu is always worshiped and surrounded by
different demigods like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Indra, Candra,
and others. When Krsna traveled through the Vrndavana forest or
walked on the Govardhana Hill, He was accompanied by the
cowherd boys. While walking, He played His flute, just to call
His cows. Just by His association, the trees, plants and other
vegetation in the forest immediately became Krsna conscious. A
Krsna conscious person sacrifices everything for Krsna.
Although trees and plants are not very advanced in
consciousness, by the association of Krsna and His friends they
also became Krsna conscious. They then want to deliver
everything -- whatever they have -- their fruits,
flowers, and the honey incessantly falling from their branches.
When Krsna walked on the bank of the Yamuna, He was seen nicely
decorated with tilaka on His head. He was garlanded with
different kinds of forest flowers, and His body was smeared
by the pulp of sandalwood and tulasi leaves. The bumblebees
became mad after the treasure and sweet nectar of the
atmosphere. Being pleased by the humming sound
of the bees, Krsna would play His flute, and together the
sounds became so sweet to hear that the aquatics, the
cranes, swans and ducks and other birds were charmed. Instead
of swimming or flying, they became stunned. They closed their
eyes and entered a trance of meditation in worship of Krsna.
One gopi said, "My dear friend, Krsna and Balarama are nicely
dressed with earrings and pearl necklaces. They enjoy
Themselves on the top of Govardhana Hill, and everything
becomes absorbed in transcendental pleasure when Krsna plays on
His flute, charming the whole created manifestation. When He
plays, the clouds stop their loud thundering, out of fear of
Him. Rather than disturb the vibration of His flute,
they respond with mild thunder and so congratulate
Krsna, their friend."
Krsna is accepted as the friend of the cloud because both the
cloud and Krsna satisfy the people when they are disturbed.
When the people are burning due to excessive heat, the cloud
satisfies them with rain. Similarly, when people in
materialistic life become disturbed by the blazing fire of
material pangs, Krsna gives them relief
. The cloud and Krsna, having the same bodily color also,
are considered to be friends. Desiring to congratulate its
superior friend, the cloud poured not water but small flowers
and covered the head of Krsna to protect
Him from the scorching sunshine.
One of the gopis told mother Yasoda, "My dear mother, your son
is very expert among the cowherd boys. He knows all the
different arts, how to tend the cows and how to play the
flute. He composes His own songs, and to sing them He puts His
flute to His mouth. When He plays, either in the morning or in
the evening, all the demigods, like Lord Siva, Brahma,
Indra and Candra, bow their heads and listen with great
attention. Although they are very learned and expert, they
cannot understand the musical arrangements of Krsna's flute.
They simply listen attentively and try to understand, but
become bewildered and nothing more."
Another gopi said, "My dear friend, when Krsna returns home
with His cows, the footprint of the soles of His feet -- with
flag, thunderbolt, trident, and lotus flower -- relieves the
pain the earth feels when the cows traverse it. He walks in a
stride which is so attractive, and He carries His flute. Just
by looking at Him we become lusty to enjoy His company. At that
time, our movements cease. We become just like trees and stand
perfectly still. We even forget what we look like
."
Krsna had many thousands of cows, and they were divided into
groups according to their colors. They were also differently
named according to color. When He would return from
the pasturing ground, He would find all the cows gathered. As
Vaisnavas count 108 beads, which represent the 108 individual
gopis, so Krsna would also chant 108
different groups of cows.
"When Krsna returns, He is garlanded with tulasi leaves," a
gopi describes Him to a friend. "He puts His hand on the
shoulder of a cowherd boy friend, and begins to blow His
transcendental flute. The wives of the black deer become
enchanted upon hearing the vibration of His flute, which
resembles the vibration of the vina. The deer come to Krsna and
become so charmed that they stand still, forgetting their homes
and husbands. Like us, who are enchanted by the ocean of the
transcendental qualities of Krsna, the she-deer become
enchanted by the vibration of His flute."
Another gopi told mother Yasoda, "My dear mother, when your son
returns home, He decorates Himself with the buds of the kunda
flower, and just to enlighten and gladden His friends, He blows
His flute. The breeze blowing from the south pleases the
atmosphere because it is fragrant and very cool.
Demigods like the Gandharvas and Siddhas take
advantage of this atmosphere and offer prayers to Krsna by
sounding their bugles and drums. Krsna is very kind to the
inhabitants of Vrajabhumi, Vrndavana, and when He returns with
His cows and friends, He is remembered as the lifter of
Govardhana Hill. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the most
exalted demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva come down to
offer their evening prayers, and they accompany the cowherd
boys in glorifying the qualities of Krsna.
"Krsna is compared with the moon, born in the ocean of the womb
of Devaki. When He returns in the evening, it appears that He
is fatigued, but He still tries to gladden the inhabitants of
Vrndavana by His auspicious presence. When Krsna returns,
garlanded with flowers, His face looks beautiful
. He walks into Vrndavana with a stride just
like the elephant and slowly enters His home. Upon His return,
the men, women, and cows of Vrndavana immediately forget the
scorching heat of the day."
Such descriptions of Krsna's transcendental pastimes and
activities were remembered by the gopis during His absence from
Vrndavana. They give us some idea of Krsna's
attraction
. Everyone and everything
is attracted to Krsna -- that
is the perfect
description of Krsna's attraction. The example
of the gopis is very instructive to persons who are trying to
be absorbed in Krsna consciousness. One can very easily
associate with Krsna simply by remembering His transcendental
pastimes. Everyone has a tendency to love someone. That Krsna
should be the object of love is the central point of Krsna
consciousness. By constantly chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and
remembering the transcendental pastimes of Krsna, one can be
fully in Krsna consciousness and thus make his life sublime and
fruitful.
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Thirty-fourth
Chapter of Krsna, "The Gopis' Feelings of Separation."
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KB 35: The Gopis' Feelings of Separation
CHAPTER THIRTY–FIVE
The Gopis' Feelings of Separation
The gopis of Vrndavana were so attached to Krsna that they were
not satisfied simply with the rasa dance at night. They wanted
to associate with Him and enjoy His company during the daytime
also. When Krsna went to the forest with His cowherd boyfriends
and cows, the gopis did not physically take part, but
their hearts went with Him. And because their hearts went, they
were able to enjoy His company through strong feelings of
separation. To acquire this strong feeling of separation is the
teaching of Lord Caitanya and His direct disciples, the
Six Gosvamis. When we are not in physical contact with Krsna,
we can associate with Him like the gopis, through feelings of
separation. Krsna's transcendental form, qualities, pastimes
and entourage are all identical with Him. There are nine
different kinds of devotional service. Devotional service to
Krsna in feelings of separation elevates the devotee to the
highest perfectional level, to the level of the gopis.
It is stated in Srinivasacarya's prayer to the Six Gosvamis
that they left the material opulences of government service and
the princely status of life and went to Vrndavana, where they
lived just like ordinary mendicants, begging from door to door.
But they were so much enriched with the gopis' feelings of
separation that they enjoyed transcendental pleasure at every
moment. Similarly, when Lord Caitanya was at Jagannatha Puri,
He was in the role of Radharani, feeling separation from
Krsna. Those who are in the disciplic succession of the Madhva-
Gaudiya-sampradaya should always feel separation from Krsna,
worship His transcendental form and discuss His
transcendental teachings, His pastimes, His qualities, His
entourage and His association. That will
enrich the devotees to the highest devotional perfection.
Feeling constant separation while engaged in the service of the
Lord is the perfection of Krsna consciousness.
The gopis used to discuss Krsna amongst themselves, and their
talks were as follows. "My dear friends," one gopi said, "do
you know that when Krsna lies on the ground He rests on His
left elbow, and His head rests on His left hand? He moves His
attractive eyebrows while playing His flute with His delicate
fingers, and the sound He produces creates such a nice
atmosphere that the denizens of the heavenly planets, who
travel in space with their wives and beloveds, stop their
airplanes, for they are stunned by the vibration of the flute.
The wives of the demigods who are seated in the planes then
become very much ashamed of their singing and musical
qualifications. Not only that, but they become afflicted with
conjugal love, and their hair and tight clothes immediately
loosen."
Another gopi said, "My dear friends, Krsna is so beautiful that
the goddess of fortune always remains on His chest, and He is
always adorned with a golden necklace. Beautiful Krsna plays
His flute in order to enliven the hearts of many devotees. He
is the only friend of the suffering living entities. When He
plays His flute, all the cows and other animals of Vrndavana,
although engaged in eating, simply take a morsel of food in
their mouths and stop chewing. Their ears raise up and they
become stunned. They do not appear alive but like painted
animals. Krsna's flute-playing is so attractive that even the
animals become enchanted, and what to speak of ourselves."
Another gopi said, "My dear friends, not only living animals
but even inanimate objects like the rivers and lakes of
Vrndavana also become stunned when Krsna passes with peacock
feathers on His head and His body smeared with the minerals of
Vrndavana. With leaves and flowers decorating His body, He
looks like some hero. When He plays on His flute and calls the
cows with Balarama, the river Yamuna stops flowing and waits
for the air to carry dust from His lotus feet. But the river
Yamuna is unfortunate like us; it does not get Krsna's mercy.
The river simply remains stunned, stopping its waves, just as
we also stop crying for Krsna in expectation." In the absence
of Krsna the gopis were constantly shedding tears, but
sometimes, when they expected that Krsna was coming, they would
stop crying. But when they saw that Krsna was not coming, then
again they would become frustrated and begin to cry.
Krsna
is the original Personality of Godhead, the origin
of all Visnu forms, and the cowherd boys are all demigods. So
just as Lord Visnu is always worshiped and surrounded by
different demigods like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Indra, Candra
and others. When Krsna traveled through the Vrndavana forest or
walked on Govardhana Hill, He was accompanied by the
cowherd boys. While walking, He played His flute just to call
His cows. Just by His association, the trees, plants and other
vegetation in the forest immediately became Krsna conscious. A
Krsna conscious person sacrifices everything for Krsna.
Although the trees and plants were not very advanced in
consciousness, by the association of Krsna and His friends they
also became Krsna conscious. They then wanted to deliver
everything -- whatever they had -- namely their fruits,
flowers and the honey incessantly falling from their branches.
When Krsna walked on the bank of the Yamuna, He was seen nicely
decorated with tilaka on His face. He was garlanded with
different kinds of forest flowers, and His body was smeared
with the pulp of sandalwood and tulasi leaves. The bumblebees
became mad after the fragrance and sweetness of the
atmosphere and began to hum. Being pleased by the humming sound
of the bees, Krsna would play His flute, and together the
sounds became so sweet to hear that aquatic birds like
cranes, swans and ducks were charmed. Instead
of swimming or flying, they became stunned. They closed their
eyes and entered a trance of meditation in worship of Krsna.
One gopi said, "My dear friends, Krsna and Balarama are nicely
dressed with earrings and pearl necklaces. They enjoy
Themselves on the top of Govardhana Hill, and everything
becomes absorbed in transcendental pleasure when Krsna plays on
His flute, charming the whole created manifestation. When He
plays, the clouds stop their loud thundering out of fear of
disturbing the vibration of His flute.
Instead they respond with mild thunder and so congratulate
Krsna, their friend."
Krsna is accepted as the friend of the cloud because both the
cloud and Krsna satisfy the people when they are disturbed.
When the people are burning due to excessive heat, the cloud
satisfies them with rain. Similarly, when people in
materialistic life become disturbed by the blazing fire of
material pangs, Krsna consciousness gives them relief like a
cloud. The cloud and Krsna, having the same bodily color also,
are considered to be friends. Desiring to congratulate its
superior friend, the cloud poured not water but small flowers
and covered the head of Krsna just like an umbrella to protect
Him from the scorching sunshine.
One of the gopis told Mother Yasoda, "My dear mother, your son
is very expert among the cowherd boys. He knows all the
different arts of how to tend the cows and how to play the
flute. He composes His own songs, and to play them He puts His
flute to His mouth. When He plays, either in the morning or in
the evening, all the demigods, including Lord Siva, Brahma,
Indra and Candra, bow their heads and listen with great
attention. Although they are very learned and expert, they
cannot understand the musical arrangements of Krsna's flute.
They simply listen attentively and try to understand, but they
become bewildered and nothing more."
Another gopi said, "My dear friends, when Krsna returns home
with His cows, the footprints of the soles of His feet -- with
flag, thunderbolt, trident and lotus flower -- relieve the
pain the earth feels when the cows traverse it. He walks in a
stride which is so attractive, and He carries His flute. Just
by looking at Him we become lusty to enjoy His company. At that
time, our movements cease. We become just like trees and stand
perfectly still, unaware that our hair and clothes are
loosening."
Krsna had many thousands of cows, and they were divided into
groups according to their colors. They were also differently
named according to color. When He would prepare to return from
the pasturing ground, He would gather all the cows. As
Vaisnavas count 108 beads, which represent the 108 individual
gopis, so Krsna would also count on 108 beads to count the
different groups of cows.
"When Krsna returns, He is garlanded with tulasi leaves," a
gopi described Him to a friend. "He puts His hand on the
shoulder of a cowherd boyfriend and begins to blow His
transcendental flute. The wives of the black deer become
enchanted upon hearing the vibration of His flute, which
resembles the vibration of the vina. The deer come to Krsna and
become so charmed that they stand still, forgetting their homes
and husbands. Like us, who are enchanted by the ocean of the
transcendental qualities of Krsna, the she-deer become
enchanted by the vibration of His flute."
Another gopi told Mother Yasoda, "My dear mother, when your son
returns home, He decorates Himself with the buds of the kunda
flower, and just to enlighten and gladden His friends, He blows
His flute. The breeze blowing from the south creates a
pleasing atmosphere because it is fragrant and very cool.
Minor demigods like the Gandharvas and Siddhas take
advantage of this atmosphere and offer prayers to your son by
sounding their bugles and drums. Krsna is very kind to the
inhabitants of Vrajabhumi, Vrndavana, and when He returns with
His cows and friends, He is remembered as the lifter of
Govardhana Hill. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the most
exalted demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva come down to
offer their evening prayers, and they accompany the cowherd
boys in glorifying the qualities of Krsna.
"Krsna is compared to the moon, born in the ocean of the womb
of Devaki. When He returns in the evening, it appears that He
is fatigued, but He still tries to gladden the inhabitants of
Vrndavana by His auspicious presence. When Krsna returns,
garlanded with flowers, His face looks beautiful, adorned with
golden earrings. He walks into Vrndavana with a stride just
like the elephant's and slowly enters His home. Upon His return,
the men, women and cows of Vrndavana immediately forget the
scorching heat of the day."
Such descriptions of Krsna's transcendental pastimes and
activities were remembered by the gopis during His absence from
Vrndavana. They give us some idea of how attractive Krsna is,
not only to human beings but to all animate and
inanimate objects. In Vrndavana, everyone and everything
is attracted to Krsna, including the trees, the plants, the
water, and animals like the deer and cows. That is the perfect
description of Krsna's all-attractiveness. The example
of the gopis is very instructive to persons who are trying to
be absorbed in Krsna consciousness. One can very easily
associate with Krsna simply by remembering His transcendental
pastimes. Everyone has a tendency to love someone. That Krsna
should be the object of love is the central point of Krsna
consciousness. By constantly chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and
remembering the transcendental pastimes of Krsna, one can be
fully in Krsna consciousness and thus make his life sublime and
fruitful.
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Thirty-fifth
Chapter of Krsna, "The Gopis' Feelings of Separation."
|