Chapter summary
श्रीबृन्दावनमाहात्म्यम् Śrī Bṛndāvana Māhātmyam
The Glory of Śrī Vṛndāvana
**The revered Sadguru said:**
This beautiful Vṛndāvana, coveted even by Brahmā and the other gods, is a realm where every creeper, tree, and blade of grass is utterly divine. Here, the very attendants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa assume the forms of beasts and birds, joyfully rendering service to Kṛṣṇa within the Yamunā forest. Indeed, Brahmā, the lord of Satyaloka, yearns for a birth even as a mere blade of grass in this sacred land. Who, then, on this earth, could possibly describe the full glory of such a Vṛndāvana? (v.1-3)
Even Mahādeva, forsaking Kāśī, has taken refuge beneath a banyan tree in Vṛndāvana, where he ceaselessly meditates upon Kṛṣṇa. When the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha Himself stands as the protector of Gokula, how can one possibly measure the boundless glory of this Vṛndāvana? (v.4-5)
Every day, within this very forest, Lord Mukunda, resplendent in yellow garments, His face radiant with a smile, playing His melodious flute, and adorned with a peacock feather in His crest, wanders here and there with His friends, grazing the cows and engaging in a myriad of delightful sports. (v.6)
It was in this forest that Kṛṣṇa, charmingly attired as a cowherd and adorned with *guñjā* berries, joyfully slew the demons Baka and Vatsāsura with His friends, and partook of *kapittha* fruits. Here too, after dispatching the serpent-demon Agha, He stood in the Yamunā's waters with the cowherd boys, enacting the pastime of a forest picnic — a sight that, alas, bewildered even the four-faced Brahmā. (v.7-8)
Within this very forest, Saṅkarṣaṇa [Balarāma], eager for playful sports with the delightful boys, felled the mighty *tāla* trees, tormented the demon Dhenuka, and then, with Keśava and the boys, enjoyed the fruits scattered upon the ground. It was also here that the Lord, whose glories are sung by hosts of gods, ascended a Nīpa tree on the lake's bank, secured His loincloth with His yellow garment, and performed His divine dance upon the flickering hoods of Kāliya, as if on a grand stage. (v.9-10)
Out of boundless compassion, Lord Mukunda drank the raging forest fire in this very forest, thereby protecting all His beloved people. In another delightful pastime, Rāma [Balarāma] suddenly struck down the approaching demon Pralamba with a powerful blow of His fist. And it was here that He cleverly outwitted the *brāhmaṇas*, who, intoxicated by their lineage, wealth, birth, and rituals, were averse to Him. He then accepted their chaste wives, whose hearts were utterly captivated by His charming disposition, and partook of the food they lovingly offered. (v.11-12)
To shield His devotees from the torrential downpour unleashed by the wrathful Śakra [Indra], Mukunda, with a serene smile, held aloft the Govardhana mountain on the tender tip of His finger for seven days. On the banks of the Yamunā in this forest, Mukunda, the very embodiment of aesthetic delight, His chest made beautiful by the embrace of Rādhā’s breasts, performed the enchanting Rāsa festival with the cowherd women, who were utterly entranced by the sweet melody of His flute. With but a small, effortless pastime, Kṛṣṇa, lauded by Śakra and other gods, slew both Ariṣṭa, who appeared as a bull, and the approaching Keśin, who took the form of a horse, with a single blow of His fist. (v.13-15)
In this sacred forest, Akrūra, the son of Gāndinī, was overcome with ecstasy at the sight of Mādhava's beautiful footprints. His entire body bristled with horripilation, his eyes welled with tears, and his voice choked with emotion as he fainted and rolled upon the ground. After slaying Kaṁsa, whose mind was perpetually fixed on the Lord of infinite pastimes, and bestowing fearlessness upon all the worlds, Uddhava, consoling his friend Kṛṣṇa and with His permission, reverently entered Goṣṭha [Vraja]. Indeed, even Uddhava, the foremost among Śrī Kṛṣṇa's attendants, whose mind was enchanted by the songs of Govinda's playful pastimes and whose body was adorned with the pollen from the *gopīs'* lotus feet, considered a birth even as a blade of grass in this forest to be the greatest boon. (v.16-18)
While the dust from Keśava's feet may be obtained in Dvārakā, the dust from the *gopīs'* feet is truly difficult to acquire anywhere else. For it is solely by the mere touch of the *gopīs'* foot-dust that devotion to Kṛṣṇa awakens; there is no other means to attain it. Indeed, the devotion of pure, transcendental love—*prema-bhakti*—was established on earth by the *gopīs* alone, for even the gods, including Brahmā, do not comprehend this profound sentiment of love. (v.19-21)
The *prasāda* of Jagannātha, the sacred waters of the Jāhnavī [Ganges], and the dust of Vṛndāvana—these three are verily Brahman itself. Those deluded souls who disrespect these three most sacred entities, being averse to the *kīrtana* [chanting] of Hari, descend into a terrible hell. Truly, truly, and again I say truly, there is no doubt: the forest of Yamunā is difficult to attain even for Brahmā and the other gods. (v.22-24)
Even a *caṇḍāla*, a wretch, or one devoted to wicked conduct, attains an excellent abode here solely by the grace of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Those who, through ignorance, perceive even the slightest fault in the residents of Vraja are wicked sinners in this world; one must shun their company. For these residents of Vraja are indeed the very recipients of Govinda's boundless compassion. Knowing this, one should bow with folded hands even to the *mlecchas* among them. (v.25-27)
This Vṛndāvana is truly composed of bliss and consciousness, utterly free from all affliction. Only the Vaiṣṇavas, who perceive with the eye of pure knowledge, comprehend this truth. Therefore, O fool, do not, through your own transgression, defile this most sacred Vṛndāvana, which is divine and eternally marked by the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (v.28-29)
Fortunate indeed is he in this world who beholds Hari, Govindadeva, established by Vajranābha on the bank of the Yamunā. One should devotedly worship Govinda, Hari, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, who is served by the sage Śāṇḍilya and was established by Vajranābha. (v.30-31)
Thus the nineteenth chapter, named "The Glory of Śrī Vṛndāvana," in the First Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
