20210928 Nikuṇja, Yamunā, Nandīśvara, Kāmyavana and Khadiravana, Kumudavana, Ambikāvana etc…Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on September 28th, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Today's chapter entitled as:

Nikuṇja, Yamunā, Nandīśvara, Kāmyavana and Khadiravana, Kumudavana, Ambikāvana Part 2
Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.336

ihāra paścime dekha kāmyakavana āra

Translation: The house of Nanda was in Nandīśvara. Look to the west of Nandīśvara the forest of Kāmyavana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa was showing Lord Caitanya different sites of Vṛndāvana parikramā.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.10.17

Translation: “On Picchala mountain, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa sported with the cowherd boys. There Ariṣṭa, Keśi, Vyoma and other demons took the forms of a bull, a horse and a ram respectively.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the different demons were liberated by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, including Ariṣṭāsura, Vyomāsura and Keśi.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.337

pichali pāthara dekha e gopa-chāoyāle
pichali khelāya ethā bihāna-bikāle

Translation: See the Slippery Stone (pichali pāthara) wherein the cowherd boys played by sliding during the morning and evening.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, just as modern slides exist in children's playground, here a slippery smooth stone served as a slide for Kṛṣṇa and the cowherd boys.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.330

ariṣṭa-vṛṣabha-śṛṅga caraṇe dhariyā
mukhe rakta tole goṭhe māila āchāḍiyā

Translation: Then catching the leg of the demons, Ariṣṭa-vṛṣabha-śrṅga, He killed them by smashing them on the group that brought about bleeding in the mouth.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa swung the demons around and smashed them on the rocks.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.10.18

Translation: “By the grace of Kṛṣṇa's strong arms, their bodies merged with the five gross elements (i.e., the demons died), and they thus acquired the right for all varieties of liberation. Here Kṛṣṇa forever frolics with the cowherd boys.

Jayapatākā Swami: If the demons are killed by Kṛṣṇa then they get the special blessing of achieving liberation, so Kṛṣṇa is supposed to be all merciful.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.329

kuverera cara śaṅkhacūḍera maraṇa
māthāye muṣṭikā-ghāte maṇira grahaṇa

Translation: An associate of Kuvera, named Śaṅkacuḍa was killed, struck by the fist of Kṛṣṇa on the head and the jewel resembling a conchshell, was obtained here.

Jayapatākā Swami: How Kṛṣṇa liberated the Śaṅkacuḍa, and how the jewel he wearing on his forehead was described here by Kṛṣṇa dāsa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.331

nārada vacane kaṁsa cintāye vimana
vasudeva-devakīra nigaḍa-vandhana

Translation: By the words of Nārada, Kaṁsa thinking about it became morose and chained Vasudeva and Devakī with shackles.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kaṁsā he shackled his own sister and brother-in-law being worried about his physical safety.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.332

aśvarūpa dhare keśī kaṁsa-anucara
mahātejaḥ kṛṣṇavarṇa dekhi’ lāge ḍara

Translation: The demon Keśī, the attendant of Kaṁsa, took the form of a horse seeing whose blackish form of great strength created fear.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Keśi demon took the form of fearful black horse and was striking fear in all the Vrajavāsīs but Kṛṣṇa liberated him. So, all these spots were shown to Lord Caitanya by Kṛṣṇa dāsa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.333

vāyu baddha kari’ tāra mukhe bhari’ hātha
eikhāne keśī-vadha kaila gopīnātha

Translation: Stopping the air, Kṛṣṇa put his hand in the mouth of Keśī, and thus Lord Gopīnātha killed Keśī.

Jayapatākā Swami: How Keśī was terminated by Lord Kṛṣṇa is described here.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.334

meṣarūpe śiśu curi karaye asura
pāthara ācchādi’ rākhe parvata-gambara

Translation: Taking the form of a sheep, a demon kidnapped the boys and kept them in a cave of the mountain and covered it with stone.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.335

ānilena śiśu vyoma āchāḍi māriyā
ānande khelāya khelā duṣṭa nivāriyā

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa brought the boys after killing Vyomāsura by throwing him to the ground and thus checking the wicked, he happily played sports.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa said that He comes to protect His devotees and punish the wicked. How he delivered the cowherd boy and how He killed Vyomāsura is described here by Kṛṣṇa dāsa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.63

samastadina nṛtya-gītānte khadiravane āgamana:—

saba dina premāveśe nṛtya-gīta kailā
tāhāṅ haite mahāprabhu ‘khadira-vana’ āilā

Translation: (In Nandagrāma) Every day the Lord chanted and danced in ecstatic love. Finally He went to Khadiravana.

Purport: Khadiravana is described in the Bhakti-ratnākara (Fifth Wave):

“Behold the forest named Khadiravana, renowned throughout the universe. If one comes to Khadiravana, he can immediately be elevated to Viṣṇuloka.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Khadiravana is one of the twelve sacred forest of Vṛndāvana, simply by visiting one can be elevated to Vaikuṇṭha.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.10.19

Translation: “O Gaurāṅga-sundara! Behold the charming forest named Khadiravana, whose trees are filled with fruits and flowers, and who is always cooled by pleasant breezes.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the holy land of Vṛndāvana, the trees produce scented flowers and succulent, sweet fruits.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.10.20

Translation: “In this very spot (in Khadiravana), Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the company of the milkmaids forever play in their pastimes of buying and selling.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the pastime of the cowherd milkmaids was to sell the milk products. So Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā would be having pastimes of selling milk products .

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.316

vibhāsa rāga

hari eibāra bāreka
dayā kare gaurārāya re

ihāra bhitara dekha ei khadiravana
dadhi-dugdha becibāre rādhāra gamana

Translation: See here inside this Khadiravana. Rādhā went to sell dadhi-dugdha.

Jayapatākā Swami: It is said that Radharani was selling milk and yoghurt. Lord Kṛṣṇa was creating some pastimes to take advantage of the situation.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.317

eikhāne śiśu lañā kṛṣṇera mantraṇā
ḍara daraśāha-rādhā pāuka yantraṇā

Translation: In this place, Kṛṣṇa instructed the children about the plot, “Show fear in such a way that Rādhā feels the pain.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Rādhārānī is very soft hearted, if the children show great fear, Rādhārānī may be affected then Kṛṣṇa will be there to give Her protection.

Haribol!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.318

vane lukāiyā śiśu mahāśabda kare
ḍare ḍarāiyā rādhā kṛṣṇa cāpi’ dhare

Translation: Hiding in the forest, the children made a loud sound and being fearful Sri Rādhā held on to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa’s conjugal affairs were in this way, He wanted to have Rādhārānī hold on to Him.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.319

rādhā kole kari’ kṛṣṇa bele-hāya hāya
cumbana karaye-priyavānīte bujhāya

Translation: Taking Sri Rādhā on His lap, Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “Hai! Hai!” Lord Kṛṣṇa kissed Sri Rādhā and with endearing words solaced her.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Although Kṛṣṇa is ātmārāma, He has expanded into two, Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā to enjoy the transcendental rasas, mellows in the conjugal love, He was doing these things. When this was being described to Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya was feeling great ecstasy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.320

kṛṣṇera pīriti pāñā rādhikā vibhora
madana-ālase rādhā pāśarila ḍara

Translation: Obtaining the love from Lord Kṛṣṇa, Sri Rādhikā was overwhelmed and by the indolence indulgence of Madana (Cupid), Rādhā gave up her fear.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way Śrī Rādhā was overwhelmed by the sweet love of Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārānī also conquered Kṛṣṇa in this way.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.10.21

Translation: “Amidst the bower groves of freshly blooming jasmine-twined tamāla, sāla and arjuna trees, which mingle with ripened mango, aśoka and mādhavī trees, enchanted by the gorgeous plumage of peacocks, parrots and cuckoos, in the midst of the most colorful and fragrant of flowers, reside the youthful couple, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava. All glories to Them!

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when Lord Caitanya heard this beautiful description of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava in Vṛndāvana, he was feeling great spiritual ecstasy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.10.22

Translation: “The God and Goddess of the rāsa dance, who are perpetually immersed in amorous pastimes which bewilder even the mind of Lord Kāmadeva, nourish with great eagerness the unique rasa which distinguishes Their respective natures. They are engaged in a continuous festival of joking, singing, dancing, and playing upon flutes in the company of Their sakhīs, who are very lovely, crafty, courageous and ever glorious.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the pastime of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs are very special filled with loving exchanges as mentioned above.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.321

eikhāne nikuñjete vinoda-vilāsa
premāya mugadha doṅhe bhela mahārāsa

Translation: Herein, in the nikuñja (Forest Bower) is the fascinating acts of pleasure and being enchanted by love, both of them performed mahā-rāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this pastime in Khadiravana brought Lord Caitanya to highest appreciation of special rāsa of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.322

eikhāne nāma haila-madana-gopāla
śuni ānande gaurā bole bhāla bhāla

Translation: Herein His name became Madana-Gopāla. Hearing this Lord Caitanya happily said, “Bhālo, bhālo!”

Jayapatākā Swami: Good! Good! How Gopala was the Cupid Gopāla, Lord Caitanya liked this very much, He said Good Good!

Thus ends the chapter entitled Part 2, Nikuṇja, Yamunā, Nandīśvara, Kāmyavana and Khadiravana, Kumudavana, Ambikāvana etc.

Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana