Chapter Eleven Śrī Ramā-vaikuṇṭha-śvetadvīpordhva-vaikuṇṭhājita-pada-śrī-lokācala-vāsinī-śrī-sakhīnām upākhyānam The Story of the Gopīs That were Residents of Ramā-vaikuṇṭha, Śvetadvīpa, Urdhva-vaikuṇṭha, Ajita-pada, and Śrī Lokācala

GS 4.11.1

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca anyāsāṁ caiva gopīnāṁ varṇanaṁ śṛṇu maithila sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ hari-bhakti-vivardhanam śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; anyāsām—of the other; ca—and; eva—indeed; gopīnām—gopīs; varṇanam—description; śṛṇu—please hear; maithila—O king of Mithilā; sarva-pāpa—all sins; haram—removing; puṇyam—sacred; hari-bhakti-vivardhanam—increasing devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Nārada said: O king of Mithilā, please hear the story of the other gopīs, a sacred story that removes all sins, and increases one's love for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

GS 4.11.2

Verse text

nīti-vin mārgadaḥ śuklaḥ

pataṅgo divya-vāhanaḥ

gopeṣṭāś ca vraje rājan

jātā ṣaḍ vṛṣabhānavaḥ

Synonyms

nīti-vit — Nitivit ; mārgadaḥ — Margada ; śuklaḥ — Sukla ; pataṅgaḥ — Patanga ; divya-vāhanaḥ — Divyavahana ; gopeṣṭāś — Gopesta ; ca — and ; vraje — in Vraja ; rājan — O king ; jātā — born ; ṣaḍ — the six ; vṛṣabhānavaḥ — Vṛṣabhānus.

Translation

O king, the six Vṛṣabhānus: Nītivit, Mārgada, Śukla, Pataṅga, Divyavāhana, and Gopeṣṭa, were born in Vraja.

GS 4.11.3

Verse text

teṣāṁ gṛheṣu sañjātā

lakṣmī-pati-varāt prajāḥ

ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ

śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ

Translation

ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyas tathājita-padāśritāḥ śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ teṣām—of them; gṛheṣu—in the homes; sañjātaḥ—born; lakṣmī-pati-varāt—from the blessing of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune; prajāḥ—daughters; ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—even; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean; ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Urdhva-Vaikuntha; tathājita-padāśritāḥ—they who had taken shelter of Lord Ajita; śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Lokacala; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—also; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean. In their homes, by a benediction granted by Lord Nārāyaṇa, were born the girls of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha, Urdhva-Vaikuṇṭha, Lokācala, and Ajitapada, who had all been born from the ocean of milk and who were all friends of the goddess of fortune.

GS 4.11.4

Verse text

teṣāṁ gṛheṣu sañjātā

lakṣmī-pati-varāt prajāḥ

ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ

śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ

Translation

ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyas tathājita-padāśritāḥ śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ śrī-sakhyo 'pi samudra-jāḥ teṣām—of them; gṛheṣu—in the homes; sañjātaḥ—born; lakṣmī-pati-varāt—from the blessing of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune; prajāḥ—daughters; ramā-vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—even; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean; ūrdhvaṁ vaikuṇṭha-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Urdhva-Vaikuntha; tathājita-padāśritāḥ—they who had taken shelter of Lord Ajita; śrī-lokācala-vāsinyaḥ—the residents of Lokacala; śrī-sakhyaḥ—the friends of the goddess of fortune; api—also; samudra-jāḥ—born from the ocean. In their homes, by a benediction granted by Lord Nārāyaṇa, were born the girls of Ramā-Vaikuṇṭha, Urdhva-Vaikuṇṭha, Lokācala, and Ajitapada, who had all been born from the ocean of milk and who were all friends of the goddess of fortune.

GS 4.11.5

Verse text

cintayantyaḥ sadā śrīmad-

govinda-caraṇāmbujam

śrī-kṛṣṇasya prasādārthaṁ

tābhir māgha-vrataṁ kṛtam

Synonyms

cintayantyaḥ — meditating ; sadā — always ; śrīmad-govinda-caraṇāmbujam — on Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet ; śrī-kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prasādārtham — to gain the favor ; tābhiḥ — by them ; māgha-vratam — the vow of Magha ; kṛtam — was performed.

Translation

Always thinking of Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, to gain His favor they followed the vow of Māgha-vrata.

GS 4.11.6

Verse text

māghasya śukla-pañcamyāṁ

vasantādau hariḥ svayam

tāsāṁ prema-parīkṣārthaṁ

kṛṣṇo vai tad-gṛhān gataḥ

Synonyms

māghasya — of the month of Magha ; śukla-pañcamyām — on the fifth day of the bright fortnight ; vasantādau — at the beginning of spring ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; svayam — personally ; tāsām — of them ; prema — the love ; parīkṣa-artham — to test ; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; vai — indeed ; tad-gṛhān — to their homes ; gataḥ — went.

Translation

On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Māgha (January-February), as springtime was about to begin, to test their love for Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa went to these gopīs' homes

GS 4.11.7

Verse text

vyāghra-carmāmbaraṁ bibhran

jaṭa-mukuṭa-maṇḍitaḥ

vibhūti-dhūsaro veṇuṁ

vādayan mohayan jagat

Synonyms

vyāghra-carmāmbaram — a tiger's sking garment ; bibhran — wearing ; jāta-mukuṭa-maṇḍitaḥ — with matted locks ; vibhūti — opulences ; dhūsaraḥ — covered ; veṇum — flute ; vādayan — playing ; mohayan — charming ; jagat — the universe.

Translation

Dressed in a tigerskin, His hair matted, and His natural opulences concealed, by playing the flute he enchanted all the worlds.

GS 4.11.8

Verse text

tāsāṁ vīthiṣu samprāptiṁ

vīkṣya gopyo 'pi sarvataḥ

āyayur darśanaṁ kartuṁ

mohitāḥ prema-vihvalāḥ

Synonyms

tāsām — of them ; vīthiṣu — on the opathways ; samprāptim — attainment ; vīkṣya — seeing ; gopyaḥ — the gopīs ; api — also ; sarvataḥ — in all respects ; āyayuḥ — arrived ; darśanam — seeing ; kartum — to do ; mohitāḥ — enchanted ; prema-vihvalāḥ — overcome with love.

Translation

Seeing Him on the path, the enchanted gopīs were overcome with love. To gaze at Him, they came close.

GS 4.11.9

Verse text

atīva sundaraṁ dṛṣṭvā

yoginaṁ gopa-kanyakāḥ

ūcuḥ parasparaṁ sarvāḥ

premānanda-samākulāḥ

Synonyms

atīva — very ; sundaram — handsome ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; yoginam — the yogi ; gopa-kanyakāḥ — the gopīs ; ūcuḥ — said ; parasparam — among themselves ; sarvāḥ — all ; premānanda-samākulāḥ — filled with bliss.

Translation

As they gazed at this very handsome yogī, the blissful gopīs spoke among themselves.

GS 4.11.10

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

ko 'yaṁ śiśur nanda-sutākṛtir vā

kasyāpi putro dhanino nṛpasya

narī-ku-vāg-bāṇa-vibhinna-marmā

jāto virakto gata-kṛtya-karmā

Synonyms

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ — the gopīs said ; kaḥ — who? ; ayam — this ; śiśuḥ — boy ; nanda-sutākṛtiḥ — the from of Nanda's son ; vā — or ; kasyāpi — of someone ; putraḥ — the son ; dhaninaḥ — of a wealthy man ; nṛpasya — of a king ; narī — of a woman ; ku — harsh ; vāg — words ; bāṇa — arrows ; vibhinna — broken ; marmā — heart ; jātaḥ — born ; viraktaḥ — renounced ; gata-kṛtya-karmā — performed pious deeds.

Translation

Thwe gopīs said: Who is this? Is this Nanda's son or the song of a wealthy king? Is He renounced because His heart was broken by a woman's harsh words or because He has performed many pious deeds?

GS 4.11.11

Verse text

atīva-ramyaḥ sumkumāra-deho

manoja-vad-viśva-mano-haro 'yam

aho kathaṁ jīvati cāsya mātā

pitā ca bhāryā bhaginī vinainam

Synonyms

ativa-ramyaḥ — very handsome ; sumkumāra-dehaḥ — delicate features ; manoja — Kāmadeva ; vat — like ; viśva — of everyone ; manaḥ — the herarts ; haraḥ — enchanting ; ayam — He ; ahaḥ — Oh ; katham — how? ; jīvati — lives ; ca — and ; asya — of Him ; mātā — the mother ; pitā — father ; ca — and ; bhāryā — wife ; bhaginī — sister ; vinā — without ; enam — Him.

Translation

He is very handsome. His features are graceful and delicate. Like Kāmadeva, He charms the hearts of the entire world. Ah! How can He live without mother, father, sister, and wife?

GS 4.11.12

Verse text

evaṁ tāḥ sarvato yūthī-

bhūtvā sarvā vrajāṅganāḥ

papracchus taṁ yogi-varaṁ

vismitāḥ prema-vihvalāḥ

Synonyms

evam — thusd ; tāḥ — they ; sarvataḥ — all ; yūthī-bhūtvā — gtahered together ; sarvā — all ; vrajāṅganāḥ — the girls of Vraja ; papracchuḥ — asked ; tam — Him ; yogi-varam — the best of yogis ; vismitāḥ — struck with wonder ; prema-vihvalāḥ — overcome with love.

Translation

Filled with wonder and love, the assembled girls of Vraja asked many questions.

GS 4.11.13

Content

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ kas tvaṁ yogin nāma kiṁ te kutra vāsas tu te mune kā vṛttis tava kā siddhir vada no vadataṁ vara śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; kaḥ—who?; tvam—You; yogin—O yogi; nāma—name; kim—what?; te—of You; kutra—where; vāsaḥ—residence; tu—indfeed; te—of You; mune—O sage; kā—what?; vṛttiḥ—activity; tava—of You; kā—what?; siddhiḥ—perfection; vada—tell; naḥ—to us; vadatām—of speakers; vara—O best. The gopīs said: O yogī, who are You? What is Your name? O sage, where do You live? What do You do? What mystic powers have You attained? O best of eloquent speakers, please tell us.

GS 4.11.14

Verse text

śrī-siddha uvāca

yogeśvaro 'haṁ me vāsaḥ

sadā māna-sarovare

nāmnā svayamprakāśo 'haṁ

nirannaḥ sva-balāt sadā

Synonyms

śrī-siddha uvāca — the perfect yogi said ; yogeśvaraḥ — a master of yoga ; aham — I ; me — of Me ; vāsaḥ — the residence ; sadā — always ; māna-sarovare — in Mana-sarovara ; nāmnā — by name ; svayamprakāśaḥ — Svayamprakāśa ; aham — I ; nirannaḥ — fasting ; sva-balāt — by My own power ; sadā — always.

Translation

The perfect yogī said: I am a master of yoga. I always stay at Māna-sarovara. My name is Svayamprakāśa. I never eat. My own mystic power keeps Me alive.

GS 4.11.15

Verse text

sārthe paramahāṁsānāṁ

yāmy ahaṁ te vrajāṅganāḥ

bhūtaṁ bhāvyaṁ vartamānaṁ

vedmy ahaṁ divya-darśanaḥ

Synonyms

sārthe — in the treasure ; paramahāṁsānām — of the great swans ; yāmy — I go ; aham — I ; te — these ; vrajāṅganāḥ — O girls of Vraja ; bhūtam — past ; bhāvyam — future ; vartamānam — present ; vedmy — I know ; aham — I ; divya-darśanaḥ — spiritual vision.

Translation

O girls of Vraja, I have attained the great treasure of the paramahaṁsas. I have spiritual eyes. I can see the past, present, and future.

GS 4.11.16

Verse text

uccāṭanaṁ māraṇaṁ ca

mohanaṁ stambhanaṁ tathā

janāmi mantra-vidyābhir

vaśī-karaṇam eva ca

Synonyms

uccāṭanam — ruin ; māraṇam — death ; ca — and ; mohanam — bewilderment ; stambhanam — being stunned ; tathā — so ; janāmi — I know ; mantra-vidyābhiḥ — with the knowledge of mantras ; vaśī-karaṇam — to bring under control ; eva — indeed ; ca — also.

Translation

I know mantras that can ruin people, kill them, bewilder them, paralyze them, or bring them under My control.

GS 4.11.17

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

yadi jānāsi yogiṁs tvaṁ

vārtāṁ kāla-trayodbhavām

kiṁ vartate no manasi

vada tarhi mahā-mate

Synonyms

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ — the gopīs said ; yadi — if ; jānāsi — You know ; yogiṁḥ — O yogi ; tvam — You ; vārtām — news ; kāla — time ; traya — three phases ; udbhavām — manifested ; kim — what? ; vartate — is ; naḥ — of us ; manasi — in the mind ; vada — please tell ; tarhi — then ; mahā-mate — O wise one.

Translation

Thw gopīs said: O wise yogī, if You know the past, present, and future, then please tell us one thing: What are we thinking at this moment?

GS 4.11.18

Verse text

śrī-siddha uvāca

bhāvatīnāṁ ca karṇānte

kathanīyam idaṁ vacaḥ

yusmad-ājṣayā vā vakṣye

sarveṣāṁ śṛṇvatām iha

Synonyms

śrī-siddha uvāca — the perfect yogi said ; bhāvatīnām — of you ; ca — and ; karṇānte — whispered into the ear ; kathanīyam — should be spoken ; idam — this ; vacaḥ — word ; yusmad-ājṣayā — by your order ; vā — or ; vakṣye — I will speak aloud ; sarveṣām — of all ; śṛṇvatām — listening ; iha — here.

Translation

The perfect yogī said: The answer to this question I will now whisper in each girl's ear, or, if you request, I will speak it aloud so all may hear.

GS 4.11.19

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

satyaṁ yogeśvaro 'si tvaṁ

tri-kāla-jṣo na saṁśayaḥ

vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa

sadyaḥ paṭhana-mātrataḥ

Translation

yadi so 'traiva cāyāti cintito yo 'sti vai mune tadā manyāmahe tvāṁ vai mantriṇāṁ pravaraṁ param śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; satyam—the truth; yogeśvaraḥ—the master of yoga; asi—are; tvam—You; tri-kāla-jṣaḥ—understanding the three phases of time; na—no; saṁśayaḥ—doubt; vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa—by a mantra to bring others under Your control; sadyaḥ—at once; paṭhana-mātrataḥ—simply by reciting; yadi—if; saḥ—He; atra—here; eva—indeed; ca—and; āyāti—goes; cintitaḥ—considered; yaḥ—one who; asti—is; vai—indeed; mune—O sage; tadā—then; manyāmahe—we consider; tvām—You; vai—indeed; mantriṇām—of mantra-chanters; pravaraṁ param—the best. The gopīs said: O sage, if it is true that You are a master of yoga, and if without doubt that You know the past, present, and future, and if by merely chanting a mantra You can actually bring others under Your control, then we think You must be the best of all mantra-chanters.

GS 4.11.20

Verse text

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ

satyaṁ yogeśvaro 'si tvaṁ

tri-kāla-jṣo na saṁśayaḥ

vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa

sadyaḥ paṭhana-mātrataḥ

Translation

yadi so 'traiva cāyāti cintito yo 'sti vai mune tadā manyāmahe tvāṁ vai mantriṇāṁ pravaraṁ param śrī-gopya ūcuḥ—the gopīs said; satyam—the truth; yogeśvaraḥ—the master of yoga; asi—are; tvam—You; tri-kāla-jṣaḥ—understanding the three phases of time; na—no; saṁśayaḥ—doubt; vaśī-karaṇa-mantreṇa—by a mantra to bring others under Your control; sadyaḥ—at once; paṭhana-mātrataḥ—simply by reciting; yadi—if; saḥ—He; atra—here; eva—indeed; ca—and; āyāti—goes; cintitaḥ—considered; yaḥ—one who; asti—is; vai—indeed; mune—O sage; tadā—then; manyāmahe—we consider; tvām—You; vai—indeed; mantriṇām—of mantra-chanters; pravaraṁ param—the best. The gopīs said: O sage, if it is true that You are a master of yoga, and if without doubt that You know the past, present, and future, and if by merely chanting a mantra You can actually bring others under Your control, then we think You must be the best of all mantra-chanters.

GS 4.11.21

Verse text

śrī-siddha uvāca

durlabho durghaṭo bhāvo

yusmābhir gaditaḥ striyaḥ

tathāpy ahaṁ kariṣyāmi

vākyaṁ na calate satām

Synonyms

śrī-siddha uvāca — the perfect yogi said ; durlabhaḥ — unattainable ; durghaṭaḥ — impossible ; bhāvaḥ — nature ; yusmābhiḥ — by you ; gaditaḥ — said ; striyaḥ — O women ; tathāpy — still ; aham — I ; kariṣyāmi — will do ; vākyam — words ; na — not ; calate — wavers ; satām — of the saintly devotees.

Translation

The perfect yogī said: Any impossible thing you ask, I can do. The words of saintly persons do not prove false.

GS 4.11.22

Verse text

nimīlayata netrāṇi

mā śocāṁ kuruta striyaḥ

bhaviṣyati na sandeho

yuṣmākaṁ kāryam eva ca

Synonyms

nimīlayata — closing ; netrāṇi — eyes ; mā — don't ; śocām — lament ; kuruta — do ; striyaḥ — O girls ; bhaviṣyati — will be ; na — not ; sandehaḥ — doubt ; yuṣmākam — of you ; kāryam — to be done ; eva — indeed ; ca — and.

Translation

O girls, don't lament. Close your eyes and you will attain your wish. Of this there is no doubt.

GS 4.11.23

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca

tatheti mīlitākṣiṣu

gopīṣu bhagavān hariḥ

vihāya tad-yogi-rūpaṁ

babhau śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; tathā — so be it ; iti — thus ; mīlita — closed ; akṣiṣu — eyes ; gopīṣu — gopīs ; bhagavān — Lord ; hariḥ — Hari ; vihāya — taking ; tad-yogi-rūpam — that yogi's form ; babhau — manifested ; śrī-nanda-nandanaḥ — the son of nanda.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: As the gopīs stood with closed eyes, the Lord abandoned the form of a yogī and again became Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda.

GS 4.11.24

Verse text

netrāṇy unmīlya dadṛśuḥ

sānandaṁ nanda-nandanam

vismitās tat-prabhāva-jṣā

harṣitā moham āgatāḥ

Synonyms

netrāṇy — eyes ; unmīlya — opening ; dadṛśuḥ — saw ; sānandam — with bliss ; nanda-nandanam — the son of Nanda ; vismitāḥ — filled with wonder ; tat-prabhāva-jṣāḥ — understanding His transcendental power ; harṣitā — delighted ; moham — enchantment ; āgatāḥ — attained.

Translation

Opening their eyes, they happily gazed at Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda. Delighted, filled with wonder, and now aware of His transcendental powers, the gopīs fainted unconscious.

GS 4.11.25

Verse text

māgha-māse mahā-rāse

puṇye vṛndāvane vane

tābhiḥ sārdhaṁ harī reme

surībhiḥ sura-rāḍ iva

Synonyms

māgha-māse — in the month of Magha ; mahā-rāse — in the great rasa dance ; puṇye — dascred ; vṛndāvane — in Vṛndāvana ; vane — forest ; tābhiḥ — them ; sārdham — with ; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; reme — enjoyed ; surībhiḥ — with the demiugoddesses ; sura-rāḍ — the king of heaven ; iva — like.

Translation

As Indra enjoys with the girls of Suraloka, so Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoyed with these gopīs in a great rāsa-dance in sacred Vṛndāvana forest during the month of Māgha.