Hare Krishna. It has been very beautifully explained to us by Sanatana Goswami. He gives us the story of Gopa Kumar. Gopa Kumar narrates his story, noted down by Sanatana Goswami. Here’s a extremely short version—
❝One day, as I was drowning in an ocean of weeping, I fainted. Then I met the crown jewel of all merciful persons with a hand holding a flute He wiped the dust from my limbs. Making playful melodies on His flute, that best of heroes moved behind me and then fled into the forest. I ran after Him, but I could not catch Him. He disappeared, Not seeing Him, I fainted and fell into the current of the Yamuna river.
As I was carried along by the river, I became conscious and I opened my eyes. I saw that, carried by a vehicle rising faster than the mind and traveling along a very wonderful path, I had arrived at a very splendid, flawless place. Collecting my thoughts, I happily saw Vaikunthaloka, within which were Ayodhya and many other places, and I became filled with wonder. Then, carried along, I left them all behind, Then I came to effulgent Goloka, which was above all the worlds, and which had long desired. Here was the circle of Mathura. Everything was as it had been on the earth. In the circle of Mathura I went to Mathura City. Gazing at it I became filled with joy and wonder. In a moment I saw cowherd men going here and there and elderly gopis picking flowers.
Everyone there was extraordinary, different from any people I had seen before. It seemed that someone had stolen the treasure of their hearts, Simply by seeing them I became agitated like them. I went to the different places in Vraja. Moving my eyes in all directions, far away I saw a palace filled with great sweetness. On that side, and also everywhere, I heard the beautiful singing of gopis, the sounds of them churning yogurt, and the tinkling of their ornaments.
There I saw millions and millions of wonders never seen, heard of, or imagined by anyone.
An elderly lady came I bowed down before her and with sweet words asked: Where does the son of Nanda enjoy pastimes today?” The elderly lady said: He who gives life to us people of Vraja, in the morning went to the forest with His cows, friends, and elder brother to enjoy pastimes. Now, in the evening, He will return.
Their eyes fixed on the path where Krishna comes out of the forest. All the people of Vraja now stand by the Yamunas shore. Even the trees, eager to see Him, stretch their leaves and branches high. He will come by this path. It was as if was suddenly bathed with great streams of nectar. With a single glance I saw the path she showed. I was stunned with bliss. My legs could no longer move.
With a great effort from far away could hear the sound of cows mooing, and playful, sweet flute melodies filled with many charming waves of sound, that enchanted the people of Vraja.
Whether this flute flows with poison or nectar I do not know. Whether this sound is harder than a thunderbolt or softer than nectar I do not know. Whether it is hotter than fire or cooler than the moon I do not know. Because of it everyone in Vraja has become mad. Now they have fainted unconscious.
Then from far away I saw Him. His hand was glorious with the sweet flute. He quickly ran from His friends and cows, said “O Sridama, now I have found My friend Sarupa, who is a brilliant sun shining on the lotus flower of your family”. and gracefully continued walking.
He was decorated with forest ornaments, a moving kadama garland, and a peacock-feather turban His fragrance filled the directions. His blossoming lotus face was handsome with a playful smile. His lotus eyes glistened with merciful glances. His only real ornament was His own wonderful handsomeness. The fingers of His lotus hand pushed back the moving locks of His hair decorated with dust raised by the cows.
Controlled by the love of His helpless devotees, He ran to me.
I fainted with love by seeing Him. He embraced my neck, and then suddenly fell to the ground. In a moment I became conscious. I carefully freed my neck from His embrace. saw Him fallen to the ground, unconscious, covered with dust, and muddying the path. The gopis came there and said: “Who has come here? What has he done to the goal of our lives? Alas! Alas! Now we people of Vraja are all dead! Crying and lamenting in many ways, and saying, “Perhaps he is a servant of the magician Krishna”, they gathered around Krsna. Hearing the sound of crying, the people of Vraja: Nanda and the gopa men, Yasoda, who dearly loved her son, the other women, and the maidservants, fainting and stumbling as they came, all ran there, crying out Alas! Alas! Then the cows, bulls, calves, black deer, and other animals all came there and, Seeing what had happened to Krsna, cried in agony. Handsome Balarama, whose fair complexion was decorated with blue garments, who was dressed and decorated as His younger brother was, and who was only slightly older than He, with great fear quickly came from far away.
At once Krishna opened the charming lotus eyes that had been scaled by streams of tears.
Seeing me, He happily embraced and kissed me, but then looking around, He became embarrassed. Having attained me, a friend more dear than life, as if Krishna had not seen me for a long time, taking my hand in His left lotus hand, asking me wonderful questions, bringing happiness to all the people of Vraja, and walking as gracefully as an elephant, the handsome Lord entered the village of Vraja….❞
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