Chapter Twenty-two Nandādi-vaikuntha-darcanam Nanda and the Gopas See the Realm of Vaikuntha

ekadā - one day; nanda-rājaḥ - King Nanda; asau - he; krtvā - making; ca - and; ekādaci-vratam - the vow of ekadasi; dvādacyām - on dvadasi; yamunām - the Yamunā; snātum - to bathe; gopālaiḥ - with the gopas; jalam - the water; āvica - t - entered. Once, after following the vow of ekādaci, on dvādaci King Nanda and the gopas entered the Yamunā to to bathe.

tam - him; grhitvā - taking; pāci-bhrtyāḥ - the servants of varuna; pācilokam - to Varunaloka; jagāma - went; ha - indeed; tadā - then; kolāhale - an uproar; jāte - was manifested; gopānām - among thre gopas; maithilecvara - O king of Mithilā. O king of Mithilā, at that moment the servants of Varuna grabbed King Nanda and, amind the gopas' loud protests, dragged him away to Varunaloka.

ācvāsya - comforting; sarvān - everyone; bhagavān - the Lord; gatavān - went; vārunim purim - to the city of Varuna; bhasmi-cakāra - turning to ashes; sahasā - at once; puri-durgam - the fortress; hariḥ - Krsna; svayam - Himself. After reassuring everyone, Lord Krsna traveled to Varuna's city. There He quickly burned to ashes the city's outer walls.

koti-mārtanḍa-sagkācam - brilliant as millions of suns; drstvā - seeing; prakupitam - angry; harim - Krsna; natvā - bowing down; krtānjaliḥ - with folded hands; pāci - Varuna; parikramya - circumambulating; āha - said; dharsitaḥ - defeated. Seeing angry Krsna blazing with the splendor of millions of suns, and realizing that he was now defeated, Varuna bowed before the Lord with folded hands and then respectfully circumambulated Him.

cri-varuna uvāca - Sri Varu.na said; namaḥ - obeisances; cri-krsnacandrāya - to Sri Krsnacanbdra; paripurnatamāya - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ca - and; asagkhya-brahmānḍa-bhrte - the maintainer of countless universes; goloka-pataye - to the master of Goloka; namaḥ - obeisances. Sri Varuna said: Obeisances to Sri Krsnacandra, the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead! Obeisances to the Lord of Goloka, the maintainer of numberless universes!

catur-vyuhāya - who expands in four features; mahase - glorious; namaḥ - obeisances; te - to You; sarva-tejase - supremely splendid; namaḥ - obeisances; te - to You; sarva-bhāvāya - the creator of all; parasmai - to the Supreme; brahmane - Brahman; namaḥ - obeisances. Obeisances to You, the splendid Lord who expands as the four vyuha incarnations! Obeisances to You, the glorious Supreme Lord, the original cause of all causes!

kenāpi - by a certain; muḍhena - fool; mama - of me; anugena - a follower; krtam - done; param - great; helanam - offense; atra - here; eva - indeed; tat - that; ksamyatām - may be forgiven; bhoḥ - O; caranam - shelkter; gatam - attained; mām - to me; pareca - O Supreme Lord; bhuman - O Lord; paripāhi - please protect; pāhi - please protect. A foolish servant of mine greatly offended You. O Lord please forgive us. O Supreme Lord, I take shelter of You. Please protect me! Please protect me!

cri-nārada uvāca - Sri Nārada said; iti - thus; prasannaḥ - pleased; bhagavān - the Lord; nandam - Nanda; nitvā - taking; su-jivitam - alive; saukhyam - happiness; prakācayan - showing; bandhun - to friends; vraja-manḍalam - to the circle of Vraja; āyayau - went. Sri Nārada said: Pleased, and clearly showing His happiness, Lord Krsna took Nanda back to the circle of Vraja.

nanda-rāja - of King Nanda; mukhāt - from the mouth; crutvā - hearing; prabhāvam - the prowess; cri-hareḥ - of Lord Krsna; tu - indeed; tam - to Him; gopi-gopa-ganā - the gopas and gopis; ucuḥ - said; cri-krsnam - to zKrsna; nanda - of Nanda; nandanam - the son. When from Nanda's mouth they heard of Lord Krsna's great power, the gopas and gopis approached Sri Krsna, the son of Nanda, snd said to Him:

yadi - if; tvam - You; bhagavān - are the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sāksāl - directly; loka-palaiḥ - by the demigods; su-pujitaḥ - worshiped; darcaya - please show; ācu - at once; param lokam - supreme abode; vaikuntham - Vaikuntha; tarhi - then; naḥ - to us; prabhaḥ - O Lord. O Lord, if You are in truth the Supreme Personality of Godhead worshiped by all the demigods, then please show us Your supreme abode, the world of Vaikuntha.

nitvā - taking; sarvān - all; tataḥ - then; krsna - Krsna; etya - going; vaikuntha-mandiram - to the abode of Vaikuntha; darcayām āsa - showed; rupam - form; svam - own; jyotir-manḍala-madhyagam - ina circle of light. Then Lord Krsna took them all to the realm of Vaikuntha, where He showed them a form surrounded by a great circle of light, . . .

sahasra-bhuja-samyuktam - with a thousand arms; kirita - with crown; kataka - golden bracelets; ujjvalam - splendid; cagkha - conch; cakra - disc; gadā - club; padma - lotus; vana - forest; mālā - garland; virājitam - splendid. . . . a form that had thousands of arms, that was splendid with a crown, golden bracelets, forest garland, cocnh, disc, club, and lotus, . . .

asagkhya - countless; koti - millions; mārtanḍa - of suns; sagkācam - splendor; cesa-samsthitam - resting on Sesa; cāmarāndola-divyābham - fanned with camaras; brahmādyaiḥ - by the demigods headed by Brahmā; parisevitam - served. . . . that was splendid as numberless millions of suns, that reclined on Lord Sesa, that was served by Brahmā and the demigods, fanning it with cāmaras, . . .

tadā - then; eva - indeed; tān - them; gopa-ganān - the gopas; pārsadāḥ - the associates; te - they; gadā-dharāḥ - holding clubs; rjum - straight; krtvā - doing; natim - obeisances; krtva - doing; dure - far away; sthapya - staying; prayatnatah - carefully. From a distance the associates of the Lord of Vaikuntha, who were all carrying great clubs, respectfully offered danḍavat obeisances to the gopas.

cakitān - frightened; iva - as if; tān - them; viksya - seeing; procuḥ - said; te - they; pārsadā - the associates; girā - with words; re re - Oh! Oh!; tusnim - silence; prabhavata - do; mā - not; vaktavyam - should be spoken; vanecarāḥ - O you who dwell in the forest. Seeing that the gopas felt intimidated, the associates of the Lord of Vaikuntha said, "O people of the forest, please be silent. Please do not speak."

bhāsanam - speech; mā - don't; prakuruta - do; na - not; drstā - seen; kim - whether?; sabhā - the assembly; hareḥ - of Lord Krsna; vedā - the Vedas; vadanti - say; ca - and; atra - here' eva - indeed; sāksāt - directly; deve - the Lord; sthite - standing; prabhau - the Lord. "Please don't speak. Don't you already have the Lord's company? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom the Vedas glorify, stands in your midst."

iti - thus; ciksām - instruction; gatā - attained; gopā - the gopas; harsitā - pleased; maunam - silence; āsthitāḥ - did; manasy - in the heart; ucuḥ - said; ayam - this; krsna - Krsna; ucca-simhāsane - on a great throne; sthitaḥ - is situated. Hearing these words of instruction, the gopas were happy and silent. In their hearts they said to themselves, "Our Krsna is seated on a great throne!"

asmān - from us; durāt - far; adhaḥ - below; krtvā - placing; asmābhiḥ - with us; vakti - speaks; na - not; karhicit - ever; tasmāt - therefore; vrajāt - from Vraja; varam - better; na - not; asti - is; ko 'pi - any; lokaḥ - world; na - not; saukhya-daḥ - giving happiness. "He is up above, and we are way below. He does not speak to us a single word. From this we can understand that no place is better than Vraja. No place is happier than Vraja."

yatra - where; anena - by Him; sva-bhrātrā - His brother; api - also; vārtā - news; syāt - is; hi - indeed; parasparam - mutual; iti - thus; pravadataḥ - speaking; tān - to them; vai - indeed; nitvā - taking; cri-bhagavān - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ - Lord Krsna; vrajam - personally; āgatavān - come; rājan - O king; paripurnatamaḥ prabhuḥ - the Supreme Personality of Godhead. O king, then they said among themselves, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead and His brother have come to Vraja!" .pa