॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
3 May 2023, Wednesday - X a.33 - Bhagavan's Raasa Leela with the Gopis, full of music, dance and mutual delight.
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श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्थं भगवतो गोप्यः श्रुत्वा वाचः सुपेशलाः । जहुर्विरहजं तापं तदङ्गोपचिताशिषः ॥
तत्रारभत गोविन्दो रासक्रीडामनुव्रतैः । स्त्रीरत्नैरन्वितः प्रीतैरन्योन्याबद्धबाहुभिः ॥
रासोत्सवः सम्प्रवृत्तो गोपीमण्डलमण्डितः ।
योगेश्वरेण कृष्णेन तासां मध्ये द्वयोर्द्वयोः ।
प्रविष्टेन गृहीतानां कण्ठे स्वनिकटं स्त्रियः ॥
यं मन्येरन् नभस्तावद्विमानशतसङ्कुलम् । दिवौकसां सदाराणामौत्सुक्यापहृतात्मनाम् ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated:
On hearing Bhagavan's sweet words of love, the Gopis were totally delighted, and they assuaged their erstwhile grief of separation by clinging to Sri Krishna's limbs. Thus, Bhagavan began his Raasa sport on the bank of the Yamuna, surrounded by devoted Gopis holding one another's hands. The Gopis arranged themselves in a circle, and Yogeshwara Sri Krishna by His immanence became His many replicas, each intimately sporting with each Gopi. This phenomenon was so special that the gods assembled in the skies in large numbers in their aerial vehicles to witness this feast of godly love.
ततो दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्निपेतुः पुष्पवृष्टयः । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयः सस्त्रीकास्तद्यशोऽमलम् ॥
वलयानां नूपुराणां किङ्किणीनां च योषिताम् । सप्रियाणामभूच्छब्दस्तुमुलो रासमण्डले ॥
T: The gods, Gandharvas, and Apsaras, all showered flowers on the Raasa players, and sounded drums and musical instruments, making celestial music, singing the glories of the Lord, to go with this dance of Sri Krishna and the Gopis. The jingling of bells, anklets and jewels as the Gopis sported with their beloved Lord combined in that divine space of Raasa to create an indescribable experience of music.
तत्रातिशुशुभे ताभिर्भगवान् देवकीसुतः । मध्ये मणीनां हैमानां महामरकतो यथा ॥
पादन्यासैर्भुजविधुतिभिः सस्मितैर्भ्रूविलासैः भज्यन् मध्यैश्चलकुचपटैः कुण्डलैर्गण्डलोलैः ।
स्विद्यन् मुख्यः कबररशनाग्रन्थयः कृष्णवध्वो गायन्त्यस्तं तडित इव ता मेघचक्रे विरेजुः ॥
T: Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the joy of his mother Yashoda, shone like a divine emerald in the midst of gold beads akin to the Gopis. The Gopis moved in ecstasy, their feet dancing, hands moving in gestures, smiles broad on their faces and their eyebrows dancing beautifully, their clothes and tresses moving this way and that, their ear-drops and necklaces swinging to the dance, as they sang and danced, looking like streaks of lightning against the dark cloud of their divine lover, Sri Krishna.
उच्चैर्जगुर्नृत्यमाना रक्तकण्ठ्यो रतिप्रियाः ।कृष्णाभिमर्शमुदिता यद्गीतेनेदमावृतम् ॥
T: They sang aloud their songs of joy in amorous ecstasy to be so close to their beloved, and the whole universe resonated with their song and dance of love.
काचित्समं मुकुन्देन स्वरजातीरमिश्रिताः । उन्निन्ये पूजिता तेन प्रीयता साधु साध्विति ।
तदेव ध्रुवमुन्निन्ये तस्यै मानं च बह्वदात् ॥
काचिद्रासपरिश्रान्ता पार्श्वस्थस्य गदाभृतः । जग्राह बाहुना स्कन्धं श्लथद्वलयमल्लिका ॥
तत्रैकांसगतं बाहुं कृष्णस्योत्पलसौरभम् । चन्दनालिप्तमाघ्राय हृष्टरोमा चुचुम्ब ह ॥
कस्याश्चिन्नाट्यविक्षिप्तकुण्डलत्विषमण्डितम् । गण्डं गण्डे सन्दधत्या अदात्ताम्बूलचर्वितम् ॥
नृत्यन्ती गायती काचित्कूजन्नूपुरमेखला । पार्श्वस्थाच्युतहस्ताब्जं श्रान्ताधात्स्तनयोः शिवम् ॥
गोप्यो लब्ध्वाच्युतं कान्तं श्रिय एकान्तवल्लभम् । गृहीतकण्ठ्यस्तद्दोर्भ्यां गायन्त्यस्तं विजह्रिरे ॥
T: One Gopi sang in the upper octave, tunefully aligned to Sri Krishna's own deep voice, eliciting his "Bhale Bhale (साधु साधु)". Then another repeated the refrain, but in a different metre, again getting Sri Krishna's joyous appreciation. One Gopi tired after some time, and leaned on Sri Krishna's shoulder, with her bracelets and flowers loosened. Sri Krishna placed his own arm on another Gopi, his body emitting the fragrance of a blue lotus, admixed with the fragrance of sandal paste. Evidently thrilled with ecstasy in her intimate moment with her beloved. the Gopi kissed Sri Krishna's arm. A Gopi pressed her cheek lit by her sparking ear-ornaments against Sri Krishna's cheek and got a piece of the betel nut he was chewing. Another Gopi danced and sang so much she grew very tired. So to relax, she placed Sri Krishna's lotus hand pressed on her breasts.
So here were the Gopis, enjoying the amorous company of beloved Sri Krishna, who was indeed the consort of Goddess Sri Lakshmi! They sang and sang Sri Krishna's praises as he embraced their necks lovingly.
कर्णोत्पलालकविटङ्ककपोलघर्मवक्त्रश्रियो वलयनूपुरघोषवाद्यैः ।
गोप्यः समं भगवता ननृतुः स्वकेशस्रस्तस्रजो भ्रमरगायकरासगोष्ठ्याम् ॥
एवं परिष्वङ्गकराभिमर्शस्निग्धेक्षणोद्दामविलासहासैः ।
रेमे रमेशो व्रजसुन्दरीभिर्यथार्भकः स्वप्रतिबिम्बविभ्रमः ॥
तदङ्गसङ्गप्रमुदाकुलेन्द्रियाः केशान् दुकूलं कुचपट्टिकां वा ।
नाञ्जः प्रतिव्योढुमलं व्रजस्त्रियो विस्रस्तमालाभरणाः कुरूद्वह ॥
T: The lotus flowers worn behind their ears, the lovelocks of hair on their cheeks, beads of perspiration from the dancing and singing, and the music of their anklets and armlets, all made the Gopis most beautiful. The prayer beads in their hands scattered. The Gopis danced, even as the bees were happy to swarm around them.
So here was Bhagavan Narayana, consort of Devi Lakshmi, amorously sporting with Gopis, embracing them, caressing them, and smiling bewitchingly. The only comparison to this sight can be that of a child delighting in playing with his own reflection! So complete was the union! Soon, the Gopis were so lost in Raasa that they didn't notice any disarrangement of their hair, adornments or garments.
कृष्णविक्रीडितं वीक्ष्य मुमुहुः खेचरस्त्रियः । कामार्दिताः शशाङ्कश्च सगणो विस्मितोऽभवत् ॥
कृत्वा तावन्तमात्मानं यावतीर्गोपयोषितः । रेमे स भगवांस्ताभिरात्मारामोऽपि लीलया ॥
T: Looking on Sri Krishna's Raasa, even the celestial women were driven to an amorous mood. The moon himself was astonished and looked on steadily, surrounded by his own bevy of stars. Thus, Bhagavan played His Raasa Leela, multiplying Himself into many, to sport individually with each of the many Gopis there.
तासामतिविहारेण श्रान्तानां वदनानि सः । प्रामृजत्करुणः प्रेम्णा शन्तमेनाङ्गपाणिना ॥
गोप्यः स्फुरत्पुरटकुण्डलकुन्तलत्विड्गण्डश्रिया सुधितहासनिरीक्षणेन ।
मानं दधत्य ऋषभस्य जगुः कृतानि पुण्यानि तत्कररुहस्पर्शप्रमोदाः ॥
T; Bhagavan saw that the Gopis had tired from their joyous exertions. He softly wiped the sweat off their lovely faces with glittering ear-ornaments. The Gopis thrilled to his touch. They sang many songs celebrating their beloved hero.
ताभिर्युतः श्रममपोहितुमङ्गसङ्गघृष्टस्रजः स कुचकुङ्कुमरञ्जितायाः ।
गन्धर्वपालिभिरनुद्रुत आविशद्वाः श्रान्तो गजीभिरिभराडिव भिन्नसेतुः ॥
सोऽम्भस्यलं युवतिभिः परिषिच्यमानः प्रेम्णेक्षितः प्रहसतीभिरितस्ततोऽङ्ग ।
वैमानिकैः कुसुमवर्षिभिरीड्यमानो रेमे स्वयं स्वरतिरत्र गजेन्द्रलीलः ॥
ततश्च कृष्णोपवने जलस्थलप्रसूनगन्धानिलजुष्टदिक्तटे ।
चचार भृङ्गप्रमदागणावृतो यथा मदच्युद्द्विरदः करेणुभिः ॥
एवं शशाङ्कांशुविराजिता निशाः स सत्यकामोऽनुरताबलागणः ।
सिषेव आत्मन्यवरुद्धसौरतः सर्वाः शरत्काव्यकथारसाश्रयाः ॥
T: Sri Krishna, with his own garlands crushed and smeared with the vermilion from the Gopis' breasts, now entered with all of them into the cool waters of the Yamuna, a sure way to refresh themselves from their exhaustion. Sri Krishna was followed by the swarms of bees singing their own accompaniment. Now Bhagavan looked like a lordly elephant with his consort of she-elephants, as they splashed and sprayed Yamuna's cool water on their beloved. It appeared that Sri Krishna had transgressed all norms of propriety in this celebration, just as a tusker in musth breaks free from all bonds while raiding a paddy field.
Thus, the moonlit night celebrated the Raasa of Bhagavan who was always immersed in His Universal Self, during the entire time he sported with the Gopis all ecstatic in his intimate company. Despite his giving of himself so completely to the Gopis in love, he never once succumbed to manly sexual desire, maintaining his inner equanimity with total self-mastery.
राजोवाच
संस्थापनाय धर्मस्य प्रशमायेतरस्य च । अवतीर्णो हि भगवानंशेन जगदीश्वरः ॥
स कथं धर्मसेतूनां वक्ता कर्ताभिरक्षिता । प्रतीपमाचरद्ब्रह्मन् परदाराभिमर्शनम् ॥
आप्तकामो यदुपतिः कृतवान् वै जुगुप्सितम् । किमभिप्राय एतं नः संशयं छिन्धि सुव्रत ॥
T: King Parikshit asked the question that would be on our minds too. "Respected Sir, The Lord is the Creator and Maintainer of this universe, and He is the Maker of the moral code. He had incarnated as Sri Krishna only to destroy irreligion and evil. How then did Sri Krishna violate his own moral code and have such intimacy with others' wives???"
श्रीशुक उवाच
धर्मव्यतिक्रमो दृष्ट ईश्वराणां च साहसम् । तेजीयसां न दोषाय वह्नेः सर्वभुजो यथा ॥
T: "Dear King! What we consider as this transgression of Dharma was a deliberate act of Bhagavan, and can even be seen as daredevilry. But these do not accrue to Him as sins, just as fire burns everything without being itself contaminated."
नैतत्समाचरेज्जातु मनसापि ह्यनीश्वरः । विनश्यत्याचरन् मौढ्याद्यथा रुद्रोऽब्धिजं विषम् ॥
T: "Also let everyone be warned that they should not dare to imitate Bhagavan's actions. They are neither divine nor can they deal with the consequences. Imagine if anyone drank the Halahala imitating Bhagavan Shiva! They would be reduced at once to ashes!"
ईश्वराणां वचः सत्यं तथैवाचरितं क्वचित् । तेषां यत्स्ववचोयुक्तं बुद्धिमांस्तत्समाचरेत् ॥
T: "The principle is simple. Follow Bhagavan's words as gospel. But do not try to imitate Bhagavan's actions. That is intelligence and discrimination."
कुशलाचरितेनैषामिह स्वार्थो न विद्यते । विपर्ययेण वानर्थो निरहङ्कारिणां प्रभो ॥
T: "Divine beings are pristine in thought and even deed as no bad effects accrue to them. The reason is they have no self-interest. Hence they attract no adverse consequences of their Karmas."
किमुताखिलसत्त्वानां तिर्यङ्मर्त्यदिवौकसाम् । ईशितुश्चेशितव्यानां कुशलाकुशलान्वयः ॥
T: "When this is so, Bhagavan, Ishwara, Paramatma, is the supreme Master and Lord of all creation. He is the Lord of all creatures from an insect to man and even gods. Then how can favourable and adverse effects of Karma attach to Him?"
यत्पादपङ्कजपरागनिषेवतृप्ता योगप्रभावविधुताखिलकर्मबन्धाः ।
स्वैरं चरन्ति मुनयोऽपि न नह्यमानास्तस्येच्छयाऽऽत्तवपुषः कुत एव बन्धः ॥
T: "This is the same Bhagavan the pollen of whose lotus feet gives ultimate joy to devotees. Yogis overcome all their Karma bondages by meditating and merging into Him. The great sages meditate on Him as their own Self and attain peace. Such a Bhagavan incarnates Himself for the delight of His devotees taking a human form with a fraction of His divine being. Then how can we even imagine that He will suffer any consequences of His own Karma in the incarnation?"
गोपीनां तत्पतीनां च सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम् । योऽन्तश्चरति सोऽध्यक्षः क्रीडनेनेह देहभाक् ॥
अनुग्रहाय भूतानां मानुषं देहमास्थितः । भजते तादृशीः क्रीडा याः श्रुत्वा तत्परो भवेत् ॥
नासूयन् खलु कृष्णाय मोहितास्तस्य मायया ।
मन्यमानाः स्वपार्श्वस्थान् स्वान् स्वान् दारान् व्रजौकसः ॥
T: "Bhagavan Sri Krishna was the inner Self who is present in every Gopi, her husband, and everyone in Vraja, every embodied being. He was the overlord of all their thoughts, actions and their consequences, even though he was sporting in his own human form! He was the embodiment of grace and compassion. Thus he appeared as a human being. Those who witnessed his Raasa, or even heard about it, would be lost in its sanctity. Hence no Vraja citizen ever harboured any grudge or jealousy towards Sri Krishna. In fact, they all experienced through Bhagavan's Yoga Maya that the Gopis were all only by their side and not away at Raasa Leela through the whole night."
ब्रह्मरात्र उपावृत्ते वासुदेवानुमोदिताः । अनिच्छन्त्यो ययुर्गोप्यः स्वगृहान् भगवत्प्रियाः ॥
विक्रीडितं व्रजवधूभिरिदं च विष्णोः श्रद्धान्वितोऽनुशृणुयादथ वर्णयेद्यः ।
भक्तिं परां भगवति प्रतिलभ्य कामं हृद्रोगमाश्वपहिनोत्यचिरेण धीरः ॥
T: "The night passed thus and it was Brahma Muhurta (time before dawn). The Gopis wanted to stay on but Sri Krishna made them return to their homes. It was simple. They were so much in love with Bhagavan that they constantly strove to please him by following whatever he said."
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Note: I reproduce below the commentary of Sridhara, a glorious saint famous for his works on Bhakti and Advaita. It translates as follows:
The Raasa Leela was full of the Rasa or sentiment and mood extolled by poets in descriptions of the romantic moments afforded by the full moon nights in the Autumnal season. The Raasa exemplified this mood of passion felt by the Gopis. Sri Krishna immersed himself fully in this moonlit night of passion. But yet ( एवमपि) he held himself in check (आत्मनि एव अवरुद्धः) and did not discharge his semen ((सौरतश्चरमधातुः नतु स्खलितः) and showed his mastery over himself (इति कामजयोक्तिः)
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
