Chapter Nine Śrī Girirājotpatti The Birth of Śrī Girirāja

Śrī Bahulāśva said: Govardhana Hill is dear to Lord Hari. It is the king of mountains. No holy place in the earthly or heavenly planets is equal to it.

When was Govardhana Hill born from Lord Kṛṣṇa's chest? O wise and intelligent one, please tell me that. You know what is in Lord Kṛṣṇa's heart.

Śrī Nārada said: O noble-hearted king, please hear the story of Goloka's birth, a story that brings to human beings the four goals of life, a story filled with transcendental pastimes.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. He is a person. He has no beginning. He is perfect and complete. He is the master of all opulences. He is beyond the modes of nature. He is above the realm of matter.

Time has no existence in the transcendental abode where the self-effulgent Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys pastimes eternally.

O king, illusion has no power in that realm. Neither do the mahat-tattva, nor the material modes of nature have any power there. How can they? O king, the material heart, mind, intelligence and false-ego cannot enter there.

In His own abode the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form is spiritual, desired to expand, and so He manifested the form of Lord Śeṣa, who has gigantic white coils.

The Lord's realm, Goloka, is worshiped by all the worlds. A devotee who goes there never returns to the world of birth and death.

The Gaṅgā, which travels through the three material worlds, was born from the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the master of countless material universes and the ruler of the spiritual realm of Goloka.

O king, the Yamunā, the best of rivers, who wore a turban and many flower ornaments, was manifested from Lord Kṛṣṇa's left shoulder.

The splendid rāsa-dance circle, made of gold and jewels, and decorated with many ornaments, was manifested from Lord Kṛṣṇa's ankles.

mayūraiḥ ṣaṭpadair vyāptaḥ sarobhiḥ pariṣevitaḥ jāto nikuñjo jaṅghābhyāṁ śrī-kṛṣṇasya mahātmanaḥ sabhā—assembly-houses; prāṅgana—courtyards; vīthibhiḥ—with pathways; maṇḍapaiḥ—with pavilions; pariveṣṭitaḥ—filled; vasanta—springtime; mādhurya—sweetness; dhārāḥ—flooded with streams; kūjat-kokila-saṅkulaḥ—filled with cooing cuckoos; mayūraiḥ—with peacocks; ṣaṭpadaiḥ—beees; vyāptaḥ—filled; sarobhiḥ—with lakes; pariṣevitaḥ—decorated; jātaḥ—born; nikuñjaḥ—forest; jaṅghābhyām—from the legs; śrī-kṛṣṇasya—of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; mahātmanaḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Filled with assembly-houses, courtyards, pathways, pavilions, peacocks, bees, and cooing cuckoos, flooded with the sweetness of spring, and decorated with many lakes, a forest grove was manifested from Lord Kṛṣṇa's legs.

mayūraiḥ ṣaṭpadair vyāptaḥ sarobhiḥ pariṣevitaḥ jāto nikuñjo jaṅghābhyāṁ śrī-kṛṣṇasya mahātmanaḥ sabhā—assembly-houses; prāṅgana—courtyards; vīthibhiḥ—with pathways; maṇḍapaiḥ—with pavilions; pariveṣṭitaḥ—filled; vasanta—springtime; mādhurya—sweetness; dhārāḥ—flooded with streams; kūjat-kokila-saṅkulaḥ—filled with cooing cuckoos; mayūraiḥ—with peacocks; ṣaṭpadaiḥ—beees; vyāptaḥ—filled; sarobhiḥ—with lakes; pariṣevitaḥ—decorated; jātaḥ—born; nikuñjaḥ—forest; jaṅghābhyām—from the legs; śrī-kṛṣṇasya—of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; mahātmanaḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Filled with assembly-houses, courtyards, pathways, pavilions, peacocks, bees, and cooing cuckoos, flooded with the sweetness of spring, and decorated with many lakes, a forest grove was manifested from Lord Kṛṣṇa's legs.

O king, Vṛndāvana, the best of all forests, was manifested from Lord Kṛṣṇa's knees, and Līlā-sarovara lake was manifested from His thighs.

A golden place splendid with gold and jewels was manifested from His hips. Many flowering mādhavī vines were manifested from the line of hairs on His abdomen.

These vines were filled with many different birds and decorated with buzzing bees. Burdened with many flowers and fruits, they bowed down as if they were many saintly girls.

From the Lord's lotus navel many thousands of lotus flowers were manifested. They shone very splendidly in the many lakes of Lord Kṛṣṇa's transcendental abode.

From the three folds of skin at the Lord's waist was manifested a gentle and cooling breeze. From His collar were manifested the cities of Mathurā and Dvārakā.

From Lord Kṛṣṇa's arms were manifested His eight friends headed by Śrīdāmā. From the Lord's wrists Nanda was manifested, and from the Lord's hands Upananda was manifested.

O king, from Śrī Kṛṣṇa's shoulder-blades all the Vṛṣabhānus were manifested. From the hairs of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's body all the gopas were manifested.

O king of Mithilā, from Śrī Kṛṣṇa's mind were manifested the cows and bulls, the upholders of religion. From Śrī Kṛṣṇa's intelligence were manifested the grass, plants, and shrubs.

From the Lord's left shoulder was manifested a golden splendor that was His beloveds: Līlā, Śrī, Bhū, and Virajā.

One of His beloveds is Līlāvatī. The wise know His dearest beloved is Rādhā. From Rādhā's arms are manifested Her friends Lalitā and Viśākhā.

O king, Her gopī-assistants were manifested from the hairs of Rādhā's body. In this way Lord Kṛṣṇa manifested the world of Goloka.

After thus manifesting His own abode, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the perfect and complete Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of countless universes, shone with great glory in Śrī Rādhā's company there.

śrī-mālatīnāṁ su-vitāna-jālataḥ svataḥ-sravat-san-makaranda-gandhite mṛdaṅga-tāla-dhvani-venu-nādite su-kaṇṭha-gītādi-manohare pare śrī-sundarī-rāsa-rase manorame madhya-sthitaṁ koṭi-manoja-mohanam jagāda rādhā-patim urjayā girā kṛtvā kaṭākṣaṁ rasa-dāna-kauśalam tatra—there; eka—one; sundara-rāsa-maṇḍale—in the beautiful rasa-dance circle; spurat-kvaṇan-nūpura-śabda-saṅkule—filledwith the tinkling of anklets; su-cchatra—a glorious parasol; muktā-phala-dāmajā—strings of pearls; āvṛta—filled; sravad-bṛhad-bindu—with great drops; virājita—glorious; aṅgane—courtyard; śrī-mālatīnām—of malati vines; su-vitāna-jālataḥ—froma great network; svataḥ-sravat-san-makaranda—with spontaneously flowing nectar; gandhite—fragrant; mṛdaṅga-tāla-dhvani-venu-nādite—filled with the sounds of flute and mṛdaṅga; su-kaṇṭha-gītādi—with beautiful songs from beautiful necks; manohare—beautiful; pare—other; śrī-sundarī-rāsa-rase—in the nectar of the rasa dance of beautiful girlws; manorame—beautiful; madhya-sthitam—staying in the middle; koṭi-manoja-mohanam—more charming than ten million Kāmadevas; jagāda—spoke; rādhā-patim—to the aLord of Rādhā; urjayā—withg earnest; girā—words; kṛtvā—doing; kaṭākṣam—a sidelong glance; rasa-dāna-kauśalam—expert at giving nectar. One day, in the beautiful rāsa-dance circle, which was filled with the tinkling of anklets and with courtyards splendid with pearls and parasols, awnings of flowering mālatī vines fragrant with nectar honey, sounds of flute and mṛdaṅga, and beautiful singing from beautiful throats, and which was beautiful with many beautiful girls, Rādhā cast a sidelong glance at Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is more charming that many millions of Kāmadevas, and who generously gives the sweetest nectar. She spoke to Him the following words.

śrī-mālatīnāṁ su-vitāna-jālataḥ svataḥ-sravat-san-makaranda-gandhite mṛdaṅga-tāla-dhvani-venu-nādite su-kaṇṭha-gītādi-manohare pare śrī-sundarī-rāsa-rase manorame madhya-sthitaṁ koṭi-manoja-mohanam jagāda rādhā-patim urjayā girā kṛtvā kaṭākṣaṁ rasa-dāna-kauśalam tatra—there; eka—one; sundara-rāsa-maṇḍale—in the beautiful rasa-dance circle; spurat-kvaṇan-nūpura-śabda-saṅkule—filledwith the tinkling of anklets; su-cchatra—a glorious parasol; muktā-phala-dāmajā—strings of pearls; āvṛta—filled; sravad-bṛhad-bindu—with great drops; virājita—glorious; aṅgane—courtyard; śrī-mālatīnām—of malati vines; su-vitāna-jālataḥ—froma great network; svataḥ-sravat-san-makaranda—with spontaneously flowing nectar; gandhite—fragrant; mṛdaṅga-tāla-dhvani-venu-nādite—filled with the sounds of flute and mṛdaṅga; su-kaṇṭha-gītādi—with beautiful songs from beautiful necks; manohare—beautiful; pare—other; śrī-sundarī-rāsa-rase—in the nectar of the rasa dance of beautiful girlws; manorame—beautiful; madhya-sthitam—staying in the middle; koṭi-manoja-mohanam—more charming than ten million Kāmadevas; jagāda—spoke; rādhā-patim—to the aLord of Rādhā; urjayā—withg earnest; girā—words; kṛtvā—doing; kaṭākṣam—a sidelong glance; rasa-dāna-kauśalam—expert at giving nectar. One day, in the beautiful rāsa-dance circle, which was filled with the tinkling of anklets and with courtyards splendid with pearls and parasols, awnings of flowering mālatī vines fragrant with nectar honey, sounds of flute and mṛdaṅga, and beautiful singing from beautiful throats, and which was beautiful with many beautiful girls, Rādhā cast a sidelong glance at Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is more charming that many millions of Kāmadevas, and who generously gives the sweetest nectar. She spoke to Him the following words.

śrī-mālatīnāṁ su-vitāna-jālataḥ svataḥ-sravat-san-makaranda-gandhite mṛdaṅga-tāla-dhvani-venu-nādite su-kaṇṭha-gītādi-manohare pare śrī-sundarī-rāsa-rase manorame madhya-sthitaṁ koṭi-manoja-mohanam jagāda rādhā-patim urjayā girā kṛtvā kaṭākṣaṁ rasa-dāna-kauśalam tatra—there; eka—one; sundara-rāsa-maṇḍale—in the beautiful rasa-dance circle; spurat-kvaṇan-nūpura-śabda-saṅkule—filledwith the tinkling of anklets; su-cchatra—a glorious parasol; muktā-phala-dāmajā—strings of pearls; āvṛta—filled; sravad-bṛhad-bindu—with great drops; virājita—glorious; aṅgane—courtyard; śrī-mālatīnām—of malati vines; su-vitāna-jālataḥ—froma great network; svataḥ-sravat-san-makaranda—with spontaneously flowing nectar; gandhite—fragrant; mṛdaṅga-tāla-dhvani-venu-nādite—filled with the sounds of flute and mṛdaṅga; su-kaṇṭha-gītādi—with beautiful songs from beautiful necks; manohare—beautiful; pare—other; śrī-sundarī-rāsa-rase—in the nectar of the rasa dance of beautiful girlws; manorame—beautiful; madhya-sthitam—staying in the middle; koṭi-manoja-mohanam—more charming than ten million Kāmadevas; jagāda—spoke; rādhā-patim—to the aLord of Rādhā; urjayā—withg earnest; girā—words; kṛtvā—doing; kaṭākṣam—a sidelong glance; rasa-dāna-kauśalam—expert at giving nectar. One day, in the beautiful rāsa-dance circle, which was filled with the tinkling of anklets and with courtyards splendid with pearls and parasols, awnings of flowering mālatī vines fragrant with nectar honey, sounds of flute and mṛdaṅga, and beautiful singing from beautiful throats, and which was beautiful with many beautiful girls, Rādhā cast a sidelong glance at Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is more charming that many millions of Kāmadevas, and who generously gives the sweetest nectar. She spoke to Him the following words.

Śrī Rādhā said: O Lord of the worlds, if You are pleased with My love in this rāsa-dance, then there is a desire in My heart I would like to place before You.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O girl with the beautiful thighs, You may ask for whatever Your heart desires. O beloved, if I have not already given it, I will lovingly give whatever You wish.

Śrī Rādhā said: In splendid Vṛndāvana forest, in a beautiful and secluded place by the Yamunā's shore, please make an arena for a nectar rāsa-dance. O Lord of lords, this is My desire.

Śrī Nārada said: Saying, "So be it", the Lord meditated. With His lotus eyes he looked inside His heart.

As the gopīs watched, Kṛṣṇa's love, in a form of fire and water, came from His heart as a sprout comes up from the ground.

Falling onto the ground of the rāsa-dance circle, that love grew into a great mountain filled with many caves and swiftly-moving streams, . . .

. . . beautiful with kadamba, bakula, and aśoka trees and a great network of flowering vines, opulent with mandāra and kunda flowers, and filled with graceful birds.

O king of Videha, in a single moment that mountain became eight hundred thousand miles wide and eight billion miles long. It was like another Ananta Śeṣa.

It was four billion miles tall. It is four billion miles tall eternally. It was like a gigantic elephant.

It had a hundred eighty-million-mile-tall peaks. O king of Mithilā, it was like a great palace with many golden domes.

Some called this mountain Govardhana and others called it Śataśṛṅga (a hundred peaks). The mountain expanded as much as its heart wished.

As the mountain expanded, Goloka became filled with fear and there was a great uproar. Lord Kṛṣṇa at once stood up and slapped the mountain with His hand

He said, "Why do You expand so much? You have covered the entire realm! Why do you not stop at once?" In this way Kṛṣṇa stopped the mountain from growing any further.

Gazing at this best of mountains, Lord Kṛṣṇa's beloved Rādhā was very pleased. O king, She enjoyed pastimes with Kṛṣṇa in a secluded place on that mountain.

In this way Govardhana Hill, which is the best of mountains, which is dear to the Lord, which is dark as a monsoon cloud, and which contains within itself all holy places, was manifested by Lord Kṛṣṇa.

In Śālmalī-dvīpa, to the west of Bhārata-varṣa, Govardhana Hill was born from the wife of Mount Droṇa.

Pulastya Muni brought Govardhana to Bhārata-varṣa. O king of Videha, I have already described this to you.

Because Govardhana Hill had been so eager to expand unlimitedly, Lord Kṛṣṇa arranged that the sage Pulastya curse it to decrease day by day. .pa