English

METICULOUS DRESSER A person who is very fond of dressing himself is called lalita, or a meticulous dresser. This characteristic was found in Kṛṣṇa in two ways: sometimes He used to decorate Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī with various … Read More

PREDOMINATING A person who can affect the mind of everyone is called predominating. As far as Kṛṣṇa’s predomination is concerned, in the Tenth Canto, forty-third chapter, verse 17 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Kṛṣṇa is described thus by Śukadeva … Read More

STEADY A person who is not disturbed even in a situation of reverses is called steady. This steadiness was observed in Kṛṣṇa in connection with His chastising the demon known as Bāṇa. The Bāṇa demon had … Read More

DEPENDABLE Any person who is reliable in all circumstances is called dependable. In this connection Rūpa Gosvāmī says that even the demons were relying upon the dependability of Kṛṣṇa because they were confident that Kṛṣṇa would … Read More

PLEASING When one’s characteristics are very sweet and desirable, his personality is called pleasing. An example of Kṛṣṇa’s pleasing nature is thus described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: “One day while Kṛṣṇa was awaiting the arrival of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī … Read More

ENJOYING When a person is seen to be always happy and is accustomed to speak smilingly, he is considered to be in the mode of enjoyment. This trait was found in Kṛṣṇa when He appeared at … Read More

DECORATED It is said that a person is great if he is decorated with the qualities of being very merciful toward the unfortunate, very powerful, superior, chivalrous, enthusiastic, expert and truthful. These decorations were manifested in … Read More

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Further Traits of Śrī Kṛṣṇa After describing the different opulences of Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī tries to further describe the transcendental beauties and qualities of the Lord as decorated, enjoying, pleasing, dependable, steady and … Read More

DHĪRODDHATA A person who is very envious, proud, easily angered, restless and complacent is called dhīroddhata by learned scholars. Such qualities were visible in the character of Lord Kṛṣṇa, because when He was writing a letter … Read More

DHĪRA-PRAŚĀNTA A person who is very peaceful, forbearing, considerate and obliging is called dhīra-praśānta. This dhīra-praśānta trait of Kṛṣṇa was exhibited in His dealings with the Pāṇḍavas. On account of the Pāṇḍavas’ faithful devotion to the … Read More

DHĪRA-LALITA A person is called dhīra-lalita if he is naturally very funny, always in full youthfulness, expert in joking and free from all anxieties. Such a dhīra-lalita personality is generally found to be domesticated and very … Read More

DHĪRODĀTTA A dhīrodātta is a person who is naturally very grave, gentle, forgiving, merciful, determined, humble, highly qualified, chivalrous and physically attractive. In this connection, the following statement given by Indra, the king of heaven, is … Read More

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Kṛṣṇa’s Personality Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states that although Lord Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of unlimited pleasure and the greatest leader of all, He is still dependent upon His devotees in three ways. According to … Read More

64.  KṚṢṆA’S EXQUISITE BEAUTY In the Third Canto, second chapter, verse 12 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Uddhava tells Vidura, “My dear sir, Kṛṣṇa’s form was most wonderful when He appeared on this planet and exhibited the potency of His … Read More

63.  KṚṢṆA’S ATTRACTIVE FLUTE In the Tenth Canto, thirty-fifth chapter, verse 15 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the gopīs tell mother Yaśodā, “When your son plays on His flute, Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā and Indra – although they are supposed … Read More

62.  KṚṢṆA IS SURROUNDED BY LOVING DEVOTEES When we speak of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is not alone. “Kṛṣṇa” means His name, His qualities, His fame, His friends, His paraphernalia, His entourage – all of these are included. When … Read More

61.  PERFORMER OF WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES In the Bṛhad-vāmana Purāṇa, the Lord says, “Although I have many fascinating pastimes, whenever I think of the rāsa-līlā, which I perform with the gopīs, I become eager to have it again.” … Read More

60.  THE ATTRACTOR OF LIBERATED SOULS There are many examples of how Kṛṣṇa attracted even great liberated souls like Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the Kumāras. In this connection the following statement was given by the Kumāras: “How wonderful … Read More

59.  KṚṢṆA GIVES SALVATION TO THE ENEMIES THAT HE KILLS Another name for salvation is apavarga. Apavarga is the opposite of pavarga, or the various miserable conditions of material existence. The word pa-varga indicates the combination of … Read More

58.  THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF ALL INCARNATIONS Jayadeva Gosvāmī, in his Gīta-govinda, has sung as follows: “The Lord has saved the Vedas in His form as a fish, and He has borne the whole universe on His … Read More