Vrindavan (Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākur)

Goloka Vrindavan, Krishna’s own abode – is it real? I was about to say “Just as real as this ’place’”, but that is wrong; it is the Source of Reality, as opposed to this faint, diluted shadow of Reality. How do you “go” there? It’s easy. You raise and purify your consciousness by chanting the Maha Mantra, you change your spirit and activity from enjoying/exploiting/consuming, to serving/dedicating/giving, and you follow the instructions of the Spiritual Master, Krishna manifesting in a soul surrendered to Him, to lead you to Him.

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Vrindavan

A rare poem by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākur

(Written on 18 July 1871 in Śrī Purī Dhām,

published in Śrī Gaudīya Darśan on 12 August 1957)

1

nitya-dhāma vrindāvana yathā mora krsna-dhana

nitya-kāla karena vilāsa

chidānandamaya latā prema-kisalaya yathā

jñānānandamaya kunja-vāsa 

My wealth, Krsna, performs His eternal Pastimes in the eternal abode of Vrindāvan, where there are joyful, spiritual forest cottages and joyful, spiritual creepers replete with sprigs of divine love.

2

sunirmala upāsanā kālindite vibhāvanā
yathā sadā bhaktera hridaye
jīvera ye uchcha-bhāva govardhana āvirbhāva
chare jīva gābhi-rūpa haye 

In Vrindāvan, thoughts of pure service beside the Yamunā are always present in the devotees’ hearts. There, the highest mood manifests at Govardhan, and souls graze as cows.

3

sakhī-bhāva bhrātṛ-bhāva yathā sadā nitya-bhāva
ānanda yāhāra mātra aṅga
kāma dvesa ādi yata nāhi yathā kona mata
prema-rūpa rasa mātra ranga

There, everyone’s disposition is always towards friendship and brotherhood. There, joy is all there is. There, neither lust nor envy nor anything of the sort exist. There, the ecstasy of divine love is the only enjoyment.

4

dāsya sakhya sumadhura vātsalyādi rasa-pura

vraja-dhāma premera ālaya

janma mrtyu śodha roga nāhi tathā kare bhoga

premāmrta jīvera āśraya

The land of Vraja is the abode of the rasas of servitude, friendship, affection, and amorous love. It is the home of divine love. There, souls do not undergo birth, death, healing, or sickness. The nectar of divine love is their sustenance.

5

abhautika atīndriya sei deśa krsna-priya

deśa-kāla atīta sarvadā

bhūtamaya deha laye jadāsakta chitta haye

keha nā yāite pāre tathā

That land is supernatural, imperceptible, and dear to Krsna. It is always beyond time and space. No one with a material body and materially attached consciousness can go there.

6

sei jīva bhāgyavāna pāiyāchhe susandhāna

guru-krsna prasannatāśraye

manomaya bhūtamaya dehe kari’ parājaya

yāya sei ānanda nilaye

Souls who have discovered the shelter of Guru and Krsna’s satisfaction are fortunate. They transcend the mental and physical bodies, and reach that abode of joy.

7

aprākrta deha pāi vrajera nikata yāi

sakhī-pada kariyā āśraya

rādhā-krsna sevā-sukha bhunji saba yāya dukha

mahābhāva paryanta udaya

They attain a divine body, enter Vraja, take shelter at the sakhīs’ feet, and relish the joy of serving Rādhā and Krsna. They leave behind all sadness and experience even mahābhāva [the ultimate ecstasy].

8

ataeva bandhu-jana chala yāi vrndāvana

ati dūra nahe sei deśa

indriya samyama dhari’ antare praveśa kari’

samādhi labhibe avaśesa

So friends! Let us go to Vrindāvan! That land is not very far away. Subdue the senses, enter within, and lastly reach samādhi.

9

bhūta-bhāva deśa kāla viramile kichhu-kāla

ātmāra dahara vikaśibe

sei bhūmi vrndāvana jāna ohe sādhu-jana

yathā rādhā-govinda dekhibe

Material time and space will remain for some time, but the soul’s intimate connection with that land will develop. O noble souls! Know Vrndāvan to be where you will behold Rādhā and Govinda.

10

tathā keli kutūhale paśibe yamunā jale

sakhī-saha rādhikā sevāya

rādhikā jīvaneśvarī krsna-priyā sarveśvarī

prema-vākya kahibe tomāra

There, you will enter the Yamunā’s waters and exuberantly play with the sakhīs in service to Rādhikā. She, Krsna’s dearmost, the Mistress of the soul, the Goddess of all, will speak words of divine love to you.

11

śunibe govinda vamśī jīvera hrdaya damśī

bhuvana mātāya yāra rabe

pulaka kadamba-tale tomāya ānibe bale

dubāibe premera āsabe

You will hear the sound of Govinda’s flute, which pierces the soul’s heart and maddens the world. That sound will forcibly bring you to the base of a blooming kadamba tree and submerge you in the nectar of divine love.

12

paśile yamunā jale prema-jvālā āro jvale

dhadaphadi uthibe takhana

puline āgata haye krsna-rūpa nirakhiye

eka-bāre habe achetana

You will enter the Yamunā’s waters, and the fire of divine love will burn even more. Your heart will palpitate. Coming back onto the bank, you will see Krsna’s form and suddenly faint.

13

hena vrndāvana dhāma sarva-jīva abhirāma

chhādi yei yāya anya sthāna

tāra sama mūrkha nāi chintā kari’ dekha bhāi

yadi pāo premera sandhāna

This abode of Vrndāvan is the delight of all souls. There is no fool like one who leaves Vrndāvan and goes elsewhere. O brother! Consider whether you find divine love anywhere else.

14

kāminīra saha-vāsa galpa ādi parihāsa

madya kumbha alankāra chaya

sakali duhkhera mūla sukha bali tava bhula

ei belā bujhaha niśchaya

Living with women, jokes, stories, pots of wine, collections of ornaments, and so on, are all sources of misery. Considering them happiness is your mistake. Now understand this clearly.

15

dehe jvarā praveśiyā kāpāibe tava hiyā

kaphe kantha paripūrna habe

śunite nā pābe kāne nāsikā aksama ghrāne

nirasta ha-iyā chaksu rare

Fever will enter your body and cause you to tremble. Your throat will become filled with mucus. Your ears will not be able to hear, your nose will not be able to smell, and your eyes will stop functioning.

16

priya bandhu yāre jāna se tomāra habe āna

angaja karibe avahelā

dvāre pratihāri prāya rākhibe tomāre hāya

bālakera habe tumi khelā

Those whom you consider your dear friends will become strangers, and your descendants will neglect you. Alas! They will stop you at the door like a gatekeeper, and their children will make fun of you.

17

pūrva ye priyasī tava ebe ghrnā kare saba

surā sukha nāhi deya āra

ye asthi charviyā sukha pāibe se ebe duhkha

danta-hīne ditechhe apāra

All of your former lovers will now despise you, and alcohol will no longer give you any pleasure. The bone you chew and enjoy will now cause you unlimited pain, as you will become toothless.

18

alankāra paridhāne āra śobhā nāhi māne

ebe mūrti markata samāna

kothā se darpana-rāja kothā se tomāya sāja

chinti’ kara vairāgya vidhāna 

You will no longer become more attractive by wearing ornaments. Your body will now look like a monkey. Where is your grand mirror? Where is your outfit? Consider this and become detached.

19
ataeva ei-ksane chala bhāi vrndāvane
nitya-sukha pāibe tathāya
krsna-prema nitya-sukha kabhu nāhi deya duhkha
achyuta padapi yāte pāya

So brother! Let us go to Vrndāvan now! You will find eternal happiness there. The eternal happiness of divine love for Krsna never causes sadness. By it, you will become infallible.

20
tava aprākrta deha vrndāvane pābe geha
jada-deha jadete rahibe
panchatva āpanna hale deha rabe ei sthale
tumi vraja kabhu nā chhādibe

You will attain a divine body and a home in Vrndāvan. Your material body will remain in the material world. When you die, your body will remain here, but you will never leave Vraja.

21
kahe kedāra-nātha datta ei vrndāvana tattva
guru mora chaitanya gosāi
tāra dāsa sanga hale jade chitta nāhi chale
chaitanya āśraya kara bhāi

Kedārnāth Datta describes Vrndāvan’s glory. My Guru is Śrī Chaitanya Gosāi. When you attain the association of His servants, your heart will never drift towards matter. O brother! Take shelter of Śrī Chaitanya!