20210902 Twelve Forests of Vṛndāvana, Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 2nd September 2021 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Continuing with the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter entitled today is:

Twelve Forests of Vṛndāvana, Part 2
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.73

eka nadī dhārā āche mānasa gaṅgā name
vṛndāvana paścime se mathurā īśāne

Jayapatākā Swami:  One branch of a river is called Mānasa Gaṅgā, it is west of Vṛndāvana and North-East of Mathurā.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.74

kāmyakavana haite madhuvanera uddeśa
kālīdaha paścime yamunā paraveśa

Jayapatākā Swami: Kāmyavana is not far from Madhuvana. Kāliya-daha is on the western bank of the Yamunā.

So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa is describing the location of the twelve forest of Vṛndāvana and the principle places involved in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.75

sarasvatī nāme eka dhārā āche tāthe
mathurāra uttara se praveśa yamunāte

Jayapatākā Swami: A tributary of river Sarasvatī mixes on the northen side of Mathurā in the Yamunā river.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.12: “It lies to the west of Vṛndāraṇya, bordering on Govardhana hill. In her waters Kṛṣṇa engages in boating-sports and other pastimes.”

Jayapatākā Swami: This is regarding the Mānasa Gaṅgā.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.12: “To the west of Mathurā lies the great hill named Govardhana, and to the west of Govardhana lies Kāmyavana, which is a reservoir of all rasa for Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.76

mathurā paścime āche govardhanagiri
āṭa yojana se mathurā haite dhari

Jayapatākā Swami: Govardhana mountain stands on the Western side of Mathura, it is sixty four miles or eight yojanas from Mathurā.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.77

kahiba kāmyakavana govardhana paścime
mathurā haite āṭa yojana loka gaṇe’

Jayapatākā Swami: Kāmyavana is to the west of Govardhana, from Mathurā people calculate the distance from Kāmyavana is sixty-four miles.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.14: “Nearby Kāmyavana, to the north of Madhu-purī, is the splendid and very sanctified river Sarasvatī, who flows northwards following the direction of Śrī Yamunā.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.15: “To the northeast of Mathurā is the shining forest of the name Bahūla. Here the slayer of Kaṁsa crosses the Manasi Gaṅgā and enjoys sports.”

Jayapatākā Swami: A brief description of each of the twelve forest is given by Krsna dāsa, for He illuminates that Kṛṣṇa enjoys sports here.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.78

bahulānāme vana āche mathurā īśāne
mānasa-gaṅgāra pāra sei dui yojane

Jayapatākā Swami: Bahulavana forest exists north east of Mathura. It is sixteen miles from Mānasa-Gaṅgā.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.16: “That forest is described as mohana or enchanting. Thus the seven forests to the west of Śrī Yamunā Mahārāṇī have been described. O mighty-armed one! Hear further.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Seven forests are to the west of Yamunā devi and five forests to the east, so Kṛṣṇa dāsa will describe those.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.17: “On Yamunā's eastern bank lie five forests. O Rasikeśvara! By the power of Yamunā's unbounded mercy, they have been seen extensively by me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa is saying that he has seen these five forests on the eastern bank of Yamunā extensively.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.79

ei sāta vana se paścime yamunāra
kahiba ta’ pūrvakūle pāñca vana āra

Jayapatākā Swami: These are the seven forests located on the western bank of the Yamunā. “Now I'll describe the five forests on the eastern side of the Yamunā.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.80

mahāvana nāme vana yamunā nikaṭe
mathurā haite sei yojaneka vāṭe

Jayapatākā Swami: The forest named as Mahāvana lies near the Yamunā, that Māhavana lies about eight miles from Mathurā city.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.18: “Very near to the Yamunā is Mahāraṇya, which is very difficult to attain, and to the west of Mahāraṇya lies delightful Bilvavana, which bestows the fruit of love for Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Mahāvana is the forest in which Dhruva Mahārāja was instructed by Nārada muni to do his meditation, and to bathe there three times a day in the Yamunā river.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.81

bilva-nāme vana āche paścime tāhāra
arddha-yojana se mathurā haite pāra

Jayapatākā Swami: West of Mahāvana is a forest named Bilvavana. It lies four miles north of Mathurā.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.19: To the north of Bilvavana lies Lohavana, Bhadravana and also the great pleasure-filled Bhāṇḍīrakavana, which awards the aspiring bhakta the gift of bhakti unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Bhāṇḍīravana gives devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa, this is a special blessing. Previously the forest that gives love of Kṛṣṇa must be commented on.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.82

tāhāra uttare āche loha-nāme vana
bhāṇḍīra-nāme vana āche tāhāra īśāna

Jayapatākā Swami: North of Bilvavana forest is Lohavana forest. Bhāṇḍīravana forest stands north-east of Lohavana.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.83

ekatrai dui vana yamunāra kūle
mahāvana haite loke ādha yojana bole

Jayapatākā Swami: “Lohavana and Bhāṇḍīravana are on same side on the bank of the Yamunā. Bilvavana and Bhadravana are located four miles from Mahāvana.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.3.20: “O Prabhu! These are the twelve charming forests of Mathurā Maṇḍala. Within them sported Yogeśvareśvara Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, now the Vṛndāvana Parikramā goes through these twelve forests. Since I am still weak from my sickness, I will end here. Tomorrow we will have the part 3.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Twelve Forests of Vṛndāvana, Part 2 
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana