Friday, August 19, 2011

Shri Venu Geet: Seventh Shloka

Shri Krishna & Balram Entering Vrindavan

aksanvatam phalam idam na param vidama
sakhyam pasun anuvivesayator vayasyaih
vaktram vrajesa-sutayor anavenu-justam
yair va nipitam anurakta-kataksa-moksam
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.7)
The Dark God Krishna with Fair-Complexioned Shri Balram

Meaning: The cowherdesses began talking amongst themselves, “O Sakhi! We have understood the sole fruition of the lives of people having eyes and we know of no other advantage they have? And that is seeing the dark god Shri Krishna and fair-hued Balram, accompanied by the gopas, as they take the cows for grazing to the forest or bring them back to Vraja; They hold the flutes to their lips and look at us with loving-sidelong glances and we drink in the sweetness of their faces, at that point of time.

The Madhurya or Sweet Love of Shri Krishna

Commentary by Shri Manohar Baba: (According to Shridhar Svami, Shri Sanatana Goswami and Shri Pad Jeeva Goswami gratification of the senses has been described from the seventh to the twenty-first shloka of Venu Geet) Saying Vayasyaih and agraj in the afore-mentioned shloka is not suitable in this section of the Venu Geet-but they are used to describe the distinctive beauty of Shri Krishna.The gopis of Vraja are passionately drawn to Shri Krishna and the only reason of referring to Shri Balram as vrajesa-sutayor, is to hide the madhur bhava or sweet love of Shri Krishna in a land of highly restrictive social conventions.

Shri Ram & Shri Krishna

Vrajesa-sutayor: If this phrase of the gopis implies both (Shri Ram-Krishna) then a description of the guna bhava which is given later on, is only connected to Shri Krishna. The writer says that anavenu-justam or a mouth kissed by the flute, is a famed trait of flute play and belongs to Shri Krishna. And anurakta-kataksa-moksam or the frivolous sidelong glance directed at the Vraja devotees, is also perfectly applicable to the dark god.
The Sidelong Glance of Krishna

The attraction of the Braj bhaktijan, particularly the young cowherdesses, is solely to Shri Krishna. There is no reference to any such episode of Shri Balram, anywhere.Thus the enchanting sidelong glance of Krishna is for those who intently gaze at the lovable moonlike face of the dark god and" O Sakhi! the senses of only these devotees are gratified. Having darshan or beholding Krishna, the Supreme Lover, is the ultimate fruition of having eyes."
The Lotus Face of Dark-Hued Krishna

Question: Is being able to look at the lotus face of Shri Krishna, the only fruit attained by those having eyes.
Answer: No, there is much more.Vaktram and nipitam are mentioned at this juncture and nipitam means drinking.The gopis' senses are gratified on relishing the nectarean flirtatious glance of Krishna and the lotus face of the dark-hued god, kissed by the flute.This is the zenith of spiritual awareness.

The Gopis Are Speechless with Joy on Seeing Krishna

Shri Pad Jeev Goswami says that because the gopis became speechless, their throats were constricted and tears streamed down their cheeks with joy, there is no explicit reference to their drinking the ambrosia of Krishna, with their lips. This serious overtone safe guards the social constraints of the honourable Braj denizens who are enchanted by Krishna. Its secretive nature maintains the decorum and beauty of this rasa.
The Cowherdesses of Vraja Sing the Glories of Krishna

The flute was heard by everyone in Vraja but only those cowherdesses whose ardour was sufficient and understanding of Krishna was complete like Shri Radha's, could identify their passion with Hers and began singing the dark god's glories amidst clusters of sakhis having the same bhava.

O Sakhi! Vrajesa-sutayor : Has a double meaning. Vrajesa means the king of Vraja, and stands for Nandbaba as well as Vrasbhanu Baba.  
 
Shri Radha-Krishna

Vrajesa-sutayor: Radhika is the daughter of Vrasbhanu Baba and Krishna is the darling son of Nanda. Together Radha and Krishna are vrajesa-sutayo or Shri Radha-Krishna who are forever engrossed in adulating each other with love- laden eyes and who are in essence a single entity. One of the meanings of pashu is to assume a distinctive form. Having darshan of such a beauteous Yugal, the sacred couple, is the ultimate fruition of having eyes and the greatest gratification of our senses.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Shri Venu Geet: Sixth Shloka

The Melodious Flute Play of Krishna
iti venuravam rajat sarvabhutamanoharam |
shrutva vrastriyah sarva varnayanto abhirebhire ||6||
 
A Gopi Attains Krishna

Meaning: Parikshit! This flute play 's magical sound captivates the hearts of living sentient beings and the elements of nature. The gopis heard its melodious notes and began describing its glory. They became so absorbed in giving an account of the flute play as if they had attained Krishna and were wrapping their arms around Him.
Krishna's Flute Song Enchants Nature & Living Beings

Commentary by Shri Manohar Baba: Shri Shukdev ji Maharaj says, “O, King Parikshit! Hearing the mellifluous flute play which enchanted the elements of nature and living sentient beings, these young cowherdesses whose absorption in love for Krishna and concentrated recollection of their love sports with Him in the past, had been sublimated-

Cluster of Gopis Sing the Glories of Krishna's Flute

clusters of these young village women of Vraja, in whose minds Krishna had burst forth again, embraced Him from the core of their hearts and began describing His flute play.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Shri Venu Geet: Fifth Shloka

Shri Krishna's Flute is The Breath of Love 

barhapidam nata-vara-vapuh karnayoh karnikaram
bibhrad vasah kanaka-kapisam vaijayantim ca malam
randhran venor adhara-sudhayapurayan gopa-vrndair
vrndaranyam sva-pada-ramanam pravisad gita-kirtih
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.5)
Shri Krishna Enters Vrindavan 

Shri Krishna is entering Vrindavan with the cowherd boys. He has a peacock feather on His head, blue karnika flowers in his ears,a yellow pitambar drapes his body and the Vaijanti Mala made of five types of fragrant flowers, garlands His neck. The dark god has the beauteous form of a great dancer performing on the royal stage. He breathes the nectar of His lips into the openings of the flute.
Earthly Vrindavan is Marked by Krishna's Footprints 

Walking behind, the cowherd boys sing His glories which purify mankind. In this manner earthly Vrindavan becomes superior to even Vaikunth( where the god forever dwells) because this perfect landscape is marked by the footprints of Krishna.
The Cowherdesses are Enraptured by Krishna's Beauty

Commentary by Shri Manohar Baba: Although the cowherdesses of Vraja were intoxicated by divine madness and unable to give an account of their romantic dalliance with Krishna in the past. However on listening to the flute play, the gopis enraptured by the Supreme Lover's ineffable beauty became intensely desirous of having Krishna for themselves. Their infatuation with Madana, stripped them of the ability to give His description.
Shri Krishna is a Superb Dancer

Thus developing the gopibhava Shri Shukdev ji says that Krishna is wearing the fresh plume of an entranced peacock in His dark curly locks and is adorned with ornaments studded with gems, pearls, diamonds and gold.Dark-hued Krishna, the best of the natas, is flaunting His expertise by a superb performance. He tucks the karnika flowers behind His left ear at times and in His right ear at times, exhibiting His capricious nature.
Lord Krishna Dressed in Yellow 

The one who is dressed in glowing yellow garments (pitambar) which adds a distinctive beauty to His form in the Sharad Ritu (the golden-hue attains a particular radiance in the autumnal and spring season). The One who is wearing a garland of the vanamala, stringed with fragrant five-hued flowers and the One who fills the openings of the flute with the nectar of His lips.
The Flute Play of Krishna Passionately Draws the Gopis
According to Shridhar Svami Pad, Shri Shukdev ji endorses that the venu or flute is flooded with the nectar of Krishna's lips. The underlying bhava emphasises that the flute in the hands of Krishna is not just a musical instrument but the breath of love. The flute play with its melodious notes passionately draws the gopis (representing the hungering devotees of the dark god) in a delicious anguish to His side.
Note: It was the fifth shloka that actually attracted Mahatma Shukdev ji to listen to the 'Shrimad Bhagavat' from his father Bhagwan Ved Vyas. In the rest of the 14 shlokas ,the gopis sing the glories of Krishna's flute which captivates all living beings, and fills them with the bhava of shringara bhakti or ecstatic devotion.The scene motivates the cowherdesses to sing the much famed Gopi Geet in the 10th Canto of the Shrimad Bhagavat's 21st chapter.