kair api prema-vaivaśya-bhāgbhir bhāgavatavottamaiḥ |
adyāpi dṛśyate kṛṣṇaḥ krīḍan vṛndāvanāntare ||
(Laghu Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.5.392)
“Even by some highly elevated Bhāgavatas who are overwhelmed by prema, Kṛṣṇa is seen playing in Vṛndāvana still today.”
ya etasmin mahābhāgāḥ prītiṁ kurvanti mānavāḥ |
nārayo’bhibhavanty etān viṣṇu-pakṣān ivāsurāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.8.18)
[Gargācārya to Nanda Mahārāja:] “Enemies do not overcome those greatly fortunate human beings who adore him [i.e., Kṛṣṇa], just as the asuras do not overcome those who are on the side of Viṣṇu.”
prema-sevā sādhya yei, gāḍha-lobhe mile sei,
varaja-vāsi-carita tatpara ||
(Yadunandana Ṭhākura’s rendering of Govinda-līlāmṛta: 1.3)
“One devoted to the ways of the residents of Vraja attains prema-sevā, the sādhya [i.e., the goal], [only] with intense hankering.”
cirād āśā-mātraṁ tvayi viracayantaḥ sthira-dhiyo
vidadhyur ye vāsaṁ madhurima-gabhīre madhupure |
dadhānaḥ kaiśore vayasi sakhitāṁ gokula-pate
prapadyethās teṣāṁ paricayam avaśyaṁ nayanayoḥ ||
(Lalita-mādhava-nāṭakam: 10.37)
“[Rādhā to Kṛṣṇa:] O Lord of Gokula, please appear bearing your companionship in your adolescent age [i.e., accompanied by your friends beginning with Śrīdāma in your form of an adolescent flute-player] before the eyes of those of steady mind who have long resided in profoundly sweet Madhupurī [i.e., Mathurā Maṇḍala] desiring only you.”
