Gopī-bhāva
vande nanda-vraja-strīṇāṁ pāda-reṇum abhīkṣṇaśaḥ
vande nanda-vraja-strīṇāṁ pāda-reṇum abhīkṣṇaśaḥ |
yāsāṁ hari-kathodgītaṁ punāti bhuvana-trayam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.47.63; cited in Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.7.152; Prīti Sandarbha: 107)
“I offer obeisance constantly to the foot-dust of the ladies of Nanda’s Vraja, whose resounding singing of narrations of Hari purifies the three worlds.”
rāmeṇa sārdhaṁ mathurāṁ praṇīte
rāmeṇa sārdhaṁ mathurāṁ praṇīte
śvāphalkinā mayy anurakta-cittāḥ |
vigāḍha-bhāvena na me viyoga-
tīvrādhayo’nyaṁ dadṛśuḥ sukhāya ||
tās tāḥ kṣapāḥ preṣṭha-tamena nītā
mayaiva vṛndāvana-gocareṇa |
kṣaṇārdha-vat tāḥ punar aṅga tāsāṁ
hīnā mayā kalpa-samā babhūvuḥ ||
tā nāvidan mayy anuṣaṅga-baddha-
dhiyaḥ svam ātmānam adas tathedam |
yathā samādhau munayo’bdhi-toye
nadyaḥ praviṣṭā iva nāma-rūpe ||
mat-kāmā ramaṇaṁ jāram asvarūpa-vido’balāḥ |
brahma māṁ paramaṁ prāpuḥ saṅgāc chata-sahasraśaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.12.10–13; cited in Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.7.143–46, Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 175–179; Bhakti Sandarbha: 242; Prīti Sandarbha: 92, 99, 423)
“When I was brought to Mathurā along with Rāma by Śvāphalki [i.e., Akrūra], they [viz., the gopīs] whose minds were deeply attached to me, and who were in anguish because of separation [from me] by virtue of their profound bhāva, did not look towards anyone other than me for the sake of pleasure [because looking at anyone other than me led them to feel sorrow rather than pleasure; alt., they did not look to anyone other than me as a cause of pleasure because everyone other than me was only a cause of sorrow for them in separation from me]. Those special nights spent with me specifically, [their] Dearmost, dwelling in Vṛndāvana, passed like half a moment [for them], yet those [nights], O dear one [i.e., O Uddhava], without me became like epochs for them. Their minds bound by deep attachment to me, they did not know own, self, that, or this [i.e., they had no awareness of objects of the sense of ‘mine,’ objects of the sense of ‘I,’ the next world, or this world] just as sages who have entered samādhi and rivers [that have entered] the water of the ocean [do not know] names and forms. [The bhāva of these gopīs is so deep that just] By association [with these gopīs], [even] hundreds and thousands of they devoid of strength [viz., Pulindīs (local girls from rural tribes) that had no caste, conduct, knowledge, bhakti, and so on] who were devoid of awareness of my true nature [i.e., who had not even seen my beauty and so on] became filled with desire for me and attained me, the Supreme Brahman, as a paramour lover.”
yat tāta tāsām api dhairya-moṣakaṁ
yat tāta tāsām api dhairya-moṣakaṁ
yā vai kula-strī-kula-pūjitāṅghrayaḥ |
rūpeṇa śīlena guṇena karmaṇā
śraiṣṭhyaṁ gatā hanta mahāśriyo’pi yāḥ ||
yad-darśane pakṣma-kṛtaṁ śapanti
vidhiṁ sahasrākṣam api stuvanti |
vañchanti dṛktvaṁ sakalendriyānāṁ
kāṁ kāṁ daśāṁ vā na bhajanti lokāḥ ||
kiṁ varṇyatāṁ vraja-bhuvo mahimā sa tasya
yatraiva tat sa bhagavān vitanoti rūpam |
yat tādṛśa-prakṛtināpy amunā sametā
nānyatrikā dadhati bhāvam ime’pi tadvat ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.5.109–111)
“O dear one, can that greatness of the land of Vraja be described, [that land of Vraja] alone wherein that Bhagavān [viz., Śrī Kṛṣṇa] manifests that [supremely astonishing] form [of himself] which is a stealer of the composure even of they [viz., the gopīs] whose feet are worshiped by women of noble families and who by virtue of [their] figure, character, qualities, and actions are possessed of superiority even to Mahāśrī [i.e., Mahālakṣmī]; [that form of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa found only in Vraja] by seeing which people curse the Creator, the maker of eyelids, praise even he of a thousand eyes [viz., Indra], desire that all [their] senses become eyes, and attain not what sort of state [i.e., attain all sorts of extraordinary states], since even they who are from elsewhere [e.g., the residents of Vaikuṇṭha and Dvārakā] even [when] together with he of such nature [viz., Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa of Vraja] do not possess bhāva like them [i.e., the people of Vraja]?”
vidagdhānāṁ mitho līlā-vilāsena yathā sukham
vidagdhānāṁ mitho līlā-vilāsena yathā sukham |
na tathā samprayogeṇa syād evaṁ rasikā viduḥ ||
yathā—
balena parirambhaṇe nakha-śikhābhir ullekhanaṁ
haṭhād adhara-khaṇḍane bhuja-yugena bandha-kriyām |
dukūla-dalane hatim kuvalayena kurvāṇayā
ratād api sukhaṁ harer adhikam ādadhe rādhayā ||
yathā vā—
narmotseka-kalā dṛg-añcala-camatkārī bhruvor vibhramaḥ
saṁvyānasya vikarṣaṇe caṭulatāṁ karṇotpalenāhatiḥ |
krīḍeyaṁ vraja-nāgarī-rati-guror gāndharvikāyās tathā
bhūyiṣṭhaṁ suratotsavād api navāsvādaṁ vitene sukham ||
ata eva śrī-gīta-govinde—
pratyūhaḥ pulakāṅkureṇa niviḍa-śleṣe nimeṣeṇa ca
krīḍā-kūta-vilokite’dhara-sudhā-pāne kathā-narmabhiḥ |
ānandābhigamena manmatha-kalā-yuddhe’pi yasminn abhud
udbhūtaḥ sa tayor babhūva suratārambhaḥ priyaṁbhāvukaḥ ||
(Ujjvala-nīlāmaṇi: 15.253–256)
“For the cultured, pleasure shall not arise from full union (samprayoga) as it shall from sportive coquetry (līlā-vilāsa) with one another. This rasikas know.
As [is described in the following verse]:
‘By scratching [him on the chest] with the tips of her nails
When he embraces [her] by force,
By blocking [him] with her arms
When he forcibly bites her lip,
And by striking [him] with a water lily
When he pulls her raiment,
Pleasure for Hari
Greater than even [that of] union [i.e., samprayoga]
Was created by Rādhā.’
Or as [is described in the following verse]:
‘The art of pouring forth jokes [exhibited by Kṛṣṇa],
And the waggling of the eyebrows
[That was] Astonishing with sidelong glances [exhibited by Rādhā in return],
The vivacity in pulling upon the upper garment [of Rādhā exhibited by Kṛṣṇa],
And the blow with a lotus from her ear [dealt to Kṛṣṇa by Rādhā in return]—
This play
Between the ladies of Vraja’s Love-teacher (Rati-guru) and Gāndharvikā
Manifested pleasure abundant and freshly relishable
Even more so than the delight of full union (samprayoga).’
Therefore, in Śrī Gīta-govinda (12.10) [the following is found], ‘Wherein obstruction arose
To their tight embraces
By their horripilation,
To their observation of the plentitude of their play
By the blinking of their eyes,
To their drinking the nectar of one another’s lips
By their talks and jokes,
And to their battle in the arts of the Mind-churner [i.e., Kāma]
By the arrival of bliss—
That [wonderful] beginning of their amorous union,
Being [most] pleasing [to them both],
Became perceptible.’”
atra kārikā—tac-cintanādi-samaye kuryāt tad-anusārataḥ
atra kārikā—
tac-cintanādi-samaye kuryāt tad-anusārataḥ |
cintanaṁ tu tayos tatra vasan guru-gaṇānvitaḥ ||
punaś cākṣuṣa-līle’smin siddha-dehena sādhakaḥ |
manasā mānasīṁ sevām aṣṭa-kālocitāṁ vrajet ||
sādhakaḥ siddha-dehena kuryāt kṛṣṇa-priyā-gṛhe |
guru-rūpa-priyā-pārśve lalitādi-sakhī-gaṇe ||
nivāsaṁ yāvaṭe nityaṁ śrī-rūpa-mañjarī-yutaḥ |
śrī-yāvaṭa-pure śrīmad-vṛṣabhānu-pure’pi ca ||
nandīśvara-pure rādhā-kṛṣṇa-kuṇḍa-taṭa-dvaye |
śrīmad-vṛndāvane ramye śrīmad-vṛndāvaneśayoḥ ||
prātar-ādy-aṣṭa-samaye sevanaṁ tu krameṇa ca |
nānopakaraṇair divyair bhakṣya-bhojyādibhiḥ sadā |
cāmara-vyajanādyaiś ca pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ ||
siddhāṅga-bhāvanā-kramo yathā—
kiśorī gopa-vanitā sarvālaṅkāra-bhūṣitā |
pṛthu-tuṅga-kuca-dvandvā catuḥṣaṣṭi-guṇānvitā ||
nigūḍha-bhāvā govinde madanānanda-mohinī |
nānā-rasa-kalālāpa-śālinī divya-rūpiṇī ||
saṅgīta-rasa-sañjāta-bhāvollāsa-bharānvitā |
divā-niśaṁ mano-madhye dvayoḥ premā-bharākulā ||
sarva-lakṣana-sampūrṇā bhāva-hāvādi-bhūṣitā |
guru-prasāda-jananī guru-rūpā-priyānugā |
gāndharvikā-sva-yūtha-sthā lalitādi-gaṇānvitā ||
rūpa-mañjary-anugatā yāvaṭa-grāma-vāsinī |
cintanīyākṛtiḥ sā ca kāma-rūpānugāminī ||
cid-ānanda-rasamayī druta-hema-sama-prabhā |
sucīna-nīla-vasanā nānālaṅkāra-bhūṣitā ||
śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇayoḥ pārśva-vartinī nava-yauvanā |
guru-dattasya nāmno’syā mātā vargādya-mañjarī |
pitā varga-tṛtīyākhyo vargāntāhvayakaḥ patiḥ ||
nivāso yāvaṭe tasyā dakṣiṇā mṛdvikā hi sā |
śrī-rādhā-vastra-bhūṣāḍhyā nānālaṅkāra-bhūṣitā ||
asyaiva siddha-dehasya sādhanāni yathā-kramam |
ekādaśa-prasiddhāni lakṣyante’timanoharam ||
nāma rūpaṁ vayo veśaḥ sambandho yūtha eva ca |
ājñā sevā parākāṣṭhā pālya-dāsī nivāsakaḥ ||
eteṣāṁ viśeṣa-lakṣaṇāny ucyante—
tatrādau nāma-lakṣaṇam—
śrī-rūpa-mañjarīty-ādi-nāmākhyānānurūpataḥ |
cintanīyaṁ yathā-yogyaṁ sva-nāma vraja-subhruvām ||
atha rūpam—
rūpaṁ yūtheśvarī-rūpaṁ bhāvanīyaṁ prayatnataḥ |
trailokya-mohanaṁ kāmoddīpanaṁ gopikā-pateḥ ||
atha vayaḥ—
vayo nānā-vidhaṁ tatra yat tu tridaśa-vatsaram |
mādhuryādbhuta-kaiśoraṁ vikhyātaṁ vraja-subhruvām ||
atha veśaḥ—
veśo nīla-paṭādyaiś ca vicitrālaṅkṛtais tathā |
svasya dehānurūpeṇa svabhāva-rasa-sundaraḥ ||
atha sambandhaḥ—
sevya-sevaka-sambandhaḥ svamanovṛtti-bhedataḥ |
prāṇātyaye’pi sambandhaṁ na kadā parivartayet ||
atha yūthaḥ—
yathā yūtheśvarī-yūthaḥ sadā tiṣṭhati tad-vaśe |
tathaiva sarvathā tiṣṭhed bhūtvā tad-vaśa-vartinī ||
atha ājñā—
yūtheśvaryāḥ śirasy ājñām ādāya hari-rādhayoḥ |
yathoditāṁ tac-chuśrūṣāṁ kuryād ānanda-saṁyutā ||
atha sevā—
cāmara-vyajanādīnāṁ saṁyoga-pratipālanam |
iti sevā parijñeyā yathā-mati vibhāgaśaḥ ||
atha parākāṣṭhā—
śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇayor yadvad rūpa-mañjarikādayaḥ |
prāptā nitya-sakhītvaṁ ca tathā syām iti bhāvayet ||
atha pālya-dāsī—
pālya-dāsī ca sā proktā paripālyā priyaṁvadā |
sva-manovṛtti-rūpeṇa yā nitya-paricārikā ||
atha nivāsaḥ—
nivāso vraja-madhye tu rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sthale mataḥ |
vaṁśī-vaṭaś ca śrī-nandīśvaraś cāpy atikautukaḥ ||
atha mañjarī-gaṇa-niṣṭhā—
anaṅga-mañjarī proktā vilāsa-mañjarī tathā |
aśoka-mañjarī ceti rasa-mañjarikā tathā ||
rasāla-mañjarī nāmnā tathā kamala-mañjarī |
karuṇā-mañjarī khyātā vikhyātā guṇa-mañjarī ||
evaṁ sarvāś ca vikhyātāḥ sva-sva-nāmākṣaraiḥ parāḥ |
mañjaryo bahuśaḥ rūpa-guṇa-śīla-vayo’nvitāḥ ||
nāma-rūpādi tat sarvaṁ guru-dattaṁ ca bhāvayet |
tatra tatra sthitā nityaṁ bhajet śrī-rādhikā-harī ||
bhāvayan sādhako nityaṁ sthitvā kṛṣṇa-priyā-gṛhe |
tad-ājñā-pālako bhūtvā kāleṣv aṣṭasu sevate ||
sakhīnāṁ saṅginī-rūpām ātmānaṁ vāsanāmayīm |
ājñā-sevā-parākāṣṭhā-kṛpālaṅkāra-bhūṣitām |
tataś ca mañjarī-rūpān gurv-ādīn api saṁsmaret ||
(Śrī Śrī Gaura-Govindārcana-smaraṇa-paddhati of Gopāla Guru Gosvāmīpāda: 297–329; Śrī Śrī Gaura-Govindārcana-smaraṇa-paddhati of Dhyānacandra Gosvāmīpāda: 78–110)
“Now, the precept [in regard to performing service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa with a siddha-body is stated]: At the time of meditation and so forth on them [viz., Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa], one should, following them, dwell there [i.e., in their abode] in the company of one’s gurus and engage in meditation upon them. Furthermore, in this līlā to be envisioned, a sādhaka should with the mind perform mental [i.e., meditational] service with the siddha-body related to [each of] the eight time periods [of the day]. United with Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī [alt., with one’s guru in sakhī form (DCG variant)], a sādhaka should with the siddha-body always dwell in the home of Kṛṣṇa’s Dear One [viz., Śrī Rādhā] in Yāvaṭa by the side of one’s guru in the form of a dear one [i.e., in the form of a sakhī of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa] in the company of the dear ones [alt., sakhīs (DCG variant)] Lalitā and so forth and perform worship of the beautiful Īśas of Vṛndāvana [viz., Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa] by means of foot-massages and so on with various excellent instruments, foods, beverages, and so on, such as cāmaras, fans, and so on, in Śrī Yāvaṭapura, as well as in Śrī Vṛṣabhānupura [i.e., Barsānā], Nandīśvarapura, on the two banks of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s kuṇḍas [i.e., on the banks of Rādhā Kuṇḍa and Śyāma Kuṇḍa], and in charming Śrī Vṛndāvana at the eight times [of the day] beginning with early morning.
The method for meditation on the siddha-body is as follows:
That figure to be meditated upon is
An adolescent cowherd woman
Adorned with all ornaments,
Possessed of two ample, raised breasts,
Endowed with the sixty-four qualities,
Possessed of hidden bhāva for Govinda,
Enchanting by virtue of the bliss of Madana [viz., Kāmadeva, i.e., by virtue of the bliss of prema],
Adept in discussion of various arts and rasas,
Of divine [i.e., splendid] form,
Filled with an abundance of elation
From the feeling (bhāva) produced by the taste (rasa) of music,
Night and day overwhelmed
With an abundance of prema for the Pair
Within the heart,
Replete with all attributes,
Ornamented with [the three bodily alaṅkāra-anubhāvas, viz.,] bhāva, hāva, and so on [i.e., helā, meaning, (1) the first passion felt in the heart, expressed by flickering of the eyes (bhāva, see UN 11.6–8), (2) a slightly greater expression of passion in which the neck is tilted and there is a blossoming of the eyes, eyebrows, and other features (hāva, see UN 11.9–10), (3) an expression of passion that is evidently suggestive of amour (helā, see UN 11.11–12)],
Born of the guru’s grace,
A follower of the guru in the form of a dear one [of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, i.e., a follower of the guru’s sakhī form],
Situated in Gāndharikā’s [i.e., Rādhā’s] own group,
Attached to the party of Lalitā and so on,
A follower of Rūpa Mañjarī
[Alt., a follower of her own group leader (DCG variant)],
A resident of the village of Yāvaṭa,
A follower of kāma-rūpā [-rāgātmikā-bhakti],
Filled with rasa of [the nature of] consciousness and bliss,
Possessed of radiance like molten gold,
Dressed in a blue, fine silk garment,
Adorned with various ornaments,
Dwelling by the side of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa,
And fresh in youth.
The first letter of the consonant class (varga) of [the first letter of] her [i.e., the siddha-body’s] guru-given name is the [letter that will start the name given for her] mother. The father will have a name of [i.e., that starts from the] the third [letter] in the consonant class (varga) [of her guru-given name]. The husband will have a name of [i.e., that starts from the] the last [letter] in the consonant class (varga) [of her guru-given name]. Her residence is in Yāvaṭa. She is indeed acquiescent and gentle, abounding in the cloth and adornments of Śrī Rādhā, and adorned with various ornaments. The eleven, well-known aspects of this siddha-body are defined as follows: a very charming (1) name (nāma), (2) figure (rūpa), (3) age (vayas), (4) dress (veśa), (5) relationship (sambandha), (6) group (yūtha), (7) order (ājñā), (8) service (sevā), (9) acme [i.e., ultimate aspired for attainment] (parākāṣṭhā), (10) [state of being a] handmaid to be nurtured (pālya-dāsī), and (11) dwelling place (nivāsa).
“The particular characteristics of these are stated [as follows]. Therein, at first, the characteristic of the name (nāma) [is stated]: (1) one’s own name is to be meditated upon as appropriate in accord with the accounts of the names ‘Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī’ and so on of they of fine brows in Vraja [i.e., of the Vraja-gopīs, meaning, one should meditate on the name of one’s siddha-body, which will be such-and-such mañjarī].
“Then, the figure (rūpa) [is described]: (2) the figure is to be meditated upon with great care [alt., perseverant effort] as the form of a group leader (yūtheśvarī) that is enchanting to the three worlds and an excitant of desire (kāma) [i.e., prema] for the Lord of the gopīs [viz., Kṛṣṇa].
“Then, the age (vayas) [is described]: (3) age can be of various sorts. Among them, the age of thirteen—the marvelous adolescence filled with sweetness (mādhurya)—of they of fine brows of Vraja [i.e., of the gopīs] is stated [to be the age to be meditated upon].
“Then, the dress (veśa) [is described]: (4) that which is beautiful by virtue of taste (rasa) [i.e., aesthetic quality] naturally in accord with one’s own body by means of a blue silken garment and so on along with variegated ornaments is the dress [to be meditated upon].
“Then, the relationship (sambandha) [is described]: (5) in accord with the variety [i.e., specific nature] of one’s own disposition of mind, there is a servant and object of service relationship [between the bearer of the siddha-body and Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa]. Never shall one change this relationship, even when in danger of death.
“Then, the group (yūtha) [is described]: (6) as the group of a group-leader always remains under her leadership, so exactly one should remain in all circumstances, being a follower of her leadership.
“Then, the order (ājñā) [is described]: (7) holding the order of the group-leader on the head, one should also engage in that attendance as aforesaid [alt., as appropriate (DCG variant)] of Hari and Rādhā, being filled with bliss.
“Then, the service (sevā) [is described]: (8) the service is to be recognized compartmentally according to one’s understanding as attending to provision of [alt., fulfilling all orders for (DCG variant)] a cāmara, fan, and so on.
“Then, the acme [i.e., ultimate aspired for attainment] (parākāṣṭhā) [is described]: (9) one should meditate, ‘As Rūpa Mañjarī and others have attained the state of being nitya-sakhīs [lit, ‘constant female friends’] of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, so too shall I [attain that].’
“Then, the [state of being a] handmaid to be nurtured (pālya-dāsī) [is described]: (10) she who is in every respect fit to be nurtured, pleasant speaking, and a constant attendant by way of her own disposition of mind is called a pālya-dāsī [lit., ‘handmaid to be nurtured’].
“Then, the dwelling place (nivāsa) [is described]: (11) the marvelous Vaṁśī-vaṭa, Śrī Nandīśvara, and so on, [i.e., all those places] considered among the sites of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vraja, are the dwelling place [alt., the marvelous sites of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vraja, such as Vaṁśī-vaṭa and Śrī Nandīśvara, are the dwelling place (DCG variant) to be meditated upon].
“Now, the fixity of the mañjarīs [is described]: addressed, known, and renowned by the names Anaṅga Mañjarī, as well as Vilāsa Mañjarī, Aśoka Mañjarī, Rasa Mañjarī, Rasāla Mañjarī, Kamala Mañjarī, Karuṇā Mañjarī, and Guṇa Mañjarī, and similarly all the others who are renowned by the syllables forming their own names—there are many [such] mañjarīs endowed with [charming] figures, qualities, characters, and ages. One should meditate on all of them—[their] names, figures, and so on, and that given by the guru [i.e., as well as one’s own mañjarī form, meaning, one’s own siddha-body, alt., the mañjarī who is endowed with [charming] dress, figure, qualities, character, and age—one should meditate on all of this given by the guru—the name, form, and so on [of this mañjarī form, that is, one’s guru-given siddha-body]]. Situated [in one’s own mañjarī form] among all of them [i.e., all the aforementioned and alluded to mañjarīs], one should always worship Śrī Rādhikā and Hari. Meditating [in this way], being situated in the abode of Kṛṣṇa’s Beloved [viz., Śrī Rādhikā], and being a fulfiller of her orders, a sādhaka serves during the eight time periods [of the day]. One should meditate on oneself in the imaginational [alt., meditational (DCG variant)] form of a companion of these sakhīs adorned with [their] orders, [their] service, [one’s] acme [i.e., ultimate aspired for attainment], [their] grace, and [their] ornaments, as well as the mañjarīs forms of one’s guru and so forth [i.e., along with one’s grand-guru and the other guru’s in one’s line of succession (paramparā).”
atra vidhi-mārgeṇa rādhā-kṛṣṇayor bhajane
atra vidhi-mārgeṇa rādhā-kṛṣṇayor bhajane mahāvaikuṇṭhastha-goloke khalv avivikta-svakīyā-parakīyā-bhāvam aiśvarya-jñānaṁ prāpnoti | madhura-bhāva-lobhitve sati vidhi-mārgeṇa bhajane dvārakāyāṁ śrī-rādhā-satyabhāmayor aikyāt satyabhāmā-parikaratvena svakīyā-bhāvam aiśvarya-jñāna-miśra-mādhurya-jñānaṁ prāpnoti | raga-mārgeṇa bhajane vraja-bhūmau śrī-rādhā-parikaratvena parakīyā-bhāvaṁ śuddha-mādhurya-jñānaṁ prāpnoti |
(Rāga-vartma-candrikā: 2.6)
“In this regard, from worship of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa by means of the path of injunction (vidhi) one attains in the Goloka situated in Mahāvaikuṇṭha awareness of [Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s] Godhood (Aiśvarya-jñāna) and a bhāva that is indiscriminate between svakīyā and parakīyā [i.e., a bhāva that possesses no specificity as to whether Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds are ‘his own’ (svakīyā), meaning, his wives, or ‘another’s’ (parakīyā), meaning, the wives of others]. When one [i.e., a sādhaka] is desirous of madhura-bhāva, from worship by means of the path of injunction (vidhi) one attains awareness of [Kṛṣṇa’s] sweetness (mādhurya) mixed with awareness of [his] Godhood (Aiśvarya-jñāna) and svakīyā-bhāva [i.e., the perception that Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds are his own wives] by virtue of [one’s then] being a companion of Satyabhāmā on account of the oneness between Śrī Rādhā and Satyabhāmā in Dvārakā. From worship by means of the path of attachment (rāga) one attains pure awareness of [Kṛṣṇa’s] sweetness (mādhurya) [i.e., awareness that is free from awareness of his Godhood (Aiśvarya)] and parakīyā-bhāva [i.e., the perception that Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds are ‘another’s’] by virtue of [one’s then] being a companion of Śrī Rādhā in the land of Vraja.”
yat-pāda-paṁśur bahu-janma-kṛcchrato
yat-pāda-paṁśur bahu-janma-kṛcchrato
dhṛtātmabhir yogibhir apy alabhyaḥ |
sa eva yad-dṛg-viṣayaḥ svayaṁ sthitaḥ
kiṁ varṇyate diṣṭam aho vrajaukasām ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.12.12; cited in Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.7.122; Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 100)
“Aho! How can the fortune be described of these residents of Vraja, the sole object of whose vision present directly [before them] is he the dust of whose feet is unattainable even by yogīs who have painstakingly controlled their minds for many births?”
uddhavo’tyanta-sambhrānto drutam utthāya tat-padau
uddhavo’tyanta-sambhrānto drutam utthāya tat-padau |
vidhāyāṅke samāliṅgya tasyābhipretya hṛd-gatam ||
hṛt-prāpta-bhagavat-tat-tat-prasāda-bhara-bhāg-janaḥ |
tadīya-prema-sampatti-vibhava-smṛti-yantritaḥ ||
rodanair vivaśo dīno yatnād dhairyaṁ śrito munim |
avadhāpyāha mātsaryāt sāttvikāt pramudaṁ gataḥ ||
śrīmad-uddhava uvāca—
sarvajña satyavāk-śreṣṭha mahāmuni-vara prabho |
bhagavad-bhakti-mārgādi-gurunoktaṁ tvayeha yat ||
tat sarvam adhikaṁ cāsmāt satyam eva mayi sphuṭam |
varteteti mayā jñātam āsīd anyair api dhruvam ||
idānīṁ yad vraje gatvā kim apy anvabhavaṁ tataḥ |
mahāsaubhāgyamāno me sa sadyaś cūrṇatāṁ gataḥ ||
tata eva hi kṛṣṇasya tat-prasādasya cādbhutā |
tat-premṇo’pi mayā jñātā mādhurī tadvatāṁ tathā ||
tad-darśanenaiva gato’tidhanyatāṁ
tarhy eva samyak prabhuṇānukampitam |
tasya prasādātiśayāspadaṁ tathā
matvā svam ānanda-bharāpluto’bhavam ||
gāyaṁ gāyaṁ yad abhilaṣatā yat tato’nuṣṭhitaṁ yat
tat sarveṣāṁ suviditam itaḥ śakyate’nyan na vaktum |
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.6.19–27)
“Becoming greatly perfervid, Uddhava quickly arose, placed his [viz., Nārada’s] feet upon his own chest, fully embraced them, and, inferring that which was present in his [viz., Nārada’s] heart, holding in his own heart those persons [viz., the Vraja-vāsīs] possessed of an abundance of that particular [ineffable] grace of Bhagavān, becoming pained by remembrance of the greatness of the attainment of prema of they [so possessed of his grace] who are his own [alt., of the appearance—in the form of distress, weeping, and so on—of the fortune of prema of those so possessed of his grace who are his own], overwhelmed with tears, [thus] humble, [thereafter] with effort [from Nārada or Balarāma and others] reposed with composure, and given over to great delight out of sāttvika jealousy, he addressed the sage [viz., Nārada] and spoke. Blessed Uddhava said, ‘O all-knowing one, O best of truth-speakers, O foremost of great sages, O master, everything which was stated by you, the original guru of the path of bhakti to Bhagavān, and more than that, is verily true and clearly evident to me. Thus, it was certainly [already] known to me and to others. That pride in my great fortune [which you have described, which was known to me, and which was as big as Mount Sumeru] was immediately pulverized as a result of that [wonder] which I experienced recently after going to Vraja. Specifically from that [experience], the astonishing sweetness of Kṛṣṇa, of his grace, of prema for him, and of those possessed of that has become known to me. I have become greatly fortunate only by the sight of them [viz., the Vraja-vāsīs, alt., only by that experience]. Considering myself fully blessed by Prabhu and a recipient a profusion of his grace only then [i.e., after I had that experience], I have became submerged in an abundance of bliss. That which thus [i.e., because of my being so blissful] was sung [by me] repeatedly [in etāḥ paraṁ tanubhṛto … (SB 10.47.58) …], which was desired [by me in āsām aho caraṇa-reṇu-juṣām … (SB 10.47.61) …], and which was done [by me i.e., the obeisance I offered in vande nanda-vraja-strīṇāṁ … (SB 10.47.63)] is well known to everyone. Anything more than this is not able to be spoken [by me here now].’”
astācalaṁ cumbati bhānu-bimbe
astācalaṁ cumbati bhānu-bimbe
gṛhe gṛhe gokula-sundarīṇām |
divyānulepābharaṇāmbarāṇi
kṛṣṇāhriyante paritaḥ sakhībhiḥ ||
(Alaṅkāra-kaustubha: 8.101)
“O Kṛṣṇa,
When the orb of the sun
Kisses the western horizon,
In house after house
The splendid unguents, ornaments, and garments
Of the beauties of Gokula
Are brought from all sides by [their] friends
[So that these beauties can be well-dressed when they meet Kṛṣṇa as he re-enters the village in the early evening from his day of cow-herding out in the forest].”