Text 11

कृष्णस्योच्चैः प्रणयवसतिः प्रेयसीभ्योपि राधा
कुंडम चास्या मुनिभिरभितस्तादृगेव व्याधायि ।
यत्प्रेष्ठैरप्यलमसुलभं किं पुनर्भक्तिभाजाम
तत्प्रेमेदं सकृदपि सरः स्नातुराविष्करोति ॥११॥

kṛṣṇasyoccaiḥ praṇaya-vasatiḥ preyasībhyo ‘pi rādhā
kuṇḍaṁ cāsyā munibhir abhitas tādṛg eva vyadhāyi
yat preṣṭhair apy alam asulabhaṁ kiṁ punar bhakti-bhājāṁ
tat premedaṁ sakṛd api saraḥ snātur āviṣkaroti

kṛṣṇasyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkṛṣṇasya

by Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; Kṛṣṇa; of child Kṛṣṇa; of Kṛṣṇa; of Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead; of Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa; of Lord Kṛṣṇa; of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.—of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; uccaiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biguccaiḥ

a large quantity; greatly; having been developed by past pious actions; loudly; powerfully; very high; very highly; very loudly.—very highly; praṇayaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpranaya

all loving affairs; and with love; love; loving; of devotion; of love; with love.-vasatiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvasatiḥ

the abode.—object of love; preyasībhyaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpreyasībhyaḥ

out of the many lovable gopīs.—out of the many lovable gopīs; apiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigapi

also; api; a still more secluded place; again; alas; also (confirms); also (the human beings); also; although (I am in such a position); although; although apparently different; although he is; although He is so; although it is so; although not exposed to common eyes; although one; although there is; although there was; and also; as also; as He is; as well as; as you have stated; at the same time; better than that; certainly; definitely; despite; either; else; especially; even; even if; even if the body is so exalted; even though; even though it is so; even though new calves were present; even though there is; even with; exactly; for the sake of; I am wondering; if; if also; if so; in due course; in spite of; in spite of this situation; including; indeed; it may be; just now; may be; moreover; of the word api; or; others; over and above; so; still; surely; the word api; then; though; thus; verily; virtually; whether.—certainly; rādhāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigradha

of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; Rādhārāṇī; Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.—Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; kuṇḍamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkuṇḍam

bathing place; lake.—lake; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; asyāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigasyah

from Devakī; her; of her (Devakī); of her (Śarmiṣṭhā); of her; of the earth; of the external energy; of the Vedic literature; of this (world); of this; of this Devayānī; of this girl (Devakī); of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; this; toward Her.—of Her; munibhiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmunibhiḥ

accompanied by great sages; along with the munis present there; by great sages; by saintly persons; by such great sages; by the munis; by the great sages; by the sages; great saintly persons; the great sages.—by great sages; abhitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigabhitah

all around; assured in the near future; in all respects; on all sides; on both sides.—in all respects; tādṛkplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtādṛk

similarly. evaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigeva

alone; also; also the word eva; although; as; as it is; as it were; as much as; as they are; at all; at that time; certainly; certainly,; certainty; completely; definitely; even; ever; exactly; exactly like; factually; Himself; immediately; in fact; in this way; indeed; it is all like that; just; just so; like; like that; like this; of course; on the very; only; quite; simply; so; surely; the word eva; they are; thus; truly; undoubtedly; very; without doubt.—similarly; vyadhāyiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvyadhāyi

has been created; is described.—is described; yatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyat

which; about whom; all these; all those; although; and as; and whichever; anything; as; as a matter of fact; as it is; as its; as much as; as they are; because; because of; because of which; because of whom; by the result of which; by the Supreme Lord; by which; by which way; by whom (the Supreme Lord); by whom; by whose; by whose merciful; even though; everything that was required; fixed under Your direction; for; for which; from both of whom; from him; from which; from whom; from whose; from Yuyudha; he whose; his; His eternal form which; his son; if; in which; in whom; inasmuch as; Kṛṣṇa; now further; of him (Somāpi); of him; of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune; of the fire-gods; of the Lord; of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of which (the intermediate space); of which; of whom (of the Supreme Lord); who; who is; whom; whose; whose form; Your.—which; preṣṭhaiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpreṣṭhaiḥ

by the most advanced devotees; very dear.—by the most advanced devotees; apiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigapi

also; api; a still more secluded place; again; alas; also (confirms); also (the human beings); also; although (I am in such a position); although; although apparently different; although he is; although He is so; although it is so; although not exposed to common eyes; although one; although there is; although there was; and also; as also; as He is; as well as; as you have stated; at the same time; better than that; certainly; definitely; despite; either; else; especially; even; even if; even if the body is so exalted; even though; even though it is so; even though new calves were present; even though there is; even with; exactly; for the sake of; I am wondering; if; if also; if so; in due course; in spite of; in spite of this situation; including; indeed; it may be; just now; may be; moreover; of the word api; or; others; over and above; so; still; surely; the word api; then; though; thus; verily; virtually; whether.—even; alamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigalam

able; abundantly; away; beyond value; by and by; capable; certainly; clearly; competent; enough; entirely; exceedingly; extensively; extraordinarily; fit; for nothing; greatly; however; I am able; indeed; insignificant; never mind; not more than that; of course; of no importance; only; so much; suck my breast no longer; sufficient; sufficiently; there is nothing to be gained; unnecessary; verily; very; what need; what to speak of; without delay; without further delay; without hesitation.—enough; asulabhamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigasulabham

difficult to obtain; very difficult to achieve.—difficult to obtain; kimplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkim

and what is the value of such happiness; anything; are you; either; how; how can he be; how much; is it; is it that; nothing; something; what; what benefit; what for; what is; what is that; what is the benefit; what is the difficulty; what is the meaning; what is the need; what is the use; what is the use of; what is the value; what is there; what is there to fear; what kind of; what need; what need is there; what sort of; what then; what to speak of; what use; where is the necessity; whether; who; who is there; why.—what; punaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpunaḥ

again (at home); again (is to be said); again (their son); again; again and again; again, for the second time; again, the second; but; then; yet.—again; bhaktiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhakti

and devotion; and devotional service; bhakti; by devotional service; by dint of devotional service; devotion; devotional cult; devotional service; known as devotional service; of devotional service; respect; the cult of devotional service; the devotional service; the platform of devotional service; through devotion; with devotion.-bhājāmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhajam

of those who entertain.—for persons engaged in devotional service; tatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtat

establishment of the statement tat tvam asi.—that; premaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprema

affection; affectionate; and ecstatic love; and love; and love of Godhead; and of love of God; by love of Godhead; ecstasy; ecstasy of love; ecstatic love; ecstatic love for God; ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; his love for the Lord; in ecstatic love; in feelings of love; in love; in love of Kṛṣṇa; love; love for God; love of God; love of Godhead; love of Kṛṣṇa; loving; loving affairs; loving service; of affection; of ecstatic love; of ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; of love; of love of God; of love of Godhead; of the loving affairs; out of affection and love; out of love; pure love; real love of Kṛṣṇa; the ecstatic love; the love; the love of Godhead; transcendental bliss; transcendental love; with love.—love of Godhead; idamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigidam

all of this cosmic manifestation; all these; all these manifestations; all these phenomena; all these planets; all these things; all this; as it is; here; in their own measurement; in this material world; in this way; in this world; is this; like this; on this (as follows); on this (path); the cosmic manifestation is produced; the following; the following words; the universe rests; the whole; the whole universe; these; these words; this (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam); this (all the land given to them); this (body); this (cosmic manifestation); this (creation); this (life); this (material body); this (material world); this (news); this (the body and senses); this (universe); this (world); this; this body; this body of Brahmā; this cosmic manifestation; this cosmic manifestation is created and maintained; this creation; this description of the characteristics of Vāmanadeva; this entire cosmic manifestation; this entire universe; this glorification; this incident; this lamentation; this manifestation; this material attachment; this material world; this phenomenal world; this philosophy of life; this prayer; this present form; this ultimate abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; this universe; this Vedic literature (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam); this whole material world; this whole universe; this world; thus; whatever we can see; which we see.—this; sakṛtplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsakrt

at one time; even once; once; once only; once only, immediately; once upon a time; once, at one time; only once; sometimes.—once; apiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigapi

also; api; a still more secluded place; again; alas; also (confirms); also (the human beings); also; although (I am in such a position); although; although apparently different; although he is; although He is so; although it is so; although not exposed to common eyes; although one; although there is; although there was; and also; as also; as He is; as well as; as you have stated; at the same time; better than that; certainly; definitely; despite; either; else; especially; even; even if; even if the body is so exalted; even though; even though it is so; even though new calves were present; even though there is; even with; exactly; for the sake of; I am wondering; if; if also; if so; in due course; in spite of; in spite of this situation; including; indeed; it may be; just now; may be; moreover; of the word api; or; others; over and above; so; still; surely; the word api; then; though; thus; verily; virtually; whether.—even; saraḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarah

a lake; from the lake; going; lake; of a lake or reservoir of water; reservoir of water; the lake; water.—lake; snātuḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsnātuḥ

of one who has bathed.—of one who has bathed; āviṣkarotiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigāviṣkaroti

arouses; manifests.—arouses. ¶

Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vrajabhūmi, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is certainly the most treasured object of Kṛṣṇa’s love. And, in every respect, Her divine kuṇḍa is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Rādhā-kuṇḍa is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one’s pure love of Kṛṣṇa is fully aroused. ¶

Why is Rādhā-kuṇḍa so exalted? The lake is so exalted because it belongs to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is the most beloved object of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Among all the gopīs, She is the most beloved. Similarly, Her lake, Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa, is also described by great sages as the lake that is as dear to Kṛṣṇa as Rādhā Herself. Indeed, Kṛṣṇa’s love for Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the same in all respects. Rādhā-kuṇḍa is very rarely attained, even by great personalities fully engaged in devotional service, not to speak of ordinary devotees who are only engaged in the practice of vaidhī bhakti. ¶

It is stated that a devotee will at once develop pure love of Kṛṣṇa in the wake of the gopīs if he once takes a bath in Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes in this connection that Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhīs) and confidential serving maids (mañjarīs) of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Living entities who are eager to return home to the transcendental kingdom of God, Goloka Vṛndāvana, by means of attaining their spiritual bodies (siddha-deha) should live at Rādhā-kuṇḍa, take shelter of the confidential serving maids of Śrī Rādhā and under their direction engage constantly in Her service. This is the most exalted method for those engaged in devotional service under the protection of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this connection Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes that even great sages and great devotees like Nārada and Sanaka do not get an opportunity to come to Rādhā-kuṇḍa to take their baths. What, then, to speak of ordinary devotees? If, by great fortune, one gets an opportunity to come to Rādhā-kuṇḍa and bathe even once, he can develop his transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa, exactly as the gopīs did. It is also recommended that one should live on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa and should be absorbed in the loving service of the Lord. One should bathe there regularly and give up all material conceptions, taking shelter of Śrī Rādhā and Her assistant gopīs. If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Śrī Rādhā in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. The conclusion is that to live on the banks of the Rādhā-kuṇḍa and to bathe there daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional service. It is a difficult position to attain, even for great sages and devotees like Nārada. Thus there is no limit to the glory of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa. By serving Rādhā-kuṇḍa, one can get an opportunity to become an assistant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī under the eternal guidance of the gopīs. ¶