Sixth Chapter (most loving)
Sri Parikshit said, “Mother! Nârad ws overwhelmed with prem-ras whe he heard the glory of Sri Uddhav; although he held the veenâ in his hands, he could not play it. The path leading to the inner compartments was extremely interesting, and he managed to enter the palace since he was accustomed to it. However, he looked either like one possessed by ghosts or like a madman. Sometimes he would fall on the floor and at other times become stupefied. He would roll on the ground, cry piteously in misery, sing and dance. The next moment he would simultaneously exhibit all the symptoms of love-ecstasy.”
Sri Parikshit said, “Mother! Now I shall describe a supremely attractive pastime of the Lord, so if you see me out of control, please soothen me, and after that please continue to listen with patience.
On that day, due to some reason, Srimân Uddhav had left the Lord, Who was sleeping in the bedroom, and was sitting at the doorstep nearby. He seemed distracted. He was surrounded by Sri Baladev, Devaki, Rohini, Rukmini, Satyabhâmâ, Padmâvati (Kamsa’s mother) and some maid servants. Just then Nârad entered, with wonderful symptoms of love-ecstasy. They were astonished to see him. They took great care and brought him back to good health. Then they wiped his tears and sofly asked him – ‘O great sage! Why are you in such an extraordinary state? We don’t think we have seen such symptoms before. Please relax for a moment!’
Nârad slowly opened his eyes overflowing with tears and offered namaskâr. His body was covered with goose bumps. With tear-choked voice, he said, ‘Please unite me with that magnificent Uddhav, who is the blessed of us all. Kindly bestow this mercy on me so that I can take the dust of his feet. Then only my soul will rest in peace. Nârad exclaimed in wonder, “Aho! No servant, whether old or new, have got the Lord’s bounty in the manner that Sri Uddhav has obtained. And he has got it in ample amount. Sri Bhagavân has proclaimed him as His great majesty in statements such as “twantu bhâgavateshwaham”. He is the greatest of all exlated devotees. Aho! He has himself expressed that His sons such as Brahmâ, brothers such as Balarâm, freineds such as Shiva, consorts such as Ramâ devi, and even His own beautifu l form is not so much dear to Him as Sri Uddhav. Other than this, today the Yâdavs have revealed Sri Uddhav’s greatness and glorious fortune to me. It is indeed extraordinary. Alas! All their exultant praises have entered my heart through the ears and have all of a sudden plundered my heart of its patience.”
When Sri Uddhav heard Nârad Muni speak thus, he stood up in haste, reverently took his feet onto his lap and embraced him. He came to know that Nârad Muni was trying to ascertain the topmost recipient of Sri Krishna-kripâ, and he remembered all the devotees who had received such mercy. His heart was full of the priceless treasure called Sri Krishna-prem, and he became very much agitated and overwhelmed with love. He started crying in all humility and the symptoms of love-ecstasy decorated him. When Sri Balarâm had consoled him somewhat, he told Nârad, “Dear sage! You are all-knowing, the best of the truthful and the primeval guru of the divine path of devotion. You have just now described what all mercy I have got from Sri Bhagavân. King Ugrasen and the Yâdavs know that I have very clearly received much more kripâ from Him than what you have described. I too was proud enough to believe the same. However, ever since I’ve been to Brijdhâm, I have undergone an indescribable experience that has crushed my Sumeru[1]-like pride into dust. I am no longer so foolish as to consider myself fortunate. O sage! Sri Krishna was kind enough to send me to Brijdham under the pretext of consoling the Brijwâsis who are burning in the blazing fire of viraha. Thus He was extremely compassionate to me. Thus I learnt of Sri Krishna’s love, His loved ones and the sweetness of this love. I am feeling exceedingly blessed.
When Sri Bhagavân was in Mathurâ, He had sent me to Brijdhâm to console the Brijwâsis who were suffering in His viraha. This was only an excuse to make me realize slightly the colossal prem of the brijwâsis. He wanted to make this fallen self proclaim in the world the glory of their prem to a small degree. When I went to Brijdhâm, and saw the inexpressible bhâv of Srimati Râdhârâni and other maidens of Vraja, and how they were suffering in Sri Krishna–viraha, I was stupefied. I lived there for some months and was fortunate enough to get a first-hand experience of their glorios prem.
Dear sage! All the brijwâsis have great love for Sri Krishna, yet the Gopikâs have attained the peak of love. Seeing their topmost bhâv, I became exceptionally devoted to them. No devotee has seen this type of bhâv or to this extent anywhere in the world. Their language too is so bhâv-full that I was amazed to hear it. Seeing the sweet bhâv of the Gopis, I had exclaimed in emotion – “Oho! In all creation, these Brijwâsi-maidens – the sweethearts of Sri Krishna – are the most fortunate of all! They are the only resorts of the topmost prem called mahâbhâv! Sri Krishna is God Himself and He is all nectarine ras personified, while they have the deepest feeling for Him – that is rudha-mahâbhâv. This means they have relished Sri Krishna’s sweetness to the maximum degree and have gone into love-delirium, and it is impossible for anyone else to relish this extraordinary sweetness.
Sri Uddhav arriving in Braja.
Dear sage! When I was in Brijdhâm I was wonderstruck by the glorious prem of the Vraja-beauties. Seeing them, I had expressed an impossible desire – it was like this –
All these moss, creepers and herbs for Sri Vrindâban are supremely fortunate, since they can easily get the foot-dust of the Vraja-gopis on their heads. If only I could get the birth of any one of those moss, creepers and herbs, then I too could make my life blessed by obtaining a single speck of foot-dust of the Vrajânganâs. If I would be born as a creeper, then I would be associating with another creeper with the same bhâv. That creeper too would be craving to get the lotus feet of the Vraja-gopis. When the breeze will blow, it will fall on me and I too will drop on it. In this manner I will get the ‘sanga[2]’ of a ‘sajatiya[3]’ devotee, and my greed for the lotus feet of the Gopis will soar higher.
(contd….)