॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ द्व्यशीतितमोऽध्यायः - ८२ ॥
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Discourse LXXXII
Meeting of the Vṛṣṇis with the Gopas and Gopīs (of Vṛndāvana) (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
अथैकदा द्वारवत्यां वसतो रामकृष्णयोः ।
सूर्योपरागः सुमहानासीत्कल्पक्षये यथा ॥ १॥
तं ज्ञात्वा मनुजा राजन् पुरस्तादेव सर्वतः ।
समन्तपञ्चकं क्षेत्रं ययुः श्रेयोविधित्सया ॥ २॥
निःक्षत्रियां महीं कुर्वन् रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः ।
नृपाणां रुधिरौघेण यत्र चक्रे महाह्रदान् ॥ ३॥
ईजे च भगवान् रामो यत्रास्पृष्टोऽपि कर्मणा ।
लोकस्य ग्राहयन्नीशो यथान्योऽघापनुत्तये ॥ ४॥
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Śrī Śuka began again: Parikṣit, once upon a time when Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Śrī Balarāma were (thus) residing in Dwārakā, there occurred a total eclipse of the sun, which (ordinarily) occurs at the time of universal destruction. (1)
Having come to know of it (from astrologers) beforehand, people thronged from all sides to the sacred spot called Samanta-pañcaka (Kurukṣetra) with the object of earning merit or blessedness. (2)
That is the place where, while exterminating the Kṣatriyas on earth, Paraśurāma, the foremost warrior (of his time), caused five big tanks to be filled with their blood. (3)
The almighty Lord Paraśurāma also performed a sacrifice there for the expiation of sin. Though ever untouched by good or evil Karma, He did it like an ordinary mortal in order to set an example before the world. (4) (1-4)
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महत्यां तीर्थयात्रायां तत्रागन् भारतीः प्रजाः ।
वृष्णयश्च तथाक्रूरवसुदेवाहुकादयः ॥ ५॥
ययुर्भारत तत्क्षेत्रं स्वमघं क्षपयिष्णवः ।
गदप्रद्युम्नसाम्बाद्याः सुचन्द्रशुकसारणैः ॥ ६॥
आस्तेऽनिरुद्धो रक्षायां कृतवर्मा च यूथपः ।
ते रथैर्देवधिष्ण्याभैर्हयैश्च तरलप्लवैः ॥ ७॥
गजैर्नदद्भिरभ्राभैर्नृभिर्विद्याधरद्युभिः ।
व्यरोचन्त महातेजाः पथि काञ्चनमालिनः ॥ ८॥
दिव्यस्रग्वस्त्रसन्नाहाः कलत्रैः खेचरा इव ।
तत्र स्नात्वा महाभागा उपोष्य सुसमाहिताः ॥ ९॥
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुर्धेनूर्वासःस्रग्रुक्ममालिनीः ।
रामह्रदेषु विधिवत्पुनराप्लुत्य वृष्णयः ॥ १०॥
ददुः स्वन्नं द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः कृष्णे नो भक्तिरस्त्विति ।
स्वयं च तदनुज्ञाता वृष्णयः कृष्णदेवताः ॥ ११॥
भुक्त्वोपविविशुः कामं स्निग्धच्छायाङ्घ्रिपाङ्घ्रिषु ।
तत्रागतांस्ते ददृशुः सुहृत्सम्बन्धिनो नृपान् ॥ १२॥
मत्स्योशीनरकौसल्यविदर्भकुरुसृञ्जयान् ।
काम्बोजकैकयान्मद्रान् कुन्तीनानर्तकेरलान् ॥ १३॥
अन्यांश्चैवात्मपक्षीयान् परांश्च शतशो नृप ।
नन्दादीन् सुहृदो गोपान् गोपीश्चोत्कण्ठिताश्चिरम् ॥ १४॥
अन्योन्यसन्दर्शनहर्षरंहसा
प्रोत्फुल्लहृद्वक्त्रसरोरुहश्रियः ।
आश्लिष्य गाढं नयनैः स्रवज्जला
हृष्यत्त्वचो रुद्धगिरो ययुर्मुदम् ॥ १५॥
स्त्रियश्च संवीक्ष्य मिथोऽतिसौहृद-
स्मितामलापाङ्गदृशोऽभिरेभिरे ।
स्तनैः स्तनान् कुङ्कुमपङ्करूषिता-
न्निहत्य दोर्भिः प्रणयाश्रुलोचनाः ॥ १६॥
ततोऽभिवाद्य ते वृद्धान् यविष्ठैरभिवादिताः ।
स्वागतं कुशलं पृष्ट्वा चक्रुः कृष्णकथा मिथः ॥ १७॥
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Parikṣit, on this great occasion for pilgrimage people from all parts of India, intent to wash away their sin, assembled at Kuruḵṣetra. There came Yadus like Akrūra, Vasudeva and Ugrasena (among the elders), and Gada, Pradyumna, Sāmba and others (among the younger generation). (Pradyumna's son) Aniruddha and Kṛtavarmā, the Yādava general, alongwith Sucandra, Śuka and Sāraṇa were left (at Dvārakā) for the protection of the city. The Yadus came all the way with great pomp and splendour. Adorned with necklaces of gold, garlands of celestial flowers and excellent clothes, and protected by armour, they looked like gods as they proceeded with their wives in chariots shining like aerial cars, on horses springing like waves, and on trumpeting elephants appearing like thundering clouds, and in palanquins, etc., carried by foot-men shining like Vidyādharas. (5—8)
(Reaching Kuruḵṣetra,) the (blessed) Yadus took their bath in the sacred waters, observed a fast according to the rule (during the eclipse) and made gifts of cows in right earnest to the Brāhmaṇas adorning them with clothes, garlands and chains of gold. (On the conclusion of the eclipse) they again took their bath in the tanks associated with the name of Paraśurāma, and thereafter fed deserving Brāhmaṇas with dainty dishes. Their object in doing all this was to strengthen their devotion to Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa's feet. (Then) the Yadus, who regarded Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa alone as their deity, broke their fast with the permission of the Brāhmaṇas and lay down to rest at pleasure under the cool shade of umbrageous trees. (After taking repose for a while) they began to visit their friends and relations among the princes that had congregated there on this occasion. (9—12)
Kings of Matsya, Uśinara, Kosala, Vidarbha, Kuru, Sṛñjaya, Kāmboja, Kekaya, Madra, Kunti, Ānarta, Kerala, and many other principalities, who were either their allies or enemies, had assembled there in their hundreds, O Parikṣit! Besides, Nanda and the other Gopas, who were (great) friends of the Yādavas, and the Gopis, who had been long yearning to see Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, had also arrived there. (The Yadus saw them all one after another.) (13-14)
The joy they derived from one another's sight opened the buds of their heart. With faces glowing like lotuses in full blossom and with tears trickling down their eyes, they clasped one another in close embrace. Their hair stood on end, their voices got choked with emotion and all were transported with joy. (15)
(Like the men) the women also greeted and looked at one another with smiles and side long glances full of love and folded one another in their arms. While doing so they pressed to their bosoms the bosoms of another smeared with saffron-paste, and tears of love stood in their eyes. (16)
The younger ones bowed to the elders, and were themselves bowed to by those still younger, and welcoming one another and enquiring after their mutual welfare, they related to one another (enchanting) stories of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (17) (5-17)
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पृथा भ्रातॄन् स्वसॄर्वीक्ष्य तत्पुत्रान् पितरावपि ।
भ्रातृपत्नीर्मुकुन्दं च जहौ सङ्कथया शुचः ॥ १८॥
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(Parikṣit!) Kuntī, when she saw her brothers and sisters with their children, as also her parents, sisters-in-law and Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, had her grief soothed in conversation with them. (18) (18)
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कुन्त्युवाच ।
आर्य भ्रातरहं मन्ये आत्मानमकृताशिषम् ।
यद्वा आपत्सु मद्वार्तां नानुस्मरथ सत्तमाः ॥ १९॥
सुहृदो ज्ञातयः पुत्रा भ्रातरः पितरावपि ।
नानुस्मरन्ति स्वजनं यस्य दैवमदक्षिणम् ॥ २०॥
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Kuntī (addressing Vasudeva) said : My brother, I find myself extremely unfortunate. Not a single desire of mine has been fulfilled. What a pity that even noble brothers like you should forget me during my calamities! (19)
I am now convinced that friends, relations, sons, brothers and even parents forget one on whom fortune does not smile. (Why should I blame you for this?) (20) (19-20)
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वसुदेव उवाच ।
अम्ब मास्मानसूयेथा दैवक्रीडनकान् नरान् ।
ईशस्य हि वशे लोकः कुरुते कार्यतेऽथ वा ॥ २१॥
कंसप्रतापिताः सर्वे वयं याता दिशं दिशम् ।
एतर्ह्येव पुनः स्थानं दैवेनासादिताः स्वसः ॥ २२॥
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Vasudeva replied: Dear sister, do not find fault with us. We, mortals, are nothing but toys in the hands of Providence. The world is subject to the control of the Supreme Ruler, and everyone acts and is made to act according to His will. (21)
Sister, you are aware how harassed by Kaṁsa, we had to flee from one quarter to another. It is only now that we have been restored to a secure position by Providence. (22) (21-22)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
वसुदेवोग्रसेनाद्यैर्यदुभिस्तेऽर्चिता नृपाः ।
आसन्नच्युतसन्दर्शपरमानन्दनिर्वृताः ॥ २३॥
भीष्मो द्रोणोऽम्बिकापुत्रो गान्धारी ससुता तथा ।
सदाराः पाण्डवाः कुन्ती सञ्जयो विदुरः कृपः ॥ २४॥‘
कुन्तिभोजो विराटश्च भीष्मको नग्नजिन्महान् ।
पुरुजिद्द्रुपदः शल्यो धृष्टकेतुः सकाशिराट् ॥ २५॥
दमघोषो विशालाक्षो मैथिलो मद्रकेकयौ ।
युधामन्युः सुशर्मा च ससुता बाह्लिकादयः ॥ २६॥
राजानो ये च राजेन्द्र युधिष्ठिरमनुव्रताः ।
श्रीनिकेतं वपुः शौरेः सस्त्रीकं वीक्ष्य विस्मिताः ॥ २७॥
अथ ते रामकृष्णाभ्यां सम्यक् प्राप्तसमर्हणाः ।
प्रशशंसुर्मुदा युक्ता वृष्णीन् कृष्णपरिग्रहान् ॥ २८॥
अहो भोजपते यूयं जन्मभाजो नृणामिह ।
यत्पश्यथासकृत्कृष्णं दुर्दर्शमपि योगिनाम् ॥ २९॥
यद्विश्रुतिः श्रुतिनुतेदमलं पुनाति
पादावनेजनपयश्च वचश्च शास्त्रम् ।
भूः कालभर्जितभगापि यदङ्घ्रिपद्म-
स्पर्शोत्थशक्तिरभिवर्षति नोऽखिलार्थान् ॥ ३०॥
तद्दर्शनस्पर्शनानुपथप्रजल्प-
शय्यासनाशनसयौनसपिण्डबन्धः ।
येषां गृहे निरयवर्त्मनि वर्ततां वः
स्वर्गापवर्गविरमः स्वयमास विष्णुः ॥ ३१॥
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Śrī Śuka resumed : (Parikṣit!) (all) the kings present there were duly honoured by Vasudeva, Ugrasena and the other Yadus, and they felt supremely delighted and gratified at the sight of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (23)
Parikṣit! Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī with her sons (Duryodhana and others), the Pāṇḍavas with their consorts, Kuntī, Śrījaya, Vidura, Kṛpācārya, Kuntibhoja, Vīrāṭa, Bhīṣmaka, the great king Nagnajit, Purujit, Drupada, Śalya, Dhṛṣṭaketu alongwith the king of Kāśī, Damaghoṣa, Viśālākṣa, the king of Mithilā, the kings of Madra and Kekaya, Yudhāmanyu and Suśarmā, Bāhlika and others with their sons—these and other kings, who had accepted the suzerainty of Yudhiṣṭhira, were astonished to see the person of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the abode of all excellence and beauty, together with His consorts. (24—27)
Śrī Balarāma and Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa duly honoured them all, and they in their turn joyfully extolled (the good fortune of) the Yadus, who were the kinsfolk of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and lived under His care. (28)
(Addressing Ugrasena,) they said: "O king of Bhojas! of all men in this world you Yadus alone have realized the fruit of your existence inasmuch as you constantly have before your eyes Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who can rarely be seen even by the greatest of Yogis. (29)
The glory of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which is sung by the Vedas (with such zest), the Gaṅgā water that washes His feet and His utterances in the form of the scripture go a long way in purifying the world. The earth had of late been robbed of its splendour by Time; its potentialities have now been revived by the mere touch of His lotus-like feet, and it has once more begun to yield all the objects of our desire. (30)
You Yadus have both marital and lineal relationship with Śrī Kṛṣṇa. You constantly see Him, touch His sacred person, walk with Him, chat with Him, sit close to Him, eat with Him and even sleep with Him. Even though you lead the life of a householder, which ordinarily paves the way to hell, you have constantly in your midst all-pervading Lord Viṣṇu Himself, whose very sight puts an end to the craving not only for heaven but for salvation itself." (31) (23-31)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
नन्दस्तत्र यदून् प्राप्तान् ज्ञात्वा कृष्णपुरोगमान् ।
तत्रागमद्वृतो गोपैरनःस्थार्थैर्दिदृक्षया ॥ ३२॥
तं दृष्ट्वा वृष्णयो हृष्टास्तन्वः प्राणमिवोत्थिताः ।
परिषस्वजिरे गाढं चिरदर्शनकातराः ॥ ३३॥
वसुदेवः परिष्वज्य सम्प्रीतः प्रेमविह्वलः ।
स्मरन् कंसकृतान् क्लेशान् पुत्रन्यासं च गोकुले ॥ ३४॥
कृष्णरामौ परिष्वज्य पितरावभिवाद्य च ।
न किञ्चनोचतुः प्रेम्णा साश्रुकण्ठौ कुरूद्वह ॥ ३५॥
तावात्मासनमारोप्य बाहुभ्यां परिरभ्य च ।
यशोदा च महाभागा सुतौ विजहतुः शुचः ॥ ३६॥
रोहिणी देवकी चाथ परिष्वज्य व्रजेश्वरीम् ।
स्मरन्त्यौ तत्कृतां मैत्रीं बाष्पकण्ठ्यौ समूचतुः ॥ ३७॥
का विस्मरेत वां मैत्रीमनिवृत्तां व्रजेश्वरि ।
अवाप्याप्यैन्द्रमैश्वर्यं यस्या नेह प्रतिक्रिया ॥ ३८॥
एतावदृष्टपितरौ युवयोः स्म पित्रोः
सम्प्रीणनाभ्युदयपोषणपालनानि ।
प्राप्योषतुर्भवति पक्ष्म ह यद्वदक्ष्णोः
न्यस्तावकुत्र च भयौ न सतां परः स्वः ॥ ३९॥
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Śrī Śuka continued : (Parikṣit,) when (the celebrated Gopa) Nanda learnt that Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the other Yadus had come to Kuruṣetra, he too came there together with other Gopas to see them with abundant supplies of provisions in their carts. (32)
The Yadus were delighted to see Nanda (and his companions). They stood up to receive him, even as dead bodies are spurred into activity when infused with new life. Having been anxious for long to meet him, they embraced him tightly. (33)
Vasudeva embraced Nanda with great delight and was overwhelmed with emotion as he recollected (one by one) the persecutions to which he had been subjected by Karīsa, and how he had been compelled to place his sons in Nanda's keeping at Gokula. (34)
Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Śrī Balarāma embraced their foster-parents Nanda and Yaśodā and bowed to them. Parikṣit, overwhelmed with emotion, they could not utter a word as their throats were choked with tears. (35)
The blessed Yaśodā and Nanda, too, made their foster-sons sit on their lap and folded them in their arms. This removed the agony of their heart (caused by the long separation from their children, the apples of their eyes.) (36)
Rohiṇi and Devaki too embraced Yaśodā, and remembering her friendly behaviour towards them spoke to her in faltering words with their throats choked with tears:—(37)
"Yaśodā, we can never forget the continued friendship you have showed to us. It is not possible for us to repay that debt, even if we obtain the fortune of Indra, the ruler of paradise. (Can anyone be so ungrateful as to forget that service of yours?) (38)
When Śrī Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa had not even seen their parents and their father left them under your care, you protected them even as the eye-lashes protect the eyes. You gave them nourishment, protection and loving caresses and performed propitiatory rites for their welfare. In fact, you did all the duty of parents to them. Under your care, they had no cause of fear from anyone. (It was but meet and proper for you to treat them as your own children, for) noble souls like you make no distinction between one who is their own and one who is not so. ( O consort of Nanda! you and your husband both are really great souls.") (39) (32-39)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
गोप्यश्च कृष्णमुपलभ्य चिरादभीष्टं
यत्प्रेक्षणे दृशिषु पक्ष्मकृतं शपन्ति ।
दृग्भिर्हृदीकृतमलं परिरभ्य सर्वा-
स्तद्भावमापुरपि नित्ययुजां दुरापम् ॥ ४०॥
भगवांस्तास्तथाभूता विविक्त उपसङ्गतः ।
आश्लिष्यानामयं पृष्ट्वा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४१॥
अपि स्मरथ नः सख्यः स्वानामर्थचिकीर्षया ।
गतांश्चिरायिताञ्छत्रुपक्षक्षपणचेतसः ॥ ४२॥
अप्यवध्यायथास्मान् स्विदकृतज्ञाविशङ्कया ।
नूनं भूतानि भगवान् युनक्ति वियुनक्ति च ॥ ४३॥
वायुर्यथा घनानीकं तृणं तूलं रजांसि च ।
संयोज्याक्षिपते भूयस्तथा भूतानि भूतकृत् ॥ ४४॥
मयि भक्तिर्हि भूतानाममृतत्वाय कल्पते ।
दिष्ट्या यदासीन्मत्स्नेहो भवतीनां मदापनः ॥ ४५॥
अहं हि सर्वभूतानामादिरन्तोऽन्तरं बहिः ।
भौतिकानां यथा खं वार्भूर्वायुर्ज्योतिरङ्गनाः ॥ ४६॥
एवं ह्येतानि भूतानि भूतेष्वात्माऽऽत्मना ततः ।
उभयं मय्यथ परे पश्यताभातमक्षरे ॥ ४७॥
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Śrī Śuka went on : (Parikṣit ! I have already told you that the highest object of the Gopis' love was Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa.) When seeing Him, they used to curse the Creator for having provided their eyes with eye-lashes (which interrupted their vision by falling every moment). Seeing the Lord, for whom they had cherished such intense longing, after such a long time, they all ushered Him into their heart through ( the gateway of) the eyes and holding Him in close embrace mentally became one with Him. The state of oneness with the Lord attained by them through Love was not within the easy reach of even those who are ever united with Him through meditation. (40)
When the Almighty Lord (Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa) found the Gopis in that state (of absorption), He saw them in private, embraced them, enquired after their health and smilingly said as follows:—(41)
" (Dear) friends, for the service of our people, We had to go (out of Vraja and leaving friends like you) had to engage ourselves in destroying enemies. Do you still remember Us who have been out of sight for a long time? (42)
I hope you do not entertain a low opinion of us, considering us as ungrateful? (You will be unfair to Me, if you do so.) It is God's will that unites or disunites beings. (43)
Just as the wind brings together or scatters clouds, blades of grass, flakes of cotton, particles of dust, even so the Creator brings together or scatters beings of His creation. (44)
Friends, it is a matter for congratulation that you have developed that ( transcendental) Love for Me, which (automatically) leads to My realization; and I need not tell you that loving devotion to Me brings immortality to all who practise it. (45)
I am the beginning and end of all beings and pervade them both inside and outside, even as the elements, viz., the earth, water, air, fire and ether constitute the beginning and end of all material objects and pervade them both inside and outside, O fair ones! (46)
These five elements have entered into the constitution of all physical bodies as their material causes, whereas the spirit or self resides in them as the enjoyer or the individual self. I am the Ego Absolute beyond them both. In fact, both these appear in Me. " (47) (40-47)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
अध्यात्मशिक्षया गोप्य एवं कृष्णेन शिक्षिताः ।
तदनुस्मरणध्वस्तजीवकोशास्तमध्यगन् ॥ ४८॥
आहुश्च ते नलिननाभ पदारविन्दं
योगेश्वरैर्हृदि विचिन्त्यमगाधबोधैः ।
संसारकूपपतितोत्तरणावलम्बं
गेहञ्जुषामपि मनस्युदियात्सदा नः ॥ ४९॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे वृष्णिगोप-
सङ्गमो नाम द्व्यशीतितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ८२॥
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Śrī Śuka continued : (Parikṣit!) Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa thus instructed the Gopis in spiritual lore. Revolving that in their mind, again and again, the Gopis got rid of their ego-body and became one with the Supreme Self. (48)
They said, " O Lord, from whose navel sprung the lotus where Brahmā, the creator, took His birth, the greatest of Yogis, possessed of infinite wisdom, contemplate on Your lotus-like feet in their hearts. Your feet alone serve as the support to enable people fallen in the abyss of mundane existence to get out of it. (O Lord,) occupied as we are with our household duties, kindly bless us that Your lotus-feet may ever remain present before our mental eyes, ( so that we may never forget them even for a moment)." (49)
Thus ends the eighty-second discourse entitled "The Meeting of the Vṛṣṇis with the Gopas and Gopis of Vraja", in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahārīsa-Sarīhitā. (48-49)
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