1.11.30-39 Krishna Is Greeted by His Queens As He Enters His Palaces

1. 1.11.30-39Krishna Is Greeted by His Queens As He Enters His Palaces

2. Lord Krishna enters the beautiful Dwarka city, greets the citizens and meets His father and mothers In chapter ten verses 28-30, the ladies of on the roofs of Hastinapura spoke of the great fortune of Krsna’s Queens. In the following verses we get a glimpse of Krishna’s dealings with His Queens So far .........

3. Om namah bhagavate vasudevaya I offer my obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. narayanam namaskritya naram chaiva narottamam devim sarasvatim vyasam tato jayam udirayet Before reciting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara-narayana Rishi, the supermost human being, unto Mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author. SB 1.2.4 Shrinvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-shravana-kirtanah hridy antah stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrit satam Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. SB 1.2.17 nashta-prayeshu abhadreshu nityam bhagavata-sevaya bhagavaty uttama-shloke bhaktir bhavati naishthiki By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. Prayers before reciting Srimad Bhagavatam

4. Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-shalakaya chakshur unmilitam yena tasmai shri-guruve namaha I was born in the darkest of ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. Mukham karoti vacalam pangam langhayate girim yat-krpa tam aham vande sri gurum dina tarine I offer my respectful obeisances to my Spiritual Master, the deliverer of fallen souls, whose mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Sri Guru Pranam

5. Theme: “Krishna becomes defeated by the devotion of His devotees- to have such overwhelming loving desire to please Krishna(not just pure or unalloyed) – this is what these residents of Dwarka possessed....We will see how Krishna relates to those devotees whose service mood and loving mood is developed to the fullest extent” HG Bhurijana Prabhu Lecture Link: http://c677812.r12.cf0.rackcdn.com/SBvrinda/SB1.2/33_SB1.11.18-39.mp3 ” Bees like honey after the Lord’s Lotus Feet Rupa Goswami’s prayer in purport to text 26 “Like Bees after Honey He desires to be placed at the Lotus Feet of the Lord Being placed at the Lotus Feet of the Lord – means service From the lecture: “See the mood of a devotee- RG is revealing it ........ Heart of Goloka Vrindavan is service- everyone wants to please Krishna and that is the center of the spiritual world. Therefore it is completely harmonious-....Because everyone only wants to please Krishna, therefore it explains why I cannot get there – because I want to go to Vrindavan and the Spiritual world- so that I can make a good slide show and tell the devotees that I went there-my essence is personal gain-. The essence of the pure devotees is again is full loving service but unless our full loving service mood is developed to the highest extent we cannot get there. This is very important to understand the essence of what it takes to be with Krishna and relate to Krishna is full loving service.We will see how Krishna relates to those devotees whose serving mood and loving mood is developed to the fullest extent. Krishna has unlimited servitors- is he just ordering them “You do this, You do this” siutting on His throne- “If you dont do what I say then there will be thunderbolt- We will see how Krishna deals with devotees like Rupa goswami. e.g reciprocation to sudama Vipra – he gave more than what he could- One should reciprocate with a gift equally. Krishna could not give more than what he possessed because he possessed everything- so He gave Him a token Theme of the verses being read today- From HG Bhurijana Prabhu’s lecture

6. athavisat sva-bhavanam sarva-kamam anuttamam prasada yatra patninam sahasrani ca shodasa Thereafter, the Lord entered His palaces, which were perfect to the fullest extent. His wives lived in them, and they numbered over sixteen thousand. Text 1.11.30

7. patnyah patim proshya grihanupagatam vilokya sanjata-mano-mahotsavah uttasthur arat sahasasanasayat sakam vratair vridita-locanananah The queens of Lord Sri Krishna rejoiced within their minds to see their husband home after a long period abroad. The queens got up at once from their seats and meditations. As was socially customary, they covered their faces shyly and looked about coyly. “no matter how good the cooking is there is a limit to how much we can eat before we get satiated. However Looking at Krishna there is no satiation point for the Soul. Unlike us “I have seen Krishna what's next” HG Bhurijana Prabhu’s lecture Text 1.11.31

8. Krishna is Great! Flawless Palaces No imperfections unlike material world 16108 Queens Had married each of them individually Performed all duties towards them and towards the families that came through them Personal reciprocation with each of the queens Why such pastimes ? e.g Narada Muni’s visit Greatness of the pure associates of the Lord: The queens were in meditation of the Lord They had to get out of their meditation to receive the Lord Similarly Gopis were always in trance Strong ecstasy - they gave up all engagements and the vows of a wife separated from her husband Perfect stage of meeting the Lord When one is situated beyond social norms and customs Important Points from Purports to 30 and 31

9. tam ātmajair dṛṣṭibhir antarātmanā duranta-bhāvāḥ parirebhire patim niruddham apy āsravad ambu netrayor vilajjatīnāḿ bhṛgu-varya vaiklavāt The insuperable ecstasy was so strong that the queens, who were shy, first embraced the Lord in the innermost recesses of their hearts. Then they embraced Him visually, and then they sent their sons to embrace Him [which is equal to personal embracing]. But, O chief amongst the Bhṛgus, though they tried to restrain their feelings, they inadvertently shed tears. Text 1.11.32

10. yadyapy asau pārśva-gato raho-gatas tathāpi tasyāńghri-yugaḿ navaḿ navam pade pade kā virameta tat-padāc calāpi yac chrīr na jahāti karhicit Although Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa was constantly by their sides, as well as exclusively alone, His feet appeared to them to be newer and newer. The goddess of fortune, although by nature always restless and moving, could not quit the Lord's feet. So what woman can be detached from those feet, having once taken shelter of them? Important Points from the Purport Goddess of fortune moves from one place to another Jivas are after Goddess of Fortune Her resting place is the Lotus Feet of the Lord One can be permanently fortunate of one is situated at the Lotus Feet of the Lord Being Situated at the Lotus Feet means to be seek employment at the Lord’s Lotus feet e.g Govt servant is dissatisfied Text 1.11.33

11. evaḿ nṛpāṇāḿ kṣiti-bhāra-janmanām akṣauhiṇībhiḥ parivṛtta-tejasām vidhāya vairaḿ śvasano yathānalam mitho vadhenoparato nirāyudhaḥ The Lord was pacified after killing those kings who were burdensome to the earth. They were puffed up with their military strength, their horses, elephants, chariots, infantry, etc. He Himself was not a party in the fight. He simply created hostility between the powerful administrators, and they fought amongst themselves. He was like the wind which causes friction between bamboos and so sparks a fire. Important Points from the Purport “The fire in the forest takes place automatically by the force of the air, and similarly the hostility between different groups of politicians takes place by the unseen design of the Lord. The unwanted administrators, puffed up by false power and military strength, thus become engaged in fighting amongst themselves over ideological conflicts and so exhaust themselves of all powers. The history of the world reflects this factual will of the Lord,and it will continue to be enacted until the living beings are attached to the service of the Lord.” Personal Note Cultivate attachment to service of the Lord and His devotees Service brings realization HH Romapada Swami’s class during Sadhusangastaka : Not quoting verbatim - If we do not work on our anarthas devotional service is very powerful- we will be thrown out. Text 1.11.34

12. sa eṣa nara-loke 'sminn avatīrṇaḥ sva-māyayā reme strī-ratna-kūṭastho bhagavān prākṛto yathā That Supreme Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, out of His causeless mercy, appeared on this planet by His internal potency and enjoyed Himself amongst competent women as if He were engaging in mundane affairs. Important Points The dealings we see are not lust but the purest form of love The idea that the Lord is impelled by lust is refuted here The queens are referred to as “ratna”- jewels which means they are very qualified In the verse below we see that in this world, loving dealings between men and women reign supreme, yet the Lord was unmoved by the Queens attempts to entice Him(From Unveiling His Lotus feet Pg: 171) Text 1.11.35

13. uddāma-bhāva-piśunāmala-valgu-hāsa- vrīḍāvaloka-nihato madano 'pi yāsām sammuhya cāpam ajahāt pramadottamās tā yasyendriyaḿ vimathituḿ kuhakair na śekuḥ Although the queens' beautiful smiles and furtive glances were all spotless and exciting, and although they could conquer Cupid himself by making him give up his bow in frustration, and although even the tolerant Śiva could fall victim to them, still, despite all their magical feats and attractions, they could not agitate the senses of the Lord. Important Points The transcendental nature of the Lord is being established here so the confusion of sincere salvationists who are avoiding mundane sexual relationships is addressed Combination of male with female tightens their material bondage resulting in attachment to home, bodily off spring, facilties, etc Sincere devotees remain in the association of devotees and protect themselves from the glaring attraction of material paraphernalia Cupid cannot touch the sincere devotees. Suta Goswami to the sages after Maharaj Pariksit leaves his body SB 12.6.30-31 “But there exists a supreme reality, in which the illusory energy cannot fearlessly dominate, thinking, "I can control this person because he is deceitful..................” SB 12.6.32: Those who desire to give up all that is not essentially real move systematically, by negative discrimination of the extraneous, to the supreme position of Lord Viṣṇu. Giving up petty materialism, they offer their love exclusively to the Absolute Truth within their hearts and embrace that highest truth in fixed meditation. SB 12.6.33: Such devotees come to understand the supreme transcendental situation of the Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, because they are no longer polluted by the concepts of "I" and "my," which are based on body and home. Text 1.11.36

14. tam ayaḿ manyate loko hy asańgam api sańginam ātmaupamyena manujaḿ vyāpṛṇvānaḿ yato 'budhaḥ The common materialistic conditioned souls speculate that the Lord is one of them. Out of their ignorance they think that the Lord is affected by matter, although He is unattached. Excerpt from Srila Prabhupada’s Purport “Such a conception is also the product of conditioned life because they cannot go beyond their own personal capacity. Therefore, one who considers the Lord on the level of one's limited potency is only a common man. Such a man cannot be convinced that the Personality of Godhead is always unaffected by the modes of material nature. He cannot understand that the sun is always unaffected by infectious matter. The mental speculators compare everything from the standpoint of experimental knowledge of their own selves. Thus when the Lord is found to act like an ordinary person in matrimonial bondage, they consider Him to be like one of them, without considering that the Lord can at once marry sixteen thousand wives or more. Due to a poor fund of knowledge they accept one side of the picture while disbelieving the other. This means that due to ignorance only they always think of Lord Kṛṣṇa as like themselves and make their own conclusions, which are absurd and unauthentic from the version of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.” Text 1.11.37

15. etad īśanam īśasya prakṛti-stho 'pi tad-guṇaiḥ na yujyate sadātma-sthair yathā buddhis tad-āśrayā This is the divinity of the Personality of Godhead: He is not affected by the qualities of material nature, even though He is in contact with them. Similarly, the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord do not become influenced by the material qualities. Important Points Jiva Goswami says yatha buddhi tad asraya” may be interpreted to mean “ the great devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord have a consciousness like that of the Lord”. Thus even though they reside in the material world they are not influenced by the modes of material nature. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport :“Such mahā-bhāgavatas, or first-grade devotees, although moving amongst men, are not contaminated by honor or insult, hunger or satisfaction, sleep or wakefulness, which are all resultant actions of the three modes of material nature. Similarly, some of them are engaged in worldly dealings, yet are unaffected. Unless these neutralities of life are there, one cannot be considered situated in transcendence” The devotees of the Lord are always transcendental, even if they are sometimes found to have fallen in their behavior.The fallen conditions are to be considered accidental and temporary. They will vanish in no time. Text 1.11.38

16. taḿ menire 'balā mūḍhāḥ straiṇaḿ cānuvrataḿ rahaḥ apramāṇa-vido bhartur īśvaraḿ matayo yathā The simple and delicate women truly thought that Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa, their beloved husband, followed them and was dominated by them. They were unaware of the extent of the glories of their husband, as the atheists are unaware of Him as the supreme controller. Important Points The queens were covered by the internal potency of the Lord so that there might not be any flaw of exchange, and they took it for granted that the Lord was a henpecked husband, always following them in lonely places. The Lord did this to perfectly reciprocate with their unalloyed love. The mental speculators are also covered by the external energy of the Lord and their not being able to fathom the glories of the Lord is considered as ignorance The Lord can be known by the mercy of the Lord only, and by no other means. But since the dealings of the Lord with His wives are based on pure transcendental love and devotion, the wives are all on the transcendental plane without material contamination. Text 1.11.39

17. Krishna is Great – our estimation of Krishna cannot be a superimposition of what we are capable of • The Lord performs all His pastimes : • to give devotees an opportunity to hear and chant about him • To reciprocate with the pure and full love of His unalloyed devotees • Qualities of His unalloyed devotees: • Never satiated • Completely Fixed • Beyond Dualities • Full of love • Always in meditation • The Lord is beyond the material nature- His Pastimes are transcendental • Difference between how a devotees becomes unaware of the Krishna is the Supreme Personality versus a materialist being unaware and unaccepting that Krishna is the Supreme Personality • How we treat the devotees is how we will treat Guru and Krishna. • Relationship means Acceptance – relationship with Krishna means accepting Him and His parts and parcels fully • Full unalloyed service to Krishna means unalloyed service to devotees • Aslishya va pada ratam .....- we treat devotees in the same way • Become a Truthful devotee Summary

18. nirapekṣaḿ muniḿ śāntaḿ nirvairaḿ sama-darśanam anuvrajāmy ahaḿ nityaḿ pūyeyety ańghri-reṇubhiḥ SB 11.14.16: With the dust of My devotees' lotus feet I desire to purify the material worlds, which are situated within Me. Thus, I always follow the footsteps of My pure devotees, who are free from all personal desire, rapt in thought of My pastimes, peaceful, without any feelings of enmity, and of equal disposition everywhere. Beautiful verse from 11th canto