The Fruit Seller

(From Madhurya-Tattva-Vijnana, by Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji Maharaja)

gopIbhiH stobhito'nRtyad bhagavAn bAlavat kvacit |
udgAyati kvacin mugdhas tad-vazo dAru-yantravat ||
bibharti kvacid AjJaptaH pIThakonmAna-pAdukam |
bAhu-kSepaM ca kurute svAnAM ca prItim Avahan ||
darzayaMs tad-vidAM loke Atmano bhRtya-vazyatAm |
vrajasyovAha vai harSaM bhagavAn bAla-ceSTitaiH || BhAg. 10.11.7-9 ||


One day, Sri Yasodanandana was playing in Nanda's courtyard, absorbed in his wonderful childhood lila. About that time, some motherly gopis arrived there and tempted him with some sandesh (a sweetmeat). They told him that if he would dance for them, they'd give the sandesh to him. Sri Yasodanandana is Bhagavan Himself, self-pleased and fully-satisfied, far above any lust or greed. On the stage of his illusory energy countless universes endlessly dance, yet like an ordinary boy, he began to dance to get sweets from the gopis. Or sometimes, being obedient to the gopis, he would sing loudly like an innocent child, floating like a wooden puppet in the stream of their wishes. At other times, following the gopis’ instructions, with wonderful bodily gestures he would carry a wooden stool, measuring bowl, shoes and so on, endlessly expanding their joy. To demonstrate to those who are conscious of his great power that he is thoroughly submissive to his devotees, Sri Bhagavan enacts such multifarious pastimes. Because of this, the Vrajavasis are drowned in an ocean of spiritual bliss.

In these Vraja pastimes, composed of pure sweetness, Sri Bhagavan has endlessly expanded the happiness of companions like his father, mother and so on. What more needs to be said about that? But he has also blessed the women of the forest-dwelling Pulinda tribe with this lila-madhurya. One day, a forest-dwelling woman came to Gokula to sell fruit. Walking down the main road, she called out loudly, “Look here! Who wants to buy some fruit?” Hearing her call, Sri Vrajaraja-nandana, who gives everyone their fruits (results of their actions), wanted to buy some, so he grabbed a handful of rice and quickly went to the fruit-seller. As he ran to get there, all the rice in his hands fell through his fingers. The fruit-seller filled Krishna's empty hands with fruit and suddenly her own basket was filled with various kinds of jewels. A mahajana has said the following:

phala leha phala leha DAke phalAhArI | cyuta dhAnya zudhu kare AilA zrI-hari ||
pasAre pheliyA dhAnya phala deha bole | animikhe pasAriNI o mukha nehAle ||
nayane galaye dhArA dekhi mukhakhAni | kAra gharera zizu tumi yAiye nichani ||
kon puNyavatI tomA karileka kole | kAhAre baliyA mA stana-pAna kaile ||
ghanarAma dAsa bale zuna pasAriNI | phalera sahita kara jIvana nichani ||

“‘Come and get some fruits! Come and get some fruits!’ the fruit-eater* called. Sri Hari came to the market with empty hands, all his rice having fallen to the ground. He said to her, ‘I’ve dropped my rice; will you give me some fruit?’ Gazing at him, she caressed his lotus face as tears streamed from her eyes. She said, ‘Whose home has been blessed with you as a child? Who is that virtuous lady who, when she takes you on her lap, you call her Mother and drink the milk from her breasts?’ Ghanarama Dasa says, ‘O fruit-seller, please listen: along with those fruits you have offered your life.’”

o mora sonAra cAnda ki tora mAyera nAma
kAra ghare hailA utapati |
bahukAla tapa kari ke pUjila hara-gaurI
kon puNya kailA sei satI ||
tomAre kariyA kole kata zata cumba dile
nayAnera jale gela bhAsi |
pAiyA manera sukhe stana dila cAndamukhe
muJi yAi haba tAra dAsI ||
eta kahi phalAhArI phala dena kara-bhari
prema-bhare gara gara cita |
kRSNacandra phala hAte khAite khAite pathe
Asi nija gRhe upanIta ||
phala dekhi yazomatI Anande nA jAne kati
khAoyAiyA prema-sukhe bhAse |
dhanya sei phalAhArI phale pAila nandahari
kahe kichu ghanarAma dAse ||

“‘O my little moon of gold, what is your mother's name? In whose home were you born? That pious lady must have acquired great virtue by performing austerities for a long time and worshipping Hara and Gauri. Taking you upon her lap, she gives you countless kisses and her eyes overflow with tears. Filled with joy, she places her breast in your moonlike mouth. I must become her servant.’ Speaking thus and overcome with love, the fruit-eater filled Krishnacandra’s hands with fruit. Munching as he walked along the path, he eventually arrived at his home. Seeing Krishna holding the fruit, Yasomati was overwhelmed with joy. Feeding him the rest, she floated in the bliss of love. A certain Ghanarama Dasa says, ‘That fruit-seller was very fortunate. With just a little fruit, she got Hari, the son of Nanda.’”

(*The Bengali here is phalåhårî, literally ‘fruit-eater,’ though it obviously also means a fruit-seller in this case. She is probably a peddler from a mountain tribe that subsists mostly on fruit.)