Chapter summary
गोपीचन्दनमाहात्म्यम् Gopīcandana Māhātmyam
The Revered Guru said:
Once, Janārdana, deeply pained by separation from the Gopi women, withdrew to a secluded place and lamented. His heart heavy with longing, He wept again and again, remembering Gokula, the sacred Yamunā river, the majestic Govardhana hill, the enchanting Vrindāvan, and its verdant groves. He recalled Nanda and Yashodā, the Gopas, the Gopis devoted to pure love, and especially the love-filled Rādhikā, shedding tears repeatedly. (v.1-3)
Witnessing His sorrow, Uddhava, the foremost among friends, respectfully consoled Kṛṣṇa, praising the profound loving sentiment of the Gopis. (v.4)
At that moment, Nārada, the most excellent of sages, arrived and entreated Keśava to reveal the divine Rāsa-līlā. The best of the Yadus, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, then performed the Rāsa-līlā with His queens—Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, and others—all imbued with the very sentiments of the Gopis. (v.5-6)
On the seashore, the sweet sound of the anklets of the goddesses, dancing in unison with Murāri, resonated. A magnificent festival unfolded on that beautiful shore, as all sang and danced with Kṛṣṇa in profound reverence. Amidst them, Vāsudeva, the supreme hero, shone brilliantly, like an emerald set among sapphire gems. (v.7-9)
From them, and from Kṛṣṇa Himself, the sacred Haricandana [sandalwood paste], fragrant and exquisitely beautiful, was scattered everywhere upon the ground. This, indeed, is the divine Gopi-chandana, so dear to Govinda. Merely by applying it to the forehead, it bestows the nectar of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. (v.10-11)
From that time onwards, that sacred place became renowned as Gopi-kuṇḍa. Remembering it or merely beholding it instantly destroys all sins. On the bank of Gopi-kuṇḍa resides Chakrapāṇi [the wielder of the discus, Vishnu], and from there one obtains the divine Gopi-chandana, marked with His auspicious chakra symbol. (v.12-13)
A Vaishnava, praying daily with devotion, should utter: "O Gopi-chandana, destroyer of sins, born from the very body of Vishnu! O you who are marked with the chakra, salutations to you. When applied, be the bestower of liberation." Thus invoking its power, one should apply this excellent Gopi-chandana to the twelve prescribed parts of the body. (v.14-15)
By applying Gopi-chandana in the evening, morning, and at midday, all sins are utterly destroyed; I speak the absolute truth. A devotee should wear the Urdhva-puṇḍra [the vertical Vaishnava mark] by anointing with Gopi-chandana, for such a body is considered a sacred temple of Mukunda. (v.16-17)
Upon seeing devotees whose foreheads bear the visible mark of Gopi-chandana, the servants of Yama [the god of death], recognizing them as Vaishnavas, tremble in awe. Indeed, all the gods always serve with reverence those humans on earth whose foreheads are anointed with Gopikā-chandana. (v.18-19)
Govinda, the Gomati river, the Gangā, Gopikā-chandana, and the Gītā—these five sacred things, all beginning with the letter 'G', are difficult for the unfortunate to obtain. (v.20)
The Urdhva-puṇḍra for Vaishnavas, made with Gopikā-chandana, is ordained to destroy all sins and bestow the supreme abode of Vaikuṇṭha. (v.21)
Those Vaishnavas quickly purify the world: those who adorn their necks with Tulasī and Nalinākṣa beads; those on whose foreheads the Urdhva-puṇḍra shines; those whose upper arms are marked with the conch and discus. Similarly, those who have made their permanent residence in sacred cities like Dvārakā; those whose divine bodies are purified by the vow of Dvādaśī; and those who worship the excellent Chakra-śilā [Śālagrāma] form of Vishnu—these Vaishnavas also swiftly purify the world. Furthermore, those who have drunk the nectar of the great Bhāgavata up to their throats; those who are eager to chant the names of Vaikuṇṭha's lord; and those whose bodies are adorned with tears of joy and horripilation—such Vaishnavas, too, quickly purify the world. (v.22-24)
Thus the twenty-third chapter, named "The Glory of Gopi-chandana," in the First Part of the Divyadesavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
