Sriman-Mahâprabhu has relished this verse in a most wonderful manner and has expressed His feelings to Sri Sanâtan Goswâmi –
“O Sanâtan! Hear the description of Sri Krishna’s sweet beauty. A single drop of that beauty submerges entire creation by attracting all living beings.
His beauty zestfully plunders the hearts of all His other Divine forms as well – all those Divine forms that exist in infinite universes and in the spiritual world. It seduces even the Laxmis, who are crowned by the Vedas as the chastest of all.
Astride the chariots of the Gopis‘ hearts, He agitates the heart of the Agitator-of-hearts (the Love-god). Hence, He is called Madan-Mohan1. [Madan-the Love-god; Mohan – the one who hypnotises]. He has vanquished the proud ‘wielder of five arrows’2 (The Love-god). Thus, He Himself is the New God of Love. He celebrates His victory by holding the Râs-festival with the Gopis.
He grazes the cows playfully with His friends. He frolics freely in Vrindâvan playing sweetly on His flute. The melody of His flute is so wonderful that all moving and non-moving beings express rapture. They tremble and shed tears.
He looks as beautiful as the newly formed rain-clouds with lovely white cranes (His pearl necklace) flying amidst them. His crown of peacock feathers seem to top the clouds like a brightly coloured rainbow, and He is clad in a golden yellow robe which looks like lightning flashing through the clouds. In this manner, He showers the nectar of His pastimes (just as the rain showers rainfall) on His devotees (who are like the harvest or the cream of His creation).”
“This form of condensed sweetness and Divinity has manifested Himself in Vraja. Shukadev, the son of Vyâsdev has described this many times in Srimad-Bhâgavatam, which upon hearing the devotees get intoxicated with love.”
– (C.C. – M.L.21.84-92)
(The women of Mathurâ said) – “The Gopis must have performed some inconceivable austerities; hence they are drinking the nectarine beauty of Sri Hari – that beauty which even the Goddess of Wealth, Opulence and Fame covet. It is extremely rare, unparalleled and is the condensed form of lâvanya3. They are drinking this beauty using their eyes as wine-cups.”
– (S.B.10.44.14)
This verse too has been relished wonderfully by Sriman-Mahâprabhu in the following manner – (He said) –
“Sri Krishna’s nectarine youth is an ocean full of the waves of condensed loveliness. Various mellows arise as whirlpools in this ocean. His resonating flute is a cyclone whereas a woman’s heart is but a blade of grass. Once it drowns in this ocean, it has no chance of survival.
Dear Sakhi! What austerities have the Gopis performed (that they have been so rewarded)? They drink the sweet beauty of Krishna with their eyes to their hearts’ content. Their birth is blessed, their bodies are blessed, and their hearts full of Krishna-prem too are blessed.
Nothing is superior to this sweetness. No other Divine form can equal this. Even Nârâyan, from whom all other Incarnations originate and Who is the Lord of ‘Paravyom4‘, does not possess this sweetness.”
Goddess Laxmi (Ramâ), who is Lord Nârâyan’s beloved consort, is evidence for the above statement. She, who is the chastest of all chaste women, was tempted by Krishna’s sweetness. Thus, she gave up all luxuries and started performing austerities to achieve Sri Krishna.
He is the essence of all sweetness and the reservoir of all sweet qualities. All the other incarnations only reflect His qualities. (They do not actually possess these qualities).
The ‘bhâv‘ of the Gopis is a mirror that reflects Krishna’s sweetness. It gains a new brilliance with every moment and so does Krishna’s sweetness. Both compete with each other and none is defeated. In this manner both cross all bounds.”
– (C.C.Madhya.21.94-99)
“That sweet beauty reposes in Vrajadhâm. It is rich and sweet. It is the abode of all Divine qualities. Krishna is the fountainhead of all the power and opulence of the other incarnations”.
– (C.C. Madhya.21.101)
Srila Gopâl Bhatt Goswâmi also says -“The words ‘crown of peacock feathers’ signify the all-attractiveness of the extravagant beauty of Sri Krishna – Although He has many ornaments of gold and gemstones, Sri Krishna prefers to don peacock-feathers, natural colours and ornaments of tender petals, leaves etc. This shows His adolescent dalliance. When the peacocks see Sri Krishna locked in embrace with the Vraja-beauties, they get the impression of a cloud bedecked with lightning. Hence, they start dancing robustly displaying their colourful plumage. Sri Krishna too lovingly picks up the feathers shed by them, and puts them in His crown. Whenever He sees these peacock-feathers, He is reminded of the passionately loosened tresses (of the Gopis) and their unblinking gaze when they behold Him.”
(to be continued)
1 One Who hypnotizes the Love-god
2 The Love-god darts five flower-tipped arrows at his target and is never said to miss
3 Lâvanya -> when the complexion is extremely clear, rays of light emanate from within like the inner glow of a pearl-fruit, and the body sparkles from within, this beauty is called lâvanya.
4 the Spiritual world