Chapter Five

              The Meeting of Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva

 

   As described in this chapter, Nanda Maharaja very gorgeously performed the birth ceremony for his newborn child. Then he went to Kamsa to pay taxes due and met his intimate friend Vasudeva.

   There was great jubilation all over Vrndavana due to Krsna's birth. Everyone was overwhelmed with joy. Therefore the King of Vraja, Maharaja Nanda, wanted to perform the birth ceremony for his child, and this he did. During this great festival, Nanda Maharaja gave in charity to all present whatever they desired. After the festival, Nanda Maharaja put the cowherd men in charge of protecting Gokula, and then he went to Mathura to pay official taxes to Kamsa. In Mathura, Nanda Maharaja met Vasudeva. Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva were brothers, and Vasudeva praised Nanda Maharaja's good fortune because he knew that Krsna had accepted Nanda Maharaja as His father. When Vasudeva inquired from Nanda Maharaja about the welfare of the child, Nanda Maharaja informed him all about Vrndavana, and Vasudeva was very much satisfied by this, although he expressed his grief because Devaki's many children had been killed by Kamsa. Nanda Maharaja consoled Vasudeva by saying that everything happens according to destiny and that one who knows this is not aggrieved. Expecting many disturbances in Gokula, Vasudeva then advised Nanda Maharaja not to wait in Mathura, but to return to Vrndavana as soon as possible. Thus Nanda Maharaja took leave of Vasudeva and returned to Vrndavana with the other cowherd men on their bullock carts.

 

                              TEXTS 1-2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                       nandas tv atmaja utpanne

                         jatahlado maha-manah

                        ahuya vipran veda-jnan

                        snatah sucir alankrtah

 

                        vacayitva svastyayanam

                        jata-karmatmajasya vai

                         karayam asa vidhivat

                        pitr-devarcanam tatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; nandah--Maharaja Nanda; tu--indeed; atmaje--his son; utpanne--having been born; jata--overwhelmed; ahladah--in great jubilation; maha-manah--who was great minded; ahuya--invited; vipran--the brahmanas; veda-jnan--who were fully conversant in Vedic knowledge; snatah--taking a full bath; sucih--purifying himself; alankrtah--being dressed very nicely with ornaments and fresh garments; vacayitva--after causing to be recited; svasti-ayanam--Vedic mantras (by the brahmanas); jata-karma--the festival for the birth of the child; atmajasya--of his own son; vai--indeed; karayam asa--caused to be performed; vidhi-vat--according to the Vedic regulations; pitr-deva-arcanam--the worship of the forefathers and the demigods; tatha--as well as.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Sri Krsna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brahmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brahmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has discussed the significance of the words nandas tu. The word tu, he says, is not used to fulfill the sentence, because without tu the sentence is complete. Therefore the word tu is used for a different purpose. Although Krsna appeared as the son of Devaki, Devaki and Vasudeva did not enjoy the jata-karma, the festival of the birth ceremony. Instead, this ceremony was enjoyed by Nanda Maharaja, as stated here (nandas tv atmaja utpanne jatahlado maha-manah). When Nanda Maharaja met Vasudeva, Vasudeva could not disclose, "Your son Krsna is actually my son. You are His father in a different way, spiritually." Because of fear of Kamsa, Vasudeva could not observe the festival for Krsna's birth, Nanda Maharaja, however, took full advantage of this opportunity.

   The jata-karma ceremony can take place when the umbilical cord, connecting the child and the placenta, is cut. However, since Krsna was brought by Vasudeva to the house of Nanda Maharaja, where was the chance for this to happen? In this regard, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura desires to prove with evidence from many sastras that Krsna actually took birth as the son of Yasoda before the birth of Yogamaya, who is therefore described as the Lord's younger sister. Even though there may be doubts about the cutting of the umbilical cord, and even though it is possible that this was not done, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears, such events are regarded as factual. Krsna appeared as Varahadeva from the nostril of Brahma, and therefore Brahma is described as the father of Varahadeva. Also significant are the words karayam asa vidhivat. Being overwhelmed with jubilation over the birth of his son, Nanda Maharaja did not see whether the cord was cut or not. Thus he performed the ceremony very gorgeously. According to the opinion of some authorities, Krsna was actually born as the son of Yasoda. In any case, without regard for material understandings, we can accept that Nanda Maharaja's celebration for the ceremony of Krsna's birth was proper. This ceremony is therefore well known everywhere as Nandotsava.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        dhenunam niyute pradad

                        viprebhyah samalankrte

                      tiladrin sapta ratnaugha-

                        satakaumbhambaravrtan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhenunam--of milk-giving cows; niyute--two million; pradat--gave in charity; viprebhyah--unto the brahmanas; samalankrte--completely decorated; tila-adrin--hills of grain; sapta--seven; ratna-ogha-sata-kaumbha-ambara-avrtan--covered with jewels and cloth embroidered with gold.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nanda Maharaja gave two million cows, completely decorated with cloth and jewels, in charity to the brahmanas. He also gave them seven hills of grain, covered with jewels and with cloth decorated with golden embroidery.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       kalena snana-saucabhyam

                        samskarais tapasejyaya

                      sudhyanti danaih santustya

                       dravyany atmatma-vidyaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kalena--by due course of time (the land and other material things become purified); snana-saucabhyam--by bathing (the body becomes purified) and by cleansing (unclean things become purified); samskaraih--by purificatory processes (birth becomes purified); tapasa--by austerity (the senses become purified); ijyaya--by worship (the brahmanas become purified); sudhyanti--become purified; danaih--by charity (wealth becomes purified); santustya--by satisfaction (the mind becomes purified); dravyani--all material possessions, such as cows, land and gold; atma--the soul (becomes purified); atma-vidyaya--by self-realization.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the brahmanas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is purified; and by self-realization, or Krsna consciousness, the soul is purified.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   These are sastric injunctions concerning how one can purify everything according to Vedic civilization. Unless purified, anything we use will infect us with contamination. In India five thousand years ago, even in the villages such as that of Nanda Maharaja, people knew know to purify things, and thus they enjoyed even material life without contamination.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       saumangalya-giro viprah

                        suta-magadha-vandinah

                        gayakas ca jagur nedur

                       bheryo dundubhayo muhuh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saumangalya-girah--whose chanting of mantras and hymns purified the environment by their vibration; viprah--the brahmanas; suta--experts in reciting all the histories; magadha--experts in reciting the histories of special royal families; vandinah--general professional reciters; gayakah--singers; ca--as well as; jaguh--chanted; neduh--vibrated; bheryah--a kind of musical instrument; dundubhayah--a kind of musical instrument; muhuh--constantly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The brahmanas recited auspicious Vedic hymns, which purified the environment by their vibration. The experts in reciting old histories like the Puranas, the experts in reciting the histories of royal families, and general reciters all chanted, while singers sang and many kinds of musical instruments, like bheris and dundubhis, played in accompaniment.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      vrajah sammrsta-samsikta-

                         dvarajira-grhantarah

                      citra-dhvaja-pataka-srak-

                        caila-pallava-toranaih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vrajah--the land occupied by Nanda Maharaja; sammrsta--very nicely cleaned; samsikta--very nicely washed; dvara--all the doors or entrances; ajira--courtyards; grha-antarah--everything within the house; citra--variegated; dhvaja--of festoons; pataka--of flags; srak--of flower garlands; caila--of pieces of cloth; pallava--of the leaves of mango trees; toranaih--(decorated) by gates in different places.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Vrajapura, the residence of Nanda Maharaja, was fully decorated with varieties of festoons and flags, and in different places, gates were made with varieties of flower garlands, pieces of cloth, and mango leaves. The courtyards, the gates near the roads, and everything within the rooms of the houses were perfectly swept and washed with water.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         gavo vrsa vatsatara

                        haridra-taila-rusitah

                       vicitra-dhatu-barhasrag-

                        vastra-kancana-malinah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gavah--the cows; vrsah--the bulls; vatsatarah--the calves; haridra--with a mixture of turmeric; taila--and oil; rusitah--their entire bodies smeared; vicitra--decorated varieties of; dhatu--colored minerals; barha-srak--peacock-feather garlands; vastra--cloths; kancana--golden ornaments; malinah--being decorated with garlands.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The cows, the bulls and the calves were thoroughly smeared with a mixture of turmeric and oil, mixed with varieties of minerals. Their heads were bedecked with peacock feathers, and they were garlanded and covered with cloth and golden ornaments.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Supreme Personality of Godhead has instructed in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma-svabhavajam: "Farming, cow protection and trade are the qualities of work for the vaisyas." Nanda Maharaja belonged to the vaisya community, the agriculturalist community. How to protect the cows and how rich this community was are explained in these verses. We can hardly imagine that cows, bulls and calves could be cared for so nicely and decorated so well with cloths and valuable golden ornaments. How happy they were. As described elsewhere in the Bhagavatam, during Maharaja Yudhisthira's time the cows were so happy that they used to muddy the pasturing ground with milk. This is Indian civilization. Yet in the same place, India, Bharata-varsa, how much people are suffering by giving up the Vedic way of life and not understanding the teachings of Bhagavad-gita.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        maharha-vastrabharana-

                        kancukosnisa-bhusitah

                         gopah samayayu rajan

                          nanopayana-panayah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maha-arha--extremely valuable; vastra-abharana--with garments and ornaments; kancuka--by a particular type of garment used in Vrndavana; usnisa--with turbans; bhusitah--being nicely dressed; gopah--all the cowherd men; samayayuh--came there; rajan--O King (Maharaja Pariksit); nana--various; upayana--presentations; panayah--holding in their hands.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King Pariksit, the cowherd men dressed very opulently with valuable ornaments and garments such as coats and turbans. Decorated in this way and carrying various presentations in their hands, they approached the house of Nanda Maharaja.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   When we consider the past condition of the agriculturalist in the village, we can see how opulent he was, simply because of agricultural produce and protection of cows. At the present, however, agriculture having been neglected and cow protection given up, the agriculturalist is suffering pitiably and is dressed in a niggardly torn cloth. This is the distinction between the India of history and the India of the present day. By the atrocious activities of ugra-karma, how we are killing the opportunity of human civilization!

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        gopyas cakarnya mudita

                        yasodayah sutodbhavam

                       atmanam bhusayam cakrur

                        vastrakalpanjanadibhih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gopyah--the feminine community, the wives of the cowherd men; ca--also; akarnya--after hearing; muditah--became very glad; yasodayah--of mother Yasoda; suta-udbhavam--the birth of a male child; atmanam--personally; bhusayam cakruh--dressed very nicely to attend the festival; vastra-akalpa-anjana-adibhih--with proper dress, ornaments, black ointment, and so on.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The gopi wives of the cowherd men were very pleased to hear that mother Yasoda had given birth to a son, and they began to decorate themselves very nicely with proper dresses, ornaments, black ointment for the eyes, and so on.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        nava-kunkuma-kinjalka-

                        mukha-pankaja-bhutayah

                       balibhis tvaritam jagmuh

                      prthu-sronyas calat-kucah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nava-kunkuma-kinjalka--with saffron and newly grown kunkuma flower; mukha-pankaja-bhutayah--exhibiting an extraordinary beauty in their lotuslike faces; balibhih--with presentations in their hands; tvaritam--very quickly; jagmuh--went (to the house of mother Yasoda); prthu-sronyah--bearing full hips, fulfilling womanly beauty; calat-kucah--their developed breasts were moving.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Their lotuslike faces extraordinarily beautiful, being decorated with saffron and newly grown kunkuma, the wives of the cowherd men hurried to the house of mother Yasoda with presentations in their hands. Because of natural beauty, the wives had full hips and full breasts, which moved as they hurried along.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The cowherd men and women in the villages lived a very natural life, and the women developed a natural feminine beauty, with full hips and breasts. Because women in modern civilization do not live naturally, their hips and breasts do not develop this natural fullness. Because of artificial living, women have lost their natural beauty, although they claim to be independent and advanced in material civilization. This description of the village women gives a clear example of the contrast between natural life and the artificial life of a condemned society, such as that of the Western countries, where topless, bottomless beauty may be easily purchased in clubs and shops and for public advertisements. The word balibhih indicates that the women were carrying gold coins, jeweled necklaces, nice cloths, newly grown grass, sandalwood pulp, flower garlands and similar offerings on plates made of gold. Such offerings are called bali. The words tvaritam jagmuh indicate how happy the village women were to understand that mother Yasoda had given birth to a wonderful child known as Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

              gopyah sumrsta-mani-kundala-niska-kanthyas

              citrambarah pathi sikha-cyuta-malya-varsah

                nandalayam sa-valaya vrajatir virejur

                vyalola-kundala-payodhara-hara-sobhah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gopyah--the gopis; su-mrsta--very dazzling; mani--made of jewels; kundala--wearing earrings; niska-kanthyah--and having little keys and lockets hanging from their necks; citra-ambarah--dressed with varieties of colored embroidery; pathi--on their way to Yasodamayi's house; sikha-cyuta--fell from their hair; malya-varsah--a shower of flower garlands; nanda-alayam--to the house of Maharaja Nanda; sa-valayah--with bangles on their hands; vrajatih--while going (in that costume); virejuh--they looked very, very beautiful; vyalola--moving; kundala--with earrings; payodhara--with breasts; hara--with flower garlands; sobhah--who appeared so beautiful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the ears of the gopis were brilliantly polished jeweled earrings, and from their necks hung metal lockets. Their hands were decorated with bangles, their dresses were of varied colors, and from their hair, flowers fell onto the street like showers. Thus while going to the house of Maharaja Nanda, the gopis, their earrings, breasts and garlands moving, were brilliantly beautiful.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The description of the gopis, who were going to the house of Maharaja Nanda to welcome Krsna, is especially significant. The gopis were not ordinary women, but expansions of Krsna's pleasure potency, as described in the Brahma-samhita (5.37,29):

 

                 ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis

                 tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih

                 goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

   (5.37)

 

                cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-

                 laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam

               laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

   (5.29)

 

   Krsna is always worshiped by the gopis wherever He goes. Therefore Krsna is so vividly described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also described Krsna in this way: ramya kacid upasana vrajavadhu-vargena ya kalpita. All these gopis were going to offer Krsna their presentations because the gopis are eternal associates of the Lord. Now the gopis were more jubilant because of the news of Krsna's appearance in Vrndavana.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        ta asisah prayunjanas

                         ciram pahiti balake

                       haridra-curna-tailadbhih

                       sincantyo 'janam ujjaguh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tah--all the women, the wives and daughters of the cowherd men; asisah--blessings; prayunjanah--offering; ciram--for a long time; pahi--may You become the King of Vraja and maintain all its inhabitants; iti--thus; balake--unto the newborn child; haridra-curna--powder of turmeric; taila-adbhih--mixed with oil; sincantyah--sprinkling; ajanam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unborn; ujjaguh--offered prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Offering blessings to the newborn child, Krsna, the wives and daughters of the cowherd men said, "May You become the King of Vraja and long maintain all its inhabitants." They sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil and water upon the birthless Supreme Lord and offered their prayers.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         avadyanta vicitrani

                         vaditrani mahotsave

                       krsne visvesvare 'nante

                        nandasya vrajam agate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   avadyanta--vibrated in celebration of Vasudeva's son; vicitrani--various; vaditrani--musical instruments; maha-utsave--in the great festival; krsne--when Lord Krsna; visva-isvare--the master of the entire cosmic manifestation; anante--unlimitedly; nandasya--of Maharaja Nanda; vrajam--at the pasturing place; agate--had so arrived.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Now that the all-pervading, unlimited Lord Krsna, the master of the cosmic manifestation, had arrived within the estate of Maharaja Nanda, various types of musical instruments resounded to celebrate the great festival.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.7):

 

                        yada yada hi dharmasya

                        glanir bhavati bharata

                       abhyutthanam adharmasya

                        tadatmanam srjamy aham

 

   "Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself." Whenever Krsna comes, once in a day of Brahma, He comes to the house of Nanda Maharaja in Vrndavana. Krsna is the master of all creation (sarva-loka-mahesvaram). Therefore, not only in the neighborhood of Nanda Maharaja's estate, but all over the universe--and in all the other universes--musical sounds celebrated the auspicious arrival of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        gopah parasparam hrsta

                       dadhi-ksira-ghrtambubhih

                         asincanto vilimpanto

                        navanitais ca ciksipuh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gopah--the cowherd men; parasparam--on one another; hrstah--being so pleased; dadhi--with curd; ksira--with condensed milk; ghrta-ambubhih--with water mixed with butter; asincantah--sprinkling; vilimpantah--smearing; navanitaih ca--and with butter; ciksipuh--they threw on one another.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In gladness, the cowherd men enjoyed the great festival by splashing one another's bodies with a mixture of curd, condensed milk, butter and water. They threw butter on one another and smeared it on one another's bodies.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   From this statement we can understand that five thousand years ago not only was there enough milk, butter and curd to eat, drink and cook with, but when there was a festival it would be thrown about without restriction. There was no limit to how extensively milk, butter, curd and other such products were used in human society. Everyone had an ample stock of milk, and by using it in many varied milk preparations, people would keep good health in natural ways and thus enjoy life in Krsna consciousness.

 

                             TEXTS 15-16

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       nando maha-manas tebhyo

                       vaso 'lankara-go-dhanam

                        suta-magadha-vandibhyo

                        ye 'nye vidyopajivinah

 

                      tais taih kamair adinatma

                         yathocitam apujayat

                        visnor aradhanarthaya

                        sva-putrasyodayaya ca

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nandah--Maharaja Nanda; maha-manah--who among the cowherd men was the greatest of all upright persons; tebhyah--unto the cowherd men; vasah--clothing; alankara--ornaments; go-dhanam--and cows; suta-magadha-vandibhyah--unto the sutas (the professional reciters of the old histories), the magadhas (the professional reciters of the histories of royal dynasties) and the vandis (general singers of prayers); ye anye--as well as others; vidya-upajivinah--who were continuing their livelihood on the basis of educational qualifications; taih taih--with whatever; kamaih--improvements of desire; adina-atma--Maharaja Nanda, who was so magnanimous; yatha-ucitam--as was suitable; apujayat--worshiped them or satisfied them; visnoh aradhana-arthaya--for the purpose of satisfying Lord Visnu; sva-putrasya--of his own child; udayaya--for the improvement in all respects; ca--and.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The great-minded Maharaja Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cows in charity to the cowherd men in order to please Lord Visnu, and thus he improved the condition of his own son in all respects. He distributed charity to the sutas, the magadhas, the vandis, and men of all other professions, according to their educational qualifications, and satisfied everyone's desires.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Although it has become fashionable to speak of daridra-narayana, the words visnor aradhanarthaya do not mean that all the people satisfied by Nanda Maharaja in this great ceremony were Visnus. They were not daridra, nor were they Narayana. Rather, they were devotees of Narayana, and by their educational qualifications they would satisfy Narayana. Therefore, satisfying them was an indirect way of satisfying Lord Visnu. Mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika (Bhag. 11.19.21). The Lord says, "Worshiping My devotees is better than worshiping Me directly." The varnasrama system is entirely meant for visnu-aradhana, worship of Lord Visnu. Varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman. visnur aradhyate (Visnu Purana 3.8.9). The ultimate goal of life is to please Lord Visnu, the Supreme Lord. The uncivilized man or materialistic person, however, does not know this aim of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum (Bhag. 7.5.31). One's real self-interest lies in satisfying Lord Visnu. Not satisfying Lord Visnu but instead attempting to become happy through material adjustments (bahir-artha-maninah) is the wrong way for happiness. Because Visnu is the root of everything, if Visnu is pleased, everyone is pleased; in particular, one's children and family members become happy in all respects. Nanda Maharaja wanted to see his newborn child happy. That was his purpose. Therefore he wanted to satisfy Lord Visnu, and to satisfy Lord Visnu it was necessary to satisfy His devotees, such as the learned brahmanas, magadhas and sutas. Thus, in a roundabout way, ultimately it was Lord Visnu who was to be satisfied.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         rohini ca maha-bhaga

                         nanda-gopabhinandita

                      vyacarad divya-vasa-srak-

                        kanthabharana-bhusita

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rohini--Rohini, the mother of Baladeva; ca--also; maha-bhaga--the most fortunate mother of Baladeva (greatly fortunate because of having the opportunity to raise Krsna and Balarama together); nanda-gopa-abhinandita--being honored by Maharaja Nanda and mother Yasoda; vyacarat--was busy wandering here and there; divya--beautiful; vasa--with a dress; srak--with a garland; kantha-abharana--and with an ornament covering the neck; bhusita--decorated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The most fortunate Rohini, the mother of Baladeva, was honored by Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda, and thus she also dressed gorgeously and decorated herself with a necklace, a garland and other ornaments. She was busy wandering here and there to receive the women who were guests at the festival.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva's, was also kept under the care of Nanda Maharaja with her son Baladeva. Because her husband was imprisoned by Kamsa, she was not very happy, but on the occasion of Krsna-janmastami, Nandotsava, when Nanda Maharaja gave dresses and ornaments to others, he also gave gorgeous garments and ornaments to Rohini so that she could take part in the festival. Thus she also was busy receiving the women who were guests. Because of her good fortune in being able to raise Krsna and Balarama together, she is described as maha-bhaga, greatly fortunate.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tata arabhya nandasya

                       vrajah sarva-samrddhiman

                        harer nivasatma-gunai

                        ramakridam abhun nrpa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah arabhya--beginning from that time; nandasya--of Maharaja Nanda; vrajah--Vrajabhumi, the land for protecting and breeding cows; sarva-samrddhiman--became opulent with all kinds of riches; hareh nivasa--of the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atma-gunaih--by the transcendental qualities; rama-akridam--the place of pastimes for the goddess of fortune; abhut--became; nrpa--O King (Maharaja Pariksit).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O Maharaja Pariksit, the home of Nanda Maharaja is eternally the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His transcendental qualities and is therefore always naturally endowed with the opulence of all wealth. Yet beginning from Lord Krsna's appearance there, it became the place for the pastimes of the goddess of fortune.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.29), laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. The abode of Krsna is always served by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. Wherever Krsna goes, the goddess of fortune naturally resides with Him. The chief of the goddesses of fortune is Srimati Radharani. Therefore, Krsna's appearance in the land of Vraja indicated that the chief goddess of fortune, Radharani, would also appear there very soon. Nanda Maharaja's abode was already opulent, and since Krsna had appeared, it would be opulent in all respects.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        gopan gokula-raksayam

                        nirupya mathuram gatah

                      nandah kamsasya varsikyam

                        karam datum kurudvaha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gopan--the cowherd men; gokula-raksayam--in giving protection to the state of Gokula; nirupya--after appointing; mathuram--to Mathura; gatah--went; nandah--Nanda Maharaja; kamsasya--of Kamsa; varsikyam--yearly taxes; karam--the share of profit; datum--to pay; kuru-udvaha--O Maharaja Pariksit, best protector of the Kuru dynasty.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, my dear King Pariksit, O best protector of the Kuru dynasty, Nanda Maharaja appointed the local cowherd men to protect Gokula and then went to Mathura to pay the yearly taxes to King Kamsa.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Because the killing of babies was going on and had already become known, Nanda Maharaja was very much afraid for his newborn child. Thus he appointed the local cowherd men to protect his home and child. He wanted to go immediately to Mathura to pay the taxes due and also to offer some presentation for the sake of his newborn son. For the protection of the child, he had worshiped various demigods and forefathers and given charity to everyone's satisfaction. Similarly, Nanda Maharaja wanted not only to pay Kamsa the yearly taxes but also to offer some presentation so that Kamsa too would be satisfied. His only concern was how to protect his transcendental child, Krsna.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          vasudeva upasrutya

                       bhrataram nandam agatam

                       jnatva datta-karam rajne

                         yayau tad-avamocanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vasudevah--Vasudeva; upasrutya--when he heard; bhrataram--that his dear friend and brother; nandam--Nanda Maharaja; agatam--had come to Mathura; jnatva--when he learned; datta-karam--and had already paid the taxes; rajne--unto the King; yayau--he went; tat-avamocanam--to the residential quarters of Nanda Maharaja.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Vasudeva heard that Nanda Maharaja, his very dear friend and brother, had come to Mathura and already paid the taxes to Kamsa, he went to Nanda Maharaja's residence.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Vasudeva and Nanda Maharaja were so intimately connected that they lived like brothers. Furthermore, it is learned from the notes of Sripada Madhvacarya that Vasudeva and Nanda Maharaja were stepbrothers. Vasudeva's father, Surasena, married a vaisya girl, and from her Nanda Maharaja was born. Later, Nanda Maharaja himself married a vaisya girl, Yasoda. Therefore his family is celebrated as a vaisya family, and Krsna, identifying Himself as their son, took charge of vaisya activities (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam). Balarama represents plowing the land for agriculture and therefore always carries in His hand a plow, whereas Krsna tends cows and therefore carries a flute in His hand. Thus the two brothers represent krsi-raksya and go-raksya.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tam drstva sahasotthaya

                        dehah pranam ivagatam

                      pritah priyatamam dorbhyam

                        sasvaje prema-vihvalah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--him (Vasudeva); drstva--seeing; sahasa--suddenly; utthaya--getting up; dehah--the same body; pranam--life; iva--as if; agatam--had returned; pritah--so pleased; priya-tamam--his dear friend and brother; dorbhyam--by his two arms; sasvaje--embraced; prema-vihvalah--overwhelmed with love and affection.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Nanda Maharaja heard that Vasudeva had come, he was overwhelmed with love and affection, being as pleased as if his body had regained its life. Seeing Vasudeva suddenly present, he got up and embraced him with both arms.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Nanda Maharaja was older than Vasudeva. Therefore Nanda Maharaja embraced him, and Vasudeva offered him namaskara.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        pujitah sukham asinah

                         prstvanamayam adrtah

                      prasakta-dhih svatmajayor

                          idam aha visampate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pujitah--Vasudeva having been so dearly welcomed; sukham asinah--having been given a place to sit comfortably; prstva--asking; anamayam--all-auspicious inquiries; adrtah--being honored and respectfully received; prasakta-dhih--because of his being very much attached; sva-atmajayoh--to his own two sons, Krsna and Balarama; idam--the following; aha--inquired; visam-pate--O Maharaja Pariksit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O Maharaja Pariksit, having thus been received and welcomed by Nanda Maharaja with honor, Vasudeva sat down very peacefully and inquired about his own two sons because of intense love for them.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       distya bhratah pravayasa

                         idanim aprajasya te

                         prajasaya nivrttasya

                        praja yat samapadyata

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   distya--it is by great fortune; bhratah--O my dear brother; pravayasah--of you whose age is now quite advanced; idanim--at the present moment; aprajasya--of one who did not have a son before; te--of you; praja-asayah nivrttasya--of one who was almost hopeless of getting a son at this age; praja--a son; yat--whatever; samapadyata--has been gotten by chance.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My dear brother Nanda Maharaja, at an advanced age you had no son at all and were hopeless of having one. Therefore, that you now have a son is a sign of great fortune.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   At an advanced age one generally cannot beget a male child. If by chance one does beget a child at this age, the child is generally female. Thus Vasudeva indirectly asked Nanda Maharaja whether he had actually begotten a male child or a female child. Vasudeva knew that Yasoda had given birth to a female child, whom he had stolen and replaced with a male child. This was a great mystery, and Vasudeva wanted to determine whether this mystery was already known to Nanda Maharaja. On inquiring, however, he was confident that the mystery of Krsna's birth and His being placed in the care of Yasoda was still hidden. There was no danger, since Kamsa at least could not learn what had already happened.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      distya samsara-cakre 'smin

                       vartamanah punar-bhavah

                        upalabdho bhavan adya

                       durlabham priya-darsanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   distya--it is also by great fortune; samsara-cakre asmin--in this world of birth and death; vartamanah--although I was existing; punah-bhavah--my meeting with you is just like another birth; upalabdhah--being obtained by me; bhavan--you; adya--today; durlabham--although it was never to happen; priya-darsanam--to see you again, my very dear friend and brother.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   It is also by good fortune that I am seeing you. Having obtained this opportunity, I feel as if I have taken birth again. Even though one is present in this world, to meet with intimate friends and dear relatives in this material world is extremely difficult.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Vasudeva had been imprisoned by Kamsa, and therefore, although present in Mathura, he was unable to see Nanda Maharaja for many years. Therefore when they met again, Vasudeva considered this meeting to be another birth.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       naikatra priya-samvasah

                        suhrdam citra-karmanam

                         oghena vyuhyamananam

                        plavanam srotaso yatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--not; ekatra--in one place; priya-samvasah--living together with dear friends and relatives; suhrdam--of friends; citra-karmanam--of all of us who have had varieties of reactions to our past karma; oghena--by the force; vyuhyamananam--carried away; plavanam--of sticks and other objects floating in the water; srotasah--of the waves; yatha--as.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Many planks and sticks, unable to stay together, are carried away by the force of a river's waves. Similarly, although we are intimately related with friends and family members, we are unable to stay together because of our varied past deeds and the waves of time.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Vasudeva was lamenting because he and Nanda Maharaja could not live together. Yet how could they live together? Vasudeva warns that all of us, even if intimately related, are carried away by the waves of time according to the results of past karma.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       kaccit pasavyam nirujam

                       bhury-ambu-trna-virudham

                        brhad vanam tad adhuna

                      yatrasse tvam suhrd-vrtah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kaccit--whether; pasavyam--protection of the cows; nirujam--without difficulties or disease; bhuri--sufficient; ambu--water; trna--grass; virudham--plants; brhat vanam--the great forest; tat--all these arrangements are there; adhuna--now; yatra--where; asse--are living; tvam--you; suhrt-vrtah--surrounded by friends.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My dear friend Nanda Maharaja, in the place where you are living with your friends, is the forest favorable for the animals, the cows? I hope there is no disease or inconvenience. The place must be full of water, grass and other plants.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   For human happiness, one must care for the animals, especially the cows. Vasudeva therefore inquired whether there was a good arrangement for the animals where Nanda Maharaja lived. For the proper pursuit of human happiness, there must be arrangements for the protection of cows. This means that there must be forests and adequate pasturing grounds full of grass and water. If the animals are happy, there will be an ample supply of milk, from which human beings will benefit by deriving many milk products with which to live happily. As enjoined in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma-svabhavajam. Without giving proper facilities to the animals, how can human society be happy? That people are raising cattle to send to the slaughterhouse is a great sin. By this demoniac enterprise, people are ruining their chance for a truly human life. Because they are not giving any importance to the instructions of Krsna, the advancement of their so-called civilization resembles the crazy efforts of men in a lunatic asylum.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      bhratar mama sutah kaccin

                       matra saha bhavad-vraje

                       tatam bhavantam manvano

                        bhavadbhyam upalalitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhratah--my dear brother; mama--my; sutah--son (Baladeva, born of Rohini); kaccit--whether; matra saha--with His mother, Rohini; bhavat-vraje--in your house; tatam--as father; bhavantam--unto you; manvanah--thinking; bhavadbhyam--by you and your wife, Yasoda; upalalitah--properly being raised.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My son Baladeva, being raised by you and your wife, Yasodadevi, considers you His father and mother. Is he living very peacefully in your home with His real mother, Rohini?

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       pumsas tri-vargo vihitah

                        suhrdo hy anubhavitah

                         na tesu klisyamanesu

                      tri-vargo 'rthaya kalpate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pumsah--of a person; tri-vargah--the three aims of life (religion, economic development and sense gratification); vihitah--enjoined according to Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; suhrdah--toward relatives and friends; hi--indeed; anubhavitah--when they are properly in line; na--not; tesu--in them; klisyamanesu--if they are actually in any difficulty; tri-vargah--these three aims of life; arthaya--for any purpose; kalpate--does become so.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When one's friends and relatives are properly situated, one's religion, economic development and sense gratification, as described in the Vedic literatures, are beneficial. Otherwise, if one's friends and relatives are in distress, these three cannot offer any happiness.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Vasudeva regretfully informed Nanda Maharaja that although he had his wife and children, he could not properly discharge his duty of maintaining them and was therefore unhappy.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                           sri-nanda uvaca

                         aho te devaki-putrah

                         kamsena bahavo hatah

                           ekavasistavaraja

                        kanya sapi divam gata

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-nandah uvaca--Nanda Maharaja said; aho--alas; te--your; devaki-putrah--all the sons of your wife Devaki; kamsena--by King Kamsa; bahavah--many; hatah--have been killed; eka--one; avasista--remaining child; avaraja--the youngest of all; kanya--a daughter also; sa api--she also; divam gata--gone to the heavenly planets.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nanda Maharaja said: Alas, King Kamsa killed so many of your children, born of Devaki. And your one daughter, the youngest child of all, entered the heavenly planets.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   When Vasudeva understood from Nanda Maharaja that the mystery of Krsna's birth and His having been exchanged with Yasoda's daughter was yet undisclosed, he was happy that things were going on nicely. By saying that Vasudeva's daughter, his youngest child, had gone to the heavenly planets, Nanda Maharaja indicated that he did not know that this daughter was born of Yasoda and that Vasudeva had exchanged her with Krsna. Thus the doubts of Vasudeva were dispelled.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     nunam hy adrsta-nistho 'yam

                         adrsta-paramo janah

                       adrstam atmanas tattvam

                        yo veda na sa muhyati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nunam--certainly; hi--indeed; adrsta--unseen; nisthah ayam--something ends there; adrsta--the unseen destiny; paramah--ultimate; janah--every living entity within this material world; adrstam--that destiny; atmanah--of oneself; tattvam--ultimate truth; yah--anyone who; veda--knows; na--not; sah--he; muhyati--becomes bewildered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Every man is certainly controlled by destiny, which determines the results of one's fruitive activities. In other words, one has a son or daughter because of unseen destiny, and when the son or daughter is no longer present, this also is due to unseen destiny. Destiny is the ultimate controller of everyone. One who knows this is never bewildered.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Nanda Maharaja consoled his younger brother Vasudeva by saying that destiny is ultimately responsible for everything. Vasudeva should not be unhappy that his many children had been killed by Kamsa or that the last child, the daughter, had gone to the heavenly planets.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          sri-vasudeva uvaca

                        karo vai varsiko datto

                       rajne drsta vayam ca vah

                       neha stheyam bahu-titham

                       santy utpatas ca gokule

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-vasudevah uvaca--Sri Vasudeva replied; karah--the taxes; vai--indeed; varsikah--yearly; dattah--have already been paid by you; rajne--to the King; drstah--have been seen; vayam ca--both of us; vah--of you; na--not; iha--in this place; stheyam--should be staying; bahu-titham--for many days; santi--may be; utpatah ca--many disturbances; gokule--in your home, Gokula.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Vasudeva said to Nanda Maharaja: Now, my dear brother, since you have paid the annual taxes to Kamsa and have also seen me, do not stay in this place for many days. It is better to return to Gokula, since I know that there may be some disturbances there.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                         iti nandadayo gopah

                       proktas te saurina yayuh

                        anobhir anadud-yuktais

                        tam anujnapya gokulam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti--thus; nanda-adayah--Nanda Maharaja and his companions; gopah--the cowherd men; proktah--being advised; te--they; saurina--by Vasudeva; yayuh--started from that place; anobhih--by the bullock carts; anadut-yuktaih--yoked with oxen; tam anujnapya--taking permission from Vasudeva; gokulam--for Gokula.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: After Vasudeva advised Nanda Maharaja in this way, Nanda Maharaja and his associates, the cowherd men, took permission from Vasudeva, yoked their bulls to the bullock carts, and started riding for Gokula.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to the Tenth Canto, Fifth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Meeting of Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva."


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