Verse Text
kṛṣṇasya pūrṇatamatā vyaktābhūd gokulāntare |
pūrṇatā pūrṇataratā dvārakā-mathurādiṣu ||223||
Translation
In Gokula, Kṛṣṇa appears as most perfect. In Dvārakā, Mathurā and other places, He appears as perfect and more perfect.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The perfection in Gokula includes fullness in majesty as illustrated by the following:
tāvat sarve vatsa-pālāḥ paśyato ’jasya tat-kṣaṇāt
vyadṛśyanta ghana-śyāmāḥ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasaḥ
Then, while Lord Brahmā looked on, all the calves and the boys tending them immediately appeared to have complexions the color of bluish rain clouds and to be dressed in yellow silken garments. SB 10.13.46
The perfection of Kṛṣṇa in Gokula also includes fullness in sweetness:
nandaḥ kim akarod brahman śreya evaṁ mahodayam
yaśodā ca mahā-bhāgā papau yasyāḥ stanaṁ hariḥ
O learned brāhmaṇa, mother Yaśodā’s breast milk was sucked by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What past auspicious activities did she and Nanda Mahārāja perform to achieve such perfection in ecstatic love? SB 10.8.46
Kṛṣṇa in Gokula also includes fullness of mercy:
aho bakī yaṁ stana-kāla-kūṭaṁ jighāṁsayāpāyayad apy asādhvī
lebhe gatiṁ dhātry-ucitāṁ tato ’nyaṁ kaṁ vā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajema
Alas, how shall I take shelter of one more merciful than He who granted the position of mother to a she-demon [Pūtanā] although she was unfaithful and she prepared deadly poison to be sucked from her breast? SB 3.2.23
Manifestations in places other than Dvārakā and Mathurā (indicated by the word ādi) are not classified as more perfect or perfect in this statement, since no correlation of gradations have been given for these places. Rather the graduations of perfect and more perfect should be applied appropriately to other places (such as Avanti, Kurukṣetra, and Hastināpura) according to Kṛṣṇa’s particular display of mercy, powers and sweetness at these places.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
When He is in Goloka Vṛndāvana His transcendental qualities are exhibited as most perfect, when He is in Mathurā He exhibits His qualities as very perfect, and when He is in Dvārakā He exhibits His qualities as perfect.