Chapter Two
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
SRI VRAJA-RITI CINTAMANI
Chapter Two
1. Nandisvara Hill is like a monarch in the center of Vrajabhumi, and around it are many kinds of forests containing many splendid desire-trees, desire-vines, groves, pastime places, and colorful birds.
2. Passing the mewing peacocks, the young goddesses of Vraja walk along the forest path, holding each other by the hand as they follow their Master and Mistress during Their transcendental pastimes.
3. Wild rams have chewed fragrant kakkola berries and with their horns, the wild buffaloes have torn the bark and branches of fragrant sarala trees. All this has made the Vraja forest aromatic.
4. Wild elephants have broken the tender young branches of fragrant sallaki trees, and wild buffaloes have filled the air with the aroma of fresh grass by their grazing. All this has made the Vraja forest aromatic.
5. In some places, the forest floor is covered with bunches of grapes partly eaten by monkeys, and in other places ripe mangoes have fallen on the ground. All this has made the Vraja forest beautiful.
6. Aborigine girls, wearing nice earrings, their faces fragrantly anointed with plantain juice and camphor crushed by hand, walk in Vraja’s forest carrying bunches of peppers and other articles.
7-10. Filled with rasala trees, and panasa, amrataka, sriphala, jambu, palasa, pungasana, coconut, madhuka, punnaga, sirisa, priya, bilva, arjuna, karma ranga, kapittha, lodhra, priya, lavali, asoka, lakuca, karira, campaka, tamala, nava-malika, jatidvaya, rayabilva, kosataki, parkatika, vata, asvattha, sala, khadira, and sami trees, all of which bear splendid fruits and flowers,Vraja's forest is beautiful. With its many lavanga and other vines, and because it is filled with parrots and other birds as well as wild beasts, the forests of Vraja are splendidly beautiful.
11. In Vraja the splendid ponds, pools, lakes, and rivers are filled with white, blue, red, yellow, and multicolored kahlara, padma, and utpala lotuses as well as swans and other water birds.
12. In some places the ground of Vraja is made of camphor dust. In other places it is made of saffron. In some places it is made of ground musk, and in other places it is made of the aromatic substances used in religious ceremonies.
13. In some places the ground of Vraja is made of emeralds and in other places from a variety of precious gems. In some places the fresh grasses of Vraja, which are eaten by the cows and other animals, is made of emeralds.
14. In some places the ground of Vraja is golden like the Jambu River, and in others it is made of sapphires. Sometimes, when Krishna enjoys pastimes with Radhika, it seems that there is only one person, not two. It seems that only Sri Krishna is enjoying pastimes in a golden place, or perhaps it is only Radhika enjoying pastimes in a sapphire place.
15. In some places the ground of Vraja is made of emeralds, and the trees, bushes, and creepers are made of gold. In other places the ground is gold and the trees are emeralds.
16. In some places the ground of Vraja is made of rubies and the trees and vines are crystal. In other places the ground is crystal and the trees and creepers are rubies.
17. In some places emerald trees are embraced by golden vines, and in other places emerald vines embrace golden trees.
18. In some places ruby vines embrace crystal trees, and in other places ruby trees are embraced by crystal vines.
19. The trees are made of jewels, with jeweled branches, jeweled twigs, and jeweled flowers filled with a variety of fragrances.
20. Jeweled birds perch on the jeweled branches. Jewels fall from the trees and cover the nearby area, appearing like a small jewel irrigation trench around the trees' roots.
21. All Brahmas and Sivas emanate from the branches and roots of Vraja's trees. Although the trees of Vraja are as splendid as the sun, they act as wonderful parasols to shade one from the sun’s rays. They shine with the luster of youth, just like the four Kumaras.
22. Vraja's trees have never been planted or cultivated. They did not grow from seed. Still, they glisten with leaves and flowers and bear many ripe, unripe, and ripening fruits.
23. The splendid trees of Vrajabhumi are perfectly spiritual in nature and full of all potencies. They are just like the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as the conditioned souls misunderstand the spiritual nature of the Supreme Lord’s incarnations, so they misunderstand the glory of Vraja's trees.
24. Decorated with wonderful leaves and flowers, and twined about the kalpa-vriksha trees, the splendid vines are just like young girls continually embraced by their lovers.
25. Splendid with many eternal flowers, fruits, and eternally sprouting fresh buds, the vines fulfill all the desires of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees.
26. Sri Krishna, the moon of Vrndavana, enjoys pastimes and rests in the Vraja's groves. These groves are filled with wonderful trees and vines eternally blossoming with beautiful flowers, even down to their roots.
27. In Vraja's groves, the cuckoos and bumblebees sing melodiously, the plants are all splendidly beautiful, the camari does move their tails gracefully, and the musk oxen diffuse a sweet aroma in all directions.
28. In one of Vraja's groves, there is a small clearing bounded on all sides by four kalpa-vriksa trees, each covered by two flowering vines. In the center of this courtyard stands a cottage made of jewels.
29. Four trees form the four pillars of this cottage. Their branches and twigs have become its roof, their flowers its domes and spires, the vines clinging to their sides its walls, and the opening among the vines its door.
30. Such beautiful cottages are found throughout Vraja’s forests, and they remove the pride the demigods feel in their airplanes and attract even the residents of Vaikuntha.
31. Vraja’s forests, groves, creepers, trees, birds, beasts, and other living entities all blossom with happiness when Lord Mukunda glances on them, and they wilt with disappointment when He does not.
32. North of Nandisvara is a forest where Lord Krishna enjoys secret pastimes that are worshiped by six eager demigods in heaven.
33. The Yamuna River passes through that forest and flows near Nandisvara Hill. It winds through Vraja with a crooked course, searching for Sri Krishna, the moon of Vraja.
34. On the pretext of fetching water and other tasks, the gopis go to that pastime forest and meet their beloved Krishna. They call this place gopi-ghata. Did the Lord agitate the gopis with His pastimes there or not?
35. A treasure-filled chest filled with the glory of Sri Krishna’s pastimes, which decorate the worlds, the Bhandirav forest of druma and vidruma trees shines with great splendour.
36. In Bhandiravana are Munjatavi forest and other charming groves and forests where the gopis keep many delightful gardens.
37. In these groves the gopis meet their lover, Krishna, converse with Him, dance with Him, and enjoy unlimited pastimes with Him. In this way all their desires to serve Krishna become fulfilled.
38. Among Vrindavana’s splendid forests, which pale the splendors of Vaikuntha, the very beautiful forest named Vrndavana is best.
39. Those who offer their respectful obeisances to Vrndavana or bathe in her Yamuna River, which is like a moat of black mascara encircling Vrndavana, are transformed into pure devotees carrying Lord Krishna in their hearts.
40. The Yamuna River is like a blue lotus flower garland, a sapphire necklace, or a blue sash worn by the goddess of Vrndavana.
41. Passing the seven seas and seven planetary systems and breaking through the sevenfold covering of the universe, the Yamuna enters the spiritual Goloka planet and wanders here and there to serve Vrndavana by carrying water.
42. Many greedy men will wait at a rich man’s doorstep, hoping to meet him and benefit hundreds of thousands of times over. In the same way, the Yamuna flows in a winding course, greedy to get some of the wealth of Vrndavana forest.
43. The dark nectar current of the Yamuna picks up Lord Krishna and plunges Him and His gopi friends into the dark nectar current of transcendental amorous pastimes.
44. Many charming aquatic creatures, diving in the nectar of love for Krishna, again and again push their heads above the Yamuna’s waters, hoping for a glimpse of Lord Syama.
45. On the Yamuna’s beautiful shores are jeweled staircases, which resemble the teeth of the goddess of beauty and which remind one of Sri Krishna.
46. When they drink the sound of Krishna’s flute, these two jeweled staircases melt with love, and the river flowing between them becomes solid, stunned with ecstasy.
47. In the moonlight the Yamuna’s beaches appear to be made of camphor sand. Lord Krishna enjoyed His rasa-lila on these beaches, with each place bearing the name of a particular pastime.
48. Birds fly here and there through the clearings in the splendid groves by the Yamuna’s shore, yearning for a glimpse of Lord Govinda.
49. Everywhere in Vrndavana and on the Yamuna’s shores are trees like the Lord’s incarnations. These trees give the gift of pure love, which make one remember the Lord. At that time, the moon of Vraja suddenly rises in one's heart.
50. Everywhere in Vrndavana and on the Yamuna’s shore are groves of ancient, wonderful mango and other trees, which provide nectar to Lord Krishna’s eyes.
51. In Vrndavana are grapevines, flower gardens, plantain-tree groves, golden pavements, a mountain of precious gems, and a grove of kalpa-vrksa trees.
52. In some places of Vrindavana there are large groves of a single kind of tree. In other places two or three kinds of trees grow together. In other places there are groves that contain a great variety of trees.
53. Are there any other flowers equal to Vraja's mango flowers? Where are there trees equal in height to the great, five-branched mango trees growing in Vraja? Even if one were to fashion a great statue of a tree, it would be difficult to build one as tall as these mango trees.
54. In some places in Vraja there are groves of tamala trees, and in other places there are opulent and wonderfully colorful groves filled with many kinds of trees. Krishna’s enemies have never been able to enter any of these groves.
55. With many lovely jeweled palaces in their groves, Vrndavana and other forests are splendidly manifest everywhere in Vraja.
56. Even if one thinks Vrndavana is an ordinary material place, one must still admit that Vrndavana enchants the minds of Vaikuntha’s residents. One must also admit that Vrndavana’s gardens delight the king who enjoys pastimes there.
57. The six seasons in nature usually come one after another, and the qualities of only one season manifest at a time. Here in Vrndavana, however, the moon of Vrndavana can enjoy His pastimes in any season at any time according to His own desire.
58. In Vrndavana all the seasons are eternal and diligently serve Sri Krishna, the moon of Vrndavana. The gopis decorate Sri Krishna with garlands and other ornaments made from flowers of many seasons.
59. In Vrndavana the gardens of Krishna's gopi beloveds shine with great splendor. A single ray of those gardens’ splendor eclipses the Brahman effulgence.
60. The animals, birds, trees, vines, and other living entities residing in Vrndavana yearn to see the rising of Vrndavana’s moon (Sri Krishna).
61. Originally, there was only one kalpa-vriksa tree in Vrndavana, but the other trees attained the qualities of a kalpa-vriksa trees by association. In the same way, there is only one Sri Krishna, one master of Vrndavana, but by enjoying pastimes with Him His friends have attained qualities that resemble His.
62. Although all the trees in Vrindavana are kalpa-vriksa trees, one among them is especially glorious. This tree grows next to a jeweled palace in a supremely charming grove.
63. This palace has many wings and is five, six, eight, or even nine stories high. Each wing has a courtyard shaped like a lotus whorl with eight petals.
64. The residential quarters of the devotees overlook these courtyards. There are eight smaller palaces in the beautiful courtyards.
65. These eight palaces are situated in the eight directions, and an eternal kalpa-vriksa tree, with its many branches, lives in the middle of them all, protecting the devotees from the Lord's enemies.
66. This grove of nine palaces is surrounded in all directions by eight other groves, each with nine palaces. Beyond these groves and palaces are more groves and palaces.
67. The splendid palace of Vrndavana's queen is located in the best of these kalpa-vriksa groves. The palaces of her gopi friends surrounds Hers, and around them are the residences of Her maidservants.
68. Staying in Her palace by Her lover’s side, the queen of the gopis shines with great splendor. The residences of the other gopis are situated around Her palace.
69. Around the central kalpa-vriksa tree is a grove with many wonderful palaces, just as Mukunda’s beloved desires them to be.
70. This abode of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna is called Govinda-bhumi (the abode of Lord Govinda) in the Puranas, and the yoga-pitha (the transcendental place) in the Tantras. In this book we call it Sri Kunja-raja, the king of groves.
71. To the south is the regal, wonderfully constructed place of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna’s swing pastimes. The beauty of this place has been eloquently described in Ananda-Vrndavana-campu.
72. Govinda-kunda, Lord Govinda's lake, is far to the south. Around this lake are many groves filled with buzzing bees.
73. To the north is Brahma-kunda, surrounded by many pleasant groves. To the north of Brahma-kunda is an asoka grove that enchants the Divine Couple. Like a thief, this grove has stolen away Their gravity.
74. North of that is Gopisa. Worshiped by the gopis there, Lord Siva pleased their hearts by blessing them to enjoy pastimes with Lord Krishna.
75. A little north of that, at Vamsivata, which is like a splendid dancer on the Yamuna’s shore, Sri Krishna attracted His beloved by playing the flute.
76. North of that is Nidhuvana, whose name attracts the ears and heart. Delighting His beloved there, Sri Krishna disappeared from the company of gopis eager to enjoy the rasa dance.
77. To the southwest, in a jasmine garden, is Suryaspada, where Sri Radhika worships the sun god with a newly blossomed red rose.
78. In the northwest is Bhadrakali-tirtha, where at the base of a kadamba tree the gopis worshiped Goddess Bhadra for a long time and where the thief, Krishna, stole their garments.
79. In the southeast is Vighnaraja-tirtha, where Sri Krishna incarnated in the form of a Ganesa deity. Constantly afraid of separation from their beloved, the gopis earnestly worshiped this deity and became quickly convinced that they would always have Krishna’s association.
80. To the east is Sri Venu-kupa (the "well of the flute"), which is filled with the waters of love. Sri Krishna pleased His beloved by creating this well with the His flute music.
81. In the midst of the rasa dance Radha and Krishna left the gopis’ company and enjoyed pastimes in a solitary place. When Radha became thirsty, Krishna created this well (Sri Venu-kupa) by playing His flute.
82. In the grove named Srngara-santi, Krishna decorated His beloved under a vata tree named Srngaravata, which can be seen and glorified even today.
83. One time, when Sri Krishna had gone a little distance from Vamsivata, a gentle (dhira) breeze (samira) sprang up from His flute playing. That place became known as Dhira-samira-tirtha.
84. Although the entire shoreline of the Yamuna shines with love of Krishna, I think the area of Vamsivata not only shines but dances in ecstatic love.
85. Every evening, Vrndadevi and the other gopis make elaborate arrangements for Sri Krishna to rest in Vraja's beautiful forest palaces. When He sees these arrangements He becomes struck with wonder.
86. Every morning the gopis bring betelnuts and other gifts to the DIvine Couple. Seeing this, Sri Krishna becomes struck with wonder and His heart melts with love for them. Seeing His love for them, the gopis also melt with love.
87. This book, Sri Vraja-riti-cintamani, gives a brief description of Sri Krishna’s abode, the forest of Vrndavana, as it is splendidly manifest in the area around Nandisvara palace. This second chapter has described the beauty of the Lord’s transcendental pastimes, His eagerness to enjoy them, and other topics.