Seventh Chapter (absolute)

Sri Baladev

Parikshit Mahârâj said—”Dear mother! In this manner the entire Yâdav family started crying. Within a moment all universe became full of their heart-wrenching wails. There was none in Dwârakâ who could console them (since all were in the same sorrowful state). Therefore, the four-headed Brahmâ arrived there along with his family that comprised of the Vedas and the Purâns. The devatâs too came there. Brahmâji saw that is father Lord Mahâ-Nârâyan had attained an extraordinary state of illusion. Seeing His Lordship pain for His dearest ones and about to express His most confidential sweet prem, he lost self-control and wept for some time. When he had stolen the calves in Sri Vrindâban he had experienced Sri Krishna’s incomparably sweet leelâ with His dear associates. Now that lovely and brilliant picture revealed in his heart. He carefully controlled himself and started pondering on how to restore His Lordship to good health. Very soon, he got an idea. He looked at Garud who was overwhelmed with sorrow, and soothed him. Then he addressed him thus, “O Vainateya (son of Vinatâ)! In the middle of the Dead Sea, on Mount Raivatak, Vishwakarmâ has built Nava-Vrindâban. Further, he has decorated it with statues of Nanda, Yashoda, other Gopas and cattle. It resembles the original Vrindâban in every aspect. You immediately carry Sri Krishna along with Baladev in this state itself, and take Them to that artificial Vrindâban. Please be careful and fly slowly. Let only Rohini Devi go there; the otheres should remain here itself.

Garud understood Brahmâji’s plan; he placed Sri Krishna and Balarâm slowly on his back and carried Them to Mount Raivatak. Meanwhile, Baladev regained some poise. Brahmâji consoled Vâsudev and the other Gopas, and convinced them to return to their respective palaces. On reaching the artificial Vrindaban, which was decorated with statues of Gopas and Gopis, Garud slowly lowered Sri Nanada-nandan down on a soft bed. Devaki, the loving mother, Rukmini, Satyabhâmâ, the other consorts and even Padmâvati were unable to abandon Sri Krishna in that piteous state; so they too arrived in Nava-Vrindâban along with Uddhav. However, Brahmâji implored them to stay out of sight. Therefore, they continued to watch Him from a distance. Nârad considered himself an aparâdhi, since he had caused all this to happen. So he neither came here along with the devatâs, nor did he go away long with the Yâdav men. Out of curiosity, he observed from the sky in an invisible state—He so badly wanted to relish the sweet pastimes of the Lord. Garudji remained unobserved in the sky, and continued to serve the Lord by shading Him with his wings.

In a short while, Sri Balarâm recovered completely and understood Brahmâji’s idea – Sri Bhagavân has fainted out of intense love-viraha for the Brijwâsis, and so there is no way to bring Him back other than to make Him experience the joy of uniting with them. He has fainted due to a particular type of prem; therefore it is absolutely necessary to give Him the pleasure of meeting the same type of premik. In this state it is impossible to carry Him to the real Vrindâban, since if the Brijwâsis see Him in this state, no one knows what will happen to them. Some catastrophe will fall on them, and in stead of the Lord gaining sense, He may undergo more severe attack. This is why Brahmâji thought it was a good idea to take Him to the artificial Vrindâban, since Vishwakarmâ had built nice statues of the Gopas and Goppis such as Nanda-Yashodâ out of gems and stones. They looked extremely real; also he had arranged the natural scenery just like Sri Vrindâban, with the same trees and creepers. Brahmâji wanted to bring Sri Krishna here along with Sri Baladev and Rohini, since they had been present with Him in Vrindâban. He wished to relieve Him of His love-faint by drawing the picture of His very sweet pastimes in Brijdhâm.

As soon as Sri Baladev got the idea, at first He wiped His face, and then He wiped the beautiful face of His younger brother. Then, He softly pushed a flute inside the belt, near His belly, and a cow-horn at His waist. He also put a stick (to manage the cows) and a garland of Kadamba flowers round His neck. He decorated Sri Krishna’s crown with peacock-feathers and ear-rings with fresh gunja-seeds. In this manner, He decorated Sri Krishna in the garb of a woodlander with ingredients made by Vishwakarmâ. Then He lifted Him forcefully from the bed and called Him loudly, “Dear Krishna! Dear brother! Get up, get up! Wake up! Look, Shridâm and Your friends are waiting for You. Mother and father are not telling You anything out of love. Moreover just see, all these Gopikâs are gazing at Your sweet face and whispering in each other’s ears. I am sure they are making fun of You.” In this manner, Sri Baladev lovingly called Him many times. Ultimately He forcibly lifted Him and made Him sit. After a long time, Sri Krishna regained consciousness. He loked around in wonder and uttering ‘Shiv’ ‘Shiv’, He got up from the bed.

Sri Krishna opened His beautiful eyes and gazed at His surrounding. Seeing His father Nanda Baba infront of Him, He smiled and shyly touched His feet. He saw that Mother Yashoda, who was standing next to his father, was gazing unblinkingly at Him with love. Seeing her, He laughed in joy and said, “Dear mother! Today morning I saw so many dreams. They were so real, as if I was awake. I saw that I had gone from here to Mathurâ and killed the wicked Kamsa. O mother! I saw as if I had built a grand city called Dwârakâ on the sea shore. In fact I dreamt of so many things that it will take along time to narrate all of them.”

Sri Krishna saw that in spite of telling her about His dreams, His mother was still gazing at Him without blinking. He thought may be mother is worried since I had overslept. She is afraid of my ill-health. So Sri Bhagavân consoled her by saying, “Ma, I saw such long dreams; so I could not wake up on time as I usually do.” Then He told Baladev, “Ârya^[1]! If You do not consider it impossible to have such amazing dreams, then I shall narrate them to You in detail, when we go to the woods.”

(contd…………..)