Prayers and Quotes: Srila Rupa Gosvami
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
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Quotes
from Mathura-mahatmya - A Treatise on Mathura-Vrndavana
Glorification of the Twelve Divine Forests
Text 331
Glorification of of Madhuvana
O goddess, a person who sees Lord Viñëu's beautiful and peerless abode of Madhuvana, attains all his desires.
Text 332
Glorification of Tälavana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
The second forest is transcendental Tälavana. O goddess, a person who bathes there attains all success.
Text 333
The clear-water lake there is decorated with blue lotuses. By bathing there or giving charity there, one attains his desire.
Text 334
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, it is said:
This is sacred Talavana where, to help the Lord's pastimes and to benefit the Yädavas, a demon was killed by palm trees,.
Text 335
A person who bathes in the waters there becomes, at the end of his body, a Yädava who personally sees the Lord.
Text 336
Glorification of Kumudavana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
The third forest is transcendental Kumudavana. O goddess, a person who goes there attains all success.
Text 337
Glorification of Kämyavana
The fourth is Kämyavana, the best of all forests. O goddess, a person who goes there is glorified in My abode.
Text 338
In nearby Vimala-kunòa one becomes free from all sins and, when leaving this life, goes to My abode.
Text 339
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathura-khanòa, it is said:
O king, next is Kämyavana, where Lord Hari stayed in His childhood. Simply by bathing here, any person will attain all his desires.
Text 340
In that place are Käma-sarovara, Gopikäramaëa-sarovara, many other lakes, and thousands of holy places.
Text 341
Glorification of Bahulävana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
The fifth forest is Bahulävana, the best of forests. O goddess, a person who goes there attains Agniloka
Text 342
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, it is said:
Lord Hari's wife Bahulä stays there always. O king, in the forest of lotus flowers there one attains the result of many pious deeds.
Text 343
There Lord Viñëu enjoys pastimes with Lakñmi eternally. In that place is Saìkarñana-kunòa. In that place is Mäna-sarovara, O king.
Text 344
O king, a person who bathes there during the month of Caitra (March-April) sees Lord Viñnu and Lakñmi there.
Text 345
Glorification of Bhadravana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
Bhadravana is the sixth transcendental forest. O earth-goddess, a devotee attached to Me who goes there, goes to Nägaloka by the power of that forest.
Text 346
Glorification of Khadiravana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
The sixth forest is famous on the earth as Khadiravana. O auspicious one, a person who goes there will go to My abode.
Text 347
Glorification of Mahävana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräna it is said:
The eighth forest is Mahävana, which is very dear to Me. A person who goes there is glorified on Indraloka.
Text 348
In that place are Yamalärjuna-tirtha and Yamalärjuna-kuëòa. In that place is the place where the cart was overturned and the pots and pans were broken.
Text 349
By fasting and bathing in that place one attains a limitless result. The Deity Gopiçvara there destroys great sins.
Text 350
O earth-goddess, before the Deity of Lord Gopiçvara is a clear-water lake named Saptasämudrika-kuëòa.
Text 351
The pitäs enjoy water and piëòa there. A person who on a Monday new-moon day offers pinòa there, offers pinòa at Gayä. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 352
Glorification of Lohajaìghavana
In the Ädi-varäha Puräëa it is said:
O goddess, Lohajaìghavana, which was protected by Lohajaìghäsura, and which destroys all sins, is the ninth forest.
Text 353
Glorification of Bilvavana
The forest named Bilvavana, which is worshiped by the demigods, is the tenth forest. A person who goes there is glorified on Brahmaloka.
Text 354
Glorification of Bhäëòiravana
The eleventh forest is Bhänòiravana, which is very dear to the yogis. Simply by seeing it, a person will never again enter a mother's womb.
Text 355
A person who visits Bhänòiravana, the best of forests, and sees the Deity of Lord Väsudeva there, never takes birth again.
Text 356
A person who, fasting and controlling his senses, bathes in Bhäëòiravana, becomes free of all sins and goes to Indraloka.
Text 357
Sri Krishna said:
It is very beautiful and very famous. The devas and dänavas can attain it only with great difficulty. There I will enjoy pastimes with the gopas and gopis.
Text 359
In the Skanda Puräëa, Mathurä-khanòa, it is said:
Next is sacred Våndävana, where Lord Hari resides. It is protected by Våndä-devi and served by Brahma, Çiva, and the demigods.
Text 360
Våndävana is very large and dense. It is filled with sages' äçramas. It is filled with the creatures and flowers of the forest.
Text 361
As Lakñmi-devi is dear, and as the devotees are dear, so in this world is Våndävana dear to Lord Govinda.
Text 362
In Våndävana Lord Mädhava enjoys pastimes with the cows, calves, boys, and Balaräma.
Text 363
Oh, Våndävana is beautiful with Govardhana Hill and with many holy places made sacred by Lord Viñëu.
Text 364
In the Padma Puräëa, Nirväëa-khaëòa, it is said:
Våndävana is filled with transcendental bliss. It destroys the greatest sins. It ends all sufferings. Simply living within it grants liberation.
Text 365
In the Çrimad-Bhägavatam (10.11.28) it is said:
Between Nandiçvara and Mahavana is a place named Våndävana. This place is very suitable because it is lush with grass, plants and creepers for the cows and other animals. It has nice gardens and tall mountains and is full of facilities for the happiness of all the gopas and gopis and our animals.*
Text 366
In the Çrimad-Bhägavatam (10.21.10) it is also said:
Dear friends, our Våndävana is proclaiming the glories of this entire earth because this planet is glorified by the lotus footprints of the son of Devaki. Besides that, when Govinda plays His flute, the peacocks immediately become mad. When all the animals and trees and plants, either on the top of Govardhana Hill or in the valley, see the dancing of the peacock, they all stand still and listen to the transcendental sound of the flute with great attention. We think that this boon is not possible or available on any other planet.*
Text 367
Våndävana is famous in this world as being 16 kroças (32 size. This is seen in the Çri Govinda-Våndävana-çästra and the Båhad-Gautamiya-tantra. In that scripture Närada asks the following question:
What is Våndävana, which is named here as the twelfth forest? I desire to hear of it. O Lord, if You think it is right, please tell me of it.
Text 368
Lord Kåñna answered:
Beautiful Våndävana is My transcendental abode. The beasts, birds, trees, insects, worms, humans, and demigods who stay here with Me will all go, when they die, to My own abode.
Text 369
The gopis who reside here in My abode and serve Me with devotion stay eternally by My side.
Text 370
This forest of five yojanas (40 miles) is My body. This Yamunä is the Suñumnä River that flows with nectar. The demigods and sages stay here in subtle forms.
Text 371
I, who am the personification of all the demigods, never leave this forest. Millenium after millenium I appear and disappear. This splendidly beautiful forest then becomes invisible to material eyes.
from Padyavali; a Collection of Verses
TEXT 75
- dhanyänäà hådi bhäsatäà girivara-pratyagra-kuïjaukasäà
- satyänanda-rasaà vikära-vibhava-vyävåttam antar-mahaù
- asmäkaà kila ballavé-rati-raso våndäöavé-lälaso
- gopaù ko ‘pi mahendranéla-ruciraç citte muhuù kréòatu
May the cowherd boy who is a festival of ecstatic bliss for the hearts of the fortunate creatures residing in the groves of Govardhana Hill, who is the lover of the gopés, who eagerly enjoy pastimes in Våndävana forest, and whose complexion is as splendid as a great sapphire, eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes in our hearts.
—Çré Içvara Puré
TEXT 106
- kadä våndäraëye mihira-duhituù saìga-mahite
- muhur bhrämaà bhrämaà carita-laharéà gokula-pateù
- lapann uccair nayana-payasäà veëibhir ahaà
- kariçye sotkaëöho nividam upasekaà viöapinäm
When, in Våndävana forest, which is glorified by the Yamunäs’ touch, will I continually wander, filled with the longings of love, loudly chanting the transcendental pastimes of Gokula’s king, Kåñëa, and thickly sprinkling the trees with streams of tears from my eyes. —Çré Rüpa Gosvämé
TEXT 387
- priyaù so ‘yaà kåñëaù sahacari kuru-kñetra-militas
- tathähaà sä rädhä tad idam ubhayoù saìgama-sukham
- tathäpy antaù-khelan-madhura-muralé-päcama-juçe
- mano me kälindi-pulina-vipinäya spåhayati
My dear friend, now I have met My very old and dear friend Kåñëa on this field of Kurukñetra. I am the same Rädhäräëé, and now We are meeting together. It is very pleasent, but still I would like to go to the bank of the Yamunä beneath the trees of the forest there. I wish to hear the vibration of His sweet flute playing the fifth note within that forest of Våndävana.*
-Çré Rüpa Gosvämé
from Radha-Krishna Gano-desa Dipika; A Handbook of Vrndavana
Places of Krsna's Pastimes Described
112: The best of all places of Krsna's pastimes is the great garden known as Vrndavana forest. Another important place of the Lord's pastimes is the beautiful and opulent Govardhana Hill. This Hill is very appropriately named for it nourishes [vardhana] Krsna's cows [go] with its grasses.
113: On Govardhana Hill is the cave known as Manikandali and the river-landing place named Nilamandapika. On the Manasa-ganga river is the famous landing place named Paranga.
114: The boat named Suvilasatara remains at this Paranga landing place. Another important place is Nandisvara Hill, Krsna's home, where the goddess of fortune is personally present.
115: On Nandisvara Hill is the splendid white stone house where Krsna grew up. This house is named Amodavardhana because it is always filled with [vardhana] the pleasant fragrance [amoda] of incense and other aromatic substances.
116: The lake near Krsna's home is named Pavana and on its shore there are many groves where the Lord enjoys pastimes. Also near Krsna's home is the grove named Kama Mahatirtha and the jeweled pathway named Mandara.
117: The splendid kadamba trees named Kadambaraja and the king of the banyan trees named Bhandira grow in the forest of Vrndavana. On the sandy bank of the Yamuna is the pastime place named Anagaranga-bhu.
118: On the shore of the Yamuna River is the sacred place known as Khela-tirtha, where Lord Krsna eternally enjoys pastimes with His dearmost Srimati Radharani.