(Canto 1, Chapters 4 and 5: Questions About the Lord’s Appearance, and The Lord’s Appearance)
The Supreme Lord continued speaking to Brahmā: “My friends Śrīdāmā and Subala will take birth in the homes of Nanda and Upananda. Stoka-kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, and Aṁśu will take birth in the homes of Nanda’s nine relatives. My friends Viśāla, Ṛṣabha, Tejasvī, Devaprastha, and Varūthapa will take birth among the six relatives of King Vṛṣabhānu.”
Lord Brahmā asked, “Who is Nanda? Who is Vṛṣabhānu? O master of the demigods, please also tell me about Upananda.”
The Supreme Lord said, “They are cowherd men. Day and night they protect the cows in the villages of the cowherds. Listen, and I will describe them. The gopas say that Upananda is the master of five hundred thousand cows, Nanda of nine hundred thousand, and Vṛṣabhānu of a million. Ten million cows live in the home of King Nanda. Vṛṣabhānuvara has five million cows, and so do Sucandra and Droṇa in Vraja. These two kings of the gopas will be rich in all good qualities.
“In My Vraja there will also be hundreds of groups of beautiful, beautifully dressed gopīs, with faces like hundreds of moons. Some of the gopīs who live in Gokula will be doorkeepers, some will decorate the Divine Couple, and some will prepare Their bed. Some will protect the forest of Vṛndāvana, some will live near Govardhana Hill, some will decorate the forest groves, some will live in the forests of Vraja, and some will live by the Yamunā and some by the Gaṅgā. O Brahmā, in Vraja there will be groups led by eight, by sixteen, and by thirty-two principal gopī friends.
“Some of these gopīs were previously the personified Vedas. Some were great sages. Some were women of Mithilā, of Kośala, and of Ayodhyā. Some were the golden deities of Sītā used in sacrifices, and some were Pulinda forest girls. In previous ages they received benedictions from Me, and now they will become the various groups of gopīs in My beautiful Vraja.”
Lord Brahmā said, “How will they become gopīs in Vraja? O Supreme Lord, by what pious deeds or what benedictions will they attain a position that even the greatest yogīs cannot attain?”
The Personified Vedas
The Supreme Lord said: “Once in Śvetadvīpa the personified Vedas offered prayers with eloquent words, and the thousand-footed Lord became pleased with them. Lord Hari said, ‘Choose any benediction your hearts desire. What is difficult to attain for those with whom I am pleased?’
“Then the Lord showed them His own abode, where there is only bliss and neither decay nor death. There was the forest of Vṛndāvana, full of desire-trees and delightful in every season. There was the hill named Govardhana, with beautiful caves and swift streams, made of jewels and precious minerals and filled with graceful birds. There was the Yamunā, best of rivers, with pure and delicious water, full of lotuses and swans, her banks made of precious jewels. And there stood the infallible Lord in the form of a youth, among many gopīs intoxicated by tasting the nectar of the rāsa dance.
“Having shown them this, the Lord said, ‘What more shall I do for you? You have seen My realm. There is no benediction higher than this.’
“The personified Vedas replied, ‘When we see You like this, more handsome than millions of Kāmadevas, our hearts yearn to love You as young women love their beloved. Of this there is no doubt. We long to become beautiful gopīs in Goloka and worship You as our lover.’
“Lord Hari said, ‘Your glorious desire is almost impossible to fulfil, yet I will grant it. When a new Brahmā is born to create the universe and the Sārasvata-kalpa arrives, you will become gopīs in Vraja. On the earth, in Bhārata-varṣa, in the district of Mathurā, in Vṛndāvana, in the circle of the rāsa dance, I will become your beloved.’
“Because of that benediction in a previous kalpa, they will become gopīs. O Brahmā, now hear about the other gopīs.”
The Women of Mithilā, Kośala, and Ayodhyā
“To protect the devotees and destroy the demons, the Lord appeared in Tretā-yuga as the son of Daśaratha, the hero Rāmacandra. Lotus-eyed Rāma went to Sītā’s svayaṁvara, broke the great bow, and married Sītā, the daughter of King Janaka.
“O Brahmā, when the married women of Mithilā saw Him, they were overcome with longing. They all approached the Lord in a secluded place and said, ‘O descendant of Raghu, please become our husband.’
“Rāma, the king of the Rāghavas, told them, ‘O women, do not be unhappy. At the end of Dvāpara-yuga I will fulfil your desire. With great faith and devotion, go on pilgrimage, give charity, perform austerities, and follow the rules of purity. Then you will become gopīs in Vraja.’
“After giving them this benediction, Lord Rāma, the ocean of mercy and the best of bowmen, defeated Paraśurāma with His great prowess and went on toward the kingdom of Kośala. On the road, the women of Kośala saw very handsome Lord Rāma, more charming than a host of Kāmadevas, and in their hearts they chose Him as their husband. In His heart, all-knowing Rāma gave them a benediction: ‘You will become gopīs in Vraja, and then I will fulfil your desire.’
“When Rāma came to Ayodhyā with Sītā and His army, the women of Ayodhyā went to see the joy of the Raghu dynasty. Seeing Him, they were bewildered and fainted, overcome with love. Vowing to attain Lord Rāma, they performed austerities on the bank of the Sarayū River. Then a voice from the sky told them, ‘At the end of Dvāpara-yuga, in the forest on the bank of the Yamunā, your desire will be fulfilled. Of this there is no doubt.'”
The Sages of the Daṇḍaka Forest
“Then, obeying His father’s word, Rāma went to the Daṇḍaka forest with Sītā and the expert bowman Lakṣmaṇa. All the sages in the Daṇḍaka forest were worshipers of Lord Gopāla. Longing to attain the rāsa dance, they constantly meditated on Me.
“Rāma came to their āśrama as a youth carrying a bow and arrows. At that time He appeared in their meditation as a sage with matted hair. Surprised to see this different form, they rose from meditation and saw Lord Rāma, as beautiful as millions of Kāmadevas. They thought, ‘This is Lord Gopāla, who has come without His flute and stick!’ Thinking this in their hearts, they bowed down and offered eloquent prayers.
“Śrī Rāma said to them, ‘O sages, please choose a benediction.’
“They said, ‘Let us all become just as Sītā is.’
“Śrī Rāma said, ‘If you had asked this of My brother Lakṣmaṇa, I would have arranged for your wish to bear fruit today. But this request, to become as Sītā is, is impossible and cannot be granted now, for I have vowed to accept only one wife, and I am the best of those who follow the rules of religion. Therefore, by My benediction, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga you will become as She is. Then I will fulfil your wish.'”
The Forest Girls of Pañcavaṭī
“After giving this benediction, Rāma went to Pañcavaṭī, where He lived in a hut of leaves in the forest. There some Pulinda girls of the forest saw Him and were tormented with longing for Him. Overwhelmed with love, they took up the dust of His lotus feet and resolved to give up their lives.
“Taking the form of a brahmacārī, Rāma went to them and said, ‘O women, do not give up your lives without good reason. In Vṛndāvana, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, your desire will be fulfilled.’ Saying this, the brahmacārī disappeared.”
The Golden Deities of Sītā
“Then, assisted by the kings of the monkeys, Rāma defeated the night-wandering demons headed by Rāvaṇa, entered Laṅkā, and returned with Sītā on the flower-airplane to His own city. Later, because of the criticism of ordinary people, Rāma, the king of kings, abandoned Sītā in the forest. Ah, this brought great pain to the saintly devotees of the world.
“After that, whenever lotus-eyed Rāma performed a sacrifice, He followed the rules of religion by making a golden deity of Sītā to sit beside Him. In Rāma’s palace there were many of these sacrificial Sītās. One day they came to life and approached Rāma, wishing to enjoy with Him.
“Rāma, the king of the Raghu dynasty, said to them, ‘O beloved ones, I cannot accept you.’
“Filled with love, they said to Daśaratha’s son, ‘Why do You not accept us? We are all Sītā, the chaste daughter of the king of Mithilā. We are half of Your body. At the time of the sacrifices we were Your assistants. You are pious and You know the teachings of the Vedas. Why do You speak like an impious person? First You take our hand and then You reject us. You will incur sin by this.’
“Śrī Rāma said, ‘Your words are correct, and what you say is true. Still, I am a king bound by religion, and I have vowed to accept only Sītā as My wife. Therefore, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, you will take birth in the spiritual land of Vṛndāvana, and there I will fulfil your desire.’
“These sacrificial Sītās will also become gopīs in Vraja. Now, O Brahmā, hear about the other gopīs.”
The Many Other Groups of Gopīs
The Supreme Lord said: “The women of Rāma-Vaikuṇṭha, the women of Śvetadvīpa, the women of Ūrdhva-Vaikuṇṭha, the women who have taken shelter of Lord Ajita’s feet, the women of Lokācala, and the daughters of Varuṇa will all become gopīs in Vraja by the benediction of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of Lakṣmī. Some women of the heavenly planets, some women from elsewhere, and some women acting in the three modes will also become gopīs on the earth because of various pious activities.
“When the demigoddesses saw handsome Lord Yajña, the son of Ruci and master of the heavenly planets, they were overcome with love for Him. On the advice of Devala Muni, they performed austerities in the Himālayas with great devotion to Me. O Brahmā, they will become gopīs in Vraja.
“When Lord Dhanvantari disappeared from the earth, all the medicinal herbs of Bhārata-varṣa became unhappy and lost their power. They became useless and ineffective. To regain their strength, they assumed the forms of beautiful women and performed austerities. After four yugas, Lord Hari became pleased with them. Seeing the Lord in a great forest, they were completely enchanted, and when He said, ‘Choose a benediction,’ they said, ‘Please become our husband.’ Lord Hari said, ‘In Vṛndāvana, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, you will become flowering vines, and then in the arena of the rāsa dance you will become women. This I promise you.’ In Vṛndāvana they will become very fortunate gopīs who are flowering vines, filled with love for Me.
“When the women of Jālandhara saw Lord Hari, the husband of Vṛndā, they said among themselves, ‘May Lord Hari become our husband.’ Then a voice from the sky said to them, ‘Worship Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of Ramā, and in Vṛndāvana you will become like Vṛndā.’
“There was a powerful king named Pṛthu, who was a partial incarnation of Me. After defeating his enemies, that best of kings milked all desirable things from the earth. When the women of the city of Barhiṣmatī saw King Pṛthu, they were overwhelmed with love for him. They approached Atri Muni and said, ‘O great sage, please tell us how powerful Pṛthu, the king of kings, may become our husband.’ Atri Muni said, ‘In your meditation, make an offering of milk to the earth, and she will give you a great ocean of fulfilled desires.’ Using their minds as milk pails, they milked their desire from the earth-cow. In this way they will become gopīs in Vṛndāvana, O Brahmā.
“On Mount Gandhamādana, to bewilder the army of Kāmadeva, Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi manifested a host of the most beautiful Apsarās. When the women of Sutala-loka saw Lord Vāmana, they fell in love with Him and performed austerities to attain Him. They too will become gopīs in Vraja, O Brahmā. And the Nāga princesses who worshiped Lord Śeṣa, desiring Him as their husband, will take birth in Vraja to attain Lord Balarāma’s rāsa dance.”
The Other Associates Descend
The Lord continued: “Kaśyapa will descend as Vasudeva, and exalted Aditi as Devakī. The Vasu named Prāṇa will descend as Śūrasena and the Vasu Dhruva as Devaka. A Vasu will descend as Uddhava, Dakṣa as kind Akrūra, Kuvera as Hṛdīka, and Varuṇa as Kṛtavarmā. Ambarīṣa will descend as Yuyudhāna and Prahlāda as Sātyaki, the Milk Ocean as Śantanu, and the best of the Vasus, Droṇa, as Bhīṣma. Divodāsa will descend as Śalya, Bhaga as Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pūṣā as Pāṇḍu, and King Dharma, the best of devotees, as Yudhiṣṭhira. Powerful Vāyu will descend as Bhīma, Svāyambhuva Manu as Arjuna, Śatarūpā as Subhadrā, and Savitā as Karṇa. The two Aśvinī-kumāras will descend as Nakula and Sahadeva. Dhātā will descend as heroic Bāhlīka, and powerful Agni as Droṇācārya. A partial incarnation of Kali will descend as Duryodhana, Soma will descend as Abhimanyu, and Lord Śiva will place his own form on the earth as Aśvatthāmā, the son of Droṇa.
“In this way, by My order, the demigods and their wives will take birth in the families of the Yadus, the Kurus, and other kings. Whenever I have incarnated in the past, the goddess of fortune has also incarnated as My queen. This time she will incarnate as My sixteen thousand queens.”
After speaking these words to Brahmā, who sits on the lotus, Śrī Hari spoke to the goddess Yogamāyā, whose form is spiritual.
The Supreme Lord said, “O noble-hearted one, take the seventh child from the womb of Devakī, the wife of Vasudeva, and place it in Rohiṇī, who is living in Vraja out of fear of Kaṁsa. When you have performed that wonderful deed, you yourself should enter the womb of Nanda’s wife.”
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing this, Brahmā and the demigods bowed down to Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is greater than the greatest. They comforted the earth goddess, and then each returned to his own abode.
O king of Mithilā, please know that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who came to the earth to kill the demons headed by Kaṁsa, is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. O king, even if I had as many tongues as there are hairs on my body, I still could not properly describe Śrī Hari’s glorious qualities. As different birds fly to different heights in the sky, so the wise describe Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental activities according to their own capacity.
Lessons to be learned
The gopīs of Vraja are not ordinary cowherd women. They are the most exalted souls in all creation: the personified Vedas, great sages, the associates of the Lord in other incarnations, and the eternal energies of the Lord. They reached Vraja after lifetimes of austerity, prayer, and longing. This is why Śrīla Prabhupāda and all our ācāryas taught that the gopīs’ love is the topmost platform of devotion, and that the rāsa-līlā has nothing to do with material lust. Śrīla Prabhupāda warned that one should hear these pastimes with reverence, from a proper source, and never imitate them. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam promises that one who hears them in this spirit becomes free from lust in the heart.
Even the Vedas, after seeing Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, desired only to serve Him as the gopīs do. The highest knowledge culminates in love for Kṛṣṇa. The Dandaka sages, great yogīs, recognized Gopāla in Rāma because their meditation was fixed on Kṛṣṇa.
Lord Rāma always kept His vow of one wife and never broke the principles of dharma. Yet He did not reject anyone’s sincere love. He promised to fulfil it at the proper time. This shows that the Lord’s promises never fail, even if many ages must pass.
Even the medicinal herbs, who took the form of women and performed austerities for four yugas, and the women of Barhiṣmatī, who “milked” their desire from the earth in meditation, attained the Lord. Any soul, in any form, can reach Kṛṣṇa through sincere longing and proper guidance from a sage, as the women of Barhiṣmatī received guidance from Atri Muni.
Nārada Muni ends with humility: no one can fully describe Kṛṣṇa. As Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sang, the devotee’s attempt to glorify the Lord is always incomplete, but that sincere attempt itself is his perfection.
