Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33 Summary

This chapter describes Lord Sri Krsna's rasa dance, which He enjoyed with His beloved girlfriends in the forests along the Yamuna River.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is most expert in the knowledge of transcendental moods. In the company of the gopis, who were tightly bound to Him by the ropes of affection and totally dedicated to His service, the Lord expanded Himself into numerous forms. The gopis became intoxicated with their enthusiasm to enjoy the rasa dance, and thus they began satisfying Krsna's senses by singing, dancing and gesturing amorously. The sweet voices of the gopis filled all the directions.

Even after Lord Krsna manifested Himself in numerous forms, each gopi thought He was standing next to her alone. Gradually the gopis became fatigued from the continuous dancing and singing, and each of them placed her arm on the shoulder of the Krsna standing beside her. Some gopis smelled and kissed Krsna's arm, which bore the fragrance of the lotus and was anointed with sandalwood paste. Others put Krsna's hand on their bodies, and yet others gave Krsna pleasure by embracing Him lovingly.

Lord Krsna, being the Supreme Absolute Truth, is the only actual enjoyer and object of enjoyment. Although He is one without a second, He expands Himself into many forms to increase His personal pastimes. Therefore great scholars say that Krsna's rasa-lila is like a child's playing with His own reflection. Sri Krsna is self-satisfied and fully endowed with inconceivable, transcendental opulences. When He exhibits such pastimes as the rasa-lila, all living beings, from Brahma down to the blades of grass, become merged in the ocean of astonishment.

When Maharaja Pariksit heard the narration of Krsna's conjugal pastimes with the gopis, which superficially resemble the activities of lusty, wanton persons, he expressed a doubt to the great devotee Srila Sukadeva Gosvami. Sukadeva dispelled this doubt by stating, "Since Sri Krsna is the absolute enjoyer, such pastimes as these can never be contaminated by any fault. But if anyone other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead tries to enjoy such pastimes, he will suffer the same fate that someone other than Lord Rudra would suffer if he attempted to drink an ocean of poison. Moreover, even one who only thinks of imitating Lord Krsna's rasa-lila will certainly suffer misfortune."

The Supreme Absolute Truth, Sri Krsna, is present within the hearts of all living entities as their indwelling witness. When out of His mercy He exhibits His intimate pastimes to His devotees, these activities are never besmirched by mundane imperfection. Any living being who hears of the spontaneous loving attraction the gopis felt for Lord Krsna will have his desires for material sense gratification destroyed at the root and will develop his natural propensity for serving the Supreme Lord, the spiritual master, and the Lord's devotees.

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Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari