Bhagavatam tenth canto study 63 – 10.11.30-40 The extraordinary Lord gave and got joy in ordinary play

Approve and the movement begins. How that happens, we’ll discuss in future talks.
Thank you. On hearing the words of Upananda, unanimously all the Gopas agreed, all the Gopas loved Krishna and therefore, whatever was required for his welfare, they’re very eager to do that. Normally, in an assembly, unanimous decision is not so easy to get, but it becomes easier when there’s a shared interest.
What is the shared interest here? That it is protection of Krishna because all the Vrajivasis love Krishna, so naturally they agreed. Well said, well said, they said. So, immediately they started assembling their various paraphernalia and all their possessions, equipments, cows, they assembled.
And whatever were their possessions, they kept them on the carts, carts, so that they could start moving. The point here is that we all need to do what needs to be done. And that sometimes requires taking urgent action and sometimes gradual thoughtful action.
But if somebody has already done the deep thinking about a subject, and that person addresses various possible concerns, and then lays out a strong case for a particular course of action, then there is no need to drag one’s feet about it. It’s best to start moving as quickly as possible, so that things can get done. So, the Vrajivasis thus start making all arrangements to quickly move.
So, thus we see that there is a certain symmetry in the Bhagavatam. The first 10 chapters are about Krishna living in Gokula. The 11th chapter, more or less, it’s a long chapter, more than 50 verses.
And from the 11th chapter onwards, Krishna’s movement from Gokula to Vraja will happen. Of course, the entire bigger geographical area is also called as Vrindavan. And in that sense, Krishna was already in Vrindavan, but he’s moving from one part of Vrindavan to another part.
So, within the broader area known as Vrindavan, he’s moving to a specific area, which is also known as Vrindavan. So, we could see there are 12 forests in Vrindavan. One of them is Brihadvan, another is Vrindavan.
So, they are moving now away from Brihadvan towards the area which is known specifically as Vrindavan. So, as the Vrajiva Gopas start preparing and moving in this way, वो हितः रुद्धान भालान स्त्रियो राजान Now, the Vrajivasis, when they had to move, they took care that those who would find it most difficult to move, they took care of them first, the elderly people, Vridhaan and Balaan, the children, then the women, women, and then Rajaan, Vrajiv Maharaj, सर्व उपकारे निचा Then they loaded those necessities and the belonging, whatever belonging they had, अनस्वारोप्य गोपाला On the bullock carts, they kept Gopala. Govardhan, they kept it.
यत्ता आत्ण शरासन हा And it’s interesting that with great care they also put शरासन हा, that they also had their bows and arrows. So normally we think of the division of Varanashram as like a black and white division is not necessarily there in Varanashram. So the Kshatriyas were adept at using weapons, but the Vaishyas also had weapons.
So here it is said, आत्ता शरासन हा Now if the Vrajivasis are going to, they are cowherds, they live in jungles, they graze their forests near the wild, they graze their animals near the wilderness, and naturally they may encounter danger at any time. When they encounter danger, what do they do? They cannot at that time run to the Kshatriyas, please help us. If an army attacks them, then obviously they can’t fight an army.
They are not trained as warriors, their life is not dedicated to gaining specialized training so that they can become expert warriors. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t fight at all. This basic self-defense and whatever is required for basic self-defense needs to be acquired and they have that.
They are going through forests and there are wild animals, what are they going to do about it? Obviously they have to have weapons to deal with it. गोधनानिपुरस्कृत्य And then they kept their cows in front of them. And then when they were moving, it was a celebratory move because they were going from danger towards safety.
And they also wanted to invoke auspiciousness. श्रुं, instead of muggles or horns, they started vibrating in all directions. सर्वतात्तूर्यगोशेनमहता When the loud sound came, यूसः पुरोधितः पुरोहितः And the priests also came with them.
So it’s interesting that the brahmanas, at least these brahmanas were the priests, they were associated with and in a sense dependent on the Vrajavasis. Of course the Vrajavasis didn’t think that they are dependent on us. They think that it is our duty to maintain them and they are serving, they are gracing us.
Even in their Ramayana, as well as the Mahabharata, especially in the Mahabharata, it is described that when Yudhishthira was in the forest, many brahmanas were there with him, especially when he went to the northward Badrik ashram, then he told that, and that there it will be difficult for me to provide for you. So if you wish to go somewhere else, you can go. And even in the forest, his anxiety was not where we will get food, but how he will be able to feed all the brahmanas.
And that’s how he got, he sought and got the Akshaya Patra with which he could feed. The point is that when the Vrajavasis moved, the brahmanas also moved. The Brahmins, they were part of the extended family.
They would be there for the name giving, they would be there for the wedding, they would be there to mark various rites of passage. And thus they were all there with them. And actually when they would move, the brahmanas also moved with them.
So, The Gopis, they got on, they were riding on the bullock carts. Now it’s interesting, normally we use the word Ratha to refer to chariots, but basically it refers to a vehicle which we are using for moving. And for, now the vehicle may be horse driven or it may be bull driven.
So normally if it’s bull driven, we call it a bullock cart. But essentially it’s a Ratha, it also has wheels and it is drawn by an animal. So, So, they were decorated with fresh kumkum.
So the move was done in a celebratory mood and they all had decorated themselves. They started singing Krishna’s pastimes, Krishna Leela. Chanted, So, there were lockets in their necks and they were well dressed.
So here the point is that there was material and spiritual joy is blended together here. The Gopis are glorifying Krishna, but that doesn’t mean that they have to dress in an abstemious or frugal way. They are beautifully decorated.
After all the beauty in the material world, what is its purpose? It is not there only to delude us. It is ultimately there to be offered to Krishna. So the most beautiful things in the world are meant to be offered to Krishna.
And thus, if devotees have the best wealth, the best manifestation, the six opulences, then they can offer it all to Krishna. So if devotees are the most beautiful, the most intelligent, the most wealthy, the most powerful, the most famous, then they can offer the whole world to Krishna because the world will be attracted to them and through them, because they are attracted to Krishna, the world will become attracted to Krishna. So the Vrajavasis are decorated beautifully because it’s a celebratory occasion, but they’re not so enamored by the beautiful decoration that they forget Krishna.
It’s a complete celebration centered on the glorification of Krishna. Text 34 They were very Yashoda and Rohini. They were very Yashoda, Rohini, Tatha.
Because both of them were very eager to hear about Krishna. They got onto one Shakata. Shakata is like we had Shaktasura earlier, the demon who came in the form of a card.
So Shakata is a card. So they got, both of them, Yashoda and Rohini, got into one card. At this point, Krishna and Rama are very small.
If you consider that Krishna was bare, had just started walking, and he was just running slowly. That’s how Yashodamaya was able to catch him. The Damodar Leela had just happened.
And Krishna has not even started going out to the forest. The dangers had come in Gokul inside the homes. And by this time, Krishna had not even started going much out of the home.
Even if he would go out, it would be in the nearby courtyards. So Krishna and Rama, being small, they sat on their mother’s laps. And naturally, they also wanted not to be separated from their sons, who were so dear to them.
So they also sat, eagerly took Krishna and Rama with them. And they also were relishing the glories of Krishna. Text 35.
vṛndāvanaṁ samapraviṣya sarva-kāla-sukhāvaham tatra-cakroor-vajāvāsaṁ śrakatair artha-candra-vāt So vṛndāvanaṁ samapraviṣya, they entered into Vṛndāvana. sarva-kāla-sukhāvaham, which is always pleasing to live in all seasons, in different parts of the world. Some seasons are wonderful.
Say, maybe in some parts, say, near the poles. So the summers are pleasant, but the winters are sometimes unlivable. They’re unlivably cold.
Some other places, say, on the equator, the winters might be pleasant. But the summers are unlivably warm. So in between these are the… So if there’s some place where all the seasons are pleasant, that is what we would call almost like paradise.
Of course, nowadays, by heating or cooling, we try to take the sting out of the ups and downs of weather, extremities of weather. But it’s still important to know that where technology is not available or technology is not deployed for such purposes, then the weather conditions matter. In fact, many people, when they’re traveling and they decide where they want to have their base, their family, one factor is, of course, where they get a job.
But another major factor is also where the weather suits them. So here, the weather of Vrindavan is pleasing at all times. Now, of course, Vrindavan has changed over the centuries, as has much of the earth.
And of course, Vrindavan, when Krishna was there, was a direct replica of Krishna’s abode. Now, because of Sakalenehamata, because of the power of time, things have changed. But still, the belief, the conviction, rather, that Krishna is my child, dad, and he deserves to be with me.
This is always there in Mother Yashoda. And even if the weather had been very difficult, Mother Yashoda would have stayed with Krishna. We’ll see that in Govardhan Leela, that even the weather became almost life-threateningly inclement.
Still, Mother Yashoda stayed by Krishna’s side. However, if the weather is pleasant, then serving Krishna doesn’t become an austerity or obligation. Serving Krishna becomes something like pleasure.
So, Vrindavan is just the perfect setting for the Vrajavasis to settle themselves. And for the Arudha, it’s a half-moon kind of formation was made. Now, obviously, when the Vrajavasis have moved, they don’t, they need houses to stay in and there are no houses available.
So here, they made the carts in a particular arrangement, a half-moon arrangement, which can act as a protective defensive measure, and they settle. Normally, when we shift from one place to another, we just have to, we usually go from one house to another. Vrajavasis, when they have to go, they have to go there and construct a new house, which is a far, far bigger amount of work.
But they are ready to take that up for Krishna’s sake. And Vrindavan, text 36 now. Vrindavanam Govardhanam Yamunapulinaanicha Vikshasi Uttama Preethi Ramamadhava Yorrupa So, when Rama and Madhava, that is, Krishna and Balarama, when they saw, what did they see? Vrindavanam Govardhanam The highlights of the place of Vrindavan.
Normally, if we consider a territory, we come to a place, we look at the greenery, we look at the terrain, and we look at the water sources. So, Vrindavan is a lush, green, beautiful forest. Then they see this magnificent hill, Vrindavan, above it.
Sorry, Govardhan above it. And then they see the beautiful river Yamuna. So, Vikshasi, Uttama, Preethi, on seeing this, they were immensely pleased.
Krishna and Balarama, even at a small, at a young stage, there is an understanding of aesthetics and beauty. With that understanding of aesthetics and beauty, they appreciate the magnificence of what is there in Vrindavan. And they become delighted.
This is the place where they can have lots and lots of fun. They are looking forward to having that. And thus, they become delighted.
Text 37 एवं रजो कसां प्रीतिम् यच्छन्तो बाल चेष्टितै कलवाक्यै स्वकालेन वत्सपालो बभूवतु हूँ एवं रजो कसां प्रीतिम् In this way, रजो कसां प्रीतिम् Seeing that, they were pleased, all those Vrajavasis were pleased. And not only how were they pleased, they were seen with the beauty of Vrindavan, but they were also pleased by यच्छन्तो बाल चेष्टितम् They were pleased by the childhood activities of Krishna. The playful pastimes of Krishna as he performed कलवाक्यै स्वकालेन कलवाक्यै They would speak in broken language.
Normally, if an adult speaks something with the wrong pronunciation, we recognize that it needs to be corrected. But when children speak like that, it is delightful to see some of their sweet mispronunciations. And thus, the Vrajavasis are delighted on seeing what is happening over here, how Krishna is speaking.
So now, this verse describes not the transition to the journey to Vrindavan is over. And this verse is now describing the events that are unfolding in Vrindavan. And it gives a summary that as the Vrajavasis lived in Vrindavan, they delighted in the sweet pastimes of Krishna.
कलवाक्यै So this was always the joy and here, as Krishna was growing, he gave joy in various ways. स्वकालेन In due course of time, वत्सपालो बभूवतु He grew enough, old enough, with the passage of time, to take care of cows. Take care of, not the cows, but the baby cows, the cows.
So, text 38, अविदुरेव रजभुआ सहगोपालदारकै चारयां आसतुर्वत्सान् नाना क्रीडा परिचद्धो अविदुरेव रजभुआ So, not far away from their homes, the Gopas started playing, along with other Gopas, गोपालदारकै, those who had similar professions, while grazing their animals, चारयां आसतुर्वत्सान् while grazing the cows, they started doing various playful activities. And they used various toys to do those playful activities. Various things, they improvised, they improvised these playthings to do those activities.
So, what did they do? That is described over here. कचित वादयतो वेनुं क्षेपनेक्षिपता कौचेत कौचित पादै किंकिदिभै कौचित कृत्रीम गोवशै So, sometimes they would play the flute. So, here all the Gopas are described, but primarily it is Krishna and Balram who are described.
वादयतो So, normally we think of Krishna as मृली वादक, but even Balram had his own flute. So, they would play their flutes. क्षेपनेक्षिपता कौचेत Sometimes they would, wanting to get some fruits, they would use a rope to try to catch a fruit, or lasso it and get it.
Or sometimes they would use a stone to get the fruit down. So, even in play, some purpose is needed. And purpose, pursuit of purpose necessarily requires the creation of some structure.
Even if you want to play a game, the game needs some rules. Without any rules at all, you cannot even play any game. So, even while playing, they set up some goals.
Let us try to get fruits. कौचेत पादेखिं किनिभई So, they would also wear anklets, ankle bells. Normally, we may think that women wear this, but even men would wear this.
Especially, small children would wear this, especially. Just sweet, playful sound comes from their feet. They enjoy it.
And their adults also enjoy it. Adults can also keep a track on them, where they are. कौचेत कृत्रिमग्रोविषयी So, they would imitate the cows and bulls.
And thus, they would have fun. विशामनमानो नर्दन्तव And while imitating the animals, sometimes they would imitate their actions, sometimes they would imitate their words, their sounds rather. यूधाते परस्परम And they would fight with each other.
For children who are growing up, rough and tumble play is an integral part of growing up. Sometimes, too much safety can make us unsafe. Because it can make us believe that there is no danger in the world.
And then, when danger comes, we are naive and unprepared. So, similarly, children need to develop their bodily kinesthetic intelligence. So, while fighting, which parts of the body to hit, which parts of the body to not hit, what to do, what not to do.
They get a sense of that through a little bit of rough and tumble. Of course, they are playing. They are not enemies who are out to hurt each other or certainly not like enemies killing each other.
They are just out of fun. So, the Vrajagopas would play over there. So, they would also make various sounds while imitating the various animals in the forest.
In this way, they would act as if they were children. They were ordinary children. So, the extraordinary Lords delighted by doing ordinary activities.
They got joy and they give joy by doing ordinary activities. When we ordinary beings do ordinary activities, we may or may not get joy. When the extraordinary, however, does ordinary activities, because these are ways of reciprocating love, they bring great joy.
So, thus, the Lord in his childhood pastimes relished the activities of an endearingly sweet cowherd boy. We will continue in our next session.