Sri Krishna’s Vrindavana and Dvarka Lilas : 1. Glory of Srimad Maha Bhagavatam : Swami Krishnananda

22/11/2018
Sri Krishna’s V(B)rindavanam and Dvarka Lilas : 1

In the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana, the Eighth Skandha is devoted to the detailing of Gajendra Moksha, Amrita Manthana, and Sri Vamana avatara of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu, and in the Ninth Skandha we have the long history of the Solar and Lunar dynasties—Rama being a descendant of the Solar dynasty, and Krishna of the Lunar dynasty.

The most important theme, surpassing all other descriptions that we have in the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana, is the principle objective of the whole text—namely, the life of Bhagavan Sri Krishna himself. In a wonderfully touching prayer, Kunti glorifies the great Master, as we have it recorded in the -

First Skandha of the Bhagavatam :
(S.B. 1.8.18-19)

"Namasye purusham tvadyam isvaram prakrteh param,
alakshyam sarva-bhutanam antar bahir avasthitam;
maya-javanikacchannam ajnadhokshajam avyayam,
na lakshyase mudha-drsa nato naṭyadharo yatha."

(S.B. 1.8.43).

"Sri-krishna krishna-sakha vrshny-rsabhavani-dhrug-rajanya-vamsa-dahananapavarga-virya,
 govinda go-dvija surarti-haravatara yogesvarakhila-guro bhagavan namaste."

The play of God in the theatre of this world is the life of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. He behaved in the same way as God would behave in His creation.

The avatara of Rama is regarded as a maryada that he kept in terms of the rules and regulations of human society.

Bhagavan Sri Krishna is known not as Maryada Purushottama, but as Lila Purushottama.

The demonstration of the perfection of human nature is the subject of the Ramayana, the life of Sri Ramachandra; and the demonstration of the perfection of God as He would operate Himself, independently, free from all accessories, is the theme of the life of Bhagavan Sri Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavata. Everything that Krishna did was the opposite of the world, while everything that Rama did was in consonance with the world.

To be continued ...