Need directions?

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

 

agre dIrghataro 'yam arjuna-tarus tasyAgrato vartmanI

sA ghoSaM samupaiti tat parisare deze kalindAtmajA |

tasyAs tIra-tamAla-kAnana-tale cakraM gavAM cArayan

gopaH krIDati darzayiSyati sakhe panthANam avyAhatam ||

 

'Just up ahead there is a tall Arjuna tree; further ahead of that

there is a path. It goes up to a village of cowherds. Near that, on the

banks of the Yamuna beneath a grove of Tamala trees, a gopa boy plays

while herding cows. He'll show you the path, my friend.'

 

[Translation by Mukunda Datta Das]

[krsna 3]

In a kutir cottage made from leaves, Sanatana Gosvami lived for some time at Mahabon, the birth place of Sri Krsna. One day, he was walking along the banks of the Yamuna, going to beg some foodstuffs in a nearby village. Madana Gopaladeva was playing with some cowherd boys there, and when he saw Sanatana Gosvami he came running towards him, "Baba! Baba!". Catching hold of Sanatana's hand he told him, "I want to go with you!"

 

"Lala!" replied Sanatana, "Why do you want to go with me?"

 

"I want to stay where you live."

 

"If you stay with me, what will you eat?"

 

"Baba! Whatever you eat."

 

"But I only eat some dry capatis and chick peas."

 

"Then that is what I will eat."

 

"No that won't be enough for you. You should stay with your mother and father."

 

"Na. baba. na. I want to stay with you."

 

Sanatan Goswami patiently explained that the boy might feel difficulty if he stayed with him, and sent him home. Then he went to beg some capatis in the village.

 

That night, in a dream, he saw that boy again come to him. Smiling very sweetly, he caught hold of Sanatana's hand and said, "Baba! I am coming tomorrow to stay with you. My name is Madana Gopal". His dream ended and he woke up. Losing himself in great ecstasy, he said to himself, "What did I see? Such a beautiful boy!" Thinking of Lord Krsna he opened the door to his hut and saw standing outside a beautiful Deity of Gopal. His effulgence shone in all directions. For a few seconds Sanatana was completely stunned as he gazed upon Gopal's radiant smile. He expected that the Deity might say something or come towards him. Finally, tears of love gliding down his cheeks, Sanatana fell to the ground, offering his dandavats.

 

Gradually, he performed Gopala's abhiseka (bathed the Deity) and offered worship to Him. Sanatana's brother Rupa came there and, seeing the Deity, was deeply moved in ecstatic love. Sanatana kept the Deity with him in his leaf hut and began to worship Him in great happiness. Srila Rupa Gosvami immediately sent word of this auspicious event to Mahaprabhu, at Puri.