Friday, September 23, 2011

Shri Venu Geet: Eighteenth Shloka

Shri Krishna, Balram & Gopas on Mount Govardhan

hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo yad
rama-krsna-carana-sparasa-pramodah
manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat
paniya-suyavasa-kandara-kandamulaih
(SB 10.21.18)

Mount Govardhan is Blessed Because of Shri Krishna's Touch

Meaning & Commentary by Shri Manohar Baba: Oh, it is so very distressing that we are frail and incapable of serving Krishna(with the same bala or strength as Mount Govardhan). Just look Sakhi! Sri Hari is the one who expiates sins of the entire world-Behold Mount Govardhan who is is so very fortunate, is topmost of the Lord's servitors and supreme amongst the Vaishnavas.


Cows & Gopas Rest While Krishna Looks On

Shri Krishna wanders here daily for grazing the cows along with the young gopas.That is precisely why the Mount is so elated and ecstatic on feeling the touch of Krishna lotus feet. Just look, it is being endowed with the sattvic bhava because of its love for Krishna.


Cascading Waterfalls of Govardhan

Govardhan is feeling the thrill of rapture in the form of grass which stands on end, and its cascading water bodies seem to be shedding tears of joy.


Fruit Orchards of Govardhan Serve Krishna

How does it serve Shri Krishna, the young cowherds and cows who have ventured here. Cool fragrant waterfalls cascade and offer them water to drink, and the Mount arranges green pastures for the cows to graze on. Such beautiful orchards loaded with fruit trees are blossoming all over the place because of irrigation. The Mount honours Krishna by offering several varieties of roots and fruits to the dark god.

Boulders in Mount Govardhan

As per the weather conditions, cool and warm rocks look so smooth and lovely. And caves for dalliance where beautiful ratnas are hidden, seem so majestic.


Sakhis Ardently Long for Krishna

In this manner, Govardhan is attending to the needs of Krishna in a number of ways and is blessed with great good fortune, even on being inanimate. Whereas we who are living sentient beings are not so fortunate because we can not serve Krishna in any possible way.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Shri Venu Geet: Seventeenth Shloka

A Bhil Woman


purnah pulindya urugaya-padabja-raga
sri-kunkumena dayita-stana-manditena |
tad-darsana-smara-rujas trna-rusitena
limpantya anana-kucesu jahus tad-adhim
(SB 10.21.17)

Lovable Krishna

Meaning: “O Sakhi! Why is it that we consider these *Bhilnis to be truly blessed and thoroughly contented? When they behold our lovable Krishna, an intense longing to meet Him arises in their hearts gushing with great love.

A Gopi of Vraja

Since their hearts are afflicted with love, you must listen to the recourse they take at that point of time. The saffron-musky spots which gopis, beloveds of the Supreme Lover, apply on their breasts, is affixed to the lotus feet of Krishna. And when He walks on the grass and leaves of Vrindavan, it rubs off on them as well. These fortunate Bhil women scrape the paste from the blades of grass and smear it on their breasts and faces. And thus pacify their lovelorn hearts, with this act.

Krishna Grazing Cows in Vrindavan

Commentary by Shri Manohar Baba: The commentator says that when the kumkum powder which adorns the bosom of His beloveds is transferred to Lord Krishna's feet, the beauty of His red feet is further enhanced. Early in the morning, when the dark god takes the cows for grazing, the same saffron is transferred onto the pastures of Vrindavan. Seeing that sight, these Bhilnis aroused by *smarana can not touch Krishna because of being low caste. But by taking the kumkum impressed onto the grass as well as boulders and smearing it on their faces and bosom, they appease the anguish of separation. That is why these Bhil women are supremely blessed.

Gopis Searching for Lord Krishna

Whereas we can not meet dark-hued Krishna and alleviate our pain even on being the rightful enjoyers.

*Bhilnis: women belonging to the Bhils, a tribe of central India

smarana: a concentrated practice of meditating upon God

Monday, September 19, 2011

Shri Venu Geet: Sixteenth Shloka

The Clouds are Like Krishna's Sakhas

drishtvatape vraja-pashoon sah raam gopaih

sancharayantam anu venum udiyarantam |
prema-pravrddha uditah kusumavalibhih
sakhyur vyadhat sva-vapusambuda atapatram ||
(SB 10.21.16)

Gathered Clouds & Krishna are Both Dark-Hued

Meaning: “O Sakhi! The rivers are entities of our earth and Vrindavan but just have a look at these clouds. How very fortunate are they. They have developed a *sakhya bhava' for Krishna because of having similar virtues and feelings like the dark god. Amazingly the clouds and dark-hued Krishna have exactly the same colour.

Krishna's Flute Song Sounds Like the Thundering Clouds

Supposedly Lord Krishna's pitambar (yellow silk garments) is like lightning and His flute song sounds like the thundering clouds.

Dense Clouds Shade Krishna From The Sun

For this very reason when these clouds see Shri Krishna going with Shri Balram and the young cowherds for grazing cows in the autumnal sun, love gushes forth in their hearts and they begin to float in the sky above Him. Besides, the dense gathered clouds expand their bodies into an umbrella and stretch it out over Ghanshyam their dark-hued sakha, to shade Him. Sakhi, it is not merely this act!

Clouds Drizzle Flowers on Krirshna

When they drizzle tiny raindrops on Krishna it appears as if they are offering beautiful white flowers on Him-no, no-rather it seems that they are sacrificing their entire life to Him on this pretext.



The Sakhis Long to Serve Krishna

Therefore, Sakhis the clouds who fulfil their role of the sakhya bhava to perfection, are the ones truly blessed. Whereas we can not attend to Krishmna's needs even on being His own sakhis. What a shame on us!


*sakhya bhava
(when the devotee relates to Krishna as a friend)