Meditation and Internal Worship

MEDITATION AND INTERNAL WORSHIP:

To view some of the text on this page it will require the Balaram FONT to be installed on your system

1. Dhyana:

Dhyana means concentration of the mind in one direction. In deity worship the object of meditation is the deity one is worshipping. The mind is purified though bhuta suddhi and pranayama and it attains spiritualality by concentration of the form and activities of the Lord. The form of the Lord in the mind is considered a murti of the Lord, non-different from himself, and ones own body is a pitha, or sacred altar for the Lord.

The form of the Lord used for meditation should correspond to authorized descriptions from scripture. Some puja manuals give suitable descriptive verses of the deity being worshipped, which may be recited at this time. The important element however is not the recitation, but the form of the Lord that the description invokes in the mind.

Some samples of Dhyana:
Wonderful Krishna - from Krsna book
Krsna worship, as given in the Hari Bhakti Vilasas, is given as follows:
Kåñëa-Balaräma-dhyäna
Giri Govardhan Dhyana
Radha Krishna Dhyana

Manasa Puja - Worship in the mind:

A sample dhyana for Krsna worship, as given in the Hari Bhakti Vilasas, is given as follows:

The pure land of Vrndavana is cooled by the presence of trees whose tender branches are laden with clusters of new buds and the most attractive flowers, which are flowing with honey and saturated with heavenly fragrances, and whose trunks are twined with vines decorated with clusters of fresh flowers.

The heart of Vrndavana resounds with the humming of swarming bees who have come to taste the nectar from the blossoming flowers, and with the cries of the doves, parrots, sarikas and cuckoos. Everywhere the peacocks perform their dances.

Vrndavana is served by the soft, soothing breeze, which carries fine drops of water from the lapping waves of the yamuna river, and that breeze, dusted with the pollen from the interiors of fully blown lotuses, playfully shakes the garments of the gopis, whose minds then become agitated with desire for their Lord.

In the midst of Vrndavana stands a towering kalpa vrksa, bestower of all desires, whose branches are coral, whose leaves are emeralds, whose bouquets of buds are diamonds and pearls, and whose fruits are rubies. Being served by the seasons personified it produces all types of flowers simultaneously.

At the base of the nectar-showering kalpa vrksa tree is an open space of ground, shining as brilliant as the sun rising over a range of solid gold mountains and sparkling with inlaid jewels and glowing with heaps of golden pollen. This place is completely freed from the waves of lamentation, illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst.

On the jewel-inlaid floor is an exquisite asana in the form of an eight-petalled lotus tinted the color of the dawn. In the center, resplendent as the rising sun, sits Mukunda in a comfortable pose.

He shines like a brilliant, dark sapphire, deep black as lampblack, dark as a mountain of monsoon clouds, delicate as a blue lotus. On his black mass of hair, which is thick, glossy and curled, sits a luminous peacock feather.

On his head are ornaments of parijata blossoms served eagerly by swarms of bees, and on his ears are fresh flowers. On the flat surface of his forehead, surrounded by stray locks of hair, shines vertical tilaka, bright yellow in color, between a pair of long, creeper-like eye brows. His face shines like the flawless moon of the autumn season, and his eyes are wide like lotus petals. His mirror-like cheeks glitter with the rays from his jewelled shark earrings. His beautiful nose points upwards gracefully and his tender smile, similar to the moon, a jasmine flower or the mandara flower, illuminates all his features.
Around his conch neck is a string of coral flowers and young leaves, and from his shoulders to his feet extends a garland of kalpa vrksa flowers swarming with intoxicated bees. On his full chest sparkles a string of pearls, like a constellation of stars, and there shines the kaustubha jewel, like the sun in the sky, and his distinguishing mark, the srivatsa.

His shoulders are high; his well-formed thick arms reach to his knees; his stomach is slightly indented and raised; in its center is a handsome, deep navel. Extending upwards from his navel is a delicate line of black hair. He is decorated with arm bands, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, cords and a golden belt studded with jewels. On different parts of his body are painted different designs. Around his waist is a yellow cloth.

He has beautiful thighs and knees, charming ankles and feet more lusterous than polished turtle shells. His toe nails shine like ruby mirrors, and his toes are like jewelled leaves. On his pink hands and feet are the pleasing signs of the fish, elephant goad, cakra, conch, flag, lotus, thunder bolt and barley grain. His body, composed of the topmost elements of beauty, conquers the bodily attraction of Cupid, the god of love.

Sri Krsna is an ocean of unlimited bliss. From his flute, made perfect by conjunction with his lotus face, by the simple movements of his fingers, arises transcendental ragas. Hearing those ragas, all the creatures and their offspring become attracted and stunned, their hearts being in a perpetually melted state.

Sri Krsna is surrounded by cows with long, slender tails. They move towards him with unsteady gait, for their udders are swollen with milk. Their large eyes become glued to the lotus face of the Lord, while half-chewed tender grass shoots remain poised on the ends of their teeth. The newborn calves, enhanced in beauty by the milk foam flowing form their small lips and teeth, which had so eagerly sucked at the full udders, now remain motionless. They prick up their little ears to hear the deep, enchanting notes from his flute. The older calves, with colorful blankets around their throats and little horns emerging from their soft head, raise their tails, butt each other, and playfully gallop this way and that, and finally gather around the Lord. The massive bulls, laden with the burden of their huge humps, lowing in deep voices, approach in a lazy manner. But when the liquid nectar from the flute enters their raised ears, they widen their nostrils fully and tilt up their heads.

The cowherd boys, similar in character, blissful nature, age, activities and dress as Krsna, play sweet,low melodies on their flutes and vinas. They sing graceful tunes, and with arms extended, dance very expertly. The babies, with little lisping words in their mouths, tiger claws hanging from their necks, and jingling bells attached to their ankles and fat bellies, also approach the Lord. The attractive cowherd girls,marked with three lines on their waists,come forward,eager to serve him. They sway with the weight of their broad, heavy hips, and their heads bow beneath their piles of abundant hair. The desire trees of their bodies, being drenched with the nectar from his flute, sprout goose bumps like flowers blooming on a vine. The ocean of prema in the gopis' hearts increases by the moon beam smile of the Nanda's son, and the splashing from those rushing waves of prema appear as sweat drops on the bodies of the laboring gopis.

From his long, bowed eyebrows, by sharp glances, he shoots a shower of deadly arrows of love, which break the vulnerable points in the composure of the gopies. Disturbed but unsubmitting, they try to supress the painful tremblings which begin to afflict all parts of their bodies. But eager to drink the nectar of the incomparable form of Krsna, through half-closed bashful eyes, they furtively glance upon him, and thus continue to float in the streams of prema.

Swarms of bees, eager to drink the honey flowing from the flowers which have fallen from their loosened tresses of hair, surround the standing forms of the gopis. Out of intense frenzy, they utter inaudible, tender words, and their waist bells jingle from their uncontrollable trembling. Their fine silk clothes ,loosened by their heavy breathing, reveal parts of their lusterous bodies. The soft sound of their hesitant footsteps mixes with the sound from their jeweled anklets and echoes in all directions. Their lips quiver, their earrings glitter, and their eyes, rimmed with graceful eyelashes, stay half-closed in shyness. Due to the agitation of their deep breathing, their pink lips darken. In their delicate, sportive hands are various presentations for their Lord, whom they constantly attend.

The Lord, a reservoir of pleasure, is decorated with a garland of full-blown blue lotuses in the form of the gopies' dark restless eyes, which fix themselves on his form. Those eyes,like a garland of love-hungry bees, madly drink the liquid honey of his all-attractive face.

The gopas, gopis and cows remain at some distance, while the devatas stand in front with brahma, siva and indra in lead, reciting verses to attain material wealth (artha). To the right side stand the assembly of munis intent on fulfilling the codes of dharma with vedic knowledge. Behind, the yogindras headed by Sanaka, being desirous of liberation (moksa), remain in a state of samadhi. To the left side stand the yaksas, siddhas, gandharvas, vidyadharas and caranas with their wives, along with the kinnaras and the best of the apsaras. In pursuit of kama, pleasure, they sing, dance and play musical instruments.

White as a conch, shining like the moon, like a jasmine flower, like a lightening bolt, appears Narada Muni in the sky. He is decorated with matted locks of reddish hair. Conversant with the conclusion of all scriptures, he serves the lotus feet of Krsna with undeviating devotion, having given up all attachments to material pleasures. He pleases the Lord by striking on his vina, which produces wonderful melodies arranged in skilful ragas.

Kåñëa-Balaräma-dhyäna

dadarça kåñëaà rämaà ca vraje go-dohanaà gatau
péta-nilämbara-dharau çarad-amburuhekñanau

kiçorau çyämala-çvetau çré-niketau båhad-bhujau
su-mukhau sundara-varau bäla-dvirada-vikrämau

dhvaja-vajräìkuçämbhojaiç cihnitair aìghribhir vrajam
çobhayantau mahätmänau sänukroça-smitekñaëau

udära-rucira-kréòau sragviëau vana-mälinau
puëya-gandhänuliptäìgau snätau viraja-väsasau

pradhäna-puruñäv ädyau jagad-dhetü jagat-paté
avatérëau jagaty-arthe sväàçena bala-keçavau

diço vitimirä räjan kurväëau prabhayä svayä
yathä märakataù çailo raupyaç ca kanakäcitau

Akrüra then saw Kåñëa and Balaräma in the village of Vraja, going to milk the cows. Kåñëa wore yellow garments, Balaräma blue, and Their eyes resembled autumnal lotuses. One of those two mighty-armed youths, the shelters of the goddess of fortune, had a dark-blue complexion, and the other's was white. With Their fine-featured faces They were the most beautiful of all persons. As they walked with the gait of young elephants, glancing about with compassionate smiles, those two exalted personalities beautified the cow pasture with the impressions of Their feet, which bore the marks of the flag, lightning bolt, elephant goad and lotus. The two Lords, whose pastimes are most magnanimous and attractive, were ornamented with jeweled necklaces and flower garlands, anointed with auspicious, fragrant substances, freshly bathed, and dressed in spotless raiment. They were the primeval Supreme Personalities, the masters and original causes of the universes, who had for the welfare of the earth now descended in Their distinct forms of Keçava and Balaräma. O King Parikñit, They resembled two gold-bedecked mountains, one of emerald and the other of silver, as with Their effulgence They dispelled the sky's darkness in all directions. [Srimad Bhägavatam. 10:38:28-33]

SRI SRI GOVARDHANA SAMVASAN

PRARTHANA DASAKAM by Srila Raghunath das Goswami

1.
O Govardhana! You became the umbrella which was held by the arm of your own Lord Krsna! In this way Sri Krsna diminished Indra, the king of the demigods, who was intoxicated by great pride. You are the incomparable king of all the big mountains, please allow me to live close by you.

2.
O Govardhana! The young Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, play splendid wild loving games in your every cave, so I became very eager to see Them there. Please allow me to live close by you.

3.
O Govardhana! In topmost joy Krsna plays together with Balarama and the cowherd boys in your incomparable jeweled pavilions and thrones, in the hollows of your trees, in your caves, and valleys. Please allow me to live close by you!

4.
O Govardhana! You are the witness of Radha and Krsna's tax game (In which Krsna charges tax from the ghee the gopis carry on their heads) which is an ocean of mellows. You increase the joy of the mellows of the devotees with your display of bluish platforms that are full of splendour and fragrance. Please allow me to live close by you!

5.
O Govardhana! You affectionately and secretly embrace the neck of your own dear friend, Sri Radha Kunda, the place which is very dear to you and Lord Hari. Please allow me to live close by you and show me the intimate pastimes of the Divine Young Couple there!

6.
O Govardhana! You make your name, keeper of cows, successfully constantly giving land, water, grass and the shade of your trees to the cows and thus you are famous in the three worlds. Please allow me to live close by you!

7.
O Govardhana! Your glories are increased by the enemy of Aghasura and Bakasura, Sri Krsna, when He protected the Vrajavasis and vanquished Indra by quickly using you as their new shelter from the rain. Please allow me to live close by you.!

8.
O Govardhana! King of mountains! Because the nectar of your name as Hari's best servant emanated from Srimati Radharani's pearl-like mouth, which was revealed by Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam (10.21.18), you are called the new tilaka (because of your long thin bluish shape at the edge of Vraja) of Vraja. Please allow me to live close by you.

9.
O Govardhana! You are the only giver of joy to Sri Sri Radha Krsna and Their associates, that are always surrounded by the people, animals and birds of Vraja in the mood of friendship. Please mercifully accept me and allow me to live close by you.

10.
O Govardhana! Although I am vile and deceitful, the causelessly merciful Sri Sacinandana submitted me to you. Therefore, do not consider whether I am qualified or unqualified and accept me. Allow me please to live close by you.

11.
Anyone who carefully recites these ten verses praising the king of mountains Srila Govardhana, that are the givers of divine mellows, will swiftly attain a place to live close by Govardhana, the bestower of bliss, and he will attain the precious jewel of the auspicious loving service of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krsna.

namaste girirajaya sri govardhana namine
ashesha klesha nashaya paramananda dayine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the king of all hills, Govardhana Hill (the source of enjoyment for the senses, land, and cows). He is a servant of Krsna and is Krsna Himself. He puts an end to unlimited sufferings and bestows the supreme bliss. (Preyo Bhakti Rasarnava)

     hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo
                 yad rama-krsna-carana-sparasa-pramodah
               manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat
                 paniya-suyavasa-kandara-kandamulaih

Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Krsna and Balarama, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities-water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant. (SB 10.21.18)

These two verses are known as the sri-govardhana-pranama-mantra.

govardhano jayati saila-kulaadhi-raajo
yo gopikaabhirudito hari-daasa-varyah
krsnena sakra-makha-bhanga-krtaarcito yah
saptaaham asya kara-padma-tale 'py avatseet

saptaaham evaacyuta-hasta-pankaje
bhrngaayamaanam phala-moola-kandaraih
samsevyamaanam harim aatma-vindakair
govardhanaadrim sirasaa namaami

"Glorious is Sri Govardhana, the great King in the dynasty of hills, whom the gopis praised as the best of Krsna's servants; who was resting for seven days in Krsna's lotus hand and whom Krsna made worshipable by disrupting Indra's sacrifice."

"I offer my prostrated obeisances to the Govardhana Hill, who was kept for seven days in the lotus hand of the infallible Lord Krsna and who served Him with his own paraphernalia—swarms of black bees and an abundance of delicious fruits and roots."

NOTE:
-----
Both verses are related to SB 10.21.18 and that is why I have translated
"gopikabhiruditah" as "praised" by the gopis. The word would normally mean
"bewailed by the gopis". It must have been used to refer to the special
state of mind in which the gopis were when they glorified Krsna's flute.

Your servant
Ekanatha dasa

Sri Sri Radha-krishna Dhyan

tato vrndavanam dhyayet
paramananda-vardhanam
sarvartu-kusumopetam
patatri-gana-naditam

bhramad-bhramara-jhankara-
mukhari-krta-din-mukham
kalindi-jala-kallola-
sangi-maruta-sevitam

nana-puspa-lata-baddha-
vrksa-sandais ca manditam
kamalotpala-kahlara-
dhuli-dhusaritantaram

tan-madhye ratna-bhumim ca
suryayuta-sama-prabham
tatra kalpatarudyanam
niyatam prema-varsinam

manikya-sikharalambi
tan-madhye mani-mandapam
nana-ratna-ganais citram
sarvartu-suvirajitam

nana-ratna-lasac-citra-
vitanair upasobhitam
ratna-torana-gopura-
manikyacchadananvitam

koti-surya-samabhasam
vimuktam sat-tarangakaih

tan-madhye ratna-khacitam
svarna-simhasanam mahat
kamalotpala-kahlara-
dhuli-dhusaritantaram
(Gautamiya Tantra 4)

"Vrndavana-dhama is a place of ever-increasing joy. Flowers and fruits of all seasons grow there and that transcendental land is full of the sweet sound of various birds. All directions resound with the humming of bumblebees and it is served with cool breezes and the waters of the Yamuna. Vrndavana is decorated with wish-fulfilling trees wound with creepers and beautiful flowers. Its divine beauty is ornamented with the pollen of red, blue and white lotuses. The ground is made of jewels whose dazzling glory is equal to a myriad of suns rising in the sky at one time. On that ground is a garden of desire trees which always shower divine love. In that garden is a jewelled temple whose pinnacle is made of rubies. It is decorated with various jewels, so it remains brilliantly effulgent through all seasons of the year. The temple is beautified with bright-coloured canopies, glittering with various gems, and endowed with ruby-decorated coverings and jewelled gateways and arches. Its splendour is equal to millions of suns and it is eternally free from the six waves of material miseries. In that temple there is a great golden throne inlaid with many jewels. In this way, one should meditate on the divine realm of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vrndavana-dhama."

divyad-vrndaranya-kalpa-drumadhah-
srimad-ratnagara-simhasana-sthau
sri-sri-radha-srila-govinda-devau
presthalibhih sevyamanau smarami
(Cc. Adi. 1.16)

"I meditate on Sri Sri Radha and Govinda, who sit on an effulgent throne underneath a desire tree in a temple of jewels in Vrndavana. They are being served by Their most confidential associates, the gopis."

sat-pundarika-nayanam
meghabham vaidyutambaram
dvi-bhujam jnana-mudradhyam
vana-malinam isvaram

divyalankaranopetam
sakhibhih parivestitam
cid-ananda-ghanam krsnam
radhalingita-vigraham

sri krsnam sri-ghana-syamam
purnananda-kalevaram
dvi-bhujam sarva-devesam
radhalingita-vigraham

"I meditate on the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, who possesses beautiful lotus eyes, whose colour is that of a new cloud, whose clothes are like lightning, who possesses two arms and a beautiful forest garland, and whose hand is indicating divine knowledge by exhibiting the jnana-mudra. That Krsna is decorated with glittering ornaments and is surrounded by all the cowherd friends of Srimati Radharani. While being embraced by Srimati Radharani Herself, His form is intensified consciousness and bliss. Sri Krsna, who is intensely bluish-black, in His two-armed form, is the Lord of all the demigods, and His body is full of transcendental bliss."

(b)
Atharva Vediya Gopala-tapani Upanisad (Purva Vibhaga 36-47)

om namo visva-rupaya
visva-sthity-anta-hetave
visvesvaraya visvaya
govindaya namo namah

"Lord Brahma, speaking to the great sages and saints, prayed to Lord Krsna as follows: 'I offer my humble obeisances to Lord Krsna, who is the giver of pleasure to the cows, whose external form is the form of the universe, who is the cause of the maintenance and dissolution of the material universe, and who is the Lord of the universe.'"

namo vijnana-rupaya
paramananda-rupine
krsnaya gopi-nathaya
govindaya namo namah

"I offer my obeisances to Lord Krsna, who is the giver of pleasure to the cows, who is the Lord of the gopis and who is the embodiment of unlimited knowledge and the highest bliss."

namah kamala-netraya
namah kamala-maline
namah kamala-nabhaya
kamala-pataye namah

"I offer my o beisances to Krsna, who possesses lotus-petal eyes, who wears a garland of sweet-smelling lotus flowers, who has a lotus navel and who is the Lord of the gopis, who are as beautiful as lotus flowers."

barhapidabhiramaya
ramayakuntha-medhase
rama-manasa-hamsaya
govindaya namo namah

"I offer my obeisances to Lord Govinda, who looks very beautiful wearing a peacock feather upon His head. His plenary expansion is Lord Ramacandra, His intelligence is eternal and ever-fresh, and He is the swan that swims in the mind of Laksmi-devi."

kamsa-vamsa-vinasaya
kesi-canura-ghatine
vrsabha-dhvaja-vandyaya
partha-sarathaye namah

"I offer my obeisances unto Krsna, who is the destroyer of the dynasties of demons headed by King Kamsa. He is the slayer of the Kesi demon and the wrestler Canura. He is offered prayers by Lord Siva, whose chariot flag is marked with the insignia of Nandi, the bull, and He is the chariot driver of the son of Prtha, Arjuna."

venu-vadana-silaya
gopalayahi-mardine
kalindi-kula-lolaya
lola-kundala-dharine

"I offer my obeisances to Krsna, who is accustomed to playing on a flute, who is the protector of the cows and the chastiser of the Kaliya serpent. He is fond of wandering here and there on the banks of the Yamuna and He is beautified by wearing swinging earrings."

ballavi-vadanambhoja-
maline nrtya-saline
namah pranata-palaya
sri-krsnaya namo namah

"I offer my obeisances again and again unto Sri Krsna, who wears a garland of kisses from the lotus mouths of the gopis. He is conversant with the art of dancing and is the protector of the surrendered souls."

namah papa-pranasaya
govardhana-dharaya ca
putana-jivitantaya
trnavartasu-harine

"I offer my obeisances unto Lord Krsna, who is the destroyer of the sins of the fallen souls. He is the lifter of Govardhana Hill. He brought about the end to the life of Putana and He took away the life of the demon Trnavarta."

niskalaya vimohaya
suddhayasuddha-vairine
advitiyaya mahate
sri-krsnaya namo namah

"I offer my humble obeisances again and again unto the great Lord Krsna, who is beyond the illusion of maya and from whom that illusion comes. He is the supreme pure, the enemy of the demons and is one without a second."

prasida paramananda
prasida paramesvara
adhi-vyadhi-bhujangena
dastam mam uddhara prabho

"O Supreme Lord, O reservoir of the highest pleasure, be pleased upon me. I have been bitten by the poisonous snake of mental and bodily miseries. Therefore, O Lord, please deliver me."

sri-krsna rukmini-kanta
gopi-jana-manohara
samsara-sagare magnam
mam uddhara jagad-guro

"O Lord Krsna, O lover of Rukmini, O attractor of the minds of the gopis, please uplift me, for I am immersed in the ocean of birth and death, O spiritual preceptor of the universe."

kesava klesa-harana
narayana janardana
govinda paramananda
mam samuddhara madhava

"O Lord Kesava, O destroyer of the threefold miseries, O only refuge of all souls, O destroyer of the Jana demons, O Govinda, O reservoir of pleasure, please uplift me who am fallen, O husband of the goddess of fortune."

he krsna karuna-sindho
dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopika-kanta
radha-kanta namo 'stu te

"O my dear Krsna, You are the friend of the distressed, the ocean of mercy, and the Lord of creation. You are the master of the cowherdsmen and the lover of the gopis, especially Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You."

Radha-Stuti

radha rasesvari ramya
rama ca paramatmanah
rasodbhava krsna-kanta
krsna-vaksa-sthala-sthita

"Beautiful Srimati Radharani is the queen and the origin of the rasa dance. She is the giver of pleasure to Krsna, who is the Supersoul in the hearts of all. She is the lover of Krsna and is always situated upon the chest of the Lord."

krsna-pranadhidevi ca
maha-visnoh prasur api
sarvadya visnu-maya ca
satya nitya sanatani

"She is the presiding Deity of Krsna's very life, and She is the first of all persons, the energy of Lord Visnu, the embodiment of truthfulness - eternal and ever-youthful."

brahma-svarupa parama
nirlipta nirguna para
vrnda vrndavane tvam ca
viraja-tata-vasini

"Her form is spiritual, therefore She is transcendental and beyond mundane qualities. She is divine energy and is unattached. O Radha, in Vrndavana You are the leader of the gopis, and You reside on the banks of the Viraja River."

goloka-vasini gopi
gopisa gopa-matrka
sananda paramananda
nanda-nandana-kamini

"She is a resident of Goloka Vrndavana and is a cowherd damsel. She is the queen of the gopis and the divine mother of the cowherd boys. She is joyful and always experiencing the highest bliss, and She incites lusty desires in the heart of the son of Nanda."

vrsabhanu-suta santa
kanta purnatama tatha
kamya kalavati-kanya
tirtha-puta sati subha

"Radha is the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu. She is very peaceful and lovely. She is completely contented and fulfilled, very pleasing and is the daughter of Kalavati. She is the purifier of the tirthas and She is most auspicious and chaste to Lord Krsna."

samsara-sagare ghore
bhitam mam saranagatam
sarvebhyo 'pi vinirmuktam
kuru radhe suresvari

"O Radha, I have fallen into the horrible ocean of birth and death and am frightened, but I am seeking Your shelter. O Queen of the demigods, please free me from all fears."

tvat-pada-padma-yugale
pada-padmalayarcite
dehi mahyam param bhaktim
krsnena parisevite

"O Radhika, please give me transcendental devotional service to Your lotus feet, which are worshipped by Lord Brahma and Laksmi, and which are served even by Lord Krsna."

tapta-kancana-gaurangi
radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi
pranamami hari-priye

"O Srimati Radharani, I offer my respects to You whose bodily complexion is like molten gold. O Goddess, You are the queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu and are very dear to Lord Krsna."

mahabhava-svarupa tvam
krsna-priya-variyasi
prema-bhakti-prade devi
radhike tvam namamy aham

"O Srimati Radharani, You are the exalted form of mahabhava, therefore You are the most dear to Krsna. O Goddess, You alone are able to bestow pure love for the Supreme Lord; therefore I offer my humble obeisances unto You."

Padya-panchaka

samsara-sagaran natha
putra-mitra-grhanganat
goptarau me yuvam eva
prapanna-bhaya-bhanjanau

"O Radha-Krsna, You are my protectors from the ocean of material existence which is characterized by sons, friends, household and land. Therefore You are known as the destroyers of the fear of those who are surrendered unto You."

yo 'ham mamasti yat-kincid
iha loke paratra ca
tat sarvam bhavato 'dyaiva
caranesu samarpitam

"O Your Lordships, myself and whatever little bit is mine in this world and in the next, all that, I now offer unto Your lotus feet."

aham apy aparadhanam
alayas tyakta sadhanah
agatis ca tato nathau
bhavantau me para gatih

"O Your Lordships, I am certainly the abode of many offences and am completely devoid of the practice of devotional service; neither do I have any resort or shelter. Therefore, I am taking You as my ultimate goal."

tavasmi radhika-natha
karmana manasa gira
krsna-kante tavaivasmi
yuvam eva gatir mama

saranam vam prapanno 'smi
karuna-nikarakarau
prasadam kuru dasyam bho
mayi duste 'paradhini

"O Lord of Srimati Radharani, I am Yours, my actions, mind and words. O lover of Sri Krsna, Srimati Radharani, I belong to You alone. You both are my only shelter. O Radha and Krsna, ocean of mercy, I am taking shelter of You. Please be pleased upon me and make me Your servant, although I am such a fallen offender."

Vijnapti-panchaka

mat-samo nasti papatma
naparadhi ca kascana
parihare 'pi lajja me
kim bruve purusottama

yuvatinam yatha yuni
unam ca yuvatau yatha
mano 'bhiramate tadvan
mano me ramatam tvayi

"O Purusottama, there is no sinful person or offender who is equal to me. How can I describe my shame? Just as the minds of young ladies take pleasure in a young man and the minds of young men take pleasure in a young woman, kindly let my mind take pleasure in You, alone."

bhumau skhalita-padanam
bhumir evavalambanam
tvayi jataparadhanam
tvam eva saranam prabho

"Just as the ground is the only support for those whose feet have slipped, so also You alone are the only shelter, even for those who have committed offence to You."

govinda-vallabhe radhe
prarthaye tvam aham sada
tvadiyam iti janatu
govindo mam tvaya saha

"O Srimati Radharani, the dearest of Lord Govinda, this is always my request to You - please let Lord Govinda, along with Yourself, consider me to be one of Your assistants."

radhe vrndavanadhise
karunamrta-vahini
krpaya nija-padabja-
dasyam mahyam pradiyatam

"O Srimati Radharani, O queen of Vrndavana, You are a river flowing with nectar of mercy. Please be kind upon me and give me a little service at Your lotus feet."

Wonderful Krishna Dhyanam

Without understanding the intricacies of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and without knowing His uncommon spiritual opulences, the innocent cowherd boys and men of Vrndavana began to discuss the wonderful activities of Krsna which surpass the activities of all men.

One of them said, "My dear friends, considering His wonderful activities, how is it possible that such an uncommon boy would come and live with us in Vrndavana? It is really not possible. Just imagine! He is now only seven years old! How was it possible for Him to lift Govardhana Hill in one hand and hold it up just like the king of elephants holds a lotus flower? To lift a lotus flower is a most insignificant thing for an elephant, and similarly Krsna lifted Govardhana Hill without exertion. When He was simply a small baby and could not even see properly, He killed a great demon, Putana. While sucking her breast, He also sucked out her life-air. Krsna killed the Putana demon exactly as eternal time kills a living creature in due course. When He was only three months old, He was sleeping underneath a hand-driven cart. Being hungry for His mother's breast, He began to cry and throw His legs upwards. And from the kicking of His small feet the cart immediately broke apart and fell to pieces. When He was only one year old, He was carried away by the Trnavarta demon disguised as a whirlwind, and although He was taken very high in the sky, He simply hung on the neck of the demon and forced him to fall from the sky and immediately die. Once His mother, being disturbed by His stealing butter, tied Him to a wooden mortar, and the child pushed it towards a pair of trees known as yamala arjuna and caused them to fall. Once, when He was engaged in tending the calves in the forest along with His elder brother, Balarama, a demon named Bakasura appeared, and Krsna at once bifurcated the demon's beaks. When the demon known as Vatsasura entered among the calves tended by Krsna with a desire to kill Him, He immediately detected the demon, killed him, and threw him into a tree. When Krsna, along with His brother, Balarama, entered the Talavana forest, the demon known as Dhenukasura, in the shape of an ass, attacked Them and was immediately killed by Balarama, who caught his hind legs and threw him in a palm tree. Although the Dhenukasura demon was assisted by his cohorts, also in the shape of asses, all were killed, and the Talavana forest was then open for the use of the animals and inhabitants of Vrndavana. When Pralambasura entered amongst His cowherd boy friends, He caused his death by Balarama. Thereafter, Krsna saved His friends and cows from the severe forest fire, and He chastised the Kaliya serpent in the lake of Yamuna and forced him to leave the vicinity of the Yamuna River; He thereby made the water of the Yamuna poisonless."

Another one of the friends of Nanda Maharaja said, "My dear Nanda, we do not know why we are so attracted by your son Krsna. We want to forget Him, but this is impossible. Why are we so naturally affectionate toward Him? Just imagine how wonderful it is! On one hand He is only a boy of seven years old, and on the other hand there is a huge hill like Govardhana Hill, and He lifted it so easily! O Nanda Maharaja, we are now in great doubt--your son Krsna must be one of the demigods. He is not at all an ordinary boy. Maybe He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

On hearing the praises of the cowherd men in Vrndavana, King Nanda said, "My dear friends, in reply to you I can simply present the statement of Garga Muni so that your doubts may be cleared. When he came to perform the name-giving ceremony, he said that this boy descends in different periods of time in different colors and that this time He has appeared in Vrndavana in a dark color and is known as Krsna. Previously, He has white color, then red color, then yellow color. He also said that this boy was once the son of Vasudeva, and everyone who knows of His previous birth calls Him Vasudeva. Actually he said that my son has many varieties of names, according to His different qualities and activities. Gargacarya assured me that this boy will be all-auspicious for my family and that He will be able to give transcendental blissful pleasure to all the cowherd men and cows in Vrndavana. Even though we will be put into various kinds of difficulties, by the grace of this boy we will be very easily freed from them. He also said that formerly this boy saved the world from an unregulated condition, and He saved all honest men from the hands of the dishonest. He also said that any fortunate man who becomes attached to this boy, Krsna, is never vanquished or defeated by his enemy. On the whole, He is exactly like Lord Visnu, who always takes the side of the demigods, who are consequently never defeated by the demons. Gargacarya thus concluded that my child would grow to be exactly like Visnu in transcendental beauty, qualification, activities, influence and opulence, and so we should not be very astonished by His wonderful activities. After telling me this, Gargacarya returned home, and since then we have been continually seeing the wonderful activities of this child. According to the version of Gargacarya, I consider that He must be Narayana Himself, or maybe a plenary portion of Narayana."

When all the cowherd men very attentively heard the statements of Gargacarya through Nanda Maharaja, they better appreciated the wonderful activities of Krsna and became very jubilant and satisfied. They began to praise Nanda Maharaja, because by consulting him their doubts about Krsna were cleared. They said, "Let Krsna, who is so kind, beautiful and merciful, protect us. When angry Indra sent torrents of rain, accompanied by showers of ice blocks and high wind, He immediately took compassion upon us and saved us and our families, cows and valuable possessions by picking up the Govardhana Hill, just as a child picks up a mushroom. He saved us so wonderfully. May He continue to mercifully glance over us and our cows. May we live peacefully under the protection of wonderful Krsna."

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Twenty-sixth Chapter of Krsna, "Wonderful Krsna."

PRAYERS IN WORSHIP OF SRI SRI RADHA-KRSNA

(a)