![](\"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads6\/2016-10-08_17-16-27.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.**
\nBrahma-samhita, Chapter Five, 1st verse, Translated by Kusakratha Dasa. Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
Mangalacarana<\/p>\n
Within my heart I worship the splendour of Lord Krsna\u2019s transcendental form. I desire that by Lord Krsna\u2019s mercy I will be able to explain the verses of Brahma-samhita.<\/p>\n
Although the Brahma-samhita is a very difficult book, the commentaries of the sages have made it easy to understand. My words follow their explanations.<\/p>\n
Although the Brahma-samhita contains one hundred chapters, because this chapter briefly describes Lord Krsna\u2019s transcendental form, it is the best.<\/p>\n
The same transcendental sweetness the pure-hearted devotees sees in Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vaisnava-sastras is also present in the Brahma-samhita. For this reason my heart is now happy.<\/p>\n
After due reflection, in this book I have lightly touched on the same topics more elaborately explained in my Sri Krsna-sandarbha.<\/p>\n
1. Krsna<\/p>\n
Srimad Bhagavatam (1.3.28) explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead.*<\/p>\n
Brahma-samhita begins with a similar declaration of the supremacy of Lord Krsna. In this verse the Supreme Personality of Godhead is specifically identified as Lord Krsna. As the name Lord Krsna is spoken first in the passage beginning “Krsnavatarotsava\u201d and other statements of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami and other great souls, as the name of Krsna is given first in the statement \u201ckrsnaya vasudevaya devaki-nandanaya\u201d of the Sama Upanisad, as the name of Krsna is given first in Garga Muni\u2019s revelation of the Lord\u2019s holy names, and as the example \u201cpayasa kumbham purayati\u201d is also given, in the same way this verse of Brahma-samhita gives the name Krsna first because the form of Lord Krsna is the origin of all other forms of Godhead.<\/p>\n
That Krsna is the most important name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explains in the Padma Purana, Prabhasa-khanda, where, in a conversation between Narada and Kusadhvaja, the following words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are repeated:<\/p>\n
\u201cO Arjuna, of all My holy names, Krsna is the most important.\u201d<\/p>\n
The importance of the name Krsna is also confirmed in the Brahmanda Purana, Sri Krsnastottara-sata-nama-stotra, where Lord Krsna says:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pious results derived from chanting the thousand names of Lord Visnu three times can be attained by only one repetition of the holy name of Krsna.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the first verse of Brahma-samhita the name \u201cGovinda\u201d is also given. This name is given to Lord Krsna because He is the master of the spiritual surabhi cows. Because Lord Krsna is all-powerful, the first verse of Brahma-samhita describes Him as \u201cisvara\u201d. Lord Krsna is also described in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.8.13 and 15).<\/p>\n
\u201cYour son Krsna appears as an incarnations in every millennium. In the past He assumed three different colours: white, red, and yellow, and now He has appeared in a blackish colour.\u201d*<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom this son of yours there are many forms and names according to His transcendental qualities and activities. These are known to me, but people in general do not understand them.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In these verses the word \u201casya\u201d (of Him) refers to Lord Krsna \u201canuyugam means “in every millennium\u201d, \u201ctanuh\u201d means \u201cthe forms of various incarnations\u201d, \u201cgrhnatah\u201d means \u201cmanifests\u201d, \u201cvarnas trayah\u201d means \u201cthe colours beginning with white\u201d, and \u201casan\u201d means \u201cmanifested. In these verses Garga Muni says, “In Satya yuga and other yugas the Lord appeared in a white form and forms of other colours, but now (idanim) He has appeared in His original form, the form of Lord Krsna (krsnatam gatah). Because Lord Krsna is the original, the best form of the Personality of Godhead, the name Krsna is the most important of His names, and the other forms of Godhead (bahuni rupani) are manifested from the original form, Krsna. That the transcendental qualities of the name Krsna make it the most important of God\u2019s names is confirmed in the following statement of Vaisnava literature:<\/p>\n
“The word “krs\u201d is the attractive feature of the Lord\u2019s existence and \u201cna\u201d means spiritual pleasure. when the verb \u201ckrs\u201d is added to the affix \u201cna\u201d, it becomes Krsna, which indicates the Absolute Truth<\/p>\n
In this way the name Krsna is described. The verse of Vaisnava literature does not accept any other name as the most important name of God. In the Astadasaksara-mantra-vyakhya of both the Upasana Tantra and the Gautamiya Tantra the following similar verse may be seen:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word “krs\u201d means \u2018eternal transcendental existence” and ‘na\u2019 means \u201cspiritual pleasure\u201d. When the verb \u201ckrs\u201d is added to the affix \u201cna\u201d, it becomes Krsna, which indicates the eternally blissful Absolute Truth.\u201c<\/p>\n
The word “bhu\u201d comes from the verb \u201cbhu\u201d, which may mean \u201cto be\u201d or \u201cto attract\u201d. In the quotation from Vaisnava literature the word is interpreted to mean \u201cattraction\u201d and in the quote from Gautamiya Tantra, \u201cbhu\u201d is interpreted to mean \u201cexistence\u201d.<\/p>\n
The word \u201cbhu\u201d may thus be interpreted to mean \u201cexistence\u201d, but in this case it may not be interpreted to mean \u201cmovement\u201d or \u201cgeneralness\u201d. The primary meaning is \u201cattraction\u201d. The secondary meaning is \u201cexistence\u201d. The meanings \u201cmovement\u201d and \u201cgeneralness\u201d cannot be accepted here.<\/p>\n
The word \u201cnirvrtti\u201d means \u201cbliss\u201d. The phrase \u201ctayor aikyam\u201d means \u201cwhen the two syllables are placed together into a word\u201d. \u201cParam brahma\u201d means \u201cthe substance that is the greatest of all\u201d. In the phrase \u201ckrsna ity abhidhiyate\u201d an alternate reading replaces the word \u201cabhidhiyate\u201d with \u201ciryate\u201d (is named).<\/p>\n
Aside from these varied considerations, the primary meaning of the two syllables Krsna is that \u201ckrs\u201d means \u201cattraction\u201d and \u201cna\u201d means \u201ctranscendental bliss\u201d. The word \u201ckrs\u201d meaning \u201cattracting\u201d should be understood to mean \u201c that which attracts\u201d, just as in the adage \u201cayur ghrtam\u201d (ghee is long life) ghee is equated with long life because eating foods cooked in ghee makes one long-lived.<\/p>\n
Various explanations of the word \u201cparam brahma\u201d are given in the scriptures. For example, the Visnu Purana declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wise know that the word ‘param brahma\u2019 means ‘He who is the greatest\u2019 and ‘He who nourishes and protects all living entities\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Gautamiya Tantra also gives the following explanation of the word \u201cparam brahma\u201d:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word ‘krs\u2019 means ‘eternal transcendental existence\u2019 and ‘na\u2019 means ‘spiritual pleasure\u2019. These two syllables, meaning eternal existence and spiritual pleasure, are joined to become the word ‘Krsna\u2019, the name of the param brahma.\u201d<\/p>\n
The advaitavadis (monists) think the phrase \u201csatta-svanandayor yogat\u201d in this verse means \u201cdistinction such as eternal existence and transcendental bliss lose their separateness and become one in the impersonal absolute.\u201d Because the words \u201csat\u201d and \u201cananda\u201d have different meanings, and because, even if these two words are taken to be synonyms, their repetition in a sentence is meaningless (as if we were to repeat the word \u201cvrksa\u201d and \u201ctaru\u201d, which both mean \u201ctree\u201d within a single sentence), the conclusion of the impersonalists must be false.<\/p>\n
The word \u201csat\u201d (eternal) is used here to mean \u201cthe Supreme Eternal, who is the source of all other eternals\u201d. This is described in these words of the Sruti-sastra:<\/p>\n
\u201cO noble student, in the beginning only the eternal existed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The verse from the Gautamiya Tantra may be explained in the following way. The first half of the verse describes Lord Krsna, who is all-attractive and full of transcendental bliss. The second half of the first states that because Lord Krsna is blissful and all-attractive He delights all living entities. For this reason the scriptures declare:<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they find transcendental bliss in Him, the devotees have fallen in love with Sri Krsna.\u201d<\/p>\n
In this way the word Krsna should be understood to mean \u201cHe who is full of transcendental bliss, and whose handsome form and transcendental qualities attract all living entities.\u201d For this reason popular usage interprets the word \u201cdevakinandana\u201d to mean \u201cHe who pleases Devaki.\u201d Sri Krsna\u2019s delighting everyone may be seen in the following statement of the Vasudeva Upanisad:<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Krsna, the son of Devaki delights everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Krsna is independently perfect, eternally changeless, and the origin of all transcendental bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n
For these reasons the popular explanation of the word Devakinandana (He who pleases Devaki) should be accepted and not rejected in favour of the views of pedantic grammarians. This is confirmed by the following statement of great scholars:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen popular usage interprets a word in a way very appropriate to the object it describes, that interpretation should be accepted. When scientific etymology interprets a word in a way not appropriate to the object described, that meaning should not be accepted.\u201d<\/p>\n
That Sri Krsna is the Supreme Brahman is affirmed in the words of Srimad-Bhagavatam:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe form of the Supreme Brahman is the humanlike form of Sri Krsna.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.32) is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cHow greatly fortunate are Nanda Maharaja, the cowherd men and all the inhabitants of Vrajabhumi! There is no limit to their fortune because the Absolute Truth, the source of transcendental bliss, the eternal Supreme Brahma, has become their friend.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Visnu Purana it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Brahman, who has a humanlike form and who bears the name Krsna, has descended to this world.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Bhagavad-gita (14.27) Lord Krsna declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cI am the basis of the impersonal Brahman.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cowherd boy Krsna is the Supreme Brahman.\u201d<\/p>\n
Isvara<\/p>\n
Now let us return to the first verse of Brahmapsamhita. Now that we have explained the word \u201cKrsna\u201d, we will proceed to the word \u201cisvara\u201d. \u201cIsvara\u201d means \u201cthe supreme controller of everyone\u201d. This is seen in the following description of the word Krsna in the Gautamiya Tantra:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, controls (krs) all moving and unmoving beings. Therefore He is name ‘Krsna\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n
In this verse the word \u201ckala\u201d means \u201ccontroller\u201d. It is derived from the verb \u201ckal\u201d, which means \u201cto control\u201d. That Sri Krsna is the supreme controller is also confirmed by the following words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.2.21):<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Sri Krsna is the Lord of all kinds of threes and is independently supreme by achievement of all kinds of fortune. He is worshipped by the eternal maintainers of the creation, who offer Him the paraphernalia of worship by touching their millions of helmets to His feet.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In Bhagavad-gita (10.42) Lord Krsna declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cSri Krsna is the worshipable and all-pervading supreme controller.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parama<\/p>\n
Now that the word \u201cisvara\u201d has been explained, we will describe the word \u201cparama\u201d. \u201cPara\u201d means \u201csupreme\u201d and \u201cma\u201d means \u201cmother\u201d. The \u201cpara-mas\u201d therefore are the goddesses of fortune who are Lord Krsna\u2019s internal potencies. They are described in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.59.43).<\/p>\n
\u201cFull of transcendental bliss, Lord Krsna enjoyed pastimes with the beautiful gopis, who were all goddesses of fortune.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.60) it is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Lord Sri Krsna was dancing with the gopis in the rasa-lila, the gopis were embraced by the arms of the Lord. This transcendental favour was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Indeed, never was such a thing even imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets whose bodily lustre and aroma resemble the lotus flower. And what to speak of worldly women who are very beautiful according to material estimation.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.6) it is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the son of Devaki, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is also the reservoir of all kinds of beauty, when He is among the gopis He nonetheless becomes more beautiful, for He resembles a marakata jewel surrounded by gold and other jewels.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Brahma-samhita (56) it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Svetadvipa the Laksmis in their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krsna as their only lover.\u201d**<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad it is said:<\/p>\n
:Lord Krsna is worshipped by the goddess of fortune.\u201c<\/p>\n
Adi<\/p>\n
Sri Krsna is described as “adi\u201d (the origin of all). This is explained in the following words of Srimad-hagavatam (10.72.15):<\/p>\n
\u201cHearing that Jarasandha had not been defeated, Maharaja Yudhisthira began to think of a plan to defeat him. At that time Lord Hari, who is the origin of all, spoke the plan that had already been formulated by Uddhava.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word “hari\u201d refers to Sri Krsna, who is the origin of all.\u201c<\/p>\n
That Sri Krsna is the Supreme and the origin of all is declared in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam:<\/p>\n
“I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the origin of all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anadi<\/p>\n
Then again, Sri Krsna is not \u201cadi\u201d but \u201canadi\u201d (He who has no origin). This is described in Gopala-tapani Upanisad, which declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cSri Krsna is the chief eternal among many eternals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarva-karana-karanam<\/p>\n
Next, the word \u201csarva-karana-karanam\u201d means \u201cthe prime cause of all causes\u201d. This means that He is the creator of the universes and the origin of the purusa-avatara. This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.85.31) where Devaki tells Lord Krsna:<\/p>\n
\u201cO Lord of the universe, O original Supreme Person, by a portion of a portion of a portion of Yourself You create, maintain and destroy the material universes. Now I take shelter of You.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sridhara Svami comments on this verse in these words: \u201cThe first portion mentioned here is the purusa-avatara. A portion of Him is the illusory potency maya. A portion of maya is the modes of nature. By a portion of the modes of nature the universes are created, maintained and destroyed. “tva\u201d means ‘of You\u2019 and ‘gatim gata\u2019 means ‘I take shelter\u2019.\u201c<\/p>\n
That Sri Krsna is the origin of the purusa-avatara is also described in the following prayer of Lord Brahma (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.14):<\/p>\n
“O Lord Krsna, Narayana refers to one whose abode is in the water born from Nara (Garbhodakasayi Visnu) and that Narayana is Your plenary portion.\u201d*<\/p>\n
The word Narayana is also explained in these words:<\/p>\n
\u201cManifested from Lord Garbhodakasayi Visnu (Nara), the inert material elements are called ‘nara\u2019. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate resting place (ayana) of these material elements (nara), He is known as Narayana.\u201d<\/p>\n
These words, then, mean \u201cO Lord, Narayana is a portion of Your body.\u201d That Sri Krsna is the origin of the purusa-avatara, a portion of whom creates, maintains and destroys the universes is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (10.42), where Lord Krsna declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.\u201d*<\/p>\n
By all of this the proper explanation of the word Krsna is given. By the two syllables \u201ckrs\u201d and \u201cna\u201d the blissful Supreme Personality of Godhead is described. By the word \u201cisvara\u201d and other words Lord Krsna\u2019s transcendental potencies are described. He is declared to be the Supreme, who has no rival, who is the prime cause of all causes, and who is the master of His internal potencies. His potencies are described in these words of the Sruti-sastra:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Brahman is full of transcendental bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Sruti-sastra it is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWho can find transcendental bliss if he does not find it in the Supreme Personality of Godhead?\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.8) it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead does not possess bodily form like that of an ordinary living entity. There is no difference between His body and His soul. He is absolute. All His senses are transcendental. any one of His senses can perform the action of any other sense. Therefore, no one is greater than Him or equal to Him. His potencies are multifarious, and thus His deeds are automatically performed as a natural sequence.\u201d*<\/p>\n
Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha<\/p>\n
At this point someone may raise the following objection: \u201cIf Krsna is all-attractive and filled with supreme transcendental bliss, then must He not be formless? After all, forms do not contain transcendental bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n
To this objection the following reply may be given: Yes. That is true. Material forms do not contain transcendental bliss. However, Lord Krsna\u2019s wonderful form is filled with perfect transcendental bliss. This is described in the first verse of Brahma-samhita in the word \u201csac-cid-ananda-vigraha\u201d (He has an eternal, blissful spiritual body). This truth is also confirmed in the following words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.22):<\/p>\n
\u201cO Krsna, Your eternal transcendental form is full of knowledge and bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad and the Hayasirsa-pancaratra it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Krsna, whose transcendental form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, and who rescues His devotees from distress.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Brahmanda Purana, Astottara-sata-nama-stotra, it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Krsna\u2019s transcendental form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss. Lord Krsna delights the residents of Nanda Maharaja\u2019s land of Vraja.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sat<\/p>\n
In these verses the word \u201csat\u201d should be understood to mean \u201ceternal and unchanging\u201d. That Lord Krsna\u2019s form is eternal and unchanging is confirmed by the following words of the demigods in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.26):<\/p>\n
\u201cO Lord Krsna, You never deviate from Your vow, which is always perfect because whatever You decide is perfectly correct and cannot be stopped by anyone. Being present in the three phases of cosmic manifestation: creation, maintenance and annihilation, You are the Supreme Truth.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.3.25) Devaki explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter millions of years, at the time of cosmic annihilation, when everything, manifested and unmanifested is annihilated by the force of time, the five gross elements enter into the subtle conception, and the manifested categories enter into the unmanifested substance. At that time, You alone remain, and You are known as Ananta Sesa-naga.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.3.27), Devaki also declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one in this material world has become free from the four principles of birth, death, old age and disease, even by fleeing to various planets. But now that You have appeared, My Lord, death is fleeing in fear of You, and the living entities, having obtained shelter at Your lotus feet by Your mercy, are sleeping in full mental peace.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the scriptures it is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cO Lord Krsna, in the beginning You alone were manifest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lord Brahma also declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end only the Supreme Brahman, who is free from all dualities, remains.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Bhagavad-gita (14.27) Lord Krsna declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is immortal, imperishable, and eternal, and is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Bhagavad-gita (15.18) Lord Krsna also declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in he Vedas as that Supreme Person.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead is always free from the material transformations of birth, death, old age, and disease. He is eternal and unchanging. He cannot be cut to pieces or killed by anyone. He stays in Vrndavana. He stays among the cows. He protects the cows. He stays among the cowherd people.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad it is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cDeath fears Lord Krsna.\u201d<\/p>\n
In this verse the word \u201csaurya\u201d means \u201cthe land of Vrndavana\u201d. \u201cSurya\u201d means \u201cthe sun-god\u201d, \u201csauri\u201d means \u201cthe Yamuna river, who is the daughter of the sun-god\u201d, and \u201csaurya\u201d means \u201cthe land of Vrndavana, through which the Yamuna flows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cit<\/p>\n
In this first verse of Brahma-samhita the word \u201ccit\u201d refers to Lord Krsna\u2019s spiritual form, which He reveals to others when He wishes.\u201c This form is described by Lord Brahma in these words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.1.4.23):<\/p>\n
“You are the Supreme soul, Absolute Truth, and the Supreme original person. You are the Supreme, one without a second. You are the source of the original brahmajyoti.\u201d*<\/p>\n
This form of Krsna is also described in these word of Gopala-tapani Upanisad:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is Krsna who in the beginning instructed Brahma in Vedic knowledge and who disseminated Vedic knowledge in the past. They who aspire to become liberated surrender to Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who gives transcendental knowledge to His devotees.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Sruti-sastra it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWith material eyes one cannot see the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Svetasvatara Upanisad it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cBy His own will the Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself to whomever He chooses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ananda<\/p>\n
Next we will discuss the explanation that Lord Krsna\u2019s transcendental body is full of bliss (ananda). Lord Krsna\u2019s form is full of bliss because His limbs are the abode of the boundless love. That Sri Krsna is the blissful Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained in the questions and answers of Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.49-58. It is also explained in these words of Maharaja Vasudeva (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.3.13):<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Lord, You are the blissful Supreme Person, beyond material existence, and You are the Supersoul. Your form can be perceived by transcendental knowledge, by which You can be understood as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I now understand Your position perfectly.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In the Sruti-sastra it is also said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe form of the supreme Personality of Godhead is full of bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n
In this way it is proved that Lord Krsna has a perfect, eternal, blissful, spiritual body, he does not have a material body like that of a conditioned soul. This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.55) where Srila Sukadeva Gosvami says:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should know Krsna as the original soul of all atmas (living entities). For the benefit of the whole universe, He has, out of His causeless mercy, appeared as an ordinary human being. He has done this with the strength of His own internal potency.\u201d*<\/p>\n
This verse states that by Lord Krsna\u2019s mercy He manifests pastimes like those of an ordinary human being who has a material body. The word \u201cmayaya\u201d in this verse may be taken to mean \u201cby His mercy\u201d. The Visva-prakasa dictionary declares:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word ‘maya\u2019 may mean either ‘illusion\u2019 or ‘mercy\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Govinda<\/p>\n
Lord Krsna enjoys many different pastimes in His transcendental form. Sometimes He accepts the role of a king in the Vrsni dynasty, and sometimes He becomes Govinda, the protector of the surabhi cows. This is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.11.25):<\/p>\n
\u201cO Krsna, O friend of Arjuna, O chief among the descendants of Vrsni, You are the destroyer of those political parties that are disturbing elements on this earth. Your prowess never deteriorates. You are the proprietor of the transcendental abode, and Your most sacred glories, which are sung by Vrndavana\u2019s cowherd men and women and their servants, bestow all auspiciousness just by being heard. O Lord, please protect Your devotees.\u201d***<\/p>\n
By His own wish the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests His worshipable form of Govinda and enjoys specific transcendental pastimes with specific eternal associates. The Govinda feature of the Lord will be glorified in Brahma-samhita beginning with text 29. Govinda is also described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.27.20-23), where, in the beginning of Govinda-abhiseka, the surabhi cow prayed:<\/p>\n
\u201cO Lord of the universe, You are our king, our Indra.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the abhiseka was completed, Srimad-Bhagavatam explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the surabhi cows gave the Lord the name Govinda.\u201d<\/p>\n
After narrating these pastimes, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami prayed:<\/p>\n
\u201cMay Lord Govinda, the king of the surabhi cows, be pleased with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Lord Krsna is the master and shelter of everyone, He is especially the master of the surabhi cows. For this reason the name Govinda should not be taken lightly. The importance of the cows is described in these words of the Go-sukta:<\/p>\n
\u201cVedic yajnas are performed to worship the cows. The demigods rise out of respect for the cows. The four Vedas, six Vedangas, and the pada method of recitation are all manifested from the cows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lord Krsna is thus the master of the surabhi cows, who are liberated souls descended to this world from the Goloka Vrndavana planet in the spiritual sky. Lord Brahma also worships the Govinda feature of the Lord, as Brahma himself declares in these words of the Gopala-tapani Upanisad (1.38):<\/p>\n
\u201cBy offering prayers in the company of the Maruts and other demigods, I always please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Govinda, whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, and who sits beneath a kalpa-vrksa tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
The glorious surabhi cows and other residents of Vrndavana are also glorified in these words spoken by Brahma (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.34).<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dear Lord, I am most humbly praying at Your lotus feet for You to please give me any sort of birth within this Vrndavana forest so that I may be able to be favoured by the dust of the feet of some of the devotees of Vrndavana. Even if I am given the chance to grow just as the humble grass in this land, that will be a glorious birth for me. But if I am not so fortunate to take birth within the forest of Vrndavana, I beg to be allowed to take birth outside the immediate area of Vrndavana so that when the devotees go out they will walk over me. Even that would be a great fortune for me. I am just aspiring for a birth in which I will be smeared by the dust of the devotees\u2019 feet. I can see that everyone here is simply full of Krsna consciousness. They do not know anything but Mukunda. All the Vedas are indeed searching after the lotus feet of Krsna.\u201d*<\/p>\n
Lord Krsna is also known as Nandanandana (the son of Maharaja Nanda). This feature of the Lord is described in these words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.1) of Brahma:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dear Lord, You are the only worshipful Supreme Lord, Personality of Godhead. Therefore I am offering my humble obeisances and prayers just to please You. Your bodily features are of the colour of clouds filled with water. You are glittering with silver electric flashes emanating from Your yellow garments. Let me offer my respectful repeated obeisances unto the son of Maharaja Nanda who is standing before me with conchshell earrings and peacock feather on His head. His face is beautiful. He is wearing a helmet, garlanded by forest flowers, and He stands with a morsel of food in His hand. He is decorated with cane, flute, and a bugle made o buffalo horn. He stands before me with small lotus feet.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In this way Govinda and the other transcendental names of the Lord are explained. To conclude this description of Lord Krsna as the \u201cisvara\u201d (controller) and \u201cparamesvara\u201d (supreme controller), we will now quote the Gautamiya Tantra\u2019s explanation of the dvadasaksara-mantra:<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the dvadasaksara-mantra the word gopi means ‘material nature\u2019 and ‘jana\u2019 means ‘the original feature of the mahat-tattva\u2019. The word ‘vallabha\u2019 means ‘the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the shelter of both material nature and the mahat-tattva, who is full of transcendental bliss, who is effulgent, and who, because He is the original creator of everything and because He is all-pervading within the material creation, is known as ‘isvara\u2019 (the controller).<\/p>\n
“Another interpretation is that the word ‘gopi\u2019 means ‘the material nature\u2019 and ‘jana\u2019 means ‘the Lord\u2019s Visnu-tattva expansions\u2019. The word ‘vallabha\u2019 means ‘dear to them both\u2019 and it refers to Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of all causes and effects and who is glorified in the Vedas.<\/p>\n
“Another interpretation is that the word ‘gopijana\u2019 means ‘the gopis, who attained spiritual perfection after many births.\u2019 Lord Krsna is thus their husband. In this way Lord Krsna, who is the son of Nanda Maharaja, and who delights the three worlds, is described.\u201d<\/p>\n
In these verse the word \u201cprakrti\u201d means \u201cthe potency named Maya, who creates the material universes.\u201d The word \u201ctattva-samuhaka\u201d means \u201cthe original feature of the mahat-tattva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is referred to by the words “anayor asrayah\u201d and \u201csandranandam param jyotih\u201d is described as \u201cvallabhah\u201d. The word \u201cprakrtih\u201d (used in the second verse) means the Maha-Laksmi potency, who is manifested from the Supreme Lord\u2019s own form, who is beyond the touch of the material energy, and who appears in the spiritual world of Vaikuntha.\u201c “Amsa-mandalam\u201d means \u201cthe Lord\u2019s three primary Visnu expansions beginning with Lord Sankarsana.\u201d The phrase \u201caneka-janma-siddhanam\u201d refers to the beginningless cycle of births described by Lord Krsna in these words of Bhagavad-gita (4.5):<\/p>\n
\u201cMany births both you and I have passed, O Arjuna.\u201d*<\/p>\n
In this last interpretation the word \u201cvallabha\u201d should be understood to mean \u201cLord Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda\u201d. Maharaja Nanda\u2019s fatherhood of Lord Krsna is thus explained. Garga Muni told Maharaja Nanda (Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.8.14):<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many reasons, this beautiful son of yours sometimes appeared previously as the son of Vasudeva.\u201d*<\/p>\n
Because He appeared in Vasudeva\u2019s heart, Lord Krsna is also the son of Maharaja Vasudeva. This is described in the following words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.16):<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead entered the mind of Vasudeva in full opulence.\u201d*<\/p>\n
Lord Krsna is also the son of Vraja\u2019s king because at the same moment when He appeared before Vasudeva, Lord Krsna also appeared before Nanda Maharaja. This fact is described in many scriptures. Therefore the parental love Nanda Maharaja bears for Lord Krsna is very appropriate. Lord Krsna was born as the son of Vasudeva and the son of Nanda at the same moment just as Lord Varaha simultaneously was manifested on Varahaloka and as the son of Brahma. Maharaja Nanda\u2019s love for Krsna was pure and unmixed, but Maharaja Vasudeva\u2019s love was mixed with knowledge of his son\u2019s divinity and transcendental opulence. Therefore the explanation in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.14 is appropriate. In this way Lord Krsna is seen in the twelve syllable mantra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![](\"http:\/\/68.media.tumblr.com\/90f944604f01f8b0cc7a3ff66ea9547d\/tumblr_oeqipgcmBD1sbj0vuo1_500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.**
\nBrahma-samhita, Chapter Five, 1st verse, Translated by Kusakratha Dasa. Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10650,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10650"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32110"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32112,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32110\/revisions\/32112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}