Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 66

Far better than serving Krsna directly

When Krsna left Vrndavana for Mathura, the gopis became most dejected and spent the rest of their lives simply crying in separation from Krsna. This means that in one sense they were never actually separated from Krsna. There is no difference between thinking of Krsna and associating with Him. Rather, vipralambha-seva, thinking of Krsna in separation, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did, is far better than serving Krsna directly.

Srila Prabhupada, The Nectar of Instruction, Text 10 Purport

The post Far better than serving Krsna directly appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Magnetic Krsna

Krsna had 16,108 wives in Dvaraka, and each and every one of them was attracted to Krsna just as iron is attracted by a magnet. There is a statement by a devotee: “My dear Lord, You are just like a magnet, and all the damsels of Vraja are just like iron: in whichever direction You are moving they are following You, as iron is attracted by magnetic force.”

From The Nectar of Devotion by Srila Prabhupada

The post Magnetic Krsna appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Attraction to Krsna’s qualities

To be attracted by the qualities of Krsna means to be attracted by Krsna Himself, because there is no real distinction between Krsna and His qualities. Krsna’s name is also Krsna. Krsna’s fame is also Krsna. Krsna’s entourage is also Krsna. Krsna and everything related with Krsna which gives stimulation to love of Krsna are all Krsna, but for our understanding these items may be considered separately.

From The Nectar of Devotion by Srila Prabhupada

The post Attraction to Krsna’s qualities appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Why the gopis are the best devotees

After taking to devotional service under the regulative principles, a person may come to the platform of spontaneous love of Godhead, following in the footsteps of great devotees like Narada and Sanaka and Sanatana. The Supreme Personality of Godhead then recognizes him to be superior. The devotees who have developed love of Godhead are certainly in an exalted position.

Of all these devotees, the gopis are recognized as superior because they do not know anything other than satisfying Krsna. Nor do the gopis expect any return from Krsna. Indeed, sometimes Krsna puts them into extreme suffering by separating Himself from them. Nonetheless, they cannot forget Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada, The Nectar of Instruction, Text 10 Purport

The post Why the gopis are the best devotees appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

The transcendental sound of Krsna’s flute

When the transcendental sound of Krsna’s flute vibrates, the devotee’s anxiety to hear that flute penetrates the covering of the material world and enters the spiritual sky, where the transcendental sound of the flute enters into the ears of the gopis and their followers. The sound of Krsna’s flute always resides within the ears of the gopis and increases their ecstasy. When they hear it, no other sound can enter their ears, and they are unable to reply properly to their family members’ questions, for all these beautiful sounds are vibrating in their ears.

From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 10: The Beauty of Krsna by Srila Prabhupada

The post The transcendental sound of Krsna’s flute appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Sweet, beautiful Krsna

The gopis‘ minds are always engaged in relishing the sweetness of Krsna’s body. He is the ocean of beauty, and the luster of His body and the beauty
of His face and smile are all-attractive to the minds of the gopis. In the Krsna-karnamrta, Krsna’s body, face and smile have been described as sweet, sweeter and sweetest. When there are three kinds of contamination in the bodily constitution, convulsions take place. Similarly, a perfect devotee of Krsna experiences convulsions when he is overwhelmed by seeing the beauty of Krsna’s body, face and smile. Before Krsna’s beauty, the devotee sometimes stays immersed in this ocean of transcendental convulsions without receiving treatment, just as a patient suffering ordinary convulsions may be prevented by a physician from receiving a drink of water for relief.

From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 10: The Beauty of Krsna by Srila Prabhupada

The post Sweet, beautiful Krsna appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Only two eyes!

The dancing movement of Krsna’s earrings, eyes and eyebrows is very attractive to the damsels of Vraja. Activities in devotional service increase the sense of devotional service. What else is there for two eyes to see beyond the face of Krsna? Since one cannot sufficiently see Krsna with only two eyes, one feels incapable and thus becomes bereaved. Such bereavement is slightly reduced when one criticizes the creative power of the creator. The unsatiated seer of Krsna’s face thus laments: “I do not have thousands of eyes but only two, and even these two eyes are disturbed by the movements of my eyelids. So it is to be understood that the creator of this body is not very intelligent. He is not conversant with the art of ecstasy but is simply a prosaic creator. He does not know how to arrange things properly so one can see only Krsna.”

From Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 10: The Beauty of Krsna by
Srila Prabhupada

The post Only two eyes! appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Krsna moons

The Vedic hymn known as Kama-gayatri describes the face of Krsna as the king of all moons. In metaphorical language, there are many different full moons, but they are all one in Krsna. There is the full moon of His face, the full moons of His cheeks, the full moon of the sandalwood-pulp spot on His forehead, which is a half-moon, and the beautiful full moons of His fingernails and toenails. In this way there are twenty-four and a half moons, and Krsna is the central figure of all of them.

From Teachings of Lord Caitanya Chapter 10: The Beauty of Krsna
by Srila Prabhupada

The post Krsna moons appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Vrndavana life

That is Vrndavana life: either in rasa dance or the cowherd’s play or killing the demons or in dining and dancing. The friends are eating, they are being stolen by Brahma — but the center is Krsna. That is Vrndavana. All activities are going on, just like in other place. But here in Vrndavana, all activities centered around Krsna. When Brahma is stealing His friends, the center is Krsna. The demon is coming to destroy — the center is Krsna. When there is forest fire, the center is Krsna. This is Vrndavana beauty. In happiness, in danger, in perplexities, in friendship — everything Krsna. Kaliya-damana. “Oh, Krsna has gone to Yamuna. He has fallen down in the…, to fight the Kaliya.” It is a very, what is called, calamitous. But still, the center is Krsna. This is the beauty of Vrndavana. “Krsna has entered Yamuna to fight with Kaliya,” it is not at all good news for Mother Yasoda, Nanda, friends and family, not at all. Their life is lost. But still the Krsna is center. This is Vrndavana life. In everything Krsna is center

Srila Prabhupada — January 9, 1977, Bombay

The post Vrndavana life appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

After Srila Prabhupada’s departure

I feel happy that even after my departure, things will go on. I am happy that I have got so many sincere devotees who will carry on. That is my happiness.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Madhudvisa — 18 September, 1974

The post After Srila Prabhupada’s departure appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.