One who is neutral may be avoided like an enemy, but a friend should be considered like one’s own self.

COMMENTARY

As Kṛṣṇa is bhagavān, the possessor of all powers, in front of Him the brāhmaṇa lady gave up her material body. Unseen by others she met Govinda in her spiritual body, and then experienced unlimited pleasure (vindati) with her transcendental senses (ga). That is the significance of the word “api” in this verse.

 

The food (tena eva annena) was inadequate to feed all the cowherd boys. But almighty (prabhuḥ) Kṛṣṇa caused all of their bellies to be completely filled. The ka in gopakān indicates Kṛṣṇa’s merciful attitude towards the boys. Though Kṛṣṇa had no desire to eat, He also ate to show mercy to the cowherd boys. That is the significance of svayam ca (he also). Kṛṣṇa had no desire to eat because He was feeling remorse at having made the brāhmaṇas’ wives break their vows.

 

|| 10.23.37 ||

evaṁ līlā-nara-vapur nr-lokam anuśīlayan

reme go-gopa-gopīnāṁ ramāyān rūpa-vāk-kṛtaiḥ

TRANSLATION

Thus the Supreme Lord, appearing like a human being to perform His pastimes, imitated the ways of human society. He enjoyed pleasing His cows, cowherd boyfriends and cowherd girlfriends with His beauty, words and actions.

COMMENTARY

In this way, Kṛṣṇa did not directly enjoy with the wives of the brāhmaṇas, but He did enjoy (reme) with the wives of the cowherd men. This is the intention of this verse. Līlā-nara-vapu means that Kṛṣṇa appeared as a human being to relish His pastimes. It indicates that because of the predominance of the līlā-śakti over Kṛṣṇa’s other śaktis such as the sayta-sankalpa śakti (potency to fulfill His desires), the pastime with the brāhmaṇas’ wives did not culminate in direct enjoyment.

 

Enjoying Himself with the cows, cowherd men and gopīs, Kṛṣṇa overwhelmed them with bliss by His form, words and actions. Gopīnām refers to the young gopīs rather than the elderly ones with maternal affection because of the time and context of the verse. Implied here is a refutation to the opinion that prior to the rāsa dance Kṛṣṇa did not enjoy with the young Vraja-gopīs.

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī indicates: “Kṛṣṇa performed many pastimes similar to the rāsa dance with the Vraja-gopīs, but these have not been mentioned by me.”

 

|| 10.23.38 ||

athānusmṛtya viprās te anvatapyan kṛtāgasaḥ

yad viśveśvarayor yācñām ahanma nṛ-viḍambayoḥ

TRANSLATION

The brāhmaṇas then came to their senses and began to feel great remorse. They thought, “We have sinned, for we have denied the request of the two Lords of the universe, who deceptively appeared as ordinary human beings.”

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas remembered Kṛṣṇa constantly, and became repentant due to the auspicious presence of their wives. This verse speaks of their repentance: “We are offenders because (yat) we have ignored the request of the Lord of the universe.”

 

What type of Lord was He? “We were deceived (nṛ-viḍambayoḥ) by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma who requested food from us.”

 

|| 10.23.39 ||

dṛṣṭvā strīṇāṁ bhagavati kṛṣṇe bhaktim alaukikīm

ātmānaṁ ca tayā hīnam anutaptā vyagarhayan

TRANSLATION

Taking note of their wives’ pure, transcendental devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and seeing their own lack of devotion, the brāhmaṇas felt most sorrowful and began to condemn themselves.

COMMENTARY

Though the women were their wives, the brāhmaṇas now regarded them as their gurus, and they criticized themselves for their own lack of devotion. The kṛṣṇa-bhakti, pure devotion to Kṛṣṇa, of their wives was impossible to see in ordinary society (alaukikīm).

 

|| 10.23.40 ||

dhig janma nas tri-vṛd yat tad dhig vrataṁ dhig bahu-jñatām

dhik kulaṁ dhik kriyā-dākṣyaṁ vimukhā ye tv adhokṣaje

TRANSLATION

[The brāhmaṇas said:] To hell with our threefold birth, our vow of celibacy and our extensive learning! To hell with our aristocratic background and our expertise in the rituals of sacrifice! These are all condemned because we were inimical to the transcendental Personality of Godhead.

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas said, “Our three births: 1) physical birth, 2) brahminical initiation, and 3) initiation into the performance of Vedic sacrifice are all useless. Our vow of celibacy is useless. And our expertise in daily and occasional duties (nitya and naimittika kriya) is all useless because we were inimical to Śrī Kṛṣṇa (adhokṣaja).”

 

|| 10.23.41 ||

nūnaṁ bhagavato māyā yoginām api mohinī

yad vayaṁ guravo nṛṇāṁ svārthe muhyāmahe dvijāḥ

TRANSLATION

The illusory potency of the Supreme Lord certainly bewilders even the great mystics, what to speak of us. As brāhmaṇas we are supposed to be the spiritual masters of all classes of men, yet we have been bewildered about our own real interest.

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas said, “If the yogis who practice aṣṭāṅga-yoga also become bewildered, what can be said of us, who are involved in so much karma? Although we are the spiritual masters (guravo) of others, māyā has bewildered us about the real goal of our lives.”

 

|| 10.23.42 ||

aho paśyata nārīṇām api kṛṣṇe jagad-gurau

duranta-bhāvaṁ yo ’vidhyan mṛtyu-pāśān gṛhābhidhān

TRANSLATION

Just see the unlimited love these women have developed for Lord Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the entire universe! This love has broken for them the very bonds of death—their attachment to family life.

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas said, “As their husbands, fathers or fathers-in-law we are superficially the gurus or teachers of these women. But these women have attained perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas we have fallen in the blind well of ignorance.” That is expressed in this verse.

 

The brāhmaṇas said, “These women possess a love for Kṛṣṇa which is impossible for us to understand (duranta bhāvaṁ). Just see (paśyata) the prema they are showing towards Kṛṣṇa.”

 

The syllable ha in aho (joy, surprise) indicates that upon returning home the ladies displayed ecstatic symptoms, such as trembling, shedding tears, hairs standing on end, and calling out in choked voices, “O pleasure of my life, O Kṛṣṇa!”

 

The brāhmaṇas continued, “But it is not fitting for a woman to love anyone other than her husband. Though women should regard their husbands as guru, what can one say when the Supreme Lord, who is jagad-guru, the universal teacher and spiritual master appears directly before them? They have developed their love for the guru of the universe (Kṛṣṇa), and now don’t have even a trace of attachment for home, husband, children and so forth. As we no longer see those attachments in them, they are our gurus.” From that day on the husbands accepted those ladies as their worshipable spiritual masters and no longer thought of them as their wives or property.

 

|| 10.23.43-44 ||

nāsāṁ dvijāti-saṁskāro na nivāso gurāv api

na tapo nātma-mīmāṁsā na śaucaṁ na kriyāḥ śubhāḥ

tathāpi hy uttamaḥ-śloke kṛṣṇe yogeśvareśvare

bhaktir dṛḍhā na cāsmākaṁ saṁskārādimatām api

TRANSLATION

These women have never undergone the purificatory rites of the twice-born classes, nor have they lived as Brahmācārīs in the āśrama of a spiritual master, nor have they executed austerities, speculated on the nature of the self, followed the formalities of cleanliness or engaged in pious rituals. Nevertheless, they have firm devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose glories are chanted by the exalted hymns of the Vedas and who is the supreme master of all masters of mystic power. We, on the other hand, have no such devotion for the Lord, although we have executed all these processes.

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas said, “We cannot understand how our wives have developed such extraordinary love for Kṛṣṇa.” That is the intention of this verse.

 

The brāhmaṇas continued, “They did not perform upanayana saṁskāra, live as brahmacārīs in a guru’s āśrama, perform austerities, meditate on the soul, or execute auspicious rites. The cause of their love is none other than Kṛṣṇa, the supreme master of all masters of mystic power.”

 

The cause of their wives’ loving devotion to Kṛṣṇa was hearing about the form, qualities and activities of Kṛṣṇa from the flower ladies and other women of Vraja. But the brāhmaṇas did not mention this because they were unaware of it. This is Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s intention here.

 

|| 10.23.45 ||

nanu svārtha-vimūḍhānāṁ pramattānāṁ gṛhehayā

aho naḥ smārayām āsa gopa-vākyaiḥ satāṁ gatiḥ

TRANSLATION

Indeed, infatuated as we are with our household affairs, we have deviated completely from the real aim of our life. But now just see how the Lord, through the words of these simple cowherd boys, has reminded us of the ultimate destination of all true transcendentalists.

COMMENTARY

“What mercy the Lord shows, and what selfishness we have.” That is what the brāhmaṇas express in this verse.

 

|| 10.23.46 ||

anyathā pūrṇa-kāmasya kaivalyādy-aśiṣāṁ pateḥ

īśitavyaiḥ kim asmābhir īśasyaitad viḍambanam

TRANSLATION

Otherwise, why would the supreme controller—whose every desire is already fulfilled and who is the master of liberation and all other transcendental benedictions—enact this pretense with us, who are always to be controlled by Him?

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas said, “As Kṛṣṇa is self-satisfied and has attained fulfillment in every possible desire, what does He need from us? It cannot be anything else (anyathā) but an expression of His causeless mercy. By sending His friends to humbly beg food from us, He exposed our foolish arrogance.”

 

|| 10.23.47 ||

hitvānyān bhajate yaṁ śrīḥ pāda-sparśāśayāsakṛt

svātma-doṣāpavargeṇa tad-yācñā jana-mohinī

TRANSLATION

Hoping for the touch of His lotus feet, the goddess of fortune perpetually worships Him alone, leaving aside all others and renouncing her pride and fickleness. That He begs is certainly astonishing to everyone.

COMMENTARY

Someone may reply to the brāhmaṇas, “Kṛṣṇa begged rice because He was hungry, not to show mercy. And you should not say that He is self-satisfied, because He performs activities like herding cows for some purpose.” This verse refutes these arguments.

 

The brāhmaṇas said, “The goddess of wealth (Laksmī-devī) gives up her natural tendency of fickleness (sva-atma doṣa apavargeṇa) to constantly (asakṛt) worship Kṛṣṇa. Yet that supreme master of the goddess of wealth still begs for food. People like us are certainly bewildered by such actions, and cannot believe therefore, that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord.”

 

|| 10.23.48-49 ||

deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaṁ mantra-tantrartvijo ’gnayaḥ

devatā yajamānaś ca kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ

sa eva bhagavān sākṣād viṣṇur yogeśvareśvaraḥ

jāto yaduṣv ity āśṛṇma hy api mūḍhā na vidmahe

TRANSLATION

All the aspects of sacrifice—the auspicious place and time, the various items of paraphernalia, the Vedic hymns, the prescribed rituals, the priests and sacrificial fires, the demigods, the patron of the sacrifice, the sacrificial offering and the pious results obtained—all are simply manifestations of His opulences. Yet even though we had heard that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, the Lord of all mystic controllers, had taken birth in the Yadu dynasty, we were so foolish that we could not recognize Śrī Kṛṣṇa to be none other than Him.

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas’ bewilderment is further explained in these verses.

 

|| 10.23.50 ||

tasmai namo bhagavate kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase

yan-māyā-mohita-dhiyo bhramāmaḥ karma-vartmasu

TRANSLATION

Let us offer our obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His intelligence is never bewildered, whereas we, confused by His power of illusion, are simply wandering about on the paths of fruitive work.

COMMENTARY

Ashamed about their offense against Kṛṣṇa, the brāhmaṇas offered obeisances to the Lord.

 

|| 10.23.51 ||

sa vai na ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ sva-māyā-mohitātmanām

avijñatānubhāvānāṁ kṣantum arhaty atikramam

TRANSLATION

We were bewildered by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s illusory potency and thus could not understand His influence as the original Personality of Godhead. Now we hope He will kindly forgive our offense.

COMMENTARY

The brāhmaṇas, feeling very fallen, then asked forgiveness from the Lord.

 

|| 10.23.52 ||

iti svāgham anusmṛtya kṛṣṇe te kṛta-helanāḥ

didṛkṣavo vrajam atha kaṁsād bhītā na cācalan

TRANSLATION

Thus reflecting on the sin they had committed by neglecting Lord Kṛṣṇa, they became very eager to see Him. But being afraid of King Kaṁsa, they did not dare go to Vraja.

COMMENTARY

After realizing their offense against Kṛṣṇa, and finally appreciating His almighty position, why did the brāhmaṇas not just rush to Vraja and surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord? This verse answers. At that moment, the brāhmaṇas were bewildered by grief and guilt, and were not in agreement as to the proper course of action. Thus they did not go to the Asoka grove to meet Śrī Kṛṣṇa. And even by the end of the day, although they were all in agreement, they still could not go to Vraja. The word “ca” indicates they tried to move but could not. Suddenly at the same time they all felt the presence of Kaṁsa. The brāhmaṇas were afraid that Kaṁsa would certainly kill them if his spies reported that they had gone to Kṛṣṇa.

 

The fear of being killed, however, did not create any obstacle for their wives. Being absorbed in ecstatic Kṛṣṇa consciousness. the brāhmaṇas’ wives immediately went to Kṛṣṇa, just as the gopīs, simply to dance with the Lord, traveled in the dead of night through a forest full of ferocious animals. It should be understood that because the brāhmaṇas were not on such an advanced platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the shadow of fear in their minds kept them from seeing the Lord face to face.

 

Thus ends the commentary on the Twenty Third Chapter of the Tenth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas.

 

Chapter Twenty-four

Worshiping Govardhana Hill

 

|| 10.24.1 ||

śrī-śuka uvāca

bhagavān api tatraiva baladevena saṁyutaḥ

apaśyan nivasan gopān indra-yāga-kṛtodyamān

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: While staying in that very place with His brother Baladeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa happened to see the cowherd men busily arranging for a sacrifice to Indra.

COMMENTARY

In this chapter Kṛṣṇa talks with His father Nanda Mahārāja, stops the sacrifice to Indra, and introduces the worship of Govardhana Hill.

 

In village of the yajñic brāhmaṇas, Nanda Mahārāja and his brothers were somehow or other preparing an elaborate sacrifice to Lord Indra. Upon arriving there and observing the men busy in the preparations, Kṛṣṇa reacted as follows.

 

|| 10.24.2 ||

tad-abhijño ’pi bhagavān sarvātmā sarva-darśanaḥ

praśrayāvanato ’pṛcchad vṛddhān nanda-purogamān

TRANSLATION

Being the omniscient Supersoul, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa already understood the situation, yet He still humbly inquired from the elders, headed by His father, Nanda Mahārāja.

COMMENTARY

Kṛṣṇa knew all about the sacrifice because He had seen it many times before. As Paramātmā (sarva-ātmā) He was inspiring the Vrajavāsīs to perform the sacrifice. Yet being eager to enact His pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill, Kṛṣṇa cleverly inquired from His father about the imminent sacrifice. Kṛṣṇa is called sarva-darśanaḥ because He could see into the future, wherein He would smash lndra’s pride and enjoy pastimes with His loving devotees for seven days.

 

|| 10.24.3 ||

kathyatāṁ me pitaḥ ko ’yaṁ sambhramo va upāgataḥ

kiṁ phalaṁ kasya voddeśaḥ kena vā sādhyate makhaḥ

TRANSLATION

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] My dear father, kindly explain to Me what this great endeavor of yours is all about. What is it meant to accomplish? If this is a ritual sacrifice, then for whose satisfaction is it intended and by what means is it going to be executed?

 

|| 10.24.4 ||

etad brūhi mahān kāmo mahyaṁ śuśrūṣave pitaḥ

na hi gopyaṁ hi sadhūnāṁ kṛtyaṁ sarvātmanām iha

asty asva-para-dṛṣṭīnām amitrodāsta-vidviṣām

TRANSLATION

Please tell Me about it, O father. I have a great desire to know and am ready to hear in good faith. Certainly, no secrets are to be kept by saintly personalities, who see all others as equal to themselves, who have no conception of “mine” or “another’s” and who do not consider who is a friend, who is an enemy and who is neutral.

COMMENTARY

If Nanda Mahārāja answered, “We are busy preparing for the sacrifice we are about to perform.” Then Kṛṣṇa would ask, “What is the purpose of this sacrifice? Who is the demigod to be worshiped through this sacrifice? Who will perform it and with what materials?”

 

Nanda Mahārāja said, “You are but a mere child. Why are You asking such questions?”

 

Kṛṣṇa: “I have a great desire (mahān-kāma) to know.” Or the meaning can be “As You are showing great expectations, therefore please tell Me because I want to hear.”

 

|| 10.24.5 ||

udāsīno ’ri-vad varjya ātma-vat suhṛd ucyate

TRANSLATION