Srimad Bhagavatam 10.12.06-11 - Wonderful Qualities of Krishna (download mp3) , (download flv) and (download mp4)
by Vraj Bihari Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
SB 10.12.6
yadi duram gatah krsno
vana-sobheksanaya tam
aham purvam aham purvam
iti samsprsya remire
Translation:
Sometimes Krsna would go to a somewhat distant place to see the beauty of the forest. Then all the other boys would run to accompany Him, each one saying, “I shall be the first to run and touch Krsna! I shall touch Krsna first!” In this way they enjoyed life by repeatedly touching Krsna.
SB 10.12.7-11
kecid venun vadayanto
dhmantah srngani kecana
kecid bhrngaih pragayantah
kujantah kokilaih pare
vicchayabhih pradhavanto
gacchantah sadhu-hamsakaih
bakair upavisantas ca
nrtyantas ca kalapibhih
vikarsantah kisa-balan
arohantas ca tair druman
vikurvantas ca taih sakam
plavantas ca palasisu
sakam bhekair vilanghantah
saritah srava-samplutah
vihasantah praticchayah
sapantas ca pratisvanan
ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutya
dasyam gatanam para-daivatena
mayasritanam nara-darakena
sakam vijahruh krta-punya-puñjah
Translation:
All the boys would be differently engaged. Some boys blew their flutes, and others blew bugles made of horn. Some imitated the buzzing of the bumblebees, and others imitated the voice of the cuckoo. Some boys imitated flying birds by running after the birds’ shadows on the ground, some imitated the beautiful movements and attractive postures of the swans, some sat down with the ducks, sitting silently, and others imitated the dancing of the peacocks. Some boys attracted young monkeys in the trees, some jumped into the trees, imitating the monkeys, some made faces as the monkeys were accustomed to do, and others jumped from one branch to another. Some boys went to the waterfalls and crossed over the river, jumping with the frogs, and when they saw their own reflections on the water they would laugh. They would also condemn the sounds of their own echoes. In this way, all the cowherd boys used to play with Krsna, who is the source of the Brahman effulgence for jñanis desiring to merge into that effulgence, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead for devotees who have accepted eternal servitorship, and who for ordinary persons is but another ordinary child. The cowherd boys, having accumulated the results of pious activities for many lives, were able to associate in this way with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How can one explain their great fortune?
Purport:
As recommended by Srila Rupa Gosvami, tasmat kenapy upayena manah krsne nivesayet (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.4). Somehow or other, whether one thinks of Krsna as an ordinary human child, as the source of the Brahman effulgence, as the origin of Paramatma, or as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should concentrate one’s full attention upon the lotus feet of Krsna. That is also the instruction of Bhagavad-gita (18.66): sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the easiest way of directly approaching Krsna. Isvarah sadyo hrdy avarudhyate ’tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat (Bhag. 1.1.2). Diverting even a little of one’s attention toward Krsna and activities in Krsna consciousness immediately enables one to achieve the highest perfection of life. This is the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement. Lokasyajanato vidvams cakre satvata-samhitam (Bhag. 1.7.6). The secret of success is unknown to people in general, and therefore Srila Vyasadeva, being compassionate toward the poor souls in this material world, especially in this Age of Kali, has given us the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-bhagavatam puranam amalam yad vaisnavanam priyam (Bhag. 12.13.18). For Vaisnavas who are somewhat advanced, or who are fully aware of the glories and potencies of the Lord, Srimad-Bhagavatam is a beloved Vedic literature. After all, we have to change this body (tatha dehantara-praptih). If we do not care about Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, we do not know what the next body will be. But if one adheres to these two books — Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam — one is sure to obtain the association of Krsna in the next life (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so ’rjuna). Therefore, distribution of Srimad-Bhagavatam all over the world is a great welfare activity for theologians, philosophers, transcendentalists and yogis (yoginam api sarvesam), as well as for people in general. Janma-labhah parah pumsam ante narayana-smrtih (Bhag. 2.1.6): if we can somehow or other remember Krsna, Narayana, at the end of life, our life will be successful.
