Çré Ämlaké Ekädaçé Issue no: 254 10th March 2025

The Sweet Absolute Autocrat

Narada Muni Visits Lord Krishna’s Who is Narada?
Palaces in Dvaraka His Divine Grace
Srila Shukadeva Gosvami A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada

Narada's Arrival in Dvarka The Sweet Absolute Autocrat

Disciples of His Divine Grace Disciples of His Divine Grace
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada
 Issue no 254, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Narada Muni Visits Lord Krishna’s spiritual authority of the universe and the master
Palaces in Dvaraka of His devotees, it was proper for Him to behave
Srila Shukadeva Gosvami in this way, for His name is Brahmanya-deva,
“the Lord who favors the brahmanas.” Thus Sri
Shukadeva Gosvami said: Hearing that Lord Krishna honored the sage Narada by bathing his
Krishna had killed Narakasura and had alone feet, even though the water that bathes the Lord’s
married many brides, Narada Muni desired to own feet becomes the Ganges, the ultimate holy
see the Lord in this situation. He thought, “It is shrine. After fully worshiping the great sage of
quite amazing that in a single body Lord Krishna the demigods according to Vedic injunctions,
simultaneously married sixteen thousand wom- Lord Krishna, who is Himself the original sage
en, each in a separate palace.” Thus the sage of Narayana, the friend of Naracon-versed with
the demigods eagerly went to Dvaraka. Narada, and the Lord’s measured speech was as
In the city of Dvaraka was a beautiful private sweet as nectar. Finally the Lord asked Narada,
quarter worshiped by the planetary rulers. This “What may We do for you, Our lord and master?”
district, where the demigod Vishvakarma had [Sri Narada said:] O almighty Lord, it is no
shown all his divine skill, was the residential area surprise that You, the ruler of all worlds, show
of Lord Hari, and thus it was gorgeously decorated friendship for all people and yet subdue the en-
by the sixteen thousand palaces of Lord Krishna’s vious. As we well know, You descend by Your
queens. Narada Muni entered one of these im- sweet will in order to bestow the highest good
mense palaces. Supporting the palace were coral on this universe by maintaining and protecting
pillars decoratively inlaid with vaidurya gems. Sap- it. Thus Your glories are widely sung. Now I have
phires bedecked the walls, and the floors glowed seen Your feet, which grant liberation to Your
with perpetual brilliance. In that palace Tvashta devotees, which even Lord Brahma and other
had arranged canopies with hanging strands of great personalities of unfathomable intelligence
pearls; there were also seats and beds fashioned can only meditate upon within their hearts, and
of ivory and precious jewels. In attendance were
many well-dressed maidservants bearing lockets which those who have fallen into the well of ma-
on their necks, and also armor-clad guards with terial existence resort to for deliverance. Please
turbans, fine uniforms and jeweled earrings. The favor me so that I may constantly think of You
glow of numerous jewel-studded lamps dispelled as I travel about. Please grant Me the power to
all darkness in the palace. My dear King, on the remember You.
ornate ridges of the roof danced loudly crying Narada then entered the palace of another of
peacocks, who saw the fragrant aguru incense es- Lord Krishna’s wives, my dear King. He was ea-
caping through the holes of the latticed windows ger to witness the spiritual potency possessed by
and mistook it for a cloud. the master of all masters of mystic power. There
In that palace the learned brähmaëa saw the he saw the Lord playing at dice with His beloved
Lord of the Satvatas, Sri Krishna, together with consort and His friend Uddhava. Lord Krishna
His wife, who fanned Him with a gold-handled worshiped Narada by standing up, offering him
yak-tail fan. She personally served Him in this a seat, and so on, and then, as if He did not know,
way, even though she was constantly attended by asked him, “When did you arrive? What can
a thousand maidservants equal to her in personal needy persons like Us do for those who are full
character, beauty, youth and fine dress. in themselves? In any case, My dear brähmaëa,
The Supreme Lord is the greatest upholder of please make My life auspicious.” Thus addressed,
religious principles. Thus when He noticed Nara- Narada was astonished. He simply stood up
da, He rose at once from Goddess Sri’s bed, bowed silently and went to another palace. This time
His crowned head at Narada’s feet and, joining His Naradaji saw that Lord Krishna was engaged as
palms, had the sage sit in His own seat. The Lord an affectionate father petting His small children.
bathed Narada’s feet and then put the water on His From there he entered another palace and saw
own head. Although Lord Krishna is the supreme Lord Krishna preparing to take His bath.

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 254, Page—3
In one place the Lord was offering oblations into with elaborate sacrifices, and elsewhere He was
the sacrificial fires; in another, worshiping through fulfilling His religious obligations by doing public
the five maha-yajnas; in another, feeding brah- welfare work, such as the construction of wells,
manas; and in yet another, eating the remnants of public parks and monasteries. In another place
food left by brahmanas. Somewhere Lord Krishna He was on a hunting expedition. Mounted on His
was observing the rituals for worship at sunset by Sindhi horse and accompanied by the most heroic
refraining from speech and quietly chanting the of the Yadus, He was killing animals meant for
Gayatri mantra, and elsewhere He was moving offering in sacrifice. Somewhere Krishna, the Lord
about with sword and shield in the areas set aside of mystic power, was moving about in disguise
for sword practice. In one place Lord Gadagraja among the homes of ministers and other citizens
was riding on horses, elephants and chariots, in order to understand what each of them was
and in another place He was resting on His bed thinking.
while bards recited His glories. Somewhere He Having thus seen this display of the Lord’s
was consulting with royal ministers like Uddhava, yoga-mäyä, Narada mildly laughed and then ad-
and somewhere else He was enjoying in the water, dressed Lord Hrishikesha, who was adopting the
surrounded by many society girls and other young behavior of a human being. [Narada said:] Now
women. we understand Your mystic potencies, which are
Somewhere He was giving well-decorated cows difficult to comprehend, even for great mystics, O
to exalted brahmanas, and elsewhere he was lis- Supreme Soul, master of all mystic power. Only by
tening to the auspicious narration of epic histories serving Your feet have I been able to perceive Your
and Puranas. Somewhere Lord Krishna was found powers. O Lord, please give me Your leave. I will
enjoying the company of a particular wife by ex- wander about the worlds, which are flooded with
changing joking words with her. Somewhere else Your fame, loudly singing about Your pastimes,
He was found engaged, along with His wife, in which purify the universe.
religious ritualistic functions. Somewhere Krish- [The Supreme Personality of Godhead said:] O
na was found engaged in matters of economic brähmaëa, I am the speaker of religion, its perform-
development, and somewhere else He was found er and sanctioner. I observe religious principles to
enjoying family life according to the regulative teach them to the world, My child, so do not be
principles of the shastras. Somewhere He was sit- disturbed.
ting alone, meditating on the Supreme Personality Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus in every palace
of Godhead, who is transcendental to material Narada saw the Lord in His same personal form,
nature, and somewhere He was rendering menial executing the transcendental principles of religion
service to His elders, offering them desirable things that purify those engaged in household affairs.
and reverential worship. Having repeatedly seen the vast mystic display of
In one place He was planning battles in consul- Lord Krishna, whose power is unlimited, the sage
tation with some of His advisers, and in another was amazed and filled with wonder. Lord Krishna
place He was making peace. Somewhere Lord greatly honored Narada, faithfully presenting him
Keshava and Lord Balarama were together pon- with gifts related to economic prosperity, sense
dering the welfare of the pious. Narada saw Lord gratification and religious duties. Thus fully satis-
Krishna engaged in getting His sons and daughters fied, the sage departed, constantly remembering
married to suitable brides and bridegrooms at the the Lord. In this way Lord Narayana imitated the
appropriate time, and the marriage ceremonies ways of ordinary humans, manifesting His divine
were being performed with great pomp. Narada potencies for the benefit of all beings. Thus He
observed how Sri Krishna, the master of all yoga enjoyed, dear King, in the company of His sixteen
masters, arranged to send away His daughters and thousand exalted consorts, who served the Lord
sons-in-law, and also to receive them home again, with their shy, affectionate glances and laugh-
at the time of great holiday celebrations. All the ter. Lord Hari is the ultimate cause of universal
citizens were astonished to see these celebrations. creation, maintenance and destruction. My dear
Somewhere He was worshiping all the demigods King, anyone who chants about, hears about or

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 Issue no 254, Page — 4 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Top left 4
simply appreciates the extraordinary activities He Who is Narada?
performed in this world, which are impossible His Divine Grace
to imitate, will surely develop devotion for the A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada
Supreme Lord, the bestower of liberation.
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum Narada Muni is inevitably associated with the
Bonum » Chapter 69 » Verses 1-45 » The Marriage of Samba » Transaltion By narrations of the Puräëas. He is described in the
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada. Bhägavatam. In his previous life he was the son of
a maidservant, but by good association with pure
Narada's Arrival in Dvarka devotees he became enlightened in devotional ser-
Disciples of His Divine Grace vice, and in the next life he became a perfect man
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada comparable with himself only. In the Mahäbhära-
ta his name is mentioned in many places. He is
Being inquisitive as to how Krishna was man- the principal devarñi, or the chief sage amongst the
aging His household affairs with so many wives, demigods. He is the son and disciple of Brahmaji,
Narada desired to see these pastimes and so set out and from him the disciplic succession in the line
to visit Krishna's different homes. When Narada of Brahma has been spread. He initiated Prahla-
arrived in Dvaraka, he saw gardens and parks da Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja and many other
full of various flowers of different colors, and also celebrated devotees of the Lord. He initiated even
orchards overloaded with a variety of fruits. Beau- Vyasadeva, the author of the Vedic literatures, and
tiful birds were chirping, and peacocks crowed from Vyasadeva, Madhvacharya was initiated,
delightfully. There were ponds full of blue and red and thus the Madhva-sampradäya, in which the
lotus flowers, and some of these ponds were filled Gauòéya-sampradäya is also included, has spread
with varieties of lilies. The lakes were full of nice all over the universe. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
swans and cranes, and the voices of these birds belonged to this Madhva-sampradäya; therefore,
resounded everywhere. In the city there were as Brahmaji, Narada, Vyasa, down to Madhva,
many as 900,000 great palaces built of first-class Chaitanya and the Gosvamis all belonged to the
same line of disciplic succession. Naradaji has
marble, with gates and doors made of silver. The instructed many kings from time immemorial.
pillars of the houses and palaces were bedecked In the Bhägavatam we can see that he instructed
with jewels such as touchstone, sapphire and Prahlada Maharaja while he was in the womb of
emerald, and the floors gave off a beautiful lus- his mother, and he instructed Vasudeva, father of
ter. The highways, lanes, streets, crossings and Krishna, as well as Maharaja Yudhishthira.
marketplaces were all beautifully decorated. The — Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 1 » Chapter 9 »
whole city was full of residential homes, assembly Verse: 7 » Purport By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada
houses and temples, all of different architectural
beauty. All of this made Dvaraka a glowing city. The Sweet Absolute Autocrat
The big avenues, crossings, lanes and streets, and Disciples of His Divine Grace
also the thresholds of every residential house, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada
were very clean. On both sides of every path there
were bushes, and at regular intervals there were Lord Krishna, the sweet absolute autocrat and
large trees that shaded the avenues so that the the Supreme Personalty of Godhead, is the main
sunshine would not bother the passersby. subject matter of this book. Krishna's qualities
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum of aiçvarya (unsurpassable, unlimited opulence
Bonum » Chapter 69 » Verse: 1 » Purport By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktive- and power) and mädhurya (all-attractiveness)
danta Svami Prabhupada eternally reside in Him at their most perfect, sur-
passing that found in all His other incarnations.
Narayana, the Lord of Vaikuntha, has potencies
almost equal to Lord Krishna. He is the Lord's

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 254, Page—5
viläsa vigraha, or Lord Krishna's expansion for en- Lord Vishnu's incarnation of Yajna appears as Lord
acting His pastimes. Other incarnations of the Lord Indra (the King of the Heavens). So when Yajna
such as Matsya and Kurma are partial expansions of appears as Lord Indra and Lord Vishnu accepts
Lord Krishna endowed with slightly lesser potency. the position of Lord Brahma, in such manvantaras
When a living entity, or jéva, is invested with any and kalpas both Lord Indra and Lord Brahma are
one of the divine potencies such as jïäna (knowl- nondifferent from Lord Vishnu in every respect.
edge), bhakti (devotion), and kriya (action) he The vast material universe, including the seven
is known as avesa. For example, Vyasadeva was lower planetary systems like Patalaloka, right up
invested with the bhakti potency, Prithu Maharaja to the topmost planet Satyaloka, is described as
with the kriya potency, and the four Kumaras with the gross body of Lord Brahma. (It can also be
the jïäna potency. described as Brahma.) Hiranyagarbha (another
The incarnations of the Supreme Lord are of name for Lord Brahma that means “full of gold"),
three main categories: purusha avataras (incar- is the subtle presence, or the jéva soul, who resides
nations that are partial expansions), guna-ava- in the gross form of Brahma.
taras (qualitative incarnations), and lila-avataras Lord Garbhodakashayi Vishnu, the second pu-
(incarnations for performing specific pastimes). ruña-avatära, is present in Hiranyagarbha's heart
Purusha-avatars are of three types: The first puruña as the Supersoul. and the Supreme controller.
is the creator of the mahat-tattva (the aggregate of Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction, annihilates this
the total material energy), and He enters the ma- material cosmos through the quality of ignorance,
hat-tattva as the universal soul. This first puruña is or tama-guëa. Lord Brahma is the Vairaja purusa
known as Karanarnava-sayi Vishnu (one who lies (the aggregate of the material world, which is also
on the causal, or karana, ocean), and He is the par- his gross body) as well as Hiranyagarbha (the total
tial expansion of Lord Sankarshana in Vaikuntha. soul of the jéva). Brahma is the creator of the uni-
The second puruña, the universal father of all living verse, born from the lotus emanating from Lord
entities, gives birth to Lord Brahahma. Known as Vishnu's navel. (Brahma also appears as Lord Shiva
Garbhodakashayi Vishnu, this second puruña is the to conduct the work of annihilation).
partial expansion of Pradyumna in Vaikuntha. The In different kalpas, sometimes very elevated
third puruña, Kshirodakashyi Vishnu, is the Lord jivas or sometimes Lord Vishnu Himself, take up
in the heart of every living entity and the partial the position of Lord Shiva. But the one known as
expansion of Aniruddha in Vaikuntha. Sadashiva, is beyond the reach of the modes of ma-
Lord Vishnu maintains this material universe as terial nature, or gunas, he is the vilasa expansion
He rests on the ocean of milk (kñira). The quality of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu. Sadashiva is also the
of goodness (sattva-guëa) also helps maintain this
universe. Lord Brahma, the secondary creator, was !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
born from the lotus coming from Lord Garbhoda-
kashayi Vishnu's navel. In certain kalpas (a kalpa is Nityaà Bhägavata-sevayä E-magazine
a complete cycle of four yugas), a highly elevated is a part of
and pious jéva is selected for the position of Lord
Brahma, who then creates the world. When the In Service of Srimad Bhagavatam™
chosen jéva is then invested with special powers he
is known as an avesa-avatära. A Lord Brahma of Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
this type still remains in contact with the mode of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada
passion (raja-guëa), so he is not considered equal
to Lord Vishnu. ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
In kalpas where there are no living entities pious
enough to cake the post of Lord Brahma, Lord Vish- ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective
nu Himself chooses to appear as Lord Brahma. For artists.
example, in some manvantaras (a tenure of Manu)

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 Issue no 254, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
fountainhead of Lord Shiva, one of the guna-av- purnatama-samajati (similar in substance, but
ataras. Therefore, Sadashiva is superior to Lord not the same). However, these peerless, varied
Brahma, equal to Lord Vishnu, and superior to features are expressed in purnatamarüpa (to the
and separate from the jivas who are conditioned fullest extent) in Krishna's Vrindavan pastimes
by the three gunas. We shall next discuss the li- alone. The element of mädhurya (loving devo-
la-avataras. Some examples of the lila-avataras are tional sentiment) is available in an increasing
the four Kumaras, Narada, Varaha, Matsya, Yajna, order respectively in Goloka, Dvaraka, Mathura,
Nara-Narayana, Kapila, Datta Hayasirsa, Hamsa, and fully in Vrindavan. The Lord's aiçvarya-çakti
Prishnigarbha, Rsabha, Prthu, Nrsirnha, Kurma, (opulence mixed with awe and reverence) is
Dhanvantari, Mohini, Parasurama, Raghunath, veiled in proportion to the manifestation of His
Vyäsa, Balabhadra, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki, and madhura-lélä. Therefore, as mädhurya increases,
so on. Sometimes described as kalpa-avataras, aiçvarya decreases to the same degree. So, Goloka
They appear only once in every kalpa. has more aiçvarya and less mädhurya; Dvaraka,
The fourteen manvantara-avataras as follows are more mädhurya than Goloka and less aiçvarya;
another category of the Lord's incarnations: Yajna, Mathura more mädhurya than Dvaraka and less
Vibhu, Satyasena, Hari, Vaikuntha, Ajita, Var- aiçvarya; and Vrindavan manifests full mädhurya.
nana, Sarvabhauma, Rsabha, Visvaksena, Dhar- Maha-Vishnu, creating millions of universes, lies
masetu, Sudama, Yogesvara, and Brhadbhanu. on the River Viraja, which is fashioned from the
There are four yugas, or millenniums (Satya, transcendental perspiration of His body. Above
Treta, Dvapara, Kali), and the four yuga-ava- the Viraja River lie the vast Vaikuntha planets,
taras are respectively Sukla, Rakta, Syama, and the upper region of which is Goloka. Lord Krish-
Krishna. Some of the different varieties of ava- na, the Lord of Goloka, resides here, with His
taras (kalpa-avataras, manvantara-avataras, and associates, performing pastimes saturated with
yuga-avataras) are prabhava incarnations, some awe, reverence, and opulence. Krishna's vilasa
vaibhava, and some parävastha, or shad-aish- expansion is the Lord of Vaikuntha-Narayana,
varya-purna-avataras. Some incarnations in the and Brahman is Krishna's impersonal, formless
avesa category are the four Kumaras, Narada, manifestation. Lord Baladeva is the second vyuha
and Prthu, while Mohini, Dhanvantari, Hamsa, expansion of Krishna. In Vainkuntha, Sankarsana
Vyasa, Datta, and Shukla are some of the prabha- (Lord Narayana, from the second vyuha expan-
va-avataras. The vaibhava incarnations display sion) the vilasa-avatära of Lord Baladeva, and
a more superior potency than the prabhavas, Karanarnavasayi Maha-Vishnu (Vishnu who lies
and some of Them are listed as follows: Matsya, on the water of the Karana ocean) is Lord Sankar-
Kurma, Nara-Narayana, Varaha, Hayasirsa, Pr- sana's partial expansion. Garbhodakashyi Vishnu
ishnigarbha, Balabhadra, and Yajna. Even more is the vilasa-avatära of Maha-Vishnu, as well as the
powerful are the paravastha-avataras: Nrsimha, partial expansion of Pradyumna (Lord Narayana's
Rama, and Krishna who each exhibit more power third vyuha expansion).
than the other. Kshirodakashayi Vishnu is Garbhodakashayi
Lord Krishna alone is the source of all incarna- Vishnu's vyuha the partial expansion of Anirud-
tions and no other incarnation can supersede Him. dha (Lord Narayana's fourth vyuha expansion).
Lord Krishna's four residences, dhamas, are given Incarnations such as Matsya and Kurma are
in descending order of potency Vraja, Mathuna, the vilasa forms of Garbhodakashayi Vishnu.
Dvaraka, and Goloka. Lord Krishna, Lord Balara- Lord Krishna's three dhamas—Dvaraka, Mathura,
ma, and Their family, along with Vrajadharna, are and Vrindavan differ from each other according to
pamatanza (most complete). In Mathura, Krishna how much the Lord manifests His nara-lélä—His
and His dhäma are purnatara (more complete), earthly, human pastimes—and to what degree
and in Goloka, Lord Krishna and His dhäma are of intensity mädhurya is manifest. Lord Krishna's
purna-kalpa (complete excellences). Because the nara-lélä is of two varieties: prakata (manifest)
Lord's Goloka pastimes are on the same level and aprakata (unmanifest). Performing endless
as they are in Vrindavan, Krishna in Goloka is pastimes with His intimate associates, Lord

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Krishna reveals all the varied moods of dif- devotional involvement, their intense spiritual
ferent human ages—balya-lélä (childhood), eagerness, and the divine wishes of the Lord.
pauganda (boyhood), kaisora (puberty), and In this way, it is established that of all the
vilasa (mature amorous love). When these forms and manifestations of the Supreme Per-
eternal pastimes become unmanifest in the sonality of Godhead, that of Lord Sri Krishna,
material world they are known as aprakata-lélä, son of Nanda Maharaja, is paramount, and
but when these same pastimes of the Lord that amongst His many dhamas Gokula, Vrin-
and His associates are manifest in the mun- davan, is the topmost. Lord Krishna's super-
dane plane they are described as prakata-lélä. lative excellences of prema-mädhurya (divine
Lord Krishna travels between His different conjugal love), lélä-mädhurya (transcendental
dhamas such as Mathura, Vrindavan, and pastimes), venu-mädhurya (expertise in playing
Dvaraka only in His prakata-lélä When the the flute), and çré vigraha-mädhurya (matchless
Lord travels we can therefore understand His beauty) solely existing in Vrindavan dhäma.
activities are prakta-lélä Krishna's arrivals and The following describes the Lord's devotees.
departures from the dhamas do not occur in Vaishnavas like Markendeya, Ambarisha, Vasu,
His aprakata-lélä. The entire prakata-lélä such Vyasa, Vibhisana, Pundarika, Bali, Uddhava,
as His janma-lélä (birth) and mausala-lélä (the Dalbhya, Parasara, Bhisma, and Narada are pure
internecine conflict that destroyed Yadu dynas- devotees in the true sense. just as the Supreme
ty.) are seen in the innumerable universes in an Personality of Godhead must be served and
arranged sequence. In each of these universes worshipped, similarly, His be served and wor-
exist a Vrindavan, Mathura, and Dvaraka visible shipped, otherwise one commits grave offences.
to the residents of those planets. Not all pure devotees are on the same level—there
The Lord's pastimes may be compared to are different grades of pure devotees. Prahlada Ma-
the sun: The sun is seen during the day in a haraja is considered the best of the pure devotees.
specific place and time every year, while it The Pandavas are superior to Prahlada; some of the
yet remains invisible in other areas. Similarly, Yadavas are superior to the Pandavas, and Uddha-
the Supreme Lord, Krishna, while remaining va. is the best of the Yadavas. Superior to Uddhava
in His own abode, Vrindavan, reveals His are the damsels of Vraja Vrindavan, and Srimati
original form in His complete pastimes in Radhika is the most brilliant gem amongst them .
one particular universe, but He wishes out of This essay, Bhägavatamrta-kana, has been specif-
His sweet will to shroud it in other universes. ically composed for all those readers who have
In prakata-lélä, the Lord's boyhood pastimes, not studied Sanskrit, yet are eager to achieve deep
for example, are continuous and transcen- devotion to Lord Krishna. May their devotion
dental, enacted in His original form. But the blossom like a golden flower embossed with the
mausala-lélä and (the pastime of kidnapping jewels of spiritual realization.
the captured queens) are like illusions con- — Çri Bhägavatamrta-Kana » Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura »
jured by magic. We must understand that the Translated by Sarvabhavana dasa.
reason for exhibiting these two krttim-lélä, or
make-believe pastimes, is to hide the truth
that His pastimes are eternal. In Krishna's
prakata-lélä some of His associates, by His own
will, do see gem studded Vrindavan dhäma
in all its sublime splendour, but others, also
by His own will, are not given that vision.
It is worth noting that some very advanced
devotees are able to directly view the Lord's
pastimes even after He has concluded His
prakata-lélä. This is because of their profound

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