Parikshit said, “O Mother! Hearing these words from Sri Bhagavân Nârad started dancing in ecstasy. He knew that his Master was the crest-jewel of all the magnanimous! So he begged two more excellent boons from Him.”
Nârad said, “O my Lord! You are dissatisfied in spite of offering Your entire Self to Your devotee! Now that I know all the recipients of Your great kripâ, all my hard work has become worthwhile. I have now realized that the supremely fortunate Gopis alone are the topmost recipients of Your mercy. This is the highest gift and the best kripâ for me. Although in this manner, I have already received the boon, I still have a slight desire that I have nursed in my heart for a long time. I shall disclose it to You. O Best of the generous! There is nothing that You cannot give, so I know for sure that You will fulfill my desire. O Swan Who swims in the Prem-sarovar[1] of the Vrajajanas! Gokul-dhâm is like the Ocean of Milk, while Your Holy Names that describe Your supremely inexpressible cowherd-attire and pastimes are much more sweeter than sweet. They are the amritam that have risen from Your beautiful Gopa-form and leelâs that You have performed in Gokul[2]. Please bless me so that I may always drink Your nectarine Holy Name, get inebriated and scatter joy wherever I go. In this manner I want to wander everywhere. This is the first boon I seek. The second boon I pray for is—whosoever describes Your Vraja-leelâ in words[3], hears with their ears, encases Your pastimes in his heart with any organ of the body[4], or touches Brijdhâm[5] where You have performed Your sweet leelâ, should get eternal loving devotion for Your lotus feet that are decorated with the saffron from the ‘mangal-ghat[6]’ like breasts of Srimati Râdhârâni and the other Gopis.”
Sri Parikshit said, “Mother! Hearing the prayer of Nârad-muni, Sri Gopinâth lovingly spread His hands and said, ‘So be it!’ This immersed Nârad in the ocean of supreme bliss; he started dancing and singing. The Lord too was happy to see him so joyful. Later on, Nârad ate many delicacies such as ‘paramânna’ and drank delicious drinks with Sri Krishna and Sri Balarâm. Rukmini Devi served them during the meal, while Mothers Devaki and Rohiini supervised. Sri Uddhav reminded him of the various dishes by saying, ‘You have not tasted this, this is your favorite one, please eat more etc.’ Satyabhâmâ Devi fanned him, while Jâmbavati and the other queens spoke and pleased him with their caring attitude. After the meal, Nârad washed his hands and mouth. Then Sri Krishna Himself anointed him with fragrance. He garlanded him and placed much jewelry on him. Thus the Lord worshiped him with love.
But then, Nârad Muni is a ‘bhakti-lampat’ – lecherous or lusty for bhakti. So after taking leave from Sri Mâdhav, he wanted to share his good fortune with the sages at Prayâg. Singing the glory of the Srimad-Bhâgavatam that he had realized on his various visits, he arrived at the holy place. The sages present there were also some what like him—interested in only the essential subject in life. When they heard from Nârad Muni the most wonderful glory of bhakti, they gave up all endeavors for karma, gyân etc. and started following his instructions. They became supremely humble and started worshiping the lotus feet of Sriman-Madan Gopâl.
Parikshit said—”Dear mother! You too please desire to become the maid servant of the Gopis. Sri Krishna is an adolescent cow herd boy, He is the Ocean of râs-ras, and surrounded by the Gopis who are bewitched with prem. Please meditate on Him thus and chant His Holy Name with loving devotion. Constantly perform His bhajan. A fly cannot hold Mount Sumeru in its mouth; likewise I too cannot glorify a single gopi. Aho! My Spiritual Master Sripâd Bâdrâyani (Sukadev) constantly glorifies names such as Rukmini, and the names of the other consorts of Sri Krishna; yet he could not utter the name of a Vraja-gopi. The Gopis are always burning in the blazing fire of prem that has reached the supreme most height, extraordinary in all respects and most extensive. If he takes their names, a single spark from their inflamed heart will set ablaze his entire consciousness—he will be stupefied! As a result he could not say their names. On the other hand, if he does not talk about them, the entire discourse on Srimad-Bhâgavatam would be futile, so he has carefully given a little introduction while describing their bhâv during the râs-leelâ.
Dear mother! If you lovingly adore That Sri Ballavinâth[7] sporting with the Ballavis[8], then by their mercy you too will know little bit glory of the Gopis. O mother! Whosoever hears this great story with faith, or accepts it in some manner will quickly attain the lotus feet of the Gopis. He too will become their anugata and obtain loving devotion. Thus he will be blessed.
Sri Jaimini Muni narrated this great conversation between Parikshit and Uttarâ to King Janamejaya and the king was overcome with supreme bliss on hearing this grant incident that is the most important essence of Srimad-Bhâgavatam.
Thus ends the first part of Srimad-Brihad-Bhâgavatâmritam
[1] The heart of the Brijwâsis that are like lakes full of prem-ras
[2] Nârad is referring to how the devatâs and asurs obtained the material amritam by churning the Ocean of Milk.
[3] To have faith in the greatness of the places where Sri Krishna has performs His pastimes and narrate such incidents
[4] To touch Srimad-Bhâgavatam and other scriptures that glorify Sri Krishna’s sweet pastimes
[5] To roll in the dust of Brijdhâm
[6] A mangal-ghat is a small pitcher that is used for pujâ. It is decorated with turmeric and vermilion. It is considered auspicious. Here the author is likening the breasts of the Gopis with a ‘mangal-ghat’ because they too are auspicious and worthy of being worshiped.
[7] The Beloved of the cowherd maidens
[8] Cowherd maidens