CC Madhya 4 – Govardhanastakam

Giriraj Swami: Reading from Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Four, “Madhavendra Puri’s Devotional Service.”

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

TEXT 1

yasmai dātuṁ corayan kṣīra-bhāṇḍaṁ
gopīnāthaḥ kṣīra-corābhidho ‘bhūt
śrī-gopālaḥ prādurāsīd vaśaḥ san
yat-premṇā taṁ mādhavendraṁ nato ‘smi

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Mādhavendra Purī, who was given a pot of sweet rice stolen by Śrī Gopīnātha, celebrated thereafter as Kṣīra-corā. Being pleased by Mādhavendra Purī’s love, Śrī Gopāla, the Deity at Govardhana, appeared to the public vision.

TEXT 2

jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityānanda
jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

TEXT 3–4

nīlādri-gamana, jagannātha-daraśana
sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya-prabhura milana

e saba līlā prabhura dāsa vṛndāvana
vistāri’ kariyāchena uttama varṇana

TRANSLATION

The Lord went to Jagannātha Purī and visited Lord Jagannātha’s temple. He also met with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. All these pastimes have been very elaborately explained by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura in his book Caitanya-bhāgavata.

TEXT 5

sahaje vicitra madhura caitanya-vihāra
vṛndāvana-dāsa-mukhe amṛtera dhāra

TRANSLATION

By nature all the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are very wonderful and sweet, and when they are described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, they become like a shower of nectar.

TEXT 6

ataeva tāhā varṇile haya punarukti
dambha kari’ varṇi yadi taiche nāhi śakti

TRANSLATION

Therefore I very humbly submit that since these incidents have already been nicely described by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, I would be very proud to repeat the same thing, and this would not be very good. I do not have such powers.

TEXT 7

caitanya-maṅgale yāhā karila varṇana
sūtra-rūpe sei līlā kariye sūcana

TRANSLATION

I am therefore presenting only a synopsis of those events already described elaborately by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura in his Caitanya-maṅgala [now known as Caitanya-bhāgavata].

TEXT 8

tāṅra sūtre āche, teṅha nā kaila varṇana
yathā-kathañcit kari’ se līlā kathana

TRANSLATION

Some of the incidents he did not describe elaborately but only summarized, and these I shall try to describe in this book.

TEXT 9

ataeva tāṅra pāye kari namaskāra
tāṅra pāya aparādha nā ha-uk āmāra

TRANSLATION

I thus offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. I hope that I will not offend his lotus feet by this action.

TEXT 10

ei-mata mahāprabhu calilā nīlācale
cāri bhakta saṅge kṛṣṇa-kīrtana-kutūhale

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu proceeded toward Jagannātha Purī with four of His devotees, and He chanted the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, with great eagerness.

TEXT 11

bhikṣā lāgi’ eka-dina eka grāma giyā
āpane bahuta anna ānila māgiyā

TRANSLATION

Each day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally went to a village and collected a great quantity of rice and other grains for the preparation of prasādam.

TEXT 12

pathe baḍa baḍa dānī vighna nāhi kare
tā’ sabāre kṛpā kari’ āilā remuṇāre

TRANSLATION

There were many rivers on the way, and at each river there was a tax collector. The tax collectors did not hinder the Lord, however, and He showed them mercy. Finally He reached the village of Remuṇā.

TEXT 13

remuṇāte gopīnātha parama-mohana
bhakti kari’ kaila prabhu tāṅra daraśana

TRANSLATION

The Deity of Gopīnātha in the temple at Remuṇā was very attractive. Lord Caitanya visited the temple and offered His obeisances with great devotion.

TEXT 14

tāṅra pāda-padma nikaṭa praṇāma karite
tāṅra puṣpa-cūḍā paḍila prabhura māthāte

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His obeisances at the lotus feet of the Gopīnātha Deity, the helmet of flowers on the head of Gopīnātha fell down and landed on the head of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 15

cūḍā pāñā mahāprabhura ānandita mana
bahu nṛtya-gīta kaila lañā bhakta-gaṇa

TRANSLATION

When the Deity’s helmet fell upon His head, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very pleased, and thus He chanted and danced in various ways with His devotees.

TEXT 16

prabhura prabhāva dekhi’ prema-rūpa-guṇa
vismita ha-ilā gopīnāthera dāsa-gaṇa

TRANSLATION

All the servants of the Deity were struck with wonder due to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s intense love, His exquisite beauty and His transcendental qualities.

TEXT 17

nānā-rūpe prītye kaila prabhura sevana
sei rātri tāhāṅ prabhu karilā vañcana

TRANSLATION

Because of their love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they served Him in many ways, and that night the Lord stayed at the temple of Gopīnātha.

TEXT 18

mahāprasāda-kṣīra-lobhe rahilā prabhu tathā
pūrve īśvara-purī tāṅre kahiyāchena kathā

TRANSLATION

The Lord remained there because He was very eager to receive the remnants of sweet rice offered to the Gopīnātha Deity, having heard a narration from His spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, of what had once happened there.

TEXT 19

‘kṣīra-corā gopīnātha’ prasiddha tāṅra nāma
bhakta-gaṇe kahe prabhu sei ta’ ākhyāna

TRANSLATION

That Deity was known widely as Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu told His devotees the story of how the Deity became so famous.

TEXT 20

pūrve mādhava-purīra lāgi’ kṣīra kaila curi
ataeva nāma haila ‘kṣīra-corā hari’

TRANSLATION

Formerly the Deity had stolen a pot of sweet rice for Mādhavendra Purī; therefore He became very famous as the Lord who stole the sweet rice.

TEXT 21

pūrve śrī-mādhava-purī āilā vṛndāvana
bhramite bhramite gelā giri Govardhana

TRANSLATION

Once, Śrī Mādhavendra Purī traveled to Vṛndāvana, where he came upon the hill known as Govardhana.

TEXT 22

preme matta, — nāhi tāṅra rātri-dina-jñāna
kṣaṇe uṭhe, kṣaṇe paḍe, nāhi sthānāsthāna

TRANSLATION

Mādhavendra Purī was almost mad in his ecstasy of love of Godhead, and he did not know whether it was day or night. Sometimes he stood up, and sometimes he fell to the ground. He could not discriminate whether he was in a proper place or not.

TEXT 23

śaila parikramā kari’ govinda-kuṇḍe āsi’
snāna kari, vṛkṣa-tale āche sandhyāya vasi’

TRANSLATION

After circumambulating the hill, Mādhavendra Purī went to Govinda-kuṇḍa and took his bath. He then sat beneath a tree to take his evening rest.

TEXT 24

gopāla-bālaka eka dugdha-bhāṇḍa lañā
āsi’ āge dhari’ kichu balila hāsiyā

TRANSLATION

While he was sitting beneath a tree, an unknown cowherd boy came with a pot of milk, placed it before Mādhavendra Purī and, smiling, addressed him as follows.

COMMENT

So, when Madhavendra Puri came to Vrindavan, he reached to Govardhana hill and when he came to Govardhana hill, he did parikramā of Govardhana Hill. Then he went to Govinda Kuṇḍa which is just up the road here and sat down under a tree. He took bath and then he sat down under a tree to chant the holy name. Then an unknown cowherd boy came to him with a pot of milk addressed him as follows.

TEXT 25

purī, ei dugdha lañā kara tumi pāna
māgi’ kene nāhi khāo, kibā kara dhyana

TRANSLATION

“O Mādhavendra Purī, please drink the milk I have brought. Why don’t you beg some food to eat? What kind of meditation are you undergoing?”

TEXT 26

bālakera saundarye purīra ha-ila santoṣa
tāhāra madhura-vākye gela bhoka-śoṣa

TRANSLATION

When he saw the beauty of that boy, Mādhavendra Purī became very satisfied. Hearing His sweet words, he forgot all hunger and thirst.

COMMENT

Madhavendra Puri never made any effort to get food or drink. He was simply absorbed in chanting the holy name of Krishna and remembering the pastimes of Krishna. If food came to him or his drink came to him, he would accept but if it didn’t come he would fast. And by the time he was at Govardhana and the cowherd boy appeared to him, he had been fasting for some days but when he saw the beauty of the boy he forgot all hunger and thirst.

TEXT 27

purī kahe, — ke tumi, kāhāṅ tomāra vāsa
ke-mate jānile, āmi kari upavāsa

TRANSLATION

Mādhavendra Purī said, “Who are You? Where do You reside? And how did You know that I was fasting?”

TEXT 28

bālaka kahe, — gopa āmi, ei grāme vasi
āmāra grāmete keha nā rahe upavāsī

TRANSLATION

The boy replied, “Sir, I am a cowherd boy, and I reside in this village. In My village, no one fasts.

TEXT 29

keha anna māgi’ khāya, keha dugdhāhāra
ayācaka-jane āmi diye ta’ āhāra

TRANSLATION

“In this village a person can beg food from others and thus eat. Some people drink only milk, but if a person does not ask anyone for food, I supply him all his eatables.

COMMENT

So, the cowherd boy said that in my village, no one fast. Anyone can beg some food from the village or if he doesn’t want to eat food at least he can beg some milk and drink milk. And if one does not take either food or milk then I personally come and give him food.

TEXT 30

jala nite strī-gaṇa tomāre dekhi’ gela
strī-saba dugdha diyā āmāre pāṭhāila

TRANSLATION

“The women who come here to take water saw you, and they supplied Me with this milk and sent Me to you.”

COMMENT

Because Madhavendra Puri asked how did you know I was here? So, he said the ladies from the village came to take water from Govinda Kuṇḍa and they saw you and they told me and gave me some milk to give you.

TEXT 31

go-dohana karite cāhi, śīghra āmi yāba
āra-bāra āsi āmi ei bhāṇḍa la-iba

TRANSLATION

The boy continued, “I must go very soon to milk the cows, but I shall return and take back this milk pot from you.”

TEXT 32

eta bali’ gelā bālaka nā dekhiye āra
mādhava-purīra citte ha-ila camatkāra

TRANSLATION

Saying this, the boy left the place. Indeed, He suddenly could be seen no more, and Mādhavendra Purī’s heart was filled with wonder.

TEXT 33

dugdha pāna kari’ bhāṇḍa dhuñā rākhila
bāṭa dekhe, se bālaka punaḥ nā āila

TRANSLATION

After drinking the milk, Mādhavendra Purī washed the pot and put it aside. He looked toward the path, but the boy never returned.

TEXT 34

vasi’ nāma laya purī, nidrā nāhi haya
śeṣa-rātre tandrā haila, — bāhya-vṛtti-laya

TRANSLATION

Mādhavendra Purī could not sleep. He sat and chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and at the end of the night he dozed a little, and his external activities stopped.

TEXT 35

svapne dekhe, sei bālaka sammukhe āsiñā
eka kuñje lañā gela hātete dhariñā

TRANSLATION

In a dream Mādhavendra Purī saw the very same boy. The boy came before him and, holding his hand, took him to a bush in the jungle.

TEXT 36

kuñja dekhāñā kahe, — āmi ei kuñje ra-i
śīta-vṛṣṭi-vātāgnite mahā-duḥkha pāi

TRANSLATION

The boy showed Mādhavendra Purī the bush and said, “I reside in this bush, and because of this I suffer very much from severe cold, rain showers, winds and scorching heat.

TEXT 37

grāmera loka āni’ āmā kāḍha’ kuñja haite
parvata-upari lañā rākha bhāla-mate

TRANSLATION

“Please bring the people of the village and get them to take Me out of this bush. Then have them situate Me nicely on top of the hill.

TEXT 38

eka maṭha kari’ tāhāṅ karaha sthāpana
bahu śītala jale kara śrī-aṅga mārjana

TRANSLATION

“Please construct a temple on top of that hill,” the boy continued, “and install Me in that temple. After this, wash Me with large quantities of cold water so that My body may be cleansed.

TEXT 39

bahu-dina tomāra patha kari nirīkṣaṇa
kabe āsi’ mādhava āmā karibe sevana

TRANSLATION

“For many days I have been observing you, and I have been wondering, ‘When will Mādhavendra Purī come here to serve Me?’

TEXT 40

tomāra prema-vaśe kari’ sevā aṅgīkāra
darśana diyā nistāriba sakala saṁsāra

TRANSLATION

“I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me. Thus I shall appear, and by My audience all fallen souls will be delivered.

TEXT 41

‘śrī-gopāla’ nāma mora, — govardhana-dhārī
vajrera sthāpita, āmi ihāṅ adhikārī

TRANSLATION

“My name is Gopāla. I am the lifter of Govardhana Hill. I was installed by Vajra, and here I am the authority.

TEXT 42

śaila-upari haite āmā kuñje lukāñā
mleccha-bhaye sevaka mora gela palāñā

TRANSLATION

“When the Muslims attacked, the priest who was serving Me hid Me in this bush in the jungle. Then he ran away out of fear of the attack.

TEXT 43

sei haite rahi āmi ei kuñja-sthāne
bhāla haila āilā āmā kāḍha sāvadhāne

TRANSLATION

“Since the priest went away, I have been staying in this bush. It is very good that you have come here. Now just remove Me with care.”

TEXT 44

eta bali’ se-bālaka antardhāna kaila
jāgiyā mādhava-purī vicāra karila

TRANSLATION

After saying this, the boy disappeared. Then Mādhavendra Purī woke up and began to consider his dream.

TEXT 45

śrī-kṛṣṇake dekhinu muñi nārinu cinite
eta bali’ premāveśe paḍilā bhūmite

TRANSLATION

Mādhavendra Purī began to lament, “I saw Lord Kṛṣṇa directly, but I could not recognize Him!” Thus he fell down on the ground in ecstatic love.

TEXT 46

kṣaṇeka rodana kari, mana kaila dhīra
ājñā-pālana lāgi’ ha-ilā susthira

TRANSLATION

Mādhavendra Purī cried for some time, but then he fixed his mind on executing the order of Gopāla. Thus he became tranquil.

COMMENT

So, he fell down on the ground and was weeping in separation from Krishna but then he remembered the instructions of Krishna and fixing his mind on the instructions and getting ready to execute them he became peaceful.

TEXT 47

prātaḥ-snāna kari’ purī grāma-madhye gelā
saba loka ekatra kari’ kahite lāgilā

TRANSLATION

After taking his morning bath, Mādhavendra Purī entered the village and assembled all the people. Then he spoke as follows.

TEXT 48

grāmera īśvara tomāra — govardhana-dhārī
kuñje āche, cala, tāṅre bāhira ye kari

TRANSLATION

“The proprietor of this village, Govardhana-dhārī, is lying in the bushes. Let us go there and rescue Him from that place.

TEXT 49

atyanta niviḍa kuñja, — nāri praveśite
kuṭhāri kodāli laha dvāra karate

TRANSLATION

“The bushes are very dense, and we will not be able to enter the jungle. Therefore take choppers and spades to clear the way.”

TEXT 50

śuni’ loka tāṅra saṅge calilā hariṣe
kuñja kāṭi’ dvāra kari’ karilā praveśe

TRANSLATION

After hearing this, all the people accompanied Mādhavendra Purī with great pleasure. According to his directions, they cut down bushes, cleared a path and entered the jungle.

TEXT 51

ṭhākura dekhila māṭī-tṛṇe ācchādita
dekhi’ saba loka haila ānande vismita

TRANSLATION

When they saw the Deity covered with dirt and grass, they were all struck with wonder and pleasure.

TEXT 52

āvaraṇa dūra kari’ karila vidite
mahā-bhārī ṭhākura — keha nāre cālāite

TRANSLATION

After they had cleansed the body of the Deity, some of them said, “The Deity is very heavy. No single person can move Him.”

TEXT 53

mahā-mahā-baliṣṭha loka ekatra kariñā
parvata-upari gela purī ṭhākura lañā

TRANSLATION

Since the Deity was very heavy, some of the stronger men assembled to carry Him to the top of the hill. Mādhavendra Purī also went there.

TEXT 54

pātharera siṁhāsane ṭhākura vasāila
baḍa eka pāthara pṛṣṭhe avalamba dila

TRANSLATION

A big stone was made into a throne, and the Deity was installed upon it. Another big stone was placed behind the Deity for support.

COMMENT

Then Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes the installation of the deity but because we want to do parikramā, we won’t read more now. But here are two pictures after taking bath at Govinda Kuṇḍa. Madhavendra Puri sat beneath the tree to take his evening rest while he was sitting beneath the tree an unknown cowherd boy came with a pot of milk. Then we didn’t read the full story but here is a picture of the deity on the stones at the time of the installation. So now, we will sing some prayers to Govardhana Hill. Govardhana-aṣṭaka, eight prayers glorifying Govardhana Hill by Srila Visvanatha Chakravarthy Thakura.

TEXT 1

krsna-prasadena samasta-saila-

samrajyam apnoti ca vairino ‘pi

sakrasya yah prapa balim sa saksad

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“May Govardhana hill, which by Krishna’s mercy became the king of all mountains and received the respectful tribute of its arch enemy Indra fulfill my desire.”

COMMENT

So, Govardhana hill is called sarvabista pradata, the fulfiller of all desires and here Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is remembering Govardhana Hill and the various pastimes which took place at Govardhana hill. So, when he asks Govardhana hill to fulfill his desires his desire, his that he should see these pastimes, he should realize these pastimes and serve in them. These are desire of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

TEXT 2

sva-prestha-hastambuja-saukumarya

sukhanubhuter ati-bhumi-vrtteh

mahendra-vajrahatim apy ajanan

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“As it was held above the earth it became so filled with happiness by experiencing the softness of its beloved Krishna’s hand, it did not even know it was being struck by Indra’s thunderbolt. May Govardhana hill fulfill my desire.”

COMMENT

So Srila Rupa Gosvami has taken the meanings of various Sanskrit words and define them very analytically in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu and Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi. So, one of the stages of ecstatic love of Godhead or one of the conditions of ecstatic love of Godhead is called raga. Raga is defined as intense absorption in the object of love, complete absorption in it. But Rupa Gosvami has given a further definition that in the condition of raga, the devotee if he is in the association of Krishna, he experiences the greatest calamity as the greatest happiness, and if he is in separation from Krishna, he experiences the greatest happiness as the greatest calamity. So, Govardhana Hill was being attacked by the thunderbolts of Indra but he didn’t even feel it, he didn’t even notice it because he was in so much ecstasy being touched by the lotus hands of Krishna.

TEXT 3

yatraiva krsno vrsabhanu-putrya

danam grhitum kalaham vitene

sruteh sprha yatra mahaty atah sri

govardhano me disatam abhistam

COMMENT

This verse is about the pastime which took place in the area where we are situated now, dāna-ghātī.

TRANSLATION

“Trying to collect a toll, Krishna quarreled there with King Vrishabhanu’s daughter, the personified Vedas yearned to listen to that quarrel. May Govardhana hill fulfill my desire.”

COMMENT

So, Srila Rupa Gosvami has written one book about the dāna-kelī-līlā called dāna-kelī-kamodinī. And Raghunatha dasa Gosvami also wrote one book called dāna-kelī-cintāmaṇi. So, the pastime took place nearby here, we are considered in the area, dāna-ghātī.

TEXT 4

snatva sarah svasu samira-hasti

yatraiva nipadi-paraga-dhulih

alolayan khelati caru sa sri

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“Living in a nearby lake, the elephant of a pleasant breeze covered with pollen of kadamba and other flowers gracefully placed there. May Govardhana hill fulfill my desire.”

TEXT 5

kasturikabhih sayitam kim atrety

uham prabhoh svasya muhur vitanvan

naisargika-sviya-sila-sugandhair

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“Is the sweet fragrance at Govardhana, the fragrance of the musk deer who relax there. Is it the fragrance of Lord Krishna who enjoys pastimes there or is it the natural fragrance of Govardhana Hill.”

COMMENT

So, in spiritual Vraja, all of the things or all of the persons have their own natural fragrances. So, Krishna has his fragrance, Srimati Radharani has her fragrance, Govardhana Hill has his fragrance. So here, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is smelling some wonderful scent at Govardhana Hill and he is perplexed: is he smelling the wonderful scent of the musk deer or is he smelling the scent of Krishna’s body or is he smelling the natural scent of Govardhana Hill.

TEXT 6

vamsa-pratidhvany-anusara-vartma

didrksavo yatra harim harinyah

yantyo labhante na hi vismitah sa

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“Searching there for Lord Hari on the path of his flute music, the astonished deer do not find him. May Govardhana hill fulfill my desire.”

COMMENT

So sometimes, the wind blows through the bamboo on Govardhana Hill and makes a sound like a flute then the deer hear the sound and they think that Krishna Is playing His flute and they go to Govardhana Hill and look for Krishna but they can’t find Him.

TEXT 7

yatraiva gangam anu navi radham

arohya madhye tu nimagna-naukah

krsno hi radhanugalo babhau sa

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“As the divine couple traveled on the Ganges there, the boat began to sink in the middle. Krishna was splendidly handsome as Radha clung to his neck. May Govardhana hill fulfill my desire.”

COMMENT

So, another wonderful pastime at Govardhana hill took place on Manasi-ganga. Did you see it? As you know Govardhana Hill is very long and the only place to cross is in the middle where there is a passage. So, in dāna-kelī-līlā, the gopīs had heard that there was a sacrifice at Govinda Kund. So, they wanted to bring milk and yogurt and ghee for the sacrifice. At the same time, Lord Krishna heard that the gopīs were coming with milk and yogurt and ghee to the sacrifice, so He and His friends went to dāna-ghātī to meet the gopīs and enjoy some play with the gopīs. So, when the gopīs wanted to pass, Krishna said that you cannot pass, you are carrying so much butter and yogurt and ghee and milk, you have to pay tax. Certainly, you are going to sell your commodities and make a big profit and you just can’t keep it all for yourself, you have to give some of the profit to the king. Who is the King? Kamsa was the king, so Krishna presented Himself that He was the test collector on behalf of the kings.

So naturally, the gopīs didn’t want to pay any tax and they pretended as if they didn’t like the fact that Krishna was obstructing their way and interfering with their going to the sacrifice. So, there were many joking words exchanged between Krishna and His friends especially Madhumangala and the gopīs. So, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that the joking words exchanged between Krishna and the gopīs is so wonderful that even the personified Vedas want to hear it. In other words, it is much more than the Vedic hymn.

Then in the other pastime, Srimati Radharani and the gopīs wanted to cross Manasi-ganga and it was late in the evening and they were afraid that they will get late and there were clouds hovering above and there was threat of rain, and fortunately or unfortunately, there was only one boat man, Krishna, in the guise of a boat man. So, they said, “Oh, boat man, we want to cross.” He said, “Oh, it is so late, it is almost dark now and I’m so tired, I don’t think I can take it.” They said, “Oh no, we have to reach home, it is almost dark and it may rain at any time. So, please take us.” He said, “My boat is also so old, it is very rickety and faulty and there may be holes in it. I don’t know if my boat can cross the lake.” But the gopīs said, “Oh boat man, boat man, please take us, please take us.”

So, he said that, “Well, my boat cannot carry much weight, so whoever is the leader amongst you, let her come first and then one by one, I will come and carry the others across.” So, the leader, do you know who is the leader? So, Srimati Radhika got on the boat and when they were about halfway across the lake, the boat began to fill with water and Srimati Radharani became panic. Actually, she became so frightened, she didn’t know what to do and she knew that Krishna could save her but He was pretending that there was nothing He could do.

He said, “Do you know how to swim?” She said, “No, I don’t know how to swim.” “You don’t know how to swim?” “No, I don’t know how to swim.” “Oh, because the boat is about to sink and we will have to swim.” Then she became so frightened that she embraced Lord Krishna and said, “Oh boat man, boat man, please save me. I will pay whatever fee you want but please take me safely to the other side.”

TEXT 8

vina bhavet kim hari-dasa-varya-

padasrayambhaktir atah srayami

yam eva saprema nijesayoh sri-

govardhano me disatam abhistam

“Without taking shelter of the feet of the hill that is the best of Lord Hari’s servants and full of love for the divine king and queen, how is it possible to attain pure love of Godhead. May Govardhana hill fulfill my desire.”

COMMENT

So here, he says that without taking shelter of the feet of the hill that is the best of Lord Hari’s servants that means Govardhana Hill, who is full of love for the divine couple, how is it possible for anyone to develop prema-bhakti. Then he says, may Govardhana fulfill my desire.

TEXT 9

etat pathed yo hari-dasa-varya-

mahanubhavastakam ardra-cetah

sri-radhika-madhavayoh padabja-

dasyam sa vinded acirena saksat

“May the reader of these eight verses glorifying Lord Hari’s greatest servant, his heart melting with pure love, quickly attained direct service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Madhava.”

COMMENT

So, sa-dāsyaṁ means service, sa means he. That means the devotee who reads the prayers or hears the prayers, vinded: finds, acirena: quickly, sakṣat: direct, means he will very quickly attain direct service to sri-rādhikā-mādhavayo-pāda, the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.

Are there any questions?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 00:48:10]

Giriraj Swami: She may know but she may pretend that she doesn’t know.