Sri Krishna’s Pastoral Pastimes

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

Experiencing so much disturbance by demons in Brhadvana, Nanda and the other gopas abandoned their residences in Gokula and moved to Vrndavana. This blissful Sri Vrndavana is the site of Sri Krishna’s madhura-lila. For this reason, the highest joy arose in Krishna when he saw Vrndavana.

vRndAvanaM govardhanaM yamunA-pulinAni ca |
vIkSyAsId uttamA prIti rAma-mAdhavayor nRpa || (BhAg. 10.11.36)

On the same day that Nanda and the others left their homes in Gokula, they entered Sri Vrndavana. When Krishna and Baladeva saw Vrndavana, Govardhana and the banks of the Yamuna, they were filled with delight. It was in Sri Vrndavana that Gopala’s very sweet pastimes in the pasturing ground began. Seeing Gopala’s great affection for the cows, Vrajaraja Nanda and the other gopas agreed to let him and his friends go graze the cows in the pasturelands. Knowing that Gopala’s body was still young and delicate, Nanda insisted that Gopala first begin by tending the calves, and only after auspicious ceremonies had been performed for his good fortune.

Mother Yasomati is the embodiment of condensed vatsalya-rasa (parental love). When she heard Nanda’s words, she thought, “How can my precious Nilamani be sent to the pastures?” and became extremely anxious. Hearing that Sri Krishna was going to the pastures caused a fountain of unbearable sorrow to well up in her heart. Let us relish some simple but elegant and heartfelt poetry of a great scholarly devotee:

gopAla nAki yAbe dUra vane |
tabe Ami nA jIva parANe ||
dadhi manthana kAle sammukhe vasiyA khele
AGginAra bAhira nA kari |
AGginAra bAhira haJA yadi gopAla khele yAJA
tabe prANa dharite nA pAri ||
gopAla yAbe bAthAne ki zunilAma zravaNe
yAdu mora nayanera tArA ||
kole thAkite kata camaki camaki uThi
nayAna nimikhe hai hArA ||
gopAla AmAra parANa putalI |
tAhAre saMpiye rAme kichui sandeha nAi
tamu prANa karaye vyAkuli ||

“If Gopala should go far away to the forest, I could not bear to live. When I churn the butter, he sits in front of me and plays, never leaving the courtyard. If Gopala should go outside the courtyard to play, I would not be able to sustain my life. ‘Gopala shall go to the pasture!’ What am I hearing? My darling, the apple of my eye, sat in my lap for a while, and now, in a flash, he has grown up. Before I could even blink, he is gone. Gopala is the treasure of my life. No doubt, he’s very dear to Balarama; but I’ll still be anxious.”

He who is the apple of Ma Yasomati’s eyes has grown up very quickly. Though she always kept him in her lap, she was ever anxious about his welfare. Perhaps some harm may come to this Gopala. Even while he was on her lap, at every moment she thought, “I might lose him.” Now if he were sent to the forest, how could she endure? Apprehensive, the queen felt great distress. If her Gopala went outside the compound to play, the queen became very anxious. She only saw darkness in every direction. How could she send Gopala, the life of her life, to the pasturing grounds? If she sent him there, how could she go on living? Thinking like this, she became very upset.

This is called vatsalya-rasa. Rasa manifests itself in many ways. In this state, one becomes extremely anxious about that which is dearer than one’s life and feels “I may lose it! I may lose it!” With the fear that one’s dear object is in danger comes intense anxiety. This is a specific type of very condensed rasa known as vipralambhamaya vatsalya-rasa, or parental sentiments with feelings of separation. When Mother Yasomati’s heart was agitated by this mood, she would become restless with anxiety. Certainly, at the time for going to the pastures, Gopala came before her with great enthusiasm. He hugged her neck and said this:

ogo mA Aji Ami carAba bAchura |
parAiyA deha dhaDA mantra paDi bAGdha cUDA
caraNete parAha nUpura ||
alakA tilakA bhAle vanamAlA deha gale
ziGgA vetra veNu deha hAte |
zrIdAma sudAma dAma subalAdi balarAma
sabAi dANDAye rAjapathe ||
vizAla arjuna jAna kiGkiNI aMzumAna
sAjiyA sabAi goThe yAya ||
gopAlera kathA zuni sajala nayana rANI
acetana dharaNI loTAya ||
caJcala bAchura sane kemane yAibe vane
komala du’khAni rAGgA pAya |
vipradAsa ghoSa bale e vayase goThe gele
prANa ki dharite pAre mAye ||

“‘Mom! Mom! Today I’ll graze the calves! Please dress me in a loincloth, and while reciting a mantra, tie my headdress. Place ankle-bells upon my feet, tilaka on my forehead, a forest garland around my neck, and in my hands please put my blowing horn, cane staff and flute. You know Sridama, Sudama, Dama, Subala, Balarama, Visala, Arjuna and the others. Adorned with radiant ankle-bells, they’re all waiting on the main road so we can go to the pastures.’ Hearing Gopala’s words, the queen, with tearful eyes, fell to the ground in a swoon. Vipradasa Ghosa says, ‘How shall he go to the forest with those restless calves? His delicate feet will get so red! If Gopala goes to the pasture at this age, how will his mother maintain her life?’”

Seeing Gopala and hearing him talk of going to the forest, Mother Yasomati felt grief-stricken in her heart and began to weep and roll on the ground. To prevent the restless calves from running off the path, her beloved Gopala will have to walk in places strewn with small stones and thorns. She shuddered, thinking of the tenderness of Gopala’s feet. Meanwhile, Baladeva arrived there, ready to go to the pasture. The queen was startled to see him. Then, in the next moment, she understood that according to family tradition, Gopala must go to the pastures. Neglecting one’s family traditions is inauspicious and unrighteous. Therefore, arrangements shall be made to protect Gopala at all times.